Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- As always, Wolff is a massive monster as were the Nazis, but no ITG or derails. The plot thickens!

Ehren Erwacht! (V)

August 10th, 2014

Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa (1300 miles upriver)

"The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil water-way leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky--seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness." -- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

Niobe grimaced in relief as she maneuvered through the crowds toward the dock on the river.

The flight into Kisangani had been terrifying.

The ancient turboprop airliner (her shaking engineer announced that it had been built in 1954) was overloaded with passengers and cargo, including crates of live chickens and a goat. Add in that as a shipgirl she would have preferred to sail upriver rather than fly and the resulting three hours of terror lasted for an eternity as the plane flew over trackless jungle.

Colombe, damn her eyes, had spent the flight napping apparently unconcernedly only to wake up as the plane began to descend to the runway hewn out of the jungle at this inland port at the base of a stretch of rapids.

Another divination with the pendulum while here had further narrowed down the location of Ehren to someplace northeast of Kisangani.

Which led to the next part of Colombe's plan.

They reached the stained concrete dock and the Frenchwoman began to haggle expertly with several merchants who appeared out of nowhere. Terms were met and a small fishing canoe was produced in exchange for a stack of bills. Colombe got into it alongside Niobe.

They paddled out into the broad mud-covered river and then Colombe grinned smugly at Niobe as she cast several obscuring charms as they floated downstream. "So, ready to do some real sailing?"

Niobe grinned back and then stepped onto the river as she rigged up, easily keeping pace with the canoe. "Oh, it's about time."
Spoiler: Steam Pinnace

Aboard her, her bosun snapped out orders and one of her steam pinnaces that she carried as picket boats was launched from her davits, manifesting next to Colombe with a boat crew on board. Colombe stood and caught the thrown line to be hauled aboard. "Good, because that canoe leaks and I'd hate to have to fight off a hippo attack in it. Once was more than enough!" With that she began more concealment spells.
Spoiler: Up The River

Niobe climbed aboard her pinnace which began to gather steam as they sailed downriver. The Kaiserliche Marine naval battle ensign fluttered proudly in the wind of their passage at the masthead as the pinnace built to full steam ahead and fresh coal and logs were tossed into the firebox by the crew. The shipgirl smiled proudly, remembering her first life under the Reichadler as she spread the glories of her homeland abroad.

Niobe pulled out the other weapons from her hull who manifested one by one. Toku looked around wide-eyed in impressed awe. Norimune rubbed her chin with a smug grin as she walked to the bow to catch the breeze in her hair. Kasuyu made a visual sweep of the water and then grunted in satisfaction. Nongqawuse silently walked to the fuel bunker and cast a Duplicating Charm to replace the fuel being used.

"Won't we get into trouble for being nearly invisible and not registered?" Niobe asked with curiosity as a shimmering magical veil of mist obscured them and they headed on.

Colombe shook her head. The Muramasa rapier then pointed to a massively overloaded boat passing them that was extremely low in the water. Niobe began to swear in German as Tokunotakai stared in disbelief. "They would be more pissed about us not paying bribes, honestly."
Spoiler: Boats On The Congo River

Niobe shook her head and muttered. "I don't.... words fail me. Das ist nicht in Ordnung."

Colombe scowled, joined by Nongqawuse and Kasuyu. "This place was run like a giant slave labor camp by the colonial authorities. We could have spent the time to try to improve things, but it was all about enriching the few while oppressing the many with the manacles, the whip, and the gun. It was poorly run when Belgium was directly involved and then when we pulled out...." Colombe sighed and shook her head as she watched the overloaded barge pass them and then resumed speaking in a voice filled with controlled anger. "What happened here sickened me then and still does now. We... Belgium,... and I include myself since some of my money and my family's influence contributed to what happened here, did terrible things and the stain still exists. Back a hundred years ago it was ivory tusks from elephants, and then rubber from the vines here. Now it is gold, diamonds, minerals but the culture we taught the locals has poisoned it. We destroyed rather than built and I don't know if it will ever be fixed."

Toku laid her hand on Colombe shoulder as the rapier stared into the jungle vacantly. Colombe finally placed her hand on Toku's and squeezed. "It's a hundred twenty five kilometers downstream to the Aruwimi River where we head east up toward the highlands. I'll take first watch and cast spells to watch for danger. Sandbars, crocodiles, and especially those damn hippos. Things are a menace. Then Kasuyu or Father can relieve me. Once we hit the Aruwimi's rapids, we start in overland, that's pretty clearly where Ehren is. Somewhere up there."

Colombe looked down the sluggish river. "In the Heart of Darkness...."
--------------------------

August 11th, 2014

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Central Africa

Ehren buttoned her black and silver tunic and then examined her appearance in the mirror in her room. Brightly polished black jackboots tuched into black trousers with razor-sharp creases, white shirt with black tie, the siegrunen and single pip of an officer cadet on her coat collar.

Alles in Ordnung.

For a SS-Junker officer cadet.

She hid her scowl behind an impassive cool expression, and ignored the fatigue of the workout that Vati had done with her this morning. This was a necessary step, to gain the information that she needed to survive and cultivate the trust needed to get the resources to escape.

Mutti, please hurry, Ehren thought to herself as she closed her eyes and breathed in and out. As she opened her eyes, she stared in shock.

The mirror was reflecting her mother standing in the bow of a small ship sailing down a river in the jungle.

The war ensign of the Kaiserliche Marine fluttered proudly over her head with red, white and black, the Iron Cross and the crowned Reichsadler Prussian eagle causing her heart to swell with pride. Niobe stood there alongside Tokunotakai, Grandmother Norimune, and Kasuyu, all staring at the swinging pendulum in Mutti's hand.

Behind them all, Nongqawuse's scarlet eyes met hers and the African spirit winked before the vision faded. Ehren breathed a sigh of relief.

They are coming.
Spoiler: Morning Inspection

Then her ears heard the footsteps that she expected and she assumed the proper position for room and uniform inspection as her face shifted to the expected stoic military bearing.

Ehren's spine stiffened and she snapped to rigid attention as Cortana entered the room, dressed in an identical uniform same for the double pips of a Sturmführer. The elder sword checked off the details of her exacting inspection of her bed, uniform, and possessions on a clipboard held by a subordinate NCO. Then she paused and gestured to the NCO. "Wait outside for me."

Ehren's heart raced as the sergeant, black skin gleaming in black and silver wool marched outside.

Cortana looked her over and then her eyes unfocused and looked at the far wall. The sword spoke with some strain in her words in a monotone. "You should be honored, Ehren. Our Master intends to Embrace you to purge any lingering impure blood and grant the immortality that he has. This will also blood bond you to him as a loyal subordinate and beloved daughter. He only does this with the finest and most suitable humans, and it is a great honor to be initiated into his elite. For me... he had to use other means since the Embrace and blood bonding did not affect me after I swore my oath to serve him loyally as a weapon and to be the perfect wife and mother for his family. You... I am proud to have you as a daughter, Ehren."

Ehren's heart raced as the sword finished. "Be strong, do not show the pain, and show him and the rest how you are committed to the cause body and soul so he will be happy with you."

Ehren snapped to rigidly perfect attention and saluted Cortana. "Jawohl, Sturmführer! I shall not disappoint my Vater by flinching or crying out as he makes me one of the Herrenvolk!"

"Good, follow me, Cadet!" Cortana ordered and Ehren fell into step precisely one pace back and to the right. Ehren's eyes gleamed as one hand slid to the SS-Ehrendolch on her hip and caressed her hilt for an instant before resuming her perfect and precise military bearing.

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

A quick, short thing about how the Greengrasses feel about the Malfoys going legit.

Greengrass Manor

It would have surprised some purebloods that at the home of the Greengrass family, Cyrus and Evelyn worked together to cook breakfast, both for themselves, and their elves currently busy tending to other duties in the manor. As it was, Cyrus had taken part-time culinary courses incognito, while Evelyn had learned how to cook from her mother and one of her oldest friends, a "muggle-born" that eventually moved to teach at the Orenda Institute of Magic, one of several Canadian schools not sanctioned by the ICW.

As Cyrus finished cooking rashers of bacon, a chime announced the arrival of a barn owl.

"Ah, must be a letter from FELIX."

He united a letter from the owl's leg, and fed the bird a slice of bacon.

"Thank you, Helena."

After watching the owl take off out of the kitchen window, he looked around, before taking out his wand and casting some privacy charms. Then he pointed the wand at the letter, removing a glamour charm that disguised it as a letter from his cousin Nigel.

"Intelligence report?" Evelyn asked.

Cyrus looked a bit surprised with both eyebrows raised.

"Well I'll be, Malfoy wants to go legitimate."

"Really? Mr. Lucius 'Imperious Defence' Malfoy?"

Cyrus drank from his mug of tea.

"Indeed.... hmmm... "

After reading more of the letter, Cyrus began to snicker.

"Cyrus?"

He passed the letter to his wife who started to read through it rapidly. She gently placed it down, then began to giggle, before laughing hard.

"So, Narcissa tore him a new one due to that Basilisk mess? Never mess with momma Black, Lucy! Then, his son turns out to be linked with multiple shipgirls... and then, after they meet their distant cousins from Belgium, Narcissa takes her son and company to go shopping at Harrods."

"Evie, look at what FELIX mentioned was the total bill."

She looked, then went to the floor holding back tears of laughter.

"Gahahahaha!!!!"

Her husband was no better.

"Oh Lordy, this is gonna be fun."

He grinned evilly.

"I think I found someone new to mine some salt."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Well, here we go. Ehren and Vati continue their dance to the end. As always, Wolff is a massive monster as were the Nazis, but no ITG or derails. The plot thickens!

Ehren Erwacht! (VI)

August 11th, 2014

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa

"But the wilderness had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion. I think it had whispered to him things which he did not know, things of which he had no conception till he took counsel with this great solitude — and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core [...] his soul was mad. Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself, and by heavens! I tell you, it had gone mad." -- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

Ehren's eyes widened and she blinked tears away from the sunlight as she exited the stone-walled underground complex that had been her prison and barracks for the last days for the first time.

The valley beyond the gate that she had followed Cortana through was grass-covered at the base with wooded hills on either side rising up. At the far end, she estimated with a glance roughly half a kilometer distance, a trio of massive monoliths that appeared to be some gigantic standing human figures had been carved out of stone in a triangle.

Monoliths that had been bedecked by swastika-marked banners.

The valley floor was filled with rank upon rank of motionless uniformed soldiers in perfect geometric blocks on either side of a clear pathway to the reviewing stand at the far end.

Ehren mentally snarked behind her impassive face that she had seen far better in 1938 at the Nürnberg Reichsparteitag Großdeutschland. As impressive as the spectacle was, and it was impressive; it was a pale imitation, a pupil's copy of the master's attempt, a child's scribbling of his father's work, to what she had experienced under the choreography of Josef Goebbels and Adolf Hitler.

One pale-gold eyebrow elevated a millimeter above a steel blue eye at the sight of a dozen monstrous gray and brown mottled beasts with short thick legs like an elephant, massive bodies with a metal howdah on their back, and long necks and tails looming behind the blocks of soldiers.

That, at least, was something new and impressive. They looked like nothing so much as a blend of a dinosaur and the dragons that she had heard about in one of her school textbooks.

A glance out of the corner of her eyes showed three other individuals in matching cadet uniforms flanking her on both sides. It sadly did not surprise her that the one on her right was pale skinned while the two on her left were white and black respectively.
Spoiler: The Candidates Enter

At the command of 'Vorwärts Marsch!'(Forward march) she stepped off and began to goose-step down the cleared aisle in time with a band playing the Badenweiler Marsch.

As she marched ahead, her impassive face cracked for a moment. Her lips quirked as she felt the gazes of the massed soldiers weigh upon her and the others. Being exposed like this, like a small black ant crawling across a polished silver tray actually felt... strange. She then refocused as her eyes locked upon Vati, dressed in his SS uniform as he stood at the summit of a stone staircase behind a podium flanked by dignitaries and a honor guard.

Her steel-blue eyes hardened and her expression firmed up as she braced herself for the contest of Will ahead of her.

For a brief second she could hear the voice of the little green mentor from those movies that Claire loved to watch with her. "Do, or do not. There is no try."

With that ringing in her heart she stopped at the barked command. "Stillgestanden!"

As she stood at apparently perfect attention, her fingers twitched subtly in a slow pattern as her breathing shifted into a different rhythm.

What Miho Fujii had called 'the rhythm of a spider spinning her web' when she was taught this ancient art among the Jorogumo.

For while her mother, aunts, grandmother and eldest sister were better combatants on the fields of battle and facing their foes eye to eye, Ehren du Chasteler had her own skills and strengths to match any of them in her chosen field of struggle.

Vati's voice boomed in her ears from his position on the podium that she faced in front of multitudes as she concentrated on the gossamer-fine threads of magic that she was layering around her steel body one careful web at a time.

"The Day of our inevitable triumph nears! My warriors, soon we shall strike a sudden and decisive blow to topple the weak and corrupt government!"

Threads of magic woven into a web so fine as to be seen as invisible to the mage whose voice boomed in her ears.

"Our destiny is greatness! Our training, Will, and devotion is superior to all others!"

Threads of illusion and deception to be activated when the focus of the ceremony shifted from the monster haranguing the crowd to her.

"Behold the vanguard of the New Order! They have been rigorously screened for physical, mental, and moral perfection! They are the Herrenvolk!"

Threads of a desperate plan that would be put to the test soon.

"Nembo Etémé! Komm heraus!"(Come here)

As Ehren watched with razor sharp focus and interest, the muscular young white man to her right stepped forth and ascended the podium. He halted with a precise heel click and the shot his arm out stiff and straight in a perfect Hitlergruß(Hitler salute). "Sieg Heil!"

Vati returned the salute. "Sieg Heil!" He leaned forward, pinning her fellow cadet's gaze. "{Swear the oath!}"

"{I, Nembo Etémé, vow to you, Obersturmführer Helmar Franz von und zu Wolff, as Führer of the Reborn Reich in the name of the martyred Adolf Hitler, loyalty and bravery! I vow to you and to the leaders that you set for me, absolute allegiance until death! So help me God!}"

Ehren sucked in a breath at the words, the altered words of the SS loyalty oath which Vati had sworn with her upon his hip at midnight in front of the Feldherrnhalle in Munich as the torches blazed and guttered that night in 1937.

Words that had placed his feet upon the path that led to this monstrous evil that had festered and been nurtured here.

Words that she would be forced to swear with her lips, if not her heart and soul.

"{Good, Accept the Embrace!}"

She exhaled the breath as Nembo Etémé bared his neck for Vati to bite. He shook and shuddered, crying out in agony as red crept into his pale green eyes, his flesh grew slightly paler and his incisor teeth sharpened to fangs. Her diamond hard steel-blue eyes watched the process clinically as her fingers flicked faster and her hilt shone with witch-light as the final adjustments were made to the web of illusion and deception that she had woven as if she were a Jorogumo huntress.

Finally the convulsions ended and the new vampire snapped to attention. "{By your will Obersturmführer! Sieg Heil!}" He saluted Vati with another Hitlergruß before marching to one of four red robed female attendants waiting with beaten gold swastika inlaid goblets. He drank deep of the blood within and then about faced and assumed parade rest.
Spoiler: Ehren's Embrace

Ehren's heart thudded at the next words thundering through the rally.

"Ehren von und zu Wolff! Komm heraus!"

She snapped to attention and goose stepped to position in front of Vati. Gray eyes with swimming red flecks stared into her own steel blue eyes as her heels snapped together and her arm shot out to salute him.

"Sieg Heil!" She barked out with all the energy in her frame. Inside her mind, her brain translated the words that scorched her lips and tongue.

Hail Victory!

The victory that was engraved on her hilt in the dual siegrunen of the Schutzstaffel.

Aunt Del's voice whispered in her soul with words from the first day that she had met her favorite aunt. "You're like me Ehren, you know the importance of preparation, patience and timing."

"Sieg Heil!"

Vati's keen gaze tested her defenses, but with a signal effort of Will, she allowed no sign to leak through her self control save apparent eagerness and excitement hidden under her cool facade.

"{Swear the Oath!!}"

Ehren spared a instant to mentally whisper a prayer for forgiveness to Whomever was listening to her in her isolation. She felt the iron dice of war weigh heavy in her hand to be thrown in her next heartbeat to triumph or die.

"{I, Ehren von und zu Wolff, vow to you, Obersturmführer Helmar Franz von und zu Wolff, as Führer of the Reborn Reich in the name of the martyred Adolf Hitler, loyalty and bravery! I vow to you and to the leaders that you set for me, absolute allegiance until death! So help me God!}"

Tokunotakai's voice whispered in her soul as the last hateful syllable left her lips, 'Remember Ehren, duty is heavier than a mountain but death is lighter than a feather."

Vati's gaze was heavy upon her. But his judgement of her was lighter than the awful weight of her duty and honor she carried another agonizing step up her Golgotha.

"{Good! Accept the Embrace!}"

She unbuttoned her collar as he moved to loom over her.

His shadow fell over her as she shifted her head to expose her neck for his gleaming fangs.

She felt the hot wind of Vati's scorching hungry breath on her neck as her heart hammered like the forge that had given her birth.

In the space between two heartbeats, Mutti's voice whispered in her ears with the words said to her that she had locked away to be forever treasured in her innermost heart of hearts.

"You are loyal, honorable, dutiful, protective, faithful, and valiant. As much as it tears my heart asunder to see you like this, as much as it hurts, I cannot deny that you are a du Chasteler. Ehren du Chasteler. My daughter. I just wish that Papa could have been here to see you, to guide me so that I would not make the mistakes that I have made."

Her steel blue eyes gleamed with unshed tears as her skin broke and Vati tasted her blood.

 

[darthcourt10]

baofengyu

The Mandate Pt 8
"Manipulation is done through propelling events...or selected ones into motion."



Court of Inner Harmony, Hidden Ministry, Beijing
2 August 2014, 6:17am

Daji sipped her tea as she stood at the balcony of the Ministry and watched the people. There was a quiet stoicism about them, the ability to weather change no matter how abrupt or disruptive.

"My Lady, we should go back inside. There is a storm coming."

Daji hid her smile behind the cup.



Beijing, 6:26am

Odd storms springing up was nothing new. The citizens of the city were used to the constant changes that seemed to crop up whenever something happened, or the Central Committee decided to change another law or enact some activity to improve morale. No, the people quickly moved about their day to day lives with no concern for the changing weather, and Rain, Thunder, and Lightning was of no consequence.

Then a part of the Forbidden City exploded.

The storm intensified to near hurricane levels in moments, with torrential rain creating almost a barrier to movement, driving the citizens indoors or underground, and yet a few adventurous souls did the only thing they could think of. Massive bolts of lightning seem to strike the city at random.

They pulled out cellphones.

Unbeknownst to them, one of the lightning strikes struck a rather innocent looking building.

A building that held a key component to the 'Great Firewall' of China.

In a moment of 1.21 gigawatts of magically enhanced lightning overloading every breaker in the old building and shorting out nearly every UPS, one layer of Central Committee censorship was stripped away from the internal servers. The external ones that controlled access to the rest of the world, however, remained intact. Mostly.

They had a mission.

Their master ordered them to Shenyang to find out if the theater General was open to an offer from their master, and perhaps put someone more…open to suggestion in his place should he prove intractable.

Unfortunately, the General was very well protected, and his disgust at their offer was plain for all to see. There was something…familiar about that old man. Something that made them remember a time of war and rebellion. A fox demon. A serpent. And a Treasure that was lost.

There would be time to investigate in the future once they completed this mission and relayed their findings and thoughts to their master. If the old man was truly one of the lost Treasure Guardians, then Xiao himself might have to make the journey north and 'convince' the General whose side he truly belonged.

So they pooled their power once they reached the outskirts of Beijing. The atmospherics were already conducive to a storm, and it did not take too long to bring it to the level of a severe thunderstorm. Moments later they tapped into the Jetstream and ramped the storm up further.

The first strike was at the Hidden Ministry in the Forbidden City.

They all knew it would be difficult to kill the Vixen right off, but a secondary effect of the attack was to kill as many of the magicals in Beijing as possible to weaken the Vixen's powerbase.

Another secondary attack was directed towards the Central Committee meeting room in the People's Hall. It might kill Minister Cai, might not, but the intent was to show their master's displeasure at the Minister for getting involved and disrupting the slow process he initiated to bring the last of the PLAN under his sphere of influence.

Fanatics were always useful, and the right coaxing, the right conditioning, a fanatic's focus can be shifted to serve a new purpose.



Daji set her teacup down amidst the rubble and looked up. The rain pelted her mercilessly, but she was not afraid of the weather. She could feel the Hidden Ministry reeling from the attack, those that survived the destructive strike trying to get some semblance of order and structure back to order to respond.

She let her 'wand' fall into her hand from her sleeve. Originally belonging to Wei Xiao, the wand was more of a prop than an actual tool, as her power did not really require such tools to use.

She stepped forward on the ruined balcony, her sense detecting her enemies above her in the air, in their element. They had the advantage in this battlefield, but Beijing was her city.

Perhaps…

She leapt up, almost apparating into the middle of their formation and instead of a burst of magical power directed at one of them, she spun in place before using gravity to bring down a kick that landed right into the neck/shoulder joint of Rain. She lowered her center of gravity as she dropped, following the falling Rain to the heart of Tiananmen Square.

An elemental master whose domain was water was a grave threat. One not to be underestimated as so much of the human body WAS water.

Fortunately, Daji was not human.

The elemental master cratered the ground when he impacted and Daji flipped way to balance herself on a post. Lightning flashed as one of the Elementalists descended, followed by a burst of wind that heralded the arrival of the third.

All three wore plain brown cloaks, with huge straw hats upon their heads that masked their faces. But she knew who they were.

The air master pulled out a pair of hook daggers.

The lightning master pulled out a pair of Emei and begun spinning them in the palms of his hands.

The water master rose to his feet and pulled out a pair of rods with iron claws affixed.

Daji covered her mouth with her sleeve and giggled.

She dropped the wand.

As she lowered her hand, a pair of fans fell into waiting palms and she flicked her wrists.

The fans snapped open.

The lightning master stepped back.

Daji slid a foot forward, raising her hands with the fans pointed towards the earth.

These masters were technically 'human', but countless years of dark magic have warped them. Changed them.

Bound them to a deathless sorcerer.

What shriveled hearts that remained in their chests would not be fit for the insects to feast upon.

They were outclassed, but they thought they were relevant still.

The wind howled.

The rain scoured.

The lightning crashed.

She attacked.
Spoiler

This was a dance. The Storms may have called the tune, but Daji changed the beat. A bolt of lightning cast at her deflected by the fan towards his ally, the razor-sharp edge of her fan forcing another to bend backwards, only to have the ignominy of her foot planted into his crotch.

She danced around the incoming attacks, sometimes deflecting, sometimes evading.

Each strike was measured and precise, just enough force to cause some damage, but nothing that would be a crippling or killing blow.

This served to enrage them further.

Manipulation was an art, and Daji was a master.

They lashed out blindly with their power, seeking to pin her down. The southern wall of the Forbidden City exploded outward as a massive lightning strike pushed Daji out into the street, her fans redirecting the bolt into the sky.

Fingers of lightning danced around her as she extended one foot behind her to brace herself.

The few people that dared peek out saw a woman, some of them knew her by sight, being attacked by three men using what could only be described as magic.

The air master put his palms on his chest and took a breath before flipping his palms around and shouting, sending a concussive blast outward.

The force knocked her off her feet, the shockwave throwing her through a car and into the window of a coffee shop, her arms and fans extended and in a blur of motion.

Behind her several frightened civilians watched as she kept the worst of the broken glass and debris away from them.

But the attack had a secondary effect.

The spell that masked her true presence failed.

Daji took a deep breath and shook herself, ethereal ears and tails emerging into the open. Her eyes shifted to an animalistic shape and color, and the hint of fangs behind her mouth.

She could feel the shift in mood her presence caused. There was a combination of fear, terror, shock, surprise, and…arousal?

She sighed quietly.

Humans.

Well, there is no point in holding back now, she thought.

Water droplets shot forward like arrows.

If she defended herself, the humans behind her would die.

If she defended the humans, she could take a grievous blow that might injure her.

She looked down and smiled.

She did both.

With her foot she kicked up a fractured table and launched it forward, while her fans wove a defensive spell that protected the humans from the attack.

She brought both fans together in a snap and channeled her power, thrusting them forward.

The table exploded outwards and she followed right behind it.


ICW HQ, Geneva, 6:58am

The eyes of many wizards and witches were fixed on the massive magical presence registering in China. The first true cracks in the Statute happened when Verdun nearly awoke, and now Beijing. They could not tell what exactly was happening yet, but their divinations where hampered by the spells put in place by the Maoists nearly sixty years ago, but should the event continue to propagate it might surpass the Verdun Incident.

"Do have any Aurors in China?"

"We can't contact anyone in the Hidden Ministry sir," A witch replied. "They suddenly dropped off the Floo Network just as the incident began, and other forms of wizardry communication have been spotty at best since those monsters appeared on the sea and the Chinese activated the Barrier."

"This is not good. Do we have any assets available?"

"We do have an unconfirmed report of a Canadian Auror in the area sir."

"Anything from Japan?"

"No sir, they are still dealing with the fallout from the Bunker incident. They can offer no help in this."

"Damn. Get any available Auror ready to go. We may have to attempt a mass breakthrough of the Barrier to get this incident under control."



East Chang'an Street, Beijing 7:12am

Whatever advantage they thought to create in forcing Daji to reveal herself was negated when the water master used a civilian to attack her. Yes, there were some witnesses present to the battle, of which she was actively trying to limit the collateral damage. It was her city after all.

She caught the human and spun him gently into a bench at a bus stop, dancing to the east to draw any further attacks away.

She cartwheeled through the air, passing over the combination air/water blades that threatened to bisect her, her tails coiled as she landed on the ball of her left foot and spun.

She built the spin into almost a pirouette and used the momentum to close the distance to the lightning master and struck at him with a passing fan.

He bent backwards to avoid the bladed weapon, only for Daji's tails to smash into his legs and flip him into the air.

A final spin brought her fan right into his midsection.

The impact cratered the street.

He spat a streamer of blood into the air.

She flipped backwards as the two raced to their fallen comrade.

She landed on the hood of a car and shook her fan before folding both and replacing them in her sleeves.

The trail of destruction from their battle was very evident, and even she wondered what their endgame was. If this was just a simple attack why did they linger?

Her senses expanded.

Then she understood.

All those cursed communication devices.

They want her on film, to show China that monsters exist, but their actions could easily be spun in a different light.

This may make the war much more difficult to win for the chosen successor, but that was their problem. She was just the arbiter.

The three launched a combined attack using their powers.

A simple enough effort to evade the attack.

Unfortunately, the humans behind her were not so lucky as the blast struck a building, shattering the brick and steel and sending a massive sign tumbling towards the ground where a group of humans huddled beneath an awning.

Daji leapt backwards into the air and caught the sign and swung it, using its velocity and adding to it to send it careening towards the trio.

Then she felt another presence.

You certainly took your time…

She landed gracefully and sat on the roof of a car, her tails gently waving despite the storm around them.



Dexian Road, Nanchangyi Village, 7:31am

Ying took a deep breath as she approached Beijing. She had seen hurricanes before, but never one that was so far inland, and so massive in scale and intact. Already the wind sheer was getting dangerous to fly in, but she had no choice. Her mobile phone dinged as a message arrived. Followed by another, and another, and another, but she paid them no mind.

She fought the wind as it forced her down into the suburbs of Beijing.

Then she realized her stealth spell had failed as countless people stared at her as the raced by.

She hid her face as best she could, not so much worried at being seen by no-majs, but more to hide her embarrassment. She should have checked for magical defenses around Beijing, but those that were not gawking were running for cover at the storm. She was thankful that she wasn't wearing her uniform.

Although, she thought. If she was wearing her uniform it could be passed off as a mass-hallucination.

She saw the lightning strikes and angled broom towards them. The weather was horrific to fly through, but she did not let it stop her. She set her broom's charms to automatic as she arched a building, then jumped off. Her breath caught as she watched a full sized sign get caught and casually tossed back at the three sorcerers on the ground. She hit the ground between the combatants and slowly stood up.

Daji clapped.

She cast a side glance at the Fox Demon before turning her head to stare at the three.

"I am pleased you finally decided to join us Daughter of MEI Yuying," Daji spoke, her voice rolled through the storm without hinderance.

The sorcerers seemed to be taken back.

"Allow me to introduce you to the ones responsible for your maternal grandparent's murder."

Ying's heart stopped.

Her breath caught in her throat.
Spoiler

Ying stood.

Her sight was awash in red.

Her mother's flight from China was a nightmare to listen to. The Taipingists were in open revolt against the Emperor. Even with her father's help it was no sure thing. In the mundane world it was two armies clashing, with no defined front lines, no overall strategy. Yet in the magical world it was much, much worse. Nonhumans were purged mercilessly. Anyone who did not kowtow to the 'new order' was killed. Ancient, respected bloodlines were erased and lost to the world. Even the most gentle were not immune from the violence and hatred. Hong Xiquan's enforcers murdered the Guardians of the Treasure in a brutal fashion, seeing to take by force what is always offered freely to the chosen few.

It was the great sin of the Taipingists.

To try to force the Mandate into their hands.

Their fall at the hands of the Qing only reinforced the belief that the Qing were rightfully the Heirs of the Mandate, until they too fell as all Dynasties inevitably do.

Ying held her sword out, parallel to the ground as she faced the three.

Her feet dug in.

The pavement cracked.

The storm above seemed to falter, as if unconsciously mirroring the change below.

With a flick of her wrist, Ying spun the hilt of her body out, and launched it towards the three.

Her body, tense, catapulted after her true body.

The sword hilt struck the water master and staggered him back a step.

Then Ying was there, her hand catching her hilt and flipping in mid air to execute a perfect ax kick that caused the water master to bounce head first against the pavement.

Her sword floated in her palm, swinging out towards the air master while thrusting a leg out in a side kick towards the lightning master.

Her food smacked him right in the jaw.

He did not look impressed.

Yet she did not relent, following up with a series of strikes forcing the lightning master to defend with his Emei.

Control the flow of the battle, Ying thought.

She thrust forward with her sword, flipping the blade vertical to send a slap against the weapons of her opponent, and used the kinetic impact to add to her own momentum to evade a hook knife strike towards her back.

As her blade slide free she parried a spinning blade strike from the newly risen water master.

Entangle them.

They were all fast. In the martial world, speed often determined the victor. And in this battle, they were all evenly matched.

But those that focused too much on one path lost sight of others.

And the three had been pursuing their abilities for so long they lost something vital. Make no mistake they were strong, true masters of their arts.

Use their strengths against them.

Ying danced and slid in a disjointed pattern, forcing the three to attempt to match her movements and causing them to get in each other's way. Use the Wuxing.

Lightning corresponded to metal.

Rain corresponded to water.

Air…

Air was the true threat. For air was not part of the Wuxing.

No, Air was greater.

Air was Qi.

Earth to Water. Fire to Metal.

Daji laughed.

She saw the vixen's expression in the reflection of her blade despite the storm. Her estimation of the three was correct.

The air master shouted.

The water master leapt.

The lightning master charged.

Ying let her blade drop and she spun around in a circle, trailing sparks, two fingers at her lips as she whispered. She slid back out of the circle and flicked her sword out, sending the circular mix of asphalt and earth out like a demented slinky.

The water master was caught by the arching earth column and smashed into the ground.

Less than an arm's length away she flicked the sparks on her sword out.

"DEFLAGRATIO!"

The stream of fire detonated in front of the lightning master. The blast was in part similar to that of hitting a brick wall for the man, and his defense was sorely tested as the flames and heat pushed him back until he was left sitting dazed and stuck in molten asphalt.

The air master stood unscathed.

He leapt into the air.

Ying ran.

She caught a blank wall and ran right up the side and used it to launch herself airborne.

Blades sparked as they clashed.

The natural order of the weather began to take hold once again.

Without the conscious effort by the three working in concert, holding a hurricane level storm so far inland was proving impossible as the normal local conditions worked to break the storm up.

Ying spun on a flat trajectory, her blade weaving as it blocked, parried, and attacked the twin hook knives of the air master, his own body seemingly floating along.

His power over Qi was immense.

She could feel it pulsing with each strike, but even he had limits.

She just had to find them even as her own reserves were wearing thin.

They landed, blades locked together.

A simple test of strength that was not so simple.

His eyes looked down briefly at her true body.

Then he saw it.

The writing.

The OATH.

And it was so much more than that. He looked up at Ying's eyes and then back at the blade.

He knew.

She could see it in his eyes that he knew exactly how the Oath was written.

Exposure to even part of a Treasure left a mark. It was a simple fact as decrees stamped with the Seal carried the same weight as if the Seal were present.

And weapons written with the Writing Set carried its own power, an effect that was doubled as it was backed by a God.

His foot caught her in the midsection, and he used a Qi enhanced blow to knock her back and break contact.

He moved faster, using his own reserves of Qi to blast through the earthen column to free the water master and grab him by the cloak to drag him along in his flight. The lightning master followed, and Ying watched the three retreat.

She absently swung her blade to shake the water off before resheathing herself in one smooth stroke.

Then she noticed them.

People.

With cellphones.

She cringed inwardly. This was not good at all, and she had no time to cast any disguise spells. And yet, she knew that she was only part of their focus.

Footsteps approached.

A scent of earth and pine mixed with the damp, mustiness of fur.

She straightened and turned.

She stood toe to toe, eye to eye with Su Daji.

And she was not afraid.



Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, John C Stennis Space Center, 7:35am

"Sir, we're getting some odd readings centered in China."

"Hong Kong?" The Officer of the Day nodded to the TV. That fog bank was unreal.

"No sir, there's a hurricane sitting on top of Beijing right now."

"What?" The officer turned from the TV to look at a monitor.

"I'll be damned," the OD said. "Any word from NOAA?"

"We got a FLASH from them two minutes ago. This storm just appeared out of nowhere."

"Weather doesn't just appear."

The tech handed over the satellite photos, each with the timestamp prominent.

"This one did."

"Shit." He looked back at the TV. "I have a bad feeling about this."



National Security Agency Headquarters, Fort Meade, Maryland (Thx Yellowhammer)
5 August 2014, 9:34am

"What do you have for me?"

"We backtracked the origin of that viral video that flagged our DELTA GREEN monitoring filters. It is a compilation of six cellphone videos from Beijing that were witnessing an apparent fight between paranormals. Also the overheads in NRO caught repair vehicles in two sites noted from the videos to be damaged in the fight. According to SAMSON, this kind of physical boosting beyond human norms is one of the techniques that the Chinese magicals developed and specialize in."

A finger pointed to the slow-motion movements of a cloaked Wei Ying running along the side of a wall as if it was level ground before kicking off it to rocket into one of the men to duel him midair impossibly.

"All this gives us a 92% confidence assessment that this is legitimate and describing an incident that happened in Beijing approximately 72 hours ago during that unexplained storm."

"Shit. Implications?"

"The Great Firewall took damage during the storm to one of the primary buildings monitoring and controlling internal file and video sharing. It is going viral all over Baidu, Youku and Toudou video sharing. Between the raws, supercuts, and the inevitable memes, music videos, parodies and so on it's out there and no way they can stop it any more than the Hitler Downfall parodies, just muddy the waters. That's the bad news."

The analyst looked at his boss. "The good news, sir, is that it has much less penetration into the wider internet. It's on the Dark Web and getting limited play on YouTube, Vimeo, and so on, but the spread is slower thanks to the language barrier and the fact that the external controls on information leak out of China were not breached as much. Our suggestion is to use botnets to explain it away and discredit it as viral marketing for a future martial arts film."

"I'll call GCHQ and the other Five Eyes to coordinate that. We need to delay this as long as possible, according to orders from the White House. Monitor the spread and get the data packaged and scrubbed for outside analysis branches to pick over for capabilities.

The Director of the National Security Agency and head of US Cyber Command rubbed his temples as he finished. "Keep up the good work John. I'll stream further resources to your monitoring of the situation in China, that seems to be the priority now with the political instability they are developing resulting in leadership contact networks shifting around two diametrically opposed poles." He took a deep breath as the visual display of phone calls, electronic messages, and known social contacts among the top ranks of the Chinese government morphed over time from a unified spiderweb into smaller and denser networks with fewer and fewer individuals with a foot in both camps. "God help us all if it turns into an actual civil war."



Kanmusu Joint Operations Center, The Pentagon, 10:31am

The staff at the KJOC had several monitors going at once both recording and analyzing the battle in Hong Kong, with several Drones that were vectored into the area to both record and monitor the situation. On another screen was an even odder video, one that was apparently streaming directly from Beijing. The video was spotty, grainy, obviously taken on a cell phone, but it showed something none of them expected to see, and potentially more damaging than the 'Blue on Blue' event in Hong Kong. The fact that this long to get to the video was something either the Three Letter Agencies came up with or something else at work.

"Get me Alondra Davis," The Chief of Staff ordered.

"Yes sir," His aide replied. "We've also received both verbal and written orders from the President in regards to the updated International Kanmusu Operational Arms Treaty."



Meanwhile in London

Hermione sat with the other shipgirls assigned to Hogwarts as the reports of the battle in Hong Kong were distributed. The battle in Beijing was of no consequence to them, but they were all shocked and dismayed at the violence that they were shown. Shipgirl vs Shipgirl was always joked about, but now it was all to real. She pulled her knees up to her chin and made herself small.



Neville Longbottom sat with the Orion sisters as they watched the battle footage of Hong Kong yet again, this time with their Faeries diligently taking notes. They were all veterans of Jutland, and while none of them ever expected to face other Kanmusu in battle due to the continued Abyssal threat, the battle in Hong Kong dispelled any thought of it ever being an impossibility. Yet even old battlewagons such as they could be a threat to their more modern sisters as proven in the video.

"They used magic to get close," Neville commented. "They used a magical fog to hide their approach until they were ready to strike. That in and of itself is a violation of the Statute, but I don't think many people thought about it that much considering."

"Impressive fire control for pre-dreadnoughts," Orion remarked.

"All things considered," Thunderer leaned back. "What has your grandmother in such a state Neville?"



Somewhere in Europe

Colombe looked down at the video streaming to her phone from Beijing. She clicked a button and smirked as she turned back to her wardrobe to decide what to pack for her trip to Diagon Alley to shop for Ehren's wand. Definitely going on my lock screen. I'm glad that I subscribed to that website for viral video alerts.



Black Hills, South Dakota

That recent cellphone video out of Beijing that looked like a magical martial arts movie that would give Hollywood wet dreams. While the official claim was that it is a viral movie marketing promotion, Alondra had to laugh, especially since the overheads had watched an impossible storm form from nowhere over the Forbidden City at the same time..

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Grimacing as the Komatsu Light Armored Vehicle hit get another pothole, mud and water splashing around the wheels, the driver glanced around the darkened woods even as branches scraped along the vehicle's sides. Internally grumbling, he squinted a little to see better in the rapidly darkening evening. With a glance at the back, he turned to the man beside him, "How much further?"

Lips curled a bit, the man tapped the touch screen in front of them, "Not far, just two kilometres up this road after the branch off."

Frown on his face, the driver bounced a bit as the vehicle hit another rut in the road, "The hell? There's nothing there but an old mine. What could you want there?"

A grunt from behind made him pale a little before realizing it was a chuckle from the older man, "What indeed? Just remember that for a while, you see nothing, son."

With a glance at the man in the back seat as well as the two others, the driver gulped, "Yes, Sir." Internally, he shook his head as this was beyond his pay grade. He did look at the man beside him as he had a nasty scar alongside his face. Though it was odd as according to him, it was just a few weeks old, though it looked younger than that, 'Wonder what gave him it?'

Sure, scuttlebutt claimed that something big had gone down a few weeks back. And there were reports of some old terrorist cell having tried to reactivate some old biological weapons from the Second World War when stumbled upon by some teens just outside of Yokosuka. But it couldn't have involved that, right?

Right?

Just shaking those thoughts off, the driver concentrated on the road as the vehicle attempted to fishtail in the muck. It did not take him long before the headlights illuminated a wall of trees that had grown across the road. Feeling a tap on the shoulder, he turned to look at the other man as he nodded and pointed, "Slow down and head straight through them."

Only blinking as he at least slows down, the driver gave him a look, "Drive through them?! There's no way this vehicle is getting through that brush and I don't even know what is on the other side!"

Chuckling, the other man patted him on the shoulder and grinned, "Something unbelievable, trust me."

At that, the driver frowned as he looked into the mirror, only to see the older man in the back give him a nod. With a sigh, he slowed down to nearly a crawl and headed for the brush at the end of the road even as the medallion hung around his neck bounced. He flinched a bit just as they were about to hit a tree...

When the tree and brush vanished.

Rapidly blinking, the driver stared at the open area before him which was a hive of activity. Just... not human activity. Something proven when a female Kitsune with three tails motioned him towards an area with various vehicles. The fact that behind her stood a makeshift guard shack was not lost on him either even as he followed the gestured directions, "Uh... what the fuck?"

Grin on his face, the other man clapped him on the shoulder, "Welcome to the other side, things have just begun get strange. Ah, there's Captain Itami! Stop next to him."

Still boggled at all he was seeing, the driver didn't say anything, simply nodding.

Pulling up beside the JGSDF Captain, he came to a stop and allowed the man beside him to get out. Said man opened the doors to the back and came to a salute as did Itami, "Sir!"

Just stepping out, the General returned the salute, "Captain Itami, at ease." When the Captain relaxed, he nodded at the JASDF Officer which stepped out, "Allow me to introduce Colonel Sakuma, he will be liaising for the JASDF." Once the two men saluted each other, the General gesture forward, "If you will, Captain."

With a nod, Itami smiled, "Hai, if you will follow me. And please don't mind the noise much... they're rather busy."

Eyebrow raised, Sakuma nodded, "I can see." At a buzz, he watched as an ultralight that looked like a small plane took off from a nearby field, "They're using ultralights?"

Following his gaze, Itami nodded a bit, "Hai, they have used them for reconnaissance against Abyssal forces and will be performing overwatch for some of the Reserves to keep an eye out for any issues."

Utterly silent, the Colonel stared at him for a few moments before looking on as another ultralight taxied onto the makeshift runway, "They performed recon in those... against Abyssals?!"

Grimace on his face, Itami nodded, "The Abyssal troops, anyways." He gestured at one, "From what I saw, they got a lightened sheet of three inch steel wrapped around the bottom with various spells making it more like six inches. Enough to protect the pilot and magical sensor operator. They... still lost a number."

Expression becoming serious, Sakuma turned to him, "And each and every one of them will be honoured when the day comes, you can trust me on that." Running a hand through his hair, he frowned a little, "What sort of sensors, by the way? Crystal balls?"

Lightly chuckling, the Captain shook his head, "No, mirrors and cameras. The mirrors use some form of divination." He then gave a shrug, "They're using those while flying just outside the perimeter of the wards surrounding the Reserves still under the control of the Tokyo Diet. Mainly to keep an eye out for any increase of magical activity."

It went without saying that each of those there understood what he meant and simply nodded.

Paying the conversation half a mind, the Major General was watching as various uniformed Yokai in animal form piled into one of the Kei vans that were there before taking off. There was even one or two that vehicles that looked like someone had shrunk a LAV down to kei vehicle size. Then a rumble made him turn and blink at the sight of one of the small "Tanks" that the Yokai had used. Even now, it was driving up a ramp into a trailer while two more waited their turn. Eyebrow raised, he frowned slightly, "Hard to believe that they fought Abyssals in those."

Gaze following his, Itami nodded a little, "Hai, it is. But they were effective." Pausing for a moment, he cleared his throat, "Speaking of, Sir..."

Lips curling into a slight smile, the higher ranked JGSDF Officer hummed, "Do not worry, Captain. The first dozen Scorpion IIs direct from the assembly lines in the Philippines are in a convoy heading for Kyushu. We already have twenty of the Yokai Tankers who have trained for them and they should receive them within a month. In exchange, Japan will gift them with two dozen rebuilt M-60-120S as part of the payment."

Itami gave a small nod at that as he remembered seeing the "Light Tanks" that Japan was getting for the Yokai. As long as the Statute was in force, the Japanese government could not hand over any modern tanks used in the JGSDF. Some people might notice after all that some went missing and ask questions. Which meant that they needed to get... creative with things. One example was how some Type 74s were listed as "Destroyed" and quietly handed over to Yokai in the Yokai Self-Defense Force. Another was the M-60-120S, which was basically an old M-60 rebuilt with some improvements including a turret from a Abrams. Due to the war sucking up resources, Japan had bought a few hundred obsolete M-60s for the upgrades/rebuilds and sold them at cost to various Southeast Asian countries which gave them quite a bit of firepower to use against Abyssals cheaply.

About six had, of course, "Fallen off the back of a truck" and this gifted the Yokai with firepower just in case.

However, what they had been most pleased with was the Scorpion II which were brand new and an modernized version of the old British FV-101 Scorpion. At around ten tons, they were a really small tank as far as he could see. From what Itami knew, after Blood Week, due to the fact that the British no longer produced them and need, they had shipped what tooling remained to the Philippines who still used said vehicles. With help of Americans and British as well as some Japanese who could be spared, they set up a small factory in Luzon that produced a version using modern technology that was sold throughout Southeast Asia.

Thus, when the Yokai admitted that they wanted something smaller, and more easily transportable than a MBT, the Japanese government quietly made a deal for three dozen of the small tanks. Officially, they were bought for "Testing". In reality, they would be handed over to the Yokai who were pleased. Slight expansion charms made it more roomy on the inside for the crew and the 90mm gun gave it some punch.

Shaking his head, Itami internally chuckled at the image of a group of a Kitsune in animal form with his fox head covered by a helmet sticking his head out a hatch as it drove past when he visited one of the training areas.

With a sigh, however, the Captain gave a small nod, "They'll he happy to know that they're going to be here soon." A grimace crossed his face at one memory, "We could have used them at the Bunker."

Only nodding as he grimaced himself, the General sighed, "Hai, they would have been useful there." Rubbing his chin, he hummed, "Though, from what I heard, it did inspire some people..." Voice lowering, the Officer looked at Itami, "Still, the sooner we get them out of those death traps, no matter how well they have done, the better."

That got him a nod from Itami as he would not disagree on that fact.

It did not take them very long to reach what had been the old Administration building for the mine when it had been active. Now, it instead served for the main HQ for the Yokai militias. As they entered, the Major General took note of the activity of those going back and forth. Unlike what the movies had one believed, there was no rushing. Instead, they moved quickly and with purpose as they went back and forth with orders and new information. As they walked past, those who could saluted the members of the JGSDF and received ones of their own. Something that both the JGSDF and JASDF Officers approved of. Entering the main room where the Commanders were, they noted Tsubaki look up before the Oni snapped to attention and saluted, "Sir."

With a small nod, the General smiled and saluted back, "Commander Dōji." He then held out his hand to shake hers, "A pleasure to finally meet you."

Somewhat surprised, Tsubaki took the hand and applied only as much pressure as the General did as she shook it, "The same, General Yamazaki." As they let go of the handshake, she glanced around and noted more than one Yokai was surprised, "Sorry about the business."

Rather than be insulted, Yamazaki laughed a bit, "No need for that, it speaks well of your people." Chuckles dying away, his expression took on a tiredness, "Especially with what is happening."

Lips pressed thinly, the Oni gave a nod, "Agreed." Running a hand through her hair, she sighed a little, "We knew that this was coming, but we expected them to hold on for at least another two weeks or so, hopefully to the end of August before it fell apart." A dry chuckle escaped from Tsubaki's lips as she shook her head ruefully, "But plans never survive, I suppose. And this is just kicking us all in the nuts."

Once more, Yamazaki laughed a bit at that, "From your lips to the ears of the Kami." His expression became serious, "How bad?"

Considering the question for a few moments, Tsubaki frowned, "At the moment? Not that bad. Kyoto is sending out teams of Aurors and we're providing assistance where we can. At the moment, our worry is more the Reserves. There is also the possibility that some... factions... might cause problems until things are stabilized."

At that, the General nodded with a scowl on his face as he could well imagine he knew what factions she was talking about. Everyone was worried that some groups, realizing what was happening and what could happen as they would be left out in the cold, might cause trouble. There was at least one report of a group of former Tokyo Aurors taking potshots at someone in Hidakagawa, only to be stopped by Kyoto Aurors.

With a deep breath, Yamazaki placed a briefcase he carried with him on the table where there was a clear spot and opened it to reveal some sheets of paper, "Here, this is for you."

Eyebrow raised, Tsubaki took them and looked over the papers before her eyes widened a touch, "These are radio frequencies and codes!"

She was not the only one who turned to the General among the Yokai, even as he nodded, "Hai, they are." Standing a bit straighter, he gave her a look of respect, "We've cleared those channels for your use as well as the rest of the Yokai Self-Defense Force. Same with the codes we've devised, we hope that it can be of use and help for you in communicating amongst yourselves." Yamazaki then gave a nod towards the papers, "At the bottom are special codes as well. If needed, not that we expect them to be as we have full confidence in your abilities, you can request assistance from the JGSDF and we'll provide it as much as we are able to without causing too much issue."

Opening his own briefcase, Sakuma removed a similar group of papers, "And these are radio channels and codes for any fliers you have. As with the JGSDF, we'll provide what support we can."

Slightly smiling, Yamazaki hummed, "Right now, if you have need, we can, ah, help with any traffic issues that could arise under a disguise of a surprise exercise."

Grin on her face, Tsubaki chuckled and the other Yokai also smiled as they agreed before they got back down to work.

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

Back in... I think it was December, I gave Harry a speech a certain someone in the Tokyo Diet could given when he decided it was time to bring it down. In a recent chapter, the tail end of that speech was used. So, with a little help from the others from the PM we use to discuss things relevant to Moriko and Hachiko (which, given the latter's familial ties to those deeply involved in Tokyo's bureaucracy, that means that area of discussion spills over), I have polished that speech, given it context, and I now offer it to everyone else to cite when they want to discuss the eminent transfer of power. Complete with a handy map of the prefectures that defected or threaten to.
------

Magical Chiyoda Ward, Diet Building of the Magical Diet of Japan


The House of Councilors was packed, every seat was filled. Not only with the members of the House, but with members of the House of representatives, the Press and civilian spectators. For months, discontent at the Magical Government of Japan had been growing, and accelerating in recent weeks due to very public mismanagement of government responses, while the Anti-Diet in Kyoto was proving again and again to be more and more competent, so much so that prefectures were starting to defect! The most recent embarrassment was how the Diet had proclaimed through the mainstream media that the Reserves would collapse into Anti-Human anarchy should they relent and let Kyoto manage the ones in their areas of control.

This turned out to not merely backfire, especially how it flew in the face of the government's story about how the Reserves were peaceful, clean, and well-managed, but it also highlighted Tokyo's own dishonesty when the expected uprising never came.

And now an emergency session was called, due to recent referendums where not just two or three prefectures, but entire Islands defected. Something thought impossible not a year ago, was happening before their very eyes.

The whole day, the House had seen one Councilor after the next make speech after speech, all of them following the same general Party line: That this was but a momentary rebellion, nothing would come of it, only the radicals and anarchists and secret Scourers were involved, it was a Muggle Plot, it was a Youkai Plot, there was even a member of the lingering remains of the Neo-KPT raving about it being an American Plot before his grandson helped the old man down from the podium.

In general, it was all the ramblings of the desperate and the deluded, and none of it actually did anything to address the issue at hand. It was half-past eleven in the morning. They had time for one more voice to be heard before an official debate on what course of action the Government should take. With the bang of his gavel the Speaker of the House called up the last name on the agenda.

"The House recognizes Councilor Ito, of Saitama Prefecture. You have four minutes."

The Councilor, about fifty years old, with a receding hairline but with his full head of hair still, walked up to the podium, even as the bulk of the chamber groaned and scoffed at the sound of his name. Still, a bang or two of the Speaker's gavel quieted them down. Barely.

Ito pulled out his speech and donned his spectacles. With a small cough to clear his throat he began the speech that – unbeknownst to him, his audience, or the multitude listening in over the Wizarding Wireless – would alter Japan's destiny forever.
Spoiler: Councilor Ito

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Assembly, friends and colleagues, citizens of Wizarding Japan. I speak to you now, as our Government faces a terrible crisis. A crisis, not seen in this country, since the dark days in the Bosin War, and the Meiji Restoration. Faith in our Government is at an all-time low and falling."

At once, the room quietened to permit the use of the pin drop cliché. All listening could sense that this was not going to be more of the same.

"Instead, more and more the radicals and malcontents in Kyoto, traitors who have turned their backs on the legitimate seat of government of our nation, are being raised up as this country's head by our own citizens, and is seen as the true source of political power. At midnight last night, Hokkaido defected. A short time ago, the prefectures of Kyushu all defected as one. This marking the first time in history, when an entire home island of Japan sat under the command of another regime. And now with Hokkaido, that makes a full half of our Archipelago Home divided. And much as it pains me to say this... They are well and truly right to do so!"

All at once the chamber was full with a dull roar of shock, outrage, and surprise. Councilor Ito, who had long stuck to his position appointed to him by his constituency even as others cut their losses and defected to Kyoto, had long been known for being motivated by principal rather than comfort when it came to the Youkai. But never before had he directly attacked the government itself. After all, it was unthinkable for someone, once they had reached a position of power, would attack the very ladder that put them there.

"Yes assembly members, I say they are right! Just look at this past year if you were to blind to see it! Hokkaido left to the wolves of an Abyssal invasion? A peaceful, lawful demonstration agitated into a bloody riot through Auror incompetence? And not even a month ago, an Abyssal attack on Tsushima, abandoned. Innocent civilians, murdered, while politics forced those that could have helped them to sit on their hands for half a day! And that was further delayed by them investigating the estates of representatives and councilors when they should have been seeking out the dead and wounded at the site of the attack!

"And what do they do when they finally arrive, hours after the enemy returned from whence they came? When they found noble, selfless good Samaritans working to save and preserve life? Did they join in the activities to serve and protect the community, as is an Auror's primary calling? NO! They disrupt and deliberately undermine ongoing rescue and recovery operations! Medical personnel pulled from dying patients! Rescue workers put under arrest while in the very act of lifting a collapsed house off of a trapped and dying family!

"And this on top of a standing order that is as blindly inflexible as it is infuriatingly incompetent! Ever since this war started, the Yokai - law-abiding, hard-working, citizens-"

"DAMN MONSTER-LOVER!" came the one intelligible cry from the roar of outrage from the bulk of the assembly, loud enough that for moments even the Speaker's gavel could not be heard.

"YES! Yes I said citizens!" the Councilor cried when the roar died down some, "They have lived side-by-side us from the beginning, and while yes the Reserves have a vitally important purpose for the more dangerous varieties, the very fact that many members of those same races are permitted to live among us is more than proof enough that they are equally deserving of being treated as any other citizen! And when these upstanding citizens volunteer to put their very lives on the line, to serve and protect Japan from these Abyssals alongside our Auror forces, freeing up hundreds of hands to cover so many vital tasks, they are rewarded with arrest and summary imprisonment in the reserves. A system I have repeatedly provided proof and protest over its inhumane treatment of residents, even before Blood Week!"

The chamber is silent again. Ito, visibly exhausted as the wave of emotion passes him by, looks around the chamber, looking more than a little weary and disheartened.

"…Why am I here? Why are any of us here? What is the ultimate purpose of Government, if not to do good? I have been told, by my officials, that doing Good is not the role of government. Rather, it is to provide Order and Stability, assurance that we shall be here tomorrow.

"But what is the point of Order? Will Order provide food for a community raked by famine? What is the point of Stability, if mothers fear for their children when they go outside to play? Why should a father care about Order, if his business is destroyed because the Aurors are too busy focusing on minor infractions, while ignoring the more important needs? We've just become a giant gravy train. Corruption at every-"

Suddenly, an official from the Councilor's office rushes in. From where she stands next to her father in the back of the room, Naomi Miyata's eyes narrows in thought. Ito covers the microphone as he and the aid talk, the younger man holding out a sheet of paper. The Councilor, visibly shaken, grabs the paper, allowing a soft cry of 'my gosh!' to be picked up by the mic as he goes over the paper.

"Ladies an-" the mic whines in protest while the Councilor clears his throat. It wouldn't do for an Elected Official's voice to crack like a school boy's, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have just been informed that, as of..." he paused long enough to look at his watch. "Five minutes ago, the list of Prefectures defecting or threatening to defect to the Kyoto Shadow Government has been updated.

"Along with the prefectures of Tsushima, Iki, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Okinawa, Okayama, and Yamanashi, the Ryukyu Islands and the Izus, we now have confirmation of Hyogo, Toyama, Hiroshima, Gifu, Fukui, Yamaguchi, Nagano and Aichi Prefectures, and the entire Tohoku region, declaring allegiance to Kyoto. In addition, Ehime, Kanagawa, Ibaraki, and Saitama – which contains my own constituency – will be holding referendums today. With the polls closing at sundown tonight.

"I do not believe I need to inform those listening that, should the last three prefectures confirm the referendums, and defect to Kyoto, that will mean that the city of Tokyo will be totally cut off from the rest of the loyal prefectures of Japan. Nor do I believe that I need to belabor the point of the implications of that state of affairs. As for myself... I find myself both emboldened, and terrified. Not simply for myself, for I find myself abandoned by my constituents! I was voted by them, to serve the Diet in Tokyo, and I have striven to represent their interests in this august body for many years, and now they are telling me that I - or perhaps some replacement - may very well serve them better in another city..."

The Councilor had another pause, hand over his mouth as he stared at the sheet of paper. Then, in a fluid motion, he stood up straight, and looked around the assembly chamber, a small but strengthening expression of stern fortitude in his face. And in the back of the room, Shigeru Miyata groaned and covered his eyes.

"Father?"

"Don't look now Naomi," the old civil servant said, "but the Councilor has gotten one of his bright ideas…"

"And they may yet be right!" Ito said in a loud voice, banging his fist on the podium, "For when Tokyo abandoned Hokkaido, Kyoto stood up to defend that island. While the Aurors of Tokyo were too fearful for their careers to dare do their duties without first seeing to the private properties of government officials, Kyoto was driving off the enemy, and tending to the wounded, seeking out the missing, and burying the dead! And while Tokyo wastes precious time, energy, and resources in locking away Yokai for the crime of helping their fellow citizens in dire times, Kyoto welcomed their help and put them to work, as any responsible government ought! The very actions I have championed, and have been defeated time and time again, Kyoto carries out without question!

"Therefore, it is no great surprise that it has come to this then, isn't it? That as of now, Half of Japan now stands against us in Tokyo, a number that may yet grow in the coming days and weeks.

"So. What is to be done? What shall we do to counter this blatant loss of confidence in our authority? Will we bow to it? Or shall we enforce it? If we enforce our authority, that will mean open civil war. ...I have a son old enough to be conscripted for such a war. Is that what you want? Will we send son to kill father? Father to kill daughter? Sibling to kill sibling? Is that how we are to prove that Tokyo is the true seat of government? Are we going to prove our love for our citizens by killing their friends and family? Is that what we want?

"I don't. And I won't! Therefore! I motion to call a vote of No Confidence in this body!"

At that, the House of Councilors was filled with the murmurs of shock and surprise, and even of scheming at what the implications of this bold and courageous action would be.

"If passed," Ito continued, "then I motion that the Magical Diet assembly in Tokyo is to be dismantled, and all authority and governance responsibilities, shall then forthwith transfer over to the Diet Assembly in Kyoto!"

"I second that motion!"

As one, hundreds of heads turned to the Observation gallery, to see Representative Naito standing tall, hand in the air. And like some secret signal was given, the House of Councilors erupted in anarchy, with some Councilors seconding the motion themselves (as Naito's didn't count, given that he was from the House of Representatives), others decrying it, others just trying to motion a recess for them to get something to eat dammit all. But soon enough the chaotic roar faded into a rhythm, and that rhythm crescendo into a chant. A chant that would topple a government.

"Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!"


------

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Dumpster, Dumpster, burning bright, in the jungles of the night.... (Yes, the Bad guys are very bad people but will get what is coming to them so no ITG/Derails please)!

Ehren Erwacht! (VII)

August 12th, 2014

Malafé S.A. Special Facility #1, Pirayú, Paraguarí Department, Paraguay

"He struggled with himself, too. I saw it -- I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself." -- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
Spoiler: A Crystal Ball Call

Sieglinde Böhmer-Malafé rubbed her aching eyes as she sat down at her desk in her private office.

She didn't know how the bitch had done it, but La Paloma had escaped her for now.

For now....

She scowled and resolved once again to make the bitch suffer for killing her family members.

But she had other things to deal with today, as much as she regretted otherwise.

Her ally Helmar Wolff was due to speak to her about another shipment of the ingredients for the potions that kept her young and healthy.

Not that she would dare breathe what the Mokéle-mbêmbe blood was actually used for.

With that she tapped a code into her crystal ball. She would want maximum security for this conversation. Sieglinde had few illusions about how much the Nazis were hated now, even if some of their ideas about racial supremacy and the natural right for the strong to rule the weak had merit. Unlike Helmar who in his stiff-necked Prussian stubbornness had never realized that the world had changed and he was a relic.

She smirked as she thought about her old acquaintance who she had first met in 1936 when she was in a Bund Deutscher Mädel(Association of German girls) troop camped one set of tents over from his SS Cadet platoon for the Reichsparteitag(Nazi party convention) rallies. You never truly forget your first, she mused, even if he was the kind of lover who did everything precisely in Ordnung. Pity, really, that he had been disgraced according to the rumors she heard as a member of the Ahnenerbe-SS and then vanished during The War before making contact with her again from his base in Africa a decade later.

Still, time to butter him up.

With that thought, she sketched the activation glyph, adjusted her black mourning dress and saluted the two figures in the crystal with a Hitlergruß before speaking in German . "{Heil Hitler, Helmar.}" She noticed a face she had never seen before standing stiffly one pace back and to the right of Helmar's chair. Sieglinde's eyes noticed the red-flecks in her steel blue eyes, the immaculate SS uniform, and sighed mentally. That's Helmar for you.... "{New aide?}"

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa

Helmar Wolff smiled at Sieglinde through his crystal ball as he returned the Hitlergruß. "{Heil Hitler, Sieglinde. Actually not. This is my daughter Ehren. Isn't she a perfect specimen?}" He cocked his head at the black clad SS officer standing stiffly at his elbow. "{Go ahead and greet Sieglinde, she is an old ally of mine. We met for the first time in 1936.}"

Ehren braced to rigid attention. "{Jawohl, Vati!}" Her arm shot out in a Hitlergruß and ivory flashed from her fangs as she spoke. "{Heil Hitler, Sieglinde! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance! I look forward to working with someone who shares the Führer's vision as Vati and I do!}" She snapped out in a coolly precise voice before falling silent once more.

"{Heil Hitler. I never knew that you had a child, Helmar. My compliments. Just the one?}" Sieglinde responded.

"{Just the one. I don't suppose that you have any racially pure sons of the right age and lineage for my Ehren to wed? You of course are of superb stock and I have heard many good things about the pureblood family that you married into. The last I heard César was as of yet unwed, after all.}" Wolff responded genially.

Sieglinde scowled murderously and shook her head as tears fell. "{That bitch La Paloma assassinated my César two weeks ago and escaped! My only grandson unless and until Sertorio and Maria have another child.}"

Wolff scowled, "{A great shame. You by chance do not have a face to put to the killer? I shall make inquiries and whatever I find shall be passed along to you so you can get revenge.}"

Sieglinde nodded sharply, then tapped her temple with her wand. A ribbon of memory formed around her wand and then she touched it to the crystal ball. "{I don't know how she escaped my manhunt.}"

Ehren leaned forward, her eyes intent as she watched Estelle flee across the parking lot, pursued by a golem as spells and bullets filled the air. A Cruciatus curse hit the black clad woman to no effect and Ehren's gaze sharpened. Then her eyes widened as Estelle suddenly leapt backward, to use her dagger to cripple and then kill the pursuing Grendel before making her escape. She nibbled her lip in thought. as one hand touched the hilt of her Ehrendolch.

"{Tochter, what is it?}" Vati's words sounded in her ear, disrupting her concentration as she picked the memory of the escape to pieces. Ehren braced to attention automatically.

"{Vati, I am not positive, however I believe I may have deduced something of that foe.}" Ehren said slowly as she visibly thought. "{The maneuvers she performed in combat are similar to those of Mutti, ja? The blade she carried is an antique as well and was far more effective than normal in defeating her foe, whatever that was.}"

"{A Grendel, Ehren. We used them in the War to make good use of Untermenschen. Sieglinde has shared the secrets of their construction with me.}" Wolff spoke as he surveyed his daughter with an impassive gaze. "{Proceed.}"

Ehren nodded sharply. "{Zu Befehl! Regardless, it is not impossible that she is the spirit of a weapon similar to Mutti. If so, it is likely that it is the dagger, which is an enchanted antique and was not visible when she took the helicopter. Since you said that was no body found in the crash site for the helicopter and no tracks, that may have been a decoy while she left the secure area through another means in the confusion.}"

Sieglinde's gasp was audible through the crystal ball and shock filled her face, followed by rage.

Wolff gave a warm approving smile to Ehren. "Sehr gut!"

Ehren's position of attention radiated pride.

With that, Wolff turned to Sieglinde. "{Such a good Tochter I have.}"

Sieglinde gave Ehren a nod filled with respect. "{A very good Tochter indeed, Helmar. Such a good girl. She would have made a good match for César. Still, to business....}"
------------------------

August 15th, 2014

Aruwimi River, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

A steam pinnace chugged upriver against the current as dense jungle and swamp passed on either side.

Masamune-no-Tokunotakai, dressed in the light silk of her Miko robes, stepped out onto the deck and nodded to the spectral faerie helmsman who was steering them up the hidden and Unplottable tributary that the divinations had guided them to.

Toku looked around, sipping a canteen of water, before approaching Nongqawuse, who stood like a obsidian statue in the bows as she stood watch, casting spells to warn for rocks, mudflats, or sandbars that might sink their boat.

"I'll relieve you, Nongqawuse." Toku said quietly.

"Ewe." The African bracelet said. "Be warned, I sense... something powerful. We are near."

Toku nodded and leaned in as they passed the skeletal carcass of a hippopotamus that a collection of carrion fowl were picking at. "What is it?"

Nongqawuse shook her head as she leaned on her throwing spear. "I do not know. This country is new to me."

The boat steered around another bend into a larger stretch and the Blade of Hachiman tensed.

Something was wrong....

Even the jungle sounds were muted.

Toku's hand found her hilt as her blue-green eyes flickered from trees, to clumps of grass, to the water, to the solitary hippopotamus in the shallower brown-green water to the port side of the pinnace, to the river on the far side.
Spoiler: Hippo!

Then her instincts screamed as her head moved to the right.

Toku's head snapped around to the left and locked on the not-hippopotamus as four eyes blinked in place of the not-hippopotamus' nostrils and eyes.

The surrounding carrion birds suddenly took flight from the trees.

The 'head' of the Hippopotamus and the front half of it's 'body' split into rows of jagged teeth as the head of the monstrosity that it was a part of exploded from the water at the end of a serpent-like neck thicker than the mightiest trees.

Magical terror slammed into Tokunotakai with the force of the Sword of Hopelessness as the four eyes focused on her and the boat that she was in.

Nongqawuse screamed in fear. "Mokéle-mbêmbe!!"
Spoiler: Mokéle-mbêmbe

 

[darthcourt10]

MagisterAurelius

Still working on my next Ship of Fools update, but since I have to run an errand to chauffeur for an unhappy puppo with glands needing expression in a bit... here's a brief little interlude between an ancient fossil of the Tokyo Magical Diet and a grandson who erred badly in his hobbies of amateur kidnapping and petkeeping.
*-*-*

Holding cells of the Kyoto Department of Magical Law Enforcement - Kyoto

Imada Hayato looked up as he heard footsteps down the hallway. Surprise registered on his face as his grandfather, Councilman Imada of the Tokyo Diet, had stopped before his cell.

"Grandfather! I was wondering when you'd set things right and get me out of this pit of yokai-lovers." Hayato grabbed the bars eagerly, only for his wonder and surprise to fade as his grandfather skewered him with a look.

"Oh the irony of your words brings such a feeling to this old man's heart, you idiot boy." Hayato reeled back from the sheer venom in his grandfather's voice. "Your accusation of your captors of being yokai-lovers is rather entertaining, considering what they are charging you with, is it not? Your father at least had a miniscule sense of self-preservation to try to hide his activities. I don't pretend to understand why you needed to destroy my reputation and career in the manner you did..."

"Because you didn't lift a finger to avenge the injustice that bitch put my father through! So I did and..." Hayato was cut off by the icy words spat from his grandfather's lips.

"You utter fool. Your father was too stupid to take the hint, so he had to be given some way to redeem his honor. I called in many favors to have things happen as they did. And the thanks I get? The ungrateful child grows up to partake in his father's vices and double down. But then again, maybe blood does tell after all. Didn't you bother to think that maybe your father died to protect an even worse secret? After all, why did you always seem to never have any human female companionship, hmmm boy? Or should I say, hanyou-boy?"

Hayato reeled back in shock, eyes wide in horror. His grandfather's flat voice followed him, gloating.

"Oh, now the yen drops at last! You have one last task to perform before I completely wash my hands of you. Did you manage to bring forth any other offspring that you hid away? Don't look at me like that, that's why things have taken this long without you getting a trial. Your last little "pet" you were caught with? I suppose congratulations are in order, you managed to extend the family name. Perhaps this child will not attempt to destroy the honor of my house like you and your father."

"Help me grandfather..."

"No. Even if I wanted to, I can no longer even help you choose the garden to atone. The Diet has dissolved and I no longer hold office. Any more children? No? For a final piece of advice. I doubt you'll pull it off, but at least make a decent attempt at suicide. For your own personal honor at the very least. Sayonara."

The sounds of his grandfather's footsteps receding down the hallway rang in Hayato's ears long afterwards.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Okay then. You have not idea how tempting it is to call this something like... Jericho or something. Maybe, instead, let's go with...
A Path, Chosen

-----

Odd as it was to say, Olivia McKay actually held a certain respect for Shipgirls.

They were dangerous, of course. Any mystical being, even guardian deities such as them, were dangerous—history was full of fickle hearts and false promises. But they did the Duty where no human could as of yet, and Olivia had no doubt that they risked just as much in doing so. If nothing else, that commanded respect.

(As of yet, of course, still had effect, and it was not certain how things would turn out once humans stood on level ground with their oceanic assailants, so while the Duty had not brought her into conflict with Shipgirls Olivia was still trying to find a way to combat them)

Even if she did not, though, there was no way that she could turn someone with a search warrant out of the house without appearing the least bit suspicious. That meant that she would have to guide the errant searchers—and when one had a good enough handle on how minds, human or not, worked, the right words could have you calling left right and thinking it your own idea. Which, in turn, meant that she hoped the Shipgirls would stay in one place while she navigated the hallways of the massive compound that the McKay women called home.

Fortunately, they did.

"Mrs. McKay?" one of the girls looking around the sitting room snapped to attention from her examination of the decorations. Olivia frowned—while there was nothing wrong with looking, the odd artifact was mixed in here and there just in case they were needed. If the Shipgirls were able to sense their presence… well, she had acted the part of an eccentric collector before. She could do it again if she needed to.

"Indeed," she said gruffly (one of the perks of old age—she could speak exactly as she wanted, and no one would give a shit). "An' ye two?"

"My name is HMS Monarch," the speaker replied, nodding respectfully. "And this is my sister, Orion."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," the redhead added.

"Ah'm sure." Olivia's lip twisted. "Soo, this is all a wee bi' excitin' fer me. Wud either o' ye explain wha' this business abou' a search warran' is?"

Orion stepped up. "We recently received word of… allegations against your person, regarding a potential child abuse case."

What.

Was this Gil? Trying to escape the Duty? The girl's mind was so shattered, was it even possible? This could be problematic.

"Ah see. An' who was i' tha' brought this ta yer attention?"

"It was… your granddaughter, actually."

The little bitch. She would have to play this off.

"Gillian said tha'?" she laughed, shaking her head. "Tha's takin' things a bi' far, e'en fer her."

Orion and Monarch exchanged a look. "You mean," the later said as she tasted the idea, "that your granddaughter would… fabricate such a story. As a joke?"

"Likes a laugh, tha' one," Olivia nodded.

The Shipgirls exchanged another look. Monarch seemed to be digesting the thought, giving it its due thought. Orion, on the other hand, seemed to have spit it back out the moment it touched her tongue. She would be a somewhat harder sell.

"Be that as it may," the Shipgirl finally replied, "no matter the origin, or the object, such allegations must be taken seriously. And there is a preexisting civil case, which I am afraid does not look good for you."

Damn Richard's whore of a sister. After the incident with the House Elf, Anna had developed an inclination towards running away to her aunt's apartment in London. After the third time she actually got there (which the then eleven-year-old had accomplished by literally walking cross-country over a period of weeks if not months), Victoria Lester had gotten it into her head that something was wrong with the way her niece was being raised and taken it to court. The venture had been a failure for Olivia, but she'd learned the value of stacking the deck in her favor afterwards.

Anna hadn't been able to escape the Duty, of course, but she refused to give it its due place in her life. Look how that had ended for her.

"Right ye are, Ah s'pose," Olivia shrugged. "Well, in tha case, leh's nae be keepin' ye o'er long. Where d'ye wan' ta see first?" She paused. "By th' way… wouldnae this sort o' thing be fielded by th' constabulary?"

Orion blinked. "We were in the area, ma'am. Decided to help out."

"O' course, o' course. Noo, where tae first agin?"
-----

Orion reached down and flicked on the headlights.

"So," Monarch said, pressing her fingers to her forehead, "That… that was Olivia McKay. I didn't expect her to be so…"

Slimy, Orion finished mentally. "Unsettling?" she provided aloud.

"I… suppose that is a good word," Monarch nodded, her expression disturbed. Mentally running through excuses to get into the repair baths, Orion suspected—not that she hadn't run down a few herself. "Augusta told us her share of horror stories about the woman, but I honestly felt like she was exaggerating. No one can be that… that. Can they?"

The Longbottom matriarch's enraged rant the very moment "that McKay woman" was mentioned didn't exactly instill Orion with the thought of "horror stories," but maybe Monarch saw things differently.

"So you didn't believe a word out of her mouth either, did you?" she asked brightly.

"Why would I?"

Orion smiled humorlessly. Before she could open her mouth to respond, the faint jingle of her mobile phone began to ring through the car. Monarch glanced over, catching her eye, and reached down to take the device.

"Hello, this is HMS Monarch, answering HMS Orion's phone. Is something the matter?"

Orion listened as she "hmm'ed" and "I see'd" her way through the conversation, thanked the caller, and hung up.

"The coroner?"

"He just arrived at Scotland Yard," her sister confirmed. "Apparently they told him that they want to consult him about a serial killer case."

Even without Mrs. McKay's behavior, shuffling them around the house as quickly as possible, pretending that maybe, just maybe, she was hiding something else in another room, and (very interesting in Orion's eyes) doing her damnedest to ensure that they stayed away from a specific section of the cellar floor, it was hard not to give stock to Gillian McKay's story. And with access to the legal files, Olivia herself was just one of several avenues of investigation.

Orion found the expression "more than one way to skin a cat" vulgar, but she could not deny that it fit the situation perfectly.
-----

It had not hit Olivia until after she had seen the two Shipgirls out the front door that there were other paths of investigation that they could take. She cursed herself for not having seen it sooner.

Despite being in fairly good shape, walking up and down the house had still taken the entire afternoon. She was sitting in the armchair in the sitting room, taking a moment to consider the best course of action.

Legally, she was fucked. The question was whether to take it to court and fight it out, or take the girl and go to ground.

The one would allow her a fighting chance to keep her freedom.

The other would definitely allow her to keep the fight going and have the latest McKay ready for training in a semi-timely manner.

She knew where the girl was, of course. Even with her mobile damaged or lost, the implanted tracker had placed her in one of the London safe houses her mother had set up and she had ordered maintained. Going in and getting her—while not simple, by any means—was doable.

The one had a non-zero chance that she would lose access to the girl before she could bear a daughter.

The other… given the presence of Shipgirls in the manor, there was a non-zero chance that she would have to fight them.

Olivia McKay was not generally one to make such choices. The Duty had to be carried out, and All or Nothing gambits like this had a way of playing out poorly. But even as she seethed at it, she more than aware of her situation—there was no choice but to take one or the other.

"Ma'am?"

Olivia closed her eyes, breathed out, then slowly opened them.

"Higgins."

The butler was silent, awaiting her command.

"Prepare some o' th' men. We'll be flyin' intae London a' half past." The problem of the Shipgirls… it didn't hurt to test a theory. "An' prepare th' Cockspur Arrow fer use."

An All or Nothing Choice. Even if things didn't pan out, there was nothing but to meet the consequences head on.
-----

And there that is. Maybe, next week, I'll finally be able to do something with Faraway Harbor. Though I am having fun with the Dana snippets...

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- And here we go, time to start the endgame (Yes, the Bad guys are very bad people but will get what is coming to them so no ITG/Derails please)!

Ehren Erwacht! (VIII)

August 15th, 2014

Aruwimi River, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

"We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness" -- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
Spoiler: A River Engagement

Nongqawuse screamed in fear. "Mokéle-mbêmbe!!"

Tokunotakai stared deeply into the beast's four ebony eyes as it exerted its monstrous will to paralyze her with the magical terror that was one of its weapons. Terror that could and would slay the weak in their tracks and paralyze the strong to become helpless for the poisonous breath and rending fangs to finish off.

Gimu...

Ivory fangs sparkled in the tropical sunlight as the beast known as 'He Who Stops The Course Of Rivers' in Lingala loomed over the boat like the shadow of Death.

Gimu wa...

Masamune-no-Tokunotakai's hand was frozen a hairbreadth from the sharkskin and silk of her hilt as her blue green eyes looked into those of a beast that was old when she was but iron sand and charcoal awaiting the Pure Smith's forge. Her spirit grappled with the crushing presence that hungered to devour her.

Gimu wa yama...

These monstrosities had other names.

Gimu wa yama yori...

To the Babylonians this was the mušḫuššu, the beast that Marduk vanquished to prove his right of kingship. A beast that would be immortalized upon the Ishtar Gate of Babylon that now rested in a museum in Berlin.

Gimu wa yama yori mo omoi...

To the Egyptians the ever-hungry serpent monster Apep, personification of chaos and evil which threatened the solar disk of Ra each night as it traveled down the river of the Underworld where Apep had its lair.

Gimu wa yama yori mo omoi, shi...

To the Russians, the multi headed dragon Zmey Gorynych was a threat to their fairest maidens and princesses, which it would steal off to be devoured.

Gimu wa yama yori mo omoi, shi wa...

There were many other legends of these personifications of Chaos and their endless hunger...

Gimu wa yama yori mo omoi, shi wa hane...

Cartographers, wiser than they knew, marked unexplored and unknown territory with 'Here Be Dragons' as a warning to the overly bold and foolish.

Gimu wa yama yori mo omoi, shi wa hane yori...

Dragons existed in legends, true.

Gimu wa yama yori mo omoi, shi wa hane yori mo karui!

But also, no matter the culture, no matter the name, no matter the power of the beast who threatened humanity in the legend that was spoken of about the evil chaotic beast....

Duty is heavier than a mountain; death is lighter than a feather!

So Did Dragonslayers.
---------------------

Masamune steel flashed like lightning in an iaido strike as Tokunotakai blurred into action at the moment her will overcame that of her foe.

The Mokéle-mbêmbe exhaled a cloud of green-black venom toward the boat as Tokunotakai leapt off the deck into the air.

The Seven Virtues of Bushido shone forth on her steel as she struck with a serene calm smile upon her face.

A razor slash of air from her blade's passage cleft the lethal cloud, splitting it to flow on either side of the boat before it could harm her friends.

Toku landed on the river's water as gently as a cherry blossom petal and began to dance across the water without even a ripple to mark her passage.

Norimune, Kasuyu, Niobe, and Colombe emerged from the cabin at a dead run, blades in hand only to stare in awe at the battle between Masamune and Mokéle-mbêmbe.

Toku gracefully pirouetted across the water past a strike of the fanged head and black blood spurted in an arc as she hamstrung the Mokéle-mbêmbe with a precise strike to a foreleg.

The beast roared with rage that shook the boat like a leaf in a hurricane as the water that was its domain boiled and surged.

Everyone on board grasped for handholds as the boat bucked and heaved like a wild thing in the river's wrath.

Tokunotakai was unaffected as she glided across the churning waters like a floating blossom as she slashed once more to cripple the hind leg on the side an instant before backflipping away from a strike from the tail that would have smashed her flat.

The legs collapsed and the massive creature rolled toward the Masamune like an avalanche.

Toku, impossibly, sprinted up the crushing bulk of the scaled body as if it was level ground and then ran from spine to spine down the writhing neck as the four eyes locked with hers once again.

Venomous hatred and hunger met a will forged by one of the most legendary smiths of Japan and honed by centuries of spiritual exercises, self-discipline, and study of the Way of the Warrior.

The Mokéle-mbêmbe lashed out.

Masamune steel flashed in a single precise and perfect killing stroke.

Black blood painted the water once more.

The white dove symbol of Hachiman shone on the tsuba of the Masamune of the Warrior's Virtues as she took flight once more.

The severed head of the Mokéle-mbêmbe fell to sink into the river that it had ruled as the massive headless body thrashed and spasmed in its death throes.

Toku landed on one foot on the bow rail of the boat as gracefully as a dove taking roost to be with its loved ones. She cleaned and then resheathed her steel before turning to the disbelieving faces of her frozen companions. "I do believe that the way ahead is clear. Shall we proceed?" Toku said gently as she calmly walked to Colombe.

"I really do wish to see my stepdaughter once more." Toku finished before reaching out to grasp her love's gaping jaw with a gentle hand to close it for Colombe. Then she continued her walk to the hatch into the boat's cabin with a small calm smile on her face.

Colombe gave a shaky nod as the boat began to move ahead.
---------------------

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa

The duty officer's steel-blue eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the change on the magical map in the defense headquarters that was her current responsibility and duty to monitor.

An icon had just changed from black to red on the outer perimeter, showing that one of the bound Mokéle-mbêmbe that prevented unauthorized access to the hidden valley had just been slain.

A Mokéle-mbêmbe that had been enslaved to the Will of the Master of the valley who even now was prepared to use the Imaski yoThixo ome-ezine to tap into the entity who was shackled here with chains of magic to spread his shadow across Africa.

Empowering him to boost his expression of the Führerprinzep(leadership principle) to control more and more lesser minds, to forge them into a entity of one will and multiple bodies under the command of the Herrenvolk -- such as she -- who would work as one to establish the racially pure society symbolized by the swastika banners hanging here. All done thanks to their innately superior characteristics.

As it always would have been in the mad dreams of Adolf Hitler.

Posterity will not remember those who pursued only their own individual interests, but it will praise those heroes who renounced their own happiness.

Ehren's lips opened and her ivory fangs flashed in a smug grin. One hand traced the siegrunen and Hakenkreuz on her hilt while she gathered her magical powers.

Es ist Zeit.(It's Time)

The warning icon turned back to a cool black as she cast a web of illusion over the icons in that quarter to keep them the color that represented normal status.

As Ehren finished, she heard footsteps approach.

She about faced and looked at her relief at Cortana's elbow.

"Your orders, Sturmführer?" She asked as her fellow officer took over monitoring the map.

"Follow me. Your Vati wishes his whole family present to witness his apotheosis in front of the Three Kings in Stone." Cortana said. "The dawning of a new day is on hand."

Ehren fell in one pace behind and to the right of Cortana as they marched down the passage. "Jawohl! I cannot wait to see Vati and Mutti together for his big day." Her lips twitched in a smug smirk unseen by all before she schooled her expression to cool professionalism matched by the hint of ice in her cool voice.

"I cannot wait."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Sitting at his desk in the darkened, silent room, Ito poured himself a measure of firewhiskey from a bottle into a glass filled with enchanted stone cubes that were always cold, a gift from his son. With a sigh, he sat back and stared at the glass not saying anything. Even when the door opened, he didn't move, just... sat there, looking at the glass of alcohol.

The clearing of a throat made him blink as he came out of his thoughts as he noticed who was there, "Ah! Naomi-San! Come in, come in." He gave a chuckle that was somewhat weak before the smile on his face faded away and his voice became quiet, "Come on in."

Eyebrow raised, the magical bureaucrat walked in, followed by her father. Frown on his face, Shigeru glanced at the untouched glass before looking back at the politician who looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, "Ito-San."

Glancing at him, Ito's lips twitched into a ghost of a smile, "Shigeru-San." With a sigh, he shook his head a little, "Here to lambast me for my rosy tinted views? And how I will go down as the one who caused the dissolution of the Magical Japanese government? One that has stood since the Occupation?"

It went without saying that Shigeru glanced at his daughter, who shrugged in return as she looked at a loss at what was happening. Clearing his throat, he turned back to Ito, "I would not dream of doing such, Sir."

Once more, there was a slight twitch of the lips on Ito's face before he wagged a finger at him, "Ah, there is a lie. Perhaps we shall make a politician of you yet."

Pressing his lips thinly, the older bureaucrat took a breath before letting it out, "I would think not." Moving forward, he looked over the other man and saw the stress lines on his face, the far off look in his eyes. Suddenly, Shigeru came to the realization that something was going on here. Something that he did not know about, "What happened?"

With a blink, Ito looked over at him, "Hmm? What makes you think that something happened?"

Just raising his eyebrow, Shigeru glanced at the glass before frowning, "For one thing, you are not a drinker. But even then, you would not waste a glass of fifty year old firewhiskey. For a second... you have that look in your eyes."

Not answering him right away, the politician turned and looked out the window. From where he was, he could hear various people rushing around the Diet after the vote that had happened... a vote that he had spurred on, "Do you think me a fool, Shigeru-San? Naomi-San?"

Rapidly blinking as neither bureaucrat expected that answer, they shared a look before Naomi cleared her throat, "No, Sir, we don't. We... just want to know what happened."

Chest rising and falling, Ito once more seemed to gather his thoughts together, "I think... I prevented a far greater tragedy than the fall of the Diet."

Utterly lost as to where this was going, Shigeru turned to his daughter before looking back at Ito, "A tragedy, Sir?"

Slowly nodding, the Diet member rose from his seat and walked over to his bookcase, "Hai." Briefly scanning the books, he plucked one out and opened it, "Do you know how the No-Maj side of the American Civil War started?"

Even more confused than her father, Naomi shook her head, "I'm... afraid that I do not. Though why that matters is also something that I am at a loss to consider."

Humming, Ito looked at the book for a few moments before closing it with a snap. Then, he held it up, "A fascinating book, I was gifted it by MACUSA Auror many decades ago. He was a No-Majborn, you see." Waving it around, the politician continued, "The American Civil War really started when the Confederate States, not wanting to recognize the lawful government, attacked a fort manned by the Northern States. According to the book, it galvanized the North, made them fight rather than seek peace."

All of a sudden, a few things clicked into place and Shigeru felt himself pale a little, "Civil war... you mentioned a civil war as if..."

With a glance towards him, the politician nodded, "As if it was a possibility? Hai." Placing the book back on the shelf, he sighed a bit before turning towards the window, "... Three weeks back, I was at the Silver Ryuu, I assume that you know of it?"

Eyebrow raised, Naomi glanced at her father before nodding, "Hai, it is a somewhat high class resturant with a bar. Popular among the Diet members."

Ito gave a hum as he looked out onto the darkened city of Tokyo, "Indeed, I..." Pausing, he seemed so tired in that moment, "In a nearby booth, Aizawa was sitting with his group. You know of him, yes?"

Despite it not being a question, the two bureaucrats gave an answer in the affirmative. The man was well known in the Diet for being... vocal... about certain matters. Not just the Yokai, as he was one of the ones who wanted the harshest penalties on them. But also Kyoto as well. Where some called them traitors to the Diet, he went a step further and declared that they were outright criminals and thus should be tried for treason. If anything, in recent weeks, he had become even more vocal.

His eyes narrowing slightly, Shigeru frowned, "You heard something."

Slowly, Ito nodded as he sighed, "Hai, I did." Clearing his throat, he straightened his back, "They were discussing what to do if things reached a... tipping point. And he had one of his men from the Aurors there. If things got far enough that there was no way out... they would hold a vote in the Diet. One to arrest the leadership of Kyoto, even in their homes. They would also arrest those in the JNHRO as well as the Yokai Militias, with lethal force authorized as some 'Would not come quietly.'"

Completely pale, Naomi had a horrified expression on her face, "They... that would cause... they couldn't have been serious, could they?"

Turning, the politician gave her a sad smile, "I hoped that they would not, but... as the weeks went on, I noticed him and the others meeting more often. And he pushed for some people connected to him to be placed higher in law enforcement." Walking over to the chair, he placed one hand on the leather, gripping it tightly, "Right there, in the chamber, upon hearing that news and mentioning it... I saw Aizawa in his seat with a smug smile as he spoke to one of his fellows beside him, said man nodding. The Diet was about to panic..." All strength seemed to drain out of the man as he walked a few more steps and slumped into his chair, "I have been a politician for a long time, and hope that I have served my constituents well. Right then, I realized what would happen when I stepped down, the Diet would want a plan. And someone who claimed to have a way to fix it..."

Fist tightening, Shigeru grimaced, "He would have gotten the necessary votes for his plan, which would have gone through. Of all the..."

Running his hand along his head, he thought back to various things he had heard. Yes, Aizawa was a problem, but he was not as powerful as he thought and thus he did not give him much mind. Looking back, he realized that there had been whispers of how some politicians had plans to solve the current issue of Kyoto taking more and more of Japan. And a number of bureaucrats who thought like Aizawa were also those that had helped with the insane idea of dropping the Reserves in Kyushu and elsewhere into Kyoto's lap, hoping that the crisis that would occur, no matter how damaging, would fall upon Kyoto. As well, he could remember the few reports he had heard, of Aurors, who he knew were connected with Aizawa's faction, having been arrested by Kyoto when they went after certain persons.

Internally cursing idiots, it took everything for Shigeru not to make it become external. Hand rubbing his face, he sighed, "They were going to do it, the mad men."

Hands on his desk and clasped, Ito closed his eyes, "That... is what I believe. And whether or not it would have worked? I do not know and in that moment... I knew that I could not take the chance." Taking off his spectacles with shaking hands, he gently cleaned them, "I couldn't take the chance. And so... and so I..." The Diet man placed his glasses back on his face even as he had a haunted look, "And so I cast the Killing Curse from the wand held to the Diet's head rather than risk it. Fool, I may be, and may history judge me." Placing his face in his hands, he softly sighed, "I will be written as the one who killed the Diet."

Naomi glanced at her father who was looking out the window with a haunted look in his eyes. She did not know what was going through his mind at that moment, after all he had lived through the last war and saw the government fall. Clearing her throat, she took a deep breath, "Sir, I... do not believe that you were a fool, not in this case."

Blinking, Ito had a look of surprise on his face, "You... do not?"

From where he stood beside her, Shigeru smiled grimly, "Nor do I, Ito-San. One way or the other... today was the day, I think, where the Diet would fall." Internally, he shivered a bit as he knew what the response to such a plan as Aizawa's would be. Reaching up, he rubbed his neck where he swore phantom steel, sharper than a razor, touched, "One way, or the other."

Only nodding at that, the politician seemed at a loss, "I, uh, see. Well..." Looking around, he turned back to Naomi before clearing his throat, "H-how goes, well, securing things here?"

With a slight nod, Naomi took a deep breath, "Well enough, we're clearing the offices out and will transfer everything to the Prefecture Office within a few hours. It will be a tight fit for a time, but we'll manage."

A small bit of life came back to Ito as he smiled slightly, "That's... that's good, I suppose." Looking around his office, it struck him that it might be the last time he might see it this way. With a slow nod, he drained his glass of whiskey before clearing his throat, "Well, I... should be doing something then. Such as packing up."

Both bureaucrats just nodded before taking their leave, neither commenting on how Ito sat back in his chair staring at things.

It was only when they were outside that Shigeru softly whispered to his daughter, eyes making sure that no one was within listening range, "When you can, contact Hachiko and let him know that things are fine and..." He paused for a moment as he remembered something, "And perhaps it would be best if he spent the night with his Otouto at his girlfriend's house. I have some things to look over."

Understanding what he meant, Naomi nodded slightly as she whispered back, "I'll do the same."

Shigeru watched as she disappeared among the bustle of clerks and the like before taking a deep breath and turning. After all, he had to talk with some people and confirm a few things. And, depending on what he heard, he might need to twist a few arms. But he would get to the bottom of things soon enough.

And he would have a list ready, if needed, for a visit that could occur.

___________________________________________________________________

Night had long since fallen as Naomi appeared not far from where her nephews lived before looking around. Quickly, she made her way along as she headed to their apartment, attempting to assurage the worry she had the best that she could. Earlier, she attempted to contact Hachiko over the telephone, only to get the "Answering Machine" with his recorded voice telling her to please leave a message. Twice more she attempted to get in contact with him, only for no answer.

It went without saying that she was getting worried.

Which is how she found herself here, visiting their home after a quick stop at her own. Reaching their door, part of her noted that the windows were dark, but that didn't mean anything, right? Right? Despite the knocks, there was no answer and she swallowed a bit of the lump in her throat before pulling out the key that Hachiko had given her just in case. Hands shaking, she opened the door to the darkened apartment, finding no one there.

Using the light at the end of her wand, she quickly made her way through the apartment checking for any sign. But there was none at all anywhere she looked. Part of her was relieved that there was no signs of a struggle. Another part of her became more worried because it was not impossible that some of those who had issues with her father could set things up to make it look like there was struggle.

She took a moment or two to calm herself down before looking around again, "Where might he have gone... right, his girlfriend's." Pausing, Naomi remembered that she never really got an address for where said Okami lived, except "On base" in Yokosuka. The address was written down, but that was back at her own home. Glancing around, she noticed the small phone book that Hachiko kept next to the phone and went over before opening it. Written in her nephew's neat penmanship were various names alongside numbers and addresses.

Finger trailing along the lines, she came to a stop at one and nodded before picking up Hachiko's phone and dialing. On the third ring, a gruff, female voice came over, "{Hello? Who's this calling and why are you calling from Hachiko-Chan's number?}"

Already feeling relief, Naomi took a deep breath, "I'm Miyata Naomi, I'm Hachiko's Oba-San and... and I'm at his home wondering where he is. He's there, right?"

Despite being on the phone, she could almost hear the eyebrow raising, "{That's right, he is. Why? Did you think he was kidnapped or something?}"

Just slightly embarrassed, Naomi cleared her throat, "Well... I was worried about such, yes."

There was a pause before she could hear a mutter and then Hachiko's voice came over the phone, "{Oba-Chan? What... wait, is this about what is happening with the Diet? And what did you say? Moriko-Chan is laughing hard enough to cry!}"

Right then, all the stress and worry left her though her embarrassment rose, "Hai, I tried calling earlier and there was no answer." Hearing an odd sound, she raised an eyebrow, "Hachiko, are you okay?"

Much to her bemusement, Hachiko's voice came through with an almost squeak to it, "{H-hai, I'm fine.}"

Unknown to her, Moriko had begun to nibble on his ear with a grin on her face which was making his squirm against her.

Back in the apartment, Naomi ran a hand through her hair, "Right, well... it's good to hear from you still, Hachiko..."

Hearing her trail off, she could hear Hachiko mutter something and get a mutter back, "{If you want, Oba-Chan, you could come and confirm face to face. We'll clear it with base security as well so that you can come on base as apparating is not... advised.}"

That last bit made her blink in confusion, 'Not advised? Why...' A thought occurred to Naomi, but she didn't voice it, "That would be much appreciated, nephew." With another thanks, she hung up and took a deep breath before leaving the apartment, though she locked the door behind her and apparated to a spot a block from the base. Not too much closer, however, she blinked as she looked around with wide eyes, 'Anti-apparation wards... and over the whole base! But who...?'

Remembering that some shipgirls did, indeed, have magic, she shivered a bit as she considered just how powerful said spells might be.

Quickly shaking off such thoughts, she reported to the gate for the base and, a short time later, found herself dropped off in the residential section of the base. Looking around at the buildings, she gave a small nod to herself. While Naomi had seen them from a distance, she had never been on a military base. All she had to go on for life on one was stories from the previous war her father sometimes mentioned.

And, she had to admit, she was impressed with what she had seen. Everything was well ordered and clean. The buildings themselves were well kept with yards neat and tidy as well. Not long after entering the residential district, she was dropped off at an apartment and said goodbye to the MP who had driven her there (though, she did give him more than a once over as the young man was very good looking). After entering the lobby, she contacted Moriko over the intercom and was buzzed in, something else that made her internally nod in appreciation at the security that was mentioned.

In fact, she even spotted a security guard at the desk watching her as she walked across the floor to the elevator as well as a number of cameras.

Needless to say, she was impressed and internally nodded to herself as she waited in the elevator to get to the proper floor. Exiting, the elevator, she quickly made her way down the hall to the door before knocking. After a few seconds, there was the sound of a lock being disengaged and the door opened to reveal Moriko standing there.

Despite seeing pictures and video of the Okami in question, Naomi found that meeting her in real life was quite different. For one thing, the witch had to crane her head back, just slightly, in order to meet the amber eyes of the other woman. And there was also a presence to her as well, which was only reinforced by the muscles that were visible under her skin as well as the littering of small scars here and there. As well, there was also an air of protectiveness to her.

Shaking it off, Naomi cleared her throat, "Ah, Moriko-San, I presume?"

Eyebrow raised, Moriko gave a nod with a slight smile before speaking in a contralto voice, "That's right."

The She-wolf then turned to the side to reveal Hachiko who walked over and hugged her, "Naomi-Oba-Chan, come in." As she did so, he had a worried look on his face at how tired she seemed, "Are... is everything alright?"

Giving him an exhausted smile, the witch nodded as she hung up her cloak, thankful to have it off for even a few minutes, "Hai, everything is fine and so is Otou-San, Hachiko-Chan." Running her hand through her hair, she sighed, "Just... a lot to do." Looking around, Naomi blinked some, "Where's Aki-Chan?"

Light chuckles escaped from Hachiko as he gestured at a nearby room, "He's laying down right now on a futon that Suzume-Chan pulled out. They kept him busy and we played a game of Machi Koro before he went to bed." With a glance towards Moriko, who nodded, he guided his aunt to the kitchen table where Moriko's sisters sat, "Have a seat and we'll get you some food."

Almost as soon as her rear touched the chair, Naomi let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you, though I hate to impose."

From where she sat, Sachiko waved her off, "It's not a problem, and..." She lightly blushed as she looked at her older sister, "You'll be family eventually."

That got a small smile from the bureaucrat as she nodded, "It seems so, still hate to bother you." Moments later, a plate full of some rice dish she couldn't identify was in front of her which made her blink, "Um..."

When she looked up, she got a knowing look from her nephew, "I know you, Oba-Chan. Neither you nor Ojii-San have had anything to eat for the past few hours, have you?"

Right as she was about to answer, Naomi's stomach did so in her stead. Something that made the older woman blush before sheepishly chuckling at the triumphant look her nephew gave her, "Well... some food would not be out of line." Turning her attention to the food, she took a sniff and was met with the scent of spices and other things. Already, her mouth began to water, "What is this? I haven't seen a dish like this before."

Placing a glass of water beside her, Suzume smiled a little, "It's a dish from the American south called 'Jambalaya'. Louisiana-San, an American Battleship, makes it and cooked this up earlier this evening at the mess hall. It's delicious."

Hachiko gave a confirming nod at that, "It is, we all had dinner at the mess hall earlier and we brought back some. There's a bit that you can take back for Ojii-San as well so that he has something to eat as well."

Out of the corner of her eye, the witch spotted Moriko giving her nephew a look of lust as he spoke. Part of her remembered that, like their animal counterparts, Okami were very much into taking care of family/the pack. Internally, Naomi chuckled a little, 'If you're not careful, nephew, you might be aching in the hips tomorrow.' Outwardly, she gave a sigh before smiling, "Thank you, I'm just glad that you and Aki-Chan are alright. So you heard the broadcast, I take it?"

In reply, Hachiko shook his head, "I didn't, Moriko-Chan however heard it and gave a call to the library to let me know."

Slightly surprised, Naomi turned to Moriko who gave a shrug, "Hachiko-Chan told me that he had family in the Diet, so it concerned him. I figured that he might not know and so he needed to right now."

Once more, Naomi gave her a nod as her opinion of the Yokai raised a few notches, "Thank you for that."

When she turned back to him, her nephew had reached over and gave Moriko's hand a squeeze, "Which I'm thankful for." Turning back to his aunt, Hachiko continued, "Anyways, I asked that either her or Suzume-Chan came over and picked up Aki for the day, just so that he would be safe. I mean... the anti-apparation wards and the like over the base means that no one can just sneak onto it. And even if they did..."

Understanding, Naomi smiled thinly, "They would need to get through a rather large number of shipgirls and military to reach him. Good plan, nephew." Breaking apart her chopsticks, she took some of the "Jambalya" in front of her between them and took a bite. Almost immediately, her tastebuds were assaulted with the dish's taste and she began to quickly, though neatly, devour it much to the amusement of her nephew. Every so often, she took a sip of water to wash it down, 'Ah, much better than I expected.' Needless to say, it did not take her very long to finish it and once she was done, she leaned back a little with a sigh, "That... was quite good."

Lips twitching, Hachiko gave a small laugh before placing a tart in front of her topped with berries, "Here, have something for dessert."

Amused, his aunt gave a small chuckle, "Thank you, though I think that you're going to spoil your Oba-Chan." Taking a bite, she let out a small hum of delight and, like the food before, it rapidly vanished before she swallowed, "Ah... thank you once more."

Only nodding, Hachiko smiled before his expression turned serious, "How are things..."

Knowing what he meant, Naomi gave a small sigh, "In a word, chaotic. Both myself and Otou-San will be burning the midnight oil as it is in regards to what is happening. We don't want things to completely fall apart and there's floo calls and the like to be made with Kyoto. So likely we'll be late working."

Eyebrow raised, Moriko glanced at the clock which stated that it was quite late already, "Hmm..." Then she gave a small nod and scratched her head a little, "Right, um... just to let you know, we got a call from our superiors, mine and my Nee-Sans." Seeing the worried expression, she waved her hand, "Nothing important, they simply asked that, if possible, you have a visit with them soon. Someone named Oda Kotegiri might be there and wants to talk with someone competent."

At that last bit, Naomi relaxed and gave a slight chuckle, "I'll inform Otou-San, though it might be a day or two at most." After a few more minutes, she got up and sighed, "I should be heading back to the Diet since I can't be away too long, Otou-San tries his best, but he is quite old after all. Despite what he thinks, he does need help."

Her nephew just nodded and grabbed two styrofoam containers which he held out to her, "Right, well... this is the food for Ojii-San. Let him know that we're okay and that we're hoping the same for him."

That only got him a nod and a smile from Naomi before she hugged him, "I will. And you be safe as well with Aki-Chan, alright?"

Crossing her arms, Moriko gave a low growl, "They'll be safe, we'll make sure of it."

Just looking at her, the witch seemed to examine her for a few moments before smiling, "I can believe it." She then gave the somewhat surprised Moriko a hug, "Thank you."

Shortly after, she got into another MP car and was taken to the gate before apparating back to the Diet. Part of her was happy that no one commented on her leaving since they assumed that she had gone for takeout due to the containers she held. And while surprised, Shigeru was pleased with the food as well as how his grandchildren were safe.

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

March 20, 2014

HMCS Shannon, near the edge of Canada's Economic Exclusion Zone, Off Nova Scotia

Commander Greengrass leaned on the railing as he watched the aircrew on the flight deck prepared an E-2C Hawkeye for takeoff. The ex-US Navy radar aircraft was being leased by the Canadian government as Canada relearned how to operate a full-sized aircraft carrier. While operating the "stopgap" conversions and the Prince-class Light Aircraft Carrier had helped, there were still aspects that needed relearning since the original decommissioning of Bonaventure.

Greengrass hummed along as Elton John's "Rocket Man" was being played on the ship's speakers. Once again, Shannon was showing her appreciation for the British music scene. Though yesterday at lunch, she had played some Canadian classics from the Tragically Hip and Rush. Greengrass watched lazily as HMCS Toronto cruised a few hundred metres away, just aft of the shipgirl corvette Toronto. It appeared that the corvette was talking to her namesake frigate, having spent some time recently deployed with the Norwegians. The Toronto was one of the survivors of Blood Week, though her extensive repairs made her unique as she had been fitted with some of the radar and weapons of the Hamilton-class frigates. Down below in the hangar deck, a maintenance crew was working on Commander Greengrass' fighter aircraft. There was a hiccup last flight with one of the flight computers, and so the technicians had opened up the aircraft and removed the faulty computer for a thorough diagnostic.

After debates in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Canada had selected the CF-188E/F Super Hornet and CE-188G Growler as the combat and electronic warfare aircraft for the Canadian conventional carrier program; this program eventually led to the Shannon-class. Assembled by Boeing Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the aircraft was significantly improved compared to the original USN Super Hornets. Conformal fuel tanks were fitted, along with reshaped engine intakes to reduce radar cross-section, a Canadian-designed integrated weapon targeting and jamming pod, avionics derived from fifth-generation fighter aircraft, as well as other features specific to Canada's needs. Like the original CF-188A/B Hornets, the Super Hornets had a false canopy painted, as well as wing fences to improve manoeuvrability.

HMCS Shannon was continuing her Sea Trials, which provided a lot of information on her performance on the water. There were a few glitches and hiccups discovered during the testing, many of which were diagnosed by engineers and corrected at sea. Experts from BAe, who had supplied the basic design, and representatives from other companies that were part of the consortium that created the Shannon-class, were also on board to see what other areas could be improved. Within a week, she would be returning to Saint John Shipbuilding for more significant adjustments and tweaks as a result of the feedback and troubleshooting. After some final adjustments, the hope was to commission HMCS Shannon by either Canada Day or August 3, the anniversary of HMS Shannon (1806)'s completion. Most of the changes were being added to the blueprints for the design and would be implemented during the construction of the second of the class, to commence by the end of summer 2014. Among the officers, there was a pool on what the new carrier was going to be named. The leading bet was Bonaventure, with some joking that like her predecessor, she was going to be the crazy one of the Shannons.

Like many modern warships, the Combat Direction Centre was filled with computer monitors as well as large flat-panel multifunction displays that could play the news or critical combat information. To some, the arrangements in Shannon's CDC appeared to be somewhat inspired by the bridge layout of the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek. In the Combat Direction Centre, the duty officer, Lieutenant (N) Brian McAllister, was deep in thought as he supervised the personnel in the compartment.


In 2005, as he was in High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Brian's family got the devastating news that his older brother, Simon, as well as the crew of HMCS Halifax, FFH 330, were missing and presumed lost after their frigate vanished in the middle of combat with what became known as the Abyssals. He vowed to avenge his brother's sacrifice and after attending university, he entered the Canadian Forces and worked hard to prove himself. Yet, the events of last year had stunned everyone in the Royal Canadian Navy, when HMCS Regina was discovered to have survived blood week. Most of her crew managed to survive thanks to members of the Fleet of Laughter, the Wardens, whom later enlisted into the Royal Canadian Navy. He was faring rather well with naval boards and was showing promise for command.

Some like Lt(N) McAllister, was a bit unsure about having Abyssals join them, but words of their actions to save Regina and her crew, plus the Fleet of Laughter's sacrifice defending Unalaska also brought out sympathy and understanding. That they stood against their own to save the humans led to a great deal of respect for their actions. Video of the leader of the Wardens' transformation had gone viral and was the subject of many conversations aboard the carrier, some of which commented that the former XO of Regina was a lucky SOB. McAllister still found it a bit shocking that all those abyssal's were willing to actively serve in a human navy. He also felt a pang of faint hope that somehow, HMCS Halifax was not sunk after all.

He was suddenly jolted from his memories by the Petty Officer 2nd class working at the communications station.

"Sir, I'm picking up a faint radio signal along with SOS in morse code. I'm trying to clear up the interference."

"Let's hear it."

From the speakers in the compartment, they could barely hear it among the static. But what was said startled McAllister.

"Thi...er Majesty's Can....ifax...Foxtrot....otel...ree Three Zero. We are stranded on unknown isl..."

"Sir, I'm trying to get a fix on the origin of the transmission."

"ship was damaged...barrier that prevented contact...helped by mer...helped us survive... tried to repair...damage to our ship...iesel engine finally got... can send short transmission...damn...breaking up... will try to send out call tomorrow..."

The radio filled up with white noise.

"I'm sorry sir, I couldn't get a fix before the transmission broke up completely."

The Lieutenant whispered faintly,

"Brother?"

*******

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

 

[darthcourt10]

Barricade

*For this post, please revert your screen to the Spacebattles default color theme, or it'll look funny*

--------------------------------------

"So, Princess, mind explaining something?

"I Yamato, have have consistently told you to not call me 'Princess'. Now, beyond that, explain what?"

"Why do you keep adding that artwork every time you post on SGO starting since last month? I mean, we know its you from your handle, but that's a bit overkill."

"Artwork, what artwork?"

"Well, I guess its artwork, at least according to SoDak and the net trolls she hangs with, but to me its just a bunch of squiggly lines and a bad 'connect the dots' for adults."

"Lines? Connect the...? Enterprise-san, what are you talking about?"

"Wait, you honestly....here, let me show you. Just need to log on, annnnnd go to this topic here that you made a response in, and.....that. What, is that?"

"....."

"Yes, that."

"Hiya Enterprise, Yamato-san, what's goin....oh. Oh my. I think I picked a wrong time."

"....!!!"

"Hi, bye Yahagi. Now about that imag.....Oh shit, she's gonna blow. DUCK AND COVER!!"

"AOBA-SAN, GET IN HERE NOW! I KNOW YOU BORROWED MY FORUM PASSWORD, YOU LITTLE TROLL!! FIX THIS NOW!!"



Displayed, for all to see on the mess hall PC, or at least once the room stopped shaking from the foghorn decibel level scream of mortified flagship rage, was a a fairly good ASCII rendering of a piece of art that virtually anyone born in Japan after 1974 would know of, just as vividly as the national flag.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Helmar von und Zu Wolff versus Colombe du Chasteler with the life and soul of their daughter Ehren at stake. As always, please no Derails or ITG!

Ehren Erwacht! (IX)

August 15th, 2014

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa

"Anything approaching the change that came over his features I have never seen before, and hope never to see again. Oh, I wasn't touched. I was fascinated. It was as though a veil had been rent. I saw on that ivory face the expression of sombre pride, of ruthless power, of craven terror--of an intense and hopeless despair. Did he live his life again in every detail of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge? He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision--he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath: The horror! The horror!" -- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
Spoiler: A Final Communication

Colombe pulled out her daughter's hilt pin for yet another divination as the pinnace turned another bend in the river. As she did, the pin flashed with a steel blue aura and a spectral image of Ehren formed next to her as the pendulum suddenly yanked out straight ahead.

"Ehren!" Colombe said in surprise as her eyes filled with tears at the sight of her kidnapped daughter.

"You need to be aware of several things. The monitoring for the perimeter guards is compromised, I don't know for how long before it is noticed. Vati is performing some kind of ritual involving the Mask he stole to empower him at the Three Kings in Stone. He has the capabilitiy to make the Grendels that were used in the War by the SS. Also he magically controls six Mokele-mbembe. Finally, Cortana, the blade that took me from Moulbaix, is his lieutenant and extremely powerful, although not totally a willing servant." Ehren snapped out in a precise diction as her image flickered.

Colombe breathed out. "Understood, daughter. Stay safe and I'll get you out."

Ehren nodded and then vanished.

The rapier looked at the others. "Let's do this. Niobe, get my flying carpet out, everyone else start casting spells to prepare."

Niobe hopped onto the water and then as the pinnace stopped in the river, pulled out the flying carpet to place on the deck.

As the others made ready and boarded the hovering carpet, Niobe looked inside herself and turned to the officer faeries assembled on her bridge. "Clear for action and then sound Battle Stations! Load the ready-racks for the main battery with canister and high explosive shells, half and half! Ready all Maxim guns for use! Issue small arms to the Seebattalion!" She snapped out as her chin raised proudly. "This is our chance, let's make the most of it!"

Commander Franz Ritter von Hipper saluted her in response. "Yes, ma'am!" As her deck and compartments turned into a bustle of activity, her trumpeter raised his bugle to his lips and began to play the call for her Seebattalion(SeaBattalion) marines to stand to. Meanwhile, her pinnace was hoisted aboard and secured.

Finally ready to go to war, the platinum-haired shipgirl grasped Kasuyu's hand to be effortlessly lifted aboard the carpet, which shot off through the canyon between the twin jungle-covered hills ahead.

Tokunotakai leaned close to Nongqawuse. "These are the 'two hills shaped like a woman's breasts' that you saw?" She asked quietly.

The African bracelet nodded as spells shimmered across her avatar. "Ewe. There, the Three Kings in Stone!"

Ahead was a platform with a trio of black-uniformed figures, with a half-dozen Grendels drawn up before it as a honor guard.

To either side in the plaza was a block of hundreds of motionless soldiers standing at stiff attention.

Colombe's eyes locked on those of the blond man in SS uniform wearing the mask as arcane energies formed and swirled around him.

Her hand tightened on her hilt as her lips peeled from her teeth in a snarl at the sight of her ex-lover and father of Ehren. Her wrist ached with phantom pain at the memory of how he had nearly killed her the last time that they had fought.

With a pop the stealth spell for the carpet suddenly flashed out leaving them visible scarcely a hundred yards from the platform.

Colombe instantly barked out. "Drop and attack!"

Wollf's eyes widened in shock and his chanting faltered at the sight of That Woman appearing out of nowhere to land facing him with leveled rapier.

Cortana's hand found her hilt as Norimune and Tokunotakai landed flanking their fellow Blade of Hachiman with their blades gleaming in the sunlight.

Ehren gave a cool, smug smile as she stepped back and to the side, her fingers flexing in a spell pattern while Kasuyu and Nongqawuse touched down from the hovering carpet.

The stone of the plaza disintegrated with a thunderous crack as SMS Niobe landed, her rigging already deployed with cannons covering their flanks. Above her the Imperial German naval war ensign flapped from the mast of her rigging.

For an instant all was silent.
Spoiler: The Battle For Ehren

"Feuer!!"(Fire!) SMS Niobe snapped out.

Flesh and bone splashed away within great triangular wedges of red ruin that instantly formed within the blocks of troops to either side of the rescue team while her gun crews loaded fresh 105mm canister shells into the ever-hungry breeches of her main battery.

Over the screams of the dying and wounded rose the harsh stutter of Niobe's water-cooled Maschinengewehr 08 machine guns and the pom-pom-pom of her larger 37mm belt-fed Maxims designed to fire one pound explosive shells to destroy torpedo boats.

The crackle of aimed Mauser bolt action rifle fire in the hands of her Marines to pick off officers and anyone attempting to rally the troops seemed almost superfluous in her symphony of industrial death from the era of the Great War.

The carnage was indescribable as men and monsters fell in bloody windrows under Niobe's wrath.

Yet, driven by the lash of magic and a merciless greater Will who cared nothing for their well-being, Wolff's slaves came on again and again over the dead and dying piled three and four deep in attack after attack.

Bullets, shells, and spells hammered into Niobe's superstructure and hull while fresh reserves came to try to encircle and overwhelm the few heroes by force of arms as she fought grimly to give them time to save Ehren. For her Flottenadmiral... and herself.
------------------------------

Enchanted sky-iron was painted green black with ichor as Kasuyu lashed out with his true body, bisecting at the waist a Grendel that blocked his path to the Mistress' Daughter.

Then another Grendel grasped Kasuyu's axe wrist and he grappled in a contest of brute strength as Nongqawuse chanted prayers for the spirits to empower her fellow champion.

A third one's head flew from its shoulders as more ichor painted the rainbow-glowing steel of Masamune-no-Tokunotakai as the Seven Virtues of Bushido blazed from her soul.

Muramasa-no-Norimune snarled in rage and bloodlust, extended a clawed hand toward one of the two surviving Grendels, then savagely yanked it back as she incanted in Nahuatl. "Hunger of Tezcatlipōca!" The monster's iron ribs exploded outward as its heart rocketed from its chest to be crushed in Norimune's fist contemptuously.

As the Grendel she had just slain collapsed like an unstrung puppet, Norimune's combat instincts screamed.

Automatically she moved her sword in a parry that she had learned from Julie d'Aubigny in 1706 as an aquamarine blur too fast to see came for her point first.

Her dove menuki blazed argent with Hachiman's power as she shifted the hand of luck to favor her as she turned to face her opponent.

The Sword of Ogier the Dane, one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins, forged of the same steel and temperament as the Swords of Roland and Charlemagne, screamed as she tested herself against the Unrepentant Blade of the Mad Smith, the Second Blade of Hachiman-no-kami, in the beginning of a battle to the finish.

The blast wave of their contact staggered both avatars as if a giant had clubbed them, tossing them back a dozen yards to regroup.

Flat blue-green eyes stared into smug blue eyes above a cocky, infuriating smirk.

Norimune pointed her steel at Cortana and spoke conversationally as they began to circle in a probe of each other's defenses. "I heard from my eldest daughter that you took her hand off at the wrist trying to kill her in 1942. No one hurts my family but me."

Layer upon layer of enchantments and charms cast and developed by her over four centuries of wandering and war across five continents flamed to life upon Norimune's blade, mirrored by Cortana's own spellwork from the hand and wand of Morgana Le Fay. "I'll make you regret that!"

A calm voice filled with steel under the velvet sounded. "Sumimasen(I'm Sorry), Norimune-sama." The Masamune of the Warrior's Virtues, the First Blade of Hachiman-no-kami, spoke quietly as she moved next to Norimune in perfect unison with her own steel glimmering with her full power and Hachiman's dove glowing upon her tsuba. "She kidnapped my stepdaughter Ehren and has distressed Co-chan. I humbly request to assist you with her chastisement."
------------------------------

Spoiler: Helmar Wolff and Colombe du Chasteler

The final Grendel barring her path fell to her steel and Colombe d'Aubigny du Chasteler-Muramasa stepped onto the ritual platform

Across the circle, Obersturmführer Helmar von und zu Wolff locked eyes with her as he carefully placed the four-eyed Imaski yoThixo ome-ezine down upon a bloodstained stone altar that was radiating powerful eldritch Dark Magic.

A blood-dripping rapier formed of shadow appeared in his hand as he shifted into a fencing stance, his eyes still locked on hers as their Wills clashed in the instants before the death duel began.

Tears formed in Colombe's eyes as her point moved in a figure eight slowly. "Why, Helmar?" She asked sadly. "Why Ehren? I was the one who sinned against you."

Something that might have been regret crossed his face for a fleeting instant and then was gone. "I would have asked your hand in marriage that day as Marie-Claire de Bury, or should I call you Colombe du Chasteler?" His voice was firm and commanding. "You are the highest racial form of the Herrenvolk and should have been mine. So I had to raise our child properly as a Vater must do as part of his duties. She will be Führer after me when the Reich is reestablished. It does not have to end like this for you. Come with me, be the wife that you were born to be for our family, and together we shall lead the lesser masses of humanity into a glorious new future as Vati, Mutti, und Tochter."

Colombe's jaw firmed and she spoke with steel-deep determination under the pain in her voice. "Non, Helmar. I gave my word of honor and service in 1902 that I would stand against what you represent to defend what I believe in. I ask you for the final time, will you surrender yourself and walk away from this madness for Ehren's sake?"

He shook his head as lightning formed in his off hand and flaming circles formed around hers. "Nein, Colombe. I gave my word of honor and service in 1937 to the right and proper truth of this universe of struggle." His voice was equally determined and sad.

Ehren, cloaked by her invisibility spell, watched silently as a single salt tear dripped from Mutti's chin to fall on the glowing stone. Matching that, a single tear of blood fell from Vati's eyes to splash at his feet as one final whispered exhalation reached her ears.

"I gave my word of honor."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- And the moment everyone who has been following this arc is waiting for (thank you for doing so!). The Nazi Vatipire gets what is coming to him.

Ehren Erwacht! (X)

August 15th, 2014

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa

"It was written I should be loyal to the nightmare of my choice." -- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
Spoiler: Vati Und Mutti

"I gave my word of honor."

Ehren invisibly watched with tears in her eyes as her parents spoke as one from the heart.

"Thoro šešėlio žaibas!"

Dark lightning lashed Colombe du Chasteler as Helmar Wolff -- her Vati -- lunged for Mutti's heart with a snarl of fury on his face.

"Chakrati of Arjuna!"

Muramasa steel clashed against a blade of shadow and blood made manifest as Colombe answered with spinning discs of fire.

The two combatants moved as one into a dance of death as their duel picked up intensity and savagery.

Helmar was far stronger with greater reach, which matched Colombe's slightly greater speed and superior experience with her true body.

Suddenly Helmar lunged, pinning Colombe's rapier body corps-à-corps between them.

Crimson patterned the stone as a SS-Ehrendolch formed from solidified wind in his left hand lashed out. The dagger traced a bloody line across Colombe's side an inch above her hip as she twisted away from the thrust at her kidney bonelessly.

"Bijalee Kee Mutthee!"

Then Wolff flew backward with electricity crackling over his torso from a vicious punch to his rib cage by a fist wreathed in electricity.

He spat blood out and then licked his lips with relish as he saw her blood continue to spurt from the dagger wound.

Meanwhile, Colombe narrowed her eyes as her searching hand came away bloody from the gash in her side.

"You've been practicing, Helmar." Colombe said conversationally as she glided forward with her blade in sixte with a nasty smug smile on her face as she leveled her point at his eyes.

"You've been holding back before, Colombe." Helmar replied equally conversationally as he matched her in tierce with his wrist elevated as they circled once more testing each other's skills and wills with feints and attacks to test defenses.

She smiled smugly, feinted high, and then parried a cut at her wrist. "You have no idea Helmar! Ηλιακή φωτιά!"

With a roar, her rapier body ignited with golden solar fires as she suddenly lunged for his leading thigh like a striking cobra.

He parried frantically before riposting. "Good, only in Struggle can I prove my dominance over you, Colombe!"
----------------

Cortana slashed at Tokunotakai who danced back like a floating blossom from a wave of aquamarine force that carved a trench in the stone.

Thanks to Tokunotakai's distraction, Norimune was able to break free from the shackles of ice that had been cast upon her.

Norimune smirked, flexed as she controlled the energy coursing through her chakras, and then stamped one foot down on the ground. "Patthar Ka Bhaala!"

Stone spears exploded from beneath Cortana, forcing the European blade to dodge frantically as her blood flowed from glancing strikes.

"{Indomitable Strength of Duty!}" Cortana parried automatically as Tokunotakai blurred into melee range with a pink aura of blowing cherry blossoms around her.

The Blade of Ogier rocketed backward like a cannonball to slam into the base of a monolith with enough force to spiderweb the basalt stone.

Then the European grinned and snapped out a spell in Occitan. "{Fury of Martel!}" A tornado of blue-green winds formed at the tip of her blade and lashed the Blades of Hachiman with razor-sharp ribbons of solidified air.

Norimune gritted her teeth against the onslaught as she cast a shield spell.

Beside her Tokunotakai poured her strength into another shield, merging them to hold their own in a contest of raw strength against one of the legendary blades of Europe.
----------------

Iron clanged on stone as the Grendel forced Kasuyu to loosen the grip on his axe.

The beast bent down and its mouth gaped wide to bite the Axe's head from its shoulders.

Then Kasuyu headbutted it, sending razor-sharp steel fangs flying everywhere along with the iron bones of its shattered jaw.

As the beast towering over him staggered in a daze, the Axe grinned ferally "Nongqawuse! Inokwenzeka iGorilla!"

The bracelet shamaness chanted in Mbozi and rhythmically slapped her cupped palms on her thighs and chest.

The aura of a monstrous great silver-back gorilla flickered to life around Kasuyu as he grasped the Grendel around the waist.

His hands locked in the small of its back and he buried his head in its breastbone as his ebon muscles swelled and bulged.

Growling with effort, he lifted the murder golem off its feet and began to squeeze the life from it.

Frantically the Grendel began to claw at his back and shoulders as the vise grip tightened.

Scarlet blood fell like rain to the stone from the hideous wounds opened up in the axe tsukomogami's avatar.

Alchemically crafted iron bones began to crack and bend under the pressure of Kasuyu's deadly embrace.
----------------

Spoiler: Ehren Strikes

Ehren nibbled her lip as she watched Mutti and Vati's duel.

She couldn't get a clean shot at Vati to help take him down.

If she made a move from behind the altar where she was crouched for cover one or both would hit her with one of the lethal spells that they were casting.

And with the Mask of the Four-Eyed God empowering Vati with whatever it was buried here, the fight was too close to decide....

The Mask!

With that, she struck the Mask with her true body, only to see her steel rebound harmlessly from the charms protecting it.

Not enough power!

She swore and then her eyes narrowed.

Her lips curled in a smug smile and her wand dropped into her hand as she summoned and focused her Will.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

The Mask levitated and she dashed with it floating beside her to the edge of the platform.
----------------

With a crack the Grendel's spine snapped.

It thrashed and then went limp.

Kasuyu released its dead body and collapsed to one knee, gasping for air.

Nongqawuse cast healing spells upon him to try to staunch the near-uncontrollable bleeding from his wounds.
----------------

Down below Cortana was advancing on Norimune who charged her, clashing savagely steel on steel as she fought with every trick and tactic she had learned in her four centuries of battle to hold Cortana in check..

Toku staggered back, leaving a trail of blood behind her, before raising her sword over her head in both hands, causing a golden stormcloud to form and churn above her head as her blade began to glow a brilliant gold.
----------------

Ehren took careful aim and then shouted with everything that she had as she focused her Will to a diamond-pure point.

"Depulso!"

Down below, a streak of crackling green-black Dark Energies shot from the platform toward Cortana...

...who automatically parried it with her true body...

...which cut the Mask inside it in twain with steel crafted to defeat the magics of the Saracens of the Dark Continent...

...causing the Mask of the Four Eyed God to explode in her face.

As Cortana staggered from the unexpected concussive blast, Norimune locked her blade and kneed Cortana in the crotch, staggering her even more.

"{Now, Toku!}" The Unrepentant Blade called as she flash stepped back from the blast zone of Toku's most powerful spell.

"{Piercing Thunderstroke of Sincerity!}" Tokunotakai's blazing blade slashed down to point at Cortana, who gave a grateful look at her opponents in the final moments of her battle.

The Masamune of the Warrior's Virtues called down a massive lightning bolt to hammer the Sword of Ogier into blessed unconsciousness in the smoking glass crater a dozen meters in radius left by the blast.
----------------

Spoiler: Wolff's Judgement

Wolff staggered as his borrowed strength fled from him and he screamed in agony from the feedback as his sword blew apart in shards of bloody shadow.

The scream redoubled as Colombe, bleeding heavily from the wounds he had inflicted on her, impaled him through the liver with her flaming steel before collapsing to her knees to cast a healing spell to stabilize herself.

Solar fires burst from his body as he thrashed in his death agonies.

Eyes of steel gray, no longer vampiric, focused on the ramrod stiff form of Ehren who was looking away from him.

"Ehren... Mein... Tochter." He gasped out as he reached for her.

She about faced and dropped the illusion that she had used to fool him as she shook her head. "{Never yours!! My father was a good and honorable man! Who died in 1942 when he used me dishonorably on my Mutti!}" Ehren snapped out with tears in her eyes and her voice but with Kruppstahl underneath the pain and regrets.

He closed his eyes and nodded sadly in defeat as he began to burn to ash.

Then he stirred himself with the Will that drove him to fulfill his duty honorably. "Ach so.... Ehren... The Family estate.... Ostpreussen.... My family's duty.... Keep the darkness there from escaping.... responsibility...." He gasped out with the last of his strength as his eyes found hers for the last time.

Ehren nodded once, sharply and decisively. "{I shall do what the good man who was my Vati would wish.}" She said quietly before kneeling to help heal her mother.

With that something inside Helmar von und zu Wolff relaxed as he accepted the death and the punishment for his crimes and sins as his spirit left him.
----------------

With Wolff's death the few survivors of his forces broke and fled into the trackless jungles from Niobe's wrath.

Norimune whistled jauntily as she hefted Cortana, who was carefully sealed inside her sheath by one of Toku's ofudas.

Toku followed with a serene smile on her lips. "Niobe-sama, can you place this blade in your captain's safe until we determine what to do with her?"

Kasuyu and Nongqawuse joined the others and began to heal the injured.

Ehren helped her mother down the stairs to join the others.

Colombe looked at the others. "I am grateful beyond words to you all."

Ehren nodded and burrowed into her mother's side. "Mutti, V-Vati had gold and money stored here we should take before we go." She spoke in a brittle voice.

Colombe nodded. "Lead the way, my daughter, then we shall take the Portkey home to Moulbaix."

 

[darthcourt10]

Third Summer Holidays - Summer THREE E, Split Point due to Keep Filesize Down

START
​

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Tails gently weaving in the air behind her, the Kumiho looked down on the small town before her. Internally, she snorted a little at calling it a "Town". After all, there were about twenty thousand lives down there counting on her and others to protect them. That was not counting the further sixty thousand fox spirits elsewhere on the island that they called home. All shoved on an island roughly the same area in size as Tsushima to the south. Hearing footsteps, she turned and smiled at a thirteen year old Kumiho boy who held a tray with tea on it. Bowing, he presented it to her, "Your Majesty, I have some Mongolia berry tea for you."

As he stood, however, he found one of her fingers placing itself on his lips as she smiled, "What have I told you, Myung Bo-Seon?"

Lightly blushing, he looked away, "... To call you Chun-Hei."

Her lips curling into a fond smile of remembrance, Chun-Hei nodded a little, "Exactly. Your sister, Bitna, also had trouble with such for a time."

Just as always, the older Kumiho felt a stab of pain at the reminder of her friend. The memories of ten years before, as usual, came back. How she was away from the "Palace" of her kingdom when the creatures from the sea attacked. Seeing the place where her family had lived bombed to ruin, her friend and personal confident, Bitna, become grievously injured trying to protect her. How her heart had stopped seeing not just that, but the devastation brought to her home.

Being as she was the last of her immediate family alive, she stepped up to both rule and protect them. A job that, she was happy to say, she succeeded at. Now, they stood strong, and she had Bo-Seon at her side as she had promised his sister.

Shaking off such thoughts, she gave him a small smile that caused him to blush as she took a cup of the offered tea. With a hum, she sniffed it before taking a sip, a soft sigh escaping her lips after, "Ah, excellent as always. As good as your sister's as a matter of fact."

That got her another cute blush which made her smile grow. Really, she shouldn't bully him, but it was too amusing! Not to mention he truly did look cute when she did so.

Unfortunately, as usual, life found a way into her moment of peace as she heard another familiar set of footsteps. With an internal sigh, she turned as Bo-Seon stepped back as one of the few surviving "Advisors" of her father stepped forth and bowed, "Your Majesty."

Eyebrow raised, Chun-Hei frowned, "Did something further happen involving Japan, Kim Dong-Hae?"

That made the older Kumiho blink a little before shaking his head, "Ah, no, your Majesty. Nothing has changed there from what I have heard." Reaching into his robes and adjusting his hat, he held out a scroll, "But this came via messenger from Lee Gi-Beom! It is a proposal as his son, Bong-Ju is looking for a wife. It would be a fine match."

Out of the corner of her eye, Chun-Hei noticed that Bo-Seon flinched a bit and had his ears droop for a moment before he forced himself not to show his internal feelings. Something that she approved of quite a bit. Instead, she made a show of reading the scroll carefully, though she already guessed what was in it, which was proven correct by a cursory read. After a few more minutes, she raised one eyebrow and gave the advisor a look, "According to this, he would have the position of Emperor as I am Empress over our island."

Briefly, Dong-Hae flinched a bit before he attempted to cover it up with a cough, "Yes, well... that is how such things have been done, your Majesty." Pausing, he gave a sigh, "Shall I give a rejection then?"

Rolling up the scroll, the female Kumiho nodded, "Yes, as I said before the I will choose my husband when the time comes." She then handed the scroll back, "And stating that they will be Emperor will not make me consider one for such a position."

The older Kumiho shook his head with a sigh, "Of course, but you must marry and soon, your Majesty! And produce an Heir, just in case with how these times are. The people will want for it!"

Lips curling into a smile, Chun-Hei chuckled, "And when the time comes, I shall do so. But it will be of my choosing."

What was not said, and which all three understood, was that no one could force the issue as she had the most and biggest guns backing her. With a nod, Dong-Hae bowed before leaving. Out of the corner of her eye, she had noted that Bo-Seon had perked up for a second at her refusal, but she said nothing of that. Instead, she took her tea and sipped it, "Now, let us simply rest for a moment, away from the world."

Bowing, Bo-Seon sat down, "Yes, Chun-Hei."

For the next few minutes the two sat there as they enjoyed the quiet of the night. It took a bit of talking, but Chun-Hei managed to convince Bo-Seon to partake of the tea beside her. As he did, the Kumiho considered the younger of the two quietly.

Despite what he might think and his best efforts, it was no real secret that the young teen was highly attracted to the older Kumiho. Something that she knew quite well for all her teasing of him at times. But one thing that she knew, he was loyal to her. More than once, he had heard things, things that he then kept secret. There had been times when she had needed to vent, had said things that she realized after should not have been said around him. But every time, he would pretend that it did not happen, even to her. He kept her secrets, which she appreciated. Especially as he was easy to talk to.

Even more than that, he was able to offer her advice at times when she had asked him for such, knowing that it would stay between them.

Thus, as she was almost finished her tea, she had a thought and smiled a little, "Bo-Seon, a question if you would."

Peeking up, the teenage Kumiho blinked, "A question?" When she nodded, he shifted a bit, "Of course, you can ask me anything."

Softly smiling, Chun-Hei turned towards him, "Of course." She gave a wave of her hand, "I have been thinking, we have had Empress-Consorts, have we not? Would it be a bad thing to have an Emperor-Consort? After all, there is not much difference."

Blinking, Bo-Seon considered the question, even as his eyes kept darting over to the woman next to him. A woman he considered to be the most beautiful he had ever seen, even now though her question caused a pang in his heart. Even when she was teasing him and the like, he found himself enjoying it because it came from her. Thus, despite the ache in his chest at knowing no matter what, she was as beyond him as the stars he might wish to touch, he hummed, "I think... that it would make sense for such a thing. Though it would be hard to convince a suitor to go for such. I would say that many of those who could Court you, would not like the idea."

Leaning towards him slightly, interested look on her face, she narrowed her gaze, "And you? What do you think of such things?"

Unable to help himself as he was caught in those eyes, the teen stuttered a bit, "I-I would think such men fools for not going for such as they could be with you, and you are the leader that is best suited for our home."

Several seconds passed as Chun-Hei looked him in the eyes and she nodded before leaning away, thoughtful look on her face, "I see... fools, hmm."

Heart pounding on his chest, Bo-Seon simply nodded and decided to sit there as she thought, though he did continue to glance at her every few seconds, drinking in her beauty.

Eventually, she sighed and stood up as he did the same. With a sigh, Chun-Hei shook her head, "While nice, a break cannot last long. Come, we must meet with the others."

In reply, Bo-Seon simply bowed in agreement and brought the tray he had brought with them as they walked. As per the Empress' orders, the lights in the palace were down low when the Sun set. For a human, they might have been stumbling in the darkness, barely able to see. But for Kumiho, they could see easily enough as they walked. Here and there, palace staff looked at them and bowed before continuing their work.

Unknown to Bo-Seon, Chun-Hei glanced at him every so often in thought as she considered their talk. He was right, of course. Many of those who wished to court her would never take up a position that would limit their power. It did not help that, being a female despite all she had done, some of them did look down on her. But not a one moved against her for that same reason.

However, that said? What he had said, had come from his heart, she could tell. He truly did see anyone who saw that as an issue if they wished to be close to her as a fool. There was no lie in those words. And now, looking at him? Chun-Hei could see how he would become a handsome male Kumiho in a few years. Already, at the age of thirteen, she could see it. Which reminded of her something in regards to Empress-Consorts...

Mainly that they could be taken from those whose rank would not allow them to be an Empress, thus why could it not be the same for an Emperor-Consort?

Of course, that meant that she would need to start testing the waters. Something that she was certain that she would enjoy, though that was later. At seeing him look at her when she chuckled, Chun-Hei waved him off with a smile, "Just a thought."

As expected, he accepted that and soon, they reached the meeting room and entered. Automatically, Bo-Seon went to a nearby table to ready more tea. Meanwhile, Chun-Hei stepped up to a central table with various other female Kumiho there.

Kumiho shipgirls as a matter of fact.

Nearly as one, they came to attention and saluted her, "Empress Seong Chun-Hei!"

With a nod, she smiled at them and saluted them back, "Sorry for the wait, I needed but a short breather." At their nods, Chun-Hei looked towards the map with a small frown, "Have we heard any more news over the wireless about the situation in Japan? I would like to know if there was a magical civil war happening just across the sea for what it could mean for us."

One of the others, a Kitsune whose parents had been deported to the island after the Second World War when the ICW Occupation forced shut the gates for any returnees spoke up, "At the moment? No, your Majesty. There's some reports over the wireless that there is some fighting, but it seems to be more just people picking fights than anything."

Taking a few moments, Chun-Hei considered the Kitsune. Around her was the ghostly hull of what was one of the "Coastal Battleship" based on the Thonburi Class, but enlarged and using two twin 12" guns. Supposedly, said ships were built to "Defend" the people of the Japanese protectorates.

In reality, they were there to turn their guns on the people who lived there if they caused any trouble.

Only nodding, Chun-Hei looked down at the map in thought as the others gave their reports. A glance to the North made her frown a little as the "Ancient Destroyer Princess" has not made much noise recently. Perhaps licking her wounds, but still. Though she had since learned that their island was a tough nut to crack.

When the last report was finished, however, the Empress turned her attention to more recent matters. Accepting another tea from Bo-Seon, she frowned, "I don't think that the fighting in Japan is random." Everyone quietened down to listen as she continued, "Considering what we do know, I suspect that they had been emplaced ahead of time for a plan. One which has fallen apart as the Diet dissolved unexpectedly."

More than one of the fox spirits, stood there silently considering. Frowning, a Huli-Jiing frowned, the ghostly hull of a small, armored gunboat around her, "They would not have been that insane, would they? To want to start a civil war in this time? When faced with the threat of the Abyssals?"

Looking up, Chun-Hei considered all those there. Besides the few modern boats, there were a number of turtle ships that were also looking at her as well as two Korean Armoured Trains. All were silent and waited for her next words, which came with a snort, "Never underestimate someone willing to shoot themselves in the foot for political reasons."

One of the turtle ships cleared her throat some, "Your Majesty... does the Admiral agree?"

Eyebrow raised, Chun-Hei turned to her shoulder where a small fairy appeared, one familiar to her even before the war. It was an old tale of her family after all, how their ancestor was his aide and helped his son cover up his death and replace him with said son at his dying orders. Loyalty rewarded by the Joseon Court with their exile to this island. And now, many centuries later, a descendant of that loyal Kumiho turned out to be his shipgirl.

And on the shoulder of the fox spirit, the fairy of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin gave a nod of agreement with her thoughts as he stroked his beard.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts Omake: Nuclear fusion!

jmcdavid said: Random musing.

If Claire encounters the JDF Fubuki, there is one song that she's going to want to play when she meets Utsuho.

Touhou - Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion

"That suits Utsuho-chan so well-" Et tu, Newbuki?
Congrats! You have inspired me to write an omake!
____________________________________________________________

Out on another patrol of the human held waters, the crew of the JS Fubuki had been looking forward to yet another cruise of testing systems. After all, most of the systems were new on the ship, having been just gotten out of the labs. There was bound to be a couple of hiccups for at least a year or two as they worked the bugs out. Hence, they figured it would be another mission like that, though they were proud of the rescue mission of the Torishima survivors.

Unfortunately, reality had other ideas...

Ship shuddering under his feet from another near hit, the Captain gritted his teeth before turning to the Coms Officer, "Where is our backup!? We got an entire Abyssal Battlegroup out there!"

Another shudder made people stagger a bit even as their ship chased the shell splashes that sent water pluming into the air. While as the ship did that, her guns turned as they sought out targets and locked on before barking as they sent hypersonic slugs of metal down range at the attacking Abyssals. As those there watched, an Abyssal Cruiser fifteen miles distant went up in an explosion as it was penetrated and it's ammunition cooked off.

Meanwhile, the lasers that she was equipped with fired again and again at Abyssal aircraft, the only physical sign being when said aircraft plummeted burning to the ocean below or when some smoke or water droplets got caught in the beam and caused it to become visible for a second. The lasers were joined by the Phalanx CWIS for any that got within range. As those on the bridge watched, part of the bow became obscured by a bloom of fire and smoke as the Fubuki launched an ESSM from her VLS, the missile soon roaring towards the sky and a large group of Abyssal aircraft, her railguns firing AA ammunition which were like hypersonic shotgun blasts.

What caught more than one person's attention, however, were the reddish beams that also shot out, vaporizing aircraft whenever they hit.

Even now, the Captain had to internally shake his head at the fact that said beams were coming from Utsuho. And that from the thermal, each one was well in excess of seven thousand degrees. How and why, he could only guess.

Suddenly, another tremor made his steps stumble a bit as he came to the UAV operators and looked on the screen, "Do we have a visual?"

His eyes widening, the Officer/UAV pilot pointed, "Uh, Sir...?"

Face paling, the Captain could only stare at the Battleship Princess that had been observing her fleet fight. That was, until she seemed to notice the UAV and moments later, the view vanished into static. Both men shared a look at that even as the Fubuki brought her turrets around and began to fire them at the Battleship Princess as fast as she could, sending shell after shell downrange.

Yet another shudder as well as an alarm caused them all to grimace as they knew that another hit ad come in. Despite their best efforts, and those of their ship, they were slowly getting more and more damaged as time went on. Eventually something had to give. Quickly making his way over to the intercom system, the Captain pulled the handset from the wall and made the connection to engineering, "How much more power can you give me!? Because we're going to need it!"

Over the headset, the main Engineer's voice could be heard over the whine of the reactor, "{Sir, we're giving it as much as we can! The reactor is well into the red right now and pushing hard, though most of the excess energy that should be damaging it seems to be... disappearing.}"

That last bit made the Captain blink, "Disappearing? Where?!"

In reply, he got a bit of a scoff from the Engineer, "{You tell me, Sir! I haven't the foggiest! All I know is that, somehow, Fubuki-Chan is syphoning off the energy!}'

About to say something, the Captain paused as music suddenly began to play over the shipwide.



Less than a minute later, everyone noticed that there was a bright glow surrounding the ship, coming from above. Quickly running to the windows, the Captain looked up and could see almost a second Sun above the ship, as flares lashed out against shell, aircraft, and bomb. A second sun that began to glow brighter and brighter, the rapidly rising heat going beyond the thermal camera's pre-set temperature range.

Slowly blinking, the Captain muttered to himself, "I think that I know where the excess energy is going to..."

It was not just the humans who noticed as the Abyssals did as well and were looking at the star even as they fired at the human ship. Frowning, the Battleship Princess paused the tapping of her finger against one of her biceps, "... Is that some new human weapon?"

Hanging from her mast, bruises and small cuts littering her, the spirit of the JS Fubuki grinned as she pumped a fist into the air, "YOU GO, UTSUHO-CHAN!"

Within the star, the Yatagarasu could hear her friend and opened her beak as plasma gathered, her body glowing brighter while the ship's spirit channeled the reactor's excess energy through their spiritual connection. Narrowing her eyes, the crow closed her beak before opening it and firing.

For a moment, the beam was fifty feet wide before it narrowed into something just a dozen feet in diameter before slamming into the Abyssals. Hundreds of gallons of water flashed into steam. But for the Abyssals, it was even worse as their ammunition didn't get the chance to be cooked off from the heat. Even the Battleship Princess had no time for a last scream as her Abyssal armor and steel melted like beeswax in a blast furnace. And it was not just her either as Utsusho swept the beam across the Abyssal lines, vaporising and leaving melted remnants that cooled and shattered in the broiling water.

As the beam finally disappeared, everyone on the bridge was silent before the Captain blinked, "Well..." Clearing his throat, he nodded, "It seems like someone will be getting a steak dinner..."

Meanwhile, said three legged crow landed on the mast out of exhaustion, letting out a relieved sigh as her ship spirit friend patted her head.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- And this wraps the Ehren/Vatipire arc. I'll pause it here and go back to Del/Zamarad to catch them up to the 15th or so of August then start on side projects until HL hits the Quiddich World Cup so that he and I are synchronized on timelines.

After The Storm Passes

August 15th, 2014

Khohlo ea Marena a Mararo, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa

"I had turned away from the picture and was going back to the world where events move, men change, light flickers, life flows in a clear stream, no matter whether over mud or over stones." -- Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim
Spoiler: Clearing The Site

Ehren led the group past the carnage on the parade ground to a door leading into the heart of the right hill. She spoke in a weary voice as Colombe cast an Unlocking Charm. "Vati has -- nein -- had a foundry here that was smelting precious metals and was marking the bars with the Hakenkreuz of the Reich. The next shipment was supposed to be prepared for his ally. A woman named Sieglinde. Aryan and a fellow National Socialist. I do not know more about that end of things. He was selling her potion components too."

Colombe frowned as the door slid open. She then stepped inside and her eyes widened in shock at the stacks of gold and platinum bullion inside. "Niobe, I think that your crew will be needed."

The shipgirl took a deep breath as she recovered from the sight and then began to rapidly store bricks in her hold while Toku, Nongqawuse, and Norimune cast shrinking and levitating spells to assist in the loading. "I'll have to empty out two coal bunkers to store this windfall." As Niobe said that her marines manifested to secure the area while sailors began to move the gold hurriedly to her hull.

Meanwhile Colombe and Kasuyu poked around in the locked storeroom and then came out with a disgusted look on their faces. A shipping pallet of twenty dollar bills and several crates of Dragots and Galleons floated behind Colombe while Kasuyu held a pair of shrunken safes under his arms. "Better make it three coal bunkers, Niobe." Colombe muttered. "He was clearly laundering the money. Clever too. Ehren, anything else?"

Ehren shook her head wearily. "Nein. His office was one of the buildings across the Parade ground that were being used to attack Niobe from earlier. The crystal ball was there and the Owl box he used was in the warehouse next door."

Colombe looked at Kasuyu who nodded after he offloaded the safes to Niobe. "Kasuyu, Nongqawuse, check his office." The rapier snapped. "Ehren, point it out."

Ehren did before turning to sob into her mother's chest as she staggered while a fresh surge of emotions and memory hammered into her.

Kasuyu and Nongqawuse came back as the last of the valuables were loaded aboard. "No luck Mistress. A heavy shell hit the office and the warehouse burned after the explosion. Nothing usable."

Colombe looked at the others and nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go! Ehren, take my hand! To-chan, take Ehren's other hand then link up in a chain from her." With that she pulled out a gold 20 Franc coin depicting Albert I, King of the Belgians from 1920.

The dagger grasped her mother's hand in a white knuckled grip as she began to tremble as the stress hit her once more. Then Toku squeezed Ehren's other hand gently for reassurance while Norimune took her fellow Blade's hand, then Niobe, Nongqawuse, and finally Kasuyu followed in a chain for transport.

"Portus!"
-----------------------------

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: Return To Moulbaix

With a bang of displaced air, the six figures appeared in the middle of the entrance hall and staggered after the long-distance Portkey.

Arakaki Chihiro stared from her position at the top of the banister for the grand staircase and boggled at the sight as she dropped her feather duster. The young Tanuki child then shouted at the top of her lungs. "Ehren-oneesan's back, everyone!"

With that Chihiro leaped onto the smooth marble and rocketed down the banister to leap from it at the end in a flying tackle-hug of Ehren who smiled and hugged her to her chest.

Colombe gave a mock-scowl as her eyes twinkled. "I told you not to use my stairs as a slide, but I'll let it pass this time, you little imp." She then ruffled the hair of the Tanuki girl gently.

Miho and Misaki Fujii scurried out from the trophy room to join the reunion with their own tears and hugs.

In the music room, a piano which had been playing a tear-filled melancholy rendition of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto Number Two stuttered to a sudden shocked halt mid-passage.

Then Claire's true body began to fill the castle with an absolutely transcendent version of Céline Dion's My Heart Will Go On in time with the thunder of furiously running feet.

The others hugging Ehren released her as Claire's avatar, with tears in her eyes and a smile full of hope, love, relief, and joy splitting her face, appeared at the top of the stairs.

Ehren's own tears flowed and her matching smile blossomed when she sprinted up the steps toward her Big Piano Sister.

Claire spread her arms wide as she dashed down the stairs two at a time in unison with her charging Little Dagger Sister

The sisters embraced at last directly beneath the painting of Jean-François du Chasteler.

Ehren and Claire clung to each other desperately as they wept in each other's arms, whispering half-broken words to each other.
-----------------------------

Colombe gave her youngest two daughters a watery smile and then looked up to catch her Papa's painted eyes. Her smile spread and she curtsied in acknowledgement of what she saw in that painted gaze looking into her soul. Tokunotakai then embraced Colombe who hugged her, then Kasuyu, Nongqawuse, Norimune, and Niobe.

Jacklyn appeared at the door to the kitchen. "Sis! Dad! You made it back!" The middle daughter of Muramasa-no-Norimune ran to hug her father who hugged her back and gave a hair ruffle. Jackie then mock scowled at Colombe before poking her in the ribs and crushing her with a hug. "Oi! Invite me next time, Sis!"

Colombe laughed and embraced Jackie. "Who says there's going to be a next time, Jackie?" She then waved Aomi over to join the reunion.

Jackie laughed in Colombe's face. "It's your damn luck for getting into trouble, Colombe. There's always a next time!" Colombe mock scowled then pantomimed a punch at Jackie before laughing.

Colombe hugged Aomi. "No Del?" She asked her sister

"Del and Zamarad are busy for some stuff for Jez and have a bun in the oven anyway. Oh, I HAVE to show you the photo of their faces I took when they found out!" Jackie cackled and pulled out a phone.

Colombe began to laugh at the expression on the photograph. "All right, Jackie, how much do you want for a copy of that?" Norimune nodded in glee and added a request for copies, followed by Toku.
-----------------------------

Meanwhile Niobe pulled out her own phone from her hull and dialed a number. The phone rang twice and then her boilers beat hotter and her power plant sped up at Draco Malfoy's voice. "Niobe, it's a relief. How is everyone?"

She smiled and responded in a voice filled with love. "We saved Ehren, she's back home now."

The shipgirl's violet eyes found the SS-Ehrendolch's black clad avatar as Ehren nodded to Claire then wept once more on her big sister's shoulder. "She's back home. Thanks to your warning and your faith in me, Liebchen."(Sweetheart)

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Now that Vatipire's dead and Ehren is back home, time to pick up the more lighthearted Delilah and Zamarad hijinks in the US of A.

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (XIII)

J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.

10 August 2014
Spoiler: A Break In The Case

Attorney General Zigler and FBI Director Arnold stared at Alondra David. The head of the FBI pinched his nose. "Repeat that, Agent David."

"Sir, Asset SAMSON was the head of their Middle Eastern division for their version of the CIA. She apparently is very well plugged in over there; we have known that but didn't know what they had going on there." Alondra took a deep breath.

"It turns out that she was more plugged in than we had dreamed, with some friendly, or at least neutral, magicals who have brought back Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey." Her superiors stared at her.

"Who was put into stasis rather than dying of liver disease in 1938. Some allies of SAMSON revived him a month ago to help handle a magical crisis in Turkey which was apparently something about a World War I battlefield being awakened by Shayatin. As far as we know that is resolved."

Zigler swore, "Not those fuckers who were working with those islamic terror groups back in 1993 when they bombed the WTC!"

"Correct sir. After that was handled, SAMSON was brought on board to use her contacts here and her family's money to get him checked into the Mayo Clinic for a liver transplant. So now he's recuperating at SAMSON's ranch in South Dakota." Alondra explained.

"SAMSON requested this information to be kept on the QT in the top levels of our government since it's politically dynamite, like the Turks bringing back Abraham Lincoln would be." She finished and rubbed her temples. "I agree with her assessment."

"No shit it's political dynamite, Agent. That's the understatement of the year!" Arnold replied to her as he chuckled once. "Anything else?"

"That's the bad news, well also according to SAMSON she suspects but didn't ask that Yavuz and some other shipgirls are going to do something about the current crop of assholes in charge of Turkey with Atatürk's blessing. Speaking personally, it can't happen to a nicer bunch of deserving assholes, but..." Alondra sighed. "Well above my pay grade."

Zigler sighed deeply. "I'll call SecState and get a meeting set up with him, CIA, NSA, and POTUS ASAP. What's the good news?"

Alondra smirked, "Two million, seven hundred eighty three thousand, eight hundred and eleven documents copied from MACUSA that we retrieved under my sworn search warrant from a storage shed in South Dakota that their organization owns. It turns out that SAMSON is the daughter of one of the founders of their version of the CIA. Her mother is also the mastermind of a conspiracy that dates back to the Civil War to prepare for the fall of the Statute in a soft landing."

You could have heard a pin drop as her superiors digested the bombshell. Finally Arnold swallowed. "Holy Shit! Holy shit!! Since Lincoln!? Go on, Agent."

"SAMSON, or more accurately Delilah de Breuil, 'Emma' -- who apparently can read and reproduce all the papers they are burning in their HQ as we speak and is really a naturalized US Citizen named Zamarad de Breuil -- and SAMSON's mother Jezebel de Breuil are prepared to make full videotaped confessions under oath about their activities since 1865 plus testify when it comes to the trials."

Arnold smiled. "Damn good job Agent. Let me know what you need to get this done."

"Just the field office's support and the time to get all the data out. Plus getting my frequent flyer miles for South Dakota." Alondra grimaced, then explained. "It turned out that Kingsport also managed to break the magical geases preventing SAMSON and Zamarad, who we are going to call SALOME for this operation, from discussing classified information, and both are going to cooperate fully. I have the documents thay have gathered stored in my hold under armed guard for analysis and delivery to whichever team of District Attorneys gets assigned by you to start making cases."

"Jesus H. Christ on a trampoline!! Christmas came early! Don't go anywhere until we decide what to do with this bombshell!" Zigler finally found his voice as the shock wore off.

"Yes, Sir. I'll head down to Document Analysis with your permission and unload. I told SAMSON and SALOME that I'd be back in South Dakota ASAP for followup interviews. They have a ranch there that they are staying at along with Atatürk and some friends of his as he adjusts to the modern world."

"Understood. Her information is not time-critical?" Arnold frowned as he scribbled out a memo to light a fire under the document processing and analysis section.

"Not to the best of my knowledge, Director, and I have her verbal promise to call me if something comes up." Alondra clarified as she took the memo from the Director.

"Good, let's get the ball rolling here."
---------------------------

Sákpe Mázasu Pteyúha (Six Bullet Ranch), Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA

11th August 2014

Delilah scowled as she began to carefully clean her true body after a serious run on the range. Somewhere out there Ehren was in the clutches of an SS vampire and she couldn't help. The past two days had been very tough on her and Zamarad as they watched the seconds creep slowly by while they waited for news from Moulbaix.

Finally she couldn't take the waiting any more and they had headed out to the ranch's firing range to do some serious shooting.

Zamarad had fired three hundred twelve shots with Delilah's revolver true body on a variety of pop-up and tracked targets. Meanwhile, Delilah had unlocked the heavy weapons room in her arsenal building and grabbed her Barret M95 bolt-action rifle and a M9 bazooka for some major landscape renovation and long range shooting to blow off steam. Ali had joined them followed by Kemal and for several hours the lives of paper targets available for the shooters to blow holes in (or blow up) was seriously endangered.

Which reminded Delilah to make a mental note that she really should swing by Southern Hills Tactical to grab more .50 Browning, 7x57 Mauser (Kemal had been working out with her Spanish M93 Mauser that she had picked up in Cuba in 1898 after San Juan Hill), and .30-06 Springfield (Ali had decided to use an M1 Garand that was a veteran of the PTO according to the serial number). Also it wouldn't hurt to see what was new in the firearms department.

Delilah sighed as she finished reassembling her true body and dry fired herself before casting the spell to load her chambers.

At least they had a serious steak dinner laid on because she was famished thanks to Zamarad's workout. Right now she could eat a cow down to the moo, she though.

For tomorrow's plans, she would be going into town with Zamarad to take care of the follow-up appointment with Doctor Varnell. Right after she had hung up on the receptionist Zamarad's phone had gone off with a similar call for consultation on the blood work from her checkup. Delilah laughed briefly as she wondered how the gray haired doctor would react if the diagnosis was 'came back from the Happy Hunting Grounds so was out of sorts'.
Spoiler: A Call From Jackie

With that her phone rang with a familiar tune from Pirates of the Caribbean. "Jackie! Have you heard from Sis?" Delilah asked eagerly as she picked up.

Her older sister sighed and spoke without her normal piratical lilt. "Not since they called in from the Congo yesterday. They're heading downriver from Kisangani and phone service is spotty, but they now have a lock on her location. Listen, we got the Castle cleaned up, but I have a wee problem."

"What problem, Jackie?" Delilah snapped.

"Claire's over at Maddie Aetios' place, but I don't know how to get a hold of her. Jez said that you had her contact info when I asked your Mom. Can I pop over and get it from you so Claire can come home?"

Delilah nodded, "Yes I do. Just Portkey over to the ranch in the morning and I'll give her a call to introduce you. Just make sure to come early in the morning, since I have a doctor's appointment. Something about my blood work."

"Damn, that sucks." Jackie agreed then her normal lilt entered her voice. "Do ye want a hand tae deal with that scurvy fool o' a sawbones?"

Delilah laughed. "Yeah I would. Come on over Jackie."

"See ye then, Del!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- The Moment you have all been waiting for....

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (XIV)

Sákpe Mázasu Pteyúha (Six Bullet Ranch), Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA

12 August 2014
Spoiler: Unexpected Good News

"Top o' the Mornin' to ye, Del-me-girl!"

Delilah turned from where she was washing up after breakfast to see the familiar form of Jackie leaning against the door to the kitchen of her ranch house. Beside her Zamarad took the now-rinsed plate and boiled the water off it with a glance before placing it back in the china cabinet.

"Hey Jackie. Glad that you could make it!" Delilah exclaimed with a grin for her big sister. Then Delilah winced as her stomach did a back-flip on her.

"Are you OK, Del?" Jackie asked with a look of concern as Del covered her mouth and looked nauseous.

Zamarad shook her head. "Delilah has had a stomach virus that is particularly nasty after she wakes up in the mornings. That is one major reason why we got checked up at the doctor several days ago. Also I'm running a fever."

Delilah spoke after her stomach decided that her breakfast would stay down for now. "Not that I mind having someone nice and toasty warm in my bed, dear." She then looked at Jackie and spoke to her sister. "Want to come with us to town? I plan to swing by South Hills Tactical and pick up a few more boxes of ammunition, place another order to replace the stuff that I have shot off over the last few days, and do some browsing before we go to the Doctor's for our appointment."

Jackie laughed and then hugged Delilah. "I can aid me baby sister while ye pillage and plunder a gun store of booty!"

"Dammit Jackie! I'm not that bad!" Delilah laughed as she grabbed the keys for her Jeep from the rack at the door.

Zamarad and Jacklyn chorused in unison as they followed Delilah outside. "Yes you are!"

South Hills Tactical

"Afternoon Hank!" Delilah said with a wave as she smiled at the store clerk. "Your uncle around?"

The clerk looked up from a copy of Guns & Ammo that he had been reading. "Oh hey Del! Good to see you too Emma! Who's your friend? Vernon's acting as range-master today so he will be a bit."

Delilah smiled. "My big sister Jackie dropped by so I'm showing her around." She nodded to where Jackie was examining a stack of targets alongside Zamarad. "She's good people. I phoned in the ammo order last night and wanted to see what's new in stock too."

Hank grinned. "Yeah, we passed that along to Hornady Manufacturing. You wanted their Vintage Match .30-06 and 7x57 Mauser, right?"

Delilah nodded. "Yes, their ammo loads that are done according to milspec requirements. I inherited a few antique rifles that served in war, so want to treat them with respect. For instance, my Garand was assigned to the 4th Marines according to the serial number research I did. So he saw action on Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. Going to treat him right with good ammo."

"Can't go wrong with Hornady." Hank agreed as he began to stack up boxes of ammunition that had been reserved for Delilah.

"So, what's new in stock today?" Delilah asked curiouslyafter paying for her ammunition purchases.

Hank pointed at a large pistol on display and Delilah whistled in appreciation. "We got in some new Desert Eagles from Magnum Research. They are using that gold titanium wash in the etching process now."

"It's beautiful." Delilah said as she examined the pistol carefully. "That's a pretty Deagle. Nice showpiece pistol even if it's a little flashy for the field. What's it chambered for?"

"Three-fifty-seven magnum." Hank replied as Delilah finished the inspection and handed the pistol back.

"Damn. I was hoping for Fifty Caliber Action Express." Delilah admitted. "I prefer my bear repellent rounds to start with a four or five. I'll just have to order a Fifty AE through you guys if I get one since Three-fifty-seven is a bit light for my tastes."

Hank laughed as Zamarad and Jackie approached the counter with stacks of targets. "Yeah, yeah. We know that you love that big antique hogleg revolver. She's a beauty and great for blowing big holes in things, but subtle it ain't."

Delilah grinned and pulled out her credit card again. "Yes, she is." She smugged as she paid for the other purchases.

Doctor Varnell's Office, Custer South Dakota.

"Mrs. De Breuil, Mrs. Alnaar, the Doctor will see you now."

Delilah put down the hunting magazine that she had been browsing while chatting with Jackie, meanwhile beside her Zamarad placed her American Forestry magazine down. Delilah gave her love a fond smile as she remembered how the Ifrit was quite interested in the gourmet possibilities of American tree species in her waiting room reading materials of choice.

Jackie followed them as they entered the office, and then leaned against the wall as she pulled her phone out and began to film them.

Delilah shook the hand of the gray haired doctor, then Zamarad followed suit. "So, what is the problem that came up in my blood work, Doc?" Delilah asked curiously.

Brandon Varnell grinned and his eyes twinkled. "I'm pleased to inform you both that you have caught a case of influenza aegyptius, as we called it in medical school. The hormonal signs in the blood work for you both were quite conclusive along with the normal elevated iron count in your blood and the carbon in Mrs. Alnaar's."

Jackie's eyes shot wide open as she stared at Delilah and then she got a smug smirk of unholy relish.

Delilah frowned. "Egyptian influenza?" She shot a look at the equally puzzled Zamarad who shrugged and then looked back at her doctor.

"Oh yes, primary symptoms are nine months of weight gain, and then it turns you into a mummy. Congratulations, you're both pregnant!" Doctor Varnell finished with delight. "My staff has prepared prenatal information packages for you as first-time mothers."

Delilah stared in slack-jawed shock while Zamarad grinned uncontrollably with a goofy expression. Jackie began to giggle as she snapped several shots of their expressions. "Gotcha, Del!!"
--------------------------

Delilah glared at her unrepentant rogue of a big sister as they left the office with their copies of What to Expect when You're Expecting, additional pamphlets, and the congratulations of the doctor and staff. "Dammit Jackie! You knew! HOW!!"

Jackie saucily grinned back. "Zamarad's mother spotted some early signs for Jinn when she saw Zamarad last. So she told Jez who told me, Sis, and Dad. Ye won me twenty dollars from the betting pool when they see me video of the moment the Dragot dropped."

Zamarad's eyes got round, and she blinked as she thought back to her mother's reactions after meeting her for Eid.

"DAMMIT JACKIE! Don't you dare!!" Delilah shook a finger in the face of her smirking sister. "You hand me the phone right now so I can delete those photos I know you took!"

"Already on me cloud storage, Del!" Jackie smirked at her sister and took another picture of Del's fuming face.

"Face facts, Shaelat ruwhi. She has us over a barrel and knows it." Zamarad sighed before absently pulling another mesquite chip from her purse to snack on.

"DAMMIT JACKIE!!!"
--------------------------

Sákpe Mázasu Pteyúha (Six Bullet Ranch), Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA
Spoiler: An Unexpected Gift

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk leaned back in the padded chair and sighed thoughtfully. Truly these 'computers' were fascinating machines, he spoke to himself as he rubbed the mustache that he had begun to grow out once more, all the world's knowledge at his fingertips and magic too.

He chuckled idly at the thought and then looked back on the screen which was showing a scholarly analysis of his past life. He could argue with a few of the details and some of the conclusions, he thought to himself as he remembered the choices he had made that were being dissected, and of course some of his actions had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, while others had crashed and burned in bloody failure.

But overall, the judgement of history was kind to him.

He had not succeeded in all, but his intentions were good and he had succeeded in enough to make Turkey a far better place at his passage than at his arrival.

And that was certainly something to be treasured.

He could see why those who had revived him and given him a second chance at life would want his counsel and aid and to give him a reward for his labors.

The chance to watch the seeds that he had first planted grow and bear fruit in God's good time.

With that he looked at the sparkling pale green fluid in the carved crystal decanter that Lokman had brought. His eyes raised to meet those of the ancient physician. "This dose of the Elixir of Life will keep me as I am now?" Kemal asked softly.

Lokman responded equally quietly. "Yes. Now you could still be slain by violence or misfortune. As well, I and the others can tell you that immortality can be as great of a burden as a blessing. But the hand of time will not wear upon you if you take the Elixir. Or if you wish, you can live out a normal lifespan and then sleep forevermore."

Kemal rubbed his mustache once more as he considered the choice offered to him.

"We wish you to have the free choice of this as a reward for all that you have done, yes, but also as a mark of our respect for you as a person. There are many others who have done equally great deeds that echo through history who we would have never offered this choice to." Lokman finished in a solemn tone filled with responsibility.

Kemal nodded, and then thought to his hostesses' evident distress at the kidnapping of her niece Ehren. "Such as Hitler then." Kemal said quietly, thinking of the explanation that Delilah and Zamarad had given him about the poisonous fruit of Nazi Germany's descent into madness and how it impacted their niece.

"Yes. Such as Hitler." Lokman agreed.

"I see." Kemal fell silent once more as he stared at the screen without truly seeing it.

Finally Kemal looked at Lokman and spoke quietly. "Thank you all for everything. Often I thought that I fought alone and unaided. It is a balm to my soul to know that I was one among many fighting for what I believed in."

Lokman spoke equally quietly. "That knowledge is a balm to my soul too and to all of us no matter how old or how young. We may fall, we may fail, but we are never alone in the endless struggle to do what is right and where one cannot triumph, another can."

With that The Father of the Turks made his choice.

The Elixir of Life was poured into a shot glass, that was hoisted and raised to the man who had saved his life. Across from him, Lokman poured and raised a shot glass of the Tekirdağ Rakısı that Yavuz had sent to celebrate his return to health

"Şerefe!"(Cheers)

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Humming to himself, Harry quickly whisked the eggs in the bowl he had as the teen worked alongside Suisei to cook breakfast. At seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, he glanced to find Kenshō there poking her eyes over the top of the counter. Needless to say that his lips twitched a little at seeing it.

Of course, when he looked to the otherside, he nearly did a doubletake at seeing Kyoshu doing the exact same thing.

For several moments, he looked between the two blade spirits as they watched him, eyes poking up just above the top of the counter. Seeing Suisei out of the corner of his eye with a smile on her face, obviously trying to not laugh, Harry internally shook his head before humming, "So, what do you want on your omelettes, you two?"

Both blades tilted their heads as they blinked and thought about it before Kenshō raised a hand, "Can I have bacon and green onions on mine, Master? Oh! And pepper too!"

Eyes wide, Kyoshu rapidly nodded her eyes in agreement, "I'd like that too! Mou... wait, we're having omelettes?"

Unable to help himself, Harry chuckled as he gave a nod, "As a matter of fact, we are." Lips curling a little into a smile, he grinned, "We're also having some muffins as well that I made up."

Gasping, the Blade of Faded Memories turned her head, "Na-Chan! Na-Chan! The Muffin Man is making muffins! Good muffins too!"

Said Masamune smiled at her and gave a thumbs up gesture from where she sat with some tea. As she turned back to him, Harry tapped her nose making Kyoshu go cross-eyed, "We're also making some cinnamon buns and the like."

Happily gasping, Kyoshu gave a cheer alongside her daughter, both throwing their hands into the air.

The sight of which made the teenage wizard shake his head in amusement before noticing Suisei giving him an amused look of her own which caused him to raise an eyebrow, "What?"

Lightly chuckling a little, Suisei shook her head, "Nothing, just enjoying the moment." Glancing at Kenshō, she smiled a bit more, "It does seem like they enjoy it."

Harry allowed a little pride to leak into his voice as he gave a shrug, "I guess, though I do have a lot of experience with helping out back on base in the mess hall. You do get good when making things in bulk after all."

All the tanto did was nod in agreement to that.

Meanwhile, slowly, other members of those who had stayed in the household drifted into the dining room. Various letters and such came in which had Honjo, Kotegiri, and Chisuheri looking them over. At one point, Hedwig flew in and landed on the perch with some letters on her leg which Kenshō took. She gave the owl a happy smile, "Good morning, Hedwig-Nee-Chan!"

Everyone stopped as Hedwig chuckled and gave her a fond look before speaking in a Welsh accent, "And a good morning to you as well, Little One."

For a few moments, the gathered blades outside of Kenshō and Kyoshu, who was smiling happily and cheering, as well as Juuchi who smugly smirked, just stared. Slowly, Akutoku raised a finger and pointed, "The shit? That owl just fucking talk?"

Gasping, Kyoshu clapped her hands over her daughter's ears, not noticing her giggle, "Umitsubame! Umitsubame! Akutoku swore in front of Kenshō-Chan! Mou... why did she swear?"

Slowly blinking, Umitsubame brought up her true form and smacked Akutoku upside the head with the flat of her blade, "She's right, don't swear in front of Kenshō-Chan."

A scowl on her face, Akutoku rubbed the side of her head, "Come the heck on, Umitsubame! It talked and with some sort of wierd accent!"

Hedwig gave her a flat look, "I'm from Wales, hence the accent. Though that said..." She cocked her head to the side and her next words caused Umitsubame to have a spittake, "I suppose that a virgin blade such as yourself would have as much trouble with that as you would writing something realistic."

It took a few moments, but the Blade of Corruption realized what was just said and pointed at her, "The hell you say to me, you feather duster!?"

Once more, Hedwig gave her a flat look before leaning forward, "Well, mainly that people should write what they know, something that, unfortunately, you do not seem to do." She had the slightest version of a owl's version of a smirk, "Japanese, Motherfrecker, do you speak it?"

Needless to say, all the other blades were amused as Akutoku sputtered while trying to think up a come back to Hedwig's snark.

Feeling a tug on her sleeve, Kotegiri raised an eyebrow towards Kenshō who stood there, "Hai? What seems to be the issue, Kenshō-San?"

Said Kogatana ignored how the argument between Akutoku and Hedwig had increased, with the owl snarking more and more much to the amusement of the others. Instead, she held out one of the envelopes she had taken from Hedwig's leg, "This is addressed to you, Kotegiri-San! Mou... looks important."

Lips twitching a little, the Masamune nodded as she took the offered letter before giving the younger blade spirit a pat on the head which made Kenshō happily beam, "Thank you very much, Kenshō-San."

Bouncing a bit on the balls of her feet, Kenshō grinned, "You're welcome, Kotegiri-San!"

With that, she hurried over to her mother as Harry brought out muffins that the two dug into happily. Fondly smiling, Honjo shook her head a little, "At least she is well behaved..."

Hum escaping from her, Kotegiri nodded, "That is very true and good to see."

Noticing the official seal, she cracked it open before reading the letter inside. Beside her, Honjo noted that her sister's expression changed from the smile to her usual mask. Despite that, she could well see that Kotegiri was enraged at what she was reading and so lowered her voice, "Kote-Nee? What does it say?"

Just taking a deep breath, Kotegiri handed her the letter before lowering her voice, "It seems that I shall have to make a visit or two with the Oda Kimono. For some had much the same idea as Hatanaka all those years ago according to some interrogations passed along from the Konohana."

Eyes widening for a moment, Honjo stared at her before reading the letter quickly. Soon, her expression morphed into one of anger before she placed a mask over her face. Taking a deep breath, she then let it out, "Do you wish for assistence, Onee-Sama?"

However, her older sister shook her head with a razor thin smile, "No, you shall not need to dirty your blade this time, Honjo-Nee. This, I will take care of personally."

That only got a nod from Honjo before she looked back at the letter, "Still... the utter fools. If they succeeded..." With a sigh, she grimaced, "We have seen far too much of that already."

Slowly, Kotegiri gave a nod, "Indeed we have, thus a message needs to be sent that attempting such a thing will not be tolerated."

Understanding, the Blade of the Tokugawa frowned and tilted her head slightly before blinking as she noticed something, mainly that Juuchi was locked in a staring contest with Nameless. Which, needless to say, made her frown, "Juuchi, what are you doing now?"

Juuchi glanced at her briefly before turning back to Nameless, "I know her."

A snort escaped from Akutoku as she turned away from Hedwig whom she had been jabbing with her finger, "Of course you know her! We all do!" She then rolled her eyes with a shake of her head, "She's been living with Kyoshu for a while now-Ow!"

Pulling back from where she had nipped said finger, the owl clacked her beak and turned towards Harry, "Harry-Wizard, I require water to wash my mouth out as well as bacon to cleanse the taste before I get food poisoning."

Eyebrow twitching, Akutoku growled, "The fuck-ow!" Rubbing her head from where Umitsubame had smacked her for swearing, the perverted blade glared at her sister before turning back to Hedwig, "The frick you say you me, you overgrown featherduster!?"

Somehow, Hedwig conveyed a completely bored expression, "Three."

Blinking, Chisuheri raised an eyebrow in befuddlement alongside the others, "Three? Three what?"

The owl gestured towards Akutoku with one wing, "Three times at least you have used the same insult, calling me an overgrown featherduster. Such creativity." Pausing for a moment, Hedwig gave her version of a shrug, "Then again, considering her writing, I am not surprised."

Her eyebrow twitching, Akutoku snarled, "THE HECK!?"

From where she was, Suisei had a smug smirk on her face as she recorded the argument between the snarky owl and her sister, "Norimune will be disappointed so much that she missed this."

Meanwhile, Juuchi gave her sister a smug smirk of her own before turning back to Nameless, "No, it's not that. I actually know her from somewhere. But... I don't know where. I recognize her and met her in the past somewhere, but the name escapes me."

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to her with Honjo's breath caught in her throat, "You... you recognize her?"

On Juuchi's face was a frustrated look as she furrowed her eyebrows, "Hai, from somewhere in my past before I left Japan. We met more than once, but... I cannot for the life of me remember why or her name. Just that we... knew each other, somehow."

Looking between the hopeful and happy Nameless and the Muramasa, Kotegiri frowned a little as she still did not recognize her sister even that much. Something that annoyed her greatly, but what was just said puzzled her, "We have been working with someone to reverse what happened to her, but... how is it that you would recognize her and we could not?"

For a few moments, the Muramasa was silent and thoughtful. Then, she gave a hum, "I suspect that part of the reason is that the Potter storehouse is under the protection of the Fae. I have been exposed to such for many centuries now after all, and it would make sense."

Confused, Kotegiri frowned at that, "The... Fae?" It took a few moments, but then she furrowed her eyebrows, "Do you mean fairies? Such as Tinkerbell?"

Much to her surprise, Harry spoke up with a serious expression, "Despite how they are often shown in modern media, the Fae are dangerous beings and no joke. If you anger them, look out, because they can and will make you regret it for however long until they are finished."

Her eyebrow raised, the Oda Masamune turned to Juuchi only for a hesitant Chisuheri to speak up, "I... remember Jin coming back from that harvesting trip on your property in Britain, Harry-San. She had a lotus growing from her head. She claimed that it was a gift from the Fae on your property and that she was... concerned by possibly insulting them with whatever she might do with it." The Muramasa chewed her lip a little, "Jin is not afraid of a lot of things. So to see her so worried... it was somewhat frightening."

Taking a sip of tea, Juuchi let out a small sigh, "The Fae are... strange people with rules and such that only makes sense to them. But they are very powerful." She grimaced a bit, "As I am sure you all know of house elves, yes? They are the result of a small group of Fae pissing off the others with a war, thus being turned into house elves as 'Punishment' for doing so."

Intrigued at this, even as her sisters were a little horrified, Kagotsuruhe raised an eyebrow, "I see, and how did the Potters become involved with such beings."

At the stove, Harry shrugged a little, "Something like eight hundred years ago, one of my ancestors came across a wandering band of Fae. He made a deal with them that they could live on our land as long as they protected our treasures from those that would steal them. We would honour them by giving them the first picks of the harvest from our orchards as well. Later, their Queen gave birth to a child by said ancestor's son, who was also my direct ancestor. Apparently, at least another of the Fae also married into the family from the same group. Ties of blood and all that."

Several moments passed as they stared at him before Honjo shook her head, "Suddenly, so much makes sense." Ignoring the confused look on the teen's face, she turned to Juuchi, "So you believe that it has to do with being under their protection that you are recognizing her so soon?"

In reply, the Muramasa shrugged a little, "It is possible at least. Time and such doesn't apply to the Fae. And if there is any group whose magic would be able to ignore Kyoshu's abilities? Even if from the residue from exposure to said magic? It would be them." Juuchi then gave Honjo a smug smile, "Of course, the question is if you have had anything change, Honjo."

Frowning, Honjo opened her mouth before pausing. A thoughtful and surprised look crossed over her face a second later, "Hmm... now that you have mentioned it, there is a... spark of something there. But nothing more." Glancing at Juuchi, she frowned, "Is that from...?" At the slight nod, she had a surprised expression on her face, "I see, even from that small amount of time."

Kotegiri, meanwhile looked at Nameless, seeing hope on her face. Not for the first time, nor, she was certain, for the last, she cursed the man who did this to her sister to the depths of hell. And for what?! Because he wanted to control shipgirls?

Internally, she felt her mental lip curl a bit in utter disgust. Maybe if she had not been so busy, if she had hunted down the remnants of Sub-Unit-931 before now... maybe this would not have happened. But she was going to make it up to her sister, of that one could be sure.

With a deep breath, Kotegiri shoved such thoughts away and gave a small nod, "I suppose that it is not much, but it does give us an idea as to whom she might be."

That only got her nods of agreement before Hachi appeared, the Submarine having gone outside to contact Yokosuka and give a status update. Walking in, the shipgirl smiled a little at Harry, "Breakfast nearly done, Harry-Chan?"

Looking over his shoulder as she came up to hug him from behind, he gave a nod, "Hai, just about, Hachi-Chan. Maybe two or three more minutes and we can all eat."

Brightly smiling at that, Hachi nodded before kissing his cheek, "Thank you, Harry-Chan." Turning, she gave Suisei a nod, "And thank you as well."

Small smile on her face, the Tanto nodded, "You are very welcome, Hachi-San."

Not long after, everyone sat down for breakfast and various conversations happened around the table.

At one point, however, Suisei suddenly jumped from her seat, "Oh shoot! My show is about to come on!" Quickly, she went for the television that was visible and turned it on before changing channels, "Just in time."

Eyebrow raised, Hachi looked at the screen as music came on and she gave a happy gasp, "You watch Tales of Lady Green Snake as well?!"

Happily nodding, the dagger nodded, "Every chance I get! It's one of the best things on even if..." She gave a small shrug, "Even if I need the subtitles to understand what they're saying."

More than a little amused as the two gushed back and forth, though Umitsubame also joined in with Honjo adding commentary of her own, Harry raised an eyebrow, "Tales Of Lady Green Snake, huh? Isn't that the series filmed and produced in Taiwan?"

Rapidly nodding, Hachi smiled as she adjusted her glasses as the titular character was on screen, "Hai, it is a series based on Legend of the White Snake, but told from Lady Green Snake's point of view. It's amazing and it has everything! Including martial arts fights as well as romance! And all with Lady Green Snake as she travels Ancient China and refines her powers in order to rescue her beloved Nee-San." Clasping her hands, the Subgirl sighed happily, "I have it recorded when I'm out on patrol and such."

Lips twitching, the teenage wizard nodded a little, "I see." Looking at the main character, who was performing Wuxia martial arts against a bandit, Harry frowned a little, "... You know, I feel like I should recognize her from somewhere." At the look, he gestured at the screen, "The actress, she seems familiar."

One eyebrow raised, Kagotsuruhe hummed as she considered the screen, "Perhaps from another film or television series? Lǜ Laling has been around for some time." She gestured at the screen, "Supposedly, she is part European."

Blinking, Harry looked at her again as she landed and blocked hits from her opponent. Now that he looked, there was a European cast to her features. Yet, there was something else there as well, something oddly familiar. Even as he looked, she had a lopsided smile that was full of smug as she looked at her defeated enemy. And, when he glanced at Juuchi, Harry could see that she was puzzled as well with a thoughtful look on her face.

Granted, he had to admit, she looked cool and he was definitely going to look up the series. Maybe see if could get the other episodes online at least.

________________________________________________________________

Unknown to him, at that time in Taiwan, the real Lady Green Snake arrived home from her job as the Minister Of Magic for Taiwan. Despite outward appearances, she was exhausted. With what was going on in the North with China and the Mandate was bad enough. Now, there was the fall of the Tokyo Diet and the fallout from that. As far as she was concerned, if someone wanted power than they were a fool. She missed the simpler days with her sister and brother-in-law before they became separated. Even her days as Education Minister! If she could, she would go back to those days...

But... she had a duty to uphold for the people needed a firm hand right now to guide them through the dark days ahead.

With a sigh, Lady Green Snake entered her home and paused at the smells that assaulted her. Mouth watering, she followed the scents to the kitchen and smiled at the woman who faced the stove on the other side of a kitchen island, "Well, I did not expect a meal waiting for me, Daughter, welcome as it may be."

Lightly chuckling, the woman turned to reveal it as being Lǜ Laling. Unlike her television appearance, though, she had her black hair done up on a loose, messy ponytail, "I thought that you might want some food after being at work all night. And the season's filming is all finished for now."

Her legs transforming into a snake's body, her mother sighed as she coiled up her lower body on the other side of a table, "True, and I am looking forward to a meal cooked by you." Light smile on her face, she hummed, "You shall make someone a happy husband one day."

That only got her a laugh as Laling came around the kitchen island with the food, revealing her lower half to be that of a large, black scaled snake, "Perhaps one day, Mother."

Once she sat down, she poured tea for them both. Watching her daughter pour her own tea, Lady Green Snake shook her head in bemusement, "To this day, I do not understand how you enjoy that Earl Grey."

Her lips curling as she smiled, Laling shook her head, "I grew a taste for it when I lived in Britain and went to Hogwarts, Mother."

Both their eyes drifted to the diploma that was framed on the wall with smiles. One that stated that she had graduated in 1889 from Slytherin, something that always amused the two of them. Briefly, Laling's smile faded and became more melancholy before she shook that off with happier memories.

Turning to her mother, Laling took a deep breath, "Mother, I would hate to bother you, but..."

Simply holding up her hand, Lady Green Snake smiled, "You wish to know what is happening in Japan as far as I know, it is as easy to see as one's nose, Daughter. And understandable as you are worried about your nephew."

Pale cheeks pinkening, the younger of the two looked down, "My apologies, Mother. It is just... I do not wish for him to live through something that we have."

Slowly, Lady Green Snake nodded, "As I said, understandable and it speaks well of you! For you understand as I do the duty to one's family, even if one cannot complete it yet." At her daughter's nod, she took a sip of tea before turning to the food, "There is good news there as it seems that besides small fights here and there, the transition of power is going as peaceful as can be expected. So there is unlikely to be a civil war in Japan quite yet. Not like in China, at least or not that we are familiar with." Taking a bite of food and chewing it, she swallowed before continuing, "Thus, he is safe for now." A small smile appeared on the older woman's face, "His birthday is in a few days, perhaps send him a small gift?"

Considering that as she ate her own food, Laling nodded, "I do have a few ideas as to what he may like." A sigh came from her as she looked at the photo on the wall, "I do wish that I had known that he was in trouble from... those creatures. But at least he is happy now, though if I had known at the time-"

Her mother spoke up, "If you had, I have no doubt that you would have gone and retrieved him where he could be raised properly. As it is proper for you to do so, as you are my daughter and your Father's Daughter." A wistful sigh escaped her as she shook her head, "While, perhaps, it was more lust than love, Ian was a good man nonetheless. And I see that in you each day."

Red colouring her cheeks, Laling bowed slightly, "Thank you, Mother."

Only humming, Lady Green Snake sighed a bit, "Now, the next few days will be busy. I have... something coming up that cannot be rescheduled. Not to mention I have no doubt that the ICW will be making a stink in regards to Japan. Thus, I need for you to do some things for me if you are free..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- This one went some unexpected places on me.

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (XV)

Villa Uvas Munificus, Slopes of Mount Ossa, Thessaly, Greece

12 August 2014
Spoiler: Hunters Of The Sunless Seas

With a bang of displaced air, Jacklyn Fox appeared down the road from the Villa. Jackie swallowed to settle her stomach after the long-distance Portkey travel from South Dakota. She looked around, whistled at the view of the Aegean in the distance, and then adjusted her floppy pirate hat.

Bless Delilah for having a Portkey to her friend Maddy Aetios' estate so she could pick up Claire.

Speaking of her niece, Jackie chuckled to herself at the sound of piano music echoing from inside someplace as she walked toward the house. After all, she would know Claire's playing anywhere. She then frowned at the clear notes of worry and concern in Claire's playing. She would certainly have to cheer Claire up after taking her home.

Not that she could blame Claire for this, considering the pickle that Ehren was in. But Jackie had faith in her youngest niece to hold out until her idiot of an older sister could save her... if Ehren didn't escape on her own.

Approaching the entrance to the villa, she tensed slightly as a woman in a Hellenic Navy T-Shirt and sweat pants glided out of the door like a humanoid lioness. Jackie's honey-hazel eyes then widened in shock as she identified the woman heading her way.

While she was no longer an active part of the Silent Service anymore, she kept up with the news of those who stalked their prey through the cold and cruel depths in the deadliest hunts of all.

Captain Lana Koustris.

Commander of the submarine HS Meleager.

The Huntress of the Mediterranean.

According to scuttlebutt that she had heard whispered to her by her friends in the seafaring community, Captain Koustris was someone who seemed to be as 'special' as 'Commander Fox' of SSM-3 had been during her days stalking the Japanese Navy through the war-torn Pacific.

With that Jackie grinned with the cocky smirk that she had used in the past to notify her crew that she had a plan to dodge the trio of escorting destroyers to hit the troopships bringing men and supplies to New Guinea.

"Ahoy!" Jackie said and sketched a flamboyant curtsy to Captain Koustris. "It's quite a honor to meet ye, ye know."

The Greek woman nodded politely and then looked deep into Jacklyn's eyes. Golden-brown with the piercing fierceness of a lioness met equally resolute and sharp honey-hazel as Jackie stared back. Finally the other woman gave a smile of her own.

"Hunter's eyes..." Atalanta said half to herself.

Jackie nodded sharply in agreement. "Aye. It's been a wee bit since I did a proper stalk, but I have done me own spots of hunting the most dangerous game from below the waves meself." She nodded in response to the unstated question and then continued. "If ye write down an address and your choice of libations, I'll send ye a bottle to wet yer whistle out of respect. Cap'n Jacklyn Fox at your service. Retired skipper of SSM-3 Foxfish in World War Two."

Atalanta walked with her toward the villa. "I haven't heard of her, actually."

Jackie shrugged expressively as she turned to look at 'the wine-dark sea' of Homer's Iliad. The cutlass then spoke with quiet, serious pride. "Few did then or later. Just the way that it should be for a necessary job."

Atalanta nodded and gave a questioning glance at Jackie.

Jackie spoke again with her eyes distant, lost in memory. "When it was obvious in 1939 that the world was going to blow up, MACUSA got persuaded to do a small secret additional production run of Gato-class submarines crewed and skippered by magicals. We had heard rumors that Kamo's Japan had built a magical navy, which was accurate enough, so MACUSA wanted a counter."

Jackie gave a gentle smile as tears filled her eyes and her voice. "I got the third one laid down for me pains, and the only one of the first three that survived the War -- damned Mark Fourteens! -- for me little girl. Eleven war patrols. Thirteen kills including Yamatai. 51,861 tons sent to Davy Jones' Locker accordin' to the records we got after the war. Most importantly, she brought all me boys back to port and to their loved ones after we did what had to be done."

Atalanta nodded in respect as Jackie finished quietly in a sad tone. "I couldn't keep her after the war, so had to watch when she sailed to the breakers. Damn me, I miss her even today, even the head that kept backing up on us rather than flush into the bilges. She was a good girl and I couldn't be more honored to have been her skipper for those four years. I pour out a glass of rum for her every year to celebrate the day I stepped aboard her for the first time, and to remember the day that I had to give her up."

Atalanta nodded solemnly and spoke equally quietly. "Yes, yes. I know how that is. You never forget the good ones, and they remain with you forever after touching you with their lives. When the time comes, I'll miss Meleager too."

Jackie nodded in agreement and the silence lingered.

Finally Atalanta stirred and then spoke to Jackie. "I take it you are here for more than to talk shop."

"Delilah and Colombe are me sisters and I'm here to pick up me niece Claire." Jackie said as she cleaned off her face. "Before she drives ye all mad with her playin' of course."

Atalanta grinned. "Nothing of the sort and I'd love to have her back on another visit. Claire actually has been a model guest so I have taken the opportunity to teach her how to shoot a bow and hunt. She was enjoying the lessons this morning while I wait for my ship to be readied for the next patrol."

Jackie blinked as they headed inside. "Claire as a hunter? I can... almost see that in a strange sense, especially since her little sister Ehren hunts too. Ehren bagged a big antelope on Del's ranch last November. So you hunt?"

Atalanta grinned and nodded happily. "Indeed I do."

"I'll have to introduce you to Del sometime then. She owns a game ranch out in the Black Hills and loves being out there during hunting season. Used it a time or two meself, although the huntin' I favor is for saucy willin' wenches and sturdy buccaneers with hard muscles." Jackie waggled her eyebrows as her voice got a teasing tone. Atalanta laughed in response to the clear jest.

"AUNT JACKIE!!" Claire called out with a large smile as she looked that way as she played the piano. She then ran over to hug her aunt. "I was so worried. What's happening?" She said in a concerned voice.

Jackie sighed after she returned the hug and ruffled Claire's hair. "I have some good news and some bad news Squirt. I'll tell you the news once we get back to Moulbaix. That's why I'm here, your mother and Toku are busy so they asked me to pick you up. Can you grab your stuff to take with you?"

Claire nodded and headed to her guest room. As she left, Jackie turned to Atalanta and guided her away from the piano. Jackie then spoke very quietly. "Del said something about calling here to make sure we had a Portkey that could transport her? Also Maddy should know that Ehren got kidnapped by her damned Nazi Vampire father and Colombe's leading the lynch mob after him so will be out of touch for a bit."

Jackie sighed deeply and looked at the piano playing itself happily across the atrium. "I'll have to come up with something to keep her spirits up. Claire and Ehren are very close."

Atalanta smiled. "I recommend an archery set. She really did have an interest in that, and it may relate to her being Chosen by Wolf-Mother." Jackie's eyes bulged in surprise at the news. Atalanta smiled and continued. "Archery also relaxes the mind as it improves the body."

Jackie laughed. "That sounds like a Del thing to say. I'll take your advice and get one for her while we wait."

The conversation was paused as Claire returned with a bulging space-expanded satchel filled with scrolls and clothes. "All ready, Aunt Jackie!"

Jackie nodded and then took the Portkey that Medea had prepared from Atalanta. "All right, Squirt. Unsummon your avatar and I'll activate this to take us home."

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: News Of Ehren

Claire's piano and Jackie appeared in the ballroom of Moulbaix.

Claire manifested and looked around curiously at the quiet castle. "Where's everyone?" Claire asked quietly as she opened her lid and began to tune herself.

Jackie cursed Colombe mentally for saddling her with this duty and then hugged Claire. "Claire. The bad news is that while you and your mother were in Greece, the castle was attacked. Kasuyu fought them off but Ehren got captured. Your mother, Toku, Kasuyu, and Norimune are leading the rescue of her. I'm covering for her while they bring Ehren back."

Claire tensed and began to cry as her piano body emitted wails of heartrending musical sorrow.

Jackie sighed then used a finger to raise Claire's face so she could look into her niece's pain-filled eyes. "Ehren's a strong girl and your mother is very determined. Ehren will be back before you know it. Also I didn't tell you the good news, Squirt!"

Claire sobbed and frantically shook her head, "I don't want good news, I want Ehren!!"

"Oh, but this is the best news possible, Squirt." Jackie said confidently as she stared into Claire's eyes and used a voice of command to reach her heart. "Del and Zamarad aren't along since they are both in the family way. You're going to be a Big Piano Cousin to their children in a few short months."

Claire's eyes widened in shock and a hesitant smile broke out as the hug grew stronger between Piratical Aunt and Piano Niece.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

After a number of goodbyes and the like, Harry, Hachi, and Kenshō had left Umitsubame's house with Juuchi having decided to stay behind to discuss things with her sisters. One thing that was decided was that with the situation as it was, they didn't want to chance flying at any point back to Yokosuka. No one wanted one of the rogue groups resulting from the Diet's dissolution to decide to take potshots at them. Even if the chance was low of that, they decided that it was best not to risk it.

Granted, Harry did get a shiver down his back when Kotegiri had smiled at him in a way that reminded him of Tatsuta when angry and told him that it shouldn't be a worry for very long.

Thus, a few hours later the three were driving along the highways back to Yokosuka after informing Nagato of the change of plans. Glancing up at the rearview mirror, Harry smiled a little at the sight of Kenshō slowly breathing in the backseat as she slumbered. At her side, a tablet had dark screen as it had gone into sleep mode after being paused for a time. Part of the teenage wizard could only shake his head at what had happened that morning before they left. The goodbyes between Kenshō and Kyoshu had caused everyone to smile.

Of course, all of them had been amused with the fact that Kyoshu more than once had forgotten that she had said goodbye. Which meant that she would suddenly come running to glomp the giggling Kenshō and start kissing her head while saying goodbye. Alternatively, grabbing her daughter to drag her off to get ready much to Umitsubame's exasparation and giggling from the Kogatana and grins from Nameless.

Just shaking his head a little, Harry barely held back a fond chuckle as he turned his head back to the front. He did pause a little, however, as his eyes came upon Hachi who was driving the car. Said Subgirl hummed a little to a song that was on the radio as she kept her eyes on the road with her darkened glasses.

It was amusing to Harry whenever he saw her wearing her "Civilian" glasses with transition lenses.

Mainly because he remembered that it was shortly after he had started staying with the Subgirls and became friends with them that he had introduced her to said lenses. At the time, he still wore glasses full time and Nagato had taken him to an eyeglass place to both get tested and to have proper glasses bought for him. Something that she had spared no expense on, thus he found himself with transitions. Needless to say, as a young child, it amazed him and he had laughed everytime he went out into the bright daylight and his glasses darkened.

Not long after their fateful meeting, the Subgirls had been walking along with him chatting happily with them and having it returned. Iku and Hachi had each held a hand and were swinging him back and forth every once in a while. At the time, it was a cloudy day for the most part. When the clouds finally broke and the Sun streamed through, Harry remembered, Hachi had boggled as his eyeglasses darkened in the light.

And it was not just her either as the other Subgirls had as well because they hadn't noticed that sort of thing before. Harry explained, excitedly, about his glasses and how they became sunglasses in bright light to highly interested Submarines. Within two weeks, Hachi had gone and gotten a new civilian pair of glasses with the same type of lenses and had never gone back for the glasses that she used outside of combat.

Though, to more than a little bit of Harry's amusement, Hachi had blushed at the time when he complimented her on how nice they looked, and still did whenever he complimented her on her glasses.

Briefly, he remembered that when they had been discussing what they had for their glasses all those years ago, he had paused. The eight year old had scratched his head in thought when Imuya asked what was on his mind. Each of the Subgirls had blinked when he asked if they could get the same stuff on their periscopes. Of course, at first the girls had laughed before suddenly pausing and wondering themselves. They shared a look and dragged him off to a bemused Akashi who they explained his idea. As it was explained to her, the Repair Ship had become intrigued and then excited.

Within a matter of weeks, they had discovered that, yes, they could give the various Subgirls the same sort of "Upgrade". After all, they were just chemical coatings and such things, while prohibitably expensive in WWII if they had tried it back then, were possible. And thus able to bypass the normal issues with MSSB and would also regenerate in repair baths.

From there, it had first implemented for the Subgirls, both Japanese and those in other countries. Then, they had gone and gave various IJN Shipgirls, who often used optics to aim, the same thing. Harry still remembered a cackling Akashi telling him how when she had told him, Goto had stared at her before banging his head on his desk at how they had missed such a simple thing.

Lips twitching a bit at the memories, Harry internally shook himself free of such thoughts before noticing that Hachi was glancing at him curiously with a slight flush on her cheeks, "Um... Harry-Chan? Er... i-is something wrong?"

Now blushing himself, Harry looked away, "Sorry, just looking at your glasses and remembering years back when you saw me wearing transistions."

That made the shipgirl blink before she softly smiled with a small giggle, "I remember that actually. And how all of us were pretty surprised." Reaching up, she adjusted her glasses with a happy look on her face, "Hacchan is happy that they exist though, because it makes things so much easier."

Placing his hands behind his head, Harry gave a hum, "Tell me about it, though I don't wear glasses now that often since I mainly need them for reading." Scratching his cheek, he grimaced a bit as he remembered something, "Though later on in life..."

Hachi nodded as she knew what he meant, mainly that due to his eyesight and childhood, even if he only needed glasses for reading now that very likely he would need them full time later in life. Then, she smiled and gave another giggle, "Well, then, Harry-Chan can be glasses buddies with me."

Just blinking for a moment, the nearly fourteen year old gave a chuckle, "That's true, I suppose. And you got a nice sense of style for them."

Brightly smiling at that, the Subgirl turned back to the road with a happy look on her face as she thanked him. In reply, Harry only nodded though he did keep looking at her out of the corner of his eye as he took note of how she looked at that moment, happy and peaceful as the Japanese countryside passed them. Unable to help himself, he swallowed a bit as he took her in as Hachi was currently wearing a tight, white tank top due to the heat of the summer with jeans that were rather tight on her.

Something that Harry noticed right away as she shifted a bit in her seat.

Within his head, the teenager was beating his hormones once more with the thoughts that they caused. Especially as the clothes left no doubt as to the figure of the physically seventeen year old girl driving. Internally, Harry muttered to himself why it was that, as used to her wearing a swimsuit he was, that it was what she wore now that caused him issues. Not that he was complaining much...

Quickly shaking his head, he decided to distract himself by pulling out a notebook and looking over his notes after clicking his pen. Several minutes found him looking at the notebook in thought as he tapped his pen against his lips. Hearing Hachi's voice, he looked up, "Hmm? Something wrong, Hachi-Chan?"

Eyebrow raised, she gave a slight shake of her own head, "Nothing wrong, just wondering what you're working on, Harry-Chan. Homework?"

Lightly chuckling, Harry shrugged a little, "Not really, just something that I am working on in my own time." At her interested look, he checked the rearview mirror to make sure that Kenshō was asleep before lowering his voice, "It has to do with the Bunker and what happened there... in particular a fight. I... want to see if I can replicate some of what I did outside of that."

Frowning, Hachi furrowed her eyebrows, "Harry-Chan? Weren't you pretty hurt by what you did? From what I was told, you broke bones and the like..."

Only shaking his head, the teenage wizard hummed, "Hai, for some of what I did. I'm definitely not trying some of those stunts ever again if I can help it. Like the boost to my strength, that... was painful."

Relieved, Hachi nodded with a soft sigh, "That is a big help for Hacchan." She then tilted her head a little, "So what are you working on?"

Glancing at her, Harry frowned some in thought, "Honestly?" At her nod, he continued, "I'm thinking of some of what I did like ripping rebar out of concrete and propelling it." The wizard waved his hand a bit in the air, "I mean, obviously I won't be able to rip something from concrete normally. But... using wandless magic to propel debris? That... could be useful if I can figure out how to control it."

Interested, the Subgirl brought up her thumb and bit down on it, "I can see why, Harry-Chan. You could use it for a distraction in a fight if you can."

With a slight nod, Harry smiled, "That's one idea that I had, especially if I ever fight Voldemort. But another is that I could use it as a defense as well. You know, fling objects wandlessly into the path of the Killing Curse to block them if it comes to that while I attack." A grin came to his face as he tapped the notebook, "I think some of it was a wandless Depulso. And if so... I could pull a bit from what also happened and overload it."

Blinking, Hachi watched as he brought up one arm, straightened it, and then made a flipping motion with his thumb. It only took a few seconds before she began to giggle madly, "Hai, I suppose that would be very useful as well. Though does that mean that we would need to call you Biribiri?"

That got a snicker from him as well as a wink, "Maybe~"

Just shaking her head, the Subgirl continued to smile, "Never change, Harry-Chan. Never change."

In return, Harry shot her a grin.

_____________________________________________________________

After a few hours of driving, they pulled over at a fast food place and got themselves burgers. Pausing in his chewing, Harry swallowed before setting his food down and cleared his throat, "I-I'm sorry, Hachi-Chan... but what did Hitomi-San and Iyo-San do?"

Grin wide on her face, Hachi giggled a bit, "Well... see, we had another successful mission, sank a number of Abyssals. So we were in the Subpens and RO-Chan brought out some beer. So we were all kind of drunk and had this idea... And Jersey was in the area so we decided to have a bit of fun."

Knowing that said Battleship had... issues with Submarines, Harry pinched his nose and snorted, "What happened?"

If anything, the grin widened on the Subgirl's face and she brought out her phone to show a video.

On the screen, it was evening and Jersey was walking along and was about to eat a pie on the waterfront when suddenly music began to play. The Battleship was looking around in befuddlement and Harry heard her curse and ask what the fuck was happening. Suddenly, spotlights shone on the water and Hitomi and Iyo leapt out of the water, roses in their hands as they looked at Jersey who jerked back. Smirks on their faces, the two Subs went into poses as they began to speak.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"And make it double!"

"To protect the world from devestation!"

"To unite all ships within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of our foe!"

"To extend our reach to the Abyss below!"

"Hitomi!"

"Iyo!"

"Team Sub approaching at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

At that, Iku jumped out of the water and went into a pose, "Torpedoes, that's right!"

For several moments, all four shipgirls were silent as Jersey just stared with her sunglasses slipping down her nose, "What... the fuck..."

Meanwhile, Maruyu appeared and used that moment to swipe her pie before sneaking off. Seeing that, the other three Subs within view ran off, "TEAM SUB RUNNING OFF AGAIN!"

Confused, the Battleship stared until realizing what was missing, "MY FUCKING PIE YOU SHITS!"

Several seconds passed as the video ended before Harry began to cackle madly at what he had just seen. Even Hachi was snickering and had to put down her phone or else risk dropping it. When he was finally able to speak with chuckles, the wizard flicked some tears from his eye, "Was she the only one that you bunch pranked?"

Grinning, Hachi shook her head a little as she picked up her burger again, "Actually? She wasn't as we got others like Musashi and the like. Each and every one of them we got on video too, completely and utterly befuddled when we were done."

Once more, Harry began to snicker madly as he imagined the reactions that they very likely got and wished that he had been there to help.

It was only after he was certain that he would not choke that he took another bite from his burger and looked over at where Kenshō was currently chasing after a butterfly. Softly smiling, Harry turned back to Hachi who smiled back at him, "This is rather nice."

Humming as she wiped her lips after finishing her own burger, Hachi picked up a fry, "Hai, it really is, Harry-Chan."

Tilting his head a bit, Harry frowned slightly as he lowered his voice, "I know that we've been away longer than you might like-"

Before he could get too far, the Subgirl reached over and placed a finger against her lips just for a second or two. Mainly because she replaced it with her lips for a brief kiss. When she pulled back, Hachi had a happy smile on her face, "I don't mind, Harry-Chan, because it was time spent with you."

This time, it was Harry's turn to be flustered which amused her to no end.

Not very long after, they finished their lunch and tossed the wrappings into a garbage can before walking back to the car. Hachi let Kenshō into the backseat and Harry helped her buckle herself in. Going to get into the driver's seat after watching and smiling, the Subgirl paused as she felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning, she blinked a little, "Hmm? What is it, Harry-Chan?"

Lips curled into a smile, Harry pressed against her which caused the shipgirl to be more than a little flustered before he kissed her. Blinking for a moment, Hachi closed her eyes and leaned into it as she placed her arms around his neck as the teenage wizard placed his hands on her hips. When he pulled back, both of them were blushing heavily, though with smiles on their faces. Lightly chuckling, Harry rubbed the back of his neck, "Um, thanks... for everything. And I enjoyed spending the time we did with you as well."

Still blushing, Hachi leaned in to kiss him again, "Mmm, so did I."

In the backseat, Kenshō had a bright grin on her face with her clenched fists held in front of her mouth to keep from squealing in glee.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- And speaking of Kotegiri....

A Breadknife Lesson

Councilor Aizawa Noritada scratched the back of his still dark head of hair with the smallest hints of gray. He then looked at the other members of his faction in the nightclub that they had taken over for this meeting thanks to some of Representative Onishi's 'business associates'.

"You have heard nothing back from Auror Tsutsumi?" He snapped out at Onishi.

The representative shook his head. "Not since he departed to begin the process of bringing Kyoto to heel."

Movement at the door caused him to glance that way as a beautiful woman in a red kimono walked past the frozen bouncers.

He turned back and glared at the others. "This is important business, who called for a whore? Was it you, Onishi?"

"Councilor Aizawa Noritada. It is good to find you at last." The woman's voice was cultured, elegant, and filled with anticipation as she approached the dozen men at the table..

Councilor Aizawa suddenly froze as a paralysis spell locked him and the rest of the people in the nightclub into place.

His eyes widened and he began to sweat at the sight of blood red silk and golden Oda heraldry on the kimono the elegant woman wore like an Imperial princess.

Suddenly, she snapped her fingers and a large wicker basket with old stains around the open top and on the bottom appeared to float at her elbow.

He began to scream internally, remembering his father's bedtime stories about how if he did not study, then Kotegiri would come for him just like she had come for Granduncle in 1945.

Masamune-no-Kotegiri.

The Armor Cutter of the Pure Smith.

The Sword of the Emperor.

No.

The Sword of the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven.

The sword who had been the steel core within the iron fist of the most ruthless warlord of the Jidai.

Golden eyes narrowed as she surveyed him for endless moments. Finally she nodded to him. "In accordance with My Imperial Master's Will And Command, I shall explain matters for those of you whom can be saved." Her voice was polite, courteous and formal with velvet menace in each precise syllable.

"As for the rest.... A lesson is needed." Her voice became colder than a yuki-onna in a blizzard as she finished.

Masamune-no-Kotegiri, touched one of the golden Oda Mokka-mon crests on her kimono and her lips curled in a sweet smile with surprising warmth in it as she spoke in a voice filled with warm devotion and happiness. "My First Master, Oda Nobunaga-dono, drew me in 1567 and gave me my First Charge among the chaos of the Jidai."

"Tenka Fubu. 'Unify all Japan under this sword'. By any and all means necessary." Her eyes glittered in memory as her lips moved in an absolutely terrifying smile full of fanatical devotion.

Her smile widened as she continued in that warm, happy, terrifying voice as she looked into the eyes of the frozen bureaucrats and politicians while walking among them. "My Second Master, Meiji-Dono, gave me my Second Charge in 1868. 'Make Japan strong and prosperous, able to stand in the first rank of nations so that all her children can enjoy the blessings of the Land of the Gods'. To that end I helped him clear away the failing remnants of the Shogunate and establish the Japan that we live in today according to his vision. By any and all means necessary."

Her smile grew proud and happy as her voice gained the tone of a teacher's joy at a student surpassing her. "My Third Master, Showa-Dono, gave me my Third Charge in 1945 as Japan stood upon the precipice of destruction. 'Insure that Japan survives by acting when you are needed to stop the disharmony and foolishness of small minded men who risk the harmony of the nation and the survival of our people'." She gazed into Aizawa's terrified eyes and her smile became a razor-edged hungry menace as she finished in that warm, terrible voice. "By any and all means necessary."

With that, she nodded once and spoke in a solemn cold voice. "Rumors of recent attempted events in Tokyo have distressed the Chrysanthemum Throne, and, as it shall always be, the Oda shall support the Tennō with humble, loyal service."

Her voice became cold and hard as her steel as she finished. "By any and all means necessary."

"Councilor Aizawa, the actions of you and your allies would have led to another civil war. Magical against no-maj. Human against Yokai. Just like the wars that I ended in 1355, in 1567, in 1868, and in 1945 before they could destroy us. A war that we cannot afford with the Abyssals menacing us." Kotegiri spoke in the solemn voice of a judge passing sentence.

CLICK

The sound of the Armor-Cutter of the Pure Smith returning to her sheath after performing the duty that she had been forged by the greatest swordsmith of Japan to carry out.

PLOP

The sound of the first head being tossed expertly into the waiting basket.

The sound of the patience of Emperor Heisei being exhausted.

The sound of Oda Kotegiri responding to the concerns of the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Kotegiri turned to the seven men remaining after the last headless corpse on her list collapsed to the floor.

She surveyed them mercilessly with her hungry golden eyes, staring into each face for endless moments before nodding once in satisfaction.

"I trust that I shall not have to ever return to reinforce the lesson?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Making her way through the waves, Louisiana took a deep lungful of the salty sea air as she visually scanned the ocean around them along with her radar on the look out. As she did so, she caught sight of Hoel-Ni in her position near the rear of the formation. Said Destroyer, like her, was also scanning the area. Upon locking eyes with Louisiana, she grinned and waved a hand before going back to her job.

Just nodding at that, the Battleship smiled a bit more at her escort even as she remembered that the coming convoy had a new Destroyer destined to join their small Battlegroup, USS Seymour D. Owens (DD-767). She was one of Hoel-Ni's sisters and a fellow Gearing that had been scrapped before completion after the Second World War. She was to be joined by a "Never-Built" Light Cruiser, USS Fairbanks (CL-154) and the first of her Class.

Part of Louisiana was rather pleased with that seeing as said class was very good at Anti-Aircraft fire. Especially when Jersey had told her that said ship was basically a "Super-Atlanta" with eight double 5"/54 guns and two twin 3"/50s aft with a further six single mounts. From what she had heard, it would boost their own anti-aircraft capabilities nicely alongside Seymour as well.

And while she would never admit it, she was so looking forward to her next rebuild as they believed that she could replace her quad-bofors with double 3" that she nearly drooled.

Unknown to her, Shinano was having similar thoughts as she sailed along as her Mustangs scouted ahead for the incoming convoy. She was quite happy herself with the new members of their group, along with Ishikari, Miitake, and Denryuu who would be training with them at least. She also suspected that Ayase would join as a Japanese Light Cruiser to act as a leader for Hamakaze and the others Japanese Destroyers in their group.

Or, at least it would be a suspicion if she, Shinano, had not put in a request for her to join them. Niiyodo had given her a knowing smile at the time, which had made the Carrier blush a little at it. And it was not like Niiyodo could join as said Light Cruiser was often seconded to Taigei and her support group. Besides, Shinano was good friends with Naka and had seen how said Light Cruiser as well as Jintsuu were effective... along with Sendai, though that last one was wierd to Shinano.

Despite being deep in thought about things, Shinano was still paying attention to her planes and suddenly perked up a little bit and turned her head towards the Northeast. Catching sight of that, Louisiana sided up to her, "Found something?"

With a frown on her face, the Yamato narrowed her cloudy eyes a little, "Hai, there's a Nu-Class alongside four Destroyers heading in the direction the convoy will be taking and..." She frowned a bit before blinking, "It's launching planes, mine will intercept and attack as much as they can."

Hundreds of miles away, one of Shinano's Mustangs dove towards the incoming fighters. At the controls, Sakai Saburō grinned even as he opened up with his guns as he began to feel the rush that always came with combat and was rewarded with one of the slower Abyssal aircraft coming apart even as he pulled up as hard as he could, the engine rumbling as the propellers clawed at the air, "Desu!"

And he was not along as he noticed Hinoki Yohei shoot down another Abyssal in his own Mustang, which he had named "Evalina no Musume" to the amusement of the others. From where he was in that split second, Sakai could see the "Dragon mouth" that Yohei had painted on the nose of the aircraft along with it's name. Lips twitching, he went into a hard turn back into the furball, still grinning.

If there was one thing he enjoyed since coming back as a fairy, it was the fact that he could both once more pilot and was fighting on the right side this time.

Just a minute or two later, he got a call over the radio from his wingman, "{Desu! Desu desu!}"

Eyebrows raising, Sakai leaned forward to look out his cockpit and glanced around. It did not take him long to see the incoming fighters, all Mustangs like his own. A laugh escaped his lips as the radio barked again, "{Hey, hey hey hey hey hey?}"

Still grinning madly, he grabbed at the radio, "Desu desu desu! Desu desu desu desu!"

There was an answering laugh before the American Mustangs dove into the furball and between the two squadrons, they managed to shoot down every single one of them. Almost as soon as they did that, the Abyssals down below attempted to book it. Unfortunately, each of the Mustangs had a single bomb which they put to use, targetting the Nu while firing their guns at the escorting Destroyers. They must have hit something as the Abyssal Light Aircraft Carrier detonated into a fireball that damaged the Destroyers, which were soon sunk themselves.

Climbing upwards, the two flights contacted their respective shipgirls and confirmed their positions and what had happened. The damaged planes retreated while the undamaged ones held formation, the Japanese and American pilots weaving in and out. Eventually, they were replaced by shorter legged planes as the two groups of shipgirls got closer to one another. Pulling up to the lead American Mustang, Sakai gave a wave and received one back before turning to head back home with them doing the same.

As he glanced over his shoulder, his eye gave his fellow Mustangs a once over. Shaking his head, he laughed once he placed them, 'So they have returned as well? To be expected of them.'

Down below, on the sea, soon enough the two groups came closer and closer until they came into contact. Standing at the forefront of her group, Shinano alongside Louisiana saluted Wisconsin, who returned, "Carrier Shinano, permission to join the convoy?"

Lips curling a bit, the Iowa nodded a little, "Battleship Wisconsin, permission granted." With that done, Wisconsin grinned a bit and threw an arm around Shinano's shoulder's, "Good to see you again, Shina!"

Brightly smiling herself, Shinano nodded a little, "And it's good to see you as well, Wisky-San." That got her a chuckle from the Battleship and she looked around before spotting another Carrier, "Um, is that...?"

Glancing in the same direction, Wisconsin gave her a slight nod, "That would be Chaffin, and yes, the P-51s flew off her. She actually wants to meet you as well."

With a glance towards Hamakaze, the Yamato got a nod and drifted into formation, refueling her planes and sending them up. Slowly, she drifted until she was beside Chaffin and the two Carriers considered each other. After a few moments, the American grinned, white teeth standing out against her dark skin, "So you're Shinano, then?" Holding out a hand, she nodded, "Name's Chaffin and pleased to meet you."

In reply, Shinano took the offered hand and shook it, "Hai, I'm Shinano and I'm happy to meet you as well, Chaffin-San."

That got her another smile and the two began to chat. Eventually, Chaffin blinked at one bit as they exchanged information even as their planes flew above, "Wait, White Plains is your Ma? Really?"

Lightly blushing, Shinano adjusted her glasses a little, "Um, that's right." She played with her fingers a little, "She's a good Kaa-Chan to me and my Nee-Sans."

More than a little bemused as she had seen pictures of said Escort Carrier, the Essex internally shook her head a little at the image inside her head of a little girl surrounded by a group of young women who all outmassed her and calling her Ma. She just barely kept from laughing. Instead, Chaffin gave a small nod, "I can imagine, Miz Shinano."

Notcing that one of Shinano's Mustangs came out, fully refueled and armed, she watched as the shipgirl brought up her bow and fired it. The arrow bursting into flame to reveal the plane as it clawed it's way into the sky to scout ahead of the convoy. For a few moments, she watched it with a hum as Shinano fired off another Mustang into the blue yonder. Considering she fired her own planes from a rifle, it did cause her to raise her eyebrow before internally shrugging.

After all, different people had different ways of doing things.

While Shinano continued to fire off new, refueled and armed planes, Chaffin gave the shipgirl next to her a once over even as she nodded at the formation the Japanese Mustangs took. The girl next to her was massive, even compared to a Fleet Carrier like herself. In her mind, the African-American Essex compared her to one of the Midway sisters in size and the like. Granted, a part of her wondered when she would get angled decks and could not help but grin at just how screwed any Abyssal attacking would be then. Because, to her eyes, Jersey's comment of Shinano being a "Floating Fortress" was right.

Clearing her throat, the American got Shinano's attention and held up her rifle, "Mind if I launch some of my Mustangs as well to help scout? My boys are raring to go after all."

That got her a smile from Shinano, who then nodded, "Hai, I would not mind."

Simply smiling, Chaffin had the first of her Mustangs come out of her hanger and get onto the catapult before firing her gun. Mere feet from them, the bullet transformed into a P-51 that climbed to join the others in the sky above, "And there we go."

Humming happily, the Yamato took note of the markings on the plane, "Huh, so they did come back."

Wide grin on her face, Chaffin laughed, "Can you blame them for doing so? They were waiting for a chance after all."

Upon getting a giggle and a nod, the American laughed again even as she launched another plane. She felt that the Japanese Carrier could become a good friend after all. Meanwhile, the American Mustang joined the others in formation as they circled the shipgirls, waiting for all of them to be in the air before heading out.

The sunlight shining down on the red painted tails of said aircraft.

_____________________________________________________________________

Slowly, the afternoon drew on as Hachi drove her car into the base. From there, it was not long before she pulled up just outside of the apartment building that Harry called home alongside the rest of the Nagato-Potter family. Looking out the window, she smiled and turned towards Harry, "Feels good to be home after a long drive like that."

Harry turned to her and nodded, "It really does." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Thank you again, Hachi-Chan." At her confused look, the teen continued, "For coming with me and driving us back. I really appreciate it."

Leaning over, the Subgirl kissed his cheek before pulling back, "I really don't mind, Harry-Chan. After all, I'm spending time with you."

When they got out of the car, Hachi gave a hum as she stretched some. A small, light blush stained her cheeks as she noted how Harry was watching her do so with a blush of his own. But unlike how it might be with some men, who would outright ogle her? There was nothing bad about how he watched her, nothing disrespectful.

Besides which... Hachi actually enjoyed him watching her like that.

Once she was done stretching, she noted Harry was smiling at her, "Hmm? Something wrong, Harry-Chan?"

In reply, Harry shook his head before jerking his thumb towards the apartment building, "I was just going to ask if you wanted to come in and spend some more time if, um... that's okay? And I could cook something up for you as well."

Licking her lips, Hachi nodded before walking over and taking his arm into hers, "I would like that, Harry-Chan, I would like that a lot."

Just nodding, the teenage wizard walked with her into the building with the blonde Subgirl.

Not long after entering the apartment, it didn't take Harry long to look into the fridge before nodding, "We have some sausages, Hachi-Chan. How does that sound?"

At that, the Subgirl licked her lips again and smiled, "That sounds really good, Harry-Chan. A nice sausage in a bun sounds perfect."

With a hum, Harry got to work and soon enough began cooking them in a pan. He did blink a little as Hachi came up from behind him and hugged him, chin on his shoulder, 'Hachi-Chan...' A moment later, he smiled as he went back to cooking, "Enjoying yourself?"

Happily humming, Hachi squeezed him a bit more briefly, "Hai, this is... very comfortable."

She then gave him a kiss on the cheek before going back to watching him as he cooked. Unknown to Harry, Hachi at that moment had an image in her mind of older versions of them both doing the same thing that they were at that moment. And such a thought was very enjoyable to the Submarine as well as filling her with a warm feeling as she imagined it.

Of course, she did not know that Harry had a similar image in his head at the same time. And, like her, he rather liked it. Granted, he had a small blush on his face from how he could feel her pressing into him from behind, but that was perfectly okay.

It did not take much time for him to cook up the sausages and he placed them into buns. Looking to one side, he watched as Kenshō opened her mouth wide and happily took a bite with a happy hum. A sound that made him chuckle and ruffle her hair before he turned to Hachi who bit into her own, "So? Any good?"

Lips curled into a fond smile after chewing and swallowing, Hachi raised her eyebrow, "You cooked it, Harry-Chan. So there shouldn't be any doubt of that." Walking over, she stood beside him and leaned against the counter, their bodies just touching, "So, tomorrow you're doing some work?"

Rolling his eyes, Harry snorted a little, "I don't think that you can call it 'Work', Hachi-Chan. All I'm doing is setting up one of those small ready made buildings."

Just taking another bite, the Subgirl tilted her head to the side, "It's going to be a store, right? For magical foods?"

With a small shrug, Harry nodded, "Hai, that's right. Shiromizu has a small chocolate factory at Ginzan which will be producing chocolate. Some of it will be using the same formula as Saint Brendan's Never Melt Chocolate. The rest will be various things like those giant bars." Scratching his chin, he gave a hum, "There's also a place that will begin producing cauldron cakes for the JMSDF. From what she told me, the contract is written up and everything. Same with the butterbeer that will be produced there."

Eyebrow raised, Hachi became thoughtful as she considered what she had heard. After all, said treats had become extremely popular among the various shipgirls and even personnel when available. There just was not enough of them even with Niiyodo's contract with Honeydukes with the items sent through the Vanishing Cabinet. So it made sense to broaden the places that they could get them.

As well, she suspected that other items would be sold there from overseas, brought onboard shipgirls performing convoy runs.

Only shaking her head in amusement at that, Hachi smiled at him as their conversation continued through their meal. It seemed far too soon when she was done and had to go as it was getting close to evening. Before exiting the door, she did give a happy Kenshō a hug and head ruffle.

But after leaving the apartment, she noted that Harry had followed her and she placed her hands behind her back, "Thank you, Harry-Chan. I enjoyed the past two days."

For a brief moment, Harry seemed unsure, but then he smiled and walked up to place his hands on her hips. Something that Hachi did not mind in the slightest and she placed her arms over his shoulders, "I feel like I should be saying the same to you again, Hachi-Chan."

Giggling, the blonde Submarine winked at him, "Hacchan doesn't mind that much." Pressing herself against him, she leaned forward until their foreheads touched, "Because I enjoyed it just as much."

Moments later, their lips met in a soft kiss as a sigh escaped the Subgirl.

The two of them stayed like that for a few minutes before finally separating and saying goodbye to one another. Leaving the apartment building, Hachi got into her car and drove off. Not that she got very far as two minutes later, she pulled over and turned off the car.

If anyone had been walking off, they would have seen Hachi staring ahead for a minute or two, gaze sightless. Then, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath... before promptly letting out a loud squee of pure joy as she thrust her hands above her head, "YEEEEEESSSSSS!"

For a few moments, she stayed like that. Then, pulling back her hands, she held them to her chest as she let out anothe squee, her feet kicking out a little in pure happiness. Not only had she spent two days with Harry, but things had changed, and in a good way, a very good way! Because a little bit of the barriers around his heart had given way.

Leaning back in her seat once her excitement had faded a little, though that had not put an end to the grin on her face that she wore. It was so large it quite literally hurt, but she didn't care as she felt happiness rush through her. Hachi's mind went back to how Harry had initiated kisses and other shows of affection with her. Not just light pecks, but actual kisses.

Right then and there, Hachi decided that she was going to thank Ume and Sakura, as well as Natsumi, for what they had done.

Of course, said thought brought to mind what they had actually done, and caused her to imagine herself in their place. An image that caused her engines to run hot even as her engineers tried to prevent lines from bursting. It... was not an unwelcome image, to say the least, though Hachi still cursed puberty. Still...

Taking a breath, Hachi released it, "Still... this is big." Grin still on her face, she restarted the car and drove towards the Submarine Pens, "I got to tell the others! They're going to love it!"

 

[darthcourt10]

lt_agn02

Her hand merely swiping weakly at the doorknob, Aso groaned in frustration. Things weren't supposed to turn out this way. She wasn't supposed to get in trouble on the first day!

With the original lecture postponed, now she had to deal with the aftermath of her fight with Despatch.

Defeated, she opened the door to the facility, revealing a massive array of greenery planted in what looked like endless stacks of trays connected to pipes leading to the Olympic-sized swimming pool outside. She recognized some of the plants as tomatoes, soybeans, and lettuce, but couldn't clearly make out the rest from the doorway.

An aircraft carrier is supposed to be a ship, not a farmer, she groaned. At least Despatch was lucky enough to get stuck behind a desk for the foreseeable future.

Next to her, Missouri crossed her arms. "Better get used to this, Aso. You'll be on gardening duty for the next two weeks on top of your regular duties."

The carrier just looked at her feet. "...Hai…"

Seeing this, the American turned on her heel. "You better learn your lesson by the time the two weeks are up. It's about time to harvest the current crop, so get on it. I'll be back to check on you in six hours. If I don't see a stack of crates the next time I see you, you'll be farming limpets until your arms are limp."

"...Hai…"

As the American battleship walked off, the Japanese carrier took a deep breath and surveyed her surroundings. The manual she was given could only explain so much.

The pipes and trays nearby held a myriad of plants, yet held not one grain of wheat or rice. In front of her was a tray full of tomato plants. Next to it was what she recognized as lettuce. Despite the familiarity of the plants, the system was...odd, to say the least. At the village, there would at least be some soil. That was a necessity. However, these trays were as clean as a surgical ward.

According to the list of duties that Missouri gave her, she was supposed to maintain the plants, harvest whatever was ready, and feed the fish. Nothing about watering them. She glanced at the pipes again. If this facility was anything like the hydroponic system back in Kure, then the plants should be directly in contact with the water itself and absorbing nutrients from it instead of relying on soil.

The carrier paused. Wouldn't that mean having to manually supply nutrients to the water herself?

As she searched for at least something to mix into the water supply like the contraption and feed at Kure, she noticed the pipes leading to the pool outside. Making a small groan, the carrier walked over.

Instead of just a standard fare swimming pool, she found an Olympic swimming pool packed to the brim with fish. If she threw a stone into that pool right now, she figured, she would hit three of them. At least.

"There's enough here to feed a fully-staffed battleship!" She exclaimed as she watched the condensed school swim about in the water.

Aso then put her hand to her chin as she looked at the pool itself, then the pipes, then the fish. The water seemed clean as well so the fish weren't swimming in their own...

"Of course!" Aso exclaimed to herself. "Fish poop gets mixed in with the water, then it gets sucked into the pipes where it becomes food for the plants!"

She crossed her arms. It was odd, though. Why didn't they have something like this at Kure? Was it because of the fish? Surely connecting such a system to a koi pond would have sufficed, wouldn't it? Maybe it had something to do with the fish themselves? Admiral Shimada might want to know about this.

Sighing, the aircraft carrier hung her arms at her sides as she eyed a nearby bin full of fish food. Then the stack of empty crates piled in the corner.

Looking into everything can wait until later. Harvesting the vegetables is a lot more pressing and she did not want to get on the American battleship's bad side again.

"...Jeez...why am I the only one stuck with manual labor?!"

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

March 21, 2014

08:00:00 AM Atlantic Time
MARLANT Headquarters, HMC Dockyard Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

The nerve centre of Canada's Atlantic Fleet was a hive of activity as the day began in one of Canada's oldest cities. Entrepreneurs opened their stores for the day, as hundreds of thousands commuted to work. Along the waterfront, over a dozen ships were loading up for a trans-Atlantic voyage to Europe. Always a rough voyage even in peacetime, the threat of abyssal attack meant that commercial shipping had to run in convoys, much like their merchant marine predecessors during the Second World War. To sail alone in the harsh Atlantic was now guaranteed suicide.

As the Warden of the North herself ate a hearty breakfast with her fortresses, residents were feeling that something significant was happening as traffic at the facilities of CFB Halifax and CFB Shearwater intensified overnight. There was also activity at Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax, which coordinated search and rescue mission between the Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard across 4.7 million square kilometres of land and ocean. However, many of the navy and coast guard personnel were still unsure of what exactly was happening, only receiving orders to report to their stations and wait on standby.

In a conference room at HMC Dockyard Halifax, a half dozen officers, as well as a pair of shipgirls, were talking to one another. Everyone in the room quickly stood at attention as one of the doors opened, with Rear-Admiral Diana Lombard and her personal secretary, the destroyer shipgirl Ottawa, stepping inside.

"At ease."

As everyone relaxed and sat down, Ottawa went to speak with Niobe; the protected cruiser gave a shrug as she watched a Lieutenant set up a presentation on a projector. There was also a few monitors in the room set up, as some were attending via teleconferencing. Finally, the noise died down, as the meeting began.

"Now before we start, Protocol Orenda is in effect. Lieutenant-Commander Swanson?" Diana nodded at one of the Lieutenants in the room, who pulled out a wand and began to mutter and wave the wand. A few people in the room were still not used to this as Swanson, a liaison from the Canadian Magical Armed Forces, set up privacy wards and monitoring spells to detect unauthorized eavesdropping or tampering of recordings.

"I call this meeting to order," started Rear-Admiral Lombard. "Certain information disclosed today are currently classified as Confidential or Secret under the Security of Information Act, though this is subject to change as per our previous briefing on the Statute of Secrecy. Various terminology associated with the Orenda Protocol is detailed in your packages. We will be discussing the classification as we proceed. Commander Higgins, the floor is yours."

The Navy Commander stood up and took the podium, as a map of Atlantic Canada was projected behind him.

"Ma'am, Ladies and Gentlemen. On March 20 2014, at 1424 Zulu Time, aircraft carrier HMCS Shannon during her sea trials picked up a radio transmission, source undetermined."

On the map, the location of the carrier at the specified time was marked.

"We have a record of the transmission. We were able to clear up some of the static, playing now."

In the conference room, everyone paid attention as they heard static interrupted by a male voice.

"Thi..is Her Majesty's Canadian...Halifax...Foxtrot....otel Three Three Zero. We are stranded on an unknown island. ...ship was damaged heavily...barrier that prevented contact...helped by merpeople...helped us survive...tried to repair...damage to our ship...diesel engine finally got... we can send short transmission...damn...breaking up... will try to send out call tomorrow..."

There was plenty of mutterings.

"According to the Duty Officer in the Shannon's CDC at the time, Lt(N) Brian McAllister, the voice on the radio matched that of his brother, Sub-Lieutenant(N) Simon McAllister, of HMCS Halifax. While we could not triangulate the origin, we have narrowed the area."

On the projected map, a circular sector shaded in red appeared, the vertex centred on Shannon's location at the time. A Lieutenant Commander from CFB Shearwater raised his hand.

"Ma'am, are we suggesting that HMCS Halifax survived Blood Week? Are we even sure it's not a trap? And from that transmission, there was a mention of an island; I don't recall any islands in that region. The only feature there would be the Flemish Cap."

Admiral Lombard gestured to Lieutenant Commander Swanson.

"Ma'am," he saluted Lombard, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the following information is classified as Secret as part of the Orenda Protocol. With permission from the Canadian Ministry of Magic, I can disclose that there is one known island in that general area. We are not quite sure when it was discovered, but in the 1500s, a French wizard Francois Jacquet made a claim to the island and named it Jacquet island. We know that he had set up protective charms to hide the island from nonmagicals, along with anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards to prevent magical travel. According to our records, he was trying to evade taxes and services to the French monarchy, and created a small port settlement for trade outside the watch of the international wizarding community."

Niobe snorted, "of course it was tax evasion." Leading to some chuckling.

"Within a few decades, the island reportedly became known to magical smugglers, poachers, and asylum seekers from the Old and New Worlds. There are reports he permitted demi-humans to use the island, as long as they provided money or valuables to Jacquet as payment. Eventually, though, he was caught and arrested while visiting a cousin in Montreal and was taken to be tried by the French Ministry of Magic for Tax Evasion.

His eldest son Maxime took over the island and continued to run the settlement, though a bit more paranoid than the senior Jacquet. During this time, the wards hiding the location had weakened, and some nonmagicals have caught sight of the island while crossing the Atlantic. However, travel by magic to the island was still impossible as the son had enhanced those wards.

After the Statute of Secrecy was enacted, the island eventually abandoned, as the money and flow of smuggled goods dried up. By the 1800s, no wizards lived there. Sightings of Jacquet island continued to occur, though the last sighting by a nonmagical was in 1836..."

The Lieutenant-Commander frowned.

"Swanson, what happened afterwards?"

The magical naval officer sighed,

"Petty Political Squabbling. Magical Britain, Magical France and the newly formed MACUSA all wanted the island for their own uses. However, with the Statute plus the War of 1812, then the ongoing tensions between Britain and America, they did not want to risk a breach since the waters were constantly under patrol by the Royal Navy.

After the war, MACUSA had internal problems to deal with, and the British and French Ministries were distracted with their empire and rebuilding, respectively. By the time MACUSA had interest again, the American Civil War broke out. During that time, someone did settle on the island, and around the time of Confederation, the island could not be found by anyone. Magical or nonmagical."

"So, you don't know where it is now?"

"No. We've tried a few times to help Canada find and claim the island but nothing was found. However, our intelligence suspects the Fidelius charm was enacted and only those informed by the secret-keeper know their location. You could theoretically stumble pass the charm, but the Fidelius Charm has the ability to persuade people to turn away. Additionally, the Ministry believed the costs and resources needed to find it outweighed any real benefits."

"So, if we can find someone who knows the secret location, they can access the island without complications."

"Correct."

Lombard gave a nod to Swanson.

"Thank you Lieutenant-Commander. Yes, Commander Greengrass?"

On one of the screens, the Captain of HMCS Shannon as visible next to Commander Greengrass.

"Ma'am, the transmission seemed to indicate that the barrier should have stopped any radio calls from going out, but perhaps a strong signal might get past it?"

Swanson answered that.

"Sir, it's possible. As well, your magical parentage may have helped with your presence aboard the Shannon. As you all may be aware, the Canadian Ministry of Magic operates a small fleet of warships for defending Canadian interests in both the magical and nonmagical world. Due to the ongoing crisis with the Abyssals, and the nature of their operations, I cannot disclose much more on their status. However, we had found that wizards and witches deliberately trying to breach a Fidelius charm encounter much more pushback than non-magicals."

Rear-Admiral Lombard frowned, "Can your naval forces assist in our search?"

The Lieutenant thought carefully.

"I could advise only in the sense of protecting any search and rescue assets and units. We know that MACUSA has been having issues with some of our 'carefree' attitudes towards nonmagicals, and actively joining our nonmagical colleagues at this point in time might be a touch too far. I can request to see if some ships can be used to watch for outer threats, but that's probably all they can do.

However, the wording of the transmission has given me some ideas. I am going to need to speak with my superiors and others in the Ministry. We may be able to have some consultants who can point us the right way."

******

7:31:33 AM Pacific Time
Anmore, British Columbia, Canada

Certain boneheaded members of the Tokyo Diet would have been flabbergasted to know that a Kyubbi who was also the daughter of one of the most infamous figures in Chinese and Japanese mythology was happily munching on sausages drizzled in maple syrup plus toast with peanut butter in a cottage on the edges of Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Tsuki was looking forward to taking a hike to Buntzen lake in the morning, though she was currently busy cuddling her future husband. Her fiancee was about to get ready for work when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it, honey...Oh, um, I think it's for you, dear."

Tsuki frowned and went to the foyer only to stop. There was an RCMMP Auror and a man in an army uniform, with a white wand-holster, both looking serious.

"Miss Maeda, I am sorry to disturb you, but the Ministry is asking for your help again."

"Is it magical? Another tsukumogami?"

"Not exactly..."

******

11:00:00 AM, Atlantic Time

Muriel was a bit terrified as she sensed the magical signature on the other side of the front door. Steve was at work, and couldn't be reached by cell; she was not sure what the intentions were of her visitors. A few months back, she had been visited by RCMMP Aurors, though they had reassured her that as long as she and her sisters did not break any Canadian laws, they would be fine given they had claimed refugee status. Even, so, there a nagging fear in the back of her mind, as she cradled her firstborn child. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see an Auror alongside a Naval petty officer.

"Is there a problem, Officer?"

"No Ma'am. However, we may need your assistance."

"What do you mean?"

"May we step inside?"

"Okay"

She led them to Steve's and her living room.

"Tea or Coffee?"

"No, thank you, we just finished our Tims before we arrived."

"So, how can I help, gentlemen?"

"What do you know about an island near the Flemish gap?"

 

[darthcourt10]

wildredlifer

Avrora Island 2014
Stars shone down from the heavens to lay their light upon a Mountaintop
There on the mountaintop Rested two Creatures that were by Nature and Inclination not likely to be found thereupon.

"Sis?" asked an I-class wearing its Body like a backpack, the Ne-Class turned to respond, "Yeah, Wordy."

"Why are we here?"

"That is a question for the ages, Wordy." scratching the chin of one of her Tails.

"The meaning of Consciousness or the exact existence of the soul or the overall purpose of life, in general, are Questions that have bothered me Recently and Unfortunately Humanity for far longer."

Wordy facepalmed, "Not that though that is an exciting line of discussion for a later time."

"No, what I am asking is why are We on the top of Avrora Volcano, Starry?"

Scratching the chin of the other tail, "Well Wordy, if I recall correctly, I said I was going mountain climbing to get the lay of the land and Stargaze later." "Then you called me nuts we argued a bit, and then you invited yourself along on and I Quote." "A mad venture no self-respecting abyssal has any business doing."

Giving a sad look toward the Ne Wordy said, "Starry, why here though you've often gazed on the Beach with the rest of the Family."

"Why climb over 5000 feet above Sea level to Stargaze when you haven't before, What's Wrong Starry?"

Rubbing her face with her hands, Starry replied: "It's the new People don't get me wrong they are a good bunch though the Fashion Spider weirds me out." "But them being here puts me on edge like the world is going to crash in on us again, and this time no one will sail away from it."

"I know I shouldn't feel this way that it's irrational, but that's the way of it, and I just had to get away from it for a while, you know."

Scooting next to the Ne Wordy, then looped an arm around her waist and Hugged, " Have you talked to anyone about your Feelings Starry?"

Running a hand through her hair, Starry replied, "No one, not Tanith or Mom. You are the first one I've talked to about it, Wordy."

"The only reason I've done even that I guess is that you came along on this Mad venture."

Looking into sisters' eyes, Wordy spoke: " Sis you have got to talk to someone about this not just me, Mom Tanith Uncle Harry someone."

"It is Eating you alive, Sis Please, when morning comes, we'll go and talk to Mom and see if she can help or find someone who can."

Choking back a sob, Starry said: "Yeah, alright I'll do that, but in the meantime the Stars and our Sisters await our Gazes, Yeah?"

Wordy just Nodded: "Yeah sis, I'll be here with you, As long as you need, I'll be here."

 

[darthcourt10]

Kab2

Here is Douji's next chapter, I hope you like it.
----------------

"Here I am" said Douji, the sunrise poking out as she crossed the threshold of her house, a house whose rooms were empty for almost a year.

Normally she went to her house only in the last week of August, but this year she came early for... reasons. Shaking her head, she opened the front door and came inside, leaving her shoes at the entrance she went directly to the kitchen and began to fill the fridge with the food for the days she would stay there, days she will use to clean the house of a year of dust and no use.

She thought of the days she lived here before the WWII, not that she used it much as she was at the Imperial Palace or on a mission more than here, but still in her little free days she would come here and relax, but after the war... in her opinion her room in the museum was enough.

Putting her true body in the living room stand, she shortened her avatar's hair to her neck's length and began the cleaning of the year.

During the cleaning, she thought of unimportant things such as how she knew that Tsubaki cleaned Douji's house at least once about two months prior to her yearly visit as there wasn't enough accumulated dust for a year without cleaning, something she didn't tell Tsubaki, but she did to ease Douji's burden not as a friend, but as a daughter, one she was proud of.

Not that they could brag about it, as their shown relationship to the others was friendship, a relationship that has risen a lot of eyebrows over the years, lots of them lately as their friends in the Diet dwindled and 'others' rose in power. Not that she knew in person really, as all she knows is what Tsubaki told her in her visits at the museum, but more recently she renewed contact with Kotegiri and some of her sisters, as well as the Muramasas, and...

She stopped as the memory that she didn't want to remember yet almost surfaced, shaking her head again to dispel her thoughts.

Focusing in her pending task, she noted that the cleaning was almost finished, so she did the last effort and finished it.

Now with the house clean, she picked up a bouquet of gentianas that she prepared beforehand and went to the garden.

The garden was almost empty, as she knew that her visits never were long enough to plant a living garden, so she went for a Karesansui, a meditation garden representing the Japanese islands, where she could train and meditate as she saw fit.

But in the middle of the garden, in the place where Kyoto would stand in reality, the remains of a wooden column was located.

And in that column Douji placed the bouquet and sat in seiza in front of it.

Because that column was the only part of Yorimitsu's house that survived the Hoei fire.

"Hello Master" said Douji "I know that is early to visit you, but I decided to come here after another failure of my own doing" after this she explained what happened these past days, after she finished, she added with a broken voice "I seriously don't deserve all the praise I get for being your blade as I fail at the most important times." At that moment, some drops of salty water began to moist the floor. "You have to be ashamed to be the master of a sword as faulty as me, but I have to keep living trying to atone for all my faults"

She continued weeping a bit more until she regained her composture, afterwards she went to the bath and washed her face, as the water dripped from her face, she heard a sound from the outside, intrigued, Douji went silent and tuned her ear to listen the source of the sound.

*Swoosh*

There it was again, the sound of someone swinging a metallic stick in the air. 'Oh, Tsubaki is at home, how wonderful' thought Douji 'But it is strange that she is doing her morning routine at this hour, normally she does it earlier.'

Deciding to give her a surprise, she went to the kitchen and began to cook breakfast, a classical omelette with beef for Tsubaki and another with rice for her, Tsubaki may have noticed that Douji was there, surely she didn't but Douji knew that she had some time before Tsubaki finishes and take a shower, so she continued, as Douji was cooking the second omelette for herself something inside told her that it was a good idea to make a third, she didn't know why triggered that, but a thing that she learned in her long life was that her instincts were more right that her decisions, so she did it anyways.

Not long after she finished cooking, Douji, not hearing Tsubaki's exercices anymore, took her phone and dialed Tsubaki's number, Tsubaki was surprised that she called her, and even more when Douji told her that she was in her house, very close to hers.

"But it is a bit early for you to come, his anniversary isn't near yet" said Tsubaki.

"I know" replied Douji "but... 'stuff' happened and I needed to come here" added with a tone that Tsubaki knew too well.

'Oh shit, she screwed something up again' thought Tsubaki "Well, if you don't mind after a shower and breakfast I can go to visit you so you can tell me what happened."

"Oh, don't worry, I made three servings of omelette for breakfast, so you can come after the shower."

"Three?" blurted out Tsubaki "But how did you know...? *sigh* But of course you would know." after a pair of deep breaths to calm herself she said "All right, after the shower we'll be there, until later Douji."

Staring at the phone, Douji pondered the last bit of her conversation, 'She said we, hmmm so I unconsciously deducted that she was accompanied because she started late her morning practice, it rings true, but something tells me that this isn't the full picture'

While she waited for them, she began to set the table for three while a little spell kept the food warm, wondering who would be the extra visitor, although she had a good idea who would be.

After a while, the doorbell rang, signaling that Tsubaki and her friend were at the door.

Opening it, it was no surprise that she was right with the identity of her friend.

"Hello Captain Itami, we haven't see each other since the incident, how are your arm, ribs and cervical spine?"

"As good as new, Doujigiri-San, those mediwizards know how to do their work" replied the JGSDF Captain.

"Douji will suffice, Captain. I'm glad to hear that, let's take breakfast while we chat a bit"

Entering the house, Itami noted that it had almost the same design as Tsubaki-Chan's without most of the modern equipment, the only ones present were a fridge and the kitchen. Itami suspected that Douji didn't need much of the modern equipment because was more adept at magic than Tsubaki.

Reaching the living room Douji turned on the magical radio, something she never cared to listen since her reclusion at the museum, but after the bunker incident she listened to it more and more, if only to get a grasp at how were things actually, the radio emitted a news program at the moment, so Douji left it to hear something while they chatted.

Sitting at the table Douji was surprised at Tsubaki's behavior, she had never seen the Oni so flustered and bashful around someone, less an human being... 'Oh, so THAT is what is happenning' thought Douji as a little smile crossed his face.

After the breakfast Tsubaki and Itami were having a small talk while they picked up the dishes, as they offered to wash and dry them, while they were away in the kitchen, Douji chuckled as this gave her a chance to vent out some of her depression at the expense of flustering Tsubaki, thing that she had done more times in the past.

As they came from the kitchen, Douji placed her right hand in her right cheek, and smling she said "Ara, ara~, looks like someone has something to tell me, have you caught the flu, Tsubaki? Your cheeks are redder than usual."

Tsubaki was nervous, looking at everywhere but Douji's eyes "Eh, well, you see..."

Slightly chuckling, Douji added. "Ah, I know, you had a contracture in your back and you are in need of an electromassage, it is nothing to be ashamed, you can say it loud."

With a bit of anger, Tsubaki replied "That's not it!"

"Oh, I thought wrong then, maybe Captain Itami here had told you a story about his girlfriend and you are flustered about that?"'And there goes the hook'

Maybe Tsubaki knew what Douji tried to do, or she was enraged enough to not thinking normally, she bited it. "No! We were discussing how to say that we are a thing to you!"

"That's awesome Tsubaki-Chan!" said Douji teasing her.

Then it began a back and forth teasing between the two that continued for some time, Itami watched the argument between them with a knowing smile. 'No one can say those two aren't related.' Two particular nickmanes caught his attention, 'Tsu-baka' and 'Do-ushi', and internally smirked at the fate of whoever used them outside this house.

When they finished, the two were laughing "Thanks Tsubaki, I needed this" said Douji.

"Any time you need to vent you know how to find me." replied Tsubaki "Now that you are better, why did you need to vent anyways? What happened that you needed to come here early?"

"Well..." Douji began to speak, but she stopped as she gave Itami a glance.

"Don't worry about him listening Douji, I told him about Matsu and my... 'progenitors', but if you don't want him to listen we can go to the garden, I'll respect your decision."

Battling a bit with herself, Douji conceded "If you trust him so much, I need to do the same, please Itami-San, nothing that you will hear can be told to anyone"

Seeing that Douji was very serious about this matter, he said "I swear by my honor and rank that I won't tell anything discussed here willingly until you state otherwise."

Aknowledging his oath, Douji started to talk. "Very well, I needed you to sworn the oath because this is a delicate matter, Tsubaki, remember the friends I told you that came to visit me at the museum?" at her nod she continued "They were Masamune no Tokunotakai and her sister Musashi, and with them came three members of another family, a mother and her two adopted childs, the mother was the daughter of Muramasa Norimune and the children was two tsukumogami, the eldest one was a piano and the youngest one was a dagger; after the museum tour we went to the cabin I usually use for sparring with those willing, and there after a spar between me and the dagger I asked her to let me examine her true body, and I noticed a symbol in her hilt, and I said in my ignorance that it was a good luck symbol and that it was an honor to be descended from the Hachisuka clan not noticing that she was German." Douji finished the explanation, her face turning somber.

As Tsubaki's color drained from her face, Itami tried to remember the Hachisuka clan mon from his history classes. 'If I recall correctly the mon of that clan was a swastica...' "Shit!" the curse escaped from his lips before he could stop it.

"Yes, that is what I felt when I discovered what the non magicals did in the WWII. But she wasn't part of it, she was only crafted by them, and I said to her that it was an honor to have that symbol." Douji sighed "Another failure to the long list of the 'legendary' sword of Minamoto no Raikou, it isn't the first and I know that it won't be the last."

"I don't think it is that big of an issue, you can say sorry because you didn't know what the Nazis did in the war, not that we did much better anyways." said Itami.

"You are right, but the palace didn't know about the atrocities we did, we only received modified informs of how the war went, and when we discovered it it was too late, but that is not the reason why I am like this, it was because it reminded me of how I failed to my trusted companion in the only mission we did together, my first big mistake."

After the last words were said, Tsubaki closed in with Douji and tried to calm her as best as she could.

Douji was lost in her thoughts, finally putting her gaze in Itami. 'If Tsubaki trusts him so much, maybe I can tell him about it, but do I need it?'

Finally taking that little step, Douji said to Itami. "I am going to trust you Captain Itami, I will tell you about the only time when the original Tsukumogami of Minamoto no Raikou and his retainers went together into a mission, as well as how I met Tsubaki."

At that statement, Tsubaki went wide eyed "This is the first time that you will actually tell that story to someone not directly involved."

Taking Tsubaki's hands, Douji told to her "Yes it is, and this is the first time you have a boyfriend, I have to give him credit somehow, and maybe I will feel better after telling it"

After sitting comfortably, each with a serving of green tea, Douji began to speak while in the outside the first drops of rain began to drop.
Spoiler: It began to rain

"The Emperor Juntoku was worried about the dissapearance of a small contingent placed at Inaba province sent to investigate the strange cattle deaths ocurring there, the inform said that a Jorogumo was surely responsible of it, but if said Jorogumo killed the contingent he won't risk sending more troops to the slaughter, so he called me and the spirits of the Shitenno's weapons." she drank a bit of water for her dry throat. "We had been in touch since we manifested, and this was our first mission together since then, so we were confident in bringing the issue to a close soon." with that Douji exhaled a gloomy sigh.

"Things weren't that easy, right?" asked Itami.

"Hai" replied Douji with her vision focused in the cup at her hands, the water in it reflecting her gaze. "We quickly found the Jorogumo's cave, but instead of ambushing us like a normal Jorogumo, she came clean and warned us to go away and if we didn't do it, she had to kick us out, we found it strange but we fight her the same, we were five against her, but she held her ground, as if something gave her strength, until it happened." a thunder roared in the outside of the house, as if the weather was in sync with her mood. "The ground shook and a loud roar came from the Jorogumo's cave, in that instant the Jorogumo surrendered and begged us to help her to evacuate the nearby town, as the monster in the end of the cave was a spawn of Yamata-no-Orochi." more thunders roared as the rain intensified.

"Oh, fuck, that was very bad" was the only thing that Itami said, althought his inner thoughts were in full motion as he remembered the reports from the bunker incident.

"You have no idea." Douji raised her eyes, focusing them in a spot far beyond. "The Jorogumo began to tell her history, she was left behind by her mother to die in the woods near the town, but she survived hunting rats and the like, but when she went near the town she fell in love with one of the kids, and as time passed she admired him in the distance, as all the other Jorogumo viewed the humans as prey but one day she found the cave and the spawn, it didn't devour her because she gave it a dog that she found dead in the forest, after eating it it said to her that if she brought her one animal per day it would stay in the cave and not devour her. She was afraid of dying, but she was even more afraid that the spawn would devour the town, so she agreed. The contingent found the cave and entered it when the Jorogumo was out hunting an animal for the spawn, the spawn then proceed to eat them all and went in a slumber.Normally we wouldn't believe a Jorogumo's story, but we saw in her eyes that she was pleading for the town citizens with her entire soul, so we told her not to worry, that we would slay that monster." Giving Itami a sad smile, Douji continued "You see, we were Minamoto no Raikou and his Shitenno's weapons, we were legends, we were invincible." Douji put her hand in her face as she snorted. "We were fools."

Silence spread in the living room, only broken by the rain dropping and the ocasional thunder.

"We were defeated in mere minutes; Higekiri, Watanabe no Tsuna's sword, he was always confident in his hability to cut things; Masakari, Sasaka no Kintoki's axe, he was always bragging at how powerful he was; Yumi, Urabe no Suetake's bow, she was always cheerful and never gave up a fight; Hebigiri, Usui Sadamitsu's polearm, the serious guy who always keep us in high spirits; and me, Doujigiri Yasutsuna, the leader who always bragged about how perfect was her master, none of us made a dent in the two-headed spawn, it kept regenerating strike after strike and were wore down after the battle with the Jorogumo."

The storm was getting worse at times, as if the sky was crying along Douji.

"At that instant the four crossed sights and nodded, then Masakari said to me 'Douji-San, regarless of what you see, you have to strike its heart with all your power, focus only in that'. I focused in its torso, at the time I didn't know what they had done, but the spawn had an opening, so I striked with all my power and killed it, but after that I saw what they had done."

Douji put her hands covering her eyes as her feelings began to flow throught her eyes.

"T-they sacrificed theirselves to gave me that opening, their true bodies broken and their avatars with only a sliver of life in them." she paused a bit as her sobbing continued. "I tried to heal them but it was a lost cause, they had only a few minutes of life left at best, so they, for always be with me, took that sliver of life and gave it to me, after that their avatars banished, only leaving broken weapons behind. At that time I couldn't endure anymore and I fainted."

Wiping her eyes with a handkerchief given by Tsubaki, Douji composed herself as she finished her story "When I came to, I realized that the Jorogumo was trying to heal me at the best of her knowledge, but I paid no mind to it, I had reached bottom, I didn't care if I died or if I lived, but I had a daty to finish; I thanked the Jorogumo and asked her to help me to burn the spawn's body completely, and while it burned, she gave me the weapons' remains carefully bagged in Jorogumo silk. Afterwards I went to the Emperor and notified that the problem had dissapeared, nothing more and nothing less." The painful memories were almost too much, but she had to finish what she started. "That night I imposed myself a task, find the best living blacksmith and try to bring them back to life, afterwards my fate would be decided by them."

Some minutes passes as what was told sinked in, suddenly Douji got up "I think it is a bit early for lunch, but I'll go cook it now, I'll leave the rest of the story to you, Tsubaki."

As Douji went to the kitchen, Itami talked to Tsubaki "That was... heavy"

"And you don't know the other half, Itami-kun, I told you when I first met Douji, but not how." replied Tsubaki.

"At the time I was wandering the Nagato province as I had a lead on some human-eater Oni when I saw a female samurai carrying my Chichi-ue's sword and the broken weapons of his four retainers, her eyes reflecting death; enraged I challenged her for that sword with my tetsubo; it was pityful, she couldn't hit me as I blocked all her attacks, and then I landed a strike in her torso that left her in the ground spitting blood, in that moment I remarked that a samurai as weak as her was a shame to that sword's first owner." A sad smirk briefly passed Tsubaki's face "Then a flame ignited in her eyes, dead until now, and asked for forgiveness for not being in shape for challenge; at the next movement she cut me at the side while I couldn't hit her. Things were becoming interesting until she used a move that only Chichi-ue knew, thing that I remarked." Tsubaki looked directly at Itami. "She blinked a few times, as if she seriously looked at me for the first time and asked 'T-Tsubaki-Chan, is that you?' with a blurrying voice; stunned I responded affirmatively out of reflex and she stated that she was the spirit of Yorimitsu's sword." Tsubaki's eyes blurried as a sad smile formed in her face. "When she started to tell me things that only me or Chichi-ue knew I realized that she was telling the truth we embraced and cried."

It wasn't the first nor would be the last time Tsubaki relived the emotion that found that time. "You can't imagine what I felt, to find family that I never thought existed, and for Douji as it was the same, she never thought she would find me again." drinking a bit to moisten her lips she continued "Seeing the state she was before I believe that our encounter saved her live, as she was dancing with the death, luckily I came in time to prevent that."

"I see" was the only thing that Itami said, as he was assimilating what he was told. "What happened to her blacksmith search and your Oni-beating search?"

"Oh, she helped me with mine and I helped her with hers, we found the Oni soon enough and kill them, afterwards we buried the human remains we found. Then we went to search a blacksmith that could repair the weapons; eventually we found a kitsune with enough experience to at least try, but after examining them he said that even if he repaired them, the spirits wouldn't be the same as there was nothing residual in them. With sorrow Douji said that she suspected as much, but she pleaded him to restore them anyways; he agreed, but only if along the money it required he could inspect Douji's blade, thing that she agreed; afterwards Douji carried the reforged weapons with her for more than a century, always with a tiny hope that they would come again as they were before..."

"But when they manifested they were totally different tsukumogami" answered Douji carrying the lunch to the table. "Masakari manifested as a blond male obsessed with gold, Yumi as a tanned man with grey hair that resembled the blacksmith, Hebigiri and Higekiri came as a pair of female Oni children, Hebigiri had yellow skin with blond hair, always acting tough but with a sweet tooth, Higegiri, purple skinned with purple hair, acting like she wanted to eat you but it is all facade. And then the four called me mother." Visibly shaken, Douji sat near Tsubaki "They didn't remember anything before the reforging, that moment my legs failed me and I started to cry. I don't deserve to be her mother" she said as she began to cry "After I failed them how can they call me that? I am sure that my Master is laughing at how pathetic I am"

Embracing Douji, Tsubaki said "I don't think so, I'm sure that Chichi-ue is proud of you even with all the shit you have endured, you have done more good things than bad ones"

Cleaning her weeping eyes, Douji replied as she embraced Tsubaki too "Thank you Tsubaki, I don't deserve to be called your mother"

"Shhh, you have done so much for me in all these years that I can't call you anything but that."

"Douji-San, listen to me." said Itami. After he got her attention he continued "Surprises can happen in the battlefield, but the fact is that after defeating a spawn of Yamata-no-Orochi you came back alive, it's sad that the others died but you did what you could. It's the leader's duty to grieve the losses and carry its burden, not to think bad of himself because of it." putting a hand in her shoulder he reassured her "You did nothing wrong, I'm sure that they think the same of you whenever they are, so live your life knowing this, everyone can make mistakes but the best you can do is turn your mistakes into advices for not doing them again"

"H-Hai" was the only thing Douji could say about it. Calming down at last, she suggested to eat the food before it grew cold while in the outside the storm began to clear.

But as they were eating...

"The House recognizes Councilor Ito, of Saitama Prefecture. You have four minutes." transmitted the radio.

**************

"This, this is insane!" shouted Tsubaki as in the radio you could hear "Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!"

"Yes it is" said Douji "but with this the worst aspects of the Diet may come to light, like that ugly man that you ranted about a little after Blood Week."

"Kagetora-San, yes. It was bad luck that he survived when lots of good people died that day in the Diet, his ancestor has to be ashamed of his doings afterwards, I hope that his name is in Kotegiri-Sama's list when the time comes."

"His loss won't be missed, but I think that Kote's methods are... too quick for those who He wanted dead." sentenced Douji 'I just hope that they don't pull anything like the reserves stunt again'

"Who is Kagetora-San?" asked Itami, ignoring the shiver running through his body at how the last sentence was said.

"Well, you'll see..." began to say Tsubaki, but she was interrupted by Itami's phone ringing.

"Sorry about that, let me see who is..." At the number displayed he widened his eyes "Shit, it is the command center, they have heard the council." With that he picked up the call and went to the other side to answer it.

While he was in it, Tsubaki's phone began to ring too. "Surely it is because the same reason, sorry Douji" and she did the same as Itami.

'This will be a big mess, I hope Japan can come out unscathed of this one' thought Douji, her phone ringing 'Who would be calling me?'

At the sight of the number her eyes showed surprise "What could she want from me?" asked as she answered the phone.

----------------------

A.N. The weapons names except Hikegiri I named them myself, as I didn't find if they were named or not, so here is a bit of explanation for the names.

Masakari in Japanese is hatchet, Yumi is bow in Japanese and Hebigiri means snake cutter, I named like this because it was said that it had killed a giant snake.

Thanks for reading, comments and suggestions are always welcomed.