Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Slowly waking up, Gale blinked some as she stared up at the ceiling of her room, wondering what had caused her to wake. One part of her muttered about it reminding her of what happened a few months before. Ignoring that, the Warrant Officer furrowed her eyebrows in thought.

However, it did not take her very long to figure it out either as she could feel the weight of her wife, Washington, on one side of her. The Battleship's head on top of Gale's shoulders as she softly breathed in and out in her sleep. What did make her realize what had woken her was the fact that while the bed on the opposite side of her from Wash was still warm, there was no womanly body that was there. The sheets were still there, but they were slightly ruffled. More than that, she could hear soft noises coming from the baby monitor as well as humming.

With a sigh, Gale gently moved Wash to the side and slid out of bed. Throwing on a robe, one of the gifts she got from Kirishima the previous Christmas, she padded through the apartment that they had moved into a few months back. Coming to a stop near the open door, she leaned against it as she looked inside and a small smile grew on her lips. Because there was a still somewhat sleepy Kirishima with one of Gale's children, Georgie along with Georgina, Wash's Carrier daughter.

Both infants were softly suckling at the bottles that Kirishima held in one hand each, the infants held in her arms as she swayed slowly from side to side. Arms that Gale knew were strong and also gentle with the infants. Lips curling into a smile, the Warrant Officer moved into the room making sure to make just enough noise that the Battleship knew that she was there. Sure enough, the Kongou turned to her and lightly blushed in surprise, "Gale-Chan, I'm sorry, I did not mean for you to wake up."

Chuckling, Gale placed her finger on Kirishima's lips, "That's fine, Kiri." If anything, that got a deeper blush from Kirishima, "And I appreciate it, but remember, we're a family."

Voice soft as she watched Gale gently stroke the heads of the infants, the Kongou hummed, "Hai, a family..."

Gale glanced at her before placing her robe on a rocking chair off to one side. Then, she undid the buttons on her shirt before reaching into the crib to pull out the other two, Lil' Wash and Cassie, or Cascadia (who Wash had given birth to and turned out to be a Battleship that used one of the discarded designs for the North Carolina Class). Briefly, Gale's mind went back to the discussion about the possible names for said child. Lincoln and Liberty were pretty much tossed to the side as soon as it was brought up to her.

No way was she going to have a daughter called 'Liberty', not with the nicknames some might come up with. Instead, they settled on Cassie, with her name being "Cascadia" as that was a proposed State. Much more normal after all and would get their daughter less looks when she got old enough.

She was then brought out of her thoughts as, almost as soon as she brought them to chest level, they began to nurse which made the lone human of the two adults wince, "Oy, be more gentle, you two. Wash might have tits of steel, but I don't."

Much to her amusement, she could see Kirishima glance at her now and again. The Battleship did not state, but did sneak looks now and again. Something that did quite a bit for Gale's ego considering how beautiful shipgirls were. Turning her attention back to the infants in her own arms, Kirishima softly hummed, "They're beautiful, Gale-Chan. And they have some of your looks..."

Quietly scoffing, the human glanced at the darkened mirror and shook her head, "Not that, that might be a good thing-"

However, she was silenced by a glare from Kirishima. Moments later though, it softened on her face and the shipgirl shook her head, "Trust me, Gale-Chan. They are very lucky to have some of your appearance in them. Very lucky." Letting out a breath, she continued, "You are a very beautiful woman, after all."

It may have been a trick of the light, but Gale swore that Kirishima had a light dusting of red across her cheeks. After a few moments, she moved over and gave the Kongou a kiss on the cheek, "Thanks. I appreciate it." That time, she was positive that Kirishima was blushing and it made her smile. Glancing at the clock, she took a deep breath, "Anyways... you're still leaving tomorrow, right?"

Kirishima looked down at the infants in her arms and hummed some, "Hai, I am, Gale-Chan. Haruna-Nee-Chan is close to giving birth and all of us want to be there for her when it happens." Her smile softened some, "I... am about to become an Oba-San, a aunt. So are the others and we're happy for Haruna-Nee-Chan."

Looking her in the eye, the Warrant Officer raised an eyebrow, "You're somewhat jealous, aren't you? You want to have a child of your own."

About to say something, Kirishima instead paused before turning to Gale and softly whispering, "I would like to have some children of my own someday in the future, Gale-Chan. At least two, I think, but..." Mouth pressed together, she sighed, "Who knows..."

Still looking her in the eye, Gale could see some sadness there and her mind went back to a visit that she had with her mother some time ago...

____________________________________________________________

Gratefully taking the coffee, Gale took a sip and sighed to herself, "Thanks, Ma. I really appreciate this."

Eyebrow raised, her mother chuckled some, "Don't mention it, Sarah. I know just how hard it must have been to give up coffee while you were pregnant. But it speaks well that even a caffeine fiend such as yourself was both able and willing to do so." Pulling out her phone, she smiled at the background which was of herself with her granddaughters, all four of them. After all, Wash has given birth only two days after Gale had, "And I am thankful for that. Never thought that you would give me such beautiful granddaughters."

Chuckling, Gale shook her head, "Same here, Ma. Same here."

Only turning her attention back to her daughter, the middle aged woman hummed some before frowning, "Now then, what seems to be troubling you?" At the look from Gale, she snorted some, "I know you, Sarah. You needed to talk about something privately without Wash and that nice Kirishima possibly listening in." Laying a hand on the younger woman's shoulder, she continued, "What seems to be the issue? Is it something with Wash?"

Not saying anything, Gale only took another sip of her coffee before shaking her head, "Nothing with Wash, or at least directly." Softly smiling, she chuckled, "Both of us are still happy and in love with each other, which is what is important. Though we don't get nearly enough sleep, but thanks to Kiri helping us..."

Humming as her hands clasped her own cup of coffee, her mother gave her a look, "Not directly?"

Just shaking her head, Gale sighed a bit and looked up at the sky above them, "No, not directly." Chewing her lip for a few moments, she glanced at her mother, "Ma, how much do you know about Kirishima?"

This time, it was her mother's turn not to say anything until she took a sip of her coffee, "Not nearly as much as I would like to know about the godmother for my grandchildren."

Motioning with a hand, Gale shook her head, "Trust me, Ma. If someone threatened those kids? Kiri would absolutely murder whoever attempted to harm them. Lord forbid something ever happen to me or Wash, but with the war..." Getting a nod, she continued, "There's a short list of those that I would be able to rest easy knowing that they were taking care of Lil' Wash, Cassie, Georgie, and Georgina. You're one of them, Ma, and Kiri is the other. And, well..."

Lightly laughing as she brushed some fingers through her greying hair, the older woman smirked, "I'm getting old, Sarah, and not any younger. Taking care of them when they're older for a few hours, or maybe a day or two? Sure. But I don't think that I could handle the youthful energy that they likely inherited from you. A right little hellion you were growing up after all."

A light blush on her face, Gale grumbled a bit, "I was not that bad..."

Very slowly, one eyebrow raised on her mother's face before she cleared her throat, "Using the abandoned buildings on the outskirts of the town back when we lived in Nevada as a paintball range as well as hide and seek. Or how about those times with the ATVs and dirtbikes out in the desert? Or the time you went exploring in the old mines... Shall I go on?"

By this point, the light blush had become a heavy one and Gale coughed and looked away, "Uh, no, you don't."

On her mother's face was a triumphant smirk before the older woman took another sip of coffee, "So, yes, it does my old heart good to know that someone else would be able to help in such a case, Lord forbid and knock on wood."

To emphasize, she rapped the wood of the porch's banister with her knuckles.

Wanting, badly, to change the subject from various things she had did as a youngster, Gale coughed, "Anyways... Kiri is pretty damn good, Ma. She is a very good woman, but..."

Simply humming, her mother gave her a knowing look, "Does this have anything to do with those times she's given you or Wash a look of wanting? Of love? Perhaps how she looks sad afterwards?"

Just wincing, the younger woman gave the older one a look, "You knew this whole time, Ma? Really?"

In reply, her mother gave her own of her own looks, "Yes, it was there plain as day. That woman seems to be in love with both you and Wash, Sarah. The specifics escape me though..."

For several moments, Sarah just stared at her, gobsmacked. Eventually though, she sighed and ran her hand through her hair, "She... does." Looking out onto the backyard, she let out another sigh, "Ma, Kiri, well, she's loved Wash for years. Even before Wash and I got together, she loved her. Yet, when Wash asked her to help get her together with me, well... Kiri simply helped. No sabotage or anything, she honestly helped her best that she could to get us together."

Thumb running along the rim of her mug, the other woman was silent for a few moments. Then, taking a sip, she sighed a bit, "She honestly helped get you together even when she loved Wash? I will admit, Sarah, I am impressed with the strength of will she showed to do that. Because doing that? It had to hurt, had to hurt badly. But she still did it."

Gale gave a slow nod at that, "Yeah, to be honest I already made the decision that if something was to happen to me? Well, I would not mind if sometime afterwards Kiri and Wash got together. Because I know that Kiri would take damn good fucking care of her."

Head tilted to the side, her mother gave her a raised eyebrow, "You mean that."

What her mother had said, it was not a question, just a simple statement to Gale. Taking a sip, she looked at the clouds passing overhead, "Ma? I'm human and Wash is a shipgirl. And from all accounts... Wash could be around when I am nothing more than dust, my gravestone long since worn away. And she would likely look as youthful and beautiful as she does now. I'm not going to be around forever, Ma. But... knowing that Kiri will be there to support Wash? It makes things... easier, in a way. Because I know that she would take care of her and do right by her. Hell, Kiri likely would not even attempt to make a move, it would all be up to Wash for that. She... she is a good woman, Ma. One of the best that I have ever known."

Gently, the middle aged woman placed an arm around her daughter's shoulder as she considered what she had just been told. No one liked to be reminded of their mortality, no one. But... her daughter had not just come to accept that fact, but also that her wife would likely be around long after she was forgotten except by Wash's fellow shipgirls. That she would leave the love of her life, and her mother was sure that was who Wash truly was to her, behind, alone for who knows how many centuries before they might meet again. At least with her, she knew that Sarah would likely outlive her, possibly by a large margin. But...

But not as large as she had just been told, and she also knew that she would see her daughter on the other side.

Her daughter had, however, accepted that the situation was different with her wife. That it would be a very long time indeed before they might meet again. And that her wife would remarry. Thoughts that had to have been hard to have, yet she came to both understand and accept such.

Never, was Gale's mother more proud of her daughter than she had felt in that moment.

After almost a minute, her mother took a deep breath, "I see... and frankly, I agree with you, Sarah. Kirishima seems to be a very good woman."

Chuckling, Sarah shook her head, "You have no idea, Ma. But yeah..." Taking a sip of her coffee, she continued, "Kiri... for some reason has also fallen for me, Ma. Not sure how or why, but she has. And looking back, it has been for some time."

Just nodding, the older woman smiled a bit, "I see."

However, Gale shook her head, "No, Ma, she... she really loves me. As much as she loves Wash, and as much as I love Wash and..."

Now understanding the issue, her mother cocked an eyebrow, "You love her too."

Opening her mouth, it looked like the Warrant Officer was about to say something when she stopped and her shoulders slumped, "Yeah... I think that I do, Ma. Kiri, she is an easy woman to love. Kind, strong, beautiful on the inside and outside..." Pausing, Gale let out a breath, "A few months back, Kiri? She summoned her hull and brought me aboard."

Somewhat surprised, her mother blinked, "She summoned her hull? As in the steel..." Getting a nod, the older woman frowned, "I remember reading about it, but still."

On Gale's face was a soft smile, "Same, but, it was incredible, Ma. Walking those metal decks and knowing that she did it specifically for me. Even brought me to the bridge and stood there. Being there and watching the ocean through the windows... it was amazing, but not as much as what happened next."

Raising an eyebrow, the middle aged woman hummed, "Oh? And what happened next?"

Sarah took a deep breath before letting it out, a small smile on her face, "Kiri brought out her crew manifest and opened it. All the names of her crew were in there, Ma. Each and everyone of them. Poor Kiri looked like a wreck, blushing and stuttering a bit, but she asked for me to sign it."

Confused, her mother furrowed her eyebrows, "Does... does that mean something for a shipgirl, Sarah? Something important?"

With a deep breath, Gale nodded, "Yeah, it does, Ma. You know that Pirates of the Caribbean movie? Part of the ship, part of the crew?" Getting a nod, she continued, "Signing a shipgirl's crew manifest is... important. It means that the shipgirl wishes for you to stay with them, even beyond death. If you die, you become a fairy on them, able to visit them for all eternity. Kiri... she didn't want the possibility of me ever leaving her permanently, though she also said that I could transfer from her hull to Wash's if something happened to me. Because it would be some time before Wash can manifest her own hull to take me aboard. I could tell that hurt her to say though..."

Puffing out her cheeks, her mother gave an explosive sigh, "Landsakes, that girl has it bad. Though, Sarah?" She gave her daughter a look, "You better not hurt Kirishima like that, or else, dead or not, I will give you a good ol' paddling!"

Unable to help herself, Gale laughed, "And I would help you." Rubbing the back of her neck, she shook her head, "I hugged Kiri and told her that it would be my honour. But that she would need to put down my rank... she put down 'Admiral'. And that told me everything that I needed to know."

Lips twitching in amusement, the woman next to her nodded at her daughter, "Yes, yes it did." Taking a sip of her coffee, her mother also looked up at the sky, "So... what is your question, Sarah?"

Not saying anything, the younger woman looked down into her coffee, now lukewarm. Finally she let out a sigh, "I... what should I do, Ma? I love Wash with all my heart, I know this. But... Kiri somehow took a piece of it. And I know that Kiri loves us both and Wash seems to maybe love her as well."

Gently, her mother placed her hand on Gale's back and rubbed it through her shirt, "Sarah, honey? That is not your real question, because you already know the answer in your heart. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and love? It is one of the most powerful things in the whole of existence. Love, actual love, is never wrong. Sometimes it can confuse us, frighten us even, but it is never wrong. Loving someone is never, ever wrong in any way, just how we can choose to show that. Do you remember when you came out to me? That you didn't like boys, but girls? Remember what I said then?"

Tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, Gale nodded, "I remember, Ma. You simply hugged me tight and told me that... there was nothing wrong with it. That if I liked girls, than that was all there was to it..." A laugh escaped her after a moment, "Well, and then you started grilling me on which of my female schoolmates I found cute. Or if there was any women around town I had an eye on... God, that was so embarrassing, especially when we watched movies at home and you would give me a knowing smirk if you caught me staring at the female movie stars."

Smirking now as she did then, Gale's mother let out a laugh of her own, "Well, I know my daughter, Sarah. And now that I knew it was not the men in the movies that you were looking at, well..."

A blush on her face, Sarah ignored the snickers from her mother, though a smile still appeared on her face. However, it soon disappeared at another memory, "I... also remember your reaction when Uncle Jack and the others found out, when they... well..."

Her mother's expression softened, "Sarah, look at me." When her daughter did so, the older woman cupped her cheeks and placed her forehead against her child's, "I will say now as I did then, I have never been so ashamed of my kin. They had no right, no right for what they said. Love is to be cherished and is beautiful in the eyes of the Lord, any form of it, despite what Jack said. He may be a Minister, but he knows shit and bull cock with his reaction proving so. So what if you do not love men? A woman loving a woman is not wrong, or else it would not exist." Right then, she gained a vicious smirk, "Like I told him, if he ever laid an hand on you again, I was going to tie him via his dick and balls to a horse and slap the animal on the ass to get it moving... and I did not mean him."

Unable to help herself, Gale gave a laugh, "I remember his reaction..."

Both women shared a smile and a short laugh at that. Once they were calmer, Gale's mother shook her head, "Gale, I have never had an issue with how you feel, not once. You are my daughter, my child. For nine months I carried you in my womb and you are beautiful and so is the fact that you found someone to love. A love that has given me four beautiful grandchildren. So in regards to your question, Sarah..." Reaching up, she took a deep breath as she hugged her daughter tightly, cheek against hers, "Any love you have is beautiful, and there is nothing wrong with it. I have always accepted you, and always will, no matter what others will think."

Softly sniffling, Sarah hugged her back as tightly, "Thank you, Ma... thank you..."

With a smile on her face, her mother shook her head before kissing her cheek, "You never need to thank me for that, Sarah, never."

All the younger woman did was hug her slightly tighter.
___________________________________________________

Noticing that Gale was still giving her an odd look, one that made her boilers flutter for some reason and for her cheeks to warm, Kirishima cleared her throat, "Um, Gale-Chan?"

Briefly, that look stayed on the human's face before is melted away, "Yes, Kiri? Something wrong?"

More than a little thankful that she was no longer being given such a look, though also somewhat disappointed for some reason that escaped her, Kirishima gestured at the infants in her arms, "I think that they are done..."

Looking down at the daughters she was nursing, Gale nodded, "Yeah, I am pretty sure that both these two are done. Drained me dry, I think." As Kirishima gave a nod back and placed Georgina as well as Giorgie into the crib, she continued, "Pretty thankful that while they eat a lot for babies, they don't have the same hunger as a shipgirl would."

Slightly confused, the Kongou adjusted her glasses, "What do you mean, Gale-Chan?"

Eyebrow raised, Gale set her two daughters, now drifting off back to sleep, into the crib. Straightening, she gestured at herself and her still open shirt, "What do you think?"

To her great amusement, Kirishima's face went bright red and she looked away with some steam leaking from her ears, "I-I... I think that I know where you might be coming from, Gale-Chan. Yes, that could be... problematic."

Only shaking her head, the Warrant Officer gently patted the Battleship on the shoulder, "Anyways, we should be heading to bed. You need some rest after all..."

Thankful for the way out, as well as how Gale had rebuttoned her shirt up, Kirishima only smiled though there was a hint of sadness there, "Hai."

Slipping an arm around the slim waist of the other woman, who jumped a bit, Sarah chuckled, "You don't sound too excited."

With a deep breath, Kirishima turned her to her, "I would be lying if I was to say that I was not going to be missing you and Wash-Chan as well as my godchildren, Gale-Chan. But... I'll come back."

Just nodding, Gale gave her a look, "I know, Kirishima... I know."

Reaching the bed, the human woman was the first to slip back under the covers with Kirishima following. Though Gale noted that the Battleship made sure that the baby monitor was close to her with one of her fairies beside it. Another thing that she noted was that the covers on Wash's side were somewhat out of place, which made her smile as she knew what had happened.

While her wife was very sneaky, Gale was still able to tell where she was and the shipgirl had been watching her and Kirishima as they fed the babies with fondness, especially after the talks that they had been having...

Later that day, as the morning became afternoon, Gale watched as Kirishima walked out of their shared bedroom with a small smile, "All packed then, Kiri?"

Smile still on her face, Kirishima nodded as she turned towards her, "Hai, Gale-Chan. All my clothes and such that I need are in my holds." Adjusting her glasses, she looked around, "I... hopefully will not be long."

From where she stood, Wash shook her head, "Kirishima, take your time and help Haruna. The first few months will be a bit difficult after all." Giving a look at the babbling Georgina who was looking up at them, she chuckled, "We know that pretty well."

Also looking at the infant, the Kongou laughed, "Hai, we do."

Placing her mug to the side, Gale straightened a bit, "Well, I think that there are four little ones who need to say goodbye to their aunt and godmother."

Lips twitching into a smile, Kirishima hummed, "Indeed." Walking over the playpen, she leaned down into it, though she had to dodge Cassie attempting to grasp her glasses, "Goodbye, Cassie-Chan, Chibi-Wash-Chan, Georgie-Chan, Georgina-Chan, Kirishima-Oba-Chan needs to go and look after Haruna-Nee-Chan and will be away for a bit." Gently, she kissed each one on their heads, "And I'll be back before you know it, just be good for your Kaa-San and Okaa-San, okay?"

Each of them babbled a bit back to her which made her smile.

Straightening, she turned to the other two women in the apartment, hugging Wash first. The American hugged her back, "Have a good trip, Kirishima."

When she pulled back, Kirishima nodded, "Hai, I will, Wash-Chan." Turning, she noticed that Gale was giving her an odd sort of smile before the human woman shared a look with Washington. Internally, she furrowed her eyebrows as the American Battleship nodded back, 'What is going on?'

However, that was put into the back of her mind as Gale walked over and gave her a tight hug, though part of the shipgirl's thoughts noted that motherhood had been very good to her friend, "We'll see you when you get back, Kiri. And we'll hold down the fort here while you take care of your sister, so don't worry. Just come back safe."

Feeling the heat in her cheeks, the Japanese Battleship felt her boilers flutter, "Of course, you can count on me."

All of a sudden, that odd smile was back on Sarah's face, "I know that I can... Also, Kiri?"

Confused, Kirishima frowned and cocked an eyebrow, "Gale-Chan? Is something-"

Before she could finish her question, she was cut off as Gale threw her arms around the Kongou's neck and kissed her. Kirishima's eyes shot wide open at the feeling of two warm, soft objects pressed against her own lips. That was, until her eyes fluttered close and she brought her own hands up. It was not a passionate kiss, but a gentle one.

Feeling Gale pull away, Kirishima opened her eyes and stared down at the other woman, "I..."

Softly smiling, the Warrant Officer gave a nod, "Hopefully, that tells you something." A smirk crossed her lips for a moment, "Especially as sometimes you might miss something. Oh, and call me Sarah."

Unable to help herself, Kirishima leaned in, "Hai..." Pausing, she chewed her lip and glanced at Wash who was smiling brightly, "I..."

Rolling her eyes, Gale sighed, "Fucking kiss me again already."

Kirishima did not need to be told twice, nor when Wash gave her one as well as it was a very happy Japanese Fast Battleship who looked back before she left, "I'll see you soon, Wash-Chan... Sarah-Chan."

And then getting waves and another goodbye, she left, her boilers hotter than they had ever been, while she felt so light she could swear that she might float off.

 

[darthcourt10]

MagisterAurelius

Pasting it here from old thread.
Oh and Kaiju? No Dumpster of Fire?

Lonely Street 4

Dalt

Dalton Longstreet knew he had overdressed for just dinner. Then again, his wardrobe was rather limited since he either worked or had casual clothes for around the house. So having to rely on his single Sunday best outfit that he only wore for interviews, funerals, and confession was no surprise. Miss Mitsue was dressed for a simple dinner out. The color palette of her outfit, mostly a mix of greys. He had met her at one of the nearby rail stations and from there they had walked to the restaurant.

It clearly catered to a clientele that valued privacy. The interior was almost hushed, as most of the customer seating were nearly enclosed booths. Only the occasional clink of silverware and dishes jostling as a busboy cleared vacant tables seemed to be the main background noise. He waited for Mitsue to be seated first, then sat across from her. If anything the booth seemed to claim more ambient sound. It was pretty impressive acoustics and made for conversations to be easily heard but only to the occupants of the booth.

After looking at the menu for awhile a waiter came over and took their orders. Dalt leaned back and mused, "I wonder if someone else's cooking will actually have flavor. No matter how I season and spice my own, I've hadn't been able to really taste anything other than bland for years now."

"Does the base have a cafeteria that you could eat at instead?"

"I tried a few times. It didn't make a difference. It has been.. easier to cook and eat alone."

They kept up the small talk until the food arrived. Mitsue offered up several humorous anecdotes of the antics of her employees. Dalt had responded with some of the peccadillos he had seen some younger officers get up to. But as they continued to talk, Dalt began to feel a familiar pattern to the flow of conversation. Mitsue seemed the most interested whenever ship-girls were the subject. Oh it was subtle. But I've been questioned like this before, when my younger brother's wife would send another PI to try and find out where he had run off to that time. Might as well confirm it then.

"Miss Mitsue, if you're investigating someone on base, just ask me directly for what you want to know. If I know who you're interested in, and if it will not compromise any security concerns, I will attempt to give you honest answers."

Kiho

"What makes you think that Longstreet-san?" Kiho demurred, trying to regain her mental balance. How could he tell so easily? Why didn't I start with the personal questions and leave work for later? What is that expression he has?

"I've been interviewed by private investigators before. Background checks for my job. Or the ones sent to track my younger brother down to pay for the marriages that he managed to destroy. It's happened enough that I can tell when someone is trying to steer a conversation to a particular topic."

Kiho mentally bit back the irritation at her bad luck. But she knew that doubling down on an attempted deception would backfire badly. She sighed. "Yes. Yes Longstreet-san, I am a Private Investigator. I'm looking into the background of one Ibuki Moriko. Her boyfriend's family wishes to ensure that she is a suitable choice for him."

Longstreet-san picked at his meal in silent thought for a moment. "I apologize Mitsue-san. I do not have contact with Ibuki-san in my duties, nor do I know of her socially. I'm afraid that I have been a waste of your time and a bit of a dead end. Please allow me to at least pick up my half of the bill."

Longstreet pulled out a number of bills and laid them on the table. Oh kami! He thinks I just wanted to get information from him. No. No. This can't be going this way..

"Longstreet-san, you aren't a waste of time.."

"I don't have what you need Mitsue-san," He stopped for a second and in a whisper that Kiho heard thanks to audio enhancements on her earrings, "I've never been needed really." He coughed a little, then gave a slight smile. "And thank you for the dinner invitation. I actually did taste my food for the first time in years."

Kiho sat in the booth after Dalt had left. How could he be so perceptive and yet so blind? What did I do wrong?

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

In a certain Karaoke bar

Uzume stewed in her office. This had never happened before. Red strings of fate did not just slip off like that. She scowled. "Alright then. Challenge accepted. No Teflon coating applied by Kami-Knows-Who is going to stop me, even if I have to invoke that."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice Castle of Dumpster Fires....

Meeting the Munchkins

Castle Moulbaix

Tokunotakai smiled at Colombe and hugged her love. "You do not wish me to go to Brussels with you?"

Colombe shook her head, "Non, To-chan. Not this time, since I do not yet know how intensive the manhunt is for us after what happened in Japan with the Aurors. While I know how to pass unseen and unsuspected in Brussels and Antwerp, you have neither the language skills yet nor the coloration to blend in."

Toku nodded. "I cannot argue with that, since you would be similarly out of place in Kamakura or Tokyo. Just be safe and return to me soon."

Colombe kissed her. "I promise. Besides that way I can wear my own clothes without them being pilfered."

Toku laughed and blushed slightly. Part of the planned shopping trip was to get undergarments and other clothing for her, which had caused the Masamune to blush scarlet as she told her three sizes to Colombe.

It is funny that embarrassed me, since she has seen me in my underclothing and even less repeatedly over the last few weeks since we admitted our love for each other. But it is different when I told her what my sizes are.

Colombe walked out the front door of the castle with a spring in her step to the somewhat battered Volkswagen Golf that was semi-affectionately nicknamed the Reparo-Wagen by the du Chastelers.

Toku with that thought closed the door and thought briefly. Clearly since Colombe was not dominating her life, she needed something to do. The library was quite attractive, but she felt a bit cooped up and int he need of some exercise.

With that in mind, she headed upstairs to the sword rack containing her true self. Colombe had mentioned that the downstairs ballroom was the preferred place to spar, but the day was sufficiently beautiful that Toku was contemplating seeing the grounds.

As she headed down the back stairs, a hum of conversation filled the air and she stuck her head into the kitchen. Kasuyu was there talking to the elder of the two Jorogumo. Toku gave a small smile at seeing the spider-woman moving under her own power now after the horrible torture that the Reserve guards had subjected her to. Her tanuki and Jorogumo 'children' were there as well, apparently happily involved in 'taste testing' the excess batter for some chocolate chip waffles, if Toku's nose was any indication.

"Have you seen Claire or Ehren?" Toku asked.

"Claire said that she wished to play outside, and I am sure that Ehren will be there too. If you are heading there can you deliver some waffles to her?" the axe tsukumogami rumbled as he removed a batch of waffles from the iron out of the oven.

Toku smiled serenely at the remarkably poorly hidden disappointment from the children as the steaming hot waffles were placed in an enchanted basket for delivery. "Only if the next batch go to two growing young Yokai and their big sister, Kasuyu-san."

The axe laughed and poured the batter for the next batch. "Only if these greedy youngsters leave any ingredients to be used!"

Toku laughed as she headed out the front door and began to circle the castle.
Spoiler: Toku and her Stepdaughters

A sudden shower of beautiful piano notes through the mid-morning air caused Toku's heart to beat a little faster and her steps to quicken. She walked around the corner tower and there near the grassy edge of the pond behind the castle, flanked by flowerbeds on either side filled with purple Panji and Sumire - No, they were Pansies and Violets in English! - rested a familiar rich brown piano. Two familiar girls were sitting facing away from her, looking over the pond as they played.

Claire was on the right, dressed in a dark pink dress with her short black hair waving back and forth as she played her true body, swaying with the emotions. To the left, Ehren was in a jet black uniform with silver trim, her pale gold hair falling down her back with her back ramrod straight as she concentrated on the sheet of music in front of her as if her very life depended on it.

Toku's eyes teared up at the beauty of this unfamiliar piece of music, and she made a series of hand passes to conceal her presence and muffle her sounds before walking closer, not wishing to interfere.

Finally stopping four meters away, she stood in silence, watching the sisters play. Ehren bit her lip as her fingers hesitated on a passage, only to get an encouraging smile from her sister, who was playing with her eyes closed. The tension in Ehren's frame relaxed minutely as she began the next measure, nervously biting her lip.

Toku's eyes widened as she realized that the piano was gently guiding and encouraging the dagger through the piece. Her lips curled in a proud, serene smile as the piece finally reached the conclusion.

As Ehren breathed out deeply with the tension leaving her frame, Toku spoke from behind her. "Thank you so very much, that made me experience mono no aware."

She was not expecting the reaction to her words. Ehren whirled with mixed embarrassment and horror deep in her eyes before her emotions were submerged behind that cool mask that she habitually wore. Claire looked at her curiously and smiled shyly.

Toku cast about for a topic to break the awkwardness and hefted the basket she held in two hands. "Kasuyu rescued a batch of chocolate-chip waffles from the Fujii children and wished for me to share them with you."

Claire's smile grew happier and she trilled a series of happy notes with one hand. Ehren nodded once sharply, her straight frame vibrating with tension. Behind her serene smile, Toku's own thoughts whirled as she wondered what was going on with Colombe's youngest and where she had misstepped.

Toku's hands moved on autopilot as she lay out the sheet on the grass like she would for a hanami flower-viewing group of herself and her fellow priests and miko. She thought about what little she knew of Ehren and why the girl was so guarded around her.

Daughter of Colombe and a SS officer...what were the SS? That had meaning to Colombe since her voice caught on that word, and she called them monsters, but... Silently she mentally cursed once again at her decision to not be more aware of the events outside the shrine during the 1930s as her country slid into the abyss of the Pacific War. Another glance at the uniform Ehren was wearing, and half-remembered memories of a newsreel that played on the screen during a rally that Fudo had led in Kamakura. Something about... Austria?

No. With a flash of memory, Toku suddenly remembered the image of a room where the Japanese ambassador signed the treaty of alliance with Germany and Italy. Men standing at the door in the same uniform that Ehren had on. What had Fudo called them?

"The Elite of our German Allies, dedicated to their cause of living space just as our samurai are dedicated to Bushido as we gather the Eight Corners of the World under one Roof."

Oh.

Clearly Ehren was ashamed at what her father's country did in the war. Just as Toku was equally ashamed at what the Army and Navy, including a few - mercifully few! - of her pupils had done in the Pacific War.

Best not to prod at her wounds. Not yet. Not this early when she was a stranger.

With that thought, she turned to Claire. "I really enjoyed that piece of music, can you tell me about it?"

The Piano grinned happily as she swallowed a bite of her waffle. "Oh, that is the Forest Idylls from Siegfried. It was originally written as a composition for Wagner's wife as a birthday present." Claire flushed, looking dewy-eyed for a moment.

"I see. Can you tell me more about this Wagner then? I do not know much about Western music, my experience has been in our native musical traditions. I play the shakuhachi bamboo flute at some festivals to honor the Kami." She spared a sidelong glance for the coolly observing Ehren, her face defensive and intent upon Toku.

Claire became more animated. "Wagner was a German composer who was born in 1813, and revolutionized opera. He was the first to bring the visual effects, the singing and the music together into a unified whole, with the use of specific musical passages for each character that would blend into a greater whole, what we call leitmotif. Ehren loves Wagner."

"I see, that sounds fascinating, and reminds me of when I help tell the story of the Kami in sacred dance and music at the festivals of Hachiman." Toku mused, extending subtle bait to see if Ehren would take it.

The dagger spoke coolly, her eyes measuring the Masamune, "Wagner told the story of the myths of Germany in his operas, such as the Ring Cycle. They inspire with their passion, their energy, their tragedy as man and god struggle against the bonds of fate."

Toku nodded and took a bite of her waffle. "I see. Perhaps after lunch, you would be so kind to tell me what the music is doing and what it represents as you and Claire play?"

Ehren nodded slowly as they finished the meal. "Acceptable, although I fear Claire shall have to play. I am not that proficient at piano yet to play music of such complexity and beauty properly."

Claire smiled happily and looked at Ehren. Some form of unspoken communication passed between the sisters as Claire sat on her bench and cracked her knuckles. Her fingers danced across the keys as she called forth a watery, ephemeral melody from her true body the Piano caught up in the music.

Ehren looked at the water of the lake as it gently rippled. "This is the beginning of Das Rheingold, the first of the Ring Operas. Deep within the primordial waters of the Rhine River, the three Rheintochter, the Rhine Maidens, guard magic gold that when forged into a ring would have power enough to rule the world. Yet the gold can only be forged into that ring by one who forsakes love utterly..."

Toku listened in awe as Ehren continued to weave the words of the story that Claire told with her playing. The music and words transported her into the story of greed and power, love forsaken and hopeless love fulfilled, heroism in vain, and yet heroism shining bright, swords broken and reforged anew, and the inevitable Twilight of the Gods, all bound within the magic and music of the Ring of the Niebelungs.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-The Most tooth-rotting OTP couple from Puppy Love and Pack Dynamics are back in the new thread

Courtship Display I

Yokosuka Public Library.

Hachiko Miyata's eyes widened as he saw his aunt Naomi, dressed down in a blouse and skirt rather than her normal robes and with her hair up in a bun at the help desk.

"Please, I will help this lady, Matsudare-san." He spoke softly.

His supervisor looked over. "Ah, she was asking after you Miyata-san. One of your relatives then? She mentioned some family business."

"Indeed, she is my aunt Miyata Naomi-san." he replied as Naomi nodded.

With that he led her to a small reading room with a microfilm reader. "Aunt Naomi, what is wrong? Is it Grandfather?" His voice trailed off hesitantly at the mention of the patriarch of the family, swallowing the familiar lump of well-hidden pain that his irregular birth to a witch from the Miyata family of Magical Civil Service employees and a Inugami ship's engineer had generated a rift inside the family.

She pulled out a Ofuda and concentrated, then released it, leaving it to float in the air as the sounds from outside became muffled.

"No, Father is still in good health. This is a bit more relevant to you and your younger brother." Naomi took a deep breath. "As you know, father is aware of your feelings toward Ibuki Moriko-san."

Unconsciously he stiffened as he rememebered the feel of the strong, powerful, and bold girl with shockingly vulnerable depths who had won his heart and nodded. Naomi continued, "He has hired an investigator to check into her suitability for matrimony. He received the initial report about her day before yesterday. I do not suppose that you could be persuaded to pursue her younger sister Suzume?"

His jaw and fists clenched and he shook his head sharply, defiantly no.

Suzume was a nice girl, and more conventionally pretty than the battered Moriko, who showed her struggles to support her younger sisters as the only survivors of their family after Blood Week. But she was not Moriko, and did not burn in his very spirit like Moriko-chan did.

Naomi smiled, "I told him that you wouldn't, but he asked me to ask you anyway." Hachiko let out the breath he did not realize that he was holding in a long sigh.

"In that case, he wants you to restrain yourself slightly until the investigation is finished. Keep going on dates with her, spend time with her, but wait for your grandfather to be won over before expanding the family." Hachiko smiled happily at the news.

He could be patient, he could work hard for her. Just like he worked himself to the bone to support his elementary-school brother Aki.

"Also, you should know, that once Father has fully considered and approved of Ibuki-san, after judging your relationship suitable the family will pay for the wedding and engagement. As well, and do NOT let your Grandfather know..." Naomi pulled a bulging envelope full of yen from her purse followed by a magically inscribed silk coin bag. "I added some additional nomaj monies along with coupons for some magical entertainments and a modest store of Ryo from my pocket to this month's rent money. I expect to receive a photograph of my nephew and Ibuki Moriko enjoying themselves in return next month. The initial report suggested that the Ibuki family may be magically aware like we are, and if you find that is the case, well I am led to believe that even with the unsettled politics and the war, quality magical entertainment can still be found. Perhaps an onsen or beach trip?"

Hachiko's smile lit up his face as his cheeks flushed and a trickle of blood fell from his nose..

He would not have to choose between Aki, saving for a ring for Moriko-chan, and eating any more. His path to his dreams was ahead with hard work, patience, and dedication.

Toa Crafts World, Yokosuka
Spoiler: Birthday Scarf for a Wolf

Hachiko Miyata adjusted his glasses as he looked at a book of knitting patterns. The young man frowned slightly. After depositing the money at the bank following his work shift at the library and attached cafe, he had taken five thousand yen from the total and headed to the craft store.

Thanks to his saving for the ring, he had enough to get Moriko-chan a present for her birthday.

Of course the problem was what to get her.

He had thought it over during the rest of his work and decided to knit her a present. He enjoyed knitting, since it relaxed his mind as his hands worked with the needles. While his short, slender body, thick glasses, and shoulder length hair made him look like a girl, an impression highlighted by his gentle tenor voice, he found that around Moriko he did not care that others saw him as feminine.

He placed the book back and headed around the corner to the yarn shelf.

"Oh! Excuse me!" He exclaimed as he nearly hit a young lady in a wheelchair then his eyes widened as he recognized Moriko-chan's younger sister Sachiko being pushed around by Moriko's younger twin Suzume. "Sumimasen, Ibuki-kun." he responded, bowing in apology.

Sachiko smiled. "No harm done. Suzume-chan hit the brakes in time. What are you doing here, Miyata-kun?"

He leaned in. "Can you keep a secret?"

The Ibuki sisters nodded with a disturbing lupine gleam in their eyes.

"I'm going to knit a gift for Moriko-chan's birthday, but I'm trying to decide what. Can you help?"

The Natural-Born disguised Okami Yokai who was the spirit of the CVL Ibuki (and twin sister to the Natural born spirit of the CA Ibuki) looked at her baby sister who was the spirit of the second planned Ibuki-class before its cancellation. A moment of sisterly communion united in the unholy combination of matchmaking and trolling was shared and the two nodded as one.

"Oh she would love a wolf scarf. She has always loved wolves." Sachiko said.

Suzume smirked. "Especially one with a dark black-gray pelt like the color of her hair and a white muzzle, paws, and tail tip. Oh and grab some gray or yellow buttons for her eyes."

And we will bring the cameras to record her reaction when she finds out that the scarf mirrors her true form....

Suzume then focused on Hachiko and spoke. "Miyata-kun, do you think that your little brother would like it if I made a puzzle box for his birthday? He seems to enjoy them as much as I do."

Hachiko nodded. "Oh yes, he likes building things and figuring things out. Either that or a model kit or something like the Shipgirl Lego kits that came out so you could build an aircraft carrier or cruiser based on a shipgirl's old hull. He was excited about those."

Sachiko noticed Suzume bite her lip and her eyes sparkled with unholy glee as she hid her smile.

After all she could troll her big sister and get in good with her future brother in law with one carrier kit of a member of the Kido Butai. No, that would be too much for a young child for now, but she could find a smaller kit more suitable for his age...

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

K9Thefirst1 said:
Actually, Nameless is NotHimAgain's creation. Sadly he seems to be dragging his heels on actually finishing her part of the arc. The story seems to have stalled at the various Selects meeting up and chatting after the Scottish one went berserk. At least that's what seems to be the meat of the snippets after Tatsuya and the gang apparated to the UK, chasing after Mister Magical Unit-731 with a horde of breadknives in tow.​

Well, I have had a job as of late. Seems to make writing a little more frustratingly difficult to do, except when I'm riding some kind of YEET.

And when I decide to power the sensation of my brain shutting down, begging for food, sleep, rest as I do. Granted, that doesn't always come out as good.

But I always post it anyways! Hah!
Flash Back: Screw it, no more songs

Kneeling by the small box, McKay 'hmmed' thoughtfully. "'Ow'd ye knoo she'd drop it like she did?" she asked. Across from her, Reiko frowned uncomfortably. Everything that she'd seen of the Scottish girl gave the impression of a disturbingly enthusiastic killer—but then again, knowing things about her calligraphy set probably wouldn't cause anything amiss and direct that only half-sane attention away after her curiosity was filled. Right?

"It's… made with special materials," she explained hesitantly, "so it's not very friendly to anyone who isn't me."

McKay paused, digesting this. Then she reached out and grabbed the set. As it burst into merry red flames, she scoffed in disappointment and tossed it away.

"Hey! Don't do that, I need those!" Honestly, what was that girl's problem? Did she want to fight Reiko's calligraphy set, too? How was that even—

—wait. No. It wasn't normal. No one here was normal at all, and Reiko had completely lost her delinquent cred by hanging out with them.

"Reiko," Tatsuya said, and she perked up, turning to face him as she regathered her scattered items. "How fast can we move?"

"Umm, let's see…" Mentally, Reiko counted the ofuda she would need to prepare, how big an area she might need to cover with the spell at once, how much energy it would take to actually work… "I don't need very long to prepare what we need, but the set up on site will probably take a few minutes. But before all that, I've also got to set up the tracking spell, so… Give me five for the moment?"

Tatsuya frowned in thought so briefly and minutely that Reiko almost missed it. "Do it," he said, pulling his phone out. He walked a short distance away from the group, milling around as they were in the small, abandoned garage, and put it up to his ear, speaking in hushed tones.

"What's he doing now?" Reiko mused to herself as she tapped the end of her brush against her chin.

"Probably something clever," Tonbo replied, squatting down beside her right as she began draw a line. Reiko squeaked and the line went wide, scrawling off of the ofuda and across the floor. "Oops. Okay, that one was on me."

Reiko grunted brusquely in response. "You seem to be doing better."

"You have to think happy thoughts to get to Neverland."

"Don't you take anything seriously?"

"When I do, I end up miserable sooner or later."
-----

"… got it," Miyuki announced over the phone. "Is that everything that you need?"

"More or less," Tatsuya tapped a finger to his chin and nodded in affirmation. "Yeah, that should be it. I don't know or trust the right people here to pull this off, so this one is up to you."

"You know it might not get through."

"I'm prepared for the possibility." Which meant that "Plan C" was to run like hell and pray for the best. Fortunately, that tended to be what he and Benio ended up doing. By now, he was pretty good at it if he did say so himself.

Miyuki was silent for a moment. "I hope you know what you're doing." Her voice was hesitant, concerned.

"So do I."

And with that he ended the call, sliding the phone back into his pocket.

"Haneda, wasn't it?"

He turned, looking over his shoulder at the taller, black man. "And you were DuBois," he pointed out. "You need anything other than checking to make sure we've got each other's names down?"

"There was just something that I wanted to ask you."

"No time like the present."

"You wouldn't happen to come from a line of monster hunters, would you?"

It took a moment for Tatsuya to register this properly. Even knowing the reality of his situation, it still didn't feel completely real sometimes. "I don't see how that's important," he replied evenly.

DuBois didn't slow down. "I'm asking because I do," he explained. "I've met several others who do as well." He glanced over at McKay, who was now pacing back and forth through the room in animal disquiet. "I think it's a pretty fair bet that she's the same, too."

"Important why?" Tatsuya demanded. If this turned out to be some kind of weird there-can-be-only-one situation again, he was going to scream.

"I wouldn't advise you to be playing around with all these girls in this case," DuBois said, simply and casually.

"Huh?"

"The girls that you're travelling with," DuBois expanded. "They're all attracted to you on some level, and so I'm telling you not to pursue a romantic relationship with any of them."

Tatsuya snorted. Benio and Reiko, he was fully aware were attracted to him. Tonbo? That was significantly less likely—he doubted she was any more ready to start a relationship that he was. Battling a never-ending stream of evils and monsters was not conducive towards developing a romance with another—something that, if DuBois were anything like him, he would know. And besides that…

"And what gives you the right to decide that on my behalf?" he asked sarcastically. He glanced up, around, found Benio fiddling with a cabinet in some corner, and began to walk.

Right as he passed DuBois, he spoke up.

"They say that you shouldn't visit the sins of the father upon the son," the man said, voice quiet enough that Tatsuya had to stop and wait in order to listen. "In most cases, that's true. But people like you and me are different.

"When we have children," DuBois turned to face him, "Our sins are passed on to them. I have done horrible things—in the name of peace and sanity and life, yes, but reprehensibly horrible. And I will not force those sins on any one who may follow me. And you—" Tatsuya could feel his eyes burning into the side of his face, "—you should know better than to do that as well."

Well.

Whatever that was, it sounded serious. The sort of serious that called for more professional help than Tatsuya was of the opinion that he needed. There was probably something to be said, something to reassure DuBois or convince him that he wasn't the monster that he seemed to think he was. Unfortunately, Tatsuya didn't know what it was. And besides that…

"Really? Now?" he asked, almost snappishly. "Whatever it is that you went through, that you did, means that you can tell me how to live my life while I'm working on how to get out of this mess alive?" He turned to face DuBois again. "I understand that whatever you went through must have been hard, but… but don't just decide that you know all about me and how I should act. And maybe next time, wait until all our lives aren't on the line, okay?"

… he wasn't feeling especially charitable at the moment.

"Now do whatever it is you have to to get ready. We're leaving in a few."
-----

And next time, I should be covering The Plan right up to the point where The Plan goes off the rails. Finally!

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie on The Hunt

Din Tai Fung Restaurant, Magical Tokyo
Spoiler: Tea and Questions

Wei Ying leaned back in the private room that she had reserved and sipped green tea as she surveyed her xiaolongbao steamed buns filled with soup and minced pork and crab meat.

Yám chà, literally 'drinking tea', was one of the foundational social events of the day for a proper Chinese such as she was.

With that, she looked over at the Auror who had accepted her invitation once the meeting broke up. She had indicated that she would take a working lunch to read the case files on Colombe du Chasteler's latest crime.

"I confess curiosity on one or two points," she began mildly, before refilling her guest's teacup, "While I have no doubt that du Chasteler killed your fellow Aurors, would it not be normal policy for one of those in the field who had run into her with a jorogumo family to have attempted to put down these dangerous beasts. After all they were tracking a breakout...."

The middle aged Auror, Emiko Morimoto, nodded and spoke in a rough rasp. "It would be. However, as much as I wish not to speak ill of the dead, Asai-san was not the most diligent individual for following the rules. He asked to transfer to the Reserves as a guard since he was not cut out for the strain of law enforcement work. Since he was the ranking member... well before du Chasteler-san split him in two, his subordinates would have followed his commands, but he gave none. No coordination."

Ying nodded after taking a steamed bun and chewing slowly. "I see. I am not unfamiliar with the problem of subordinates who just do not have the right level of initiative for fieldwork." She took a sip of tea, using the brief pause to frame her probe. "I hope he was not like Corporal MacInnes, we had to place him on the duty of getting childhood pets out of trees because he was so soft-hearted and soft-headed." Granted, she was editing out that Ian MacInnes was also brave like a hundred tigers, she could remember him tackling a shifted loup-garou half again his size in Quebec City to the ground and slapping the magically reinforced silver-plated cuffs on it as part of the bust of a Québec Libre cell that she had infiltrated before they could carry out their magical terrorism.

Emiko barked a laugh and sipped her tea. "Hah! Asai-san was if anything too zealous. His reputation for extracting confessions was well known in the force, even if several got overturned on trial and appeals."

Ying nodded sympathetically, "Ahh. That does tend to create problems when the officer responsible makes an understandable mistake. It does reflect poorly in their files when I have to chair a promotion board." She leaned back in her chair, taking the opportunity to rub her Spirit Pearl on her hilt with her thumb to modify the allure aura that she was projecting.

No need to make her suspicious by thinking about how she was revealing dirty little secrets to a stranger from a different nation.

She sipped her tea, and began to tell the story of a suitably edited case of hers. "That reminds me of the time we had a murder among the wardens of our main Sasquach reserve." Which was caused by criminals trying to sell illegal firewhisky to the Sasquach in 1911. "I had just made Inspector, so was dispatched with Sergeant Wawetseka to investigate...."

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

The Kitsune's Den, Magical Tokyo

Ying closed and locked the hotel room door behind her. She then checked the security wards, and nodded, noticing that the maid had come and gone but her suitcase was undisturbed.

Considering the illusions showing that it was full of toiletries and clothing, that was not surprising.

Plus the security spells and curses designed to make any would-be thief regret his life decisions.

She then smirked smugly and reinforced the privacy wards once more.

With that in mind, she placed the suitcase on the desk and pulled out her laptop. After plugging it in, she pulled up a folder marked "Jiàn gǎn zhījī" and clicked on the map icon.

A world map formed and a half-dozen points blinked. Ying frowned at the familiar puzzle.

"Metz 1789. Killed an Auror and incited a riot while breaking the Statute. Why?"

Her finger traced to India. "India 1821. Kidnapped a princess, released unharmed later with no ransom paid or demanded. Plus violations of the Statute of Secrecy."

Another trace of the finger. "China 1855. Met Amah, saved her from Taipings, got her to safety. Amah said that Colombe was looking for her father, a fellow sword spirit. So far, we have a definite pattern of movement here."

The finger moved to Africa. "Congo, 1895. Killed five wizards, another riot incited. Then vanished utterly"

The finger moved to Belgium, "Suspected in the death of Hippolyte du Chasteler in 1899, who was stabbed through the throat. The last member of the du Chasteler family. Connection with her name? The Congo was Belgian property then."

To England now. "Fought a duel the same year with Corvus Lestrange. Accused him of being in bed with du Chasteler. Connection... unclear. Personal feud?"

The finger moved to the Balkans: "Gets falsely accused of starting World War I. What was she doing in Sarajevo?"

To America. "Resurfaced Louisville 1927, another riot, another set of nonmagical bigots roughed up and killed. Delilah confirmed this was definitely her, then MACUSA pulled the plug. Why?"
Spoiler: Mountie on the Trail

"What's the connection?" Ying drummed her fingers on the desk. "There's a pattern here, I just know it."

"Right, next is Tehran in 1979." Ying tapped her finger against her lips. "She hijacks a plane, starts shit with those damn mullahs, easy enough to do. And flies out some businessmen." The finger drumming slowed. "That's like China... another get people out of trouble. And... what was the identity of the execs?"

Two more clicks pulled up a scan of notes in her handwriting. "Jardine Matheson. Connections?"

"Then Rwanda in 1994. Right next to the Congo." The finger traced to Japan. "and it looks like she rescued some dangerous Yaojing here...just like Mother would have been seen in China."

Ying leaned back and steepled her fingers. "She was rich enough to get passage for mother, so will be smuggling the jorogumo out. Wait."

Ying suddenly dug through her robes and pulled out the crystal ball. She hastily activated it. and stared into the hazy depths with intensity.

The ball cleared to reveal her mother's face. "Ying, are you well?"

The younger huli jing smiled, "I am, Amah. I must ask you a question."

Wei Yuying looked her oldest child in the eyes and nodded. "What is it?"

"When you and father fled China, you said that she bought passage on a ship for you and provided funds in the New World while staying in the Middle Kingdom on her own business. Do you recall the details of the ship and the funds?" Ying spoke with a smug grin on her face.

She was onto Colombe's trail, she just knew it.

Yuying tapped a finger against her lips. "The funds were a half-share of a cargo of tea that had been accumulated in Kowloon. The ship was owned by a English company...Jardine?"

Ying' smug smirk widened as she sensed yang energies influencing her turning to yin. "I see, and Father was well acquainted with the owner of the ship?"

"Shi. She was, and the man did not cheat me despite being not one of our kin. He paid me every tael of money that I was owed." Yuying looked sharply at Ying. "You have the scent of your quarry then?"

"Perhaps. She is crafty like you would expect a fox who has run so long and so well from the hunters." Ying grinned toothily as she typed and lines flew from France to India to China to Japan. "But every fox makes one mistake in the end. One last question, Amah. She was seeking someone in China when you met her, correct?"

"Yes, her father had abandoned her and she wished to punish him... or perhaps her... for this shocking lack of filial piety. She did not know his name, but he was one of her kind." Yuying spoke slowly, remembering pillow talk during a night camped out while on the run.

"Good. That is most helpful Amah. Thank you and Baai Baai." Ying smiled.

She began to type into the laptop refining her search parameters. "Right. Check Jardine for ties to her. Check the back issues of the Magical Papers for events involving sword spirits starting in 1855 and again in 2013 while I am here."

The crystal ball chimed and flashed. Ying waved her hand over it and a familiar chestnut haired young-seeming woman formed in it's depths. "Nihao Delilah! You are well?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Both Harry and Natsumi had their eyes closed as the Sun slowly rose above the horizon. In a meditative state, the two held the others hands. Harry had his palm facing upwards with his fingers clasped in Natsumi's, while the Kitsune's palms faced downwards. Despite the odd twitch from one or the other, they did not move at all, simply breathing in and out slowly.

From where she sat, Hoshi watched as the breaths the two took synchronized. From where she was beside the older Kitsune, Haru raised an eyebrow, "Is this really how one performs Kitsune Tsuki? Because the stories do state that one could easily perform it by force."

Glancing at her, the Kyuuubi shook her head, "And that is exactly why I have started them on this method. It is one that is not forceful, which is more suited to what they wish to perform." Bringing out her Kiseru, she placed the end between her lips, "Despite the rivalry between Kitsune and Inugami, there were clans who used Kitsune instead of Inu spirits like other families did. Most of those have since been subsumed into the Kitsune race as a whole due to them often marrying their partners."

Lips curled a bit into a soft smile, Haru nodded, "Hai, that is true." Watching the two teens, she shook her head, "It is like one of those old romance tales come to life before me as those stories that you talk about often were."

With a hum, Hoshi blew out some smoke, "Indeed. Which is why, for what they want, that method is the best. Though I will note that it was not always a romance. Such as Awa no Takaru, who had a female Kitsune who adopted him as her son when she found him as a child left in the woods to die."

Arms crossed, the five tailed Kitsune nodded, "I remember that tale, her name was Fujiko. She raised him best that she could, for she was barren. Yet, she loved him as much as any Okaa-San might her son. Together, the two fought foes with her performing Kitsune-Tsuki to combine their skills... Until one day he died of old age in her arms, with Awa no Fujiko weeping at the loss of the only child she knew..."

Her lips twitching, Hoshi tilted her head, "Yes, that was until, moved by the love they shared as Okaa-San and child, that the Kami acted. And granted her wish when Inari-Sama appeared before her and gave her a task, one that she completed and upon completion, it allowed for her to be reunited with Takaru, by him being born to her as her child."

Softly chuckling, Haru raised one eyebrow at her family's old friend, "Though in this case? I do not think that there are any motherly feelings there."

That got her a snicker from the older Kitsune, "No, neither do I." Taking another puff of her Kisaru, Hoshi hummed, "Still, I do not see the issue in this as both sides are well aware and accept it. And it will bring them closer, which can only be a good thing."

At that, Haru simply nodded some as her own eyes glowed softly as her vision shifted over more to the spiritual realm. While she was unable to go as deep as a shipgirl, she could still see certain things. And right now? She could see a mist surrounding the two teens with tendrils extending out and touching ones from the other person.

It was their hands though that caught the most of her attention though. Because there, the two auras were mixing. Unlike usual in such cases though, there was nothing violent, and neither pushed back against the other. Much to her confusion, the two met and mixed slightly as if they knew each other. Something that should be impossible... which was when her mind went back to a dream that Natsumi had told her about, which made her shake her head, 'No, that was just a dream. One filtered through... who knows how many mental filters in order to make her able to make sense of it, that is all. Nothing else...'

Yet, she still felt a shiver down her spine though she shoved it to the side.

Meanwhile, Hoshi was also observing it as she softly puffed. Eyes narrowed, she hummed some as she remembered something in regards to the process, 'I wonder... if anything will come up, as one can receive visions regarding things related to one another...'

Unknown to her, that was exactly what was happening.

Harry blinked and looked himself over in utter confusion before furrowing his eyebrows, "Um, what?"

A voice made him look up and he boggled a bit at seeing Natsumi in a fine outfit straight from the Heien Era, "Harry-Chan? Uh, what? Why are you dressed like a Samurai?"

Only shrugging, the teenaged boy shook his head, "Your guess is as good as my own, Natsumi-Chan." Briefly, there was a flicker and Natsumi swore that he wore clothes from a far older era, somehow knowing that they were Chinese. Then, she shook her head and they were gone, "Though I wonder where we are?"

Now looking around herself, Natsumi sucked in a breath, "Harry-Chan? I know where we are... we're... in that place."

It took only a few seconds for the penny to drop in Harry's head and he quickly moved to her side. Grimacing, he gave a small nod, "I see. Could you..."

Natsumi took a deep breath and centered herself, "Hai, follow me."

With practiced ease, the Kitsune lead the wizard through the corridors, though the two briefly stopped to look out onto the garden. But besides that stop, they did not stop until they reached the room that the Mirror was in. Slowing, Natsumi came a stop in front of it, the form of Tamamo within the mirror visible. The feel of Harry coming to a stop beside her making her relax, "It is okay, Natsumi-Chan. I am right here, and together there is nothing that can stop us."

Relaxing, Natsumi nodded, though she did note one thing. For a split moment, Tamamo was looking at Harry with a look that was both shock, and some sort of deep longing. And then it was gone and the older Kitsune was once more back, "Good, you are safe. I am... relieved about such."

Eyebrow raised, Harry frowned, "You were worried about me?"

All the reflection of Tamamo did was nod, "I was, which is why I am thankful that you are safe and sound." While neither teen understood exactly why she held that as something important, they ignored it as she continued, "And I had to make sure, which is why I brought you here."

Just as Natsumi was about to say something, she paused as the thirteen year old wizard glanced at her. Turning back to Tamamo, Harry frowned deeply as he thought, "You're not really, Tamamo no Mae, are you...?"

Lips with the slightest bit of an amused curl, Tamamo chuckled, "I am Tamamo no Mae... though, perhaps calling me a Testament could also be factual as well." Spreading her arms, she laughed a bit, "I am both her, and yet I am not. A remnant, or an echo of whom I once was? I am a Shadow in a world of Light."

Eyes narrowing some, Harry took a step forward, "Are you a threat to Natsumi-Chan?"

If anything, that seemed to only to amuse the infamous Yokai all the more. Yet, in her eyes there was pain mixed with happiness and longing, "I could never be a threat to her... or you. But if you mean in regards to me using her to come back? Do not worry, Harry-Kun. If I wished to come back, I could have long before now. Such as during that large war a few decades back." Both teens stiffened at that, which she noticed and smirked maliciously, "Some of those fools somehow got a hold of my pelt, which I lost when I turned to stone. They believed with it, they could bring me back and use the powers that they had been experimenting with from the one named Kyoshu to control me in order to destroy their enemies."

Only licking his lips, Harry gave a shrug, "That... would have ended badly for them, I would think."

All that did was make Tamamo cackle some as her eyes glowed malevolently, "Oh yes, it certainly would have." Her expression shifted though to something more... longing, "But I did not, and would be glad as I have almost everything that I could want."

While that confused the two teens, they decided to put that in the back of their mind for now. Mainly because she was actually talking to them, which meant that Natsumi decided on the next question, "How are you even here?"

Slowly, Tamamo shook her head, "That is not the question that you should ask, but I shall answer with a question of my own..." Amused, she spread her arms as much as she could in the frame of the mirror, "Considering that I was known for plots and schemes, do you not think that I, of all people, would be able to create plans and backups for those plans in case of my death? In most other circumstances, I would not have ever spoken to you. Been able to speak to you." Her eyes narrowed slightly, "Yet, now I do to prevent a repeat of a tragedy."

Both Natsumi and Harry shared a look before the black haired wizard noticed that their surroundings were fading. Quickly, he turned back to Tamamo, "Is that all? Why you wanted us here?"

Pausing, the older Yokai had a thoughtful look on her face before smiling, "Perhaps... though if you wish to better protect Harry-Kun, there is a place that you can go to. Ask my Daughter for my Blade. It shall answer to you and Harry-Kun, alone, and can be of use to you if you so wish..."

With that, the room fully faded away and they found themselves staring at each other in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing. Eyebrow raised, Hoshi frowned slightly, "Did something happen while you were meditating?"

The two teens shared a look before Natsumi cleared her throat, "Well..."

A few hours later, and after a very through interrogation from Hoshi, found Harry as well as Natsumi and Hoppou walking down a hallway. An amused quirk to her lips, Natsumi gave Harry a raised eyebrow, "Really, Harry-Chan? Sneaking out of the Hospital Wing?"

Giving her a look, Harry snorted some, "And? I can't stay in there too long, Natsumi-Chan. Besides which? You would be in as much trouble as I would be in." He then gave a look to Hoppou, "And so would you, Little Sister."

Just skipping, Hoppou shook her head, "Hoppou needs to take care of Big Brother. So Hoppou followed Big Brother."

Raising her finger, the Kitsune nodded, "Exactly! I noticed you sneaking out and followed."

Eyes rolling, Harry shook his head and sighed, "Because of course." Nearly at the Great Hall, he did not notice Hoppou perk up and glance in another direction, "Anyways, let's just go and get something to eat- Hoppou? What are you doing?"

The Abyssal simply giggled and ran off before entering the Great Hall. Scratching his head, Harry shared a look with Natsumi who shrugged. Now that Hoppou was gone though, the Kitsune squeezed Harry's hand, "Harry-Chan? About what happened..."

Simply shaking his head, the teenaged wizard gave her hand a squeeze back, "Don't worry about it, Natsumi-Chan. I want to continue with this, it felt... nice."

Lightly blushing, Natsumi nodded before kissing his cheek, "Hai, it felt nice to me as well."

Just as they reached the door though, Natsumi paused. Something that caught Harry's attention, "Natsumi-Chan? What's wrong?" Not saying anything, the Kitsune moved aside and let go of Harry's hand. Inside the Great Hall, everyone was staring at the open door in confusion, and at Harry in particular, "Natsumi-Chan-"

Right then, Harry could hear the sound of hooves and feet against the stone floors and turned in time to see a white haired form rushing at him at high speed. A form that he recognized as Regalia, "UNCLE HARRY!"

Bringing his hands up, Harry was too late as the Re-Class slammed into him in a tackle hug, both of them going airborne. Not helped a moment later as Sunny also slammed into them in midair followed by Patty. Somehow, they coordinated themselves so that they flipped in and the Abyssal's hit the wall at the far end of the Great Hall feet first. For a few moments, they stayed like that before bouncing off and landing on their feet, Harry between them mumbling.

The various students watched for a few moments before going back to what they were eating. Though some, such as Tracy, the Gryffindor Chasers, and Luna, shot numbers into the air. All the while Hoppou sat at the Teacher's table giggling and kicking her feet out.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Meets The In-Laws (Unknowingly) I

Kitsune's Den, Magical Tokyo
Spoiler: Ying and Delilah

Wei Ying nodded to the familiar green eyed heart-shaped face in her crystal ball. "Nihao Delilah! You are well?" Her voice had a fair amount of warmth, because as often she and her old school rival got along like two strange cats, she was a good person and good policeman.

Her own face shifted to the classic 'I know more than you' Inscrutable Oriental mask that she knew after over a century of interaction drove Delilah mad behind that Damned To The Hell Where Sinners Are Punished With Paolao smug smirk the cheeky little bitch was giving her. Again.

Not that Ying expected anything different in their century and a half game of one-upsmanship. By now all the ground rules and scorecard were long memorized.

"I am, Ying. Your mother and you are well?" Delilah responded warmly. Leaf-green eyes twinkled warmly as Delilah tucked a chestnut-colored lock of hair behind her ear.

"Oh quite well. Number Five Grandnephew's youth hockey team just won the national junior championships." Ying spoke with pride in her voice. "I trust that your Venerated Mother is in good health and good spirits too?"

Delilah's smug smirk widened. "Good for him and when you call home pass along my best wishes. Mère is quite well, thank you for asking. Jensen relayed along that you were in Japan too and wanted to meet up when I called in to hear about the backlog piling up in my inbox."

Ying nodded gracefully, "That is correct, yes. For once we are both not tied down dealing with a crisis, and I thought that we could meet and do dinner while I am in Tokyo.It has been a long time since we have had a chance to touch base"

Delilah paused and nibbled her lip, clearly thinking. "I... can do that. In fact, are you free tonight?"

Ying nodded. "I am. Is Eight PM acceptable to you?"

"Acceptable. Steaks then and bring an appetite." Delilah's eyes twinkled as she staked her position on the matter firmly.

"No. Peking Duck and bring your own appetite. I am reading reviews of restaurants now." Ying parried calmly in her own conversational gambit.

"Standard way to decide then?" Delilah's innocent voice grew a very well hidden edge and Ying's eyes narrowed.

She wouldn't. No. She absolutely would set up that challenge to sucker me in if she knew she had an edge. Just like I would in her place. Sneaky, sneaky gwáilóu keeps me on my toes and I love her for it...

"Agreed. Standard decision tiebreaker." Ying spoke slowly as her eyes narrowed and she began to cast a spell to get the information she needed. However, she feared that it was far too late.

Delilah De Breuil (Ilvermorny 1872, Thunderbird) spoke triumphantly as her smug smirk grew ear to ear. "Well the House Cup standings are currently updated and Thunderbird has 383 points..."

Wei Ying (Ilvermorny 1872, Horned Serpent) sighed as she looked at a ghostly crackling electric blue hourglass next to one half-filled with green serpentine ichor, "...and I just pulled them up magically. 379 for Horned Serpent. Steaks then. Tell me the restaurant has a wet bar you smug huáng liǎn puó."

"I'll make sure of that Ying. I need a stiff one myself after dealing with some family stupidity. See you at eight. Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan in Roppongi." Delilah, to her credit did not rub in the point she had just scored in the master tally both kept track of.

After all, she had no need to.

"Baai Baai, Deliah." Ying ended the call and muttered to herself. "Some days she really gets under my skin. Still good friends and good rivals are the spice of life."

With that she turned to her hang-up bag and began to decide between the three cheongsam dresses packed there.

A farm in Uenohara-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture, 74 miles west of Tokyo

"I don't know what it is that she does that rubs me the wrong way, but I swear that she's as much a pain as my sisters sometimes." Delilah mused as she pocketed her crystal ball.

"Whoizzit?" The voice from behind Delilah caused her to spin, one hand flashing to the butt of her pistol.

"DAMMIT JACKIE! Don't do that sneaking up on me shit or one day I will blow a hole in you!" Delilah glared at her older half-sister. "Just one of my old classmates from Ilvermorny named Wei Ying. Went into the Canadian Aurors on graduation and we have been pissing each other off and fighting evil ever sense."

"She's cute if you like the China Doll type. Nice tits in that red monkey suit wrapper. Betcha ten Galleons that she's a screamer, Del." The not-at-all-reformed pirate and rogue leaned against the formerly-locked door that she had picked to snoop on her sister. Jacklyn Fox(-Muramasa) smiled smugly and examined her nails.

Delilah's death glare aimed at Jacklyn intensified. "She. Is. A. Cop. Do you understand what that means you fluffbrained fool? Get handsy with her and she will have you locked up in handcuffs before you can say 'Muramasa'. Anyway, I'm happy with Zamarad, this is just a friendly meeting. Catch up on gossip, shoot the shit."

'Sounds like fun, Del. Mebbe I should come along." Jackie mused as she took a pull off a hip flask. "Drink?" Jacklyn offered the flask toward Delilah, who shook her head sharply.

"Don't. You. Dare. Jackie. This isn't Lesbos and we are still wanted for that mess in Tokyo when we trashed Aunt Akutoku's car. Now do you have anything for me? I do need to run this purse full of her wish list items to Toku over in Moulbaix sometime this week, you know." Delilah hefted the item in question.

"Naah, just was checking in on ya. Planned to take the train and have some fun in Tokyo tonight." Jacklyn waved and then sprinted outside, pursued by an angry bellow of frustration.

"JACKIE!!!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Courtship Display II

Yokosuka Naval Base
Spoiler: Moriko's First Kiss

Ibuki Moriko smiled as she toweled off after her dip in the repair baths. While not Awakened...not yet, the mineral-laden waters did invigorate her. Especially after some of her future sister-in-arms shipgirls came in from a mission or patrol, there was a camaraderie to the chatter in the baths as they talked about their experiences and generally socialized.

Which was part of the reason that she had gone to the baths today while Suzume-chan and Sachiko-chan went out shopping.

She had hoped that perhaps one of the other ships would have advice for her with the issue that she was wrestling with. Namely, at some point she would need to reveal to Hachiko-chan that she and her sisters were not humans, but instead Okami wolf yokai who had escaped from their Reserve on Hokkaido and lived for decades in the seedy gray economy where a willing attitude and a strong back counted for much more than papers or certifications.

Unfortunately, she had not reckoned that someone (she suspected meddling little sisters who would become Ibuki-Class shipgirls alongside her) had posted photographs of her first kiss to Shipgirls Online. Specifically to the thread her wonderful meddling trolls of sisters had set up as an 'all things Moriko Ibuki's romance'. Which judging from the comments in the bath, and congratulations she had gotten by a series of blushing and smiling shipgirls coming up to her, had gained at least seventy pages since hanami.

Also, judging by a few subtle questions, there might be a betting pool started about names of her firstborn. Certainly several girls mentioned that they could potentially assist with babysitting if she, Suzume and Sachiko were all on deployment. Her cheeks flamed at the thought of Hachiko and her embracing, as a third life kicked and turned in her womb.

No. Not yet. Not until marriage, and also before she had children, she needed to get information about shipgirl biology and reproduction from some of the girls who had experienced it.

Her cheeks heated and she gently touched her lip with a scarred finger in memory. Remembering that moment of perfect rightness, of parts of her very being that she never knew were incomplete before she met Hachiko-chan sliding into perfect harmony with equally needy and incomplete parts of him....

She couldn't even be very angry that Suzume was sharing the best moments of her life online, because if others got a hundredth of the pleasure and bliss that she and Hachiko had then..

She shivered in delight and once again frantically tried to shell her hormones into submission. Unfortunately the mutineers had stormed her boiler rooms - no her heart - and were sending demands to her bridge that revolved around making Hachiko hers.

With that she looked at the red-faced girl in the mirror with the bent nose from when the Oni had backhanded her in her championship MMA match, a shaggy gray-black mane of untamed hair, gray eyes, and cheeks the color of her future anti-fouling paint.

Her lips curled in the happy smile of a overjoyed timber wolf.

Boy, you have it bad, girl...

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

Mitsue Detective Agency
Spoiler: Kiho and Dalt

Kiho Mitsue stormed through the door to her office with a angry scowl on her face. The ex-Auror turned Private Investigator slammed the door behind her and collapsed into her desk chair, breathing heavily as she ran her fingers through her hair.

Her date with Dalton Longstreet - or Dalt as he preferred to be called - had been perfect and she knew that he was a good man and a good match for her. She did not care that he did not have any information on Miss Ibuki Moriko.

She just cared for him, until he totally misread her and got upset. Yes, she had come in with a mixture of curiosity about him and professional interest in the Ibukis, she admitted which threw a log onto the raging inferno of her fury. But after the second story of his, it was clear that little would be gained about her target from him. But that did not matter because she was growing more and more at ease, more and more comfortable, and more and more interested in him for himself and his good qualities that he was downplaying in his stories.

Until she leaned too far forward while he told about how Kongou had launched herself through the window trying to glomp her Admiral (instead hitting Ooyodo and taking the Secretary Ship on a brief flight to the grass outside the office).

Dammit, it was a good story too and he thought that she was on the clock when she wasn't! Not really!

Stupid, imperceptive, clueless, bull headed, noble, stubborn, paranoid...

That... That... THAT!!! MAN!!!

Right, he needed someone to 'need him' and he claimed to have bad luck. She'd show him need and his 'bad luck' better get out of her way. Or. Else. And even if it was that five-tail Kitsune screwing with them, she would regret toying with the object of Kiho Mitsue's affections.

She grabbed the old rotary desk phone and dialed it ferociously. As Dalt picked up the phone, Kiho took a deep breath and spoke with passion in her raised voice, not caring who was on the other end nearby that could hear it.

"Dalton Longstreet. I enjoyed that date in your company and I want another. I don't care that you don't know anything about what we talked about, this isn't professional but personal. Not any more, not that it ever was in the first place. I'm going to be at the main gate tomorrow at Six PM dressed up and you better be there to have a good time with this lady, understand me buster? Oh and this time I will goddamn give you my phone number!"

The phone slammed into the cradle hard enough to crack the bakelite base.

She breathed heavily and harshly in and out, the glanced at the clock.

After having her date - day!! - get screwed up, she better burn off some energy with something productive. With that she twirled her wand to transfigure her nice dress and heels for her date into a robe and flats. She grabbed a pinch of Floo powder and two grocery bags and sprinkled it in the fireplace.

"Tatakai No Ie." The flames flared up green and she stepped inside.

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

Tatakai No Ie Underground Casino
Spoiler: The Kappa

She stepped out of the flames in a small room walled in stone with water streaks down the side. By the stone door was a stone desk with a red-skinned kappa with some tattoos on its arms sitting at it reading. The Yokai looked up at her arrival and held out a webbed hand.

"Entrance Fee," it croaked.

Kiho handed over a paper grocery bag in response. The kappa opened it up and sniffed inside, licking its frog like lips. "Fresh Cucumbers, six. We only charge five."

Kiho nodded. "I know, and it was four last year. The extra one is for your oyabun as a sign of my respect."

In exchange the kappa gave her an inscribed seashell."What are you here for?"

Kiho smiled. "Merely I wish to speak to Otamajakushi-san in private."

The kappa rang a bell and a second one entered to man the desk. "Follow."

Kiho walked with the Yokai through the teeming passages from the casino buried underwater until the kappa came to a wooden door and opened it.

Behind the desk was a more elderly Kappa with more elaborate arm and facial tatoos. Kiho entered and bowed deeply. "Otamajakushi-san"

The Kappa matched the bow, water rocking in the hollow in its head. "Mitsue-san. What brings you here?"

"I was hired to identify this girl." Kiho handed over the photograph of Moriko Ibuki. "I was led to believe that she may be a fighter on one of the circuits. I also wish to give you recompense for your time." The second bag full of cucumbers followed the photograph.

The Kappa snorted. "Indeed she was! That is the Ibuki Oroshi of the Mixed Yokai Martial Arts circuit in the 1990s until Blood Week! We wondered what came of her, since when the circuit was reestablished in 2007 and 2008, she did not appear to take her place in the ring to defend her title then. We thought that she was among the many fighters who fell or retired in that dark time."

Kiho's eyes widened and she pulled out a quill to scribble notes. "So she is a Yokai... what species?"

"She was a great Okami she-wolf. I had the honor of watching her fight several times, including when she took her weight class' championship in 2005. Such power, such ferocity, and such determination!" He cocked his head at Mitsue. "If you need proof, I shall copy some records of her fights to a crystal for you... after I enjoy some of the delicious goodness of your cucumbers...."

 

[darthcourt10]

MagisterAurelius

Lonely Street 4 or 4.5
After Dinner:

Dalt had returned to the base. To him, it was just another example of seeming hope being snatched away. He walked to the Officer's Club, since Japan allowed the enlisted non-com officers, in contrast to US military policy. He walked to the bar and ordered a single malt scotch. Then his phone rang. As he picked up he realized that it was Mitsue-san, if not by the sound of her voice but the volume. While the club was fairly full, it was during a general lull of conversation, so Mitsue's voice echoed and was heard by all.

"Dalton Longstreet. I enjoyed that date in your company and I want another. I don't care that you don't know anything about what we talked about, this isn't professional but personal. Not any more, not that it ever was in the first place. I'm going to be at the main gate tomorrow at Six PM dressed up and you better be there to have a good time with this lady, understand me buster? Oh and this time I will goddamn give you my phone number!"

Dalt just sat there, staring at the phone. His drink untouched. Slowly he reached out for the scotch, took a sip, and put it back down. This repeated over the next two hours with Dalt remaining silent. Finally, he softly aired his wonder, "S-She means it."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Meets The In-Laws (Unknowingly) II

????????????
Spoiler: The Shadow of the Past

The village drowsed peacefully in the early afternoon.

Neatly arranged fields surrounded it where dairy cattle grazed. Past the boundaries of field and pasture, green-black fir trees stood in ordered, straight rows leading up to the hill dominating the ridgeline north of town. From that hill, lower ridges and gullies fell down in gentle slopes to the invisible river in its ravine to the east that it had patiently carved through the limestone of the plateau where it flowed. Another, slightly higher hill stood to the west of the nearer hill, also wooded. Between them, a country road ran through the gully separating the hills, vanishing into the woods to the north.

Suddenly the cattle lowed and began to clump together nervously as a spring thunderstorm approached from the northeast. Thunder sounded and rain and hail began to lash the fields and forests.

Above, invisible among the trees on the hill, a statue stood in a clearing near the summit.

Carved in the shape of a ghastly human skeleton wrapped in his burial shroud and clutching a furled flag, he bore silent witness to more great and terrible deeds in days past.

There, even the birdsongs of the woods were absent.

There, the only sound was the stillness of the grave.

There, the shadows of the surrounding trees were deepest and darkest, hinting at things best left undisturbed in their slumber.

Even worn by the passage of decades, the skeleton had a certain grim splendor as he stood there, looking out over the forest and the village as he had done for years upon years.

A bolt of lightning split the skies and impacted the statue. As the electricity hammered into stained stone, a series of normally invisible magical glyphs buried within it crafted from goblin-iron flared to life.

One of them failed with a pop as the energies of the bolt were too great for an artifact too long neglected, too long forgotten.

But some things should never be forgotten.

Some things never should be neglected by the foolish children of wiser parents.

Deep within the hollow eye sockets of the skull, a faint phosphorescent light began to flicker.

Unnoticed by all, the silence of the woods was no longer the silence of the grave, but had faint murmurs at the very edge of hearing and the shadows underneath the fir trees began to move, like ghosts on the march....

Castle Moulbaix

Colombe du Chasteler froze mid-fold of the bed linens after bringing up the load of laundry. She stood stock-still, barely breathing, as she trembled slightly; her crystal blue eyes wide and unseeing.

Tokunotakai put down a pillowcase and embraced the Muramasa rapier's avatar.

"Co-chan, what's wrong?" The Masamune whispered with clear concern in her eyes.

Colombe blinked and focused on Toku. She crushed the Masamune katana to her chest with a desperate hug. "I don't know, To-chan. I don't know what just happened."

Colombe swallowed the icy lump in her throat and repeated in a whisper. "I feel like I should know, but I don't want to know... and it scares me, To-chan."

"It scares me..."

Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan, Roppongi Grand Plaza Second Floor, Tokyo

Wei Ying shrugged off her coat and handed it to the attendant. She raised a mental eyebrow at the amputated ring finger and pinkie as he handed her the check slip.

She had heard that the Yakuza were deeply involved in the entertainment industry in Japan. With a mental sniff, she filed that away in her 'apparently true' folder and touched the sash at the waist of her black qipao dress with crimson plum blossom embroidery.
Spoiler: Ying Dressing Up For A Night Out


Of course, anyone able to see truly would have noticed that the sash was really her swordbelt. An even more astute observer who examined the belt closely might have noticed that the thread holding the tooled leather pieces together was not thread at all but hair. Braided blonde hair, her hair. Hair that was the anchor that she was using to layer the illusion of it along with her wand and dao as merely a patterned silk sash.

Illusion was an art among her mother's kind after all. And it was an art that she enjoyed practicing.

"Miss Ying Wei, I should have reservations to meet Miss Delilah de Breuil." she spoke in slightly Chinese accented English to the Maitre'd, who if she was back home she might think had a Sasquatch or two in the family tree considering the size.

As the server led her to the table reserved in the bar, she swept the room automatically. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed that Delilah was not waiting for her.

Well, someone had to be first to arrive.

A fast scan of the wine list produced a vulpine smile that curled her lips. "Gekkaikan Sake Plum wine please, and bring the bottle." With that she leaned back and began to examine the menu.

A commotion at the entrance caused her to glance over.
Spoiler: Fudo Enters

A young Japanese woman in a tailored business suit with an impressive furious scowl and a collection of very recent facial bruises hidden behind hastily applied makeup and dark glasses was escorted past her by two bowing staffers who were clearly terrified of her. Ying's eyebrows raised, and she pulled out a small cosmetic mirror to 'do her lipstick' while using it to follow the VIP to her seat at the bar.

Her eyes then narrowed when the young woman took the offered seat with a pained hiss. Her coat shifted, revealing the characteristic bulge of a bladed weapon in a shoulder harness.

The Mountie leaned back in her chair and reviewed the way that Miss Bruises moved across the floor.

Clearly she was a top-tier martial artist. Someone to keep an eye on.

With that Ying placed her cosmetic case down to reflect the woman behind her and then rubbed her Spirit Pearl on her hilt, sharpening her hearing.

"Genshu sake. Strongest you carry, in the bottle. And a bag of ice." A voice filled with wrath behind her.

"At once, Masamune-sama! Your usual dinner as well?" Clearly the server, and from the tone of voice he was about to piss himself.

"Hai." The snarl of someone looking to spread her Bad Day around.

All her senses were screaming trouble now, and hoped Delilah would hurry up and show....

"Your wine, honored customer!" The waiter came by with her wine bottle and uncorked it. Ying nodded and absently thanked him as she continued to magically snoop on Masamune-sama's angry mutters behind her.

"Goddamn Honjo's 'out of the office' and Kote says 'not to worry'. Not to worry when Toku-chan is missing and who knows what is happening to her! And then goddamn Musashi had to show back up in my life and rub in my face what a flawed weakling I am." A hiss of pain. "Goddamnit Musashi! Did you have to hit so hard?"

Ying smiled in relief as she saw a familiar chestnut-haired woman in her normal skirt-suit, charcoal gray this time, appear at the entrance to hand her coat over.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Stepping out of the Vanishing Cabinet, Harry gave a sigh of relief. A somewhat amused look on her face, Natsumi giggled a bit and raised an eyebrow at him, "Happy to be back in Yokosuka, Harry-Chan?"

Just looking at her, Harry nodded, "Hai, I am." Rubbing his face, he softly groaned, "Am I ever considering what is going on back at Hogwarts. Ugh, so many people trying to talk with me and ask me questions..."

Another giggle escaped from the Kitsune and she shook her head, "Well, what did you expect, Harry-Chan? You not only drove away over a hundred Dementors, but also killed who knows how many of them." She gave a small shrug, "That sort of thing would grab attention from people after all, and considering how people looked at you before..."

Exasperated, Harry gave her a look, "Hai, but still. They were treating me like... like..." Waving an arm, he grimaced, "Like some sort of living legend."

Behind him, Haru gave him a smirk, "Well, in Britain, Harry-San, you are such. And this? This is only going to increase it." At the groan from him, the five tail internally snickered, 'So amusing...'

Harry just hung his head at that, "Don't remind me..."

Doing the paperwork for herself and Hoppou, Nagato handed the pen to Harry, "It is something to remember, Harry. Though I do agree..." Ruffling his hair, the Battleship smiled, "Perhaps it would be good to be away for a time in order for it to settle down some..." Internally though, she shook her head, 'Though I very much doubt that it will...'

Almost as if he heard her thoughts, the thirteen year old shook his head, "I doubt it..."

That only got him a combination of smiles, smirks, giggles, and snickers.

Once the pen came to her, Siusan hummed some, "I do agree that it is likely for the best that you be away for a time, Harry-Child."

Being handed the pen, Haruka gave a small nod before smiling at her girlfriend, "Hai, it is for the best. Though..." Pausing, she had a smile, "It was nice to be back in Britain once more. Or at least, for the first time in this life."

Head tilted to the side, the Irish fox chuckled some, "Perhaps... one day in the future if you so wish, we could visit Ireland? And..."

Softly smiling, Haruka nodded before reaching over and taking Siusan's hand in hers, "And visit where I once lived? Yes... I think that I would like that, Siusan." She leaned over and kissed the shorter fox on the cheek, "I think that I would like that a lot." All Siusan did was blush at that, though her smile grew as she nodded, Haruka internally giggling, 'Adorable...'

It was not long after that they left where the Vanishing Cabinet was and walked out into the corridors. Nearly at an intersection though, Nagato paused before pulling out a chair that had wheels and placing it right behind her adoptive son. Confused, Harry looked up at her, "Mum? What's going on-"

The sound of running feet made him pause and turn in time to see Hachi whip around a corner. Upon seeing him, the blonde Submarine sped up, "HARRY-CHAN!"

Already bringing his hands up, Harry began to try and stop her, "Hachi-Chan, wait-"

Unfortunately, he was too late as the shipgirl leapt into the air, twisting around before slamming into him in a flying tackle which ended up with his face buried in her chest... and flying backwards into the chair. For her part, Nagato watched as said chair rocketed down the hallway to another intersection, where Iku came out of nowhere and jumped him as well, sending it shooting down another corridor. Humming, the Battleship smiled a bit, "Hmm... I think that it will be a while before we see Harry again."

Only a minute later, they came to a stop as the chair, now with Imuya, RO, and Shioi on it rocketed past, Maruyu throwing a box off her and jumping it and sending said chair in a new direction.

Her tone dry, Hoshi looked at the amused shipgirl, "Perhaps not that long..."

Nagato only snickered at that.

An hour later, once they pried Harry away from the Submarines, found a rather large group in one of the smaller auditoriums. It was not just the group who had gone to Hogwarts as well as the Submarine, but also others. From where he was giving an verbal report on what happened, Harry could see Yonehara, who had his arms crossed with a scowl at what happened, as well as a frowning Ashigara. Yuudachi was also there with her eyes narrowed and nearly glowing while some of Fubuki's, Mutsuki's, and Kisaragi's fairies were on her shoulder, no doubt feeding back what they were seeing and hearing to their respective shipgirls.

Besides the Submarines, Taigei and her twin were there was well as Shinano, Louisiana, their Destroyer group, the Duckies, DesDiv6, Niiyodo and Ooyodo, Yamato and Enterprise as well as a horrified Kawa. Harder and Naka were also there, the Submarine just holding the Light Cruiser gently. And Regina and Wanko was there as well, the two Abyssals looking torn between worried and wanting to kill something. As he finished, part of Harry noted that Regina was holding Shinano's hand. Though he did not know if it was either Shinano trying to keep the Re-Class from doing something, or Regina comforting her friend.

Finishing, Harry cleared his throat as the replay of the memories finished on the screen behind him, "And... that is what basically happened."

Just rubbing the side of his head, Goto took a deep breath as he tried to ward off the headache he knew was already forming, "Let me get this straight... the Dementors attacked you because they were trying to lawyer a treaty. A treaty that claimed that Black-San was not able to be freed because anyone placed in the Maximum Security Wing belonged to them. But, thankfully, you were able to drive them off..."

Slowly, Harry gave a nod, "Hai."

Right then, someone cleared their throat and stood up. Everyone in the auditorium turned to the person, now revealed to be Catherine who had a severe look on her face, "I am sorry to state that it gets worse."

Frowning, and sharing a look with Nagato, the Japanese Admiral turned back to the sword, "I am going to regret asking this, but how...?"

With a small curtsy, Catherine gave him a slight smile, "I am the Sword of St. Catherine, the blade of Jeanne d'Arc." As he nodded at her and bowed slightly, she continued with her smile becoming a grimace, "Unfortunately, when I fought those abominations, I was not just fighting them. But rather... something dark, and evil was controlling them, directing them. What that was, I do not know, though I suspect that it was Azkaban itself. Such dark places can... gain a consciousness that hungers. I have encountered such before."

Eyes narrowing, Goto frowned, "I see, is there a way to defeat such things?"

Once more, Catherine grimaced as she looked off in the distance, "There are... ways, yes. But usually they revolve around either starving such a place after putting it asleep or sealing it, or purifying them. Nothing else will work as normal violence only feeds such. Though..." Glancing at the shipgirls, and Harry, she smiled softly, "You have come up with a way to do so."

Still frowning, the Admiral nodded, "I see." Rubbing his face, Goto sighed, "If possible, could you write up information so that we better know what we might be dealing with? Not just with Azkaban, but other possible places?"

All Catherine did was bow slightly, "Yes, I can do that if you wish, though it will take a few days to get it all written up." That only got a nod from not just Goto, but various shipgirls as well as Yonehara. Sitting down, she smiled a bit, 'Good that they are taking such seriously.'

Her arms crossed, Enterprise glanced at Yamato before speaking in a soft whisper, that nonetheless carried steel, "Princess, I know that you are likely to be involved when taking down this fucker. Well, I'm going to be right there with you when it happens."

Yamato gave a nod and a slight chuckle, though it carried a note of bloodthirstiness, "Indeed, Enterprise-San. And I look forward to smashing such a monster with my guns and your bombs."

The smirk that appeared on the American Carrier's face was anything but humorous, "Agreed."

Glancing at Regina, Shinano chewed her lip at how the Abyssal's eyes glowed in anger. Suddenly, an idea came to her mind and she raised her hand, "Um, Harry-Chan? Could you, maybe, demonstrate the Patronus since you're able to use it?"

Just blinking some in surprise, Harry cocked his head before slowly nodding with a smile, "Sure, Shinano-Chan. Give me a second..." Closing his eyes, Harry breathed in and then out as happy memories like those before drifted through his mind. He brought his wand up as he opened his eyes and smiled a bit more, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

As with the Dementors, there was a pulse of white light that washed over the room. The Abyssals there, Wanko, Regina, Hoppou, and the Fleet of Laughter were not harmed by it. Rather the opposite, as they felt the warm energy almost embrace them protectively. A stream of glowing mist shot from Harry's wand and solidified into a large, glowing stag that walked along the aisle. Hands shooting to her mouth, Inazuma looked at it in awe, "Hwawawa! That is so beautiful, Nanodesu!"

Beside her, Akatsuki only nodded, her own eyes wide, "Hai, it is so elephant..."

While the shipgirls, Abyssals, and Yokai were expected to be able to see it, some of those there who shouldn't could see it as well. Eyebrow raised, Yonehara gave a low whistle, "Okay, that is impressive."

Expression one of surprise, Haru turned to him, "You can see it, Yonehara-San?"

Confused, he gave her a nod, "Hai? Why? Something wrong with that?"

Beside him, Goto also nodded as well, "And he is not the only one as I can as well."

A frown on her face, Haru considered that for a few moments, "Normally, a non-magical can't actually see a Patronus, much like they cannot see a Dementor. But... perhaps like the memory charm resistance, exposure to shipgirls allows for it? Interesting..."

The two human Officers only shared a look and shrugged some.

Meanwhile, Akizuki raised her hand up to the glowing stag and paused for a moment before bringing her hand down onto it's body. For most, their hands would have passed right through the Patronus. But due to being mostly spiritual herself, the Destroyer's hand was able to touch it as if it was real. Beneath her hand was warm, soft fur and her eyes lit up, "Amazing..."

Soon enough, the Patronus was surrounded Shinano and the others, who also petted it. Despite being a construct made of magic, it seemed to somehow enjoy the attention. Hand stroking along its back, Regina had tears in her eyes, 'I... can sense Harry... and how he feels about us. He used that to...'

Prongs turned and looked her in the eye with his own illuminated ones before licking her face gently, and making her giggle. It was not just Regina who realized the source for the Patronus and as Prongs faded away, a number had blushing faces. Giving the flushed Verniy a look, Tenryuu turned back to Harry with a smirk, "Not bad, Kiddo. Though, wasn't your Otou-San able to become a stag?"

Only nodding with his hands in his pockets, Harry smiled, "He was, as a matter of fact." Looking to where the Patronus had been, he chuckled sadly, "It's weird, you know? But... also kind of cool."

Head tilted to the side, Niiyodo adjusted her glasses some, "What do you mean, Harry-Chan?"

Looking at her, Harry smiled before lifting a hand and looking at it, "When my biological Mum died, she left behind a protection against people like Voldemort. And... Mum?" He looked at Nagato, "She protects me with her steel and power."

For her part, Nagato smiled as well and flexed her arms some, "One should not underestimate the power of the Big Seven."

Just nodding, the thirteen year old turned to where Prongs had been, "And now my Dad. In a way, he now protects me as well against monsters in the darkness. All three of my parents do."

Getting up on stage, Verniy walked over and gave him a hug, "Da, they all do."

A soft smile on her face, Teruzuki turned to her sisters, "Harry-Chan is right when you think about it. That... that is wonderful."

Beside her, Hatsuzuki smiled and gave a hum as she nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Verniy glanced to her mother, who chuckled and made a motion with her hand, "Go ahead, Hibiki-Chan. And Kiddo?" When Harry blinked and looked at her, Tenryuu continued with a thumbs up, "It's great that you're safe and sound. But don't worry us or else I will start to get some grey hairs."

Harry just grinned at that, "I'll try not to, Tenryuu-Oba."

Light laughter met that as well as Louisiana stating that no matter what he tries, he's likely to get into trouble again. Not long after, the group all left with Harry leaving with his 'Fleet' towards the Submarine Pens for a cuddlepile. Nagato as she walked back home with Hoppou and Blackie Smokie, looked up at the sky with a small smile, 'I'll do my best, Lily, James. Trust me on that...'

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Quietly chatting with Jersey, Crowning paused as they entered his office to find Gale there staring at the timeline set up. The Warrant Officer did not seem to be paying them too much attention, far too busy looking at the timeline with a large folder beside her. All Gale did besides stare at the timeline was sip her coffee with a frown on her face. Sharing a look with Crowning, Jersey cleared her throat, "Uh, Gale? The fuck are you doing here?"

Still staring at the timeline, Gale shrugged some, "Work."

Once more glancing at each other, the other two shrugged before Crowning shook his head and turned back to Gale, "I thought that you might. But I was wondering more along the lines of why? After all, you have been given maternity leave for a while yet."

Taking another sip of her coffee, the Warrant Officer pushed off the desk and looked at them, "Yes, I have. But... I had to come in and confirm some things." She grimaced a bit, "Really disturbing shit if I am right."

Eyebrow cocked behind her sunglasses, Jersey gave her a look, "Sure, a-huh. Really disturbing." She made a motion with her hands, "Shouldn't you be helping Wash with the Rugrats? Especially since Kiri has gone home or something?"

With a glance at her, Gale shook her head, "Wash has some of the Destroyers with her helping. As to going home..." She made a motion at what was on the wall. "Not until I get to the bottom of this... unless I already have."

Now intrigued, Crowning walked over to where Gale was and examined the timeline himself. After a few moments, he noticed that the bit regarding the loss of the USS Scorpion had been modified. In fact, three more Submarines had been added. At seeing that, he turned to Gale, "Go on..."

Leaning forward, the Warrant Officer glanced at him, "Okay, Jersey? You were reactivated in the late 60s, right?"

Confused, Jersey nodded, "Yeah? What about it?" She gave a small frown, "Not for very long, mind you. And most of the time I spent in Vietnam blowing shit up. So?"

Finger on the point in the timeline, Gale had a blank expression on her face, "What can you tell me about the Scorpion and it's loss?"

Going back over her memories, Jersey didn't have much before snapping her fingers as she remembered one conversation among the Admiral on her and such, "I remember a few things. One of which was the Admiral discussing it with some of the other higher ups. They figured that the Soviets had sunk her and just were keeping quiet about it. Was even told to keep an eye out for any further provocations just in case."

Never having heard about this, Crowning's eyebrows shot up, "They thought that it was the Soviets that sunk her?"

Just snorting, the Battleship walked over and looked at the map, "Well, yeah? One of our Submarines following Soviet ships and suddenly it sinks for no apparent reason at all? Why wouldn't we think that it was the Soviets?" Scratching her chin, she continued to think, "There was a bit of a rise in tensions at the time."

Rather than say anything about that, but looking like it was the confirmation of something, Gale pointed at something else, "Two months earlier, in March of 1968, the Soviets lost a Nuclear Submarine, K-129 north of Hawaii. They blamed the Americans for the loss claiming that a USN Submarine had collided with theirs. In fact, they stated that it was the USS Swordfish, SSN-579. Because the Swordfish had arrived in Yokosuka about a week later needing repairs for a bent periscope due to having been damaged by sea ice in the Sea of Japan."

Glancing between the two, Jersey leaned forward, "Okay... kind of makes sense. Though I believe our guys over the Soviets. I remember another of their Subs sinking and them blaming us, but it was because they fucked up with a missile or something. So they claim that it was us? Big whoop."

However, Gale shook her head, "Yes, but here is the interesting thing... 1968 was a bad year. Between January of that year and May, four Submarines sank mysteriously and for no apparent reason at all."

A frown on her face, the shipgirl blinked, "Wait, what? Four fucking Submarines in five months? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever... unless Abyssals?"

Slowly, Gale nodded, "Abyssals." Walking to a map, she pulled out four pins and pressed one of them into place, "The Israeli Submarine, the INS Dakar was sunk between Cyprus and Crete on January 25, 1968. There was no distress signals sent out from the Submarine. The last message they got was that it encountered a storm and was proceeding under the surface to avoid the worst aspects of the weather. It just... disappeared until it was found in 1999, though a distress buoy from the Submarine was found floating about a year later."

Frown on his face as he rubbed the stubble on his chin, Crowning hummed, "Go on..."

Taking another pin, Gale pressed it into the map near Toulon, France, "Two days later, the French experimental Submarine, the Minerve also sunk. This time, it was on the way to the Submarine's homeport of Toulon and had disappeared just as it was close to said port. And once more, the Submarine reported that they were proceeding at snorkel depth due to a storm overhead."

Hands clenching, Jersey snarled, "Fuck! Abyssal Princesses create fucking storms."

Not saying anything, the Warrant Officer took another pin and placed it north of Hawaii, "And now we get to K-129, which was lost on the 8th of March. Once more, no warning or anything, it simply sunk. Looking over what I can get access to, fucking Spooks, SOSUS recorded an event in the same general area of a Submarine imploding at crush depth. Thing is, K-129 had nuclear missiles onboard her. The CIA found her and such while attempting to salvage her, but... they won't release anything."

Eyes narrowed, Crowning leaned forward, "And now we come to the Scorpion, which was lost about two months later on May 22. So Abyssals might have been involved which... makes sense. Though why?"

Grimacing, Gale ran a hand through her hair, "I was wondering the same, until it came to me. If I am correct... we narrowly missed something worse than the current war. Especially with how intelligent it makes them look."

That made Jersey straighten, "Say fucking what now? Worse than the current war?" At her nod, the shipgirl narrowed her eyes, "Explain."

Gale's response was just three words, three little words that sent a shiver down both Jersey's and Crowning's backs, "World War Three."

For several moments, the two just stared at the utterly serious Warrant Officer and then back at the timeline and map. Finally, Jersey took a deep breath and pinched her nose, "World War fucking Three? How the fuck..."

Her eyebrow raised, Gale jerked her thumb at the map, "You said it yourself, Jersey, Tensions had a small spike in the background when the Scorpion was sunk by possible enemy action. I would not be surprised if the same could not be said for K-129 and the Minerve. Each of the three were nuclear powers suddenly having one of their Submarines sunk at the height of the Cold War."

Not saying anything, the former English Professor frowned as he considered what he had just been told. Finally, he shook his head, "Sorry, Gale, but there is an issue with your theory." At her nod, Crowning continued, "The Dakar did not belong to a nuclear power."

Lips pressed thinly, Gale shook her head, "Yes... and no." Seeing their confusion, she grimaced, "The Dakar before it was sold to the Israelis was originally the British Submarine, HMS Totem, and the British were a nuclear power."

Jersey only had one answer to that as she clenched her teeth, "And so the Abyssals might have mistaken her for a Royal Navy Submarine and sunk her... Motherfuckers..."

Still grimacing, the Warrant Officer nodded, "Think about the reactions for a moment behind closed doors of the United States, the Soviet Union, France, and Britain. All of them nuclear powers having lost Submarines. There were also a few cases, at the same time, of Submarines being damaged such as the Swordfish for odd reasons."

That made the Battleship suck her teeth, "Almost as if someone came up with an excuse for damages, or ones that could not be easily repaired. Excuses done by people that did not know any better... fuck! If the wizards and such were involved because they suspected magical involvement... they might have saved everyone."

Nodding, Gale looked back at the map, "Imagine for a moment if they were more successful at sinking a few more Submarines, or if the Dakar had really been a Royal Navy Submarine. All of a sudden, NATO is staring down the Soviet Union and they're staring us down as well with raised tensions. A few more ships on both sides, also similarly lost to apparent enemy action..."

For his part, Crowning gave a nod, "I can see how that could work. All it would need is a spark, a single one especially if tensions rose to higher levels like during the Cuban Missile Crisis. They wouldn't need to do anything as we would cripple ourselves."

A bang made them turn to see Jersey snarling, "THOSE FUCKERS! WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DANCING TO THEIR FUCKING TUNE!"

Sighing, Gale could only shake her head, "We would have, which would have allowed for them to mop up what was left far more easily. The question though... is what changed."

Eyes narrowing, the former professor let out a sigh, "I think that I know." When they turned to him, Crowning was looking at the map, "If they thought that the Dakar was a Royal Navy Submarine, they were likely confused when it did not get a real reaction from Britain. Which might have made them stop their plan for a few months... And from the reports I got, Porta, Ancient Atlantic Gateway, was 'born' the next year. If they thought that they needed to understand first whether she would be for or against their plans..."

Her eyes closed, Gale nodded, "They would have stopped their plans for a time to figure it out, or to force her. By which point, the Cold War was slowly winding down except for the 1980s, when it got kicked into high gear a bit. At which point, the string of disappearances began... only for the Soviet Union to collapse in the 90s."

Only staring at the timeline, Jersey scowled as she ran a hand through her hair, "Fucking Christ. If they had kept it up, or if they had been just a bit more luckier..." Turning, she gave Gale a look, "How the fuck did you figure this out?"

Much to her confusion, as well as Crowning's, Gale turned sheepish, "Well... I was bored and surfing YouTube when I came across a video about the Submarines going missing. They made a mention of one conspiracy theory that the USN and Soviets covered up the reasons behind the disappearances of the Scorpion and K-129 to prevent a nuclear war. It sort of hit me then since both Crowning and myself figured that the Scorpion might have been sunk by the Abyssals.'

The only thing that Jersey could do was snort before turning back to the map and timeline.

With a chill going down her keel at what could have been...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Courtship Display III

Tatakai No Ie Underground Casino
Spoiler: Dealing With The Kappas

"Thank you very much, Otamajakushi-san." Kiho Mitsue bowed to the kappa under-boss who had just given her several enchanted crystals containing his records of Ibuki Moriko's fights.

The kappa returned the bow and croaked. "I am glad to be able to assist you and to receive the news that the Ibuki Oroshi lives Mitsue-san. If she fights again, notify me so that I can enjoy her once more. In gratitude I insist that you play a round of mahjong on the house." He pulled out an inkstone and began to write on a slip of paper.

Kiho smiled, "I shall, Otamajakushi-san. If my employers decide that she is suitable to marry into their family, I shall notify you so that you can perhaps attend the wedding?"

The kappa handed the slip over. "If such is available for us, yes. I made much Ryo on bets on Ibuki Oroshi. Much Ryo and much cucumbers."

As Kiho walked to the cashier's cage to turn in the note for some chips, a man in his late teens glared at her from where he was betting on a Mixed Yokai Martial Arts fight that was visible through the windows into an arena.

Curse that detective who had imprisoned his father for doing nothing wrong with those animal brats! Perhaps he should see about hiring some friends with family funds to send a message to Mitsue Kiho. After he watched these animals tear into each other for his pleasure.

With that Imada Hayato turned his attentions to the scantily clad kitsune 'hostesses' he had ordered for tonight as the announcement for the match started. Meanwhile Mitsue headed to a mahjong table and took the tiles with the ease of long practice.

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

Hachiko's Apartment
Spoiler: Doggos In Love

Hachiko smiled at Aki as his little brother worked on his math homework assiduously with his tongue hanging out of his mouth in a doglike grin. Which was not surprising as he was in private and could let out his dark red-furred triangular ears and happily wagging bushy tail of his true heritage as an Inugami Yokai.

"All done, Tou-san!" Aki declared happily and Hachiko took the offered papers.

"Hmm, hmm.... Well done, Aki!" he said with a happy smile. "Let me get you a sweet pickle as a reward for getting all the problems right this time."

When he came back with the offered treat, Aki had pulled out one of his Technic sets and was concentrating on fitting two gears together. "Here you go, Aki, what are you building?"

"An airplane, Tou-san!" Aki replied.

Hachiko smiled as he picked up his knitting needles and began to work on the scarf. "Well, pilots need to do well in school, you know. But I am sure that you can make your dream a reality."

With that he glanced at the clock and put the phone next to him. Today was Moriko's turn to call him, and he needed to think how to explain that his mother was a witch, and his father a Yokai.

Hm, perhaps something subtle? A museum exhibit about magic and folklore? He could use the library computers to research that, perhaps recommend a book of folk tales when Moriko-chan saw him next at his job at the library?

Ibuki House, Kanmasu Housing Area, Yokosuka Naval Base

"Suzume, how do I tell Hachiko-chan?" Moriko whined as her gray and white wolf tail drooped in distress.

"About what, Moriko-chan? How my big sister is bridge over stern for him? Wait, why did I say THAT? Never mind." The minutes-younger twin glanced up from where she was using her tablet to check and price children's build-able models of aircraft carriers online. "Or maybe how my big sister snuggles the plushy that she named Hachiko at every opportunity?" She continued teasingly as the verbal airstrike she launched hit home.

"SU-ZU-ME! This is serious!" Moriko growled, her wolf ears perking up. "I love him and he loves me, but he thinks I'm a normal human natural born shipgirl, not a she-wolf Okami who wants to snuggle him to pieces and run through the woods with him, and when I summon my hull take him on a tour..."

Suzume's expression was one part a flat 'is there a point to this stream of consciousness?' stare, one part a 'down girl!' expressive head-shake and one part a 'this is waaay too much information you big romantic goof!' embarrassed blush.

"Moriko-chan. Base to Moriko-chan." Suzume said after a glance at the clock.

"...and maybe a cruise around the harbor under the stars with me and him since he loves the sea...." Unfortunately the future Ibuki-class cruiser was lost at sea.

"Moriko-chan!" Suzume raised her voice and gave her sister a flat stare.

"...I could cook him a nice romantic dinner, I mean he likes Hambagu, right, everyone likes meat..." Nope, still adrift and delirious.

"MORIKO-CHAN!!" The future Ibuki-class carrier sent steam to her foghorns as she shouted in her babbling sister's ear.

".... What? Suzume-chan, you didn't need to shout!" Moriko blinked and focused on her twin as Suzume closed her eyes and pinched her nose.

"It is nearly seven o'clock. You are supposed to call Miyata-kun at seven. As for the Yokai issue, why not take him to the museum on base. It has an exhibit of scrolls and paintings with Yokai on them. I'm sure one has Okami such as us. Ease him into the deep end." Suzume sighed as she explained her plan patiently.

"Thanks Suzume-chan! You're a genius!" Moriko grabbed her sister in an exuberantly happy embrace.

"Urk! RIBS! RIBS!! Don't break me before I pick Sachiko-chan up from the pool where she is doing her aquatic therapy." Suzume howled as she tried to pry herself loose.

"I'm sorry, Suzume-chan." Moriko released the death grip on her sister.

"You have got that right..." Suzume muttered under her breath.

"What's that?" Moriko inquired as she grabbed her phone.

"Nothing, nothing! Ja ne, Moriko-chan!" Suzume took the chance to bolt for the front door at flank.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Courtship Display IV

Miyata Residence, Tokyo
Spoiler: Miyata Spiders At Work

Shigeru Miyata stared for long moments at the frozen image of Moriko Ibuki, with bestial Okami facial features visible through the blood streaming from her just-broken nose.

He touched the crystal on his desk with his wand and the fight resumed as she came off the blood-spattered mat to body-check the Oni who had just broken her nose and knocked her sprawling. Wards flared to life as they slammed into the octagonal cage and began to grapple against the cage's walls before the she-wolf got one clawed hand on the Oni's arm and began to apply leverage.

Neither he nor his daughter Naomi said a word as the Okami wrestled an Oni a third again her size into submission through skill, power, and most of all absolute raw determination and fighting spirit. Finally, in a Full Nelson with his face being pressed into the mat by the great dark gray and white wolf, the Oni tapped out as the crowd in the background celebrated.

The image faded and then Shigeru slowly turned to look at Naomi as the witch pulled a bottle of fire-whisky and two glasses from the liquor cabinet in Shigeru's study.

Shigeru said in a hoarse voice, clearly controlling his emotions, "You said that there are more records of this?"

Naomi filled the glasses and handed one to her father. "Hai. There is another one marked 'championship award ceremony' that shows her younger sisters as she is awarded the belt, and two others marked 'earlier fights'. I have not seen them yet, since when I saw that, I thought it best to immediately bring it to your attention, Father."

Shigeru nodded absently, his eyes distant. Finally he spoke. "And Hachiko is utterly set on Moriko Ibuki then?"

Naomi grimaced and sipped her drink. "He is. I introduced the possibility of his pursuing Suzume, the middle daughter. He was quite adamant that it would be Moriko or nothing."

Shigeru sighed and threw back his shot of alcohol before staring into the empty shot glass. "I see. My first reaction is to order him to break off the relationship and cut all contact with her, but..."

Naomi sighed, "...But he loves her and she loves him. Despite that."

Shigeru grimaced sourly and nodded. "Yes. While she could do great, perhaps mortal political damage to our family as it stands when it is found out that my grandson would marry a Yokai pit-fighter..."

Naomi finished the thought, "...when Kyoto takes over, their policies as stated being more Yokai-friendly and the collapse of the Statute of Secrecy generating chaos among the ranks of the traditionalists would easily cover minor scandals among a family of civil servants. We have survived as much before when matters were more... settled."

Neither one mentioned the unseen ghost of Yura Miyata, Hachiko's mother and her suicide after Blood Week. Neither one needed to.

"A further and greater concern, Daughter. Hachiko is not the most robust of the family and she could snap his spine like a rotten twig if enraged. He is no Oni." Shigeru spoke, as he gestured with his wand to slide the bottle of alcohol over for a refill.

Naomi shook her head and refilled her glass. "Oh no, although he has strength of will aplenty. Strength of body though.... No, not nearly like her. That said...." She smiled.

Shigeru looked at Naomi, "What is it, Daughter?"

Naomi smirked smugly. "Hachiko and Ibuki-san have a favorite karaoke bar where they go. I gave them a little extra Yen, and placed a magical tracer on the money in the belief that Hachiko would take her there. So I followed in disguise and watched them interact. It is a nice bar, I might take my husband there for his birthday."

Shigeru gave her a flat stare. "And?"

Naomi's smug smirk grew smugger. "Apart from Mitsue-san if anything underestimating how teeth-rottingly cute they are together? I watched her body language. She is in a word protective toward him. Somewhat possessive, but she was making it clear that she would protect him against anyone. I would not wish to be a schoolgirl or Christmas Cake attempting to make time with him now."

Shigeru rubbed his chin. "I see. So you do not think that she is a threat?"

"No, not as it stands. He is not the type to start a serious fight with her, and she is almost deferential to him. At the time, I was confused but she is an Okami, and wolves have very strong bonds among their pack and family elements. Which also holds true for Okami Yokai... and Inugami. Also as a member of the JMSDF, she will be taught discipline, especially if the as-yet unconfirmed rumor she told Hachiko is true and she is a shipgirl." Naomi shrugged.

Shigeru nodded slowly, his eyes hooded as he thought.

"My advice is what I told Hachiko. Take it slow, play for time, and gather more data. Find out about her family and her past. And also the shipgirl angle." Naomi stated firmly, "Haste gains us little and loses much since we have time to make the correct decision with all the data in hand."

Shigeru scowled. "I do not like it, but you are right. We need more information to make the correct decision for the family, and we know that we do not know some key pieces. The 'Ibuki Oroshi' would be registered and so we can find the records on her now. That covers the personal concerns for us."

"Indeed, which leaves the larger dragon in the chamber," Naomi sighed, "if one Yokai can be a Natural-Born, then others can possibly be. Which will set the Snitch among the Diet in earnest once the implications are known. Also she may not be the only one, in fact I strongly suspect that she is not."

Shigeru stared at Naomi. "What do you mean!?"

"The Ryukaku Reserve." Naomi spoke slowly, "I was part of the first group of wizards to check on them two years after Blood Week when we reestablished control. Instead of the butchery we expected or worse, an Abyssal base on the Unplottable Island they are on, there was damage from attacks but no great destruction. I always wondered how they survived and fought off Abyssals when much stronger communities died."

Naomi grimaced, "Of course, aid from outside was impossible since the nomajs did not know about the Reserve and could not approach it without tripping the wards, the known shipgirls were elsewhere and accounted for, and us magicals had our hands full. But if one or more of the Yokai girls in the Reserve were Natural-Borns...."

Shigeru paled, "...just like among the nomajs when the Abyssals attacked and some of them Awakened and saved their community!"

Naomi threw back the whisky, "Exactly. I can't prove it, and I don't know how, or even if I want to prove it. Much less know why she has not escaped from the Reserve if this is correct, but that does make the matter of formulating policy and especially policy that will help the situation and not hinder it rather important, no?"

Shigeru nodded absently."I will have some quiet conversations and call in some favors. That way, if this is the case and when those in positions of authority find out about it..."

Naomi smirked and finished, "...the Civil Service will have demonstrated its value and competence with the list of recommendations and draft laws to address this point just waiting for signatures and seals. I shall impress on Mitsue-san that we wish to know if Ibuki-san is a Natural-Born..."

Shigeru nodded, "...and I shall call my stored favors at JMSDF HQ to have Moriko Ibuki's name compared to the list of Natural-borns who are Unawakened. The matter is important enough to require such to be done."

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

Yokosuka Naval Base, Repair Baths.
Spoiler: Not So Skilled Scheming

Suzume glanced over from the pool where she and Sachiko were soaking after her little sister's latest aquatherapy session.

"Hey Akashi-san?" she called over to the pink-haired shipgirl soaking in the next pool.

"What is it, Suzume-san?" came the cheerful reply. "Need something fixed up?"

"Noooo. I was wondering if you had any ideas for something to get a person interested in puzzles and engineering for his birthday? About an elementary school age so less books and more kits he can use to assemble things" Suzume tried to school her voice to innocence and casual interest.

Considering the knowing gleam in Sachiko's eyes along with her smirk promising much Sisterly Blackmail in the future, Suzume's grades for intrigue at this school she was trying to pass were quite poor.

"Hmmm...." The repair ship pondered, "K'Nex is probably the best thing for general kits. You can build anything from a Babbage computer to a car transmission with them. Want a list of some starter sets?"

"YES!" Suzume hastily coughed and looked over at her sister who was giving her an alarming toothy lupine smile. "I mean, if you don't mind Akashi-san, I will see what works for him."

"I'll email you once I get back to the office." Akashi promised.

Suzume looked at her sister and spoke in an undertone. "How much will it cost me to keep this quiet from Aki-kun, Hachiko-kun, Moriko-chan, and the rest of the base and SGO, my favorite and wonderful and merciful little sister Sachiko-chan?"

Sachiko's grin broadened, "Well I could use more quilting supplies and there's a new ice cream place that I have heard good things about, Suzume-chan...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Waking up, the first thing that Harry felt was warmth that pressed in against him. Upon opening his eyes, he smiled a bit at the sight of the cuddlepile that he was currently in. The group had gone to the Submarine Pens the night before and all of them cuddled together. Harry could understand their reasoning in regards to it and figured that his mother could as well. Especially with what could have happened.

Yes, he had come close to death before this point. But in such a case, there was the fact that he would have returned as a fairy going by what had happened with Verniy and his mother that one time. A Dementor on the other hand? His soul would have been trapped within it, and so he would be unable to form a fairy.

He... would simply be gone.

It was something that still sent shivers down his back whenever he thought about it in the slightest. Deciding that he needed to distract himself, Harry examined the cuddlepile that he was in. Beneath him, Shinano softly sighed in her sleep with each breath, the thirteen year old's head pillowed on her chest. And on one side of her was Louisiana and on the other Regina. The three of them formed a sort of framework of sorts.

And within that framework were the others. Harry could see Natsumi in her fox form sleeping on top of him as was Iku and Hachi. Though his lower body also had RO and Maruyu on top of it, with Verniy cuddled close to his head. Slowly, he took note of where the others were and closed his eyes with a small smile.

No matter what, cuddlepiles always made him feel better for some odd reason. They left him feeling safe, warm... as well as loved and cared for. In his mind, truly, a cuddlepile was one of the greatest things that ever existed. For some time, Harry simply laid there enjoying the feel of the cuddlepile. Eventually though, he needed to get out for natural reasons and, with all the experience he had, easily slipped out without waking anything.

Harry did smile though as a still asleep Louisiana pulled the transformed Natsumi into her bosom with a mumble. Shaking his head, he walked away towards the Kitchen and quietly set things up. A few minutes later, the thirteen year old was softly humming as he began to cook breakfast for everyone, or rather get started on it, 'Wonder when Taigei-Chan and Ryuuhou-Chan will get up...?'

Unknown to him, a shadow crept up behind him silently. Said person only made themselves known once Harry was away from the stove or anything that could hurt him, with his first sign being two arms wrapping around him, blue hair letting him know the identity of his attacker, "Good morning, Harry-Chan."

Smiling a bit, Harry looked up at Iku and chuckled quietly, "Good morning, Iku-Chan." For a moment, he paused before tilting his head to kiss her on the cheek, something that made her blush, "When did you get up?"

The Submarine internally shook her head before returning the kiss to the cheek, "About three minutes ago. I noticed that you weren't there and could smell something cooking, so it was not too hard to guess what was going on." Sighing, she leaned into him with her chin on the top of his head, "Which means that we're going to have a good breakfast."

Just chuckling, Harry grinned up at her before he went back to cooking, "Don't worry, Iku-Chan. When I become your Admiral? I'll make sure that you always have a good meal waiting for you when you come back from patrol or battle."

A small blush appeared on Iku's face at that as well as a smile, "Mmm, that sounds good..."

Her thoughts turned to such a thing in the future...

An older looking Iku sighed as she entered the entranceway of a home, taking off her shoes, "I'm home."

Right then, her nose tickled at the scent of cooked food that wafted from the kitchen. Walking towards it, Iku could hear a deep chuckle that she knew came from Harry, moments before he called out, "Good to hear, Iku-Chan. And welcome home."

Eyes sparkling, Iku hummed some, "Thank you, Harry-Chan, good to be home."

Just as she entered the kitchen, the twenty something year old Harry turned to her, "Well, what do you want first? Dinner? A bath?" Iku froze as she realized that he was wearing an apron, and not much else, "Or, perhaps..." The young man raised one eyebrow with a smirk, "Me?"

Back in reality, Iku's face was completely and utterly red and smoke drifted from her ears at that day dream. That was followed a few moments as she raised a hand and slapped herself. Hard, "GAH!"

Confused and somewhat worried, Harry looked up at her, "Iku-Chan? Are... you okay?"

Unable to look him in the eyes, the Submarine turned her head and nodded, "H-hai, I am, Harry-Chan." At his raised eyebrow, she gave him a weak grin and chuckle, "D-don't worry about it."

Eyebrow still raised, Harry blinked slowly, "Okay..." Turning back to the cooking, he shook his head, 'Wonder what that was all about?'

Meanwhile, Iku gave herself another slap to the face before internally groaning, 'I hate human puberty and hormones... and how long it lasts for us shipgirls. Truly, it is hell.'

Her blush returned as Harry grasped her hands and placed them around his middle again, though she didn't complain. Just grumble at her snickering crew even as she leaned against him again. After all, it was comfy...

It was not long after that the others began to make their way out of the sleeping area and to where the kitchen/dining room was. Harry was joining in the cooking by Ryuuhou and Taigei, both of whom gave him a smile and thanked him before helping. Shinano also helped by making some pancakes as well. Iku switched out with Hachi once the blonde haired Submarine walked in, not that Harry minded all too much. Soon enough, the four cooks had done enough for everyone and they all sat down at the table.

Said table was a bit too small, and it was a little cramped. And yet... something about it made not just Harry smile, but also the others. There was a closeness regarding it that they all seemed to enjoy. Passing some toast and honey to Maruyu, Harry blinked at a question from Imuya, "Hmm? What am I going to be doing?"

Chewing the food in her mouth, the red haired Subgirl nodded, "Hai, after all you are a few days early, not that any of us mind too much."

That got her a smile from Harry before he became thoughtful and considered the question. In the meantime, he took a bite of breakfast. Finally though, the thirteen year old shrugged and shook his head, "I got a few ideas. Tsukiakari wants me to meet the other blades and such from the Potter armoury. They want to meet me in person as well."

Various nods met him at that before Regina tilted her head to the side, "Um... can I come?" At the looks, she shrunk a little, "I want to make sure that you'll be okay..."

Softly smiling, Harry reached over the table and patted one of her hands, "Sure thing, Regina. I don't mind at all having you come along."

Beside the now happy Re-Class, Shinano smiled and gave a nod of her own.

Head tilted to the side, the lone Kitsune hummed a bit, "Maybe you can come over to the Shrine afterwards, Harry-Chan." Seeing the confusion, Natsumi shook her head, "Oba-Chan has been meaning to tell you that the museum is all done and set up. So it's ready to be opened this Saturday officially, but wants to take you through it personally when you have the chance."

Finger tapping the side of his cheek, Harry gave a nod, "I don't see an issue. Though... do you know who is going to be in charge for the museum?"

Now grinning, Natsumi's tails wagged a bit, "As a matter of fact, we do have the perfect person. Took a bit of a fight though to get her to agree." After a moment, she continued, "Hoshi-San doesn't have a job after all, and it does keep her close."

Eyes wide, Hachi boggled at her, "How did you manage that now? From what I have heard, Hoshi-San is very much not one to do something like that."

Innocent expression on her face, the thirteen, nearly fourteen, year old Kitsune hummed, "Oh, she got asked by someone that she could not say no to."

Snickers met her at that and the conversation continued over various things regarding what would happen. Hanami for example was coming up that weekend, not to mention that Harry was supposed to spend a few days way down south with Regina in Wanko's territory. Thankfully, he had made magical sunblock before everything had happened. There were a few other things as well that might come up.

At one point, Harry perked up a bit, "Wait, what was that, Niiyodo-Chan?"

Wiping her mouth clean of some crumbs, the Light Cruiser blinked, "Hmm?" Then, realizing what he meant, she smiled, "Oh! I got word from Tanaka-San. Apparently those orphans that you made the offer to have made an appointment to go and see Kushiro to see what sort of job that they could do. So he's pretty happy and so are the others, I think." Shaking her head, she giggled a bit, "Atago is apparently over the Moon with the idea of new Imoutos for her. Not to mention the others as well...'

That only got her shakes of the head from the others in amusement. All of them were familiar with the joyful Heavy Cruiser after all. Soon enough though, the breakfast was done. But when Harry got up to help wash the dishes, he was pushed back by Shioi who shook her head before wagging a finger at him, grin on her face, "Not this time, Harry-Chan. You helped cook, which means that those of us who didn't can clean up."

Only sighing, Harry threw his hands up into the air theatrically with a playful huff, "Fine, I guess so."

Moments later, he blinked as Shioi gave him a kiss and walked off, "Exactly."

Needless to say, it did not take long for the clean up to be done with the amount of people there. And after seeing off the last ones, the Submarines returned back to their common room to find both Hachi and Iku nearly squealing. The blonde haired Subgirl grinning widely, "SUCCESS!"

Beside her, Iku nodded excitedly, "Did you all see what happened this morning? It was perfect! No one made any comments and it all happened naturally!"

Softly chuckling, Taigei took a sip of her morning tea with a smile, "It certainly seemed to go well when all is said and done, Hachi-Chan, Iku-Chan." Then she hummed a bit and motioned at them with a finger, "But it working out naturally like that once does not mean anything."

Arms crossed, Imuya sat down on the couch, "And? We're working at this problem bit by bit. But this morning just showed that it could work with all of us."

Maruyu looked from one to the other before smiling herself, "Hai, but we should do this sort of thing more often. All of us together and working together, like we were already in a household."

That only got her nods from the others, with RO raising a mug of coffee in her direction, "Ja, what Maruyu-Chan said. We need to ease them all into it without them suspecting a thing." A gleam entered her eyes as she took a sip of her drink, "Of course, being Submarines, we can be very sneaky, Ja? And by the time they realize what is happening, if they do, it will be too late."

Bright grins and nods met her at that before the conversation turned to furthering their plans...

While the Submarines were discussing their own plans, Harry and the others were heading to their homes for a change of clothes. Glancing over her shoulders at where Harry was talking with the Duckies, Shinano turned to Regina with a slight flush on her cheeks as she lowered her voice to a near whisper, "What did you think, Regina-Chan? Was this morning what you thought it would be?"

Glancing at Harry, the Abyssal nodded as a similar blush to that of her friend appeared on her own cheeks, "It was, Shinano. I mean, it was very nice just like you told me it would be and I hoped." A soft smile played across her lips, "All of us just eating and laughing together with a meal under one roof. I, um..." Blush on her cheeks deepening a touch, she pulled up her scarf a little to cover more of her face, "Um, we're going to be doing this more often, right?"

Shinano gave a sharp nod at that, though she still spoke in whispers, "Hai! We should do this more often, Regina-Chan. So that we can get everyone more used to it. Then, one day, we can all be together."

To that, Regina gave a small hum of her own, "I hope so, because I would like that. Especially with you there as well." Briefly, a thoughtful frown came over her face, "Um, what about Hamakaze and the others?"

Blinking, the Yamato looked at her escorts, who were a bit ahead, "Um, I'm not really sure that they would be interested in that. I do know that they like Harry-Chan, but I don't know if it is in that way... but..." Considering it, Shinano shrugged and smiled, "If they do, I would be happy to have them. But if they want to be Oba-Sans to our children, that is fine as well, because I know that they would be good and take care of them."

At that, the blush returned to Regina's cheeks though her hand came to rest on her pale skinned, but muscled, stomach. While there was nothing there, the Re-Class imagined what could be, which made her smile. Especially at the image of her with a child as well as that of her friend with one...

Said children having messy hair and green eyes.

Gently smiling at Regina, Shinano patted her shoulder before leaning in, "But we need to be secretive about it. At least until the others fall into our trap as befitting Carriers."

That got her a nod from the Abyssal as she clenched her fist, "Yes... they will not know what happened, but we'll all be happy."

Up ahead, Isokaze looked over her shoulder at Shinano who had a happy, and confidant look on her face as she spoke with Regina. Unfortunately, she was unable to hear what was being said, and so turned to her sisters, "So, this morning went exactly how we expected it?"

A slight smile on her face, Hamakaze nodded, "It did, so we can call it a success." Eyes looking first at Regina and Shinano who were whispering between one another like school girls despite their apparent ages, to Verniy who was beside Harry holding his hand with Natsumi on the other side. And then to Louisiana who was bringing up the rear with the Duckies, "Yes, this was a success."

Clenching her fist, Yukikaze nodded, "Great! That means our plan to make sure that Shinano-Sama gets her happy ending is well on track!"

Urakaze crossed her arms a bit and frowned, "I don't like going behind her back like this... but..." She gave a nod, "It is for her own good since Shinano-Sama is so shy. And she does like Regina-San and Lousiana-San as well.

The white haired Destroyer of their group nodded, "Hai. And Verniy-Chan as well as Akizuki-Chan, Teruzuki-Chan, and Hatsuzuki-Chan will also do good. After all, a good fleet needs screening Destroyers... But we need to ease them into this." A slight smirk played at Hamakaze's lips, "We're Destroyers though, and escorting them into such a thing is something that we are good at."

Her fellow Destroyers all nodded at that.

At the back, Louisiana smiled down at the Duckies who were excitedly telling her how much fun they had that morning and how much they liked it. Especially the good food and the company that came with it. Something that made the Battleship smile all the more as her gaze turned to where Natsumi was. Her plan to slowly wear down her loves was proceeding like she wanted. And hopefully, it would continue in that direction.

Louisiana glanced at Shinano and nodded as well. She knew how her friend loved the same boy that had stolen not just their hearts, but that of others. And thus, this morning played exactly into her planning. Like any battle, the battle of the heart was one that a Battleship was suited for! She then looked at the Duckies and chuckled to their confusion, which she waved off. After all, as a Battleship, her duties also included protecting her escorts, and she was looking forward to the future...

In the main administration building, at the same time, Ooyodo leaned back on her chair as she nodded at what the cameras were showing her. There was her beloved little sister who had come into being in this life, practically skipping as she was beside the green eyed teen that the Secretary Ship had known for many years. Within her mind, she could picture the future, Harry in an Admiral's uniform while Niiyodo served beside him as his Secretary Ship, and extremely happy. And, as something more as well.

While, she knew, most humans would have an issue with what she was planning, shipgirls and Abyssals were not the same at all. And to her, Niiyodo's happiness was paramount, thus the plan she had hatched to make sure that her sister would get that happiness. And really, it was not that bad of a situation. Each of her fellow shipgirls and the lone Abyssal and Kitsune were very competent as well at what they would do. Niiyodo would, in her mind, do just fine in such a situation. Granted, there was a need for secrecy as well until they were well and truly trapped... but that was one of the things Cruisers did, trap the enemy.

Taking another sip of her coffee, Ooyodo smiled. At the same time as she watched the monitor, she used the multitasking skills she had learned and refined over many years to begin typing a letter to Supprin, and also Wanko. After all, they were involved in the plan as well and would need to be informed so that they could continue their plan...

And, in another realm, Susanoo looked into an room and paused for a moment. Walking up beside him, his brother, Tsukiyomi, frowned, "What are you doing spying on our sister?"

Just frowning, the storm god gestured into the room, "Because, for some odd reason, she is sitting alone in that room at a desk with a single column of light beaming down on her. Oh, and she has sunglasses on with her paws in front of her face with that grin of hers on her face."

Now looking in himself, Tsukiyomi frowned, "What is she covered in... wait, is that red string? Why would she be covered in red string?"

All his brother did was shrug in complete and utter befuddlement.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Meets The In-Laws (Unknowingly) III

Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan, Roppongi Grand Plaza Second Floor, Tokyo
Spoiler: A Nice Quiet Dinner

Wei Ying chewed the Kobe beef tenderloin that she had ordered and spoke contemplatively. "This is almost as good as Alberta or Wyoming beef." She felt her aura of allure seeping out to the room as part of her good mood. Not that it mattered since Delilah was a good and trusted friend. It had been quite a while since they had been friends, looking back on it, she thought, since it started during that operation against the Triads in San Francisco in 1882.

Across from her, Delilah de Breuil sipped her wine. "The wine goes well with it. Mind you, I prefer a good sour mash from Kentucky or Tennessee with my steaks, but this is a nice change of pace." She then glanced at her cellphone, which was placed next to Ying's makeup compact. It is nice to spend time with one of the few people from Ilvermorny who remembered the good old days when we were getting on each other's nerves. Who knew Winona and Emily and mourned them alongside me when they gave their last full measure of devotion. Someone that I might be able to trust with a few of my secrets, but not yet, not until the Statute of Secrecy falls and I can start to come out of the shadows where I worked for too long.

"True. Expecting a call?" Ying said as she glanced at Delilah. the MACUSA Auror was in a fairly open mood, which was a rarity. Why...? Ah. "Delilah."

The revolver focused on her and spoke sharply. "What?" I can't read her normally, which drives me nuts, but she is showing concern and empathy.

Ying extended her wineglass. "To absent friends, especially those from Ilvermorny. May they live on our hearts." She spoke very gently. Winona was killed in the Great Sasquatch rebellion in April and Delilah's mentor Emily Dickinson died in mid-May. This time of year is always hard on her. Even if you are a pain in my ass, you smug annoying Yank, I'd miss you Delilah de Breuil.

Delilah blinked tears from her eyes as she touched her glass to Ying's. "Absent friends. The true heroes only live in our hearts." Her voice was hoarse. Emily, Winona, I wish that you could see this day. I just hope one day I'm worthy to stand beside you in the ranks of those who helped advance Freedom. And as for Ying, you are another. As much as you can be a pain in my ass you annoying inscrutable Canuck, I'd miss you Wei Ying.

With that they downed the wine in memory of those who had not lived to see this day.

--------------------------------
Spoiler: An After Dinner Chat

Ying leaned back, and slowly surveyed the steakhouse as she waited for their dessert. The decor was clearly Japanese, with a bar behind her with a teppan-yaki flat heated plate fed by a roaring charcoal fire in a fireplace. Which was in use as a sweating master chef was cooking shrimp and steak to the scowling yakuza behind her who was muttering into her second bottle of sake. Rice paper walls backlit by lamps and potted plants completed the decor.

"Nice restaurant too. It was off the beaten path, how did you find out about it? I rather doubt Google or Yelp for this one, especially with the subtle spells for prosperity and good business worked into the wall screens. Nice to see that it caters to magicals as well as nomaj."

Delilah smirked smugly and took the last bite of her own steak. "Same way you found out about that place in San Francisco back in 1969, you inscrutable bitch." The redhead leveled her fork at the Chinese-Canadian blonde. "I had it recommended by family."

Ying blinked. "Wait. Your mother doesn't travel much if at all, unsurprising since she is so venerable. And you are an only child and she is an only child."

The smug smirk widened as the revolver spirit leaned back. "True, but I got in contact with my father's family recently. Aunt Kago recommended this place."

Ying's impressive facade cracked in a smile. "That is wonderful news. Pass along to her my gratitude when you see your Gūjè Kago next. Family is important," The dao's voice warmed to the lesson that had been ground into her steel bones since before birth, "the most important thing in the world."

Delilah laughed and poured more wine, "Now you sound like my eldest half-sister. Even if she is a blithering idiot who can't be let out anywhere without adult supervision and a leash, she absolutely holds family sacred."

Ying snorted, "She should be so lucky to be Chinese with such understanding of filial piety. I would like to meet her sometime."

Delilah tensed up slightly. Oh Fuck, Colombe's still wanted by the ICW. "Unfortunately she's in Europe. Business interests and taking care of her two children. She is a bit of a recluse" She better lay very low while I formulate an excuse to keep Ying away from her.

Ying nodded, "Ahh, suitable and honorable for her. She sounds like a model citizen."

Delilah began to laugh. "You have no idea. None whatsoever."

Ying blinked. "One hopes that your other half-sibling is cut from similar cloth."

The laughter redoubled and Delilah had tears run down her face."Oh Jacklyn is... Jackie. She's the black sheep of the family. She was listening in on our call earlier and said that you had nice tits and that she wouldn't mind hitting on you. I told her that you were a policeman and she said that would make it more fun."

Ying blinked and blushed as she spoke slowly, "Oh. well, um. Maybe? Maybe she's my type? I could do worse than give in to Mother and finally perform my duty to the family. Once I take care of the matter I am on."

Delilah looked at Ying and doubled over laughing. "E-excuse me...." She got up clutching her sides and headed for the bathroom, still laughing helplessly.

Yign glanced at the emptied wine bottle. "What's so funny, I didn't think that it was this strong?"

"...that damn gaijin rapier kidnapped Toku-chan, probably doing unspeakable things to her along with the jorogumo..." The drunken mutter from behind her caused a bolt of electricity to shoot down the Dao's spine and her gray eyes widened.

Ying spun around in her chair so fast that it crashed to the floor.

--------------------------------------
Spoiler: Butterknifus Interruptus

"You know what to do. Our target is somewhere inside. The oyabun wants her head delivered to him no matter what."

"What are the medallions for?"

"They are linked portkeys. Snap the cord and it summons the rest of us to you. If she is troublesome use it. Understood?"

Two dozen tattooed Oni, Okami, Kappa, and humans nodded as they hefted weapons and wands.

"Good. Now split up, you know your assignments."

 

[darthcourt10]

MagisterAurelius

Lonely Street 5

Dalton Longstreet had faced truly terrifying situations in his life. He had survived being attacked by a mountain lion at age twelve. The time he had to clean up one of his younger brother's more infamous escapades, when Flynn had been caught in flagrante delicto with the daughter of 'Fat' Tony Carpaccio the local mob boss. Any number of occasions on the Bering sea going out to rescue crab fishermen in distress. But today? It was just his luck, on a day he needed to make it absolutely clear he was apologizing, there was not a bunch of flowers or a florist to be found on base. And, if he didn't hurry his ass up, he would be late.

Off to the side he saw a small panoply of color, and he beheld a batch of wildflowers there. The colors all seemed to complement each other, so Dalt picked the bunch of them and made his way to the main gate to the base. And Kiho Mitsue, brownish-grey hair gathered loosely down her back, was indeed waiting for him on the other side of the gate. He approached her with flowers in hand. As he opened his mouth to begin his apology to her, she interrupted him with a raised finger.

"Dalt-san. Before you say anything. I appreciate the thought, but I am slightly allergic to at least three of the things in that bouquet."

Dalt winced. Another screw-up on his part. He deposited the bundle of weeds he had picked in a trash receptacle and turned back to Mitsue. "I'm so sorry I offended you yesterday Mitsue-san," as he took a breath to continue, she placed a finger on his lips to quell his voice.

"All is forgiven on two conditions: One, you are to use Kiho-san from now on. Two, get it through your head that I am attracted to you for who you are, and you will show me a good time tonight." As Dalt nodded his assent, she slipped her arm in his and squeezed his bicep with her other hand. "Good. So where are we having dinner?"

-0-0-

Kiho's POV

Inside the Italian cuisine restaurant La Serenissima

Kiho took another bite of her excellent chicken parmigiana. Someone last night after overhearing her phone call to Dalt, had suggested to him to take her to the best Italian restaurant in Yokosuka. She normally would have been ashamed of herself for her reaction last night. However the more she talked to the man, the more apparent what she did was almost the only way to get through to him.

Well, if absolutely necessary she could try one of the antics that the ship-girl Kongo tried with her admiral. Then again, that would require her to actually find that baby-doll negligee she had bought years ago, before her auror career was destroyed. I'm not wearing that for him just yet. A couple more nice dinners like this and we'll see. Her gaze fell on the hand Dalt was resting on the table. Two of his fingers had ugly dark bruises in between the knuckles as if they had been recently broken and reset. She instinctively reached out with her own hand and touched his.

"Dalt-san, what happened to your hand?"

She raised her eyes to his as he blinked in surprise. His face took on a rather sheepish, almost ashamed expression. In a low voice he explained, "Well, sometimes when the loneliness and the numbness gets really bad... sometimes I break my own fingers to see if I can still feel anything. I reset them myself, and they do heal fairly quickly on their own..." Kiho's breath caught in her chest. I can't even... what has happened to him to get him to this sort of state? She took a deep breath.

"Dalt-san? May I... I can try to heal your fingers. Just please do not overreact to what I am about to do. And I swear, I will find a way to lift whatever curse of ill fortune that has been laid on you." She took out her wand from the holster up her sleeve and began to wave it over Dalt's hand. She muttered the bruise healing charms' words. Frowning as it seemed to have no effect, she tried again. And a third time. Only to cease as Dalt's other hand held her wand hand.

"Kiho-san. Thank you for trying. Magic just doesn't seem to work on me. It's something my grandfather figured out after the mountain lion attacked me when I was twelve."

"What?!" Kiho could only stare at Dalt in shock. "How? I mean, are you immune or? A mountain lion when you were twelve?" Dalt actually chuckled, and then told Kiho a series of stories of his childhood and past. How his birth mother, while pregnant with Dalt, had practiced the dark magic equivalents of smoking, drinking alcohol and eating mercury tainted seafood while pregnant; merely because she was irritated at having become pregnant in the first place. His father's wife had resented Dalt as the product of her husband's infidelity, since Dalt's father was an incorrigible womanizer.

She watched his face fall when he spoke of the death of his grandparents. It's easy to see why, his grandparents seemed to be his only source of affection. Dalt touched on the issues behind his non-existent relationship with his younger brother. His brother certainly seems to emulated his father all too well. To have girls feign interest in him, only to try and get close to his brother, that must have galled Dalt terribly. It was only when he had finished reminiscing about a rescue in the Bering Sea and a collision with a loose crab pot, that Kiho realized she had been holding his hands in hers the entire time.

"Ah! Gomen Dalt-san. I've let the food get cold." Kiho blushed as she withdrew her hands and immediately felt regret that she had done so.

Dalt smiled at her, the light from the candles on the table sparking lights in his green eyes with white flecks in the iris. His eyes, they look like green marble. "Maybe we should order some dessert then? I hear the tiramisu is fantastic."

Kiho opened up to Dalt over the dessert. She told him of her goals and pride in her job as an auror, her pursuit of justice according to the law. Kiho went into her disgrace, the circumstances of her mother's death, and having to live hand to mouth as a private investigator. For the first time in a long time, she felt comfort in telling the tale, as Dalt had put his hand over her fingers with their purple polished fingernails and gently squeezed them in sympathy.

They finished dessert and continued talking, sharing the stories of their pasts and their dreams over the dessert wine. Dalt looked at his wine speculatively, "I've never really been much a wine drinker. Mead is more to my taste. Comes from my granddad I guess, he was a pretty good meadmaker back in the day. One of these days, I'm going to go back home to Idaho, sit on the front porch of his house on the lake in the early morning and watch the sunrise."

"That sounds like a very pretty scene to witness." Kiho smiled with a warm glow in her brown eyes.

Dalt paused and took a deep breath, seeming to Kiho that the tops of his ears might have turned red, as he spoke. "It is a beautiful thing to see. But after living in Japan for awhile now... I-I think I might have finally seen something more beautiful."

Kiho started as her breath caught. Did he just? He did! But there's no way he can mean that, can he? She raised an eyebrow, "Really, aren't you supposed to start the date with a line like that Dalt-san? I am far from being beautiful."

Dalt winced but then he met her gaze. "I haven't been on a date in years Kiho-san, I'm rusty. But if I say something like that? It's because I mean it." Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.

It wasn't the kissing of her knuckles. It wasn't even the words. It was the moment when he lowered her hand and he smiled at her, it was as if sparks glanced in his eyes, that Kiho knew that he had meant it, that he saw her and that she was beautiful to him.

"How old do you think I am Dalt-san?"

"Twenty eight maybe?"

"I'm thirty eight Dalt-san."

"And I'm thirty nine."

Her heart raced and she felt something tighten like it wanted to explode in her chest from the exhilaration. The tiny remnant of a young woman's dreams and desires squee'd in the back of Kiho's mind. Okay Kiho, time to shut up and just enjoy this!

-0-0-

Dalt's POV

As they left the restaurant and stepped out onto the sidewalk, Dalt felt Kiho put her hand into his. He turned to her and smiled. "Is there anything milady wishes?" He gestured grandly.

"Ah! Dalt-san, remember when I said I would give you my phone number? It's a landline, I do not own a cell phone..."

"Well then," Dalt looked around and smiled when he saw what he was searching for, "how about we take care of that issue right now? There's a store right there."

"Eh?"

A few minutes later Dalt and Kiho were in the shop comparing smart phones. When she had found one that she felt she could use easily, Dalt purchased it for her. After that, it was a simple matter to punch in each other's numbers into their phones. Then they continued walking together along the city streets, window shopping and just enjoying the evening. Finally, they stopped just outside of Kiho's apartment complex.

"Thank you for the wonderful evening Dalt-san." Kiho reached up and touched his cheek with her hand. "But you didn't have to buy the cell phone for me. I could have paid for it."

Dalt blushed at her touch at first, but then he smiled brightly at her for the second time. "Think of it as my gift to apologize for last night and for the crappy excuse of flowers today."

Kiho laughed softly into her hand, and smiled at Dalt. "You are forgiven, Dalt-san."

They stood there hesitantly, until Dalt shuffled his feet and attempted to ask, "Umm.. Kiho-san, may I..."

Kiho answered him by putting both hands on his cheeks and pulled him into a kiss.

-0-0-

Dalt had made his way back onto the base after seeing Kiho walk through the door of her complex. He hadn't felt this light in years. He felt giddy. For the first time since he was a child, Dalton Longstreet felt truly happy.

 

[darthcourt10]

Fallenworldful

Lol what is a regular update schedule even. Sorry bout the delay everyone, but Rochester's saga continues again at long last.

-------

Caroline studied her high ponytail in the mirror and judged it slightly wanting. A few deft flicks of her comb made it suitably fluffy, and she tucked a small bundle of fake lilacs around the hair tie to complete the look.

"What do you think?" She called.

Jamaica gestured for her to turn, and she spun her chair around to let her friend see. Caroline stopped in front of the computer screen again, and her friend raised an eyebrow. "I think I understand why people couldn't recognize Clark Kent now. That is uncanny."

She giggled. "Yeah, no one's recognized me like this yet." Caroline had changed out her wire-rim glasses, hat, and low pigtails for contacts, a headband, and a high ponytail as she had several times before. Normally, wandering outside in her home city attracted far too much attention for her liking—getting mobbed by a crowd while taking a walk lost its appeal after the first five times—but "disguised" as she was Caroline was left alone.

"I'm glad it works that well. Honestly, if I didn't know it was you, I might've had to resort to checking your hull."

"Heh, if it didn't, I'd have to ask for my money back. Abraham gave me a few pointers." She rolled her eyes. "Just wish she didn't like hiding so much."

Jamaica smirked. "I can imagine. Hey, you should—" Something buzzed from her end of the video call. "Hang on, I'm getting a communication from the coast guard."

Caroline waited while her friend answered with her onboard equipment. Jamaica's expression quickly morphed into a frown, and she started tapping her desk and muttering under her breath. A few seconds passed before she slumped face down onto her desk with a thump. A muffled "shit" drifted up past her dreadlocks.

The unusual curse drew a blink. "What's wrong?"

Her friend sighed and tilted her head up enough so Caroline could see her eyes again. "I told you about that smuggler I caught a week or so ago, right?"

She nodded. "He was hauling controlled goods across the Gulf in exchange for extra fuel and ration tickets, and had the bad luck to run into you on patrol."

"Turns out he was being pressured into it by a local gang. They kidnapped his family as leverage and he thinks they're in serious danger now." Jamaica hid her eyes again.

"Oh."

"Yep."

They lapsed into silence for a few seconds. Caroline tried to think of something to say, but came up blank. Why did people have to act this way? There were enough problems to deal with with the whole war for survival going on.

She started when her friend spoke again. "I shouldn't have dumped this on you."

"We're friends. After everything we've been through together, I'd be a terrible friend if I didn't listen." The line came out automatically, and Caroline could almost feel Jamaica choking on the cheesiness. "Sorry."

She waved her off with "It's fine." Another awkward pause spread through their conversation, but before it could grow too long Jamaica pushed herself back up. "Just don't say that ever again," she joked.

Caroline reared back in fake offense. "Hmph, well excuuuse me for being nice."

They held their poses until they couldn't hold back the snickers. That at least brought back a small smile. "Excused."

A clock chimed behind her.

"Ah, you still have that meeting at the Lilac Festival with Sable and, uh, Wolverine, don't you?"

Caroline had promised to meet the two training carriers today at the Lilac Festival to welcome them to Rochester. They had been testing experimental equipment in the Great Lakes for a few months and were spending the next week on leave, barring any sudden breakthroughs.

"Mmhm." Caroline didn't want to leave her stewing over this, as memories of her own awful time late last year flashed through her mind. Jamaica's friendship was about the only thing she could cling onto then, with both her mother and brother on deployment and her father busy dealing with the aftermath of an Abyssal raid.

"Oi, you're not going to leave them hanging for me, are you? I can reassure you that I'll keep filling your ears when you get back."

"You sure you aren't a mind reader, Jamaica?" She asked, and her friend laughed.

"Come on, scram, you're going to be late," and shooed her away.

"All right, all right, I'll call again tonight, then."

"I'll hold you to that. Enjoy!" Jamaica ended the call.

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

The smell of lilacs drifted through the air. Thousands of the purple flowers were blooming across Highland Park, just in time for the yearly festival in their name. Not much had changed from before, if Caroline's faint memories of more peaceful times were accurate. The same crowds milled about under the bright spring sun enjoying life and what it brought. Food stands served up festival classics to anyone willing to stomach a thousand plus calories of grease and sugar while carnival games scammed kids of their parents' money. Bands played in a large natural amphitheater, their music faintly audible over the throng. Here, over two hundred miles inland and well insulated from Abyssal attack, people could cut loose and pretend the war didn't exist for a few hours a day.

She arrived a little early; her family's home was a quick walk away, and she walked fast. Her stomach rumbled a bit. Caroline checked her watch and decided there was enough time for a bite to eat. She joined the line to a food stand and nabbed two pieces of fried dough and a funnel cake. She surreptitiously poured a generous helping of powdered sugar on top before creeping away, hoping no one noticed the unusual portion size.

Her path ended at a secluded magnolia tree many children had climbed over the decades it had been there, the bark worn smooth by hundreds of hands. The trunk split close to the ground, forming a little seat of a sorts that she claimed. Just as she made herself comfortable, the wind promptly gusted, sending the sugar everywhere. Her fairies laughed at her plight as she tried to beat it out of her jeans and t-shirt, but pulled out dusters and got to work anyway.

"Hey, Rochester, this is Wolverine! Sable and I just reached the park entrance; where do you want to meet?" Wolverine's voice crackled onto her radio.

"Hello! Welcome to Highland Park, guys!" She cast about for a place far enough she would have time to clean up a little. "Do you see the conservatory?"

"The white greenhouse?"

"That's the one! I'll be right there, just give me a moment." Caroline glanced about for any observers, and stashed the funnel cake and fried dough away in her holds as she cleared away the last bit of sugar. Treat stored, Caroline set off at a brisk walk to the conservatory. Not many people were on the back trails with all the action on the main paths, but she passed a few people on the way there. Something tickled at the back of her mind, someone watching her, but a quick glance showed nothing out of the ordinary and her fairies hadn't spotted anything either.

The Lamberton Conservatory was the centerpiece of the park, a greenhouse conservatory with numerous exotic flora. She found Wolverine and Sable standing before the Spanish-American War memorial, an old cannon salvaged from a Spanish fort. Their rigging was quite distinctive, with their paddlewheel heel shoes and elegant layered dresses, a legacy of their cruising days. A small group was standing nearby, taking pictures of them.

"Hello Wolverine, Sable! Long time no see!"

They turned together and waved. "Same to you, Ro-Caroline!" Sable responded.

"You have to visit us more often, it gets lonely only working with steel-hulls," Wolverine added.

She breathed a sigh of relief as they remembered her request. "I'll certainly try, but you know how things are. Now, is there anything you want to do first?"

"Well, we certainly have to see the lilacs…"

And so the day went. Sable and Wolverine signed a few autographs as they meandered through the lilacs, sampled a garbage plate at a food stand, and scared the daylights out of a few shady carnival game operators. It was fun watching the two of them uneasily poke at the messy pile of protein and starch that Rochester called its local cuisine. However, the lingering feeling continued through the day, waxing and waning at random. She tried to force the unease out of mind,

The three of them entered the conservatory late, a few minutes before closing. She mouthed an apology to the man behind the service desk, but he ushered them in with a smile regardless. While the two training carriers proceeded on their own, Caroline lingered back. The pressure from before had returned, and as she crossed into the tropical room it intensified. Wolverine disappeared around the corner, leaving her alone in the room. A tiny pop disrupted the still, humid air.

Caroline turned her head, slow and cautious. Crew rushed to battle stations, manning her guns for the first time in weeks. Her rigging stayed stowed, but in an instant would be by her side.

A woman dressed in an ornate hanfu stood behind her. A jade bracelet carved to resemble a snake poked out from beneath her left sleeve, while she held a short length of wood in her right hand. Caroline locked eyes with the stranger. A familiar face she had seen just once before, but would remain in her memory forever.

Rochester lay in a pile of rubble, gasping for breath. The teeth had pierced her vitals through, tearing apart structural beams, armor, and machinery with contemptuous ease. Half of her boilers were gone outright, and the remaining ones were failing one by one. Her damage control teams shored what they could. It was a losing battle in the face of such devastating battle damage.

The sharp pop-pop-pop of the strange weapons the magicals had brought continued, interspersed with the much louder roars of the giant Abyssal, but they grew less and less frequent as the Abyssal picked them off one by one. She had failed, failed the city, failed the soldiers counting on her, failed her family. I'm sorry, she tried to broadcast, but even that took more energy than she could muster.

Someone staggered into the puddle of water, blood, and oil growing around her.

She tried to focus on the shape, a last defiance against the encroaching darkness. Whoever it was started speaking. The clipped Mandarin vanished into the haze of pain that was consuming her, and her eyes started to slide closed.

The last words, though, came through clearly. "Please, save them."

A blazing light cut through the fog. A young woman was kneeling next to her, a jade band with a brilliant pearl in her hands. She locked eyes with Rochester, and slipped the bracelet onto her left wrist. A wave of energy pulsed through her, and the wounds began to heal as the pearl shined brighter and brighter until it became blinding.

Rochester heard a quiet pop. By the time the light cleared, the woman was gone.

She raced towards the battle on new engines, hoping she wasn't too late.

Older features, yes, but similar all the same.

"Hello, Rochester." Her voice was warm, but not a trace of it carried over to her expression. "I am Ping Zhonghua."

------|\/|-------
Dun dun DUUUUUUN! cliffhanger! I've stripped the dates from these to make them less likely to get outrun by everyone else's writing, but I'm not sure how much that'll help haha.

Not particularly happy with it, but when is anyone happy with writing. Carp Diamonds and all that.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Meets The In-Laws (Unknowingly) IV

Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan, Roppongi Grand Plaza Second Floor, Tokyo
Spoiler: Ying meets Fudo

Wei Ying's eyes widened in shock as she mentally replayed the drunken mutter from behind her.

"...that damn gaijin rapier kidnapped Toku-chan, probably doing unspeakable things to her along with the jorogumo..."

Her father Colombe du Chasteler was the blond haired and blue eyed spirit of a rapier. Amah had been adamant on that point. Colombe du Chasteler had last been seen "kidnapping" some jorogumo from a Reserve in Japan. Although Ying had more than a few suspicions that Colombe had good reasons to do so.

As her chair crashed to the ground behind her and she turned to the young woman who had been drinking her sorrows away, a proverb that Amah had taught her as a young kit at her mother's knee came to her mind.

Four things come not back: the spoken word, the spent arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.

With that her eyes sought the woman that she was approaching. No matter the risk to herself, she had to follow this lead up. She knew, just knew, that it was important. As much as her instincts as a policeman had been screaming 'danger', so too now they were screaming 'break in the case'.

The woman had set her suit aside, revealing a magnificent full-back tattoo of Búdòng Míngwáng in full divine splendor through her white shirt. His blue-skinned face was twisted in divine fury and wrath toward impurity with his teeth gritted in a scowl, showing two fangs. One hand clenched a short Japanese sword to cut through the illusions of existence and achieve enlightenment and the other a noose to bring sinners before him for punishment. Flames almost seemed to writhe around him from where he sat on a great stone representing the weight of suffering in Buddhist cosmology.

Over the shirt, she wore a tooled silk shoulder harness holding a matching shortsword to the one in the tattoo with bright crimson and orange silk wrapping the hilt and a gold guard.

Ying coughed politely as she bowed and spoke in near accentless Japanese, projecting a calming and trusting aura as best she could. "Excuse me, I could not help but overhear your speech and I believe that we are seeking the same miscreant. Perhaps I can be of some aid?"

On the other side of the bar, the cook serving the yakuza stepped back involuntarily with a look at Ying that was normally given to someone witnessing an attempt to juggle live grenades with the pins pulled.

Red-rimmed gold eyes filled with a furious, seething, molten wrath locked on Ying's own dark gray as the dao spirit born of a Muramasa rapier and a huli jing fox spirit's affection a century and a half ago spoke. "I am Chief Superintendent Wei Ying of the Royal Canadian Magical Mounted Police at your service. Any information you can tell me about this 'gaijin rapier' would be helpful so that I can see that justice is done to her."

Lips curled in a drunken sneer as the other sword spirit spoke with considerable venom and pain held by a fraying cord. "Masamune-no-Fudo of the Owari Tokugawa family. That damn rapier kidnapped my sister Tokunotakai and is tormenting her again!" One battered and bruised hand with recently reset broken fingers grabbed Ying's dress at the chest and yanked her down close enough so that their noses touched. "We have to save Toku-chan before it is too late!"

Ying's eyes widened and she spoke. "Again? Please, tell me everything you know about these attacks on Tokunotakai so I can track Colombe down. After all, while we in the RCMMP always get our person, in a kidnapping time is of the essence.

"Exactly! It started in 1864 when this Colombe showed up out of nowhere at Toku-chan's shrine in Kamakura and attacked her unprovoked..." The dam broke and Fudo began to speak in a rambling drunken monologue in a rush of words. Ying nodded and made encouraging noises as the confession gained steam.

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

"...So to recap, Colombe attacked your sister at her shrine in 1864 and humiliated her and caused visible damage, and you think that was responsible for her change in attitude toward you although Kyoshu may have done it or assisted Colombe. Then last October, Colombe returned and beat her up again and Tokunotakai was extremely evasive when questioned while showing visible injuries, which have been seen again periodically. Now Tokunotakai has vanished and Colombe was seen with her shortly before the disappearance. The two claimed to be heading to Mount Fuji near where the Reserve was attacked by Colombe." Ying spoke slowly. "It all does hang together with the other evidence that I have collected."

"You believe me! You actually believe me!!" Fudo exclaimed drunkenly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "None of my sisters believe me!"

Fudo yanked Ying into an embrace, and the dao began to pray to the Celestial Bureaucracy for salvation. Delilah would be out of the bathroom soon. One glimpse of the compromising position that she was in and she would hear about this for the next century and a half. Plus her ribs were starting to bend.

Fortunately, salvation was at hand as her prayers were answered.

The charcoal fireplace across the bar where food was cooked suddenly flamed green. As Ying and Fudo looked over to see who was Flooing in, their jaws dropped.

A dripping wet and soapy kitsune dressed in a bloodstained Pikachu bath towel, a swordbelt, and cheap plastic sandals with a naked Inugami girl slung over her shoulders sprinted out of the flames. Panicked honey-brown eyes locked on Ying and the mystery woman babbled in English at the frozen sword spirits embracing.

"WHERESDELQUICKYOUHAVETOHELPME!!!"

On the other side of the room, the door to the ladies' room opened and Delilah stepped out and stopped dead at the sight. Her jaw dropped in shock at the new arrival. Even for her sister, this was quite a masterpiece of chaos.

"DAMMIT JACKIE!!"
Spoiler: Three, Two, One...

Unattended, Delilah's cell phone began to ring on the table next to Ying's dessert plate

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

We interrupt this program to bring you a thingy!
-----

Everything was light, and confusion, and terrifying.

"Dana," the big one, the one holding her as more and more showed up and were loud and cooing and excited and she curled up, scrunched her eyes closed, trying to make herself as small and unnoticeable as possible, said, "Dana, it's alright. You're okay here."

What was going on? Who was Dana? Where was she?

"Alright, alright, everyone back up a little," a new voice came through, lowering a hush over the crowd as it did, "she's scared and disoriented, and you're not helping the problem… Yes, you too Nemo, unless—Ku-tan, was she already here? She was? Okay, fine then. You were one of the first Abyssals she saw, she'll probably respond better to you."

The voices were quieter and moved away. So it was safe now? No one was going to bully her?

Slowly, hesitantly, she opened her eyes and looked right up into the face of another big one, except this one was white where the other one was black. She squeaked and flailed, hitting something soft—

"Ow! Geez!"

--and clinging to the first big one. "Dana, don't worry," she was saying, "everything's—"

"Ku-tan," the second big one cut her off, "stop. Take a deep breath. You're panicking a little yourself. Take a moment."

The first big one was quiet.

Relative quiet. A moment for her to think.

She looked back up at the first big one. She was looking down at her, and was so upset that she could feel her shaking. It made her feel upset herself somehow.

"Dana?" she asked.

The big one's grip on her slackened, and tears began to form in her eyes. Why was she crying?

"Yes," she said, voice trembling as well. "Dana. That's you. You're Dana."

She was Dana? So the big one had been talking to her the whole time? But why was she upset that she was talking back now? And who was she?

Dana pointed up at her.

"Uh… me?" the big one stammered. "I'm—"

"Isn't it obvious?" the second big one asked cheerfully. "She's your mama."

Mama?

That was an important word, right? Dana wasn't sure, but she felt like it meant protection and gentleness and love. "Mama?" she repeated.

The first big one—Mama—hugged her and started to cry.
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Courtship Display V

Ono Shrine, Yokosuka Naval Base
Spoiler: Kiho and Dalt

Kiho hummed happily as she stepped under the torii gate. She was still on Cloud Nine from her date with Dalt-kun three days ago.

Others might see him as too western, too scarred, too hurting, too rough.

She did not.

After all, beauty faded, but character endured. Character was what you showed in the dark, what was shown and honed when the world battered you to your knees. When you had to dig deep and hard to the core of yourself to make a choice that defined you.

When an ex-Auror had to make a choice between financial security in exchange for a 'simple job' for the local criminal syndicate that would have indebted her in their dealings or selling her family home to pay for her mother's funeral.

When a Coast Guard sailor had to choose between shouldering all the pain and self-hatred and anguish that came with finding that his brother had betrayed him again to do his duty or electing to not listen when the call came over the radio he was monitoring that a ship was in trouble on the hungry seas where angels would fear to go out in that storm lashed night.

Character was digging deep to get through today somehow just to get to tomorrow. Character was not giving up on your dreams of something better than what you had no matter how dark the road ahead got.

Character was what she saw in him and he saw in her. And that character and understanding that while life was not perfect, that life was painful, was what attracted her to him.

She laughed and resolved to purchase a good luck talisman for him after she finished her business here. But as much as she wished otherwise, she was here on business of the professional sort.

With that, she looked around. Her eyes narrowed at the young-seeming miko in training sweeping leaves away next to a fox statue honoring Inari. She had seen that girl at Hanami, enjoying the blossoms of hanami next to Harry Potter.

With that she walked over and bowed in introduction. "Excuse me, Miko-san, but your Aunt suggested for me to visit the shrine for answers. If you could perhaps direct me to them?"

The young two-tail kitsune bowed in return. "Ahh, if you wait there, I will get my aunt."

Kiho nodded and after a few minutes, the young kitsune returned and gestured. "Thank you very much, Miko-san."

The youngster gave her a toothy smile. "Ono Natsumi."

Kiho blinked, "Ah, a pleasure then Ono-san, I am Mitsue Kiho, a registered Private Investigator." She laughed slightly. "I fear that you will not need my services to do a background check on Potter Harry, since he is an upstanding young man."

Natsumi flushed scarlet as she slid the screen open to her aunt's study.

Kiho stepped inside and bowed to the five tail kitsune in priestess robes waiting for her. The Kitsune matron gestured with one hand. "Thank you Natsumi-san, that is all."

Kiho took the offered seat and bowed her head as Natsumi closed the screen behind her. "Thank you for this invitation Priestess-san."

"Ono Haru, Mitsue-san." Haru's voice was quite calm as her five tails waved slightly.

"Ono-san then." Kiho paused and pulled out a Self Scribing Quill and a pad of paper. "May I?"

Haru nodded, and Kiho activated the tool of her trade. "Thank you Ono-san. I was hired by the Miyata family to look into Ibuki Moriko-san as a potential wife to their grandchild Miyata Hachiko-san. They had some concerns about rumors that the young lady mentioned to Miyata-san that she is a Natural Born shipgirl. Also there was some to date unfounded concern that the match might have been the work of a trickster spirit. Plus the normal background check about her character, relations, and so on of course."

Haru barked a laugh. "I can allay at least one point. Neither I nor any kitsune that I am aware of, and I am aware of much that goes on around the base, has anything in the least to do with Miyata-san and Ibuki-san's relationship. While we enjoy a good prank as you know, none in my family's social circle would tolerate something so crass as false love. And even if any of us were, neither of the children have had more dealings with us than the normal comments about how cute the couple is."

Kiho nodded, "Thank you, that is a relief. My client was somewhat concerned because Ibuki-san is not a conventional beauty and Miyata-san is not the most robust man. So the picture is one that makes for an amusing image on first impression, no?"

Haru laughed again, "Indeed it is, but I fear if any one is responsible for that jest, it is no kitsune. If anything, considering their clear devotion to each other, I suspect the Kami of Matchmaking."

Kiho nodded. "What can you tell me about Ibuki-san then that I can relay to Miyata-san's family?"

Haru began to fix tea for them. "First, the rumor that Ibuki Moriko is a Natural Born is not unfounded, although she is not Awakened yet. As for the young lady she has fine character. She is frugal and devoted to her family, especially her youngest sister. Alas, her upbringing inhibited her skills in the feminine arts."

Kiho sipped her tea. "Thank you. Speaking of the youngest Ibuki, my client has asked if you know anything about her medical condition. Purely to allay any concerns about their son having children who have ill-health like the poor young lady suffers from."

Haru frowned. "Little that I may reveal. She is a Natural-Born too, but of a ship that was scrapped soon after the building process began. That had a negative impact upon her health since her spiritual body was incomplete and out of balance. Although a treatment regimen has been devised for her and her spirit is strengthening daily. When I first met her, she was unable to rise from her wheelchair. Now, thanks to her sister's care, she can walk for short distances with a walker."

Kiho smiled. "That is a relief for me and my client. I shall pray for Ibuki-san's continual improvement. Will the middle sister Ibuki Suzume create any problems with any potential marriage between the Miyata and Ibuki families...?"

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

An hour later Kiho left the shrine with a spring in her step. From her observation of the couple, she had decided that she wanted this pair of lovebirds to flourish.

Now while she would need to run down some loose ends and recheck her analysis to make sure that it was complete the end of her assignment was in sight.

Reading between the lines of her last meeting with Miyata Naomi-san, she suspected that a hefty bonus for a job well done was in order for her. She hummed as she cast a security spell on her notebook with the notes of her conversation with Ono Haru. She was not blind to the implications of a Yokai shipgirl such as Ibuki Moriko, so wished that information to remain confidential until she could hand it to her client personally.

As much as she despised Miyata Shigeru, she could not accuse that the old spider of being foolish with information of such importance. While she had no illusions that he would not profit from it somehow, he would also use it to improve the condition of Yokai rights, especially since his grandchildren were Hanyo.

With that done, she pulled out her new cell phone - a wonderful device! - and dialed Dalt-san's number.

"Oh, will you be out of the gym and presentable in a half hour? I got done early, so if you want to go out, I will be waiting for you at the main gate then in the usual place. Until then!"

She hung up and slipped the phone in a pocket of her suit, before pulling out her notebook again. As she waited across the street from the main gate on her 'normal bench' to meet Dalt, she flipped to a fresh page and began to write.

"Research uncompleted ships of WWII to determine which class the Ibukis are. Library? Perha---"

The notebook slipped from her slack hands as a paralysis ofuda was applied to her and a pair of burly men dragged her limp body into their van.

A Piece of Heaven Karaoke Club

Moriko Ibuki gave Hachiko Miyata a hungry look. Since their first date, they had made a point of visiting the karaoke club where they had first gone out regularly.

And tonight was Duet Night.

The couple nodded as one and stood up from the table when their number was called.

Walking in front of the crowd of shipgirls and couples, they took their places on the stage. and the sunnily smiling manager handed them cordless microphones.

Suzume and Sachiko both began to film their big sister as the lights dimmed and a spotlight shone on Hachiko.
Spoiler: A Puppy Duet

He looked across the stage to her and extended his hand as the music started and he sang in his soft tenor.

"I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess
Now when did you last let your heart decide?
I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride"

His eyes sparkled behind his glasses as his voice soared in the refrain.

"A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us, "No"
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming"

She then sang as a spotlight illuminated her. Her gray eyes sparkled with care for him, and her husky rough contralto voice growled out her feelings for him.

"A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you"

His voice joined her on the final line of the refrain in a harmonious duet.

"Now I'm in a whole new world with you"

She picked up the next verse of the song as she wagged her invisible tail and her voice soared with the memories of their first kiss under the cherry blossoms of hanami.

"Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky"

As the song drew to its climax, the two began to walk toward each other in perfect unison, singing back and forth in harmony.

"A whole new world
A whole new world
That's where we'll be
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place"

They reached each other as the two spotlights became one and sang the last verse in unison as she leaned forward and he stretched up to stare into her eyes, taking his glasses off as he did.

"For you and me"

Their lips met and they embraced under the spotlights as the crowd applauded. Sachiko wiped tears of joy from her eyes. Suzume wolf whistled and cheered. To the side, Ame-no-Uzume beamed happily at the destined couple that she was gently shepherding as the red thread linking them strengthened and brightened. Finally, in a corner, a disguised Naomi Miyata raised her glass of soda in a toast to her nephew with an ear to ear smile.

As the two kissed, Uzume's smile dimmed slightly as her phone vibrated with a warning for another couple who she was monitoring.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

With his hands in his pockets as he looked towards Rose who was walking beside him, Harry smiled slightly, "Nervous, Rose?"

All the tsukumogami did though was shake her head with a soft smile of her own, "No, Master. In fact..." Pausing, her expression became thoughtful, "I am somewhat excited after all to meet others who are serving the family besides Sheff."

That made Tsukiakari's eyebrows raise and she looked over her shoulder, "You know Sheff-San, Rose-San? Really?"

Humming, Rose gave a nod, "I do, after all the three of us served Master's grandmother together, my last Mistress. Though... I was not quite fully formed yet enough consciously to hold a conversation with them, I do remember them softly whispering to me at times."

Lips quirked upwards, Harry chuckled, "Well, I'm sort of excited to meet them as well, Rose. Hopefully..."

For her part, the Kyu Gunto came to a stop and placed a hand on his shoulder. Tsukiakari then gave him an understanding smile, "Trust me, Master, they do care for you. And while you have not spoken to them, they do love you. Though some..." A giggle escaped her which got her an odd look, "Though they do get some getting used to, after all."

While he did not quite understand what he meant, Harry put that aside and nodded, "Thanks, Tsukiakari."

Quickly, said blade pulled him into a hug as she whispered to him, "You do not need to be sorry, Master. Never, because you are a wonderful person." Pulling back some, Tsukiakari gave a look to Juuchi, "Right, Senpai?"

Raising one eyebrow, Juuchi snorted, "As if such a thing really needs to be said. After all, it is rather self-evident." Smugly looking at him, she continued, "Hence, it should be self apparent."

The other two object spirits only sighed and shook their heads with slightly exasperated smiles. Harry meanwhile, gave her a slight grin, "Thanks, Juuchi." A smug look on her face, the Muramasa waved him off. Looking around though, Harry gave a small nod, "This is a rather nice place though."

Brightly smiling, Tsukiakari nodded, "It really is, Master. I managed to find it and the apartment is a good size for the cost. Also, it is not too far from the base either, so we only have a short distance to travel." Reaching the door, she pulled out a key, "You ready?" All Harry did was nod and she put in the key and turned it, unlocking the door, "Hello, everyone."

Various noises drifted out as the Kyu Gunto walked in, only for them to fade away as Harry did so as well, Regina at his back. Seeing the various sets of eyes on him, he gave an unsure smile and wave, "Um, hi?"

No one said anything before a boisterous laugh made them turn to Goldie, who sat in a recliner as if it was her throne. Grinning widely, she threw her arms wide, "HA! It seems that the sight of us and our magnificence has shocked Praetor into silence! Though, that is little wonder." Getting up, she walked over to him and nodded, "I am Crocea Mors, Praetor, and have been in the family for many years. It is my honour to once more be able to serve one of the Household."

Holding out his hand, Harry had a slight smile on his face as the Roman blade clasped his arm in her hand, "It is good to meet you, Crocea-"

From behind him, Juuchi called out, "Just call her Goldie, everyone does."

Eyebrow raised, the Roman sword shrugged, "I do not mind very much, Praetor. It is but a nickname, Umu."

There was a slight of twinkle of amusement in her eyes as Juuchi twitched a bit.

Meanwhile, Dracul leapt up onto the couch and twirled her true self around before holding it behind her with one hand. Placing one hand with her fingers touching her chest, she grinned while closing her eyes, "And I am the greatest spear bard of them all, Dracul~ And I am no fool~" Opening one eye, she smirked, "So have no fear, for I am here."

Looking over her shoulder, Goldie raised one eyebrow, "When it comes to singing, you cannot match me." Just chuckling, she looked at the other sprit with one eye opened and her hands raised in a "What can you do pose" while smirking, "For I am greater for I am Roman."

Her eyebrow twitching, Dracul leaned forward, "Ha! You cannot match my heavenly voice~'

Now bringing her full attention to the other Potter weapon, Goldie hummed, "Perhaps we shall hold a contest, Umu! A singing contest!"

Almost as one, everyone but Harry, Regina, Rose, Goldie, and Dracul spoke as one, "Please don't."

Both arguing blades huffed a bit and looked away from each other. Confused, Harry scratched the back of his head, 'I wonder what that is all about...'

The spear then turned to Harry and smiled which showed her larger than normal canines before she hopped off the couch and stood before him. Placing one hand on her hip, which she thrust out, she chuckled, "Still, it is good to finally meet you in person, Master." Winking, Dracul wagged a finger at him, "And I know that we're going to get along just fine."

Simply nodding, Harry chuckled, "I hope so too, Dracul..."

One by one, each of the weapons introduced themselves to Harry with smiles and handshakes. When it came to Carnwennan, the Arthurian dagger gave Harry a small nod, "Do not worry about Mistress Natsumi. I'll do my very best to protect her for you."

Smiling slightly, something about that filled Harry with confidence that one could tell from his voice, "I know. And thank you."

All Carnwennan did was nod at that with an understanding smile upon his face.

Eventually, he came to Andraste who introduced herself with a small bow. As she straightened, Harry smiled back at her, "It is good to meet you, Andraste." Head tilted to the side, he nodded towards her, "Also, nice glasses."

Juuchi raised her eyebrows in question at that, "I have been wondering about that... why are you wearing glasses?"

The shield spirit blinked at that before bashfully smiling, "Sabah suggested it as a matter of fact. She said, um, it made me look cute...?"

When they turned to said sword, she opened one eye and nodded before leaning into a lightly blushing Andraste, "It does, my old friend. And I believe that the word that I used was 'Adorable', as a matter of fact. Especially when you get all embarrassed and flustered as you are right now."

In reply to that, Andraste blushed and looked away as she scratched one cheek. And, internally, Harry had to agree, she did look adorable with glasses on her face. Soon enough, they were all seated at the chairs and couches that were in the apartment. Part of Harry being amused as Sabah sat in Andraste's lap, much to the slight embarrassment of the shield. Taking a sip of her tea, Andraste hummed, "This is wonderful tea, Miss Rose."

Lightly blushing, Rose gave her a nod, "Thank you, Miss Andraste."

Bill, for his part, nodded as he sipped his tea before tipping his hat to the tea set, "Don't normally drink tea, mind you. But this is some mighty fine tea that you brewed up if I don't say myself."

For her part, Feng softly smiled alongside his sister, Xing, "Yes, this is wonderful tea, Lady Rose. Our compliments."

Simply nodding, the tea set smiled. Meanwhile, Harry was talking with Dracul with Regina listening in intently, "So... you did not like your original owner?"

Placing her mug down, the spear frowned, "I... would not say that I did not like him, as much as my feelings in regards to him are complicated. He forged me, created me, and used me for the first ten years of my life in a war that turned Central Europe into a charnel house." Looking at the window, Dracul frowned, "I looked up the war on the internet. According to them, more than eight million people died... and I can believe it. But while I am thankful for giving me an existence, what he did... well, outside the family they called him William the Bloody. In the family? They called him William the Devil, William the Stained, and many more. I am reasonably certain that they despised him..."

A frown on his face, Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "Was... was he really that bad?"

Dracul bit into a cookie and nodded, "Perhaps even worse. Last week, I came across one of those animes, Hellsing. That Catholic Priest? The ones who slaughtered people and such? He reminds me much of William... but restrained and a Catholic Priest. William took joy in killing Catholics, especially those of the German Branch of the Potters. And he died when one of them brought out Vala here." She nodded towards the shield and sword spirit, "He decided to fight an army of people lead by the wizard with her in his hands. It was... vicious, and brutal, especially when William discovered that all his allies had left." Leaning forward, she frowned, "I arrived back in English Potters properties when the war ended, because while I was a Potter weapon, they wanted nothing to do with me. Something that I cannot blame them for."

Lips turned downwards into a frown, Rose gave her a look, "And if you met him now?"

In response, the spear looked at her and smiled thinly, "I have learned much with the Potters, including how important family is. Thus, I would verbally rip him apart... and then stab him in the gut and put the rabid dog he is down."

That only got her nods as the conversations continued.
___________________________________________________________

Standing outside the Shrine, Harry looked somewhat sheepishly as he looked at an amused Haru, "Sorry about taking so long, Haru-San. But..."

Just chuckling, the five tailed Kitsune waved her off, "Do not worry about it too much, Harry-San. After all, you were meeting members of your family, or beings that you consider as much. So you taking some time is not a real issue." She smiled slightly, "I remember getting lost for hours in talking with Kogitsune-San. So it does not bother me if something similar happened to you."

All Harry did was nod and sigh in relief, "Thanks."

Once more, Haru chuckled before they came into view of the entrance to the Shrine, and one building set a short distance away, "And here we go."

Eyes widening slightly, the thirteen year old stared up at the building and turned to Haru, "The museum is in the form of a Machiya?"

Haru smiled and gave a slow nod, "It is, or at least appears to be. There are a few modifications to it for the items in question of course. Not all of them being visible mind you, and more than a few are more modern such as central heating and air conditioning hidden out of view to give it a more traditional feel. Among others, there are also some earthquake protections in the design. We have also added magical defenses, such as anti-fire charms used in the West. If the items were in danger of being destroyed, they would also be teleported to a safe place to wait for retrieval. An... interesting spell, I will admit."

Unable to help himself, Harry grinned, "Really interesting spell." Noticing something else about the building, his grin widened, "And I noticed that there is a third floor."

Placing her hands behind her back, Haru hummed, "Yes, there is. Somehow it was added to the plans and turned into a small apartment, though some usage of expansion charms has made it a bit bigger than normal." Twinkle in her eyes, she continued, "Originally, it was supposed to be where the conservation and such would be taking place, but it was decided to have that done in a small area on the first floor. Of course, this means that now there will be security on site twenty four seven. Hoshi-San seemed rather surprised when Natsumi-Chan showed it to her."

Both of them looked at each other with completely straight faces for a few moments until they cracked up and snickered. Shaking his head, Harry continued to snicker, "So there is a whole apartment up there?"

Flicking away a tear, Haru nodded, "Hai, with everything needed." She gave a small shrug, "Normally, we would have only gotten away with a two story building. But there has been some advances and magical spells that allow for a three floor wooden building to meet all code." Reaching the locked door, she unlocked it and opened it before moving inside and punching in a code to disarm an alarm system. With that done, she slid a second, metal gate back and into a hidden recess before nodding, "And there we go."

Upon entering, Harry noted that Haru had turned on the lights. But what caught his attention was one of the very first things and that was on the wall. Almost immediately at seeing the picture of himself smiling, and the plaque below it stating that the museum displayed the "Potter Collection", he blushed, "Um... did you really have to?"

Haru smirked a bit at that, "Hai, I did." She gestured around them, "After all, these do belong to you, Harry-San. Each and every one of them... and so I had little choice but to state who and where they came from."

That only got her a look from the thirteen year old, which only made her smirk more. Shaking his head, Harry glanced around and noticed a second plaque. This one talked about the history behind the collection and how it was gathered by Ian Potter. All done in a way that made sure that one did not think of magic, "Huh..."

Standing beside him, Haru gave a small nod, "We will, of course, expand the plaque when the Statute finally falls with the full story. But until then? I think that this will be fine." The Kitsune then gestured at an alcove, "Of course, here we have the museum shop."

As he entered it, Harry looked around in interest. Sure enough, there were prints from the woodcuts here and there. Head cocked to the side, he examined one, "Were these made from the original wood blocks?"

With a small nod, the Yokai nodded, "Hai, they were as a matter of fact. I got in touch with some old friends who had made ones themselves and could use them. From what I have been told, they should sell reasonably well." Moving to a display case, she tapped it, "And here, we have reproductions of the netsuke and okimono for sale as well. Like in the case of the woodprints, I have a few friends who were happy to make some. We'll also sell some replica inrō as well."

Looking over what was there, Harry noticed something hanging from a small stand on the cashier desk and chuckled as he gestured at it, "You made smaller netsuke replicas for phone charms?"

The Kitsune grinned, "Hai, we did. It was something that Natsumi-Chan suggested as she thought that a number of teens might want to buy them. Especially as some of them could be considered cute." With a motion of her hand to follow, she walked out into the museum proper. Along the walls were display cases with netsuke inside of them, with the displays sorted by what type of netsuke they were. There were also informative plaques stating not just what they were, but about the artist that made them and where they had come from as well as history. There was even a display under glass of a male mannequin wearing a Hakama while a female one wore an old fashioned Kimono, both of them with an inrō as well as netsuke to show how they were worn.

Besides the netsuke, there was also several different inrō, okimono, and other Japanese objects that Ian had bought during his time in Japan. Not to mention normal pictures that showed said objects being made, which the thirteen year old wizard knew would be replaced with wizarding ones once the SoS fell. While he knew that there was a lot in Ian's collection, Harry had not quite expected this much. It practically filled the first floor of the museum while leaving enough room for people to walk and move around, "I knew that he had a large collection, but..."

Also looking around, Haru gave a small nod, "Your great-grandfather really did collect a lot of items. Most of which were small and considered barely noteworthy at the time. But now... they can be used to give people in the here and now a glimpse at the life during the Edo and Meiji Eras." Hand resting on the display case which had the iron kitsune statute created by Yamada Sōbi that Ian had bought, Haru softly smiled, "To bring the past back to life." Patting his shoulder, she gave a nod towards the stairwell that went up to the second floor, a small elevator beside it for wheelchair access. Once they were upstairs, the Kitsune nodded, "And here are where the woodcut reproductions will be displayed, though over there..." She gestured to one end, "Is where various photographs will be displayed showing daily life as well as an group of interactive exhibits."

Intrigued, Harry looked at her, "Really?"

With a hum, Haru smiled, "Really. And it should be a real hit."

However, she did not lead him right over to the various woodcuts. Some of them showed ancient Japanese warriors fighting each other, Yokai, and like. Others showed romance between different figures and the like. There was even a few woodcuts from the Russo-Japanese War. Besides the woodcuts, there were also fans that were on display as well as wall hangings and even folding screens. All protected behind glass. Some woodblocks crafted to make woodcuts were also on display. Each display having a small bit of information talking about it. Harry was even informed that there was enough that they would switch some out for other objects in the collection to make sure that every bit would be seen.

Eventually, they made their way to the back where various photographs were of Edo and Meiji Era Japan. They practically covered the walls showing day to day life, various people, and the like. Beneath them were small plaques talking about the subjects and giving some information. Finally though, they reached the interactive exhibit which was a group of display screens. Which were themselves touch screens showing scanned pages from books. Choosing one, Harry began to scroll through it with wide eyes, "Wow..."

Lightly laughing, Haru nodded, "Yes, they did a very good job with this as a matter of fact. Ian-San had quite a few books dated to the time and the like, all preserved. Needless to say, I think some historians at Tokyo University and the like were very happy and are still poring over the non-magical tomes. This will let people read what their ancestors might have read and even wrote." Gesturing at another display, the Kitsune smiled, "That one has newspaper pages as a matter of fact."

Grinning, Harry gave her a laugh of his own, "Guess that it was a very good thing that Potters are packrats, huh?

Softly snorting, the Yokai grinned back, "Yes, an extremely good thing as a matter of fact." Picking one book, Haru began to read, "I remember reading this back when Tokyo was known as Edo. We will, of course, be offering scanned books online and there is a Yokai owned print shop that is extremely happy to have the contract to produce copies of the books for sale as well..." With a sigh, she shook her head, "I am very happy with all this, and I hope that you are as well, Harry-San."

Expression thoughtful, Harry gave a small bow, "Extremely happy." Looking around, he took a deep breath and released it, "And I think that my Great-grandfather would also be very happy and proud as well..."

To that, Haru simply nodded.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Meets The In-Laws V

Kōsuiyama Soapland, Kuraba Street, Tokyo
Spoiler: Jackie's Night Out

Aomi Sato grimaced. The young Inugami woman hated her 'job'. For the hundredth time at least she cursed her decision to leave Onagawa to head to Tokyo to find her fortune.

Far better to have stayed home and tried to rebuild her family's fish processing plant after the Great Tōhoku Quake. But, no, she decided to move away from her tsunami-devastated hometown to become an idol in Tokyo. Just like her childhood dream had been. Stupid childhood dream.

Instead, the 'talent scout' that had approached her a year later after she buried her dead parents and sister and took the insurance money to forge a new life in the big city was less interested in a singer or dancer, and more in fresh meat for his masters in the Dojin-kai yakuza. Which is how she wound up here, as a virtual slave to the yakuza syndicate who owned her 'contract'.

With that, she plastered on a fake smile for the next 'customer' that she would 'fall in love with' while 'helping him bathe'.

Then her dark brown eyes opened wide in surprise as a female kitsune stepped through with a towel tied around her waist held in place by a honest-to-Amaterasu pirate swordbelt like you would see in the movies. As she moved on autopilot through the script that she had beaten into her, she wondered what that meant.

Hopefully she wouldn't be one of the more abusive ones....

As she finished the client's hair while she sat on the plastic stool next to the air mattress. and began to use her naked body to lather up her back to excite her, the pirate gently took her wrist. A soft whisper. "You don't like it here, do you?"

Aomi gave a hesitant nod and her ears perked up a little. This close she could smell the kitsune's scent which was...odd. Almost like steel rather than fox.

A soft chuckle. "Well have no fear. Fluffy Tail special or not, I'll get ye out of here or me name is not.." Aomi felt a long-absent emotion in her heart. Hope.

A bellow from the entrance as Daigekido, the oni bouncer who handled 'disciplining' the girls, appeared in the door stripped to the waist to show off his tattoos denoting status in the Dojin-kai along with a pendant. "Captain Fox!"

He swung his tetsubo mace at the kitsune's skull, who used the grip on her wrist to throw Aomi out of the path of the studded iron that would have pulped them both. As she sprawled on the air mattress, the Kitsune Captain Fox ducked out of the way of a second swing that shattered a hole in the tile wall of the 'bath chamber'.

"Oi now! Wait your turn boyo! I ordered a wench and not a buccaneer!" Fox glared at the Oni overtopping herself by a meter. "This ain't civilized!" She drew her sword and slashed at the Oni only to have the blade grabbed buy the Oni who ignored the blood dripping from his hand as Fox's eyes widened.

"Oyabun wants you dead! Reward me for your head!" A snarl and as the Oni forced Fox up against the back wall,

Aomi grabbed the first thing at hand, the bucket of soapy water. "Hey!" She was sick and tired of this shit.

Daigekido turned his head to face her, only to get a face full of soapy water in the eyes, followed by the thrown bucket.

Fox pulled her sword free from the distracted Oni and rolled between his legs, slashing up at his crotch as she did. A roar of rage and pain caused the room to shake as she sprang to her feet. "Time to..." Another figure appeared in the changing room hefting a rifle.

Fox's eyes found Aomi's and her lips moved. "Duck."

With that the Kitsune stabbed her sword at the wall behind Daigekido and yelled "CONFRINGO!" as she threw herself prone a half-second ahead of Aomi.

The wall exploded in a hail of tile, wood, PVC pipe, and plaster shrapnel, blowing Daigekido across the room and into the second kobun who entered with an AK-47. Aomi's ears were still ringing from the Blasting Curse when Fox threw her over her shoulders and leapt through the remains of the back wall.

"Furnace! Where is it!!" Fox yelled as they entered the back room to see a trio of Okami hefting swords and wands at the back door. A roar bellowed from the room where they had just vacated.

"Left door!" She screamed in return. Involuntarily her lips curled in a crazy smile.

Fox blew the indicated door open with a second blasting curse and sprinted into the utility room with its furnace for the hot water.

After a fast mumbled spell in English later and a gesture at the furnace, Fox jammed her cutlass back into the scabbard before pulling out a handful of Floo Powder from a pouch on her belt. She threw it in the furnace that they were running toward and yelled at the top of her lungs as the flames turned green and Aomi screamed.

"Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan!"

Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan, Roppongi Grand Plaza Second Floor, Tokyo
Spoiler: A Butterknife Family Reunion


Wei Ying stared at the all but naked kitsune with the very naked inugami girl slung over her shoulders as she untangled herself from Fudo's embrace. The kitsune leapt over the bar and ducked behind her, lowering the inugami girl to the floor.

"DAMMIT JACKIE!!" Came from behind her where Delilah had just gotten out of the bathroom and was sprinting to the table with her purse.

Involuntarily, Ying's normally calm and inscrutable face cracked and her lips twitched in a smirk. Her hand found the hilt of her dao and she slid into Si Li Bu stance.

The flames behind "Jackie" flared up again in a green fountain and a massive Yaojing with blue skin, tattoos, three horns, and a scowl bleeding from numerous cuts and bruises appeared and hefted a massive iron club.

Furious crimson eyes tracked from Delilah, to Jackie, to her... and then to Fudo who was standing and cracking her knuckles with a furious scowl on her face.

The Yaojing paled and yanked the pendant off his chest.

With a bang of displaced air two dozen more figures hefting unsheathed weapons appeared.

The serving staff and patrons began a general panicked exodus for the exits.

Delilah pulled a revolver from her purse.

Jacklyn drew her cutlass as Aomi crawled under the table where Delilah's cell phone was still ringing.

Fudo's scowl grew darker and uglier as mandalas began to cycle around her fists and she shifted into a shotokan karate stance.

Ying's dao cleared the sheath and her free hand pulled a handful of her hairs off her head.

CRACK

A .44 caliber bullet fired by Delilah ricocheted off the Oni's solid bone skull.

Jacklyn waved her cutlass as she stood over Aomi. "Away Boarders me hearties!" A shield spell sprang up to protect them.

Ying's illusion covering her hilt flickered out to show her brightly glowing Spirit Pearl as she breathed a silvery mist onto the loose hairs and flung them at the charging yakuza. They flickered and reformed into a half dozen duplicates of her as she leapt over the bar into the brawl with her Qi enhancing her speed, durability, and strength.

Fudo moved into action with a jumping crane kick that covered eight meters in the blink of an eye and sent a yakuza gunman flying past the furnace with half his ribcage caved in. As she landed, a knife edged hand strike shattered a katana-wielding Oni's forearm like glass and a roundhouse kick followup sent the Yokai's limp body flying across the room into the kitchen.

CRACK.

A second yakuza hefting a submachine gun spun and dropped from Delilah's bullet. "Cover me, Jackie!" The revolver snapped out as she began to pick off enemies.

CRACK.

"Aye Aye, Del!" The Cutlass grinned maniacally. Jackie rabbit punched a Yakuza trying to knife Delilah and then continued, "Aren't you going to pick up the phone and tell Colombe to join the fun?"

Delilah snarled at Jacklyn. "TELL COLOMBE THAT I'M BUSY HERE! SIS CAN WAIT UNTIL THIS IS OVER!"

Two sets of heads snapped around as they heard Delilah's angry snarl. "you...." Fudo hissed in rage and a flaming Shingon Buddhist mandala containing the Five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm erupted around her and cycled as Qi flooded and supercharged her. Everyone in the room stopped dead at the display of Divine Power emanating from the Masamune's avatar. Suddenly Fudo blurred at Delilah, leaving an afterimage behind her.
Spoiler: The Five Wisdom Kings

Ying watched with shocked awe as the Masamune stabbed out with one finger as her Qi flared almost too bright to see. She could barely see the Masamune's movements even fully Qi-boosted as her finger danced across Delilah who was moving in apparent slow motion. Mother, a Grandmaster of Mei Five Ancestors Style, would have been a deer before the tiger.

Zusanli point. Xuehai point. Zhongji point. Tianshu point. Xaiwan point. Quchi point. Qimen point. Tianfu point. Jiache point. Tiayang point. Renzhong point and Yintang points struck with thumb and ring finger simultaneously. Total blockage of all five Yin and five Yang meridians of the body.

Total paralysis.

Elegant, not a wasted motion as she effortlessly neutralized one of the strongest combatants that Ying knew.

Perfection incarnate.

Fudo glared at the paralyzed Delilah and whispered. "I'll deal with you and your 'sister' in a minute." She then gave an open-handed push to the chest of the Muramasa revolver.

Delilah shot across the room like a rocket, disintegrating the tables and chairs in her path. She impacted the wall and vanished in the sudden hole where the men's room was. Faintly there came the sound of shattered porcelain and gushing water as Fudo turned to the fifteen Yakuza still on their feet.

"Playtime's over." The Blade of Fudo My'oo drew herself. A flaming aura sprang from her as Masamune steel shone with its own inner light.

Ying felt a sudden wetness trickle down her legs as she lost control of her bladder.

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

Seven ships. Three late-model destroyers, two torpedo cruisers, one heavy cruiser, one Ta-class flagship.

…they had faced worse.

The ocean fog brought by the rising sun did well to mask them from sight, as they pondered their strategy.

The torpedo cruisers and destroyers would make closing in a dangerous proposition—they were confident in their maneuverability, but in the fleet's current formation they could cast a wall of torpedoes they would never be able to dodge. Hanging back and taking out the torpedo ships, on the other hand, would open them up to plunging fire from the Ta-class; getting close enough to ensure lethal hits on the smaller targets would put them square in the battleship's Goldilocks' zone.

One of them proposed a diversion, sending some planes out to get the fleet's attention as they approached from a different angle. It was a plausible tactic, but potentially costly as well—odds were good they would lose those planes, and with no carrier present in the fleet to salvage from, it would be some time before they could be replaced. As well, they would lose the element of surprise as the fleet shifted their formation and made it more difficult to catch two or more of them with one salvo.

Perhaps use the bombers to split their attention, another suggested. Come in fast and low, strike the torpedo cruisers with their less robust AA coverage, as they closed in and engaged the flagship head-on. The remaining destroyers would be too busy trying to shoot down the planes to launch torpedoes, giving them time to get close enough that their flagship would be caught in the line of fire as well.

A few seconds of deliberation, and then a consensus: they might lose the planes, but this gave them the best odds of eliminating the fleet with minimal risk of damage.

Of course, the heavy cruiser in the middle of the formation had the range to cover both the flagship and the torpedo squadron… but they knew just how to put it out of commission, and throw the whole fleet into disarray.

Deep in their souls, the drums of war began to beat.

…

In the distance, the Abyssals were unaware they were being observed; they were too busy salivating over the feast to come. For weeks they had waited, watching for the smallest gap in shipgirl patrols around these islands that they might be able to slip through. Now that they had their opening, it would be a simple matter to steal the humans' supplies right out from under them! Let those other fools throw themselves against a wall and die—they were going to get theirs the smart way, and get out with enough supplies to sustain themselves for weeks, months, even!

Making their way towards the nearest known supply depot, the fleet passed a small islet, shrouded in fog. They paid it no mind—it wasn't large enough to hold an outpost that may detect them, and they had to maintain maximum visibility.

So it was, that they didn't spot the lone, misshapen hull hiding in the mist.

"I can't wait to sink my teeth into some fresh meat after this…" the heavy cruiser, a Ri-class, said as she licked her lips.

"But we eat fresh meat every day." One of the destroyers pointed out.

"That bone-filled, jellified shit is NOT meat!" The Ri-class hissed. "I'm talking REAL meat—juicy, succulent beef, tender pork, fried chicken…"

The Flagship scoffed. "Please, that's basic shit. Once you've had a taste of human flesh, nothing else will have the same appeal anymore…"

There was a gagging, choking noise from the Ri-class.

"Oh, stop bitching! You don't know what you're booing until you've tried it yourself," the Ta-class growled, turning to roll her eyes at her subordinate…

But her eyes widened at the sight of the whale-bone harpoon that had impaled the heavy cruiser's throat.

The Ri-class reached for her neck with shaking hands, a look of utter shock on her face as she began to choke on her own blood, before finally collapsing to the water. Her hull was intact, but the injury was equivalent to her bridge being cut off from the rest of the ship—she was effectively mission-killed.

Instantly, the destroyers went into a panicked frenzy, spinning in circles pinging their sonars relentlessly. "What the fuck was that!? Where did it come from!?" One of the Chi-classes cried out in alarm.

"Spread out! Whoever did this, I WANT THEIR HEAD!!" The Ta-class howled.

One of the cruisers called out once more. "There! In the fog!"

The fleet turned back to the fog, to the islet they had dismissed out of hand. Now, a singular light cut through the fog like anchor knife through butter—getting closer, getting brighter. And with that light came a singular figure… an Abyssal hull, unlike any they had ever seen. At a glance, it had the hull of a Ta-class… but closer inspection revealed that it was all wrong. It looked like it had the superstructure of a Ru-class… and her aft end was completely flat, missing the third turret.

The destroyers and cruisers hesitantly backed away, frightened by the newcomer. The Ta-class, however, stepped forward. "Hey! What the fuck do you think you're doing out here? Identify yourself!"

The figure was silent, all but ignoring the flagship's command. Instead, the members of the fleet began to hear something: a low, droning buzz, underscored by a rhythmic drum beat, starting soft but steadily growing louder and louder. This noise wasn't coming from their radios, nor from the air itself… it almost seemed to be completely in their heads.
Spoiler: Marcher of the Deep

The light of the Ta-class's eyes flared, her annoyance growing. "What are you, brain dead?" She called out. "Is this some sort of challenge?"

The buzzing in their ears continued to get louder. Too late, they realized the buzzing was in fact real—two squadrons of bombers shot out of the fog, their propellers humming like a swarm of angry bees. Before the fleet could even think to take aim, they struck, peppering the Chi-classes' decks with their machine guns as they pulled up hard… moments before their torpedoes struck the cruisers square amidships, enveloping both of them in towers of water. In the space of a heartbeat, one of the pillars of water exploded—the explosion of the torpedoes touching off the unfortunate Abyssal's ammunition.

The destroyers and their flagship were stunned, watching as the smoke and mist cleared… and where the torpedo cruisers were standing just moments prior, the mangled remains of a lone cruiser began to slip beneath the waves, her sister all but vaporized.

The destroyers went into full panic mode, firing their guns and anti-air wildly into the air—well enough, as the bombers turned back and began to buzz their decks as well. The Ta-class twisted to face the disfigured hull, eyes blazing with rage. "So THAT'S how it is!? FINE! You're fucking DEAD, bitch!" She screamed, punctuating her declaration with her full armament.

The unknown Abyssal surged forward, dipping under the arc of the primary salvo with startling ease. By the time the Ta-class has fired her second salvo, the Abyssal was well within her effective firing range—and yet her foe continued to dodge the flagship's calculated shell groupings, exhibiting rudder-shifting speeds well beyond what a Ta-class should be capable of. At last, the unknown Abyssal powered her way out of the fog, revealing herself to the naked eye.

She was an abomination. Almost all of the Ta-class's original superstructure was gone, the tower of a Ru-class welded on top of what remained. One of her forward-facing twin turrets had also been replaced with a Ru-class's triple gun mount. And her aft end… was neither Ta nor Ru. It was a carrier's aft—her rear turret had been replaced with a partial flight deck, with a cruiser's catapult mechanisms jury-rigged to launch planes off the stern of the ship. It was likely that her engines, her screws, even her rudders were stolen from an armored carrier.

The Ta-class couldn't fire her main guns a third time before the abomination had closed to point-blank range. She was even more hideous up close; a chunk of her face and one arm being a different shade of grey from the rest of her body, a streak of black hair ruining her white mane, and the legs of a carrier Demon shoddily bolted onto her upper thighs.

This… this thing had no right to be sailing the seas—not as well as it was now. But her misshapen form radiated power unlike any the flagship had ever known.

The monster raised her arm, and there was a gleam of steel. The Ta-class barely managed to yank herself out of the way before a blade of Abyssal metal carved the air where she was just standing. Her mind racing, trying to find options, she lashed out with a foot, catching the monster in its flank and driving it several meters back. It barely even seemed winded, quickly charging her once more. She leveled her guns and fired at the bitch's center of mass; at this range, she figured, dodging would be all but impossible.

So she was at a complete loss for words when the monster simply vanished, and her rounds splashed uselessly into the water in front of her.

The Ta-class's roar of fury was stifled by the plume of water that erupted right in her face, the result of her shells detonating underwater. She staggered back, struggling to recover her vision—and just as her radar pinged a target behind her, she howled in pain as she felt the monster ram its blade into her back, carving through her armor effortlessly.

Blinded and hurting, she lashed out with an elbow behind her. Unfortunately her blow passed through empty air, and she felt the blade yanked free from her body as the monster retreated. She doubled over gasping, bringing a hand to her abdomen to try and stifle the blood flow; despite puncturing clear through her citadel, the stab had missed her vitals, by some miracle…

Or was it on purpose?

Slowly, the Ta-class turned around… and the abomination stood there facing her silently, its blade dripping with her blood. Was this… some sort of intimidation? Trying to scare her away?

The monster looked down to its feet, where the Ri-class still floated on the water, unconscious. Wearing what could only be called a bored expression on its face, it reversed the grip on its blade and brought it down in the heavy cruiser's chest, before pulling it out and watching her corpse slip under the waves.

The Ta-class felt her blood boiling. The nerve of this bitch!

She howled in rage, firing everything she had at the abomination. Once more, the Abyssal seemed to vanish into thin air—and too late, the Ta-class realized what lay beyond.

The destroyers never saw it coming, too focused on defending themselves from the bombers to notice the 16-inch shells, until they plowed into their paper-thin hulls and detonated, consuming them all in massive fireballs.

The Ta-class's heart plummeted. Just like that, her fleet was gone—she was all that remained. This wasn't supposed to happen… this was supposed to be just a supply depot raid, a heist. Why had this happened?

XXXXX

The Ta-class stood still on the water, a look of shock on her face. They stood behind the battleship, silently observing.

In all honesty, they had expected to only score some light damage on the destroyers by baiting the flagship's fire; to eliminate all three in one blow was a stroke of luck. They had lost four bombers keeping the destroyers occupied, however… it would likely be a long time before those were replaced.

At any rate, the flagship was the only one who remained. Dealing with her should be easy enough, now that her cover was gone.

They gunned their engines and charged the Ta-class, blade raised. The Ta-class twisted around, her face contorted in utter hate, but she wasn't quick enough—a spray of blood, and the battleship dropped into the water, her legs cleanly severed. The Ta-class sputtered and flailed weakly, turning herself face up, as they circled her. "F-fucking cunt…" she hissed. "What did we ever do to you…?"

They didn't feel the need to dignify the cannibal with an answer.

But as they raised their blade, prepared to end it, it struck them. A wave of emotion, raw and powerful… and at its heart, something impossible, that made them go deathly still. There was spark of recognition.

For a brief moment, the voices were unified in thought and action.

"...Mommy…?" The girl who used to be known as Tampa whispered.

In front of her, the mortally-wounded Ta-class saw the monstrosity pause; it was distracted. This was a chance—an opening, to pay this bitch back for taking everything from her.

She leveled every gun she could on the demon and fired one last salvo. This time, there was no dodging, no vanishing act—the cluster of shells impacted the beast square in the chest, enveloping her in a massive fireball.

The shock of her guns firing, and the proximity of the explosion, proved fatal for the Ta-class's compromised frame. She began to break up and sink of her own volition, deriving what little satisfaction she could from the fact she at least bloodied its nose.

The last thing she saw, before everything went black… was the Demon still standing there, defiant of the deep, bleeding wounds all over its torso.

…

They let out a guttural growl, clutching their bleeding chest. Their distraction had cost them; the Ta-class was able to make one last suicidal attack. They were likely going to be recovering from this for some time…

But that was secondary to the most important thought in their mind: somewhere, somehow, Mother was alive.

They had to tell their ohana.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Sitting on her porch and looking out into the yard of her family home, Akimi looked at the blossoming trees as the horizon slowly lightened. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and took a sip of tea before she opened them as she felt a presence beside her. A smile that did not quite meet her eyes met her as Miu looked down at her, "Good morning, Miu-Chan."

Just nodding, the crane Hanyou sat down beside her, "Good morning to you as well, Akimi-Chan." All her friend did though was nod back and make her a tea as well. Upon being handed the cup, she took a sip and sighed, "Good tea, as usual."

This time, there was a smile on Akimi's face, "Thank you."

Waving her off, Miu took another sip, "You don't need to thank me, after all it is always good." She then placed her cup to the side and gave her friend a worried look, "What are you doing up so early and..." Narrowing her eyes, Miu came to a realization, "How long have you been up for?"

In return, Akimi weakly chuckled as she rubbed her face, "Feels like most of the night. We've had a lot to think about after all."

Expression turning gentle and understanding, the crane Hanyou placed a hand on the other woman's shoulders, "Oh, Akimi-Chan."

Much to her surprise, Akimi gave her a soft smile back, "It's okay, Miu-Chan. I... came to a decision regarding it." Turning back to the trees, she gestured to them, "For most of the night I have been here, watching the stars and the trees. Attempting to divine something from them. And yet... nothing. But it came to me that it is really down to me, and me alone to make a decision."

Leaning forward, Miu frowned, "Because of your Ojii-San being the Captain of the ship that you're the shipgirl of."

Only shaking her head, the Kitsune Hanyou snorted some, "Not just that." Sighing, she continued, "There was also a worry in my heart. I have been looking up things regarding shipgirls. Did you know that some shipgirls actually change their appearance somewhat when awoken? Considering that most of the Yamatai's crew were Kitsune, what would that do to me. Does that mean that my appearance might take on some traits? Those shipgirls... like Ryuuhou, Taigai, Shigure, and Yuudachi, they have those odd hair flaps that almost look like ears. Will I have something like that?"

Head tilted to the side, Miu had a twinkle of amusement in her eyes, "Actually, I think that it would look pretty cute on you."

Chuckling, Akimi looked down at her tea, "I thought that you might say that." With a sip, she sighed, "But I suppose that my main worry was something else. Did you know that most of my Ojii-San's crew were Kitsune? Some called the Yamatai the 'Kitsune Battleship' due to how many Kitsune were crew. A large number of those had more than one tail as well and had fought alongside my Ojii-San for decades, some of them having fought against the Koreans hundreds of years ago. So most would likely have a few decades at least, and a number would have centuries over me. I suppose one of my worries was... how that might well affect me."

Now frowning herself, Miu had a thoughtful look on her face, "That... is a very good question, I suppose. How would our crews affect us? Would there be any bleedover?"

For several moments, the Onmyouji beside her did not say anything. But then, Akimi sighed, "That... is one of my fears, yes. And a worry that I have been keeping close and attempting to divine upon. All the signs point to, no, it would not affect me. Not really as even if I am not awakened, I am still the spirit of the ship, though in a body of flesh and blood. If they would have affected me, than they already have from the time that I was born in this current life."

Miu was silent herself for almost a minute, "You're going to go through with it, then?"

Slowly, Akimi nodded as she chewed her lip, "Hai, I am. If nothing else, I shall finally be able to get answers from my Ojii-San in regards to why he did what he did. To confirm, at the very least." Reaching into her clothes, she pulled out an envelope, "This is my letter to Junyou-Sama in regards to the offer. And... that I wish for it to be done as soon as possible." Laughs made her turn to find Miu getting to her feet. Feeling slightly hurt, Akimi frowned, "Miu-Chan, it is not funny."

Eyebrow raised, Miu rolled her eyes, "No, it is not. But that is not what I am laughing at, Akimi-Chan." Looking over her shoulder, the Hanyou smiled, "I am laughing because I have to rewrite my own acceptance letter to say much the same."

Her eyes widening, the other Onmyouji sucked in a breath, "Wait, you mean..."

A soft smile on her face, Miu placed a hand on her friend's shoulder, "I am going to be right there beside you, Akimi-Chan. We've been friends for this long, that I am not going to leave you there."

Getting to her own feet, Akimi smiled with tears in her eyes before hugging Miu, "Thank you, Miu-Chan. Just... thank you."

Only hugging her back, the crane Hanyou shook her head, "You don't need to thank me, Akimi-Chan." Patting Akimi, she grinned, "Besides, since my ship name means 'Nesting Pheonix', might as well get in some practice, hm?"

That got her laughs from her friend.

Less than three hours found Junyou leaning back in a chair in Goto's office as said Admiral as well as Nagato and Ooyodo read over the two letters. Setting them down, he clasped his hands, "You believe that they are serious?"

With a hum and adding some Irish cream to her coffee, and ignoring the grimace from Ooyodo, Junyou nodded, "I am reasonably sure that she wants to be awoken as soon as possible. From all my research into her background, I suspect that she wants to get it over with before she loses her nerve and backs out. Hence, asking for an awakening to be performed when we can."

Goto leaned back some in thought, "I see..." Turning towards the window, he frowned slightly, "Hmm, I suppose that I cannot blame her knowing what we do about her family's past. Knowing that she is the shipgirl of her Ojii-San's ship with the history he had could not be easy."

Checking her logs, Ooyodo gave a sigh, "If needed, we could perform it in two days at the minimum, though I would like to have three. We do have the supplies for such though, which helps."

Just closing his eyes, the Admiral did not say anything right away before he gave a small nod, "Very well. In that case, inform them that we can hold the ceremony in exactly four days from now for them to be awoken. And-"

Suddenly, there was a sound from his computer before Kongou's voice came through the speakers, "Teitoku! You got mail! Love letters are not allowed except from me!"

Utter silence descended upon the room before the three shipgirls turned to the computer with identical looks and raised eyebrows. Goto, meanwhile, just banged his head on the desk, "Dammit, Kongou..."

Pinching her nose, the lone Light Cruiser considered following the example of her Admiral. But then, she simply shrugged it off and walked around to examine the email before raising an eyebrow, "Hmm... it's from Tanaka."

That made Goto sit up straight almost like what had happened was almost forgotten... except for the red spot on his forehead. Opening it, he gave a small smile of his own, "Tanaka has talked with the Yokai that Harry identified as being Natural Borns. They, too, want to go through with it as soon as possible, though they asked that some of their pay be sent to the foster home that they lived at."

Eyebrow raised, Nagato crossed her arms before nodding, "I shall make sure of that than. Any idea when Tanaka wishes to have it done?"

Reading, the Admiral hummed, "According to this, he will be able to have it done in a few days as well." Slowly rubbing his knuckles in thought, he smiled a bit, "That will give him a rather big boost in the defenses up in Hokkaido."

Bemused, Junyou sipped her coffee, "Really? And you think that he will be able to keep them there?"

All Goto did was turn to her with a frown, "Yes, because I will be the one setting it up for that. They may come down here for training, but we shall be sending them as soon as possible back to Hokkaido."

Frowning, Nagato furrowed her eyebrows, "There is the question as to how to explain them though..."

In reply, the lone human in the office leaned back with a smirk on his face, "Don't have to do a thing actually." Seeing the looks, Goto waved a hand, "I... may have had a conversation with Yonehara. One repeated in a number of bars here and in Tokyo during visits to the Diet and Command with us speaking so softly that I am absolutely sure were not overheard. About the possibility of Natural Borns that could come from ships that were never laid down."

The other shipgirls all smirked a bit and shook their heads. After all, they were well used to this sort of thing from their Admiral and it was exactly the sort of thing that he would come up with to obfuscate the waters. At least until the Statute fell, which most estimated would be in a year or two at most by this point. Right at that point, a thought came to Junyou with made her frown. It came from nowhere, but after some examination, she realized it came from a member of her crew that had just returned from a visit to the Afterlife. Clearing her throat, Junyou waited until they had their attention, "Perhaps we should bring them to the Caldera when we perform the summoning there in two weeks?"

Confused, Ooyodo turned to her, "Why?"

Junyou waved a hand around, "Each of them would have large crews of magicals, you know? Hundreds of them maybe... So we can have them show up there and help boost the summoning."

For several moments, they considered that before nodding. But soon enough, they returned to their usual work as they got ready for what would happen in the next few days...

 

[darthcourt10]

M1Garand8

Whew, finally! Can't believe how long I've been stuck on this… But finally done!
EDIT: Corrected incorrect date stamp (07/08/2019)

---

Navy Day


*1*
Mother

24th April 2014

It was a muggy afternoon under an overcast sky in the South China Sea. Well, that was what the crew of the RSS Formidable grumbled about as the stealth frigate powered around in a fuel-efficient circle north of the Riau islands. Not that it bothered the young woman leaning on the barrel of the bow gun, her hazel french braided hair flapping in the stiff sea breeze and eyes boring into the horizon whenever the frigate turned north.

The gentle waves lapping over her hull-body and the occasional refreshing sea spray were all it took to keep herself cool in the muggy heat—being the spiritual embodiment of the frigate had its perks, after all. Unseen by the lookouts also scanning the horizon for any sign of Abyssals, Formidable continued her watchful gaze.

Everything had been uneventful so far, to the relief of everyone—ship spirit included—since 'excitement' here meant that the Abyssals were attacking. Said spirit was starting her hundred and forty-fifth round of 'observation' when an amused voice buzzed in her head:

"Formidable-jie, you know she won't appear faster even if you keep staring, right?"

Formidable froze, cheeks warming a touch at being caught out. She shot a look at the angular shape that was RSS Intrepid halfway to the horizon off to her right, a pout slowly forming as she felt the smugness wafting over from her younger sister.

"I-I wasn't staring," she said.

Formidable's pout deepened as giggles from her younger sister answered her denial.

"And perhaps you will actually grow some crow lines if you keep up that angry face, Mädchen," a new voice, even more smug than Intrepid's chipped in.

Now, Formidable turned her gaze due south, shooting a glare in the direction of RSS Victory and RSS Vigilance. She could imagine Victory's giant smirk on that smug face of the smug diminutive spirit standing on the bow of the missile corvette as she said that. Oh, that would not stand. "And you can catch a fly if you opened your fat mouth any wider, old maid," Formidable fired back.

The haughty titter of her rival was answer to her barb. "And little girlie can't come up with a creative insult to save her life." Victory sniffed, sounding more French than her German birth.

Standing on her own bridge, Vigilance said nothing, only giving a shake of her head at the frigate and the corvette before returning to scanning the horizons with the lookouts.

Formidable crossed her arms, in no way that looked like a little girl sulking. Really. "At least I don't look like a loli and still be left on a shelf."

"But that's how lolis end up in real life mah," Intrepid chimed in. "How to get a boyfriend when you look like xiao mei mei?"

Formidable rolled her eyes at the comment, resisting the urge to sigh. She could imagine the quizzical tilt of Intrepid's head as her sister ship said that.

"Intrepid, that's not the point."

"I am a dignified young Frau, not a loli, thank you very much."

Narrowing her eyes, Formidable was sure that Victory was doing the same thing as the both of them harrumphed over the data link and over the giggles of Intrepid. The stealth frigate opened her mouth for her latest jab at the annoying corvette when she felt the sharp ping of several radar returns. She froze.

She's here. Formidable was already running for the Combat Information Center when the second wave of returns pinged off her phased array radar. She's here! The spirit darted past her Sylver missile launchers, and phased through the pilothouse walls like she was never there. Technically, she really wasn't there. She was the ship, after all.

Formidable arrived at the darkened room, breathless.

"—esignate Track number one-six-six to one-eight-five. Bearing three-five-six. Course one-nine-five. Range seventy kilometers. Speed fourteen knots."

As the radar operator continued her report, it was clear what she was seeing. Formidable could see it in her mind too. A double column of twenty slow, lumbering merchant ships, surrounded by a ring of shipgirls and steel hulls from the Malaysian and Vietnamese navies. A convoy.

Not just any convoy, however, as it was the one scuttlebutt had been excited about. This convoy contained a special guest, one both the Singaporean and Malaysian governments have requested specifically. Supposedly. Nobody was sure after the debacle with the Royal Malaysian Navy more than two years ago.

"Maman!"

"Ma?! She's here?"

"Settle down, you two. We don't know whether she's in the convoy or not."

Vigilance said nothing. But Formidable imagined that the quiet corvette would've nodded at Victory's statement.

But she has to be! She promised! Formidable left the radar station, taking several steps towards the side of CIC, and stopped behind the communications specialist, just as his voice buzzed in her head:

"Shepherd, this is Kimba Lead, do you read?"

"Kimba Lead, this is Shepherd Lead, reading you five-by," a female voice lightly accented by Japanese answered almost at once.

Voice. Mid-twenties. Confident. Radar Analysis: 95% probable Japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara. Her sonar and radar computers helpfully supplied. Been a while since she did a convoy down south though. Formidable noted.

It was a thought she quickly discarded as she hovered over the specialist, trembling. Come on, come on… Ask her!

"Acknowledged, Shepherd Lead," the specialist said, to Formidable's consternation. "Requesting permission to join the formation."

Ashigara was silent for a few minutes, no doubt coordinating with the others before her voice once again crackled in Formidable's head: "Permission granted. Recommend come to heading zero-three-zero, then turn heading two-seven-four."

"Wilco, out."

Formidable pouted, crossing her arms at the uncooperative radioman. Third Sergeant Marcus Ong soon broke out in cold sweat as he felt a pair of eyes glaring daggers at him. Despite the air-conditioned room and being quite sure that everyone was at their stations and eyes glued to their own screens. It must be the flame-retardant hood he was wearing, he soon concluded.

The feeling only disappeared when Formidable turned with a huff and ducked out of the CIC and passed her Commanding Officer as she bounded up the stairs onto the bridge. Why, that stupid Specialist! She ought to give him a piece of her mind! If only she was corporeal. … Maybe in fifty years. If what her crew said about summonings was true...

Her shoulders slumped.

Fifty years. And then she would be useful, just like Mother. She could go anywhere, not stuck here… being useless. Useless as her crew directed her ship-body to do their bidding while she could only stand and watch. Like she and her crew did when the abyssal heavy cruisers and escorts laid waste to her newly adopted country all those years ago…

She shook her head. I'm not useless. She and Mother have been over this. She cast her gaze over the bridge crew. The Second-in-Command giving crisp maneuver orders to the Helm. The lookouts focused and scanning the seas and the skies. They were doing their best to run her and keep her safe.

Formidable's lip curled up in a small smile at that. She would do her best too! And she couldn't wait to show Mother how much she had grown since she last seen Formidable.

"Kimba, this is Little Hawk, welcome to the convoy, over."

Formidable let out a gasp at the cheerful voice she had hope to hear from for a long while. Maman! Her head turned, settling her gaze at a particular stretch of the horizon. She could almost see her… Almost.

Her radio crackled, and this time, her Commanding Officer spoke: "Thank you, Little Hawk. Caesar sends his regards, over."

"Acknowledged. Thank you, out."

Mother was out there. After so long…

Even if she could not see her right now, Formidable couldn't be happier.

---

A/N: Hmm, who is this mysterious Mother, I wonder?

The ranks aren't typos. The Singapore Navy uses Army ranks for all ranks except Flag and Officer cadet ranks and the same rank insignias for all branches, in order to not confuse the poor conscripts. Or so I heard. Same with job titles (Appointments as we would call it in the SAF).

And the "Specialist" here is the SAF equivalent of "Non-Commissioned Officer", not a particular rank like in the US Army.

Every navy has their quirks, I guess.

Xiao mei mei (小妹妹) - Little girl

Also, Victory is 26 (as of 2014), so she's not 'wrong'.

[/hr]

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Stretching, Shiromizu gave a happy sigh, "Finally, it's spring."

Lips twitching, Harry chuckled a bit, "It is rather nice." Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back and allowed for the warm, April sun to beam down onto it. Upon opening his eyes, he glanced at one of the trees, "It is going to be a nice Hanami this year, I think."

A chuckle made him turn and look at Kiso who grinned, "Aye, that it should be. An' ye will be spending it with Maruyu and the others of course."

To that, the black haired wizard smiled and nodded, "Hai." Turning back to Shiromizu, Harry tilted his head to the side some, "So, um... we're heading over to the Submarine Pens to present something to Maruyu-Chan?"

Lightly blushing, Shiromizu nodded some, "Hai, that is right."

Eyebrow slowly raising, Harry gave her a look, "Hmm... just one question." When she nodded, he continued, "Why are we giving this sword to Maruyu-Chan now? And not earlier? Like Christmas?"

Needless to say, that made the Mizuchi's blush deepen, not helped by how Kiso spoke up, "I've been wonderin' that myself."

Rubbing the back of her neck, Shiromizu chuckled weakly, "Well... I sort of forgot with everything going on until after Christmas. And by then, you were back at Hogwarts."

Confused at that, Harry blinked some, "What do you mean by that?"

For her part, the Light Cruiser hummed as she cupped her chin and looked at Harry, "Actually, I can see why. And it is very wise."

Shiromizu gave a nod, "I know, right? It would not have worked unless Harry here was there when it was given. Not worked at all."

If anything, that made Harry blink, "What? What are the two of you talking about?"

Both older girls shared a look and smirked some before they turned back to him and spoke as one, "Don't worry about it."

Rolling his eyes, Harry sighed some, "Right, why did I expect otherwise with the two of you." Hands in his pockets, he looked at the wooden box that the teenaged Mizuchi was carrying, "Still, Maruyu-Chan is going to be happy. I mean, a Muramasa? Forged specifically for her? That's going to be special."

Her lips curling upwards a touch, Shiromizu turned to Kiso who had a similar smirk, "You have no idea at all, Harry. None."

Now confused, Harry gave a huff and walked a bit faster as the Mizuchi and shipgirl behind him snickered at whatever they found funny.

Soon enough though, they reached the Submarine Pens and entered them. Upon entering the Common Area, they were met by Iku and the others there, with a confused Maruyu there. Looking first at Harry, who she gave a hug to and then at Shiromizu as well as Kiso, the small Subgirl blinked, "Good morning, Harry-Chan, Shiromizu-San, Kiso-Nee-San... what's going on?"

Eyebrow raised as she crossed her arms, Kiso grinned, "What do you mean, Maruyu?"

Just pointing at her, and raising her own eyebrow, Maruyu frowned, "About all this. We got word from Teitoku that we were supposed to be here for some reason, including me." She lightly blushed as she glanced at Harry, "Not that I would be leaving for a bit, Hanami is coming up after all."

A soft smile on his face, Harry shrugged, "And I'm looking forward to spending it with you all."

Blushing lightly, Maruyu smiled back at him before turning towards where Kiso and Shiromizu were. That was until the Mizuchi held out a wooden box, 'What is that?'

Taking a deep breath, the young Kami began, "As you all know, last October I went to Izumo for Kannazuki. Mainly because I was new and needed to present myself."

Hachi grimaced a bit at that reminder, "Hai, I remember." Moments later, they could hear steel under strain from how hard she was clenching her fist at the memories, "Especially how you mentioned that my bastard of a Captain was there. I will admit to being... tempted to go with you next year to show him my disapproval."

Gently, Iku placed her arm around Hachi's shoulders to calm her, which worked out as the blonde haired Submarine relaxed some. For her part, Shiromizu nodded, "And as I told you, I might take you up on it. After all, you are a Kami so you could go there. But it would also mean a full month away from things." Getting a nod from Hachi, she turned back to Maruyu, "During my last days there, I received visitors, the legendary swordsmiths Masamune and Muramasa themselves."

More than one pair of eyes widened at that with the Submarines as well as Taigei and Ryuuhou looking shocked at what they were just told. Jaw dropped, Imuya boggled at her, "Y-you met Masamune-Sama and Muramasa-Sama? And... and they're Kami?"

With a hum, Shiromizu nodded, "Hai, I did. Mainly because they sought me out."

Furrowing her eyebrows, Taigei frowned a bit, "Shiromizu-San, I... hate if this sounds disrespectful of you, but-"

Lips twitching, the Mizuchi spoke up, "You are wondering why the two of them sought me out?" At the sheepish nod, Shiromizu chuckled, "Well, as unbelievable as it may seem, they sought me out to deliver gifts for them."

Already, Maruyu's eyes were widening as she started to realize what was being said, 'She could not be here because...'

However, Shiromizu was continuing, "One of those was a Tanto, Hogosha Odori, crafted by Masamune specifically for Jintsuu-San. He believed that due to how she had taken care of her family and fought the Abyssals, that she exemplified what the Samurai were. And thus, created her a blade worthy of any Samurai. He stated that it could cut through any spiritual being's flesh as well as a normal one of his blades would cleave through a normal being."

Snapping her fingers, Shioi nodded, "I remember hearing about Jintsuu-San having that actually! From what I heard, a Ru-Class attempted to take her out and Jintsuu-San cut off it's head in a single stroke."

Murmurs met that proclamation as the Subgirls were all reminded of the rumour. Waiting for a few seconds though, Shiromizu chuckled, "Now, Muramasa though, crafted another blade." Opening the box, she showed the Kodachi that was within it, "This is Gyakuryuu, the blade he crafted specifically for you, Maruyu-Chan."

The little Submarine's voice came out in a squeak of surprise, "For me!?"

Unable to help herself, Shiromizu chuckled, "Yes, for you." Looking at the sword, she smiled, "The blade itself was forged from blocks of metal with barbs from an Isonade within them. The hilt is decorated with coral from deep under the sea close to Ryuujin-Sama's palace, and the metal of the hilt is made from the tooth of an Sachihoko. And during the forging process, the metal was quenched using the oil gathered from an Ikuchi. From what he stated, it would cut through water as easily as a normal blade would through air, but would cut through air as if it was water... Though he was certain that you would not be having too much difficulty with that."

Reaching over, RO grasped Maruyu's upper arms in her hands and gave them a small squeeze, "With guns like these? Ha! Maruyu-Chan will have no problem."

Chuckles met her as the Army Submarine blushed and swiped at the laughing Uboat who dodged. As she stopped laughing, Shiromizu shook her head, "The materials mean that unlike most blades, seawater will not affect it and it will not corrode from being exposed to such. It is also sharp like his other blades, and so Abyssals will be able to be killed by it. Perfect for one such as you."

Eyes wide, Maruyu stared at the blade and chewed her lip, "I... a blade made for me by such a legend... I am not sure that I am worthy of it." A snort made her turn and find Harry crossing his arms, "Harry-Chan?"

Shaking his head, the thirteen year old gave her a look and his next words made her flush deeply, "I would say the opposite, Maruyu-Chan. It would need to be worthy of you."

Just looking at him, she smiled some, "Thank you, Harry-Chan."

With a nod, Harry paused before a thought occurred to him. He walked over to the box and took Gyakuryuu from it before walking over with both the blade and the belt that would be used for it, "Here, Maruyu-Chan... give me a moment." Unknown to him, Maruyu swore her engines stopped as he crouched down and wrapped the belt around her small waist before putting the sheathed blade into the proper place. Standing, Harry took a step back and saluted to her, which Maruyu returned with a bright smile, "And there we go, where it properly should be."

In Maruyu's eyes were small tears as she nodded, "And as it should be properly given." Walking over, she gave Harry a tight hug, "Thank you, Harry-Chan..." Looking up at him, she kissed him gently for a few seconds before pulling away, "Thank you."

Lightly blushing, though brightly smiling, Harry gave a nod before returning the kiss as the others around them clapped their hands, "You're welcome, Maruyu-Chan."

Clapping her on the back, Kiso grinned, "You just ask and I'll teach yeh all that I know about using the blade, Maruyu."

Quickly, the small Subgirl nodded, "Hai, I'll take you up on that, Mogu-mogu." Hand on the hilt, she softly stroked, "Though it would be mostly me refining what I know."

That made Harry's eyes widen a touch, "You know how to use a sword, Maruyu-Chan?"

Humming, Maruyu nodded some, "Hai, one of my crew was very good with the blade... unlike some who claimed otherwise. He was taught by a Miko at a Shrine named Tokunotakai." Unsheathing the blade, she examined the bluish grey metal, which seemed to have slight barbs here and there along the top. When she sheathed it, she was grinning even more before she turned and took another kiss from Harry, 'Today is a good day...'

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Butterknife Mountie Meets The In-Laws VI

Azabu Tansumachi Tenryoan, Roppongi Grand Plaza Second Floor, Tokyo
Spoiler: Masamune and Muramasa

Ying slowly cleaned and re-sheathed herself automatically after reapplying the illusion that concealed her Spirit Pearl.

Fifteen Yakuza had been combat-capable when Fudo drew herself.

Twelve had thrown down their weapons and surrendered.

One had cast a Imperius Curse at Fudo, who blurred out of the way and then disarmed the shooter... at the shoulder of his wand arm. A second wolf Yaojing had swung a katana at the Masamune only to be gutted like a fish by the return strike. Then there was the monstrous Yaojing - Oni as the Japanese had called these creatures - who had been first on the scene.

He had lasted three swings of her blade. The first lopped off a segment of his iron mace when he swung it at Fudo. The second removed the hand holding the mace. Then the third slash of her incandescently glowing blade took his head.

That was the last blow struck in the fight. Fudo walked over to the bar slowly and sat down after sparing a glare at the half-naked fox-girl who was trying to sidle away.

Ying's eyes narrowed as she saw the Masamune wipe some blood away from her lips, and reflected on her observation of the technique that was used.

Taoist magical theory was based on the Three Treasures. Jing, the essence of the body, Qi the breath of the spirit, and Shen, the divine soul-spark of the mage. Fudo had apparently used her pool of shen, or perhaps an outside source to convert to Qi which in turn supercharged her speed, strength, and durability to superhuman levels.

Frankly, Ying was shocked that the other sword spirit was still breathing, much less conscious. That sort of technique was both highly esoteric and highly forbidden for good reasons. Too much qi was as bad as too little and could rip the body to pieces as it did things that it was not designed to do. And the expenditure of too much shen would kill the practitioner as their life force was snuffed out like a candle that could no longer keep burning....

And clearly Fudo's qi was at a dangerously low level with her expenditures in the fight plus her spell to call upon her shen.

Ying bit her lip as she struggled with herself.

Fudo was in a cleft stick of her own carving, slowly wasting away as her breath became more and more labored and she coughed up fresh blood. She was Japanese, a member of the nation that had attacked and despoiled the Middle Kingdom of her heritage while committing unspeakable and unforgivable crimes. She was clearly dangerous and had an obsession with her father, assuming the worst of Colombe in the facts that she knew. She had attacked Delilah de Breuil, one of Ying's oldest living friends, unprovoked.

But, what would it say about Ying if she stood by and let Fudo slowly and painfully expire? What would her father, who was a person of honor and her mother who had taught her to be the Superior Person of Confucianism say? What would her conscience say to her? What would Guan Yu say to her when she next prayed to Him to uphold Righteousness and Justice if she was unrighteous and unjust?

As she finished casting the final binding spell on the captive yakuza, Ying came to a decision. Even though this other spirit had an apparent feud with her father, even though she was Japanese, she could not in good conscience let that interfere with her duty and calling. After all, "To see what was right and not do it was the worst cowardice", as Master Kǒng had taught generations of Chinese.

As Amah had taught her Little Fox from the moment that she was able to understand language.

With that she walked over to the pale-faced Masamune and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Fudo-san?"

Pain-filled gold eyes filled with the acceptance of her approaching death stared into hers. "What?"

"Let me help?" Ying said, communicating her wishes with a stare into Fudo's eyes.

Fudo visibly fought with herself for long moments as she visibly weakened and finally gave a hesitant nod.

Ying took a deep breath and grasped the hilt of her sheathed dao true body in her white-knuckled hand. She felt her avatar concentrate as much of her stored qi in her lungs as she could spare, then leaned forward and kissed Fudo on the lips. As she did, her mouth opened and she exhaled that portion of her spiritual energies into Fudo's open mouth to heal and regenerate her.

As their lips parted, a wisp of ghostly-white vapor escaped as the tanto looked at her wide-eyed. Gold eyes shone with a unspoken message of relief and thankfulness that family pride and self-discipline would not allow her to say aloud.

Of course, Jacklyn didn't help either.

"Oi! Two girl show, and I'm watchin'!" The fox-girl smugged at the two other spirits.

Ying gave Jacklyn a firm glare as Fudo stood. "Jackie, behave yourself and put some clothes on." The dao said firmly with the experience of dealing with rambunctious younger siblings, then nephews and nieces without counting.

With that the manager returned with several Aurors in tow along with some fairly burly 'busboys' and 'kitchen staff'. Idly Ying wondered if the 'head chef' coming to the rescue really used that katana to make chopped sirloin.

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

Fifteen minutes later, Ying rubbed her face. The surviving Dojin-kai soldiers had been carted off by the Aurors, the manager had agreed to waive the bill and promised excellent VIP service for her the next time she visited after the renovations. One of the 'busboys' had even found clothes for Aomi and Jacklyn 'on the house'. Ying had more than a few suspicions that she would be getting a social call from a yakuza representative in the near future as part of the cleanup after giving the manager her contact information.

She had even more suspicions that the Dojin-kai syndicate's days were numbered in low single digits. Coming to the attention of law enforcement magical and mundane while invading another syndicate's turf was quite ill advised even if one was strong. Having a full double-dozen foot soldiers sent to the jail house (twelve), the hospital (five) or the morgue (seven) was hardly an auspicious way to begin an all-out multi-sided gang war.

Fortunately, Ying as a known RCMMP officer on assignment here was able to explain away to the Aurors that 'of course Auror de Breuil has a license for the pistol she used on file at MACUSA (Ying fervently hoped that Delilah did have that done for her favorite antique), it is a family heirloom that she can carry on the job and she would say so if she did not catch a paralysis curse during the fight', 'of course Jacklyn Fox was running to the nearest law enforcement officer after finding out that to her shock that the bathhouse she decided to clean up in was actually a front for sex slavery and prostitution' and 'of course it was self defense officer, what else was I supposed to do when they all showed up with bad intentions?'.

Equally fortunately, the Aurors and especially the Yakuza knew who Fudo was and were treating her with utmost respect.

With that she glanced over at her motly crew. Fudo was giving the still paralyzed Delilah thoughtful glances and wobbling although out of danger. Delilah, bruised, and soaking wet from where she had landed in the shattered remains of the toilet was was matching Fudo's looks with angry glares of her own. Jacklyn "Call me Jackie luv" Fox was chatting with the inugami girl Aomi, who seemed to be in shock.

Ying really could not blame her. This dinner was easily making her top-ten craziest moments. And it was still not over.

Ying could still hear Delilah's angry voice echoing in her head. "TELL COLOMBE THAT I'M BUSY HERE! SIS CAN WAIT UNTIL THIS IS OVER!"

How long had Delilah known Colombe and not told her? Was it true that Delilah... and Jacklyn... and Colombe were sisters?

Somewhere, somehow, she knew that deities were laughing at what her instincts were screaming at her was true.

Oh, God, my Aunt wanted to hit on me according to Delilah. Amah will die laughing when I tell her.

With that she looked at Fudo. "Um, I think we should take Delilah-san, Fox-san, and Sato-san someplace private to have that conversation and remove Delilah's paralysis?"

Fudo nodded and looked down at her bloodstained outfit.

"My house then."

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

Fudo's House, Adachi Ward, Tokyo

The drive over was a silent one. Fudo's 'land barge' of an American car was enough to hold Delilah, Jacklyn, and Aomi in the back (and judging by the whispers and giggles, Aomi was enjoying the ride) while Ying sat next to Fudo up front. The Masamune blade spirit was clearly deep in thought as she navigated the evening traffic.

Finally she cast an unlocking spell and tapped a garage opener. A heavy security gate silently retracted and Ying's eyes widened at the home revealed.
Spoiler: Casa del Fudo

In a country where space was a premium a house for one person was the height of luxury. Much less the glass and concrete modern house presented with subtle space-expansion, muggle-averting, and notice-me-not wards worked into the building and the grounds..

Fudo quietly spoke as she parked the car. "I have spare bedrooms for you. If you want, I can make a call and have your suitcase sent over, Ying,"

Ying shook her head. "I should handle it myself, Fudo-san. Some of the items in it have security spells on them.."

With that they got out and muscled Delilah inside to a couch. Jackie followed, grabbing a sealed scroll from the Owl Mail box.

Fudo frowned and then tapped a series of pressure points as she concentrated; using the qi that Ying had gifted her.

Delilah finally stirred and then glared at Fudo. "It's about time. That was not fun at all."

Ying raised a hand. "Before the argument starts, I have one question for you, Del. Is it true that you are Colombe du Chasteler's younger half-sister? Because if so..." The dao took a deep breath. "I seem to have found a new Aunt today."

 

[darthcourt10]

Hazard



Translated excerpt from 'Nederlandse Slagen tijdens Bloedweek' (Dutch Battles during Blood Week)
First Battle of Den Haag
(Alias, First Battle of The Hague, First Battle of 's Gravenhage)

When the Abyssal tide swept down from the north in a coordinated strike on all targets of interest, the Dutch center of government fared rather poorly. Unlike the centers of government for many other nations, Den Haag is situated right at the coast, with parliament only 4 kilometers from the coast. As a result, the city is particularly vulnerable to a seaborne assault, as the Abyssals would so bloodily demonstrate in the opening hours of Blood Week.

Although all governments had stepped up sea patrols in the lead up to the Abyssal War, Abyssal forces had made a point of stifling any report that could've made it back to higher authorities by hunting down and silencing anyone and everyone who spotted them. This lack of reports in the early morning hours worried the Dutch military and they stepped up readiness as they could while readying the next rotation of patrols to go in early, but halfway through the morning Abyssal forces arrived at the harbour of Scheveningen and launched an immediate amphibious invasion of ground forces, backed by the guns of the battleship squadron and their escorts. Resistance in the early stages was sporadic.

While a company of the 11th Air Mobile Brigade had been deployed to The Hague on guard duty, they had concentrated their deployment on key government and public transportation infrastructure in accordance with the expectation of a terrorist threat. This, combined with the limited weaponry and restricted rules of engagement for the police meant that defenders were scattered and unable to offer effective resistance against an enemy that outnumbered them, was better equipped, and had achieved total surprise.

As standard for Abyssal forces performing an assault, considerable damage was done along the assault corridor, with many buildings leveled and people gunned down in the streets. The Abyssal assault appears to have been mostly focused on causing damage to a large number of targets, many small groups of Abyssal forces detached from the main assault group making their way to Lower Chamber of the States-General, attacking the many embassies along the way along with the Peace Palace, doing great damage to all targets they could reach.

Moving swiftly but still needing to cover some 4 kilometers on foot in hostile territory, Abyssal forces were finally met with stiffer resistance in the Sea Heroes' Quarter just before Palace Noordeinde. At this time the battle had been going on for nearly an hour, and command paralysis was finally starting to lapse as Dutch military leadership deployed its forces to repel simultaneous strikes on Rotterdam, Den Helder and Den Haag. The Air Mobile Brigade, having already deployed parts of its forces into the city would come and reinforce it over the course of the day, deploying by Chinook. Ground travel into the Randstad was impossible due to the severe chaos on the roads as civilians fled the violence.

By the afternoon, the battle lines had largely drawn themselves closed. Dutch forces had already suffered 10% casualties at this stage of the battle, but liberal use of anti tank weaponry as well as Apache and F-16 based air support allowed the defenders to mostly confine the Abyssal forces until the night.

The Abyssals, realizing their attacks were stalled and most likely no longer capable of completing their suspected goal of a decapitation strike on the Dutch government dug in and waited for reinforcements.

The second day of the battle would see a slow advance of Abyssal forces against a stubborn but flagging resistance as the Dutch logistical situation grew more dire. While there was a sizable stockpile of munitions available, the stockpiles themselves were dozens of kilometers from the front and Abyssal air power was complicating delivery. The deployment of Abyssal air forces also forced F-16s away from their desperately needed air support role towards maintaining air superiority. The advance made little progress however, moving only 2 streets until it reached the gates of Palace Noordeinde.

Now close to what must've seemed a critical component in local resistance, the Abyssals maintained their assault in the night, eventually gaining access to and setting fire to the Palace's main building. This may have been an ill advised decision. The Marine Corps arrived halfway through the night to reinforce the defense.

The third day of the battle saw the column of smoke rising from Palace Noordeinde loom over the battlefield in condemnation. Abyssal forces had at this time received extra ground forces drawn from reserves elsewhere and they pressed their attack. They were met with a fierce and unyielding resistance from the 11th Air Mobile Brigade and the marines, aided by the self propelled artillery stationed further east, outside the city. Unfortunately, Abyssal numbers and battleship grade artillery support forced the defenders back again repeatedly as casualties mounted further, and by noon the Abyssals had finally managed to take the buildings of the Lower Chamber of the States General.

It was promptly burned.

Outraged, furious assaults on Abyssal positions followed, forcing them back despite a notable enemy advantage in the air and artillery. However, as the day turned to night the exhausted defenders let up on the attacks as the lines set themselves for dawn the next day.

Day four of the battle was largely inconclusive, with heavy fighting in the ruins depleting stocks of munitions in the face of mounting casualties. However, it seems that the Abyssals either had determined there would be no more benefit to fighting here, and they left their ground forces behind while the fleet retreated.

By day five the Dutch had run significantly low on munitions. While they could and did keep the Abyssal ground forces in the city pinned down and unable to retreat, they did not have the munitions to push into the defenses. As such, the lines did not change, but the composition of the defenders did. Germany had agreed early in Bloodweek to render any and all assistance they could to their allies, but with much of Europe's coasts under attack they had to consider where to deploy their troops with some care. This was not helped by the fact that many German forces were stationed far from the coasts, and would need to move men and material hundreds of kilometers into Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark. While the German Air Force started supporting allied efforts by day 2 of Blood Week at the latest, it was only by day 5 that their ground forces and logistical support could move in in force.

Taking on most of the frontline duties to keep the Abyssals bottled up while the Dutch forces took the remainder of the day off to rest and reconstitute their forces, the day swiftly passed into night.

Early on day 6 of Blood Week Dutch and German command staff had managed to finalize a coordinated attack plan on the Sea Heroes' Quarter and all other occupied areas of the city. Heavy fighting would happen over the following days as the Dutch-German forces took back the city one house at a time and rooted out the Abyssal forces remaining.