Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

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

Ehren Erwacht! (IX)

August 15th, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ehren nodded and then vanished.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Colombe instantly barked out. "Drop and attack!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spoiler: Helmar Wolff and Colombe du Chasteler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I gave my word of honor."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

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

Ehren Erwacht! (X)

August 15th, 2014

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

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

"I gave my word of honor."

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

"Thoro šešėlio žaibas!"

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

"Chakrati of Arjuna!"

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

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

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

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

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

"Bijalee Kee Mutthee!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spoiler: Ehren Strikes

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

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

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

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

The Mask!

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

Not enough power!

She swore and then her eyes narrowed.

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

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

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

With a crack the Grendel's spine snapped.

It thrashed and then went limp.

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

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

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

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

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

"Depulso!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spoiler: Wolff's Judgement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[darthcourt10]

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

START
​

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kumiho shipgirls as a matter of fact.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts Omake: Nuclear fusion!

jmcdavid said: Random musing.

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

Touhou - Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion

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

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

Unfortunately, reality had other ideas...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

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

After The Storm Passes

August 15th, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Colombe looked at the others and nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go! Ehren, take my hand! To-chan, take Ehren's other hand then link up in a chain from her." With that she pulled out a gold 20 Franc coin depicting Albert I, King of the Belgians from 1920.

The dagger grasped her mother's hand in a white knuckled grip as she began to tremble as the stress hit her once more. Then Toku squeezed Ehren's other hand gently for reassurance while Norimune took her fellow Blade's hand, then Niobe, Nongqawuse, and finally Kasuyu followed in a chain for transport.

"Portus!"
-----------------------------

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: Return To Moulbaix

With a bang of displaced air, the six figures appeared in the middle of the entrance hall and staggered after the long-distance Portkey.

Arakaki Chihiro stared from her position at the top of the banister for the grand staircase and boggled at the sight as she dropped her feather duster. The young Tanuki child then shouted at the top of her lungs. "Ehren-oneesan's back, everyone!"

With that Chihiro leaped onto the smooth marble and rocketed down the banister to leap from it at the end in a flying tackle-hug of Ehren who smiled and hugged her to her chest.

Colombe gave a mock-scowl as her eyes twinkled. "I told you not to use my stairs as a slide, but I'll let it pass this time, you little imp." She then ruffled the hair of the Tanuki girl gently.

Miho and Misaki Fujii scurried out from the trophy room to join the reunion with their own tears and hugs.

In the music room, a piano which had been playing a tear-filled melancholy rendition of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto Number Two stuttered to a sudden shocked halt mid-passage.

Then Claire's true body began to fill the castle with an absolutely transcendent version of Céline Dion's My Heart Will Go On in time with the thunder of furiously running feet.

The others hugging Ehren released her as Claire's avatar, with tears in her eyes and a smile full of hope, love, relief, and joy splitting her face, appeared at the top of the stairs.

Ehren's own tears flowed and her matching smile blossomed when she sprinted up the steps toward her Big Piano Sister.

Claire spread her arms wide as she dashed down the stairs two at a time in unison with her charging Little Dagger Sister

The sisters embraced at last directly beneath the painting of Jean-François du Chasteler.

Ehren and Claire clung to each other desperately as they wept in each other's arms, whispering half-broken words to each other.
-----------------------------

Colombe gave her youngest two daughters a watery smile and then looked up to catch her Papa's painted eyes. Her smile spread and she curtsied in acknowledgement of what she saw in that painted gaze looking into her soul. Tokunotakai then embraced Colombe who hugged her, then Kasuyu, Nongqawuse, Norimune, and Niobe.

Jacklyn appeared at the door to the kitchen. "Sis! Dad! You made it back!" The middle daughter of Muramasa-no-Norimune ran to hug her father who hugged her back and gave a hair ruffle. Jackie then mock scowled at Colombe before poking her in the ribs and crushing her with a hug. "Oi! Invite me next time, Sis!"

Colombe laughed and embraced Jackie. "Who says there's going to be a next time, Jackie?" She then waved Aomi over to join the reunion.

Jackie laughed in Colombe's face. "It's your damn luck for getting into trouble, Colombe. There's always a next time!" Colombe mock scowled then pantomimed a punch at Jackie before laughing.

Colombe hugged Aomi. "No Del?" She asked her sister

"Del and Zamarad are busy for some stuff for Jez and have a bun in the oven anyway. Oh, I HAVE to show you the photo of their faces I took when they found out!" Jackie cackled and pulled out a phone.

Colombe began to laugh at the expression on the photograph. "All right, Jackie, how much do you want for a copy of that?" Norimune nodded in glee and added a request for copies, followed by Toku.
-----------------------------

Meanwhile Niobe pulled out her own phone from her hull and dialed a number. The phone rang twice and then her boilers beat hotter and her power plant sped up at Draco Malfoy's voice. "Niobe, it's a relief. How is everyone?"

She smiled and responded in a voice filled with love. "We saved Ehren, she's back home now."

The shipgirl's violet eyes found the SS-Ehrendolch's black clad avatar as Ehren nodded to Claire then wept once more on her big sister's shoulder. "She's back home. Thanks to your warning and your faith in me, Liebchen."(Sweetheart)

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Now that Vatipire's dead and Ehren is back home, time to pick up the more lighthearted Delilah and Zamarad hijinks in the US of A.

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (XIII)

J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.

10 August 2014
Spoiler: A Break In The Case

Attorney General Zigler and FBI Director Arnold stared at Alondra David. The head of the FBI pinched his nose. "Repeat that, Agent David."

"Sir, Asset SAMSON was the head of their Middle Eastern division for their version of the CIA. She apparently is very well plugged in over there; we have known that but didn't know what they had going on there." Alondra took a deep breath.

"It turns out that she was more plugged in than we had dreamed, with some friendly, or at least neutral, magicals who have brought back Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey." Her superiors stared at her.

"Who was put into stasis rather than dying of liver disease in 1938. Some allies of SAMSON revived him a month ago to help handle a magical crisis in Turkey which was apparently something about a World War I battlefield being awakened by Shayatin. As far as we know that is resolved."

Zigler swore, "Not those fuckers who were working with those islamic terror groups back in 1993 when they bombed the WTC!"

"Correct sir. After that was handled, SAMSON was brought on board to use her contacts here and her family's money to get him checked into the Mayo Clinic for a liver transplant. So now he's recuperating at SAMSON's ranch in South Dakota." Alondra explained.

"SAMSON requested this information to be kept on the QT in the top levels of our government since it's politically dynamite, like the Turks bringing back Abraham Lincoln would be." She finished and rubbed her temples. "I agree with her assessment."

"No shit it's political dynamite, Agent. That's the understatement of the year!" Arnold replied to her as he chuckled once. "Anything else?"

"That's the bad news, well also according to SAMSON she suspects but didn't ask that Yavuz and some other shipgirls are going to do something about the current crop of assholes in charge of Turkey with Atatürk's blessing. Speaking personally, it can't happen to a nicer bunch of deserving assholes, but..." Alondra sighed. "Well above my pay grade."

Zigler sighed deeply. "I'll call SecState and get a meeting set up with him, CIA, NSA, and POTUS ASAP. What's the good news?"

Alondra smirked, "Two million, seven hundred eighty three thousand, eight hundred and eleven documents copied from MACUSA that we retrieved under my sworn search warrant from a storage shed in South Dakota that their organization owns. It turns out that SAMSON is the daughter of one of the founders of their version of the CIA. Her mother is also the mastermind of a conspiracy that dates back to the Civil War to prepare for the fall of the Statute in a soft landing."

You could have heard a pin drop as her superiors digested the bombshell. Finally Arnold swallowed. "Holy Shit! Holy shit!! Since Lincoln!? Go on, Agent."

"SAMSON, or more accurately Delilah de Breuil, 'Emma' -- who apparently can read and reproduce all the papers they are burning in their HQ as we speak and is really a naturalized US Citizen named Zamarad de Breuil -- and SAMSON's mother Jezebel de Breuil are prepared to make full videotaped confessions under oath about their activities since 1865 plus testify when it comes to the trials."

Arnold smiled. "Damn good job Agent. Let me know what you need to get this done."

"Just the field office's support and the time to get all the data out. Plus getting my frequent flyer miles for South Dakota." Alondra grimaced, then explained. "It turned out that Kingsport also managed to break the magical geases preventing SAMSON and Zamarad, who we are going to call SALOME for this operation, from discussing classified information, and both are going to cooperate fully. I have the documents thay have gathered stored in my hold under armed guard for analysis and delivery to whichever team of District Attorneys gets assigned by you to start making cases."

"Jesus H. Christ on a trampoline!! Christmas came early! Don't go anywhere until we decide what to do with this bombshell!" Zigler finally found his voice as the shock wore off.

"Yes, Sir. I'll head down to Document Analysis with your permission and unload. I told SAMSON and SALOME that I'd be back in South Dakota ASAP for followup interviews. They have a ranch there that they are staying at along with Atatürk and some friends of his as he adjusts to the modern world."

"Understood. Her information is not time-critical?" Arnold frowned as he scribbled out a memo to light a fire under the document processing and analysis section.

"Not to the best of my knowledge, Director, and I have her verbal promise to call me if something comes up." Alondra clarified as she took the memo from the Director.

"Good, let's get the ball rolling here."
---------------------------

Sákpe Mázasu Pteyúha (Six Bullet Ranch), Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA

11th August 2014

Delilah scowled as she began to carefully clean her true body after a serious run on the range. Somewhere out there Ehren was in the clutches of an SS vampire and she couldn't help. The past two days had been very tough on her and Zamarad as they watched the seconds creep slowly by while they waited for news from Moulbaix.

Finally she couldn't take the waiting any more and they had headed out to the ranch's firing range to do some serious shooting.

Zamarad had fired three hundred twelve shots with Delilah's revolver true body on a variety of pop-up and tracked targets. Meanwhile, Delilah had unlocked the heavy weapons room in her arsenal building and grabbed her Barret M95 bolt-action rifle and a M9 bazooka for some major landscape renovation and long range shooting to blow off steam. Ali had joined them followed by Kemal and for several hours the lives of paper targets available for the shooters to blow holes in (or blow up) was seriously endangered.

Which reminded Delilah to make a mental note that she really should swing by Southern Hills Tactical to grab more .50 Browning, 7x57 Mauser (Kemal had been working out with her Spanish M93 Mauser that she had picked up in Cuba in 1898 after San Juan Hill), and .30-06 Springfield (Ali had decided to use an M1 Garand that was a veteran of the PTO according to the serial number). Also it wouldn't hurt to see what was new in the firearms department.

Delilah sighed as she finished reassembling her true body and dry fired herself before casting the spell to load her chambers.

At least they had a serious steak dinner laid on because she was famished thanks to Zamarad's workout. Right now she could eat a cow down to the moo, she though.

For tomorrow's plans, she would be going into town with Zamarad to take care of the follow-up appointment with Doctor Varnell. Right after she had hung up on the receptionist Zamarad's phone had gone off with a similar call for consultation on the blood work from her checkup. Delilah laughed briefly as she wondered how the gray haired doctor would react if the diagnosis was 'came back from the Happy Hunting Grounds so was out of sorts'.
Spoiler: A Call From Jackie

With that her phone rang with a familiar tune from Pirates of the Caribbean. "Jackie! Have you heard from Sis?" Delilah asked eagerly as she picked up.

Her older sister sighed and spoke without her normal piratical lilt. "Not since they called in from the Congo yesterday. They're heading downriver from Kisangani and phone service is spotty, but they now have a lock on her location. Listen, we got the Castle cleaned up, but I have a wee problem."

"What problem, Jackie?" Delilah snapped.

"Claire's over at Maddie Aetios' place, but I don't know how to get a hold of her. Jez said that you had her contact info when I asked your Mom. Can I pop over and get it from you so Claire can come home?"

Delilah nodded, "Yes I do. Just Portkey over to the ranch in the morning and I'll give her a call to introduce you. Just make sure to come early in the morning, since I have a doctor's appointment. Something about my blood work."

"Damn, that sucks." Jackie agreed then her normal lilt entered her voice. "Do ye want a hand tae deal with that scurvy fool o' a sawbones?"

Delilah laughed. "Yeah I would. Come on over Jackie."

"See ye then, Del!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- The Moment you have all been waiting for....

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (XIV)

Sákpe Mázasu Pteyúha (Six Bullet Ranch), Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA

12 August 2014
Spoiler: Unexpected Good News

"Top o' the Mornin' to ye, Del-me-girl!"

Delilah turned from where she was washing up after breakfast to see the familiar form of Jackie leaning against the door to the kitchen of her ranch house. Beside her Zamarad took the now-rinsed plate and boiled the water off it with a glance before placing it back in the china cabinet.

"Hey Jackie. Glad that you could make it!" Delilah exclaimed with a grin for her big sister. Then Delilah winced as her stomach did a back-flip on her.

"Are you OK, Del?" Jackie asked with a look of concern as Del covered her mouth and looked nauseous.

Zamarad shook her head. "Delilah has had a stomach virus that is particularly nasty after she wakes up in the mornings. That is one major reason why we got checked up at the doctor several days ago. Also I'm running a fever."

Delilah spoke after her stomach decided that her breakfast would stay down for now. "Not that I mind having someone nice and toasty warm in my bed, dear." She then looked at Jackie and spoke to her sister. "Want to come with us to town? I plan to swing by South Hills Tactical and pick up a few more boxes of ammunition, place another order to replace the stuff that I have shot off over the last few days, and do some browsing before we go to the Doctor's for our appointment."

Jackie laughed and then hugged Delilah. "I can aid me baby sister while ye pillage and plunder a gun store of booty!"

"Dammit Jackie! I'm not that bad!" Delilah laughed as she grabbed the keys for her Jeep from the rack at the door.

Zamarad and Jacklyn chorused in unison as they followed Delilah outside. "Yes you are!"

South Hills Tactical

"Afternoon Hank!" Delilah said with a wave as she smiled at the store clerk. "Your uncle around?"

The clerk looked up from a copy of Guns & Ammo that he had been reading. "Oh hey Del! Good to see you too Emma! Who's your friend? Vernon's acting as range-master today so he will be a bit."

Delilah smiled. "My big sister Jackie dropped by so I'm showing her around." She nodded to where Jackie was examining a stack of targets alongside Zamarad. "She's good people. I phoned in the ammo order last night and wanted to see what's new in stock too."

Hank grinned. "Yeah, we passed that along to Hornady Manufacturing. You wanted their Vintage Match .30-06 and 7x57 Mauser, right?"

Delilah nodded. "Yes, their ammo loads that are done according to milspec requirements. I inherited a few antique rifles that served in war, so want to treat them with respect. For instance, my Garand was assigned to the 4th Marines according to the serial number research I did. So he saw action on Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. Going to treat him right with good ammo."

"Can't go wrong with Hornady." Hank agreed as he began to stack up boxes of ammunition that had been reserved for Delilah.

"So, what's new in stock today?" Delilah asked curiouslyafter paying for her ammunition purchases.

Hank pointed at a large pistol on display and Delilah whistled in appreciation. "We got in some new Desert Eagles from Magnum Research. They are using that gold titanium wash in the etching process now."

"It's beautiful." Delilah said as she examined the pistol carefully. "That's a pretty Deagle. Nice showpiece pistol even if it's a little flashy for the field. What's it chambered for?"

"Three-fifty-seven magnum." Hank replied as Delilah finished the inspection and handed the pistol back.

"Damn. I was hoping for Fifty Caliber Action Express." Delilah admitted. "I prefer my bear repellent rounds to start with a four or five. I'll just have to order a Fifty AE through you guys if I get one since Three-fifty-seven is a bit light for my tastes."

Hank laughed as Zamarad and Jackie approached the counter with stacks of targets. "Yeah, yeah. We know that you love that big antique hogleg revolver. She's a beauty and great for blowing big holes in things, but subtle it ain't."

Delilah grinned and pulled out her credit card again. "Yes, she is." She smugged as she paid for the other purchases.

Doctor Varnell's Office, Custer South Dakota.

"Mrs. De Breuil, Mrs. Alnaar, the Doctor will see you now."

Delilah put down the hunting magazine that she had been browsing while chatting with Jackie, meanwhile beside her Zamarad placed her American Forestry magazine down. Delilah gave her love a fond smile as she remembered how the Ifrit was quite interested in the gourmet possibilities of American tree species in her waiting room reading materials of choice.

Jackie followed them as they entered the office, and then leaned against the wall as she pulled her phone out and began to film them.

Delilah shook the hand of the gray haired doctor, then Zamarad followed suit. "So, what is the problem that came up in my blood work, Doc?" Delilah asked curiously.

Brandon Varnell grinned and his eyes twinkled. "I'm pleased to inform you both that you have caught a case of influenza aegyptius, as we called it in medical school. The hormonal signs in the blood work for you both were quite conclusive along with the normal elevated iron count in your blood and the carbon in Mrs. Alnaar's."

Jackie's eyes shot wide open as she stared at Delilah and then she got a smug smirk of unholy relish.

Delilah frowned. "Egyptian influenza?" She shot a look at the equally puzzled Zamarad who shrugged and then looked back at her doctor.

"Oh yes, primary symptoms are nine months of weight gain, and then it turns you into a mummy. Congratulations, you're both pregnant!" Doctor Varnell finished with delight. "My staff has prepared prenatal information packages for you as first-time mothers."

Delilah stared in slack-jawed shock while Zamarad grinned uncontrollably with a goofy expression. Jackie began to giggle as she snapped several shots of their expressions. "Gotcha, Del!!"
--------------------------

Delilah glared at her unrepentant rogue of a big sister as they left the office with their copies of What to Expect when You're Expecting, additional pamphlets, and the congratulations of the doctor and staff. "Dammit Jackie! You knew! HOW!!"

Jackie saucily grinned back. "Zamarad's mother spotted some early signs for Jinn when she saw Zamarad last. So she told Jez who told me, Sis, and Dad. Ye won me twenty dollars from the betting pool when they see me video of the moment the Dragot dropped."

Zamarad's eyes got round, and she blinked as she thought back to her mother's reactions after meeting her for Eid.

"DAMMIT JACKIE! Don't you dare!!" Delilah shook a finger in the face of her smirking sister. "You hand me the phone right now so I can delete those photos I know you took!"

"Already on me cloud storage, Del!" Jackie smirked at her sister and took another picture of Del's fuming face.

"Face facts, Shaelat ruwhi. She has us over a barrel and knows it." Zamarad sighed before absently pulling another mesquite chip from her purse to snack on.

"DAMMIT JACKIE!!!"
--------------------------

Sákpe Mázasu Pteyúha (Six Bullet Ranch), Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA
Spoiler: An Unexpected Gift

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk leaned back in the padded chair and sighed thoughtfully. Truly these 'computers' were fascinating machines, he spoke to himself as he rubbed the mustache that he had begun to grow out once more, all the world's knowledge at his fingertips and magic too.

He chuckled idly at the thought and then looked back on the screen which was showing a scholarly analysis of his past life. He could argue with a few of the details and some of the conclusions, he thought to himself as he remembered the choices he had made that were being dissected, and of course some of his actions had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, while others had crashed and burned in bloody failure.

But overall, the judgement of history was kind to him.

He had not succeeded in all, but his intentions were good and he had succeeded in enough to make Turkey a far better place at his passage than at his arrival.

And that was certainly something to be treasured.

He could see why those who had revived him and given him a second chance at life would want his counsel and aid and to give him a reward for his labors.

The chance to watch the seeds that he had first planted grow and bear fruit in God's good time.

With that he looked at the sparkling pale green fluid in the carved crystal decanter that Lokman had brought. His eyes raised to meet those of the ancient physician. "This dose of the Elixir of Life will keep me as I am now?" Kemal asked softly.

Lokman responded equally quietly. "Yes. Now you could still be slain by violence or misfortune. As well, I and the others can tell you that immortality can be as great of a burden as a blessing. But the hand of time will not wear upon you if you take the Elixir. Or if you wish, you can live out a normal lifespan and then sleep forevermore."

Kemal rubbed his mustache once more as he considered the choice offered to him.

"We wish you to have the free choice of this as a reward for all that you have done, yes, but also as a mark of our respect for you as a person. There are many others who have done equally great deeds that echo through history who we would have never offered this choice to." Lokman finished in a solemn tone filled with responsibility.

Kemal nodded, and then thought to his hostesses' evident distress at the kidnapping of her niece Ehren. "Such as Hitler then." Kemal said quietly, thinking of the explanation that Delilah and Zamarad had given him about the poisonous fruit of Nazi Germany's descent into madness and how it impacted their niece.

"Yes. Such as Hitler." Lokman agreed.

"I see." Kemal fell silent once more as he stared at the screen without truly seeing it.

Finally Kemal looked at Lokman and spoke quietly. "Thank you all for everything. Often I thought that I fought alone and unaided. It is a balm to my soul to know that I was one among many fighting for what I believed in."

Lokman spoke equally quietly. "That knowledge is a balm to my soul too and to all of us no matter how old or how young. We may fall, we may fail, but we are never alone in the endless struggle to do what is right and where one cannot triumph, another can."

With that The Father of the Turks made his choice.

The Elixir of Life was poured into a shot glass, that was hoisted and raised to the man who had saved his life. Across from him, Lokman poured and raised a shot glass of the Tekirdağ Rakısı that Yavuz had sent to celebrate his return to health

"Şerefe!"(Cheers)

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Humming to himself, Harry quickly whisked the eggs in the bowl he had as the teen worked alongside Suisei to cook breakfast. At seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, he glanced to find Kenshō there poking her eyes over the top of the counter. Needless to say that his lips twitched a little at seeing it.

Of course, when he looked to the otherside, he nearly did a doubletake at seeing Kyoshu doing the exact same thing.

For several moments, he looked between the two blade spirits as they watched him, eyes poking up just above the top of the counter. Seeing Suisei out of the corner of his eye with a smile on her face, obviously trying to not laugh, Harry internally shook his head before humming, "So, what do you want on your omelettes, you two?"

Both blades tilted their heads as they blinked and thought about it before Kenshō raised a hand, "Can I have bacon and green onions on mine, Master? Oh! And pepper too!"

Eyes wide, Kyoshu rapidly nodded her eyes in agreement, "I'd like that too! Mou... wait, we're having omelettes?"

Unable to help himself, Harry chuckled as he gave a nod, "As a matter of fact, we are." Lips curling a little into a smile, he grinned, "We're also having some muffins as well that I made up."

Gasping, the Blade of Faded Memories turned her head, "Na-Chan! Na-Chan! The Muffin Man is making muffins! Good muffins too!"

Said Masamune smiled at her and gave a thumbs up gesture from where she sat with some tea. As she turned back to him, Harry tapped her nose making Kyoshu go cross-eyed, "We're also making some cinnamon buns and the like."

Happily gasping, Kyoshu gave a cheer alongside her daughter, both throwing their hands into the air.

The sight of which made the teenage wizard shake his head in amusement before noticing Suisei giving him an amused look of her own which caused him to raise an eyebrow, "What?"

Lightly chuckling a little, Suisei shook her head, "Nothing, just enjoying the moment." Glancing at Kenshō, she smiled a bit more, "It does seem like they enjoy it."

Harry allowed a little pride to leak into his voice as he gave a shrug, "I guess, though I do have a lot of experience with helping out back on base in the mess hall. You do get good when making things in bulk after all."

All the tanto did was nod in agreement to that.

Meanwhile, slowly, other members of those who had stayed in the household drifted into the dining room. Various letters and such came in which had Honjo, Kotegiri, and Chisuheri looking them over. At one point, Hedwig flew in and landed on the perch with some letters on her leg which Kenshō took. She gave the owl a happy smile, "Good morning, Hedwig-Nee-Chan!"

Everyone stopped as Hedwig chuckled and gave her a fond look before speaking in a Welsh accent, "And a good morning to you as well, Little One."

For a few moments, the gathered blades outside of Kenshō and Kyoshu, who was smiling happily and cheering, as well as Juuchi who smugly smirked, just stared. Slowly, Akutoku raised a finger and pointed, "The shit? That owl just fucking talk?"

Gasping, Kyoshu clapped her hands over her daughter's ears, not noticing her giggle, "Umitsubame! Umitsubame! Akutoku swore in front of Kenshō-Chan! Mou... why did she swear?"

Slowly blinking, Umitsubame brought up her true form and smacked Akutoku upside the head with the flat of her blade, "She's right, don't swear in front of Kenshō-Chan."

A scowl on her face, Akutoku rubbed the side of her head, "Come the heck on, Umitsubame! It talked and with some sort of wierd accent!"

Hedwig gave her a flat look, "I'm from Wales, hence the accent. Though that said..." She cocked her head to the side and her next words caused Umitsubame to have a spittake, "I suppose that a virgin blade such as yourself would have as much trouble with that as you would writing something realistic."

It took a few moments, but the Blade of Corruption realized what was just said and pointed at her, "The hell you say to me, you feather duster!?"

Once more, Hedwig gave her a flat look before leaning forward, "Well, mainly that people should write what they know, something that, unfortunately, you do not seem to do." She had the slightest version of a owl's version of a smirk, "Japanese, Motherfrecker, do you speak it?"

Needless to say, all the other blades were amused as Akutoku sputtered while trying to think up a come back to Hedwig's snark.

Feeling a tug on her sleeve, Kotegiri raised an eyebrow towards Kenshō who stood there, "Hai? What seems to be the issue, Kenshō-San?"

Said Kogatana ignored how the argument between Akutoku and Hedwig had increased, with the owl snarking more and more much to the amusement of the others. Instead, she held out one of the envelopes she had taken from Hedwig's leg, "This is addressed to you, Kotegiri-San! Mou... looks important."

Lips twitching a little, the Masamune nodded as she took the offered letter before giving the younger blade spirit a pat on the head which made Kenshō happily beam, "Thank you very much, Kenshō-San."

Bouncing a bit on the balls of her feet, Kenshō grinned, "You're welcome, Kotegiri-San!"

With that, she hurried over to her mother as Harry brought out muffins that the two dug into happily. Fondly smiling, Honjo shook her head a little, "At least she is well behaved..."

Hum escaping from her, Kotegiri nodded, "That is very true and good to see."

Noticing the official seal, she cracked it open before reading the letter inside. Beside her, Honjo noted that her sister's expression changed from the smile to her usual mask. Despite that, she could well see that Kotegiri was enraged at what she was reading and so lowered her voice, "Kote-Nee? What does it say?"

Just taking a deep breath, Kotegiri handed her the letter before lowering her voice, "It seems that I shall have to make a visit or two with the Oda Kimono. For some had much the same idea as Hatanaka all those years ago according to some interrogations passed along from the Konohana."

Eyes widening for a moment, Honjo stared at her before reading the letter quickly. Soon, her expression morphed into one of anger before she placed a mask over her face. Taking a deep breath, she then let it out, "Do you wish for assistence, Onee-Sama?"

However, her older sister shook her head with a razor thin smile, "No, you shall not need to dirty your blade this time, Honjo-Nee. This, I will take care of personally."

That only got a nod from Honjo before she looked back at the letter, "Still... the utter fools. If they succeeded..." With a sigh, she grimaced, "We have seen far too much of that already."

Slowly, Kotegiri gave a nod, "Indeed we have, thus a message needs to be sent that attempting such a thing will not be tolerated."

Understanding, the Blade of the Tokugawa frowned and tilted her head slightly before blinking as she noticed something, mainly that Juuchi was locked in a staring contest with Nameless. Which, needless to say, made her frown, "Juuchi, what are you doing now?"

Juuchi glanced at her briefly before turning back to Nameless, "I know her."

A snort escaped from Akutoku as she turned away from Hedwig whom she had been jabbing with her finger, "Of course you know her! We all do!" She then rolled her eyes with a shake of her head, "She's been living with Kyoshu for a while now-Ow!"

Pulling back from where she had nipped said finger, the owl clacked her beak and turned towards Harry, "Harry-Wizard, I require water to wash my mouth out as well as bacon to cleanse the taste before I get food poisoning."

Eyebrow twitching, Akutoku growled, "The fuck-ow!" Rubbing her head from where Umitsubame had smacked her for swearing, the perverted blade glared at her sister before turning back to Hedwig, "The frick you say you me, you overgrown featherduster!?"

Somehow, Hedwig conveyed a completely bored expression, "Three."

Blinking, Chisuheri raised an eyebrow in befuddlement alongside the others, "Three? Three what?"

The owl gestured towards Akutoku with one wing, "Three times at least you have used the same insult, calling me an overgrown featherduster. Such creativity." Pausing for a moment, Hedwig gave her version of a shrug, "Then again, considering her writing, I am not surprised."

Her eyebrow twitching, Akutoku snarled, "THE HECK!?"

From where she was, Suisei had a smug smirk on her face as she recorded the argument between the snarky owl and her sister, "Norimune will be disappointed so much that she missed this."

Meanwhile, Juuchi gave her sister a smug smirk of her own before turning back to Nameless, "No, it's not that. I actually know her from somewhere. But... I don't know where. I recognize her and met her in the past somewhere, but the name escapes me."

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to her with Honjo's breath caught in her throat, "You... you recognize her?"

On Juuchi's face was a frustrated look as she furrowed her eyebrows, "Hai, from somewhere in my past before I left Japan. We met more than once, but... I cannot for the life of me remember why or her name. Just that we... knew each other, somehow."

Looking between the hopeful and happy Nameless and the Muramasa, Kotegiri frowned a little as she still did not recognize her sister even that much. Something that annoyed her greatly, but what was just said puzzled her, "We have been working with someone to reverse what happened to her, but... how is it that you would recognize her and we could not?"

For a few moments, the Muramasa was silent and thoughtful. Then, she gave a hum, "I suspect that part of the reason is that the Potter storehouse is under the protection of the Fae. I have been exposed to such for many centuries now after all, and it would make sense."

Confused, Kotegiri frowned at that, "The... Fae?" It took a few moments, but then she furrowed her eyebrows, "Do you mean fairies? Such as Tinkerbell?"

Much to her surprise, Harry spoke up with a serious expression, "Despite how they are often shown in modern media, the Fae are dangerous beings and no joke. If you anger them, look out, because they can and will make you regret it for however long until they are finished."

Her eyebrow raised, the Oda Masamune turned to Juuchi only for a hesitant Chisuheri to speak up, "I... remember Jin coming back from that harvesting trip on your property in Britain, Harry-San. She had a lotus growing from her head. She claimed that it was a gift from the Fae on your property and that she was... concerned by possibly insulting them with whatever she might do with it." The Muramasa chewed her lip a little, "Jin is not afraid of a lot of things. So to see her so worried... it was somewhat frightening."

Taking a sip of tea, Juuchi let out a small sigh, "The Fae are... strange people with rules and such that only makes sense to them. But they are very powerful." She grimaced a bit, "As I am sure you all know of house elves, yes? They are the result of a small group of Fae pissing off the others with a war, thus being turned into house elves as 'Punishment' for doing so."

Intrigued at this, even as her sisters were a little horrified, Kagotsuruhe raised an eyebrow, "I see, and how did the Potters become involved with such beings."

At the stove, Harry shrugged a little, "Something like eight hundred years ago, one of my ancestors came across a wandering band of Fae. He made a deal with them that they could live on our land as long as they protected our treasures from those that would steal them. We would honour them by giving them the first picks of the harvest from our orchards as well. Later, their Queen gave birth to a child by said ancestor's son, who was also my direct ancestor. Apparently, at least another of the Fae also married into the family from the same group. Ties of blood and all that."

Several moments passed as they stared at him before Honjo shook her head, "Suddenly, so much makes sense." Ignoring the confused look on the teen's face, she turned to Juuchi, "So you believe that it has to do with being under their protection that you are recognizing her so soon?"

In reply, the Muramasa shrugged a little, "It is possible at least. Time and such doesn't apply to the Fae. And if there is any group whose magic would be able to ignore Kyoshu's abilities? Even if from the residue from exposure to said magic? It would be them." Juuchi then gave Honjo a smug smile, "Of course, the question is if you have had anything change, Honjo."

Frowning, Honjo opened her mouth before pausing. A thoughtful and surprised look crossed over her face a second later, "Hmm... now that you have mentioned it, there is a... spark of something there. But nothing more." Glancing at Juuchi, she frowned, "Is that from...?" At the slight nod, she had a surprised expression on her face, "I see, even from that small amount of time."

Kotegiri, meanwhile looked at Nameless, seeing hope on her face. Not for the first time, nor, she was certain, for the last, she cursed the man who did this to her sister to the depths of hell. And for what?! Because he wanted to control shipgirls?

Internally, she felt her mental lip curl a bit in utter disgust. Maybe if she had not been so busy, if she had hunted down the remnants of Sub-Unit-931 before now... maybe this would not have happened. But she was going to make it up to her sister, of that one could be sure.

With a deep breath, Kotegiri shoved such thoughts away and gave a small nod, "I suppose that it is not much, but it does give us an idea as to whom she might be."

That only got her nods of agreement before Hachi appeared, the Submarine having gone outside to contact Yokosuka and give a status update. Walking in, the shipgirl smiled a little at Harry, "Breakfast nearly done, Harry-Chan?"

Looking over his shoulder as she came up to hug him from behind, he gave a nod, "Hai, just about, Hachi-Chan. Maybe two or three more minutes and we can all eat."

Brightly smiling at that, Hachi nodded before kissing his cheek, "Thank you, Harry-Chan." Turning, she gave Suisei a nod, "And thank you as well."

Small smile on her face, the Tanto nodded, "You are very welcome, Hachi-San."

Not long after, everyone sat down for breakfast and various conversations happened around the table.

At one point, however, Suisei suddenly jumped from her seat, "Oh shoot! My show is about to come on!" Quickly, she went for the television that was visible and turned it on before changing channels, "Just in time."

Eyebrow raised, Hachi looked at the screen as music came on and she gave a happy gasp, "You watch Tales of Lady Green Snake as well?!"

Happily nodding, the dagger nodded, "Every chance I get! It's one of the best things on even if..." She gave a small shrug, "Even if I need the subtitles to understand what they're saying."

More than a little amused as the two gushed back and forth, though Umitsubame also joined in with Honjo adding commentary of her own, Harry raised an eyebrow, "Tales Of Lady Green Snake, huh? Isn't that the series filmed and produced in Taiwan?"

Rapidly nodding, Hachi smiled as she adjusted her glasses as the titular character was on screen, "Hai, it is a series based on Legend of the White Snake, but told from Lady Green Snake's point of view. It's amazing and it has everything! Including martial arts fights as well as romance! And all with Lady Green Snake as she travels Ancient China and refines her powers in order to rescue her beloved Nee-San." Clasping her hands, the Subgirl sighed happily, "I have it recorded when I'm out on patrol and such."

Lips twitching, the teenage wizard nodded a little, "I see." Looking at the main character, who was performing Wuxia martial arts against a bandit, Harry frowned a little, "... You know, I feel like I should recognize her from somewhere." At the look, he gestured at the screen, "The actress, she seems familiar."

One eyebrow raised, Kagotsuruhe hummed as she considered the screen, "Perhaps from another film or television series? Lǜ Laling has been around for some time." She gestured at the screen, "Supposedly, she is part European."

Blinking, Harry looked at her again as she landed and blocked hits from her opponent. Now that he looked, there was a European cast to her features. Yet, there was something else there as well, something oddly familiar. Even as he looked, she had a lopsided smile that was full of smug as she looked at her defeated enemy. And, when he glanced at Juuchi, Harry could see that she was puzzled as well with a thoughtful look on her face.

Granted, he had to admit, she looked cool and he was definitely going to look up the series. Maybe see if could get the other episodes online at least.

________________________________________________________________

Unknown to him, at that time in Taiwan, the real Lady Green Snake arrived home from her job as the Minister Of Magic for Taiwan. Despite outward appearances, she was exhausted. With what was going on in the North with China and the Mandate was bad enough. Now, there was the fall of the Tokyo Diet and the fallout from that. As far as she was concerned, if someone wanted power than they were a fool. She missed the simpler days with her sister and brother-in-law before they became separated. Even her days as Education Minister! If she could, she would go back to those days...

But... she had a duty to uphold for the people needed a firm hand right now to guide them through the dark days ahead.

With a sigh, Lady Green Snake entered her home and paused at the smells that assaulted her. Mouth watering, she followed the scents to the kitchen and smiled at the woman who faced the stove on the other side of a kitchen island, "Well, I did not expect a meal waiting for me, Daughter, welcome as it may be."

Lightly chuckling, the woman turned to reveal it as being Lǜ Laling. Unlike her television appearance, though, she had her black hair done up on a loose, messy ponytail, "I thought that you might want some food after being at work all night. And the season's filming is all finished for now."

Her legs transforming into a snake's body, her mother sighed as she coiled up her lower body on the other side of a table, "True, and I am looking forward to a meal cooked by you." Light smile on her face, she hummed, "You shall make someone a happy husband one day."

That only got her a laugh as Laling came around the kitchen island with the food, revealing her lower half to be that of a large, black scaled snake, "Perhaps one day, Mother."

Once she sat down, she poured tea for them both. Watching her daughter pour her own tea, Lady Green Snake shook her head in bemusement, "To this day, I do not understand how you enjoy that Earl Grey."

Her lips curling as she smiled, Laling shook her head, "I grew a taste for it when I lived in Britain and went to Hogwarts, Mother."

Both their eyes drifted to the diploma that was framed on the wall with smiles. One that stated that she had graduated in 1889 from Slytherin, something that always amused the two of them. Briefly, Laling's smile faded and became more melancholy before she shook that off with happier memories.

Turning to her mother, Laling took a deep breath, "Mother, I would hate to bother you, but..."

Simply holding up her hand, Lady Green Snake smiled, "You wish to know what is happening in Japan as far as I know, it is as easy to see as one's nose, Daughter. And understandable as you are worried about your nephew."

Pale cheeks pinkening, the younger of the two looked down, "My apologies, Mother. It is just... I do not wish for him to live through something that we have."

Slowly, Lady Green Snake nodded, "As I said, understandable and it speaks well of you! For you understand as I do the duty to one's family, even if one cannot complete it yet." At her daughter's nod, she took a sip of tea before turning to the food, "There is good news there as it seems that besides small fights here and there, the transition of power is going as peaceful as can be expected. So there is unlikely to be a civil war in Japan quite yet. Not like in China, at least or not that we are familiar with." Taking a bite of food and chewing it, she swallowed before continuing, "Thus, he is safe for now." A small smile appeared on the older woman's face, "His birthday is in a few days, perhaps send him a small gift?"

Considering that as she ate her own food, Laling nodded, "I do have a few ideas as to what he may like." A sigh came from her as she looked at the photo on the wall, "I do wish that I had known that he was in trouble from... those creatures. But at least he is happy now, though if I had known at the time-"

Her mother spoke up, "If you had, I have no doubt that you would have gone and retrieved him where he could be raised properly. As it is proper for you to do so, as you are my daughter and your Father's Daughter." A wistful sigh escaped her as she shook her head, "While, perhaps, it was more lust than love, Ian was a good man nonetheless. And I see that in you each day."

Red colouring her cheeks, Laling bowed slightly, "Thank you, Mother."

Only humming, Lady Green Snake sighed a bit, "Now, the next few days will be busy. I have... something coming up that cannot be rescheduled. Not to mention I have no doubt that the ICW will be making a stink in regards to Japan. Thus, I need for you to do some things for me if you are free..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- This one went some unexpected places on me.

Things To Do In South Dakota When You're 'Dead' (XV)

Villa Uvas Munificus, Slopes of Mount Ossa, Thessaly, Greece

12 August 2014
Spoiler: Hunters Of The Sunless Seas

With a bang of displaced air, Jacklyn Fox appeared down the road from the Villa. Jackie swallowed to settle her stomach after the long-distance Portkey travel from South Dakota. She looked around, whistled at the view of the Aegean in the distance, and then adjusted her floppy pirate hat.

Bless Delilah for having a Portkey to her friend Maddy Aetios' estate so she could pick up Claire.

Speaking of her niece, Jackie chuckled to herself at the sound of piano music echoing from inside someplace as she walked toward the house. After all, she would know Claire's playing anywhere. She then frowned at the clear notes of worry and concern in Claire's playing. She would certainly have to cheer Claire up after taking her home.

Not that she could blame Claire for this, considering the pickle that Ehren was in. But Jackie had faith in her youngest niece to hold out until her idiot of an older sister could save her... if Ehren didn't escape on her own.

Approaching the entrance to the villa, she tensed slightly as a woman in a Hellenic Navy T-Shirt and sweat pants glided out of the door like a humanoid lioness. Jackie's honey-hazel eyes then widened in shock as she identified the woman heading her way.

While she was no longer an active part of the Silent Service anymore, she kept up with the news of those who stalked their prey through the cold and cruel depths in the deadliest hunts of all.

Captain Lana Koustris.

Commander of the submarine HS Meleager.

The Huntress of the Mediterranean.

According to scuttlebutt that she had heard whispered to her by her friends in the seafaring community, Captain Koustris was someone who seemed to be as 'special' as 'Commander Fox' of SSM-3 had been during her days stalking the Japanese Navy through the war-torn Pacific.

With that Jackie grinned with the cocky smirk that she had used in the past to notify her crew that she had a plan to dodge the trio of escorting destroyers to hit the troopships bringing men and supplies to New Guinea.

"Ahoy!" Jackie said and sketched a flamboyant curtsy to Captain Koustris. "It's quite a honor to meet ye, ye know."

The Greek woman nodded politely and then looked deep into Jacklyn's eyes. Golden-brown with the piercing fierceness of a lioness met equally resolute and sharp honey-hazel as Jackie stared back. Finally the other woman gave a smile of her own.

"Hunter's eyes..." Atalanta said half to herself.

Jackie nodded sharply in agreement. "Aye. It's been a wee bit since I did a proper stalk, but I have done me own spots of hunting the most dangerous game from below the waves meself." She nodded in response to the unstated question and then continued. "If ye write down an address and your choice of libations, I'll send ye a bottle to wet yer whistle out of respect. Cap'n Jacklyn Fox at your service. Retired skipper of SSM-3 Foxfish in World War Two."

Atalanta walked with her toward the villa. "I haven't heard of her, actually."

Jackie shrugged expressively as she turned to look at 'the wine-dark sea' of Homer's Iliad. The cutlass then spoke with quiet, serious pride. "Few did then or later. Just the way that it should be for a necessary job."

Atalanta nodded and gave a questioning glance at Jackie.

Jackie spoke again with her eyes distant, lost in memory. "When it was obvious in 1939 that the world was going to blow up, MACUSA got persuaded to do a small secret additional production run of Gato-class submarines crewed and skippered by magicals. We had heard rumors that Kamo's Japan had built a magical navy, which was accurate enough, so MACUSA wanted a counter."

Jackie gave a gentle smile as tears filled her eyes and her voice. "I got the third one laid down for me pains, and the only one of the first three that survived the War -- damned Mark Fourteens! -- for me little girl. Eleven war patrols. Thirteen kills including Yamatai. 51,861 tons sent to Davy Jones' Locker accordin' to the records we got after the war. Most importantly, she brought all me boys back to port and to their loved ones after we did what had to be done."

Atalanta nodded in respect as Jackie finished quietly in a sad tone. "I couldn't keep her after the war, so had to watch when she sailed to the breakers. Damn me, I miss her even today, even the head that kept backing up on us rather than flush into the bilges. She was a good girl and I couldn't be more honored to have been her skipper for those four years. I pour out a glass of rum for her every year to celebrate the day I stepped aboard her for the first time, and to remember the day that I had to give her up."

Atalanta nodded solemnly and spoke equally quietly. "Yes, yes. I know how that is. You never forget the good ones, and they remain with you forever after touching you with their lives. When the time comes, I'll miss Meleager too."

Jackie nodded in agreement and the silence lingered.

Finally Atalanta stirred and then spoke to Jackie. "I take it you are here for more than to talk shop."

"Delilah and Colombe are me sisters and I'm here to pick up me niece Claire." Jackie said as she cleaned off her face. "Before she drives ye all mad with her playin' of course."

Atalanta grinned. "Nothing of the sort and I'd love to have her back on another visit. Claire actually has been a model guest so I have taken the opportunity to teach her how to shoot a bow and hunt. She was enjoying the lessons this morning while I wait for my ship to be readied for the next patrol."

Jackie blinked as they headed inside. "Claire as a hunter? I can... almost see that in a strange sense, especially since her little sister Ehren hunts too. Ehren bagged a big antelope on Del's ranch last November. So you hunt?"

Atalanta grinned and nodded happily. "Indeed I do."

"I'll have to introduce you to Del sometime then. She owns a game ranch out in the Black Hills and loves being out there during hunting season. Used it a time or two meself, although the huntin' I favor is for saucy willin' wenches and sturdy buccaneers with hard muscles." Jackie waggled her eyebrows as her voice got a teasing tone. Atalanta laughed in response to the clear jest.

"AUNT JACKIE!!" Claire called out with a large smile as she looked that way as she played the piano. She then ran over to hug her aunt. "I was so worried. What's happening?" She said in a concerned voice.

Jackie sighed after she returned the hug and ruffled Claire's hair. "I have some good news and some bad news Squirt. I'll tell you the news once we get back to Moulbaix. That's why I'm here, your mother and Toku are busy so they asked me to pick you up. Can you grab your stuff to take with you?"

Claire nodded and headed to her guest room. As she left, Jackie turned to Atalanta and guided her away from the piano. Jackie then spoke very quietly. "Del said something about calling here to make sure we had a Portkey that could transport her? Also Maddy should know that Ehren got kidnapped by her damned Nazi Vampire father and Colombe's leading the lynch mob after him so will be out of touch for a bit."

Jackie sighed deeply and looked at the piano playing itself happily across the atrium. "I'll have to come up with something to keep her spirits up. Claire and Ehren are very close."

Atalanta smiled. "I recommend an archery set. She really did have an interest in that, and it may relate to her being Chosen by Wolf-Mother." Jackie's eyes bulged in surprise at the news. Atalanta smiled and continued. "Archery also relaxes the mind as it improves the body."

Jackie laughed. "That sounds like a Del thing to say. I'll take your advice and get one for her while we wait."

The conversation was paused as Claire returned with a bulging space-expanded satchel filled with scrolls and clothes. "All ready, Aunt Jackie!"

Jackie nodded and then took the Portkey that Medea had prepared from Atalanta. "All right, Squirt. Unsummon your avatar and I'll activate this to take us home."

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium
Spoiler: News Of Ehren

Claire's piano and Jackie appeared in the ballroom of Moulbaix.

Claire manifested and looked around curiously at the quiet castle. "Where's everyone?" Claire asked quietly as she opened her lid and began to tune herself.

Jackie cursed Colombe mentally for saddling her with this duty and then hugged Claire. "Claire. The bad news is that while you and your mother were in Greece, the castle was attacked. Kasuyu fought them off but Ehren got captured. Your mother, Toku, Kasuyu, and Norimune are leading the rescue of her. I'm covering for her while they bring Ehren back."

Claire tensed and began to cry as her piano body emitted wails of heartrending musical sorrow.

Jackie sighed then used a finger to raise Claire's face so she could look into her niece's pain-filled eyes. "Ehren's a strong girl and your mother is very determined. Ehren will be back before you know it. Also I didn't tell you the good news, Squirt!"

Claire sobbed and frantically shook her head, "I don't want good news, I want Ehren!!"

"Oh, but this is the best news possible, Squirt." Jackie said confidently as she stared into Claire's eyes and used a voice of command to reach her heart. "Del and Zamarad aren't along since they are both in the family way. You're going to be a Big Piano Cousin to their children in a few short months."

Claire's eyes widened in shock and a hesitant smile broke out as the hug grew stronger between Piratical Aunt and Piano Niece.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

After a number of goodbyes and the like, Harry, Hachi, and Kenshō had left Umitsubame's house with Juuchi having decided to stay behind to discuss things with her sisters. One thing that was decided was that with the situation as it was, they didn't want to chance flying at any point back to Yokosuka. No one wanted one of the rogue groups resulting from the Diet's dissolution to decide to take potshots at them. Even if the chance was low of that, they decided that it was best not to risk it.

Granted, Harry did get a shiver down his back when Kotegiri had smiled at him in a way that reminded him of Tatsuta when angry and told him that it shouldn't be a worry for very long.

Thus, a few hours later the three were driving along the highways back to Yokosuka after informing Nagato of the change of plans. Glancing up at the rearview mirror, Harry smiled a little at the sight of Kenshō slowly breathing in the backseat as she slumbered. At her side, a tablet had dark screen as it had gone into sleep mode after being paused for a time. Part of the teenage wizard could only shake his head at what had happened that morning before they left. The goodbyes between Kenshō and Kyoshu had caused everyone to smile.

Of course, all of them had been amused with the fact that Kyoshu more than once had forgotten that she had said goodbye. Which meant that she would suddenly come running to glomp the giggling Kenshō and start kissing her head while saying goodbye. Alternatively, grabbing her daughter to drag her off to get ready much to Umitsubame's exasparation and giggling from the Kogatana and grins from Nameless.

Just shaking his head a little, Harry barely held back a fond chuckle as he turned his head back to the front. He did pause a little, however, as his eyes came upon Hachi who was driving the car. Said Subgirl hummed a little to a song that was on the radio as she kept her eyes on the road with her darkened glasses.

It was amusing to Harry whenever he saw her wearing her "Civilian" glasses with transition lenses.

Mainly because he remembered that it was shortly after he had started staying with the Subgirls and became friends with them that he had introduced her to said lenses. At the time, he still wore glasses full time and Nagato had taken him to an eyeglass place to both get tested and to have proper glasses bought for him. Something that she had spared no expense on, thus he found himself with transitions. Needless to say, as a young child, it amazed him and he had laughed everytime he went out into the bright daylight and his glasses darkened.

Not long after their fateful meeting, the Subgirls had been walking along with him chatting happily with them and having it returned. Iku and Hachi had each held a hand and were swinging him back and forth every once in a while. At the time, it was a cloudy day for the most part. When the clouds finally broke and the Sun streamed through, Harry remembered, Hachi had boggled as his eyeglasses darkened in the light.

And it was not just her either as the other Subgirls had as well because they hadn't noticed that sort of thing before. Harry explained, excitedly, about his glasses and how they became sunglasses in bright light to highly interested Submarines. Within two weeks, Hachi had gone and gotten a new civilian pair of glasses with the same type of lenses and had never gone back for the glasses that she used outside of combat.

Though, to more than a little bit of Harry's amusement, Hachi had blushed at the time when he complimented her on how nice they looked, and still did whenever he complimented her on her glasses.

Briefly, he remembered that when they had been discussing what they had for their glasses all those years ago, he had paused. The eight year old had scratched his head in thought when Imuya asked what was on his mind. Each of the Subgirls had blinked when he asked if they could get the same stuff on their periscopes. Of course, at first the girls had laughed before suddenly pausing and wondering themselves. They shared a look and dragged him off to a bemused Akashi who they explained his idea. As it was explained to her, the Repair Ship had become intrigued and then excited.

Within a matter of weeks, they had discovered that, yes, they could give the various Subgirls the same sort of "Upgrade". After all, they were just chemical coatings and such things, while prohibitably expensive in WWII if they had tried it back then, were possible. And thus able to bypass the normal issues with MSSB and would also regenerate in repair baths.

From there, it had first implemented for the Subgirls, both Japanese and those in other countries. Then, they had gone and gave various IJN Shipgirls, who often used optics to aim, the same thing. Harry still remembered a cackling Akashi telling him how when she had told him, Goto had stared at her before banging his head on his desk at how they had missed such a simple thing.

Lips twitching a bit at the memories, Harry internally shook himself free of such thoughts before noticing that Hachi was glancing at him curiously with a slight flush on her cheeks, "Um... Harry-Chan? Er... i-is something wrong?"

Now blushing himself, Harry looked away, "Sorry, just looking at your glasses and remembering years back when you saw me wearing transistions."

That made the shipgirl blink before she softly smiled with a small giggle, "I remember that actually. And how all of us were pretty surprised." Reaching up, she adjusted her glasses with a happy look on her face, "Hacchan is happy that they exist though, because it makes things so much easier."

Placing his hands behind his head, Harry gave a hum, "Tell me about it, though I don't wear glasses now that often since I mainly need them for reading." Scratching his cheek, he grimaced a bit as he remembered something, "Though later on in life..."

Hachi nodded as she knew what he meant, mainly that due to his eyesight and childhood, even if he only needed glasses for reading now that very likely he would need them full time later in life. Then, she smiled and gave another giggle, "Well, then, Harry-Chan can be glasses buddies with me."

Just blinking for a moment, the nearly fourteen year old gave a chuckle, "That's true, I suppose. And you got a nice sense of style for them."

Brightly smiling at that, the Subgirl turned back to the road with a happy look on her face as she thanked him. In reply, Harry only nodded though he did keep looking at her out of the corner of his eye as he took note of how she looked at that moment, happy and peaceful as the Japanese countryside passed them. Unable to help himself, he swallowed a bit as he took her in as Hachi was currently wearing a tight, white tank top due to the heat of the summer with jeans that were rather tight on her.

Something that Harry noticed right away as she shifted a bit in her seat.

Within his head, the teenager was beating his hormones once more with the thoughts that they caused. Especially as the clothes left no doubt as to the figure of the physically seventeen year old girl driving. Internally, Harry muttered to himself why it was that, as used to her wearing a swimsuit he was, that it was what she wore now that caused him issues. Not that he was complaining much...

Quickly shaking his head, he decided to distract himself by pulling out a notebook and looking over his notes after clicking his pen. Several minutes found him looking at the notebook in thought as he tapped his pen against his lips. Hearing Hachi's voice, he looked up, "Hmm? Something wrong, Hachi-Chan?"

Eyebrow raised, she gave a slight shake of her own head, "Nothing wrong, just wondering what you're working on, Harry-Chan. Homework?"

Lightly chuckling, Harry shrugged a little, "Not really, just something that I am working on in my own time." At her interested look, he checked the rearview mirror to make sure that Kenshō was asleep before lowering his voice, "It has to do with the Bunker and what happened there... in particular a fight. I... want to see if I can replicate some of what I did outside of that."

Frowning, Hachi furrowed her eyebrows, "Harry-Chan? Weren't you pretty hurt by what you did? From what I was told, you broke bones and the like..."

Only shaking his head, the teenage wizard hummed, "Hai, for some of what I did. I'm definitely not trying some of those stunts ever again if I can help it. Like the boost to my strength, that... was painful."

Relieved, Hachi nodded with a soft sigh, "That is a big help for Hacchan." She then tilted her head a little, "So what are you working on?"

Glancing at her, Harry frowned some in thought, "Honestly?" At her nod, he continued, "I'm thinking of some of what I did like ripping rebar out of concrete and propelling it." The wizard waved his hand a bit in the air, "I mean, obviously I won't be able to rip something from concrete normally. But... using wandless magic to propel debris? That... could be useful if I can figure out how to control it."

Interested, the Subgirl brought up her thumb and bit down on it, "I can see why, Harry-Chan. You could use it for a distraction in a fight if you can."

With a slight nod, Harry smiled, "That's one idea that I had, especially if I ever fight Voldemort. But another is that I could use it as a defense as well. You know, fling objects wandlessly into the path of the Killing Curse to block them if it comes to that while I attack." A grin came to his face as he tapped the notebook, "I think some of it was a wandless Depulso. And if so... I could pull a bit from what also happened and overload it."

Blinking, Hachi watched as he brought up one arm, straightened it, and then made a flipping motion with his thumb. It only took a few seconds before she began to giggle madly, "Hai, I suppose that would be very useful as well. Though does that mean that we would need to call you Biribiri?"

That got a snicker from him as well as a wink, "Maybe~"

Just shaking her head, the Subgirl continued to smile, "Never change, Harry-Chan. Never change."

In return, Harry shot her a grin.

_____________________________________________________________

After a few hours of driving, they pulled over at a fast food place and got themselves burgers. Pausing in his chewing, Harry swallowed before setting his food down and cleared his throat, "I-I'm sorry, Hachi-Chan... but what did Hitomi-San and Iyo-San do?"

Grin wide on her face, Hachi giggled a bit, "Well... see, we had another successful mission, sank a number of Abyssals. So we were in the Subpens and RO-Chan brought out some beer. So we were all kind of drunk and had this idea... And Jersey was in the area so we decided to have a bit of fun."

Knowing that said Battleship had... issues with Submarines, Harry pinched his nose and snorted, "What happened?"

If anything, the grin widened on the Subgirl's face and she brought out her phone to show a video.

On the screen, it was evening and Jersey was walking along and was about to eat a pie on the waterfront when suddenly music began to play. The Battleship was looking around in befuddlement and Harry heard her curse and ask what the fuck was happening. Suddenly, spotlights shone on the water and Hitomi and Iyo leapt out of the water, roses in their hands as they looked at Jersey who jerked back. Smirks on their faces, the two Subs went into poses as they began to speak.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"And make it double!"

"To protect the world from devestation!"

"To unite all ships within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of our foe!"

"To extend our reach to the Abyss below!"

"Hitomi!"

"Iyo!"

"Team Sub approaching at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

At that, Iku jumped out of the water and went into a pose, "Torpedoes, that's right!"

For several moments, all four shipgirls were silent as Jersey just stared with her sunglasses slipping down her nose, "What... the fuck..."

Meanwhile, Maruyu appeared and used that moment to swipe her pie before sneaking off. Seeing that, the other three Subs within view ran off, "TEAM SUB RUNNING OFF AGAIN!"

Confused, the Battleship stared until realizing what was missing, "MY FUCKING PIE YOU SHITS!"

Several seconds passed as the video ended before Harry began to cackle madly at what he had just seen. Even Hachi was snickering and had to put down her phone or else risk dropping it. When he was finally able to speak with chuckles, the wizard flicked some tears from his eye, "Was she the only one that you bunch pranked?"

Grinning, Hachi shook her head a little as she picked up her burger again, "Actually? She wasn't as we got others like Musashi and the like. Each and every one of them we got on video too, completely and utterly befuddled when we were done."

Once more, Harry began to snicker madly as he imagined the reactions that they very likely got and wished that he had been there to help.

It was only after he was certain that he would not choke that he took another bite from his burger and looked over at where Kenshō was currently chasing after a butterfly. Softly smiling, Harry turned back to Hachi who smiled back at him, "This is rather nice."

Humming as she wiped her lips after finishing her own burger, Hachi picked up a fry, "Hai, it really is, Harry-Chan."

Tilting his head a bit, Harry frowned slightly as he lowered his voice, "I know that we've been away longer than you might like-"

Before he could get too far, the Subgirl reached over and placed a finger against her lips just for a second or two. Mainly because she replaced it with her lips for a brief kiss. When she pulled back, Hachi had a happy smile on her face, "I don't mind, Harry-Chan, because it was time spent with you."

This time, it was Harry's turn to be flustered which amused her to no end.

Not very long after, they finished their lunch and tossed the wrappings into a garbage can before walking back to the car. Hachi let Kenshō into the backseat and Harry helped her buckle herself in. Going to get into the driver's seat after watching and smiling, the Subgirl paused as she felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning, she blinked a little, "Hmm? What is it, Harry-Chan?"

Lips curled into a smile, Harry pressed against her which caused the shipgirl to be more than a little flustered before he kissed her. Blinking for a moment, Hachi closed her eyes and leaned into it as she placed her arms around his neck as the teenage wizard placed his hands on her hips. When he pulled back, both of them were blushing heavily, though with smiles on their faces. Lightly chuckling, Harry rubbed the back of his neck, "Um, thanks... for everything. And I enjoyed spending the time we did with you as well."

Still blushing, Hachi leaned in to kiss him again, "Mmm, so did I."

In the backseat, Kenshō had a bright grin on her face with her clenched fists held in front of her mouth to keep from squealing in glee.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- And speaking of Kotegiri....

A Breadknife Lesson

Councilor Aizawa Noritada scratched the back of his still dark head of hair with the smallest hints of gray. He then looked at the other members of his faction in the nightclub that they had taken over for this meeting thanks to some of Representative Onishi's 'business associates'.

"You have heard nothing back from Auror Tsutsumi?" He snapped out at Onishi.

The representative shook his head. "Not since he departed to begin the process of bringing Kyoto to heel."

Movement at the door caused him to glance that way as a beautiful woman in a red kimono walked past the frozen bouncers.

He turned back and glared at the others. "This is important business, who called for a whore? Was it you, Onishi?"

"Councilor Aizawa Noritada. It is good to find you at last." The woman's voice was cultured, elegant, and filled with anticipation as she approached the dozen men at the table..

Councilor Aizawa suddenly froze as a paralysis spell locked him and the rest of the people in the nightclub into place.

His eyes widened and he began to sweat at the sight of blood red silk and golden Oda heraldry on the kimono the elegant woman wore like an Imperial princess.

Suddenly, she snapped her fingers and a large wicker basket with old stains around the open top and on the bottom appeared to float at her elbow.

He began to scream internally, remembering his father's bedtime stories about how if he did not study, then Kotegiri would come for him just like she had come for Granduncle in 1945.

Masamune-no-Kotegiri.

The Armor Cutter of the Pure Smith.

The Sword of the Emperor.

No.

The Sword of the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven.

The sword who had been the steel core within the iron fist of the most ruthless warlord of the Jidai.

Golden eyes narrowed as she surveyed him for endless moments. Finally she nodded to him. "In accordance with My Imperial Master's Will And Command, I shall explain matters for those of you whom can be saved." Her voice was polite, courteous and formal with velvet menace in each precise syllable.

"As for the rest.... A lesson is needed." Her voice became colder than a yuki-onna in a blizzard as she finished.

Masamune-no-Kotegiri, touched one of the golden Oda Mokka-mon crests on her kimono and her lips curled in a sweet smile with surprising warmth in it as she spoke in a voice filled with warm devotion and happiness. "My First Master, Oda Nobunaga-dono, drew me in 1567 and gave me my First Charge among the chaos of the Jidai."

"Tenka Fubu. 'Unify all Japan under this sword'. By any and all means necessary." Her eyes glittered in memory as her lips moved in an absolutely terrifying smile full of fanatical devotion.

Her smile widened as she continued in that warm, happy, terrifying voice as she looked into the eyes of the frozen bureaucrats and politicians while walking among them. "My Second Master, Meiji-Dono, gave me my Second Charge in 1868. 'Make Japan strong and prosperous, able to stand in the first rank of nations so that all her children can enjoy the blessings of the Land of the Gods'. To that end I helped him clear away the failing remnants of the Shogunate and establish the Japan that we live in today according to his vision. By any and all means necessary."

Her smile grew proud and happy as her voice gained the tone of a teacher's joy at a student surpassing her. "My Third Master, Showa-Dono, gave me my Third Charge in 1945 as Japan stood upon the precipice of destruction. 'Insure that Japan survives by acting when you are needed to stop the disharmony and foolishness of small minded men who risk the harmony of the nation and the survival of our people'." She gazed into Aizawa's terrified eyes and her smile became a razor-edged hungry menace as she finished in that warm, terrible voice. "By any and all means necessary."

With that, she nodded once and spoke in a solemn cold voice. "Rumors of recent attempted events in Tokyo have distressed the Chrysanthemum Throne, and, as it shall always be, the Oda shall support the Tennō with humble, loyal service."

Her voice became cold and hard as her steel as she finished. "By any and all means necessary."

"Councilor Aizawa, the actions of you and your allies would have led to another civil war. Magical against no-maj. Human against Yokai. Just like the wars that I ended in 1355, in 1567, in 1868, and in 1945 before they could destroy us. A war that we cannot afford with the Abyssals menacing us." Kotegiri spoke in the solemn voice of a judge passing sentence.

CLICK

The sound of the Armor-Cutter of the Pure Smith returning to her sheath after performing the duty that she had been forged by the greatest swordsmith of Japan to carry out.

PLOP

The sound of the first head being tossed expertly into the waiting basket.

The sound of the patience of Emperor Heisei being exhausted.

The sound of Oda Kotegiri responding to the concerns of the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Kotegiri turned to the seven men remaining after the last headless corpse on her list collapsed to the floor.

She surveyed them mercilessly with her hungry golden eyes, staring into each face for endless moments before nodding once in satisfaction.

"I trust that I shall not have to ever return to reinforce the lesson?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Making her way through the waves, Louisiana took a deep lungful of the salty sea air as she visually scanned the ocean around them along with her radar on the look out. As she did so, she caught sight of Hoel-Ni in her position near the rear of the formation. Said Destroyer, like her, was also scanning the area. Upon locking eyes with Louisiana, she grinned and waved a hand before going back to her job.

Just nodding at that, the Battleship smiled a bit more at her escort even as she remembered that the coming convoy had a new Destroyer destined to join their small Battlegroup, USS Seymour D. Owens (DD-767). She was one of Hoel-Ni's sisters and a fellow Gearing that had been scrapped before completion after the Second World War. She was to be joined by a "Never-Built" Light Cruiser, USS Fairbanks (CL-154) and the first of her Class.

Part of Louisiana was rather pleased with that seeing as said class was very good at Anti-Aircraft fire. Especially when Jersey had told her that said ship was basically a "Super-Atlanta" with eight double 5"/54 guns and two twin 3"/50s aft with a further six single mounts. From what she had heard, it would boost their own anti-aircraft capabilities nicely alongside Seymour as well.

And while she would never admit it, she was so looking forward to her next rebuild as they believed that she could replace her quad-bofors with double 3" that she nearly drooled.

Unknown to her, Shinano was having similar thoughts as she sailed along as her Mustangs scouted ahead for the incoming convoy. She was quite happy herself with the new members of their group, along with Ishikari, Miitake, and Denryuu who would be training with them at least. She also suspected that Ayase would join as a Japanese Light Cruiser to act as a leader for Hamakaze and the others Japanese Destroyers in their group.

Or, at least it would be a suspicion if she, Shinano, had not put in a request for her to join them. Niiyodo had given her a knowing smile at the time, which had made the Carrier blush a little at it. And it was not like Niiyodo could join as said Light Cruiser was often seconded to Taigei and her support group. Besides, Shinano was good friends with Naka and had seen how said Light Cruiser as well as Jintsuu were effective... along with Sendai, though that last one was wierd to Shinano.

Despite being deep in thought about things, Shinano was still paying attention to her planes and suddenly perked up a little bit and turned her head towards the Northeast. Catching sight of that, Louisiana sided up to her, "Found something?"

With a frown on her face, the Yamato narrowed her cloudy eyes a little, "Hai, there's a Nu-Class alongside four Destroyers heading in the direction the convoy will be taking and..." She frowned a bit before blinking, "It's launching planes, mine will intercept and attack as much as they can."

Hundreds of miles away, one of Shinano's Mustangs dove towards the incoming fighters. At the controls, Sakai Saburō grinned even as he opened up with his guns as he began to feel the rush that always came with combat and was rewarded with one of the slower Abyssal aircraft coming apart even as he pulled up as hard as he could, the engine rumbling as the propellers clawed at the air, "Desu!"

And he was not along as he noticed Hinoki Yohei shoot down another Abyssal in his own Mustang, which he had named "Evalina no Musume" to the amusement of the others. From where he was in that split second, Sakai could see the "Dragon mouth" that Yohei had painted on the nose of the aircraft along with it's name. Lips twitching, he went into a hard turn back into the furball, still grinning.

If there was one thing he enjoyed since coming back as a fairy, it was the fact that he could both once more pilot and was fighting on the right side this time.

Just a minute or two later, he got a call over the radio from his wingman, "{Desu! Desu desu!}"

Eyebrows raising, Sakai leaned forward to look out his cockpit and glanced around. It did not take him long to see the incoming fighters, all Mustangs like his own. A laugh escaped his lips as the radio barked again, "{Hey, hey hey hey hey hey?}"

Still grinning madly, he grabbed at the radio, "Desu desu desu! Desu desu desu desu!"

There was an answering laugh before the American Mustangs dove into the furball and between the two squadrons, they managed to shoot down every single one of them. Almost as soon as they did that, the Abyssals down below attempted to book it. Unfortunately, each of the Mustangs had a single bomb which they put to use, targetting the Nu while firing their guns at the escorting Destroyers. They must have hit something as the Abyssal Light Aircraft Carrier detonated into a fireball that damaged the Destroyers, which were soon sunk themselves.

Climbing upwards, the two flights contacted their respective shipgirls and confirmed their positions and what had happened. The damaged planes retreated while the undamaged ones held formation, the Japanese and American pilots weaving in and out. Eventually, they were replaced by shorter legged planes as the two groups of shipgirls got closer to one another. Pulling up to the lead American Mustang, Sakai gave a wave and received one back before turning to head back home with them doing the same.

As he glanced over his shoulder, his eye gave his fellow Mustangs a once over. Shaking his head, he laughed once he placed them, 'So they have returned as well? To be expected of them.'

Down below, on the sea, soon enough the two groups came closer and closer until they came into contact. Standing at the forefront of her group, Shinano alongside Louisiana saluted Wisconsin, who returned, "Carrier Shinano, permission to join the convoy?"

Lips curling a bit, the Iowa nodded a little, "Battleship Wisconsin, permission granted." With that done, Wisconsin grinned a bit and threw an arm around Shinano's shoulder's, "Good to see you again, Shina!"

Brightly smiling herself, Shinano nodded a little, "And it's good to see you as well, Wisky-San." That got her a chuckle from the Battleship and she looked around before spotting another Carrier, "Um, is that...?"

Glancing in the same direction, Wisconsin gave her a slight nod, "That would be Chaffin, and yes, the P-51s flew off her. She actually wants to meet you as well."

With a glance towards Hamakaze, the Yamato got a nod and drifted into formation, refueling her planes and sending them up. Slowly, she drifted until she was beside Chaffin and the two Carriers considered each other. After a few moments, the American grinned, white teeth standing out against her dark skin, "So you're Shinano, then?" Holding out a hand, she nodded, "Name's Chaffin and pleased to meet you."

In reply, Shinano took the offered hand and shook it, "Hai, I'm Shinano and I'm happy to meet you as well, Chaffin-San."

That got her another smile and the two began to chat. Eventually, Chaffin blinked at one bit as they exchanged information even as their planes flew above, "Wait, White Plains is your Ma? Really?"

Lightly blushing, Shinano adjusted her glasses a little, "Um, that's right." She played with her fingers a little, "She's a good Kaa-Chan to me and my Nee-Sans."

More than a little bemused as she had seen pictures of said Escort Carrier, the Essex internally shook her head a little at the image inside her head of a little girl surrounded by a group of young women who all outmassed her and calling her Ma. She just barely kept from laughing. Instead, Chaffin gave a small nod, "I can imagine, Miz Shinano."

Notcing that one of Shinano's Mustangs came out, fully refueled and armed, she watched as the shipgirl brought up her bow and fired it. The arrow bursting into flame to reveal the plane as it clawed it's way into the sky to scout ahead of the convoy. For a few moments, she watched it with a hum as Shinano fired off another Mustang into the blue yonder. Considering she fired her own planes from a rifle, it did cause her to raise her eyebrow before internally shrugging.

After all, different people had different ways of doing things.

While Shinano continued to fire off new, refueled and armed planes, Chaffin gave the shipgirl next to her a once over even as she nodded at the formation the Japanese Mustangs took. The girl next to her was massive, even compared to a Fleet Carrier like herself. In her mind, the African-American Essex compared her to one of the Midway sisters in size and the like. Granted, a part of her wondered when she would get angled decks and could not help but grin at just how screwed any Abyssal attacking would be then. Because, to her eyes, Jersey's comment of Shinano being a "Floating Fortress" was right.

Clearing her throat, the American got Shinano's attention and held up her rifle, "Mind if I launch some of my Mustangs as well to help scout? My boys are raring to go after all."

That got her a smile from Shinano, who then nodded, "Hai, I would not mind."

Simply smiling, Chaffin had the first of her Mustangs come out of her hanger and get onto the catapult before firing her gun. Mere feet from them, the bullet transformed into a P-51 that climbed to join the others in the sky above, "And there we go."

Humming happily, the Yamato took note of the markings on the plane, "Huh, so they did come back."

Wide grin on her face, Chaffin laughed, "Can you blame them for doing so? They were waiting for a chance after all."

Upon getting a giggle and a nod, the American laughed again even as she launched another plane. She felt that the Japanese Carrier could become a good friend after all. Meanwhile, the American Mustang joined the others in formation as they circled the shipgirls, waiting for all of them to be in the air before heading out.

The sunlight shining down on the red painted tails of said aircraft.

_____________________________________________________________________

Slowly, the afternoon drew on as Hachi drove her car into the base. From there, it was not long before she pulled up just outside of the apartment building that Harry called home alongside the rest of the Nagato-Potter family. Looking out the window, she smiled and turned towards Harry, "Feels good to be home after a long drive like that."

Harry turned to her and nodded, "It really does." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Thank you again, Hachi-Chan." At her confused look, the teen continued, "For coming with me and driving us back. I really appreciate it."

Leaning over, the Subgirl kissed his cheek before pulling back, "I really don't mind, Harry-Chan. After all, I'm spending time with you."

When they got out of the car, Hachi gave a hum as she stretched some. A small, light blush stained her cheeks as she noted how Harry was watching her do so with a blush of his own. But unlike how it might be with some men, who would outright ogle her? There was nothing bad about how he watched her, nothing disrespectful.

Besides which... Hachi actually enjoyed him watching her like that.

Once she was done stretching, she noted Harry was smiling at her, "Hmm? Something wrong, Harry-Chan?"

In reply, Harry shook his head before jerking his thumb towards the apartment building, "I was just going to ask if you wanted to come in and spend some more time if, um... that's okay? And I could cook something up for you as well."

Licking her lips, Hachi nodded before walking over and taking his arm into hers, "I would like that, Harry-Chan, I would like that a lot."

Just nodding, the teenage wizard walked with her into the building with the blonde Subgirl.

Not long after entering the apartment, it didn't take Harry long to look into the fridge before nodding, "We have some sausages, Hachi-Chan. How does that sound?"

At that, the Subgirl licked her lips again and smiled, "That sounds really good, Harry-Chan. A nice sausage in a bun sounds perfect."

With a hum, Harry got to work and soon enough began cooking them in a pan. He did blink a little as Hachi came up from behind him and hugged him, chin on his shoulder, 'Hachi-Chan...' A moment later, he smiled as he went back to cooking, "Enjoying yourself?"

Happily humming, Hachi squeezed him a bit more briefly, "Hai, this is... very comfortable."

She then gave him a kiss on the cheek before going back to watching him as he cooked. Unknown to Harry, Hachi at that moment had an image in her mind of older versions of them both doing the same thing that they were at that moment. And such a thought was very enjoyable to the Submarine as well as filling her with a warm feeling as she imagined it.

Of course, she did not know that Harry had a similar image in his head at the same time. And, like her, he rather liked it. Granted, he had a small blush on his face from how he could feel her pressing into him from behind, but that was perfectly okay.

It did not take much time for him to cook up the sausages and he placed them into buns. Looking to one side, he watched as Kenshō opened her mouth wide and happily took a bite with a happy hum. A sound that made him chuckle and ruffle her hair before he turned to Hachi who bit into her own, "So? Any good?"

Lips curled into a fond smile after chewing and swallowing, Hachi raised her eyebrow, "You cooked it, Harry-Chan. So there shouldn't be any doubt of that." Walking over, she stood beside him and leaned against the counter, their bodies just touching, "So, tomorrow you're doing some work?"

Rolling his eyes, Harry snorted a little, "I don't think that you can call it 'Work', Hachi-Chan. All I'm doing is setting up one of those small ready made buildings."

Just taking another bite, the Subgirl tilted her head to the side, "It's going to be a store, right? For magical foods?"

With a small shrug, Harry nodded, "Hai, that's right. Shiromizu has a small chocolate factory at Ginzan which will be producing chocolate. Some of it will be using the same formula as Saint Brendan's Never Melt Chocolate. The rest will be various things like those giant bars." Scratching his chin, he gave a hum, "There's also a place that will begin producing cauldron cakes for the JMSDF. From what she told me, the contract is written up and everything. Same with the butterbeer that will be produced there."

Eyebrow raised, Hachi became thoughtful as she considered what she had heard. After all, said treats had become extremely popular among the various shipgirls and even personnel when available. There just was not enough of them even with Niiyodo's contract with Honeydukes with the items sent through the Vanishing Cabinet. So it made sense to broaden the places that they could get them.

As well, she suspected that other items would be sold there from overseas, brought onboard shipgirls performing convoy runs.

Only shaking her head in amusement at that, Hachi smiled at him as their conversation continued through their meal. It seemed far too soon when she was done and had to go as it was getting close to evening. Before exiting the door, she did give a happy Kenshō a hug and head ruffle.

But after leaving the apartment, she noted that Harry had followed her and she placed her hands behind her back, "Thank you, Harry-Chan. I enjoyed the past two days."

For a brief moment, Harry seemed unsure, but then he smiled and walked up to place his hands on her hips. Something that Hachi did not mind in the slightest and she placed her arms over his shoulders, "I feel like I should be saying the same to you again, Hachi-Chan."

Giggling, the blonde Submarine winked at him, "Hacchan doesn't mind that much." Pressing herself against him, she leaned forward until their foreheads touched, "Because I enjoyed it just as much."

Moments later, their lips met in a soft kiss as a sigh escaped the Subgirl.

The two of them stayed like that for a few minutes before finally separating and saying goodbye to one another. Leaving the apartment building, Hachi got into her car and drove off. Not that she got very far as two minutes later, she pulled over and turned off the car.

If anyone had been walking off, they would have seen Hachi staring ahead for a minute or two, gaze sightless. Then, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath... before promptly letting out a loud squee of pure joy as she thrust her hands above her head, "YEEEEEESSSSSS!"

For a few moments, she stayed like that. Then, pulling back her hands, she held them to her chest as she let out anothe squee, her feet kicking out a little in pure happiness. Not only had she spent two days with Harry, but things had changed, and in a good way, a very good way! Because a little bit of the barriers around his heart had given way.

Leaning back in her seat once her excitement had faded a little, though that had not put an end to the grin on her face that she wore. It was so large it quite literally hurt, but she didn't care as she felt happiness rush through her. Hachi's mind went back to how Harry had initiated kisses and other shows of affection with her. Not just light pecks, but actual kisses.

Right then and there, Hachi decided that she was going to thank Ume and Sakura, as well as Natsumi, for what they had done.

Of course, said thought brought to mind what they had actually done, and caused her to imagine herself in their place. An image that caused her engines to run hot even as her engineers tried to prevent lines from bursting. It... was not an unwelcome image, to say the least, though Hachi still cursed puberty. Still...

Taking a breath, Hachi released it, "Still... this is big." Grin still on her face, she restarted the car and drove towards the Submarine Pens, "I got to tell the others! They're going to love it!"

 

[darthcourt10]

lt_agn02

Her hand merely swiping weakly at the doorknob, Aso groaned in frustration. Things weren't supposed to turn out this way. She wasn't supposed to get in trouble on the first day!

With the original lecture postponed, now she had to deal with the aftermath of her fight with Despatch.

Defeated, she opened the door to the facility, revealing a massive array of greenery planted in what looked like endless stacks of trays connected to pipes leading to the Olympic-sized swimming pool outside. She recognized some of the plants as tomatoes, soybeans, and lettuce, but couldn't clearly make out the rest from the doorway.

An aircraft carrier is supposed to be a ship, not a farmer, she groaned. At least Despatch was lucky enough to get stuck behind a desk for the foreseeable future.

Next to her, Missouri crossed her arms. "Better get used to this, Aso. You'll be on gardening duty for the next two weeks on top of your regular duties."

The carrier just looked at her feet. "...Hai…"

Seeing this, the American turned on her heel. "You better learn your lesson by the time the two weeks are up. It's about time to harvest the current crop, so get on it. I'll be back to check on you in six hours. If I don't see a stack of crates the next time I see you, you'll be farming limpets until your arms are limp."

"...Hai…"

As the American battleship walked off, the Japanese carrier took a deep breath and surveyed her surroundings. The manual she was given could only explain so much.

The pipes and trays nearby held a myriad of plants, yet held not one grain of wheat or rice. In front of her was a tray full of tomato plants. Next to it was what she recognized as lettuce. Despite the familiarity of the plants, the system was...odd, to say the least. At the village, there would at least be some soil. That was a necessity. However, these trays were as clean as a surgical ward.

According to the list of duties that Missouri gave her, she was supposed to maintain the plants, harvest whatever was ready, and feed the fish. Nothing about watering them. She glanced at the pipes again. If this facility was anything like the hydroponic system back in Kure, then the plants should be directly in contact with the water itself and absorbing nutrients from it instead of relying on soil.

The carrier paused. Wouldn't that mean having to manually supply nutrients to the water herself?

As she searched for at least something to mix into the water supply like the contraption and feed at Kure, she noticed the pipes leading to the pool outside. Making a small groan, the carrier walked over.

Instead of just a standard fare swimming pool, she found an Olympic swimming pool packed to the brim with fish. If she threw a stone into that pool right now, she figured, she would hit three of them. At least.

"There's enough here to feed a fully-staffed battleship!" She exclaimed as she watched the condensed school swim about in the water.

Aso then put her hand to her chin as she looked at the pool itself, then the pipes, then the fish. The water seemed clean as well so the fish weren't swimming in their own...

"Of course!" Aso exclaimed to herself. "Fish poop gets mixed in with the water, then it gets sucked into the pipes where it becomes food for the plants!"

She crossed her arms. It was odd, though. Why didn't they have something like this at Kure? Was it because of the fish? Surely connecting such a system to a koi pond would have sufficed, wouldn't it? Maybe it had something to do with the fish themselves? Admiral Shimada might want to know about this.

Sighing, the aircraft carrier hung her arms at her sides as she eyed a nearby bin full of fish food. Then the stack of empty crates piled in the corner.

Looking into everything can wait until later. Harvesting the vegetables is a lot more pressing and she did not want to get on the American battleship's bad side again.

"...Jeez...why am I the only one stuck with manual labor?!"

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

March 21, 2014

08:00:00 AM Atlantic Time
MARLANT Headquarters, HMC Dockyard Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

The nerve centre of Canada's Atlantic Fleet was a hive of activity as the day began in one of Canada's oldest cities. Entrepreneurs opened their stores for the day, as hundreds of thousands commuted to work. Along the waterfront, over a dozen ships were loading up for a trans-Atlantic voyage to Europe. Always a rough voyage even in peacetime, the threat of abyssal attack meant that commercial shipping had to run in convoys, much like their merchant marine predecessors during the Second World War. To sail alone in the harsh Atlantic was now guaranteed suicide.

As the Warden of the North herself ate a hearty breakfast with her fortresses, residents were feeling that something significant was happening as traffic at the facilities of CFB Halifax and CFB Shearwater intensified overnight. There was also activity at Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax, which coordinated search and rescue mission between the Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard across 4.7 million square kilometres of land and ocean. However, many of the navy and coast guard personnel were still unsure of what exactly was happening, only receiving orders to report to their stations and wait on standby.

In a conference room at HMC Dockyard Halifax, a half dozen officers, as well as a pair of shipgirls, were talking to one another. Everyone in the room quickly stood at attention as one of the doors opened, with Rear-Admiral Diana Lombard and her personal secretary, the destroyer shipgirl Ottawa, stepping inside.

"At ease."

As everyone relaxed and sat down, Ottawa went to speak with Niobe; the protected cruiser gave a shrug as she watched a Lieutenant set up a presentation on a projector. There was also a few monitors in the room set up, as some were attending via teleconferencing. Finally, the noise died down, as the meeting began.

"Now before we start, Protocol Orenda is in effect. Lieutenant-Commander Swanson?" Diana nodded at one of the Lieutenants in the room, who pulled out a wand and began to mutter and wave the wand. A few people in the room were still not used to this as Swanson, a liaison from the Canadian Magical Armed Forces, set up privacy wards and monitoring spells to detect unauthorized eavesdropping or tampering of recordings.

"I call this meeting to order," started Rear-Admiral Lombard. "Certain information disclosed today are currently classified as Confidential or Secret under the Security of Information Act, though this is subject to change as per our previous briefing on the Statute of Secrecy. Various terminology associated with the Orenda Protocol is detailed in your packages. We will be discussing the classification as we proceed. Commander Higgins, the floor is yours."

The Navy Commander stood up and took the podium, as a map of Atlantic Canada was projected behind him.

"Ma'am, Ladies and Gentlemen. On March 20 2014, at 1424 Zulu Time, aircraft carrier HMCS Shannon during her sea trials picked up a radio transmission, source undetermined."

On the map, the location of the carrier at the specified time was marked.

"We have a record of the transmission. We were able to clear up some of the static, playing now."

In the conference room, everyone paid attention as they heard static interrupted by a male voice.

"Thi..is Her Majesty's Canadian...Halifax...Foxtrot....otel Three Three Zero. We are stranded on an unknown island. ...ship was damaged heavily...barrier that prevented contact...helped by merpeople...helped us survive...tried to repair...damage to our ship...diesel engine finally got... we can send short transmission...damn...breaking up... will try to send out call tomorrow..."

There was plenty of mutterings.

"According to the Duty Officer in the Shannon's CDC at the time, Lt(N) Brian McAllister, the voice on the radio matched that of his brother, Sub-Lieutenant(N) Simon McAllister, of HMCS Halifax. While we could not triangulate the origin, we have narrowed the area."

On the projected map, a circular sector shaded in red appeared, the vertex centred on Shannon's location at the time. A Lieutenant Commander from CFB Shearwater raised his hand.

"Ma'am, are we suggesting that HMCS Halifax survived Blood Week? Are we even sure it's not a trap? And from that transmission, there was a mention of an island; I don't recall any islands in that region. The only feature there would be the Flemish Cap."

Admiral Lombard gestured to Lieutenant Commander Swanson.

"Ma'am," he saluted Lombard, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the following information is classified as Secret as part of the Orenda Protocol. With permission from the Canadian Ministry of Magic, I can disclose that there is one known island in that general area. We are not quite sure when it was discovered, but in the 1500s, a French wizard Francois Jacquet made a claim to the island and named it Jacquet island. We know that he had set up protective charms to hide the island from nonmagicals, along with anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards to prevent magical travel. According to our records, he was trying to evade taxes and services to the French monarchy, and created a small port settlement for trade outside the watch of the international wizarding community."

Niobe snorted, "of course it was tax evasion." Leading to some chuckling.

"Within a few decades, the island reportedly became known to magical smugglers, poachers, and asylum seekers from the Old and New Worlds. There are reports he permitted demi-humans to use the island, as long as they provided money or valuables to Jacquet as payment. Eventually, though, he was caught and arrested while visiting a cousin in Montreal and was taken to be tried by the French Ministry of Magic for Tax Evasion.

His eldest son Maxime took over the island and continued to run the settlement, though a bit more paranoid than the senior Jacquet. During this time, the wards hiding the location had weakened, and some nonmagicals have caught sight of the island while crossing the Atlantic. However, travel by magic to the island was still impossible as the son had enhanced those wards.

After the Statute of Secrecy was enacted, the island eventually abandoned, as the money and flow of smuggled goods dried up. By the 1800s, no wizards lived there. Sightings of Jacquet island continued to occur, though the last sighting by a nonmagical was in 1836..."

The Lieutenant-Commander frowned.

"Swanson, what happened afterwards?"

The magical naval officer sighed,

"Petty Political Squabbling. Magical Britain, Magical France and the newly formed MACUSA all wanted the island for their own uses. However, with the Statute plus the War of 1812, then the ongoing tensions between Britain and America, they did not want to risk a breach since the waters were constantly under patrol by the Royal Navy.

After the war, MACUSA had internal problems to deal with, and the British and French Ministries were distracted with their empire and rebuilding, respectively. By the time MACUSA had interest again, the American Civil War broke out. During that time, someone did settle on the island, and around the time of Confederation, the island could not be found by anyone. Magical or nonmagical."

"So, you don't know where it is now?"

"No. We've tried a few times to help Canada find and claim the island but nothing was found. However, our intelligence suspects the Fidelius charm was enacted and only those informed by the secret-keeper know their location. You could theoretically stumble pass the charm, but the Fidelius Charm has the ability to persuade people to turn away. Additionally, the Ministry believed the costs and resources needed to find it outweighed any real benefits."

"So, if we can find someone who knows the secret location, they can access the island without complications."

"Correct."

Lombard gave a nod to Swanson.

"Thank you Lieutenant-Commander. Yes, Commander Greengrass?"

On one of the screens, the Captain of HMCS Shannon as visible next to Commander Greengrass.

"Ma'am, the transmission seemed to indicate that the barrier should have stopped any radio calls from going out, but perhaps a strong signal might get past it?"

Swanson answered that.

"Sir, it's possible. As well, your magical parentage may have helped with your presence aboard the Shannon. As you all may be aware, the Canadian Ministry of Magic operates a small fleet of warships for defending Canadian interests in both the magical and nonmagical world. Due to the ongoing crisis with the Abyssals, and the nature of their operations, I cannot disclose much more on their status. However, we had found that wizards and witches deliberately trying to breach a Fidelius charm encounter much more pushback than non-magicals."

Rear-Admiral Lombard frowned, "Can your naval forces assist in our search?"

The Lieutenant thought carefully.

"I could advise only in the sense of protecting any search and rescue assets and units. We know that MACUSA has been having issues with some of our 'carefree' attitudes towards nonmagicals, and actively joining our nonmagical colleagues at this point in time might be a touch too far. I can request to see if some ships can be used to watch for outer threats, but that's probably all they can do.

However, the wording of the transmission has given me some ideas. I am going to need to speak with my superiors and others in the Ministry. We may be able to have some consultants who can point us the right way."

******

7:31:33 AM Pacific Time
Anmore, British Columbia, Canada

Certain boneheaded members of the Tokyo Diet would have been flabbergasted to know that a Kyubbi who was also the daughter of one of the most infamous figures in Chinese and Japanese mythology was happily munching on sausages drizzled in maple syrup plus toast with peanut butter in a cottage on the edges of Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Tsuki was looking forward to taking a hike to Buntzen lake in the morning, though she was currently busy cuddling her future husband. Her fiancee was about to get ready for work when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it, honey...Oh, um, I think it's for you, dear."

Tsuki frowned and went to the foyer only to stop. There was an RCMMP Auror and a man in an army uniform, with a white wand-holster, both looking serious.

"Miss Maeda, I am sorry to disturb you, but the Ministry is asking for your help again."

"Is it magical? Another tsukumogami?"

"Not exactly..."

******

11:00:00 AM, Atlantic Time

Muriel was a bit terrified as she sensed the magical signature on the other side of the front door. Steve was at work, and couldn't be reached by cell; she was not sure what the intentions were of her visitors. A few months back, she had been visited by RCMMP Aurors, though they had reassured her that as long as she and her sisters did not break any Canadian laws, they would be fine given they had claimed refugee status. Even, so, there a nagging fear in the back of her mind, as she cradled her firstborn child. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see an Auror alongside a Naval petty officer.

"Is there a problem, Officer?"

"No Ma'am. However, we may need your assistance."

"What do you mean?"

"May we step inside?"

"Okay"

She led them to Steve's and her living room.

"Tea or Coffee?"

"No, thank you, we just finished our Tims before we arrived."

"So, how can I help, gentlemen?"

"What do you know about an island near the Flemish gap?"

 

[darthcourt10]

wildredlifer

Avrora Island 2014
Stars shone down from the heavens to lay their light upon a Mountaintop
There on the mountaintop Rested two Creatures that were by Nature and Inclination not likely to be found thereupon.

"Sis?" asked an I-class wearing its Body like a backpack, the Ne-Class turned to respond, "Yeah, Wordy."

"Why are we here?"

"That is a question for the ages, Wordy." scratching the chin of one of her Tails.

"The meaning of Consciousness or the exact existence of the soul or the overall purpose of life, in general, are Questions that have bothered me Recently and Unfortunately Humanity for far longer."

Wordy facepalmed, "Not that though that is an exciting line of discussion for a later time."

"No, what I am asking is why are We on the top of Avrora Volcano, Starry?"

Scratching the chin of the other tail, "Well Wordy, if I recall correctly, I said I was going mountain climbing to get the lay of the land and Stargaze later." "Then you called me nuts we argued a bit, and then you invited yourself along on and I Quote." "A mad venture no self-respecting abyssal has any business doing."

Giving a sad look toward the Ne Wordy said, "Starry, why here though you've often gazed on the Beach with the rest of the Family."

"Why climb over 5000 feet above Sea level to Stargaze when you haven't before, What's Wrong Starry?"

Rubbing her face with her hands, Starry replied: "It's the new People don't get me wrong they are a good bunch though the Fashion Spider weirds me out." "But them being here puts me on edge like the world is going to crash in on us again, and this time no one will sail away from it."

"I know I shouldn't feel this way that it's irrational, but that's the way of it, and I just had to get away from it for a while, you know."

Scooting next to the Ne Wordy, then looped an arm around her waist and Hugged, " Have you talked to anyone about your Feelings Starry?"

Running a hand through her hair, Starry replied, "No one, not Tanith or Mom. You are the first one I've talked to about it, Wordy."

"The only reason I've done even that I guess is that you came along on this Mad venture."

Looking into sisters' eyes, Wordy spoke: " Sis you have got to talk to someone about this not just me, Mom Tanith Uncle Harry someone."

"It is Eating you alive, Sis Please, when morning comes, we'll go and talk to Mom and see if she can help or find someone who can."

Choking back a sob, Starry said: "Yeah, alright I'll do that, but in the meantime the Stars and our Sisters await our Gazes, Yeah?"

Wordy just Nodded: "Yeah sis, I'll be here with you, As long as you need, I'll be here."

 

[darthcourt10]

Kab2

Here is Douji's next chapter, I hope you like it.
----------------

"Here I am" said Douji, the sunrise poking out as she crossed the threshold of her house, a house whose rooms were empty for almost a year.

Normally she went to her house only in the last week of August, but this year she came early for... reasons. Shaking her head, she opened the front door and came inside, leaving her shoes at the entrance she went directly to the kitchen and began to fill the fridge with the food for the days she would stay there, days she will use to clean the house of a year of dust and no use.

She thought of the days she lived here before the WWII, not that she used it much as she was at the Imperial Palace or on a mission more than here, but still in her little free days she would come here and relax, but after the war... in her opinion her room in the museum was enough.

Putting her true body in the living room stand, she shortened her avatar's hair to her neck's length and began the cleaning of the year.

During the cleaning, she thought of unimportant things such as how she knew that Tsubaki cleaned Douji's house at least once about two months prior to her yearly visit as there wasn't enough accumulated dust for a year without cleaning, something she didn't tell Tsubaki, but she did to ease Douji's burden not as a friend, but as a daughter, one she was proud of.

Not that they could brag about it, as their shown relationship to the others was friendship, a relationship that has risen a lot of eyebrows over the years, lots of them lately as their friends in the Diet dwindled and 'others' rose in power. Not that she knew in person really, as all she knows is what Tsubaki told her in her visits at the museum, but more recently she renewed contact with Kotegiri and some of her sisters, as well as the Muramasas, and...

She stopped as the memory that she didn't want to remember yet almost surfaced, shaking her head again to dispel her thoughts.

Focusing in her pending task, she noted that the cleaning was almost finished, so she did the last effort and finished it.

Now with the house clean, she picked up a bouquet of gentianas that she prepared beforehand and went to the garden.

The garden was almost empty, as she knew that her visits never were long enough to plant a living garden, so she went for a Karesansui, a meditation garden representing the Japanese islands, where she could train and meditate as she saw fit.

But in the middle of the garden, in the place where Kyoto would stand in reality, the remains of a wooden column was located.

And in that column Douji placed the bouquet and sat in seiza in front of it.

Because that column was the only part of Yorimitsu's house that survived the Hoei fire.

"Hello Master" said Douji "I know that is early to visit you, but I decided to come here after another failure of my own doing" after this she explained what happened these past days, after she finished, she added with a broken voice "I seriously don't deserve all the praise I get for being your blade as I fail at the most important times." At that moment, some drops of salty water began to moist the floor. "You have to be ashamed to be the master of a sword as faulty as me, but I have to keep living trying to atone for all my faults"

She continued weeping a bit more until she regained her composture, afterwards she went to the bath and washed her face, as the water dripped from her face, she heard a sound from the outside, intrigued, Douji went silent and tuned her ear to listen the source of the sound.

*Swoosh*

There it was again, the sound of someone swinging a metallic stick in the air. 'Oh, Tsubaki is at home, how wonderful' thought Douji 'But it is strange that she is doing her morning routine at this hour, normally she does it earlier.'

Deciding to give her a surprise, she went to the kitchen and began to cook breakfast, a classical omelette with beef for Tsubaki and another with rice for her, Tsubaki may have noticed that Douji was there, surely she didn't but Douji knew that she had some time before Tsubaki finishes and take a shower, so she continued, as Douji was cooking the second omelette for herself something inside told her that it was a good idea to make a third, she didn't know why triggered that, but a thing that she learned in her long life was that her instincts were more right that her decisions, so she did it anyways.

Not long after she finished cooking, Douji, not hearing Tsubaki's exercices anymore, took her phone and dialed Tsubaki's number, Tsubaki was surprised that she called her, and even more when Douji told her that she was in her house, very close to hers.

"But it is a bit early for you to come, his anniversary isn't near yet" said Tsubaki.

"I know" replied Douji "but... 'stuff' happened and I needed to come here" added with a tone that Tsubaki knew too well.

'Oh shit, she screwed something up again' thought Tsubaki "Well, if you don't mind after a shower and breakfast I can go to visit you so you can tell me what happened."

"Oh, don't worry, I made three servings of omelette for breakfast, so you can come after the shower."

"Three?" blurted out Tsubaki "But how did you know...? *sigh* But of course you would know." after a pair of deep breaths to calm herself she said "All right, after the shower we'll be there, until later Douji."

Staring at the phone, Douji pondered the last bit of her conversation, 'She said we, hmmm so I unconsciously deducted that she was accompanied because she started late her morning practice, it rings true, but something tells me that this isn't the full picture'

While she waited for them, she began to set the table for three while a little spell kept the food warm, wondering who would be the extra visitor, although she had a good idea who would be.

After a while, the doorbell rang, signaling that Tsubaki and her friend were at the door.

Opening it, it was no surprise that she was right with the identity of her friend.

"Hello Captain Itami, we haven't see each other since the incident, how are your arm, ribs and cervical spine?"

"As good as new, Doujigiri-San, those mediwizards know how to do their work" replied the JGSDF Captain.

"Douji will suffice, Captain. I'm glad to hear that, let's take breakfast while we chat a bit"

Entering the house, Itami noted that it had almost the same design as Tsubaki-Chan's without most of the modern equipment, the only ones present were a fridge and the kitchen. Itami suspected that Douji didn't need much of the modern equipment because was more adept at magic than Tsubaki.

Reaching the living room Douji turned on the magical radio, something she never cared to listen since her reclusion at the museum, but after the bunker incident she listened to it more and more, if only to get a grasp at how were things actually, the radio emitted a news program at the moment, so Douji left it to hear something while they chatted.

Sitting at the table Douji was surprised at Tsubaki's behavior, she had never seen the Oni so flustered and bashful around someone, less an human being... 'Oh, so THAT is what is happenning' thought Douji as a little smile crossed his face.

After the breakfast Tsubaki and Itami were having a small talk while they picked up the dishes, as they offered to wash and dry them, while they were away in the kitchen, Douji chuckled as this gave her a chance to vent out some of her depression at the expense of flustering Tsubaki, thing that she had done more times in the past.

As they came from the kitchen, Douji placed her right hand in her right cheek, and smling she said "Ara, ara~, looks like someone has something to tell me, have you caught the flu, Tsubaki? Your cheeks are redder than usual."

Tsubaki was nervous, looking at everywhere but Douji's eyes "Eh, well, you see..."

Slightly chuckling, Douji added. "Ah, I know, you had a contracture in your back and you are in need of an electromassage, it is nothing to be ashamed, you can say it loud."

With a bit of anger, Tsubaki replied "That's not it!"

"Oh, I thought wrong then, maybe Captain Itami here had told you a story about his girlfriend and you are flustered about that?"'And there goes the hook'

Maybe Tsubaki knew what Douji tried to do, or she was enraged enough to not thinking normally, she bited it. "No! We were discussing how to say that we are a thing to you!"

"That's awesome Tsubaki-Chan!" said Douji teasing her.

Then it began a back and forth teasing between the two that continued for some time, Itami watched the argument between them with a knowing smile. 'No one can say those two aren't related.' Two particular nickmanes caught his attention, 'Tsu-baka' and 'Do-ushi', and internally smirked at the fate of whoever used them outside this house.

When they finished, the two were laughing "Thanks Tsubaki, I needed this" said Douji.

"Any time you need to vent you know how to find me." replied Tsubaki "Now that you are better, why did you need to vent anyways? What happened that you needed to come here early?"

"Well..." Douji began to speak, but she stopped as she gave Itami a glance.

"Don't worry about him listening Douji, I told him about Matsu and my... 'progenitors', but if you don't want him to listen we can go to the garden, I'll respect your decision."

Battling a bit with herself, Douji conceded "If you trust him so much, I need to do the same, please Itami-San, nothing that you will hear can be told to anyone"

Seeing that Douji was very serious about this matter, he said "I swear by my honor and rank that I won't tell anything discussed here willingly until you state otherwise."

Aknowledging his oath, Douji started to talk. "Very well, I needed you to sworn the oath because this is a delicate matter, Tsubaki, remember the friends I told you that came to visit me at the museum?" at her nod she continued "They were Masamune no Tokunotakai and her sister Musashi, and with them came three members of another family, a mother and her two adopted childs, the mother was the daughter of Muramasa Norimune and the children was two tsukumogami, the eldest one was a piano and the youngest one was a dagger; after the museum tour we went to the cabin I usually use for sparring with those willing, and there after a spar between me and the dagger I asked her to let me examine her true body, and I noticed a symbol in her hilt, and I said in my ignorance that it was a good luck symbol and that it was an honor to be descended from the Hachisuka clan not noticing that she was German." Douji finished the explanation, her face turning somber.

As Tsubaki's color drained from her face, Itami tried to remember the Hachisuka clan mon from his history classes. 'If I recall correctly the mon of that clan was a swastica...' "Shit!" the curse escaped from his lips before he could stop it.

"Yes, that is what I felt when I discovered what the non magicals did in the WWII. But she wasn't part of it, she was only crafted by them, and I said to her that it was an honor to have that symbol." Douji sighed "Another failure to the long list of the 'legendary' sword of Minamoto no Raikou, it isn't the first and I know that it won't be the last."

"I don't think it is that big of an issue, you can say sorry because you didn't know what the Nazis did in the war, not that we did much better anyways." said Itami.

"You are right, but the palace didn't know about the atrocities we did, we only received modified informs of how the war went, and when we discovered it it was too late, but that is not the reason why I am like this, it was because it reminded me of how I failed to my trusted companion in the only mission we did together, my first big mistake."

After the last words were said, Tsubaki closed in with Douji and tried to calm her as best as she could.

Douji was lost in her thoughts, finally putting her gaze in Itami. 'If Tsubaki trusts him so much, maybe I can tell him about it, but do I need it?'

Finally taking that little step, Douji said to Itami. "I am going to trust you Captain Itami, I will tell you about the only time when the original Tsukumogami of Minamoto no Raikou and his retainers went together into a mission, as well as how I met Tsubaki."

At that statement, Tsubaki went wide eyed "This is the first time that you will actually tell that story to someone not directly involved."

Taking Tsubaki's hands, Douji told to her "Yes it is, and this is the first time you have a boyfriend, I have to give him credit somehow, and maybe I will feel better after telling it"

After sitting comfortably, each with a serving of green tea, Douji began to speak while in the outside the first drops of rain began to drop.
Spoiler: It began to rain

"The Emperor Juntoku was worried about the dissapearance of a small contingent placed at Inaba province sent to investigate the strange cattle deaths ocurring there, the inform said that a Jorogumo was surely responsible of it, but if said Jorogumo killed the contingent he won't risk sending more troops to the slaughter, so he called me and the spirits of the Shitenno's weapons." she drank a bit of water for her dry throat. "We had been in touch since we manifested, and this was our first mission together since then, so we were confident in bringing the issue to a close soon." with that Douji exhaled a gloomy sigh.

"Things weren't that easy, right?" asked Itami.

"Hai" replied Douji with her vision focused in the cup at her hands, the water in it reflecting her gaze. "We quickly found the Jorogumo's cave, but instead of ambushing us like a normal Jorogumo, she came clean and warned us to go away and if we didn't do it, she had to kick us out, we found it strange but we fight her the same, we were five against her, but she held her ground, as if something gave her strength, until it happened." a thunder roared in the outside of the house, as if the weather was in sync with her mood. "The ground shook and a loud roar came from the Jorogumo's cave, in that instant the Jorogumo surrendered and begged us to help her to evacuate the nearby town, as the monster in the end of the cave was a spawn of Yamata-no-Orochi." more thunders roared as the rain intensified.

"Oh, fuck, that was very bad" was the only thing that Itami said, althought his inner thoughts were in full motion as he remembered the reports from the bunker incident.

"You have no idea." Douji raised her eyes, focusing them in a spot far beyond. "The Jorogumo began to tell her history, she was left behind by her mother to die in the woods near the town, but she survived hunting rats and the like, but when she went near the town she fell in love with one of the kids, and as time passed she admired him in the distance, as all the other Jorogumo viewed the humans as prey but one day she found the cave and the spawn, it didn't devour her because she gave it a dog that she found dead in the forest, after eating it it said to her that if she brought her one animal per day it would stay in the cave and not devour her. She was afraid of dying, but she was even more afraid that the spawn would devour the town, so she agreed. The contingent found the cave and entered it when the Jorogumo was out hunting an animal for the spawn, the spawn then proceed to eat them all and went in a slumber.Normally we wouldn't believe a Jorogumo's story, but we saw in her eyes that she was pleading for the town citizens with her entire soul, so we told her not to worry, that we would slay that monster." Giving Itami a sad smile, Douji continued "You see, we were Minamoto no Raikou and his Shitenno's weapons, we were legends, we were invincible." Douji put her hand in her face as she snorted. "We were fools."

Silence spread in the living room, only broken by the rain dropping and the ocasional thunder.

"We were defeated in mere minutes; Higekiri, Watanabe no Tsuna's sword, he was always confident in his hability to cut things; Masakari, Sasaka no Kintoki's axe, he was always bragging at how powerful he was; Yumi, Urabe no Suetake's bow, she was always cheerful and never gave up a fight; Hebigiri, Usui Sadamitsu's polearm, the serious guy who always keep us in high spirits; and me, Doujigiri Yasutsuna, the leader who always bragged about how perfect was her master, none of us made a dent in the two-headed spawn, it kept regenerating strike after strike and were wore down after the battle with the Jorogumo."

The storm was getting worse at times, as if the sky was crying along Douji.

"At that instant the four crossed sights and nodded, then Masakari said to me 'Douji-San, regarless of what you see, you have to strike its heart with all your power, focus only in that'. I focused in its torso, at the time I didn't know what they had done, but the spawn had an opening, so I striked with all my power and killed it, but after that I saw what they had done."

Douji put her hands covering her eyes as her feelings began to flow throught her eyes.

"T-they sacrificed theirselves to gave me that opening, their true bodies broken and their avatars with only a sliver of life in them." she paused a bit as her sobbing continued. "I tried to heal them but it was a lost cause, they had only a few minutes of life left at best, so they, for always be with me, took that sliver of life and gave it to me, after that their avatars banished, only leaving broken weapons behind. At that time I couldn't endure anymore and I fainted."

Wiping her eyes with a handkerchief given by Tsubaki, Douji composed herself as she finished her story "When I came to, I realized that the Jorogumo was trying to heal me at the best of her knowledge, but I paid no mind to it, I had reached bottom, I didn't care if I died or if I lived, but I had a daty to finish; I thanked the Jorogumo and asked her to help me to burn the spawn's body completely, and while it burned, she gave me the weapons' remains carefully bagged in Jorogumo silk. Afterwards I went to the Emperor and notified that the problem had dissapeared, nothing more and nothing less." The painful memories were almost too much, but she had to finish what she started. "That night I imposed myself a task, find the best living blacksmith and try to bring them back to life, afterwards my fate would be decided by them."

Some minutes passes as what was told sinked in, suddenly Douji got up "I think it is a bit early for lunch, but I'll go cook it now, I'll leave the rest of the story to you, Tsubaki."

As Douji went to the kitchen, Itami talked to Tsubaki "That was... heavy"

"And you don't know the other half, Itami-kun, I told you when I first met Douji, but not how." replied Tsubaki.

"At the time I was wandering the Nagato province as I had a lead on some human-eater Oni when I saw a female samurai carrying my Chichi-ue's sword and the broken weapons of his four retainers, her eyes reflecting death; enraged I challenged her for that sword with my tetsubo; it was pityful, she couldn't hit me as I blocked all her attacks, and then I landed a strike in her torso that left her in the ground spitting blood, in that moment I remarked that a samurai as weak as her was a shame to that sword's first owner." A sad smirk briefly passed Tsubaki's face "Then a flame ignited in her eyes, dead until now, and asked for forgiveness for not being in shape for challenge; at the next movement she cut me at the side while I couldn't hit her. Things were becoming interesting until she used a move that only Chichi-ue knew, thing that I remarked." Tsubaki looked directly at Itami. "She blinked a few times, as if she seriously looked at me for the first time and asked 'T-Tsubaki-Chan, is that you?' with a blurrying voice; stunned I responded affirmatively out of reflex and she stated that she was the spirit of Yorimitsu's sword." Tsubaki's eyes blurried as a sad smile formed in her face. "When she started to tell me things that only me or Chichi-ue knew I realized that she was telling the truth we embraced and cried."

It wasn't the first nor would be the last time Tsubaki relived the emotion that found that time. "You can't imagine what I felt, to find family that I never thought existed, and for Douji as it was the same, she never thought she would find me again." drinking a bit to moisten her lips she continued "Seeing the state she was before I believe that our encounter saved her live, as she was dancing with the death, luckily I came in time to prevent that."

"I see" was the only thing that Itami said, as he was assimilating what he was told. "What happened to her blacksmith search and your Oni-beating search?"

"Oh, she helped me with mine and I helped her with hers, we found the Oni soon enough and kill them, afterwards we buried the human remains we found. Then we went to search a blacksmith that could repair the weapons; eventually we found a kitsune with enough experience to at least try, but after examining them he said that even if he repaired them, the spirits wouldn't be the same as there was nothing residual in them. With sorrow Douji said that she suspected as much, but she pleaded him to restore them anyways; he agreed, but only if along the money it required he could inspect Douji's blade, thing that she agreed; afterwards Douji carried the reforged weapons with her for more than a century, always with a tiny hope that they would come again as they were before..."

"But when they manifested they were totally different tsukumogami" answered Douji carrying the lunch to the table. "Masakari manifested as a blond male obsessed with gold, Yumi as a tanned man with grey hair that resembled the blacksmith, Hebigiri and Higekiri came as a pair of female Oni children, Hebigiri had yellow skin with blond hair, always acting tough but with a sweet tooth, Higegiri, purple skinned with purple hair, acting like she wanted to eat you but it is all facade. And then the four called me mother." Visibly shaken, Douji sat near Tsubaki "They didn't remember anything before the reforging, that moment my legs failed me and I started to cry. I don't deserve to be her mother" she said as she began to cry "After I failed them how can they call me that? I am sure that my Master is laughing at how pathetic I am"

Embracing Douji, Tsubaki said "I don't think so, I'm sure that Chichi-ue is proud of you even with all the shit you have endured, you have done more good things than bad ones"

Cleaning her weeping eyes, Douji replied as she embraced Tsubaki too "Thank you Tsubaki, I don't deserve to be called your mother"

"Shhh, you have done so much for me in all these years that I can't call you anything but that."

"Douji-San, listen to me." said Itami. After he got her attention he continued "Surprises can happen in the battlefield, but the fact is that after defeating a spawn of Yamata-no-Orochi you came back alive, it's sad that the others died but you did what you could. It's the leader's duty to grieve the losses and carry its burden, not to think bad of himself because of it." putting a hand in her shoulder he reassured her "You did nothing wrong, I'm sure that they think the same of you whenever they are, so live your life knowing this, everyone can make mistakes but the best you can do is turn your mistakes into advices for not doing them again"

"H-Hai" was the only thing Douji could say about it. Calming down at last, she suggested to eat the food before it grew cold while in the outside the storm began to clear.

But as they were eating...

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

**************

"This, this is insane!" shouted Tsubaki as in the radio you could hear "Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!"

"Yes it is" said Douji "but with this the worst aspects of the Diet may come to light, like that ugly man that you ranted about a little after Blood Week."

"Kagetora-San, yes. It was bad luck that he survived when lots of good people died that day in the Diet, his ancestor has to be ashamed of his doings afterwards, I hope that his name is in Kotegiri-Sama's list when the time comes."

"His loss won't be missed, but I think that Kote's methods are... too quick for those who He wanted dead." sentenced Douji 'I just hope that they don't pull anything like the reserves stunt again'

"Who is Kagetora-San?" asked Itami, ignoring the shiver running through his body at how the last sentence was said.

"Well, you'll see..." began to say Tsubaki, but she was interrupted by Itami's phone ringing.

"Sorry about that, let me see who is..." At the number displayed he widened his eyes "Shit, it is the command center, they have heard the council." With that he picked up the call and went to the other side to answer it.

While he was in it, Tsubaki's phone began to ring too. "Surely it is because the same reason, sorry Douji" and she did the same as Itami.

'This will be a big mess, I hope Japan can come out unscathed of this one' thought Douji, her phone ringing 'Who would be calling me?'

At the sight of the number her eyes showed surprise "What could she want from me?" asked as she answered the phone.

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

A.N. The weapons names except Hikegiri I named them myself, as I didn't find if they were named or not, so here is a bit of explanation for the names.

Masakari in Japanese is hatchet, Yumi is bow in Japanese and Hebigiri means snake cutter, I named like this because it was said that it had killed a giant snake.

Thanks for reading, comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Legs slowly kicking at the water as she propelled herself along, Iku hummed as she reached the Uraga Channel at the mouth of Tokyo Bay. Above her, the waves sparkled under the warm, late July Sun, casting dappled sunlight over everything below as she swam. The smile on her face was only partially because of that. Honestly, she never got tired of seeing the beauty and peace under the waves.

That said? Another part of it was due to the fact that she was done one of her short patrols and thus had a few days off for leave. Days which also included Harry's birthday.

As per usual, the thought of the black haired teenage wizard caused her to feel a warmth from her engines and she kicked a bit harder, though she didn't go much faster than her usual cruising speed. Part of the Subgirl mused on that feeling inside her. After spending time in the cold, dark depths of the ocean, knowing that Harry was waiting for her was a wonderful thing. It made so much of a difference knowing he would be there when she returned home. Of knowing that she had someone waiting.

Just the same, however? Most of the current smile on her face was due to the thought of once more spending another birthday of Harry's with him and their friends. It was something that she cherished after all.

Part of her was thinking about what would happen, of course.

Like the year before, it had been decided to have a beach party on Sarushima for his birthday. And, much to her relief, the weather seemed to be holding out for such. Her and the other Submarines were actually going to be making the cake this year for his birthday, and hoped that he enjoyed it. They had been taking lessons from Barb after talking with her in regards to baking and cake making.

Granted, that involved some trading done between them, but none of the Submarines minded too much. And the cost was fresh fruit gathered by them and made into preserves. Once more, not that big of a cost and they had learned how to do so from Harry years ago.

Though all of them were somewhat weirded out by the large amount of toilet paper that the American Subgirl also wanted as payment.

But, in the end, it all worked out. Each and every one of the Submarines were considered to be "Adequate" to Barb's standards of baking. Which, of course, put them rather high up considering the skill of the American. And they were all looking forward to Harry's expression when they presented the fruits of their efforts, though RO was going to be making more German bread among other things as well.

Her lips curling into a smile, Iku licked them a bit even as she ignored the saltiness of the water with normal experience. With all that they had gathered, it was going to be a real blast. Especially when one considered some of their other plans for said day as well. A quick check with her amused quartermaster for what seemed like the fifth time (it was, in fact, far more than that) told her that the ingredients that she had gathered were still good inside the magical ice boxes within her hull.

And that was something else that she was thankful to Harry for. One of the gifts he had given to all the Submarines were expanded trunks and ice chests which ran on magic. And since the inside of each chest was equal to a small refridgerated room, it meant a lot. Not just for bringing food from different ports back home, but also because all the Submarines usually fished at night as they waited for their diesels to charge up, especially when they were a day or so outside of Yokosuka. Then, the fish would be placed in the ice boxes to keep until they got hiome.

It made it all the easier and cheaper to keep themselves and others fed that way.

Just ignoring her crew's mutters about shark steaks, Iku blinked as she became aware of a distant clamor and slowly ascended until she breached the surface and looked around. Glancing at the sky, she could see that it was late in the afternoon. A hum escaped her as she looked further north and could just make out the work being done where the old No.3 Taisho fort had been in the bay. She had never seen it personally, except for the ruins that barely stuck above the water. It had been one of the victims of the Great Kanto Earthquake, having sunk beneath the waves and leaving a scheol in it's place.

Before Blood Week, there had been talk of removing the whole thing with some work being done. However, the Abyssals had attacked and any work had been put off indefinitely. Construction then took place on Forts No.1 and No.2 with modern guns placed there as well as anti-ship missiles to fortify Tokyo Bay as well as coastal artillery. Then, the decision had been made to rebuild Fort No.3 with modern materials. Most of the old ruins had been removed and currently, the reinforced concrete now rose above the waves even as work continued.

Eyeing it for a few minutes as she continued her way towards the naval base, Iku only nodded to herself as already, she could see where the positions where the railguns would be installed. Much bigger and more powerful versions of what the Fubuki had, they could badly hurt or even kill Battleship Princesses. And they were capable in anti-air as the hypersonic projectiles could be broken up after firing creating a shotgun-like blast. From what she had heard, it could even be used as an ABM system covering much of the Tokyo Area as the slugs could reach and hit orbit. Even lasers were being emplaced with power supplied via undersea cable under the bay's floor.

Soft smile on her face, the Subgirl dove under the waves, heading towards the bottom.

Not long after, Iku found herself swimming into the Submarine Pens and reaching the metal ladder that extended down to the bottom before swimming upwards. Once she breached the surface, she climbed the ladder upwards until her wet feet touched the smooth concrete there. Softly sighing, the Subgirl stretched as she heard a few satisfying pops escape from her joints. With that done, Iku made her way over to the small shower at one end of the dock area and turned it on.

Humming softly, the blue haired girl scrubbed herself over with her bare hands and ruffled her hair to get the saltwater off before turning off the water. Stepping out of the basin, Iku wrung her hair of as much water as she could before heading to the entrance to the living quarters. As she walked into said quarters though, she paused as she noted Hachi practically bouncing in place.

For a brief moment, Iku watched in amusement before noting that the other Subgirls were there.

Placing her hands on her hips, the Subgirl cleared her throat, "What has you all excited now, Hachi-Chan?"

Upon hearing her voice, Hachi came to a stop before turning and running at her. Enveloping her friend, the blonde haired Submarine grinned, "I got great news for you, Iku-Chan!"

Lips curling into a smile, Iku hugged her friend rather enjoying the closeness, "Great news, hmm? What sort of news?"

Bringing over some snacks, Taigei gave the two Submarines an amused look as she set them down, "She wouldn't tell us until you arrived, Iku-Chan. Though we suspect it has to do with the date that she was on with Harry-Chan." Reaching into her apron, she pulled out a towel that she tossed to the blue haired Subgirl, "Here you go, dry off a bit."

Just catching the towel, Iku took a step back as she began to do just that. Granted, her gaze kept going back to Hachi as was bouncing around with a gleeful look on her face. Part of the reason for her gaze was the fact when hugging her, the blonde Submarine's white shirt had gotten damp on the front.

Which... the Subgirl didn't mind in the slightest.

Shaking off the thoughts about one of her best friend in question for later, Iku draped the towel over her shoulders and gave her a curious look, "So, what happened, Hachi-Chan?"

Hachi took a deep breath before letting it out, "Well, like Taigei-Nee-Chan said, I was on a date with Harry-Chan. We went to Kyoto to pick up Kenshō -Chan from Umitsubame-San's... Oh! Remind me to show you the video I took, it's adorable and Harry-Chan really shows that he will make a good Otou-San for any children that are lucky enough to have him as theirs."

Intrigued, the blue haired Subgirl nodded, though RO gave a light snort at that as she crossed her arms with a smile, "As if we did not know that before, Hachi-Chan. Harry-Chan will make for a very good Vati, ja." A light blush sprang up on her cheeks as well as the others' at her next words, "Hopefully our own."

Chewing her lip, the blonde Subgirl gave a hum even as her cheeks burned, "H-hai, I hope so too. Though seeing it..." As she trailed off, the others nodded before she shook her head, "A-anyways, I found out something from Harry-Chan that means that we will have to change some things regarding the plan."

That got her blinks from everyone as they looked at her first and then at each other in utter confusion. Clearing her throat, Ryuuhou frowned a little, "Change some things about the plan, Hachi-Chan?"

With a happy smile, Hachi gave a nod as she wagged a finger at the Light Carrier, "Hai! Some great things actually happened with Ume-San and Sakura-San." Suddenly, she hummed a little, "Which reminds me, we shall need to set up a meeting with them. I think that they could be very helpful."

Now all of the others there were confused, but also intrigued. Slowly, Shioi raised her hand, "Uh, Hachi-Chan? What happened? And why does it have you all excited?"

Blushing as she realized that she had not explained anything, Hachi scratched her cheek, "Um, right, sorry. I'm just excited for what this means..." With a deep breath, she let it out as she walked over to a footstool and sat down on it, "Well.. as you all know, Harry-Chan went to Gion Matsuri with Sakura-San and Ume-San as well as staying at their home in Kyoto for three days. According to Harry-Chan, their Otouto told him that the bathroom that was in the corridor he was staying in was a mixed one as it could also be used by the Twins. So, that night, he went to take a bath and they walked in on him."

Eyebrows raising, Imuya frowned, "That... sounds like something from an anime. You know, where the girl clobbers the guy she walked in on about being a pervert, even though it was all her fault to start with?"

Grimace on her face, Maruyu scowled, "I hate that trope, it is so stupid! If I walked in on a guy, I wouldn't blame him for it or call him a pervert, Mogu Mogu!"

That only got her nods from the others before RO leaned forward, "I take it that is not what happened with Harry-Chan, hopefully?"

Needless to say, the last bit carried a little hint of a threat in it's tone. However, they all relaxed as Hachi shook her head, "Nein, that is not what happened." Raising her finger, she shook her head, "Now, like the gentleman that he is, Harry-Chan quickly got up and told them he was sorry and would leave... but Ume-San and Sakura-San told him it was fine and he didn't have to as it was a mixed bath. Then, once they had prepared for their bath and such, they asked him if Harry-Chan wouldn't mind if they did his back and hair, with him doing the same to them."

More than one set of eyes widened at that and Iku stared. Chewing her lip, she blinked some, "Well, I take it that Harry-Chan did so? And that they washed his back and hair?" At Hachi's nod, she leaned back, "Wow..."

Adjusting her glasses some, Hachi smiled, "Once they were all washed, they then got into the bath together and soaked as they were cuddled up to him. And they did the same thing each of the three days with the second having Natsumi-San join them to do the same thing!"

Frown on her face, Maruyu thought over what she just heard even as the others whispered to each other excitedly, "Skinship." Everyone quietened and looked at the former IJA Submarine as she nodded before she looked at Hachi, "That's what it was, skinship. Intimate without being... you know."

Bright smile on her face, the glasses wearing Submarine nodded, "Hai, it was. And it's done good for Harry-Chan! He... he initiated a kiss with me." Cheeks hot and steam coming from her ears, Hachi held her hands clasped before her mouth, grin visible behind them, "He kissed me, placed his hands on my hips... and even deepened the kiss!"

Jaws dropped at that and Imuya swallowed, "Y-you mean it, Hachi-Chan? Harry-Chan, um..." Deeply blushing, she was unable to look at the others, "Made out with you?"

Chewing her lips a little, Hachi shook her head, "I-I can't say that it was making out exactly. B-but he held me close with hands on my hips, though more towards the back. And the kiss was deeper than others we've shared." Poking her fingers together, she looked down, "S-so kind of?" The Subgirl smiled wider and let out a small squee even as she ducked her head, "I-it was really nice."

Each of the others became thoughtful at that before Iku got up and sat down with Hachi and hugged her, "That's great news, Hachi-Chan!" Giving her a kiss on the corner of the mouth, she turned to the others, "Isn't it?"

As they nodded, the blonde Submarine nodded and returned the short kiss on the corners of Iku's lips with a happy smile, "Well... that's not all that happened." At their looks of interest, she continued, "Harry-Chan had a... relevation of sorts after the first time..."

The others listened intently, eyes widening and smiles broadening as Hachi explained about it and what she had told Harry. For a minute or two, there was utter silence before it was broken with happy squeals and the like. It went without saying that they all agreed to speak with Sakura and Ume to bring them into The Plan. And possibly bring in Natsumi as well, since she was involved already.

Later that night, Iku had her arms behind her head as she looked at the ceiling above. Around her, she could feel most of the other Submarines slumbering with happy smiles as they dreamed. Which was not to say that she did not have a happy smile herself, because she did, in fact, have one. Glancing to the side, she hummed a bit, "Hachi-Chan? Are you awake?"

Humming, said Submarine looked over her shoulder a bit, "Hmm? Something wrong, Iku-Chan?"

With a brief glance at the others, Iku shook her head, "Not really, but... do you think that Harry-Chan will kiss me? Like he did with you? Not to mention doing, you know..."

Moments later, Hachi twisted around until she was facing Iku with a smile on her face. Reaching up, she cupped the other Submarine's cheek, "Hai, I'm sure that Harry-Chan will kiss you like he did myself. I even told him that you would not mind that."

Petal shaped pupil glowing slightly, her friend hummed happily as she scooted over so that the two were pressed up against one another as she pulled Hachi close, "Thank you."

Softly smiling, Hachi nodded a little, "You're welcome, Iku-Chan."

Briefly, she paused before moving forward and, for a second or two, Iku could feel a featherlight touch of the other Submarine's lips on her own before her friend pulled back. Lips curling into a happy grin, she leaned forward and returned it before pulling back slightly, foreheads touching, "We're going to get it in this life, our happy ending."

Just nodding slightly, Hachi gave a sigh, "Hai, and with someone that we love and who loves and cares for us." Her eyes meeting Iku, she was not surprised that the other girl's eyes were moist, because she knew that her own were. Suddenly, she gave a giggle as a thought occurred to her, "Hey, Iku-Chan?" Getting a hum, Hachi continued, "When Harry-Chan told me what he did, I was tempted to try skinship for myself, but... it would have been rude as we were at Umitsubame-San's home."

That got her a soft giggle from the other Submarine, "Hai, that's true." Both of them giggled for a few more seconds before Iku's hands shifted them close again and she laid her head in the crook of Hachi's neck, "I'm glad with how things are working out. With Harry-Chan, who we love and care for, and does the same with us. And..." Her eyes met Hachi's, "And how I am with my best friends in the world."

Once more, she gave the blonde a light kiss, which was returned before Hachi whispered, "Hai... same here, Iku-Chan. Same here."

With that, the two closed their eyes and cuddled up to each other, happy smiles on their faces and pleasant dreams awaiting them that mostly involved a older version of the boy they cared for, as well as smaller versions of themselves with features from him.

 

[darthcourt10]

Sidestory - Snippet 250: Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Well all this discussion over the DelKids and the muse tapped me on the shoulder.

A Summer Job (I)

Approaching Mineral Peak, Montana, 7,451 feet elevation.

July 8th, 2033
Spoiler: First Jump

The United States Forest Service C-23 Sherpa airplane shook and shuddered in the wind gusts as it approached the light brown-white cloud bank dead ahead. To the casual observer, it looked like a bank of cumulus clouds, the familiar puffy shapes known the world over, albeit more brown than white. Some were even now beginning to form the towering anvil-shaped formations of the cumulonimbus clouds associated with thunderstorms and tornadoes.

An innocent and normal scene to the casual observer.

Nothing could be further than the truth.

To a meteorologist, these were pyrocumulus, formed by a source of intense heat on the ground causing hot air to rise and condense, forming a cloud in a self-sustaining loop as fresh air was sucked into the heat source .

Heat like that of the massive forest fire underneath it throwing up the smoke that gave the clouds their distinct brown color.

Heat that was feeding the cloud that would generate fresh lightning strikes to spark smaller fires to increase the blaze ripping through the bone-dry timber of the Selway-Bitterroot National Wilderness thanks to a wet autumn that had created large amounts of undergrowth and then a dry winter and spring to kill the undergrowth paired with hot summer temperatures and high winds.

A fire that now threatened the city of Missoula, Montana, the second largest community in the state.

A fire that had just flanked the containment lines once more with a wind shift and was racing down this valley now, driven by the strong winds in an uncontrollable river of flame.

A fire that this group of smoke jumpers would be parachuting in front of to fight in the trackless wilderness to buy time for a permanent firebreak to be built behind them further downstream.

Aboard the plane, four redheaded young women, dressed in Nomex fire-resistant suits and helmets with parachute packs, sat in a row.

The one on the far left gulped as the plane jostled through the turbulent air then gave her twin sister next to her a glare filled with considerable heat. She snapped out a gnarled redwood wand from a wrist holster on her gear and scribed a glyph in the air as she incanted a privacy spell, causing a matching glyph to flash on the helmets of her three sisters. "{It would be fun you said. A good way to make money as a summer job you said. Dammit, Lou! This is the last time I listen to your bright ideas!}" she sarcastically said in Arabic as the plane shook again and she surveyed the woodlands below for a landing zone.

Her sister leaned back casually and laced her hands behind her neck as she responded in an apparently bored voice. "{Hey, if Mom and Aunt Colombe can jump in over Normandy, we can jump in to fight a fire! Nobody's shooting at us after all, unlike the Krauts in 1944 during D-Day. Pity, we could shoot back then. Relax, Emma, it's not like we can burn and we've got Jenny and Sally with us.}" Her sharp eyes put the lie to those words as she looked over the wooded ridges and cliffs with the cold green stare of a gunfighter.

Beside Lou, the third redheaded girl with the name tape 'Virginia Aisha' on her helmet and gear gave a needle pointed grin and spoke in a controlled voice. "{You worry too much Emma. All things are done according to the Will of God, and He has called us to fight this fire to save the town. Insha'Allah.}" She took a deep breath then spoke quietly with an undertone of banked eagerness. "{I cannot wait to test myself against the beast of flame ahead, though.}"

Next to her twin, Salome Alia de Breuil-Alnaar swallowed nervously and worked a string of coral tasbih prayer beads through her fingers as she prayed with her eyes closed. "{O God! Grant me good in this world, and good in the next life!}" With that she opened her eyes and nodded with a determined expression on her pale face. "{I am ready, my sisters.}"
Spoiler: Smoke Jumping

"Hook up and get in the door!" The spotter sounded off and the two members ahead of the sisters moved to hook up their static lines and moved to the open door.

Emily Periezade de Breuil-Alnaar swallowed and did her own gear check, then automatically swiveled to help her minutes-younger twin Louise Jezebel and then their younger sisters Virginia and Salome with their checks. Proper Planning prevents Piss-Poor Performance, Ja? Gaah, Cousin Ehren is rubbing off on me again, she told herself with a mental tip of the hat to her favorite cousin and babysitter as she heard a very cool and precise voice from her memory.

As she watched her team leader headed out first along with another experienced smoke jumper.

My Turn.

She scooted closer and then took a deep breath. Suddenly she felt Lou's hand grab hers and squeeze reassuringly. She gave her sister a smug grin and nod that she didn't feel in the slightest. She breathed in and out as she centered herself.

This wasn't training any more.

This was real.

"Hook up!"

She complied, linking the static line to her drogue chute.

Suddenly all the stories about the courage needed to do your duty in the face of adversity were real in a way that Mom's memories in a Pensieve or Ammah's flame figures in the fireplace had never been to the younger her.

"Sit in the door!"

She slid forward and grasped the bars, her legs dangling into space three thousand feet over the wooded wilderness as she listened to the final safety briefing.

"Any questions?"

She spoke with a confidence she didn't feel. "None, sir."

With that the spotter patted her on the shoulder.

"Jump."

Emily launched herself out into space and the terrifying experience of free falling...

One Mississippi...

She had flown, of course, and was a star chaser on Thunderbird's Quidditch team but this was different...

Two Mississippi...

Her hand clenched on the handle of her chute as she counted down the seconds so she wouldn't tangle with Lou falling behind her...

Three Mississippi...

Her grin split her face as the green forest approached with every beat of her wildly thudding heart...

Four Mississippi...

Lou was right, this was a lot of fun. It still wouldn't stop her strangling her idiot sister when they hiked out to civilization after the fire was contained.

FIVE MISSISSIPPI!

With that her arm moved and her chute deployed with a yank. She grabbed the risers and began to glide toward the two red, white and blue chutes already on the ground in a clearing. She sensed Lou above and behind her like a reassuring coolly warm presence in her hind-brain and more faintly the flaming eager passion of her jinn sisters above waiting their turn to jump.

She then pulled one riser to go into a tight altitude-losing spiral as she had been trained to increase the spacing between her and Lou. She then released it, and prepared for landing, aiming for the clearing and watching for logs.

THUMP

The shock of landing was unexpected but welcome and she popped the quick-release for the chute in trained reflex.

"Emily Clear!" she shouted as she stood and double-timed clear to the timberline to join her team of smoke jumpers. As she did, she twisted her wrist and her wand shot into her hand. As always, the feel of it was reassuring with the care of Maddy's craftsmanship and the hair that Ammah had given to be used as the core, along with the steel hand-grip from Mom.

Lou followed her a scant minute later as above two more chutes blossomed from the plane. "Orders, sir?" Emily asked as she surveyed the pine trees, brush, and leaves covering the ridge below them.

The team leader rubbed the graying stubble on his chin. "Start here, work a fifty-yard firebreak to the stream, then up the far side of the valley as a base of operations and fall-back. Wind's picking up, so we need to hurry. We'll get to work with Pulaskis and chainsaws to expand and clear it once the equipment drops. I'll have your sisters work the other ridge down."

Lou and Emma nodded as one and then glanced at each other in a moment of silent communion. Emma raised her redwood wand, as Lou's red oak sparkled in the sunlight alongside her.

"Diffindo!" "Depulso!" The twin witches spoke as one.

Lou's wand emitted a line of razor sharp force cutting through trees and shrubs a yard above the ground as she swept it left and right like a scythe while channeling the Severing Charm. Scarcely had the trees begun to topple when Emily's Banishing Spell threw them violently away to expand the firebreak with precise blasts of banishment that used them as projectiles to rip through uncleared timber to expand the area.

Behind their older twins, Virginia and Salome sprinted to the team leader after landing.

He pointed to the far ridge as he gave directions and the twin Ifrit nodded in unison as they pulled out their mesquite wands. Then with a crack Salome and Virginia Apparated themselves across the valley.

Seconds later, suddenly flames spouted from the far ridge as they began to burn their half of the firebreak with a tightly controlled fifty yard wide inferno of white-hot flame that rapidly reduced the potential fuel there to charred ash with no real combustion potential.

Louise commented in a voice showing the first sign of strain as she chopped through a stand of thirty-meter tall mature white spruce. "I see Sally and Jenny are getting a nice meal..."

Emily finished for her as she tossed the meter-thick trees and stumps away like twigs, "... out of this deal. Unlike us who have to shoot our supper if we don't want trail rations. Fire's getting closer."

"That's what it does and why they pay us the big bucks." Lou snarked as they reached the stream at the base of the valley and turned. Both twins gave an awed whistle in stereo at the sight ahead. A pair of mule deer cowered in the knee deep water silhouetted by the hellish vision past them.
Spoiler: Fire In The Wilderness

"That's something..." "...you don't see every day." they spoke in chorus in slightly shaken voices.

Emily looked up slope to the rest of her team that were beginning to using Pulaski axe-mattocks and fire rakes to rip out the remaining brush and stumps to create a barrier of bare earth that the fire could not easily cross. She caught the team leader's eyes and made the "Job finished, now what?" hand signal to him.

He pointed ahead and to the right and made a chopping motion. Emily nodded and made the sign for 'order acknowledged'.

"C'mon, Lou, no rest for the wicked. Time to work our way upslope and finish the job our sisters started on that half of the firebreak." Emily said with a smug grin. "If the deer are still there when we get this fire line in place and it stands up to the fire when it reaches it..."

Louise touched the hand grip of her Desert Eagle true body in a shoulder holster under her flameproof suit and finished with a matching smirk. "...fresh venison for dinner!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Frown on his face, one of the JS Fubuki's engineering crew watched as a friend placed a hand against a group of cables, "Got a better idea where it is, Hidaeki-Kun?"

Moments later, Hidaeki's finger's sparked a little before he nodded, "Hai, got a good idea." After a short hum, he nodded, "Okay, the short is just down this way." He pointed a little down the hall before chuckling and giving the wall a little pat, "Just give us five and we'll have it tracked down and fixed, Fubuki-Chan."

Under his hand, he could feel a happy sort of hum before he continued to walk in search of the short that was causing trouble with some sub-systems. As he stated, it took only five minutes to track it down fully and get to work fixing the problem. Crouching next to Hidaeki with a flashlight, the other man grimaced at the look of the wires, "Looks like damage from a power surge. Damn... we're going to have to replace these wires."

With a nod, Hidaeki frowned as he rubbed his chin before writing something down in a clipboard, "Thankfully, it is not as bad as it could be. And that's what these sea trials are for, aren't they? Especially with the experimental systems." Reaching out, he gave the wall next to him a small pat, "Though with how Fubuki-Chan is like her Kaa-San and doing her best, her Imouto's won't have nearly as many issues."

Lips quirking a little, the other man chuckled, "True enough." Smile falling away, a frown appeared on his face, "Though it will be a few days and... Not to mention having to switch off power this entire section."

Just shrugging, Hidaeki pulled at the repair bag beside him and opened it, "We can easily fix some of the issues here." Grasping at the radio, he turned it on, "Hidaeki and Kei to Engineering, we found the short in section..." Rattling off the location, the man nodded, "I am going to put in a splice that should hold long enough for us to reach Yokosuka."

Briefly, the radio crackled a little before there was a chuckle, "{Understood, Hidaeki-Kun. We'll observe from here.}"

Simply smiling, he smiled before he rolled up his sleeves before going to cut the wire as ears popped out of his hair. Almost immediately, electricity ran over his body in bright sparks. Observing this, Kei raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't that hurt?"

Grin on his face as he continued to work, Hidaeki shook his head, "Not really, more of a pleasant tingle." Looking at him, he snorted, "Try flying in a thunderstorm some time with lightning bolts all around you. What a rush!" The Raiju nodded towards the wires he was working on, "This? Barely compares."

Only shrugging as he held the flashlight, Kei rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah. Well, not all of us can literally handle live wires like you can."

A smirk on his face, the Yokai snickered, "No, no you can't." Noticing something, he frowned, "Hmm, looks like I need to do a bit of soldering..."

Letting go of the wires, he waited a few seconds before reaching into his bag. Grabbing the soldering wires, he once more grasped the live wires with one hand and his tail before going to work. Granted, Kei only shook his head as he watched his fellow Petty Officer, Second Class flick his finger with nearly white bolts of electricity flying between the finger tips and using that to solder, "You know, I heard something interesting in the grapevine. About ships and Yokai."

Interested, his friend glanced at him before going back to work, "Oh? What sort of things?"

Kei gave a small shrug, "Well... you know how shipgirls pick up skills and stuff from their crews, right? Like, if some of them knew how to play an instrument, so does the shipgirl?"

With a slight nod, Hidaeki raised an eyebrow, "I did know that to be honest, and rather cool when one thinks about it. But... what does that have to do with all this?"

Leaning away at a particularly bright spark, the other Petty Officer looked around before lowering his voice, "Well, apparently that extends to the abilities of Yokai. Fubuki, the shipgirl? Apparently had a crossdressing Yuki Onna on her back in the 30s. And because of that, she was able to use the powers over ice and snow that a Yuki Onna could."

That caused Hidaeki to blink and stop what he was doing, "Huh... and with her spiritual strength... damn, that would be powerful." Rubbing his chin and ignoring the sparks that flew, he frowned in thought, "There's like... four of us Raiju onboard right now."

Eyebrows shooting up, Kei stared, "Four Raiju? Seriously?"

Shrugging slightly, the Yokai nodded, "Hai, after all Fubuki-Chan here is a prototype. They decided to place the best of the best onboard. And since us Raiju are the best at electricals... well, four of us are among the teams to help out with that."

For almost a minute, Kei considered that before blinking, "Huh. Wonder what that will mean for our Fubuki-Chan when she becomes a shipgirl?"

Grin on his face and eyes glowing, Hidaeki chuckled, "She's going to be powerful-"

Both of them paused as the nearby intercom crackled before suddening "Only My Railgun" played over it.

They blinked at that and shared a look before chuckling and shaking their heads in amusement towards their ship as they went back to work. Though Hidaeki started asking Kei when he was finally going to ask his sister to marry him. Meanwhile, up near her mast, the spirit of the JS Fubuki hummed the song that was on her intercom before spreading her fingers, bolts of electricity shooting between them and lighting up the night as she grinned.

____________________________________________________________________

Smile on his face as he biked along the roads of the base, Harry listened to the music in the earbud that was in one ear. As he coasted along the waterfront, he looked out towards Tokyo Bay before blinking as he spotted a surfaced Submarine making it's way towards the American side of the base. Even from where he was, it took him just a few moments to recognize it as an Ohio class.

Quickly glancing around, the wizard looked back at the Submarine with his eyes aglow. There, standing on the bow he could see the spirit of the ship in what looked like a black wetsuit with her hands on her hips. Looking around, the spirit spotted him and gave him a wave, with him waving back before he continued on his way. With a shake of his head, he smiled a little.

Mainly because, due to the resemblence, he knew that the Submarine in question was the Louisiana, likely coming in to get supplies or something before heading back into the deep waters of the Pacific. Though this did mean that when she returned tomorrow, Louisiana was likely to head over to say hello to her "Daughter". Something that caused Harry to smile, especially as said spirit did resemble the Battleship in a number of ways.

He did wonder about the glowing green eyes, however.

As usual, he shrugged off said thought and continued on his way to his destination. It did not take him very long to reach the place, which was a small, bare lot. The grass had been removed and there was just gravel and dirt there currently. But there were a few other things such as a small parking lot as well as bike rack. There was even a sidewalk freshly done.

Pulling up the bike rack, Harry ignored how some people were watching him before looking over the area. It was one of the few parts of the base that had not been fully rebuilt since Blood Week and the months after had devestated the area. Something which made it perfect for what was going to happen. With a nod, he began walking towards the crowd even as Niiyodo walked up with a smile, "Harry-Chan."

Unable to help himself, Harry gave her a grin and saluted which she returned, "Niiyodo-Chan." Moments later, he gave her a quick hug, "So how have you been today?"

The Light Cruiser returned the embrace before pulling back a little, "It's been fine, Harry-Chan. Almost everything that needed to be done was done yesterday."

Lightly blushing, Harry looked away, "Um, sorry about that, Niiyodo-Chan. I would have been home sooner, but, well..." He waved a hand around, "With what happened?"

However, he was relieved when Niiyodo shook her head and gave him a smile, "That was understandable, Harry-Chan. Besides, even if you managed to get here when you wanted, it would have been cancelled just the same out of concern for what was going on." It went without saying, Harry nodded at that and she continued, "Besides, nothing ever goes exactly to plan, so it was not unexpected there might be delays."

Only nodding to that, the nearly fourteen year old looked around at those gathered there. A number of technicians could be seen and there were cameras of various sorts as well as microphones pointed towards the lot. Harry even noted what looked like seismometers stationed around the lot. A breeze made him look up to see a helicopter with some sort of instrument dangling from a wire.

Seeing where he was looking, Niiyodo nodded, "That's a magnetometer and gravity sensor. Everyone wants to see what happens when you activate the building and we want as much data as possible." Looking over at him, she smiled, "It will help out a lot."

Just nodding, Harry had a smile on his face as he looked around at the small crowd, "Makes sense to be perfectly honest. And I don't mind if it helps out."

With a hum, the shipgirl took him over to the crowd and introduced various people that were there. Some of them caused him to raise eyebrows, like the Professors of Engineering, Civic Engineering, and Architecture from Tokyo University along with some of their top students. Said people being somewhat skeptical about what they were about to see, but interested. There were also representatives from the government that were there to observe alongside members of the JGSDF Engineering groups. Most surprising was a group of Americans from the United States Army Corps of Engineers who were also interested.

As well, Harry spotted Ellen Baker and her family close by watching. Her son stood next to a Kyuubi no Kitsune that had to be Sora, his girlfriend, as well as a younger girl who looked similar to Ellen, though with Japanese looks to her as well. There was also two other Kitsune who were talking with Ellen and her husband as well as a younger, male Kitsune who was surrounded by the Midget Submarines who had become known as "Baker's Dozen" for various reasons. The teenage wizard's lips twitched a bit as he noted some of the Midget Submarines wore clothes not far off from the teacher's usual clothing.

Shaking his head, he took a deep breath before looking at Niiyodo, "So, time to do this?"

The Light Cruiser gave him a smile back as well as a nod, "Hai, whenever you want."

In return, Harry nodded before reaching into his backpack and removing a small cube. Around the bottom seemed to be stone and above that was wood seemingly made of sticks. Bouncing it a bit in his palm, he walked in front of the group before holding it up, "Good morning everyone. Today, we're going to be using one of the 'Instant Buildings' that we bought." Holding up the cube, he nodded towards it, "This is the 'seed' of it, I suppose that one could say."

One of the Americans, a Captain, raised his hand and pointed at the cube, "You mean that little thing there can unfold into a full sized building? One the size of a small convience store?"

With a nod, Harry glanced at the cube with a small smile, "Hai, that's right. There's also ones about a foot in length and the like which can unfold into something the size of a barn. Of course, they're made of wood and such, not really made to last all that long. But they're also enchanted with spells to keep insects from chewing the wood as well as fungus, so they can last for a couple of decades."

No one said anything for a few moments as they digested that until the US Army Captain shook his head, "That is just such bullshit." A grin then appeared on his face, "Can't wait to see if we cannot use them for ourselves. Would have made things so much easier in the fucking sandbox."

That got him nods from his fellows in the US Army around him as well as mutters from his fellow Military Engineers.

Somewhat amused by that, Harry placed the cube down on a table to allow for people to measure it. He watched as they used a table measurer to determine the size of the cube as well as apparent volume of it. They also weighed it on a scale and took notes as well before handing it back to Harry. Said teen walked out to the center of the lot and looked back, "Ready?" Getting various nods and thumbs up, he returned them before digging a small hole which he placed the cube into. Then, after tapping each exposed side with mutters, he backed up, "And here... we... go."

More than one set of eyes widened as the cube trembled and rocked from side to side before stilling. Then, with a thump, the sides fell open before it continued to unfold into a stone floor. A floor that before their eyes began to sink down with stone walls around it before it became impossible to see as a wall of logs rose up, blocking sight, though there were windows. Once they got a good height, they stopped and a roof unfolded from inside to cover up the top. Finally, shingles slid down the roof from the top and covered the rest, eaves flippiping into place from under the overhang.

The final bit was a porch which slid out complete with a welcome mat in front of the door.

Absolutely nothing was said for several moments as everyone looked out, with only Harry not staring in disbelief at what happened. Finally, the US Army Captain from before took off his cap, scratched his head, and then gestured with said cap towards the building that now occupied what had been an empty lot, "Okay, I take it back, that is beyond bullshit."

Beside him, one of the US Army Lieutenants grinned and cackled as he rubbed his hands together, "I cannot wait until we get to use this shit outselves. I got so many fucking ideas!"

One of the JGSDF Engineers had a similar grin on his face, "Fully agreed."

Meanwhile, the people from Tokyo University just stared before giving each other shocked looks. But soon, their expressions became ones of interest and they began to examine the outside of the building, taking pictures and measurements. One even took a few scrapings of the wood and the stone below.

Harry just walked over to where the Bakers were and smiled before bowing a little, "Baker-Sensei."

Smile on her face, the American woman chuckled a little, "Good morning, Harry. I would ask how you are doing, but..." That got her a nod before she turned and gestured at the others, "Let me introduce you to my family."

After she did so, Harry bowed and shook hands with them before turning towards Eric, "From what I heard, you're going to have a job here?"

Rubbing the back of his neck with his only hand, Eric gave a nod, "Yeah, that's right." He then gave a small shrug, "I've always been good with math, and you don't need two hands to work a cash register. And nothing is too big, so..." The older teen gave a chuckle, "It gives me something of a job."

When he glanced towards Sora, the younger teen gave a nod. He had a very good idea why he wanted a paying job after all, "Huh... well I'll probably see you pretty often then."

That got him a small laugh from Eric, though the older male shook his head, "Maybe, but from what I heard they're going to try and get one of the smaller Food Ships to help give me a hand if they get summoned, or one of the smaller Civilian Vessels."

Once more, that got him a nod and they continued to chat until it was time to go inside. As they entered the building, everyone looked around curiously and with interest. Beneath their feet for at least five feet in any direction from the door was flagstone, which made one of the engineering students nod, "This will work great when it snows to keep it from getting everywhere."

Another nodded in agreement before walking over to a cast iron stove that was there. Opening it, she frowned in thought before turning to Harry, "I take it that this will warm the entire building?" When Harry nodded, she became thoughtful, "Don't know how safe that would be for an earthquake..." Crouching down, she examined the base and tugged at the legs, "Though it seems pretty anchored into the floor here."

Joining her, Genji, Sora's father, nodded as he pointed, "Actually, there's a sticking charm to not just the legs, but the bolts themselves. It would take over a decade before they begin to fail, if that." He gave a shrug when the young woman looked at him, "It's standard now, just in case."

Even as she nodded, Harry gestured to the grate, "Also? The grate can only be opened by someone actually grasping the handle and doing so. Otherwise..." At the looks, he smirked a bit and asked for some rope which was provided. Tying it to the handle he held it out, "Go ahead and give it a try."

With raised eyebrows, the students took the rope and pulled as they could. However, nothing they did moved the iron stove or the grate in the slightest even though they turned the handle. Even the soldiers joined in and pulled as well, but nothing happened. Finally, they let go of the rope and the female student shook her head, "Okay, that is just amazing."

Humming in thought, one of the Professors nodded, "Indeed it is, and rather interesting for what it means when combining... magic with structural engineering." A frown appeared on his face, "And it is still strange to consider that such a thing is real."

One of the US Army Engineers opened the door into the bathroom and blinked with a small frown on his face. Walking in, he poked his head out a few moments later as everyone heard a flush, "Okay, we actually got water back here... somehow."

Looking at Harry, one of the JGSDF members snorted, "Magical bullshit."

Meanwhile, Eric was walking around and looking at things in interest before turning towards Niiyodo, "How is this going to be set up?"

Adjusting her glasses, Niiyodo looked at the clipboard, "Well, we have do have a plan as to what one should do. Among them is putting in some electrical work to run various things such as a coffee machine and the like as well as lights. The easiest bit will be to set up the shelving units as we have those ready to be installed, same with the checkout counter. Then will come the magical ice boxes that will be at the back as well for frozen goods and the like."

Various people there crossed their arms and nodded while others muttered to themselves. After all, this was not just making a small store to buy goods at, but also a way to test out various things about magic. While he answered various questions, Harry mostly listened as they planned out how it would look. There was an area in the back that would be used for storage with the basement doubling for such as well. Meanwhile, the room upstairs would be a combination breakroom as well as a place to put the servers for the security cameras as well in a separate room there.

Eventually, however, Harry said goodbye to the group there and headed off, though not before giving a happy Niiyodo a hug and a "Good Luck" which pleased the shipgirl to no end.

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

In which the pieces slide into place.

So. Been a long, long while since I posted the last bit of Porta's plot. My gosh, it was a thread ago! As a reminder, on New Year's Eve, Porta sent out The Order to her Manchurian Candidates among her neighbors to cause chaos. They succeeded. Now the surrounding fleets are killing each other, weakening themselves for when Porta is ready to make the killing stroke. But at the moment, she and her fleet are attending a tourney!



------


Gathering The Elites

Janurary 3rd, 2014, Antillia

The island of Antillia had been settled by Visigoths fleeing from the Jihad rolling over Iberia in the Medieval Era. In the centuries Man occupied the Bastion of Iberian Christendom in the Atlantic, they established seven grand cities, and dozens of villages and hamlets dotted the fields and rolling hills between them. Wizards, Witches, and Knights of the island's Holy Orders trained relentlessly, waiting for the day when either the Arab Menace would darken the shores of their last refuge, or when word arrived that Christ's People had driven the invader from Iberia, and called for their return for a glorious crusade to do unto the Muslim what the Muslim had done unto them.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, strange ships from Europe arrived, with glad tidings: Their ancestral home was liberated, and it was time to return. Some did. Others marveled at lands untouched further to the west and joined the Conquistadors in the New World. Within a century the island was all but abandoned. What little pockets of civilization remaining limped along for centuries, losing as many of their youths to emigration to Europe or the Americas as were born each year. Until the 1700s, when The Plague finally arrived, four-hundred years after The Black Death ravaged Europe. Those few who survived read it as a sign from God that the island had served its purpose, and so it was abandoned, the last of the Antillians making sail for Spain in 1743.

For a quarter millennium, the island lay desolate. The fields laying fallow, the sheep and cow herds left to go feral, the various dogs left behind to interbreed into a new sort of wolf, and the native magics of the place and his former residents instilling them with new and strange natures. The villages and hamlets were consumed by nature, and the cities endured as a quiet testament to the people that built them, battlements and sentry statues monolithic sentinels standing against an Islamic Jihad that never came.

And then, while exploring the new world she found herself in, a Princess of the Abyss stumbled upon the island on accident. She marveled at the ruins, pondered the resources of the land, and promised herself that it would all be hers, a vow she doubled down on when her sisters found her, and she learned of their self-destructive aims. And decades later, when those same sisters mounted their long-lusted after assault, the Princess made preparations to retreat to the seabed near the island when – not if – the Humans turned the tide on her sisters.

The Princess – who would in time re-christen herself Porta Abysseum Atlantia – made great strides in preparing for her betrayal of her sister's kin during her exile. She built up her forces, perfected and secured her fuel reserves, and took advantage of an unexpected boon in the form of one of her dead sisters' subjects to train some of her fleet in hand-to-hand combat, covering that one gap in their combat prowess.

And such skills lead to something that the island would weep in joy to see if he was able. For the first time in five-hundred years, banners fluttered in the wind (baring the icon of a crustacean merged with an insect, either black on a white field, or white on black, as opposed to the Cross of old, or the Ichthus of even more ancient days), a multitude surrounded a paddock either on foot or sitting in stands, all of them watching as warriors – wielding axes, or swords, or hammers or maces – in pairs or in groups threw each other onto the earth in simulated combat. For the first time in centuries, Antillia was witness to a grand tournament.


In the stands, on a mock throne made from the island's own wood, Princess Porta looked on with a smile. All around, her subjects were reveling in the entertainment. Just as Canut had promised, the MacHamish clan provided plenty of meat dishes from the local livestock they had worked at re-domesticating. The animals provided a grand selection of meats for everyone to sample and enjoy, and nearby living specimens were on display. Among them were the Antillian Cow, the last living descendants of the last pure strain of the Auroch that the Visigoths took with them in their flight, then altered by the magiks of their descendants the Antillians to be stronger in the bulls, and more productive in the cows, and their meat more flavorful in both.

Also on display were the Antillian Sheep – a blend of the breeds of Ancient Iberia, such as the ancestors of the modern Merino, and the only living relatives of the rare Xalda, interbred first by shepherds and then natural selection into a wholly unique breed, the mightiest rams standing tall enough to look one of the destroyers square in the eye, and the ewes with wool soft like cotton.

And to the side of the animals were displayed a breeding pair and litter of Antillian Wolves – the surviving descendants of the various breeds the human settlers brought with them, and left behind, interbreeding by Nature's Wisdom into something new. Illya MacHamish had taken a liking to the animals, and while her sisters focused on taming the land for wine and beer, redomesticating the livestock, or learning the arts, she took to capturing the curs and taming them for shepherding, livestock guarding, and eventually pet husbandry.

Porta considered the pups, and thought back to one of the reports she had received about the efforts. Should the destroyer prove successful, the Abyssal Princess would be sure to adopt one, perhaps gift one or two to one interested dignitary or another, maybe even to one of the prestigious breeding clubs of the civilized world. All in the name of promoting Abyssinian Culture.

At the sounds of delight coming from the seat to her left, Porta turned to see Angband, chewing on a piece of steak with visible girlish delight. Liner Demon stood by stoically as always, but the Princess could sense more than a little pride at the Princess' daughter enjoying the meal she made. And it was good, to be expected of Ocean Liner Demon – first class dining was the hallmark of her breed of merchant shipping.

Porta carved off and enjoyed a piece of her own meal – the roasted breast of an Antillian Sea Duck smothered in a mushroom gravy made from its own fat. This course having followed a swordfish and crab cake fish course in a mint sauce, and that in turn had followed a delightful cheese and fruit plate. Truly, Demon had outdone herself. And looking around, everyone else seemed to be enjoying the far simpler but still delicious food on offer. Drumsticks, ribs, fried doughs, hardly the full menu on offer from a proper festival, but it was early days yet.

'And when the time comes,' the Princess thought, 'there will be concrete examples to use when I tell them we are fighting to spread our superior culture to the Abyss.'

On the field, Canut was surprisingly competent as the Mistress of Ceremonies for this tourney, Porta smiled to herself at the mental image of the Battleship Demon dressed in the uniform of a professional wrestling referee with the way she introduced the combatants and the events. At the moment the mock-battle was Six on Six, and the glorified brawl was eaten up by the crowd like candy by a child. The collective groan as a Ru-Class was downed by a hearty whack to the nose by the flat of an ax-head was felt more than heard.

"What do you think of the festivities, daughter?"

Angband looked to her mother with an expression of surprise at being asked for her thoughts. Still, the teen demi-Abyssal put down her utensils and gave the matter serious thought.

"Well Mother, the fights are very exciting, a lot more than I thought they would be."

"Oh?" Porta asked, mildly surprised at that, "because it is all familiar to you?"

The Ag-class carrier shook her head.

"No, because everyone is using blunted weapons and are pulling their swings. It's basically a more public sparing session. But with everyone watching it's a lot more exciting!"

The Elder Princess smiled warmly and nodded.

"This is true, a change in venue can do a lot to change what is familiar. And the rest?"

"Oh the food is wonderful! I had no idea we had access to such delicious things!"

"That is partly the intent and partly a consequence of situations, daughter. But… Things are changing…"

Angband had been about to put another bite of her food in her mouth, but paused at the cryptic tone in her mother's voice.

"How so mother?"

Porta held her daughter's gaze for a few moments… Then smiled and turned back to the field, where the mock-battle was just finishing up, the victor's raising their hands and weapons high, soaking in the cheers of the crowd.

------

In the crowd, a Ri-class jumped up and down at the sight of her sistership down in the ring, standing victorious with the rest of her division.

"Rit? Rit there you are!"

The cruiser turned, surprised at the sound of a voice she hadn't heard in over a year. Behind her was a Tsu-class, who looked utterly, totally lost at what was going on. The Ri-class squealed with delight and pulled the other cruiser into a tight embrace.

"Tsuron! You're awake! I thought the Princess would have you in mothballs for another eight months!"

The Tsu-class scratched the back of her head, confusion firmly etched onto her face.

"Y-yeah, me to. But according to my crew she's been activating us for days. So, what in the Abyss is going on? I got to the palace and no one's anywhere, and suddenly we have an island and we're chucking metal sticks at each other?"

Rit laughed as she pulled the Tsu-class along to the front of the crowd to get a better view of the events.

"Yeah, you've been in mothballs for nearly two years. Shit has gone down my friend. Allow me to introduce you to Canut, Her Majesties Master-At-Arms and court smith!"

"Cunt master arms smithsonian what now?"

------

"So, this Princess of yours is a big deal Neeros?"

The Ne-class' grin turned shark-like at the question. She held her head high and barked a laugh.

"Oh yeah Nuru, big deal."

The Nu-class cocked her eyebrow at that and hummed in skepticism.

"Uh-huh… And why haven't I heard about her?"

Neero's glared at her underling from the corner of her eye. Nuru never explicitly defied her authority, but she could be damn close sometimes. Then there was the fact that Neeros often wondered the same thing: Why would an Elder Princess – the most powerful of all Abyssals – choose to hide away like an eel when she could be out trashing hulls and fighting? But that could wait.

"She's a scheming kind. She's probably been planning a big stab in the back or something. But whatever it is, she's got something big planned. Or it should be. She is an Elder Princess after all"

Nuru pinched her face in a mix of disgust and distrust. "Right. Then what's 'er name? 'Cause last I heard, all the Elders were dead."

"She's the Ancient Atlantic Gateway Princess."

The name, much to Neeros' agitation, produced not the awe and quivers of fear she had hoped, but rather scoffs of scorn and mockery. The Ne-Class was about to knock some heads together when one of her cruisers, Rita, gave out an alert.

"Unknown submarines, three points of the starboard bow! 1500 yards and closing fast!"

Without a word, Neeros' little fleet went to battle alert. The three destroyers immediately went to flank speed and turned toward the wolfpack's recorded position, their crews getting their depth charges and Puffer Fish launchers ready, while Neeros and her four light and heavy cruisers turned into follow them, presenting as narrow a profile as possible while also putting distance between each other. Guns were loaded with high explosive in the off chance they had a clean shot at whoever was bold enough to come out them.

Then a radio mast attached to a periscope popped up, and Neeros heard a voice she hadn't heard in nearly a decade.

[Neeros, I see you brought friends.]

Neeros gave a laugh and a smile at the voice.

"Kallah you sneaky bitch! We was just about to kill you!"

The Ka-class didn't say a word as she and the two-dozen subs she had with her surfaced. But the expression on her face reminded Neeros exactly why she couldn't stand the smug tin can.

"Of course you were."

[Oh give it a rest you two. First time we see each other in years and you lot are stirring shit right off the bat?]

The two groups turned in the direction the transmission came from to see a certain So-Class sailing for them on the surface. Neeros squinted her eyes, but smiled when she recognized her. Sorain stopped her engines and drifted into the growing fleet.

"So, is this it? Her Highness sent ten of us out."

"Hi."

With a start everyone jumped and screamed, their guns all turning to the Abyssal that had appeared out of nowhere – a Ta-Class battleship with a vacant smile and eyes that, to adopt the cliché, looked like the windows of a house that had a notorious multiple murder-suicide happen in the basement and then abandoned for a good thirty years before being bought by some idiotic upper-middle class family.

"TARTARUS! Damn, don't do that!" Sorain cried, clutching her chest in an attempt to calm her generators.

"Where did you come from!" Rita demanded, even as the Ri-class stood hunched over, sucking in deep breaths.

For a long, awkward pause, the battleship just stared blankly ahead.

"I killed them." Was all she said, an empty smile on her lips.

"…Who?" Neeros asked, against her better judgement.

"…I killed them."

The silenced stretched for what felt like hours to the two dozen Abyssals waited for an answer. Finally, Kallah coughed and gave a nervous laugh.

"Well… I suppose we should get going. Her Highness is no doubt expecting us."

As one, the gathered fleet hastily agreed and followed their respective leaders' lead towards the Grand Meteor Seamount… Being sure to give Tartarus a wide berth.

------

Antillia, the Tournament Field

In the hastily constructed arena, two figures stood, eyeing each other. Waiting for the other to show some sign of weakness, and planning their strategy for attack. One was an abomination. A living monument to Man's Sin, and the instrument of Revenge for unnumbered Murders. The other was a hulking brute of a beast. Three tons in mass, standing seven feet at the hunched shoulder, armed with razor sharp hooves, and a pair of long, spear-deadly horns, all clad in a coat of black and navy fur. An Antillian Bull, a powerful beast forged over generations from the Aurochs the Visigoths had brought with them mixed with magic. The monster's blood red eyes glared at his opponent. In all his years leading, protecting, and defending his right to rule and father his herd, never before had he faced such a predator. Clad in armor, and despite holding a totally open stance, exuded a threatening aura.

At the side of the arena, beside the Princess, Canut stood tall, bellowing so that all could hear her announce the next event.

"Ladies… BEHOLD! Before you, stands Her Highness' Champion, the Ocean Liner Demon! And her opponent, the Aged Elder of the herd of bovine domesticated by one of our own! Victor of a thousand Challenges to his rule, this King shall now fight in Combat against the Demon, with Victory going to naught but the survivor! Two Champions Enter! One Victor Leaves!"

At that, the crowd cheered, desperate for the Bloodsport, chanting the terms of this unique take of the old tradition of the Spanish Bullfight.

"Two Champions Enter! One Victor Leaves! Two Champions Enter! One Victor Leaves! Two Champions Enter! One Victor Leaves! Two Champions Enter! One Victor Leaves! Two Champions Enter! One Victor Leaves!"

On and on it went, soon enough Canut got into the mood of the atmosphere, and started pounding the deck of the platform with her staff. Over and over, the thump growing louder with the calls. The bull shook his head, the noise starting to get to him, fraying his already on-edge nerves. He snorted, twin jets of hot air disturbing the dust of the arena. The Demon, meanwhile, stood still as a statue, apathetic to what was surrounding her.

Finally, the beast had enough, and charged at the Abyssal at full speed, bringing all six-thousand pounds of mass to bare at near-street speeds.

The monster barreled at the Demon, looking to all around that this would be her end. At long last, some in the audience thought, the Princess' pet monster would die, long avenging some loved one or friend whose hubris has resulted in the Demon having justification to kill her. The ground rumbled. Porta took a drink from her goblet. The crowd cheered. Some in celebration of the moment, at the promise of blood. Some cheered on the Demon herself, for among Abyssals, Strength and capacity for violence were not in-and-of themselves an evil.

CRUNCH!

With the snap of bone, the crack of displaced air, and with the thud of a mass of muscle that outweighed many utility vehicles crashing – and sliding on – bare earth, it was over. And the crowd's cheers died.

The Demon stood, her clenched fist still in the last position she had it in: across her body, up and out, where it had smitten the bull square in the jaw.

As for the monster, it lay on its belly on the arena floor: It's hulking mass twitching, a small dark pool of urine expanding from his belly while bowel contents oozed from its hind quarters as the muscles holding the foulness at bay relaxed.

His head lay slumped at the fore end. Sitting at an unnatural angle. Its neck broken.

Spoiler


For a solid minute, the crowd was silent. Only the wind and a distant crow had the audacity – or bravery – to disturb the shock in every witness' sight. On the one hand, none of them should have been surprise. After all, as the dark embodiments of ships, even a PT Imp in theory had the strength to one shot the animal, and the might of the Ocean Liner Demon was well known, even if only by reputation, rumor, and folk lore. But at the same time, few had born witness to the rare moments the Demon had been permitted to show her full strength, fewer still had survived the decades since she was welcomed into the fold by the Princess. The sight before them struck all present dumb with awe at show of strength. For while a PT Imp had the strength the kill the beast with one strike, she would not do so without signs of strain or pain in the hand that smote it. And yet, Ocean Liner Demon stood as still as any statue, as if she hadn't just killed a monster over sixty times her apparent weight. The quiet of the crowd was more than enough to show that everyone knew once more the Power of the Demon their Princess held the leash to.

"BOOO! Cop out! COP OUT!"

…Well, almost everyone.

"Cop out! COP OUT! That fight was platinum shit! BOOO! BOOO!"

While the heckler went about declaring her displeasure at getting blueballed of her fight, those around her looked between the Abyssal and the Demon with growing concern, and soon started to edge away from her. Efforts that became more hurried when the Demon looked at the heckler in question, and then into a rush of restrained panic when the Demon gripped the head of the bull, almost as broad as her torso, by the base of his horns. Put her boot beside it. Ripped it clean from his shoulders, and threw it with the ease of a professional sportsman would a ball. Naturally, the crowd screamed as the massive head smashed into the stands with the force rivaling most naval artillery and demolishing the entire section, sending anyone unfortunate enough to still be in the vicinity of the impact – such as the heckler – careening to the ground.

"I'm okay…"

From her perch, Porta narrowed her eyes in thought.

'I think I recognize that voice… Wasn't that the annoying twit that won some wager about Canut's mission…?'

That train of thought was derailed at someone tapping her shoulder. The Princess turned to face her subject that came to her.

"Your Highness," she whispered into her ear, "a number of Abyssals have come to the border under a flag of truce. They are lead by four individuals claiming to be from the Twenty."

Without any hesitation the Princess rose and began to hurriedly walk to the sea.

"Angband," she spoke with a voice that brooked no argument, "you and Canut are to see to any injured and repair the damage. And tell Demon to come to the War Room immediately. Important persons are here."

The Ag-class carrier demi-Abyssal, looked between Canut, the partially demolished stands, and her retreating mother for a few moments in confusion, but soon enough went about her assigned task.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- And here's the other half of the DelKid introduction piece.

A Summer Job (II)

Mineral Peak, Montana, 7,451 feet elevation

July 8th, 2033

"It is known that wildfires behave unpredictably - this is fundamental - but it is my experience that humans in the presence of wildfire are also likely to behave in aberrant and unpredictable ways." -- Michael Leunig
Spoiler: A Summer Job

Virginia Aisha de Breuil-Alnaar laughed happily with the sound of roaring flame as she scythed her fiery essence through a stand of lodgepole pine. She consumed logs, low brush and leaf litter in her flames as she carefully controlled the heat to burn away the fuel that would enable the approaching firestorm to speed down the valley.

The sensations of burning timber, the feel of resin boiling away in her flames from the pine cones so they would distribute their seeds into the now fertile ash covered ground, and the smell of smoke caused her to lick her lips as her flames, her very essence, consumed all these delicious fuels.

She sensed her sister Salome Alia on the downwind side of her, working in unison.

They were two flames lit from one spark greater than either could be on her own.

For where Aisha was mercurial, capricious, flighty, bold, Alia was calm, centered, anchored. The steady flame of bravery that produced endurance and steadfastness as opposed to Aisha's guttering leaping courage to take great risks.

With that she shifted a portion of her consciousness to draw strength from Alia as her sister set a tangle of downed and dry pine logs killed by beetles ablaze in a funeral pyre, feeding on the succulent aged wood and savory smoke.

Then her eyes turned to the advancing wave of fire. It was closing in, and the first embers, forerunners of the oncoming hellish inferno, were carried past her as she watched.

Then she sensed rather than saw a familiar pair of presences approach through the blowing black smoke as trees that were yet unburned exploded away under a magical bombardment.

Louise and Emily appeared like yellow ghosts from the smoke. Alia and Aisha manifested from their fires to meet their sisters as more smoke filled the air.
Spoiler: Wildfire

Above the roar of the flames Emily yelled "It's almost here!! We need to fall back to the safe zone the others have constructed! Set a backfire and go!!"

Aisha nodded and turned to face the thin strip of trees highlighted by the sea of flames beyond.

It was the most beautiful, and most fearful sight she could possibly dream of.

Aisha licked her lips in wonder awe, and terror as she stood frozen.

"{Aisha.}" Alia's voice cut through her reverie like a knife and she came back to herself. "{We need to go to save the others.}"

Behind the Jinn twins, their tsukumogami sisters each grasped a shoulder and linked their hands as the four de Breuils stared unafraid into the Hell on Earth that was a major wildfire.

Aisha nodded and grasped her twin's hand, interlinking their fires and drawing on each other's essences in an act of supreme trust and intimacy.

The two Ifrit spoke as one flaming voice.

"Asheal!"

Their free hands slashed across their bodies as one.

A sheet of flame jetted from their bladed hands like a scythe through grain.

It slammed into the brush and timber, which exploded like a blast furnace racing toward the oncoming flame front.

The heat was incredible, slamming into the four sisters like a hammer as embers and smoke surrounded them from all sides.

Then the Tsukumogami Apparated their sisters to the firebreak on the other side of the creek.

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


Alia gave a satisfied smile as she reformed after the transport, automatically checking on her sisters in the cleared earth of the firebreak.

Lou asked with a small note of panic in her voice. "Where's everyone?"

In response Alia closed her eyes to reach out her essence through the smoke and flame filled air.

Smaller fires spread by blowing embers and the sheer heat of the approaching fire were surrounding them.

The Ifrit tapped into as many as she could, using them as eyes to sense what was around them on this slope.

She sensed her sister meanwhile controlling and snuffing as many as possible to prevent them being overwhelmed.

Suddenly Alia 'saw' a group of yellow-clad humans further up-slope in a circular area that had been cleared of all burnables.

Her arm elevated and pointed. "There! Thirty meters uphill!"

Aisha immediately locked in and took control of a burning sapling. "I see them, Alia."

Alia nodded and spoke in her calm, controlled voice as the world began to burn around her. "Take Emily. I shall take Lou."

With that she grabbed her sister Louise's hand and concentrated on the sight that she was observing.

She felt her magic prepare to warp space between here and there.

With a bang of displaced air Alia and Lou reformed at the edge of the clear zone.

Lou gave her a grateful smile before pulling out her wand and frantically blasting patches of burning timber away with banishing spells as she retreated to where the team was in the center on bare torn up dirt.

Alia meanwhile gritted her teeth and strained, wrestling with the hellish blaze, guiding it around rather than over the frail humans facing the wrath of an unbound Nature.

Aisha and Emily appeared on the far side and joined the desperate last ditch effort to establish a safety zone as flames surged around them.

As Emily and Lou hurriedly cast spells the team leader yelled at them through the thick black smoke and flying embers. "Get in the shelters!"

The roar of a nearby pine tree going up like a torch punctuated the order.

Emily and Lou both pulled their aluminum foil, silica, and fiberglass last-ditch fire shelters out of their equipment bags.

Working with frantic haste, they unfolded them and then slid inside as the temperature around them skyrocketed.

Meanwhile Alia and Aisha linked their essences once more as the world burned around them.

The fire surrounding them was like a hydra that hungered for the 'fuel' gasping for breathable air inside their shelters with its thousand flaming heads.

Alia screamed with the sound of molten metal as she and her sister, acting as one, somehow sent a fresh wave of heat and embers, blown by the hurricane-force winds of the firestorm away from the frail humans they were guarding.

Instead, the lash of the wildfire turned a nearby gully filled with brush into a river of flame.

"{How does Ammah...}" Alia gasped out as the pressure on the jinn twins built as they stood side by side in the heart of the firestorm.

"{...do this so easily?}" Aisha finished for her as a fresh tendril of flame was turned aside by them before it could kill those sheltering around them.

"{I wish that she was here!}" both twins spoke as one as the pressure built and built around them... and then lessened at last as the fire ran its course, weakened, delayed and frustrated by the improvised barrier. While it was proceeding past them, it was slowed and delayed by their heroic efforts..

One by one the smoke jumpers emerged from their shelters into a smouldering and blasted landscape.

The two Jinn were staggering and gasping in exhaustion as their teammates supported them.

Emma and Lou guided their sisters to sit on a nearby charred log and then gave their 'sisters by the other mother' a weary but proud smile.

That smile was matched by matching weary but happy grins on the faces of the jinn as they realized that they and their team had survived Nature at her most hellish.

Emma extended her hand and a moment later the others clasped it in a four-way embrace.

"I'm glad that you were here for me today..."

The words rang out from four hoarse and parched throats through the smoke-filled air.

Alia spoke in unison with her kin, feeling the bond of those who had stood shoulder by shoulder to stare Death in the face settle upon them all as they finished in one voice.

"...my sister."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Coming to a stop outside the base gym, Koga leaned back a bit in the car that he had borrowed from Kiba. For a few moments, he just breathed before running his hand through his hair a little bit. Unlike usual, he decided on going with more "Modern" clothing for his date with Sachiko. After all, with the shitshow that was going on with Tokyo, it was unlikely that many from there would connect Kogamaru, who wore usually traditional clothing, with a young man in a normal shirt and pair of jeans.

That said, his mind was not on his clothing at that moment, but rather the young wolfess that he was there to pick up for their date.

For almost a year, the two had been secretly dating one another. Part of Koga still could not help but sheepishly grin at the events surrounding their first meeting. He had hit himself time and again about forgetting to ask the number of the cute girl he had just met and leant his favorite leather jacket to. Not to mention the teasing that he endured from Jin and the others over it when they found out. At the time, he had put his face in his hands at the fact that he actually found a girl he liked, and then screwed everything up.

Or, at least, he had thought at the time...

******************************************************************

It had been about a five days since Fleet Week at Yokosuka and Koga was somewhat annoyed at the fact he was still getting the hell teased out of him from the others. Yes, he had met a young, pretty girl. And, yes, he had felt a connection there... Then, he had screwed it all up by forgetting to get her phone number. Jin still had that grin on her face every damn time she saw him with a snide comment.

Part of him was despairing as he knew that none of the others would drop it for at least another week or two. And, very likely, would keep bringing it up every once in a while afterwards with some frequency. Not even his cousin was immune to that apparently. Internally grumbling, he barely heard the knock on the door.

About to get up, he paused as Iwate-Ken no Shika waved him off, the old Tengu mixed martial artist giving him a smile, "I'll get it, Koga-Kun. Need to get up and move around a little anyways after telling Asuka-Chan all about the good old days." That got a snort from the Okami and he sat back down to go over a few notes he had made. His ears did perk up a little when Shika opened the door and made a sound of surprise, "Moriko-Kun? Sachiko-Chan? What are the two of you doing here?"

Moments later, there was a deep, rumbling laugh that Koga identified as being from a female, if deeper than normal. "Eh? Shika-San? What the hell are you doing here?"

There was a snort from the Tengu and the wolf could just imagine him shaking his head, "I'm part of the JNHRO. Been some time since we last saw each other, wasn't sure if you were alive or not."

An unsure chuckle came from the female, who had to be Moriko, "Ah, well, we survived Blood Week by the skin of our teeth. Even if I had to beat a Light Cruiser to death during it."

Hearing that, Koga paused because for most Yokai, that would have been impossible, 'The hell? Is she an Oni?' He took a brief sniff and blinked again, 'Wolf? Well, two... though one of them does seem familiar...'

More snorts came from Shika and the Okami could imagine him leaning against the doorframe, "If it came from anyone else but you, I would call bullshit. But you? Especially if they threatened your Imouto? I could see it." There was a brief pause, "Speaking of... you still haven't explained what you're both doing here.... wait a second, Sachiko-Chan? What's that in your arms?"

Seconds later, Koga froze as he heard the other girl speak up and realized why the scent he smelt was familiar. In fact, he was already moving before she finished, "A-ah, um... well, its a leather jacket that was given t-to me and I needed to return..."

Coming around the corner, the male Okami came to a stop at seeing the same girl from Fleet Week there, "It is you..."

Upon seeing him, Sachiko's face lit up in a blush, "U-um..."

Behind her, there was a woman that Koga just noticed looking at him with a knowing smirk. Granted, his eyes widened a touch at seeing someone who looked like they could break him and knowing that they were a wolf. Grin on her face, Moriko chuckled, "Well, Sachiko-Chan, looks like you already got your chance to meet Kogamaru-San~"

Deeply blushing, Sachiko whined a bit which got another laugh from her sister, "Moriko-Nee!"

*******************************************************

Smile tugging at his lips, Koga gave a chuckle at the memory. Neither had been quite sure what to say to each other until, remembering their previous conversation, the male Okami had brought it up. After that, they met up a few times at local cafés and the like for sort of dates as they began to sound each other out. Turned out that both of them had a lot in common and after the first bit of awkwardness, they hit it off pretty well.

Ryougamaru had met her shortly after they began to go steady and, as it turned out, approved of her. His cousin's only issue, raised privately, was how their grandmother might react. After all, Sachiko wasn't the healthiest nor was she nobility. Both of which could be problems considering things. That said, he did brainstorm some ideas with Koga as to how they might handle it and make it work...

As it turned out, thanks to Asuka dropping the solution in their laps, they didn't have to.

Having had a date, the two continued chatting as they came to the Zuchi house. And since they had some time before Moriko came to pick up her sister, they had time. Moriko had just arrived when Asuka came home from seeing some of the others and the little Tengu had gasped in excitement before asking all sorts of questions and comments. Such as how cool it was that the two female Okami were shipgirls and wondering if that was why they were there, because it would be awesome for them to join the JNHRO.

Needless to say, that had brought everyone up short and it was a confused and lost Kiba who asked her what she meant. At which Asuka had blinked and mentioned that during Fleet Week, she found out that the two were Natural Born shipgirls. It was a somewhat unsure Sachiko who confirmed that, yes, they were shipgirls though not yet awakened with Moriko stating that until her sister was fully healthy, they would not go through it.

At that point, the conversation shifted to the fact that there were actual Yokai shipgirls, which the JNHRO had not known at that point, and what it meant. Privately, Koga had taken the sisters aside with Ryuogamaru and asked what they meant when they said that they would awaken Sachiko once she was healthy. From what they knew, she had always been a bit sickly. Hearing what was going on, Koga had been angry for his girlfriend about how something from long before she had been born had affected her so.

Yet, at the same time? It gave him and Ryougamaru an out. With Sachiko's permission, they presented the wolfess to their grandmother and told the unsure older wolf the truth about her being a shipgirl and why she was sickly. As well as how she was improving bit by bit, something that became obvious over the months as she moved from needing a wheelchair full time to making her way around with a walker. From their own beliefs, Sachiko would likely be able to walk around with a cane sometime that year, and probably be able to go around without help not long after. Maybe a year and a half before she could be awoken.

Granted, Koga was still not sure what sort of ship she would become.

Just the same, however, their grandmother and Clan Elders accepted the match. Not only did she have the proper spirit, since she was able to meet the older wolves' gazes without flinching and thus had the right "Steel", but she was a shipgirl. A Kami, which more than made up for not having a noble title.

Stretching for a bit, Koga could not help but smile a little. Mainly because he had finally found someone who he could see spending the rest of his life with. And she was someone that he knew that he already loved as well. With a sigh, he got out of the car and closed the door before walking towards the gym where Sachiko was. Apparently, she was undergoing physio to help her build up and become healthier.

Though Koga was still confused about why Suzume, Moriko's twin sister, had such a huge grin when telling him where to pick up her little sister.

With an internal shrug, the head of the Hokubu walked inside the gym and could feel the cool, airconditioned air. He had to wrinkle his nose a little at the smell of sweat and the like, however. Though Koga had to admit, it was a lot less smelly than most gyms and seemed a lot cleaner as well. Looking around, he frowned as he could not see Sachiko anywhere.

Right about when he was about to give up and head to the desk to ask in case he was in the wrong place, he felt a tap and turned at a voice, "You're looking sort of lost. Need any help?"

Opening his mouth, Koga paused as he saw who was there. Mainly, what looked like a sixteen year old girl in gym shorts and a sports bra. What made him boggle, however, was the fact that said girl had a six pack on full display, '... Come the fuck on, that just is not fair...' Shaking it off, he gave her a chuckle, "Uh, right... I'm looking for Ibuki Sachiko-San? I'm Hokubu Kogamaru."

At hearing that, the girl's eyes lit up, "Oooh! You're Sachiko-Chan's boyfriend, huh? She's talked about you." Crossing her arms, she considered the man before her, "Hmm, well, Moriko-Chan is right, she has good taste... " A grin appeared on her face, "Though maybe I should say you do! Haha!"

Not quite sure what to say to that, Koga scratched his neck, "Heh, I'm not quite sure which of us has the better taste... um..."

Holding out her hand, the girl continued to grin, "I'm Amagiri, the fifth ship of the Ayanami Class. Also, the one who helped a President become great!"

More than a little lost, Koga shook her hand, "Uh, great to meet you, Amagiri-San." He then tilted his head a little, "So you know Moriko-San and Sachiko-Chan?"

That got another laugh from Amagiri, "Hai, Moriko-Chan is one of my gym buddies after all. She does spotting and the like for me..." Snapping her fingers, the Destroyer nodded, "Right, you're looking for Sachiko-Chan, right? I can take you right to her."

Relieved at that, the Okami nodded a little, "Thank you, Amagiri-San, I appreciate this."

Waving him off, Amagiri chuckled, "Don't worry about it, though really I should thank you." At his curious look, she gave him a smirk as she lead him through the gym, "Because of you, Sachiko-Chan has really been working at her physio. Gave her a goal besides just her Nee-Sans. That is something that is needed when working like that."

Light flush to his cheeks, Koga smiled a bit, "Well, I'm glad then." Less than a minute later, a smell hit his nose and he blinked, 'Wait, is that chlorine?'

He followed the Destroyer through a pair of doors and paused as he found himself by a pool. Moriko was there chatting with a young man in a tracksuit. But that was not what caught his attention.

No, what caught his attention was the sight of Sachiko in the water doing some exercises in a one piece that hugged her body.

Feeling a jab to the ribs, he looked to find Amagiri giving him a saucy wink before the shipgirl spoke up, "Hey, Sachiko-Chan! You got a visitor!"

Slowly, Sachiko turned and pulled the goggles from her eyes before blushing, "K-Koga-Kun? W-what are you doing here?"

Blush on his own face, Koga coughed and looked away, though he kept glancing back, "Uh, I came to pick you up for our date. I-I mean, I came to your apartment, but Suzume-San said that you were here for Physio and, well... I thought, you know..."

A laugh made him turn to the tracksuit wearing young man who smiled, "Ha! Well, that's good to hear since your session is over for the day, Sachiko-San. Time to hit the showers and then you can go."

Glancing at Koga, Sachiko nodded some, "Thank you, Sensei... um, Nee-San? Can you bring over my walker?"

Lips curling into a grin, Moriko gave a deep, amused chuckle, "Can do, Sachiko-Chan." Bringing over the walker, she placed it near one of the stairs out of the pool, "Here you go."

Simply nodding, the still somewhat sickly wolfess took a deep breath before swimming over to the handrails and grasped them. With another deep breath, she stood up and used them to support herself as she made her way out of the pool, water dripping from her. Off to the side, Koga was unable to stop himself from gulping as his eyes could not look away from his girlfriend. Due to how her swimsuit hugged her form, he could definitely see that she had put on some weight. And that said weight had gone to all the right places as well.

With a look towards Moriko, he felt his cheeks heat up a little bit more, 'She might not be anywhere as muscular as her Nee-San, but... no one can deny that they're related, I suppose.'

Unknown to him, Sachiko had felt his eyes on her and kept glancing at him as well. Internally, despite her blush, she was actually pretty happy with how he was looking at her, though also embarrassed with how he had caught her in a swimsuit. It gave her a boost to her self-esteem and self-image that apparently he was unable to look away entirely from her, as much of a gentleman as he was.

Pausing as she grasped her walker, the wolfess considered things before wheeling over to him. She could see the question on his face, but gave him a kiss on the cheek before smiling, "I'll be a few minutes, Koga-Kun. Sorry about the wait."

Now with her right there, Koga swallowed a bit as he looked down, "I-uh... that's fine. I don't mind waiting a little."

That got him a happy smile from his girlfriend and a nod before Moriko walked with her into the showers. A few minutes later, Koga was walking back through the gym when he noticed Jersey and Musashi there posing to one another. Something that made him blink before he shrugged and turned back to Sachiko as neither Battleship interested him that much. Though for some reason, his girlfriend seemed very happy at that moment.

Hearing someone call her name, Sachiko turned back to find Jersey and Musashi walking over and she bowed best that she could, "Good afternoon, Musashi-San, Jersey-San. Enjoying the gym?"

Grin on her face, the American laughed a bit, "Hell yeah! Why wouldn't I enjoy working on, and showing off this bod?" She went into a pose, curling both arms, "One hundred percent American, baby!"

Softly snorting, Musashi shifted a bit herself into a pose, "Hmm, a shame."

Head whipping around, Jersey frowned, "The hell you say?"

Just chuckling, the Yamato turned towards Sachiko and gave her a smile, "Coming from Physio, Sachiko-San?"

The grin reappearing, Jersey gave her a nod as she looked the sickly wolfess over, "Definitely improving there, Kiddo. Damn, wish more of us had your spirit and good to see it." Blush on her cheeks at the compliments, Sachiko nodded. Turning towards the tracksuit wearing man, the American Battleship raised an eyebrow, "You're her therapist?"

Lightly laughing, the man rubbed the back of his head, "More personal trainer, actually. Still! She has guts to go the distance!"

Moriko clapped him on the back, which barely moved him, "Machio-Kun and I go way back. Heck, I used to be gym buddies with him way back in the day before he moved to the United States for training. I'm just thankful that he's taking time from his own gym to help out here."

With another laugh, Machio shook his head, "How could I not? She is willing to go as far as she can to improve her health. Besides, I remember her as well... besides... sides..." Suddenly, he went into a pose and flexed, bursting his clothes to reveal himself looking like a body builder wearing a speedo, "SIDE CHEST!"

Even as both Moriko and Sachiko just smiled at him and shook their heads in amusement, the others had their own reactions. Koga boggled a bit at what just happened while Amagiri gave a hum of interest. Musashi, meanwhile, adjusted her glasses thoughtfully with a slight frown as she looked him up and down, "This Musashi is impressed."

Jersey, meanwhile, had a crack appear in her glasses, "What. The. Fuck."

Needless to say, that made Sachiko giggle even more as Machio went into another pose.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Pulling up to Mamiya's after dropping off Sachiko's swimsuit as well as Moriko's gymware, Koga got out of the car and nodded towards Hachiko who was waiting. Like him, the Hanyou was dressed casually. Making his way around the car, the Okami opened the door and helped Sachiko out even as Moriko brought the wheelchair around. Lightly blushing as she settled into her chair, the wolfess gave a bashful smile to her boyfriend, "Thank you, Koga-Kun."

His own lips curling into a smile, Koga gave her a chuckle which made her smile broaden, "You're very welcome, Sachiko-Chan."

The Okami then took the handles of the wheelchair and began to push her along. Both of them stopped and watched however as Moriko hurried towards Hachiko before embracing him, the poor male's head getting enveloped in her bust, "Hachiko-Chan..."

Pulling him out briefly, she hungerily kissed him which knocked his already askew glasses more so. Not that Hachiko seemed to be complaining all too much considering he was whole heartedly returning said kiss. Pulling back, the Hanyou smiled at his girlfriend as he fixed his glasses, "Moriko-Chan." Turning, he gave a small bow towards the other couple, "Koga-San, Sachiko-Chan, a good evening to you both."

Lightly chuckling, Koga returned said bow before holding out a hand, which Hachiko shook, "Good to see you as well."

Even as he nodded and smiled back, there was a part of Hachiko that still could not believe that he was friends with the Head of the Hokubu Clan. It still seemed impossible to him after all. And yet, there it was. When he had first met Koga, he had been stunned to find out that the little sister to his girlfriend was dating someone so highly ranked. At the time, he had been unsure how to react, after all their social levels were very different.

Yet, he soon found himself forging an unlikely friendship with the Okami that was only partially due to how both of them were dating sister Yokai. Unlike how one would have expected, Koga turned out to be very down to earth as a person and was easy enough to relate to on various levels. He was a very personable Yokai, after all, despite his social status. And the two males very rapidly found quite a bit in common as well. Though a part of him wondered what his grandfather and aunt might think if they knew who could become his brother in law of sorts.

Unknown to Hachiko, as far as Koga was concerned, the young man was someone he had the highest respect for. With both parents dead, Hachiko had stepped up to care for his younger brother. More than that, no matter what it costed him personally, he had done his best to provide for said sibling. Wearing second hand clothing and stretching it as far as it could go. Even sewing his own clothes because it would save that little bit more money that could go to Aki, to make it so that his brother could have a happy childhood.

It was not just the loyalty that the young man showed towards his brother, though that was a lot of it. Being an Okami, providing for the pack was always something worthy of respect. There was also the will and intelligence that was there as well. Will in that Koga knew just how hard it would be to take care of a younger family member. To not break down from the stress and the like of acting like a parent when so young. The fact that Hachiko stood unbowed by the weights on his shoulders would always get a nod from Koga.

Then there was the intelligence that Hachiko showed. To be able to juggle all the family finances and make ends meet. More than that, being able to still work out enough to have time for his little brother for things as simple as helping him with homework or playing with him. It took a lot more than what some people might think in order to make it all work.

Needless to say, it went without saying that the Okami had no issue with calling the young man someone he was proud to call a friend.

Shortly after, the group entered Mamiya and sat themselves down at one of the tables there, with Koga removing a chair so that Sachiko could roll up her wheelchair. The two wolves shared a chaste kiss with one another before settling down and looking at the menu. Glancing from the menu to her boyfriend, Sachiko blushed a little, "Um, sorry that it's not, well..."

Lips twitching a bit, the male Okami chuckled, "Fancy?" He gave a small shrug at her nod, "Don't worry about it, Sachiko-Chan. If you have been to one such place, you have been to them all. Besides... I like places like this." Koga gave her a smile before leaning towards her and speaking in a stage whisper that made her giggle, "Back home in Yamainutaira, I'm more likely to be found in the Golden Ofuda sports bar than any fancy resturant."

Hands in front of her face, Sachiko's eyes sparkled a bit in glee, "True..." Pulling her hands away, she sighed a little, "It is just that sometimes I wonder."

Gently taking her hands in his, Koga hummed before kissing her knuckles, "You don't need to, because it is you I fell in love with."

A soft sigh escaped from Hachiko as he shook his head, "How can I compete with that?"

Moments later, he heard a growl from his girlfriend before she kissed him hard. Pulling back, Moriko made a show of licking her lips, "Very easily, Hachiko-Chan."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Hachiko nodded before kissing her again, "Understood." Turning back to the menu, he hummed as he looked over the foods. Some were familiar, others however, were not. Blinking, the Hanyou furrowed his eyebrows as he pointed at one of the dishes, "British style Hunter's Chicken."

Upon hearing that, Koga looked himself and raised an eyebrow, "Huh... says here that it is a chicken fillet wrapped in bacon with barbecue sauce on it with grated cheese melted over it." Thoughtful, he gave a hum, "That... doesn't sound too bad really."

Still looking over the menu, the other male nodded. After a few seconds, he glanced at Moriko, "Moriko-Chan? I noticed that there's a lot of rabbit on here."

Looking up from her own menu, Moriko blinked before nodding, "Oh yeah, there is quite a few rabbit dishes." She then shrugged slightly in thought, "From what I heard, it has to do with the convoys back and forth from Australia."

Interested upon hearing that, Koga looked over at her, "The convoys? What about them?"

Just motioning a hand around, the muscled wolfess frowned, "Well, a lot of shipgirls now got those refrigerated trunks with expanded insides, right? Bought them and such... anyways, the shipgirls who head down to Australia often come back with a ton of rabbit meat. Apparently the Australian government would pay them to kill and take as many rabbits as they want. So... the shipgirls do and bring it back with them when they return to Japan. Mamiya-San is one of those who makes use of them since there's so much."

Eyebrow raised, Hachiko made a sound of interest, "Huh... guess I'll have the rice bowl with breaded rabbit meat."

Brightly smiling, Sachiko gave a nod, "I'll have the oyakodon with fried chicken myself." She hummed a bit, "I've had it before and it was good."

Lightly chuckling, Moriko shook her head, "Well, I'm thinking hamburg steak for myself." With a hum, she licked her lips, "Especially with some beer..."

Not long after, their meals were delivered to their table. Thanking their server, Koga could only internally shake his head as Hinata made her way back to where her sister ship was waiting. Part of him still had trouble believing that there was a Jorogumo shipgirl considering everything. Though he was a little bit amused that said shipgirl was a Food Ship unlike what some would expect when thinking about the subject in question. Unlike some, however, Koga wasn't too concerned as he knew some Jorogumo and understood more than most that they had changed.

That said? He did wonder how the revelation that there was a Jorogumo shipgirl would affect not just the wider Yokai community, but the Jorogumo as a whole in particular. Especially considering what sort of shipgirl she was. He would be lying if he did not find it somewhat interesting to think about. And it went without saying that he would be watching in interest regarding what would happen.

Soon enough, however, his interest focused mainly on his date as well as the others sharing the story. The stories of Aki hanging out at the local mechanic's had Koga tell some of his own past. One example being when Kiba taught him how to take apart an old engine and restore it. His father's reaction to seeing his son literally covered in grease and a grin got laughs from the others. Then there was the tale of Jin attempting to teach him how to drive a motorbike as well that got more than a few chuckles.

All the while, both males paid attention to their date. Such as Koga cutting a piece off his hunter's chicken and holding it out for Sachiko to take. Something mirrored as Moriko did the same for Hachiko. Slowly, but surely, the food vanished and was soon gone. The food sharing didn't stop with the main meals, however. Because each couple had one of the large parfaits to share between the two of them.

Blush staining her cheeks, Sachiko held out a spoonful of the dessert with a bashful smile, "Here you go, Koga-Kun."

Lips curled into a smile, Koga leaned forward and took a bite with a hum, "Mmm, that's good." Taking a spoonful himself, he held it out to her, "And now it is your turn, Sachiko-Chan."

Meanwhile, across the table, Moriko held out a spoonful herself, "Try this, Hachiko-Chan~"

With a chuckle, the Hanyou leaned forward, only for her to pull back at the last moment and take a bite herself. Something that made Hachiko shake his head in amusement... which lasted until she leaned forward and kissed him deeply. As she pulled back, he realized that she left a piece of fruit in his mouth which he chewed even as he felt like his cheeks were on fire.

The wink he got from her didn't help matters any in that direction.

However, that was not to say that Hachiko did not get his girlfriend back for her stunt. At one point, he noticed that she had a little bit of cream running down her chin and smiled, "Here, let me, Moriko-Chan." Reaching over, he used his spoon to scrape up said bit of cream and them popped it in his mouth, "Mmm..."

Now, it was Moriko's turn to blush before her eyes became hooded and she pulled her boyfriend into a kiss with a growl, "Hachiko-Chan~"

Across the table, Koga and Sachiko shared a smile and a look of amusement. The Hokubu only snickered while his own girlfriend giggled... That was, before he reached over and gently wiped at her own chin with a napkin. Then it was her sister's turn to snicker.

Eventually, however, even the dessert vanished. With a soft sigh, Moriko leaned back in her chair with a small smile of satisfaction, "Now that was good."

Leaning against Koga, Sachiko hummed a bit as he placed his arm over her shoulder, "Hai, it was good. But then, Mamiya's is usually good as well." Closing her eyes, she gave a sigh of enjoyment, "Though that could be the company."

That just made her boyfriend chuckle before he leaned in towards her, "I could say much the same."

When she opened her eyes, Koga kissed her brow some which made her give another sigh of happiness.

Stretching a bit, Hachiko only nodded a bit as he considered the meal. But as everyone already said his thoughts, he didn't see the need to himself. Instead, he gave a soft sigh as he looked at the others, "Well, we still got some time before we need to go our separate ways... Any ideas?"

Moriko scratched her chin in thought before her expression lit up, "How about some karaoke? The usual place and all that."

Slight smile on his face, the Hokubu nodded, "I could go for that, especially to hear Sachiko-Chan's voice singing again."

Blushing lightly, said wolfess gave him a weak punch to the arm, which only made him grin. Lightly laughing at their antics, Hachiko agreed and soon the group left Mamiya's and headed out to karaoke. And when they returned home, each of them had a happy smile on their face at the enjoyable evening that they had.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- Another glimpse into the future. Thanks mossback81 for the inspiration!

Only My Buttervioline (I)

Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, Piraeus, Athens, Greece

23 May 2036

"You know, it's not a bad likeness, honestly." A dark haired and gray eyed woman in a T-shirt showing an olive branch, owl and the Ancient Greek letters for Athens remarked reminiscently in Greek as she looked at the two thousand five hundred year old bronze statue of the Piraeus Athena in the crowded museum. "Cephisodotos was quite skilled as a sculptor."
Spoiler: Athena's Shirt...


Next to her a blond haired and bronze skinned muscular young man nodded in agreement as he stood next to his pale-skinned and midnight-haired twin sister. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts and examined the statue closely before speaking. "One of his better sculptures, certainly. It deserves to be honored here in your city of all possible places. I wonder if you had anything to do with it and the others not being shipped out of Greece by Sulla when Piraeus was sacked after Delos fell to the Romans?" He gave Athena a very penetrating glance from behind his Ray-Ban sunglasses before taking them off to tuck into the front of his Sun-themed T-shirt.
Spoiler: ...Apollo's Shirt...


Athena paused briefly to let a group of tourists go by, all clad in the T-shirts commemorating the opening of the Summer Olympics in Athens tomorrow. Then she spoke in a smugly satisfied voice. "Yes, I did. I called in a favor with Uncle to create a minor earthquake to spook the Romans when the building that these statues were stored in for shipment collapsed on them. With me computing the collapse to make it precise enough to make these statues vanish in the rubble without seriously damaging them." She gave a satisfied grin as the twin brother and sister nodded in approval of her plan. "Then when the time was right, well, a little paperwork was filed to have a new water line run and these four masterpiece bronze statues of us were rediscovered to be honored."

They walked along to the two Piraeus Artemis statues in the gallery and Athena spoke quietly and sadly. "I'm sorry that I could not save Euphranor's matching statues of your mother Leto and your brother Apollo in this set, Artemis. They were truly beautiful. At least we were able to save the Archaic Apollo as part of the shipment that would otherwise have been lost forever."

The midnight haired woman in a black T-shirt showing a deer in front of the full moon sighed and nodded. Her sharp and fierce facial features were a near match of this statue of the Huntress that had stood in her temple in Delos during the Classical Age of Greece. "Tragic..." She murmured in a whisper then gave a small smile. "Appreciated, Athena."
Spoiler: ...And Artemis' Shirt


Apollo spoke up in turn as his laconic twin finished saying her piece. "As my sister said, we appreciate your efforts to save the past to build upon. And those who are inspired by what they see here act to bring us to life once more as what we should be and are."

Athena smiled in return as they walked out of the museum. "Thank you. So, what did you wish to see now in my city?"

Apollo opened his mouth to speak, but then visibly paused as the sound of a violin being played reached their ears. His mouth closed with a snap and then he headed in that direction with some haste and a broad grin. Artemis sighed and commented laconically as she watched her brother. "Eros. Again."

Athena nodded and followed. "It has all the signs of a crush. I just hope that it is not too messy when it crashes and burns. For a first."

"Agreed." Artemis said calmly as she walked alongside Athena as they followed after her love-struck brother.

The two goddesses found Apollo staring in silent rapture at a young musician who was playing her violin at the pier where JS Fubuki was docked in a combination goodwill visit and additional security from Abyssal raids. Athena mentally sighed at her smitten half-brother's expression and commented to herself, he really has it bad this time.

Although, Athena thought with a mental smirk, this is the kind of girl he absolutely would fall and fall hard for. In addition to being quite physically attractive, she had a bow case on the ground next to her along with her violin case. While slender and athletic, her curves concealed inside her Belgian Archery Team T-Shirt left no doubt that she was fully a woman. Her slightly messy light brunette hair was trying to escape her ponytail as she played her heart out with her eyes closed behind her glasses.
Spoiler: Therese's Tees

Athena sighed in delight at the passion and energy in the violinist's flashing bow and flying fingers as she finished a solo rendition of Vivaldi's Allegro from Spring. As the musician opened her mahogany-brown eyes, a shout from the sailors lining the ship's rail reached her. "Play Only My Railgun next!"

The girl gave a smug grin, took off her glasses, and then tossed them to Apollo as she shook her head to let several loose locks frame her face.
Spoiler: Only My Buttervioline

Her bow touched her strings and she took flight in a shower of passionate perfect violin notes. Electricity seemed to spark from her flashing bow and dancing fingers to enthrall the crowd as she played her heart out to her hushed audience.

Athena felt tears fill her eyes as the soft and sweet notes played for her and her half-siblings reminded her of joy-filled moments, and then the more staccato, fiery chords in the song made her think of battle, conflict, and the desire to excel. To blaze her own path in the world, to take life by the throat and make her mark as she stepped out of the titanic shadows of her parents.

She wept from the joy of the moment as the song continued, dragging them along with the musician as the young woman soared on wings of musical bliss with her violin. Next to her Artemis gave a matching watery joy-filled smile. Apollo was still poleaxed and silent as tears of joy and happiness trickled down from his bright blue eyes.

As the musician began her final chords, Athena narrowed her eyes as she scanned the girl's aura. Surprisingly (or perhaps not), she was Unchosen by any deities. Currently.

As Athena probed more closely, a set of very familiar sun-golden letters faintly emerged on the aura surrounding her masterwork violin.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ
APOLLON

Athena stifled a chuckle as the pieces came together for her. She had seen and heard this musician's parents playing before after all. Athena glanced at Artemis, and caught the smirk that showed that she, too, had figured out who this was.

A beeping from the girl's phone sounded as she finished and lowered her violin. She glanced at the text message and paled. "Oh no!! I'll be late to check in at the Village unless I hurry!" With that she grabbed her violin and bow cases and then Apparated out with a crack.

That seemed to break a spell as Apollo, still holding the musician's glasses, unfroze. "Wait! Don't... go..." He said, then his expression slumped. "She's gone...."

Athena patted him on the back as he clutched the glasses. "Not for long. I have a good idea of where we can find her."

"Where?!" Apollo demanded. "Tell Me Athena!"

Artemis answered as she gave him an inscrutable, knowing smile. "Opening Ceremonies."

"Tomorrow then?" He snapped out, with his face alight.

Athena nodded in agreement. "In the stadium that was used to host the Panathenaic Games in my honor during the last Age of Heroes and has been rebuilt for the modern era to serve as a monument to the Olympics... and Olympians."

She smirked as she continued. "After all, we do gain power from worship even indirectly and unknowingly. As for the Games this year, I have acquired tickets for the archery contest this year. After all, Atalanta's daughter shall be competing in archery for the first time and Artemis is quite interested in how her protege shall perform."

Artemis gave a small smile and nodded to Athena. "Thank you."

Apollo looked at the smirking Goddess of wisdom. "Another of your plans then."

"Naturally." Athena smugged harder.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Eyes closed, Harry slowly breathed in and then out. In, and out. The wizard didn't move from his meditative position. Well, that was until a tap on his shoulder brought him out of it and he opened one eye with a smile at seeing the curious face looking back at him, "Hai? What is it, Kenshō-Chan?"

Head tilted to the side, the Kogatana blinked. After a moment, she faded from view and faded back into view on the opposite side from where she had been, "Just wondering what you were doing, Master. You seemed very into it."

Lips curling a little, Harry patted her head, "Just meditating some to strengthen my mind, that's all."

Curious, Kenshō placed a finger on her chin, "Strengthening your mind?"

That got her a fond chuckle as he nodded, "Hai, one of the things that I have been doing is studying how to become an animagus, like my Father was and Godfather is. A sort of way to honour them." That got him nod from the little blade spirit, so Harry continued, "Well, unlike them, I'm getting some help from Professor McGonagall back at Hogwarts, not nearly crazy enough to try and pull it off on my own." The teen shrugged a little at that, "Anyways, one of the things that you need to do is mental exercises to condtion and strengthen your mind for when you transform for at least the first few times."

Yet again, Kenshō blinked and furrowed her eyebrows, "For the first few times?"

With a nod, Harry patted the Muramasa on the head, "Hai. Because one of the issues of the transformation is that sometimes the instincts and mind of the new form can overwhelm the human one and take control if they are not prepared. For example, you could transform into a tiger and suddenly attack someone nearby because your human mind gets submerged under that of the predator's mind and instincts as it sees something that could be prey. Or you could, uh..." He suddenly blushed a bit as he remembered one of the lectures from McGonagall, "End up doing other things."

Confused and more than a little lost, but interested, the blade spirit leaned in, "Really? Like what other things?"

If anything, Harry's blush deepened and he looked away with a cough, "Uh, you're not old enough to know and you'll be able to find out when you're older." Internally, he cringed, 'Such as that was how some of the animal blooded people on Saint Brendan's had their ancestors come into being...'

Pout on her face, she crossed her arms, "Mou... but I want to know!" At the raised eyebrow, she sighed as she realized he would not tell her. Instead, Kenshō turned her attention back to what she had been told, "So you were strengthening your mind to that, Master?"

Waggling his hand in the air, the teenage wizard shrugged, "Kind of. It is a little bit difficult to explain, but... most of it has to do with making sure that when I transform, I remember who I am and what I really am. What I am at my core, basically. According to Professor McGonagall, that is what is important so that you don't lose who you are in the rush of the new mind and be overwhelmed. It's one of the more dangerous parts of the transformation." Frowning, he leaned forward, "According to her, there's been animagi who attempted the transformation and disappeared as their minds were submerged into their animal ones and ran off, usally believed to have died in the process. Like someone transforming into a rabbit, hopping off into a field, and promptly getting eaten by an owl or a fox."

Once more, Kenshō tilted her head a little as she thought, "Hmm..." Eyes widening, she smiled and thrust her hand into the air, "Well, I'll be right there and protect you, Master!"

Gently, Harry smiled as he patted her head, "I know you will."

Closing her eyes, the Kogatana happily smiled as she enjoyed the headpats, 'Mou... best part of having a Master!' When she opened her eyes, Kenshō looked over at him, "Master? What animal are you going to be?"

Arms crossed as he thought, Harry hummed, "Honestly? I don't know what animal I'll be when I transform." At the curious look, he shrugged a little, "You don't know what you'll be until you actually transform into the animal in question. But... from what I read, the general thing is that it depends on your personality and mindset as well." Motioning with a hand, the wizard frowned a little in thought, "My Dad for example? Stags represent nobility, which he had from all accounts once he grew out of his younger teens and showed. They're also considered protectors of the forest and of all the animals within. Because the stag will protect the herd, the does and fawns, from predators and those that would wish them harm."

Her eyes wide, Kenshō had a smile on her face, "Wow..." Blinking, she turned back to Harry, "Um, what about Sirius-San? Doesn't he become a dog?"

Lips curling into a smile, the nearly fourteen year old chuckled, "Hai, in fact he resembles the Grim." Motioning with one hand, he made a thoughtful sound, "Dogs are considered playful and friendly to those they like. They also are highly loyal and will often protect those they guard onto death. Him resembling a grim could be a comment on the Black family being considered related to death and darkness. Buuuut... what some people forget is certain traditions of grims." Seeing her lean in, Harry chuckled, "A lot of people nowadays see Grims and similar spectral hounds as being dark, as evil, because of stories. That they harm people and predict death... but!" He wagged a finger, "In many places in Britain, black dogs are seen as the ultimate protectors against evil, even supernatural evil. Heck, in certain towns mothers allowed their children to play unsupervised because they believed that the local ghost dog would watch over them and protect them."

Not saying anything, Kenshō considered what she had just heard for a few seconds before suddenly smiling, "Ooooh!" Waving her hands around, she gave a giggle, "I bet you become something cool, Master! Like a lion with a big fluffy mane!"

Eyebrow raised, Harry had the funny mental image of him as a lion with Hoppou snuggling into the mane alongside Kenshō, their heads poking out of the fluff, "I see..."

Pausing, the Kogatana hummed, "Oooo! Or maybe a unicorn!"

A light chuckle escaped from Harry and he ruffled her hair again, "That would be nice, but... magical creatures are something pretty much impossible. Despite what some modern wizard fiction tries to claim, one can't become a dragon."

Upon hearing that, Kenshō pouted, "You would have been amazing as a unicorn. Because then you could give rides!" She did blink as Harry coughed a bit, but shrugged it off, "Does that mean that you can't become a shipgirl?"

That made the wizard blink, "Shipgirl?"

Just nodding rapidly as she spread her arms wide, Kenshō looked at him, "Hai! Like, you could become a shipgirl and blast bad guys and stuff! Boom! Boom!"

Blinking, Harry shook his head a little, "I... doubt that it is possible." A frown appeared on his face, "I mean, there was supposedly a centaur animagus, and there's been mention of mermaid ones in some old books which is sort of odd considering the usual rule against magical creatures and animagi. But a shipgirl one? I... don't think that is possible."

Somewhat disappointed, the Muramasa shrugged it off and continued to imagine all the cool animals that Harry could transform into, much to said wizard's amusement.

Eventually, however, Harry got up and placed Kitsune-Bokken into a duffle bag as well as a thermos and a box. Waving goodbye, he smiled as he watched Kenshō hop onto the couch next to Juuchi and turn the television to the local American channel to watch 'Blue's Clues'. Despite the older Muramasa's mutters, Harry could tell that she didn't actually mind it too much even as she waved goodbye to him. Not helping was how he noticed Juuchi place an arm over Kenshō's shoulders.

It did not take Harry long in his velomobile to reach the park for kenjutsu practice. Upon arriving at the clearing where he practiced alongside Okita and such, he did raise an eyebrow at the new teen who was chatting with the other "Three Kendo Goddesses of Yokosuka Junior High". Granted, he still thought that the nickname Nobu came up with was a bit Chunni, but unlike most he could see the humour in it.

Looking away from the conversation, Nobu grinned and waved, "Harry-Kun! Hello my friend, my friend hello!"

His lips twitching, the teenage wizard waved back even as he set his duffle bag down, "Hey there, Nobu-Chan." Smile on his face, he nodded towards his other two friends, "Okita-Chan, Uesugi-Chan, hopefully you have had a good day thus far?"

A chuckle escaping her as she adjusted her glasses, Uesugi nodded, "We have, actually. Quite a good day." Seeing Harry glancing curiously at the final girl, her smile widened a touch, "Allow me to introduce Kokonoe Yae-San, a good friend and rival of ours in Kendo. Yae-San? This is Potter Harry-Kun, who we were talking to you about."

Crossing her arms, Nobu grumbled, "I was going to introduce her! I had an entire introduction planned and everything."

Expression carefully blank, Okita looked at her friend, "And that is why Uesugi-Chan is the one to do so."

Simply ignoring the bickering between the two, as amusing as it was, Harry bowed towards Yae, "Good afternoon, Kokonoe-San."

Bowing back to him, Yae had a smile on her face, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Potter-San, gozaru." As she stood back up, she glanced at the others with an unsure look, "Uesugi-Kun and the others have told me about you."

The wizard was surprised at that before giving a chuckle, "Hopefully good things."

Just snorting, Nobu walked over and threw an arm over his shoulder with her usual grin on her face, "Of course! What else would we say?"

Only shaking her head at the actions of her formal rival warlord, Uesugi turned to Harry, "She knows about magic, Harry-Kun, as well as who we were." At his expression of surprise, she gave a small shrug, "She is Tokunotakai-Sensei's student, and knows her secret as well."

After giving it a moment of thought, Harry gave a nod, "Ah, that makes sense then." Looking towards Yae, he gave her an interested look, "So you know that I'm a wizard then?"

With a small hum, she gave a nod, "I do." Yae had an interested look as she gazed back at him, "Never thought that I would meet a wizard though, gozaru."

In reply, Harry gave a small shrug, "Well, I'm a pretty normal guy except for that-" Hearing a snort, he frowned at Nobu, "What's so funny?"

Snickers escaped from the reincarnated warlord as she looked away, "Nothing... normal... pfft."

Rolling his eyes, Harry shoved her arm off his shoulder, though there was no real heat there. Okita had a smile on her face as she clapped her hand, "Right! Time for Kenjutsu practice."

Voice dry, the teenage boy looked at her, his next words getting a giggle from the pale haired reincarnation, "In other words, time to get my arse kicked while calling it learning."

Grin widening, Nobu gave him a chuckle, "Indeed! And it is my turn to be your sparring partner!"

For a few moments, Harry looked at her before sighing and hanging his head, "So basically I am going to get my arse kicked while you cackle the whole time."

Needless to say, that made the three incarnations grin and snicker, though Yae seemed confused. Catching how Harry was smiling slightly, however, she realized that it was at least partially a joke. Smile on her own face, Toku's student sat back and watched as Harry and Nobu went through a warm up complete with stretches. When he brought out his bokken, however, Yae blinked and furrowed her eyebrows, "Why do you have a Kitsune charm hanging from it? That... is not allowed in competition."

Looking at the charm, which swung in the air, Harry gave a small shrug, "Nobu-Chan suggested it. Since I'm not looking to be competing, I didn't see an issue with it."

Only nodding, the teenage girl looked at the bokken and frowned as she examined it. The wooden sword was well carved, she had to admit, though she didn't recognize the wood. It did resemble oak though, which was slightly odd. But there was... something about it. Something that twinged at the edges of her senses, like a taste of blood. Even as she looked at it, she swore, for a brief moment, that the eyes in the Kitsune charm flashed a malevolent, blood red at her.

Then she shook her head of what had to be her imagination.

Instead, Yae decided to satisfy her curiosity a little and cocked her head to the side, "So why do you wish to learn the Way of the Sword, Potter-San?"

Glancing at her as he finished his warmup and began to put on his gear, Harry hummed, "I got a number of reasons to be honest. One is that the sword Juuchi Yosamu as well as the sword Tsukiakari no Suzu are among my family blades. The second, by the way, was used at the Battle of Shiroyama."

Scowl on her face, Okita growled a little, "Unfortunately, she was used by someone with no respect for the blade, even though she served him well."

More than a little lost, the lone non-reincarnated Kendoka frowned, "What do you mean by that, Okita-San? No respect?"

A sigh came from Harry and he shook his head as she looked back at him, "Tsukiakari is a Kyu gunto and was used by a member of the army during the battle. Even saved the man when the Samurai charged into the lines at the end, deflecting their swords. But... he felt that a Kyu gunto was worthless and so grabbed one of the swords of the dead, basically tossing her aside despite what she did."

Hands clenched, Yae took a hissing breath as just the thought ignited anger in her, "They did what?"

Grimace on his face, the wizard nodded, "Unfortunate, but... hai, they got rid of her because they believed that the sword they took from the dead was much better. Thankfully, my great-great-grandfather, Potter Ian, bought her. He enchanted her with spell after spell and she served him for the rest of his life, including during the Great War... uh, I mean, World War I." Harry then shrugged a little, "She then went on to serve my own Otou-San during some... civil issues in the magical world."

When Yae looked at her, Uesugi adjusted her glasses with a sigh, "British understatement. Apparently the magical side of Britain was in a civil war against a man named Voldemort who was... well, some sort of magical neo-nazi, I think one could call it."

Slowly, Harry nodded with a sigh, "That's... the other part of it..."

Yae listened as Harry explained about what had happened with this Voldemort person, which sent a shiver down her back. The fact that there was someone so evil, and someone just her age had already fought him twice and survived... as well as how he was preparing to face him. It was like something from a shonen manga, or one of the really old stories about heroes of legend. Part of her wondered if her Sensei, if Masamune-no-Tokunotakai, knew about it.

At the same time, she actually understood a bit more about the respect that her fellow Kendoka seemed to hold for him. They had mentioned that something had happened and they fought beside him. And there was the small argument between Nobu and Uesugi about whom he would have been snatched up by as a retainer if he had been around in their first lives, which had been surprising.

But looking him in the eye, she could see the steel there, the unyielding strength of will that he had.

Right then, she found herself respecting him and smiling about it. As he finished both his explanation and putting on his gear, she nodded, "I understand now, gozaru."

That got a blink from the British born boy, but not getting an answer he shrugged it off and turned towards Nobu as Okita acted as a referee of sorts before their practice match began. And, much to Yae's amusement, his earlier prediction of getting his ass kicked while Nobu laughed came true. Despite that, he kept getting back to his feet to continue the practice, no matter the bruises he got. If anything, seeing that, made her respect for him grow, because he was willing to take the pain to improve.

Granted, that said, she had to wince more than once while watching the impromptu "Lesson" from the former Uniter of Japan. Sitting next to her and giving comments every once in a while, Uesugi glanced at her fellow Kendoka before lowering her voice, "You're wondering about this."

With a glance at her, and a wince as Nobu landed a blow that sent Harry to the ground groaning, Yae gave a small nod, "Hai." Pausing, she frowned a little, "Is this how you were taught?"

Humming, Uesugi considered the question before giving a slight nod, "To some extent, I suppose. During mine and Nobu-Chan's first lives, one of the ways one grew in the War was to have fights with others who practiced The Way. Not really spars or matches, but full contact as is happening here. But back then, it was far more dangerous and often one gambled their lives and health in order to improve. However, it was a quicker way to gain experience." After a slight pause, she continued, "Each of us three practice our own forms alongside more modern ones. It gives Harry experience in fighting people of different styles. In turn, it also helps us along the Way by helping him in his own journey."

Just blinking, Toku's student was silent as she thought over what she had been told. One of the things that her Sensei had done had been to speak of how such things were done in the past. But hearing and seeing it were entirely different things. After a minute or two, she simply nodded and joined Uesugi and giving Harry bits of advice regarding his stances.

After the "Spar" (if one could call the slight beating Harry took as being such) was done, Yae watched as Harry took off most of his protective gear and got into a stance as he began to perform kata. Though she raised her eyebrow as Nobu demanded fifty downward slashes with the tip stopping at exactly the same spot each time, and when the teenage boy failed, she would give him a whack to the leg and tell him to start again. It raised even further when she was told that Nobu was taking it easy on him, which made her shiver a little.

Getting up, the kendoka walked over to the teenage wizard before motioning to his feet, "Your stance is a little too wide, I think. And your feet are slightly wrong in how they are set."

Not saying anything, Harry did as Yae mentioned and adjusted even as he nodded while sweat streamed down his face and he continued his kata. Unnoticed by either of the two, the other three Kendoka smiled and nodded some in approval.

Once he was done with that and performing the cooldown, Yae had a frown on her face before turning to Harry, "Um, Potter-San? Who is your sensei? Because I don't recognize the style."

With a glance towards her, Harry smiled slightly, "Her name is Maeda Hoshi and she's a Kyuubi. As for a style... her and her Nee-San, Tsuki, never really bothered to give it one."

It went without saying that Yae's eyes widened at that in surprise and more than a little shock, 'A kyuubi has taught him!?'

Finishing up the cooldown, the nearly fourteen year old teenage boy walked over to his duffle bag, "And now for the payment for helping me."

Much to Yae's amusement, Okita rubbed her palms together with a grin, "Hai, time for some tasty treats! What have you got for us now, Harry-Kun?"

Amused, Harry glanced at her before bringing out a box. For a moment though, he paused and seemed to consider them, "Okita-Chan? Nobu-Chan? Uesugi-Chan? You three are coming to my birthday party in a few days, right?"

Hands on her hips, Nobu laughed, "Hai, we are." Then she widened her grin, "Can't wait to be able to go to the beach for it. Got a new two piece and everything."

Simply giving her a look, Uesugi turned to Harry in interest, "Why? Has something come up, Harry-Kun?"

In reply, Harry shook his head, "Nothing bad actually, but Natsumi-Chan reminded me about what... happened during our last trip." At their nods, he continued, "Well, we had been planning on going to Britain through magical means and I wanted to know if you wanted to come? We're going to be picking blackcurrants, redcurrants, and cherries from my property back in Britain and making preserves with them for a week. Any you pick, you get to keep, of course."

Each of the three perked up at that before Okita licked her lips, "Fruit preserves? I remember the ones that Asuka-San and them sold... they were so good!"

On the glasses wearing member of the trio of reincarnated warriors was a thoughtful look. Then Uesugi gave a small nod, "I... have never heard of the first two items you mentioned. But I would not say no to fruit preserves." She then smiled and glanced towards Yae, "Though perhaps there is one more here that could go?"

That made Harry blink before he flushed and bowed to Yae who took a step back, "My apologies, Kokonoe-San, that was highly rude of me."

Flustered, Yae motioned with her hands some, "No, no, you didn't expect me to be here. There's no reason to be sorry, Potter-San, gozaru!"

Straightening, the wizard frowned, "Still..." Furrowing his eyebrows, he gave a nod, "If you want, I don't see an issue with you coming. We wouldn't spend all the time picking of course, so there would be time to go sightseeing as well if you want. Not to mention, my manor has a pool and the like."

Eyes lighting up, Nobu laughed as she jumped, "Can't be helped! We are definitely going!'

With a sigh, Okita facepalmed before whacking her friend in the back of the head, "Calm down."

All the former warlord did was look at her, "Like you're much better." Frown on her face, Nobu looked at Okita, "Though we should be worried about you not bringing much back due to it all disappearing."

Closing her eyes, Okita smiled and turned before her hand lashed out, grabbing Nobu's head. Moments later, she opened her eyes and was staring at her friend from inches away, "What was that, Nobu-Chan? Are you calling me a glutton?"

Just humming, Nobu winced a bit, but then shrugged, "If the geta fit-ow! Ow! STOP CRUSHING MY SKULL!"

Turning away from the scene of violence, Yae cleared her throat, "I, um... would need to talk with my parents, Potter-San. A-after all, I've never been that far from home and... do we have adults? Because that might make them more likely, gozaru."

Only nodding even as screams erupted from nearby, Harry smiled, "Hai, my Mum, Nagato, will be one. We also have Taigei-Chan, Ryuuhou-Chan, Ooi-Nee, Kitakami-Nee coming as well as Jin-San." Pulling out his phone, he gave a nod, "If you want, I could give you my number so that they could speak to Mum?" Both of them exchanged numbers at that and Harry looked over towards Okita who currently had Nobu in a chokehold, "So... who wants treats?"

At that, Okita dropped the insensate Nobu and smiled as she walked over, "Me!"

Lips twitching into a smile, which grew a touch as Nobu held up a hand with one finger raised, the wizard nodded as he opened the box, "Good, because Uesugi-Chan did bring up how none of you know about blackcurrants... so I brought some blackcurrant crumble tarts!"

Taking one as he handed it to her, the pale haired reincarnate looked at the small, handheld pie before taking a bite. Moments later, Okita had her eyes closed in happiness as she chewed, "Mmm..."

Uesugi shook her head in amusement at the actions of her hand before taking her own bite and hummed, 'Sweet, but with some tartness. Interesting...'

For the next hour or so, the group just enjoyed the treats as they chatted with Harry and Yae getting to know one another more.

 

[darthcourt10]

Maes

Barricade said:Of course, then there's 'Poultry', the name Zui's Smol answers to.
Kinda surprised she doesn't go by 'Nugget'.


Yellowhammer said:subgirl*** (...) (swimming).
Just a bit of cracky material inspired by this...
*-*-*-*-*

A shriek over the airwaves

<GOYA! Oh Kamis someone help Goya! She's capsized!!>

<WHAT? NO I'M NOT!>

<BULLSHIT YOU'RE NOT! YOU'RE FLOATING FIN-SIDE DOWN!!>

<M'PRACTICING MY BACKSTROKE!>

<. . .>

<. . . your back...what? What the fuck is wrong with you?!? Why would you do that?!>

<Some steel-hull sub-skipper bet me a million yen we couldn't do it?>

<That's just... HOW?>

<Running on the batteries! Don't want to even risk trying to start my diesels upside down, not that it'd help much with the snorkel plugged. Crew had to strap themselves down or up? or upside-down I guess? and they're hating every second of it, and you don't want to know how my galley's doing, but hey, a million yen's a million yen...>

<This is insane. You're insane.>

<Says the one who won't be a million yen richer in a few days>

<. . . how long are you going to->

<'nother half hour, maybe? Still trying to get the rhythm down but my bilges are starting to object to the whole 'existing' thing. Still, if you think that's bad, you should've seen how one of Hoppou's kids reacted.>

<Oh shit, yeah they're still used to thinking more 'ship' aren't they.>

<Yup. I think I broke her brain. Most fun I've had in days!>

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- More Greco-Belgian WAFF incoming!

Only My Buttervioline (II)

Olympic Village, Athens, Greece

23 May 2036
Spoiler: Athens

"I'm such a idiot!" Therese du Chasteler-Potter moaned as she flopped on her bed in the athletes' housing. Her roommate paused in stretching to look at the teenage violin as she moped.

Martje Van Der Voorde gave her slightly younger friend a fond smile and spoke gently to her. "So what did you do this time, Therese?"

"I went down to the port to work off some nerves by serenading the tourists and some crew from the warships keeping the Abyssals from attacking." Therese muttered as she sat upright and blushed. "Papa is right, doing the whole street performer thing like how he met Mother is a real trip. So I really got into playing myself and giving people happy emotions like Mother does to brighten their day."

"There was a really cute guy there listening to me, and I kinda..." She trailed off as the blush deepened.

"Unh-hunh, go on~." the blond Flemish heptathlete said in her Dutch-accented French as she began another set of stretches, shaking her head at yet another romantic misadventure from her friend.

"I... kinda... tossed my glasses to him..." Therese admitted in a small voice, her face scarlet.

"Only you, Therese. I swear, I'll have to put a leash on you one of these days!" Martje said with a giggle as she raised the violin another point on her unofficial 'Dork Scale' for romance. "So, let me guess, he's married already. Did you at least look for a ring?"

"Ididn'tbecausemyphonewentoffandIhadtoApparatebackhereandcheckinsoIforgottogetmyglassesbackorhisnumber!" Therese blurted out in an embarrassed rush with her face as red as her Aunt Zamarad's hair. She then facepalmed and moaned. "I'm such an idiot~~!!"

"No arguments here, Therese. You did pack your spare glasses, yes?" Martje said after a few suspicious coughs and some work to keep a straight face.

"Yeah... I did..."

"Grab 'em and your locket and let's have a jog before getting a bite to eat you silly viool."

Panathinaïkó Stádio, Athens, Greece

24 May 2036

Athena smiled in joy as, once more disguised as a mortal, she walked up the steps of this classical stadium that was also called Kallimarmo, "Beautiful Marble". It had first been founded and consecrated as a racecourse as part of the Panathenaic Games to honor her (and the other Olympians) in the sixth Century during the first days of Athens, her beloved city named for her that had nurtured and incubated many of the seeds that would reach full flowering in Western Civilization.

Here, Cleisthenes had instituted the first concept of democracy in 508 BC.

Here, the philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had taught their students laying the foundations for the great Roman and European thinkers to build upon.

Here, Herodotus, the 'Father of History', Thucydides, and Xenophon had written the books that made history an actual science and devotion.

Here, the great playwrights Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles had developed the very concept of Comedy, Tragedy, and explored the conflict of man against man, and man against self.

Here, Themistocles had walked after his masterstroke of the battle of Salamis when the might of the Persian Empire was broken in one of the most decisive naval battles in history to insure Greece would develop as a free collection of city-states.

Here, the statesman Pericles had helped nurture the Golden age of Classical Athens as he headed the Delian League to protect against the Persians and financed the building of the marble buildings of the Acropolis.

This stadium had seen the feet of these great men and more. Rebuilt in 330 BC in limestone and then in 144 AD in marble, it had seen much both of the heights of human culture as well as the decline and disrepair as the tides of time and ruin had washed against it as the course of fate had moved the center of power and civilization elsewhere, to Rome, Byzantium, Baghdad, Beijing, Paris, London, America.

And yet, the seeds first planted here had flowered once more long after those men who had developed them were long gone into the dust.

This stadium had been rebuilt in marble once more to host the first modern Olympiad in 1896, an event created by visionaries who looked back to the golden age of Greece and took from it inspiration and guidance to create a better, brighter future.

Then the XXVIII Olympiad had come to Athens in 2004, forging another link between past and present as, just like their forefathers, athletes had competed for the crown of laurel that was the ancient symbol of Apollo to show excellence and glory pleasing to their peers, their nations and the Gods.

And now the XXXVI Olympiad was about to open once more where heroes and giants of human culture had trod.
Spoiler: The Opening Of The Olympics

As Athena, Apollo, and Artemis watched in appreciation, a lone relay runner began to approach with a torch carrying a flame lit at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece, where the ancient Olympic games had been held. A torch that had been carried around the world, through Europe and Asia, to Australia, Africa, the Americas and back to Greece. A symbol of the common heritage born here that had spread throughout human consciousness, gaining from other traditions, from those of Japan, China, India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and yet all returning to one of the birthplaces of human culture.

Athena grinned as the crowd roared as the flag of Greece entered the stadium alone carried by a single athlete. Traditionally, Greece always entered at the head of the Parade of Nations to show their importance to the Olympics, but as the host nation, would enter last. Instead after the Greek flag, the rest of the athletes came. Saint Lucia. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. San Marino. Angola. Azerbaijan. Egypt. Ethiopia. Haiti.

Athena silently waited as the Parade of Nations continued. Then as the Belgian team entered in red coats over black, white, red and gold dresses, Athena smirked as Apollo suddenly stared in delight at the sight of the mystery violinist waving to the crowd with her free hand as she held a Belgian flag.
Spoiler: Therese's Outfit

"It's her!" he said, grinning broadly and happily. "She's one of the athletes!" He waved enthusiastically at her as she paraded past them.

Artemis smirked and nudged her brother. "Archer. Therese du Chasteler." The Goddess of the Hunt spoke calmly.

"I have tickets to her event, Brother." Athena added as she mentally wondered how much of a favor Apollo would owe her after this week ended.

Then the Sun God stiffened like he had been shot as the Belgians took their place after their lap around the stadium.
---------------------

Therese swallowed nervously, gave a shy smile to the crowd, and waved as more athletes entered the stadium.

Then her eyes met those of her bronzed mystery man as she locked gazes with him, flanked by two beautiful dark-haired women. Oh God, OhGodohGodhe'ssodreamy...

She felt her heartstrings make the most wonderful music in her soul as she fell into those gold-flecked blue eyes, as blue as a cloudless sky.

"Therese?"

He was suntanned that warm bronze a shade lighter than her spruce-colored hair. Oh God, that light jacket showed off his muscles to perfection. She felt her avatar's knees grow weak at the sunny smile he was giving her as she smiled back shyly.

"Therese!?"

Someone waved a hand in front of her face. She didn't care, she could feel him warming her like a perfect sunlit day with a passion that made her want to serenade him forever with the music catching fire in her soul.

"Earth to Therese?! Oh God, she's totally out of it!"

His smile widened and she smiled back with stars in her eyes and a growing blush on her cheeks.

He looked like a classical statue brought to life.

She had to get his number... somehow... to try to serenade him. Maybe she could even ask his name?
---------------------

Athena and Artemis looked back and forth between Apollo and the girl he had locked eyes with.

"Apollo?"

No answer.

He was absently humming a melody that they remembered him composing to woo Daphne before she got turned into a laurel tree. This was... very very bad.

"Apollo?! Olympus to Apollo!!"

Athena looked at Artemis, then both goddesses scanned the area for Aphrodite or Eros starting mischief. After a long pause they looked at each other again and spoke, since Apollo was clearly out to lunch.

"Right, how do we get him to meet her again so he can start to get this out of his system? Preferably without blowing the Divine Accords to atoms?" Athena sighed.

"You tell me, Wisdom." Artemis snarked.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Biking along through Yokosuka, Harry had one earbud in his ears as he listened to music on his way towards Natsumi's. As he came into view of the harbour, however, he brought his bike to a stop to look out onto the ocean. Because out on the harbour sat the massive form of the USS Ranger as it made it's way to the American side of the base. However, that was not what Harry was paying attention to, though he could see the steel hulled ships of the incoming convoy heading towards Yokohama further up the bay.

What caught the teen's attention was the large ship that was just behind the Ranger.

Eyebrows raised, Harry muttered an Celtic spell designed to be wandless and which allowed for him to use one of Hedwig's senses as if they were his own without affecting her. Almost immediately, he felt a slight ache behind his eyes, but his vision sharpened and, if one was to look at his eyes, they turned amber. Focusing on the ship, despite the distance, he was able to read the name USS Juan de Fuca, CGN-49.

Blinking, he leaned against his handlebars and let his gaze roam over the newest Cruiser of the United States Navy. Thoughtful, Harry hummed a little, "Huh.. didn't know that her shakedown was done and she was being sent out on convoy runs."

Due to the spell, Harry was able to see the individual features of the crew that were out and about as they prepared to head into dock. Cancelling the spell, he could feel the ache from it disappear as he considered the ship itself from the distance. Part of him was still amused with how some of the sailors had stated that it was like a Wasp class had a one night stand with an Arleigh Burke.

Named after one of the most hard fought battles of Blood Week by the USN and RCN, the Battle of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the first of her Class was something of a beast designed to fight Abyssals due to coming in at almost 25,000 tons. Two nuclear reactors, similar to the ones used by CVNs, provided power for her various systems. From what he had heard, the radar was powerful enough to burn through Abyssal "Stealth" from the sheer power it put out, something that Harry had no doubt of.

Especially after hearing the rumor of someone literally cooking a steak by placing it in front of said radar during a test.

Of course, the big thing was the anti-air due to how the Abyssals used massed air attacks not seen since the Second World War. Something that everyone was still designing around and against. Hence the four five inch guns, each of which were ECT, and the 200 VLS cells as well as the CIWS. Though from the scuttlebutt, she was to be equipped with lasers. As he watched, two of the Eagle Eyes that said ship was equipped with took off from the hanger, heading for the American part of the base where the UAVs would be serviced.

Just watching for a few moments, Harry gave a nod before continuing his way towards Natsumi's. Part of him was happy, however, by the fact that this meant that Shinano, Louisiana, and their group was back in Yokosuka. Also, he knew that the Yokai children who Fubuki had guardianship over would also be happy for said Destroyer and her group to have come home safe and sound.

It did not take him very long to get to where Natsumi lived, thankfully. Putting his bike into the usual spot, he walked up to the door and knocked. Only minutes later, it was opened by a smiling Natsumi who greeted him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "Good afternoon, Harry-Chan."

Returning the gestures, Harry chuckled, "Thanks, Natsumi-Chan. Hopefully it has been a good day for you as well."

Grin slightly teasing, she gave a hum, "Well, it was, but it is going much better now that you're here for the next lesson." Natsumi gave a small sigh as she hung her head, "Who knew that Kitsune-tsuki was so hard."

With a small shrug as he came inside and left his shoes in the small cubby set aside, Harry gave her a smile, "I don't know, frankly I think that it is a good thing that it is hard quite honestly. I mean... imagine if it was easy to pull."

Frowning as she considered that, Natsumi slowly nodded, "You're right, it wouldn't be a good thing." Then she grimaced a little, "Still, it would be nice for at least us."

Only giving her a smile, the wizard shook his head, "Well, we're still making good headway." He then grinned as he knew what response his next words would get as Natsumi's ears and tails came out once the door closed, "But you might like the fact that I brought some peanut butter bread, baked just this morning~"

He was not disappointed as Natsumi's ears perked up and her tails stopped moving for a few seconds. When she turned, she could see him holding up the plastic bag containing said treat, "... Are you sure that you are not a Tenshi?"

That got a laugh from him before shaking his head, "Pretty sure that is not how it goes, Natsumi-Chan. Because I thought that I would be the one saying that to you."

Needless to say, that caused a small blush to bloom on the Kitsune's face before she looked away, "Don't say such things."

If anything, that caused Harry to grin before he looked around. After a few seconds, he turned back to Natsumi, "Hey, Natsumi-Chan?"

Blush under control, Natsumi turned to him, "Hai, Harry-Chan? What is it-" Just as she fully turned to him, Harry made his move. Next thing that the Kitsune knew, his lips were on hers. Eyes closing, Natsumi hummed before pulling back, "Ah... that's what you wanted."

Lips curled into a grin, the nearly fourteen year old shrugged as his hands were on her waist, "Hai." Glancing at her hair, he gave a hum, "Though if you want to be tsun.. maybe we should put your hair into twin tails?"

Eyebrow raised, Natsumi gave him a snort, "Just for that, I want another kiss.'

Grin on his face, Harry was just about to do so when they jumped across as someone else spoke up, "Mikon~ So this is what is taking you so long, Master?"

It went without saying that both teens jumped apart with their faces feeling like they were burning to see Taiyang there with a grin on her face. Ignoring the snickers in the back of her mind, Natsumi sighed, 'Dammit! I wanted another kiss!'

Said snickers became outright laughter at that thought, which only made her cheeks redden all the more.

Meanwhile, Harry was glancing at Natsumi before turning his attention to the foxy being in front of him. Being a teenage boy, he did notice that her blue tank top strained a little as well as how tight the jeans she wore were. However, he just shoved said thoughts away after realizing that and took in the pink hair as well as the two bronze colored eyes watching him in what seemed amusement, "... Taiyang, I take it?"

At that, he noted her eyes lit up in interest. Unknown to him, it was not just because he guessed her name. Taiyang had noted where his eyes had gone, but the fact that he swiftly dismissed that both impressed and made her want to pout. Wanting to test it, she internally smirked. The Dao then placed her hands behind her back and hopped over a bit as she made her way over, "That's right! I am the ever foxy dao, Taiyang~ Mikon!"

Chuckling, Harry gave her a bow with a smile on his face, "Hello, Taiyang, I am Potter Harry."

Of course, the fact that Harry didn't even give her a once over despite her movements only made her grin inside, 'How very interesting...' As he turned to an annoyed Natsumi and began asked her something, Taiyang examined him a bit more closely. Gaze running over him, she noted that he was rather fit, which was good in her book. At the same time, she looked a bit more deeply as her eyes glowed a very slight amount and she raised an eyebrow, 'Powerful, very powerful. Yet... he has not fully grown into what he shall be. How very interesting...' Her lips curled a little into a smirk, 'You have chosen very well, Master.' Taiyang perked up some as she noticed Harry giving Natsumi a look over as said female Kitsune stretched a bit, 'Oh yes, very well indeed~'

Inside her head, Natsumi smirked a little as she noted Harry looking at her, 'Take that, you top heavy blade, he only looks at me.' Hearing a choking sound in the depths of her mind, she simply ignored it, "So, excited for your birthday tomorrow, Harry-Chan?"

Putting his hands behind his head, the teenage wizard nodded with a smile of his own, "Hai, I really am." For a brief moment, he paused before placing an arm around her waist and seconds later Natsumi wrapped her tails around him, "How about you?"

Amused, Natsumi hummed a little, "Same, especially as we're having it out on Sarushima again. We'll be able to walk and play without worrying about hiding what we are." A sigh escaped from her, "Which I am thankful for... and cannot wait for the Statute to come down entirely."

Frown on his face, Harry pressed his lips together, "In some ways, I'm the same. But... it will not be a good thing everywhere."

Simply nodding in agreement, the Kitsune began to walk beside him, "Yeah, in this case every bit of Sun has a dark cloud as well." Both of them lapsed into silence before she shook her head, "Anyways, I'm still looking forward to your birthday."

Deciding to follow the change of subject, Harry chuckled, "Well, I get to see you in a bathing suit, so that's one thing..." Realizing what he said, he went a little red, "Um... that didn't quite come out right."

Cheeks red, Natsumi raised her eyebrow at him, "Really?"

Just coughing, the nearly fourteen year old scratched his cheek, "Heh..." Internally, he nodded a little, 'Gryffindors charge forward.' Turning back to Natsumi, Harry smiled, "Kind of, since seeing you in one is always a treat."

It went without saying that if she was not red before, Natsumi most certainly was at this point. Looking away, she glanced at him, "Well... I suppose it is much the same for me."

For several seconds, both teens were silent as they considered what the other would look like in swimwear. Much to the amusement of Taiyang, they went a bit redder and couldn't exactly look at each other. Especially amusing was how they would glance at each other and go a bit redder.

Deciding it would be best for him to change the subject, Harry cleared his throat, "Um, well... right! It is not just at my birthday party you don't need to disguise yourself at. Remember the trip we're going on after? Back to Britain?"

Relieved at the change of subject, Natsumi gave a nod, "Of course, we're going to pick fruits and berries while there before making them into preserves." Licking her lips, she hummed, "Which will be really great to have for the next few months."

Lips curling into a smile, the teenage boy nodded, "Hai, that is true." Then, he shrugged a little, "Though we might have someone extra besides Nobu-Chan and the others."

Interested, Natsumi raised an eyebrow, "Really?" After a brief explanation of Yae, she slowly nodded, "Makes sense and I don't see an issue. And I doubt that the others will either as she is a friend of Nobu-Chan's." Suddenly, the Kitsune snapped her fingers, "I just remembered something."

Curious, Harry cocked his head to the side, "Poi?"

Her lips twitching briefly, the fourteen year old Yokai gestured to Taiyang, "Taiyang was exploring the area around here and found an old tunnel that had been magically sealed with the end of the war with a bunch of stuff, including a time turner!"

Eyes wide, Harry looked towards the blade in question, "Really? A time turner?"

Brightly smiling, Taiyang gave a giggle, "Hai~" She then shrugged a little, "I didn't know what I was sensing when going past the area, so I took a look! And found a neat little treasure!" Inside her head, she hummed, 'Not that they need to know that it was not there I found it... or that I have a second.'

Unknowing of her new sword's thoughts, Natsumi turned back to Harry, "Anyways, Obaa-San and Ojii-San have had it examined to make sure that it's safe and it was confirmed that it's fine to use. We contacted some people and no one seems to know where it came from, so now it's ours." She then gave a shrug, "So we can use it on the trip to get more fruit and also do some sightseeing."

Only nodding as he considered that, the wizard hummed, "Sounds good to me actually." Then he tilted his head to the side, "Huh... I wonder if that is why there's been a lot of work in the past few days to open up all the old tunnels and such that I noticed."

That only got him a shrug from the Kitsune.

Soon enough, however, they found themselves in seiza on the tatami mats of the tea room the house had as Hoshi, Haru, and Taiyang observed them. Both teens had their eyes closed with Natsumi's hands resting palm down on Harry's, with his palms facing up. Neither teen moved much as they concentrated on performing Kitsune-Tsuki. They could feel a tingle where their hands touched, as if there was something drifting back and forth.

But, unfortunately, beyond that neither had all that much luck and they opened their eyes some with frowns on their faces. Looking at their hands, Natsumi furrowed her eyebrows, "What are we doing wrong? We've been at this for nearly six months..."

Frowning herself, Hoshi leaned forward, "There is a connection that forms there, but... it doesn't go that far."

However, any further musing was prevented as they were distracted by the sounds of a rice cracker being bitten. Nearly as one, everyone turned to Taiyang who blinked as she held part of said cracker, "Hmm?"

Just pinching her nose, Hoshi sighed, "Do you have anything to say?"

Not saying anything, Taiyang ate the other part of the rice cracker and hummed as she sipped some tea. Finally, she set it aside and seemed to float across the floor, still in seiza as she examined the two teens, particularly where they were joined, "You're both too strong."

Of all the answers that they could have expected, that was the exact last one. Blinking, Haru turned to her in complete befuddlement, "Too strong?"

Making a snapping motion with one finger, Taiyang nodded, "Hai, too strong mentally." At the looks of confusion, she shook her head, "There are two methods where one performs Kitsune-Tsuki. The most common is where the Kitsune is possessing the person without their permission. For this, the person being possessed must be weaker mentally than the Kitsune performing the possession, or else it fails. Usually, if they do not start out weak minded, a Kitsune will make them emotionally weak. Stress, such as small pranks and such that slowly wear away at the person. Fear, anxiety, grief... all emotions that leave one open to possession if taken too far." Humming, the blade spirit tilted her head, "For example, in the modern day a teenage girl highly worried about exams and such could be a prime target for such."

Slowly blinking, Hoshi gave her an odd look, "That... was awfully specific."

All the Dao did was shrug, "I've been watching television and such things as anime to understand the modern world!" Ignoring how each of them stared at her for that, Taiyang turned back, "But what you are aiming for is a symbiotic, willing possession. This is entirely different as there is more back and forth. You, Master, have the advantage here."

Confused, Natsumi furrowed her eyebrows, "I... do? Really?"

Lightly chuckling, Taiyang nodded, "Hai, you do. Have you not been trained as a Miko, Master" At her slow nod, the blade continued, "Then you know of Kamigakari? Possession of the Miko by the Kami themselves?"

It took a moment, but the two tailed Kitsune frowned in thought, "I know the mechanics of it, and Oba-Chan gave me some training in it. But... is it similar to that?"

Humming, Taiyang gave her a smile, "Very similar, but in reverse in some ways." She made a motion with one hand, "After all, there were many fox cults back in China that Master would use, some of which worshipped her as a goddess. And some of those came to Japan as well many centuries ago. Sometimes, if she had need, Master would possess one of them, thus I can say it is very similar."

Unnoticed by either teen, the two adult Kitsune were somewhat... put off by the mention of the fox cults, especially in regards to ones that had worshipped Tamamo, or Daji as she had been known. It was somewhat worse for Hoshi as she had a group of Abyssals that worshipped her for killing other Abyssals. Shaking that off, the Kyuubi took a deep breath before looking at her, "And you would know this... how?"

Amused, Taiyang looked at her, "Because some of them are from where the Kitsune-mochi families came from. The families who were to Kitsune what the human families of Inugami were." Frowning, she tapped her chin in thought, "Though I wonder if any of them became full Kitsune as the Inugami had become full Yokai."

Blinking, Haru shook her head a little, "Not really, but I think that was a goal of some of them."

Just humming again, the Dao turned back to Natsumi, "Thus, Master, that is likely the way for you to go, to reverse what you know of how to perform Kamigahari to open oneself. Once you have done it enough, it will come easily." Frowning, she looked at Harry, "Though I am unsure how to have it done for you, Harry-Kun."

Thoughtful for a moment, Harry remembered the conversation he had with Kenshō the previous day, "I... think that I have an idea." He then turned to Natsumi and held out her hand, "Want to try?"

Eyebrow raised, Natsumi nodded and placed her palms on Harry before they both closed their eyes. Slowly, they breathed in and out as they synchronized their breathing. Once more, they could feel something going back and forth between them. For Natsumi, she fell back on the training she had and opened herself to the spiritual and felt a tingle that slowly spread from the tips of her ears to the tip of her tails.

Meanwhile, Harry fell back on his exercises to become an animagi. But rather than focus on staying himself, he reversed it. Instead, he focused on becoming the other and embracing it. Something that was difficult because it went against the training to become an Animagi. But he felt himself become more open to Natsumi.

Unseen by the two teens, the Kitsune there had their eyebrows nearly meet their hairlines in surprise as a soft glow spread over the two from where their hands were touching.

Breathing in and out, the teens could almost feel the heartbeat of the other. A heartbeat that, slowly, became more and more in sync with theirs until they could not tell one from the other. Eyes still closed, the two leaned towards one another and their foreheads touched for a moment as they breathed in, and then out.

Then, suddenly, Harry found himself falling forward and he just barely caught himself from hitting the floor face first. Blinking a bit, he looked around, "Natsumi-Chan?"

A second later, he was shocked when his mouth moved and he could hear something feminine about the tone, as if there was just the hint of his best friend's voice, "Harry-Chan? W-wait, did we do it?"

Eyes wide, Harry felt a grin spread across his face that was only partially his, "I think that we did."

While surprised that they finally had their breakthrough, Hoshi still smiled in amusement, "You do know that you can talk to one another with your thoughts, correct?"

Lightly blushing, the teenage wizard sheepishly chuckled, 'Can you hear me now, Natsumi-Chan?'

From within his own mind, he heard Natsumi answer back, 'Hai, I can hear you, Harry-Chan. Perfectly.' As their body sat back, one of his arms raised though not of his own volition and the hand became a fist, 'Huh... feels different.'

Seemingly from nowhere, a grinning Taiyang appeared in front of Harry and glomped him, subjecting both teens to instant marshmellow hell as their shared body was nearly knocked onto their back, "I'm so proud of you, Mikon!"

Briefly, after a few seconds, Harry felt Natsumi become confused, 'Harry-Chan? What's that odd feel... oh. So that's what it feels like from this end.'

It took only moments for the teenage boy to realize what she meant and he became as flustered as she felt and cursed his own body even as Taiyang continued to subject them both to her glomp as she went on about how proud she was of them.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N. -- And you can blame the Muse, the thread discussion about animagi and Rudyard Kipling for this one. Thanks Gear-2557!

A ButterAnimagus

Hogwarts (Roughly Late Third Year for Ehren/Sixth Year for Harry)
Spoiler: The Result Of Hard Work And Dedication

"Are you ready, Ehren?"

The question hung in the air of the Transfiguration classroom.

The blond teenage witch in an immaculate Hufflepuff uniform nodded sharply to Professor McGonagall and became even more erect and proud in her position of attention as she stood in front of the class.

"Jawohl, Professor!" Ehren snapped out as she gripped her ebony wand a little tighter as her chin raised in confident pride.

"Very good, proceed then." Minerva McGonagall leaned forward with interest and watched the spell energies. A small proud smile flickered around her lips as she carefully observed the witch whom she had helped to develop her significant talent for Transfiguration.

Ehren felt an internal smile trying to break out as she fought to control her breathing and still her racing heart. She hesitated, then released the smile as she let the signs of her eagerness and happiness become visible.

After all, this was the culmination of so much hard work and dedicated study by her to achieve the goal she was finally on the cusp of.

Years of study ever since Professor McGonagall had demonstrated the Animagus transformation to her and the rest of the enthralled First Years in Transfiguration class to make her set the personal goal to cast the Animagus spell one day. Honing her mind and her will to keep her humanity intact during the transformation. Honing her magical talents for Charms and Transfiguration to a razor edge as sharp as her steel body. Using the Time-Turner that she had 'acquired' from Sieglinde Malefe during the dumpster fire that was her first meeting with her oldest sister Estelle to gain the additional study and practice time needed to develop and perfect her mastery of one of the most difficult and dangerous fields of magic.

With that her eyes flicked over to her friends and loved ones standing vigil to witness this moment.

Her fellow friends from Hufflepuff and the other Third Years watching eagerly as she stood before them.

Estelle leaned against a desk with her arms crossed and a predator's focus on her youngest sister in her sapphire blue eyes.

Professor Sprout had a confident look on her face as she sat primly to watch her prize student's big moment.

Ying gave her a reassuring smile as for once the Chinese Dao's normal inscrutable face was absent.

Aunt Del and Aunt Zamarad sat with proud smiles as they watched in turn.

Mutti stood with her hand in Toku's as her parents watched with suspiciously shiny eyes in their proud faces.

Cousin Draco was giving one of those 'I know you have it in you' smirks that caused her steel to feel like it was melting. He was flanked by Niobe, who was giving her a broad smile under the aristocratic facade from their shared heritage. Next to Niobe, Johnston was bouncing eagerly on her toes, while on the other side Cleopatra radiated support and confidence in her.

Last, but certainly not least, Claire was watching her sister intently with her fingers twitching unconsciously. Ehren could read her Big Piano Sister like a book after they had grown up together, so Ehren knew that Claire was wishing with all her heart to be at the keyboard of her true piano body to play something suitable for this moment. Probably The Carnival of the Animals, knowing the way Claire thought.

Ehren placed all those images aside. and touched her wand to her heart as she prepared to make the plunge. She grasped hold of her magic as she focused her Will to control the building spell energies. Her lips opened and she began to incant the spell that she was ready to master.

"Amato..."

For a moment she felt every pulse of blood in her veins, every puff of breath in her body, every microscopic imprint in her steel where she had been forged by the smiths of Solingen.

"...Animo..."

Her magical energies surged with a pain so intense that it was pleasure, or perhaps the other way around as she began to reshape herself.

"...Animato..."

The feeling of transformation built like it was a mighty wave off a storm-tossed ocean approaching the steel rock that was Ehren. The room around her blurred and spun as she held onto control of her very being as the wave hit her.

"...Animagus!"

The room stopped spinning with a SNAP as it came back into focus.
Spoiler: Ehren's Animagus Form

Ehren suddenly realized that her point of view was very low to the ground. "{This is very odd!}" she remarked absently to herself, only to hear a series of chatters. She gave a happy, smugly triumphant grin...or at least tried to.
Spoiler: Ehren Talking

The colors were off slightly, but her senses of hearing and smell... Ehren had never realized how many smells there were in the world. She sneezed, shook her head, and then began to catalogue them as she looked around.

Ehren blinked in puzzlement at the 'oh how cute' looks that she was getting. She absently scratched under her chin with a hind leg and fluffed out her tail a bit as she surveyed the room.

"How adorable!" Claire exclaimed with a mischievous look in her eyes.

That was all the warning Ehren got before Claire leapt toward her. Mid-leap, the Shamaness shifted into her form of a large female black and white cave wolf the size of a Great Dane. Ehren froze automatically at the sight of the massive predator heading her way before tensing to spring and dash under a desk.

Too late.

The superior experience Claire had controlling and directing the instincts of her transformation was critical as Ehren stayed exposed in the open for far too long.

"{Don't you dare do this... CLAIRE!!}" Ehren's chatters got more indignant and louder as Claire grasped her by the scruff of the neck in her jaws with a sudden gentle bite. The classroom broke up in laughter at the scene and several people pulled out phones to record it for posterity.

The steel-gray mongoose, with a black dagger pattern on the fur of her fluffed out tail, chattered and growled indignantly at this treatment by her big sister. Ehren flailed around and squirmed bonelessly with all four paws grasping vainly at air when Claire lifted her off the ground like a puppy.

Draco laughed hard enough to cause abdominal pain at the sight of his cousins' antics.

His camera phone shook uncontrollably as he took photographs of Ehren's grumpy and pouting mongoose face alongside the rest of her family and friends.

Ehren gave the room a very dirty look before visibly sulking while crossing her front paws. "{This isn't funny, Claire! You better put me down now! Put me down right now, or I'll bite your toes the next time I sneak into your bed, Big Piano Sister!! Don't think that I won't do it to you!!}" Ehren chattered dire threats of sibling retribution to the massive wolf holding her, who just gave a smug lupine smirk in response.