Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

SkyeFire Omake: Juuchi the Weeping Sword

Harry Leferts said:
Much to her shock, complete and utter smug came from Harry as his eyes twinkled, "Because it was fun teasing you and letting you think otherwise... because than I wouldn't be able to sit in front of you eating blood orange, blood orange chocolate, and the like with you unable to do anything~"​

Hermione resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. "Harry? What are you doing now?"
"Why, what does it look like I'm doing?"
"It looks like you're fishing. Except your 'bait' is an orange--"
"Blood orange! That's very important, dess!"
"...a blood orange for bait, and you're simply dangling it at eye level. And why are your eyes so bloodshot?"
"I'm watching Juuchi."
Hermione blinked, and followed Harry's fixated stare. Sure enough, the Muramasa katana was lying, sheathed, on the floor, about halfway between Harry's bed and the dangling orange. "I know I'm going to regret asking, but...?"
"She's doing the Weeping Angel thing. Every time I blink, she moves a bit closer. But all I have to do is hold out long enough, and she will reveal her avatar to me! BWAHAHAHAHAAA!"
"...right, then." Hermione turned and left the room, post-haste. She didn't have enough SAN points left to get involved with this madness.

beorn91 said:
And I think remembering that the other Butterknives learned she was back in Japan because they saw her on the TV live covering the Big Fat Kanmusu Wedding. I think she even talked to some reporters.​

Yabbut, just because he knows, doesn't mean he's caught her at it. It's a silly distinction, but it's a silly game.

Harry Leferts said:
True enough... but it has also become a game to them, like when Harry was waving a blood orange in front of her to get her to reveal her avatar while eating one slowly.

And then ended up with his bed covered in peels.​

"I have to see a man about an orange."

Harry Leferts said:
Less than five minutes later, the two MACUSA personnel watched as Haruto was being helped away from the clinic by an Oni. It also did not escape their notice that various Yokai were around the Healer protectively and giving them looks. Once the Healer was out of sight, they shared a knowing glance. After that, Kisei and Mary headed back to the fort and the rest of the group as they quietly spoke to one another.​

Yay! Kisei's back! Have her BBs caught up with her yet?

And she and Mary both get to directly witness the... excesses... of the Tokyo Diet's Preserve Security. I'm sure their report will be quite damning, in the most professional and diplomatic way possible. After all, competent security doesn't have to waste time with such thuggish, ham-handed measures. And Haruto's brother appears to be letting his personal family issues interfere with the professional execution of his duties, perhaps he needs a vacation or some career counseling....

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Harry Leferts said:
Haruto's Brother​

You know, Haruto's brother Ichiro has the same name as Ushio's brother Ichiro. That in turn makes me wonder if Himeyuki knows their family from somewhere, somehow.

In other news, I had an emotion last night that I turned into this:
-----

Franky shivered and pulled her coat tighter as the night wind swept over the two girls walking past the beach. Oboro looked over sympathetically. As a Shipgirl, she'd never really experienced the cold the way that humans did, but her fairies assured her that it could be extremely unpleasant. It was only made more so by the way that the wind whistled, filling the silence between her and her charge with weightless nothing.

Oboro tapped her toe, trying to run something—anything—through her head. Finally, something clicked: the sensible flats that had sat next to her father's loafers in the engawa had been replaced by a pair of high heels. What was—no, wait, that was a horrible idea. She needed something else—

"Don't worry too much," Franky sighed, shoving her hands in her pockets. "You'll get used to it." She breathed out heavily and her eyes crossed slightly as she watched her breath turn to mist and vanish.

Oboro flushed. "I said that? I'm sorry," she replied hastily, "I didn't—"

"Don't be," the other girl cut her off. "He doesn't care what people say about him—still hung up on Mom like that. I've tried, but I can't break through to him." She shrugged, trying to force cheer into the gesture that, to Oboro, seemed nonexistent. "Figures, doesn't it? The one person I want to listen to me the most and I don't think he even hears me any more."

"Is that why you seem to drive towards that so much?" Oboro asked, mulling the idea around in her head a little. "I mean, most people facing an axe murderer would be going for at least a lead pipe or something."

"No, that's…" Bringing her hands up level with her face, Franky grasped at the air for an explanation. "It just doesn't seem productive, is all. You can fight all you want, but at the end of the day it's words that make sure peace stays."

She paused a moment, then flushed a deeper red than the winter air was bringing to her cheeks. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that—"

"Huh?" Oboro asked. What was she—oh, because Shipgirls were weapons of war? "Don't be, it's fine—"

"I'm just, I'm stressed lately, what with everything—"

"No, no, it's alright, there's nothing to take offense at—"

"I didn't mean any insult, it's just everything and aaargh, you know—"

"I do, really, I do, it's okay!"

Back home, on one of those rare days when everyone was able to come over and just be together, an exchange like that would have led to an exchange of awkward but relieved laughter, and then some warmer conversation. Instead, the two girls stood there quietly. Looking for a way to re-break the silence, Oboro dug into her memories. There was something that Ichiro had told her once, wasn't there? Or maybe someone else, who was going through a rough patch.

Not Ushio, whatever words they had shared on that beach all that time ago was an almost sacred secret between the two and Mutsu, the only one who'd been there with them. Akebono, after that… that… that MESS that had led even the household beacon of stability simmering? No, that couldn't have been it either. Ayanami, after—yes, that was it!

"Have you cried yet?" she asked. Franky, surprised at the suggestion, turned to give her a puzzled look.

"I'm sorry?" she asked.

"It's something that my older brother told Ayanami a while back, she was coming off of a… bad breakup." That was an understatement—a stalker, a business going under, misplaced blame, all the things that made for good television but hurtful living—but it was Ayanami's story to tell if she and Franky ever met. "He said…" Oboro paused, trying to recite rather than paraphrase it. "Being strong is all well and good, but it wears you down pretty fast. You can vent, rant, cry, whatever, but if you can get it off your chest—well, even if there's no one to catch you, you'll probably have a better chance of catching yourself on the way down."

In spite of herself, she smiled at the memory. Ichiro had quickly apologized, thinking that what he was trying to get across got muddled up somewhere in the middle, but Ayanami just hugged him around the middle and cried into his shirt for five minutes straight. Then Harry had come through with his plate full of cookies, and things took the usual turn from there… She glanced back at Franky. The American girl was looking aside, biting her lip uncomfortably.

"It's okay," Oboro said, giving her a smile that didn't feel gentle or sad or tired as much as it did weathered. "I won't tell anyone."

Franky looked down at her feet, flinching at another cutting wind.

"He still isn't looking at me," she said finally, voice all but a whisper. "I thought that, maybe if any good could come out of this, he'd actually start acting like he was my dad again, but… But all he does is go out, drink, and bring women home. I-I'm the one getting food, cooking meals, it's like I'm his caretaker instead of the other way around, and—and—"

She tried to blink the tears from her eyes, and they ran down her face, pushed back towards her ears by the wind.

"I want my dad back," she sobbed, bringing a gloved hand up to rub at her eye. "I want him to be the way he was before, I want him to hold me and tell me it'll be alright, I, I, I, I… I'm hurting too! He's not the only one who LOST her, I…

"I want my mom back!"

Then she sagged against Oboro, bawling into her shoulder. Solemnly, the destroyer wrapped her arms around the Select, embracing her and holding her up in the same motion.

A flicker of motion caught her eye, and she glanced over to see a cat balancing on the railing nearby, twin tails waving gently in the air. She gave it an icy look and it got the message, hopping and spinning around and scurrying away as fast as its legs could carry it.

Just like that, the two were alone. Franky cried on for several more minutes, growing slacker and looser in Oboro's grip as she did until she had nothing left in her but hiccups. The Shipgirl waited a few more seconds, then began to try to help her readjust and stand on her own—she adjusted her shoulders, fumbled around briefly, and as she did her fingers accidentally brushed over the back of the girl's neck.

"Your fingers are cold," Franky mumbled into Oboro's shoulder.

It took a few seconds for the words to register. Once they did, the air was filled with the sound of two girls laughing.
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

"Hello? Anyone home?"

Blinking as she looked up from where she was sweeping the floor, Mie frowned before calling out, "Yes! One moment!" Taking a sniff, she felt her eyes widen slightly as she reached the door, "Haruto-Kun? What is going on..."

Upon walking out, she froze at seeing the state that said seventeen year old was in. For his part, the teen tried to smile even with half his face swelled and him being obviously in pain, "Hey, Mie-Chan..."

Gasping, the Inugami rushed towards him with a shout, sounds from inside their hut telling those there that the other shipgirls were now moving, "Haruto-Kun!" Within seconds, she reached him where an Oni was helping hold him up and brought her hand to her mouth in horror as she could better examine him, "What happened?"

Behind her, Hachimitsu was the first of the others out the door and, once she saw why her fellow shipgirl was shouting, froze. Though not for long as her tail puffed out and her hackles rose in pure rage as she snarled, "Who did this to you!?"

At his side, the Oni grimaced, "He got a visitor, with two of the usual suspects holding him while his... his..."

It was obvious that the Yokai was trying to figure out something to say that would not come out as an insult to the young man he had helped. But it was taken out of his hands as Haruto sighed and shook his head, "It was my Nii-San."

Even as she gently took him, Ichika narrowed her eyes, "Your Nii-San did this to you?"

Clenching her fist, it took every bit of Haruhime's self control not to pull out her rigging and take some pot shots at the local fortification. The only thing that stopped her was the fact that most of those there were not responsible and that, very likely, the man responsible was already long gone. Not to mention that doing so would only bring the Diet down on the innocent in the Reserve, "Fucking Ichiro!"

Just shrugging, even as he winced, Haruto shook his head, "Yeah, well... is it really that unexpected?"

Grinding her teeth as she examined him, Mikage snarled, "From that Man, no, I suppose not." With a deep breath to calm herself, she looked towards the Oni, "Thanks for bringing him home, Ibuki-San."

Lips curling upwards, the Oni nodded, "It was not too much trouble, Mikage-Sama. Besides..." Ibuki looked down at the teen with a look of utter respect, "He's one of us after all. Just make sure that he actually rests a bit and heals from that."

Simply nodding at the look and unsaid mention, Ichika smiled, "You can bet your ass that we will, Ibuki-San."

Meanwhile, Haruto sheepishly smiled, 'Yeah... I am going to get babied by this bunch.' Sighing, he shook his head some before lightly blushing, 'Though maybe that is not all that bad...' His blush deepened a touch at the knowing look from the Oni and some of the other Yokai. Most of them though simply commented that they hoped that he got better soon and the like, which warmed him. Before Ichika got him into the hut though, he turned towards one male Tanuki, "Oh! Suzuhara-San, could you do me a small favor?"

Blinking, the Yokai only nodded, "Sure, Haruto-Sama, what do you need?"

Lips pressed thinly together, the Healer took a deep breath, "Your son was the last one that I was working on when... they showed up. I just got finished with him as a matter of fact, could you check up on him to make sure that he is okay? And to let him know that no matter what, he is not at fault for what happened? You know how kids are at that age..."

Suzuhara only nodded with a slight smile, "I will, and thank you for considering him."

To Haruto's confusion, that got him nods of respect from the other Yokai who told him goodbye.

Granted, he was not the only one to blush as some of the older males winked at him and told his girlfriends to take very good care of him. The three Kitsune were all flustered by that while Ichika grinned back and replied that she was going to make sure of it. Mie only shook her head at her sister's antics as they slowly helped Haruto into their hut. Once they were inside though, the anger from his girlfriends practically evaporated into nothing and Mikage brought out the futon which she unrolled, "Here, set him down so that we can see how bad it is."

As he was gently lowered to the mattress, Haruto hissed in pain before sucking in a breath, "Yeah... they did a number on me."

One of her fairies coming out, Mie frowned, "I can see that if you are in that much pain." With a nod, her fairy made a motion with his wand and Haruto's shirt vanished to reappear off to the side. Upon seeing the still darkening bruises, the Carrier gasped and tears came to her eyes, "Oh, Haruto-Kun!"

Fists clenched, Hachimitsu growled as her eyes glowed, "I am going to kill him. Not with my guns, he's not worth the waste of ammunition. But I am going to beat him until he's not even hamburger!"

Snarling herself, Ichika glanced at her Kitsune friend, "Not if I get my hands on him first!"

In reply, the red haired punched her palm, "Get in line, Nee-San. Me, Hachimitsu-Nee, and Mikage-Nee know him and have history with the bastard. So we get him first."

However, that was when they felt a chill in the air and turned to Mie who was simply smiling softly, beatifically. Her next words chilled them and made their hackles stand on end, "Ara, ara~ Come now, you don't need to dirty your hands with this foul waste of space. Why, I have a plane or two whose propellers could be fine for making mincemeat slowly~"

Each of those there shivered at that with the same word going through all their minds: 'Scary...'

Despite the words not directed at him, Haruto was still scared of them. Gulping, he waved his hand some, "A-ah, well, he's not worth the trouble. A-anyways... he's already scared."

Anger melting away, Hachimitsu let out a sigh, "Whatever." Fingers ghosting over her boyfriend's torso, she tested each of the bruises before grimacing at one on his ribcage around the back, "I think that rib is cracked, or at least bruised."

Hissing, the Healer nodded, "Hai, it is most likely cracked at the least." With his own fingers, he touched one spot and grunted, "Yeah, that's cracked. And he got in at least one kidney shot."

One of her medical fairies out, Ichika watched as said fairy waved his wand before nodding with a scowl, "Desu. Desu desu desu, desu."

That brought a wince to Haruto, "I would rather not use any of our potions supplies..."

In reply, the fairy gave him a look, "Desu."

With a sigh, Haruto only grimaced and nodded, "Understood..." The fairy disappeared before reappearing with a vial that he gave Haruto. Popping the cork off, he took a sip and sighed a bit as the pain began to go away. Meanwhile, the fairy began to wave a wand over him and heal the teen, "Thank you."

Looking up at him, the fairy shrugged, "Desu desu desu."

Only shaking her head as she scowled, Hachimitsu sighed even as the bruises disappeared. Turning her head, she frowned at her boyfriend, "What exactly happened?"

A frown on his face, Haruto began to explain exactly what happened and the five Yokai simply waited and listened with various expressions crossing their faces. When they got to the beating, they clenched their fists, but still did not say anything. Finally, the teen was done and shrugged, "And... that was about it."

Eyebrows furrowing, Mikage frowned in thought, "That... does not make any real sense. Your bastard of a Nii-San, for all he's an asshole with delusions of power, should have realized that this could attract too much attention. There is a big difference between beating you like this and the normal roughing up done by the guards to cause you some trouble."

Sipping some water that Haruhime had given him, the Healer hummed, "Like I said before, he's running scared."

For several moments, the Yokai shipgirls looked at him in utter confusion before Haruhime turned her narrowed eyes at him, "You mentioned that before, Haruto-Kun. What do you mean by that...?"

Not saying anything right away, the teen finished his water before setting it aside with a sigh. After a few seconds, Haruto gave them a grimace, "No one has stated anything in front of me, but I can put things together from both what I have overheard from the guards as well as what I have been seeing outside the Reserve. Remember how I stated that the Diet was not in a good shape?"

Confused, Ichika nodded with a frown, "Yeah? I mean you have mentioned it several times. Especially with how and why there's been supply issues and the like. Heck, you've grumbled more than once about the shape of the Diet."

If they expected for him to say anything, it was certainly not what came out of his mouth as he gave them a serious expression, "The Diet is collapsing."

Utterly stunned, they boggled at him for several moments. Quickly, Hachimitsu shook her head and leaned forward, "Are you sure, Haruto-Kun? I... I mean, we knew that the Diet was in trouble, that is not that hard to see. And you had Kyoto with what was going on, but... collapsing?"

Slowly, Haruto shook his head, "The Diet is pretty much dead for all intents and purposes, it just does not realize it. Sort of you get people who are so badly hurt, that their brains have not caught up to the fact that they are dead now." Grimacing, he shook his head, "Or, perhaps, like a ghost going through its motions not realizing that the body that it belonged to is in the grave."

Jaw dropping, the five shipgirls shared looks before Mie shook her head, "I... that is hard to see..."

With a nod towards the fairy that had healed him, Haruto sighed, "Not for me, as I said I have heard and seen things." Lips curling downwards, he leaned forwards, "The war has been slowly dragging the Diet down, and that riot back in July basically was the killing shot, I think. Especially with how they royally fucked up the investigation and the like." Eyes narrowing, he shook his head, "And I am pretty sure that Ichiro was involved in that investigation."

Crossing her arms, Hachimitsu snorted, "No, that would not be surprising."

Lips twitching a bit, he sighed some, "No, it would not be surprising, you are right about that, Hachimitsu-Onee-Chan." Part of him was amused that the Kitsune blushed at that and became flustered a she always did. Deciding to ignore it for now, he went back to the subject at hand, "The riot and the clusterfuck afterwards pretty much shattered confidence in the Diet. But than, shortly after, Kyoto managed to reclaim where Mahoutokoro is. Something that the Magical Diet was either unwilling or, more likely, unable to do. All of a sudden, Kyoto seemed far better than the Diet. And that has shown in the recent elections since a number of people were actually campaigning for Kyoto instead of Tokyo. It was a major blow to the Diet."

Now wincing, Mikage shook her head, "Ah, yeah... that would do it." Her eyes than widened, "Which means that right now..."

Pressing his lips together thinly, Haruto nodded, "Hai, there is a lot of pressure to do something, anything to either slow down the bleeding or to stop it. Which is why I think that Ichiro did what he did today." He shifted a little with a nod, "He is desperate to stop it himself because of what would happen to him when it does collapse and went after me with the idea that I could squeal on any smugglers that I know about."

Mouth open and staring for a few moments, it took Haruhime shaking her head to reboot her mind, "What?! I mean, you're a Healer! What would you possibly know about the smuggling going on in the reserve?! And how would that stop the Diet from collapsing?!"

Just sighing, Haruto frowned, "This... is something that I have pieced together from overheard comments and conversations. Apparently, there are a number of those in the Diet who believe that the smugglers are backed by Kyoto itself and being used to destroy the credibility of Tokyo. Or perhaps that they are backed by groups behind Kyoto, like the JNHRO." Seeing Hachimitsu open her mouth, he shook his head, "I do not want to know if they are involved in the smuggling or not. It is for the best that I do not know. That way I cannot say if they are or not as I do not know."

The blonde Kitsune frowned, but nodded, "Understood."

Continuing, Haruto shook his head, "There are also some fears that among other things, weapons are being smuggled in for some sort of Yokai revolution." He waved a hand in the air, "Which is rather stupid as the Yokai Militias are all outside the reserves." Only getting nods, the teen ran a hand through his hair, "Anyways, getting back to what I was saying, they believe that the smugglers are backed by groups that could be considered to be anti-Diet. Because of that, they seem sure that if they can catch the smugglers and prove that they are backed by 'Hostile forces to the Diet', it would stem the bleeding. Either that, or they could use their 'Proof' to discredit Kyoto and various groups, which would be just as good in their eyes."

Now deeply frowning, his girlfriends considered that before turning to Hachimitsu. Said Kitsune was quiet for almost a minute before chewing her lip, "I wish that I could say that I cannot see where they might be coming from, but... it makes a certain amount of sense. Especially with how they are attempting to crack down on smuggling where they can. Though the reserves are now sieves..."

Disgusted, Ichika gestured towards Haruto, "But what about him!? Where does Haruto-Kun come into it?!"

For several seconds, Hachimitsu didn't say anything. But than, she raised her head and met his eyes, already knowing the answer, "It is because you are living in the reserve, rather than the administration area. And that you bring in things to the reserve."

With a sigh, Haruto nodded, "Hai, that would fit. It is an open secret that I am not just close to the Yokai here, but highly respected. Hence, Nii-San would expect that I would know something, or would try to become powerful here in my own way, like he would have. Which is stupid, I'm just a healer." Unknown to him, the girls there all exchanged looks, "So he would expect for me to know something. Well, besides which, he sort of despises me anyways so would definitely take the chance to do something. Add in that getting such proof would improve his standing in the Diet? It would be something that he would go for."

Eyes narrowing, Mikage growled, "Great, which means that we need to keep a look out for him now as he won't stop with just this."

Much to her surprise though, the Healer shook his head, "I don't think that we need to worry about that for some time. At least not for now, anyways, considering what happened."

Head tilting to the side, Haruhime frowned, "Why would you say that?"

Now smirking, Haruto chuckled, "Easy, he got caught and will likely be chewed out because of it. And if I know him, and I do, he is going to be keeping his head down for some time until he feels it is safe for him to have another shot at me. And right now? By the time he does, the Diet will be in full collapse and he will have other issues besides myself at that time..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

"You could let me help out, you know."

A smile on her face, Mie looked over at Haruto and shook her head before wagging a finger, "No, Haruto-Kun. Besides which..." Taking a board in one hand, she easily snapped it in half, "You have done far more than enough."

With another sigh, Haruto sat back and watched as the Inugami continued to stoke the small stove which would heat the water in the furo for their bath, "Somehow, it does not feel that way. And while I was hurt, it was not that bad. And I am fine now."

Mie giggled a bit as she looked over her shoulder at him, "Be that as it may be, there is nothing for you to help with right now. Also, you were the one who enlarged the needed wood so that we could burn it to heat the water." Standing up, she walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder while softly smiling, "Let the rest of us take care of this."

Before he could say anything, they were interrupted by another voice, "And what is going on here?"

Still smiling, Mie looked up at Hachimitsu before gesturing at the blushing teen, "Just Haruto-Kun feeling like he has not done enough for us."

Rolling her eyes, the Kitsune shipgirl reached over and flicked his ear, "You've done enough. Now just sit back and relax while letting us pamper you."

Lightly blushing even as he rubbed his ear, Haruto sighed, "Fine, fine. I still feel like I am taking advantage of you all."

That got him more eyerolls, though the expressions were fond on the faces of the two girls. As Mie walked back to the stove and continued to stoke it, Hachimitsu sat down next to their boyfriend and gave him a kiss before pulling back, "Look, Haruto-Kun? We wouldn't even be able to do much for the bath except for you." Sitting down next to him, she leaned into his body, "So just relax..."

With a sigh, the Healer wrapped one arm around the Kitsune, "I suppose so." Looking at the boards, he snorted some, "Who would have thought that tongue depressors would be that useful for bathing."

Hachimitsu shrugged some even as she cuddled more into his side, "Well, you need to get rid of the used ones somehow, might as well make use of them doing so."

Tone dry, Haruto looked at her, "Yes, while using magic to increase the size of the wood to be burned." Giving a shrug, he shook his head, "Though it does work."

With a hum, Mie tossed more wood inside before tossing a small cup of fuel oil and lighting it on fire. Closing the grate, she watched as the fire began to burn, "And it works very well, which I am thankful for. Besides which, everyone is thankful to you for making sure that we have enough wood to burn for what we need to, Haruto-Kun."

A light blush sprang up on his face as she looked at him with a smile on her face. It was not untrue as he often used his magic to help out by increasing the amount of food or fuel that the reserve had access to. However, his blush deepened as Hachimitsu stood up and hauled him to his feet, "Great! Let's get ready for our bath."

Sighing, Haruto gave her a knowing look, "You're just excited because I'm the one that is going to have to brush out your tail and get it all dry afterwards. Same with your Nee-Sans."

Just winking, Hachimitsu snapped her fingers, "Not to mention Mie-Chan and Ichika-Chan's tails. Which they're looking forward to just as much."

Eyebrow raised, the teen looked towards the only one of the two Inugami that were there. Unable to look at him as she blushed, Mie cleared her throat, "I... will not deny that such a thing would be rather nice."

Both Hachimitsu and Haruto smiled at that and lightly chuckled.

Several minutes later found them in the washroom where the bath was located. While not exactly a small bath, it was also not a huge one. Humming, Haruto rubbed the soapy cloth onto Ichika's back. "How's that?"

Glancing over her shoulder, the Inugami nodded and smiled, "Feels nice, Haruto-Kun."

As he nodded, Haruto felt a tap on his shoulders and looked over to see Haruhime there with a smile of her own. The Kitsune held up a soapy cloth of her own, "Want me to wash your back, Haruto-Kun? Then you can do mine."

Lightly laughing, he nodded, "I don't mind that, Haruhime-Onee-Chan."

Blushing as she began, Haruhime snorted though there was a slight smile on her face, "Still calling us Onee-Chan even though we're boyfriend and girlfriends."

Now it was Haruto's turn to lightly blush, "Bad habit due to years of calling you that. Besides..." He gave her a raised eyebrow, "Do you really mind all that much?"

It was not the expected Kitsune who answered him though. Rather, Mikage who brought over a bucket of warm water was the one who did so, "No, we don't mind too much, Haruto-Kun." Smiling softly at him, she giggled a bit, "We don't mind at all." Her attention than went to examining her boyfriend's body, "Hmm... your bruises are mostly gone, that's good." Mikaga then brought up a finger and lightly traced along his ribs, which got a shiver from him, "And it looks like your cracked rib is better. Thank the Kami that we have some potions as well as our own Medi-Wizards and Witches on board."

Slowly nodding, Haruto made a sound of agreement. Moments later though, he blushed as Haruhime spoke up, "Okay, once I'm done with his back, you can do his hair, Mikage-Nee." Once they were all cleaned and washed off, the group entered the tub. As he sank down into the water, Haruto sighed, "Ah, now that feels good."

From where she was in the cramped tub, Hachimitsu nodded, "Hai, hot baths are always nice to just soak in." Turning her attention to him fully, she frowned slightly, "How are you feeling, Haruto-Kun?"

Lips twitching into a smile, he only shook his head, "As I've told you before, I'm fine. Pretty much everything is healed up, so I'm not worried."

However, she only frowned more which made him wonder. Eventually, she spoke up, "Haruto-Kun? Do you ever miss it?" At his look of confusion, Hachimitsu continued, "Your home?"

One eyebrow raising, Haruto gave her a look, "I am home, with all of you."

Needless to say, the flushed cheeks on the five Yokai's faces were not just because of heat. Huffing a little, Hachimitsu looked away, "Saying such things..." With a deep breath, she turned back to him, "You know what I mean."

The Healer did not say anything right away but eventually sighed, "Do I miss home? My soft futon in my bedroom in our family home? Otou-San and Okaa-San? Yeah, I sort of do to some extent. But you know what?"

Voice soft, Mie spoke up, "But what?"

Lips curling into a smile, he chuckled and reached over to pat her shoulder, "I would not trade this, what we have, for anything. And I promise, one day, I'll take you all to my family home."

Chewing her lips, Haruhime gave him an unsure look. "You're positive of that? Considering that according to you, that bastard, Ichiro, is positive that he is going to be family head..."

Only looking out through the window, Haruto chuckled, "What he believes and what happens is two things entirely." Turning back to the Yokai, he just smiled, "So I wouldn't worry about it too much."

With a hum, Ichika nodded as she stretched which, to amusement, caused her boyfriend's eye to trail to her, "Yeah, all that stuff is in the future and isn't something that we should be too worried about yet." Shifting, she moved herself some and captured Haruto's lips with her own for several seconds before pulling back, "Let's just live in the here and now."

Frowning, Mie shook her head, "I'll admit that I am a bit concerned with meeting your parents... if we ever do get the chance to do so."

Mikage laughed some and shook her head before waving her off, "I wouldn't be too concerned. Both of them are good people and have no issue with Yokai. Trust us, we know them."

That got her nods from the other two Kitsune and soon the conversation turned to other matters as they soaked in the furo.

Unnoticed by them, Haruto glanced outside once more at a nearby fencepost where a bird sat, a slight smile on his face.

Hundreds of miles away, his father smiled a bit as his shikigami listened in on the conversation. He could have had it move closer, but that would mean that it would likely be able to see his son's girlfriends in the buff. Despite how beautiful they were, that would be going too far. No, let them keep their privacy as he watched over them with pride. A soft giggle made him turn to where his wife was, "Oh, I'm so happy that they got together, Husband."

Lips curling upwards, he laughed and nodded, "As am I, though I had been wondering when our son would clue in on how they felt and how he felt as well. And Mikage-Chan is right, I do approve of them and I know that you do as well."

With another soft giggle, his wife of many years nodded, "Hai, and just imagine how adorable the children will look." Humming, she tilted her head to the side, "Soft, fuzzy ears and tails is what I am hoping for."

Nodding, her husband only nodded before his smile fell away and he sighed, "I wish that I knew what I could do with Ichiro. That boy is shameful... beating his younger brother like that."

Tears gathering in her eyes, his wife came closer to him and leaned into him, "Where did we go wrong with our son? That he would do such horrible things as he has? And the fact that we are..."

His own eyes closed, her husband kissed the top of her head, "I know, Aoi-Chan. But I cannot see any other way because he refuses to clean up his act and actually become honorable. Perhaps it was because he fell in with a crowd at Mahoutokoro, or maybe it is something that I did. But... I cannot feel like such a man is our son. Not anymore." With a sigh, he looked every bit his decades of life as a single tear dripped down his cheek, "It is only the fact that he has friends in the Diet who would come to his aid and that Haruto would be caught in the crossfire that keeps me from such. As it is... did you do as I asked?"

Slowly, Aoi nodded with her own grief stricken look, "Hai, I spoke with those Kyoto and some of our allies, Hiashi-Kun. I wish that I could think otherwise, but in case we somehow died before we can make our decision openly, they will accept that Haruto-Kun is the Heir and Clan Head. By that time, the Diet will be gone, a dark shadow in the past."

Gently, Hiashi kissed his wife before burying his face in her hair, "I, too, wish that things were different." Pulling away, he gestured at the mirror from which showed what his Shikigami was seeing and from which the sounds that it heard also issued from, "But let's leave such things aside and watch our true son. After all, we can tease him about such things, especially with continuing the clan."

Wiping her eyes, Aoi smiled, "That does sound good. Besides which, I am already planning the wedding."

That got her a laugh from her husband and the two turned back to the display from the Shikigami, smiling softly.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts Omake: Nessie to the rescue!

jmcdavid said:
On a more humorous note...


Natsumi blushes. "Wow, how lewd."​

To be honest, as mentioned, touching a Kitsune's tail is pretty intimate and a sign of trust.

Terrace said:
I'm wondering how much trouble in the post-SoS world will come from Aurors who just don't get that the Statute is dead and they can't cover up SoS violations anymore.
Lord Khuzdul said:
I don't think it will be that major. At this point, most major governments are fully aware what the hell is going on. So when SoS blows up, the first action will be a very rapid takeover of any magical government by the nonmagical one, enforced and accompanied by shipgirls where necessary and available. So any Aurors would be quickly taken into hand.

I'd be more concerned with private citizens with a hardon for the SoS, like the "Rappaport's Law should have stayed in place" idiots in the US.​

Generally put? Yes, the magical governments will likely very quickly become part of the non-magical ones in most places in the First World.

Those more concerned with hiding and such will likely retreat into places inaccessible without a lot of work.

Yellowhammer said:
Exactly that too. I'd assume that it is someplace First World just because the news has to reach the First World somehow to trigger the break. But there is a difference between it happening in Times Square in New York City and happening on Del's ranch in South Dakota which is literally 50 miles from the nearest town of note.​

True enough... though as for possible SoS breaks...
____________________________________________

"MY BABY! PLEASE HURRY!"

Gritting is teeth as he pulled the boat into a hard turn, the grizzled old Scotsman shouted back, "And I am hurrying, Lass!" Internally though, he was swearing up a storm as he looked to where a young child was struggling to stay afloat in the choppy waters of Loch Ness. After Blood Week, a lot of people stayed in their home countries which meant that for Loch Ness, tourism went up. Thousands and thousands of people came to the body of water for the mere chance of seeing the legendary inhabitant. Which meant that funds were released for things like boats to be used for tours of the Loch.

Such as the boat that the old Scot "Captained".

Granted, he thought that the whole thing was somewhat silly. Especially as he doubted that Nessie even existed. But money was to be made and that was enough for him. Right now though, one of the young children had fallen off the boat when some young idiots in a speed boat had nearly hit them, causing him to turn hard. Worse, her life jacket must not have been secured properly judging by how he could see it floating away from the struggling girl.

With luck though, he would reach her within a few minutes, though with the cold of the Loch... Quickly, he shook that off as he could see other boats also coming to the rescue. Even those idiots that caused it were turning, though he could see some people with their cameras out. Something that made him internally groan if only how much shouting directed at him would be.

That thought though went out of his mind as he saw the child's head beginning to be under the surface longer and longer as her struggles weakened. Briefly, he swore he saw an odd wave pass his bow, heading for the girl before shaking his head. It had to be a trick of the eye. Especially the large shadow he thought he saw. To his relief though, the young girl was able to hold her head above water, 'Maybe she won't be drowning...'

It was than that he realized something else.

Mainly, the little girl was slowly rising in the water until most of her body was above the surface as she looked around in confusion and fear. Then all the shouting and screaming just stopped as she continued to rise fully out of the water on top of a large, scaled hump that had a mane of hair down it. Choking, the Scotsman could only stare as a short distance from the hump, a large reptilian head with horns and a mane rose up.

Oh, and sharp teeth, very sharp as a matter of fact.

When it opened its mouth, he thought that was the end of the girl. That he was about to see the legendary monster, for that was what it had to be, claim life that had yet to live... right before it spoke with a Highland accent, "Now then, Lassie, are you okay?"

Slowly, eyes wide, the girl stared up, "Uh-huh."

Teeth showed as Nessie grinned down at her, "Good ta know, now let's get you over to your Mam, shall we?" Cutting the power, the Scot watched as Nessie swam over to the boat. Gentle, upon reaching the boat, she picked up the shivering girl by the back of the shirt with her teeth, ignoring gasps, and placed her back on the boat. Letting go, Nessie nodded, "There we go, all safe and sound."

Eyes still wide, the girl swallowed, "Th-Thank you..."

Smiling, Nessie nodded at her and her mother, "You are very welcome, Lass. Such a polite young girl..." Turning, she gave a glare at the youngsters who caused the whole situation which nearly made them soil themselves, "As for you ruffians! Be more careful! If I see you causing trouble, and I will know, then I shall be cross!"

To some amusement, the teens rapidly agreed and promised not to cause any more trouble. Not that anyone blamed them. With a final goodbye, Nessie dove back into the Loch, a long coil following and soon she was gone.

For several moments, everyone just stared at the spot. The Scot realized that he was going to need a stiff drink to deal with this. Then, he realized that dozens of people were recording this and likely live-streaming it. That the Loch Ness Monster was not only real, but rather well spoken.

It was then that he decided that he needed several stiff drinks...

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

So, this comes from some recent hashing out of Morrigan's character. It's... a bit different.

A Long, Long Time Ago
The sun peeked over the clouds, turning the sky yellow and orange. Morrigan paid it no mind, more intent on the snowy expanse hundreds of feet below her own. She idly kicked her legs, dashing small stones and bits of dirt loose from the cliff face.

"Thought I might find you here," Lugh's familiar voice came, and she half-turned to face him. "I thought you were checking up on that chosen one of yours. Jonathan Roy or something, right?"

"Royce," she corrected, pulling her feet back to solid ground and standing. "And I just did earlier today. He was with his fiancée, introducing her to all of his allies." She smiled absently. "It looks like the family line will actually continue beyond him."

"A good thing, too," Lugh's voice took on a joking lilt. "That way, there won't be any hole where the magicals—"

Morrigan's voice turned ice cold. "Don't ever joke about that," she hissed venomously.

"Right, right, of course," He held up his hands in surrender, though there was still an air of humor (or at least good will) to the motion. Morrigan glared a few seconds before deciding to let the matter go, and turned away.

"But… I don't know if it's guaranteed to work," she mused, glancing over at the sun. "He's in Scotland, can't go galivanting off to the Americas to fight Skin-changers, you know."

"And giving him the means to do so would be practically laughing in the face of the Accords, especially when he's already armed with Arondight." Lugh added, half-thoughtful himself. "And you would never—wait. You just made kind of a funny face. What does that—"

"I would thank you to stop that train of thought right there," the goddess replied curtly.

"Are you thinking about dodging the Accords for him somehow?"

"No! I'm not, I'm—" Morrigan paused before huffing. "Maybe… meeting him. Talking things over. He's earned that much, at least."

Lugh shrugged. "You could always disguise yourself, you know. Have a chat."

She shook her head. "No, that wouldn't work. It would have to be face to face, frank, these things only have any meaning—"

She paused, stiffened, head whipping around. Her eyes went wide with horror.

"No," she whispered. Then she was gone.
-----

Lugh found her in an old manor on the Scottish moors. Looking around, he found a body here and there. One a man, readying a pistol, one stretching out into a werecat, another… Hmm, was that a wand? Young Royce had actually convinced a wizard to fight by his side? Not bad—for all the good it did the dark-haired young man who was stretched out in front of Morrigan. The wounds told rather explicitly how he had gone.

"… no, no, no" Morrigan was muttering under her breath, staring at Jonathan's drawn-out face. "This is… How? He was perfect, and beautiful, and—and… WHY?!?"

A wave of death rolled off of her, and Lugh felt his stomach clench in discomfort. "Morrigan," he said, reaching for her shoulder. She spun, slapping his hand away.

"What happened here?" she demanded, gesturing to her fallen champion. "He was alive this morning! Well, and strong, preparing for his future—his… oh me…" A hand came up to her forehead, clenching around her temples white-knuckled. "He was amazing… he was amazing…"

She froze.

"His sword is missing."

"What?" Lugh asked, but Morrigan was up, looking around, shutting her eyes and looking inwardoutwardpastward…

"Her."

The word rolled off her tongue like poison.

"It was her," she repeated, hands trembling as they slowly clenched into fists. "She did this. It wasn't enough the first time, driving them away, now she has to do this—He was worthy of them. Of the Round Table. He-He was a wonder, they'd have taken him as one of their own so easily, he was—and she killed him over a sword?" The last part came out a bitter scream.

Lugh grimaced in sympathy. Reaching out again, he rested his had against her shoulder. This time, she didn't push him away.

"I'll guide someone here," he said softly. "Come on. We'll drink to him."

For one of those agonizingly eternal moments, Morrigan was silent.

"… Do as you wish," she said dully, standing in rigid motions, walking away from his hand. "I'll be along later."

"Morrigan—"

"Just. Go." She bit out.

Lugh looked at her, down at the corpse, and back at her.

Then he was gone.

Morrigan breathed deeply, allowing the air to fill her lungs as full as possible. She held it in for a moment, for two, then let it out in a rush. She repeated the process once, twice, over and over again until she could actually think for the blood pounding around in her head.

She began to walk. The fiancée lived within riding distance. Morrigan could cover the distance in hours if she wanted.

She would do it better this time.

And Lily McKay would be the starting point.
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

More several years down the road WAFF:

Duet for Bösendorfer and Stradiverius

April 8th 2018

Ath, Belgium

Antonio Stradiverius Potter hefted the case of his violin and sang Verdi's La Dona e mobile in counterpoint to the birdsongs from the woodlot to his right. The day was not too hot, the walk from the bus station in the village of Ath four kilometers distant had been pleasant enough through the fields, and the added dash of mystery added a little spice to the trip.
Spoiler: Tony does Verdi

He reached into the pockets of his traveling suit and touched the carefully folded receipt that he had found nine days prior when he returned to his temporary lodgings. One of the young ladies who had treated him out to dinner in Paris had slipped it into his coat pocket without him knowing, although he had suspicions as to who had signed it with three eighth notes ABA in D-flat after the directions to her residence.

His happy smile widened a touch as he thought of a young lady with dark hair, pale skin and mahogany eyes behind her glasses as they discussed chordal progression over dinner. She certainly had the interest in music that was his life's blood, although her younger sister the blonde seemed to share that interest, judging from her contributions to their conversation. Certainly when the discussion drifted to Wagner, the blonde contributed several insights in the use of leitmotif.

He smiled at the sight of a street sign and turned off the Rue Lucien Raulier to his right to proceed along the Chemin du Chasteler. As he followed the road into the woods, he felt more than heard a low buzzing that produced an unseen breeze gently pushing him away.

Anti-Muggle Wards? Turned down of course, but....

His smile widened a hair as the pressure built and then eased as he walked down the road past an ornate iron gate set between pillars engraved with heraldic arms. The road, apparently a private driveway, took a turn and he heard the sound of someone speaking in German ahead of him

"Siebenundneunzig, Achtundneunzig, Neunundneunzig..." A female voice counted off time like a metronome as he came into sight of the stable house to his left. A rather battered and dented Volkswagon Golf was parked in front, with a slender girl using it as an exercise aid. Her booted feet were propped on the front of the hood, elevated well above her torso as she did a set of one hundred one-handed pushups on the gravel of the driveway.

Tony paused to admire the lithe, pantherish form of the girl. While he had seen her before at dinner in Paris, her clothing had hidden the whipcord muscles that her black T-shirt and trousers revealed. Sweat-soaked blonde hair concealed her face as she finished the pushups and then slammed both hands to the gravel. She expelled her breath with a huff and thrust her torso up with both hands, her legs kicking the front of the car to cause her to backflip to her feet.

"My apologies. I did not expect you to arrive so soon from the gate." Steel blue eyes examined him clinically as she gathered her wheat-blonde hair into a ponytail. "Tony, Ja?"

Tony nodded. "I am Antonio Potter, yes. I see you remember me from Paris." Tony noticed a black and silver dagger hilt at her waist and mentally nodded as the sense of familiarity she was radiating made a piece of the puzzle fall into place. Just like Vala, Amelie, Big Iron, and his other friends from the Armory and Storehouse, she was the spirit of an item too. Almost certainly the dagger he had noticed was her true body.

The corner of her lip twitched up on the girl's coldly professional face and she extended her hand. "Ehren du Chasteler. I shall escort you the rest of the way to the Castle."

Tony blinked as he shook her hand. "Castle? I was under the impression that your family lived in a normal house." He paused as another piece of the puzzle fitted into place. "Du Chasteler, like the name of the avenue I walked down to get to here?"

Another millimetric lip twitch. "Ja. It is named after our family." With that she picked up a light cream windbreaker from the hood of the car

She gestured to the drive winding into the trees and walked alongside him up it. "The current castle has been the home of the du Chasteler family since 1459 when our branch of the family took up lands under the rulership of our forefather's ancestor, the Duke of Lorraine. The current noble title of Marquess of Chasteler was awarded to Jean-François du Chasteler for services rendered to the Empress Maria Theresia of Austria in 1716 which confirmed our family's landholding. The heart of the current building dates to 1736 on an earlier structure from the sixteenth century, and the final design and refurbishment was completed in the 1880s with monies from," Ehren's cool expression became a touch more frigid, "The then-Marquess' business interests in overseas Belgian colonial possessions. It has changed very little since that day."
Spoiler: Castle Moulbaix

Even as used to the Potter family's Schloss as he was, Tony was subtly impressed. He could sense a few illusion charms making the castle look significantly more decrepit than it actually was, and the grounds and building were actually quite well maintained. His lips quirked at the thought of how it would appear under a stormy moonlit night sky, and he could feel his fingers itch for his true body so he could play something suitably Gothic, perhaps by Saint-Saëns, Berlioz, or Mussorgsky.

Yes, Night on Bald Mountain would be perfect. Especially if he could find a pianist to accompany him playing Mussorgsky, which he suspected might be a simpler task than one might think.

Ehren walked up the steps to the door and his eyebrows raised at the Austrian Hapsburg imperial crest set over them above the family crest from the gate. She opened the heavy oak and gestured him inside.

As he stepped into the entrance hall, the sound of faint piano music drifting across the polished marble black and white checkerboard leading up to the grand staircase enchanted him. Instantly his ears identified the music as Lizst's Liebestraum #3 and beside him Ehren's lips quirked up in a brief smile.
Spoiler: Claire Dreams Of Love

"I suppose I should escort you to Claire in the ballroom then." She said coolly as he listened to the rich, warm sounds of pure bliss echoing through the halls, beckoning him onward. Numbly, he nodded and she guided him with a hand on his elbow as the music carried him forward, his heart beating in time with the silvery caress of the unseen pianist's emotions as relayed through the music she was crafting for his hearing pleasure.

She came to a door and guided him through it, and beyond the the breath caught in his throat at the sight within.
Spoiler: Claire's Dress

Claire sat at the keyboard of a grand piano with her eyes closed and her head thrown back in the throes of passion as she played. Her form was draped in a rich amethyst silk ballroom dress that caressed her curves as her bosom heaved with the emotions of her music. Sunlight flooded through the windows, shining from the rich reddish-brown of the mahogany of the piano, flashed with pure gold from the ornate engraving of the du Chasteler heraldic arms on her sides and lid as well as her Bösendorfer maker's mark, and sparkled from the carved and gilded lions' feet that were her three legs.

Even more beautiful was the music that she was making. While her technical skill was amazing, the way she poured her heart into her music was genius. She called to something deep inside his heart of mastercrafted wood and varnish with the message that she was sending with every note brought from her fingers touching her keys of ebony and ivory.

Here, it whispered, here is the soul of a young maiden desperately looking for her true love with all her heart. Will you not make her whole with your music?

With a start he realized that the pianist and the piano were one and the same, and that he had heard her beautiful voice once before. The afternoon a week and a half ago at the Philharmonie de Paris where a pianist that he had been unable to see from where he stood, on this very mastercrafted Bösendorfer piano, with this voice like liquid bliss had played Claire de Lune in the style of Debussy in 1890... and had stolen his heart. He had despaired at the genius of that pianist's playing, seeing a height he might never achieve so he played in the rain that afternoon, pouring his heart into the thought of finding the musician who one day would be worthy to bring music from his true body.

Now he had.

He never noticed Ehren giving a very rare unguarded smile of happiness and mischief at his enthralled expression of delight at the vision in front of him.

The piece came to an end with a soft and lingering major chord as her fingers lingered on her keys. Her red-brown eyes - the same color as the mahogany of her body - opened and focused on him. A pale rose flush colored her ivory cheeks - the same color as the ivory of her keys - as her lips parted in surprise.

Ehren controlled her smile with an effort of her will. "Sister, you have a visitor. A Mr. Antonio Potter. I think that he has plans for an impromptu concert to sing for his supper." Ehren's eyes sparkled as she leaned against the wall and crossed her arms to watch the festivities..

Tony nodded as Claire watched him intently, her modest bosom heaving. He set down his well-worn violin case and centered himself as he began to rosin up his bow. Silently he cast his memories back two centuries to 1829 when at the invitation of Erik Potter, he had been played by Paganini for a demonstration of violin virtuosity.

For her, nothing less than the absolute best performance of his life would suit. But then, he was a Potter looking to claim the greatest treasure that he could possibly imagine.

Challenge accepted.

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

Claire's eyes widened in shock as Tony carefully pulled out his violin from the case and ran a fast set of scales to check the tuning. The rich, powerful tone and the mellow voice of the instrument left no doubt in her mind as to what it actually was. What he actually was now that he was playing without the noises of Paris interfering with her hearing.

Stradivarius.

With that, he brushed some messy hair from his eyes - the same color eyes as his violin - and gave her a smile and wink as he began Paganini's Caprice #24.
Spoiler: Tony Serenades Claire

Her lips parted in a happy smile as his bow danced across his strings like lightning, his fingers moving... and then suddenly shifting into long, passionate strokes across his strings as his beautiful voice caressed her ears and her soul with pure delight.

She gasped and her fingers twitched uncontrollably with the need to respond, to play with him, as he suddenly shot into a series of fast arpeggios before winking at her as he plucked one of his strings with a 'pop' and launched into a pizzicato with his left hand. She giggled at the musical play and then hushed as the pizzicato began.

Claire's blush deepened as she watched his performance, enthralled as her heart beat in time with his notes, and her heartstrings vibrated inside her soundbox. She could sense his own voice as he finished the pizzicato and gasped at the unspoken words in his music.

For so long I have sought someone worthy of my talents.

Someone who I could make the most beautiful music with.

Someone who loves music as I do, whose life is music.

Someone to make me complete, for what is an instrument without a musician?

A young lady who will treasure my heart as I treasure hers.

Are you the one?

Will you be the one?

Inside her heart of ebony, ivory, mahogany, gold, iron, spruce and steel, her heartstring vibrated in quiet response to his notes as her eyes sparkled in joy. She felt her cheeks warm as her blush deepened.

I shall be the one for you, Antonio Stradivarius Potter. So I, Claire du Chasteler-Bösendorfer, do promise.

He began low, passionate notes that caused her knees to weaken almost as much as that song by Rimsky-Korsakov did. With a start she suddenly realized that 'Flight of the Bumblebee' was written for violin originally and her cheeks turned scarlet at the scandalous implications.

Not before he makes me a honest piano, though. Mother would just die if he and I played that as a duet while unwed.

Claire's eyes glanced to Ehren as she applauded and Tony bowed. Her little sister's eyes were damp, and she gave an unguarded smile at the sight of Claire's happiness. Ehren's eyes flicked to Tony as Mother appeared behind them in the hall and Ehren gave a minute nod of approval before her face assumed its normal cool mask.

Little Sister was really the best, and under all that Teutonic chilliness lurked the heart of a romantic too.

Claire sighed mentally at the overprotective look on Mother's face at the sight. Clearly, Mother would take some work to accept the reality that their family was about to expand by a violin. Time to insure that she did not run Tony off, not that she expected that he would dare leave her now.

She then giggled silently at how much fun she and Tony could have while they wore Mother down.

After all, she enjoyed duets as much as the next piano!

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

Tanith was quiet as she leaned back in her throne, one leg crossed over the other with a sheaf of papers in her lap. When she and her sisters had agreed to take in the hybrid children, Admiral Goto had admitted to them that he expected them to ask for concessions in return. In the heat of the moment, they hadn't really considered to ask for anything… which was a missed opportunity to be honest, if a pragmatic one… but lucky for them, Ooyodo had apparently already had some compensation in mind.

Said compensation had been connections. Gathered in front of the Princess were numerous letters from various outside groups, offering their support to the Fleet of Laughter. For several, this support would come in the way of supplies—crops, livestock, agricultural tools, even building supplies (including the lumber they needed for flipping the O'mega). But the other letters, to Tanith's shock, came from the Yokai. They were willing to come to Avrora, and teach the Fleet of Laughter. Skills like carpentry, blacksmithing, farming and tending livestock… anything they might need, to become independent and start repaying everyone's kindness. They could possibly even teach the children. She really needed to thank Ooyodo for this...

Hearing the familiar soft clack of hooves on tile, Tanith looked up from the letters to see her daughter approaching. "Hello, Regalia," she greeted the Re-class warmly. "Do you need something?"

Regalia shrugged. "Not really, no." She came to a stop at the throne, sitting down beside her mother. She peered at the papers. "What's that?"

Tanith tilted her head slightly. "It is Admiral Goto's and Ooyodo's way of repaying us for taking in the children. They got us in touch with a number of people who can help us in many ways, including teaching us new skills." She glanced to her daughter with a wry smile. "Our farm could finally be brought up to professional standards."

The Re-class puffed up her cheeks, looking upset. "What, my skills weren't good enough before?" She asked defensively.

Her little display earned her a chuckle from Tanith. "Oh, stop. You know I would never belittle your accomplishments." Regalia deflated with a little giggle. "Your crops have been a great benefit to us all this far. It is just that we will now have many more mouths to feed; more than just improving your own skills, we would benefit from having several Abyssals who share those same skills, to help cover more farmland."

Regalia nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, okay. I get that." After a few seconds of silence between the two, just sitting and enjoying one another's company, she spoke up again. "Hey, you know that crate they brought over to Japan from Unalaska? The one Carrie and Sherri tagged along with? What happened to that?"

Tanith blinked. She'd completely forgotten about the items returned to the Fleet.

"I… still have it in my hold, actually," she admitted sheepishly. "Perhaps it is time we open it up, and see what is inside."

Regalia perked up. "Okay!"

Putting away the letters and standing up, Tanith reached into her coat and pulled out the crate, setting it carefully on the floor. Regalia pulled a crowbar from her bag and offered it to Tanith, earning a baffled look from the Princess, but she nonetheless accepted it. She examined the crate for a moment, looking for a good spot to wedge it in, before deftly jamming the flat end beneath the top and prying it open with a single hand.

The first thing Tanith saw as she pulled the top off was a load of styrofoam pellets… immediately causing her expression to sour. "Ugh, I hate this stuff. Makes a mess," She grunted.

Reaching out and grabbing one of the pellets, squishing it between her fingers, Regalia cocked her head. "What's wrong with it?

"Last time one of us tangled with it, they were still finding packing peanuts in their hold for months afterward."

"...ah. Yeah, I can definitely see that being aggravating." Regalia flicked the foam pellet back into the crate. Tippy took a few of the pellets in her jaws, grinding them between her teeth for a couple seconds before spitting them out with a huff of disgust. Regalia glanced to her tail with a raised eyebrow. "What did you expect? They're obviously not REAL peanuts… oh hey, that's another crop we could try growing..."

Tanith rolled her eyes, grinning, but said nothing further. Turning her attention back to the crate, she gripped one of the sides and carefully worked it off as well, letting the packing material spill out onto the floor and exposing what looked like picture frames. "Interesting. I wonder what else is in here…"

Regalia leaned in and started scooping more of the pellets away until she hit something more solid. Reaching in, she hefted out a suitcase. "Must be clothes," Regalia guessed.

Tanith nodded. "I remember several of my sisters getting their own tailored pieces of clothing, either to distinguish themselves from the others or just because it amused them. Some of them even had sports-style jerseys made with their names on them."

Unzipping the suitcase and pulling out a t-shirt, Regalia examined it. "It's not Rookie, it's Rukie..." she read.

The Princess let out a melancholy chuckle. "Ah, Rukie. She always was touchy about her name. She was actually one of our best surface combatants, yet we liked to joke around since her name was so similar to rookie. But it was all in good fun."

"Huh…" putting it back, Regalia pulled out another shirt.



She cocked her head again. "'Ship Happens'... oh, I get it, like sh—"

The shirt was quickly snatched from her hands by her mother. "That... would be Sunny's," she groaned, facepalming. "Let's leave the clothes for a bit and check the other belongings."

Regalia shrugged and moved the suitcase aside before returning to sifting through the packing peanuts. After a few seconds, she pulled out a plaque. "Chess Tournament, First Place: Hoppou. Hey, this is an award to Grandma!"

Tanith's eyes lit up in fond remembrance. "Oh, I remember watching that tournament. You never would have known Mother had only studied and practiced the game of chess for a couple of days, from how well she played…"

On the pair went. As mother and daughter uncovered innocuous pieces of the Fleet's past, Regalia got to learn just a bit more about the smaller details of her late family. Game boards and character sheets from a couple of tabletop RPG-playing Abyssals; a bowling trophy won by a Nu-class of all people; Aunt Sunny's 'Weird Al' music CDs (apparently she enjoyed song remixes and parodies); even one of Renita's old paintings had been recovered.

Eventually, all that remained in the crate were the framed pictures, stacked against one side. Tanith carefully picked up one of the frames, turning it around in her grip… and let out a soft gasp. "What is it, Mom?" Regalia asked concerned. Tanith gave no immediate response, simply handing over the picture for the Re-class to see for herself.

The photo in the frame depicted Hoppou standing on tarmac, a big smile on her face, with what had to be a dozen Ta-classes gathered around her. They were all in various cute poses and stages of refit; Regalia could actually point out her mother in the group, just to Hoppou's right, facing forward with a calm smile and her hands clasped in front of her.

"These are… my aunts?" Regalia asked, her eyes wide.

"The Ta-classes among them," Tanith answered, just barely audible in her shock. She turned to the remaining frames. "And all of these…"

She pulled out another frame, the widest in the batch, and laid it out flat between them. Once more, Hoppou was center frame—but this time, a swarm of I-class destroyers surrounded her, so large and numerous as to necessitate the upsized frame.

"I… I remember these, now," Tanith finally whispered. "Just a few months before the Scattering, Mother wanted to make a family picture… but there were just so many of us, we could never fit in one picture feasibly. So she took a bunch of pictures, each with the separate classes." She looked to the other frames. "These must be all of those pictures." A pause, and then a realization. "And if I remember correctly…"

She flipped the picture over and worked on the metal pieces holding the back of the frame on, eventually pulling it away—revealing writing on the back of the picture itself.

Dozens of names, scribbled in somewhat childish lettering… a record of every I-class the Northern Princess had made, at the time of the photo.

"...Mother will want these." Tanith simply said. "All of these."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Heeled shoes clacking against tile as she walked down the hallway, Andromeda Tonks, nee Black, looked around the prison that they were currently in. Not that there was all that much for her to really see and make note of, grant you. Just flat, featureless hallways that both her and her husband were being escorted down by one of the prison guards.

All that said though, she nodded her head internally as they walked and compared the prison to that of Azkaban.

The rough stone hallways of Azkaban were dark and dank. One could almost taste the despair on the damp, moldy air. The cold, too, that which was not generated by the presence of the Dementors anyways, was horrible in and of itself. It was the sort of cold that chilled one to their very bones. That permeated every part of their body, seemingly down to their spirit. Azkaban, in a word, was horrific and a seemingly personification of every nightmare of prisons there was.

In comparison, Ironstone was the exact opposite from what little, admittedly, she had seen. The prison was both clean and well lit, with the scent of disinfectant at worst compared to the moldy, musty smell of Azkaban. It was also warm, though not uncomfortably so. Just enough that one would not be chilled. As well, it was missing that atmosphere of despair, of anger and hate. Of the empty, hungry and devouring darkness that seemed part and parcel of Azkaban.

Needless to say, Andromeda felt it a massive improvement over the infamous prison.

Finally, the three came to a stop before a closed room with a guard waiting outside. The guard who escorted them there gave them nod and opened to door, "He's right inside waiting for you."

Nodding, Andromeda gave him a smile back, "Thank you, we shouldn't be too long."

However, the guard just chuckled as he took up positions , "Don't worry about it, take your time. Neither of us mind after all."

Beside him, the other prison guard nodded in agreement. Only shaking her head, Andromeda took a deep breath and felt her husband gently squeeze her shoulder. Reaching up, she returned it before walking inside. Once inside, she paused as the man at the table smiled at her, "Andy! My favourite cousin! Good to see you."

Eyebrow raised, the female Tonks hummed, "Favourite cousin? Not a high bar to clear, that."

Unrepentant, Sirius had a mock thoughtful look on his face, "True, though I suppose that dear Bella might be the runner up." At their looks, he leaned forward, "I learned quite a few curse words from her as she was just a few cells down and liked to shout them at me. Rather inventive, our Bella."

Grimacing, Andromeda shook her head, "Yes, I can... quite imagine." Rather than spend any more time thinking of her insane murderess of a sister, she instead decided to focus on her cousin sitting there. One of the first things that she noted was that he was on a clean looking prison jumpsuit, a far cry from the nasty, grimy clothes that he wore in the picture from Azkaban that everyone had seen on the front page of the Prophet for weeks. Not only was his clothes clean, but so was the rest of him. Even his hair and beard were neatly trimmed much to her surprise.

If it was not for the darkness in his eyes, Andromeda would have thought him fine.

Clearing her throat as she sat down, she gave him a slight nod even as her husband sat down next to her, "You are looking..." For a moment, Andromeda looked for a word before pressing her lips together thinly, "Well enough, I suppose."

With a bitter, bark like laugh, Sirius shook his head, "That is one way of putting it." Holding up one arm and showing that it was handcuffed to the chair, he let it rest again, "Though I will admit, this place is a lot better than Azkaban. Much better."

Voice low, Ted snorted, "Not that is really that high of a bar to clear."

Simply shrugging, Sirius gave him a smile, "Maybe, but from experience? This place is like a five star resort compared to where I was. Nice, hot meals and showers, a good, comfy bed to lay in and that would be enough." Leaning forward, he grinned, "But they even have an exercise yard where I can go outside under the Sun and in the fresh air when it is somewhat nice out for a time. And they also gave me a tennis ball."

Bemused, the male of the Tonks couple hummed, "A tennis ball? Why would you need one of those?"

A grin appeared on the animagus' face, "I play fetch with myself." He laughed as he made a motion with one of his hands, "Throw the ball as hard as I can and go running after it as Padfoot. Lots of fun and the expressions of the guards are amusing."

Pinching her nose, Andromeda let out a sigh, "Please tell me that is not the only thing that you are doing here..."

Lips curling into a smirk, Sirius waved her off, "Nah, I also read and do odd jobs around the prison to make some money to buy things at the small store they got here." At the surprised looks, he shrugged, "Well, more like a catalogue really of what we can buy that we pick up there. Ain't much to be honest, but it is something. Also get plenty of newspapers and such." Scratching his chin, he frowned, "Been catching up on what's been happening fully since I was... put away."

Now leaning forward, Ted frowned, "And what do you think of things?"

For several moments, the wizard looked far older than he should have as he looked into a darkened corner, "I knew that I fucked up, and every bit that I have read has hammered that in. The only good things is that from what I know, Harry has a good family now and is happy. Also, I met Isley. That balances things out."

Grimacing, his cousin shook her head, "I still do not believe that you are with an Abyssal Princess." Andromeda paused before frowning, "Actually, I can. Oddly enough, it fits you."

Simply shrugging, Sirius smiled, "Yeah, she completes me. No more lothario for me, I know better. Also, I'm going to be a Dad..." His expression softened still further, "I'm going to be a Dad and marry their mother as soon as I am free."

Reaching over, Ted nodded some, "Which we're going to see happen, Sirius. We're working hard at it."

That made Sirius turn to him with a curious look, "I have been wondering how things have been going with that. There's been some in the Prophet, but we all know how well they report at times."

It went without saying that the other two adults snorted at that before Andromeda pulled out a folder and opened it, "Firstly, you are getting your trial. You're not going to be there until the very end though, for security reasons." Looking at him, she frowned, "There are... those that might well try to silence you."

Just humming, the imprisoned wizard's eyes darkened, "The Minister?"

Eyebrow raised, Ted looked at him in surprise, "Not going to assume that Narcissa and her husband would be one of those?"

Waving one hand best he could, Sirius scoffed, "Lucius? No, he is far too good at playing the game to realize what that would mean for him. Besides, it was not Lucius who helped put me away, it was his old man." At the wide eyed looks, he smiled thinly, "Bella was... rather loose lipped. Apparently Abraxas believed that with me out of the way, Draco could inherit. Pretty sure that Lucius knew that Harry would be heir instead because dear old Grandfather did not disown me, and he knows that I would have made my will to give the titles and family head to James or Harry, depending on if Prongs was alive or not. Lucy-Liu would know that."

Ted choked a bit at the last bit, "L-Lucy-Liu!?"

A grin on his face, the dog animagus nodded, "Lily made us watch some old muggle movies one Christmas. The name stuck." Rubbing his chin, he became serious once more, "So the Minister then?"

However, Andromeda shook her head, "No, not the Minister, but his Undersecretary. She's been making... noise about wanting to know where you are. And that you should be shipped back to Azkaban before the trial, possibly hoping for you to attempt to 'escape' once more."

Snorting at how she did quotation marks with her hands, Sirius sneered a bit, "In other words, get the Kiss in my 'Attempt' to do so. No thank you, I like it here."

Leaning back, the witch nodded, "And Amelia agreed with it, especially as she does not trust the Dementors. They have been... active... for some time due to so many being destroyed recently. As for Umbridge, she tried to drag things out as much as possible, until someone leaked some information to one of the papers that sprang up after Blood Week, the Weekly Dragon, and they actually investigated. Found no records of you ever having a trial and printed that, which made Fudge move pretty damn quickly to set up a trial."

With a nod, Ted reached for the folder and turned it around before spreading the papers out, "What we're working on right now is to create enough doubt that people will consider you innocent. Something that is... not quite as hard as we thought. One thing that one of my assistants came up with is re-enacting the incident with Peter with the dummies that Aurors use to train as the 'Victims'. One to show what would have happened if you had done it and one to show Peter doing it. We'll show the pensieve memories of the test as well as pictures." Seeing Sirius open his mouth, he held up a hand, "We're also using a diorama and performing a miniature re-enactment right there in front of them. It will show things like how it would not just be a finger left behind if you had killed him, which him being alive is enough proof that you did not. Also, pictures of said finger showing that it was perfectly cut, compared to something blown off."

Andromeda gave her cousin a long look, "And that is if we take this to trial..."

His eyes narrowing, Sirius gave her a frown, "If? What do you mean by that?"

Slowly, she pushed out a small amount of parchment, "Cornelius offered to give you a full pardon. No trial, just freedom with a sweep of the quill. There are no strings attached beside saying that he was not involved with your incarceration and that is it." Finger tapping on the paper, Andromeda frowned, "It is not a bad deal."

Looking at it, Sirius was silent for several moments before pushing it away, "No. I want this to go to trial." At her raised eyebrow, he explained, "I want it proven beyond a doubt that I did not do this. If I take this pardon, it will be as much as admitting that I did do it. People will never believe that I am innocent if I do not go through with a trial."

Only glancing at his wife, Ted frowned, "Sirius, there is no guarantee that you will get off even if we do go to trial. Also, even then there will be those that will believe that you were guilty no matter what."

Just meeting his eyes, the wizard lawyer could see the fire in Sirius' eyes burn, "Then let the chips fall as they will. And those that still believe that bullshit can sit on my wand and twist for all I care, because I will have proved that I am innocent. The world will know as a whole that I am innocent."

Neither husband and wife said anything for several moments. Finally, Andromeda turned to her now smirking husband and sighed, "Fine, you were right. I'll do as you asked when we get home." Ignoring Ted pumping his fist, she turned back to Sirius, "Now then, if we are going to do this, than we are doing it the right way."

The rest of the time was taken up as they planned and grilled Sirius about what happened, before, during, and after. Once their time was up, and several cups of coffee later, Ted stood up and shook Sirius' hand, "Well, we've done as well as can be expected. And I expect that more will be coming out as the trial goes on... though it will take time."

Grinning, Sirius waved him off, "I don't mind, I've waited more than ten years for my day in court. A few weeks is nothing..." Rotating his shoulders, he shook his head, "Besides, I've got things to do. One of the things that I am learning is how to operate a computer."

Unlike most of the other times, his cousin's surprise was obvious, "You? Learning how to use a computer? Really?"

With a nod, Sirius chuckled, "Seriously." Ignoring the groan, he continued with a slight smile, "I heard that it would be one of the easiest ways for me to communicate with Harry. And I'm looking forward for when I get free of here and can walk away a free man." Lightly smiling, the animagus' expression brightened, "And Harry feels the same. He sent me some pictures of him and his family, I have them on my desk back in my cell."

All Ted and Andromeda did was nod before shaking his hand, though his cousin also gave him a hug. Leaving, the two gave their goodbyes and left.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts Omake: Issues with Night on Bald Mountain during a storm

mikelima777 said:
Hmmm... I wonder if someone might introduce him to video games. Though I'm sure lily might have introduced him to 90s PC games.​

I could see that to be honest.

Handspan said:
I wonder what the political ramifications are with Sirius all but married to Isley who is now part of Porta's court? At the very least it's incentive to prove Sirius is innocent to keep the Abyssal princess happy.​

To be honest, he is an innocent man as shown by the investigation, it is now proving it to the court. That said? The British government is at least pleased by the fact that there is one less Abyssal to worry about.

jmcdavid said:
I'm sure it'll make them happy when he does walk away a free man, but first they need to actually see it happen.​

Got it in one, which is the real battle.

jmcdavid said:
Yeah, compared to Azkaban, Ironstone is practically a five star luxury hotel.​

Sort of goes without saying really... Especially as it is still a medieval prison in pretty much all the ways.

jmcdavid said:
Well, Sirius knows he dun goofed, but you know what? He has learned from his mistakes.​

He... has had a lot of time to think.

jmcdavid said:
A chance to get a blanket pardon, no trial? No thanks. Sirius wants everyone to know the score, just so there can be no doubts about his innocence.​

And he is pretty much right.

Knowledgeispower said:
Fair enough. I did love the snip it was excellent. Back to our regular intale of much needed fluff.​

Thank you.

Knowledgeispower said:
Speaking of fluff and much needed British capital ships(albeit cancelled ones) where in the world are the N3s and HMS Resistance and that matter. After all the design of the N3s matches Yamato's firepower and actually has superior protecion over the Yamato. Sadly they only go 24 knots as designed. Also the RN must be both very delighted by the G3s imminent births and sadden by the fact it will take literally a over a decade and a half before they are old enough to fight.​

They don't mind too much to be honest, right now they got plenty of breathing room as it is.

r0b0panda said:
I'm sure Hoppou wants to meet him very bad.​

Yes, yes she does.

r0b0panda said:
Considering the Marauders and Lily attended Hogwarts in the 80s here, it's highly likely they added a feature to the Marauder's Map that causes it to become a very big Pac-Man style game.​

The Marauders may or may not have had a potion fueled dream where the school got turned into a Pac-Man game...

Yellowhammer said:
Oh absolutely, they are perfect for each other. They just 'get' each other on a real fundamental level, and I would note that Colombe and Ehren are not picking up the nuances in their communication as they serenade each other and play duets.

(Which is fortunate for Claire since if Mother realized that Claire was 'going to second base' musically with Tony during some duets in a month or two, there would be family dramah and Mother would need smelling salts. Ehren figured it out by then, but Ehren is a romantic deep down and realizes that Big Sis is truly happy while providing excellent sisterly blackmail content. Besides this is quality free entertainment for her while she manages Colombe's finances and researches magical schools. Also Claire, being no fool, swore Ehren to secrecy in exchange for the musical hanky-panky not reaching third base.)​

Oh my~

And her being a romantic fits do damn well...

Yellowhammer said:
Speaking of Tony's plans to do a duet with a certain pianist, with some abuse of the playback spell that Claire knows and will teach him, the next time there is a stormy moonlight night at Castle Moulbaix, they will play this as a duet (with Tony playing both violin parts using the playback spell).
Spoiler: Music For a Gothic Moonlit Castle​

Opening the curtains a little, Ehren frowned, "Mother, there may well be a problem."

Not paying much attention, Colombe hummed as she listened to the music echoing through the household, counterpoint to the storm outside, "Hmm?" Hearing a throat being cleared, she looked at Ehren, "A problem?"

In reply, Ehren pointed out the window as storm raged, "Ja, a problem."

Eyebrow raised, the du Chasteler walked over with a chuckle, "Oh? And what sort of problem? Is Jackie dancing out there nude and drunk in the rain again..." Having reached the window, she trailed off. Outside, lightning flashed and thunder boomed... and upon the castle grounds was a glow...

The glow from dozens of spirits, some not much more than a skeleton, others with faces in agony as demonic beings chased and played with them. Part of Colombe noted that her Great-Nephew was among those, being used like a puppet on a string by a vicious, horned being. For several seconds she just watched...

And then, slowly, closed the curtains before turning to Ehren with a smile and closed eyes, "Ah, well... let us just ignore that then. And I shall be drinking of my brandy tonight..."

With that, she walked off.

0t4n1z3r2019 said:
Looks like the omake about Sirius playing fetch with himself became canon!! I can see that the guards really are baffled at him while he does this.​

It was far too amusing not to include.

0t4n1z3r2019 said:
And Sirius wanting his name cleared fast in time to be with Isley is really touching.
It really hit me in my meow-meow.

Anyways, good snippet!! Keep it up our Most Dapper of Kaiju!! The Sultan of Feels & the Destroyer of Pancreas!!

Will do!

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

And now for something considerably funnier....

(No one said the course of True Love was without bumps)

Flight of the ButterKlavier

June 13th, 2018

Claire blushed and broke into a happy smile as Tony lowered his bow after a virtuoso solo performance of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. As she applauded enthusiastically she reflected on how much fun the past two months had become.

She enjoyed duets with Mother on her true body playing four-hand or Tokunotaki on her shakuhachi bamboo flute immensely, and Toku in particular was a fascinating partner who provided a unique synthesis with her subtle woodwind harmonics to Claire's backing range and depth of voice. As well, teaching Ehren, who was progressing most nicely as her pupil, was a joy for her and she was hopeful in a short year or four Ehren would be skilled enough to begin four-hand pieces with her big sister. She already had a selection picked out for her little sister to enjoy on her ivories.

But as enjoyable and satisfying as her family were to play with, they did not stretch and challenge her the way that playing with and for Tony did. The others did not have nearly the ear for nuance, timbre, and tone that her Stradivarius boyfriend did or were the challenge to impress with the quality of a performance.

After all, for her beloved family, they did not breathe, eat, and sleep music the way she and Tony did. Ehren perhaps came closet, but even Ehren's romantic heart was turned to the battlefield and not the concert hall.

Which had resulted in the last two months of no-holds-barred musical combat. Not surprising since she was the daughter of a Muramasa and Tony was a Potter - incapable of backing down from a challenge over something that the Potter desired as much as Tony desired her love. Each challenged the other to perform better than they ever had, matching Bach cantata with Mozart rondo, Chopin nocturne with Haydn sonata, Grieg with Gershwin, Beethoven with Brahms, Ravel with Rachmaninoff.

The battle had been fierce and unrelenting with no quarter offered or accepted in the current running points tally and Claire was happily aware that it would probably last for the rest of her long lifetime. She couldn't wait, honestly, and she knew deep down that Tony was of identical mind. Playing to impress someone as skilled and discerning as you were was a challenge and hard work - which made her understand Ehren's drive and work ethic a bit better, she idly reflected as she glanced at her little sister the chaperone.

She was even willing to admit - in private - that Tony had a clear advantage on her currently among the Italian composers, while she was ahead in the French school after impressing him with her Chopin chops. The German masters were still a hotly contested warzone week after week, unsurprising since Claire was Austrian by origin, and had expanded her repertoire among the great Germans for Ehren's sake (fortunately, as it turned out, what Tony could do with Beethoven sent her heartstrings fluttering - rrrowrrr). The Russians were currently equally contested among them and Claire had decided after some frantic arrangement the night before it was time to take a page from Hannibal and storm Italy over the Alps rather than continue to lose ground among the Russians.

She might be out-pianoed by his brilliance with Shostakovitch, but this piano was not going down easy without an assault on his rear areas!

With that, she looked over at him and grinned smugly - an expression learned from Mother - while cracking her knuckles as she prepared to play one of the most famous violin solo pieces in the classical corpus.

Showtime.
Spoiler: Claire Does Vivaldi

With that she began to make the soft sounds of icy breezes and falling snow as her fingers begin the rhythm of gradually increasing eighth notes leading into the solo violin's entrance. Tony's eyes widened in surprise and delight as he immediately recognized the piece that his Bösendorfer girlfriend was playing for him.

The Allegro non molto from Vivaldi's Concerto #4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "Winter" (L'inverno)

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

Tony applauded happily as Claire finished her arrangement of Vivaldi with a flourish and a triumphant chord and bowed to her as she stood up from her bench and curtsied to him and the softly smiling Ehren.

Well done, Claire, well done.

He knew firsthand exactly how demanding the solo violin in the Allegro was for him to play. Albeit that solo was so enjoyable as he led the other strings and harpsichord through the arpeggios dancing up and down the upper end of his range. But she had played it magnificently as she used her superior range to mimic all the violins and even add some bass 'harpsichord' backing at times when she had a hand free to slide down to the left end of her keyboard.

A definite point to her, and he was already contemplating the possibilities of a duet arrangement of L'invernio with her.

Later.

He wasn't going down easily even with this setback in today's competition to impress her, but he needed something to show that he in turn could be worthy of her love.

But what...?

Aha!

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Act 3!

If she wanted to demonstrate her virtuosity with sixteenths in arpeggios, he would give virtuosity and arpeggios to her good and hard.
Spoiler: Tony Goes THERE

With that he placed his violin in readiness and closed his eyes as he began the staccato sounds of a insect in flight with his sautillé bowing up and down in a wild shower of notes.

The Flight of the Bumblebee.

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

Ehren's lips quirked upward in a well-controlled smile as Tony launched into a piece that she recognized from her research into music that she had undertaken in self-defense and to better connect with Big Sister Claire.

Well, she also admitted to herself, she did enjoy music in and of itself. As her growing iTunes library and music player demonstrated, even if both were not a patch on Claire's appetite for music and composers.

With that she glanced over to Claire, expecting to see her big sister enthralled as usual by the family guest violinist - who was going to be just family once Mother got with the program.

Ehren did not expect to see Claire's reaction to the piece.

Her sister was actually experiencing full body uncontrolled shivers as she bit her lip and whimpered, her fists clenching spasmodically. Her face had a nuclear blush on it and her eyes were locked on Tony with raw passion and desire filling them as he played. It was clear she was on the ragged edge of throwing Tony to the floor to have her way with him.

Ehren's own eyes widened in shock as she put two and two together and realized that Mother was just across the hall in her study while Claire was... was....

Scheiße!

As Tony approached the end of the piece, Ehren leaned close to her sister and hissed "I'll cover for you, run! Now!"

Claire gave a shaky nod and bolted for the door to the music room like a scalded cat.

Tony finished the piece and opened his eyes as the running footsteps faded down the hall. He gave Ehren a baffled "what did I do?!?" look as Claire's bedroom door slammed in the distance. Colombe opened her study door and leaned out to see what the commotion was about.

Ehren plastered her best controlled face on and spoke. "Impressive, Tony, I see that the Flight of the Bumblebee stung Claire with an idea for a new composition and she desires privacy to work on it before she can serenade the household with it."

Ehren's eyes found Tony and gave him a "back my story up or I'll kill you slowly" look as the confused Stradivarius made a sound of agreement.

Colombe looked at the two of them and shrugged. "Ahh, one of those days for her then."

"Ja." Butter wouldn't melt in Ehren's mouth and she exerted iron self control to prevent either laughing or grinning like a lunatic (or Aunt Jackie) as Colombe closed the door.

She then turned to Tony and spoke in a quiet undertone, keeping an eye on Colombe's door to insure that she was not overheard. Behind them the piano that was Claire's true form popped out of sight as her spirit Apparated it back to her room.

"I strongly recommend that you remove that piece from your repertoire temporarily. Until the wedding night. For your own safety. Mother would have... reacted poorly to seeing you putting Claire in that state before she is married. Well, seeing her anytime like that; Mother is... Mother. We dodged a bullet this once, let us not tempt fate again, ja?"

Tony nodded as the lightbulb visibly came on for him. "I... see. When I get around to my planned visit to the British Branch of my family, I will have to tell cousin Tsukiakari this; she will laugh herself sick."

Ehren shook her head. "I advise keeping this story to yourself. It might get back to Mother's ears and then..."

"Ahh.... I'll... head downstairs and see what inspiration strikes me looking at the trophies in... the billiard room perhaps?" Tony spoke slowly with the expression on his face of a man realizing that he is suddenly in a minefield.

"Do that. I'll handle Claire. I'll see you at dinner then." The Dagger gave a fractional smile. "No permanent harm done with your suit, I suspect. You didn't know. Then. Incidentally, well played Tony. I rather enjoyed that final piece, it was... amusing."

With that Ehren marched down the hall to her sister's room and leaned against the door. She cocked an ear, hearing the muffled sounds of frantic piano playing along with a wordless vocal accompaniment.

Ehren's own cheeks pinked slightly at the sounds from within and she kept an eye out for parental figures as she patiently waited for a quarter of an hour. Finally silence fell inside and she gave a ten-count before rapping on the door. "Claire, it's Ehren."

Ehren's lips curled up at the squeak of alarm from inside as her sister responded in a panicked voice. "E-ehren!! Don't come in! Please!!"

"I won't. I just thought that you should know that Mother knows that you ran in here to do some serious composing since the bumblebee," Ehren desperately fought to keep her smirk out of her voice, "bit you with inspiration for some composition. Tony is sorry for not realizing that... ahh... his playing can stir animal passions and won't do that again."

Ehren paused for effect and lowered her voice before continuing, "Before you two get married. My advice is just make sure to have the soundproofing wards up and pay the insurance on the furniture then. Also make sure that your door is locked."

Another squeak of panic and the lock on the door Ehren was leaning against clicked.

Ehren's smirk widened. "I'll leave you alone now. If you need me, I'll be in my room. I hope that the rest of your day is as enjoyable as mine has been recently. Auf Wiedersehn, Claire."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Spellfire was all around Harry, flashing bursts and beams of light. Gritting his teeth, the teen dodged one spell even as he kept an eye on Natsumi. The Kitsune in question practically danced between the spells as she dodged them. Part of Harry was all but enthralled as he watched her, eyes stuck on her body as it twisted and moved.

Another part, though, was also yet again cursing puberty and hormones.

The rest, however, was concentrated on making it through the barrage. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Natsumi take near blow to one foot. Nothing dangerous, but it was enough that she fell to the floor. Almost immediately, his wand was out and he spoke at a normal volume as another wave of spells approached the teenaged girl, "Protego."

Moments later, a greenish shield appeared and deflected the first three shots before cracking. By then though, Harry was already there and hauling Natsumi to her feet. Something that made her smile as the two of them dodged as the spells broke the shield...

Right before spells from behind slammed into them and knocked them both to floor.

As Harry tried to get back up, a foot placed itself on his chest and kept him on the floor. Head tilted to the side, Hoshi chuckled as she looked down at her male student, who was panting. After a few seconds, she removed her foot and nodded, "You have... improved, some Harry-San. And so have you, Natsumi-Chan."

Laid back on the ground and breathing hard, Harry gave her a raised eyebrow, "Somehow... it does not feel... that way."

Amused, Hoshi chuckled and smirked, "No?" Moments later, she snapped a finger at Natsumi, "Unlike what some might think with your reputation, what with how some magicals seem to think that you could walk on water as the case may be-"

Raising a finger, Natsumi grinned, "Well, he can with the right equipment-Ow!"

Fingers withdrawing from where she had rapped the younger Kitsune on the forehead, the Kyuubi turned back to Harry, "Be that we it may, I do not expect a miracle." Hoshi then gestured at the dummies, "But you have progressed some. With a little more than a month of training, we have gotten you to the point where you do not need to shout out the incantation, while also shielding someone other than you with the spell. Yes, it has taken us the better part of two hours a day, every day for the past thirty five days practicing on just that to get you to this point, but you have managed it. More than that, you have used it in a combat scenario. And that, Harry-San, is good progress."

His head tilted to the side, Harry considered that before slowly nodding, "I guess that makes sense..."

Not saying anything right away, Hoshi watched him before she chuckled, "Harry-San, once I feel that you have trained enough with Natsumi-Chan, I shall bring in Shiromizu-San as well. And train all three of you together... do you know why?"

One eyebrow raised, Natsumi's ear flicked some, "Because both Shiromizu and myself swore to fight alongside him?"

Giving her a nod, the older Kitsune chuckled, "That is certainly part of it, Natsumi-Chan. Most certainly a part of it..." Her smile though fell and her expression became serious, "But there is more to it than just that." Turning to him, Hoshi continued, "Harry-San, the truth of the matter is that you cannot beat Voldemort. I could train you for twenty years, and there would be a chance that he would be able to beat you in a fight."

Some might have been angry at being so dismissed by someone. However, Harry was not most people, he just became thoughtful, "Because he knows all sorts of magic?"

Much to his surprise, Hoshi waved that off, "While it is true that he knows far more magic, that is not the only reason." Looking at him, she continued, "Knowing magic is not the issue. In fact, teaching you spell after spell would be rather easy I will admit though it would take time. No, what matters is that Voldemort has experience." Understanding that the two teens were now listening, she continued, "He has experience, over fifty years of such. Say what you will about the creature, but he has fought, dueled, and the like since the 1940s. He does not just know the spells by rote, but knows exactly when and how to use them. And that is why you will not be able to beat him..." The Kyuubi suddenly gained a bloodthirsty grin, "In a straight up fight, anyways. Which we are training to avoid."

Now paying more attention, Harry leaned forwards, "What do you mean?"

Simply nodding as she had their full attention, the Kitsune smirked, "Each of you brings something to a fight. You, Harry-San, have wizarding and Onmyouji magic, the second of which he would not be expecting. You have versatility." Moving her hand, she pointed at Natsumi, "Meanwhile, Natsumi-Chan brings the trickery that us Kitsune are well known for. Illusions and the like, which will be affecting him as you fight and throws him off. Shiromizu-San brings pure power to the fore as well as control over elements." Hoshi held her hand out, palm up, three triangles appearing with curved bottoms. They rotated around until they came together to form a circle, "Each one of you is powerful on your own, with your own strengths. But together... you could well be able to beat many foes that singularly you would not."

Rubbing her chin in thought, Natsumi made a thoughtful noise, "I thought that it was something like that, but to hear you agree..." She gave a shrug, "Well..."

Lips curling, Hoshi lightly laughed, "Do not think that it will be that easy. Because we also need to teach you to be able to fight alone, as well as together. Both are highly important." Becoming serious, she turned to Harry, "Speaking of... Natsumi-Chan has stated to me that you are willing to have her learn how to perform Kitsune tsuki on you? Is that true?"

Arms crossed, Harry just nodded with a smile, "Hai, Sensei." He then turned and gave a blushing teenage Kitsune a look of pure and utter trust, "I fully trust her."

Hoshi did not say anything right away as she looked into his eyes when he turned back to her. Almost a minute passed though and she gave a barking laugh, "HA!" A grin on her face, she shook her head before patting Harry on the shoulder, "You should keep him, Natsumi-Chan. The fact that he trusts you so much..." Her tone became softer, "Well, the fact that he trusts you so much to learn how to perform it on him is a wonderful, precious thing. A rare thing as well. Do not ever betray that trust."

Only looking at Harry, Natsumi nodded, "I never would or will, Hoshi-Sensei."

Both teens' gazes met. Simply watching, Hoshi smiled some, "I believe you, Natsumi-Chan." Suddenly, she clapped her hands and made them both jump a bit, "Now then, the class for the day is over with, Harry-San, Natsumi-Chan. You have both done well so perform your cooldown before you begin to cramp and you will be dismissed."

The two teens got to their feet and bowed to her deeply, with her returning it before they went about their cooldown.

After they were gone, Hoshi sat there in deep thought as she looked down at the floor and considered what had happened at the end. Kitsune tsuki... an ability of Kitsune that is seldom used. In which the Kitsune takes on a spiritual form that can inhabit, and possess, another's body. Such a thing in stories were often malicious in nature, her own mother being one such example. But it could also be benevolent for there were once Onmyouji clans who specialized in it, akin to the Inugami as they originally were. In such cases though, it was more to the benefit of the Onmyouji, with them controlling the Kitsune to do their work.

What she just heard though, that the two of that were in front of her had stated? That they trusted each other so much to even consider it, that they trusted the other not to use and abuse it? To not use and abuse the other? Such a thing was so rare that she could only consider a few times that it would happen.

Oddly enough, said times were either between humans and Kitsune who considered each other close siblings, parents... or lovers.

In such cases, that she knew about, the two partners would only become all the closer. Their souls entwinned with each other, strengthening their bond with one another. Briefly, she paused to consider what that might mean for both Harry and Natsumi. Lips twitching, she chuckled at another thought that occurred to her, "Poor Louisiana-San might well have the shipgirl version of a heart attack one day..."

Meanwhile, Natsumi felt an odd sensation. Almost as if someone, somewhere, was having fun at her expense... Shaking that off, she stretched her arms out with a sigh. Part of her was happy that made Harry's gaze fall on her, "I can't wait to take a shower and relax some."

Somewhat amused, Harry chuckled, "Not going to head home right away?"

Tapping the side of her nose, Natsumi shook her head, "No, I'm not, Harry-Chan. After all, this means that I can spend some time with you." Kissing his cheek, she smiled, "And that is something that I enjoy."

A smile on his face, Harry returned the kiss on the cheek with one of his own, "Same here, Natsumi-Chan."

For several minutes, they walked along before the Kitsune turned to him, "Harry-Chan?" Getting a hum of acknowledgment, she continued, "Thank you, for trusting me with the Kitsune tsuki. It... it means a lot."

Green eyes met her golden ones as Harry smiled, "Natsumi-Chan, there are few people that I trust more then you. I'm just thankful that you trust me just as much." Coming to a stop, he gently kissed her before pulling back, "Really thankful." Just smiling, Natsumi giggled a bit and nodded. With a glance around though, she transformed into her fox shape before scrambling up him and diving into his shirt, which was tucked in. Looking down, Harry blinked at her, "Um, Natsumi-Chan? While I toweled myself off, I'm... kind of sweaty still."

Just giving the fox version of a shrug, Natsumi snorted, "And? So am I." Seeing him open his mouth, she cut him off, "Besides which, I don't mind too much. And it is not like you smell... also, I need to get into Gryffindor Tower anyways."

All Harry did was shake his head and sigh, though he had a smile on his face.

 

[darthcourt10]

KBTKaiser Omake: Research with the Hatsuharu Sisters!

imhotep99301 said:
About as fast as it would take the writers to realise that this really isn't that kind of story?​

Funny you mention that, because that was in a way example 2 of my MSSB research ideas, sort of.
*-*-*-*

Hatsushimo: Alright, beginning MSSB experiment 2: Altering existing spiritual hull will change current shipgirl appearance. We have a contingent of Akashi's faeries on standby in case things go wrong...please don't screw this up, Nee-sans.

Wakaba: I'm on monitoring duty with status monitors linked to my spiritual hull vision as well...I can do this all day...

Hatsuharu: Now then, Nenohi and I shall revert to our pre-tomozuru configurations and then apply all the top-heavy fixes without losing the original equipment.

*Adjustments later*

Nenohi: ...Sis, I don't think we're supposed to lose our balance that badly...

Hatsuharu: Mayhaps some new clothes will be on order soon...

Explanation: Hatsuharu and Nenohi had an even more top-heavy configuration before they removed a turret and some AA mounts while adding torpedo bulges. This translates to a bigger bust and possible waist line improvements due to the bulges, since bulges also == fuel bunker space. Makes you wonder where that third turret goes on their rigging...

EDIT: to showcase how bad the topheaviness was? Hatsuharu had a 42 degree lean during a 10 knot turn during sea trials. And this was with a taller command tower too.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking along a street in Susukino in Sapporo, Fubuki tilted her head some as she looked at the various snow sculptures and ice statues. Bundled up in what most people considered normal clothing for the winter, the Destroyer tugged her hat down a bit lower to hide who she was. Mainly because currently, she was trying avoid people from realizing who she was. After all, she was a guest of honor at this year's festival.

Pausing at one sculpture, which looked a lot like her friend, Yuudachi, she giggled a bit. Said sculpture was of said Destroyer grinning with torpedoes in her hands and winking. All in all, it was an amazing representation. Taking her phone out, Fubuki took a picture and sent it to her friend. All she got was a "POI" for a text which made her giggle all the more, "That probably made Yuudachi-Chan's day."

Fubuki shook her head and began to walk along again, thinking about what she was seeing. Back when she was a steel float, something like what she was seeing was hard to imagine. The sheer amount of work that went into the festival was just plain amazing! The Destroyer could only shake her head in disbelief when she read that during years when the snowfall had been low, the JSDF as a training exercise would gather snow from outside the city and ship it in. Some of her Officers in her hull had boggled at that.

Though, granted, some of them thought that such a thing was a great idea and wished that it had been around in their day.

Her thoughts going back to why she was in Sapporo, Fubuki chuckled some to herself. Yes, she was the guest of honor. After all, she was called 'Blizzard' for a reason, and this was the sort of thing that she loved. Having one of her fairies come out after making sure that no one was close enough to see as afternoon turned to evening, Fubuki raised an eyebrow at them, "I suppose that I love snow so much because of you, Seaman Arashi Hikari-Kun?"

Lightly blushing, the fairy who most would have mistaken for a male, and had in her life when serving aboard the newly commissioned Fubuki, scratched her cheek and nodded, "Desu."

Only shaking her head, Fubuki smiled a bit more before setting the fairy on her shoulder, "I don't mind, Hikari-San. Not really, though I am happy that you no longer need to hide what you are."

With a shrug, Hikari smiled back, "Desu, desu desu desu."

Nodding, Fubuki raised a finger, "That is a very good point." Head tilted to the side, the shipgirl hummed, "So what do you think of this place so far?" A number of "Desu" was the answer which made her lightly laugh, "Yes, I suppose so."

The fairy gave her a knowing look, "Desu? Desu desu desu?"

Cheeks flushed, Fubuki rubbed the back of her neck, "I know, I know. But... I just needed to get away, you know?" Sighing, her shoulders slumped a bit, "It was all getting to be a bit much and everything. Especially..."

Eyebrow raised, Hikari gave her a smirk, "Deeeeesu?"

Giving her a look, the Destroyer poked the fairy, "How was I supposed to react to someone making a scale model of my hull out of snow." Blushing, Fubuki shook her head, "That was somewhat embarrassing..."

With a shrug, Hikari shook her head, "Desu."

Just sighing, Fubuki threw her hands into the air, "Okay, okay, I love it, okay?" Getting a nod, she smiled softly, "It is just... I am still getting used to all this, you know? When I was afloat, I was just a Destroyer, a Tin Can as the Americans put it. And the whole time I was a steel hull, I... never amounted to anything or actually did anything notable."

Frowning, Hikari shook a pudgy finger at her, "Desu! Desu desu desu desu!"

Unable to help herself, the shipgirl laughed a bit and patted the fairy's head, which made them huff, "Okay, I might have been the first modern Destroyer. But... I never did anything in my career itself. Yuudachi-Chan has the Battle of the Solomons for example, but I got nothing." Turning back to the road, she frowned, "Nothing to my name, really... Which is why I think that I was among those who returned and self-summoned. I mean, there was always something in me that wanted to... wanted to have done things. To have done something." Still walking, Fubuki shook her head, "And now look at me. I was one of the first shipgirls to return to Japan. And I'm one of the most decorated shipgirls in the JMSDF!"

Kicking a piece of ice to the side, she sighed, "That... that is amazing. And more than that, they now have me doing things like this! Opening festivals for PR purposes and being a guest of honor! Me! A Destroyer! Not a Battleship, a Carrier, or even a Cruiser! Just... a Destroyer like me." She came to a stop and seemed to be looking off into the distance, "And they also named a new Destroyer after me."

Head tilted to the side, the fairy blinked, "Desu? Desu desu desu desu?"

Only shaking her head, Fubuki turned to her, "It is the first fusion powered Destroyer in the world, Hikari-San. She has railguns, lasers, and everything. Back when I was a ship... that wasn't even really science fiction! Because it was so far out there that people didn't really think of it. But they named her after me. I would have expected something like naming her after Nagato, Yamato, or one of the great ships. Maybe even Mikasa! Instead they chose my name..." Shoulders slumping, she let out a sigh into the air, "It still boggles me. And after all the well wishers and the like, as well as all the attention on me due to the festival, I just... need some time to decompress."

Hikari just smiled at her, "Desu." Looking around, the fairy pointed at a nearby stand, "Desu!"

With a hum, Fubuki looked and smiled, "You know... some dango does sound good." Taking the fairy, she opened her purse and slipped them inside, "Sorry, but I'm just going to put you there for now." The fairy gave her a thumbs up before Fubuki closed the purse. Walking over to the stand, she bowed some, "Good evening."

Blinking, the man at the stand smiled at her, "Good evening, and how are you today?"

Lightly smiling, Fubuki giggled some, "I'm doing good and enjoying the festival." With a sigh, she stretched, "It is so good!"

Unable to help himself, the man chuckled, "That is good to hear. Now then, what would you like?"

As the Destroyer examined the choices, she didn't notice two golden eyes looking out from a nearby alley. There was a guilty look in them, one that stated that their owner did not want to do something, but was being forced to. Meanwhile, Fubuki accepted the dango gratefully and paid for them. Biting them, she smiled, "Yum!"

Chuckling, the stand operator grinned, "Great huh? Dango is always good to have on a cold night like tonight."

Fubuki hummed in reply as she finished off the dango quickly, "Hai." Pausing, she considered things, "Hmm, maybe another-hey!"

Right as she was about to say something, a blur shot out from the alleyway. The person in question pushed her some, though Fubuki could also see a flash of steel. It was only as she twisted around to defend herself that she realized that her purse was now gone...

And held in the hands of a grimy little girl that was running away with it.

Eyes wide, the stand operator rushed around, "DAMMIT! GET BACK HERE!" Turning, he looked at Fubuki, "I am so, sorry and-"

Holding up a hand, Fubuki's eyes hardened, "Don't worry about it! I'll come back later!" Pushing off the ground, she began to chase after the little girl, who looked over her shoulder fearfully, "HEY! STOP RIGHT THERE YOU THIEF!"

People started to shout and yell as the girl pushed past them, Fubuki in fast pursuit. One man tried to grab for the thief, only for her to dodge around him, "GAH!"

When she looked over her shoulder, she spotted Fubuki getting closer and closer. Then, she ran across the road, dodging cars and the like which screeched to a stop as they tried not to hit her. With another glance, the thief's eyes widened as Fubuki leapt onto a cement pillar and jumped, soaring over the road. Hitting the ground, the Destroyer rolled and got to her feet, nearly able to grab the younger girl, "AHHHHHH!"

Reaching out, Fubuki growled, "JUST STOP ALREADY!"

But the younger girl didn't, and ducked under her before leaping into an alleyway. Fubuki followed, only for the girl to look over her shoulder as they were running towards a dead end, "I'M SO SORRY!"

Eyes rolling, Fubuki shouted back, "THEN JUST STOP!"

Much to her shock though, the little girl transformed into a fox and leapt up some debris, jumping over the fence as Fubuki just barely stopped herself in time. By the time that she got to the other side, the Kitsune was long gone. Groaning, Fubuki slapped her forehead before pausing as she realized something... she could sense where her purse was. It was then that she also remembered that Hikari was in said purse, which meant that she could track the thief. Expression hardening, Fubuki took off as fast as she could through the dark alleyways.

Some distance away, the Kitsune changed back and held the purse close. Inside of said item, Hikari could hear the thief crying, "I am so... so sorry... Kaa-San, please forgive me for being like this..."

Her eyes narrowing, Hikari just listened to the sobs even as the thief began running again.

Roughly a half hour, she came to a stop near a run down building. It was the sort of place that was condemned for various reasons. Dirty, rundown... in other words, the perfect place to hide. For five minutes, the thief waited outside before opening the door and going inside. Several crates were stacked here and there as she walked between them. They were there to hide the inside after all. Coming out to one of the only open areas, she nodded to the other kids there. All of them were filthy from living on the streets. Orphans... and Yokai. Walking up to one, she glanced around, "A-Akira-Chan? D-did Aniki show up?"

Glancing at her, the young Neko cringed a bit and shook her head, "N-not yet, Nee-San..."

Each of the youngsters shifted from foot to foot as they wanted, A few more trickled in as the minutes ticked on. Finally, there was a crack and a man in his twenties was standing there, He was clad in clean robes and the like with slicked back hair. Looking them over, he sneered, "Well, well, you all are here. Good, I'm a busy man. Now cough up anything you got and we'll see who gets to eat tonight, shall we?"

One by one, they brought their items up and placed it onto a table that they had stolen during the day. The smallest, just dumped coins and bills that they had panhandled during the day for. However...

Not all of them had brought anything, not having had any luck.

Placing the purse, the Kitsune swallowed as the man raised an eyebrow at hit. Picking it up, he snorted, "Man, this is one nice looking purse. Even without the money, I could sell this for some real cash." Waving a wand, he fixed the damage to it, "Yeah, this will be good at a pawn shop."

Her stomach growling, the thief whimpered some, "C-can we have some food, Aniki? I-I-I mean... we brought some cash and stuff..."

Eyebrow raised, "Aniki" looked at her. Next thing she knew, she was on the ground crying as she cupped her cheek, "Is that how you thank me? By demanding food?" Tossing the bag to the side, he scoffed and spread his arms wide, "Out of the goodness of my heart, I've given you food and shelter. A place to live... don't forget that it is only because of me that you are not in the reserves!" Between the crates, a shadow paused, "I could call them, the Aurors you know. All of you would be sent to the reserves and likely die."

Quickly getting to her knees, the Kitsune bowed until her forehead touched the dirty floor as she cried, "I-I'm sorry, Aniki! I... I'm just so hungry since I haven't eaten since last night! And... and please! Don't send us to the reserves!"

She was not the only one to get down and plead not to be sent to the reserves. And to beg for food, which made the wizard laugh, "Fucking begging like the animals you bunch are... I like it! Though not all of you will get to eat. My charity isn't limitless after all." Leaning down, he grinned at the Kitsune who cringed, "I wonder what your Kaa-San would think? Seeing you like the beast you are in the dirt?" Placing a foot on her back, he rocked her back and forth, "Hmm? Granted, she was probably a whore anyways. Like a bitch in heat or something."

The Kitsune was able to take insults to her, after all, she was used to it. But her mother... "M-my Kaa-San was not a whore."

Blinking, the man looked down at her, "Eh?"

Moments later, his foot was being pushed off as the Kitsune looked up at him. "MY KAA-SAN WAS NOT A WHORE! SHE WAS A GOOD PERSON AND A BETTER ONE THAN YOU!"

Expression going from confused to angry, the wizard growled, "Why you!" Reeling back his hand, he snarled, "I'm going to have to teach an animal like you its place!" At seeing the fist approach, the young thief cringed and closed her eyes. Only for nothing to hit and to hear gasps as the wizard shouted, "WHAT THE FUCK!?"

Opening her eyes, the Kitsune gasped at the sight of the very same young woman she had stolen the purse from standing there with the fist held in one hand where she had caught it. Looking over her shoulder, she gave the younger girl a concerned, and regretful look, "Sorry about not stopping him the first time."

Mouth opening and closing, the Kitsune finally nodded, "T-that's okay? B-but I stole from you..."

All Fubuki did was shrug, "Considering this? Not a big deal and understandable." She then turned and gave the wizard a glare that made his blood feel like it froze, "You on the other hand..."

Trying to yank his fist back, the wizard growled, "Who the fuck are you?! And what the fuck are you doing protecting these things?!"

Only tilting her head, Fubuki chuckled, "I'm protecting them when they need it because that is what I do. As for who I am..." Reaching up with her free hand, she pulled back her hat to reveal her hair, with the children gasping, "Destroyer Fubuki at your... well, not at your service, you piece of scum."

It said something, that the man was in such shock that he continued to run his mouth, "A shipgirl!? What the shit?! And scum?!"

Humming, Fubuki nodded, "That's right. Using kids to do your dirty work, treating them like shit, threatening them and beating them? You're scum." With a hum, she tilted her head, "You're a wizard from what I can see, right?"

Rapidly blinking, "Aniki" only nodded, "Uh, yeah? What of it?"

All Fubuki did was tilt her head to the side and close her eyes while smiling gently, "Ah! Well, that means that what I am about to do won't be permanent. That's a good thing."

Utterly confused, the wizard opened his mouth. But it was not words that came out, no, he screamed as Fubuki's hand squeezed his fist. The kids could only widen their eyes as they heard cracking sounds as the man who had beaten them numerous times had one of the hands that caused them pain broken. Driven to his knees, the man looked up at the Destroyer , "F-fuck! M-mercy!"

Still eye closed smiling, Fubuki pointed at herself, "Ara, ara~ Does this look like the face of mercy?"

The wizard only whimpered in reply.

 

[darthcourt10]

TempestK

So, this was sparked by the thought of Oyodo's connections and how far they might extend. And of them having unintended side effects.
---
Percy gasped as he was very brusquely pushed against the concrete wall of the alleyway. He'd come to Japan for a conference in Kyoto, and had been advised by Oyodo that Sapporo was a good place to shop around, and that she'd found some very nice tea blends there that he might like. He'd been searching for the shop during the onset of evening when a trio of muggle teens had begun dogging his steps. Unfortunately with the Diet still in its death throes and Kyoto quietly assuming more power, he couldn't risk inviting an incident and had attempted to break line of sight to apparate away. Something his pursuers hadn't obliged him on.

His nose wrinkled involuntarily as he got his breath back, picking up the distinct smell of cheap alcohol coming off the teen who had a solid grip on his collar. The man snarled something at him in Japanese, the combination of his thick accent and drunken slurring making him practically unintelligable. When Percy failed to give him an answer in what he seemed to think was a suitable timeframe, the wind was knocked out of him again as one of the teen's friends punched him, hard. Thanks to having to match up against not only the Twins when they were feeling vindictive or petty, but Bill and Charlie when they'd sometimes gotten a bit too involved in their roughhousing, Percy was able to roll his hips enough to turn the attempt at a kidney shot into a strike against his hipbone. It still hurt like the devil, but at least he wouldn't have internal damage. The other teen was winding up for his own shot, when a shadow fell over the mouth of the alleyway.

"Oioioi! Back off!"
Spoiler: Percy's Savior

The man looked plenty pissed off, but the three assailants were running on bravado and alcohol. The one that hadn't touched Percy yet turned to regard the man. "Piss off, this gaijin's getting what he deserves!" Making a few threatening gestures, he turned back to the festivities... which is why Percy was the only one that saw the man crack his neck with a resigned look on his face, before moving quickly behind the closest teen. The assailant, feeling the approach, turned with a sneer. "I toldja t-" *crunch* He was cut off as the man's fist took him square in the nose, smashing it flat and sending the teen staggering into his friends.

Percy was stunned as the man in white and red waded in, throwing elbows, sweeping feet, and offering backhands to the two free drunks. Then, feeling the grip on his collar loosen as the final teen seemed to realize that the situation was not in his control, he took advantage of the distraction, bracing one leg against the wall for support, he kicked off with the other into a vicious knee strike that Bill had shown him. He'd never admit it, but he got a bit of dark satisfaction from the look on the teen's face as the hit to his groin registered, toppling over and curling into a foetal position. The man that had stepped in quickly gave him a sharp kick in the head, just enough force to knock the teen out.

Percy straightened his collar and took a few breaths before bowing as he'd learned. "Thank you for the assistance." The other man waved airily, face relaxing into a less dangerous expression.

"Mondai nai; don't mention it Weasely-san." Percy paused, and looked cautiously at the man. He got a crooked smile in return. "Just tell Oyodo-aneki that Kiryu says 'hey' for me, and we'll call it square, yeah?" He easily led Percy back to the main street, patting the younger man on the back. "Enjoy the rest of your time here, don' let those assholes bring it down, you got it?" Percy nodded dumbly, still trying to figure out how this apparent muggle not only knew his name, but of his connection to Oyodo.

Once he seemed sure that Percy had his bearings, the man, likely this 'Kiryu', took off with a single wave over his shoulder.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Arms crossed, Fubuki watched as "Aniki", or as she now knew his name to be, Rokurou, was examined by a Medi-Wizard. Beside her, one of the Kyoto Aurors scratched his head and groaned, "This is just lovely."

Eyebrow raised, the Destroyer frowned at him. She had gotten in contact via radio with Kana who, in turn, passed on the information to Ooyodo who got in touch with the JNHRO. From there, the Kyoto Aurors were informed and promptly showed up quickly. One of them had panicked a bit, though to their credit, they only fingered their wand at seeing Fubuki still holding the wizard causing all the trouble's crushed hand in hers. His boss had quickly stepped between them and asked about what had happened. After a quick explanation, he had called in the Medi-wizard to check over the wizard.

Which lead to the current issue.

Frowning, Fubuki looked at him, "And what does that mean?"

Only grimacing, the Auror shook his head and turned to her with a sigh, "His Otou-San is pretty high up in the Diet. Sure, he's not that high up in his family, but his old man? He's going to be causing us some trouble to say the least. Probably going to try and get us to release him."

A sneer on his face, Rokurou snorted, "That's right, you bitch. My Otou-San will get me out easy and then?" He grinned nastily, "Those kids are fucked!" Laughing darkly, he raised an eyebrow at Fubuki's narrowing eyes, "What? Did you think that they would be sent to safety or something? Fuck no! I'm going to see them thrown in the Reserves and fucked over nice and good."

Not saying anything, Fubuki looked at him with her face expressionless. When she spoke, it was with a flatness that made the Kyoto Aurors flinch, "Is that so..."

Yet again, the Kyoto Auror beside her flinched before sighing. Running his hand through his hair, he shook his head, "As much as I would hate to admit it, he's probably right." Grimacing, he looked Fubuki in the eye, which made her respect for him raise a little, "I wish that I could guarantee those kids' safety, but I can't. His old man has enough power that he might be able to get arrest warrants out. And added that only certain orphanages can take them in..."

Slowly, Fubuki nodded, "I see." Tilting her head to the side, she hummed, "Tell me, is his Otou-San a Yakuza?"

Lost at why she was asking, the Auror glanced at the others who shrugged. Turning back to her, he cleared his throat, "Uh, no? Why does that matter?"

Fubuki stepped forward and gave Rokurou a frigid smile, "Everything." Leaning down, she stared into the confused wizard's eyes, "Because you see, they are going to be very pissed off with what you have been doing here. The fact that you were acting and pretending like you were Yakuza? Heh."

Bravado coming back, Rokurou sneered at her, "So what? They can go and get fucked for all I care! Why the hell would I worry about some useless No-Majs?"

Only tilting her head, the shipgirls hummed, "You know, I always did wonder..." Trailing off, she chuckled though there was nothing humorous about it, "What it would be like to see someone who is stupid enough to die from their idiocy and overconfidence." Rather than say anything else, she turned to the Auror, "If I may make a suggestion, Inoue-San?"

Just nodding, the Auror frowned, "Sure? Go ahead."

With a hum, Fubuki gestured at the kids, "Interview them here, one by one. Not out of sight, but get it here."

More than a little lost, he nodded, "Uh, sure? That makes some sense and wouldn't be too much trouble as we need some initial statements...?"

The Auror than made a gesture to one of the other Officers with him, and Fubuki lead her over to where the kids were all clustered together, the Destroyer's own medical fairies looking them over. When they reached them, the Kitsune who had stolen from her looked up with sad eyes, "F-Fubuki-San? Um... Thank you, but..."

Crouching down, Fubuki gave her a smile before shaking her head, "You heard?" Getting a nod, she reached over and placed her hand on the Kitsune's head, gently rubbing her head, "Hey, look at me." When the Yokai did so, the shipgirl smiled and leaned in, "Trust me, that is not going to happen."

Beside the Kitsune, one of the two Oni there shook her head, "B-but... he's not lying."

Lips curling, Fubuki gave a chuckle to their confusion, "Trust me, he may think that he's not, but he is." Winking, she continued, "Believe in me, okay? It is all going to turn out well."

Even though they didn't believe her, they nodded with various sounds of agreement, with the Kitsune swallowing, "H-hai..."

Chuckling, Fubuki shook her head, "Now then, this is very important. Ogawa-San here will interview you each, one at a time. I want you to take your time in telling her everything that 'Aniki' has done regarding you. Don't rush through it, take your time. And do not leave anything out, as unimportant as it is." Turning, she gave the lost looking Auror a smile, "Also, if she has questions, answer them."

A frown on her face, the Auror nodded and took the first one aside. One by one they spoke and told their story. Using a automated quill, the witch nodded as it wrote down everything that they said. Like Fubuki had told them, they had spoken of every little thing that had happened to them under Rokurou.

Though one part made Fubuki perk up and look at the young, female Kitsune who had stolen her name, "Your name is Fubuki?"

Lightly blushing, hard as it was to see through the dirt and grime on her, the Kitsune nodded, "Hai... my Okaa-San named me that when I was born a few months after you returned. I was named after you..." Sniffling, she shook her head, "S-she died... in one of the attacks here on Hokkaido four years ago. S-she was a Yuki-Onna and used her abilities to create an impenetrable shield of ice around me a-as Abyssal shells fell around us and used everything she had..."

Fubuki grimaced as she guessed which attack it was. While most of those who had attacked Hoppou had been killed, a few stragglers managed to make a run for Hokkaido and struck. She had been one of those who took them down with help from Akebono and the like. Walking over, Fubuki gently pulled the Kitsune into an embrace, "Your Okaa-San was a great woman, Fu-Chan. A wonderful mother, and I am honoured that she chose to name her daughter after me."

Tears coming from her eyes, the Kitsune looked up at her, "T-thank you... though, um... Fu-Chan?"

Her lip curling as she pulled out a napkin and began to dry the child's eyes, Fubuki nodded, "Hai, Fu-Chan. After all, I'm Fubuki, and Kongou-San and others sometimes call me 'Buki', so I can't call you that. Hence... Fu-Chan."

Even though she was confused about that, Fu-Chan nodded, "Um, okay...?"

Gently, Fubuki patted her head which the Kitsune enjoyed greatly. It reminded her of when she was younger and her mother was still alive. When the Kitsune turned back to the Auror, Fubuki turned her attention to the other children as well. Eventually, Ogawa was finished and rolled up the notes that were taken. She turned to Inoue and nodded, "Sir? We're done here."

Nodding, the Auror sighed, "That's good." With a sad smile, he turned to the children, "Guess that it is time for us to leave then, kids."

Part of Fubuki noticed the nasty grin on Rokurou's face, and smirked, "You're right, Inoue-San. After all..." Turning, she smiled as Yuudachi as well as Mutsuki and Kana walked into view, "The children are leaving... you brought the bus, Kana-Chan?"

Lightly blushing, the Battleship nodded, "Hai, Fubuki-Senpai."

Eyebrows furrowing, Inoue frowned, "Bus? What do you..." His eyes widened and he stared at her, "You cannot be serious!"

Turning to him, Fubuki raised one of her own eyebrows, "Deadly. The children will be coming with Kana-Chan, Yuudachi-Chan, Mutsuki-Chan, and myself. We'll make sure that they are safe and taken care of. Especially as they could be in danger from... certain parties, shall we say?"

Jaw dropped, Rokurou stared at her before whipping his head around to boggle at Inoue, "She can't do that!"

With a glance at him, Inoue turned to Fubuki, "Normally, he would be right you know. This isn't something that I could let you do."

A smile on her face, the Destroyer nodded, "Oh, I understand. But that would be normally." Still smiling, she gestured at the others, "However... right now, you have three Destroyers and one Battleship. And from what I remember, even one Destroyer would be, ah, difficult. Twenty-five millimeter can be quite nasty after all, and I have a few forties on me as well... not to mention sidearms."

Slowly humming, Inoue looked towards the fairies, noticing that they had sidearms. His lips curled upwards a bit, "Oh, you are quite right. We're outmatched." Scratching his chin, he nodded, "Yes, completely outmatched right now and it would take far too long to contact some help. A shame..."

Giving a sad smile, Fubuki sighed, "Truly a shame." Head tilting to the side, she shrugged, "We will, of course, give you access as needed to them if you need more statements. But..."

On the Auror's face was a smirk that was mirrored on his fellows' faces, "Ah, thank you for that." With a fake sigh, he backed up as he ignored Rokurou's cursing, "How unfortunate for us that such a thing happened though. And once they are on a base, well, nothing that can be done for it, I suppose."

With a nod, Fubuki turned to her fellow Destroyers, "Yuudachi-Chan? Mutsuki-Chan? I am assuming that the children have things that they would want to bring with them. Escort them as they gather what they want."

Saluting, the blonde haired shipgirl grinned, "Sure thing, Fubuki-Chan! Now come along, Poi!"

It took only a few minutes as they did not have much to gather up, though Fubuki noted that the Kitsune had what looked like a stuffed chick for a toy. Noticing the Destroyer looking at her, Fu-Chan hugged the toy close, "Okaa-San gave me her..."

Just patting her head, Fubuki nodded, "Ah, not a problem. We'll just get her all nice and clean once we're on the base." Giving a jaunty wave, she took up a rear position with Kana in the front while Yuudachi and Mutsuki took up positions on either side, "I hope that you all have a nice day, Auror-Sans!"

Lightly chuckling, Inoue grinned, "And the same to you as well, Fubuki-San."

Several minutes later, the young Yokai was looking around as the bus was running along the roads with awed looks. Hugging her stuffed companion, Fu-Chan looked up at Fubuki with the look of a child meeting their hero, "You really are doing this..."

Her arms crossed, Fubuki laughed, "Well, I did say that I was going to take care of you, didn't I?" Expression softening, she shook her head, "And I keep my promises."
Massively grinning, Yuudachi nodded, "Fubuki-Chan really does, Poi!"

For her part, Mutsuki gave her own nod and agreed, which made her friend blush. Upon hearing a stomach growl, Fubuki blinked and looked at several faces that blushed as more growls joined the first. Rather than laugh as she wanted, the Destroyer looked over her shoulder, "Kana-Chan? Mind stopping at the nearest food place? I'll pay."

Quickly, one of the younger children shook his head and waved his hands, "Y-you don't need to do that, Fubuki-San! We..." Looking down, he chewed his lip, "We can go without food for a bit. I mean, we've done it before and we're sort of dirty..."

All Fubuki did at that though was frown and narrow her eyes, "Unacceptable. You are going to get fed and I will pay for it."

Needless to say, more than a few people took pictures of Fubuki and her friends having a bunch of what looked like homeless children in a fast food place as they got them food. And a number of comments from those who watched stated that she was like a mother on a mission for her children with them. One who would not take no for an answer and cowed people who would have complained with a simple look.

By the time they left though, it was with some very full children.
_______________________________________________________________________

Stretching some as her bare feet touched tile, Fubuki turned and regarded the group of children. All of them looked rather nervous, with Fu-Chan holding her stuffed chicken closely. Softly smiling, the Destroyer gestured around them, "Okay everyone, we're going to get you all nice and clean before bed."

Rapidly blinking, one of the Oni Twins there stared at her, "W-wait, we're going to have a bath? Really?"

Yuudachi giggled some and nodded, "Hai! Or a shower if you want it, Poi." Looking them over, she hummed, "Might be a good idea to have a shower after you're clean and before you go into the bath."

Ignoring that, Fubuki turned to Mutsuki, "Kisaragi-Chan is getting them clothes, right?"

A smile on her face, the name ship of the Mutsuki class nodded, "She is as a matter of fact, Fubuki-Chan. It is going to take a bit more time, but she's going to have them brought straight here."

Eyes wide, Fu-Chan stared between them, "N-new clothes too!? B-but..." Tears coming to her eyes, she sniffled, "W-why?"

Blinking, she turned at the hand to find Fubuki smiling at her, "Because you deserve it. What happened to you, should never have happened. And by the time you get out of the bath, all nice and clean, I promise that you will have nice clean clothes waiting for you while we wash the others."

Just chewing her lip, the Kitsune looked at her stuffed toy. It was not the cleanest toy, but... "W-what about Chicky?"

Other children made noises about their own stuffed toys, some of the only things with them. Chuckling, Fubuki shook her head, "We're going to get them nice and clean as well." She then nodded towards the door as Kana brought in an odd looking device to the children, "Kana-Chan here has brought a steamer that we can use to clean all your friends. It won't hurt them, I promise, but it will get them all nice and clean after we wash them."

Nodding, Mutsuki brought out a metal tub and a bottle of laundry detergent, "I'll do that right here as a matter of fact so you can all watch. All your friends will be nice and clean, promise."

Unsure, Fu-Chan shuffled from one foot to the other before looking down at her toy. Trembling, she handed it over to Fubuki, "P-please..."

Gently, the shipgirl nodded, "I promise, she will be looking even better when we're done." Handing the toy off to Mutsuki who had filled up the tub, Fubuki took the hand of the Kitsune, "Now, it is time for us to get all clean."

With a nod, Fu-Chan looked towards her friend as Fubuki lead her over to the benches for them to get changed. Looking at them, the Destroyer knew that they were all nervous and took a deep breath. Then, much to their surprise, Fubuki was the first one to remove her clothes which got her wide eyes, 'W-what...'

Smiling at them, she winked, "Come on then, time to get all squeaky clean..."

It was just a few minutes later that Fu-Chan gave a squeak as warm water washed over her body. Spitting out some of the water, she blinked it away, "Gah..."

Unable to help herself, Fubuki giggled a bit as she soaped up a cloth, "Sorry about that, Fu-Chan."

Blushing, the Kitsune shook her head, "Um, that's okay, Fubuki-San..."

Cloth all soaped up, Fubuki began to gently scrub at the younger girl. If anything though, it made the Yokai blush a bit as it reminded her of when her mother used to clean her. And glancing around, she was not the only one as she could see Yuudachi helping to clean some of her friends and fellow orphans. Meanwhile, Fubuki watched as dirt and grime was slowly removed before grasping her arm, "Lift please." When Fu-Chan did so, the Destroyer scrubbed under the Kitsune's arms, getting giggles. Smiling, she giggled herself, "Ticklish?"

Only nodding, Fu-Chan smiled, "Hai."

All Fubuki did though was smile back gently before continuing her work. Once she was done with the younger girl's body, she worked a bit at the hair, working in shampoo. After that, she rinsed her off, only to begin again. Slowly, but surely, Fubuki got the likely years worth of dirtiness off to reveal pale skin. Much to her surprise, the Kitsune's hair was not quite the grey she thought, but a very light blue, 'Huh...' It was then that she remembered something, "Your Okaa-San was a Yuki-Onna, right?"

Not having expected that, Fu-Chan nodded, "Um, she was, though Tou-San was a Kitsune..." Her ears drooped a little, "He... died before I was born. Okaa-San used to tell me all about him though."

Humming as she continued to clean the young girl, the Destroyer nodded, "Is that why your hair...?"

Cheeks red, Fu-Chan nodded, "Hai, my hair is white and a bit of blue... Just like Okaa-San's hair..."

Fubuki continued to scrub gently, almost motherly, "I see. It is really beautiful you know."

Lightly smiling, all the Kitsune did was nod.

Slowly, both Fubuki and Yuudachi worked their way through the group, gently cleaning them. Clothes were soaped up, used to scrub, and then tossed into the bins. Combs were brought out to clean out hair and make sure that there was no lice, though Fubuki brought out a special shampoo that Hedwig had delivered. Said shampoo being one that killed such things as lice and fleas as well as their eggs. With that done, they had the children shower as well before leading to them the baths.

It was a group of happy, clean, and sleepy children who returned to find all their toys cleaned two hours later. Not just using washing detergent, but also steam cleaning to make sure that they were properly clean of everything. Fubuki smiled as she watched a bright, teary eyed Fu-Chan hug her beloved stuffed chick close, now no longer stained or dirty revealing it to be bright yellow. More than that, Kisaragi had shown up with new clothes, their old ones being taken away to see if they could be cleaned.

With that done, it was time for bed. Much to the amusement of the others, Fu-Chan and some of the other children grasped Fubuki's hands close as she guided them to the dorms set up for visiting shipgirls. While not a permanent shipgirl base, Sapporo's JMSDF base that was built after the war started did have dormitories for visiting shipgirls. Dormitories that were now getting used by the young orphans.

For her part though, Fubuki simply sat in a chair, softly singing as the various children drifted off to sleep, exhausted, but happy and feeling safe. Watching that, Yuudachi giggled as she "Spoke" to Mutsuki over the radio, {Fubuki-Chan really is like a Okaa-San, Poi.}

Giggling softly, Mutsuki gave a nod, {Hai, she is, Yuudachi-Chan.} A sigh then escaped her, {Fubuki-Chan will make for a good Okaa-San.}

Just giving them looks, Fubuki huffed a bit as she continued to sing, the children all falling asleep, {I can hear you, you know.} Getting giggles, she rolled her eyes before frowning, {Guys? Thanks.}

All her friends did though was shake their heads at her. Out of the four, Kisaragi scoffed over the radio, {Bah! You don't need to thank us for this, Fubuki-Chan.} Walking over, she gently kissed the other Destroyer on the cheek, {We don't mind it at all.}

With a deep breath, Fubuki let it out, {I know, but I do appreciate it. And...} Lips pressing thinly together, she shook her head, {I hate to bother you all, but I need you to keep watch over them tomorrow, I... have a meeting with someone that cannot wait. Which Ooyodo-San set up for me.}

It went without saying that the other four understood what sort of meeting was being talked about. Walking over to a chair of her own, Kana shook her head, {They're all so small and...I cannot believe it. Are we lucky, or are they unlucky?}

Sighing, Fubuki shook her head as she gently brushed one of Fu-Chan's blue bangs away from her face, {I do not know...} She watched as the Kitsune's ears twitched and she held her stuffed toy closer...

The ghostly hull of a late war Destroyer overlaying her body as several more ghostly ships were around some of the other children...
___________________________________________________________________
For a moment, Fubuki took a deep breath before she let it slowly out. It misted in the cold, winter air. A short time ago, she left the base behind and headed back into the city. Most of the children were not sure about her leaving them, but Fu-Chan convinced them to trust in her. And if there was one thing that Fubuki was going to do...

It was going to make sure that she was worthy of that trust.

Stepping into the darkened resturant, she gave her coat to one of the staff members. Briefly, she straightened her skirt and blouse, somewhat worried. After all, it was one of her nicest, semi-formal outfits. But, Fubuki knew that she had to make an impression and thus did not show her nerves. Like in a battle out on the waves, this one needed her to be steel.

Back straight and showing no weaknesses, she walked behind the staff member leading her to a room in the back. Inside, seated at a table was an older man with his head bald and shining in the low light. Part of Fubuki noted the large scar on his neck, as well as how one finger was missing a knuckle. But she showed none of that and bowed deeply as he stood, "Ishida-San, thank you for taking time out of your day to see to This One's insignificant needs."

However, much to Fubuki's surprise, the old man bowed just as deeply to her, "It is of no worry, Fubuki-San. In fact, it is an honour that one such as you wished to speak to me of a matter important to you." Standing back up, he waved at a chair, "Please, take a seat and allow for me to make an order. The Sake here is quite good."

Only smiling, Fubuki nodded, "Thank you, though I ask that I treat you as well."

That got her a raised eyebrow, but he nodded. Shortly, food was brought before them and a young woman served them both before bowing and backing away until needed again. Taking a sip of her Sake, the Destroyer nodded which made the older man nod before he did the same, "Ah, as I said, it is quite good."

Lips curling, the shipgirl chuckled, "Yes, it is."

Breaking apart his chopsticks, he took some food, "Now then, from what Ooyodo-San stated, you wished to speak to me of events yesterday? First, allow for me to apologize in regards to the theft. Such a thing should never have happened to one such as you, let alone at all."

Eyes narrowing slightly, Fubuki frowned, "I... suspect that I am not the only one with such troubles." A slight nod was the only answer, and so she continued, "To that end, the issue has been... resolved, to some satisfaction. I, personally, caught the thief responsible and found several others."

With a hum as he took a bite, Ishida nodded, "I see. And they are in your custody?" The Destroyer gave a nod, which made him frown, "Interesting."

Looking at him, Fubuki frowned, "Yes, I am here to make sure that the children involved are not going to be... an issue. There were extenuating circumstances in their case for which forgiveness would be something that they could be given."

His full attention on her, the older man frowned, "Forgiveness for such things do not come easy, Fubuki-San. You must understand that... interruptions such as they caused can be problematic."

Fubuki tilted her head some in acknowledgment, "Hai, and that is understandable. But before I go any further, Ishida-San... what do you know of magic? And not shipgirls or Abyssals."

At the side, both of them could hear a young man mumble to himself, "Magic...?"

Glancing at him, Ishida smiled a bit before gesturing at the young man who blanched a bit as he realized he had spoken aloud, "You must forgive my grandson, I have not told him everything as of yet."

Lightly chuckling, Fubuki shook her head, "Ah, do not worry about it. For I understand how hard such a thing is to be believed and such an reaction is understandable. And at least he did not call me crazy for bringing it up."

Acknowledging it, the older man let out a hum, "Now, as to magic? I know of the wizards and witches, and of the Yokai. Being as we straddle both sides of the divide as it were with our business." Eyes narrowing slightly, he picked up another bite of food, "I take it that such was part of the issue?"

There was a frown on Fubuki's face as she nodded, "Hai. As it turned out, the ones who stole were all very young Yokai, children really. The one in my case being a Kitsune, but as I said there are extenuating circumstances." Pulling out a tablet, she typed in the password and pushed it forward, "One of my crew had a camera and we arrived early enough to catch quite a bit."

With a glance at her, Ishida began to play the video. Not commenting, he continued to eat as he watched it. As he did so, his eyes narrowed some and he shot a glance at one of the other men there, who gave a shake of his head with a frown of his own. Once it was done, he played it again, watching closer. Then, Ishida handed her back the tablet, "Interesting."

Accepting the tablet back, Fubuki pushed forward two memory sticks, "In these are a copy of the video and of the statements made by the children regarding what they were forced to do. Now, the wizard who was behind this, I should note, was not of yours. Rather, from what they got out of him while I was there, he was pretending to be such. Because then, if one of the children were caught, it would be harder for someone to pin on him as they would think that perhaps it was you or someone akin to you."

It said something that the old man's only real sign of his thoughts was how one of the muscles in his jaw worked. Eventually, he nodded, "I see, it is obvious that there are, as you said, extenuating circumstances here, I agree. Though there were some damages."

Rather than say anything, Fubuki reached into her purse and pulled out a small stack of bills, followed by a second. Both of which she pushed forward, "Yes, but this should cover the cost of such." An thick envelope joined them, "And they deeply apologized for any harm that they did."

Taking the money, Ishida noted that they were in American bills and nodded to himself, "Yes, that very likely covers that issue." Handing them off to one of the other men, who bowed and left, he turned back to Fubuki before taking the envelope and reading what was on the papers, which were written apologies. Something that caused him to smile lightly before nodding, "I believe that for the children we can put it up to bad choices made in the folly of youth. Ones that they have learned from, correct?"

A thin smile on her face, Fubuki nodded, "Hai, and I am glad that you accept their deepest apologies, Ishida-San. All they, and we, could hope for is for it to not be held against them. Especially as some may go on to serve our nation on the seas."

Eyebrow raising, Ishida realized what was unsaid, 'Natural Borns.' Instead of saying it, he simply tilted his head slightly before clearing his throat, "Now, while they are forgiven, this one behind the problems..."

Her smile becoming cold, Fubuki chuckled, "Yes, him I am not asking anything for." Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a picture and slid it across the table. Ishida took it and hummed as she continued, "Now then, his name..." Both of them continued talking for some time until the meal was finished. Once it was, Fubuki bowed deeply, which was returned, "I thank you again for taking time out of your day, Ishida-San for such an issue. And I am quite happy that we can put this behind us."

Slightly smiling, Ishida chuckled, "It is of no trouble, Fubuki-San. And if needed, we would be willing to help you with any issues regarding the children involved." Seeing the slight surprise, he gestured at the picture, "This... issue, is one that should never have happened. Thus, we owe them a little something."

All Fubuki did was nod and bow again, "Thank you, and perhaps I will ask for help."

With that, she left the room, following one of the staff members after paying the bill. For several minutes, the room was quiet before Ishida spoke softly, "Minato, my grandson... your friend from school, Hiroki-Kun, he is good with computers, yes?"

Bowing, his grandson nodded, "Hai, he is. While he is not involved with us in that way, he has helped before when I have had computer issues. Though nothing... sensitive."

Just nodding, Ishida handed him the photograph and memory sticks, "Have him make as many copies as he can. Money is of no object and I shall consider it a favor he has done us as I know he has had trouble. While he may not be one of us, and I will not involve him more than needed, he has done well by you as a friend. And for that, he has my thanks." Glancing at the photograph, his eyes narrowed, "Because for some things, there is no forgiveness..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

There was a knock.

Pausing to take a sip from her tea, Nagato looked up from the kotatsu. Sitting beside her, little Hoppou-Chan was hard at work (in her own special, adorable way) on her youngest daughters' reconfigurations, scribbling on some grid paper with different-colored crayons. "Who could that be, I wonder…"

The battleship rose from her seat and stepped over to the door. Opening it up, she was surprised to find herself craning her neck upward to meet an Abyssal Princess's face. "Tanith…?"

The daughter of Hoppou nodded, her expression solemn. "Hello, Grandmother." She brought a claw up and removed her hat, lowering her head. "Is Mother available? I need to... speak with her."

"Ah…" Nagato blinked a couple times, before returning the nod. "Yes, she's inside… we were just relaxing in the kotatsu." She stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Why don't you come in, sit down for a minute?"

"Thank you. I would appreciate that."

Tanith ducked under the door frame and followed Nagato into the domicile. "Hoppou-chan! One of your girls came for a visit!" The shipgirl announced.

Almost immediately, the pitter-patter of little feet could be heard approaching. Sure enough, Hoppou raced into the foyer, arms held out to either side. "Hi, Tanith!" She greeted her daughter brightly. "Hoppou felt her IFF on base, but didn't think Tanith was coming to visit!"

Tanith chuckled. "Well, I felt that it wasn't fair for you to always make the trip to our home instead of the other way around." Together, the three girls moved back to the kotatsu, with Hoppou huddling herself back under the covers. "So, regarding why I came here… my daughter and I happened across some items we felt should be brought to Mother.

"Oh?" Nagato hummed, tilting her head. "What kind of items?"

"You recall the incident a little while back, when two of Mother's children who were left behind on Unalaska as eggs, hitched a ride on a military transport to get to her?" Nagato nodded. "Well, that transport had been bringing over a collection of various items belonging to the Fleet of Laughter, that the Unalaskans recovered after the Great Scattering. My daughter and I went through the items yesterday, and we discovered something we felt should be passed on to Mother."

"I see…" Nagato smiled softly. "Thank you, Tanith. It was very thoughtful of you to go out of your way to bring back some of Hoppou-chan's belongings. So, what would those be?"

Tanith reached into her coat and pulled out a small plaque. "To start… this isn't the main reason I'm here, to be quite honest. But I thought you might appreciate this, Grandmother."

Nagato accepted the plaque quietly, taking a few moments to examine it, before her eyebrows rose. Her little girl won a chess tourney? Oh, this was absolutely going up on the wall! Trying not to let too much of her giddiness show outwardly, Nagato gave Tanith a nod and a smile. "My, this is a welcome surprise. Hoppou-chan is the chess club at school, of course, but I wasn't aware she had prior experience…"

"If you can call two days learning the rules and practicing 'prior experience'." The dreadnought chuckled. "That was all she needed to excel in the local tournament. There was also a bowling trophy for one of our late sisters among the recovered possessions, but we were not certain if you would want that too."

Nagato glanced to Hoppou, who shook her head. "No, I think you can hold onto that." She set the plaque aside. "But you said that that wasn't the primary item you had come here to deliver?"

Tanith's expression fell. "Yes. Among the items sent to us… there was a set of pictures. These pictures were extremely special… so I felt it critical that they were brought to her."

Quietly, Tanith produced a picture frame from her hold and offered it to her mother.

Hoppou's face went pale as she stared at the picture frame, depicting Hoppou herself posing with a group of Ta-classes. Slowly, a shaky mitten rose up to grab the frame. "Th-this…" she whispered. "You mean…?"

Tanith nodded solemnly. "Yes. They are all here." She produced almost a dozen more picture frames, stacking them on the kotatsu. "And they are all the original copies."

Nagato peered over what her adopted daughter held in her hands, as she hurriedly flipped it over and undid the clasps on the back. When Hoppou pulled the photo out of the frame, she froze at what was on the back of the photo—the names of each of the girls in the photo, in her own handwriting.

Nagato quickly understood—these were all photos of Hoppou's children. Every ship that had made up her Unalaskan fleet, alive and dead… all gathered together, frozen in a moment in time. A record, of all those loved and lost.

Already, Hoppou's eyes were glistening with tears. She sniffled as she ran a hand over the names. "Hoppou... never thought she'd get to see her girls like this again… thought the bad Abyssals destroyed it all…"

"Lord knows they tried," Tanith replied, shaking her head. "But they failed, miserably. Because our family gave their all, and more, to protect it."

Getting up from the kotatsu, Hoppou stepped around and hugged her daughter. "Thank you, Tanith," she said, fighting to keep her voice steady through the the pain, the joy and melancholy she felt. "With these… Hoppou can remember her girls as they were: alive, together, happy." She looked over to Nagato. "Does Mommy know when Big Brother gets home from training?"

"He should be back soon," Nagato answered. "Maybe an hour or so. Why?"

"Hoppou needs to ask Big Brother for a favor; want to ask wizard people a question." She wiped the tears from her eyes, a determined look setting into her face. "Hoppou will honor her girls… will honor their memory. The lives they lived, the lives they gave for Unalaska… the joy and love they felt… Hoppou wants to make sure they are never forgotten. With something much better than just pictures."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Butterknife of the Opera

Castle Moulbaix, Belgium.

Shortly After The Hunt For Norimune Concludes
Spoiler: It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...

Lightning slashed across the rain-filled night sky and the wind howled as Colombe hurried up the stairs of her ancestral castle. Even with a magical spell to ward off the downpour added to her umbrella she was still soaked to the bone by the time she reached the carved oak and threw the doors wide.

Another stroke of lightning backlit her in the entrance as she staggered inside, heralded by the crash of thunder as she dripped on the marble tiles of her entrance hall, lit only by the flash of lightning through the windows.

The rapier frowned at the sight as she slammed the doors shut and then gestured with the hand not holding the umbrella. "Lumos!" A sphere of blue witchlight formed above her hand.

"Guten Abend, Mutter." A soft voice spoke from the darkness above her and she turned to see the spectral face of Ehren illuminated by the candlelight of the candelabra that her youngest daughter held as she leaned over the second-floor balcony.

Colombe watched as the dagger's spirit, clad in a black dress with silver embroidery at her wrists, neck, and knee-length hemline, walked to Papa's portrait. The rapier gave a brief, fond smile as Ehren reached one of the wall sconces flanking the painting, placed unlit candles in the sockets from a box that she was carrying, and lit them with her candelabra. "Hello Ehren. The storm knocked out the power?"

"Ja. A quarter hour ago in fact. I am lighting candles while Kasuyu tries to get the backup generator running." Another thunderstroke rattling the windows punctuated the cool statement of fact as she lit the sconce on the far side. "How was your trip to Japan and do you need help bringing the luggage in from the car?"

Colombe sighed as she closed her umbrella up and hung it on a hook by the door. "Japan was...eventful. I found Norimune, finally, and also aunts I did not know existed. My luggage did not survive the trip."

Ehren gave her a cool stare. "Really?" The dagger's voice was quite flat as candlelight flashed on the silver of her true body at her waist.

"Yes, it was not my fault! Some maniacs after Delilah blew up the hotel room I had purchased! We had to borrow Aunt Akutoku's car to escape them when they started shooting at us ." Colombe looked up at the considering sets of eyes, painted and alive both judging her.

A wheat-blonde eyebrow elevated a millimeter above a measuring steel-blue eye. "Really?"

"All I did was provide the ramp that launched them off the road! Jackie was the one who crashed the car into the canal on Delilah's orders!! Not my fault!" Colombe gave her daughter and the portrait of her adopted father a pleading look.

"Really?" The eyebrow crept up another millimeter.

"The only thing that I was responsible for was destroying the courtyard when Tokunotakai challenged me!! Well also the fight with Norimune that I had but that was a totally justifiable matter of family honor!!"

Ehren walked to the head of the stairs, candlelight gleaming from her pale skin and paler hair. The candlelight made it appear for an instant - surely a trick of the light - that her lips turned up in a smile before returning to their thin, disapproving line as she spoke in a cool tone. "Tokunotakai? And I... we expected you back sooner. Claire has been quite worried."

Colombe sighed. "Dealing with the family took longer than I had planned. Both in terms of meeting people and healing my injuries afterward. Delilah is still there in Japan along with Jacklyn in fact. Tokunotakai is," The rapier's cheeks flushed slightly, "A Masamune katana's spirit that I met while over there. She was instrumental in helping us locate Norimune."

Ehren's voice chilled a fraction, "Really? Was that before or after she and you destroyed the courtyard?" She began to slowly descend the stairs, holding the candelabra high.

Colombe's blush deepened noticeably, "After, and she had valid reasons to do what she did. It was a matter of honor. I..."

The Rapier took a deep breath as Ehren placed the candelabra and box of candles down on the bottom step and began to glide across the floor. "I encountered her once before, during my first trip to Japan in 1864. I offered insult to her with my words and deeds and she sought closure of the matter. So she challenged me to a duel of honor when I returned to the temple where she is an instructor in swordplay."

Another deep breath as Ehren halted an arm's length away from Colombe. "Honor was satisfied and we came to an agreement. I shall be visiting periodically to test my steel against hers so we can learn from each other."

Ehren looked into her mother's eyes as yet another rattle of thunder shook the castle. The corner of her lip twitched minutely. "Really now?"

With those words, Ehren flash-stepped forward to tackle-hug Colombe. "Welcome home, Mother. Welcome home." The Dagger's voice was hoarse as her arms squeezed Colombe in an iron grip.

Colombe staggered slightly and then her arms embraced the dagger, holding her close to her sodden blouse. "It is good to see you too Ehren."

Several minutes later the two disengaged, Ehren wiping rainwater from her cheeks with the sleeve of her dress while Colombe gave a reminiscent smile at the candlelit stairs. "This reminds me of my girlhood, Ehren. We only got electricity in the 1950s after all."

The dagger nodded as she retrieved the candles and candelabra. "Claire is in the ballroom, of course." Ehren's lips curled up in a minute smile. "Composing, natürlich!"

Colombe laughed, "No doubt. Let's find your sister."

Thunder punctuated that statement, and neither spirit heard the creak of a wooden door opening in the distance.
Spoiler: ...Suddenly A Piano Played...

Colombe smiled at the sight as she entered the ballroom ahead of Ehren. Claire was clad in a pristine white ballroom dress and was playing a brooding piano piece with the rattle of the rain and wind on the windows as her backing bass section. Illuminated by a trio of floating candalabras, Claire could have stepped out of the pages of Stoker, Brontë, Poe, or Shelley's Gothic fiction as the virginal pure maiden threatened by darkness.

Claire turned her head and suddenly leapt from the piano in mid-piece to run to Colombe. "MOTHER!"

Colombe braced herself for the crushing impact as Claire hugged her close, not noticing the rare unguarded smile that Ehren had at the family reunion. She just hugged her eldest daughter close and then ruffled her hair. "I missed you too, Claire."

The Piano nodded as she stood on tiptoe to kiss Colombe's cheek, her tears of joy flowing. "It has been so long mother..."

Colombe smiled back, her own tears flowing. "Indeed it has, Claire. What were you playing?"

Ehren coughed, "Claire asked me to unlock your computer so she could purchase and download the sheet music for some Broadway musicals."

Claire nodded and released Colombe, blushing in embarrassment, "Oh yes, I started with Gershwin and Gilbert and Sullivan, and then found Andrew Lloyd Webber..."

Colombe nodded as they walked back to the piano, "I see. Think you could play a few of their songs for me?" Colombe glanced at Ehren. "For us, the candles can wait."

Ehren nodded, "Acceptable. I would not mind hearing some music to commemorate the homecoming."

Unnoticed by all, a shadow crept down the stairs as a cold gust guttered out the candles at its head.

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

Claire finished her most recent piece and then frowned, "It is just a transcription, of course. You need a full orchestra and singers to properly play Phantom of the Opera."

Colombe and Ehren applauded, "It was magnificent. Perhaps sometime we can go to Paris, London, or New York and see it on stage as a family."

Claire smiled and nodded, then spoke quietly. "Mother? The Phantom of the Opera is set in the Paris Opera House from when I was born. Did you... I mean is it real?"

Colombe opened her mouth and thought as Claire adjusted the sheets of music. "There were a lot of strange things that happened back in 1883 in the Opera House. Disappearances, deaths, hauntings, and I knew two people who when they bought the old furnishings in 1921 came to very bad ends. I would not be surprised if there was something magical going on."
Spoiler: The Butterknife Of The Opera

"Indeed!"

The doors to the ballroom slammed shut and locked themselves with a boom. The candlelight dimmed to faint circles of illumination as the air turned ice cold.

Colombe whirled, her hand flying to her hilt, then froze as her eyes widened in terrified shock. Illuminated by the flashes of lightning from the storm outside, a short and rotund man dressed in 1890s haute couture stood. One hand stroked his dagger beard as the other caressed the gold and steel of a very familiar rapier hilt. Her hilt.

"Hello, Aunt Colombe." Hippolyte Visart de Bocarmé du Chasteler said jovially from a century in her past. "It has been too long." His happy smile never reached his cold eyes.

Beside Colombe, Ehren spun in turn and then froze in dread. A figure from her past confronted her in turn and turned the blood in her veins to ice as he rested his hand on the hilt of his SS-Ehrendolch. Silver siegrunen, Adler, und Hakenkreuz glittered in the candlelight as black wool soaked it up in endless night.

"Guten Tag, Tochter, wie geht's in letzer Zeit?" Obersturmführer Helmer Wolff snapped out, his steel-gray eyes mercilessly measuring the spirit of his Honor Dagger as she trembled before him.

Claire's eyes widened at the sight of a man in tuxedo, tails, and a flowing red and black cape hefting a mostly sheathed katana in one hand. A smooth white porcelain mask covered half his face and dark eyes glittered at her as her fingers found her keys and she began to play in response to his unvoiced demand.

"My Angel of Music..." intoned the Phantom of the Opera.

"Beneath the opera house
I know he's there.
He's with me on the stage,
He's everywhere.
And when my song begins,
I always find
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind."

Claire sang as her body swayed to the music she was pouring out and the candles began to gutter and die one by one.

"Sing once again with me
Our strange duet.
My power over you
Grows stronger yet.
You'll give your love to me
For love is blind.
The Phantom of the Opera is now
Your mastermind."

The Phantom intoned as he glided closer toward the enchanted trio.

"Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear;
I am the mask you wear,"

Claire's song soared, her mahogany eyes opening wide and losing focus as the Phantom picked up the next line.

"It's me they hear..."

The Piano and the Phantom sang together in a duet, her passionate soprano voice and his cold contralto combining as the thunder and rain provided the pounding percussion beat backing the haunting sounds of the piano's music.

"Your/My spirit and my/your voice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my/your mind"

The Phantom halted just outside the circle of candlelight, and commanded darkly.

"Sing, my Angel of Music!"

"He's there... The Phantom of the Opera..."

Claire began to wail a wordless soprano accompaniment to the frantic pounding of her fingers upon her keys.

As the musical piece reached its terrifying climax, a thunderous bolt of lightning shook the castle and the room was plunged into darkness.

"Claire!!"

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

"Claire!" Colombe shouted as the paralysis broke and the electric lights came back on as Kasuyu started the generator. Her blade flashed from the scabbard as the click of metal on metal echoed through the ballroom.

Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a woman's face she had last seen in Japan. Inhumanly pale skin, dark hair, and cold blue eyes that had an endless abyss in their depths looked at her back at her with a neutral expression from her position just out of sword range.

"Hello Niece." Kagotsuruhe intoned.

Colombe's free hand flashed out and caught Ehren's wrist as the rapier's point lowered slightly. "Aunt Kago. I did not expect you. So Hippolyte...?"

Beside Colombe, Ehren slowly relaxed and swallowed twice, trying to regain her composure.

The elder Muramasa nodded. "Was me. I volunteered to notify you that Delilah had a Vanishing Cabinet installed between Norimune's farm and her residence. She had ordered one before her departure for Japan and I was testing it."

Colombe slowly sheathed herself. "Ehren, Claire, this is my aunt Muramasa-no-Kagotsuruhe, the Sword of Hopelessness. Aunt Kago, may I introduce my daughters. Claire du Chasteler is the eldest and is the spirit of her piano, while Ehren du Chasteler is my youngest and is the spirit of her SS-Ehrendolch dagger."

"A pleasure." Kagotsuruhe flickered through her library of faces before settling on a pleasant welcoming expression. "I trust you did not mind my introduction? It was too perfect not to pass up and I have a fondness for the theater."

Claire ran over to Kagotsuruhe and hugged the Muramasa. "It was great! We have to do that again sometime!"

The rest of the family, Colombe thought, would never believe that she had actually seen the most terrifying and demonic of their sisterhood actually be this visibly surprised.

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

"Hey, Renita… you feeling okay?"

The Re-class blinked. She looked up to see Wonderous gazing down at her with a concerned expression. "H-huh?"

"I just noticed you'd been sitting here for quite a while, with a sort of vacant look on your face. Is something wrong?"

Renita looked around herself, taking in her surroundings. She was in the cabin area, sitting on a bench off to the side. Nearby, she could see some of the hybrid children playing with a ball. "I…" She began, quietly. "N-no. I just… zoned out, is all."

The Wo-class sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Just so you know… you don't need to hide your problems from us. We're your family, after all. If something's upsetting you, just tell us."

Looking her older sister in the eyes, Renita let out a small sigh of resignation. "...Do you think… I'll ever be able to live a normal life, again... after everything that's happened to me?" She asked.

Wonderous frowned. "Of course you will, sis. You have all of us here to help you; give you a shoulder to cry on, to make you smile and laugh, and enjoy yourself... to help you remember the good times, making sure the bad times can't haunt you anymore." She tilted her head. "Why are you asking such a question? What's got you so down?"

Renita raised a hand, pointing to the kids playing ball. "The children. I've… watched them, since they arrived here. They're so young, and they've been through so much… they lost their homes, their families. They were tortured, experimented on. They're going to be like this for the rest of their lives…" Renita hung her head, her expression pained… or was that jealousy? "And yet… they can move on. After all they've suffered… they can still find it in themselves to enjoy life, to be happy. They're not broken on the inside... like me."

"And you don't think you can do the same?"

The Re-class shook her head. "I don't know. There are parts of me… that can never be fixed." She brought a hand to her chest. "Mama told me… my heart is damaged. Something even she can't repair. You really believe I can overcome that?"

Wonderous sighed, pulling her sister closer. "Nobody said that your recovery would be easy, Renita… but if you convince yourself you'll never heal, then you won't. You can't let yourself lose confidence and faith, just because these kids are having an easier time overcoming their trauma. They're kids—they still have years to grow and mature ahead of them, to come to terms with their new bodies and lives.

"So maybe you ARE messed up inside. So what? You still have your family here to support you no matter what; we'll find a way to make things work out. I can't tell you just how long it will take—months, years—and I can't tell you what hardships you may endure along the way… but I swear to you, Renita, the day will come when you will be able to smile and laugh again, like you used to so long ago. Understand?"

Wonderous couldn't help but feel a sting of pain in her heart, seeing her sister so torn. She hated being forceful like this, when Renita was so obviously sensitive… but it seemed like she NEEDED someone to kick her out of her funk every now and again, to ensure she couldn't backslide into full depression once more. Finally, though, Renita responded, her voice small and meek. "...Okay." She nuzzled against the Wo-class slightly. "Thank you."

Renita suddenly flinched as she felt something bump against her leg. Looking down, she saw the children's' ball had landed nearby, coming to a stop at their feet. A boy with a Re-class tail trotted up to the pair and grabbed the ball, looking apologetic. "Sorry about that. We're not… bugging you, are we…?" He asked.

"Uh… n-no," Renita said. "No, you didn't bother us. We're fine."

The boy cocked his head. "You looked like you were sitting around just watching for a while," he said. "Do you… want to play with us, or something?"

"I…" Renita looked to Wonderous for a moment who simply gave her a supporting nod, before taking a deep breath and turning back to the kids.

"Sure. I think that would be nice."

XXXXXXXXXX

Having lived with Renita for so long, watching her deteriorate to the point that death would be a release from her suffering, Fluffy was convinced she had seen the lowest someone could fall.

Seeing those mutilated children hadn't changed her mind... but it was giving her some perspective on the matter. Limbs hacked off and replaced with mismatched Abyssal parts, bits of rigging pointlessly grafted onto human bodies, chunks of their innards ripped out and replaced to accommodate Abyssal symbiotes… it was utterly horrific to see. She knew Abyssals were capable of a lot of evil… but what had been done to those children was beyond heinous.

Whatever soulless, depraved Princess had done it, Fluffy hoped they met a grisly end.

"So, right around here, right?" A whisper.

Fluffy looked over to the Re-class beside her… not Renita, but Regalia. She couldn't help but think about how different the two battlecarriers were—one was petite but shapely, quiet and melancholy; the other tall and slender, full of energy. "Yeah… yeah, I'm pretty sure I marked one of these trees…"

Fluffy looked around her, taking in the appearance of the trees. Eventually she pointed to a splotch of dried mud splattered against the nearest redwood, high off the ground. "There. I slapped some mud on that tree the other day. I figured that putting it up way higher than any animals could manage would help it to stand out."

Regali hummed thoughtfully. "Good idea, actually. Even better than using paint to mark the tree, because we can just hose it off if we don't need to remember this spot later."

"Hm." Feeling something wiggling around on her thigh, Fluffy looked down and finger-flicked the sentient life ring she'd clipped to her belt to calm it down. "So what do we do, now?"

"You managed to lead us to the pigs' nest, so your part of the job is complete. For now, you can just sit back and watch the fireworks." Regalia unslung her knapsack and handed it off to the Princess, followed by her scarf and parka. Now clad only in her bikini, the Re-class turned back to the small group of Abyssals that had followed them here to assist in securing the nest. "You guys try to spread out a bit. I'm going to wrap around and drop in on the nest from the opposite side, scare them all towards you for roundup."

With that, Regalia was off. She dropped to all-fours and slunk off into a nearby bush, somehow barely making a sound. Not ten seconds later, Fluffy's eyes widened as she saw the Re-class scurry up the side of a tree further away, then hop to a neighboring trunk in almost complete silence. "How is she doing that…?" She couldn't help but ask in disbelief.

Next to her, Rivet huffed in amusement. "Three-plus years being stuck on this island, unable to leave, meant Regalia has had a lot of time to get good at moving around on land… and protecting her crops from wild pigs, chasing them off, has taught her to get creative with her mobility. She's a sweet, gentle girl, but make no mistake—she has a predator's instincts."

Fluffy could only stare after the nimble Re-class, awestruck, until she vanished from sight. A minute or so passed, with little to no activity; aside from having to take cover from a wandering hog so it didn't alert the rest of the nest, all was still.

Then came the resounding boom of something heavy hitting the earth… followed up by a sound that shook the Princess to her very core.


"Oh hell yeah, IT'S GO TIME!!" Rivet cried out, immediately breaking into a sprint. The other Abyssals split off and spread out, but otherwise more or less followed after the Ri-class. As the echo of the roar (and the ringing in her ears) faded, Fluffy immediately became aware of a number of animals screaming bloody murder… and coming in their general direction.

"Got one!" Rivet quickly called out.

"Gotcha, bitch!" Another shouted.

"Hey, I got some piglets here!" A third relayed.

All around Fluffy, the Abyssals were scrambling, quickly snatching up as many of the fleeing pigs as they could. From the callouts, the Princess supposed there had to be one, maybe two dozen of the critters; they probably weren't going to catch all of them, but with luck, they'd get enough to ensure this nest would no longer pose a significant threat to Regalia's crops.

That aside… Fluffy had to admit, it was kinda fun watching the girls leaping around, divebombing all over the forest to get their hands on the swine and grapple them into submission.

After only a couple minutes, it seemed like the raid had concluded—she could no longer hear any pigs running around screaming. Rivet stumbled into view, looking rather ragged. "Okay, I think that's the end of it. Everyone rally up!" Soon enough, the other disheveled Abyssals returned to the group; counting up their catches, the girls had reined in at least twenty hogs for all sizes. Not bad, given this was their first time hunting pigs in a coordinated group.

Making their way to the nest to check on Regalia, the girls found her sitting cross-legged on the ground, covered in mud—mud that did little to hide the fact her breasts were now completely bare. "Can someone give me a hand...?" she groaned. "The big mama bullrushed me, and I lost my top in the chaos." Though some of the girls snickered, they nonetheless joined the Re-class in scouring the dirt and mud for her missing article of clothing.

As they did that, Fluffy walked around the region of the nest, examining it. She wasn't able to get a really close look at the pigs' habitat when she first scouted it out, so she wanted to take the opportunity to satisfy her curiosity. It was more complex than she had initially thought—there were burrows dug partially into the ground, shrouded with hay and twigs in one spot, and in another spot was a puddle of mud… which for some reason felt off to her. Anyway, that must have been Regalia's landing spot, judging from how mud been thrown around everywhere. On a whim, she stepped over to the mud pit and examined it, looking for Regalia's top.

But then, she realized… she could feel the ground beneath her rumbling.

"Hey, Regalia?" Fluffy asked hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"How heavy were you when you hit the ground?"

Regalia tilted her head. "I'm not sure. Maybe… ten, fifteen percent of my mass? It was just to make a really hard landing, to scare any pigs that were too close from charging me… not that that worked." She sighed. "Why do you ask?"

Fluffy slowly turned to the Re-class, feeling the rumble growing rapidly under her feet.

"I think this mud came from underground… and you just cracked open the source of it."

No sooner had the words left Fluffy's lips, the ground beneath her exploded… enveloping her in a spout of water that rose dozens of feet into the air.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Inside of her enclosed bike, Fubuki pedelled as she drove along the roads of Sapporo away from her meeting with the Yakuza. Once she was far enough away, she pulled into an empty parking lot and came to a stop. Not getting out of her vehicle, the Destroyer let all the tension escape her as she leaned forward against the handlebars and shuddered. All the while, she was taking deep breaths as she attempted to calm herself from what had just happened.

Never had she been so scared or nervous, even if she did not show it.

Somehow, even all her battles against the Abyssals had not affected her like what had just happened. As a shipgirl, she had been in dozens, hundreds of battles where she could have died. Where her comrades and friends might have died, as well as innocents. And yet, for some reason, none of that felt as important as the "Battle" she had just left. Like the cost for defeat would have been so much more than any of the other fights she had been in. It was... confusing. And it also meant that she had a lot of stress built up.

Only now, that she was out of sight of everyone was she able to release the pressure. Fubuki did not cry, because she felt no need to. However, her shoulders still shook as she sat there in the empty parking lot. With a shaking hand, she brought up her finger and turned on the radio, from which smooth Jazz came from. Slowly, very slowly, the shakes in her limbs lessened. With every deep breath, more and more of the stress, the nervousness, the worries, and the fear seeped away.

Here, where no one was around to see her, Fubuki finally was able to let go.

Minutes ticked by as she sat there until she felt a touch on her cheek and turned to find a Fairy there with a concerned look on his face, "Desu? Desu desu desu?"

Running a hand through her hair which had been immaculate when she had left the resturant, Fubuki nodded, "Hai, Yamashita-Kun. Just... I'm sorry for how I am reacting." What she did not expect was for her last Captain to frown at her before lightly smacking her ear, "Ow!"

As she rubbed it, Yamashita crossed his arms and gave her a look before shaking a finger at her, "Desu, desu desu desu! Desu! Desu desu desu desu desu desu!"

Just blinking, Fubuki stared at him for a moment, "I... don't have anything to apologize for?"

The fairy shook his head and scoffed, "Desu."

Chewing her lip, Fubuki looked away, "But..."

However, feeling a hand gently pat her cheek, she turned to find that Yamashita's expression had softened. More than that, her other Captains and some of her crew where also out and visible. All of them gave her soft smiles and the like as they shook their heads, Yamashita speaking for them all, "Desu. Desu desu desu desu."

While her last Captain spoke, Fubuki just blinked away some tears. But it was the smile on her face as she sniffled a bit, "Really? You... you're all proud of me? Because of what I did and how I handled myself?" That got her nods from her fairies and she blushed, "Thank you."

Simply nodding, Yamashita smiled before his expression turned pensive, "Desu? Desu desu desu desu?"

At the question that she had just been asked, the Destroyer became confused, "How am I feeling about... what is going to happen to Rokurou?" When he nodded, Fubuki turned and frowned in thought, "I'm... not exactly concerned with that, besides a bit of satisfaction."

Eyebrow raised, her Captain frowned, "Desu?"

Blinking, Fubuki looked at him, "Why?" Getting a nod, she hummed, "Well, for one thing, he cannot hurt the kids any more. Not with what is going to happen. And..." Her hands clenched a bit and shook from the spike of anger that made her boilers flare, "He was using them, the children, to do deeds that he would not do himself. And threatening them with death... but even that aside, I wouldn't have pointed the Yakuza except for one thing." Turning, the Destroyer narrowed her eyes some, "What he said to me, about how the kids were still going to be killed even though they had done nothing! Innocents killed simply to sooth some person's ego and inflated sense of self-importance! And to reclaim honour that he obviously never had. That..."

When she trailed off, Yamashita looked at her, "Desu?"

Fubuki let out a sigh and shook her head, "That changed things for me. At that point, he was a threat and one that would not stop until he got his 'Honour' back. So... I handed over the matter to those who would be best to deal with it, that was all. Nothing more, nothing less." Looking out her windshield at the snowy landscape that was Sapporo in late January heading into February, she shook her head, "I know what is going to happen to him, but... I don't really feel bad about it. He made his own grave, dug it deep. This just means that Fu-Chan and the others will be safe, and in the end that is what matters."

Unseen by her, Yamashita's lips curled upwards a bit, "Desu? Desu desu desu desu desu..."

Cheeks flushing, Fubuki glared at him, "I-I am not acting like a Okaa-San!"

Voice now taking on a teasing tone, her last Captain jumped into her hull once more, "Desu desu desu desu desu desu~ Desu desu desu!"

With that, he was gone and left behind a flustered and annoyed Fubuki. Not helped by the fact that the other fairies also disappeared with their own comments, which only worsened things for Fubuki. Once they were gone, the Destroyer slumped in her seat and huffed, "I am not acting like a Okaa-San. Baka crew and Captains..." Feeling better despite that, she sat back and placed her feet back onto the pedals before leaving the parking lot. Driving along, she noticed a bakery and blinked some in thought as there was also a burger place nearby. For a moment, Fubuki hummed some before pulling in to park, "They are likely hungry, I would think. Especially as they have not been eating all that well, so best I pick something up for them."

For some odd reason, she felt like her Captains and crew were amused and snickering.

Sometime later, she pulled up to the gate for the "Sapporo Shipgirl Base". Not that it was too much, really. There was a small administration building, along with a building that reminded Fubuki of some of the motels she had seen on trips to the United States where shipgirls could rest and sleep. Besides that, there was a bathouse/repair dock and a warehouse with that being all. That last bit was important because unlike places like Yokosuka, the shipgirls who mostly stopped by were not warships. Rather, they were returned cargo vessels and the like coming up and down the coastline. They would arrive at the "Base" and get offloaded before resting for a time and then getting new cargo loaded onto them. Hence, it was mostly civilian contractors who worked there, and they lived in Sapporo.

Despite being a port city, Sapporo didn't need a huge base like most such places elsewhere in Japan. The nearest major shipgirl base was in Ōminato to the south, thus usually, the base was mostly used for the returned cargo shipgirls or for those escorts waiting for a small coastal convoy to form up.

Just shaking her head, Fubuki waited for the gate to be opened before heading inside the base. Pulling into the parking lot near the dorms, she parked and got out. Rather than leave it there though, the Destroyer reached out her hand and picked up her velomobile and did something that often made people's eyes itch. Feeling her vehicle being strapped to her deck by her crew, she walked into the dorms with a smile on her face, "Hey, everyone."

Almost immediately, a number of eyes snapped to her and widened. Within moments, she found herself being swarmed by a number of small bodies all shouting the same thing as they glomped her, "FUBUKI-SAN!"

Lightly laughing, she just shook her head and patted the backs of the various children there, "Hey! It's okay!" Eyes softening as she gently patted their heads, she chuckled, "I'm fine." Her eyes wide, Fu-Chan looked at her before grabbing one of the Destroyers hands. It took a few seconds before she realized why and shook her head, "I'm fine, Fu-Chan."

As her head was patted, the Kitsune sniffled and looked up, "Really?"

Simply pulling her into a hug, Fubuki nodded, "Hai, I am sure, Fu-Chan." Taking a deep breath, she let it out, "Everything is good and I sorted it all out in the end. All of you are perfectly safe from the Yakuza now."

The Destroyer caught Yuudachi's eye, the two having a silent conversation for several moments before the Shiratsuyu just nodding with a thin smile. Feeling two arms around her, Fubuki looked down to find that Fu-Chan was hugging her tightly, "I'm glad that you're alright, Fubuki-San. E-even though it was our fault you had to do that..."

Only shaking her head, the shipgirl sighed, "It is not your fault..." Looking up, her gaze met that of the other children, "Any of your faults. The one at fault was the man who made you do all that." With a smile, she gestured them away, "Now then, it's time for lunch and I brought some."

Various children boggled at her with the Neko often hanging around Fu-Chan looking at her with wide eyes, "R-really? But we ate just a few hours ago..."

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Fubuki felt a flash of anger once more which would have immolated a certain wizard if it could have. But the moment was there and gone just as quick. Instead, she chuckled, "Well, good thing that I am here than. All of you need to eat as much as possible after all! You're all growing children after all. So you need plenty to eat if you're going to become big and strong."

Eyes still wide with surprise, the children just nodded and clustered around her. Unable to help herself, Mutsuki giggled a bit as Fubuki began to hand out burgers and the like she brought from her holds. Getting an odd look from the other Destroyer though, Mutsuki shook her head, "It's nothing, Fubuki-Chan."

After a few moments, Fubuki shrugged it off even as Kisaragi giggled next to her sister. Once the food was given out, Kana also poured glasses of milk for all the children which they thanked her for. While that was happening, Fubuki sat down on the couch only to blink as she felt someone sit in her lap. Blinking, she could only shake her head as she realized that it was Fu-Chan claiming pride of place in said lap. On one side, Natsuki, the Neko that Fu-Chan was always with cuddled up to her with a plate in the Yokai's lap. Two more, the Oni twins Akari and Atsuko took up the rest of the couch on either side of Fubuki.

With a small chuckle that got her looks, she glanced around. Part of her was amused that Yuudachi had a young Inugami in her lap eating while Mutsuki and Kisaragi had Nekos in theirs, with said Yokai being only four and the youngest. Kana, meanwhile, had the only two boys in the group, one of whom was a bear Yokai and the other being a Sarugami from what Fubuki could tell. From what they had been told, the two boys had often tried to protect their "Sisters" best that they could.

Something that Fubuki could well tell with the scars they both had.

The other children were scattered here and there eating in the room. Leaning back, Fubuki just smiled and closed her eyes even as she placed her arms around Fu-Chan's midsection. Something that made the Kitsune blush some, though also smile as her tail wagged. Much to the children's surprise though, Fubuki was not done as she pulled out cupcakes once they were all done eating. Jaw dropping, Fu-Chan looked at her, "Is... is that for us too?"

Nodding, Fubuki smiled, "Hai, it is." Winking, she smiled, "After all, you've all been good so you deserve a treat."

Yet again, she was treated to the kids trying to hug her at once while thanking her.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

yukicrewger2 said:
Does Ayanami have a buster sword style blade like her Azur Lane counterpart?
Spoiler: Regular
Spoiler: Retrofit
Spoiler: Rock n Roll skin

the only downside is I can't make a "now THAT is a katana" reference.​

*-*-*-*-*-*

Ayanami scrutinized the picture on the laptop for a few seconds more before turning to Sazanami. "You think I can actually get one of those somewhere?" she asked.

"Uh..." Sazanami frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know. I don't think it's forged like a normal sword. Looks more like some kind of advanced technology. Though... you could probably use magic to fake it?" She shook her head. "Nah. I don't think it's really worth it."

"It's not?" Ayanami shook her head in disbelief. "Sazanami, that is a sword."

"... I know?"

"No, no, no, you don't understand." Ayanami pointed to the screen again. "That is a sword. More than that, it is unique. There is none other like it. There are many swords like it, but it is mine and mine only. With this, I join the ranks of those with true might, and am awesome in their midst. And that! Is!"

The door opened and closed. "I'm back!" Mrs. Nagawa yelled as she walked into the kitchen. "Asagiri's going to be here for dinner, too, so, I'm making a little extra just in case. Could you girls clear the--"

"Can't talk right now, I'm drunk on power!" Ayanami crowed, bolting from the house so fast that she almost forgot to put her shoes on. As her sister and mother stared at the door, a faint high-pitched cackle could be heard fading away on the afternoon wind.

"Drunk on the fumes of power, more like," Sazanami sighed, closing her laptop.

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Nagawa said, slightly befuddled, "what was that about?"

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777
*-*-*-*
Darthcourt note - this is how the Van may turn out character-wise
*-*-*-*
Sometime in the future...

A young woman awoke with a surprised gasp. She remembered somehow that she used to be a Ford Econoline van, modified for a special event. In her mind, images flashed before her eyes, of spending weeks on end slowly following a young man, a runner with curly hair and only one leg. Equipped with a prosthetic leg that was only meant for walking, the young man in his early 20s had a distinct "skip-hop" as he ran in rain, sun, and even snow. She remembered as the young man would spend every night inside her for rest, as his friends adapted to his mood swings, his bouts of hopelessness as he sometimes wondered if this was all worth it.

Eventually, she was discovered by volunteers who had been maintaining her years after the young man passed on. They had realized who she was and soon, she was being interviewed and given an overview of events that occurred in her country as well as the rest of world in the years since that young man dipped his prosthetic leg in St. John's, Newfoundland to mark his legendary run.

She read with tears as she read of the medical breakthroughs discovered since that famous run which sadly ended near Thunder Bay, Ontario as cancer had spread to his lungs. The very cancer that took away the young man's leg and later his life was now far more survivable. That form of cancer, that once had a 15% survival rate, now had survival rates of over 70%. It was widely believed that the young man she had supported during those years, left a mark in Canada and around the world, as millions continued to run and raise money for cancer research, funding the research that saved countless others from that very same disease. By 2019, over $750 million dollars was raised through the annual runs named in that young man's honour.

When she finished adjusting to her new life, a spark of determination would be ignited in her soul. Her mission now was to continue on the legacy of that young man, to continue to support fundraising for cancer research. To give hope to the millions that continue to be affected by cancer.

She was after all known as the Van of Hope.

Spoiler: more information

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

XenoTekker said:
I get the feeling that everyone's going to be making fun of Fubuki being a mombote for the foreseeable future.​

Probably doesn't sync that well to anything, but I'm riding an emotion again.

-----

"Mou!" Fubuki whined, throwing the rock she was holding. Rather than it skipping out over the surface of the water, it disappeared with a crack. "I can't take it anymore! Fubuki-mama this, Fubuki-mama that! I'm not a mother, or anything like that!"

Leaning down, Goto selected a rock of his own. "Is it really that much of a problem?" he asked, tossing it absent-mindedly from hand to hand. "I hear that being a mother is a wonderful thing."

Fubuki whirled to face him, primed to fire a retort, but it just as quickly faded away as she made eye contact. "You're not just saying that?" she asked sarcastically, stepping past him as he wound up to throw.

"Of course not," Goto replied, letting loose. The angle was wrong, and it disappeared beneath the smooth water with a tiny "plop." "It's almost as wonderful as being a father, I'm told." Fubuki huffed and rolled her eyes. "You know, when I think about it..." He shoved his hands in his pockets, watching the spot where his stone disappeared. "... when I think about it, I don't think there's any honor greater than being a parent."

"Yeah, but I never asked to be a parent," the destroyer grumbled. Goto turned to face her, she was walking towards the edge of the water with a new rock. He walked past her casually. "I just... I helped them out, and I've got to care for them, I'm basically responsible for them, but... I'm not their mother!"

"Closest thing some of them know to one, though," the admiral pointed out. Fubuki's arm, held out to throw, went slack.

"That's not fair," she mumbled under her breath, just loudly enough for him to hear.

"Life isn't really, when you think about it," he replied, walking over to her again. "Fubuki, I know that the circumstances are... unusual, and that you're pretty frustrated right now, but..." his hand came down on her shoulder, and while she made a token effort to shrug it off, she didn't succeed or try again. "But for what it's worth, I think that you'd make the best mother that any of them could hope for. That's the truth."

Fubuki was quiet. But the stone she threw after he stepped away from her skipped three times before sinking beneath the water.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Watching as Fu-Chan ate the last few crumbs of cupcake, though also saddened that she did so, Fubuki smiled, "Well? How was it?"

Just licking her lips, the Kitsune smiled up at her, "Yummy!" Tail wagging, she giggled, "Really yummy, Fubuki-San."

Beside her, Natsuki nodded with a hum, "It was really good!" Licking her fingers, the Neko's ears twitched a bit, "I liked it."

The other children commented that they really liked it as well, which made the Destroyer nod. But it was then that Fubuki noticed something and giggled which got Fu-Chan to blink and cock her head to the side, "Um, what?"

Pulling out a cloth, Fubuki wet it down some, "You have some chocolate icing on your face." Gently, she wiped at the icing smeared cheeks, cleaning them. For her part, the Kitsune closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, a slight wetness between her closed eyelids as she was reminded so much of her own mother. Once Fubuki was finished, she nodded, "There we go, all clean..."

Fu-Chan opened her eyes to see Fubuki turn to her friend and begin cleaning her face before she went on to clean the faces of the two Oni. It was something that made her smile even as her heart hurt from the memories of what she had lost, 'Okaa-San...'

However, Fubuki didn't know any of this and simply nodded even as she watched the others do the same outside of Kana. Because the two boys with the Battleship wiped their own faces off, though they had smiles on their faces. Done cleaning the icing and crumbs from Akari's face, she nodded, "There we go, all clean." It was then that she noticed the looks on Fu-Chan's face as well as the other faces of the children, "Is something wrong?"

Chewing her lip, Fu-Chan hummed a bit, but it was Natsuki who answered, "Um... Fubuki-San? W-what happens to us now? I mean..." Playing with her fingers, she looked down a bit, "I mean, you said that we weren't going to one of the magical orphanages..."

The Destroyer blinked some in thought, "What happens now?" At their nods, to their confusion she slapped her forehead, "I knew that I forgot to mention something to all of you! Ugh... that's my fault."

Lost, the Sarugami in Kana's lap blinked and frowned as he shook his head in confusion, "Um, forgot? Forgot what, Fubuki-San?"

With a sigh, Fubuki looked over at him, "Well... that I was going to tell you what was going to happen. With how everything has been moving so quick, it slipped my mind. And for that, I am sorry." Bowing best that she could with Fu-Chan still in her lap, the shipgirl straightened with an unsure smile, "Anyways, I was talking with Teitoku last night regarding everything, and... I'm going to be bringing you back to Yokosuka, like I said, with us."

Jaw dropping, Natsuki looked at her in awe, "R-really? We're going to be going to Yokosuka?" At the nod, she blinked, "But... where are we going to live?"

Softly snorting, Yuudachi smiled at them when they turned to her, "Why, with us, Poi! Fubuki-Chan already sorted things out and one of the Officer residences will be where we're going to be living." At seeing Fubuki look at her, the red eyed Destroyer smiled, {We're not going to leave you all alone with them, Fubuki-Chan! You should know us all better than that by now!}

From where she sat, the lone Battleship of the group nodded, {Hai! We're going to be backing you up the whole way, Fubuki-Senpai!}

As both Mutsuki and Kisaragi chimed in over radio, Fubuki felt her eyes wet a little as she smiled and nodded, {Thank you, all of you. You're the best friends and family that I could ask for.} When they nodded, she turned to Fu-Chan and the others who looked lost, "I... understand that this is a big change. And that you have all been living in Hokkaido, maybe Sapporo, for all your lives. You likely got friends and the like elsewhere in the city who you'll miss and-"

However, she was interrupted as the bear Yokai, Daichi, shook his head and spoke up with a somewhat unsure voice, "We... don't really have any friends, Fubuki-San. Not outside..." He glanced around and continued, "Not outside the rest of us here."

Eyes widening, Fubuki stared at him for a few seconds before her expression softened, "I see." Looking at each one of them, she smiled, "Does that go for the rest of you?" When they nodded and looked down, she lightly chuckled, "Then it is going to be a good thing that I am sure that all of you will be getting plenty of good friends at Yokosuka."

Rapidly nodding, Yuudachi grinned, "Yeah! There's going to be so many people who will want to become friends with you, Poi! Trust us!"

That brought some smiles to various faces. But then, Fu-Chan frowned and furrowed her eyebrows in thought, "Um... you said that we were going to live in Yokosuka? At an Officer's residence?"

With a hum, Fubuki adjusted the Kitsune sitting in her lap some, "That's right, in particular one of the family residences that are there. You'll have to share rooms, though Daichi-Kun and Yoshi-Kun are going to have a room just for the two of them as they're boys. But... there will be room there for you all. And the parks and such where you can play as well as places where you can run around and be yourselves without hiding what you are." Awed looks crossed the various children's' faces at that as well as happiness, which made the shipgirl chuckle, "So hopefully that is good enough."

Sniffling, the pink haired Neko in Kisaragi's lap wiped at her eyes, "T-thank you... Fubuki-San..."

Gently, Kisaragi wiped at her face, "Fubuki-Chan is like that, and we'll all help with it." Kissing the Neko's brow, she continued, "And we'll make sure that all of you get the sort of life that will make you happy." After a few moments, she hummed and nodded, "Of course, we're going to need to go shopping once we're back in Yokosuka."

Blinking, Mutsuki turned to her sister, "Shopping? Didn't you get them clothes that they needed last night?"

The Destroyer felt Fubuki's eyes on her and shuddered a bit, 'Scary...' Waving her arms, Kisaragi shook her head, "Actually, I bought at least three changes of clothes for everyone! Even though they are sort of plain..." Ignoring the comments from the children that they loved them, she hummed, "But we need to get them better clothes as well! Not to mention things like dressers for their bedrooms, beds... because bunk beds will be a must! And all sorts of things!" Pumping her fist, Kisaragi nodded, "Because they deserve the best that we can give them!"

Lightly blushing, Fu-Chan looked down at her lap with a small, happy smile as she felt her throat constrict. Feeling a hand lightly ruffling her hair, she looked up to find Fubuki looking at her in concern, "Are you alright, Fu-Chan?"

Rapidly, the Kitsune nodded, "Uh-huh..." It was then that she noticed that Fubuki looked like she was thinking about something, "Um, are you alright, Fubuki-San?"

Just blinking as she snapped out of it, Fubuki looked at her for a few moments before sighing, "Well... I have been thinking about how to tell you all something. It was something that we fully realized after we brought you back, and it has nothing to do with my choice to take care of you all... but it is important that you know from me and not from someone else. Because I know that if I don't tell you, someone else will."

Unsure, the various children looked at each other before Atsuko reached over and took Fubuki's hand in hers, "Fubuki-San, it... it is okay if you don't want to tell us..."

However, Fubuki shook her head and patted the young girl's hand, "No, because it would not be fair to you." Giving it some more thought, she finally nodded, "As shipgirls, we can see things to a deeper level if we so wished. For example, if I was to look at a disguised Yokai, I could see what they really were if I looked closely. In such cases, there is always a... sixth sense, I suppose, telling us that we should look closer."

From her position on Kisaragi's lap, the neko's eyes widened, "Oh wow! That is so cool, isn't it, Ayame-Nee!"

The other Neko, in Mutsuki's lap nodded, "Hai, Akane-Nee! That is soo cool!"

Lightly laughing, Fubuki nodded, "I suppose that it is rather cool, you two. And useful..." Her expression turned pensive, "But... it can do more than show us a Yokai's true form. It can also show us a shipgirl's hull. Including those who are shipgirls reincarnated in this life as Natural Borns..."

Jaw dropping, Yoshi pieced it together, "Some of us are Natural Borns!"

Slowly, the Destroyer nodded, "Hai, some of you are. I want you all to know that I didn't realize this until after we got you all away from that place." Gently, she patted Fu-Chan's head, "You, Fu-Chan are some sort of late war Destroyer. I don't quite recognize the hull design yet, but it is there."

Yuudachi had a grin on her face as she stroked the head of the Inugami in her lap, "And so is Kasumi-Chan here, Poi!"

Much to the others amusement, Kasumi had a grin much like Yuudachi's on her face, "Awesome!"

Only shaking her head, Mutsuki looked down at the Neko in her lap, "And you Ayame-Chan are what looks like an enlarged Escort Ship, but with torpedo launchers added. Same with Akane-Chan."

Turning, Fubuki patted Natsuki's head gently, "I'll mention that both Akari-Chan and Atsuko-Chan look sort of like Akatsuki class... but with modifications to them. As for Natsuki-Chan." Smiling down at her, she shook her head, "The best that I can think of is... sort of like that new shipgirl who showed up in Yokosuka, Momo-Chan. A stretched version of a Thonburi style hull to put some AA guns on, but... also different." Leaning in, she hummed, "Instead of the Third year type 20 cm/50 caliber guns, she has the 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type that Mogami-San and her sisters had."

Eyes wide, Fu-Chan turned to her stunned friend and grabbed her hand, "That is awesome, Natsuki-Chan! With guns like that, the two of us will kick so much tail!"

Deeply flushing, Natsuki nodded, "H-hai, Fu-Chan. We will."

With a hum, Fubuki patted her head, "Now that said? We're not going to awaken you any time soon." At the looks of confusion, she shook her head, "We don't exactly need to awaken you quite yet. Also..." Eyes softening, she met their gaze, "I want you all to have a good childhood, not thrown into the war."

Each of the children nodded at that even as they hugged her.

 

[darthcourt10]

TempestK

Harry Leferts said:
snip​

Kansha looked up from where he was securing some late-night leftovers. The kitchen staff had accepted the "new hire" with a little trepidation, but after he'd shown his chops during the lunch and dinner rushes they'd eased up a bit.

He kept getting odd looks from some of the shipgirls, but he ignored it in favor of doing his job to the best of his ability. The Old Man and Sojiro-kun deserved nothing less in their memory. But just now he'd felt a... not quite a premonition, but a sense of anticipation. Sometimes he thought that Sojiro-kun might have been a... a whaddayacallit, a squib with a gift for foresight, given his ability to anticipate Muramasa's meal demands at times.

A talent that had rubbed off on Kansha, but only in the faintest sense that he was able to anticipate when large orders were going to be coming in. This had felt kind of like that, but with an undercurrent of protectiveness.

Shaking his head, he finished packing the last of the "snack bentos" for shipgirls to grab if they came in late and hungry, and then headed for the shelves that were groaning with cookbooks. They weren't the supposedly fabled Potter Family Cookbook that Juuchi had described to him, but they were a start on expanding his culinary horizons.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Flash Back: All the Small Things

-----

Fortunately, Tatsuya, Benio, and Tonbo were experienced enough that a charging werebear was something that they could react to and engage without too much trouble. Unfortunately, Reiko was not. The miko had had a long day already, and this quickly turned out to be the straw that broke the camel's back—with a shriek of terror, her body stretched, expanding. Tatsuya ducked under her legs as they started flailing, pushing her back, and dodged the—oh right, spellfire. Two wizards, one older, one younger. That he could deal with, though getting in close was tricky—but then there was Tonbo, weaving in, out, slashing through bolts as she closed in. The older one (probably the one who'd been talking to the werebear) vanished, appearing in the middle of the newly joined apartments, only to have to apparate again as Tonbo turned her momentum into a spin, slashing the air where he had teleported to before turning again, slashing a bullet—fourth man, carrying a gun, looked experienced. Benio charged him, forcing him to choose between two opponents as Tatsuya closed in on the younger wizard—

The door opened.

For one of those single humorous moments, all eight combatants turned to face the interloper. It was a girl, maybe a year or two older than Tatsuya, with hair hacked into a messy pixie cut and wearing a heavy jacket that looked like it could have been military surplus. She stood, tucking two pieces of wire into her pocket and scanning the room.

The werebear howled inarticulately (which made since, his head was entirely the wrong shape for making words) and turned his attention away from Benio. As large as he was, it couldn't take a moment to reach the girl he was now charging. Tatsuya threw himself forward—there was no way he could possibly make it, but maybe he could distract it long enough for Benio to pull her away.

His view of the girl was blocked.

A gun fired, twice, and the werebear smashed into the doorframe, stopping halfway through and sinking as the frame failed to hold his bulk up.

As the girl shimmied through the small opening that the corpse, Tatsuya grimaced. It was going to be one of those incidents, wasn't it? Hopefully, the girl had an idea of what she was doing beyond watching science fiction and urban fantasy.

"Well, tha' was excitin'," she chirped happily, raising her gun (huh. That looked like it packed a punch. How had she hidden it on herself?). "Any other takers?"

The two wizards immediately vanished.

The third living attacker immediately turned, starting to run as he put a bullet through the window. The girl grimaced, and charged.

Benio and Tonbo were quick enough to handle things if they went wrong, so Tatsuya looked over at Reiko. She was still in her true form, trying to push herself back against the wall, now watching their new helper in terror.

"Reiko?" he said, running over to her. "Reiko, it's okay!"
-----

Cowardly bastards, running from a fight like that. Gil hated agreeing with Gran, but some days the old bitch was just right. And here she was, all fired up from that bear (that hadn't taken very long either). Maybe she should just wing him, leave him with enough fight to take her on. He looked good, maybe she'd be able to get a glimpse of Ma.

(The Japanese kids were probably on her side, which was a good thing—there was no way she was getting a good fight out of that spider. The hell was she even doing?)

Then, the younger wizard reappeared! Nope, no apparating! Bullet through the hand, no wand for you! Gil wanted to see Ma, and she was going to—

Watch as the asshole Muggle grabbed his wizard friend and jumped through the damaged window.

What? SHIT!

Gil charged after—it was only the second floor, risk of injury wasn't too horrible—and jumped. Roll to dispel force, come up, and watch the SUV pull away? Was that bastard completely human? Wait, better question—why wasn't he coming back and fucking fighting her? He was strong, wasn't he? Hadn't even hesitated after jumping out the window, right? SO WHY WASN'T HE FIGHTING HER?

Glancing down the road, Gil noted the lamppost, how quickly the car was going to pass it, and decided that, right now, seeing Ma could take a back seat to getting the fucker back. Her arm snapped up, she fired. As the bullet sparked off of the lamppost, she was stepping forward, ejecting the magazine. As the front tire punctured, she inserted her new one, chambered a round. And as it flipped forward to expose the underside to her, she put the incendiary right in the middle of the tank.

Then, she bent down, retrieved her mag, and began switching them back as she walked over to the flaming wreck. Whistling, for that sweet, sweet vindictive victory. Stepping around burning patches on the road… Wait, who was that struggling from the driver's side? Seriously? Bastard must have been made of titanium or something! Maybe she was getting that fight after all?

"McKay… bitch…" he managed, trying to push against the tarmac. She grinned.

"Ye know m'name, eh?" she grinned, crouching down in front of him lazily bringing her pistol up to his face. "Good, tha' makes this easier. Ah—"

The man slumped over, dropping like a rag doll hitting the floor.

What? Was he… Was he fucking dead? Oh, come on!

Then something poked against the back of her head.

"You know," a new voice—American, by the accent—said, "I don't usually do things this way, but you're looking pretty suspicious. Why don't you—"

Gil didn't really pay attention to the rest. This American had snuck up on her, right? Without her even noticing. He had to be at least as good as her, right? Which meant… Maybe she could see Ma today?

She spun, bringing an arm up to knock the gun away, bringing her own into position—but no, he could do it, he knocked her own weapon away, tried to realign his own, duck in close, bring it up to his chin, he leaned back, he could do it, he could do it! A flicker caught the edge of her vision, don't look, if she looked then Ma would be gone, and wouldn't come back for the rest of the fight!

And suddenly, as fast as the fight had started, they had their weapons pointed at each other's heads, frozen in place. American was a little older than her, black, tall, very short hair, glaring at her angrily. Gil grinned back at him. How could she get the fight going again—

"Okay, both of you stop," another voice, the Japanese kid from the hotel, cut through the silence. Where—ah, standing behind American. By the way American stiffened subtly, probably had a weapon pointed at his back. "Let's just put the guns down. Slowly."

"Explains why you're positioned to hit her through me," American noted ironically, "but what if she does the same thing?"

"Tonbo's faster than her," Japanese replied, and cold metal came to rest against Gil's shoulder. Another one, so close? Pity they were on the same side—if they were. A thrill began to gather in Gil's stomach. Maybe, just maybe—

"Okay, over here everybody!" A new voice, a girl, called. As one, everyone's heads swiveled to face one of the girls from the hotel—the spider girl was there, too, bum looking a bit more human now that she was apparently calmer. But it was the first girl that was important, because she was standing next to a very nervous looking girl, maybe ten, eleven years old. Given the way that American went rigid when he looked at her, they were probably related.

"I want everyone to put their toys down right now," she announced, lifting a bucket that she had probably grabbed from a storage closet (though where did she get the time to do that in all the ruckus?). "If you do not, I will dump this bucket of very dirty water over this charming young lady's head. Seriously, this stuff is horrible. She'll probably catch a disease or something. And then she would die, and all of you would feel horrible. So please, don't make me do this."

Behind American, Japanese snorted audibly. It seemed like some kind of signal—American relaxed immediately, slackening as he looked the girl in the eye. Wait. He wasn't actually going to—

When the girl gave him a nervous smile, he turned back to Gil. "Count of three?" he suggested.

FUCK.

The hell was going on here? It had been months! Months! And now that she was finally able to see Ma again, the fight was over just like that? The hell was wrong with these people?

On the other hand, she had seen her again, however briefly. Even if the moment was over now. It probably wouldn't do to try to restart the fight now, positioned as she was to lose. Maybe whatever all these people were here for would let her see Ma a little down the line?

"Fine," she grit out through bared teeth.

Didn't mean she had to like calling it off now, though.

But she still lowered her gun to the ground, slowly, watched as American put his own down, listened as "Tonbo" sheathed her blade.

"Great!" Bucket Girl grinned, tossing her own weapon away. "Now that we're all friends, let's get off the street before the law arrives."
-----

Well, that was surprising. I didn't think Gil would be that much of a potty mouth.

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Puppy Love I

Hachiko Miyata climbed the steps to the shrine, sighing mentally. His job at the Yokosuka Municipal Library had run long again. While he needed the money to support his family, the bane of assistant librarians the world over was a jumble of unsorted books that needed to be re-shelved.

At least the cafe was closed on Sundays, so he would not also have to double as a part-time waiter supplying bentos, tea, and parfaits to the patrons. Today.

Thankfully, his little brother's kyudo instructor was very understanding about acting as an emergency babysitter when this kind of domestic crisis erupted. Yet again he resolved to knit a scarf for Tokunotakai-sensei as an act of gratitude for her kindness.

With that cheerful thought, he reached the kyudo dojo. Pausing inside, to replace his shoes with indoor sandals, he adjusted his glasses at the sight of a pair of glossy patent-leather shoes next to Aki's secondhand sneakers.

The mystery of the shoes was revealed as he entered the kyudojo. A young woman with short hair, sunglasses, and a tailored and clearly expensive skirt-suit combination was leaning against the back wall next to the door with a scowl and crossed arms. Her attention was focused on Tokunotakai-sensei as she gently corrected Aki before stepping back to let him shoot at a makiwara straw target five meters away from him.

As Hachiko entered, the woman turned her head and sized him up. Leaning close to him she spoke quietly. "The kid is your son then, Mother?"

Silently sighing yet again at the combination of his gentle features, thick glasses, and shoulder-length black hair plus dressing in baggy clothing to conceal his short and slender body, Hachiko took a deep breath. Reminding himself once again that this was not worth the conflict - doubly so in front of Tokunotakai-sensei! - he responded in a soft voice.

"Younger brother, actually. Our parents passed away several years ago. Abyssals. He was very young when father's ship was sunk, so I am the only father that he has ever known."

Something flickered in the eyes of the young woman and she gave a small nod as she responded, "My condolences for your family's loss. Don't let me interrupt your business here, my errand can wait."

"Tou-san, Tou-san!" Aki called out, pointing enthusiastically to the target he had been shooting at where two arrows were stuck in the straw. "Look! I did it! I finally did it!!"

Hachiko gave a happy smile with just the touch of melancholy bittersweet emotions as he realized that their mother would never see Aki's triumph. He glanced over at Tokunotakai-sensei who gave a slight nod. "Well done, Aki. Just don't get a swelled head. Remember what you are being taught here."

Aki nodded happily and then turned to his instructor and bowed. "I thank you for the lesson, Sensei."

Tokunotakai bowed back and gave one of her serene smiles. "You have learned something today, Aki-kun. Remember that we can always improve on what we are today to take another step upon the path for tomorrow." Her eyes flickered to the mystery woman briefly as she spoke. "All of us, even your sensei need to keep that in mind."

"Hai!" Under Hachiko's prompting and the Sensei's direction, the arrows were retrieved, inspected and cleaned and the bow was unstrung by Aki.

The mystery woman clapped Hachiko on the shoulder as he and his brother turned to go and quietly said. "He... is a good kid. Better than many I have known at that age."

Hachiko gave a smile and a polite bow, "Thank you for your kind words, Miss." With that she bowed back and her expression firmed up.

As he helped Aki into his sneakers, his sharp hearing picked up the sound of raised voices from the Dojo.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, Fudo-oneesama. It is good to see you again, what brings you to my humble dojo?" Tokunotakai-sensei's voice was calm but with definite steel in it.

The stranger's, no Fudo's, voice, responded with considerable passion in it as Hachiko walked his brother out of the dojo.

"What exactly is the truth of this story I heard about that filthy gaijin showing her face around you again? Where is she!!"

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

Hachiko blinked as he and Aki walked past a large and garish gold-colored American car to reach the train station.

That almost looks like a yakuza's car, perhaps that woman was....

He shrugged the thought aside and stuck his hands in his pockets, then froze. Slowly he pulled out something that had not been in his pocket when he entered the shrine. A pair of 5000 yen banknotes and a hastily-written note were wrapped around a gold Cross pen. Slowly he read the message.

'Use this to treat the kid to something nice on the trip home. His first time hitting the target should be a special day-F. M.'

He smiled and adjusted his glasses as they headed down the street. "Hey Aki? I got a little extra money, do you want to get some ice cream on the way home?"

His little brother was on the verge of manifesting his Inugami ears and tail just so that he could wag them as he stared up and gave a happy grin. "Can we please, Tou-san?" he yipped in excitement.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Kana nodded to the guard at the gate for the base as he checked the paperwork and glanced inside. Chuckling, the man nodded and stepped back with a salute as he quietly spoke, "Hope you have a good day, Kana-San."

A smile on her face, the Battleship saluted back, "Thank you, Saotome-San, and I hope that you have a good day as well."

Waiting until the gate was raised, she made her way into the base. There was a slight crackle before Fubuki spoke up over the radio, {I'll have to thank him for not making too much noise considering things.}

From where she was driving, Kana looked up at the rear-view mirror at what was in the back of the van. There in the very back sat Fubuki, with Fu-Chan and Natsuki cuddled into her side while Akari and Atsuko were in turn cuddled into them. All four girls asleep and quietly breathing, while Mutsuki and Kisaragi were in the other two rows with children cuddled into them as well with the final row being Yuudachi. A small smile on her face, Kana glanced to the passenger seat to see Yoshi there also sleeping. Every so often, his lips twitched which made her smile grow a touch more.

It... was good to see the children peacefully sleeping.

Nodding, Kana chuckled over the radio as to not wake the children, {Hai, Fubuki-Senpai. They need their rest after all considering everything that they have been through.}

With a hum, Mutsuki shook her head as she gently ran her hand along Ayame's hair, the Neko's tail twitching every once in a while, {Hai, they deserve it, Kana-Chan. And I'm glad that we can give it to them as well.} Sighing, she glanced at her sister, {But we're going to be giving them better lives now, no matter what.}

In the back of the van, Fubuki blinked away some tears, {Hai, we are.} She then raised her head and gave each of her friends a smile, {Once more, thank you guys. For everything and for helping.}

Gigging over the radio, the only Shiratsuyu Destroyer there spoke up, {You don't need to thank us for this, Fubuki-Chan! Like we said, we don't mind doing this at all, Poi.} With a small smile, she looked down at the Inugami snuggled into her side, pillowed into her chest while another Kitsune did the same for her other side, {Besides... this is good practice.}

Lightly blushing, Fubuki shook her head, {Yuudachi-Chan!}

All she got though was giggles from said Destroyer, {What? It's true, Poi! I mean, we're not always going to be in this war, and, well...} Best that she could without waking anyone, she gave a shrug, {Don't tell me that you haven't given it any thought, Poi. Because that would be a lie.}

Still blushing, Fubuki sighed, {I'm too young to be a Okaa-San yet, Yuudachi-Chan. Maybe... in a couple of years or something. But I'm not old enough yet.}

Yuudachi got a warning look from Mutsuki and nodded, {Sure, whatever you say, Fubuki-Chan.} A sly look crossed her face, {Though I say that any child of yours and Kana-Chan's will be adorable, Poi.}

Up front, the Battleship in question was heavily blushing as she kept her eyes on the road, even as Fubuki screeched at her giggling friend over the radio, 'Fubuki-Senpai... and my children... O-ooh...' With a glance at the glaring Fubuki, Kana turned back to the road as she tried to control her blush. Despite the fact that the relationship between the group was... odd, she was happy. And so were the others which helped things, but... 'That's a thought for later.'

Moments later though, Fubuki spoke up, {Kana-Chan? Are you sure that your fairies have everything sorted out? I don't want to arrive at the residence and find nothing there...}

While some might have thought that she should be insulted, Kana wasn't. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact and shook her head, {Hai, my fairies are fine and have everything sorted out. They already moved everything from yours and my old dorm rooms into the new residence. Also, several futons for now until we can get to shopping, but we have some food as well.}

Relaxing, Fubuki gave her a smile, {Thank you, Kana-Chan. That takes a load off me.}

Kisaragi hummed a bit and nodded, {I am looking forward to being able to go shopping! I can't want to see their expressions at all we're going to buy them and everything!} A fire in her eyes, she felt like she should hold up a clenched fist in front of her, but didn't... mainly because both arms were being cuddled with, {Definitely clothes and some furniture!}

Thoughtful, Fubuki didn't say anything right away before nodding, {I think that we should also look into getting a van like this one. Because we're going to need it and this is a rental.}

From where she was, the nameship of the Mutsuki class nodded with a frown, {We will, though that won't be too hard. I have a few ideas after all, and you already have your license, Fubuki-Chan. The rest of us outside of Kana-Chan are not far off from that either, so that is good.}

Only humming, Fubuki smiled in relief, {Thank you.}

It was not long afterwards that they pulled up to one of the Officer's residences. Turning off the van, Kana took a deep breath before letting it out. After all, it had been a very long drive all the way from Sapporo through the night. Mainly because Fubuki wanted to give as little a chance for the Magical Diet to attempt something on the trains if they could. Hence, the long drive, but now...

They were home.

For several moments, the shipgirls all sat there looking at the townhouse in front of them before sharing a small smile. Gently, Fubuki began to shake Fu-Chan and Natsuki, "Hey, we're here."

Much to her amusement, the two simply dug there faces deeper into her sides and made her giggle as they spoke the same thing at the same time, "Wanna sleep..."

Around them, the other shipgirls giggled and snickered as they had as much luck. But, eventually, Fubuki got them to wake up, "Come on, sleepy heads. Time to see your new home."

Blinking, Fu-Chan rubbed her eyes, "Home?" Then, the words registered and she pulled her hands away from her eyes, "Wait, we're here?"

With a hum, the Destroyer nodded as Kana got out and opened the van doors, "Hai, we're here..." Softly smiling, Fubuki chuckled, "Welcome to Yokosuka... your new home with us."

Their eyes widening, the various Yokai just looked at their surroundings before being helped out by Kana. Once they were out, Fubuki and the others also got out of the van and stood there with their hands on their shoulders as the children looked around. Looking up at the townhouse, Akane gripped Kisaragi's hand tightly, "Is this where we're going to live?"

Humming, Kisaragi gave the small hand a soft squeeze, "Hai, this is where we're all going to live together." Pointing at it, she continued, "There's a backyard where you can all play and such, though it is a bit small. But there's also parks and such around as well."

A gasp came from Fu-Chan as she pointed at one spot nearby, "Look! There's a playground over there! With swings and everything!"

Softly giggling, Fubuki nodded as she patted the now disguised Kitsune's head, "Hai, and that playground is open to you all to play on. Whenever you want. And you can run and play and everything that children should do." Pulling not just Fu-Chan, but also Natsuki, Atsuki and Akari into a hug, Fubuki kissed the tops of their heads as they teared up, "This... is our gift to you." Less then five seconds later, Fubuki found Fu-Chan and the others hugging her closely, her shirt soaking with tears, "Now... you can be the children that you should have been, and are."

Quietly sobbing, the Kitsune nodded, "H-hai, Fubuki-Ka... Fubuki-San."

Even though she was slightly confused at what she was about to say, even as she dismissed what she thought it was, Fubuki only nodded, "Now, let's go and see the rest of our home."

Reaching the door, even as she dried the eyes of the children alongside Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Yuudachi, and Kana, Fubuki knocked. A few moments later, the mail flap opened to reveal one of Kana's fairies holding a key, which said Battleship took with a nod, "Thank you."

Much to Fubuki's surprise, Kana gave her the key after recovering her fairy. Looking it over, the Destroyer took a deep breath, 'And so, a new door opens in this new life of mine...' Looking at the various children, she nodded, 'And I do not mind at all.'

She then unlocked the door and opened it, with them all entering. After taking off their shoes, the children were looking around after revealing their Yokai features. Her stuffed toy in one arm, Fu-Chan looked around before laughing as she skipped along the hall and stopped, twisting in place, "Hahahaha! Look, Natsuki-Chan! We have a home now! All of us have a home!"

Wiping away fresh tears, the Neko nodded, "H-hai! Fu-Chan!" Swallowing as she sniffled, she walked over and hugged her friend, "We have a home..."

Then, they looked up as they felt arms around them to find Fubuki there, "Hai, a home." Gently, she guided them along the home as they checked it all out. Sure enough, there was room there for all of them. And the kitchen was freshly stocked, with Fubuki looking at the note and smiling, 'Thank you, Ooyodo-San.'

Finger tapping her chin as she walked, Kisaragi hummed, "We're going to have to find more furniture. Maybe bump the shopping up for today?"

Even as the other shipgirls nodded, Yuudachi frowned, "Maybe, though we should be getting some food into them..." Catching sight of one of the appliances brought over from their old quarters, her face lit up and she bounced through the kitchen. Opening cupboards, she pulled out various things and held them up, "How about to celebrate, we have chocolate chip waffles, Poi! For all of us!"

Sounds of excited children met her at that.

Meanwhile, Fubuki was looking at the walls in thought, 'Hmm...'

Having noticed, Mutsuki looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow, "Is something wrong, Fubuki-Chan?"

Fubuki only nodded and pointed at the wall, "Rather plain and empty, isn't it?" Smiling, she clapped her hands, "Well, we're going to start fixing that! Everyone, outside for a moment."

While they were confused, the Yokai followed her back outside, the other shipgirls behind them. After a few moments, Fubuki brought out one of her fairies and gave it her phone before she began to sort them all. In the end, it had her, Yuudachi, Mutsuki, Kisaragi, and Kana behind the children with their arms around them.

Bringing up the phone, the fairy, now a full sized shadow figure, stepped back before stopping and nodding. A bright smile on her face, Fubuki nodded, "Now... everyone say Tadaima!"

Almost as one, they all spoke, "TADAIMA!"

Later that night, Fu-Chan was snuggled into her new bed, with new sheets, and wearing brand new pajamas bought that day. Behind her in the lower bed of the bunk bed was Natsuki, cuddled up to her. And in the Kitsune's arms was her stuffed chick, Chicky. The ladder to the upper one creaked as Fubuki stepped down it after saying good night to Akari and Atsuko. Crouching down, she gently moved stray hairs from Fu-Chan's and Natsuki's foreheads as the ears of the two Yokai twitched. Then, Fubuki kissed both of them on their foreheads as she adjusted the blankets, "Good night, Fu-Chan, Natsuki-Chan... pleasant dreams."

As she pulled away, the two children nodded, "Good night, Fubuki-San."

Reaching the door, Fubuki turned off the light though there was still a glow from a nightlight in the form of Fubuki's hull, cresting through the waves. A nightlight that they had to have when they saw it and that Fubuki could not deny them. Closing the door after stepping out, the Destroyer smiled at them, "Okaeri."

Softly smiling, Fu-Chan whispered back to her, "Tadaima..."

With that, Fubuki closed the door and the Kitsune shut her eyes as she held her beloved Chicky close. As she dozed off, she sighed, 'I'm home, Okaa-San... I'm home...'

And in her dreams, she dreamt that her mother was smiling down at her, holding her close with a happy and proud look in her eyes...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

The day was cool and damp as per normal for the time of year that it was in the part of the world that it was. Not that Christopher really noticed as he sat on a bench that faced the small cemetery where those who died on the Cruise Ship were buried. Here and there, trees softly rustled in the breeze as flowers bloomed between the headstones. Some had names on them, and most of those had dates due to what they found on IDs. Other headstones though were blank, with either the symbol of Venus or Mars on them to denote that they were male or female with a Greek inscription stating if they were adult or child. Because either the bodies were so damaged to not be able to be identified... or carried no identification on them.

And two of those bodies were those of his parents, now buried in the soil of the island with an blank gravestone to denote where they were.

Sometimes... Christopher came here, to sit on the stone bench that he as the breeze brushed past him. At times, he mused which of the unknowns were his parents. And he also spoke to them, either aloud or in his thoughts, asking for guidance. Or if he was raising his sister well despite there only being a few years between them. Not that he ever received an answer in either case, but... it was soothing, in a way. A balm for the raw wound on his heart that he felt would never heal.

Deep in thought, the now fifteen, nearly sixteen year old was silent. Not saying a word, even as two others walked up until one placed a large hand on his shoulder. After a few moments, he reached up and smiled at the female Cyclops that was there, "Hey, Delphi." Turning, he looked at the female Minotaur and nodded, "Chloe."

Examining him, Chloe frowned, "Are you alright, Chris?"

With a deep breath, the teenager shrugged, "Don't rightly know, you know how it is."

Just glancing at her Minotaur friend, Delphi sat down on the stone bench on one side of Christopher, and Chloe on the other. After a few moments, the Cylops gave him a slight, sad smile, "Do you want to talk about it?"

For a few moments, she only got silence before Christopher shrugged, "Maybe in a bit, just gathering my thoughts first." Looking around, he chuckled, "This is a beautiful place, you know. Really, all you guys did great for people that you didn't know."

Turning her gaze out onto the graveyard, Chloe snorted a bit, "Didn't know?" Only shaking her head, she let out a sigh, "As our leaders said, Chris. They died nearby and are now returned to the bosom of Gaia, here on our island. Strangers, they are not any longer, for they now rest easy under the shade. They are under our care now, and are friends and people who we know."

Unable to help himself, Christopher chuckled and reached over to the larger form of the Minotaur and gave her a half hug best that he could, "Yeah." Turning his head slightly, he gestured with his head, "You even have the ship's bell..."

Both Demi-humans turned to where there was a small building. It was a small, Ancient Greek style temple with fluted columns built from local rock. And inside, hanging, was the ship's bell from the Cruise Ship that had been recovered. The bell itself shone from being polished and every year, on the anniversary of when the Cruise Ship sank, it was rung, the sound echoing among the graves. Lips curling into a sad smile, Delphi shook her head, "And that ship deserves the honour it was given, Chris. It carried you all to safety far past where it should have been able to."

Only nodding, Chris smiled a bit sadly himself as his thoughts drifted back some, "It does." Glancing at the two, he let out a puff of air, "By the way, I thought that you were helping with preparations for Anthesteria?"

Delphi gave a shrug and a slight smile at that, "We've all done our part for the festival. The wine is ready to be opened for all tomorrow, and from what I have been told, this year's wine should be very good."

Poking him, Chloe chuckled with a slight grin, "Hopefully you don't drink too much of it."

Lightly blushing, the human swatted her hand away from him, "Yeah, yeah, same back to you. With the lack of oxygen from how tall you are, it likely would be easier for you!" That got him snickers from both girls. Shaking his head, he chuckled as well, "Though I am still getting used to the fact that I can even drink wine and have since we got here."

Only shrugging, Delphi shook her head, "It is part of the culture and I still do not understand why humans seem to have issues with wine and needing to be a certain age before being able to drink it. Wine is good for you after all." Becoming thoughtful, she scratched her chin in thought, "I wonder what wine is like in the outside world... never had any."

Glancing at her, Chris smiled, "One day, I promise that you'll know, Delphi. And same with you, Chloe. I'll be able to show you what the world is like outside this island."

Eye a bit misty, the Cyclops nodded, "I'd like that, Chris. And I hope that it does happen one day."

Chloe laughed a bit before shaking her head, one bovine ear flicking as the earring there glinted in what light there was, "Same. All three of us exploring the outside world? It would be... like one of the old tales. Of heroes and such journeying around." She then grinned, "Though with less monsters and needing to be careful around asshole kings.'

That got her snorts from the other two. Finally, Chris calmed down some and looked down at his feet, "I... came here to ask for some advice, Delphi, Chloe. From my parents... what with what is coming up and all."

Head tilted to the side, the Cyclops considered him before speaking softly, "And did you get an answer?"

For almost a minute, Chris was silent. Then, slowly, he turned to her, "I... don't know. But a thought did pop into my head and, well..." Taking a deep breath, he let it out, "Delphi, you can see the future, right?"

Blinking, she nodded, "I can, Chris, in the form of visions. I can even concentrate and look into it consciously unlike many, though if I want a powerful vision with a lot of information, I have to... take certain aids."

With a nod, Chris continued, "And you can't see your own future?"

Lost as to where this was going, Delphi shook her head, "No, I cannot." Softly scoffing, she made a gesture with one hand, "A lot of people are in awe of someone able to see the future, except when they realize that the person looking into the future can't see their own. It really, what was the word you used? Sucks." Grimacing, the nearly seventeen year old shook her head with a scowl, "It really,really sucks. But Apollo is like that, I suppose. And it still allows for us Seers to help, though usually it is vague."

Feeling a hand grasp hers, she turned to Chris who looked her in the eye. A fact that made her blush due to how humans sometimes had issues doing so. Looking her in the eye, he smiled, "Delphi, can you... look into my future? Not anything big, just a... snapshot, I suppose? A brief moment in time about, oh... ten or fifteen years from now?"
Confused, she gave him an bemused smile, "That... is oddly specific."

On his other side, Chloe nodded, as lost as her friend, "Very specific. Ten or fifteen years from now? But just a brief moment of time? Why?"

Just chewing his lip, Chris shook his head, "I... I think that this would be best. If what I suspect and, well..." Voice dropping, he let out a sigh, "Please, Delphi, for me? And describe it as you see it."

Her lone eyebrow raised, Delphi frowned at him for a few moments before smiling, "Sure, Chris. For you, I don't mind... besides, you're not asking anything huge or such, just a moment in time, right?" When he nodded, she shifted a bit, her russet hair blowing slightly in the breeze as she leaned forward, "Let's see... let's go, oh, twelve years. A nice number..."

Watching as her eye seemed to cloud over, and she slipped into a trance, the human teen waited for a few seconds, "Delphi? What do you see...?"

Voice low and with an airy quality, Delphi spoke, "I... can see you, Chris. Strong and hale..." A slight blush came to her face at how the boy next to her looked as a full grown man before she noticed something, "Oh! And you have children around you..." Unnoticed by her, Chloe gripped his hand tight as her own eyes widened, "Minotaurs, humans, and..." Her voice trailed off in shock as she came out of the trance, "Cyclops..." Each of them was silent for a few moments before Delphi swallowed, "I... it is not set in stone, Chris. Nothing in the future is and in this case it is just one possibility...'

Thumb rubbing her knuckles, Chris tilted his head, "But... you saw it which means that it is a likely one." Blushing, the Cyclops teen nodded, "Well... I do like you both and have been trying to come to a decision. I mean, I'm not dumb you know and can see that you like me too. Also..." Weakly chuckling, the young man shook his head, "Your parents have kept dropping that you are marriageable age now after all around me when you were not around."

If anything, Delphi felt like her face was on fire while Chloe was thankful that she had fur on her face to hide the fact that she was much the same. Each of them were silent for a few minutes before the Minotaur huffed, "You what? This is stupid! All of it!" When they turned to her, she gave them a glare, "My people from the very start of our existence did not care about having one lover or many!" Using one finger, she jabbed Delphi in the chest, "And your people started out as herders! Tribes people who did not care about having only one wife or one husband! I know for a fact that your great-grandmother, also a Seer, had three husbands!"

Her face felt like it was on fire before, but now the Cyclops felt like it should be burning off entirely, or perhaps melting, "W-well, yes, b-but-"

However, Chloe was not done and waved her off, "And yes, you are a Seer, and hence important. Which means that if you proclaim that all three of us are together, and that you saw a vision of such? No one will raise an objection! And Grandmother would back you up as well in this, so there will be no issue there!" Chest rising and falling, which considering her Minoan style wear drew the eye, she scoffed, "So what the Tartarus are we even arguing about!? If there is anyone, anyone at all, on this island that I could care less about being involved with Chris besides me? It would be you, Delphi! We've known each other since we have been toddlers! If that means myself or you as an official wife and the other as a consort? Or simply as a lover, or as an official wife? I say fuck it all to Hades! I can accept that with no problem!" Once more, she jabbed her friend, "Do you have any issue, Delphi? Any at all?"

Eye wide, Delphi shook her head, especially as the image of the Cyclops children rose up and how some of the human ones had her hair and eyes, "No..."

When they turned to him, Chris held up his hands, "I... don't really have an issue besides, you know, how this works out."

In reply to that, the Minotaur shrugged and shook her head, "We'll figure that out as we go." A gleam entered her eyes then, "In the meantime..."

Both her and Delphi shared a look, and before Chris could say anything, the two kissed him, one after the other. Wide eyed, he just stared, "Wow..."

The two girls leaned their heads against his as they held hands for some time.

Up on the highest hill, in a small shack with wires running up and down a pole, Chris' sister Alexa sat on a chair as she watched an old man fiddle with a juryrigged spark-gap radio, "Do you think that anyone will ever catch it?"

Glancing at her, the old man smiled as he continued to put out the signal, "Never really know. Sure, I've been at this for a while now and could do it in my sleep, but you know what? It never hurts to try, and maybe one day someone will pick it up..."

Meanwhile, out at sea, Salamis grumbled a bit as she stared off in a direction that she knew that Turk, Yavuz was. Unlike some ships who were left to rot or scrapped without being finished by their home nation, the Greek Battlecruiser had practically leapt at the chance to be summoned. Though, to her annoyance, so had Yavuz. Currently though, she was moving through the Aegean while keeping one eye in the direction where the Turkish shipgirls were also cruising. Yes, they were allies and such in this new time, despite everything. But that did not mean that she exactly trusted them... though she did sympathize with them due to the troubles they had been having with the current Turkish government. To say it was tense was... putting it mildly.

Something that made her eyes roll at the thought of, 'Turks, what can you do?' As she was thinking about various things though, one of her fairies caught her attention, "Hmm? A distress signal? All the way out here?"

The fairy nodded and pointed which made her frown. Before Salamis could ask more though, her radio crackled and Yavuz' voice came through, {Salamis, are you picking up a distress signal somewhere nearby?}

Head tilted to the side, the Greek sighed, {I am, though...} Tracking it, she frowned, {Odd, it is keeping position, but it is weak.}

Yavuz stayed silent for a time before speaking up, {Understood, Salamis, it is weak on our end as well though we have a general direction. Do you know of any islands nearby?}

Shaking her head, even though the Turkish shipgirl would be unable to see it, Salamis frowned, {None. And...} Quickly checking, her eyes narrowed, {Nor are there any ships that are supposed to be in the area. In fact... my fairies report that it is like an old spark-gap.}

The Greek could almost see Yavuz' scowl, {It is the same with mine. If we coordinate, we might well be able to triangulate where the signal might be coming from.}

Whatever her personal feelings regarding working alongside the Turkish shipgirls, the Battlecruiser tossed them aside. Someone was in need of help, and that is what mattered, {Very well... the coordinates and heading are as follows...}

 

[darthcourt10]

ComradeH

OK, please roast me.

This is my work, and I know it has many problems

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Not all shipgirls could fight against the Abyssal effectively, especially ones that built before 1880. Even then, the ones built before the 1930s were still at a disadvantage. They simply lack the required armour, firepower, or mobility to fight against WW2-era (demonised) ships. That was the common sense of the world.

However, as usual, the Vietnamese gave it the middle finger.

With little (read: none) naval presence during World War Two to be summoned back as shipgirls, they had to rely on their own modern steel hull ships. As one could expect, it was not efficient. In other words, the Vietnamese suffered high casualty rates during those days. At least the number of coastal batteries they had was staggering. It helped to block any Abyssal advance, keeping the country alive for a while longer.

Then, they had their own shipgirls, but not the ones they were dreaming for... Many were shock and depressed, despite their best effort, they still had no modern shipgirls to join the fight. Some netizens quickly turn to criticise the government again, something about "worthless communist government". At least all of those bastards mysteriously get hit by cars the following day. It was complete accidents and bear no relationship with any Security and Intelligence units.

Anyhow, all of the summoned shipgirls were considered too obsolete for the front-line fight. At best, they could be deployed for morale raising events, singing or dancing, or perhaps for medical duty. That was the idea until someone had an ingenious idea. And as history had been proven again, an ingenious Vietnamese was a highly dangerous one.

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

Ten Abyssal destroyer imps, plus one Light cruiser and one Heavy cruiser launched a raid against the coastal town.

Facing them was six ship-girls.

And it was a fair odd for the demons.

Layers of mines, depth charges, sonar buoy and more distracted the advance of the beasts constantly. By the time they got through the static defence, they had already suffered moderate damage. None was sunk, but their combat effectiveness was severely decreased.

The whole group of Abyssal was still cursing their fate when suddenly, eight shots rang out. The lead Heavy cruiser was instantly engulfed in flame. An 88mm shell pierced through her fire director while a 100mm shell was able to hit the boiler room. The whole Abyssal flotilla spanned out, scanning the horizon for any threat. However, they failed to detect their quarry in time.

Another salvo of ten rounds, and this time, the Heavy cruiser was no more. At least, one Imp was able to spot the splash on the sea. But was that, perhaps, a coincident? No Ship-Form would be insane enough to dismiss their riggings on the sea, yes?

Behind him/her/it, the carcass of the Heavy cruiser was now slowly sinking into the sea. And the sound of a burning husk was the only sound left on the open air. There was no one and there was nothing being the sign of the enemy.

Well, until the group was attacked by torpedoes from opposite sides. It had to be torpedo! Because there was no flash and no discharge sound was heard. But even then, where were these torpedoes coming from?

And then, suddenly, the poor Destroyer imp was thrown in the air, and the last thing he/she/it saw was the flashes of guns, which again came out of the sea.
**************
"So, what is the score now? Goblin 10, Abbie 2?"

The young man just grunted and pricked his nose. His plan worked perfectly, well, too perfectly perhaps. The summoned shipgirls of Vietnam were, for all purpose and intent, worthless for combat duty. After all, they were wooden hulls... and they were fucking wooden hulls from the 13th century.

Even by that age, their ships were considered as weak, and they were not enough for long-distance force projection. Needless to say, by conventional standard, they would be snacks for the modern Abyssal force. So, he decided to propose a cheating scheme. Sure, he was a bit drunk and high that night, and it was a dare from his friends.

Apparently, the State had little sense of humour. The following morning, he was somehow commissioned as a naval officer, despite having no prior training. And somehow, he was able to help/convince those wooden-hull shipgirls to summon their hulls before carrying out his magic.
The hulls were small, barely 50m in length - which was just at corvette size. However, thanks to most of the control structure were situated at the back, he had a big gap to "play". And considering the limit was WW2-era tech... Well, he just slapped on some iron sheets for extra armour (which, somehow, existed from the 1200s already), replaced "fairy oar-controller" with electric motors, and then for the firepower... Well, the Germans and the Soviets had good guns, so he just copied/bought from them. The 88mm KwK and the 100mm D-10 were his choices. And then, for extra fireworks, two girls were armed with Long Lance torp instead of the Soviet Artillery. Of course, there were a gazillion more things to fix and add, and he could not remember 100% of what he had done then.

So, there it went. Six summoned wooden-hull ship girls, with the eldest dated back to 1250s, they were "modernised" with Soviet and German guns, Japanese torpedo, British radar/sonar, and they were deployed with Vietnamese ingenuity. The standard idea was that shipgirl hated being under water, so he had those six girls trained to fight while being submerged.

Yeah, it was not a nice memory. It was just like being forced to snipe a butterfly 1km away within a HAZMAT suit, under 40 Celcius degree sun. Oh, and he was also having an allergy then.

At least the training had finally finalised, and then it worked beautifully. The six "elders" claimed kills after kills. Sure, it was skirmish and not a full-on battle. Sure, he had the advantage of intelligence and preparation. Sure, he always tried to maintain local numerical superiority. But then, it was fair in warfare.

Well, now, the battle was over, and he had to find a way to survive the night.

For some reasons, those six girls were still accustomed to the imperial age of Vietnam, and they were considering him as their "Lord". Oh, and for them, a male was practically expected to marry a lot and having many children. His pelvis was not strong enough for that shit.

"You have fifteen minutes left to run, kid. Use Route Alpha, that would give you the most ground coverage."
"Do you have to make fun of me, sir?"
"Do I have to? No. But I should. My granddaughter is planning to be your aide, so it is my duty to make your life miserable."

He knew that getting drunk on that night was a mistake... and perhaps studying in the same school as the granddaughter of VCP's General Secretary was even a bigger one.