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Unequally Rational And Emotional Thread; It's Negima with Everything Else Added!
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Topic Started: Apr 15 2012, 06:40 PM (11,708 Views)
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OverMaster
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Aug 28 2012, 02:31 PM
Post #301
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Oboy. Whee.
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Tales from Soul Society: Itou Makoto's Normal Week
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Monday:
Saionji Sekai broke into the bedroom to find her fiance Makoto naked in bed with Kino Makoto.
"Oh wow!" the former Sailor Senshi was sighing. "You even do it just like my sempai, Mako-kun!"
"Makoto!" Sekai growled. She stabbed him several times, but since they already were dead, it wasn't very effective.
Tuesday:
Saionji Sekai broke into the bedroom to find her fiance Makoto naked in bed with Zazie Rainyday-san.
"...!" Zazie said.
"Makoto!" Sekai growled. She stabbed him several times, but since they already were dead, it wasn't very effective.
Wednesday:
Saionji Sekai broke into the bedroom to find her fiance Makoto naked in bed with Tendo-Saotome Nodoka.
"Oh, Maoto-kun!" the matriarch was joyous. "You truly are a manly man amongst manly men!"
"Makoto!" Sekai growled. She stabbed him several times, but since they already were dead, it wasn't very effective.
Thursday:
Saionji Sekai broke into the bedroom to find her fiance Makoto naked in bed with one Akashi Yuuka.
"Ahhhhh!" Yuuka was saying. "I hadn't enjoyed myself this way since that night with Wataru-kun and Daddy!"
Yes, Yuuna isn't at fault. It's in her genes, see.
"Makoto!" Sekai growled. She stabbed him several times, but since they already were dead, it wasn't very effective.
Friday:
Saionji Sekai broke into the bedroom to find her fiance Makoto naked in bed with Tendo Soun-sama.
Soun was doing one of his overtly dramatic giant crying faces while Makoto snored at his side. "The Master will kill me if he ever learns about this...! He'll find a way, I'm sure...!"
"Makoto!" Sekai growled. She stabbed him several times, but since they already were dead, it wasn't very effective.
Saturday:
Saionji Sekai broke into the bedroom to find her fiance Makoto naked in bed with Frank Castle.
"Uhhhhhh!" Makoto gurgled, still spasming at random periods. "Now I know why they called you the Punisher, Castle-sama!"
Grimly frowning, Castle stood up and allowed Sekai access to the bed.
"Makoto!" Sekai growled. She stabbed him several times, but since they already were dead, it wasn't very effective.
Sunday:
Saionji Sekai broke into the bedroom to find her fiance Makoto naked in bed with Kino Makoto, Zazie Rainyday, Tendo-Saotome Nodoka, Akashi Yuuka, Tendo Soun and Frank Castle. Somehow.
At this point, she only sighed in defeat and began peeling her clothes off. "I knew the inn had been weirdly lonely the last couple of hours. Room for one more...?"
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Aug 29 2012, 07:32 PM
Post #302
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Oboy. Whee.
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Continuation.
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"I still don't understand very well the hows or whys of this..." Twilight Red confessed, sheepishly scratching the back of her neck, "But we'll help you in anything you need us for! Right, guys?" she looked at her teammates.
Magus Erebus nodded immediately. "Of course I will!"
"You mispronounced 'we'," Kagurazaka told him. "Again."
"The sanctity of life in a global scale must be protected at all costs," Sakurazaki nodded gravely.
"I never liked when people starts tossing heavy holier-than-thou judgements on others..." Kuro scowled. "Even if those people claim being gods..."
"Raging against Heavens? That's a new one..." Calculator sighed. "Well, after risking our lives, I guess our souls were the next logical step, right...?"
"We started risking our souls as soon as we started hanging with Paru and Kuro," Kagurazaka told her.
"Good point," Hasegawa allowed.
"Oh yeah, I love it when the shota brigade starts boasting on how much more moral than me they are..." Kuro rolled her eyes.
Skuld rasped loudly to make herself heard. "Actually," she said, "It'd be in the best interests of this world and yours if you guys just left as soon as possible. We're highly thankful for your help, yes, but... how can I explain this in very easy terms? Let's just say you are akin to adult organs being transplanted into a foreign body, just those organs already exist in that organism, and it's a child's body. That causes a reaction where this reality, for lack of a better term, 'rejects' you, much like antibodies tend to fight off any insertion of organic matter formerly belonging to another biological system."
"Ah?" Makie babbled. "You're sounding like an old ER episode now."
Skuld facepalmed. "Father, give me patience. Look, all I'm saying is, reality itself, in this dimension, is a product of Yggdrasil, our heavenly mainframe extending over the whole universe. You could think of it as an extremely highly advanced artificial program created by us." She looked over to both Chisames, who nodded in interested understanding. "That's how that Servant, the Temptress, was able to displace the kaiju Chigusa summoned, by cancelling the subprogram bringing them to this planet. Like I said before, just like Mundus Magicus, this whole universe runs on a code that can be hacked or altered by a powerful enough reality warper, or simply someone with the right tools for the job."
"Like a Grandmaster Key?" asked Kagurazaka.
"Sort of, but in a different scale," Skuld said, nodding as she pulled a shiny red apple and placed it before the redhead. Accepting it with a blink, that Asuna turned to her Negi and asked,
"Why don't you give us rewards like this when we get an answer right?"
"What's a Grandmaster Key?" asked Satomi, full of vibrant curiosity.
Skuld went on, "That isn't important right now. Regardless, your presence here right now is like that of a bug filtered into the program. The fabric of reality doesn't recognize you as anything but errors in the system, so to counter the disbalance you bring to the chain of events surrounding your counterparts, the system 'tries' to make up for the power alteration you bring by, in turn, altering probabilities to balance the course of events supposed to take place. That's why the situation at the lake was that much more dangerous this time around. If you stay here, not only there's no way that could happen in your world, but here, reality will keep upping and upping the scales. So, when you finally depart, you will have broken the power balance so much, you'll have left the locals with an out of control escalation they'll be unable to cope with."
"I didn't understand the techno babble, but the core idea is basically, if these guys stay, the world will keep throwing bigger and badder crap at us, right?" Natsuki said.
"Esentially," Skuld nodded twice.
"The world is mean!" Haruna complained. "You could have created a somewhat fairer universe for us, you know!"
"Yeah, well, tell me something I don't hear in prayers at least three thousand times a day."
Misora grimaced. "Wait a second there. You get our prayers, too?"
"I'm a part time operator too, so yeah, some of them get through me before reching Father. I'm afraid your breasts will never grow too much, but the person you'll end up with will love them as they are, so don't worry about it."
Misora, with suddenly huge and tearful eyes, nodded a single time. "Thank you, Your Holiness!"
There was a beat.
"So, uh, who's that person? Is he in this room?"
"I've never said it will be a 'he'."
"EHHHHHHH?-!"
"Then again, I've never said it will be a 'she' either."
"Now you're just trolling me!-!-!"
"Not the first time, even. Remember all those times you lost a single sock for no apparent reason? The times when it rained when you were about to do track and field despite the sky being clear moments before? The times when Sister Shakti just felt the need to check on you right when you were about to slack in your duties?"
"That was all your fault!-?"
"We need to test you through trials and tribulations from time to time, you know. It helps you build character."
"Build character for what?-!"
"For more trials and tribulations, of course."
Haruka had to restrain Misora from behind. "No, don't be blastemphemous! What is she's really a goddess?-!"
"Then I'll just send her back home! Lemme go already...!"
Ayaka sighed and patted Skuld's shoulder. "Congratulations. You have snapped her out of her fear of the unknown notably well..."
"See, what I told you? Becoming a better person through trials and tribulations!"
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Aug 30 2012, 06:53 PM
Post #303
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Oboy. Whee.
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More.
- Quote:
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"Well, if that's the case, can you help sending them back home?" asked Chisame. "And after that, are we supposed to just make our last wills and testaments, or what?"
"I certainly can help them establish a jump point back to their dimension," Skuld replied, then gave Other Chao a condescending look, "Although I'm sure I'm not even that needed here, since my colleague's talents here should be enough for that task..."
"Aw, you'll make me blush...!" Other Chao laughed, scratching the back of her head.
"You already have eternal blush stickers," Kuro mumbled.
"Your colleague? What, is she a goddess too?" Makie asked.
"Oh, no, I'm only the goddess of nikkuman," Other Chao said.
"And goddess of the Mahora Science Clubs," Chao added.
"Secondary goddess of the Mahora Chinese Martial Arts Club after Ku-chan..." Other Chao went on.
"Co-Goddess of the Japanese school robotics along Satomi-chan..." This comment was followed by a brief blush of Satomi in the sidelines.
"And goddess matron of all awesome, cute and scientific things that challenge your intellect while flattering your eyesight!"
"Other than that, no, we aren't goddesses at all!" both Chaos said, grinning at once in a perfectly coordinated way.
Everyone else in the room felt slightly uncomfortable for a moment. After all, it was pure dual Springfield charm at work. Had the Negis joined then, this story would have turned X rated automatically.
Skuld took in a long breath before saying, "I meant my SCIENTIFIC colleague! Anyway, it's my sister's life at stake here, too, and I've had all the time in the world to prepare myself," she boasted, with a somewhat smug self confidence that couldn't help but annoy the Chisames, the Asunas, Misa, Misora and Hakase. "Rest assured I have a plan, and by saving my sister, I can save the rest of your realm as well!"
"Great," Yuuna then urged, "So let's hear that wonderful plan!"
"Do you have the next three days free and available?"
"Is that complex a plan?"
"It's a plan to rescue a nearly omnipotent but restrained being made of pure heavenly energy from a parallel world guarded by creatures and armies that would make last night's challenges look like Teletubbies. A single wrong step would kill my sister and send a divine pulse shockwave that would devastate both worlds. Then we have to deliver my sister back home and enact a complex protocol to guarantee the cancellation of the Omega Initiative after what most of the Heavenly Council considers a Level A Plus Three offense, kidnapping and attempted murder of one of the Almighty's daughters. Just by explaining this, I already made Makie-san fall asleep. Do you really think you're ready to take on the full details?"
Yuuna shook her head while supporting a napping Makie's weight. "Now that you put it that way..."
"Good to see we're finally understanding each other. Now, I'm going to need your help at the key stage of my plan, but first, you all should try reaching the power and skill levels of Ala Alba here. Once that's achieved, you'll be in conditions to actually be helpful, rather than loads. Don't fret yet, we still have several months ahead of us, and if they could do it, so can you."
"I feel so relieved," Chisame grunted. "Now, exactly what was the deal with that Temptress twerp? You mentioned she was a Servant, but a servant of who or what?"
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Sep 1 2012, 08:16 PM
Post #304
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Oboy. Whee.
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Set after SCM-written's Kuro Grail War infodump.
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Asuna made an exhausted hissing sound as she sat down into the hot bath waters. "Hahhhhhh... This was just too much to take in a single sitting. How are we expected to take things with calm, after being told all that...?"
"Well, what do you suggest? To lose our heads over the situation and run around with no aim hoping we'll just stumble into a magical solution?" Ayaka asked from where she still was carefully washing herself before entering the relatively intact hot baths of the Konoe villa. "Besides, I still don't fully trust Skuld-san. Her end of the world story might be just a fabrication, especially since nothing of the sort has happened in Erebus-sensei's world. Has it?"
"Well, not exactly ''that''," conceded Kagurazaka, sitting down next to Asuna, "But at times, it's hard to notice the difference..."
"What reasons could she have to lie to us?" Makie asked, soaking next to Yuuna.
"I don't know!" Kagurazaka tossed her hands up. "Our Honya-chan can't read her mind, and we know no counterpart of hers to compare her with! Yue, can't you look on the magical data banks of this world to see if they have something about gods?"
"I already have," Valkyrie Black neutrally said, naturally sitting between Deathnote and Miyazaki. "There seem to be three major temples at this dimension's Mundus Magicus, each one devoted to a goddess. Fire, Air and Water. Those goddesses are often associated to Past, Present and Future respectively as well. Skuld-san might be the Water-Future one, seeing how her name is that of the classic Norn mythology's Future Norn, and from what Makie-san told us, she transported through water, so that might be her domain element."
"She has enough magical power to give Makie-chan a Pactio, with a card that looks permanent, and at the same time she gave one to Keiichi-san, too!" Deathnote argued. "You know multiple Permanent Pactios are nearly impossible to achieve! She isn't normal at all, we can be sure of that!"
Ayaka sighed as she took her place at Asuna's other side. Only because there were no other places available now. Of course. "Whatever the case may be, Negi-sensei seems to trust her with reservations, so I will do so, too."
"Are you sure that's the way he feels?" Yuuna asked. "We didn't exactly have time to question him on it!"
"I can tell, since I know him well," the Class Rep confidently said. Suddenly, she turned her head in Chisame's direction. "Don't you agree with me?"
After opening her mouth to utter an angry "How could I know?-!" Chisame closed it back and reluctantly added, "Although I'd say he does. You know how dumbly naive he is..."
Ayaka frowned at that reply, but since it validated her opinion, she didn't refute it despite the amount of disrespect in it. Since she still had to vent out on someone, she clapped her hands and called out, frustrated, "Roberta-san! Are you coming, yes or not?"
A flat voice replied from the dressers. "I'm not worthy of enjoying a bath with you, Ojou-sama."
"Oh, please, drop it!" her young mistress said. "It's an order! Even Setsuna-san and Sakurazaki-san are overcoming their crippling inferiority complexes here!"
The Setsunas simply made twin mortified sounds while surrounded by smiling and nodding Konokas, who kept them both trapped between themselves.
"As you wish," Roberta humbly said, stepping into sight and undoing the towel that had been wrapped around her body. A general impressed silence fell all over the girls, due to a mixture of seeing all the old scars and battle wounds covering Roberta's skin, and seeing exactly how buxom, athletic and perfectly well built was that body those scars were spreaded over. Now the maid outfit was not hiding Roberta's physique, it became obvious a woman stood there, facing all the teenaged girls.
"... Good thing Anya-chan isn't here," Ayase observed, quietly eyeing the domestic servant's ample mammaries, while Nodoka only could nod in a mechanical fashion.
Only Ayaka was fully unaffected as she made room for Roberta next to her. "Finally. You know, we hadn't bathed together since I was a child and you had to wash me all over. After all this time, I figure it's just fitting I should give the favor back. Allow me to wash your back."
"Oh, no, it would be imposing, and this shouldn't be done into the furo..."
"But you hung back on purpose until we entered," Ayaka argued, "And there are some occasions that merit some minor tradition bending. Oh my. Are these bullet holes?" she asked, examining Roberta's back carefully.
The maid only nodded, taking her long dark hair aside to allow her a better sight. "I still have two bullets lodged inside, actually. One of them, I took it defending your father from AIM spies at his Guatemala factory."
"Ah, so that's why you took that leave three years ago, right? And to think Father had the gall of telling me you were cleaning his Switzerland ski lodge..."
"Actually, I recovered there, so it is, at the very least, a half truth. Your Father only has wanted to keep you safe from a world that is difficult to understand."
"The magic one?" Konoka asked, already feeling a kindred situation there.
"Actually, the harsher part of corporative life," Roberta replied.
Asuna rolled her eyes aside. "Oh dear, the princess heiress of a dangerous seedy empire is sitting right next to me!" she baited.
As expected, Ayaka swallowed it whole. "Father is completely honest! It's just any businessman, no matter what, amasses powerful enemies along his way!"
Roberta only nodded in silence.
"Are you crossing your fingers behind your back?" Kuro asked, trying to check by herself as well, in addition of trying to get a good glimpse of Roberta's ass.
"Noooooo," the maid dryly denied.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Sep 2 2012, 01:13 PM
Post #305
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Oboy. Whee.
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Continuation.
- Quote:
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At the same time, over at the men's side, Negi, Erebus, Eishun and Keiichi enjoyed a quiet bath together. Chamo and Albert had been forced to sit between the Negis to prevent any attempts of sneaking into the opposite side.
"Then, after this, do you think the separatist cells of your association are finished?" Negi asked Eishun. "I mean, from what I have gathered, Chigusa was the only one of them who really ever belonged to it in the first place."
The Elder nodded slowly. "There are some other discontents still out there, and maybe they'll grow bolder after this blow to our premises, but we have endured to them before, and we will do it again. Besides, our intel on them tells us they are in no conditions to pull the same actions Chigusa could manage."
"Really, after being told all that about the end of the world, those association inner matters should be the least of our worries!" Chamo cried. "Uh, no offense, Elder-sama."
Eishun only nodded again. "I know, I know. In the larger picture, even our most serious inside problems are nothing but grains of sand. Rest assured, if there's something we can do to help you in those crises to come, we will gladly rise to any challenge."
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time you fight in conflicts that scale, eh?" Chamo asked him. "I knew the Bro's dad was a really bigshot hero, but I never imagined he had done so much!"
"Ah, ha ha," Eishun laughed, although sedately. Erebus could feel something still was worrying him very deeply, but he figured it just had to be due to Skuld's predictions. "Yes, well, back then, we didn't even stop to think about it. Especially not Nagi and Jack. Things just happened so fast, one after another, we couldn't just stop to question matters beyond the strictly necessary. And we were pretty much the only ones who could fix things back then, so it fell upon us."
Negi looked up excitedly. Even all the old scars covering Eishun's torso only told him of fantastic death defying adventures. He'd have asked if his father had just as many scars, but he understood it would have been in bad taste.
Eishun turned to Erebus. "And so, how's the other me doing? And your world's Konoeko-chan?"
"Uh, well, Sir, actually..." Erebus lowered his head bashfully.
"We are sorry, Elder-sama," Albert said, "But your counterpart's wife has been dead for some years now. Long before we even arrived from Wales."
Eishun seemed to reel from the news for a moment. "Oh. Oh, I see. That's... bad to hear." And he tried to smile for himself. "Fortunately, my Konoeko-chan is the healthiest person I've ever met," Physically, at least, "And believe me, odds are she'll outlive me for a long, long time."
Albert elbowed him, chuckling cagily. "Much younger than you, ain't she? Oh, you sly lord, you...!"
"Chamo!" Erebus said, while the other, local Chamo just laughed.
Eishun laughed as well. "Oh, stop it, please, Albert-san! Gentlemen shouldn't discuss a lady's age!"
Over at the ladies' side, Yuuna admired Konoeko as the older woman meditated in the water, drinking for a moment on her mature, yet youthful and graceful charm. That was until Konoeko looked back at her, and Yuuna averted her gaze sort of clumsily. The lady of the house just smiled at her.
"Are you okay, Akashi-san?"
"Y-Yes! I'm excellent! Why shouldn't I be? Your house is precious, even after all of that, and any moment spent here is like living at paradise!"
"Oh? Are you listening, Konoka-chan? You should start spending more time with us here!"
"Oh, Mom!"
"You still look very young," Asuna noticed. "If they had told me you were Konoka's big sister, I'd have believed it!"
"Thank you, Kagurazaka-san."
"Mom has a gift in that area," Konoka said. "She still just looks the same as she was when I was just a little child. I only hope I grow up the same!" she joked.
"Oh, believe me, you will," Konoeko nodded. "That's a common fortunate trait of women from our bloodline..."
"No doubt the monkey woman wanted Kono-chan so much then!" Makie gasped. "Now everything is clear! Kono-chan is the key to eternal youth? Ah! If Eva-chan could drink from her, maybe she'd become young and cute forever!"
"I already am young forever, idiot!" Evangeline grunted, pouring herself a cup of fine wine a servant had brought her. "And I'm drop dead sexy and gorgeous, not cute!" she added, with a vey cute evil pout.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Sep 3 2012, 10:28 AM
Post #306
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Oboy. Whee.
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Continuation.
- Quote:
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Kuga Natsuki now stood alone and silent behind the baths, wearing a solid black yukata and sipping slowly from a tiny cup of tea. She would have to return to Mahora tomorrow, and yet she had no new information on the First District yet. That trip had been a complete waste of her time. Part of her felt tempted to make up for it going out to search for them herself, but she was not in top shape after last night's incidents yet. She still was tried, and even aching in a few points. At least, that was what she told herself. Konoka's healing had left her like new, but she still was reeling from recent revelations and too rattled to think properly. Not that she would ever admit she had been dealt an emotional blow. She had to be above that.
But whatever the case was, Natsuki knew taking on the First District now in the condition, physical or mental, she was in was just short of suicide. So she just stood there, sulking on her feelings of inadequacy for the task at hand, until she felt the soft steps coming closer from behind her.
Natsuki decided to act as if nothing was happening, since she knew she was in no danger. From the hesitating and inexpert way that girl was moving while trying to be stealthy, it was clear she was the local Konoka Konoe, not even Maga Alba.
Great. The one she wanted to see the least right then.
She waited, patiently, until Konoka paused before deciding to make herself known in the open. "Kuga-sempai?"
"What do you want?"
Konoka bowed very deeply, in a gesture Natsuki barely caught a glimpse of by her own choice in posture. "I just wanted to thank you properly. Last night, you almost lost your life for me, despite having absolutely no obligations to me. Why, we never talked to each other before this..."
Natsuki grunted. "Oh, that? Forget it. I was just thinking I could get info on my mother's murder from foiling Amagasaki's scheme, but apparently I was wrong."
"Oh. Still, when you were frozen, you were about to tell me, quite passionately, you were my... My what?"
"Ah, so you still remember that."
"How could I forget it? Please, Kuga-sempai, tell me... You are my what?"
Natsuki's green eyes shifted around discreetly. She just knew Setsuna had to be somewhere watching over Konoka, and despite the Shinmeiryuu warrior being too stealthy for her, Natsuki knew perfectly well when she was being watched, even when she couldn't tell from where.
"Nothing. Forget it," the delinquent student told Konoka. "It was just a stupid mistake, a wrong--"
"I see," Konoka interrupted her, her head hanging down. "In that case... Sorry, Kuga-sempai."
"What?"
"I'm so honored you feel that way, I really am, but I can't return your feelings."
"Wait, what are you--!"
"I can tell it. From the way you talk reluctantly, and how you avoid making eye contact with me. It's just like when Chisame-chan talks to Negi-kun when she isn't bossing him around. It's okay, I'm not offended, and you don't need to feel bad. But even so... My apologies, but I already have someone else."
Two random hairs sprang up from Natsuki's perfectly combed hair. At the same time, there was a loud rustling from the top of a nearby tree, which dropped several leaves down. Natsuki looked that way and frowned.
"I don't know if that person loves me back, but I can't help having those feelings for her," Konoka was confessing. "I... I suppose I'll tell her when she's ready..."
"Her?" Natsuki's right eyebrow trembled a bit.
Konoka had to giggle lightly, giving Kuga a punch in a shoulder. "Oh, Sempai! You know perfectly what I'm talking about!"
"... Yes, I guess I do," Natsuki said, feeling torn between being disgusted, busted, and laughing cynically at the hsakings and almost whimpers coming from the treetop.
"Anyway," Konoka sighed, "You'll forgive me, won't you? I'll be praying for you to get the person you really need..."
"Um, sure, I'm fine with that..."
"Oh, that's a relief!" Konoka sighed very cutely. "I knew it was best to cut this short before it even started! Well, now that's out of the way, we should go sleep, don't you think? Tomorrow will be another quite intense day, after all."
"Yeah, I guess..."
"I'm glad you're so understanding. I always knew you were a wonderful person." And after some hesitation, Konoka leaned ahead and gave her a tiny peck on a cheek, immediately spinning around to look the other way. "Well, see you tomorrow, Sempai!"
"Ah-hah, whatever you say..." Natsuki weakly waved as she saw Konoka walk back into the building. Then she shook her head to herself and muttered, "Honestly, what's with that girl? I can't believe she's really my--"
"Your what?" an eager Konoka's head peeked right back out.
"MY NOTHING! JUST GO SLEEP AND LEAVE ME HEARTBROKEN AND ALONE!"
"Ooops, sorry! Good night!"
As soon as Kuga felt she was really, really, actually, no doubt alone, she tossed the final drops of her cup aside and began heading inside as well. But then she felt a hand grabbing one of her wrists from behind, stopping her.
"Sakurazaki!" she snarled, turning around as best as she could. "Leave me alone, will you! I swear I have no--"
Then she fell silent, looking up at the tall and decidedly not Setsuna-esque figure who still held her in place, gentle but firm.
"Natsuki," Konoe Eishun pleaded. "Please, let's talk."
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Sep 4 2012, 06:37 PM
Post #307
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Oboy. Whee.
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Continuation.
- Quote:
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Now they had walked farther from the baths, with him leading, and her following in reluctant silence. Finally, he stopped under a large tree, and she stopped as well, with an unchanged expression.
"Once again," he began, "I owe you a million thanks for what you did for Konoka."
"Mmm-hmmmm," she said, barely nodding.
After that opening declaration didn't get the effect he hoped, even if he didn't actually expect it, Konoe Eishun put his hands together, before his face, and sighed deeply. "I swear I never learned Saeko had a daughter, much less that she had died."
"An impressive feat for a man who could learn about anything ever happening within the magical community of Japan, Sir," Natsuki dryly replied.
"When she left my side, she made clear she didn't want me on her trail, or even knowing where she was. I swore to myself I'd respect that wish, since I never could deliver on anything else she wished for."
"Mother never was a fortunate person," the girl stated quietly.
"I know," Eishun mused. "Maybe I should have struggled to make her happier, back then..."
"But then you wouldn't have a gorgeous rich wife and an excellent nice daughter, would you?"
Eishun lowered his head even more. "When did she tell you about me?"
"Never. Whenever I asked about my father, the only answer I got was he didn't matter anymore. That he was somewhere far away, and we were better off without him, or without even knowing about him."
The man shook his head. "I never dreamed she felt that badly about me. We had a harsh fallout, that much is true, but..."
"It didn't take much to bounce back, however? I guess the prizes of the Konoe fortune and a princess' hand were enough to fix any man's heart."
"It's true I reached happiness with my family. But, had I known a person who was so dear to me was suffering, my happiness would never have been--"
"She wasn't suffering!" Now that made Natsuki yell. "Why would she be unhappy? Because she didn't have you? God's gift to women? We were happy together! We were all we needed! We had each other! We were a true family!"
And then she heard a soft, polite voice telling her, "There is no absolute happiness. But we always should strive to achieve a little more happiness, especially for our loved ones. Your mother owed you that knowledge."
Natsuki spun around, her eyes squinting as she saw Konoe Konoeko walking out the shadows towards her, hands neatly folded over her lap.
"Don't pretend having any fondness for me," the girl said. "Why would you?"
"You protected my daughter's life, and you might be the daughter of the man I love," the woman calmly answered. "What other reasons could I need?"
Natsuki looked away from them both. "Don't act as if you understood our situation. It's easy for you to speak, surrounded by luxury, by the flattery of your followers and your prestige. We had a simpler life, and that's all we needed or wanted. And yet, even that was taken away from us, while you will prosper no matter what. But being like you... That isn't the kind of person I am or wish to be."
"Be always your own person, no matter what," Konoeko told her. "Unless that is a lonely person."
"Natsuki," Eishun approached her. "I'd like you to--"
She kept him at arm's lenght. "No. For everyone's sake, including Konoka's, no."
"But--"
"I have said it, and I won't go back on it. No."
"I have a question," Konoeko told her. "If your mother never told you about Eishun, what brought you here? And why are you aware of your ties?"
"Not proved yet ties," Natsuki corrected her.
"That's easily proved," the woman challenged. "From what my husband told me, your mother did not give her heart away easily at all. And you seem well aware of that."
Natsuki clenched her teeth. "Why did he tell you about her? And when?"
"True love," Konoeko said, "Knows of no secrets."
And that made Natsuki hiss madly. "What are you implying? That she didn't love me because she kept secrets from me? Excuse me, but what have you been hiding from your daughter all these years, again...?"
It was Konoeko's turn to lower her head. "That, I realize it now, was a grave mistake."
"Far from your only one," the younger female said, beginning to walk away.
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What is the point anymore?
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Darkenning
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Sep 5 2012, 07:15 AM
Post #308
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Pervert. Also, Witch.
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If she wanted to be really catty, Konoeko could follow up with this as Natsuki was walking away.
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"However," she said as though Natsuki hadn't said anything, "while I am clearly prone to error, I have noted in the past that one who suggests that another believes a thing, is often the one who believes it the most. And I do not recall ever suggesting anything about your mother's affections for you."
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"Hello! I'm Rurin, the Magical Mouse! My favorite food is cheese! My favorite pastimes are tormenting cats and facilitating romance! I have the power to bind the souls of guys who mistreat women to the depths of hell and subject them to everlasting karmic suffering! Isn't that cute? Pleased to meet you!" -- Rurin, the Magical Mouse, Magical Patissiere Kosaki-chan.
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OverMaster
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Sep 5 2012, 07:43 AM
Post #309
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Oboy. Whee.
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Oooooohhhhh, buuuuuurn... :lol:
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Sep 5 2012, 07:37 PM
Post #310
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Oboy. Whee.
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Continuation.
- Quote:
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Eishun still tried to go after her, but the smaller hand on his from behind stopped him. He turned back to his wife and told her, "I can't leave her like that!"
"She isn't ready yet," Konoeko told him in turn. "In that, she is her father's daughter. After all, how willing are you, even now, to fully rejoin your brothers?"
"That isn't the same thing at all. I don't owe them anything, and they don't owe me either. But that child, she needs me, she always has needed me, and all this time, I have failed her...!"
"You had no idea she even existed. You couldn't be faulted. If anything, the fault lies squarely on her mother's shoulders, for leaving her alone when she should have told her of--"
"Please, Konoeko, no," he shook his head. "I... I feel dirty just by thinking of judging Saeko. We all make grave mistakes in our own time, but I'm sure she only did what she thought best for Natsuki."
She put a hand on his shoulder. "She is angry and disoriented, and you only will make it worse. Let her order her thoughts before approaching her again. Now she knows you aren't ashamed or rejectful of her. It is a starting point."
After a long pause, she added, "Of course, you know the Association will not react favorably when they learn of this."
"I know. I'm sorry to drag you and Konoka-chan into this."
"It makes little difference to either of us," his wife said, indifferently. "I'm sure it's you who would get crushed over it. Reaching this position was your achievement, after all."
"If the Association thinks my years of service weigh less for them than my supposed fault, so be it."
"You have to admit, in the face of this crisis, several will question our handling of the situation. I know none of them would have ever known what to do themselves, but that won't stop them from thinking they would have."
"Let them think whatever they want about me. I have faced worse."
She smiled. "And there's nothing worse than a daughter angry at you, or is it? Do you think Konoka-chan has forgiven my treatment of Setsuna-kun."
"Konoka-chan isn't one to hold grudges. And when she thought we had lost you, she cried and panicked like never before. She loves you, but still, I believe you should make things clear to her and Setsuna-kun."
She nodded. "I will do so," she said, heading back into the building.
He still remained there for a few minutes, moodily pulling a cigarette out and smoking it.
He never had a caring father himself, so, like always, he'd have to improvise with what he felt best for the task.
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What is the point anymore?
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OverMaster
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Sep 6 2012, 06:36 PM
Post #311
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Oboy. Whee.
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Continuation.
- Quote:
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Konoeko found Setsuna getting changed to leave back for the Inn, fortunately in company of no one, as was her custom. That would make their conversation far easier, so Konoeko was actually thankful to Heavens for it.
"Setsuna-kun?"
The girl, of course, had been aware of her presence since before she even actually entered the room, since she was only approaching the room. And Konoeko knew that.
Still, the pale girl did nothing until she was talked to, and even that, only after a moment of shy hesitation or three. She turned around slowly, her head low, and then fell to a knee before Konoeko.
"My Lady. Again, I offer my heartfelt apologies over my failure to protect your honorable daughter single-handledy. Rest assured you'll never have to endure my unwanted, unworthy presence in your noble home ever again."
Konoeko sighed inwardly. This was not going to be easy, for more than one reason.
"Rise, Setsuna-kun. There is no need for your apologies since--"
"I understand. You would not be satisfied until I commited seppuku over my faults?" Suddenly, her hand was on a sword Konoeko had not ever seen a second before. "If that is what you think is needed to cleanse the faults of my family, I will--"
"NO!"
Setsuna quietly retired the tip of the blade from her stomach and looked up at her with puppy eyes. "What is expected from me?"
"Well. For starters, please keep up watching over my daughter."
"Certainly!" Setsuna said, nodding maybe a bit too quickly.
"And also..." And it was her turn to kneel before Setsuna with a lowered head, "... Please forgive me."
Setsuna panicked, her hair standing up. "W-What?-! Oh, NO! No! You have nothing to be sorry about! Please don't kneel before me! It can't be done! I mean, you can do whatever you want at your home, and I'd never suggest otherwise, but you shouldn't do it, not that I'm ordering you around!"
"I commited an unforgivable offense against you, expulsing me out of our house when you only were a child, Setsuna-kun. Of course I have a lot to atone for regarding you."
"But you had your reasons!"
She placed a hand on the girl's head. "I judged you over misdeeds that weren't yours, and because of prejudices only an old woman could harbor. There is no excuse."
Setsuna's eyes were spinning in spirals now. "Ah! Please don't say that! W-What would everyone say, should they learn you are humbling yourself to a monster like me! You are a woman of prestige and honor!"
"There is more honor in you than you suspect. Don't let your humble origins blind you to it. It never slowed my husband down."
"But... the Elder is... different. Unlike me, he is... and he was... Not pathetic," she lamely finished.
Konoeko began pondering just getting the girl a good therapist.
"Nonsense," she said. "At your age, he had nothing but a sword, some training, and a nothing-to-lose mindset. He didn't even have wings..."
"D-Don't mention them, please! The servants might overhear...!"
"Half the staff bathed you, Konoka-chan, and Tsukuyomi-han. The other half fears me enough to stay, in vulgar terms, the hell away from me when I'm not calling them. Well, other than Hayate-kun, but he is well used to strangeness of all kinds." A beat. "Not that I am calling you strange."
"Uh-huh. And besides, he's a boy, so he naturally wouldn't come close the female dressers at this time."
"Well, yes, although for some reason, accidents tend to happen to him, often bringing against his will into--"
Something crashed through the roof, falling between Konoeko and Setsuna's feet.
"Ah. Good evening, Hayate-kun. Fighting ninja assassins at the rooftop again?"
The figure in the floor nodded twice. "Must have come to take advantage of the chaos, Madame. Rest assured I took good care of them all, with the help of the Bat-clad foreigner..."
Up at the rooftop, Batman growled while tying the black-clad lead ninja up. "Since when are you a mere killer for hire, Kyodai Ken?"
"Not all of us are born with a fortune, Wayne, you filthy dog!"
Some guys. Train a bit when them when you're younger, and they act as if they knew everything there is to know about you and your motivations...
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What is the point anymore?
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rikalous
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Sep 6 2012, 08:32 PM
Post #312
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Creature of the Deep
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- Quote:
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Konoeko began pondering just getting the girl a good therapist. About damn time. It's not like they can't afford one.
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Let's Watch Nanoha Wits, magic, and hardboiled monologues. My other claims to fame.
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Darkenning
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Sep 7 2012, 09:01 AM
Post #313
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Pervert. Also, Witch.
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Of course, that just defers the problem. You can order someone to go to therapy, but you can't make them face their problems that way. (Good therapists know lots of tricks to get people to talk, but ultimately, the client is the one who has to do the work.)
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"Hello! I'm Rurin, the Magical Mouse! My favorite food is cheese! My favorite pastimes are tormenting cats and facilitating romance! I have the power to bind the souls of guys who mistreat women to the depths of hell and subject them to everlasting karmic suffering! Isn't that cute? Pleased to meet you!" -- Rurin, the Magical Mouse, Magical Patissiere Kosaki-chan.
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rikalous
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Sep 7 2012, 12:52 PM
Post #314
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Creature of the Deep
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It's a major step above the current solution, "do dick all and assume it will work itself out." Although, that did work out in the end, so go Konoes, I guess.
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Let's Watch Nanoha Wits, magic, and hardboiled monologues. My other claims to fame.
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OverMaster
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Sep 7 2012, 12:56 PM
Post #315
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Oboy. Whee.
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- rikalous
- Sep 7 2012, 12:52 PM
It's a major step above the current solution, "do dick all and assume it will work itself out." Although, that did work out in the end, so go Konoes, I guess.
That does seem to be the default Konoe approach to most problems, indeed. Funnily enough, Konoka might be the most proactive member of the family.
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What is the point anymore?
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