Fever Days pt 2 END

Negima! fanfic. When Setsuna, already secretly head over heels for her precious Konoka-ojousama, downs an entire bottle of love-potion things get even crazier than usual at Mahora.
(Konoka/Setsuna, Asuna/Ayaka) Divided into two parts due to size.

Read Fever Days pt 2

Disclaimer: Mahou Sensei Negima etc belongs to Ken Akamatsu and possibly a few others, certainly not myself though if someone would feel like giving the series to me I would not object. ^_^

I haven’t read the manga, so please have patience with any and all OOC behaviour.





Fever Days pt 2 of 2
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By Carola “Ryûchan” Eriksson







At the dorms Konoka vetoed the notion of putting Setsuna in her own dorm room, instead convincing Chachamaru – who didn’t care either way as Master had not specified and both locale had suitable resting space for her temporary charge – to carry Setsuna over to the room shared by Konoka, Asuna and Negi. Asuna did not exactly protest, but she did eye Konoka with some curiosity until they were at the room and Chachamaru gently disposed of her burden and bid a polite goodbye before striding off towards a distant tea kettle.

“So...” Asuna began carefully, watching her friend begin to unbutton the unconscious girl’s clothes. “You had Chachamaru put Setsuna in your bed.”

“Yes?” Konoka didn’t quite get what Asuna was trying to say, and anyway who would have thought the clasps and buttons on the school uniform were quite so tricky from the outside? “I need to keep her close so I can take care of her, Asuna.”

“Right, right, of course.” Asuna muttered, lending a hand to the clothes issue. “I was just wondering, well, where will you sleep?”

“Here, of course.” Pointing at the bed. “Where else would I be sleeping?”

“Err... you’re going to sleep with Setsuna?” Even after all that’s happened? Asuna muttered under her breath, but managed to keep quiet enough that Konoka did not hear her.

“Well... yes.” Big brown eyes blinked at Asuna. “We can fit if we squeeze in a little. You sleep with Negi-kun just fine.”

“That’s... not what I... meant...” Asuna decided to give up, and just added a warning in a playful tone of voice. “Fine! But I don’t want to wake up to any funny stuff going on in here again, okay?”

To Asuna’s surprise Konoka’s shoulders sagged in response to the joke. Worried about her friend Asuna forgot about the shirt she had just helped remove and turned to try to catch Konoka’s eyes. “Hey... what’s wrong?”

“I-I... don’t think you need to worry about that anymore, Asuna.” Apart from the quiver on the beginning of the sentence Konoka sounded almost cheerful like usual and she was wearing a sunny smile, but somehow looking at her Asuna got the impression that this cheerful mask was terribly strained, and that there were tears in dark brown eyes. “Secchan is cured now, so she won’t... she... isn’t...”

Konoka trailed off a bit painfully and Asuna couldn’t help but to pull her friend in for a hug. “Gosh Konoka, I’m sorry... I never realized you really liked Setsuna like that.” She murmured, feeling sorry for her friend now that she knew. Yes she had known Konoka loved her childhood friend dearly, but somehow it hadn’t occurred to Asuna that it might be in the romantic sense of the word.

Konoka opened her mouth to say something in reply, but whatever it was it got cut off as the door opened and Mana and Negi came in, Mana carrying an armload of items brought from Setsuna’s room and Negi with food and drink from the cafeteria. It had gotten rather late while everything was happening, and none of them had actually had the opportunity to eat.

Mana looked at the still embracing girls with a strange expression, frowning slightly. A few quick steps into the room and suddenly Mana squeezed herself down between Konoka and Asuna, making Asuna all but roll sideways to get out of the way. Then for some reason Asuna found herself being handed the rest of Setsuna’s belongings while Mana kept the set of pyjamas she was asked to bring.

“Allow me to help, Konoka-ojousama.” Mana said, swiftly stripping what was left of Setsuna’s clothing while the dumbfounded Asuna gaped at her and Konoka merely blinked. “I have done this before.”

The last statement did not sit well with Konoka, not well at all. Suddenly brown eyes narrowed dangerously at the taller girl that was preoccupied bunching up the pyjama shirt in her hands, a decidedly jealous gleam darkening them. “Oh? What do you mean, Tatsumiya-san?”

Mana looked a bit surprised at the question. “Not even a warrior as skilled as Setsuna can escape injury in battle all the time, Konoka-ojousama.”

Konoka had the decency to blush and look apologetic at the reply. “I... I thank you, Tatsumiya-san. I am glad you have been there for Secchan all this while.”

“She has done the same for me.”

And so the apologetic mood was short-lived, replaced again by a strange, dark look that was so unfamiliar to Konoka’s usually so sweet and gentle features. “You mean... she has seen you naked and you have seen her?”

Mana considered the question, not having quite thought of it in that context before. “...yes. That is true.” She shrugged and pulled up a pyjama leg. “A wounded warrior can’t afford to cling to maidenly modesty... and we are friends.”

The brunette that tenderly tucked the blanket around Setsuna once Mana was finished with her dressing said nothing more on the subject, but the expression on her face – except for when looking directly at her Secchan – grew even more strange.

“You’ve been acting really weird lately, Konoka...” Asuna whispered to herself, shaking her head at her friend but choosing not to confront her with it. She knew Konoka was hurting because of her feelings for Setsuna, so it was probably that which made some things seem strange about her friend, besides Asuna didn’t want to upset her further.

“Thank you for all your help, Mana-san... really.” Asuna said as the tall gunslinger stood, briefly brushing off her pants. “Where are you off to now?”

“I am going out on patrol, since it will take longer without Setsuna joining me.” Guessing at what Asuna and Negi were about to say she forestalled them. “I will ask if Chachamaru might join me in case I need backup, but I am fairly confident that I will do fine on my own.” She looked at Asuna oddly. “And you, Asuna-san?”

This one and that one, Asuna thought, everyone is acting weird tonight. Out loud she said “Oh Negi and I are heading over to Ayaka now, I promised earlier we’d fill her in and kind of make up for standing her up yesterday.”

“But Asuna-san, our food...” Negi protested, looking towards the kitchen.

“We’ll eat with Ayaka tonight, don’t worry.” Asuna gave him a light push towards the door before turning towards Konoka. “Will you be alright by yourself though? Make sure you eat and get some rest, if Eva-chan is right Setsuna won’t wake up today anyway so you might as well.”

Konoka nodded and saw the others to the door, assuring them that she and Setsuna would be alright on their own.

“Summon me at any sign of trouble, Konoka-ojousama.”

“If you need us to come home sooner, just give a call to Ayaka’s phone, okay?”

“Are you sure you will be alright on your own?”

The last part was a concerned question from Negi, and she smiled to the boy and ruffled his hair a little. “I’m sure Negi-kun, Asuna. See you later. And Tatsumiya-san, I will if there’s any kind of trouble.”

Finally they all left, and with a sigh Konoka walked back to the bed and lay down, carefully holding her Secchan and watching over her. She smoothed black hair away from those delicate features several times before finally giving in and laying her head down on a slender shoulder, listening to the steady beat of Setsuna’s heart underneath her ear, lulling Konoka to sleep.

---

The next time Konoka opened her eyes it was already night and the room thrown into darkness, suggesting that her roommates were already home and sleeping in the bed above her. Carefully and reluctantly she freed herself from the warm body she had been snuggled up with and got out of bed, torn between the need to lay down again and cuddle with Secchan and the need to change into her pyjamas and brush her teeth. It was a hard decision for her sleep-fogged mind but the latter won out, Konoka promising herself that she would get to cuddle her warrior as soon as the other things were finished. However as she sat out to do these things her growling stomach threw a wrench in things.

Still not quite awake Konoka prepared a cup of instant clear soup and managed to nudge her Secchan awake just enough to get her to swallow some before downing what was left herself, afterwards putting the cup on the floor next to the bed somewhat carelessly and crawled in under the covers. It hit her that there was something she had forgotten to do, but when her Secchan pulled her arms around the already semi-sleeping Konoka nothing else mattered. She curled in tightly, content and relaxed, and let sleep reclaim her.

Asuna of course stepped on the cup as she got out of bed that morning, somehow avoiding breaking it but almost managing to break her own elbow instead. The peevish glare she directed at the obvious culprit was immediately dissolved, as the sight of her friends curled up in each other’s arms and holding hands even in their sleep was just too cute to remain irritated. She leaned against the bedpost watching them for a moment.

She wondered what it felt like, to have someone that would hold you like that... what it was like to have someone in your life that gave you that peaceful and happy expression that Konoka wore as she slept with her head on Setsuna’s shoulder. Would Asuna ever know for herself?

“You’re so darn cute I’ll just forgive you for making me have to explain all this mess to Ayaka.” Asuna muttered very quietly, actually somewhat amused about it today although the previous night she had been deadly embarrassed. Ayaka’s reaction had also been embarrassed, and a bit strange really, but she had not been condemning in any way, rather the reverse and offered her assistance with the rest of the class.

For some reason looking at the sleeping couple Asuna tried to picture herself in that position, sleeping on someone’s shoulder all cuddly like that... and the image of a hand with slender long fingers holding her own, draped by long golden blonde hair came to mind.

Asuna blushed furiously. Looking at Konoka and Setsuna and thinking of cuddling brought Ayaka to mind? Oh god, why?

Resolutely she shook her head and sought a distraction. Oh yes, breakfast. After such eventful days Asuna felt sure her friends could do with a nice big and proper breakfast. And she was just the girl for the job!

With determination and shoulders squared as if going into battle, Asuna hiked up her sleeves and strode into the kitchen.

---

Quite what it was that woke her up, Konoka couldn’t say. Oh certainly, it was either the loud booming sound coming from the kitchen, or the panicked screams of her roommates, or possibly even the stench of something burning that got her up, but either way an urgent message was passed through Konoka’s system with the warning ASUNA IS COOKING, eliciting the emergency response of shooting to her feet almost as soon as her eyes had opened. She stumbled into the kitchen and grabbed the small emergency fire extinguisher that she always had on hand for just such an occasion.

Moments later a wet, soot-covered and generally bedraggled redhead leaned her head against Konoka’s shoulder and sniffled an apology for damaging their kitchen... again. Konoka absently patted Asuna on the back, muttering some words of comfort as she scanned her domain and assessed the damages. Ahh, another set of pots and pans that were going into the trash... it was fortunate that Konoka had a discount at the store for the things by now. But the soot and smoke...

“Negi-kun,” Konoka addressed the equally dirty and messy little boy that looked like he had yet another year shaved off his life. “could you do something about the smoke? I don’t want Secchan to have to inhale this.”

Eager to help the boy did one better, and in a flash the kitchen was pristine again, save for the unfortunate pots of course, which earned him a grateful hug from Konoka. Konoka then convinced both of her roommates to go and take a nice long bath while she prepared breakfast for all of them, and even Negi had to agree that he needed to get the soot out of his hair.

Once she had ushered the other two out the door Konoka hurried for the bathroom and a quick cleaning up before she would tackle making breakfast for them all. She raced through her morning routines and tossed her pyjamas in the laundry basket, chuckling a little over the sooty imprints of both Asuna and Negi that she had managed to collect on it.

When Konoka stepped out of the bathroom on light feet she was met with the sight of Setsuna struggling to sit up, eyes blinking owlishly at her surroundings. Needless to say Konoka raced over to the bed to embrace, err, help her Secchan into a better position. “Secchan!”

“O-ojousama?” Secchan sounded about as weak as she looked, so Konoka decided not to scold her for her slip... this time. “What am I... what...”

“Ssshh. We brought you here after Eva-chan helped cure you.” She kissed Secchan lightly on the forehead as she fluffed the pillow and got her better situated, a bit curious at the light blush that followed the act. “You need to rest for a while, just relax and let me take care of you Secchan.”

“Cure?” Secchan sighed and closed her eyes as Konoka brushed the black bangs away from her face. She looked so much smaller and frailer like this, with her hair down and without the usually intense look on her face, Konoka mused.

Out loud she said. “What is the last thing you remember?”

When no answer was forthcoming Konoka took a closer look at her precious warrior, slightly surprised but also encouraged to see that Setsuna was blushing badly and looking at her strangely. Surely that meant that she remembered, now to find out if...

“Kono-chan! B-b-b-buh-b-b...” Setsuna stuttered and stared pointedly at Konoka’s chest.

Quickly looking down at herself and the shirt that she had completely forgotten to button upon seeing Setsuna awake, Konoka blinked a little and suggested mildly “Bra? Or maybe you mean bre...”

“BUTTONS!” Setsuna croaked, desperately cutting off whatever Konoka was about to say next. “Please... button... your shirt.”

Konoka complied, somewhat amused. “You know, there’s no need to be so shy Secchan... you certainly weren’t yesterday.” Unintentionally Konoka touched a few small hickeys that her previously so ardent Secchan had given her as souvenirs. She sighed a little, there would be no passionate embraces anymore, would there?

The girl lying on the bed stared in abject horror, her face so red it was threatening to self-combust. Konoka sighed again.

“Secchan, let me get you some more pillows and a glass of water... and you can relax and save your strength while I cook breakfast, okay?” Knowing she wouldn’t get an answer Konoka set out to do just that, keeping a steady stream of one-sided conversation going even as she prepared the food, stopping once in a while to make sure her precious – and utterly silent – Secchan was doing alright.

She was regaling Setsuna with the story of how Asuna yet again had assassinated their helpless kitchen and cooking equipment when the domestic hazard herself walked in, tailed by a tired-looking Negi. Asuna was complaining something about dirty ears as they both noticed Setsuna being propped up in the bed, tired but awake.

“Setsuna-san!”

“Setsuna!” Asuna charged the girl and hugged her, earning an awkward hug back from the slightly bewildered girl. “You’re ok! Gosh, it’s ever so good to see you back to your old blushing self.” Asuna nodded, apparently pleased with the world, as Setsuna did as suggested and blushed slightly at the enthused greeting.

“Setsuna-san, how do you feel?” Negi sat down at the edge of the bed and looked at her with round, worried eyes.

“Yeah,” Asuna cut in, “do you have any urges to grab Konoka and make out with her while hanging upside-down from the ceiling in the assembly hall?”

“Or to take jouchan’s clothes off while on top of the... OWW!”

Both Asuna and Chamo rubbed their heads as Konoka had appeared as by magic behind them and smacked them both with a twisted but still somewhat functional metal cooking spoon. She cleared her throat. “THAT... we did not do, and stop making Secchan think we did.” Then, more cheerfully. “Breakfast is ready, go eat.”

Asuna, Negi and Chamo gratefully ran for the table, leaving Konoka to try to calm the girl that was blushing so hard she looked as if she suffered from some strange disease in which a person’s face turned into lava and melted away. “Secchan...”

Setsuna, weak as she was, still managed to flop herself forward in the bed, almost ending up in Konoka’s lap as she did so. “I AM SO TERRIBLY SORRY OJOUSAMA!” She gasped and shook. “I HAVE NO EXCUSE-“

“Well, actually you do.” Asuna commented between bites of food, inadvertently getting Setsuna to look up from her prone position. “Though you know, you’ll sound ridiculous if you insist on calling her ojousama now that half the school saw you push Konoka up against the cafeteria wall and go all the way to second base in public.”

Setsuna and Konoka froze, eyes locked with one another, one increasingly shocked and the other slightly shy and smiling.

“Oh why was I not there!” Chamo sobbed into his breakfast until Asuna smacked him into the bowl head first. Negi just sat eating in silence, trying to make himself as small and as deaf as he possibly could, his face already on fire.

Konoka cleared her throat.

“Breakfast! Lovely breakfast! Mmm, food!” Asuna babbled in a sudden rush, cramming nearly her entire bowl into her mouth. “Mmmffffmmhh! Fffmm!” Negi and Chamo followed her example, though without speaking, hoping to placate Konoka before the wrath of the kitchen implements was upon them.

Seeing that Setsuna was about to begin her frantic apology again, Konoka acted to put a stop to it in the only way that came to mind just then. She darted forward and captured her Secchan’s lips with her own.

Thoroughly enjoying the all too brief kiss even if Secchan was unfortunately frozen solid in shock, Konoka drew back with a sweet smile and a little sigh. She caressed a burning cheek lovingly and leaned in to touch her forehead to Setsuna’s.

“No apologies, Secchan... just don’t call me ojousama anymore, please?”

Giving her precious warrior another bright, beaming smile Konoka then let Setsuna go in order to go fetch the breakfast she had prepared for her. While Konoka got the tray together Setsuna sat there, feeling faint and dizzy and really rather surreal, hesitantly touching fingers to lips that had just been so casually graced by Konoka’s kiss. She could not help but fidget a little as she tried to hide the tiny, very shy but also happy smile that overtook her.

“Here Secchan!” Konoka was back with cushions from the couch, making sure that Setsuna could sit up while propped against them comfortably. Then she pulled out the tray and loaded up a spoon with a sunny full-wattage smile. “Secchan, say aaaahhh!”

In view of recent events Setsuna could not find the strength or the heart in her to refuse, and so, facial blood-vessels still having a field day, she meekly opened up and let Kono-chan spoon-feed her.

“Ooooh, look at the newlyweds!” Asuna whispered none too discreetly to Negi and Chamo.

“Secchan, remind me that I have to ask Honya-chan if we can borrow a pot and a pan for a while, until I have bought some new ones. You see, for some reason we are all out of pots... again...”

“Aaaarrrghh, I’m sorry I’m sorry!”

Konoka winked at Setsuna at Asuna’s guilty cry, giving her a secret little smile. Setsuna smiled as well and ducked her head shyly, obediently accepting being fed another spoonful.

---

After the breakfast activities Setsuna fell asleep again, still exhausted from the spell that had cured her, and she slept most of the day, awakening only for short periods of food and other things. Towards the evening she was finally strong enough to take a shower and sit up in bed – Konoka refused to let her out of it for anything short of emergency matters – and so it was decreed that a few visitors would be allowed to drop by. Konoka took her caretaking duties very seriously, especially since it was her precious Secchan that was in need of a little love and care.

The first visitor was strictly speaking not a visitor for Setsuna but rather for Asuna, as Ayaka made an unusual appearance in their room. As Asuna opened the door, a bit surprised that someone actually knocked for once, and found the tall blonde on the other side, an involuntary blush stole across her features.

“Negi’s not here, he has already left for his training with Eva-chan.” Asuna sounded a bit brusque as she tried to fight her unwanted blush. What was wrong with her lately?

Ayaka eyed her a bit but let it slide for once. “I know, I’m not here for him right now... actually I came to ask you if you would mind coming with me for a while. I could use your help.”

“S-sure. Konoka, I’ll be helping Iincho for a bit, are you guys going to be ok by yourselves?”

“It won’t take long.” Ayaka assured although Konoka just beamed and nodded, perhaps just a tiny bit too eager to send her roommate on her way. Ayaka opted not to mention anything about any possibly strange behaviour, instead she scrutinized the girl in front of her some more. She leaned in close.

“Asuna, you look flushed. Do you have a fever?” For once not bothering to hide her concern for her long-time sparring partner Ayaka first put a hand to Asuna’s forehead to check, but dissatisfied with that quickly replaced it with her own forehead. Asuna blushed crimson.

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem like you are having a fever... are you feeling ok?”

There was no answer from Asuna, whom was somewhat dazedly staring at Ayaka’s lips with wide, unblinking eyes.

Ayaka noticed, and so did Konoka. The blonde blushed and glanced at Asuna’s roommate in confusion, but was only met with a widening and amused smile that seemed to hint at something. A long moment of silence stretched out, broken only when Setsuna, not knowing what was going on, spoke up from her position in the bed.

“Is something wrong?”

Snapping back to her senses so abruptly it was almost audible, Asuna made a horrified face. “NOTHING AT ALL! BYE!” And then she was off, running down the hall at ludicrous speed and leaving roommates and friends staring at the spot she had just vacated.

“D-did she just...?” Ayaka found her voice finally and made a shaky gesture towards her mouth, to which Konoka smiled kindly and nodded slightly, leaving it at that. Ayaka’s blush deepened and she moved as if to follow the fleeing girl.

“I-I wish you a speedy recovery, Sakurazaki-san.” She said, clearly distracted. “Excuse me.”

And then she was gone. Laughing Konoka closed the door and walked over to sit by her Secchan. Temporarily forgetting to be shy and awkward around Konoka Setsuna had to ask “What is going on?”

“Oh...” Konoka giggled and lightly brushed her arm up against Setsuna’s. “I think Asuna has just realized she wants to find out what it is like to kiss a girl.”

There wasn’t strictly speaking any particular reason why Setsuna should feel embarrassed by the statement as it did not directly pertain to her – or at least she thought it did not, though with Kono-chan one couldn’t always tell – but she blushed all the same. It did not help matters any that warm fingers moved lightly over her own on top of the blanket, or that Kono-chan’s giggle had changed pitch to something soft that made the little hairs at the nape of Setsuna’s neck stand on end.

“Secchan...” That warm, lilting voice sent involuntary shivers down Setsuna’s spine and made her stomach do acrobatic things that staid, steadfast warrior stomachs really were not meant to do. “Secchan, I...”

“Hey, was that Iincho I saw running in the hallway just now?” Haruna’s voice seemed much too loud and too harsh as she barged in with her usual aplomb, most of Asuna and Konoka’s friends somehow long since broken of the habit of actually knocking before entering the room.

On the bed Setsuna and Konoka flew apart, or rather, the blushing Setsuna moved as far away from Konoka as the restricting blanket allowed, creating a more normal space between them, and Konoka merely moved to face the sudden guest instead of leaning towards her adorable warrior like she wanted.

“Hello Paru... are you stopping by to check on Secchan?” If there was any irritation over the interruption it quickly disappeared and was not particularly noticeable to begin with as Konoka smiled towards the ever-curious artist.

Haruna grinned strangely insolently and flopped down on the edge of the bed. “Yeah, I am... and I also thought I might as well get to hear the scoop from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.” She eyed Setsuna. “Feeling better? And... from what, exactly?”

“Scoop?” Setsuna repeated dumbly, not quite understanding what Haruna was getting at and frankly feeling somewhat disturbed by the dangerous gleam in her eyes and that almost wicked smile. Whatever it was, Setsuna would bet it did not bode well, at least not for her.

“Yeah, you know, Asakura has the special edition all fixed up for printing, it’ll be all over the school by morning.” Haruna grew animated, excitedly waving a large envelope around as she spoke. “It’s fully illustrated by yours truly, of course, though there are some photographs as well... and eyewitness accounts, back-story from informed sources, the whole deal. I even made a small comic to run in it, just for you.” A victory sign with her free hand. “You know I don’t usually do the yuri thing, but what can I say, you two are inspiring.”

“The... yuri thing.” Konoka said quietly, taking hold of Setsuna’s hand without noticing it herself. “I think I know where this is going.”

“Oh! Almost forgot!” Haruna jumped back to her feet and held the envelope up in front of Setsuna and Konoka. “Here, I made this to be the front-page illustration, but Asakura went with a photo instead, plus you have the original of one of the pages of the comic in there too. You can have it.” She beamed rather proudly and handed the envelope to Konoka.

Somewhat slowly Konoka opened the envelope, letting Setsuna scoot closer to watch, and took out the drawings. The reaction to the first one was immediate, Setsuna blushing a fiery crimson and Konoka squealing in delight.

“Paru! Thank you!” Carefully putting the drawings aside Konoka launched herself at her pleased and somewhat smirking friend, hugging her. “It is perfect! I will frame it and put it on the wall!”

Setsuna on the other hand said nothing, fully occupied by pressing herself into the wall and staring at the surprisingly realistic pencil drawing of herself and Kono-chan kissing passionately. She wondered distantly if it was ok to faint right there, or if Kono-chan would be upset with her for smudging the drawings when she fell on them.

Konoka resumed admiring the drawing before taking a look at the other one. It was an inked comic page sans any text, featuring a very dramatic and flowery version of a somewhat taller and more androgynous-looking Setsuna sweeping a doe-eyed Konoka off her feet with a sparkle or two, and then some fairly detailed kissing. Setsuna saw darkness edge in on the outer rim of her suddenly tunnel-shaped vision.

“This was very... nice too.” Konoka said, inwardly terribly amused by how boyish Paru had made her beautiful Secchan out to be, and the error in height difference between them. She gave the grinning Haruna a knowing look. “And the next couple of pages wouldn’t happen to have us doing anything... well... naughty, do they?”

The extremely guilty look facing her was answer enough really. “Err, Asakura said not to do anything that involved loosing clothing, so it will be innocent really... yeah, quite tame.”

“And...?” Konoka smirked, knowing the mangaka a bit too well to buy that. “If I were to look at your desk, would I happen to see anything un-clothed in Paru’s personal collection?”

Hearing this Sakurazaki Setsuna died... or so she thought, she was not entirely sure yet, but she suspected out-of-the-body experiences at any rate, the kind she had once overheard Yue talk about, and any moment now the school ghost would come floating in to welcome her into the club. Setsuna nodded.

Haruna blushed slightly and fidgeted under Konoka’s look, cursing herself for not being able to come up with a lie quickly enough to cover her little... experimental foray into the non-yaoi side of things. It was important for her artistic development, darn it, could she help it if she found them to be an intriguing motif?

A knock on the door interrupted Haruna’s squirming, replacing her guilty look with a wide smile and an obvious look of relief. “Saved by the knock!” She blurted. “You have other guests, I’ll just head on back to my place, feel better, going now!” And so Haruna was out the door so fast she nearly ran over the person standing in front of it as she did so.

In the doorway, one hand still raised as if to knock, Tatsumiya Mana looked slightly surprised. “Is this a bad time?”

---

Konoka’s demeanour had changed somewhat once Mana came in. Certainly there was a friendly smile on her lips, and she was nothing if not courteous and mindful of her guest, but... inside there was something gnawing at Konoka, something she did not like feeling but could not seem to stop on her own. The slight strain in her smile and unusual expression in her eyes was something only someone like Asuna or Setsuna might see, and for the one that was present, well, Setsuna was reeling after Haruna’s visit and was not quite her usual alert self.

She found herself discreetly observing her guest as Mana had tea with them and conversed, always with that calm air that seemed almost unshakeable. It wasn’t just her looks, Konoka concluded, her taller classmate also spoke and acted far more mature than most of the others , making Konoka wonder suddenly if Mana really was the same age as the rest of them. Well, the girl was mysterious, for certain, so Konoka would not put it past her – or Konoka’s grandfather for that matter – if that was not the case. It was clear that she and Secchan had an easy interaction with one another, in fact Konoka was just a bit upset to see that Secchan relaxed considerably in Mana’s company.

The current state of school security was addressed, a few skirmishes accounted for and a meeting with Konoka’s grandfather described, slightly awing Konoka as she begun to understand that keeping the school safe for the rest of them was a far more complex job than Konoka had imagined, and it was essentially only Setsuna, Mana and Evangeline that held this responsibility. For some reason there was a brief status report on certain students whereabouts and actions, though Konoka could not quite grasp why they were important enough to mention, and more surprisingly their tall guest almost broke out in poetry regarding a new rifle which she described to Setsuna at length, Konoka’s protector grinning all the while.

Frankly Konoka was a little bit shocked, as she was sure she had never heard the gunslinger talk that much at any given time, in fact, she suspected she had never heard Mana speak that much during the time they had been classmates put together. She always seemed the type to say no more than was necessary, although on second thought the same could be said for Konoka’s own Secchan she supposed.

Finally Konoka had to withdraw to the kitchen, although she was reluctant to leave them alone together. She told herself that she was being silly, and in the end the pull of household duties asserted their power over her and she politely excused herself. Well, puttering in the kitchen and doing dishes was all well and good, Konoka could still strain her ears so that she would hear it if anything... inappropriate were to happen.

A short while later she regretted that decision as she overheard something she really hadn’t wanted to.

“...no, no you’re wrong. There isn’t anything going on between...” Konoka could only discern some of the quietly spoken words. “...just good friends.”

That was Secchan’s voice, but what was she saying? The words made Konoka go cold inside, unconsciously grasping at her heart.

A murmured reply in Mana’s voice, then Secchan spoke again. “...I’m sorry for... everything, and... never meant for this to happen... forgive me... make it up to...” Konoka still heard only fragments of the conversation, but it was more than enough.

Konoka tossed the cloth in her hands aside and rounded the corner quickly, but froze in place in the middle of the room.

“...I know you had no choice, you need not worry as far as I am concerned. As far as...” Mana trailed off as she through the look on Setsuna’s face was alerted that Konoka had returned behind her. Mana had relocated to the bed, sitting in front of Setsuna and was leaned in close to the other girl, her hands on Setsuna’s shoulders.

Had they been about to kiss? NO! No no no no no no no no no no!

She could not fight back the tears that stung her eyes at the thought, causing both of the other girls to get to their feet in alarm.

“Konoka-ojousama, is something wrong?” Mana asked quietly, an expression of concern on her features. Next to her Setsuna scrabbled to her feet with a much more horrified expression.

“Kono-chan! W-what...?” When no reply was forthcoming Setsuna directed a look over her shoulder at her friend. “Mana...”

Mana nodded. “I will see myself out.” Another concerned look at the motionless crying girl. “Please inform me if there is anything I can do for either Konoka-ojousama or yourself, Setsuna.” She bowed politely at Konoka and wasted no time in heading for the door.

Setsuna grunted distractedly in reply, all her focus on her precious Kono-chan whom was crying. Why was Kono-chan crying? Trembling slightly she reached for the brunette hesitantly, very much wanting but not quite daring to just scoop Konoka up in her arms and crush her to her chest. “Nothing should make Kono-chan cry.”

She wasn’t aware that she had spoken the last thought out loud until brown eyes locked with her own and Konoka’s, the other girl’s face breaking up into a painful image before she threw herself into Setsuna’s arms, clinging tightly.

“Secchan” Konoka gasped into Setsuna’s shoulder. “Secchan, Secchan...”

Not knowing quite what to do Setsuna wrapped her arms tight around Konoka, leaning the side of her face against Konoka’s head. What on earth could have happened in the short while Konoka had been out of Setsuna’s sight?

“Kono-chan, please... please tell me what is wrong?” Setsuna pleaded, gently rocking the girl in her arms without being quite aware of it. A thought hit her and suddenly she felt absolutely horrible. “I-i-is it m-me? Is it... w-what I did?”

Against Setsuna’s shoulder Konoka shook her head violently. “No! No, never! I...” Konoka took a deep breath and calmed herself down. “Secchan, can we... sit down and talk?”

Feeling Setsuna nod rather than seeing it Konoka led them over to the couch where they sat down close enough to touch all along one side. Konoka dried the escaped tears from her face and gathered her thoughts. They sat in silence like that for some time.

Finally Konoka spoke up, but when she did it was about something Setsuna had not expected. “Tatsumiya-san is really nice, isn’t she?”

“Uh, yes... she is.”

“You two seem... close.”

Setsuna shrugged a little. “We are friends.”

“Only friends?” Konoka did not look at Setsuna through this little conversation, and she found herself having to will herself not to uncharacteristically start biting her nails.

Now Setsuna felt utterly confused if she hadn’t been confused enough already. “We, uh, work together too?”

Konoka nodded. Only friends... there might still be hope... but...

“Do you think she is pretty, Secchan?”

Setsuna blinked somewhat dumbly at this point, not following at all. “Who is?”

Konoka had to chuckle a little at this, feeling just slightly relieved. “Tatsumiya-san, Secchan... do you think that she is pretty?”

Setsuna looked absolutely mortified. “Mana, pretty? I’ve never thought about it.” She eyed the girl next to her with rising alarm. “Why do you as... oh! Do you think she’s pretty, Kono-chan?”

There was something clearly wounded and anxious in Setsuna’s expression as she asked which made Konoka smile, assured suddenly that her warrior’s eye had not been caught by her tall, dark and mysterious combat partner after all. Good!

“Ah, I’m sure Tatsumiya-san is pretty enough, but she’s not my type.” She leaned into Setsuna a bit, smiling when Setsuna only mustered a weak little grunt in reply. “Would you like to know what my type is, Secchan?”

Actually Konoka was just a bit surprised at herself and how flirtatious she sounded suddenly, but looking at Setsuna any remaining shreds of shyness or hesitation were thrown to the wind. Yes, Konoka might have been jumping to conclusions about Tatsumiya-san, but who knew how long it would be before some other girl came along to take her Secchan away if Konoka did not clearly state her claim on her beautiful warrior? Unfortunately thinking that and doing it was different things, and Konoka really had no clue how one went about these things.

If she had but had the foresight to, maybe she could have asked Honya-chan if there was any book that might enlighten her? Like... ‘How to best woo your stoic and shy warrior-protector-childhood friend’, or ‘The top ten ways into the heart of your female samurai’. Yes, those would have been good, Konoka snickered to herself briefly.

She gave Setsuna a dreamy smile that had Setsuna’s stomach doing funny things again. “Strong, skilled and protective, though gentle and sensitive... stoic but very shy... humble and unassuming, and immensely loyal...“ Setsuna seemed to shrink in on herself so Konoka reached out to gently caress some hair away from those dark eyes. “Pale skin, dark eyes and black hair...” She let her fingers slide down one pale cheek. “And of course a pair of white angel wings.”

Setsuna gasped and gaped, wide-eyed and dazed, unable to collect herself enough to muster up an answer. Feeling increasingly self-conscious Konoka squirmed before that shell-shocked countenance and blushed slightly.

“I had never thought about it in that sense before you kissed me, but once you did... it all became clear to me, about how I really feel.” A deep breath. “I love you Secchan, I always have and I always will, but I am also in love with you. I want you with me always, not as a friend or a bodyguard or aide, but as m-my girlfriend, my lover, my w...” A deeper blush. “A-as whatever comes from that in the future.” She amended quickly before peering into Setsuna’s eyes. “I love you.”

After a long moment of absolute silence Konoka, terrified suddenly that she had said too much, couldn’t help herself. “S-Secchan? S-say something... please?”

Instead Konoka found herself caught up in a tight hug, flush against her beloved Secchan whose breathing was ragged and gasping in her ear. Konoka held onto her, a bit worried about Secchan’s reaction but at least getting the idea that maybe her declaration of love was not entirely unwelcome at least. Finally there was a rasping voice tickling Konoka’s ear. “A-are you... sure?”

Konoka turned her head until she could kiss a pale, and to her surprise slightly wet, cheek. “More sure than I’ve ever been about anything, Secchan. I love you.”

Setsuna drew back only enough so that she could face Konoka, making Konoka’s heartbeat pick up with just the intensely loving look in dark brown eyes. “I love you too, Kono-chan, I love you so much. I always have.”

This time when they kissed it was soft, careful and fleeting to begin with, lips touching only barely and tasting slightly of tears. The second kiss lingered longer, though still chaste and light, until Konoka withdrew slightly, only to return with a hot breath and a silent plea for Setsuna’s passion. The kisses grew deeper and hotter as they lay down in the couch, wrapped up in their love and one another... and this time there was no-one around that felt it to be their duty to stop them.

---

As they lay cuddled closely together in Konoka’s bed the brown-haired girl giggled softly into the neck of her newly acquired girlfriend. Setsuna smiled and placed a kiss on a convenient temple. “What are you thinking about, Kono-chan?”

“Oh I was just picturing grandpa’s face when I tell him about us, and how he won’t get to plan any more omiai for me.”

“And that makes you giggle, Kono-chan?” Setsuna’s slightly panicked voice betrayed her nervousness at the concept of Konoka’s family finding out about them. Konoka giggled some more and patted Setsuna’s stomach comfortingly.

“Don’t worry Secchan, it’ll be alright. I’ll tell daddy first and then if grandpa decides to be difficult he can help me make grandpa come around. Though I think it will be ok, really.” Setsuna just shook her head slightly, she wasn’t so sure about that... but if Konoka was willing to face her family for their sake, then Setsuna would do the same, and proudly, every step of the way. For as long as Konoka wanted her to, Setsuna would remain right by her side... and she was just getting the idea that maybe she could hope that would be for a lifetime.

“Ah... I just realized.” Konoka said ruefully, sending Setsuna a slightly apologetic look. “I will have to apologize to Tatsumiya-san won’t I? I jumped to the completely wrong conclusions about the two of you.”

Setsuna kissed Konoka’s nose and smiled happily. “No, there’s no need... she jumped to the wrong conclusions about you and Asuna as well, thinking Asuna was out to... ahem... take you from me.” The statement was accompanied by a small blush and a widening smile on Setsuna’s part, and a soft laugh on Konoka’s.

“Me and Asuna... that’s just so...”

“Say...” Setsuna got up on one elbow. “Where is Asuna anyway? I thought she said she was only going to be gone for a short while?”

Konoka’s smile was pure mischief. “Maybe Asuna found something... interesting... to do?”

“You think so?”

“Mm, but enough about that for now.” Konoka grinned and interlaced her fingers behind Setsuna’s neck, pushing gently. She wet her lips, eyes growing darker with emotion. “Come here and kiss me, Secchan.”

And Setsuna was more than happy to comply.