A Moment in Sickbay

Star Trek Voyager fanfiction. B'Elanna gets rushed to Sickbay after an incident and end up getting quite the surprise.
(Seven/B'Elanna)

Read A Moment in Sickbay

Disclaimer: Seven, B’Elanna and all else Voyager in this story belongs to the powers that be, and certainly not to this little dragon.





A Moment in Sickbay
--------------------------------------------
by Carola “Ryûchan” Eriksson





It was a few months after B’Elanna had gotten married to Tom Paris, and frankly she was long since at the point she could have banged her head against the nearest bulkhead in regret. She had been about to break things up with the man when he, probably sensing this, had turned around and proposed... which was all fine and good, what B’Elanna wanted to know was what stroke of insanity had made her actually say yes in the first place?

None of that mattered at the moment though, as one grumpy yet not really resisting half-Klingon was rushed into Sickbay, fussed over by both the doctor and her usually inattentive husband.

After a longer period of not feeling well at all and suffering from a variety of small physical annoyances B’Elanna had suddenly just collapsed in the middle of Engineering, and that led to her current situation.

Once Tom had been shoved out of the way the doctor went to work, and B’Elanna tried her best to be patient with the poking and prodding, or, well, the waving a small hand-held device in her face and other pertinent parts while the doctor frowned at it and made a few annoyingly indecipherable comments to himself. Finally she just about had enough.

“So what’s the verdict doc? Delta Quadrant flu? Or did Neelix latest leeola root stew really not agree with me?” The fact that B’Elanna’s voice was just mildly sarcastic and she remained sitting on the biobed was a fair testament to how tired and out of sorts she felt, further worrying her companions.

The doctor shook his head, took an unnecessary breath and quite calmly looked B’Elanna in the eye. “On the contrary, Lieutenant... congratulations, you are pregnant.”

When B’Elanna realized the balding hologram was not in fact joking with her, the edges of her vision became a bit black and blurry and the voices of her husband and her friend distant and distorted. The doctor quickly laid her back down on the biobed and pressed a hypospray to her neck, then continued with the waving of the magical cure-all device also known as a medical tricorder.

Regaining her senses rather quickly B’Elanna groaned. “Pregnant? Kahless’ left incisor... are you absolutely sure, doc?”

“Yes, I am absolutely sure.” There was a grimness to the doctor’s reply that coupled with his deepening frown sent a message of alarm to B’Elanna. The fact that he continued to move the tricorder back and forth over her lower abdomen sent a chill down her spine.

“Doc? What...”

“B’Elanna,” Hearing the fear entering B’Elanna’s voice the doctor tried his best to explain calmly and soothingly. “I am picking up unusual readings from the foetus.” Another breath. “It appears there are Borg nanoprobes present.”

B’Elanna’s eyes widened while Tom, having moved to the opposite biobed to sit down, stunned by events, gasped at this piece of information. After a heartbeat or two B’Elanna resolutely slapped her combadge. “B’Elanna to Seven of Nine.” The computer chirped to announce the connection had been made. “Seven, I need you in Sickbay right away.”

Silence. Then... “I will be right there Lieutenant. Seven out.” In response to the slight tremor in B’Elanna’s voice Seven’s own was tight and firm with determination. The doctor opened his mouth to say something to B’Elanna, but that was as far as he managed before a brief flash of light announced that Seven had transported herself to Sickbay.

In the stunned silence that followed her appearance Seven quickly strode up to the biobed by B’Elanna’s side and locked eyes with the diminutive engineer. “What do you need?”

B’Elanna found herself helplessly lost in stormy blue eyes for some reason and could not answer, thankfully the doctor stepped up to the plate and explained the situation to Seven. Despite listening attentively to everything he said Seven’s gaze never once wavered from B’Elanna... and that was why B’Elanna easily caught the moment when the worried blue changed expression, growing pale with some emotion B’Elanna could not read before Seven broke the gaze and looked away.

“I see. So you are... pregnant, Lieutenant? I...” For some reason B’Elanna felt like she should apologize to Seven, she just didn’t know for what exactly. “I offer my congratulations.”

“So doc says there’s nanoprobes present in the baby, Seven.” Tom spoke up, thinking he should explain why Seven had been summoned, only to realize that he did not know either. Helplessly he cast a look at the doctor. As it turned out it was B’Elanna that answered.

“Yeah, that’s why I wanted you to come. You’re the resident expert on these things, I’d feel a lot better if you helped the doc have a look at this.”

Seven merely nodded, of course she would do her utmost to help. The doctor sidled over to let Seven look at the readings he were taking. “Could they be some kind of residue we overlooked from when B’Elanna was assimilated during that whole Unimatrix Zero thing?”

“No.” Seven’s simple answer was so sure that there was no questioning it. “All Borg-components and the residue thereof were purged from the Lieutenant’s system immediately after returning to Voyager, as you well know doctor. With the exception of a slightly elevated iron content in her bloodstream for a few days after the removal of the Borg technology Lieutenant Torres was restored to normal.”

“And it happened too long ago to affect the foetus.” The doctor nodded and took some more readings. “Then that begs the question, how did nanoprobes come to be in the foetus’ bloodstream, and why?”

Seven frowned as she continued to check the tricorder from over the doctor’s shoulder. “There are no nanoprobes present in Lieutenant Torres’ bloodstream?”

“You know she’s Lieutenant Torres-Paris now, don’tcha?” Tom sniped, not at all pleased with Seven’s continued tendency to omit his name when speaking to or of his wife. He couldn’t quite put a finger on what exactly it was that bothered him when Seven did this, but it had been wearing on his patience for a while.

“Oh shut up Tom!” B’Elanna snarled, once more annoyed with him. They had more important things to think of than the unfortunate addition to her name... and in fact, although she wasn’t about to admit it, B’Elanna rather liked that Seven never used her married name. It felt... far more liberating than was entirely healthy for B’Elanna’s situation. Forcing her mind back on more urgent matters she eyed the doctor whom, ignoring Tom’s comment, had apparently understood what Seven was getting at.

“You’re right Seven, there isn’t a trace of nanoprobe material in B’Elanna’s blood, just in the foetus and the placenta.” He walked over to his consol, putting some information into it before returning to the biobed. “Which means that the nanoprobes did not come from B’Elanna at all, but rather the baby’s father.”

Three heads turned as one to look at Tom Paris whom yelped and backed up a step. “Me? ME? I’m no Borg!”

The doctor ran his tricorder over Tom carefully, then once more. “Relax Mr Paris, I see nothing to suggest you’ve had any Borg nanoprobes in your system whatsoever.” As Tom sagged with relief the doctor blinked for a moment and got a strange look on his face. “Erm, Ensign Paris, I would like you to go... put this information into the console in my office, right away. Oh and please, ahh, run a systems diagnostic while you’re at it? Just to be sure.”

At first it seemed that, under the baffled look from B’Elanna and the quirked eyebrow from Seven, Tom was going to comply, accepting the tricorder and even taking a few steps in the direction of the doctor’s office before he stopped and turned back around, frowning. “Doc? Why are you trying to get rid of me?”

In answer to the torn look the doctor aimed her direction B’Elanna growled, the remaining shreds of her patience wearing thin. “Can we please just GET ON WITH IT?! I just found out I’m pregnant, and if that’s not enough my baby has Borg nanoprobes... please quit it with the drama and just tell me if I and the baby are going to be alright.”

“Very well.” The doctor cleared his throat. “Regarding your health, you’re fine. We’ll have you on some added nutrients, an extra boost of vitamins and you need a lot more iron into your system as well as a lot more rest than what you’re currently getting, and everything should clear up just fine. As for the baby, all values look good, indicating a healthy, slightly older than a month foetus, with the nanoprobes being the anomaly. I can’t really say much about what to expect from that, but I assume Seven will be able to help us out with that.”

“The nanoprobes come from the father, as you don’t have them and they don’t just spontaneously appear in growing quarter-Klingon babies on their own.” A slight twitch in the hologram’s facial features. “Tom Paris does not have, nor show any signs of ever having had, nanoprobes in his system.”

“Which means?” Tom asked, the circumstances overruling his medical training for a moment.

“Which means... that you’re not the father.” The doctor’s reply was just a trifle testy before returning his attention to B’Elanna and gentling his voice. “You will have to tell me who the biological father is so he can be tested, B’Elanna.”

B’Elanna blinked at him. “Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Slightly older than one month...” Seven whispered harshly and suddenly sat down on the edge of B’Elanna’s biobed, hard.

B’Elanna’s eyes grew wide, and shocking the men in the room, she and Seven instantly blushed quite fiercely.

“Little over one month ago..:” The doctor continued slowly, eyeing his two friends and secretly wishing he had his holocamera present. “That was when Voyager had the... encounter... with the B’pfssari.” He and Seven were the only ones onboard that could utter the strange sound that was the name of the overly friendly space-faring people whose acquaintance had proved very embarrassing to Voyager’s crew, at least without sounding as if they were spitting.

Tom blinked. And blinked again. For once he actually added two and two together and got four. “You... you... YOU CHEATED ON ME!” He roared angrily and pointed accusingly at the command-red B’Elanna. “YOU CHEATED ON ME WITH – HER!” Pointing at Seven this time, but as the women were now sitting side by side there was little difference. “HOW COULD YOU!”

“Oh shut up Tom!” B’Elanna said again just as the doctor inserted himself between her and the helmsman, nudging Tom none too gently a few steps back. It occurred to her in a strange moment of clarity just how often that phrase crossed her lips... why in Kahless’ name were she still married to this rodent? “Don’t go pointing any accusing fingers over what happened with the... ‘Sari, as I recall they had to pry your naked ass out from under a whole pile of them, male and female alike.”

The B’pfssari were an attractive, friendly race that were eager to make Voyager’s acquaintance, unfortunately what had escaped the preliminary research was that the tall, androgynous-appearing aliens exuded a very strong pheromone, particularly when imbibing their own version of alcohol, and few species that encountered them had any particular resistance to the effects of this, Voyager’s crew included. At the party that had been arranged to celebrate the friendly trade between cultures the entire command crew and a large number of others had been subjected to the pheromone, leading them to lose all inhibitions as well as hyper-charging their libidos. That the B’pfssari were a sexually open and accepting people that really did not know what effect they had on others had not helped matters, and so those involved had woken up the following day with the mother of all hangovers, unclear memories of the previous night, and most of them in bed with someone else.

It had been a unanimous decision that what happened with the B’pfssari, stayed with the B’pfssari, and eventually life had gone back to normal.

Until now.

“Ensign Paris, either you calm down or you leave Sickbay.” The doctor warned the agitated man whom, after a moment’s hesitation did his best to get himself under control. “So...” The doctor was for once not sure of what to say. “Seven is the father?”

“Y-yeah... I’d think so.” B’Elanna did not look at Seven despite the fact that they sat rather close together. How could she have missed the truth when it was so obvious? Of course, B’Elanna had tried very hard not to think of her fragmented memories of the night she shared with Seven, for several reasons. Glancing at Tom it occurred to B’Elanna that she should have known right away that it most certainly was not Tom that was the father, since now that she thought about it, they had not been intimate with one another in a long while... in fact since some time before the whole mess with the B’pfssari.

She felt the knowledge just sink into her bones. Yeah, this was Seven’s baby alright. B’Elanna smiled.

“If you would correlate your collected data to that archived regarding my nanoprobes I believe you would have your answer, doctor.” Seven sounded a bit nervous, yet she was doing her best to cooperate in any way she could. B’Elanna found herself glancing at the tall blonde finally, charmed by the blush still on otherwise so pale cheeks.

The doctor did as suggested, tapping away at his tricorder. “Yes, yes... you are right, the readings match.” He smiled suddenly at B’Elanna. “Seven is definitely the father. That is good news!”

“What?” Tom demanded angrily. “Why the hell would you say that?”

“Because, since the nanoprobes came from Seven we can be fairly sure B’Elanna is not at risk at being assimilated or otherwise harmed by them.” The doctor explained, looking vaguely as if he wanted to toss the nearest hypospray at Tom’s head. “Seven has programmed hers with special safeguards to prevent that in case of an accident.”

“What of the baby?” B’Elanna’s hand went to her abdomen, feeling strange that she was so concerned for a life that she had not known existed a few hours ago.

“The foetus... she...” Seven looked more remorseful and apologetic than B’Elanna had ever seen the blonde. “Her nanoprobes will increase somewhat in number as she grows closer to birth, and those already present will be subtly engineering her growth, choosing the stronger, more beneficial genetic traits among the material supplied. There is also strong possibility that by the time she is born she will have a few small implants attached to her internal organs. There is no possibility for her to have grown any greater amount of Borg technology or tubules at that size however, so at birth she would be a threat neither to herself, her mother or this ship.”

B’Elanna digested this. “That doesn’t sound so bad. After she is born we can treat her so she won’t develop any more implants, like a subspace transmitter...” The doctor nodded while Seven merely tilted her head. “She won’t have to regenerate, will she?”

“No.” Seven spoke quietly now, the look in her eyes pained. “There is no way she would be born with the ability to regenerate, much less be bound to it.”

B’Elanna closed her eyes, fully feeling the weight of three pairs of eyes on her as her mind raced. Finally, after long moments of silence in which none of the others in the room either spoke or moved, B’Elanna opened her eyes and straightened herself.

”Doc, if I understood correctly neither I nor my baby are in any immediate danger now, right?” At his nod she continued. “Right. Then I’d ask you if you could perhaps let us have a moment to talk some things through... I promise I’ll call you if you’re needed in any way.”

“Of course B’Elanna.” The doctor smiled encouragingly and, with a brief glance to Seven, went to his office and closed the door behind him rather than simply turning his program off. From his office he could still see if something inappropriate happened to his patient while he, with a small adjustment to his program’s parameters, avoided listening in on the conversation.

Absolute silence and a thick tension replaced him.

Taking a deep breath B’Elanna decided to get things going. This was not going to be easy, nor fun, but with a little luck... “Well... it seems we are having a baby.” Although she did not directly look at either of the two blondes in the room as she spoke, she put her hand on top of Seven’s carefully, a bit afraid that the other woman would flinch away from the touch. “We have a lot to talk about, Seven, and we will I promise, I just have to... clear the air with Tom before that. First of all though, I need to know one thing.”

There was a small, awkward but encouraging squeeze to B’Elanna’s hand, urging her on. “You have a choice to make, and if it doesn’t seem fair to you that I am not offering any middle ground I am sorry, but this is how it will have to be.”

“Will you choose to be a parent to this baby, Seven, or would you rather have nothing to do with it? If you want to be part of her life you will have to be a parent full-time, the same as me... I’ll ask you to be there every step of the way, not only while having her but raising her as well, making decisions for her, whatever comes along and no matter where we end up as she grows.” B’Elanna saw Tom gearing up to protest but forged on before he had the chance to. “The other alternative leaves you with neither obligations nor rights regarding her; you will be nothing more than another person aboard this ship to her... if that is what you choose.”

Her voice barely above a whisper B’Elanna added. “I can’t accept halfway commitment, not when it comes to my child’s life.”

Seven’s voice bordered on gentle when she answered. “When have you ever known me to commit to something halfway, B’Elanna?” There was another tiny squeeze. “If allowed I wish to be a part of this child’s life, as much as you will permit me. I would very much like to be there every step of the way, from now until she has children and grandchildren of her own. Likely even then.”

B’Elanna said nothing in reply, just smiled gratefully and squeezed the hand in hers. Further talk about the future with Seven would have to wait, for now she had to deal with Tom.

“Tom...”

“So you finally have the time to speak to me, huh?” His voice was agitated but he still did his best to keep his anger in check otherwise. “Are you going to ask me the same thing you asked her? I’m your husband! I’ll be right there with you, you don’t need her!”

B’Elanna couldn’t help it; she let out a short, harsh bark of laughter at this. “Tom, you’re not even there now!” She calmed down and sighed. “But no, I’m not going to ask you what I asked Seven. Rather I am going to do us both a favour and say something that is long overdue.”

She looked him in the eye, calm, immovable and strong. He already knew the words that were coming, knew it was time. “Tom, I am going to divorce you. We’re over and we both know it, we have just been too stubborn or too lazy to want to face it before.”

“But B’Elanna...”

“Look me in the eye and tell me that you didn’t feel afraid when you thought you would be a father, that you didn’t feel relief when it was clear that the baby isn’t yours! Can you look me in the eye and tell me that even now a big part of you is feeling relieved because you figure the baby is someone else’s problem, not yours?”

Tom had the decency to look away, embarrassed and taken somewhat aback by the truth. Yes he had been afraid, afraid he was going to be forced to give up on the things he loved in life, and yes he had been relieved, still was, that the child wasn’t his. Although he had meant it when he said he would be there he had just enough insight to realize that what he really meant was that he would be there when it suited him, when he felt like fitting it into his day between the holodeck and the helm. He lowered his head.

“We’re really meant to just be friends, Tom. You can play the part of the fun-loving uncle when you want to, like you do with Naomi, and not have to worry about not being ready to be a parent.” B’Elanna touched a hand to her ridges as if to dispel a growing headache. “We weren’t supposed to get married in the first place. I was going to break up with you, and you... I know you had grown tired of things too, that you’d much rather be spending your time playing around on the holodeck with the Delaney twins or whoever else that felt up to your ideas of a good time.”

“You knew of his... philandering?” Seven interjected with startled surprise, forgetting what little tact might otherwise have stayed her tongue. She deeply regretted her words immediately as she saw B’Elanna’s surprise and Tom’s horror, and so Seven blushed slightly once more.

“Philandering?” Dark eyes narrowed at Tom whom took a small step back. “Is that so?” In all honesty B’Elanna had thought he had been faithful to her, save of course for the B’pfssari incident and the latest month’s indulgence with holodeck characters. She hadn’t felt enough for him by then to care that he had broken one of the most important rules they had laid down upon entering a relationship, as long as she didn’t have to deal with his advances she had been happy with that. Sighing to herself B’Elanna saw her own blame in how they had gone so wrong... but it was past time to set things right.

She just... looked at him.

Tom put his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. I’ll go get some stuff and stay with Harry until the Captain assigns me back my old quarters.”

“For what it’s worth... I hope you’ll be happy B’Elanna, and if you ever need me, as a friend, you know where to find me.” With that Tom Paris walked out of the room, leaving his very soon to be ex-wife with the woman whose child she carried.

“I apologize, Lieutenant. I have been told in no uncertain terms that I should not address this issue with you, and yet now I have.” Seven spoke in a quiet, genuinely regretful tone. “I am... sorry.”

B’Elanna smiled softly although Seven didn’t see it. She had noticed it for several months now, since a short while before her unfortunate marriage to Tom actually, that Seven was really a very sweet person. She just didn’t know quite how to express herself sometimes, and B’Elanna could certainly relate to that.

“The only thing you have to be sorry for is for going back to calling me Lieutenant, Seven. I thought we agreed you would call me by my name unless we’re at a senior staff meeting or something else along those lines?”

True, after what happened between them that night – although B’Elanna’s memories thereof were few and scattered they were still enough to make her face burn and her hormones to riot – they had both slipped back into somewhat more awkward and stiff mannerisms around one another, and the use of B’Elanna’s name had been infrequent. But they were having a baby together, B’Elanna wasn’t about to let the other parent of her child go around calling her ‘Lieutenant’ anymore.

Seven’s shy smile in response tugged at B’Elanna’s heart, and impulsively she leaned in and placed a small kiss on one pale cheek.

Drawing back from the tiny kiss B’Elanna could not help but blush a little at what she had done, but glancing at the wide and breathtakingly charmed smile that was Seven’s reaction to it she relaxed. After all, they were going to have a baby... they had done far, far more than just kissed a cheek or two.

Grinning B’Elanna leaned against Seven, intertwining their fingers. They had much to talk about, certainly, and a future to plan, but for right then and there... B’Elanna just wanted to share the quiet, peaceful moment with the one she was beginning to understand meant a whole lot more to her than B’Elanna had ever allowed herself to see.

She was a free woman at last, free of the ill-conceived marriage to Tom, free of her lingering guilt over what had happened between herself and the woman beside her and what that had meant, and just generally free of all those little weights that had been pulling her down those past few months. Taking a deep breath B’Elanna allowed herself to simply enjoy the quiet sense of happiness beginning to stir inside.

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Tied To You

Negima! fanfic. Setsuna and Konoka have finally been called into Konoemon's office regarding their Pactios with Negi. Konoka is not allowed to be in a Pactio with another mage, instead she needs to be in a Pactio of her own with a warrior that can protect her...
(Konoka/Setsuna)

Read Tied To You

Disclaimer: Mahou Sensei Negima etc belongs to Ken Akamatsu and possibly a few others, you know the drill.

A slight warning: I still haven’t done more than glanced at the manga and I haven’t even seen all of the anime (unfortunately), either way I’m sure Konoemon is out of character here to say the least. Just... nod and smile, nod and smile. XP




Tied To You
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By Carola “Ryûchan” Eriksson




For an individual born with wings on her person, regardless how hidden at the moment, Setsuna suspected it was quite strange how well she could sometimes do fish impressions. Like right then and there for example, standing in front of her employer in his office, what kind of attitude was that for a warrior like herself? The fact that her precious Konoka-ojousama was even more visibly surprised was of little comfort, after all, Setsuna’s precious ojousama was not only entitled any emotional response she darn well pleased, she was also incredibly cute while enacting them.

Shaking her head slightly to disentangle her thoughts from further speculations regarding Konoe Konoka and her many virtues, Setsuna got her composure back and levelled a narrow-eyed gaze at the old man patiently waiting for her response with eyes far too calculating for Setsuna’s tastes.

“You want ojousama and I to cancel our Pactio contracts with Negi-sensei effective immediately, is that correct sir?”

The old man nodded and let his valuating gaze move between both young women standing in front of his desk. “Yes that is about what I said, Setsuna-kun... although you and my grandchild will have until morning to see to it that your Pactio contracts are properly ended.” His smile was friendly, if brief, but for some reason it was even less assuring than his words to the young Shinmeiryuu warrior. “If you are concerned about Negi’s feelings, don’t be. He has already been informed and is quite understanding of your situation.”

“Our situation, grandpa?” Konoka looked every bit as confused as she sounded, causing Setsuna to look away from Konoemon to instead attempt to gauge her Konoka-ojousama’s feelings. After all, Setsuna knew that her ojousama was quite attached to their young teacher, though exactly how far that attachment went... Setsuna had willed herself not to speculate.

”Yes, you see Konoka, there are several reasons why you cannot be allowed to remain in Pactio with Negi.” The old man stroked his beard absently. “For one, now that you are aware of your heritage and power your own education in the mystical arts awaits you, and as such you are not allowed to form a Pactio with another mage.” A peculiar look passed on the wizened face for a moment. “Then of course there is the fact that Negi himself has quite a bit of his education left to undergo, particularly since the traditions and proprieties surrounding the Pactio act, and the inherent dangers of having too many Pactio contracts at one time, have somehow failed to be included in his studies so far.”

Konoemon sighed and brushed a hand over his eyes, muttering something indistinctly that to Setsuna’s ears sounded like a comment about Negi Pactio-kissing his way through all of Mahora. Grimacing slightly she could not help but agree, though her own fondness and respect for the child-teacher prevented her from ever saying such a thing out loud.

“I see...” Konoka spoke up, head tilted to the side in a thoughtful pose that pulled at Setsuna’s heart. “But what about Secchan?”

With a jolt Setsuna’s attention refocused on her employer, meeting that shrewd gaze evenly. When no answer was forthcoming a cold sensation settled in the pit of her stomach, and the realisation came to her.

“You question my loyalty...” Setsuna ground out slowly, the words spoken with quiet intensity that, although vibrating with strain, held only the barest trace of the icy horror Setsuna felt as the knowledge settled into her very bones. “You question my loyalty to Konoka-ojousama.”

Never had her loyalty and devotion to Konoka ever been questioned by those that knew her, not by her employer, not by her masters and teachers in the Shinmeiryuu, never by anyone that in any way knew the person called Sakurazaki Setsuna. Never.

Her grip on Yuunagi tightened as a cold, detached part of Setsuna’s mind decided on a location, a nice spot some distance into the woods of Mahora from where she could see the school that housed her precious ojousama in the distance. Yes, that would serve well, it would be a good place to end things had she failed her ojousama that miserably, and the carrion-feeders of the forest would take care of what remained... after.

“We do not so much question your loyalty, Setsuna-kun, as we are forced to acknowledge that there is a... strong conflict of interest if you will.” Konoemon appeared to be choosing his words carefully, but his countenance was as stern and unforgiving as Setsuna’s whitened features were stoic. “The person Eishun and I entrust with Konoka’s wellbeing will have to, now more than ever, be bound to her and her alone. To have secondary concerns, no matter how much they have not conflicted until this point, simply cannot be allowed anymore.”

As the new direction the conversation was going finally caught up to Konoka she glomped onto her Secchan’s arm and turned a furious and downright incendiary look towards her elderly grandfather. Whatever impassioned protest was about to leave her lips Konoemon simply overruled it with a silencing gesture and ignored her in order to continue his conversation with the silent warrior.

“The person who will serve as Konoka’s bodyguard will from now on also have to be her companion, her partner and her guide. This person will have to devote herself to Konoka’s studies as well as her welfare, and of course not have any concerns or distractions outside of Konoka herself.” A tiny pause for effect, a cheap trick perhaps, but still a good way to drive his words home Konoemon thought. “This person will be bound to Konoka in a Pactio.”

Again ignoring his granddaughter’s attempts at protesting Konoemon gentled his appearance and his voice, trying to convey the sincerity of what he was about to say. “Truthfully I and Eishun would both prefer that you accepted this task, Setsuna-kun. Neither of us can think of anyone more qualified, nor better suited.”

“M-me?” Setsuna’s face went from white to bright red in record time, and she would have started flailing her arms in a most un-warrior-like fashion had not the now happily squealing Konoe heiress gone from simply glomping her arm to enthusiastically glomping all of Setsuna. “B-but...”

“Please...” Konoemon bestowed a kind look upon the flustered girl. “I ask only that you consider your answer very carefully before you give it.” A breath. “I am well aware that it is a lot to ask, and no-one will think any less of you if decline, Setsuna-kun.”

“If you find that what we ask is beyond you, you are free to continue attending this school, keeping your contract to Negi if that is your wish, although Konoka will no longer be your responsibility. You may also choose to return to Kyoto, to continue your Shinmeiryuu studies there.”

“It will be hard, no doubt...” A rather theatrical sigh, but Konoemon’s audience was too emotional to give it much thought. “Finding a warrior of your strength and calibre... with a good and honourable personality... decent magical skills without being a mage... loyal and trustworthy enough for Konoka...”

“Aa, I fear it shall be difficult indeed, Eishun will have to go over his best warriors to find a suitable candidate.” The old man turned away so the mischievous glint in his eyes would not give him away. “I suppose in the interim Tatsumiya Mana could, for a reasonable monetary compensation, be persuaded to enter a temporary Pactio with Konoka.”

Ignoring the horrified gasps that replaced the wordless stuttering behind him the old man continued. “If need be we can have Konoka change temporary Pactio contracts at any time, should the candidates we find prove to be unsuitable, but really, one steady, skilled and reliable warrior would be so much better. After all, Konoka will need a solid Pactio partner for not only her remaining years at Mahora, but also the following years when she will study the mystical arts... that alone will take years, easily way into marrying age I should think.”

“NO! Err, I-I mean...” Setsuna yelped, trying not to – and failing – to imagine her precious ojousama forced to kiss not only Mana but a whole long line of warriors, warriors that undoubtedly would be of questionable character and whom would volunteer merely for the chance at stealing a kiss from such divine lips. “NO! I CANNOT ALLOW SUCH LOW ACTS TOWARDS OJOUSAMA!”

“Oh Secchan!” Konoka squealed again, happily bouncing and hugging her warrior, all at once. “You will take the Pactio with me then? I’m so happy!”

Seeing that the young warrior blushed fiercely and appeared to be on the verge of stuttering out all kinds of protests, most of them no more than instinctive attempts at denial rather than her true intentions, Konoemon cut in. “Now Konoka, Setsuna-kun has not given her answer yet, and if she does not feel up to the sacrifice that devoting a large portion of her future solely to you, then that is something you will have to respect.” Now if he knew his young employee as well as he thought he did, these comments would be the final straw that landed his grandchild the only protector he could imagine for the role. “Setsuna-kun might wish to pursue her own goals and desires, her own life, and we cannot begrudge her that even if she is by far the superior choice as your protector.”

Her own goals and desires? Not being by Konoka’s side? Setsuna’s mind raced and, finally, rebelled. Standing by Konoka’s side, in whatever form or shape she was allowed, WAS Setsuna’s goal in life! Konoka was her reason for living! Perhaps it was time to prove that.

Looking at Konoka’s smiling face however reminded Setsuna that there was something else, something far more important than proving her dedication. She nodded imperceptibly to herself. “Ojousama, what do you wish to do? The choice is yours.”

Beaming brightly Konoka wrapped her arms a fraction tighter around Setsuna’s neck, leaning in until she was almost close enough to kiss right there and making her blushing protector feel inexplicably weak in the knees suddenly. “Oh but I want to! Please Secchan...”

“Be mine!”

Konoemon coughed into his fist, barely believing his ears. Had his grandchild just proposed marriage to her best friend? It had certainly sounded like it to him... and as he cast a glance at the entangled pair it was easy to see that he was not the only one that found Konoka’s words a bit... more than the girl had probably intended. Poor Setsuna was blushing so hard he could almost feel the heat hit him from the other side of his desk. The only one that apparently found nothing strange in her choice of words was Konoka herself, as she was happily content to hang tightly onto her warrior, arms wound tight around Setsuna’s neck and her body flush with the other girl’s side, making Setsuna hold onto her to keep her upright.

“B-b-but o-ojousama! A-are you s-sure?”

“Oh yes!” Konoka nodded enthusiastically. “You’re the only one I want, Secchan!”

Merciful heavens! Konoemon groaned quietly, thankful that neither girl was paying him the slightest attention right now. Was Konoka doing this on purpose? Or was it perhaps his fault, should he had made sure that Konoka understood that no matter how lengthy a period they were envisioning for Setsuna’s Pactio, it was still a temporary Pactio and not a permanent one?

Silently watching Setsuna stutter and blush while Konoka bounced and looked as if she had been given the best present ever, it occurred to Konoemon that he had never questioned just why Konoka and Setsuna were so very devoted to one another despite being apart for so long. He had never given it much thought before, but why exactly was it that Konoka had been heartbroken when Setsuna appeared to avoid her... it wasn’t as if his grandchild had any lack of friends, good, close friends at that. Similarly, why exactly was it that no-one could ever question that Setsuna would most willingly tear out her very heart from her chest if Konoka asked her to?

Was it an old man’s imagination? Was he reading things into a deep and sincere friendship that wasn’t truly there? Konoemon didn’t know, and for right that moment, he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. If nothing else it would certainly explain his otherwise so well-behaved... well, mostly well-behaved... granddaughter’s behaviour every time he arranged for an omiai.

He narrowed his eyes at the two girls, noting that they were winding down and it was about time for him to step in again. This new matter would have to wait until he had sent them on their way and he could call Eishun about it.

“Well Setsuna-kun, although I don’t want to rush your decision, do you have an answer for us?”

The young Shinmeiryuu warrior nodded with a shyness that was uncharacteristic for her usual behaviour in Konoemon’s office, taking a small step forward and away from Konoka although their hands remained clasped. “Yes sir! If you and Konoka-ojousama are sure... then I would be honoured to be ojousama’s Pactio partner.”

That said Setsuna bowed deeply, not lifting her head until Konoemon chuckled a little, internally congratulating himself on the success of his mission. And to think that Eishun had tried to suggest that Konoemon lacked in subtlety for such an undertaking!

“On behalf of myself and Konoka’s father I thank you, Setsuna-kun... we will both be relieved to know that Konoka is in good, trustworthy hands. Truly, we couldn’t have wished for a better protector for Konoka.”

Smiling kindly in response to the beaming grin from Konoka and the still shy little smile from Setsuna Konoemon made shooing gestures towards the doors. “How about you go see Negi about the cancellation of your current contracts now, and then relax for tonight. Tomorrow evening we will hold your Pactio ritual, and before that I think we will have to go over some room arrangements to have the two of you closer together.” He shooed them again. “Now go, go!”

After the doors had closed behind the two girls Konoemon made his way back behind his desk, sat down and reached for the ornate phone resting on it. Who to call first? While he needed to speak to Eishun about his observations there was still much to arrange for tomorrow, so that would have to wait.

With quite the evil smirk on his face, Konoemon dialled the number that would get him in contact with Evangeline.

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

Morning came much too soon for one Shinmeiryuu warrior that was really just starting to realize what she had agreed to. Oh the standing by her ojousama through whatever may come, devoting her life and her time to her, that part was easy and certainly nothing new to Setsuna. That had always been her intention, after all.

No, the part that loomed in Setsuna’s mind and made her movements increasingly stiff as the day progressed was the fact that she had agreed to kiss Konoka. She, Sakurazaki Setsuna! Not only was it expected of her, she was actually encouraged to do so, by everyone... feeling somewhat panicky Setsuna could not help but think that there was something very wrong about the concept and how lightly everyone else seemed to take it. Maybe Setsuna was at heart a hopelessly old-fashioned girl, as she rather thought things like kissing was supposed to be a private thing, brought about by various romantic reasons... the Pactio kiss she was about to share with the girl she so adored would have none of these things, in fact they would apparently have quite the audience. Not to mention that Setsuna was torn between feeling guilty because she secretly very much wanted to kiss Konoka, and a deep sense of fear that she would do something wrong and her secret would be out.

What if her ojousama hated her afterwards?

Konoka of course showed no sign of any kind of trepidation, rather the reverse as she seemed exited and eager. The happy heiress had chatted endlessly after the two of them had returned to Konoka’s shared dorm room the previous night, mercifully keeping her rattled warrior from having to say too much. Setsuna had of course made sure to thank Negi properly during the surprisingly simple yet, for all three of them, emotional cancellation of their Pactio contracts with him. The four of them, Setsuna, Konoka, Negi and Asuna, had made new, personal vows of mutual support and protection even without a Pactio, and Setsuna had felt humbled by the strength of the friendship and even kinship that had grown between them all.

They had all stayed up talking rather late, in fact it was not until Negi fell asleep sitting up that the girls decided to call it a night and Setsuna returned to her own room. Konoka’s warm hug goodnight had returned the blush to pale cheeks, and in all honesty Setsuna had walked to her room and prepared for the night purely on habit, as all her thoughts were too occupied with her ojousama to actually take note of her surroundings. It wasn’t until she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, that she became self-aware enough to use a meditation technique to calm herself enough for sleep.

Even though Setsuna was normally a very early riser, that particular morning she was woken up quite rudely by a deviously grinning vampire and her typically deadpan companion, and with that Evangeline had simply taken over Setsuna’s entire morning. She had been ordered to pack up her things and move to another room, and knowing the futility of disobeying the imperious blonde Setsuna had done just that, thankful once again that she had little in the way of possessions outside of her assorted weapons.

The new room had proved to be a large one, one of those intended for three or four occupants although Evangeline had, with a smirk and an insinuating quirk of her brow, declared that only Setsuna and Konoka would share that room. True to the vampire’s word, as soon as Setsuna had put her things away to Evangeline’s satisfaction, she had been directed to help her ojousama move all of her belongings to the new room as well. Thankfully the room was far closer to Konoka’s old one than Setsuna’s, as the Konoe heiress had more than enough possessions tucked away to make up for Setsuna’s apparent lack thereof.

With the exception for the usual breaks for food, most of the day had been filled with moving, arranging furniture and decorating, all of which left Setsuna at least mostly too preoccupied to give in to her increasing sense of panic. All too soon though all three rooms were in order, and in the one that was from that point onward supposed to be hers and Konoka’s, a large open space had been left to accommodate for the Pactio circle. It was only a matter of waiting for Konoka’s father and grandfather to arrive with Chamo.

When Konoka began fluttering around with Asuna doing various strange things that, when asked, she called ‘prettying herself’ in preparation for the Pactio, Setsuna was ready to either faint or vibrate through the floorboards. Fortunately Evangeline and Chachamaru had flanked Setsuna earlier, and were able to take care of the suddenly green-faced and hyper-ventilating girl until it was time.

So it was that Setsuna found herself kneeling on the floor, blushing of course, in front of a smiling and eager-looking Konoka in the middle of a magical circle, while their audience had crammed themselves along the wall next to the door.

Knowing the tingling sensation in her scalp was a fair warning sign that she might actually pass out soon, Setsuna did her level best to ignore all the people watching. That Eishun and Konoemon were present she could almost understand, though the mortification threatened to kill her, but why Evangeline, Chachamaru, Negi and Asuna had to be present as well was beyond her.

Trying hard not to hear Asuna get all emotional and wipe a bit at her eyes over by the door, Setsuna instead concentrated on her ojousama, fighting keep her demeanour as calm as possible while discreetly wiping her suddenly clammy hands on her pants. Aa, but could there ever be anything as beautiful and breathtaking as Konoka-ojousama?

“Ojousama, if I should pass out during the ceremony... please do not be offended.” Setsuna whispered nervously, feeling the need to warn Konoka just in case.

“Don’t worry, Secchan...” Konoka smiled lovingly and took Setsuna’s hands into her own. “You won’t.”

Taking the clasped hands as his cue Chamo finished the preparations and started up the Pactio circle. The mystical flames ignited, and with them Setsuna and Konoka.

All thoughts of people watching or lingering insecurities were drowned out in the loud roar of blood in Setsuna’s ears, and the rapid beating of her heart. The universe narrowed down to the girl in front of her, and with that, finally, Setsuna leaned in to meet Konoka halfway.

Their first kiss was soft, gentle, the barest pressing of lips and nothing more, yet it meant the world. A soft gasp from Konoka followed it, and then they were kissing again, firmer and more animatedly this time.

Although the girls inside the circle did not notice it, the other people in the room watched in shock as the eldritch flames that made up the Pactio symbols flared up high, completely obscuring the kissing couple from view. All that Setsuna and Konoka knew was the mounting need to be closer, to kiss even deeper, hold tighter, to touch... amidst this feverish need a new sensation called for attention, strong and maddening.

For just a moment Setsuna and Konoka drew back from their kiss, if ever so slightly, and Setsuna realized they were floating in the air, Konoka straddling Setsuna’s lap and both of them holding onto the other as tightly as at all possible. That Konoka’s eyes were glowing was a detail Setsuna would not recall until much later, for that moment in time all she really knew was that as she looked at her flushed and wide-eyed love, Konoka threw her head back and cried out in pleasure. A heartbeat later and Setsuna joined her, the pressure inside becoming a blinding white light on the inside of her eyelids, and then...

The world went dark and silent.

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

The magical flames snuffed out instantly as the two girls sagged back down to the floor, no trace of chalk or soot or anything else for that matter remaining to indicate the Pactio circle had ever been present. As Asuna dashed across the floor to anxiously try to wake her unconscious friends, the magic-wielders present remained unmoving and silent for a long moment.

Finally Evangeline stepped forward and with an unreadable expression on her face bent down to pick something up from the floor. Absently, as if she wasn’t really aware that she was speaking to the girl, she stopped Asuna’s mounting panic when the tall redhead could not manage to wake her friends. “Easy, let them sleep... they’re not hurt, they just had a magical overload to their systems and need to rest for a while. Chachamaru, help Asuna put them in bed.”

“W-what was that?” Negi sounded for once very much like the small child he really was, looking to the adults for reassurance. “T-that wasn’t a Pactio... was it?”

Eishun put a calming hand on the boy’s shoulder. “No, Negi-kun... that certainly wasn’t a temporary Pactio.”

Evangeline snorted as she inspected the card she had picked up. “Heh, trust those two to find a way to turn a temporary Pactio into a permanent one without actually performing the ritual for the latter.” Abruptly she handed the card to Konoemon and crossed her arms over her chest. “Any ideas on how this happened?”

After another moment of silence Chamo spoke up from the floor. “I’ve heard that if two people that enter a temporary Pactio are one another’s true love, then it can become a permanent...”

A derisive wave cut him off. “I’ve never believed in that stuff, and I’ve certainly never seen anything to suggest it could happen.” Belying her gruff words there was a tiny, barely visible smile on Evangeline’s lips as she glanced over at the sleeping girls. “Could it have something to do with Konoka’s massive and untapped power?”

She couldn’t resist the urge to roll her eyes at Negi’s smitten look that told them all quite clearly which theory he would be supporting. The boy really was a sucker for all romantic things, no matter how inane... and no matter how ignorant he was on the subject. A glance at Asuna’s wide, pleased grin and slight blush confirmed that she, too, was all for the love-angle. In fact, vampire-enhanced ears easily caught the whispered “I knew it!” that accompanied the nod and the continued grinning, drawing yet another amused smirk on childlike features.

This one and that one, everyone were closeted romantics it seemed, and all of them favouring a coupling between Setsuna and Konoka. Ah well, Evangeline couldn’t say she didn’t do so as well, nor that she wouldn’t poke a lot of fun at those two over all of this, eventually.

“Wow... so this is what a Permanent Pactio card looks like?” The Pactio card had passed over to Negi for inspection and Asuna had joined him, both of them watching the glowing card in awe.

“Only if the ones in the Pactio bond are exceptionally strong.” Eishun told them, a small smile playing on his lips as well. “Exceptionally strong and... exceptionally, ah, strongly connected.”

Konoemon did not look entirely pleased by his son-in-law’s statement but he didn’t contradict him. Instead he nodded slowly to whatever thoughts had been going through his mind, and turned towards the door. “We will have to investigate this thoroughly, but for right now let us leave the children to sleep in peace.”

With her hands tucked behind her head and a nonchalant air to her Evangeline had to get in a few last ribs on the subject. “Aren’t ya happy old man? You’ve been trying to marry off your grandkid for some time, and now you’ve finally met your future granddaughter-in-law. You should be pleased.” They moved out of range before Konoemon’s reply could be heard, Chachamaru trailing along dutifully behind her master.

Eishun took the card from Negi and placed it on the small bedside table, took a moment to write a short message to his daughter on a note next to it, and then lovingly tucked the edges of the blanket tighter around the sleeping girls before walking away. Negi scooped up Chamo and joined him, only Asuna lingered a little when everyone had left.

“I’m happy for you.” She smiled down at her oblivious friends, then glanced again at the card. Still feeling a bit in awe Asuna shook her head and couldn’t help but voice her thoughts out loud. “That really is amazing. All glowing and solid and... real... in a way that makes our other Pactio cards look like something cut out of the back of a cereal box.”

With another shake of her head Asuna walked over to turn out the lights and close the door behind her.

In the bed Konoka snuggled just a fraction closer in Setsuna’s arms, both of them with sleepy smiles on their lips and with hands clasped in a loving hold. On the bedside table the card glowed softly, its image of Setsuna as a proud winged and armoured knight patiently waiting for the joyful squeals that would follow it being discovered by one of the two young women whose bond it symbolized.

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

Waking up had never been so sweet. Setsuna wanted to resist consciousness for once, to continue resting in this warm and happy place she had found, but there was something equally tempting pulling at her from the waking world.

As she stirred she became aware of the warm, solid presence of her Konoka-ojousama, head tucked in under Setsuna’s chin and her body fitting so well into Setsuna’s arms. Strands of dark brown hair tickled at Setsuna’s nose and she breathed in deep... ahh, ojousama smelled heavenly as always. A soft giggle against her collarbone revealed what Konoka thought of that, and the long hug that followed made it quite clear that Setsuna’s little princess was quite awake.

They drew apart just enough to see one another.

Good morning.

Good morning, Konochan.

The fact that neither of them had spoken out loud was lost in the enjoyment of the mutual smile. Setsuna’s heart was just full to brimming with the love she felt for this beautiful girl with her happy smile and cute blush. Truly, she felt as if she was about to burst with it all.

Kiss me, Secchan.

The command was heard and instantly obeyed, the kiss sweet, loving, wonderful and lingering, neither girl realizing that this was not something that was normal for their interactions before this moment.

Neither of them could say how long their kiss lasted, but they were still blissfully engaged in it when a brief knock was heard and a certain redhead poked her head inside the door. “Are you guys awake yet?” Asuna called out in that hushed kind of voice that people have that don’t really want to be heard, and then she walked in to check on them.

“OHMYGOSH! I’M SORRY!” Asuna spun around so fast in her attempt to leave that she instead spun a full circle and tripped on her own feet, falling face-first into the floor.

Konoka’s only reaction was to giggle while Setsuna shot out of bed to attend their injured friend. “Careful, Asuna-san... it’s alright, it’s ok...” Aiding the fiercely blushing girl to her feet was a bit more difficult than it should have been, but eventually Setsuna managed, amidst many an embarrassed apology from Asuna and friendly dismissals from Setsuna and Konoka both.

Eventually they all calmed down, and sitting by the table sharing some tea it almost felt like any normal day for them. Except Asuna noticed that every so often that one or the other of her two friends would appear to reply to something that had not been actually said out loud, and also upon occasion their eyes would meet and sort of glaze over, and Asuna just knew that if she didn’t remind them that she was there right then she would be witness to another makeout session. Who would have thought?

In one of her attempts to dodge possible exposure to things she really did not want to see regarding the girl that was almost a sister to her, Asuna brought up the subject of the new Pactio card. In the whirlwind of activity that followed it soon became apparent to the tall girl that the previous day’s events had somehow slipped the minds of her two friends, probably because, in Asuna’s opinion, they had been too occupied being utterly besotted by one another. After a fair dose of squealing and admiring the new Pactio card, Setsuna and Konoka made for Konoemon’s office with Asuna in tow, obeying Eishun’s note that they should come see him when they had woken up.

Smiling to herself Asuna wondered if Setsuna and Konoka were even aware that they were holding hands the whole way to the principal’s office.

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

Even though Konoka and Setsuna themselves had only walked in somewhere in the middle of the ongoing discussion regarding their Pactio and what really had happened during it, the part they were present for was quite lengthy and exhausting nonetheless. Add to that the general sense of confusion and overwhelming embarrassment and awkwardness, at least one Shinemeiryuu warrior felt quite frayed around the edges before the night was over.

Konoka on the other hand never seemed to waver much, even when poked and prodded and asked to attempt small tasks to determine something or other about their newly formed bond, although Setsuna at least knew that all the overeager attention was annoying her ojousama as well. Mostly because Konoka seemed quite convinced that she and Setsuna should just be allowed to be alone together already.

Setsuna’s true torment began after Asuna happened to reveal a secret that Konoka and Setsuna themselves had not realized they were keeping, by telling the other magic-wielders present that she had noticed that they seemed to be answering things the other had not spoken out loud sometimes. A brief examination followed, after which everyone was convinced that Setsuna and Konoka had been gifted with a telepathic bond thanks to the Pactio – something which apparently could happen upon occasion if the mage was particularly strong or the two in the Pactio were especially close.

At first Setsuna had wondered why Evangeline was grinning so mischievously at those news, but it did not take long before it was all too clear to her. Konoka was delighted with their new ‘gift’ and started experimenting using it, occasionally making it somewhat hard for Setsuna to know whether something was spoken out loud or just in her mind.

Then Konoka got a bit naughty, and shortly after that Setsuna discovered that not only words but images as well could be transmitted through their new link. She spent the rest of the evening blushing in a variety of shades, causing the other people in the room to eye the widely grinning – yet strangely innocent-looking – Konoka with suspicion.

Konoka had, Setsuna decided, a surprisingly dirty mind when she wanted to, and a very wicked, active and above all graphic imagination. At one point Setsuna had been forced to excuse herself, run over to the first large source of water she could find, and dunk her head in it. She would later apologize profusely for ruining a magical artefact as well as for getting water on Konoemon’s expensive rugs.

Whether he was sensing the futility in keeping them longer or whether it was just sympathy for the tormented Setsuna, Konoemon decided to end the meeting not long after that point. Asuna and Negi of course left with them, and by the time they parted ways for the night Setsuna and Konoka were too tired to do anything other than head straight for bed.

While the experience in her employer’s office had Setsuna dreading the new turn of her Pactio with Konoka, she found an unexpected blessing in it that quickly lay most of her concerns at rest when Setsuna set to climb up to the small upper bunk she’d decided were hers, leaving the wider bottom bunk for Konoka.

Setsuna’s beautiful princess had fiddled with the buttons on her green pyjamas while standing next to the bed, glancing up at Setsuna from underneath glossy brown bangs. “A-are you going to sleep now, Secchan?” The adorable girl had said, sounding surprisingly small and young, making Setsuna’s heart constrict.

Yes? No? Setsuna had experienced one of her familiar small bouts of panic then, the kind she got whenever something seemed to upset her ojousama and Setsuna couldn’t figure out what she was supposed to do to make it better despite desperately wanting to. She ended up grunting in a way that could have meant anything.

“Oh.” It was such a tiny, sad sound, made all the worse because Konoka did not say anything else, she merely crawled into her own bed. If not for their new ability Setsuna would’ve had no idea what to do to make her precious ojousama happy again.

It came to her in an image what Konoka had wanted, although the other girl had probably not intended it for Setsuna’s perusal. The image had Setsuna and Konoka sleeping together, Konoka’s head resting on Setsuna’s shoulder and the girls comfortably holding one another, much like the position they had found themselves in upon waking.

With a slight blush dusting her cheeks Setsuna acquiesced with the unspoken request, knowing she could not deny her ojousama anything, especially when the longing that accompanied the image had been a mirror of Setsuna’s own. Although it was a little bit awkward at first for the young warrior to get into bed with the one she cherished above all else, Konoka’s eagerness and wide smile soon made Setsuna feel more comfortable and sure of herself. Finally they were snuggled up together to satisfaction, and what a wonderful sensation that was.

Never let me go, Secchan. I want you to hold me always.

Burying her nose into sweet-smelling hair Setsuna’s silent reply was as instant as it was felt by every fibre of her being.

I’ll hold you forever if you’ll let me. I love you, Konochan.

Konoka’s hug was crushing but pleasantly so, and as she buried her face in Setsuna’s neck Setsuna could feel the wetness of a few stray tears.

I love you too Secchan! I always have.

Although there were a few tears of joy between them, mostly the time before sleep found them there, cuddled together like they would be from now on, was spent on soft words of love and even softer kisses. On the bedside table the Pactio card stood once more, a gleaming symbol of ties that could not be broken, and the promise of the future.

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

Once the younger – or at least younger-appearing – people had cleared the room, Eishun turned towards his father-in-law with a slightly evaluating look. After a long moment of silent contemplation he finally spoke up. “Well? What are your thoughts?”

The look that Konoemon threw his way was annoyed but also wryly amused. “What do I think? I think I really stepped in it this time, that’s what I think.” He pulled a hand over his eyes and sighed. “Evangeline seems to be of the opinion that their Pactio can’t be broken.”

Eishun nodded, a corner of his mouth twitching with the beginnings of a smile. “Yes, I heard.” A breath. “I don’t know enough about it to speculate whether it could be broken or not, but... I think the real question is, should it be broken?”

“You approve of this situation then?” Konoemon knew his son-in-law well enough not to have to ask really, but felt the matter at hand needed Eishun to voice his opinion. “I know you are very fond of Setsuna-kun.”

“Indeed I am.” The smile was a little bit more visible now. “And as we discussed and agreed upon before, I could not wish for anyone better for Konoka. I stand by that statement.”

“You do know that this is not an ordinary Pactio, not even an ordinary Permanent Pactio, don’t you?” Konoemon asked wryly. “They are as good as married already, with this... even if we were to find some nice young man for Konoka it would end up in bloodshed, either theirs or his, no matter what we tried to do.”

“As long as they are happy.” Eishun did smile now, and he met Konoemon’s eyes evenly. If Konoka’s grandfather disapproved of the young couple their lives would be difficult, but Eishun would support them every step of the way. Fortunately Eishun knew that the old man, while tough to his enemies, was a soft touch at heart, especially when it came to his precious grandchild. “And honestly, neither of them will be happy if they were separated, we’ve already seen that haven’t we?”

Konoemon snorted something about foolishness, children and romance, but threw up his hands in a gesture of defeat. “Alright, alright. I do like and trust Setsuna-kun, and if she had been a male I would have been delighted to see Konoka paired up with her, in fact I would have arranged for them long ago.”

“We’ll just have to leave them be and see how things turn out.” Eishun suggested, moving over to pour them some tea. “I still think this is how it is meant to be.”

“We’ll see.” Konoemon agreed and accepted his cup. “I won’t attempt to interfere unless something disastrous happens.”

Eishun nodded silently and placed a few extra sweets from Konoemon’s secret hiding place onto a plate for his father-in-law whose facial expression immediately brightened at the sight.

Reaching for the plate Konoemon added “...we could always have Setsuna-kun’s gender changed with a spell or a potion...”

The plate of goodies was suddenly out of reach, causing the old man to pout and grumble. “Alright already! No changing Setsuna-kun’s gender....” Muttering quietly to himself so that the thankless whelp holding his sweets hostage would not hear him he added “Unless of course they get married and need a temporary change to give me great-grandchildren...”

Eishun, relinquishing the plate to the old man, pretended not to hear and placidly took a sip of his tea.

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

Birdsong

Strawberry Panic fanfic. A short story about the thoughts and feelings of Tsubomi set after the end of the series.
(Tsubomi/Yaya)

Edit: Because I got Tsubomi's name wrong when I wrote this story - Tsubame (which would then mean Swallow, hence the bird connection) - it now has a name that isn't quite what I wanted it to be (Tsubomi on the other hand means flower bud). Still, I'll leave it as it is for now.

Read Birdsong

Disclaimer: All things Strawberry Panic belong to people other than I, and I for one am very grateful to them for this adorable series that I simply love. Set after the end of the series.



BIRDSONG
---------------------------------------
by Carola “Ryûchan” Eriksson




Two months had passed since the great upheaval that had been the Astrea Hill’s Etoile election, and one young Spica student briefly reflected on said period of time with somewhat mixed emotions. Her friend and age-mate Chiyo had been equal parts right and wrong when she on the day of the election itself had expressed her belief that despite what happened that day and regardless of who ended up chosen, the select group of friends would continue with their secret night-time tea-parties.

Chiyo was right because despite events the tea parties did indeed continue, and they were still held mostly in the dorm room assigned to Tamao and Nagisa, with the occasional relocation to the dorm room assigned to Tsubomi’s own Spica seniors Hikari and Yaya. Chiyo was also wrong because although the meetings continued as before, the younger half of the newly minted Etoile couple was never present for them.

Tsubomi felt torn about her gentle though not entirely thoughtful senpai’s absence, on one hand Tsubomi felt relief that Hikari no longer tried to find time to spend with her old friends outside of class and choir, and on the other it bothered her greatly. The relief was because the situation between them, between herself, Hikari, Yaya and Amane, was so awkward and strained, and because Tsubomi did not wish for Yaya to hurt needlessly. On the other hand Tsubomi watched as Yaya suffered the loss of her most beloved one and felt angry that Hikari thought so little of the friendship the black-haired girl had given her that not even a moment could be spared for Yaya. It was a confusing situation all around.

In all honesty Tsubomi could not blame Hikari for her absence, nor for wanting to spend all her time with the one she loved, Tsubomi knew she would want to do the same in Hikari’s place. She also knew that Hikari was not a strong person, and so avoiding Yaya and herself was probably the only thing she could bear to do while the pain was still so new.

Tsubomi just wished that the one she loved did not have to suffer so much in exchange for Hikari’s newfound happiness. Despondently the pink-haired girl kicked at some invisible pebble and bit her lip. Not that Yaya would ever know how Tsubomi really felt if Tsubomi could in any way help it... no, Tsubomi was well aware that the attractive and passionate raven-haired star of the school choir would never see her that way. Not Tsubomi, too tall and too grown to manage underclassman-cute, and too awkward and forward to even be considered by someone who had been taken in by the dainty and feminine Hikari. Tsubomi knew she wasn’t pretty enough by far for someone like Yaya to notice, she had always known that.

She had settled for being the favourite sparring-partner, grabbing her opportunity to be near the one she secretly yearned for by pretending to be yet another girl smitten by Hikari’s charms. Tsubomi and Yaya argued and mock-fought over everything and anything, and if Yaya saw Tsubomi as some annoying brat that was fun to mess around with that was fine with Tsubomi. At least it seemed that since Tsubomi, with her own form of tough love, had done her best to drag Yaya out of the depression that clung to her, the older girl found teasing and playing with Tsubomi to be a good way to keep her thoughts away from painful things. For Yaya Tsubomi was more than willing to take the indignity that being her senior’s plaything occasionally brought.

She had tried to get her emotions under an even tighter control, to squash anything beyond friendship, for quite some time. Oh had Tsubomi ever... but it never really worked. Sometimes all it took was a look at Yaya in passing, and Tsubomi’s heart would hurt so badly that Tsubomi would stumble, unable to bear it. Yaya would laugh and call her clumsy, sometimes going so far as put a hand or an arm on Tsubomi, intensifying the pain and the longing all that much more. Tsubomi was terrified that she would loose control one day when that happened, and say or do something which would make it all too clear to her black-haired friend.

When that happened Tsubomi felt sure Yaya would do to her what Hikari was doing to Yaya now and avoid her entirely. Just thinking that Yaya would become no more than a polite nod in passing as she took her place in choir practice brought tears to Tsubomi’s eyes. Furiously rubbing at her eyes before anyone might see her, Tsubomi felt her tiny kernel of anger towards Hikari grow stronger. If Tsubomi hurt this badly just thinking that Yaya might no longer spend any time around her, how must not Yaya feel now that Hikari spent no time at all with her? Even though the two were still officially roommates everyone knew that Yaya did not even see Hikari at the dorm, since unofficially the new Etoile couple had taken up a joint residence in Amane’s room.

Crossing her arms and glaring into the air Tsubomi’s thoughts strayed back to that subject. Yes, Yaya and Hikari were now roommates on paper only, very few of Hikari’s belongings were still there and Yaya for all intents and purposes lived alone. The same could be said for Miator’s Tamao, although Tsubomi had no idea how they managed it she had it on good authority – namely Chiyo – that while Shizuma had remained in the dorms Nagisa had lived with her, and now that the silver-haired former Etoile had graduated the school, she had nonetheless managed to acquire housing impossibly close to the dorms, allowing Nagisa to sneak away from the school during nights and weekends.

The difference between Nagisa and Hikaru was that although Nagisa was also preoccupied with her new lover, she still made some time for her friends on occasion. There were still enough of Nagisa’s belongings in the room to pass muster should Sister Hamasaka get suspicious and inspect it, and at least a few times Nagisa had opted to stay at the dorms, as Tsubomi herself had seen since she was present for the tea parties on those occasions.

Tsubomi sighed. No, she really shouldn’t blame Hikari for being true to her heart. After all, if Tsubomi had through some divine intervention gotten Yaya’s love she too would ignore everything else in order to spend every moment she could with her girlfriend, for however long she would be allowed to.

Growling slightly with the frustrations of being young, head over heels in love and fully aware that this love would never be anything other than unrequited, Tsubomi scowled some more and made faces at her surroundings.

The sudden materialization of a pair of surprisingly strong arms wrapping tightly around her and a familiar voice burring intimately into her ear made Tsubomi experience something that had her very grateful that she was too young to have to worry about having a heart attack.

“What’s with that face, little flower?” Yaya purred into an ear from so small a distance that she was almost brushing her lips across the rapidly reddening shell. “Oh I know, you were missing me, weren’t you?” The teasing words blew hot air into Tsubomi’s sensitive ear, making the younger girl bite back a groan as she tried very hard not to swoon.

“What, no protests? I always knew you had the hots for me, pet.” Yaya continued gleefully, tightening her hold on Tsubomi while the younger girl was too flustered to push her away. “Who can blame you though, I mean, I am pretty irresistible aren’t I?”

Pulling away suddenly from the blushing girl Yaya twirled dramatically until she could lean against the banister, one hand on her hip and the other flicking back her long dark hair while adopting as superior and self-satisfied a mien as possible. “Sexy, beautiful, smart... yup, simply irresistible. No wonder you can’t bear to be without me.”

While stunned at first Tsubomi still caught the playful and expectant twinkle in dark eyes as Yaya smirked her way at the end of her mini-performance and realized that Yaya actually wanted her to react as she usually did, by flailing her arms and throwing insults at the older girl until utter embarrassment made her peter out into violently blushing nothingness. This once, just this once, Tsubomi wasn’t going to fall for it.

“Yeah yeah, you’re irresistible and I just can’t resist all the awesomeness that is you.” Tsubomi rolled her eyes at her somewhat surprised senior. “Any minute now I’ll be overtaken by an urge to write cheesy poetry about you and swoon when you walk by.” Tsubomi turned and started making her way down the stairs. “Come on, you don’t want to be late for choir practice again, do you?”

She didn’t make it far before she was stopped, once again by a pair of warm arms from behind, only this time they enveloped Tsubomi in an actual hug. A soft giggle and then the sultry voice was back tickling Tsubomi’s ear.

“You’re a brat, you know that?” Despite the words the voice was anything but displeased. “But you’re my brat.”

Tsubomi barely had the time to gasp at the words when they were followed up by the sensation of warm, full lips pressed near her ear. The contact was brief but managed nicely to short-circuit the younger girl’s mind to the point she was completely immobile. Yaya on the other hand dashed with a delighted giggle down the stairs, leaving Tsubomi frozen in place as her mind had temporarily shut down with that kiss.

Dazed as she was it took Tsubomi a long moment to realize what else had occurred during that brief but world-changing moment, and her head snapped around to glare over the railing at the dark-haired girl that was happily making her way towards the exit. “HEY! That is my umbrella!”

Yaya turned around to give Tsubomi the brightest grin the younger girl had ever seen the other wear since making her acquaintance, and Tsubomi’s heart tugged painfully at the sight. “Yeah? Tell you what, if you can catch up to me I’ll share it with you, little bird.” Yaya teased with a hand on her hip. “I suggest you run if you don’t want to get wet today... Tsu-bo- mi!”

As Tsubomi raced down the stairs to chase after the tall figure prancing down the hall she could not keep the smile from her lips. Yaya was making sure to go slowly enough that Tsubomi would catch up before she reached the doors, and she was smiling all the way. When had Tsubomi seen the dark-haired girl really smile like that last? No matter what expression she wore Yaya’s eyes always seemed to be crying since whatever had really happened between her and Hikari that night, yet now those same brown eyes were laughing.

Warm.

And looking at Tsubomi.

Not to mention that Yaya clearly wanted to share an umbrella to the church. ‘So it is love-umbrella, huh?’ Tsubomi thought, a blush covering her cheeks as she caught up to the taller girl at last. Walking hand in hand sharing an umbrella like all the other couples that ventured outside on Astrea Hill that day, a romantic kind of stroll that was always popular among the girls of the Ichigo-sha. Maybe... maybe...

Maybe Tsubomi, tall and un-cute Tsubomi, had more of a chance with the person she had found herself head-over-heels in love with than she thought? Maybe, just maybe, it had been long enough for Yaya to consider moving on?

Maybe this was Tsubomi’s chance at happiness.

With a bright smile Tsubomi accepted the hand offered her and stepped up beside her senior, delighting in the slightly stunned look and brief blush that was Yaya’s reaction to it, and then, with a small snap as the umbrella opened, the two of them stepped out into the rain.

Together.

Where Dreams Might Lead

Urusei Yatsura fanfic. Dreams lead to some awkward but important realizations for Shinobu, and for the person she dreams about.
(Ryuunosuke/Shinobu)

Read Where Dreams Might Lead

Disclaimer: Urusei Yatsura and all characters thereof belong to Rumiko Takahashi and a bunch of other people, though who they might be I have no clue.

Having just picked up the anime again after a long time I rediscovered my fondness for the character of Ryuunosuke, the UY character that in a roundabout way contributed to my “Ryûchan” nickname all those (10+?) years ago. As I see definite subtext between Ryuunosuke and Shinobu in the series (as well as Benten and Oyuki, but this story isn’t about those two) I had to give it a go. Oh and I haven’t seen all of the anime just yet, but even the parts that I have seen I might very well have tossed around or changed to fit what I wanted to write here.




Where Dreams Might Lead
---------------------------------------------------
by Carola “Ryûchan” Eriksson





In the darkened mid-sized house that was home to the Miyake family one Shinobu tossed and turned in her soft bed, her thoughts too disquiet for sleep and her body still thrumming with the dreams that had wakened her. Groaning her frustrations into her pillow, Shinobu tried to make sense out of the whirling chaos inside her mind.

Although Shinobu was as skilled at self-denial as the next girl, perhaps even a bit more so, there was no use pretending she had not just experienced a very... intense dream about someone she considered a close friend. While not exactly the first such she’d ever had, it was the first time Shinobu had dreamt something quite so... elaborate about a person she knew, and that was both bewildering and embarrassing enough in and of itself; the fact that the person she had dreamt this about was female did not make matters particularly much easier on her.

Ryuunosuke. Shinobu had dreamt of Ryuunosuke. Again, Shinobu mentally added with a tiny snort and a faint sense of amusement, her classmate and good friend Fujinami Ryuunosuke had been making her way into Shinobu’s dreams a lot lately, and usually for very good reasons too. But this was something rather different.

Shinobu supposed that she should not be particularly surprised that she was somewhat attracted to her boyish best friend, Ryuunosuke’s popularity among girls their age was an awe-inspiring thing to behold considering the embarrassed girl had more female admirers than even the rich ‘prince’ of the school himself, Mendou, and Shinobu could well remember her own first reaction to what she at the time had thought to be an uncommonly handsome and beautiful boy. In fact she had been Mendou’s unofficial date at the time, but even he had faded once Shinobu had looked into those earnest, open and always glittering black eyes.

The truth had been revealed rather quickly, and Shinobu would not have been Shinobu if she had not promptly and actively forgotten all about her bout of instant attraction. Befriending Ryuunosuke she had seen perhaps a bit deeper than most tended to when it came to the brash and boyish martial artist, seen beyond the ‘man among men’ that Ryuunosuke’s father was so set on creating and seen the sensitive and awkward girl that longed to be acknowledged but could never reconcile the male and female aspects of herself enough to find some sort of peace.

Oh how Shinobu had ached sometimes to help Ryuunosuke past the confusion and teach her those things she knew the other girl wanted to know but never had the opportunity to learn with her father doing his best to beat every remotely female thought out of Ryuunosuke’s head. But there had been far too many people interfering on that score already, ironically most of them male, all of them trying to force Ryuunosuke into their preconception of what a woman should be, and so Shinobu instead defended Ryuunosuke’s right to be herself, whatever and whoever that might end up being.

To herself Shinobu could admit that she preferred the other girl the way she was, not yet another carbon copy of sugary sweetness but a person of complexity and layers, a strikingly handsome figure in her male uniform with breathtakingly beautiful eyes and a chivalrous nature underneath the rough male speech that even Mendou, with his high-class speech and affected mannerisms, could never hope to achieve.

Realizing that she was back to thinking of Ryuunosuke’s eyes, the way her black hair fell into those eyes or the cutely abashed smile she would have when embarrassed, and just what that was doing to her heartbeat, Shinobu turned onto her other side, frantically trying to get her thoughts back on track before she would accidentally picture something like the other girl’s, ahh, healthy figure when not wearing the boy’s uniform... argh, too late darnit! Shinobu hit herself in the head with her pillow, repeatedly. Stop that right now!

Well, yes, fact established, clearly Shinobu was not merely attracted to the more masculine traits of her friend. Sighing Shinobu clutched the pillow a bit closer. She had so prided herself on being a perfectly normal girl, too... knowing that she was a bit on the plain side compared to her more illustrious friends, being known as ‘the girl next door’ in all the chaos had eventually become her greatest merit. After all, no matter how sexy they were, what boy would willingly take a homicidal basket case home to meet their mother?

In Tomobiki, apparently nearly all of them. Aa, with all the trouble the males of her immediate surroundings put her through on a daily basis, was there any wonder Shinobu’s thoughts strayed to sweet, shy, kind-hearted Ryuunosuke? Shinobu rolled over onto her back to better be able to stare at the ceiling.

OK, so the normal was a bit of self-delusion on Shinobu’s part to begin with, she kind of knew that. She had gotten enough of the monster-treatment over time due to her great and unexplainable physical strength that she was well aware that normal wasn’t quite the word to describe her. When really angry a normal girl at school might throw a textbook or a pencil case – Shinobu would throw a desk. So what? Was that such a big deal? Ryuunosuke certainly never seemed to think so.

Just being in school was a constant battle, in every sense, but at least since the arrival of Ryuunosuke Shinobu had someone she could count on to have her back. In fact, during the more physical bouts at school that was exactly how they invariably ended up, back to back fighting off whatever was coming at them.

Blushing slightly Shinobu touched her lips. Back to back, yeah... that was how it had happened, Shinobu’s first kiss. By all accounts most likely Ryuunosuke’s first kiss as well, but as Shinobu knew Ryuunosuke had been on a date with that viciously conniving two-faced little devil called Ran, she couldn’t be altogether sure... and it was a bit too delicate a matter to just right out ask the other girl about it.

Sure, the kiss had been by accident, and thanks to that cursed magnetic lipstick that Shinobu still was not entirely sure how she had ended up wearing, but...

But. Ryuunosuke’s lips had been soft and warm, and the kiss, though brief, was nice and left Shinobu feeling tingly and rather confused. She hadn’t been the only one, as Ryuunosuke had seemed quite freaked out by it, but then again they’d had quite the audience at the time, the same people that were always on Ryuunosuke’s case about potentially liking girls, so it was to be expected. Afterwards Shinobu and Ryuunosuke had by mutual, unspoken, decision ignored what had happened, what was a little accidental kiss between best friends?

Not what Shinobu was beginning to realize she wanted it to be, at any rate.

It didn’t end there though, not if she was honest about it. That day when she had felt eyes following her as she was making her way home from school alone, what was it that really had prompted Shinobu to race over to Ryuunosuke, attach herself to the bewildered girl’s arm like a lover, and with a quiet plea ask Ryuunosuke to help her scare away whoever was stalking her? Shinobu had always, before and since, taken care of such things herself, and she had yet to meet the man she couldn’t discourage if she really put her back into it, err, put her mind to it.

Ryuunosuke had in her kindness agreed, and probably without realizing it herself as she held Shinobu and wiped a few tears away acted very much like a caring lover herself. It had warmed Shinobu’s heart so much that when a little while later she had found herself urged to go on a fake date to discourage some at that time unknown would-be suitor, Shinobu had eagerly grasped the opportunity to go on a date with Ryuunosuke.

It was just her typical rotten luck that the supposed fake date was not even that, though, but rather an endless string of posing for couple-like pictures with Ryuunosuke while constantly tormented by certain demented so-called friends determined to ‘save’ them both from forming any ‘unnatural’ relationships. As if that person in question would know anything natural if it hit him in the head. And why oh why couldn’t the males of Tomobiki be at the very least normal enough to simply drool and quietly dream of threesomes when faced with the possibility that two girls were dating, the way hormonal teenage boys everywhere were supposed to?!

Shinobu sighed again and tried to calm herself down before she threw her pillow across the room in a fit of pique. At least she had come away from the whole thing with a set of very nice pictures, and the memory of being held in Ryuunosuke’s strong arms like she was something precious. In truth Shinobu couldn’t quite remember why Ryuunosuke had lifted her up and held her like that, because from the moment the taller girl had scooped her up the world around them had just ceased to exist for Shinobu. Held like that with her arms around Ryuunosuke’s neck, Shinobu had felt like a fairytale princess in the arms of her prince.

Smiling to herself Shinobu remembered how Ryuunosuke had sparkled then, and how she had held and indeed carried Shinobu around for quite a bit before remembering to put her down again. Of course, Ryuunosuke had also tried to kiss her, something Shinobu now regretted that she had not held the courage at that moment to let her. Then again it would just have broken Shinobu’s heart to know that she had been kissed by Ryuunosuke twice and neither time had been intentional... since even this second kiss would have been just Ryuunosuke caught up in the posing and obeying the directives of the one holding the camera.

Hadn’t she? Shinobu would never know, she supposed. The date had ended in a spectacular fiasco involving a whole lot of people, including the not-at-all discouraged but oh so very much unwanted suitor, and upset and quite a bit confused Shinobu had stalked on home by herself, cursing men all the way.

Ryuunosuke had shown up outside her house the next morning, all sweetly apologetic and embarrassed, with a flower for Shinobu and an offer to walk her to school. Charmed beyond reason by the flower and the gesture, especially considering Ryuunosuke actually lived at the school and had no reason whatsoever to be walking around her neighbourhood as it was, Shinobu had accepted and linked arms with her friend all the way there.

They had been through a lot since then, and Shinobu had gone through several half-hearted attempts at sort-of dating, mostly with Mendou, again, but it never panned out and she couldn’t be bothered to put neither heart nor effort into it. The friendly outings she’d gone on with Ryuunosuke had been far more pleasurable and memorable, especially those when the two of them were on their own, but still, neither of them had ever alluded to those being dates.

In fact, though she wasn’t sure and couldn’t prove it, Shinobu suspected that Ryuunosuke had made at least one attempt of her own at dating with another girl, this time with the rough and roguish biker-girl Benten. It had burned quite a bit when the two tomboys had apparently made an instant connection and Ryuunosuke had taken off with chain-wearing Benten to spend the entire day doing who-knows-what. The last Shinobu had seen of Ryuunosuke that day had been her rapidly disappearing figure sitting on the back of Benten’s red motorbike even though school was still in session, and her frustration had not been lessened by the mutterings of her classmates about Ryuunosuke and Benten being ‘instant soulmates’. Shinobu had been short-tempered and snippy towards everyone for the rest of the day, although thankfully Ryuunosuke at least had not been around to witness that.

Lacking the guts to ask Ryuunosuke about it, Shinobu knew she would never find out what happened that day, just that Ryuunosuke was at school as ever the next day and Benten didn’t come back around for a while.

Fighting back a jealous growl Shinobu tried to bring herself back on track. Oh, right, her dreams about Ryuunosuke.

Was it the abject lack of even remotely passable – or for that matter, remotely sane – males in all of Tomobiki that had made Shinobu subconsciously turn to her best friend, the best friend whose bewilderingly good looks and manner incidentally wooed girls by the scores?

Something about that question just didn’t sound right to Shinobu, but if she was going to risk ruin a great friendship and face the inevitable onslaught of her insane schoolmates over this she had better be sure. Alright then, time for a little mental exercise as an experiment.

Setting aside emotions, personality, likeability and whatnot for now, Shinobu called up the images of a few of the females she knew to be considered the most beautiful by people in general. The first one was easy, Lum. While she supposed her most-times-friend, sometimes-adversary was pretty enough and that her exotic looks made her quite popular, Shinobu felt absolutely nothing at the thought of the other girl naked.

The second one was Ran, and all Shinobu could feel was a sense of revulsion for the clearly schizophrenic little puppet master and her saccharine façade, so Shinobu quickly moved onto contestant number three, the priestess-gone-nurse and also someone Shinobu considered a friend despite the age gap, the lovely Sakura.

That was a thought that gave Shinobu pause and caused a bit of blush in the process. Alright so Sakura was perhaps not the best test subject, given that even small inanimate objects and single-cell amoeba experienced palpitations and swooning whenever the raven-maned miko passed by. So perhaps a fourth test subject would be in order, since reacting to Sakura was clearly not going to be indicative of anything. Who to pick though?

At a whim Shinobu called up the image of the constantly man-hunting but much-desired Kurama, only to find that not only did the image of the snow-white wannabe not do anything for her in the sense of the experiment, but it also reminded her that this loud and obnoxious stranger was another strong contender for Shinobu’s Ryuunosuke-kun, in fact Ryuunosuke was Kurama’s ideal ‘man’ and the other woman had fully intended to marry her before that trifling little issue of gender got in the way. Shinobu seethed for a moment before collecting herself enough to move on.

Alright then, on the female side of the experiment the results were... nil, with one possible point for Sakura of course, Shinobu was still not convinced the older woman should count though. That left the male side of things, as loath as she was to consider it.

Attractive men in the general consensus would be Mendou, Rei and... Shinobu wondered who else the girls at school would put on that list. Clearly not Ataru, and Shinobu shuddered at the thought, but she honestly did not know of any other man that stood out from the crowd. Sakura’s boyfriend perhaps, though honestly Tsubame was a plain and uninteresting man and Shinobu couldn’t quite get what the miko saw in him. Nonetheless, Tsubame, Mendou and Rei it was.

Tsubame gave nothing but a vague sense of embarrassment that she even entertained the thought, and in her mind the image of the man apologised before disappearing, causing Shinobu to chuckle at her own imagination. Second was the one she had sort of pursued for some time, Mendou, the guy that had been the most popular person in school among the girls before the arrival of Ryuunosuke. Picturing him made Shinobu shudder slightly and feel grateful that she was past following him around, though she was unsure of whether her revulsion had anything at all to do with his looks, or if it had all to do with his wretched and lecherous personality.

Finally the last one on her list was someone that was virtually a stranger, but one whose looks had taken her in once before. Yes, Rei was a very handsome man and women of all ages swooned over him, and Shinobu was not quite unaffected herself even now. Strangely she was more inclined to think him attractive if with clothes than without, and a moment’s critical thought gave her the answer to that... it was the almost feminine parts of his appearance, in particular his eyes, that she had liked, and that illusion did not extend below his neck.

That was three nil versus three nil. How frustrating! In the end nothing was accomplished but to make Shinobu embarrassed and force her to avoid Sakura for the next couple of days at school so that she would not end up blushing and making a fool out of herself in front of the older woman... particularly so since it seemed Sakura had a habit of reading people’s minds.

So, Shinobu thought somewhat annoyed with herself, she was not interested in girls but she sure wasn’t interested in boys either. What did that say about her? More importantly, what did that say about her considering she did react to Ryuunosuke?

Before she could think better of it Shinobu summoned up an image of Ryuunosuke from the girls locker-room at school, naturally in the altogether.

WHOA!

Shinobu shot out of bed with such force the previously clutched pillow bounced against the far wall of the room, her face on fire with a blush of epic proportions. Shower! Shower, need shower now, cold water, shower!

Trying as best she could to calm herself down and not start hyperventilating on top of everything else, Shinobu felt like hitting herself in the head. How stupid was that? Well, if nothing else she could with absolute certainty say that she was physically attracted to her best friend – and how! – and also say with equal conviction that the pang of interest at Sakura’s beauty was negligent at best, and any assessment of Rei’s looks on her part was highly impersonal and meant absolutely nothing.

At the end of the day it seemed Shinobu quite simply was a Ryuunosuke woman, the thought bringing a half-hearted but amused chuckle and a slight clearing of the recently overheated thoughts. A shower sure would have been needed, though Shinobu realized she would wake her parents up if she took one in the middle of the night. As she’d rather not have to explain herself she’d better come up with something else to cool down.

Deciding on a walk to let the night air clear her head Shinobu craftily snuck through the hall, getting a jacket and her shoes before just as quietly leaving the house. There was a soda vending machine a block or so over, the walk there and back should do her good.

As Shinobu quietly stepped over to the gate and closed it behind her, studying the windows of the house carefully for any sign that she had woken anyone up, she considered splurging and having a can of juice once she reached her destination. A small sound made her turn around, an uncomfortable shot of adrenaline rushing through her system and her hands already halfway raised into fists just in case.

A pair of stunned yet ever-glittering wide black eyes stared into her own in the dim light of the street.

“R- Ryuunosuke-kun?” Shinobu stared in disbelief as the girl that had occupied her thoughts were standing there, looking terribly guilty doing so, leaning on the wall on the opposite side of the narrow street outside Shinobu’s home. “What are you doing here?”

A small blushing competition was underway in the darkened street, but the two competitors pretended not to notice.

“I-I... couldn’t sleep.” Ryuunosuke glanced up at Shinobu through her bangs, crouched over enough to make Shinobu the taller for once, but did not elaborate as to why the inability to sleep had led her to walk all the way over from school to stand in the dark outside Shinobu’s house. Shinobu realized this and felt a small flutter of hope ignite. “Must have walked here without thinking.”

“Were you thinking about me?” Shinobu smiled encouragingly, feeling just a bit bolder in the dark than usual, and knowing full well that Ryuunosuke was too honest not to answer one way or the other. “Or you wanted to see me, maybe?”

Bashfully the other girl looked away, her blush intensifying before she answered in a quiet, hesitant voice. “Y-yes.”

“Good... I was thinking of you too.” Shinobu blushed a little at her own admission but stepped forward all the same to link her arm through Ryuunosuke’s. “Would you like to come in, or should we take a walk?”

“A walk is fine with me...” Ryuunosuke answered absently as she eyed Shinobu getting attached to her arm, but she didn’t comment on it or move away. When it came to Shinobu, she never did. “Wait, you were thinking about me? W-what were you thinking?”

Shinobu giggled a little as she started them walking slowly. “Oh, I’ll tell you when I’m done thinking it.” She teased gently but meant it all the same.

They walked mostly in silence all the way to the vending machine that Shinobu had picked as her destination earlier, only a few quiet words exchanged and, at least on Shinobu’s part, basking in the pleasure of walking side by side with her arms wrapped around one of Ryuunosuke’s and her cheek lightly resting against the top of the same. Ryuunosuke looked a bit embarrassed when Shinobu leaned on her like that, but there was a tiny smile on her face and the taller girl again did not pull away.

It was when Shinobu treated Ryuunosuke to a can of juice, receiving a bright smile and honest gratitude in thanks, that it hit Shinobu just how much she would truly like to go on a real date with Ryuunosuke sometime. Indulging for a moment as they made their way over to a bench to sit for a while, Shinobu tried to imagine how that would be, the two of them on a real date.

It wouldn’t be anything fancy, she decided, mainly because any dating on their part would be paid for solely by her since Ryuunosuke was perpetually penniless, Ryuunosuke’s father always seeming to squander whatever means they had in mysterious ways that not even Ryuunosuke herself could fathom, but that would be ok. Ryuunosuke was a person that appreciated the simple things, so it wouldn’t have to be fancy to please her, and Shinobu would be happy either way. A dinner at some more inexpensive but still nice place, and then a trip to the movies, maybe? Or a day for the both of them at an amusement park, Shinobu was sure she could afford that for a special occasion. As long as it did not involve a trip to the seaside, it was probably safe.

But then again, Shinobu thought to herself with a widening smile, just sitting together watching the stars was nice enough. Ryuunosuke was doing just that, her head tilted back to study the night sky while carefully sipping her juice, and Shinobu decided to be bold.

Setting her can discreetly aside Shinobu eased even closer to her friend until she quite simply, with some attempt at casualness, leaned her head on Ryuunosuke’s shoulder with a little sigh. The taller girl tensed up for a moment, just long enough for Shinobu to doubt herself, then a hesitant and slightly trembling arm came up to rest around Shinobu. Resisting the urge to pump her fist and yell a hearty ‘YES!’ to the sleeping neighbourhood, Shinobu instead wrapped her arm around Ryuunosuke’s waist, snuggling in a fraction closer.

They sat like that in silence for some time before finally Ryuunosuke had to ask.

“Do girls normally do this a lot?” Ryuunosuke’s voice held no discomfort, merely curiosity, still Shinobu winced a bit inwardly at the phrasing. She also felt as if there was something in the question she was missing, but no matter, Shinobu would answer as best she could.

“N-normally? Well... with a boy they really like, sure. Someone they’re dating... something like that.” There was a brief pause, during which Shinobu could almost feel the questions forming in Ryuunosuke’s mind. “If you mean to ask if it is ‘normal’ for two girls to do things like this... I can’t really tell you, Ryuunosuke-kun. I think that it is up to everyone to find out for themselves if they think it is or not. To me I think it could be, but that is just my opinion and it doesn’t have to be yours.”

“I do know that for me, whatever else it might be, to be here with you is much more right than anything else I could imagine.” Whoops. Why not go ahead and say the words ‘I love you’ while you’re at it Shinobu?

Then it occurred to Shinobu that she was thinking of Ryuunosuke in terms of love. Wow, that was fast! An hour or so earlier and Shinobu had been trying to coming to terms with being attracted to her best friend, and already the love thing had slipped in. Drawing back just far enough that she could properly face the other girl it occurred to her that the love thing probably wasn’t something particularly new, just something she hadn’t thought that closely about before. Alright.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Miyake Shinobu, going all in!

“I-I guess what I’m saying is that I... have feelings for you, Ryuunosuke-kun.” Wincing slightly and biting her lip Shinobu gazed up at the wide-eyed girl. “Does that... b-bother you?”

Ryuunosuke looked stunned at first, then blushed and scratched her head in that strangely disarming gesture Shinobu had witnessed so many times before. “No...” She avoided Shinobu’s eyes. “Um, when you say ‘feelings’, you mean... ?”

Shinobu pulled her hands into her lap, suddenly feeling a lot less hopeful and a lot more scared of the consequences of her little declaration. “I-I mean feelings as in... going out on dates... holding hands... kissing... romantic sort of feelings.”

“Oh.” Here it comes. Shinobu tried to brace herself for a very awkward rejection. “Shinobu?”

“Yes?”

“...I’m a girl.”

“...yes.”

“...you know that I’m a girl, right?”

A soft sigh. “Yes, of course I know that you’re a girl, Ryuunosuke-kun. I don’t have these feelings because I picture you as a guy, or because of what kind of girl you could become if you wanted to; I like you just the way you are.”

A hand found its way to one of Shinobu’s, grasping it in a tentative grip that grew more sure when Shinobu did not draw her hand away. Looking up at Ryuunosuke Shinobu was startled to see a shy but happy smile meeting her.

“You know I’m a girl but you like me anyway. Right.” The smile widened and Shinobu’s hand was given a little squeeze. “I just wanted to be sure.”

“I-I...” Ryuunosuke cleared her throat. “really, really like you too, Shinobu.” Blushing furiously Ryuunosuke still managed to force herself to look Shinobu in the eye. “Really really really really.”

The hot flush of happiness that washed over Shinobu when she realized what Ryuunosuke was actually saying was almost overwhelming. The soft sound of happiness that slipped past her lips got muted by Ryuunosuke’s shirt when Shinobu, unable to help herself, grabbed the other girl in a long, firm hug.

When she after long moments of hugging the taller girl tightly eased up enough to create just enough space to be able to look at Ryuunosuke’s face, Shinobu discovered that she had somehow managed to all but crawl into Ryuunosuke’s lap in the process. Far too happy to even consider being embarrassed by that though Shinobu merely beamed at the shyly smiling girl she still had in a tight embrace.

“I guess that means that we’ll be dating now, doesn’t it?” Shinobu needed to make sure they agreed on this, one could never quite know when it came to the people of Tomobiki and the subject of relationships, she had too much personal experience in just how easy it was to misunderstand one another. “As in each other, only? Maybe even... girlfriends?”

Ryuunosuke nodded eagerly and smiled widely. “Yes! G-girlfriends! And... dating, just for real this time?”

Shinobu couldn’t help but laugh a little at that, and leaned forward a bit. “Yeah, for real this time, without the audience. Though we’ll have to be sneaky to avoid getting Ataru-kun or your father to follow us and interfere.” They shared an exasperated look and a small groan at the thought, neither of them quite sure which one of the people mentioned would be worst when it came to ruining things for them.

“Ryuunosuke?” Shinobu asked a bit more quietly after a moment, her fingers idly playing with the open collar of Ryuunosuke’s uniform jacket. “Do you remember... um... our first kiss?”

A renewed blush and a very emphasized nod was her answer, making Shinobu melt a little inside at how adorable Ryuunosuke could be sometimes. Gathering her courage despite the tiny voice in the back of her head that demanded to know what Shinobu thought she was doing, Shinobu leaned in some more, their faces now very close to one another. She touched Ryuunosuke’s face in a small, gentle caress.

“Would it be alright if...” The quiet question was interrupted as their lips met.

It was so soft, sweet and warm, everything Shinobu had remembered from their first kiss and so much more. This was no mere accidental press of lips, this was a real kiss... and everything else just faded away. By the time they reluctantly drew apart Shinobu felt strangely weak, dizzy and definitely out of breath... but oh so happy.

It took a few attempts before they could make themselves part long enough to stop kissing, stand up and start the slow walk back towards Shinobu’s home, because as much as they would have liked to stay there on their wooden bench by the vending machine all night, morning was not far away as it was and the coming day was a school day after all. They would more than likely fall asleep in class as it were, but that wasn’t as much of a problem as one might think, what with the usual goings-on at school. Still, staying out all night and get caught at it by their respective parents was perhaps not the best of ideas, so a slow walk back and a very reluctant parting it was to be.

Their parting kiss was a long and involved one, leaving Shinobu to float through the house to her room with a pounding heart and a general sense of euphoria, and Ryuunosuke – once she had seen Shinobu safely inside – to race the wind back to the small room she and her father rented, bubbling with happy laughter all the way.





Mr Miyake was just exchanging his morning newspaper for his briefcase getting ready to head off for work when he heard his wife’s hurried footsteps coming from the kitchen. He looked that way just in time to see her excitedly round the corner to peer out through the small decorative window on their front door.

“Dear! Dear!” Mrs Miyake cried and waved at him to come join her. “I think I just saw our Shinobu kiss that nice young boy that is walking her to school today, what was his name again? You know the one I mean, the handsome one that has no mother.”

“A well-mannered lad, as I recall...” Mr Miyake mused and peered out the window beside his wife. Shinobu and her companion had already disappeared behind the high wall edging the street though, but he didn’t mind much as he wasn’t particularly keen on seeing his little girl do things he frankly did not want to know about with her new boyfriend. “He has walked her to school before, and didn’t Shinobu mention that he had helped her out with something a while back?”

Mrs Miyake nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, yes, that’s him! He is so much nicer than those other boys she has gone out with... sweet, well-mannered and honest... much better husband material.”

“Didn’t Shinobu say that he was a hard-working lad, too? Some kind of small-scale family business, I think.” Mr Miyake considered what he knew of this lad and weighed him against the Moroboshi’s son and the Mendou boy, and then nodded decisively. “If you still think she is dating him by the end of the week, make sure Shinobu invites him over for dinner.”


Some distance away a young couple stopped for a moment by a wooden bench in order to properly put two forgotten juice cans in the trash, sharing a moment of secret looks, blushing and happy smiles before linking hands once more on their way to school.