I had a few requests to write an AsunaxSetsuna fanfic and initially, being a huge KonoSetsu fan, didn't really like the idea; despite really liking Asuna and Setsuna as a pairing. However because it was a challenge and hard to write a part of me felt I had to give it a go. Apologies in advance to Konoka (and Negi) fans; the opening Chapters may make grim reading but I couldn't work out a suitable way to bring Asuna and Setsuna together, in character, without losing Konoka - at least her spirit will continue to pervade and support the pair as the story goes on.
As a further warning the opening chapters to this fanfic will be rather dark, but I'm hoping that that will give the later Chapters added poignancy.
As ever would love to hear what you think, I should be able to get a new Chapter out about once a week (subject to RL schedule).
Chapter 1: Autumn Dies
The battle had raged fiercely for a long time about the old ruins of the gate-port but it seemed Negi and his classmates were gaining the upper hand; Setsuna finally dispatching her long standing foe and rival, strengthened by her pactio with Konoka, before collapsing to the ground exhausted. As she knelt there gulping in air and with her head spinning Konoka raced over to her.
"Set-chan! Hold on and I'll heal you." Only Negi was still engaged, fighting desperately with Fate. A huge explosion of light tore between ground and sky and when the dust cleared Negi stood there, victorious, above Fate's fallen body. Konoka was already healing Setsuna, letting a steady flow of magic flow like warming brandy within her companion's body; but Setsuna still felt uneasy. She couldn't put her finger on it but it was as though some oppressive presence was circling the battlefield and eyeing the players. Wait! Here it comes!
Setsuna threw herself in to its path to protect Konoka but she was tossed aside like a limp leaf in a gale force wind. Such force! I didn't stand a chance...Ojou-sama! Her whole frame shivered and inside she felt cold. Rising weakly from the boggy ground and covered in mud she saw Konoka's limp form a short way away. She's fine! She was just tossed aside like me... The closer she drew though the more she knew that was a lie. A growing red stain ate away at Konoka's white robes around her heart. Setsuna staggered closer, her mind close to shutting down, feeling dizzy and nauseous. She knew even before she knelt down in the cold wet sludge beside Konoka's failing body that the wound was fatal and that no-one present could heal it. Tears stung her eyes as she pushed her hands into the soft, uncaring earth underneath Konoka's back and brought Konoka's dying body close to her own.
"Konoka! Konoka! Hang in there. Don't leave me!" Even as she spoke the words she wondered why she said such useless things. Konoka would leave her. It was as inevitable as the coming of winter, or the setting of the sun. Nothing so good would ever stay with her for long and Konoka had always been so innocent and fragile; a fragrance too sweet for this world.
Konoka rolled her head to face Setsuna's and gripped Setsuna's arm. Setsuna suspected Konoka was keeping herself alive by magic alone as sparks occasionally leapt from her skin. Konoka's face changed from a grimace of pain to a soft smile as Setsuna's eyes met her own.
"Setsuna…I'm so glad I got to hear you call me Konoka again. I'm sorry I have to leave you so soon. I guess it's useless to tell you not to blame yourself...but please try to move on, for me...protect Asuna for me and be happy for my sake...In a second I will give you a parting gift that Eva taught me but before I go would you grant me one last favour?" Setsuna nodded. She could hardly see and certainly couldn't speak. "Will you kiss me goodbye?" Konoka whispered softly.
Setsuna gave a loud sob and trembled slightly, but she kept her pain in check to smile back at Konoka and bent over to kiss her. The kiss was long and deep. It wasn't electric like the pactio kiss but slow and lingering; a goodbye that neither party wanted to make or end. As they kissed Setsuna felt something flow through Konoka's arm into her, refreshing her. When Konoka finally stopped responding Setsuna pulled away to look into her lifeless face. It was fully at peace, with eyes closed and mouth upturned in happy surrender.
The smiling made the pain worse. It reminded her of how happy Konoka was alive. She knelt there in shock wondering how her very worst nightmare had come to pass before her eyes. It's a sick irony that it was the one to be protected who knew how to heal...A loud sorrowful feeling desperately contained whilst Konoka was alive built deep within her gut. It drove everything else out of her mind. A dark inhuman despair flaring in fiery waves to consume her all.
Asuna was a short way off and had begun heading towards the pair when she saw Setsuna bent over Konoka's still form; a similar chill to Setsuna's filling her body. Oh no! No it can't be...An unearthly wail broke from Setsuna's body and her wings rippled from her back. As Asuna came closer Setsuna turned to face her; eyes flashing and fierce like a lions.
She's terrifying! Barely human...So fierce and strong...
Setsuna barely seemed to see her; swivelling until she was facing Negi and the mysterious being that'd appeared on the scene. Then she was off before Asuna could blink: So strong!...Negi's level, but how? An explosion threw up more dust and debris, hiding Negi from sight; Asuna finally took in the fact that they were up against a new foe...the one that kill...did that to...I must stop Setsuna! If she's this disturbed her power will be great but she'll have no control! At this level that will only lead to more pain and hurt...for me especially. I can't lose Setsuna and Konoka in the same day!
She'd already begun moving in Setsuna's direction at some speed thanks to a void movement technique Rakan had shown her; so she was hot on Setsuna's heels when they reached Negi's new battle. A way off Kaede and Ku Fei were marshaling the rest of the classmates into a defensive formation. Chachamaru had been futilely dispatched to rescue Konoka.
As Setsuna and Asuna reached the fight Negi was thrown backwards, to their right, in a cloud of dust; he was battered with clothes torn and ragged. Setsuna charged for the source within the hazy screen obscuring Negi's fight. Before she even got close she ran into a deflection spell that slowed her to a standstill in seconds. The inertia caused her to tumble towards the ground. Before she hit it Asuna caught her; both of them lying in a tangled heap on the ground. A blurred figure formed in the smoke and Asuna suddenly found the air so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
"So we have the other princess here do we...and this feels a lot like the princess I just finished off. Well no worries. I'll take both of you now. It really has been fun watching you all, through Fate, but now its time for you to depart the stage princesses'." As Asuna struggled to her feet and wielded her sword she knew she wouldn't be strong enough and that not just Setsuna's, but her own soul were about to leave the land of the living.
"Shit!" She exclaimed under her breath. Somehow it was the only word that seemed to aptly sum up the situation. Her mind was still blocking out the fact that Konoka was...
A chant started up from within the mist, older and stranger than any she had heard; it felt ageless and alien. Asuna's heart rate rocketed and sweat formed on her brow...no choice but to attack! Better than waiting it out here to die. Setsuna stood up next to her and clearly had the same idea in mind for she was tensing to spring, when Negi appeared above them shouting.
"Compello Ingressus!"
About them a magic circle opened up.
"Protect Asuna, Setsuna!" Negi called out. "She's..." Then Negi and the swamp vanished from their sight in a flash of blinding pale-blue and white light.
