Here Chapter 2! Thank to those who read it and also those who reviewed. I hope you enjoy it.=)
Chapter 2
As Setsuna finished her story, she was fighting the tears. Motoko hugged her, a gesture quite unusual coming from the kendo girl.
"It's alright now. You're safe with us"
The sobbing were decreasing gradually and Motoko's shirt was now wet. There was something missing in the room. Something valuable. Closing her eyes, Setsuna was struggling with herself to remember what it was. She pulled away from the embrace making Motoko very confused at the sudden action. Yuunagi…yuunagi…yuu.. shouted Setsuna in her mind while moving her head from left to right frantically. Her eyes began to water again thinking that she had lost the last gift from her father.
"Yuunagi! Where's Yuunagi?"
"Calm down Setsuna-kun. Your sword is with Konoe-sama."
"K..ko..konoe?"
"Yes, Konoe Eishun, king of Akari."
Setsuna could not believe what she had just heard and was now embarrassed at her previous outburst. Her father used to talk about the various adventures experienced with Eishun before his reign along with the other members of the famous Ala Rubra. Setsuna was always fascinated by these stories and now she knew that the precious sword was in great care.
Then came a doctor accompanied by Eishun. The doctor did a quick check-up and told the king that the patient would be able to leave in two days but was advised to rest for the moment. As the doctor left, Setsuna bowed deeply in front of the Konoe who was a bit amused about how similar was the reaction of the girl as that of her father the fist time they met.
"Thank you for saving my life,your majesty and for keeping Yuunagi safe."
"You don't have to be too formal, you're an old friend's family, don't you? And it was not really me but my companions, specially Motoko. So how are you feeling..euh.."
"Sakurazaki Setsuna, Konoe-sama. I'm just a bit tired..Can I make a request, Konoe-sama?"
Eishun was surprised but nodded indicating Setsuna to continue.
"If it's not to much to ask…I..I want to join the shinmeiryuu. I know that I may be too young to enter but Iwant to become stronger"
"Why do you want to become stronger? We can protect you."
"I promised my parents and next time I want to be able to save those dear to me"
It was silent in the small room. Eishun was deep in thought while Setsuna was looking at the latter with hope in her red eyes. Motoko was glancing at her leader wondering what would be the reply.
"Your reason to become stronger is a honourable one. Are you ready to face the difficulties during your training at the shinmeiryuu, Setsuna-kun?"
"Hai!"
"So in two days we'll leave."
With that Eishun left followed by Motoko. Just before the kendo girl went out of the room she said with a smile: "Welcome to the Shinmeiryuu Setsuna-kun"
It was late that night and in one of the rooms of an inn near the hospital, sat a man with a pactio card, a permanent one to be more précised. He whispered a few words and held the card which was now glowing to his head.
"Hello dar.."
"Why didn't you answer me when I tried to contact you before? I was so worried and on hearing what happened to Nagi-kun I thought that you.."
"Calm down, Kohana. I'm still alive!"
The queen could hear the laugh and she pouted like a child knowing that her husband was making fun of her.
"So when I are coming home?"
"I'm currently in Celestia and in two days we're leaving. Unfortunately we're forced to return by horse instead of the air vehicles since most of them were destroyed and the remaining ones need to be repaired. So I'll be back in let's say two weeks. By the way how are my dear wife and princess?"
"Everything is fine except that Konoka-chan missed really her daddy."
"I guess I'll have to bring another gift for my girls to be forgiven."
"We only need all of us together, Eishun."
"I'm sorry but with the war and the council, Iwon't be able to stay at the palace for long. I'll have to go to the neighbouring countries and some clans to know if we're still allies."
"Sometimes I wished that my father was still king instead the principal of his new school."
"Are you telling me that your father is a better king than me?"
"Yes."
Kohana giggled softly.
"Prepare yourself for your punishment as you're made this king angry."
"Of course I will. Which one do you prefer red or black?" replied K in a seductive tone.
"Any colour"
They were talking about important matter a few minutes ago and they were acting like newly wed couple.
"Kohana are you well? You're not overdoing, are you?" asked Eishun knowing that his wife's health was worsening each day since their daughter's birth.
"I'm alright. You're worrying too much."
"It can't be help. The remedy has not been found yet and I.."
"Eishun I'm still here with all of you. Stop worrying about the future or else you'll miss what's happening now."
"Okay..I know that Kohana feels lonely at home with nobody of her age and I think I found a solution."
"Were you able to convince the council to let her go to school instead of studying at home?"
"No but I've found someone who can be her friend. She's Kenro-san's daughter. If the council asked why her we'll say that she's Konoka-chan's bodyguard as well."
"But what about her parents? Isn't she too young?"
"Setsuna-kun is an orphan and I've promised her father to take care of her if something happened. I'm sure she'll be an excellent protector. She had great determination in her eyes when she asked me to let her join the shinmeiryuu and knowing Kenro-san, it's certain that her training has already started."
"Well if you think it's a good idea, then do it."
"I think that's all. So goodnight love."
"You too."
The next morning, at the reception of a hospital, a nurse was panicked…very panicked. Her patient of room number 160 was missing. It was very unusual for that particular nurse to be so worried about someone related to a demon. But the thing is that the patient's guardian was the king of Akira. I'll have lots of problems if I don't find this creature.
At the back of the building, Setsuna was practicing some basic moves her dad taught herwith a fairly long branch she had found earlier. She was a bit tired but continued her training. Practice makes perfect had once said her late father. Suddenly a loud sound of a fallen tree was heard and the wind changed dirction momentarily. Setsuna quickly run towards the source of disturbance, hope in her eyes. That's a technique daddy usually does, thought the girl.
There was Motoko standing in her kendo outfit, Shisui a sword that her elder sister gave her, held in both hands. She was breathing heavily after having released a large amount of chi. Setsuna was watching in awe. However in her mind she was devastated as the person was not the one she expected.
Sensing a very small demonic presence, Motoko turned round and saw Setsuna standing still with the branch still in her hand.
"It seems that I'm not the only one doing morning training," said Motoko smiling.
"Hai, Aoyama-san. My father told me that practice makes perfect."
"That only true if your body is healthy. Otherwise it'll have a negative effect," replied Motoko seeing the bandages around Setsuna's arm.
"I'm almost healed since I'm a..a hanyou," ended Setsuna softly as she remembered the words of disgust and hatred.
Motoko nodded.
"Setsuna-kun wait for me for a moment. I've something to fetch at the inn nearby."
Soon, the kendo girl came back.
"Here, use this for practice instead of that branch and also Yuunagi is too heavy for you."
Setsuna took a wooden sword from Motoko. It was heavier but more practical than the branch. She started to swing it and smiled for the first time since her father's death. Motoko was smiling along her on seeing the happy face.
"Let's continue our practice, shall we?"
"Hai."
After one and a half hour, Motoko decided that they had to return to the hospital. Without being noticed, they entered the room 160 and Motoko insisted that Setsuna took a bath immediately. The latter was very embarrassed as Motoko was helping her. Her small wings which had been kept hidden in the morning was now revealed. The swordswoman washed them as smoothly as possible.
"Setsuna-kun, before we leave tomorrow, we'll change a bit your appearance so as people don't find out you're a hanyou."
"I understand, Aoyama-san."
When the bath was finished, Motoko told Setsuna to rest. Then a nurse came in.
"There you are! Because of you I nearly have problems! You fi.." shouted the angry woman making the child to fear her.
"Do you always treat your patient like that? I wonder what the king would say if he knew Setsuna-kun was not taken good care."
The nurse's mouth was wide opened, unable to continue her sentence. She was very pale as if she saw a ghost.
"She was not present as she had a meeting with the king," lied Motoko.
The latter was pleased that the nurse was more terrified while Setsuna was trying to hold her laughter.
"I apologize for my rudeness."
"You should not apologize to me but to her."
The nurse did reluctantly and left the two saying that she was going to bring the breakfast.
Later that day, all Akira soldier were assembled at the dining room of the inn. Eishun was explaining to them about the journey of the next day. Some of them will have to stay here until the air vehicles would be repaired. After the meeting, they were all dismissed except for Motoko.
"I've heard that I had a meeting with Setsuna-kun but strangely I don't remember doing it."
"Konoe-sama that was be.."
"It's alright, you don't have to explain yourself. I already know why you lied to that nurse. But next time, make sure you tell me when you used my name."
"I will. Is that the only thing you wanted to tell me, Konoe-sama?"
"No, I wanted to ask you to be Setsuna-kun's sensei."
"Konoe-sama I think that you're making the wrong decision. I mean there are other people more qualified."
"Who Motoko-san? Tell me with whom can I trust that no harm will be done towards Setsuna-kun? Your sister Tsuruko is currently busied at the Shinmeiryuu school being the leader."
"…"
"I saw you training with her in the morning and I can tell you that you're ready to have your first student. You were one of my best student and I know that you'll give her proper training. So Motoko-san do you accept?"
"Okay, I accept Konoe-sama"
The next day
Motoko was taking a deep breath before opening the door. She was nervous. Who would not be when they were about to meet officially their first student? To calm herself, Motoko thought again about what her superior had told her.