God's Cry
by Cyberchao X

CC: Wow, you've really gotten good at interacting with the story's characters in the before and after. How come you don't do this more often?

Angel: This is X we're talking about here. To do so more often would imply that, you know, he actually writes fanfiction on a regular basis.

CCX: I don't remember inviting you to this fic, Angel. (another OC—has already briefly appeared in Dream. Figured I should mention that because it's a common enough name.)

Angel: So what's your point?

Negi: Could one of you tell me why Asuna won't let me know what the pairing for this fanfic is?

(Negi is hit on the head with Asuna's harisen.)

Asuna: Sorry about that…I'll get him out of your way.

All three: o.O

Disclaimer: CC, CCX, and Angel are the only ones here that I own. All other characters belong to Ken Akamatsu.

Note: If a string of text is italicized without quotation marks, it's telepathic communication rather than just thoughts.


Chapter 4

Negi-kun!

Negi awoke with a start. Konoka-chan? Ohhhh, my head hurts. (I'll remind you again: I have executive decision over all honorifics!)

Setsuna's still not home! I'm getting worried…

I'll see what I can do. He got dressed and prepared to fly off. "Huh?" A groggy voice asked. "Negi, where you going?"

"Asuna…Konoka-chan just contacted me through the Pactio card. Setsuna-san hasn't returned yet, and she's getting worried about her."

"Just leave it be, Negi," Asuna said, but Negi left anyway. "Idiot."


"Okay, I'm here. Shall I use the Pactio card?" Konoka nodded. Setsuna-san?

The swordswoman shot up in the bed, stifling a yelp. Negi-san?

Good, you're okay. Where are you?

I…I just had to get out for a bit. It got late before I realized it, so I'll be returning in the morning.

Okay…

"No! Bring her back now!" Konoka cried.

Was that…wait, Negi-san!

"Ah, Secchan, you're home!"

Setsuna blushed deeply. "Ojôsama…" She bowed. "I'm sorry if I caused you any concern." She cringed.

"Wha? Oh, Setsuna, you're hurt!"

"Did she just…" "It's nothing… Don't concern yourself with it. It's healing…"

"I could heal it quicker. What happened?"

"Just got careless, I guess. Lost a duel. It wasn't a life or death struggle; I wouldn't have been treated so quickly if it were an enemy." Konoka continued to run her hands over the wound. "Ojôsama…?"

Konoka shook her head. "Don't be so formal with me. You, more than anyone, have earned that right. Oh, Setsuna…I'm so sorry…I didn't realize that you felt that way about me."

"…Asuna-san told you?"

"I feel like such an idiot for not seeing it myself. All those times I'd teased you and you blushed…you really weren't just embarrassed because I wasn't behaving as someone in my position 'should'. You were always…"

"Please, O—Konoka-chan, don't continue."

"B-but…if I'd known…things would've been different."

"I can go now?" Negi interrupted, and Konoka waved him away.

"Things…would have been different?"

Konoka nodded. "You should've said something."

"It wasn't my place. You're a princess, and I'm just…a half-demon." She looked down. "And on top of that, we're two girls. What I felt couldn't…"

"That's not true!" Konoka interrupted, hitting Setsuna. "Setsuna, you have no right to decide what I should feel. I…I always wanted…I teased you because I liked you. I still do. I'll cancel the marriage now, Setsuna; just say the word!"

"O-okay."

"No, you have to say it. Tell me to call it off. Tell me what to do instead."

"I…I can't…"

"Say it. Please."

"Ko-Konoka-chan…" She steeled her resolve. "Konoka, call off your marriage. Spend your life with me. Forever." She turned red. "Uh, that is, if that's what you want…I have no right to tell you to do anything, ojôsama…"

"Yes, you do. You have the right to tell me that. And…I will. Of course I will. But please…don't call me 'ojôsama'!"

Still unable to make eye contact with her love, she mumbled. "As you wish, ojô…I mean, Konoka-chan."

Konoka sighed. "Well, it's a start. I liked it better when you left the honorific off altogether."

"Yeah, I thought that was what you wanted to hear, so I managed to choke it out, but…don't expect it to happen often, not yet anyway."


CC: So much for "all at once". What happened? You're spineless, X!

CCX: The problem with coming up with ideas late at night is that things that sound good then—like that "If you're really serious about wanting to 'walk the path of light', there may be more of those in your future" line—sound constricting during the day. It puts me into a corner, because it's pretty much a commitment to make this a long one (or an attempt at one, anyway), and not only did I not have much in the way of how to make this "redemption" thing interesting, continuing down that path would likely eventually lead to the need to make an actual character for the role of Konoka's fiancé, something I specifically wanted to avoid. Also, yes, I can't bear to split Konoka and Setsuna up for long. This way, I get everything—Konoka and Setsuna are together, and we have a ready-made conflict with a jealous lovestruck psychopath.

Konoka: Jealous lovestruck psychopath? Secchan, protect me!

Setsuna: Er, yeah, I was supposed to tell you about that in the body of the story. I'm probably going to be needing your healing quite often throughout this story.

Negi: So the reason no one would tell me what the pairing was that the author himself didn't know it?

Asuna: Apparently so. Took me by surprise.

CCX: Until next time!

CC: What CCX forgot to mention in the ending notes: Yes, Asuna and Negi are living together. No, they do not share a bedroom, much less a bed. Asuna just heard Negi moving around and woke up to see what he was up to. Thought that ought to be clarified.