天国 Paradise

Trinity Blood, Strawberry Panic

Ch.3 I'm a Girl?

Esther's POV

The door slammed open and everyone else reached for their guns. Damnit, I couldn't see their faces. It was good I was covered by an armoire, or they probably would have shot me.

I swallowed my pity for the stranger girls in the room with me and clutched my rosary.

Shooting out from behind the armoire I twirled on my heel and fired a shot in the direction of the door.

"NOO!" I heard, as I twirled back into the cover of the armoire. I hadn't opened my eyes while I shot, I always hated to see the faces of those that had to die for the church.

But they didn't sound like villains.

"Shizuma-sama are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine it's just a scratch, go get me something sharp!"

"Hai!"

"Sister Esther Blanchet, It is advised that you hold fire, these are unarmed civilians." A feminine monotone computed.

"You, who are you? Who are any of you and what do you want here? NAGISA HURRY" she added over her shoulder.

"We don't want anything, we haven't done any of this purposely. I'm sorry miss but where are we?"

That sounded like Abel's stupid mumbles. The only thing wrong was that it was horribly cute, and coming from the plump lips of a girl and not a grown man.

"I'm not answering you until you put your guns down! All of you."

The girls put their guns on the ground. The one with long silvery hair, the one that sounded like Abel stood up cautiously. Analyzing her every move, she slowly walked to the armoire with his hands up.

"Esther please, there's no use for violence." She outstretched her hand for me. Beautifully long fingers. That wavery voice made me melt. She was so gentle. She was Abel!

"Abel!" I cried, my voice shaking. I couldn't hold it. I was so worried I was here alone. I jumped up and embraced her.

"Esther." she whispered.

"Please, we don't mean any harm. Just give us a minute. Can you tell me where we are?" she said calmly. I always admired how Abel could remain so calm in these situations. I refused to let her go.

The girl at the door balled her fists aggressively saying "Your at my vacation home off of Astraea Hill. I'm Shizuma Hanazono."

We're sorry. I'm Father Abel Nightroad." He had a way of saying things. It sounded like he was comforting a crying child.

"Sh-Shizuma-sama! Here!" A girl with strawberry hair handed her an amazingly sharp poker.

The girl named Shizuma patted her hand down and she dropped the poker.

The girl hidden behind her glared at us, frightened.

I let go of my hold on Abel and patted her side looking for her hand to hold. Her body was so shapely, It hadn't hit me that Abel was a girl now.

The tan girl had been quiet up till now, I wondered if Tres and Leon were those two girls with us.

She stood and walked very masculinly to the door and threw her oversized jacket behind her. Her clothes were so long on her that she had to roll her pants into a thick rope.

"You girls got somethin' up yer asses? We said we're good to go, so let us through."

"Leon!"

"It's annoying. All this drama. No one's gonna shoot anybody so just get it over with. Hey ladies I'm Leon, now let me through." she said, a little pissed but mostly impatient.

Robotically following the trend Tres chimed in "AX agent Tres Iquis III, code name Gunslinger. We must resume operations as soon as possible. Pursuit still in progress."

'Nice introduction' I thought. Couldn't she at least bow?

"Tres I don't think we're in Londinium anymore."

I giggled to myself at the joke. We definitely were not in Kansas.

"How did you fall through my roof then?" Shizuma snapped back. Her eyes were so sharp.

"Honestly, I don't think one of us has any idea how." Abel replied lightly.

The girl's black dress was wet on the shoulder I must've shot. Breaking away from Abel I bowed to her.

"I'm so sorry mam, I thought you were a vampire."

"It was a scratch, but thank you."

I felt better.

"My name is Sister Esther Blanchet."

Shizuma scoffed and the girl behind her spoke,

"I'm Nagisa...Aoi."

I smiled, but deep inside I knew we had more urgent business to attend to.

"Now can I pass?" Leon muttered.

"Please." Shizuma punched Nagisa behind her like a child and stepped to one side, allowing Leon to pass through.

"What I thought." he said.

Nagisa narrowed her eyes at him.

I watched Leon walk away and followed her, bowing to her and running to catch up. I didn't want to be in that room any longer.

Abel also bowed slightly and taking off her jacket, tied it around her waist. He was the only out of the three of us that desperately needed a bra.

Tres followed, without bowing, and clanked to a stop outside in the hall.

To everyone's surprise, Tres tore all of the hanging clothes off in a single swipe. The only thing left were some very very short shorts and tank-top looking shirt.

"Tres!" I yelled, hiding my blush. What would the two other girls think.

"Tres, I'm jealous, I wish I could do the same thing right about now."

"Abel!" I scolded her.

"Previous garments obstructed mobility and speed. These are 79% more practical Sister Esther."

"I guess." She looked like a super model with her cropped hair. Even as a girl, Tres had the same cold eyes. Now though, they were rimmed with long babyish lashes. Everyone looked so beautiful I felt plain.

The two girls watched us as we walked further out looking for the exit. You would expect us to know how to leave a house we broke into, but I had no idea how I fell here. Then there was Abel's trance theory, but then where were we? I've never hear of whatever hill.

"Abel, before we go outside, I think you should cover your anterior region." I dropped the hint. She looked clueless.

"My what?" she said, wringing her wrist and pulling off her gloves. She stuffed them into her pocket, not wanting to litter the nice girl's house like the other two deviants.

"Your, um...chest."

"Oh, yeah! Haha, they sure are heavy. I have a new appreciation for the busty girls." she giggled. She was such a perve.

I punched arm.

"Esther wait!" It was Nagisa.

"Where are you all going?"

I hadn't thought of that. Neither had anyone else I guess because everyone stopped and scratched their heads.

"What exactly happened here?"

"Well, like we said, we're not really sure. We aren't from um, where is this again?"

"Astraea Hill."

"Yes! that."

"If you won't hurt us then, I'll help you get back home. I saw the hole in the ceiling, you must be hurt."

"Surprisingly, I'm not. I don't think anyone else is either."

I looked around just to check.

"Well I sure as hell am not." Leon shouted, way ahead of us. Where was he going?

"Well, where are you from?"

"We're from Rome." Abel said.

"Rome?" she was shocked.

"How far are we from Rome?" I said.

"You're halfway across the world!"