Kailor: Ever have that moment where a story goes, "Hey, this is where I'm gonna go and you REALLY wanna know the journey to get there?"
Naruto: ...Uh.
Kailor: That's what this story has done to me. Sword and the Needle too. I wrote the ending to that story way back when I started it. And now I'm PISSED.
Nuriko: Rikku, go get the soothing Celtic music.
Kailor: Damn you, Ken! I love you, but damn you! You stole my idea! Sorta...a little. But still! IT WAS MINE.
Naruto: Please enjoy readers. Reviews appreciated. Nothing to see here. Move along now. Ladeeda.
Asakura stretched as she left the control room, her shift driving the ship finally over. The hallway's quiet stretch echoed her footsteps back at her and she knew somehow that it was just after dawn. She let herself into the kitchen, searching the fridge. She jumped as the door opened behind her.
Yue slouched in, limping slightly on her left foot.
"Hey, Yu-uh, you. Hey."
Yue plopped down at the table, flashing her a quick half-smile. "Did you just forget my name?"
"No," Asakura snorted. "Like I could forget your name, Yoshiko!"
Yue waved her hand, looking too tired to banter back.
Asakura pulled a bottle of scotch from the back of the fridge. "Scotch, Yuecchi?"
"I don't drink," Yue said. "I'm not the kid I was back in school."
Asakura poured two glasses, pushing one across to Yue. "That's why I grabbed the scotch and not the Bacardi in the back corner. You're not the only one who's grown up. And one glass won't kill you. Remember our trip to Kyoto? When pretty much the whole class got drunk off that sweet sake in the Kiyomizu waterfall?" She chuckled, sipping her scotch.
Yue took the glass in front of her, swirling it and watching the dark liquid. "If I remember correctly, I was one of the ones making up excuses to save everyone's hides. And where were you?"
"Taking pictures, of course. Couldn't miss the chance to have a picture of Ayaka drooling drunk while teachers were walking by. I even have one of you slapping her, I think."
"Hmmm. I'd be interested in framing that in my house." Yue smiled. "Class rep-san is great, but that is a priceless memory."
Asakura laughed. "One I'm sure she doesn't have. Nobody remembered that first day. But I would give a lot for one of Chao's cassiope-thingies. Ah, to live those days again, knowing what we know now."
"Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, once said, 'No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man'." Yue said. "There's no going back to a time that has passed."
"And Irish playwright, Dion Boucicault, said, 'Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them'." Asakura replied, no hesitation. "We may never get to go back, but it's natural to want to."
Yue's eyebrows rose and she lifted her drink to the redhead. "Asakura-san, you're just full of surprises."
Asakura laughed. "Everyone seems to forget that I was one of the highest ranked in our year. I was no Chao, but I wasn't a member of the Baka rangers either."
Yue nodded. "Well I won't forget again." She took a swig of her drink, her nose wrinkling. "Blegh. Another reason I don't drink."
Asakura took a moment to look over the dark circles under Yue's eyes, her bangs matted to her forehead by sweat, the fresh cut on her chin. "It's been two days since you started training. You already look just like Setsuna and Asuna used to when they started training together."
"Well, since I've been dueling the both of them for days now, I should." Yue sighed. "They're wonderful teachers. But sometimes I think they forget that not everyone has all the crazy energy they do. Ku-roshi too." She rolled her shoulders, moaning. "Not complaining, though. I'm grateful they even think I can get through the training."
"Well, you're my little Yue, so of course you can." Haruna appeared in the doorway, yawning. "I know you hate studying, but you're a hell of a learner. You'll do great."
"Shouldn't you be driving?" Asakura said. "It's your shift. I'm off and Yuna is sleeping."
"Ah, well." Haruna laughed, scratching her head. "Actually I'm about to wake everyone. There's a bit of a problem."
"What's that?"
"I forgot that a gas tank doesn't sit for five years and still be full," Haruna said. "We're nearly on empty."
Yue groaned. "How close are we to the Hellas army?"
"Still a ways. Like I said when we took off, we've had to go very slowly."
"So what are we going to do?" Asakura asked, downing her last sip of scotch.
Haruna shrugged. "I'm not the boss. But the ship has about an hour left on her 'til we have to touch down. Sensei and his council of warriors will make the decision." She stopped, blinking. "That sounds like the beginning of a wonderful story." She drifted out of the room, mumbling to herself.
Yue finished her scotch, pushing the glass back across to Asakura. "Guess sleep is out of the question. I'm gonna go shower. Thanks for the drink, Asakura-san."
"Thank Haruna," Asakura said, winking. "All I did was pour it." She turned to the sink, cleaning her glass first. She was surprised when Yue spoke again.
"Thanks for talking to me, too, Asakura-san. I appreciate it."
She turned to tell Yue that it wasn't something she needed thanking for, but the shorter girl was gone, leaving only an empty glass on her side of the table.
XXXXXXX
Yue leaned into the hot water, letting it work the ache from her muscles. The cut on her chin burned and she thought again about the sword swipe that had given it to her. Setsuna had apologized, but not because it had been an accident, because Yue hadn't been quick enough to fully block the swing.
Konoka had said it would heal without scarring, so Yue had waved away her healing spell, telling her to save it for something worse. Secretly though, she hoped for a scar. Negi wore his from Setsuna with pride and Yue wanted to do the same. Proof that Setsuna saw her as good enough to not go easy on.
Yue ran her finger over the small cut, chuckling.
Someone knocked on the door.
Yue turned off the water, sticking her head out of the shower. "Occupied!"
"Yue," Haruna called, opening the door. "Oooh, should really remember to lock this. Negi wants you in the control room."
"Me?" she said, pulling back into the shower. "Why me?"
"Looks like you're part of the council, kid!" Haruna laughed.
When the door closed, Yue scrambled out of the shower, grabbing a towel. But the clothes she'd placed by the sink were gone. "Paru, where are my clothes?"
"Out here."
"Why?"
"You can't wear this. You wear this all the time." Haruna opened the door, sticking a bag through the opening and waving it. "You need something new. Something that will show off those tattoos of yours."
Yue's face flushed, her hand moving to the tattoo on her right shoulder. "How-"
"Paru-sama knows all, dear Yue. Now dress. And hurry up." The bag landed on the counter and Haruna pulled the door closed, her laughter fading down the hallway.
Yue locked the door. She sighed, opening the bag. "Oh, Haruna, I am so going to get you back for this."
XXXXXXX
Emily stepped into the control room behind Seras, holding her head high at being invited to sit in on this meeting. The table from the kitchen had been brought in and the council sat around it. Off to the side, Haruna sat in the driver's seat.
At the head of the table, Negi sat, his arms crossed, his eyebrows drawn together. On his right, Asuna was speaking quietly with Ayaka. Next to her, Eva quietly sipped tea, ignoring the chatter around her. Chisame sat on her other side, looking bored. On Negi's left, Setsuna sat, stoic as ever. Beside her, Konoka chatted with Nodoka and on Nodoka's other side Chachamaru nodded to Seras.
Seras sat at the opposite end of the table. On her left and right there was one more open seat. Emily took the seat on her right, offering Chachamaru a smile.
"Are we expecting someone else?" Seras asked, eyeing the empty chair on her left.
Negi nodded, head lifting. "Yes. I selected all of my most strategic minds."
"And Asuna," Konoka said, giggling. The redhead glared at her.
Negi tried to hide his smile behind a cough. "Kaede-san will also be a go-to for such things, but right now she's making room in her artifact for everyone."
"So who else is coming?"
Negi opened his mouth, then his eyes flashed to the door behind Emily. He smiled, gesturing to the seat across from Emily. She turned, curious.
Yue stepped through the doorway. Her sleeveless tunic was black, trimmed with silver, over black pants and silver boots. Her silver belt matched her silver gauntlets. Her right shoulder was tattooed to look like the skin had been ripped away and there was old leather armor underneath, a Celtic knot embedded in the shoulder plate. On her left arm, from the elbow up, was a twisting, intricate Tree of Life. In her hand was her silver, crescent moon tipped staff.
Emily was shocked to see the smaller girl sporting such large and detailed designs. But somehow, it fit her.
Yue rounded the table and sat between Chisame and Seras, nodding to Negi. She sat back, resting her staff against her shoulder.
Emily saw Haruna throw Yue a thumbs up that made the smaller girl's ears turn red. For some reason, she felt a little warm around the collar as well. She focused on Negi as he leaned forward, trying to calm her heated cheeks.
"Thank you all for coming. Asakura-san is here as well, in a way. She is scouting the area and keeping me informed through her card."
"What's happening, Negi-sensei?" Seras asked, her hands folded on the table in front of her. Emily noticed her thumbs tapping together, the way they did when she oversaw students at Ariadne that were just learning to fly.
"We're running out of fuel." Negi nodded to Haruna.
The artist turned in her chair, pointing to a small group of dials that made no sense to Emily. "We've got about thirty minutes left before we are completely empty. Unless Asakura happens along a magical fuel station, we're going to have to park this puppy and trek it on foot."
Negi said, "From what you've told me, Seras-san, we're still above Selven territory. Correct?"
"Yes," Seras said. "The Selvens have captured all the way to the Hellas plains. We are nearly to the plains, but there are still quite a few miles until we reach the plains. Then even farther to where Princess Theodora is camped."
"I was afraid of that," Negi sighed. "Then we're going to have to make haste through enemy territory. We could always pack everyone into Kaede-san's artifact and have a small group press on."
"I think that would be best, but only if Kaede has a lot of back up," Asuna said. "It's not fair to leave everyone's safety in her hands."
Negi nodded. "I agree. Kaede-san will carry the group. I will travel with her to protect her."
"So will I," Setsuna said.
"And me," Asuna added. "I think Eva, Chachamaru, Ku, and Mana will be good. Yuna, Kotaro, and Yue can ride along with Kaede as back-up."
"Sounds like a good idea," Negi said.
"I'm sorry, why am I being volunteered?" Evangeline said, glaring over her tea.
"Because you're one of the biggest baddies in our gang, Eva-chan," Asuna said. "If those nasty Selvens come after us, we'll just throw you at them and carry on our merry way."
"Kagurazaka, you are just asking to be-"
"What about my knights?" Seras said. "We can't just ride on your coattails all the way to Hellas. We can help guard Kaede-san."
Emily sat forward.
"Thank you, Seras-san. But I believe you should rest in Kaede-san's artifact. You went through a lot to get your letter to us. Let us take it from here, please."
Emily was disappointed, but also grateful. Seras's face was still a bit drawn and her tapping thumbs were making Emily jittery.Across the table, Yue's dark eyes flickered over Seras's hands to Emily's face. The knight shifted, looking away. Something in those dark eyes made her feel like Yue knew more than she did and that aggravated her.
Negi suddenly raised a hand, halting any conversation. He stared at the table for a few moments, giving tiny nods. Then he turned back to the table. "We've got a new issue to address. Asakura-san said she's found a sheltered valley that we can land in and hide the ship. However, there is a camp a few miles from here. She says there are flags flying over it with bright blue lightning on an indigo background."
"Selva's flag," Seras said, frowning. "It must be one of their frontline camps, in case Hellas launches an attack."
"Are they going to be a problem, you think?" Negi said.
Seras shook her head. "If they don't see us, I doubt it. We'll just have to make sure the ship is hidden somewhere that no one is going to accidentally bump into it."
"Wait, wait, wait." Asuna leaned forward, taking the floor. "I thought you didn't know why the Selvens started this. Shouldn't we take this chance to spy a bit?"
Setsuna was already shaking her head. "Asakura-san's artifact isn't exactly stealthy. She'd have to get really close just to figure out which of the camp will be useful, then stay close enough to hear things. She'd only be able to do so much. Sayo-san could go, if she left her body behind." She paused. "Then again, we know Sayo-san..."
"Well, what are you two suggesting?" Ayaka said, narrowing her eyes at the redhead on her left. "You're surely not thinking of sending our actual people into the camp, are you?"
Setsuna and Asuna exchanged a glance over the table.
"No," Ayaka said, crossing her arms. "Definitely not. As class rep, I cannot condone-"
"It's not for you to condone, Ayaka," Asuna said, her voice oddly soft. "It's just a suggestion right now. We need to find out something about the Selvens. We can't go into this war without knowing a single thing about our enemy." She caught Ayaka's glare. "Look, didn't you hear me? I'm growing up! Quit glaring and be proud, dammit."
Chachamaru suddenly spoke up. "I think the idea is one to take a vote on. It may give us an advantage over the Selvens if we could just find out something. Perhaps we could shed a light on their battle plans, their formations, or even their training."
"Maybe we could find out who the Master Binder is," Nodoka added, glancing at Yue.
Emily glanced at the girl too, noting the tilt of Yue's head. It was a look she recognized from their days at Ariadne. Sometimes in class, when the teacher had asked a question and everyone was thinking it over, Yue's head would tilt, her eyes would narrow, and the corner of her lip would pull back between her teeth. It was the most facial expressions Emily had seen on the girl at one time.
"Chachamaru-san is right," Negi said, drawing Emily's attention back to him. "We need to vote on this. And not just us. We need to put this to everyone. Haruna-san, can you gather everyone on the deck?"
"Sure thing, boss." Haruna grabbed a bell-shaped contraption off the dashboard, pressing the button on the side. "Attention, you band of misfits, this is your captain speaking. Gather on the deck in five minutes. If any of you fail to show, the great Paru-sama herself will come and drag you out of bed, and I will not stop to make sure you are fully clothed. Good morning." She replaced the bell, grinning at Negi.
He smiled back, laughing nervously. "Thank you, Haruna-san. That was, uh, effective."
Emily stood with the rest of the table, listening to the chatter that began among them. At the door she paused, bumping into black and silver with dark eyes.
Yue stepped aside, allowing Emily to step through first. The corner of her mouth quirked up and Emily fought the stupid blush that leapt to her face.
Behind her, Haruna raised an eyebrow.
