A/N: Worldismine, am I getting a fan in you? xD.
Anyway, getting close to the first interlude. In the meantime hope everyone enjoys this next chapter. Yay for fluff and light-heartedness :3
Drama Kings and Queens
"Hey Konoka, come on! It's starting already!" Haruna called, waving her over from the gathering of people.
"Alright, come on Makie-san!" Konoka pulled the girl from the stuffed toy stand they'd been browsing through and over to where Haruna, Nodoka and Yue were with the rest of the crowd.
It was the grand re-opening of Cinema Town and to celebrate, a mock fight was scheduled to commence right in the middle of the amusement park. People were standing on the pavement behind roped stands that had been sey up to prevent people from spilling out onto the streets. She was looking around eagerly, chatting and some of the more restless ones were faking martial arts moves with their friends.
"So Yue-echi, what's the show going to be about?" Haruna asked, grinning and resting her arms and chin on the shorter girl's shoulders to read the program schedule she was holding.
"Well it says that it's about a princess who's travelling back to her castle but she's attacked by a mercenary swordswoman who wants to kidnap the princess," Yue responded.
"That sounds like fun," Makie said brightly.
"Sounds a bit cliché," Yue remarked, folding up the paper.
"Aw don't be like that Yue, I'm sure it'll be fun," Konoka smiled.
Before they could say anything there was a clip clopping of hooves on the cobblestone and the whinnying of horses. Excited shouts filled the air followed by scattered clapping. People jostled to the front to see, bumping each other. Konoka was pushed to the front. There was a horse-drawn carriage going down the street at a steady slow pace, the driver a young boy with tied up spiky red hair. Walking alongside on the left were two people and as the carriage turned the corner of the street, she saw another two on the right.
"Be alert, Setsuna-san, the princess is in grave danger. It's barely even safe for us to be travelling through these parts," The taller of the pair on the left said, a tall girl with extremely long pig-tails tied up with bells. She was shouldering a massive sword that was at least twice her height.
"Indeed, Asuna-san."
Her companion's voice was quiet but now that the audience had settled down, it carried through the air clear and distinct. They were both wearing a blue shinsei and dark blue hakama over protective traditional samurai armour and padding but Setsuna was the only one who had a head-band tied around her head, a unique ponytail on her left that was styled asymmetrically while the hair on her right was splayed outwards in thin, long spikes. In her hand she was carrying a long, thin sword with two tassels tied around the hilt while one shorter one was tied to her waist.
Suddenly the carriage stopped, the boy slowing the horses to a smooth halt. A girl wearing glasses with a floppy hat, scarf and wearing a frilly dress was standing in their path, carrying one long sword in her hand a short sword in the other.
"Who goes there? State your name and business," Setsuna stepped forwards, regarding the girl with suspicion.
Smiling, the girl said, "My name is Tsukuyomi. As for my business..." She flew forwards and swiped at Setsuna who brought up her blade to block faster than Konoka could see. Sparks crackled in the air they met and Setsuna skidded backwards. "I just want to battle with you!"
"Everyone, get the princess out of here!" Setsuna yelled as Tsukuyomi charged at her again. The two traded blows as the horses whinnied, going frantic.
Attempting to calm the horses as they snorted and moved, the boy cried out, "O-of course!"
"It's getting good isn't it huh," Haruna elbowed Yue, excited. They had managed to squeeze in beside Konoka.
"Don't give up!" Makie cried out, looking at Setsuna.
Tsukuyomi flew backwards as Setsuna sprang backwards into the air and struck the air in a downwards strike. "Shinmeiryu Ougi Zetsutsu!"
Tsukuyomi bounced twice on the cobblestone and when she got up there was fake blood on her chest. Grinning at her, the swordswoman cooed, "Very good senpai! It's nice to see that there's someone as talented as you in the upper ranks!"
Just then a voice boomed, "Guardsmen of princess Sayo! I have the princess in my sights. Do not move or I will shoot her!"
A girl with green hair stood on the roof-top of the imperial house nearby-an arrow notched in a bow. Beside her stood a young boy with fake wolf ears, a fake wolf tail and golden eyes and long fingernails. Someone leapt up onto the roof-top to face the girl. It was one of the other guards, a girl even taller than Asuna with a long pony-tail.
Spreading her arms to block her, she announced, "I, Nagase Kaede, will never allow you to harm our princess!"
Scattered applause and cheers broke out over the audience. The boy smirked, sliding into attacking pose.
"Then you will die!" He lunged at her, slashing.
A dozen other clones of her appeared in the air. Gasps filled the audience and someone whooped, "Great special effects!" The boy slashed through thin air. Eyes widening, he landed on the gutter of the roof-top and spun around. Kaede threw a gigantic kunochi at him which he dodged. It slammed into the ground near the carriage. The boy had jumped down from the carriage and was in the process of disentangling the reins from the horses.
"Asuna-san, get the princess out of here!" Setsuna bellowed, parrying with Tsukuyomi. Tsukuyomi ducked to the side and swung her sword in an arc, meeting her opponent's blade with her own.
An explosion filled the air and Setsuna was hurled backwards, using her hand to lessen the impact. She landed near Konoka in a half-crouch. For some reason unknown to Konoka even though she knew it was fake she found the blood that had appeared on her arm unsettling. Setsuna paused, catching her eye. Just then someone shouted and the earth shook, splitting open a gouge in the cobblestone right underneath the horses. The horses were going wild. Backing away, the boy looked scared and Konoka was sure this wasn't part of the plan.
As the horses lashed out and kicked the carriage, it toppled over. Someone screamed from the inside. Setsuna dashed towards the horses, pushing the boy out of the way and grabbing for the reins which were flying everywhere.
"Negi!" The wolf-boy was clambering down from the roof-top as the horses reared, front hooves raking the air.
One of the performers, a blonde girl with spiky buns, ran to the horses after she had helped the performer playing the princess in the carriage climb out but it was too late. The horses broke free of their reins and galloped straight for the crowd. Screaming, everyone fled as it broke through the rope. Konoka tripped, falling onto the gravel with a cry. Turning over she saw one of the horses rearing right above her, its front hooves about to crush her at any moment.
"Konoka-san!" Nodoka screamed.
Someone pushed her out of the way, sending her rolling across the ground. She could feel concrete biting her skin. Terrified screams ripped through the air and there was a bone-shattering crash. Nodoka was at her side, helping her up. Konoka saw the horse whooping wildly and underneath was the performer Setsuna was lying on her side on the ground, covering her head as its hooves just barely missed crushing her. One of the other performers, Kaede, was on them in an instant, taking the reins and speaking softly to them and patting them.
"Konoka-san, are you ok?" Nodoka asked.
"Y-yeah," Konoka nodded, shaken. Her eyes were on Setsuna who had nearly been crushed to death. She'd never felt so terrified in her life. She watched Setsuna open her eyes, removing her hands from her head and look around in confusion. Her fellow performer flashed her thumbs up. Looking relieved, Setsuna climbed out from under the horse. She still seemed to be looking for something. Apparently it was her. Setsuna's face brightened, the relief becoming even more pronounced when she saw her.
She crossed over to her and asked, concerned, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, um are you?" Konoka played with her fingers, suddenly feeling shy.
"Well I'm not dead so I suppose that means I'm fine. That was close, you were nearly trampled," Setsuna chuckled, smiling.
"Speak for yourself!" Konoka said, hiding a smile. "Thank you Setsuna-san."
Bowing, Setsuna went back to where the carriage was and where Kaede was leading the horses back. Asuna was speaking to the shaken crowd who had tentatively, after seeing the danger was over. The rest of the performers were recovering and moving towards Asuna to gather in a group.
"Uh sorry about that folks, we promise that won't happen ever again but due to technical difficulties we can't continue. One of the rigged explosions got too close to the horses," Asuna said sheepishly. "We were hoping to put on a great, fun show for you all today but I guess maybe it was a little too fun."
A few people laughed nervously.
"Anyway, please give it up for the debut show of the performers from Kyoto High School! Playing our body-guards, Ku-Fei! Nagase Kaede! Sakurazaki Setsuna! And even though you didn't get to see her, our leading lady princess Aisaka Sayo!"
Only Ku Fei and Sayo bowed. Kaede and Setsuna were busy inspecting the carriage and making sure the horses wouldn't go on a rampage again. Though Konoka noticed Setsuna give a brief smile in the audience's direction.
"And playing the roles of villains Inugami Kotarou, Hideki Tsukuyomi and Murakami Natsumi!"
The wolf-boy puffed his chest out, looking happy while the green-haired girl gave a shy smile at the applause. Tsukuyomi's attention seemed to be focused on Setsuna.
"Oh, hey I almost forgot, this cute guy here who played the driver is Negi Springfield," Asuna laughed as the boy glared at her. "Everyone, please give us your support!"
Just then someone called out, "Sakurazaki-san! She saved that young girl from being killed!"
Setsuna jerked, looking surprised at being called out but looked pleased never the less. Soon the crowd started cheering her name. Grinning, Kaede gave her a light push. She blushed, which Konoka found adorable and shuffled up to stand beside Asuna. Setsuna's eyes caught hers and she blushed even harder. And that was when Konoka felt all warm and gooey inside. This seemed like déjà-vu.
