Fragile Strings of the Heart
Chapter Theme: Diary of Jane by Breaking Benjamin
Setsuna was fast, faster than the vampire expected, and she got the first blow without even trying. The blonde woman leapt backward out of range, clutching her wounded hand to her side. The remains of the ice sword lay on the ground at Setsuna's feet.
"That's all you've got?" she asked. "Somehow I expected more from a vampire."
"Heh. You're naïve to think you've beaten me already. Chachamaru!"
Chachamaru dropped Negi from twenty feet in the air and rushed the sword girl. Setsuna dodged sideways and avoided her, but Chachamaru extended a blade from her arm and caught the other girl's side. Asuna lunged to catch Negi, and they both crashed to the ground, bruised, but otherwise okay.
"Ugh, thanks, Asuna," Negi said.
"No problem kid. I couldn't see my teacher get pancaked. Don't make this a habit though, okay?"
"Sounds good. Where did Setsuna go?"
They both looked around. Setsuna was currently engaged in a vicious sword duel with the robot Chachamaru. She was holding out, but neither of them were gaining ground. Negi couldn't help but think that somehow, Chachamaru would not tire, while Setsuna would soon become slow and disoriented.
"Setsuna!" he called, "I can help you!"
Setsuna glanced at him at the wrong moment. Chachamaru broke through her guard and stabbed into her shoulder. Setsuna cried out in pain. She swung her Nodachi and severed Chachamaru's arm at the wrist, taking the blade with her. The two jumped apart, and Setsuna pulled Chachamaru's arm blade out of her shoulder with a hiss of breath.
"What is it Negi?" she shouted, angry at him for getting her hurt, "How the hell could you possibly help me besides shutting up?"
Negi flinched and Asuna blinked in shock. Setsuna was usually quiet and shy. She may be a warrior, but she had never shouted like that before. Setsuna faced her opponents again, her eyes hard and sharp. This time the vampire came at her.
For Konoka, Setsuna thought. For her I have to win, without Negi's - or anyone's - help.
"Come get me monster! I'm not afraid to die for Konoka!" Setsuna charged right into the vampire woman's attack. She was struck through by dozens of ice shards, but she pushed on, swinging her sword in a wide arc. She felt an impact and followed through on the swing. Blood spattered the ground and Setsuna fell to her knees, weakened by her wounds.
"Ha…hahaha! You, you're better than I thought girl, but not good enough I'm afraid. You could've been valuable to me, but now, you're just pathetic," said the vampire.
Setsuna felt a pressure on the back of her head and realized it was the woman's boot. She fell face first onto the ground and her eyes started to close.
I lost. I lost the fight for Konoka… I can't live now. There's no more reason for me to live…
"Setsuna!" A voice said inside her head. It sounded like…
Sayo…? Setsuna wondered.
"Yes it's me! I-I should've come sooner, but I.. I was… hurt. Let me help you now! I can carry you through the pain! Please get up! SETSUNAAA!"
Setsuna saw a white light, and all her pain disappeared. She rolled on the ground, throwing the vampire woman off balance. As she fell, Setsuna jumped to her feet and twirled, her blade at the vampire's neck.
"Any last words, you blood-sucking bitch?" she asked, her voice a growl. The vampire, who had fallen to her knees, turned her head to the sword girl and smiled, showing her fangs.
"None you'd like to hear."
"Fine then," Setsuna raised her sword and gripped it with both hands. She swung down with all her might-
"NO! Setsuna, it's Evangeline! She's your classmate!" Negi screamed.
"What!" Asuna exclaimed.
"You mean that British brat is the one that almost beat me?" Setsuna asked in shock, her sword halted barely a hair's-width from Eva's neck.
"Yes! You can't kill her! She has enough of a punishment as it is!"
"And what punishment is that?" Setsuna said angrily, "That she gets to bite her classmates to turn them into her slaves, as well as almost kill me?"
"She's trapped here! She can't leave Setsuna, unless she gets my blood!"
"How about a good reason why I can't kill her?" Setsuna had yet to move the blade of her Nodachi from Evangeline's neck.
"It wouldn't be worth it Setsuna. I'd have to report you… I'm sorry, but I can't let you take Evangeline's life."
"Feh. You aren't even worthy of my hand in your death." Setsuna sheathed her sword and backed away. "Now free Konoka."
"Of course, oh great warrior," Evangeline made a mocking bow and snapped her fingers. Setsuna almost lost it, but fortunately, the sight of Konoka's face dominated her mind.
"Se-Setsuna?" the girl's voice was thick with drowsiness. "What am I doin' out here?"
"Sh. Come with me and I'll tell you," Setsuna scooped her lover into her arms and walked towards the school. She was suddenly stopped by Negi.
"Setsuna, and the rest of you," he looked to the other brainwashed girls, as well as Asuna. "Please come with me, and I'll explain everything that you need to know."
The girls all looked at each other in confusion, but they followed Negi back to Konoka and Asuna's dorm room, leaving the vampire and the robot alone in the woods. Evangeline returned to her young self and slumped on the ground.
"Damn that boy…" she muttered, banging her fist on a tree. "I just can't seem to beat him. Or rather, he's not the strong one… It's that sword girl, Setsuna…"
"Master," Chachamaru interrupted. She had retrieved her arm and was standing behind Evangeline. "May I suggest that we return home before you catch cold?"
Evangeline looked at her and huffed. She stood and held her arms out to be lifted. Chachamaru picked her up and set the little vampire on her back. She began walking back to the cabin as Evangeline closed her eyes and snored gently.
Back toward the school, Setsuna was feeling tired, and her wounds were acting up. Whatever Sayo had done was apparently only temporary. She set Konoka down and put a hand to her forehead.
"Are you okay Setsuna?" Konoka asked in worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just… need to…" Setsuna fell face first onto the grass and Konoka gasped. She knelt down at Setsuna's side and tried to shake her awake. Blood poured out of the sword girl's shoulder and stomach. Her eyes were clouded with pain and she didn't respond.
"Setsunaaa!" Konoka was crying. "Setsuna wake up! Please!"
Setsuna please wake up! Please!
The voices of Sayo and Konoka began to blur together into one as Setsuna lost consciousness and her blood pooled on the ground in crimson puddles.
Well, she won. What will happen to our beloved Guardian? Read next time to find out! And for anyone wondering, no, Setsuna is not a hanyo in this story. She's just a human with badass fighting power and chi skills.
