Chapter One: Prelude to Sorrow
"Konoka-chan, this is Setsuna, she will one day be your greatest protector." Her father said, one hand reassuringly on her shoulder as she peers around him at the girl brought in by a generic-looking Shinmeiryuu swordsman. She wears a miniature, simpler version of the classic Shinmeiryuu garb, trainee's apparel probably, and her hair is tied up in the front on the left while the right hangs down. A miniature bokken hangs by her side cutely, though there are already sweat-stains and grip indentations on the hilt end.
"Now, I'll leave you two alone so you can get to know each other while I talk business with the deliverer." Her father said, taking his hand off of her shoulder and stepping to the side with the stern swordsman, leaving Konoka nibbling the side of her finger shyly while she watches the young swordswoman.
"I'm Konoka, what's your name?" She asks. The swordswoman, a bit startled by the question, answers without thinking.
"I am Setsuna." She answers stiffly, bowing. Konoka puts her hand down and fidgets for a second before stepping up and taking one of Setsuna's rough hands in both of her soft ones, bringing it up to hold between them.
"Will you be my friend, Secchan?" Konoka asks, her eyes pleading. The swordswoman listens to two separate voices argue in her head; on the one hand, her already too-mature swordswoman's instinct, on the other the voice of her own loneliness, sensing a kindred spirit. After a moment, the one that is far more powerful at this point in anyone's life wins the argument.
"Sure, we'll be friends, Kono-chan." She says, bringing her other hand up to the rest, smiling at her first friend and receiving one in return, both of them feeling the Hand of Fate resting in that moment, knowing in the way children do that somehow this meeting will change both their futures forever.
Setsuna whistled as she walked, glad she could take this journey alone for once, since her superior had no business there today and she had been judged Able to Handle Herself against most of the twisted beasts that roamed the area. For the past three years, she'd trained harder and faster than ever before, finally having some goal, some objective to move towards obtaining. She smiled as she thought of that goal, happy to find love in the world when she had never expected any, glad that she could see some expression other than contempt and hatred in another's face.
As she approached the town, she noticed it bustling a bit more than usual for it not being market day. When she reached it, she noticed that most of the bustle was old soldiers running about and vendors and shopkeepers talking to them as quickly as possible, giving them this or that. It looked like they were preparing for a journey to battle. But why only the old soldiers, and where was the battle to be joined? Everyone seemed too busy to speak, so she simply walked on, intending to get an answer from the lord or Konoka. She did notice that they were generally filtering their way to the castle with sizeable packs, presumably full of the appropriate supplies. The courtyard was a sharp contrast to outside, each soldier moving single file and quickly to sit in a platoon formation after talking briefly with the lord, who was fully decked out in his old armor with Yuunagi by his side. She approached slowly, hoping to catch the meaning of all this before interrupting him to ask.
"Secchan!" yelled a voice, and she turned her head to see Konoka making a beeline across the courtyard towards her. Only due to her unnatural strength (for her age, anyway) did Setsuna stay standing after receiving the tackle, instinct causing her to put her arms around her friend, holding her close, glad she did so as she felt the chest of her shirt get wet and heard her best friend's sobs.
"Setsuna," Her head whipped around to face the lord, Okashi, "Whatever orders you have or get, I want you to drop them for a while and stay here to protect Konoka while I'm gone. Someone snuck in last night and her mother is dead." He paused, his cold, angry visage nearly cracking, then began again, "That someone is dead. I know those responsible, and I am going to take care of them now. I'll be back in three days; most of the army remains here, since my task is simple, so you shouldn't have too much trouble, but…" His expression cracked again, "Konoka needs you right now, for many reasons. Do not leave her side until I return, understood?"
"I wouldn't dream of it sir." She replied, matching his cold expression. Their eyes met, and they understood one-another perfectly, then Okashi turned back to his men and began inspecting them to make sure none had forgotten anything. Setsuna stood for a moment more before reaching down and lifting Konoka up in her arms to carry her inside where they could speak in privacy.
A few months later, two girls sit by one of the koi ponds in the castle garden. Konoka has bits of leaves and sticks in her hair and some sticking to her kimono as well, and wears a pouty expression.
"You knew it was going to happen, Kono-chan." Setsuna comments smugly, watching the koi and grinning.
"Secchan! I thought you were on my side." Konoka turns the cute-anime-girl-sad effect up to full force as she looks over at her friend. Setsuna laughs, very carefully not looking in Konoka's direction.
"It's like I told them, I can't stop you from climbing trees, but I can be ready to catch you when you fall. I can't stop you from doing what you want, but I don't have to like watching you put yourself at risk." Setsuna explains. For a moment, there is silence, and she dares to look over at Konoka; she's gone from sad-faced to happy-to-tears. Setsuna braces herself, but isn't quite ready for the glomp and almost falls off the rock where she's sitting.
"You're so sweet, Secchan! I don't know what I'd do without you, stuck in this castle full of grumpy old men and primpy old ghouls!"
"Now now, Kono-chan, be polite. Their faces might fall off if they heard you say that, and then you'd have to clean it up." She smiled as she felt Konoka giggle at her jest.
"We'll be friends forever, right Secchan?" Konoka asks, hugging her tighter.
"Forever's a long time, Kono-chan, but as long as I breathe the air of this world, I'll always be by your side," Setsuna answered.
"I was going to suggest ice-cream, but you're putting my cavities ahead of schedule enough for one day." Konoka quipped, going into a little fit of giggles as Setsuna 'ack!'ed at the statement and almost dropped them both into the pond.
Setsuna entered the Audience Hall in a fresh Shinmeiryuu uniform, hers now, the only marring quality the bandage over her right eye, followed closely by the same superior that had brought her here the first time, his hair now beginning to turn grey. She stepped forward just far enough that her superior could stand clear of the door as it closed, then kneeled to the lord sitting at the other end of the hall, noting the large bandage on his right arm before standing and advancing forward to kneel a few feet away from the lord, head down in humility, noting the small but filled audience hall as she advanced. She heard the door to the lord's chambers slide open and almost twitched, knowing who was entering the room, but withheld herself, raising her eyes slowly when Konoka stopped in front of her. Her gasp was audible throughout the room as she saw Konoka, her breath taken away by the stunning sight before her. Konoka was usually beautiful, taking care with her outfit without going overboard, but today she was truly resplendent, wearing a dark green ceremonial kimono with sakura limbs twisting their way over it, the blossoms in various states of opening, a few butterflies and bees moving in on the few that had opened completely. Her hair had been partially tied up in the back, so that two streams of hair fell around her ears while the rest extended from the back of her head an inch or two before falling to midway down her back, the flowers on the tie crowning the top of her head. She wore no makeup, but needed none. Setsuna felt her heart beat rise and her cheeks flush.
"Rise, noble swordswoman, that you may hear the judgment of your fitness to protect my daughter." The lord intoned, not missing Setsuna's flustered expression as she stood. "You have comforted my daughter in her times of greatest need; you have shown your loyalty to her time and again, even against myself; you have proven yourself trustworthy through your actions; you have proven yourself stronger than any within this castle save for myself." He paused for a moment and shifted his bandaged arm, "And even then, your skill quickly approaches my own. If my daughter's life were in danger, would you put her above all other things, even to your own life?"
"Without hesitation."
"Will you consent to stand by her side for the rest of your days?"
"Without exception," The lord stands and looks over the crowd, gauging their reactions, from confused at her odd form of affirmation to nodding in approval at the finality of her word choice. The elder Shinmeiryuu appeared cold as stone to many an eye, but the lord notes the shock and rising anger in his eyes and resolves to have a talk with the man about it before he could cause any damage to what he was trying to do.
"Sakurazaki Setsuna, I proclaim that you are truly worthy to be my daughter's protector. Does anyone dispute my word?" He looked around the room, making eye contact with everyone in the silence before returning his gaze to the swordswoman before him, "Do you accept this burden until Death claims you?"
"Even he will have to face my sword before we are separated." The lord raises and eyebrow and turns his gaze to an empty corner at the back of the room. A second later, he chuckles.
"You may have just guaranteed yourself a longer life span." He comments in an amused tone.
"Eh?" Setsuna replies intelligently.
"Nothing, nothing, just the ramblings of an old man," he coughed, "You have been proven worthy before a varied audience of the lady's subjects, accepted the burden of protecting my daughter from any enemy, and I give you my acceptance to fill the role of her protector. Kneel, and swear your allegiance and everlasting loyalty." The lord stepped back and crossed his arms as Setsuna kneeled in front of Konoka, her eyes downcast.
"I have known for many years that this day would come, that I would be expected to pledge to you that I would put my life above yours. It is an obligation of honor. But I cast off that obligation, and pledge my sword, my life, and even my very soul to you for no other reason than that I wish to do so for my dearest friend, Kono-chan." If every eye wasn't on Setsuna before, they are now, and even Konoka raises an eyebrow, knowing that she's speaking far more dramatically than usual. The far-too-friendly method of speaking to her raises some eyebrows as well, though the lord just smiles, "Will you accept my humble service, ojou-sama?" she finally asks.
"Um… er… yes?" Konoka stammers, a bit flustered at the attention suddenly being turned to her; there is a moment of expectant silence before the lord steps forward again.
"To aid you in your mission, I give you Yuunagi, the blade gifted to me by the leader of your clan when I wasn't much older than you are now. Its blade will never dull in your hands, and your strikes will always be true." Setsuna held up her hands to accept the blade, which the lord set into her outstretched palms. She untied her trainee's sword and handed it back to her superior before retying on the new sword, wanting to test its feel, but not daring to draw it during the ceremony.
"Now stand, and begin your duty." Setsuna begins to stand, but stumbles a bit, and is quickly caught by Konoka.
"Gomen nasai, ojou-sama, the doctor's medicine doesn't like it when I stand too quickly." Setsuna explained as she got her own feet beneath her, making Konoka giggle. The lord stood behind them and put a hand on each of their shoulders as they stood facing the crowd.
"You know, with all those years of you being here, it's like I had two daughters… except you aren't quite as spoiled rotten as you might have been, like Konoka is." The lord said with a smile.
"Daaaad…" Konoka says, in a 'please don't embarrass me like that' tone.
"Sir, I must object to your insinuations as to ojou-sama's freshness." Setsuna followed up in a mock-'do you want me to get serious?' tone. The lord just laughed.
"And if I had a daughter with more of me in her blood, she'd be just like that too, wouldn't she?" Setsuna matched Konoka's blush and various 'hai!'s were heard from the chuckling onlookers. "In any case, this calls for a party! And we seem to have an abundance of food and drink that seems made especially for it, don't we, oh Master of the Kitchen?"
"Don't act all innocent like that, Okashi. I swear, you'll use any excuse…" The elderly cook answered, brandishing her large wooden spoon and speaking with a slight foreign accent, "But yes, it's ready and everyone will be in place to serve before the first guest can make it to the courtyard." Several men and women in aprons begin filing out the door, apparently having finished the meal in time to watch the ceremony, quickly followed by the portly older cook.
"Eheh… well, everybody, I've got a few toasts in mind tonight, but don't wait up for me. They should be set up in the courtyard; get your grub and find a seat." Everyone began filing out, the burble of conversation beginning. "You two get the places of honor, tonight," Okashi said, pushing them forward a bit, "I just saw an old friend I'd like to catch up with, so go on. And your plates will be brought to you; the cook decided to fix your favorites tonight." So said, he turned back to the empty corner of the room, walking that way. Setsuna and Konoka looked at him curiously before he said, in a dangerous tone, "Trust me, you don't want to listen in on this conversation." They both gulped at the tone and left quickly.
"So, Death-sama, what brings you here tonight? Nobody I know is it?" he asked to the apparently empty corner of the now empty room.
"Just heard my name from an old acquaintance and decided to catch up with him. I'm glad I did, those two may just prove to have a very interesting future." Replied what looked to be an amber-eyed youth, visible to few eyes, standing in the corner.
"They can handle it, I'm sure." Okashi said, smiling smugly, "So, what adventures have you seen in the past twenty years?"
"Your father will use any excuse, won't he?" Setsuna asked, fiddling with her food a little.
"For the past thirteen years, as well as I can remember, Oka-san's thrown at least one party every week." Konoka smiles, "It's never really boring, at least."
"All right girls, you can quit talking about me now. And don't call me that."
"As though your presence would actually stop me from asking about the rest of your bad habits, Oka-san?" Setsuna smirked as she leaned aside to allow leeway for his bandaged arm as he sat, "I am officially living here now, so I think I have a right to know."
"What have you been telling this girl, Konoka?" he said, giving his daughter the evil eye, then moving on before she had a chance to answer, "Waaah! My baby girl is spreading lies about me to her friends!"
"Those crocodile tears aren't fooling anyone dad." Konoka replied after a second, grinning.
"No respect, even from my own daughter…" he mutters.
"I got it from you, didn't I?" She quipped back.
"Eherm, yes well, I promised the guests a few toasts, didn't I?" he quickly attempted to change the subject, standing and raising a freshly filled goblet of the incredibly bad-tasting ale he preferred, "A toast!" He yelled over the assorted chatter, silencing it and signaling the raising of goblets, filled with everything from white wine to bad ale. Setsuna had a small cup of strong sake on suggestion from her mentors; to strengthen her liver while it was still developing so she wouldn't fall to any number of state dinners where the drinks would not be optional without rudeness, and also to raise her tolerance level high enough that she wouldn't be slowed too much by any alcohol intake. Konoka, not having much of a tolerance to start with, was still working up past white wine so she could survive those same state dinners, though it wasn't so much of a worry since she could play the sweet and air headed girl like no other and asking for something weaker wouldn't be seen as rude if she really could claim a weak constitution.
"A toast to my beautiful daughter, may she one day be as beautiful and as sweet as her dear departed mother." The mood was suddenly somber as everyone made the toast silently, "And of course, marry a man as courageous and dashing!" He continued with a grin, immediately lightening the mood.
"I think you're a few toasts ahead of us, Oka-san." Setsuna commented loudly, making everyone snicker.
"And of course…" He continued without missing a beat, "her rather cute protector, may she one day be able to make even me cry for mercy at her hands." There were a few chuckles as everyone joined the toast, making Setsuna blush a bit, "And I just hope she doesn't scare all those poor boys away." A few more chuckles as he bent a bit in a failed attempt to avoid a pointed strike from his daughter, "Does anyone else have a toast they want to make?"
"To this crazy old man, may he outlive us all!" Setsuna yelled out in a barroom voice, tossing back the last bit of her cup as everyone else followed suit. One of the younger well-offs stood as soon as everyone had made the toast.
"To good wine, bad ale and strong sake! I think everyone can toast to that!" He was apparently drinking something strong because he swayed as he stood and almost missed his mouth for his own toast. After that, everyone seemed to settle into their meal and conversation, or in Konoka and Setsuna's case, into eating and ribbing Okashi some more.
"You girls are so cruel." He cried.
"It's okay daddy, we still love you." Konoka said, patting his shoulder, "But it'll be one on one from now on. I think I've had enough to drink and I think I'm going to retire for the night. Just come in quietly later, Secchan." Setsuna watched her go wistfully, giggling a bit as she attempted to walk in through the window before realizing that she'd missed the door by a few feet.
"You girls will be the death of me yet…" Okashi complained with a bit of amusement in his voice, "But I wouldn't trade you for anything…" he finished with a sigh. Setsuna remained quiet, unsure of what to say, "Did you know her mother?"
"No, sir," She answered quietly, knowing it was a sore subject, "I never had the pleasure of speaking with her."
"Cut out the sir stuff, you might as well be part of the family now. That's right, you only came two or three times before her death, and we were busy handling taxes and rebuilding and people that thought we were vulnerable because of the overthrow." He took a long draught, grimacing at the taste and refilling his pint, "She was the sweetest woman I'd ever met… and beautiful beyond compare. She could and would forgive anything… including her own murder…" Setsuna thought, at that point, that she'd never seen him this sauced before, "I know you've sworn and you're ready and all that, but I want you to personally promise me one thing…"
"What is it?" She asked as he paused.
"Promise me… promise me…" He stumbled, obviously on his last legs of sobriety, "Promise me that you'll never leave her side…"
"Okashi, Sir," Setsuna smiled, "I promise you that I will never leave her side, just as I promised her the same, a few months after it happened."
"Thash good… thank you, Secchan…" There was a 'fwump' sound as he struck the wooden table and began snoring. She smiled again and patted him on the back, removing the mug from his hand and signaling one of the cook's assistants to find someone to carry him to his room. She herself began to head for Konoka's room, but was grabbed roughly as soon as she got to a point inside out of sight of the courtyard and dragged quickly into an empty room. She turned to face her attacker, Yuunagi coming halfway out of its sheath before she recognized her superior that had disappeared as soon as the ceremony was over.
"Setsuna, what in the nine hells are you doing?" He asked angrily, not removing his hand from her uniform and shaking it a bit for emphasis.
"What do you mean, sir?" She asked, sobering immediately and wiping her face of all emotion.
"You don't even know what you're doing? What is your mission?"
"To protect the young Lady and send information about the state of things back to headquarters." She answered, curious as to what she had done wrong. The first message wasn't for a month.
"Yes, to protect the young Lady, not to like her, not to have her like you, not to have her father like you. She's starting to like you too much; do you realize what that could mean politically? She'd be out of the running for arranged marriages. What happens if that has to be used to stop a war? No one wants a heartbroken lesbian for a wife. And you are to send information back to us, everything you learn, do you know what that means? You are a spy. If they find out you are sending back anything but the day-to-day goings on, you'll be on the gallows before you can blink. On top of all of that, you're a half-demon. The lord is known to have killed over a hundred notably strong demons; if they find out, they will hate you and you'll be dead within the week, whether from his sword or some other. Do you understand your situation here?" Setsuna nodded, her face gone from blank from will to blank from shock.
"Then I expect you to fix your mistakes. It doesn't matter to me if you do so or not; it is your grave you dig, but try to run back to us and we will cut you down as soon as you get within range of our swords. Do not make us have to try and replace you." So said, he disappeared out the door, gone. Setsuna fell to her knees, tears running down her face as she discovered her own emotions, her own feelings. She had to push them away, but she would not let them go, could not deny her feelings. She had known that this would be the best day of her life, but had no idea why she thought so.
Now she knew, but that feeling was gone when she realized that this would be the last happy day of her entire life.
End Chapter 1
And the Sorrow Begins...
AN: The first chapter is finished, and boy have I got a wild ride for you. If... no WHEN, WHEN I finish this fic, I believe it will be my defining work among fanfics...
Started out pretty light this chapter, didn't it? But it got dark near the end, and that sets the mood for most of the story... okay, the oddball changes and insertions I made... Okashi, the dad. Well, at first, I was going to use Konoka's original father and have him kinda bland and in the background, since we don't really know all that much of his character from the real story. Then I wrote the ceremony scene and realized that it was way way too much. So I deleted it and started over, and as I was writing it the second time, those wisecracks from him just sorta came out and he developed his own character, even if it is sort of a 'stock' personality. His name, Okashi, was derived from the 'Headmaster' of the Negima boards I had just discovered, who had 'Okashira' in front of all his screen names. I originally used 'Okashira' as his name, but then I got around to reading Rorouni Kenshin and found out the origin and decided to shorten it to 'Okashi' so I could still use the 'Oka-san' pun.(just in case anyone is new to fics or whatever, Okaasan is how you say 'mother' in japanese.)
Death-sama just sort of popped into my head to use after Setsuna's statement about beating him away was written. He originates from a book/series(it was once two books but I got it after it had been compiled into one) called 'Wizard of the Grove' and the reason Okashi can see him while no one else can is because he's been dead before... well, his heart wasn't pumping for about five seconds anyway, but it was close enough that he can see Death-sama as long as Death-sama wants him to. Death-sama may appear later on, but not everything has been laid out perfectly just yet, so it's unsure.
Well, I'm sure you're tired of me rambling by now, so I'll shut up and get to working on Chapter 3. Yes, I said Chapter 3. Chapter 2 is done already, but I'll be waiting a few days to post it, so that I can get a response to Chapter 1 from everyone who's expecting it before I piss them all off with Chapter 2. Yep, what's going to begin in Chapter 2 is a biiiig suprise. It'll be pleasant for some, I'm sure, but the Kono-Setsu freaks(you know who you are, yeah, I'm talking to you) might be mad.