Ch. 15

"And then I got back here, and the girls glomped me." Negi finished the story.

"That was a weird mission." said Kiba, as Akamaru barked in agreement.

"No kidding." added Naruto. "What kind of store tries to kill the customers?"

"They weren't trying to kill the customers, just challenge them. Besides, if the customers liked it, it wasn't a problem." Negi corrected Naruto.

"I guess. But what kind of place thinks being attacked by cardboard while shopping is fun? Admit it Negi-kun, that place was fulla freaks."

"Oh, you're right, Naruto-san. It was very odd."

"And all of that for a t-shirt. Seems kinda a waste. Doesn't it, fuzzy-eyebrows?" Naruto turned to Lee, who was looking towards the back of the shop.

"Oi, fuzzy-eyebrows!" Naruto said louder, trying to catch Lee's attention.

"What? Oh, sorry Naruto-kun, I was wondering where Shikamaru is. I have not seen him since before Negi-kun started his story."

"Yes, where is Shikamaru?" asked Neji. "I thought he would have wanted to hear this story too."

"Shikamaru-kun went out cloud-watching." Yuuko walked out of the back of the shop. "Though he said it was a troublesome venture, as the clouds here move in obvious patterns, with nothing new happening."

"Yuuko-san!" exclaimed Lee. "Did Shikamaru give you the baby darking?"

"Yes. I named her Jewel. Isn't she just the cutest thing?" Yuuko held out the little blot, who purred contentedly as she snuggled around some jeweled beads in Yuuko's palm. She had a single jewel inside her as well, a kind of moonstone cabochon.

"Aww!" Negi said, standing on tiptoe to get a closer look. "She is kinda cute… for a little blob of… whatever it is she's made of."

"Isn't she though?" Yuuko rubbed her against her cheek. "Now Mokona and Maru and Moro can have a new playmate! And I'll have another drinking partner! Isn't that right, Jewel?"

"Jewel is partner for Yuuko! What is drinkings? Water drinkings?"

"No, no, no! We're going to drink saké! And we'll have Watanuki-kun make us some snacks!"

"Saké drinkings funfunfun? Snacks funfunfun?"

"Yes! Drinking saké is a lot of fun, Jewel!" Yuuko smiled excitedly. "So much fun!"

"Waiwai, Yuuko! Waiwai, funfunfun!"

"Not to interrupt this display, Yuuko-san…" began Neji.

"Yes, Neji-kun?"

"What were you doing this whole time? You disappeared right after we finished our story, and it's been quite a while since then."

"What was I doing?" Yuuko thought for a minute.

Flashback

Yuuko was in her personal workroom, which even Watanuki hadn't entered. For that matter, he didn't know it existed. Only a magician of her caliber or greater could find it, and even then only she could open the door. Watanuki could see spirits, but he was no magician.

She held Jewel in one hand, her pipe in the other. Closing the door behind her, she set the pipe down on a pipe-stand and walked over to a worktable.

"Now then Jewel, let's get started, shall we? After all, for every price paid, a good or service must be rendered. The price has been paid, even if unintentionally. Now we have to prepare the goods. Negi-kun has taken care of one, and we'll make the other right now."

"Making good-goods funfunfun?"

"Yes, Jewel, it is fun. It may feel strange though."

"Why?"

"Well, I'm going to find out exactly how adaptable darking magic is."

"What Yuuko mean?"

"Darkings can record anything they witness and play it back, right?"

"Yesyes! Jewel can do that!"

"Now I want to make a very special jewel, one that can do almost the same thing, only better."

"Ooh… Jewel want help!"

"Good! Because I need your help, Jewel. Would you like to be part of a real jewel, forever and ever?"

"Jewel be part of pretty-pretty? Forever? Forever is long time, yes? Jewel want be part of pretty-pretty! How Jewel help? Howhowhow?"

"I'm going to take a little piece of you, and combine it with a very special jewel I already have. Then that little piece of Jewel will always be a part of the pretty jewel, forever and ever."

"Waiwai, Yuuko! Waiwai means funfunfun, yes?"

"Yes, it does."

"Then waiwai, Yuuko! Jewel say waiwai!"

End Flashback

"Yuuko-san? Yuuko-san? Hello! Earth to Yuuko-san!" Naruto was jumping up and down, waving one hand in front of her face.

"Yes, Naruto-kun?" she asked.

"Yuuko-san, you were spaced out! Neji asked what you were doing, remember?"

"Ah, yes, I remember."

"Well? What were you doing?" Naruto asked impatiently when she didn't continue.

Yuuko smiled at him enigmatically, "Oh, nothing." She walked off as they all stared at her back, singing to herself. "Saké, saké, saké is so much fun!"

After a while Naruto shook his head. "Yuuko-san is so weird." he said as the other boys nodded in agreement.

A Few Days Later, after Everyone Has Had a Chance to Rest and Recuperate

Yuuko called them all together in the courtyard to announce the beginning of the next mission. As they all sat, Watanuki passed out snacks and drinks, in preparation for the longish discussion he was sure would follow.

Yuuko spoke once they had all settled. "Alright, now that everyone has gathered, it's time to tell you about the next mission. Those who will go are Edward-kun, Alphonse-kun…"

"YES!!" everyone looked over at Ed, who had cried out so loudly. He pumped one fist in the air. "Finally! I've been here for over two months, and I haven't done anything useful! I finally get to go on a mission!" He grinned as he continued pumping his fist in the air. "I. GET. TO. GO. YES!!"

"Big brother, Ms. Yuuko was talking…" Al cautioned him. Ed shut up, but still grinned like a maniac.

Geez, he musta been really bored… thought Naruto.

"… If I may continue?" asked Yuuko, one eyebrow raised as she hid a smile.

"Ah, go ahead!" Al said hastily. "I'm sorry for the interruption!"

"Very well. As I was saying, Edward-kun, Alphonse-kun, Negi-kun, Watanuki-kun…"

"Again? I don't even want to know what the mission is, let alone go…" Watanuki mumbled.

"…Naruto-kun…"

"Cool!"

"…Shikamaru-kun…"

"How troublesome."

"…Neji-kun, Shino-kun, and Tenten-chan will all go."

"Really? That's great!" Tenten smiled. "I've been itching for a mission too!"

"The rest of you may leave, as this will be a rather longish briefing." Yuuko said. The remaining ninjas stood and left, having no wish to stick around for a briefing on a mission in which they weren't participating. Koui left as well after saying a few parting words to Watanuki.

"Don't worry, Watanuki-kun, I'll make dinner for everyone tonight." she said.

"Oh thank you, Koui-san! I was worried about that." Watanuki replied. Actually, I'm more worried about this mission. I don't want to go! Damn that Yuuko-san!

"As for your mission, it is far simpler than the last one, though a bit more complicated than the first." Yuuko continued once everyone had left. "There is another world with a portal in it. Negi-kun and Watanuki-kun are to seal it, while the rest of you are to guard them from these people." She held out seven pictures. "They will have significant motivation to reach the center of the maze, so I doubt that you'll be able to simply talk them out of going there. However, I must specify that you cannot kill or severely injure them. The reason for this is that they, like you, are people of great Hamenleai."

"Hamenleai?" asked Al. "What's that?"

"Ah. Hamenleai is the ability to make changes. A person of Hamenleai is one whose presence will affect the world. Part of the reason I chose you all to help me fix the worlds is because you all have great Hamenleai. Your presence in a world affects it, whether you wish it or not, and you get caught up in great things, great changes, whether you wish it or not. I believe Shikamaru-kun and Watanuki-kun have already realized this."

Watanuki looked down at his lap, idly tracing one finger over his blind eye.

Shikamaru stretched before replying. "It's true that I noticed that I got caught up in things I never expected or wanted. I never put a name to it though, nor thought it was that significant."

"Oh, but it is. Shikamaru-kun, the reason you cannot have the relaxing, average life that you wanted is because you have great Hamenleai. You, like the others I summoned, are destined for great things, or at least to be somehow involved in said great things. As I have said time and again to Watanuki-kun, there is no coincidence in this world; all there is, is hitsuzen." Yuuko smiled in that knowing way that gave everyone the shivers, and made her seem far older than her looks would allow. Then she took a sip of the saké that Watanuki had brought for her earlier. "Kyaa!" she exclaimed, breaking the spell. "This saké is so good!"

Everyone shook their heads at her and at themselves for the weird feeling they'd had. Then they laughed as Jewel stuck her head in Yuuko's glass and sipped as well. (Or they thought she sipped. She had no discernable mouth, so they couldn't be sure, but the level of saké in the glass went down.) "Waiwai! Saké is goodgoodgood! Yum! Hiki! Hikihiki!" The little darking began hiccupping uncontrollably, until she took another sip of Yuuko's saké.

Once everyone had finished laughing, Shikamaru spoke to Yuuko. "Yuuko-san, I would like more information on the mission we're undertaking. More specifically, on the people you expect us to combat. If we're going into a dangerous situation, we need to be well informed. And if these people, as you say, have great Hamenleai, we will need to know all about them."

"Why, Shikamaru-kun! I thought you were good at dealing with unknown situations!" Yuuko teased.

"I am. But that doesn't mean I want or like it. And it's stupid to go in unprepared when you don't have to."

"Hmm. True. Very well. I'll tell you as much as I know about these individuals, excepting what is irrelevant to the situation."

"That's all I ask."

Ed listened to the personal summaries for a while, but stopped once Yuuko got past the three oldest. He really had no interest in them. So long as they were human, he could handle it. He started daydreaming, flashing back to a conversation he'd had with Yuuko a week ago.

Ed sat under one of the massive trees that filled the Wood between the Worlds. The perpetual soft breeze ruffled his hair gently as he stretched his legs out comfortably. Though he rarely got cramped, he was feeling a bit crowded lately. It seemed that he couldn't go anywhere without almost being trampled by Negi or the girls chasing him. It was getting on his nerves. He had been there for about an hour when a shadow fell over him and he opened one eye to see who it was. I hope it's not Negi trying get me to help him hide again. If it is I think I'll kill him.

It wasn't Negi. It was Yuuko. "Hello, Edward-kun." she said. Today she was wearing a bright red, scoop-necked, sleeveless sweater and black, tight-fitting, low-top Capri jogging-pants.

Why is it that everything she wears makes her look like a hooker? He thought briefly, before replying. "Hey, Ms. Yuuko." he said.

She sat down next to him, tucking her legs up to one side. "So how are you, Edward-kun?" she asked perkily. "Having a good time on this little venture?"

"What venture?" he asked grumpily. "I haven't done anything since I got here! And if I try to just relax, someone always comes and interrupts!"

"I see. Well if you're bored, you can always help Watanuki-kun with the chores! I'm sure he'd be glad for your assistance." Since they had arrived, Watanuki had been running around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to keep ahead of their collective stomachs, clean up after everyone, and make sure no one got into Yuuko's storage rooms. Ed didn't envy him at all.

"No thanks." he replied shortly. "What do you want?"

"Nothing really. I wanted some peace and quiet too."

"You. Wanted peace. And quiet." Ed spoke incredulously. While Yuuko hadn't been as loud and active as Negi and the girls, she had had three or four drinking binges every week, and she hadn't been a passive drunk.

"Mm-hm."

"Right."

Since she ignored him, he closed his eyes again and drowsed for awhile. He roused slightly when an odd thought entered his mind. What kind of shop does she run? He thought. Remembering how she dressed, he considered one possibility briefly before dismissing it. Nah… Watanuki would have said something if she really was a professional hooker. I wonder though… "Ms. Yuuko, what kind of shop is this?" he asked without opening his eyes.

"Now why would you ask a question like that?" Yuuko answered his question with another question.

"Just curious." He said, sitting up and opening his eyes. "I mean, I haven't seen any of the signs of this being a shop. Where's the merchandise?"

"There's not always merchandise. Sometimes there's a service instead."

And what kind of service is that? Ed wondered. Wait, she's a witch. There's no way she'd…

"It's a shop that grants wishes." Yuuko said. "If it is within my power, I will grant any wish."

"Any wish?" Ed asked. This opened up a whole realm of possibilities. He could get Al's body back, have his arm and leg restored…

"So long as it is within my abilities, and so long as the customer can pay."

"Pay?" Ed felt his hope fall down a well into slimy water.

"Yes. The Law of Equivalent Exchange does not apply only to alchemy, Edward-kun. It applies to magic as well. The seemingly miraculous effects of magic, and of the jutsus of the ninjas, are all accomplished by the expenditure of power. Power that comes from within them. And like all inner power, its use comes only with long practice and personal sacrifice. And a mistake can cause so much harm." She smiled kindly at him, which made him shiver. Yuuko was never kind, only manipulative. "Magic and science are two means to the same end, Edward-kun. I'm sure that you have had others view alchemy as miraculous, even magical, before. Haven't you?"

Ed nodded, sighing. "I was hoping it would be different with real magic though." he admitted.

"I didn't want to get your hopes up, which is why I never told you what this shop did before."

"Oh." Ed fell silent for awhile, and then asked quietly, "Ms. Yuuko, why does Watanuki work for you?"

"As payment for his wish. Once he has worked enough to pay for it, I will grant his wish."

"…Ms. Yuuko?"

"Yes, Edward-kun?"

"What was his wish?"

"Do you really need to know?"

"…No. I guess not."

"Then I shan't tell you. If you find that you do need to know, you might want to ask Watanuki-kun. It is, after all, his wish, and his business."

"…Ms. Yuuko?"

"Yes, Edward-kun."

"Thanks. For waiting for me to ask."

"You're very welcome, Edward-kun."

Ed lay back and returned to his drowsing, his mind still troubled, but not enough to prevent his sleeping.

"… and that should be all you need to know." Yuuko finished. Ed, startled out of his memory, jerked and looked up.

"All right." Shikamaru said. "Thanks for the intel, Yuuko-san."

"No problem, no problem!" she waved it off. "It's in my best interest after all! Now then…" she stood up. "If you will make any final preparations, you should leave soon. After all, the sooner you leave…"

"The longer we get to spend out of this boring place." Ed interrupted; standing and stretching casually.

"Well I was going to say, 'the sooner you'll get back,' but whatever makes you happy." Yuuko shrugged, and sniffed huffily. She began walking towards the pool where they would exit into the next world. Mokona, who sat on her shoulder, smiled happily. "Puu!" he exclaimed.

"Well I don't know about the rest of these guys, but I'm ready to go." Ed stated.

The rest of them nodded agreement. They, too, were ready. "Well," said Yuuko, "in that case, Shikamaru-kun is the team leader. I've nothing more to say. Get going, and good luck!"

They had reached the pool. Mokona's eyes glowed red. Then they were gone.