Here we are again with Chapter 2 of Steel Souls.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story.
Enjoy and feel free to comment.
"…will be on the test, make sure you st-"
The bell signifying the end of classes for the week drowns out the child teacher's final statement. Excited chatter of weekend events and daily gossip fill the class as almost every student prepares to leave for the start of a promising weekend.
A small voice unsuccessfully attempts to break through the multitude of merriment. The sad body sighs disappointedly trying to muster up more strength. The voice once again tries to break through but is lost in the dense fog of excitement.
Finally unable to restrain herself any longer, Asuna stomps her foot against the tiled floor shaking the classroom with inhuman strength. With an agitated voice she yells, "Quiet everyone, Konoka is trying to ask you something!"
Shocked faces, giggles, and murmurs of incredibly strong monkeys ring throughout the class. They slowly regain their composure and turn their attention to the surprised young girl.
"Geeze Asuna, you always go so far!" Konoka giggles at her friend's apparent embarrassment. "I just wanted to know if anyone's seen Se-chan recently. I've asked the nurse and some of the teachers but nobody has seen her around."
The students look around at each other repeating the question and shaking their heads in disagreement. One by one they answer and apologize for not being of any help.
Konoka smiles and nods her head in thanks. "It's ok, but if anybody happens to see her can you tell her I'm looking for her?"
The students chime in agreement and slowly return to their previous excitement.
Asuna places a hand on her friend's shoulder and grins as confidently as she could manage. "Don't worry, she's more than capable of taking care of herself. I bet she turns up in a day or two and things'll go back to normal." The comforting words she gave her friend had not held as much weight as they did a few days prior. She hoped the grin she wore would offer more assurance than she knew her hollow sentiments would.
Konoka smiles gratefully thanking Asuna for the kind gesture. "Thanks Asuna I'm sure you're right." Her smile slowly twists into a smirk boasting of secret knowledge.
Asuna stares back in amazed bewilderment. She had always been envious of her friend's happy-go-lucky attitude. No matter how grim the situation became, Konoka never lost her innocent optimism. If it were me… Flashes of frustration, anger, and destruction splash across her mind.
"Asuna!" The now cheerful girl interrupts her friend's daydreaming. She grabs Asuna's hand and runs for the door excitedly exclaiming, "Let's go eat, I'm starving!"
Asuna struggles to maintain her balance as Konoka awkwardly pulls her through the winding halls of the school. She chokes back a sigh, unable to spare the concentration. She bitterly thinks to herself, I hope Setsuna-san comes back soon, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to survive.
A sharp breeze cuts through the dense forest. Birds and various wildlife scurry to safety as the violent bursts of air become more and more frequent. After a few minutes, the normal sounds of the forest grow silent. The only sounds that can be heard are the quick rustlings of trees and shrubbery and the almost inaudible twinge of sharpened steel slicing air.
"Above you!"
"Got it."
"To your left!"
"Thanks."
"Watch out, three more behind you!"
"I see them."
Setsuna nimbly leaps from tree to tree, the delicate yet powerful swings of her nodachi pierce the many inhuman shadows lurking about. She instinctively dives toward the ground landing in a quick roll, the momentum pushing her towards her next targets.
The woman Setsuna had come to know as Mercy watches the spectacle in awe. "You're doing great Setsuna-kun, only a few shadow scouts left." Her movements are spectacular, like a petal caught in the wind. Tomorrow should be fun.
The young warrior dashes towards another target, exterminating it with deadly precision. She takes a deep breath and returns Yunagi to its sheath. Her cool face remains impartial to the end of the daunting task. "Mercy-san…"
"I don't sense anymore in the area either, great job. The others should be finished soon as well." She smiles at the young girl wondering if she had trained herself not to show exhaustion or if the task really was not very difficult. Not even a drop of sweat after all that… "Setsu-"
"Senpai!"
A young girl dressed in a pink gothic dress awkwardly emerges from the trees clumsily landing on the ground. The girl skips a few steps struggling to regain her balance, failing miserably. She falls face first onto the ground losing her glasses on impact. The girl slowly sits up feeling around for her lost glasses. "Glasses…glasses…where are my glasses?"
Mercy covers her face with her hand in an attempt to contain her annoyance. "Tsukuyomi-san…what are you doing here?" she asks dryly. "You have work to do so stop goofing off."
Tsukuyomi, after a few moments, finds her glasses and places them back on her face. "I finished already, I came to check on Senpai."
"Tsuku-"
"Senpai!" The girl, ignoring Mercy's agitation, rushes towards Setsuna with a pleased look on her face. "How many did you kill? I was able to defeat 28 targets!"
"Sorry I did not keep count."
Mercy balls her hand into a fist trying desperately to contain her anger. She had been raised to maintain a calm and sunny disposition when in her maid uniform, but there was something about how naively inconsiderate that girl was that always set her off. Mercy begins to silence Tsukuyomi when she notices Setsuna's tight grip on a partially unsheathed Yunagi. Hnmm, it seems as though Setsuna-kun still does not trust the brat. Oh well, at least she's handling it much better then their first meeting a few days ago. The memory of Setsuna attacking a wide-eyed Tsukuyomi brings her cheerful disposition back.
"Aww why not? I wanted to compare our skills."
"It was 72."
The two girls look at Mercy questioningly.
"It was 72" she repeats. "I counted every defeated enemy. I was very impressed Setsuna-kun, I have not seen skill of that caliber in quite some time. I'm sure your Ojou-sama would be proud."
"Wow 72, amazing!"
Setsuna turns her head in embarrassment. She shifts her weight uncomfortably, unsure of how to handle the gushing girl or the solemn praise from her client. "It…it was nothing. They were only mindless drones."
Mercy watches Setsuna's embarrassed actions intently. "Let's head back Setsuna-kun, it's starting to get late."
"Sen-"
"Tsukuyomi, you still have patrol work. Stop wasting time or I will have to report you." She gives the girl a stern look that forces her back into the trees without another word. "Let's go Setsuna-kun."
"Mercy-san, would it be possible to contact home before tomorrow's mission?"
Mercy places a comforting hand on Setsuna's shoulders. "I know how lonely it can be without your master, but I still cannot permit outside contact. I know I do not have to tell you how important tomorrow is, we cannot risk jeopardizing the mission in any way."
Setsuna quietly nods in understanding. The loneliness in her eyes was the first real emotion she had shown since arriving in Kyoto. It was an emotion Mercy knew all too well.
She places her free hand under Setsuna's chin lifting her face so she could look into her eyes. "I'll tell you what, right after tomorrow's mission I will personally see to it that you are able to go home to your Ojou-sama. I will take care of everything, so don't worry about it." She gives the young warrior a reassuring pat on the shoulder and turns to leave.
Setsuna nods happily in agreement.
"Let's head back for now and get some dinner, tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day."
The two walk back towards the school grounds in a comfortable silence, the anticipation of the following days events dancing in their minds.
"I can't believe you ate more than I did!" Asuna reaches towards the top bunk and pulls a blanket from her bed, turning off the light before falling to the ground. "I'm so stuffed, I should've quit after my third helpings."
Konoka drops herself onto the bottom bunk sighing with relief at the comfort of her soft blankets. "If you ask me nicely, maybe I'll let you sleep in my bed."
"After what you ate, I think I'll take my chances on the floor."
The two laugh into the night enjoying the carefree atmosphere. Ever since Setsuna had disappeared, moments like these had become far and in between.
I wonder if Konoka would miss me this much if I disappeared. Probably not. I have to admit that makes me a little jealous..
"I had fun today Asuna, thanks for hanging out with me."
Asuna waves a hand dismissively. "Don't sweat it, I'm just glad you're feeling better. Looks like the twirps already knocked out, I should probably do the same. Besides, something tells me tomorrow is gonna be a really busy day. Night and try not to stay up too late."
"Good night Asuna." Konoka looks around the dark room anxiously, the anticipation of the next day keeping her from falling asleep. She reaches up and retrieves a folded scrap of paper that had been tucked under one of the support beams of Asuna's bunk. One more day Se-chan, I can't wait to see you and what you have planned. The girl compassionately hugs the piece of paper, her thoughts swimming with the infinite possibilities. One more day…
Setsuna stares out of the window of her small guest room, the clear night sky shining wistfully amongst the drab wooden walls. The cold loneliness of the room brings a warm smile to the girl's soft face. I can endure the loneliness knowing you're waiting for me Kono-chan. One more day…
dun dun dun
The fated day has finally come!
Tune in next time for the action packed continuation!