There was someone standing in the training field when the girls arrived. It was someone Setsuna had wished fervently that she would not fight them. "Hello Setsuna-kun" spoke the man she had only known as Ku:nel, Albireo Imma. He smiled his atypical smile that displayed no sense of true emotion. Setsuna couldn't believe her eyes. Evangeline laughed and spoke. "Here's your opponent for this round. Let me introduce you to Albireo Imma. He was one of Nagi's fellow cohorts. There is no handicap this time only because there should be no way for you to win this fight. I will enjoy watching you suffer trying to prove me wrong." Evangeline let out an evil laugh.
"Oh come now Kitty there's no reason for such a laugh. Hopefully this time around I get something out of this. As I agreed though, if this one can beat me I will tell you more of Asuna and Nagi. If I win however you will become my personal pet for one month." Albireo smiled, almost laughing as Evangeline took a swipe at him which he easily dodged. Setsuna watched in amusement as the two exchanged words and blows. She knew that she could barely hold a candle to Albireo but if she wanted Konoka to accompany her for the last three days in the desert she would have to win. To her it felt like that would be impossible.
Albireo and Setsuna stood in the middle of the arena. Wind blew around them, tension filling the air. The fight was going to start as soon as Evangeline gave the word. Evangeline then said loud enough to be heard over the wind, "Let the fight commence! " With those words Albireo began his assault. Setsuna was driven to using only defense almost immediately. It was clear from the exchange of the first few blows who was the better fighter. Setsuna had never been so outclassed. She felt like this was going to be hopeless. She continued blocking attack after attack, being pushed further back. She was happy about one thing; Albireo had yet to bring out his artifact which had the potential to even further widen the obvious gap between them.
Setsuna was losing the fight and she knew it. Only a small miracle could save her now. Her thoughts raced. How was she supposed to beat the man that even Negi-sensei could not defeat? Her mind swam with a chaos of thought. This was diverting her focus from the fight and she was soon sent flying across the arena by a backhand blow from Albireo. She hit the far side of the arena. She tried to stand but her legs collapsed under her and she coughed blood. It was at that moment she caught sight of Konoka and the concern that was being shown on Konoka's face. That was it. That was the thing she needed to keep going. She had found the point of Evangeline's exercise. It was to keep fighting for what you believed in no matter what. Setsuna stood up, a renewed look of passion in her eyes. She would win this fight for Konoka and she would overcome the difference in strength that existed between her and Albireo.
Albireo smiled as he saw Setsuna's resolve change. He knew that he had lost the fight as soon as Setsuna had found the one thing she had needed all along. She had found something worth fighting for outside of her own safety and the safety of others. Evangeline noticed this as well and spoke to herself quietly. "It seems all this hard work has paid off a lot earlier than I expected. Even so, I am not calling this fight off just yet. I want to see her make Al give up." She smiled a content smile. This fight was going to be worth watching.
Setsuna wasted no time in attacking Albireo. She put everything she had into the assault, using everything from shundo to shukuchi even going as far as using one of her larger attacks. She came out of a Shundo and just about yelled, "Raimeiken!" A bolt of lightning came out her blade and struck Albireo dead on. She kept pressing her attack, kicking and punching at Albireo as well as launching one more attack that she again yelled the name of. "Hyakuretsu okazani!" Albireo was pushed into a corner. Setsuna kept at him with an almost blind rage. Her love for Konoka and her desire to be with her fueled her assault.
It had been over half the day since they had started the fight. Albireo stood in a corner with Setsuna's blade at his throat as the dust from their last clash cleared. He smiled and spoke, "Good job Setsuna-kun. I give up. Well I could keep this going but I think you found the point of this little exercise." He turned to Evangeline and said, "Kitty you have won the bet and as agreed once they leave I will tell you more of what I remember about Asuna-san and Nagi." Evangeline disliked that name and seethed at Albireo. She spoke after a short while, "Setsuna as agreed I will uphold my end of the bargain. You get to have Konoka for the last three days in the desert. On the twelfth day I will come and get you but not for combat training. You will see what it is I have in store for you on that day." Evangeline smiled a slightly devilish smile.
Setsuna wondered what Evangeline meant about the last day of training but put those thoughts aside as she went over to Konoka. She hugged Konoka and kissed her. Konoka set about healing Setsuna's injuries, she had broken a number of ribs when she had been sent flying. Setsuna felt drained after the fight and wanted nothing more than to relax. Evangeline walked up and said, "Alright you two I give you one hour to relax. After that I'm sending you back into the desert. I'm impressed with how much you've both matured in your relationship. After the last day I believe you will both be ready for the commitment you will make to each other." Evangeline walked off to go speak with Albireo. Setsuna finally could relax for a bit and she would be able to spend her last days in the desert with Konoka and nothing made her happier. She kissed Konoka. Both of them sat down and Setsuna used Konoka's lap as a pillow. Four more days and then the wedding day. That thought filled her with happiness as she slept on Konoka's lap.
(This fight actually turned out better than I had hoped when I started this chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it.)
Shinobi of the Onyx Sands
