"W-Wait!" i walk forward, arm extended, a bit before sighing
"Oi, who're saying to wait?" Derf asks me
"You didn't... nevermind" Did... did i just imagine that?
"Hey, what's that?" I look to where 'she' was standing and see the Sakura Lockseed, which instead of a fruit or nut, it shows a Cherry Blossom flower in a tire, it's a vehicle lockseed as such it's locking mechanism is gold instead of black like a regular lockseed, i pocket it and walk out of the general store to see Louise and Kirche arguing while Tabitha is reading a book next to the General Store, she shifts her focus to me
"Ok?"
"Yeah, i'm fine" Both of us look to the squabbling duo "What's with them?"
"Family Business"
"I see, well i'm just glad this whole thing ended happily ever-"
/Radial Wipe/
"-after ALL of that i STILL have to do this?!" i complain as i rub a blouse against a washing board "All of a sudden it's MY fault for a Lockseed is lost in the town! That Kirche woman!" Derf, who i've planted in the ground 'The sword in the stone' style behind me, speaks up
"If you're going to complain, i'll gladly take over, partner!"
"Derf, you don't even have hands" i sigh and lookup "Man, i mean i don't mind, but..." i wring the blouse and hang it off of Derf "Why do i have to wash clothes?" Siesta walks by, she turns to me and smiles
"Do you need some help with that?"
"Oh, hey Siesta, and yes please" she kneels next to me, she begins explaining to me how to properly use the wooden abomination in front of me, i occasionally ask questions which she more than answers with ease, after i get the hang of it, a brief silence follows before she asks ME a question
"So Elliot, where do you come from? i-i've never seen magic like yours around here" Hmm, should be honest, or poetic?
"I come from a place where these powers are necessary" i pull out my Matsubokkuri Lockseed and stare at it
"Oh, so you do alot of fighting?" she asks me, I shift my glance to her
"Well... In a sense"
"In a sense?"
"My world has a saying, the 'rich get richer and the poor get poorer', though the place i come from is a 'land of opportunity' but in reality its one of the worst offenders" i sigh
"But how if it's a land of opportunity?"
"Well, technically its much better than alot of other countries in my world, but just by a 'whats available' to 'what people have' ratio, it's pretty bad for a country it's size" i pause for a moment, I turn my head towards her "Why do you care?"
"Oh... no reason... Uhh a-anyways, 'your world' what do you mean?" should i… what if I cause a paradox?
"Oi, what does that mean?" i pick up Derf, returning him to the sheath on my back, i then hand the damp clothes to Siesta, I smile at Siesta
"I promise i'll tell you later" i leave and head back to Louise's room "I'm back... hmm?"
"Hello, Darling..." Why is...
"Why are you in my master's room Kirche?" She walks over to me
"I can't present my dearest?" She gives me a seductive glance, that doesn't answer my question though "I couldn't get you're little fruit back, I hope you don't mind" she says before leaving; i notice a tall gift box on my 'bed', resting Derf against the wall i pick it up
"Oi-Oi, i didn't know you were a ladies man, partner!"
"Y'know, i'd be inclined to accept that complement, if not only for..."
A few hours earlier, the four of us; Kirche, Tabitha, Louise, and I, part ways, i head for Vestri Court with a laundry basket under my arm, Derf is fast asleep strapped to my back...
I think he's asleep... well he's not talking so i guess so
As i make my way through the open hall, i hear a commotion
"Kirche, w-what is this?" A male student questions, Kirche seemingly surrounded by 4 other students, all male...
"I... I'm being played with, aren't i?" i sigh "Whatever, as long i don't catch anything" i continue heading to Vestri Court
"Dontcha think you under-reacted a wee bit?" Derf asks me
"Meh, i assume she has a reason" i open the gift to see the Golden Sword from this afternoon "Well, i suppose it's the thought that counts, though seeing as Louise didn't know, i suppose it only makes sense Kirche doesn't either" i give it a test swing "Ugh, i can hear it buckle under it's own weight, and it's light!" i return it to the box, and look to the window on the opposite side of the bed
"It's getting kinda late; i wonder where Louise is…" I look out the window and see a horse-drawn carriage near the gates to the academy
"I wonder whose leaving at this hour?"
The maid looks through the back of the carriage
"This is goodbye, i suppose" with a flick of the coach's whip, Tristain academy disappears from her view
It's been a peaceful morning so far, mostly because I woke up before Louise, i hear a knock on the door, as i open the door Louise begins to stir
"Who... is it?" ...Damnit shes cute when she's asleep, or waking up in this case, i open the door to see an auburn haired maid with blue eyes and pale complexion, she hands me a laundry basket
"Thanks... umm, who are you?"
"I'm Bryanne" she bows
"Uh, nothing against you, but what happened to Siesta?" The maid flinches before recomposing herself with a sad expression
"She... she was 'chosen' by Count Mott, I-I-I'm sorry, I must be going!" with a bow the maid hurries away
"W-Wait..." i turn to Louise "Do you know what she meant by chosen?" Louise's tired countenance scrunches into a disgusted scowl before returning to tired
"It more than likely means that she's been taken as a handmaiden" she says as she rubs her eyes, moving to a sitting position on the edge of her bed
"Y-You're not implying…" I understand this world is stuck in the middle ages, but it can't be THAT depraved!
"Oh no, it's common practice for nobles to do this, albeit it IS frowned on if gets to a state of concubinary, which is illegal and comes with very steep penalties" Louise yawns and stretches her arms "Well, in any case it's not our business anyways" Maybe not to you, but I'm a…
Does that apply here though? I mean I assume there's a legal process involved…
Though knowing more about this 'Count Mott' guy is necessary, if not a bad thing, Siesta's a nice girl and I'd feel bad if she ended up with some old creep
"Master, do you know anything about Count Mott?"
"Not much, other than he's the Imperial Messenger" That's… too vague… or too little, i should say err... think
"I see, well, I'm going out for a bi-"
"Oh no you don't, since you are holding that laundry basket, Dress me" Louise's voice makes me turn around, she stands with her nightgown, off and held over her chest, to be honest I'm just glad she still has her panties on…
God, that's an awkward sentence, even in my head; After dressing her; I move to the door, as I turn the handle however
"Hold up" Louise stops me again
"Yes master?"
"Do you remember the first time I commanded that of you?" I sigh
"Yes, I said why… would you want a commoner… to touch…" Damnit, she's so attentive for just waking up, is this bothering me THAT much?
"You aren't seriously thinking of chasing after that maid, are you?" she raises her voice slightly
"M-Master… you said I could do that… she's not a Zerbst, right?" we stand in silence before she walks over to a drawer and hands me a map "I-Is this?"
"It's a map of the academy, you'll have to find Mott on your own, but as your generous master, I can atleast show you where the Horse Stables are"
"But, why?"
"When I was young I heard some more than 'unflattering' things about Count Mott around my family estate"
"Thanks Louise, I'm off!" I run out of room, not before hearing one thing…
"H-H-HOW DARE YOU CALL ME B-BY MY NAME!"
On my way to the stables I bump into a familiar person in one of the open hallways
"Watch where you're… YOU!" Guiche leaps to feet and points at me "Y-Y-You're that familiar, the one who humiliated me!"
"Guilty as charged" I stand up "The least you could do is remember my name, Guiche, I out rank you after all or…" Its still early, besides, maybe messing with him will put me in a better mood "…Do I need to reinstill some fear?" I take out the Pine lock from my jacket pocket and twirl it on my finger
"N-N-No! A-And i don't what you are, in this world, you DON'T outrank me!" I move my thumb closer to the trigger of the lock, Guiche backs away "W-What do you want?! Why do you torment me?!" I chuckle a bit before responding
"You wouldn't happen to know were Count Mott resides, would you?" Guiche gives me a interested and confused look
"Yes, yes I do, why do you care?"
"I need directions, he has something I want" Guiche snickers
"Fine but what am I getting out of this?"
"I won't open this lock" Guiche flinches
"Fine, fine; deal" Guiche creates a sheet of Bronze with a crude diagram and map on it
"…Why not use paper?" Guiche scoffs and walks past me "Stuck up…" with the metal in my hand I make my way to the Horse Stables…!
You're kidding me…
"Oi! Where are the horses?!" Derf exclaims, the maid from earlier, Bryanne, walks over to us
"I'm so sorry, the horses are very sick at the moment, and the last one that went out yesterday hasn't been found yet" oh, right… we came back on Tabitha's familiar…
"It's all right, thanks Bryanne" she bows and walks off "Damn… well, we aren't out of luck, completely" I take my Sakura Lockseed from my pocket
"How, we have no way of getting there!"
"Calm down Derf, the day is young; we'll get prepared then leave"
Siesta wonders the halls of the Mott Estate, an armored guard taps her on the shoulder
"Y-Yes can I help you?"
"The count requests your presence later in the evening"
"When?"
"About 8pm" Siesta nods and the guard leaves
"I wonder what he wants…" she says as a creeping thought rises, she gasps and shakes the thought away, continuing to explore the estate
6:54pm~
Having left my Lockseed case with Louise, I carry with me 2 locks other than the Sakura Lockseed, The Himawari(Sunflower Seed) and Orange Lockseeds, we reach the front gate of the academy, I attach my driver and unlock the Himawari lock
HIMAWARI!
"Oi, what does this one do?" I have a feeling… but…
LOCK ON!
"We're about to find out" I pull up on the handle
SOIYA~
The Kurokage suit forms over my body as Derflinger changes… and that's it
"Uh, where's your armor partner?" Derfsou asks
"I guess this lock doesn't have any with it, That's probably because this one is empty" Like how I have two Kurumi(Walnut) lock seeds, standard and Knuckles' Henshin one "Oh well, my Pre-arms is perfect for sneaking around, since it's all black with only small silver details"
"Some espionage? Why?" Derf asks, I attach Orange to my lock holder
"I just want to get in and out with Siesta as quick as possible"
"That's nice, but how are we going to get there, partner?" I unlock the Sakura Lockseed and toss it in the air, it begins to transform and become larger, it turns into a white motorcycle with pink details and a polygonal cherry blossom flower shaped headlight "Oi-Oi! What's this?!"
"This Derf, is my steed, the Sakura Hurricane!" getting on it I realize something…
"Boy, this thing looks weird good thing you know how to use it, right partner?"
…silence…
"Right? Oi, Partner?"
7:20pm~
Siesta, now dressed in a more, revealing, uniform as per the count's request, is cautiously looking around the estate, she hides behind a wall as she sees two guards talking
"Hey Wedge?" the guard starts with the other one, holding a glass box, within which is a small silver device bearing a strawberry design on the front "What do you think this is?"
"Vic, I don't know, NO ONE knows, that's why the Count is sending it to the castle, to have the royal magicians observe it" Siesta gasps
"That's… That's one of Elliot's magic artifacts!" she says aloud, she covers her mouth and returns to her quarters
"Hey Wedge, did you hear that?"
"Hear what? Stop being stupid" Wedge replies
7:32pm~
After ALOT of trial and error we reach some greenery around the estate, it's dark, the only light comes from the windows of the building and the barely risen moons, Once I return the Sakura Hurricane to its lock form, I put it on my lock holder, sneak around a hedge and hide behind it, creeping to a side of it I observe the guards patrolling
"Hey Partner, have you done this before?" I crouch low and make my way to the next hedge
"No, but if there's one thing I'm good at, it's strategy, I'm good at out-thinking others, then again I mostly was against …" what's a synonym for 'pothead' that Derf will get… "…Herb-abusers, which I really never needed to use it against" I sneak behind a guard, push him against the wall of the estate and bash the back of his skull with my elbow, he collapses to the ground
"Oi, you really did do a lot of fighting huh?" I mean… if competitive Connect-4 counts, or is he referring to what I just did and not the strategy thing?
Propping his body against the wall I use him as a spring board to get into an unlit room on the 2nd floor
7:46pm~
*CRASH!*
*THUD!*
Siesta looks up to the ceiling of her room
"What, what was that?" footsteps are heard above her "O-Oh no, this is bad, is there… a burglar?"
7:47pm~
I look around the dark room
"Huh, I guess this is just some spare bed room" I snap the bronze plate in half, it serving it's purpose I hide the pieces in a dresser
"Oi, what if someone finds those?" Derf asks
"Not my problem, it's not my magic after all" I close the drawer and creep the door open, I see one guard, back turned to me, I run up behind him, grab him by his head, and smash the back of his head against a marble pillar, knocking him out
"Hey! Vic, what was that noise?! You ok up there?" Hmm, am I close to the stairs or something? I hide around the corner and listen "Hey Vic whe-VIC!" I hear hurried foorsteps and the shaking of armor "Wake up man, wake up!"
C-Crap, don't tell me I… I killed someone!
"VIC! VIC! You can't do this to me man! You can't!" …I-I already killed one person, what's one more… ugh, but I have too if I want to stay hidden! I pull back Derfsou's hammer
"Oi… you're not…" Derfsou sighs "Fine, but I'm not proud of you partner" trust me Derf, I'm not to proud either, I roll into view
"Y-You, YOU BAST-"
*PRHEWM! PRHEWM! PRHEWM! PRHEWM!*
The other guard drops dead… I stand over them and put my hands together in a moment of somber silence before heading downstairs
7:52pm~
*PRHEWM! PRHEWM! PRHEWM! PRHEWM!*
A guard in green armor runs into Siesta's room
"Hurry, come with me, someone has broken into the estate!" the guard grabs her by the wrist and they escape the room
"W-What's going on?!" Siesta asks
"One guard was found dead outside" the Guard says
"A-A murderer?"
"Yes, unfortunately" The guard opens a closet door and hands Siesta a dagger "You'll be safe in here" Siesta nods and walks into the closet, the guard closes and locks the door then leaves
7:54pm~
I walk away from a hallway, after walking for a bit, guilt begins to rise, i fall to my knees
"H-How, HOW CAN I CALL MYSELF A KAMEN RIDER ANYMORE!" I slam my fist against the ground, Derfsou speaks up
"Oi-Oi, Partner, you know this'll be bad if we get caught, and-"
"SO WHAT IF COUNT MOTT IS SOME WOMANIZING SCUMBAG NOBLE, I'M NOTHING MORE THAN MURDERER!"
"Surrender yourself!" I get to my feet as a guard in green armor charges at me, I run at him, shoving Derfsou deep into his chest and kick him off, his limp body falling to the floor
"S-Siesta, I-I just need to get Siesta, and get out of here, y-yeah, no one saw me enter, they can't prove ANYTHING, heh, heh, heh" I chuckle, on the verge of insanity, as I check every door along the hall, I reach the end of a hall, where a closet would be, when I go to open it
*Ker-kick* Locked...
"G-Go away!" that voice... its Siesta! Using Derf as a jack I pry the door of it's hinges-!
*SPLLICK!*
My midsection goes cold as I feel metal penetrate through my suit and blood leaving my body
"Si-esta…"
*ZIP*
A Zipper drags across the screen, a Fourze Kaban appears, it pops open showing all the new lockseeds displayed in this Chapter
{Sakura, Himawari, and Orange}
Incep: "PHEW, saying i was cutting it close was an understatement! i only finished it last night, though, i realized something over these past two weeks, i think taking a week break from writing lets the creative juices flow better, so as such, Zero no Matsubokkuri is on a Bi-Weekly schedule, it allows me to integrate more things from Gaim as i get two episodes of information as opposed to one, which may cause a contradiction, at this point i've drifted away from the Zero no Tsukaima/Familiar of Zero source material somewhat, so i atleast want to remain orbiting the Gaim source material"