Disclaimer: I do not own Lucky Star, nor do I own the legal right to write about them. To hell with that, I say.
Well, it certainly has been a long while, huh? Worry not, I'm getting more into the habit of writing now, and new chapters -probably-shouldn't take that long to appear. Now, you'll notice the story has started to gear into life, eh? Let's see how this will turn out. Without further ado, then, onward with the story.
IoOoI
Konata usually liked nights. Colder, darker, and overall nicer than the light-kissed days, it was just the way she liked. Of course, the fact that most of her gaming sessions were held in the wee hours of the morning helped, as well. Sometimes she would just open her windows and stare at the skies, admiring the bright moon, or gazing at the eternal veil of stars and constellations. Yes, Konata usually liked nights. This one, however, she did not like.
On that particular night, the usually dark and mysterious moon had been replaced by an incandescent globe of the most scarlet she had ever seen. It spun and twisted in a way that shouldn't be possible, folding into itself and shifting with each minute. The radiated flames that emanated from the stars trailed languidly until they kissed the earth, licking the soil in a gesture of fire and death. Black, gnarly trees danced in the ungodly light, as if it was the most joyous day they had ever faced. Limbs contorted and extended in leafless fingers that tried to reach for the scarlet orb, moving in adoration against the massive clouds of ash and sulfur. And as they moved towards the blazing globe, mouths carved deep within the wood appeared, painting the red of blood in a grin so sinister it scared the stars away. Beyond the fire, there was only void, and despair. The grass withered beneath the gnarly branches, and the few animals that could be seen were either dead or dying.
Against the impressionist painting of red, black and green, a shifting mass of blue stood her ground, glowing brightly against the radiated light of the star. Nude, tanned skin was covered by a sea of ocean hair, and green trailed from the girl's eyes as they darted around the landscape. She knew where she was, and she should not be scared. Dreams were meant to be wonderful experiences, especially if controlled, she would think.
But she was scared, because her hair was standing up since she regained her senses inside her own psyche. She was scared, because she was not alone, and she was dreaming. Konata knew what happened when she dreamt. She knew oh-so well.
Bracing herself against the inevitable, the mass of blue and light mocha faced the clouds of death and blazes. Running tiny steps against the light, she noticed with relief that the temperature stayed the same, no matter how close she actually got to the star. Which, let's be honest, wasn't closer at all. After what seemed like an hour of exhausting running, the mercenary realized a fact she did not like one bit: she hadn't moved at all! Still around her were the dancing trees and the languid waves. Still in the epicentre of the maddening chaos that was her mind.
As the seconds passed, she could feel the temperature dropping. The air, before warm and humid, was now cold and dry, and the chill of the night seemed to penetrate her very bones, shaking her to the core. The pseudo-sun stopped moving and folding, instead retreating all the light it emanated back into itself. In mere seconds, the dark was once again dark, and all the macabre life that came with it ended as well. No more were the trees moving to the dance of death. Konata didn't know whether that was good or bad. Given the implications, she quickly deduced it was, in fact, terrible.
"Mmh," moaned a darkly feminine voice against her ears, practically rubbing against her skin, so solid and real it was. The soft and seductive tone caused goosebumps to jump through her back, and it seemed to roam through all the space, only to return and hit her in the face. "I always enjoyed your dreams, little fox. They are so...creative."
Even though Konata knew she would appear sooner or later, the effect didn't lessen one bit. "Nagaira." was all that spilled from the bluenette's lips.
Another moan completely filled with contempt brushed against her left ear, and so powerful were the feelings that travelled with it that Konata couldn't help but feel them herself.
"You know, little one, I was so bored in that prison of runes you gave me for birthday. There was absolutely nothing to do in there. Even decorating that small, private place inside your mind grew tiring as the months passed.
"So, I began planning. What I would do to you, once freedom was again mine to take. Ah, little fox, the wonderful games we'd play. I had it all planned, you see. First..." her voice trailed, sweet honey inside her brain. A gust of cold wind turned her ocean-blue locks of hair into a disorganized mess, and the girl just knew the Daemon was right there, behind there.
And even knowing that, her eyes still widened when she turned to look at Nagaira's naked form, just a few feet from her. Darkness once again shifted around the daemoness, as if glued to her skin, causing her most private parts to be covered slightly by a thin sheet of the very night. Her eyes were not as intense as they were on the last time they'd seen each other, but the green flames still burned on her face. Lips curved into a maddening grin that threatened to leave her face, Nagaira moved her hands in a slowly fashion, and her limbs danced gracefully until her digits were resting against Konata's cheek. The gesture was overly gentle, and it quite frankly scared the mercenary. In the past, the daemon was not rude or completely evil, but her touch had never been so...compassionate, docile. Maybe all that time inside my head rubbed her in the right way.
As if reading her mind, the grin grew even more, showing many rows of really sharp fangs. "You would like that, wouldn't you? Big, meanie me turned good just after a couple of years imprisoned in your cute little head." Slowly, laughter rumbled and filled her head, nullifying her thoughts so completely that she could only stare at the black-haired daemon.
Taking her hands away from Konata's cheeks, she stared deep inside the other girl's eyes, as if trying do decipher her very soul. "Even after all those years, little one, I still can't figure out much of what you do. I've seen other daemons with minds less chaotic than yours, and it amuses me. I'm sure you also know of that, non?" Her already sexy voice became even sexier with the use of French. Goddamned daemons, I want to do that too!, whined Konata's mind.
"Not so hard, really. Takes a few human months to learn, and then, you just have to be able to blend it nicely with the way you speak.
"But let's not forget why I'm here, hm? What are you planning to do now, little one?"
"I...I'm not sure, Nagaira." And she wasn't. Truly, she knew her final objective, but had no idea how to get there. Chimera was a very powerful agency filled to the brim with deadly agents. That, and there was the issue of the other elite agents. The regulars, she could handle, but Konata had never seen the other four elite working. She had no idea how they operated. A plan was needed to take them out of the game. "I'm going to speak with Kira today, see if she has any ideas. I do have a plan...something, but it's crazy. Even for me." As she spoke, Konata felt something really weird irking her somewhere in the back of her insane mind. Were she and Nagaira just having a casual conversation about her destroying a company?
"Why wouldn't we? I don't want to antagonize you. At least not now. You're no good for me dead. And if you don't succeed..." The implication was clear. "And isn't it fun? A little...quality time between friends." Konata didn't buy it.
The wind suddenly shifted, and after a hard gust of air, it completely stopped. Ruining trees started to disintegrate together with the landscape, and the organic matter flew towards the cracking orb. In the middle of said destruction was Nagaira, standing still, and smiling at the blue-haired girl. Blowing Konata a kiss and waving good-bye, the daemoness, too, disintegrated, melded with the remains of her dream.
Konata awoke with a start, panting. The memories of the dream were settling inside her head, and the confusion was eminent. What the heck happened there?
After a few seconds of heavy breathing, Konata was stable once again. Normal thoughts and logical conclusions – as normal and logical as the girl could muster – were running across her neurons, and she allowed herself a moment to fully take what was happening around her. The hospital room didn't change a bit in the seven days she stayed there, except from the flowers and delicious chocolates left in a table beside her bed by her friends. Kira, too, didn't change. She was still awake, even if it was but six in the morning—or something like that, Konata wasn't sure. The brunette's face sported deep, dark bags under her eyes, and she looked more tired than Konata had seen her in six years. That worried her, in more ways than one.
Locking eyes with her friend and partner, Konata voiced her concerns. "Kira, you should get some rest. You look like shit. Or worse."
"Love you too, Fox. But really, don't worry, we've had worse before. How is the leg?"
"Really better. I think it's healed enough for me to kick your ass!" answered Konata cheerfully, while moving and kicking the mattress covering her lithe body with her injured leg. Kira seemed satisfied when her partner's face didn't show discomfort or pain. Nodding to herself, the brunette moved towards the bed, brushing a lock of deep blue hair away from the patient's face. "Get better soon, Fox." It was touching, really. Konata was about to smile warmly when Kira finished her sentence. "I'm sick of this antiseptic ambient. I swear, another week of white and I'll paint myself black just for the hell of it."
Blewing her a raspberry, Konata was quick to get up. She had to agree, though, that much white was just sickening. Maybe a bit of blue here, green there and black around that wall to her right would do the trick. Storing those thoughts for later, the girl risked a few workout moves with her legs and arms.
No pain whatsoever. Good.
"How many so far?" The question itself was very clear on Kira's ears. How many had tried to find and terminate them. Konata was sure the other girl had quite a bit of trouble with them.
"Six attempts at all. For two weeks, that's really good. All amateurs, too, so no problem. Good thing they underestimate us, eh, Fox?"
She was wrong. They weren't underestimating anyone. In fact, she was sure there was a bounty on her head, and the big players were just waiting for the perfect moment to make a move, if it ever appeared. Only the new mercenaries were so quick to throw themselves at something they didn't understand. But Kira did not need to know that. It would only take away her confidence and prepare. She was just not ready for the elite yet. Maybe never would.
"Yeah, we're lucky, huh?" The lie was so smooth Konata herself almost believed it. A huge grin on the recipient's face was all the bluenette needed to know her bluff had worked.
"What about Nagaira, Fox? Has she told you what she wants this time?" Curious brown eyes met confused blue orbs. "Seems she didn't, huh?"
"She's...confusing, Kira. She did appear in the dream again, but she was all gentle and stuff. It was kind of scary, but in a good way, you know?"
"Yeah...no, I don't."
With a sigh, Konata started to gesture madly with her hands, fully knowing the other girl couldn't understand anything her digits were trying to convey, but not caring the slightest. "You know she was not that bad, before. Not like those other daemons, that would try to rip my soul apart at every moment.
"But she's not completely good, either. Hell, who is, anyway? I know what she wants, Kira. What she always wanted."
The brunette's face was almost shining with expectation. "And what is it?"
"She wants to live," answered Konata, with a small smile that shocked even herself.
IoOoI
"And so, she asked the teacher why was the Industrial Revolution so important after the second explanation, and Ms. Sakaki threatened to toss her notebook at the girl for asking such a stupid question. Which she did, anyway! Man, I never thought History would be so fun," laughed Kagami as she finished her fifth tale about her college life, proving that even without Nanako Kuroi, history classes could be amusing. Konata herself laughed quite a bit at that. Not that she was interested in the slightest about the Industrial Revolution, or how it served as base for the French and American ones. No, and she definitely wasn't interested on the second, or even third Industrial Revolution. But it was her Kagamin speaking, that alone made it interesting.
And thus the mercenary proceeded in her staring at Kagami's face for nearly two minutes, creating the Domino effect better known as blush. The longer Konata gazed upon those huge, deep blue orbs, the hotter the recipient's face got.
Such interaction was not lost by Kira, who was watching the two with a very amused face. Of all Konata's friends, Kagami was the one she found most course, the fact that she was also the one who was there most of the time might have helped a little, but nevertheless, Kagami Hiiragi was interesting.
"Konata!" The awkwardly voiced scream took Konata out of her stupor, leaving her with a confused, cat-like face.
"Wha, Kagamin? Something wrong?"
The lilac-haired girl turned her body away from Konata, placing both her hands on her hips. Kagamin's on the "annoyed" stance! She might use her scolding powers on me!, thought Konata, as amused – or even more – as Kira with her friend's antics. Predicting the girl's reaction, Konata stuck her hands forward, while ducking as if to make herself smaller. And cuter.
"Wah, Kagami-sama is mad at me! Please don't punish me, Master!" screamed Konata, loud enough for a few nurses to turn their heads at the couple. As soon as the words left her mouth, Kagami's hands were shutting it. Her eyes were bulging and her face burned crimson. Now I know why father wanted so much to have a camera built on his eyes.
"K...Konata! You're impossible!" Her whispers made it all more sweet for Konata, whose grin was so big it threatened to rip off her face and stand as another individual being. Kissing the trapper's fingers lightly, her mouth was finally free again to tease and conquer. And tease she did.
"What's the matter, Ka-ga-min?" Asked Konata, sweetness falling from her voice like honey. "Don't you like my kisses?"
Kagami's mouth opened, and a "yes" threatened to emerge, but the gaping maws were quick to imprison the fugitive truth. Instead, she opted for the second best course of action. She turned her face away and stared at the wall as if it would grow limbs and start knitting a scarf.
Seeing her best friend's discomfort, Konata decided to call it quits. She could always tease her again later, after all. Facing Kira, Konata's right eyebrow wiggled two times, and the brunette was quick to leave the room, confusing Kagami.
"What? Something happened, Konata?", asked Kagami, while pointing at the door with her right thumb.
"Dunno, but if it's important she'll tell me later." The blue-haired girl jumped out of the bed a few seconds later, deeply startling her friend, who jumped like a scaredy cat, grasping her right breast.
"Konata!", said Kagami, a bit breathless. "Don't you scare me like that again, you damn midget you. And how the heck are you standing? You were supposed to be in bed for another two weeks!"
"Two weeks? Really?" That was unexpected. Why didn't I remember that?, thought Konata, a bit confused. Oh well, doesn't matter now.
The college student could only stare at how Konata's mouth formed a confused circular design. As amusing as it was, though, there were more pressing matters. Like the hospitalized girl who just jumped out of her bed like a deranged, slightly insane ballerina. "This is serious, Konata, you shouldn't work your leg too hard. You could strain it or open the wound or...something."
"Well," started Konata with a warm smile. "Let's just be glad you have such expertise with medical situations, huh, Kagami? I'm sure "something" would happen if I kept walking, alright." She paused for a minute, and then the smile turned itself into a smirk. "Unless you'd like to examine me, nurse Kagamin?" To top the performance, she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
At that exact moment, a raven-haired nurse appeared, probably to see why one of her patients had suddenly leaped out of her resting place. "Ma'am, are you alright? You're supposed to be on rest for two more weeks."
Scratching the back of her head, Konata gave her a lopsided grin. "Don't worry, I heal pretty fast. See?" She jumped a few times, as if to prove her point. The nurse appeared to be impressed. Never before she had seen someone shrug off an injury such as hers in such a small period of time. "It does seems you're quite fine, but don't push yourself, Ma'am. Muscle and bone injuries are serious, and can cause some serious pain."
"Oh, don't worry, I can deal with pain."
"...If you say so. If you'll excuse me—Sir? Sir! You're not supposed to do that!", trailed the nurse, as she ran to check on another patient's physical – and mental - health. Giving Kagami a thumbs-up, Konata exclaimed a "Victory" and twirled in the air, much like a Japanese RPG character would. Kagami did only watch, a familiar warmth resting on her face. Storing the thoughts she had of what and why, she felt herself grinning as well. That girl's zany demeanour was intoxicating, and it radiated to other people, she could just feel the happiness oozing from the blue-haired girl.
'They are here, little fox,' rang a very familiar and seductive voice inside Konata's head. Though the voice now had a very disguised sense of urgency. 'While you were flirting with that girl of yours, they managed to sneak in a couple of agents inside the hospital. What will you do, I wonder?'
"Damn, it had to be now? And I was having such fun, too," whined Konata, as she tried to find something she could use as a weapon on her surroundings. Just a few roses, a book, and a confused Kagamin. Nothing effective against armed agents. An annoyed sigh left her mouth as she started to pace around the room, formulating a plan.
"Konata? Something wrong?", asked Kagami, concerned. Her friend's sudden mood changes were not unheard, but to see Konata pacing, looking thoughtful? That was concern-inducing, and would probably be fuel for nightmares later.
I'm so screwed, thought Konata. She couldn't think of a way to properly defend herself – and Kagami – without revealing to the lilac-haired girl who she really was. She even had the event all planned, too. Slowly throwing hints at the girl, until she could realize herself there was something different with her, then she'd introduce slowly the true meaning of being a Mercenary to her friend, and finally, she'd tell her of her job. Her life. Herself. And then, to tell her she was currently possessed by a powerful interdimensional daemon who wanted a body of her own would be easy peasy.
"No, no, nothing's wrong, Kagamin, nothing's wrong...," muttered Konata as she ran several scenarious on her head. None were so good for herself. She quickly decided that planning wouldn't do her any good now. When in danger, her instincts were almost always right, and they were probably her best choice of action right now.
"Kagamin?"
"Mmh, yeah?"
"Look into my eyes," said Konata without a single hint of deception. She was not asking, Kagami realized, but ordering. Strangely enough, she felt compelled to obey.
After a few seconds, she decided she didn't just want to obey, she needed too. Like her eyes would get pulled towards the other girl's, as if they had a gravitational field that was attracting hers. Finally, her sight rested on the other girl's emerald spheres, and there they watched a show being unravelled. Kagami felt as if her mind was sucked out of her body, and was being forced to pass through a dimensional gate. Dozens of strange images filled her head with each second, and a slow, lullaby-like voice sang deep within her mind, stirring her eyes. They felt heavy, and that bed seemed so comfortable right now that she could just sleep her whole life in there. Her members were so tired, Kagami almost wasn't able to force her legs to work. But they did, and soon her body was engulfed by the covers and the pillows. In seconds, she was asleep, leaving a satisfied Konata behind.
Although she didn't like to abuse of magic any more than needed, it was the first thought that ran through her mind, and as such, was the first to be chosen. But things would never be the same between them, and Konata knew it. Kagami would remember the event, even if as a dream. But right now she had greater threats.
"Nagaira," she commanded, and sure enough, that strange, steely sensation around her ribcage moved. "Can you feel them? Where they are?"
'Of course I can, little one. Two presences outside of your room, broadcasting killing intentions and plans to everyone in the vicinity to read? It would be almost impossible for me not to pick on those fools.'
"Damn, already here? What's taking Kira so long?"
'Who knows, maybe she had to go to the bathroom,' joked Nagaira, remark filled with humor and sarcasm.
Well, began Konata in her mind, as she worked one quick stretch before the action began, I hope they have a very good health insurance.
IoOoI
"I'm telling you, ma'am, I'm perfectly fine," stated Takamura Hiro for the fourteenth time in fourteen days. After waking up at the hospital with just a few bullet scrapes on both his arms and legs, and a single bullet that tore through his left hand, he was more than well enough to go home. The doctors and nurses had another, completely different opinion. Say what you might, but when you're hospitalized, they'll test you for everything. Everything. Hiro even had tried to defend his integrity against an intruding colonoscopy during his first week there, but the doctor would only have it his way. And his way it happened.
After two weeks, his left hand was still immobilized, recovering. But he longed for his wife's food more than anything in this world—and really, who wouldn't after two weeks of hospital grub? It tasted as good as it seemed, and let me tell you, it didn't look good.
"Sure you are, Mr. Takamura, but you still have another week before complete healing. You don't want to risk your health, do you? Especially with the kind of job you have." The nurse's voice was so bland it threatened to blend itself with the wall and elevator music playing somewhere on the corridor. Outside of his room, the talk was heated, it seemed so lively, so...different from his current antiseptic white cage.
Heaving a heavy and annoyed sigh, the security guard ran a hand through his greying hair, trying to cook something—anything to take him out of his insane boredom. "Can I take a walk, then? Ten minutes tops." He pleaded with sincerity. His limbs were, after all, screaming for a release of energy. That, and the slight possibility of escape allured him to no end.
"Mmh...", moaned the nurse, pensative. She knew that question very well. "Can I have a walk and try to get the hell away from here?" was the correct translation to that. Her patients asked that often, and it was hard to pry the woman away from the rules. But he really seems well enough, maybe..., her mind trailed, and in her psyche, she knew that the decision was already made. Only the words were needed now. "Okay, Mr. Takamura, but only a few minutes, yes?" Her voice had that oozing tingle of someone who knew too much, and it carried a light tone as well. Terminating their endeavour with a wink or two, she quickly left to check her other patients, the one who would stay there for a while.
"Well", began Hiro, slightly confused but deeply grateful. "I'll be damned."
Laughing heartily as he went, the guard quickly collected everything he would need and swiftly opened the door, closing it with a full-hearted smile. He could just smell his wife's meal now, it would only take another hour. So close...!
That was about when Takamura noticed that the corridors themselves were oddly silent. And empty. His merry trotting slowed to a careful walk, not wanting to make any unnecessary sounds. He knew, from experience, that when something got this silent, shit was about to happen. Either that, or someone's birthday, but he knew that wasn't the case. Too big for everyone to suddenly disappear. Creeping carefully through the inhabited maze, the middle-aged man had his ears strained, looking for any signs of trouble.
He was, at the very least, disappointed to have found it.
Ten meters to his left, a door was open—broken, as if someone or something had forced his or their entry. From inside, the somewhat-muffled, but still loud and extremely distinct sound of silenced guns flaring to life could be heard. Shit!, he thought, as his reflexes kicked before his rational mind, and Takamura Hiro found himself running to the place. When he finally got to the door, a man's voice could be heard, whimpering, pleading. He could only wonder what had happened there, when the voice's owner flew through the door and into the wall, cracking it with the sheer strength of the flight. From the corner of his eye, he could very well see a very sturdy-looking black combat boot sticking from the door, as if checking its work.
Gulping loudly, his mind flooded with a very deep sense of Dejá-vu radiating from those boots, Hiro took the few steps that separated him from the door, trembling.
Inside the room, he could see, a tangling mass of deep ocean blue covering the floor. Lithe hands moved fast on the body of a fallen man, picking things from his many pockets and quickly tossing them aside. A quick glance, and the man understood what she was doing. She was stripping the incapacitated man of his weaponry. Still confused as to how that little thing incapacitated two grown men- probably assassins, he voiced his curiosity to the mass of hair and limbs.
"Are...uhm, are you okay, Ma'am?" His voice sounded tired, oh-so tired. I really am getting too old for this shit, thought the security guard.
The girl stood, giving the Chimera merenary a final regard before shifting her attention to her visitor, and when curious green met hesitating brown, both man and girl froze in place. The silence was so thick Konata herself would have trouble cutting it down. Heaving a sigh, one of the long ones, the mercenary motioned for him to sit on the floor, where she herself was sitting. "I guess we're due to a little talk, huh?" The understatement of the century.
The man nodded, suddenly very somber, as very recent memories washed over his shock-filled brain. Silence, intruding as it were, once again found a way to dominate the void, making a certain girl fidget and play with her hands, uncomfortable.
"So...," began the girl, obviously tired of the intruder's presence. "You probably want to know who I am." The man nodded, expression almost unreadable. There were obvious spots painted on his face: Anger. Apprehension. A bit of Fear to mix everything together in a cocktail of emotions.
She pondered, for a moment. Should she tell him her given name, or just her title? Trust, she felt, could be placed upon that man. Don't do it, rang a fearful voice in the very back of her mind. Paranoia, as she often called it. He will ruin everything!
Heh, not like there was much to ruin on the first place. With her future course of action, her future life would already be ruined. If it wasn't already. Kicking her insecure self to whatever dimension she came from, she decided on just following her instincts.
"My name is Izumi Konata. And you are Takamura Hiro, yeah?" Another nod. "Then, Hiro," she began, not caring the slightest for honorifics. "Do you know of Chimera?"
"You mean the Mercenary Agency?" Her turn to nod. "Yeah, I know of them. You one of them?"
"You could say that. I am "Fox". Does that title ring any bell? "
Hiro seemed pensive. He had heard something about that title before, but couldn't for the life of him to remember what. "No, can't remember anything useful. Why? Is it important?"
The sound of her laughter filled the room, shocking the man a bit. He had never seen such a young individual laughing in such a sad manner. He felt like the walls themselves were wailing in her pain. "You could say that. But it's best if you don't know about it. Makes both of our lives easier, hm?"
Konata looked at him with sad, though cold eyes. He shuddered visibly.
"Listen...," she trailed, searching for the right words. Simple is Better, right. Right?
Right, answered the daemonic woman inside her chest, though her tone was more tuned to light mockery than helping offer.
"I'm sorry, for that day. I truly am. I could ha—could have spared their lives. I know that. And I didn't. And I'm sorry and-" At that exact moment, Kira's figure appeared through the door, dusting her clothes with her hands.
"Whew! Sorry for the wait, Fox, was busy with three other agen-" the brunette froze when she saw they were not alone. "Three other agencies! Travelling agencies! They never seem to leave you alone, eh? Ha-ha!"
Konata tried to hide her barely contained laughter, but she couldn't, and the heart-warming melody sprung into life, filling the room, and yet again surprising Hiro. It seemed he would never get used to the mercenary's mood changes.
"Kira!", she breathed through hearty laughted. "You're too much!"
To say the recipient was embarrassed was an understatement. Red rose to meet brown, creating a very interesting mixture on her friend's pretty face. Even Hiro was laughing—more like breathing hard through a smirk- at the young girl's failed attempt of deceitfulness.
If that hadn't served to ease the room's tension, nothing ever would.
The three of them talked—discussed with each other for more thirty minutes, none noticing when the Hospital sprung to life again, the missing doctors and nurses already running through the corridors again. The same way they didn't notice the rather small commotion of the mercenaries being found unconscious right outside their room. Just a few minutes later, the place was swarming with police officers, questioning and prodding at everything that moved for questions and answers. More than a few nodded their acknowledgements toward both Konata and Hiro—which, again, surprised the man. It seemed today was Surprise-A-Hiro-day throughout Japan.
A good dozen of minutes passed before they were left alone again, the police having found nothing substantial that proved the mercenaries guilt. Though they had found out they had threatened to kill any passing staff member, which explained the eerily silence Hiro had not heard earlier. The three of them were talking, again, as if old friends, when a tired moan shifted the bed covers. Indigo eyes blinked to awareness as Kagami's sleep-drunk mind tried to understand what was going on around her. There was Konata. Okay, nothing wrong with that. Mmh. Kira is there, too. Why are they looking at me like that?Wait. Who is that guy? Why was the door dangling from the room? A few seconds after, Kagami knew she'd have the mother of all headaches if she tried to analyze just the heck had happened while she was out. She, however, felt a bit uncomfortable when Konata's eyes met her gaze.
I knew it, thought Konata sadly. Nothing would ever be the same again.
"Uugh", tried Kagami tentatively, still not trusting her own vocal cords to produce anything barely coherent. She felt like complete and utter shit. Like a marching troupe of singing hippopotamus had tap danced all over her body and then some. It took the girl a few minutes to collect her whole self together, but when she did, she found out—really, it wasn't that much of a surprise to her—a full chest of questions to be asked. Pointing rather boldly at the first thing to be asked, she spoke.
"Konata, who is that man?" The curiosity in her voice was a tad drowned by annoyance. Kagami had never quite enjoyed waking up the way she did. Though when she gave the guard a good look, she quickly found out the answer she was looking for. "Hey, you're that security guard from...Wayne Enterprises, right? The one that was rescued from that massacre?" Konata winced visibly at the words, and Hiro noticed it. He understood, after getting to know the mercenary, that she really felt bad for the incident. And though he couldn't quite forgive her yet, she seemed a rather nice person to be with. Not to mention gratitude for having his life spared.
"Yes. I've met your friend a while ago, but don't worry, I'm already leaving." Standing as he finished, he gave the blue-haired girl a couple of pats in the head. "Stay out of trouble, you hear me?" were his parting words, for a few seconds later, the man was engulfed by the hospital-traffic. Kagami could but dare imagine what had passed in the few crazy hours of sleep she had. Hours.
Suddenly, the lilacette jumped from the bed, her face a pallid ghost of what it once was. Cursing loudly, she kissed Konata's forehead and waved her hand at Kira, muttering loudly at how late she was and how her mother would be mad at her. After Kagami Typhoon left the room, Kira shot Konata's red-tainted face a very amused look.
"So," trailed Kira for a few seconds. "I believe someone has something to tell me, hm, hm?" She nudged the younger girl a few times with her right elbow, winking playfully at her teammate.
"Maybe. But that's ephemeral. For the Future. If we have one." The blue-haired girl was unusually somber, especially after suffering teasing from one of her best friends. That alone was enough to darken her co-worker's face considerably.
"Kira. I must ask you something."
"Anything, Fox." She meant it. The smaller girl had done for her so much, she felt that even a lifetime of slavery wouldn't pay her debts.
"Will you protect Kagami and the others, for me?" Her penetrating eyes set chills on Kira's spine, and she wasn't sure what to feel. The sheer determination seemed to radiate from Konata's orbs.
The brunette, needless to say, was quite shocked. "But...you can't do it alone!"
"I know."
"It's impossible!"
"It is."
"Then why, Fox, Why?" Tears threatened to spill from the woman's round, soft eyes. She was afraid of losing her friend and co-worker. And given the chances, losing her was almost inevitable.
"Because...", she trailed, flexing her limbs. A plan was already in set within her mind, and she would have to start very soon, before the company started to send the heavy-hitters. The Elite. "Because they need you more than I do." Giving her companion a brief smile and a wave of hands, Konata ran towards the door—and ultimately the Hospital's exit, her parting words being: "Be Safe, all of you."
IoOoI
Whew! So, will Konata try the Loaner road, or will she gather help along the way? What will happen with all the girls? Will there be delicious, moist cake at the end of their journey? Who knows. Not even I do, to be completely honest. The story is such a living being, it hits me in the face when it wants to be written, and screams at my muse, which in turn screams at me the general directions to go. Don't believe me? Well, tough. Anyway, rate and review! I do love reading reviews. So informative!