Okay - this is the penultimate Chapter of the story; the final Chapter will be 8 (with no epilogue as I've already had to up the story to an M following Chapter 6). Hope you enjoy :)

Even Summer Has Long Nights

Setsuna woke up. Something wasn't right. It took a second to spot the first problem. I'm naked...but I never sleep naked. It took a millisecond more to realise the next; I'm lying against something warm and soft. Her eyes focused and found themselves looking directly into Asuna's sleeping face. So cute...wait, Asuna's naked...and next to me...and with her arms round me and mine round hers...Setsuna's mind spun and she blinked thrice quickly. When that didn't help she closed her eyes and counted to ten; slowly.

1...Don't panic Setsuna...2...3..there's probably some perfectly logical explanation...4...we're naked and together and so last night...5...we obviously...6...okay memory is coming back now...7...Oh God! We really did...8...9...10...

Setsuna opened her eyes again to stare at Asuna in light of this revelation, aware that her face was almost certainly beet red. She felt her pulse rocket and nearly jerked her arms away but as she gazed on Asuna's face smiling softly all embarrassment and nervousness melted away to love and pride. This is the girl I gave myself to and I'm so glad I did...but still I mean last night we...what did she...I really need to think some more...

Carefully she slipped her arms from around Asuna and emerged out from under the plain white sheets of the bed. She carefully walked across the room to her rucksack containing her stash of clothes. She couldn't remember yet where her ones from last night were. It was only as she turned round, buttoning up a light-blue shirt that she noticed that her bra and trousers were scattered next to Asuna's T-shirt by the foot of their bed.

"Ahhh..." she sighed in annoyance, more at the mess than the implications of it. She finished buttoning up her shirt and slipped on a new pair of dark trousers. Come to think of it I should probably shower and then get breakfast, she thought as she pulled a towel from her bag. That'll give me time to calm down properly. Scooping up the mess of clothes from the floor into a pile she slipped from the room.

Asuna woke to the sound of clinking from the bedside table and the smell of a full morning breakfast. "Ahhh," she sighed happily and stretched.

'Ah! Sooo hot...' she heard Setsuna's voice say in her mind and blushed.

"Setsuna!" She exclaimed, as she looked to the right at the black haired swordsman setting the silver tray on the bedside table.

Setsuna almost dropped the tray. "Ummm...What?"

"Did you just say 'Ah! Sooo hot?" Asuna asked scratching her head. Setsuna looked startled.

"Ah...um...not out loud..." The same thought struck both of them at the same time...

"Suppose I can hear your thoughts...and that you can hear mine..." Asuna hazarded a guess..."Well only one way to find out..." Asuna scrunched up and closed her eyes in deep concentration.

'Can you hear me Setsuna?' Asuna's voice echoed in Setsuna's mind. Setsuna nodded.

'Yes' she said back... then out loud, "what's going on...?"

"Aha, that is a very good question," came the cheery morning voice of Chavalus. Asuna dived a little deeper under her covers and Setsuna spun to face the ermine. He was looking extra-ordinarily pleased with himself. Her eyes narrowed.

"And what would you know about all this?" Grrr grinning ermines, they seriously get on my nerves; do they have to be so damn smug all the time!

She thought she heard Asuna stifle a giggle but ignored it as Chavalus began attempting to explain,

"Haha, well its no big deal ya' know...only well I thought something like last night might happen so set up a rather special pactio circle beneath your beds when we first arrived, and last night just so happened to trigger it off."

Setsuna hissed under her breath. "You weren't watching were you?" Her eyes had become demonic; Chavalus felt like he was staring into the gleaming pricks of light marking a predator about to pounce. Chavalus's sweat saturated his fur and his spine suddenly felt jelly like.

"No!" He squeaked, flailing under Setsuna's gaze. "No! Absolutely not. Even if I wanted to I couldn't. The circle forbids it. It's impossible for someone on the outside to see in. I promise."

"Hmmm..." Setsuna relaxed her gaze slightly but looked thoughtful. "So you were simply in it for the money." Chavalus also relaxed and nodded.

"Hell yeah. Do you know how much..." Setsuna took a step forward and her eyes were once more glinting dangerously. She could hear Asuna demanding a range of rather hostile methods of dealing with the ermine.

"Then if you don't want to end up in a rather uncomfortable place, Chavalus, I suggest you explain about the permanent pactio we've entered into and all about the voices in our heads...can we hear everything our partner is thinking?"

Chavalus sighed. "Well, that's how this permanent pactio thing works you know. It's like an eternal bond between the two of you. You can hear each other's thoughts whenever you want the other to hear. And over time you'll hopefully be able to hear more and more of what the other person is thinking. Ya see?"

Setsuna grimaced as she tried to think things through. "But just now I didn't intend for..."

Chavalus had drawn out another ridiculously sized cigar and took a deep puff on it. "Yeah, well there are times when you're thoughts will resonate so clearly that you'll get some thoughts that pass without meaning. At present it's probably because you only just made the pactio in this room. But it may happen at moments of crisis and so on and so forth. Usually you'd have to think 'I want Asuna to hear this' in your mind before she'd pick up on it."

Setsuna sat down on the bed and put her head in her hands as she tried to make sense of it all...This is so sudden: First finding out Asuna loves me, then making out, then this thought sharing thing...oh wait can Asuna hear this?

She heard shuffling and felt Asuna's arm wrap round her shoulder. In her mind Asuna's voice rang as clear as a bell but with the warmth of a roaring fire,

'It's all right Setsuna. It's sudden but as long as I have you and you have me there's nothing we cannot overcome. And Konoka is watching over us too don't forget. I love you!'

'I love you too!' Setsuna thought back and such was the strength of their thoughts that their mouths were magnetically drawn together into a passionate kiss that left them breathless. Only the awareness of Chavalus's presence stopped things going further.

"The best form of magic is courage," Asuna said as she drew away with a smile.

"And the best antidote to fear is love." Setsuna quipped back and then blushed. Asuna chuckled.

"Now who's acting like a teacher Setsuna?" Over on the table Chavalus also snickered and attracted Asuna's glare.

"Now then vermine ermine I need to change so if you wouldn't mind..." Chavalus did at least have the nuance to accede to this request and nodded, hastily leaving the room.

With that Asuna started to change. Setsuna was still so confused in her mind that she didn't know where to look but quickly heard Asuna say inside of her.

'You can look at me Setsuna, we have slept together after all...;)'

Setsuna blushed but turned and watched Asuna change; and seen as Asuna was being somewhat courageous she in turn let Asuna in on her admiring thoughts. Asuna smiled and after finishing the dressing devoured the breakfast Setsuna had brought up for her.

"Right what next!" Asuna exclaimed. Setsuna, who had been glancing about the room, finally spotted what she'd been looking for. On the table at the far right side of the room, beneath a light wooden framed mirror lay two new shiny silver pactio cards.

"Your new card," Setsuna said as she picked the card and its copy up. Slipping hers into her pocket she walked over to Asuna, admiring the other.

"Quickly then!" Asuna exclaimed, eager to see. Setsuna shifted alongside her on the bed and showed her. Asuna was standing, with one foot planted forwards, wielding a giant shield at the front and a badass sword behind. The silver shield was a circular one encrusted with gold jewels about the edge and a huge white onyx bird at the centre. Her outfit was that of light steel plates and behind her a pair of white wings spread proudly.

"It's marvellous," Asuna sighed, "and I'm so glad I kept the wings..." Setsuna nodded and mumbled her approval; Asuna looked so heroic – a true warrior princess. Setsuna felt so proud that she was by some miracle hers.

"Still we need a plan," Setsuna said with a frown after some time had passed. "What should we do?" Asuna explained all that had gone on at her end and Setsuna considered it carefully.

"Well if Rakan is coming to where you are it might almost be best to stay here...and yet I don't trust Rakan to arrive on time." Asuna laughed,

"No, he's not best renowned for being prompt."

"Well in which case it may be best to remain low and move between small towns in the meantime then," Setsuna said. "Staying in one spot for too long is dangerous." Asuna nodded. "Besides I've had a worrying feeling for a while now that something unpleasant is fast approaching."

Asuna looked concerned. "You too? I thought it was just me..." Glancing at each other they both jumped up from the bed and began gathering up their belongings. "Time to go Chavalus," Asuna called out but when the ermine appeared in the doorway he was already packed.

"Ah, sorry to say ladies but this is where we part. I'm a mercenary ermine after all and you girls have permanent pactioed now so there's no more money I can earn. I shall be hunting for other pactio contracts, less connected with danger, to perform."

"Ah, okay," Asuna said, a little taken aback. I guess that's the way of the ermine; after all it's a big job for them...

'Like elves at Christmas working for Santa; only I bet elves don't get squillions of dollars per day processing all the presents..." Setsuna thought dourly. Asuna chuckled.

You should seriously speak up more Setsuna rather than just thinking things; it'd be most entertaining." Asuna thought and had the pleasure of seeing Setsuna look abashed, sigh and retort back with mock-sullenness,

"Whatever Asuna."

So they went their separate ways and never saw Chavalus again. They set off north in the vague direction of the Northern Kingdom, Asuna's reputed homeland. A couple of days later they found themselves leaving the small town of Forensel, heading along a valley with steep sides and large worn caverns carved out by the fierce waters that ran down it during the rainy season; for now the river was somewhat calmer and hugged the side of the valley to their right.

As Chavalus had said their thoughts only reached each other when they wanted them too. This had already led to some rather awkward 'thought fights' where one felt that something was being hidden by the other but in the end after they had cooled down the misunderstandings were always cleared up.

Suddenly both of them felt a chill settle upon them, a familiar if slightly weakened chill. It was like the valley had fallen into shadow and a cold blanket covered all the rocks. It was early in the morning, before the Sun had even come up and the stars were still visible. They'd taken to travelling at unsociable times to avoid other people milling about and they'd already been walking for a number of hours across this barren stretch of land that seemed to draw out time into an endless stream.

Asuna trembled a little. "Setsuna, this feels a lot like..." Setsuna gripped her own sword tightly and tried to keep her voice steady in spite of the sinking feeling in her chest. He survived!" Yeah, it feels like him...but Asuna, we're vastly stronger now..."

"Yeah!" Asuna exclaimed with gusto but if Setsuna concentrated she could hear in the background of her mind Asuna saying to her,

'But are we really strong enough..."Smiling grimly Setsuna let her own mind dwell for a second on that.

Are we? Is that the right question...? Somehow how strong we are doesn't matter, what matters is that I'm with the one I love...the last phrase seemed important and so she emphasised it in her mind for Asuna to hear.

'What's important isn't winning or losing Asuna, its being with the one I love. I will do everything in my power to see that we're both safe but even if I fail I know I'll be forever together with you and Konoka.' She watched some of the tension relax from Asuna's muscles.

'Sure...but lets try and hang around in this life for a bit longer anyhow; I wouldn't want to bow out now...not when it's become so enjoyable ;)'

Setsuna knew Asuna wanted to see her blush and resisted the urge,

'Yeah...tell you what...how about for motivation whoever strikes the finishing blow gets to be on top next time ;)' she struck back and giggled because it was Asuna who was left speechless; but before either of them could continue walking or talking they felt that rushing presence approaching from the corner a few hundred metres ahead.

"He's here!" Setsuna shouted drawing her sword from her side.

"Adeat!" Asuna cried. Both girls' wings furled out behind them and they took defensive stances. Ahead a black cloud swept like a wave between the cliffs until it seemed to be sucked into the figure of a hooded man a few hundred yards before them.

His presence was powerful, but whether he was weaker, or they were stronger, or both - it lacked the god-like sensation it had had before. After an eternity of silence it spoke,

"Sooo…finally I find you Asuna, after so much searching…the last princess. You girls and your blasted tutor have caused me quite a lot of trouble. I'm gonna need quite a rest once I've finally finished you off."

"Why are you doing this?" Setsuna shouted. The figure shifted slightly and sent a piercing gaze Setsuna's way as though seeing her for the first time. It took all her courage to stand tall and stare back.

"You...you're that girl who was with Asuna...Konoka's bodyguard right?" Setsuna merely glared at him. "You seem stronger somehow..." the figure twitched again and for the first time seemed a little worried..."but you can't touch me! After all without the powers of North and South I cannot be taken down." He laughed softly, "and as for my reasons, well they are my own to keep. It's doubtful you'd understand even if I were to explain them clearly." Then in the quickest of blurs he moved.

"Asuna!" Setsuna yelled. Asuna was of course already in position to block and she met the dark magicians attack head on causing both of them to fly backwards and up into the sky; a booming noise echoing across the valley and sending avalanches of rocks tumbling to the floor below. Setsuna followed and intercepted the dark mage with a series of flurried strokes that ripped and tore at his shroud but did no damage. The two sides re-grouped facing each other above the gorged valley beneath that ran like a twisted river towards northern mountains. From the sides of the gorge the land spread out flat and rocky for miles and miles.

"This empty land's the perfect place for your burial," their foe chuckled. "The perfect place for the light of the world to rest." Setsuna shuddered. "I am the Lucifer of this world, its reaper, and it's time for your performance to end girls."

A rain of black needles showered them but Asuna's shield glowed with white light and spun; deflecting every last one away. Picking a blind spot where the needles weren't falling Setsuna then slipped out and sped underneath the mage; releasing a series of complicated arrow spells with a few hitting home, causing the mage to stop his rain of black needles and focus his attention on her.

"Ha! Pathetic!" Then he realised Asuna was looming over him with sword raised high and glinting in the first trickles of sunrise light. The black mage dodged and landed a black fisted punch to Asuna's side that sheared the metal armour and gashed her side. "Guh!" Asuna grunted in pain. But despite the pain she heard Setsuna's voice telling her to charge again. So she did. The hooded figure chuckled.

"Princess, you can block magic but you're too naive. I don't have to attack with magic to kill you!" He laughed; "It's over." Asuna shouldn't have been able to dodge his next attack, for it was his physical self in three separate tentacles intending to wrap about her shield and cut and gash her fatally. Instead Asuna found herself spinning to the right as a hand tugged her from behind. To her right she saw Setsuna, covered in a blue aura of magic slash and kill the strands. The mage howled in pain and fought desperately to keep Setsuna at bay, gashing her on the leg and arm but Setsuna had caught him off guard, and he was still weakened from his narrow victory over Negi. Her strokes were doing damage; but not enough, she realised despairingly. Behind her she felt the air crackle.

On two Setsuna...One...Two! Setusna put all her effort into one final strke. As she did a whirlwind slice from Asuna's sword dissolved the enemies magical protection to allow Setsuna's strike a clean path through. A beam of bright blue light sheared through the black mage's very centre; the darkness sucked away to a tiny point.

"In me the South still lives and by my side the North resides," Setsuna whispered fiercely to the mage as he melted away. "Don't presume to know everything!"

"And I'm the mage who defies time...one day I will be reborn to return stronger," the black mage hissed as he vanished. "Don't you presume to know everything..." Then the oppressive feeling vanished like the illusion it was and the sky lit up pale blue on the horizon. Spinning down Setsuna reached Asuna who was carefully lowering herself and held Asuna gently in her arms as she applied her healing magic to Asuna's wound. Asuna stared up at her in silent wonder for a moment before regaining something of her old self.

"Baka! What was that? Making me play bait and then shoving me out of the way to try and take all the fun for yourself!" Setsuna chuckled as they descended; if she looked very hard she thought she could see the figures of Rakan, Kaede and Ku Fei streaking along the valley.

"Well," she whispered in Asuna's ear with a wicked smile, "perhaps you'll forgive me my selfishness this once, only I did so want to be on top. Besides I couldn't have done it without you." Asuna couldn't think of a decent response and fell silent as Setsuna's healing magic finished its work. As it did Asuna brightened up and grinned,

"But I get to reward the victor with a kiss for saving me right?"

And so it was that as Rakan, Kaede and Ku Fei sprinted along the gorge they were greeted by the sight of two white winged angels descending from the heavens, wrapped in each others arms kissing passionately. It took some time for Rakan's nosebleed to stop.

Sony Ninja: :D :D :D Thanks! Am glad you enjoyed it that much :D.

aisismortal: Thanks :D, will try to at least match the citrus in the final Chapter (which I'm quite excited about writing, at least atm)

setchan-1995: Yey, glad you enjoyed it. I think this stories gonna be fairly unusual in that both characters swap between uke and semi but hopefully that uniqueness works.