魔女の冒険 Majo no Bouken
by kawaii-witch181
kawaii-witch181: Who wants to do the disclaimer?
Natsu: I do!
Happy: Aye, sir!
kawaii-witch181: What are you doing here? And where did you come from? You're both from the other Anime Realm! Who even invited you here?
Natsu: The producers said we can spend some time here.
Erza: (suddenly pops and pulls the two out of the scene) What are you both up to? Lucy's sick right now.
Natsu: Lucy? Why didn't you say so! (suddenly vanishes into a cloud of smoke)
Happy: Wait for me, Natsu!
Erza: Sorry for the trouble, kawaii-witch-san. (vanishes, too)
kawaii-witch181: Ah. I-It's fine. Bye….bye. Ehem. Who could have thought we'll have guests for this chapter. Nobody said something about this to me! Hmmpp.. Maybe, my mind's doing another twisted idea. /sighs/ Thinking about it, I've been obsessing with NatsuxLucy for awhile now, but still loyal with RyomaxSakuno pairing. You support them too, ne? Hmmm…Okay! Enough said! Oi, guys. Somebody do the disclaimer please.
Karupin: Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow!
kawaii-witch181: Karupin? Why did you show up? The readers won't understand you, dear.
Eiji: I'll translate!
kawaii-witch181: Since when did you get here?
Eiji: (faces the readers) Karupin says, kawaii-witch181 doesn't own the Pot characters, only the OCs and the plot. The one and only Konomi Takeshi has the right to own Pot ~nya!
kawaii-witch181: *claps, claps* You're really into Cat language, huh."
Eiji: Kiyomi-chan taught me ~nya. *grins*
Kiyomi: I don't even know how to speak that language!
Eiji: *sing-song voice* ~nya. ~nya.
Kiyomi: *mumbles* And I'm not even a cat. Tch.
Oishi: Minna, time's running out.
kawaii-witch181: Oh! The disclaimer's so long! Thanks to you guys.
Eiji: Welcome ~nya!
Oishi: *sweatdrop* It's sarcasm, Eiji.
kawaii-witch181: Enough! On with the story!
Fuji: Fufu. It's been awhile since 'your dialogue disclaimer', and you didn't include me here.
kawaii-witch181: Only a few seconds are left, Fuji.
Fuji: *dark aura*
kawaii-witch181: Okay, Okay. Next time, I'll include you! Ja ne! Meet you at the end of the chapter! *drags Fuji*
Fuji: My, thank you. I'll be looking forward to that.
kawaii-witch181: *mumbles in a very, very low voice* I'm not very sure, though. Ehehehe.
Fuji: Shouldn't you be dragging Eiji instead?
kawaii-witch181: Kiyomi already did that a minute ago. Now, now, tensai.
Momoshiro: Time's up! Man, I'm itching to say that.
kawaii-witch181: Oi!
Recap
Sighs of relief echoed around the room.
"Go upstairs for awhile. Change your clothes."
"Oh…and if you want to soak for awhile, just knock three times on the bathroom door and tell it what you want to have, like for example, a miniature hot spring or something similar with that."
"Hai. Thanks, Auntie." Sakuno smiled before going upstairs with the others.
~End
Chapter Nine – Cascade de Glace Mountain
"The sun's up!" Young witch Kiyomi yawned as she looked outside the clear window. Her gaze averted to the pink cat that continuously shifted on the bed, side to side. She unconsciously smiled.
/ Eiji-kun must be searching for my lost warmth. /
Tomato hues crept up on her cheeks because of the sudden thought. She immediately shook her head.
"What am I thinking?" She mumbled before going downstairs.
"Kiyomi….chan…" The cat slightly snored.
~oOo~
"Ohayou, Yomichan-senpai!" Sakuno, who's wearing a cooking apron, cheerfully greeted.
"Ah, ohayou Sakuno-chan. Eh? You're cooking?"
"Uhn!"
"Why?"
"R-Ryoma-kun asked…me," the auburn girl blushed.
Kiyomi grinned before patting her kouhai's head. "Nice, Sakuno-chan. Good going,"
Sakuno just looked away.
"By the way, where are Auntie and Uncle?" Light tangerine eyes began to scan the room.
"Uncle harvests some lettuce, Auntie accompanied him. She said they'll sell it downtown afterwards, so it may take some time for them to come back and.. they told me we can leave for the mountain even if they're not yet back."
"Saa, you'll be our tour guide, then."
"D-Demo. I don't know much of that mountain."
"Maa…we can manage," Kiyomi winked.
"How many ingredients we'll be searching, senpai?"
"Only two, the icy silver berries and the Fluile petals." She read from the paper.
"That will be easy. It's only t-"
The auburn girl didn't finish her statement for noises from upstairs started to fill the house. Few seconds after, the owners descended downstairs.
"Ohayou gozaimasu, minna." Kiyomi greeted.
"Eh? Where's buchou?" Momoshiro asked.
"Senpai went for a walk earlier," Sakuno replied.
"Ohayou, Tezuka." Fuji greeted when Tezuka's silhouette appeared.
"Morning, Yomi-chan!" Neko Eiji jumped on Kiyomi, which made the young witch let out a giggle.
"Morning to you, too."
"Senpai-taichi are so lovey-dovey," Momoshiro cooed.
That made the two blushed like a crimson gem.
"WE'RE NOT!"
Unison much?
"O-Ohayou, Ryoma-kun."
"Ohayou,"
Amber eyes averted to the food present on the table: salt grilled salmon, watercress salad with ponzu dressing, rice, miso soup, boiled daikon radish, and freshly-made scooped tofu. How mouthwatering!
"Japanese food," the tennis prince mumbled, almost happily as an adjustment of cap was made.
/ Whoa. I'm the only one in PJs here. / Kiyomi thought before bolting upstairs and immediately dressing up into a brightly colored sunny dress and matching flip flops. Everyone's already eating when she reached the dining room.
"Yomi-chan! I saved you a seat!" Neko Eiji said with a grin as he stood on his two feet.
"Thanks," she smiled and took her seat. The pink cat decided to settle on her lap as she eat.
"A-Anou…How's the f-food?" Sakuno asked nervously.
Momoshiro gave her a thumbs up. "So delicious, Ryuzaki-san!"
"Yes, yes, it is! Sooo delicious, Sakuno-chan! The tofu was very soft, warm, and downright buttery. Another food to add the charm,"
"T-Thank you, Momo-senpai, Yomichan-senpai." Chocolate brown orbs looked at Ryoma. The movement never left unnoticed by Eiji.
"What ya say, Ochibi?"
"Hmmm?"
"About the food!"
"Eiji! You shouldn't shout at your-"
"Delicious," Ryoma simply replied.
Neko Eiji and Momoshiro did a high five while Sakuno's face showed pure happiness.
"I'm glad you like them," Sakuno mumbled.
"Hn," the tennis prince heard her.
-After Breakfast-
"Guys, me and Sakuno-chan will go to Cascade de Glace. We'll get the ingredients,"
" Eh? Not with us ~nya?"
"Yes. Not with you. It's better if you're here."
"Awwww…Yomi-chan~~. It's an adventure we can't miss." The cat pouted.
"We don't even know if the Mountain is really safe. Even I, don't know that, even Sakuno-chan. And besides, you just sneezed yesterday."
"It happened yesterday. Just one sneeze. Today is a different one. And I'm not even sick ~nya,"
"No, you all are not going. End of conversation."
"Yomi-chan~~" His dark blue orbs filled with fake-ish tears.
"We can be of help," Fuji convinced.
"But..."
"We can definitely protect ourselves. That is a real man's doing, ne Echizen?" Momoshiro spoke.
"I CAN BURN THE SNOW WITH MY BURNING HEART! MOERUZE!"
The young witch sweatdropped. "Taka-san, too."
"If they're going, I might as well prevent them from unleashing more chaos." Oishi stated.
"Fsssshhhhh. A mountain will be good for training," Kaidoh suggested.
"More data will be collected. Ii data,"
"Misbehaving will be punished with laps."
Now, this statement made everyone sweatdropped even more.
"Mada mada dane, senpais. I'll protect Ryuzaki, too."
The auburn girl can turn into a ripe tomato any minute now, which made Ryoma smirked.
"Young love~" Momoshiro teased in a sing-song voice.
"Even Echizen-kun and Tezuka-san agreed," Kiyomi sighed.
"I'll protect Yomi-chan, too!" Neko Eiji declared with a serious face.
The rest snickered in the background.
"I'M SERIOUS ~NYA!"
"Mada mada dane, senpai." Kiyomi mimicked Ryoma's voice with a grin.
"D-Demo…Arigatou, ne…Knight in shining cat's armor," She pinched the cat's nose and giggled.
Neko Eiji flailed his arms wildly as heat rose up his cheeks.
"Ehehe. Eiji's blushing, ne Oishi?" Fuji observed with a grin.
"That's right," Oishi grinned, too.
"Ahahahahaha! Knight in shining cat's armor," Momoshiro rolled on the floor with howling laughter. Eiji glared at him.
"Forget what I said, senpai." He said with a nervous smile. Man, Eiji senpai can get scary if he wanted to. Wait. There's no way that can happen. Maybe cat senses are affecting the redhead. Yeah, that must be it.
"You're worst in imitation, Satsuki-senpai." Ryoma commented.
"Nobody asked your opinion!" Kiyomi spat playfully.
Merry laughters echoed around the household.
~oOo~
Kiyomi, dressed in a fluffy cream-colored winter coat, huffed in annoyance. The coat's collar and end trims were in a cute caramel shade, same with the ends of the long sleeves. Two simple, russet brown ribbons stood on the center, consecutively after another. The same russet ribbons also decorated the near end of the sleeves. Adorable white fluffy winter boots served as her footwear. She also wore a fluffy sling bag in a bittersweet orange color. A caramel-colored bandanna serves as her headband.
"I didn't actually agree about them coming with us," the young witch said in realization as she and her kouhai waited downstairs. The regulars? Oh, they're changing in thick winter outfits upstairs. I wonder if Eiji did, too. I mean, he's a cat.
"Even if you don't agree, they'll come anyway. That's senpai-taichi. Oh, they'll ride on a cloud again?"
"Not,"
Sakuno tilted her head. "Then, wha-"
The auburn girl had chosen a turtleneck type of winter coat in a coffee brown color. A single bistre brown ribbon stood on the center of the fluffy neck. Four snow-colored buttons, stood on the coat, with white laces enclosing it. Two fluffy hearts with ribbons in bistre brown on its center, served as designs on either side of the front. The end trim, as well the end of sleeves, are also in a fluffy snow color. For the footwear, a pair of moccasin type of boots in seal brown color is present; its upper part has soft fur in timberwolf color. Unlike Kiyomi, she didn't bring a sling bag with her.
"Broomsticks," a sly, wicked smile found its way across Kiyomi's lips
"D-Demo, that will be dangerous senpai. They don't know how to ride a broom, and flying them too."
"But they said they want to come with us, right?" Kiyomi has this innocent face on.
Sakuno sighed. "But, still…"
"Dai-dyou-bu! There's not even a possibility that they can die," the young witch assured.
Sakuno forced a smile. "I hope so…"
"Yo!" Fuji greeted with a smile. His wearing a simple, olive brown winter coat with a matching scarf in oxford blue. He also wore khaki pants, in cadet gray color. Simple, obsidian black leather shoes were present.
Kiyomi returned the gesture. "Hello, Fuji-kun."
/ Why does he look like he's sparkling? What on earth? /
"Where are the others?" She asked.
"They'll come down shortly,"
Several voices were heard descending down the stairs.
"See?" Fuji chuckled that made Kiyomi sweatdropped.
"R-Right,"
"Yomi-chan! Ka-wa-ii! You have so many fur ~nya!"
"It's part of the style, Eiji-kun."
~oOo~
All of the Regulars stood by the doorway, wearing their..uh..stylish winter outfits. Buchou, in a wenge brown winter coat, complete with tufts blue scarf with stripes design. Fukubuchou, in a palatanate blue winter coat and onyx black jeans; an ultramarine scarf is present on his neck and a matching pair of warm gloves on his hand. Kawamura, in a jonquil yellow jacket and mantis green jogging pants; complete with a black-ish scarf on his neck. Inui, dressed in a sunglow yellow fluffy jacket and powder blue jogging pants, also set with a lime green overly long scarf. Momoshiro and Kaidoh, dressed in the field drab brown colored jacket, except the Viper has a pale yellow-brown colored scarf on his neck. Ochibi, I mean Ryoma, is in a jungle green winter coat with an accompaniment of mint-colored scarf.
~oOo~
"Brooms?" Momoshiro eyes stared in disbelief in front of him.
"Yup, that will be our transportation for today."
"What about the clouds ~nya?"
"Something new is better, ne?" Kiyomi winked.
"Demo, Satsuki. We don't even know how to ride them," said Oishi.
"Trust your instincts," Kiyomi instructed with a naughty grin.
Sighs filled the atmosphere.
"C'mon. We don't have all day," She whined from the sky.
Instead of sighs, grunts now filled the atmosphere.
"It can be a good experience," said Fuji before riding a broom. It really turned out well, just perfect. But, after a few seconds, the broomstick flipped him downwards, with no warning at all.
"T-That hurts." The tensai glared which made Kiyomi laughed so hard.
"Trust your instincts and that includes your choosing of brooms,"
"Her sadistic mode is on." Sakuno sighed before soaring to the sky.
"Do I have to ride one, too?" Eiji asked.
"Yep," Kiyomi replied.
"Senpai! That's dangerous for a cat." Sakuno said.
"But collecting ingredients will be dangerous, too." The young witch replied with an innocent face.
"Heh," the tennis prince chose one broom and rode on it. He also tried soaring up. Few seconds have passed and he successfully done it without falling like the tensai.
"That's our Ochibi, ~nya!"
But, he suddenly circled the same spot again and again. Swirl. Swirl…until the broom calmly landed a few meters above the ground.
"R-Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno immediately went to Ryoma who have swirling eyes because of what happened.
That made the others a little hesitant to ride any broomstick present.
"Awww…The Seigaku Tennis Regulars are giving up already? Not fun!" Kiyomi taunted.
"Who said about giving up?" Tezuka asked in his usual stoic voice.
"Well…It looks like it," the young witch smirked.
"We're just testing the brooms." Ryoma informed her.
Kiyomi's grin widened.
-Seconds After-
"Faster, will you? We don't have all day!"
The Regulars, of course, still have their difficulty on riding their respective broomsticks. Though, Fuji managed to remain fine for a few minutes but will again wiggle in the air. Oh, not to mention Neko Eiji rode on the same broom with Fuji. On his very first try, really, the REMAINING broomstick didn't like him. At all. He even has to chase it around. Sitting on the ground in defeat, the tensai offered his broomstick for him.
"We can ride it together,"
"You're a life saver, Fujiko!" The pink cat said with teary eyes.
"Ne, Yomi-chan. Are these brooms tutors too, like Broom-chan and Usagi-chan?" Eiji asked.
"Nope. These are only meant for transportation and they can't even talk,"
"Oh,"
"Riding broomsticks for the first time might develop into motion sickness." Inui noted.
The young witch rolled her light tangerine eyes. "Whatever, Inui."
-Cascade de Glace Mountain-
"Brrr…It's cold ~nya," Eiji shivered as all of them descended from their rides. Their feet calmly walked from that point on, the broomsticks returned to the Lettuce Village after it gave them their ride.
"Why didn't you put on any winter clothes, Eiji?" Oishi scolded.
"I-I can help, s-senpai." Sakuno offered a hand.
Wand: Summon!
The auburn girl chanted.
"Amidst the mist and coldest frosts
Of thee clothing warmth has lost,
What use is a frock of thy hue?
Make it right in an attire that's new."
"There, all done!" The auburn girl formed a closed eyed smile.
"Arigatou, Ryuzaki-chan~!" Neko Eiji looked at himself. He wore a kind of bunny jacket, complete with the artificial small tail and bunny ears.
"Demo, why in a bunny-like jacket?" He asked.
Sakuno let out a nervous laugh.
"Because, I insisted it to give you the most cutest cat clothing!" Kiyomi giggled oh-so-sweetly.
"It looks good FOR a girl," Eiji insisted.
"Awwww. Don't be like that. Ka-wa-ii!"
Neko Eiji just sighed.
"Ne, Satsuki. Where'd you get that map?" Taka asked in curiosity.
"Oh? This? The broomsticks left it for me. Though, it took them awhile to rearrange the pieces."
"Pieces?" Kaidoh questioned.
"Hai, they torn them apart to make it easier to bring,"
Odd looks where directed at her. The Realm sure is a weird place.
"Ne, Sakuno-chan. Do you know where these stood?" Kiyomi showed her kouhai the map. Two large X's are seen at it. Each has quite a distance to each other.
"Only this one, not the other," Sakuno pointed at one of the X's, located on the right side.
"What should we do?" Kiyomi pouted.
"Maybe we can ask someone," Ryoma suggested.
"Ask? But, Echizen-kun…No people or witches are living here."
"Why does that sounds like a creepy statement?" Momoshiro whispered in a very hushed tone.
"Why are you whispering ~nya?" Neko Eiji asked him.
"You're whispering too, Eiji-senpai." The spiky haired sophomore said to him.
Kiyomi broke their segment. "Stop whispering, okay? You two are giving me goose bumps."
"But, it's cold."
"That doesn't have anything to do with your whispering,"
"Shouldn't we search for the ingredients?" Tezuka questioned.
"Yes, captain. Of course," Kiyomi playfully did a salute, chuckling at her own actions.
"Ne, Sakuno-chan. Lead the way, ne?"
"H-Hai," The auburn girl shyly smiled.
~oOo~
"We'll since we are here; the Fluile bush will be the nearest." Kiyomi said as she scanned the map.
"Ne, Ryuzaki-chan. Can't we ask any enchanted thing here? I mean, I'm sure they're magical in a way ~nya."
"Kirameki-san is the only thing I know here," Sakuno replied to the pink cat.
"Oh, her. She despises humans, right?" Kiyomi said, earning horror looks from the Regulars.
She chuckled. "I'm kidding. Doesn't like is the best phrase,"
"You think she knows?" Her gaze averted to the auburn girl.
"T-Think so,"
"Kirameki-san!" Sakuno called.
A few minutes have passed, still no sign of the said person.
"Maybe she's busy," Kiyomi heaved a sigh.
"You called, dearest Sakuno-chan?" A tea rose-colored starfish with feathery wings hovered above them.
"Kirameki-chan! Kawaii!" Eiji's eyes sparkled.
The pink cat earned a glare in response. "Nobody calls me ANY pet names,"
Eiji sweatdropped. "Sumimasen." He backed away a bit.
"Kiyomi-kun," the starfish went to the mint green-haired lady.
"I told you not with the –kun," she sweatdropped, too.
"But it's perfect."
"-chan is perfect too ~nya!"
The starfish seriously glared hard.
"Oiishiii!" The pink cat immediately took cover behind his doubles partner.
"You, what are you humans doing here? I can't believe Her Majesty and the tutors still allowed you here." Kirameki-san said, voice filled with malice.
"Uh, we're sorry for the intrusion?" Oishi attempted.
"Nonsense!"
"C-Calm down…Kirameki-san," Sakuno pleaded.
The sea-like animal let out a puff of air.
"I'm the one to blame. I'm the one who brought them here," Kiyomi said.
"Oh? Forget it."
"Weird," Ryoma mumbled.
"Nani!"
"Anyway! Kirameki-san…" The auburn girl started.
"Hmmm?"
"Ummm…d-do you know the location of the F-Fluile bush?" She asked.
"Of course! I know every inch of this mountain," Kirameki-san beamed proudly.
"Sooo…Can you accompany us? I mean….You see…I really need the Fluile petals," Kiyomi trailed off.
"Fine, just watch your steps. Any mistake, crystal outcome," the starfish warned.
"She means you'll turn to ice." Kiyomi explained to the others.
"But…It's already freezing cold." Inui said.
"Enough to freeze us," Kaidoh agreed.
Sakuno shook her head. "Several more degrees are needed."
"Ne, Tezuka. I think I heard you like mountain climbing," Fuji said, starting a conversation.
"I do," Tezuka replied.
"Want to climb this mountain?" The tensai suggested.
"The weather's not appropriate. Accidents might happen," buchou firmly said.
"Too bad, ne?"
"Fuji-kun!" The young witch halted him from taking another step forward.
She let out a sigh of relief. "Pool of Ice,"
"Might get frozen," The starfish added.
"Sankyuu," the tensai smiled.
/ The smile's different from the usual. It seems more real. / Kiyomi thought.
~oOo~
"Watch your step, the path's getting steeper at this point on." The starfish reminded them.
"Well…it's a mountain," Taka said.
Kirameki-san glared at him. "Not just that. Ehem. Some creatures might attack us,"
"ATTACK?" The mother hen half-yelled at the word.
If only the sea-like animal has eyes, I'm sure it will roll them by now.
"Selfish and territorial,"
"Oh, but still…" Oishi was in worried mode again.
"C'mon, Oishi! We'll definitely survive ~nya!" Kikumaru assured.
"SURVIVE!"
"Stop yelling mother hen!" Kirameki also half-yelled due to irritation.
/ Humans are REALLY weird. / It shook the upper arm of its body disk.
Kiyomi sweatdrooped. "Soooo….what's guarding the uh…Fluile bush, Kiramki-chan?"
The sea-like animal glared at her, she just shrugged it off. "Nipsies and an astrid,"
"Astrid?" Momoshiro asked.
"Nipsies?" Ryoma followed.
"What exactly are those?" Even Inui,
"Seems like trouble. Yudan sezou ni ikou," Tezuka advised.
"Let me explain." Broom-chan once again replaced the screen.
"Ehem," She started, reading from a book she's holding. A picture of an astrid behind her.
"As what Kirameki said earlier, astrids are one of the guardians of the Fluile bush. An astrid is a large, golden owl that is very selfish and extremely territorial. It doesn't want any living being near its territory. It shoots beams of sunlight to their opponents, once you'll get hit by that, you'll be frozen."
"Why beams of sunlight ~nya? It can be ice instead, right?" Chibi Neko Eiji asked in curiosity.
"Does it look like I know? Maybe it's because they are obsessed with sunlight," Kiyomi answered with a shrug.
"So what are nipsies?" Ryoma asked this time.
Usagi-chan also invited herself here and decided to tell the information.
"Nipsies are the smallest of the fairy folk, closely related to brownies, but are only a quarter inch tall. They are completely powerless and don't have any magical power in them."
"Then how come they are guarding the Fluiles?" Fuji questioned.
"Even if they can't use any magic, they can set up venomous plants and the likes for traps. Actually, they can create anything with the help of the natural resources. Astrids are very good friends with the fairy folk since the day they met.
"My friend was once bitten by one of the traps set by the nipsies. She went limping for a week," Sakuno informed them, who only responded her with a shudder.
"Do we have to fight them or something?" Kiyomi asked.
"Maybe just the astrid," Kirameki replied.
The young witch sighed. "Ingredients are very troublesome to collect. Why can't we just buy them on stalls?"
"High quality and functional ingredients can only be obtained by searching them yourselves."
"Why's that?" Inui interrogated.
"Some may be fraud," Sakuno said.
"Wait, Echizen." Kiyomi suddenly halted.
The auburn girl's eyes started to widen. "Not a step forward, Ryoma-kun."
"Why?" Ryoma asked.
"Traps. We already arrived." The sea-like animal simply said.
"We already know that," said Fuji.
"Don't go starting on me, brunette."
The tensai just chuckled.
"But….they look like normal plants," Momoshiro stated.
"Venomous plants," corrected Kirameki.
"I'm sure we can find a blank spot to pass or to step on," Taka nervously suggested.
"That would be impo-" The starfish was cut off.
"Momoshiro!" Oishi shouted.
The dunk smasher jumped at the wide space between the plants. For a few seconds, nothing happened, just the blowing of the winter frost wind.
"See? Normal plants, senpai-taichi." He said. As soon the words left his mouth, the normal floras sprung to life; getting closer to him, writhing and snapping repeatedly. Very tiny voices began to giggle.
"Uh….guys?" Momoshiro nervously said.
"Humans are really troublesome," the starfish stated.
"What carelessness, Momoshiro." Tezuka said.
"Stop talking calmly! I might die here!" The spiky haired lad said, panic evident in his voice.
"It's your fault in the first place. Fsssshhhhh,"
"Nani? You picking a fight?"
"Sakuno-chan, Momo-kun needs help." Kiyomi said to the auburn girl.
"Just call me Momo, senpai!" Momoshiro shouted from his distance which made Kiyomi to sweatdropped.
"Dance! My wind!"
As soon the words left the auburn girl's mouth, a gust of wind instantly blew by, lifting Momoshiro out of the plants' coming grasp.
"You can control the wind?" Oishi's jaw was on the verge on dropping down.
Sakuno shyly nodded, "H-Hai."
"I thought witches can only chant spells, not totally control the elements." Fuji said.
"Yes, all witches do that. But, at each generation, there are four chosen witches that can control the four elements: fire, water, earth, and wind. Sakuno-chan is the one controlling the wind," Starfish explained.
"So you mean you can create storms?" Momoshiro asked in excitement.
"Don't be stupid, peach. Creating storm needs rain," Kaidoh stated.
"I know that, Mamushi! What I mean by storm is a tornado!"
"Ah…a-anou….I c-can't create that much…It's very tiring senpai, especially in the human world." Sakuno replied.
"Practice makes perfect," the tennis prince simply said in advice.
"And besides, controlling the weather is bad, too. You can't just interrupt the nature's doing without consequences." Kiyomi added.
"Like for example…stopping the rain, which is very associated with water, may lead to much stronger rain the next day," Kirameki explained further.
"Who'll get the petals?" Ryoma asked out of a sudden.
All eyes turned to him.
"Well…he has a point,"
"I can do it," Kiyomi volunteered.
"It's dangerous, Kiyomi-kun." Kirameki stated.
"I know how to get the petals,"
"But you don't know how to deal with an astrid!"
"I can come ~nya,"
"Not even a cat."
Neko Eiji pouted.
"Momo, you think you can accompany me?"
"Ah…I-I guess so, senpai."
"Why the spiky peach?" The sea-like creature asked.
"Hey!" Momoshiro protested by his name.
"I think he'll do just fine."
"That's not the point!" Kirameki sighed.
"Just get the attention of the astrid and I'll get the petals. Simple as that."
"Oi!"
"It will be alright, Kirameki-chan. Sakuno-chan will help us, ne."
"Hmmmp. I want to come to ~nya."
"It's impossible for a cat like you," Kirameki said.
"I'll come,"
"NO!"
"I will!"
"NO!"
"Enough, you two. Fine…you can come with us, Eiji-kun." Kiyomi agreed in defeat.
"Yay!" Neko Eiji stuck his tongue out at the sea-like creature.
"We can ride on a cloud, right?" Momoshiro asked.
Kirameki shook her 'head'. "Some of the plants can soar high up the air. With Ryuzaki-chan here, I'm sure you'll be safe. Dodging plants even in mid-air might be difficult, though."
"Satsuki-senpai can fly, right? Why need Sakuno's assistance?" Ryoma interrogated.
"We're doing safety measures," Kirameki simply said.
"Ummmm…Are you really sure you'll do just fine ~nya?" Neko Eiji asked with worry.
"Hai!" Sakuno replied with her known enthusiasm.
"Really?" Kiyomi questioned this time.
"Uhn!"
The young witch narrowed her light tangerine eyes before letting out a sigh. "Fine. Thanks, Sakuno-chan,"
"I'll hold on to Eiji-senpai," Momoshiro said
"Sure, suite yourselves," Kiyomi replied.
"I'm so excited! I can finally see an astrid! Yay for me! Oh and a fluile petal, too! Another yay for me! Kyaaaa~!" She soon shouted with enthusiasm and excitement.
The rest felt a large sweatdropped forming on the side of their heads.
"Yomi-chan's so cheerful ~nya." Eiji commented.
"So….we'll just wait here?" Taka asked.
"Of course! No roaming around!" Starfish warned.
"Sakuno-chan, shall we?" Kiyomi nudged.
"H-Hai,"
"Lift them up, onegai." The auburn girl concentrated.
"Yomichan-senpai, you know what to do."
The witch, spiky-haired, and the pink cat floated above the plants. Sakuno looked like a puppet master, controlling the three of them except without the strings.
"Here come the plants!" Momoshiro yelled. Little voices once again began giggling continuously as the plants come to them.
"Okay! I'll yell the directions. Go! Right! Left! Clockwise round!" Kiyomi instructed in mid-air.
The plants, however, seem to become a very cruel antagonist in a movie, writhing and snapping to block their way and slow them down. Fortunately, Sakuno-chan made very fluent controls with the bodies of her senpais.
"Dodge. Down. Up. Left! Counter-clockwise left!" The young witch once again instructed.
"You can become a good puppet master, Ryuzaki-chan." Fuji commented.
"A-Arigatou, Fuji-senpai."
At this time, the tiny giggling voices finally died down, finally giving up. Their plants didn't do much guarding for today. They really have to strengthen once again their traps. Surely next time, no one shall get pass their traps! Now, it's all up to the astrid.
A tiny nipsy with golden fairy dust following her trail, stood in front of Neko Eiji. It started pulling his whisker repeatedly.
"I-Ittai! That hurt, ~nya!" The pink cat spat. Momoshiro started shoo-ing the tiny fairy folk which instantly flew away, sticking its tongue out at them.
"I thought nipsies can't fly," Inui mumbled.
"That's right, they can't. But their companion astrid gave them some fairy dust." The starfish explained.
"Wait, how did you know that? I know you're not the one to know much information about some magical creatures."
Inui adjusted his square-like glasses. "My grandmother once told me about them,"
The sea-like creature raised an imaginary eyebrow. "Fairy tales much?" It mumbled.
"Being a puppet can be so much fun!" Kiyomi squealed.
"Oi! Watch out!" Oishi warned.
"Astrid!" Tezuka also warned.
Neko Eiji is starting to have swirling eyes. "An astrid is half of our size, ~nya."
Just like what Eiji described, the astrid is half of their size. Few golden feathers were fluttering around it as it walked to them.
"The petals!" Kiyomi has her sparkling eyes once again once she saw the petals.
"Oi, senpai!" Momo called out.
"Just slow it down for awhile, I'll get the petals." The young witch broke into a hurried run while taking the hand-sized bottle from her small bag.
"But…How do we slow it down ~nya?" Eiji practically yelled.
"Just draw its attention or something!" Kiyomi yelled back.
"Ah…okay…But! How?"
"Just run around! Imagine it's just like training for stamina," Fuji shouted at his distance.
Momoshiro and the pink cat started their fast runs, as if their lives depended on it. Neko Eiji kept on running with his two feet.
"I…It's s…so…hard…..to run….~nya…" The pink cat panted.
"Senpai, try with your four paws," Momoshiro suggested.
"Oh? That's right!" Neko Eiji grinned that make the dunk smasher sweatdropped.
/ It just crossed his mind? /
-Fluile Bush-
"Shouldn't touch…Broom-chan said I shouldn't touch the petals," Kiyomi mumbled repeatedly, holding out the bottle before the glowing gold-ish orange petals. The petals voluntarily went inside the bottle.
"Ohh…Adorable!" Kiyomi squealed once again.
"The Fluile Bush is the only one of its kind in the mountain. Once every full moon, its glowing flowers began to bloom, which takes a week for them to wither. Actually, the said flowers are just petals arranged in a 'flower' manner; in the distance it creates an illusion of a flower."
Kirameki-chan explained, as the screen shifted, zooming up to the Fluile Bush.
"Once the petals are touched, they will instantly wither, but holding a bottle onto it will do just fine. They will go inside in their own will.
"Asking permission first is the best manners," A voice said from above her which made the young witch to look up. An astrid sitting above the bush, greeted her gaze.
"A-Astrid," She nervously said.
"Woo…" The astrid greeted her.
"U-umm…w-who?" Kiyomi imitated its sound.
"T-They are two astrids? I thought only one is guarding the bush," Kaidoh said.
"Supposedly," Kirameki replied to him, its eyes never leaving the young witch Kiyomi.
"You know, violating such manners may lead to punishment." The astrid said to Kiyomi.
"G-Gomenasai…I just need these petals…and…the other specie of yours is kind of scary.." Kiyomi trailed off.
"Hmmm…well…Oyaji is really scary for me...but he's still caring." The astrid said.
"Oyaji? That was your father? So that's why your size is different from him,"
"Yes, I'm still young. That's why, he is the most known guard of this bush. I'm just like an apprentice or something. If I grew up just like him, I'll be the one guarding this bush." The young astrid informed her.
"Oooh…Well…uh…I wish you luck?" The young witch started her backward steps.
"Tch. Tch. You're not yet allowed to go, missy."
Kiyomi pouted which made the young astrid chuckle.
"So…what will I do to be allowed to go?" She asked.
"Hmmm…since you finally got the petals, and I'm the one guarding this bush just for today….how about taking me for sight-seeing?" Young astrid offered.
Kiyomi's jaw nearly fell down. "S-Sight-seeing? You're an owl; you can surely sight-see whenever you want,"
The young golden owl sadly frowned. "Dad does that. But for me, I can only do that when I finally became an adult. Oyaji doesn't want me to leave this place, that's what the traditions say for young astrids like us."
Kiyomi formed a cheerful smile. "Okay then. You can come with us. But only within this mountain."
"R-Really? Of course just within this mountain…I won't go with you after you left Cascade de Glace."
"Alright," ^_^
"Satsuki-senpai! A little help here!" Momoshiro yelled, the older astrid still running after him and Neko Eiji. Its sunlight beams looked like a dangerous bullet continuously shooting.
Kiyomi nervously laughed. She almost forgot about the two of them.
"Oyaji! They meant no harm! They even asked permission about the Fluile petals and offered me for sight-seeing!" Young astrid yelled.
The older golden owl halted immediately and went to his son.
"You'll sight-see with this bunch of humans?" It asked with disbelief.
"Hai, you never asked me to go sight-seeing with you so I asked them in exchange for the petals ~woo."
Older astrid sighed. "Fine. Just this once, I'll allow you for your dream of sight-seeing."
"Thanks, dad!" Young astrid beamed a smile.
"But," his father halted. The younger one sighed.
"Hai?"
"One nipsy will accompany you,"
"Okay!" The young astrid once again smiled.
Kiyomi, Momoshiro, and Eiji paused to hear the conversation of an astrid and a nipsy. They were speaking in an unknown language that the three of them don't understand. They saw the little nipsy shook its head angrily that earned a glare from the young astrid. Few seconds after, the nipsy managed to nod her head and formed a tiny smile. Eiji assumed it finally agreed going with them. And he was right! The next time he knew, they were face to face with their companions and teammates, giving them warm victorious smiles and welcoming back gestures, as well as praising them for a job well done. It looks like they just won a war or something.
Young witch Kiyomi warming-ly smiled.
kawaii-witch181: There! The chapter's done! Whew! I'm exhausted already.
Inui: Nice job, kawaii-witch-san.
kawaii-witch181: Drop the –san. It's confusing with so many hyphens.
Inui: Okay.
Natsu: *shows up* LUCE! Why didn't you tell me you're sick?"
Lucy: *cough, cough, sneeze* Just a cold. Not something worse, Natsu.
Natsu: *leans closer, eyes softening* You have a fever.
kawaii-witch181: *captures the moment with a camera borrowed from Fuji* Fufufu. NaLu fans will be so happy! Thanks for the reward, you two! *vanishes*
Lucy: Who's that? Another mage friend of yours?
Natsu: Yep. We just met, though. She even invited me to her disclaimer scene.
Lucy: I bet you're not even invited.
Natsu: That's mean, Luce.
Lucy: *chuckles* Oyasumi, Natsu.
Natsu: *forming a toothy grin* Night, Luce.
Kiyomi: Enough with the Fairy Tail segment.
kawaii-witch181: Missing Eiji, perhaps?
Kiyomi: *blushes* Who said I missed him?
kawaii-witch181: You really miss him! Fufufu!
Sakuno: See you on the next chapter, minna!
kawaii-witch181: Oi! I'm not done yet, Sakuno-chan.
Sakuno: Time's running out, kawaii-witch-san.
kawaii-witch181: Everybody's saying that!
Fuji: I'll be looking forward for the disclaimer. *waves*
Tezuka: *holds out a sign that reads: Matta ne!*
kawaii-witch181: Why can't Tezuka speak?
Inui: Fuji poured a potion-like-liquid in Tezuka's drink earlier. He's experimenting, I guess.
Tezuka: *another sign said: FUJI! 1,000 LAPS AROUND THE REALM!*
kawaii-witch181: *sweatdrops* Ja ne, minna! *waves*
Eiji: Wait for me! I didn't say anything yet!
kawaii-witch181: *tongue out* No time left. By the way, Kiyomi's looking for ya.
Kiyomi: No, I'm not!
kawaii-witch181: Lovebirds! *heart, heart, sparkle, sparkle* Speaking of Lovebirds, I found a very suitable song for Kiyomi and Eiji. I think that will be their theme song. Just visit my profile; the link is there, including the English translation. Please do listen, ne? Oh! And I included the links for their winter clothes and the Realm's moon! Just look it up! Bye bye!