Disclaimer: Negima! does not belong to me.

Finished on 12/09/2014

Bittersweet Symphony

Sacrifice

Konoka's Quote

There is no decision that we can make that doesn't come with some sort of balance or sacrifice. ~Simon Sinek

My family had underestimated Lady Setsuna when she said 'one way or the other'. It was a mistake that led us to war the moment her request was throughly and impolitely denied by both my father and grandfather. No words were spoken. I had a bad feeling back then. Her sardonic smile only confirmed my suspicions. She was looking forward to the rejection. And yet, as she spared me a lusting glance when she calmly walked away with her terrifying companion, I understood that she would not simply give up on the idea of taking me. And I feared she would succeed.

The formal letter came a day later. It was a thick material, of a dull yellowish colour and the royal seal of the demons engraved at its right corner. I snatched it from my father's hands as soon as I read, written in impeccable cursive, the Lady's name in strong carmine ink. My heart pounded in fear. It felt like a cold hand grasped the organ and wouldn't let go any time soon enough. I could barely breathe as I ripped it open with care and patience I did not know I could posses amidst my nerves. The contents were very much what I had dreaded. It was formal, cold and distant. It was an invitation to war. A war our kingdom, my kingdom, was not prepared for.

I even thought about giving in to her demands, but the idea was blown away as soon as I suggested it to my family. I, in all honesty, was not too eager to whore myself for a misbehavior that soon became a train wreck of problems that were not mine to begin with. Except that they were mine. I was the heir to the throne, as little as it meant at the time, and I was responsible for my people's welfare. Setsuna Sakurazaki was the biggest threat I had ever faced. With her charming smile and disarming eyes, she was the devil in disguise. Only a monster would belt out a war order as if it were an invitation for afternoon tea.

Soon the notice reached the ears of the population. My grandfather leaked the information out. He was vague. Everyone thought the demons were just looking for blood, and while probably true, he did his best to hide just how at fault he really was.

The Lady's choice of words rang in my mind: Vengeance.

Retribution. Revenge. Payback.

This obviously was an issue long avoided. But it was something that the Lady had carried in her mind for a long time. Only one who was hurt so much could scheme and punish her enemies as she did, with no care whatsoever of the body count, of who was innocent and who wasn't.

All the iron was melted and the troops re-grouped. We tried hiding the children and the handicapped but no other kingdom would take them in, in fears of angering the Lady and her demons. We settled for sending them into the mountains with a group of professionals. Teachers, nannies, a few soldiers, three medics, whatever we could fit in with our scarce supplies. I was worried, I felt the defeat sinking in before the first battle even broke loose.

"Lady Konoka," One of the female soldiers stood straight at my bedroom's door. Captain of the Fifth Division, I believe. "We are ready," The soldier bowed in respect, then marched away. I contemplated her back, asking myself if she would be yet another deceased in the following hours, days, weeks. Whatever it took the war. I wondered if this would be the last time I would be in my home, if the night before had been my last. If so, I regretted not having dreamed of anything. A last dream would have been good.

I regretted so many things, and had so little time it seemed.

My mother's picture rested on my desk. I contemplated her for a brief moment, desperately taking in her happy expression, hoping that it would come to my mind during my last breaths. I had loved her so much, and she was taken away too soon, too fast. I know for a fact that my father never re-married because he knew I would never accept another woman in my life, not in her role.

The faint smell of smoke told me I didn't have much time. The demons were waiting, and they were impatient enough to come over to this place if we weren't fast enough to meet them at the border line, as stated by the War Code.

Stepping outside, I saw the last children disappear through the path that led to the mountains. The people I guessed were their families stood back, waving and smiling at them, reassuring them through yells that everything was going to be 'fine'. They did not care for their superiors calling them in frantic hollers. I did not meddle. While I had no children of my own, and my entire family was here with me, I understood that what they were doing was the ultimate sacrifice.

She just stood there, with her serene expression and her lopsided smile. I hated her. I loathed her so much, and I had only seen her once in my life. How? How could someone be so ruthless?

She uncrossed her arms and lifted her sword up in the air in a perfectly straight position. The demons behind her crouched down and tensed. Our people did the same. I took out my fans, tracing the wooden sides with my thumbs and started praying.

It was brief, and I could have perfectly well have imagined it, but I saw it. Before she ordered the slaughter of my army she had smirked. It was the smallest of all smirks, but it was there, taunting and cocky. She knew she would win. She was playing a game of chess where all I had was a King, a tower and two pawns while she had all her pieces standing. And she was relishing in the deaths of my people.

Unforgivable.

The smell of death soon showered us all as our armies clashed. Lady Setsuna herself was leading the front line with vicious attacks and a dance of daggers and swords even I had trouble following. I had an inkling she was not even making a real effort, which only angered me further.

I nibbled my lower lip in frustration. Not once in my life had I regretted my choice of magic usage. I had dedicated myself to healing others and perfecting that art. And here I was, watching my people die in front of me so fast I barely had time to take out my fans to help. So much for being the best out there. It slowly occurred to me that the perfect defense was pointless against the perfect attack.

"Surrender," My body reacted on its own. My fangs fluttered open. The men in charge of my safety disappeared in front of my very eyes, leaving nothing but dust and faded screams behind. Lady Setsuna stood in all her glory, basking in their blood and sacrifice like a contented cat after a nap. Her sharp teeth showing through a cruel smile and eyes cold and demanding.

"You can save them. Surrender." She swung her sword, blood scattering everywhere. I could barely see the silver shine through the red covering it. She put a hand on her hip and leaned to her left. No one dared get near her. I couldn't blame them, really.

I looked around me. Losing was not even the word anymore. We were being crushed. I knew it, Lady Setsuna knew it, the whole kingdom knew it. I just had a hard time acknowledging it.

"Time is ticking." Indeed. I couldn't have agreed more with my personal torturer.

From the corner of my eye, I saw my father and grandfather fight relentlessly against a particularly oversized troll. My father was hopelessly looking at me, his eyes occasionally darting to my demonic companion. His efforts to reach me made me feel the most loved daughter and I was grateful for it. A little encouragement was always welcome.

"I surrender." My fate was sealed. Lady Setsuna smirked, stretching her hand towards me. Everything happened way too quickly. My father and grandfather defeated the troll two seconds too late. Lady Setsuna encompassed my body in a possessive embrace as she yelled her orders. At least, I thought bitterly to myself, she was a woman of word.

I turned my back to my family, to what was left of my kingdom. I did not want to see their faces when they saw me in the Lady's arms, sealing the pact in which I officially became the Lady's personal whore. It was humiliating, and the Lady, whose smirk couldn't get wider, was enjoying it more than anyone else.

"Setsuna, please," I heard a wet thud as my grandfather pleaded with the Lady. "Please, don't do this. Take me. Konoka has nothing to do with our personal matters." The Lady's smile softened. She retreated a few inches and took in my face. My chest constricted from the warm, almost loving glance she spared me. Her sharp nails caressed my nape in circle motions, as if trying to calm me down.

"Let us not remember the unpleasant past now, Konoemon." She finally turned her eyes from my face to my grandfather. Her red orbs appeared amused as she spotted my grandfather behind me. "Shouldn't you be relieved that I spared so many in exchange of so little?" I winced internally. So little. It definitely did not feel like it.

"Surely there is something else we can offer!" My father tried to reason. I felt the tears start to gather. I felt as if I was letting him down somehow.

Lady Setsuna glared harshly. Her claw-like hands clutched at my lower back. "It's just sex, Konoe. Not exactly an execution." I had the sudden urge to push her back as she kneaded the back of my bottom in front of my father. "No worries. I will be as gentle as possible." Her languid smile made me want to crawl under a rock. This was not happening.

The demons around us started cheering and hollering. They instigated the Lady and yelled unspeakables at my father and grandfather. At that point, I only wanted the night to be over. I would even welcome the Lady's caresses with open arms as long as she stopped her people from treating me like some sexual slave to be publicly humiliated.

"We should get going," I saw Mana come up to us from behind the Lady. If I had thought the Lady's sword was covered in blood, it was nothing compared to Mana. I couldn't even see her dark skin, as she seemed to have taken a shower with the red liquid.

"Alright then," The Lady scooped me in her arms, grunting. "It was a pleasure, Konoes." Her wings flapped strongly. The demons around us prepared for their return as well. I noticed that none made an effort to carry the dead with them.

"W-Wait!" My father called after us, seconds away from our departure. He looked at me, then at the Lady. He showed signs of rapid aging. "Will you give her back tomorrow?" Lady Setsuna pursed her lips and hummed. A feeling of dread sank in my stomach. It couldn't-

"We shall see." We ignored the frantic calls of my father. For different reasons, I am sure.

Upon arrival we were showered with compliments, congratulations and a few suggestive gestures from the Lady's closest friends, or so they claimed to be. Lady Setsuna seemed unfazed by all this. She took it in and smiled boastfully the whole time, hugging me by my waist. It angered me that I only seemed to be a prize to show off. One of her many claims and nothing more.

A feast followed suit. It mildly surprised me that Lady Setsuna would also dine with her servants and soldiers. Here she was, sitting on one of the may pillows scattered around the tables, behaving like any other soldier. My perplexity must have been transparent, as she smiled leaned in my ear and explained,

"Here, tonight, we are all brothers and sisters. We are survivors. We are one." She nodded her head to a pig-headed demon in the far corner. "Our culture is different. We show off our scars and recount our battles proudly. We honor the dead by passing on their stories like him," The pig-headed demon snorted and grunted, stumbling on his feet and laughing with the other demons surrounding him. "He lost a blood-brother today, by your father's hand, I believe."

"You don't see him taking me as a trophy, though." I snapped bitterly at her. She hummed and caressed my leg tenderly.

"And he never will. Or I shall cut off his head and hands, and feed them to the dogs before burying the body under his family's house." Instinctively, I clasped her hand and stopped her from going further as I paled. You could hear the familiarity of her threat, and I no longer questioned her insanity.

"Where was I?" She started with the caresses again, but this time concentrating on my right knee. "His brother lost a fair fight, and his passing does not call for revenge. It is our way, Lady Kono- Can I call you Konoka?" She leaned and squeezed my knee with purpose. I nodded tersely. "Konoka," She tested my name on her lips, and it was not completely appalling. I was, however, angry with myself for agreeing so quickly.

"Royalty is a vague concept here. I am the ruler, but I am merely a symbolic figure most of the time. However, if I wanted it so, I could easily impose my special rights. Like I did when I stated my claim in you." Her claws scrapped my leg. "Technically speaking, you are now war loot in the eyes of this community. But, since I am the strongest demon, and I certainly do not share, they will not lay a hand on you." I shivered, thinking about what could have happened. What could happen if I angered the Lady.

"Will I ever see my family again?" I was met with loud laughter. Not only from the Lady, but from Mana and her 'lady companion' as well.

The Lady's claws rested on my thigh forcefully, yet not enough to damage me. "You haven't understood yet, have you?" I did. I most certainly did. But I wanted her to say it and confirm it herself.

"You will never leave my domain for as long as I live, Konoka." She smirked. That sardonic, self-contented smile I hated so much. "You are my property now. Mine."

Yay! Now I have to update ASBAN... tomorrow. I'm not in the mood to edit it right now. Maybe play some Fable III...

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