Nao clutched her stomach and laughed until tears ran down her face. She'd dropped by her victims apartment to see the reaction to her little "Gift". She sat down on the floor and wiped her eyes, still chuckling. Needless to say, Chie's reaction had been priceless. Standing up finally, she resumed spying through the window. Both were dressed now and Nao was almost disappointed, although it didn't last long, both were being rather awkward around each other.
"Ara… Nao appears to be quite happy, perhaps she would share the joke," Came the sing-song voice of none other than Shizuru Viola. Nao froze and turned to face her, looking completely innocent of any wrong doing. Getting up Kruger's nose was one thing… but pissing off Viola would most probably be fatal.
"Ah… not really that funny, actually…," Nao stammered, wondering whether Viola had caught onto her little prank. Viola merely smiled and approached the red-head.
"It seems Councilwoman Kruger requires your presence," Viola informed her, crimson orbs scanning the building opposite. They lingered on Chie's new form leaning against the window. Finally she turned back to Nao and raised an eyebrow at her, the younger blinked before scowling and lounging away. Soon she'd activated a portal and was gone, probably for a lecture from Natsuki and an even longer lecture from Garderobe's strict headmistress, Miss Maria Graceburt.
She turned back to the form in the window and allowed her mask to slip away, her pretty features forming a disapproving scowl. Nao had gone too far this time: magic around mortals and performing magic on a non-consenting mortal. She had a good feeling that Nao would be in deep trouble and having her powers bound was a very real possibility. Sighing, she dropped from the roof top and made her way into the opposite building.
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"Chie… can't we talk?" asked Aoi, leaning against the bathroom door. There was a muffled reply and Aoi sighed in exasperation. Aoi had asked Chie what they were going to do about the situation and half way through Chie's answer Aoi had burst out laughing, causing her partner to lock herself in the bathroom.
"Please Chie. I'm sorry, I couldn't help it… you were pulling faces," she whined, biting down the laughter that threatened to further offend Chie.
"No… your laughing at me," came Chie's muffled answer. Aoi swallowed and began to think of serious things. The problem was that the entire situation was hilarious, just not from Chie's point of view.
"Chie, please, come out. Your being childish," Aoi didn't hear Chie's reply as someone had knocked on Chie's door. Sighing, she stood up.
"Chie, someone's at the door," she called, the attempt to coax the girl into action failed when Chie didn't even bother too answer. Sighing once again, she made her way to the door and unlocked it. Opening it, she was greeted with sight of a smiling brunette. Aoi smiled back, although slightly hesitant.
"My name is Shizuru Viola, I hear you have had a little run in with Juliet Nao Zhang,"
Aoi stared at the stranger, wondering what bad thing would happen next. She blinked and gestured for Shizuru to enter. Shizuru smiled warmly and did so, admiring the apartment.
"Hang on," murmured Aoi, making her way to the bathroom once again. She hammered on the varnished brown wood to make sure she had her lover's full attention.
"Chie, it's someone about that Nao person…," Hissed Aoi, quickly checking up on the guest. Shizuru had seated herself on Chie's stylish leather sofa, seemingly at complete ease. The door was torn open and Chie poked her head out, suspicious at Aoi's information. Aoi blushed as she noticed Chie's shirt was undone, exposing a toned chest. There was no denying Chie made a really cute guy but Aoi felt herself longing to see the goofy female photographer she'd decided she loved since she was five. Chie glanced at her, clearly wondering what was making Aoi blush. Following her eyes, she also found herself blushing madly and began to hurriedly do up the buttons.
"What about Nao?" she whispered, before darting back into the bathroom and returning with her glasses. Aoi shrugged.
"She just said that she'd heard we'd had a "Little run in" with her," replied Aoi, glancing towards Shizuru. Chie snorted, derisively and followed Aoi's gaze.
"Little run in, huh?" They looked each other and Aoi leant up and kissed Chie lightly. Chie smiled before gesturing to the living room.
"Ladies first,"
Aoi giggled and headed into the living room, aware of Chie following her. Shizuru looked up as they entered and greeted them with wide smile and both of them sat down.
"As I've said before, my name is Shizuru Viola and I know what Nao has done. My job is to reverse this spell and inform you Nao is being severely punished for her misdeed," Shizuru informed them, radiating efficiency and competency. Aoi looked at Chie, whose face had broken out into a grin at Shizuru's affirmation that she was here to fix things.
"So you can turn Chie back?" asked Aoi, for confirmation. Shizuru nodded and Aoi also smiled.
"I'm afraid I'll have to wipe your memories of this incident though," added Shizuru, wondering what their reaction would be. To her surprise neither of them objected.
"Very well, Chie please stand over there," Chie obeyed and stood by the entrance to the hallway, looking understandably nervous. Aoi smiled reassuringly at her. Shizuru watched their interaction with a small smile, both clearly loved each other and she was reminded of herself and Natsuki. Shizuru extended her arm and focussed on Chie, gathering her magic. She quickly chanted the complex counter spell and began to channel her magic. Her eyes snapped open, however, when she realised her magic was having no effect. She cut of the spell, guessing that Nao had prepared a custom spell rather than a normal one.
"What's happing Ms. Viola, Chie hasn't turned back," Both were staring at her, looking worried and in Chie's case self-conscious as well. Shizuru sighed, wondering how to break the news.
"I can't counter the spell," Shizuru told them bluntly, there was no need to mince words here. Their faces fell and Chie suddenly looked slightly lost.
"You mean this could be permanent?" she asked, her voice quivering. Aoi moved past Shizuru to hold her lover up as Chie looked dangerously close to fainting.
"The spell Nao used is a custom made one and because I do not understand it, I can not reverse it," she explained, wincing as Chie's expression became one of horror. Aoi guided her to the sofa and Shizuru retook her seat opposite them.
"I just need some time to examine the spell that's all, don't worry I'll only need about a week," Chie went paler at the thought of spending a week as a man. She began swaying and then the inevitable finally happened, she fell back in a dead faint. Aoi checked that Chie was OK and then returned her attention to Shizuru.
"A week should be fine Ms. Viola but I have some concerns," Aoi informed her. Shizuru nodded her assent for Aoi to voice them.
"Well, a male Chie doesn't exist and the female Chie will be fired if she doesn't go into work. Not only that but people will become suspicious if they see a male residing in this apartment…," Aoi trailed off, hoping Shizuru had gotten her point. It seemed she had, as she was nodding in agreement.
"I can compose a spell to remedy that, what else is there?" Shizuru sensed another concern that Aoi seemed reluctant to voice. The brunette shifted awkwardly and blushed.
"Can Chie get me pregnant?" she whispered, clearly uncomfortable. Shizuru looked them both and sighed.
"My answer to that is I truly do not know. Nao's custom spell is beyond my understanding at the moment, it may be possible so if you are planning to have sex, use protection," advised Shizuru before standing up, her body language clearly indicating she was leaving. Aoi saw her to the door and watched her leave.
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Shizuru stepped into the morning bustle and followed everyone else. The soon reached a tall and imposing building and her heart soared as she spotted the green-eyed beauty on the steps.
"Natsuki was waiting for me, how sweet," giggled Shizuru, noting the faint blush that appeared on Natsuki's cheeks. Despite the blush Natsuki shot her a glare.
"So," she demanded, clearly showing she was in a bad mood. Shizuru sighed, after all that effort spent relaxing the woman this morning.
"Nao used a custom, I am unable to undo it at the present but I'm working on it. What happened with Nao?" Natsuki frowned in annoyance.
"I wanted to bind her totally and Haruka was with me. Reito, Ein and Yukino voted against it, at which point Haruka defected. We settled on a temporary six-month bind and a year confinement to Garderobe. If she breaks that, she'll receive a permanent bind," grumbled the blunette, adding an extra scowl as she mentioned Haruka's betrayal. Shizuru sighed, thinking of her loud blond friend.
"She's really got it bad for Yukino, hasn't she? I've never seen her this happy," observed Shizuru, watching as two magicians past them and entered the building.
"Huh? Haruka, yeah," replied Natsuki, clearly still annoyed with the defection. Shizuru smiled and guided her girlfriend into the building, planning mild naughtiness in the office and not-so-mild naughtiness for after Natsuki finished work.
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Back in Chie's flat, Chie was still out on the sofa only now her head was on Aoi's lap. Aoi was had one of the many game shows on but was far more interested in playing with Chie's hair. Smiling softly, she pulled it away from her face.
"A week, huh? A week until everything will be back to normal. That's when I'll do it, I'll tell everyone because I really love you Chie," she murmured.
A/N: Fox will take priority over this story so updates may be irregular. Remember to review!
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