"Kotaro, I thought you said you pulled…" Yue started screaming at Kotaro, beet red in the face.
"I did, I swear!" he replied, the same color as Yue.
"I…I…" Yue began, but she fell to her knees and Kotaro quickly scooped her up.
"I don't know if I'm ready for something like this Kotaro…" she sobbed into his shoulder.
"It's not a definite Yue…" Kotaro consoled.
"Oh, yes it is," the elder responded, stroking his beard.
"You're not helping!" Kotaro yelled back.
"You're more than welcome to make your home here," the elder affirmed, "And I would be honored if you all would stay as my personal guests."
The group agreed, and they were each given their personal rooms, save the couples who were to share.
"Well, I guess with that, I'll be seeing you in the morning," the elder smiled.
The group was led down the stairs by the familiar maid and to their rooms. For several minutes, Kotaro and Yue sat on the bed in each other's care, wondering what they would do next. Yue was confused…she was happy to be having Kotaro's child…but at the same time, this wasn't the right place for it…and with the World Tree in bloom in the next six months, she wasn't sure she wanted to make the jump while expecting. She just didn't know what to do…but what she did know is that part of it felt right…and she couldn't picture it being with anyone except Kotaro.
The next morning came much faster than the group had expected, but this hadn't stopped them from being early to rise, and the majority of them were already up and moving when the maid came to their rooms to wake them.
"Such a lively bunch you are!" the maid commented with a smile, "By the way, since you will be staying with us for a while, my name is Oyu Sarutawa. If you ever need anything, feel free to ask."
The maid quickly gathered the group together and walked them into the center hallway.
"The master has told me that you nine and your ermine are free to stay here for as long as you request asylum…" the maid announced happily, "However, I have been requested to inform you to remain in the front part of the house until the master is securely comfortable with your presence. "
The group looked around at each other to see the others' expressions…many were wearing the same. Not one of them had fully expected to be given complete trust, but Kotaro and Negi had only expected to be allowed to take up residence…they had no idea that they were going to be living in the governor's mansion.
"You are free to wander the main halls of the mansion and you are permitted to leave at any time," the maid continued, "However, if you are planning on wandering the streets of the city for any amount of time, the master requests that you take caution."
The maid looked directly at Setsuna and Kotaro this time, "The master may permit your presence, but not everyone in the city is bound to have the same thoughts. It will be dangerous for you to appear as anything but normal."
The two quickly nodded, and the rest of the group couldn't help but agree with the maid…they may be out of the dangers of the wild, but they were still surrounded by prejudice and oppressions for any non-humans.
"Now, if you will all follow me, the master has requested your presence in the main council chambers."
The group were swiftly ushered to the council-room's doors and led inside. Once they'd entered, the maid shut the doors behind them and they were left facing a group of three men. The one at the head of the table was the only familiar face among them: it was the elder, Fleaux.
The group walked over to the table and were requested to take their seats. There were exactly enough chairs for all of them…it was obvious that the elder had planned this meeting since they arrived.
"Are these them men and women you spoke of?" the man to the left of the elder asked.
"Indeed they are…" the man to the right of the elder responded, "And such power flows from them…"
The first man eyed the group cautiously, gauging them as either friend or foe.
"Which among you is the leader?" the first man asked.
The group looked at each other curiously, but Negi was the one who answered, "There is no leader among us."
"You misunderstand me, which of you is in charge?"
Negi sighed and decided to explain himself in more detail.
"For their to be a leader in a group," Negi began explaining to the man, "There has to be a need for one. A leader is one who takes charge of situations to lead to a favorable outcome. Among us, there is no need for it. We each work together as a group, each taking the necessary precautions to survive. If you want to look at it in your way of thinking…"
"We are all the leader," Kotaro finished for him. "We each take charge of specific areas. Early on in our travels, we encountered things that are unimaginable…been put in positions where we would have had to sacrifice…but because we all knew things like this would happen, we were prepared. We each took a specific trait and acted upon it. Yue is our tactical advisor; Konoka is our healer; Nodoka is our practical spellcaster and sentry; Asuna is our magic evasion specialist and practical defense against powerful magics; Setsuna is our airborne infantry specialist and lookout; Chisame is our information specialist;
Haruna is our artillery backup; Negi is our heavy hitter and powerful magic specialist; and I'm our front line offense as well as seeker."
"Who are you people…?" the man to the right of the elder asked after a moment. Kotaro briefly studied the man. He wore a thin cloak the hid his overly frail body…Kotaro could only assume that he was a magic specialist for this town.
"We're just travelers," Asuna replied to the man, "Trying to get home."
The man to the elder's left walked forward, drawing his sword. He swung it at Negi as proficiently as any warrior, but instead of blocking with his staff or jumping out of the way, Negi blocked it with the back of his bare hand.
"With a magic barrier that powerful, I doubt that you are just travelers," the man stated, pulling his sword back, "This only proves it."
The man was about to put the sword back in its sheath when he heard a shattering sound and pieces of metal hit the floor. He looked down at what was left of his weapon: the hilt and about an inches worth of steel. He quickly turned his horrified gaze back to the man he had swung his weapon at.
"We are here at the request of your elder and the last time I checked, he didn't order you to draw your weapon to me," Negi marked with a deadly tone in his voice, "Next time, it won't be your blade."
The man looked to each member of the group; with the exception of Haruna and Chisame, they all wore similar expressions…expressions that told the man that his chosen opponent was telling the truth.
"I'm afraid he's correct," the elder spoke up, speaking directly to the horrified officer, "I did not order you to attack him, and doing so is unruly. If this happens again, I will see to it that the young man does repay your threat."
The elder looked at Negi directly, who was still wearing an unhappy expression, "I apologize for his actions, know that this is no direct threat from our city."
The elder stood and bowed low, and Negi couldn't help but change his mood.
"It's alright, elder-sama," the red-headed mage responded happily, but his expression changed a moment afterwards, showing that he was ready to get down to business.
"Right, I have requested you appear here today so I could introduce to you General Tobei, the man who so quickly could have earned the title of your enemy, and Prime Councilman Guiji."
The group stood and bowed to the men.
"My, have you all done that before? It looks rather practiced…" Guiji asked.
There was a sweatdrop hanging from everyone's head in the room, save the two officials.
"Ah, it is no matter," the man continued, oblivious to the others, "We have actually come to request your assistance."
Kotaro and Asuna quickly eyed the man…they knew what he was about to ask.
"We request your assistance against the incoming attack of the bird tribe. I know that you are travelers, and I know not where you come from, nor when you plan to leave, but I request…no, the entire council requests that you assist us."
"I'm afraid that it isn't really our pla…" Asuna began.
"Gladly," Negi, Kotaro, and Setsuna all replied at the same time.
Asuna's mouth dropped, "Wasn't it you who told us not to interfere…" she began.
"There's something that I've come to realize, Asuna," Negi replied, "I'll tell you about it when we're done in this meeting…Kotaro and Setsuna have come to the conclusion as well."
With a swift motion, Asuna wacked Negi across the head, knocking him to the ground, "This better be good!"
"Your sister?" the elder asked, laughing to himself.
"Something like that…" Negi replied, rubbing his head.
"Though I know not your reasons…" the councilmen noted, eyeing the group carefully, "We appreciate your assistance. We will come for you in one weeks time…we request that you introduce yourselves to our main force and meet with our generals. I'm sure there is much we can learn from you…and you from us."
The man bowed low and took his place beside the elder once more.
"Know that, even though you cooperate, I do not trust you," Tobei stated, giving the group a hard look, "The others may be quick to trust, but that has led to many deaths on the battlegrounds. I'm sure you understand."
The group nodded and began walking to the door.
"Kotaro! Yue!" the elder called out, "If you would please stay behind, I would like to have a word with the two of you. The rest of you please enjoy your time among us."
There were a few comments from the group: a few 'thank you's and one 'yeah, yeah'. When the group had left, he called the remaining two over to him and dismissed the councilman and general. Though the room had been full of anxiety and people a moment before, standing in front of the old gentleman couldn't help but put Kotaro and Yue at ease…he was a very easy man to trust.
"I would like to talk to you about your…predicament, Yue," the man commented gently, realizing the flood of emotions that had run over the young woman, "When I told you that you were pregnant, I wasn't entirely sure of myself, and I'm still not."
Yue looked at the man in surprise, "What do you mean?"
"Well, it's hard to explain…it feels like the part of Kotaro that I felt is a part of you, not so much new life. It feels like raw magical energy."
Yue looked at the man, still blatantly confused.
"Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you aren't expecting…I'm just saying that you may not be. While I do admit that it's the exact same feeling I get from Kotaro, it still feels like something else. But, just in case, I would like to offer you a permanent residence here."
Yue and Kotaro just looked at the man blankly. They had no way to tell the man that they were travelling forward in time…trying to get home to a place that didn't even exist yet. Yue looked up to Kotaro for a moment, and he saw a bit of anxiety in her eyes…along with a hint of worry.
"Sir…I really don't…" Kotaro began but was interrupted when Yue grabbed his cheeks and pulled his face to hers, kissing him abruptly.
"This is…something that we need to do, Kotaro…we may want to get home…but if I'm pregnant…I don't want to chance anything happening to the child…" she whispered to him.
"We?" Kotaro asked, "I don't care where I am Yue, so long as it's with you…it's your decision. Whatever you choose, I will follow."
Yue looked back to the elder, blushing. "If it turns out…that I am pregnant, we would like to take you up on your offer," she affirmed quietly.
The elder gave her a huge smile.
"In that case…I would like to ask you to live with me…as heir to this clan."
Yue and Kotaro stood shocked…why did this man, who he had just met, want to leave his own clan in the hands of them?
"You look shocked…" the elder noted in an overly calm manner, "You shouldn't be so surprised!"
"How can we not be?" Kotaro nearly yelled, wide-eyed, "Why would you leave your clan to two complete strangers?"
The elders gaze seemed to leave the present…he stared down at Kotaro's feet for a moment and snapped back to reality.
"Because you're heart is in the right place. Tryval was my only living heir…the rest have died in this bloody war."
Kotaro's visage turned from shocked to sadden almost immediately.
"That right there proves my point," the elder commented, "But you want to know what the most interesting part of it all is?"
Kotaro looked at the man, trying to regain his previous expression.
"You remind me of my son…so much…it's like you two shared a personality…"
Yue brushed Kotaro's arm to get his attention and told him that the others were probably waiting for them.
"Right…" Kotaro replied, trying to hide his thoughts, "We should be going Elder-sama."
"Very well," the elder replied, walking them to the door, "My offer stands, Kotaro; Yue. You are a welcome sight in this household."
The two bowed to the elder and took their leave. Once they reached the stairs, they heard the elder call out to them one more time…this one made Kotaro freeze in his tracks.
"Oh, and my son's middle name was Kotaro."
