Disclaimer: None of the anime used in this story belong to the writer. This is a work of fiction done for fun, not money. Please do not sue. You won't get much anyway.
Chapter Four: Endless Summer
"Well," the young red-haired man muttered, "I guess there's no question that they've occupied Orimus. They've completely dominated your country, Princess. What do we do now?"
Eight figures stood on the bow of the airship, overlooking the scene below—a great palace in the center of the marvelous, gleaming city, floating in the sky itself, surrounded by hordes of great winged demon-like beasts. The two at the front were young, perhaps thirteen years old, the boy with wild red hair and dressed in simple traveling clothes and a brilliant white cloak and the girl with long, light violet hair in a white dress with a blue blouse. Standing at the girl's elbow was a young woman of about sixteen years of age. Her golden hair was bound up at the back of her head in a lady's bun, and she wore an armored blue dress and held a large, shining golden sword. At the boy's other side was a young man of also about sixteen years, with darker skin and black hair, and his own cloak and robes of black. Just next to him was an older man (compared to the children), nearly twenty, with slicked-back black hair and square glasses, and he held a long katana in his hand.
The final three figures, standing some distance behind them, were all taller than the rest. The one on the left wore a duster, a fedora, and dark sunglasses, obscuring most of his noticeable features—but creating a new image that was quite memorable in its own right. In the middle, the seemingly oldest man stood with light hair and visible stubble, glasses, and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. He was dressed in a fine white suit. The man on the right, in actuality the oldest by far, was dressed in a black kimono, the shihakushô, with the white haori (sleeveless) over the top of it, and he wore a light pink scarf around his neck. His hair was adorned by strange ornate white semi-tubes, clamped to his carefully-groomed long black hair.
The 'princess' observed the scene. "This didn't happen overnight…but there's too much even for you to root them all out here. We need to find the source of their power…how they created all these creatures…."
"That's what I'm here for." A white ermine appeared on the shoulder of the red-haired young man. "I don't like what I see, either."
"What's up, Kamo?" the young man demanded.
"Well, the news isn't good, Kalan." The ermine sat up and folded his arms (or, perhaps, forepaws). "That source Aeli's talking about is inside the palace itself—right in the heart. And…it's a human. Mostly."
"Human?" queried the blond woman.
"'Mostly'? Would you like to explain, Kamo?" demanded the black-cloaked man.
"These things aren't demons, exactly," Kamo continued. "They're not quite magic spirits like me, either…they're some sort of elemental. They've…been here on Arcanus Myrror a long time, insinuating themselves into it…at least the leaders have been. And they've bred a weapon out of the royal bloodline of Kanev, the last descendants of the royal kingdom of Takiva…a child infused with magical domination."
"Of the bloodline of Kanev?" Aeli murmured. "So…my relation?"
"Third or fourth cousin, perhaps. From what I've been able to divine, they've been preparing this in secret for hundreds of years. In any case, she can nullify and breakdown, or create and build up, magic—we're talking a superweapon-class magical ability…."
"You can give us the full details later," Kalan remarked. "If they're using this child, we need to get her out of their clutches."
The Soul Reaper strode forward. "If this child is a weapon created by the Obsidian Star to dominate this world, we should eliminate it—it is the only prudent course of action."
"There's always a better way than that, Byakuya," Kalan replied. "If we have to…we'll see how it goes. But if nothing else, we should rescue her…." He looked up at the approaching monsters. "Jynx, Eishun, Gato, Aiden, Saber…let's go…."
They leapt into action. Byakuya Kuchiki appeared high in the air and met the great white winged demons that came swooping down. He raised his sword and held it in front of his face. "Scatter, Senbonzakura [The Thousand Cherry Blossoms]." The sword changed into a pinkish strip of light and then dispersed into a blizzard of pinkish petal-light objects. They swept up and met the incoming swarm, and in moments cut them into innumerable pieces.
Gato Kagura Vandenberg leapt into the air, his hands in his pockets. Moving his hands more swiftly than the eye could see, he used the kanka energy that infused him to create huge blasts of energy with his iaiken strikes, blowing holes in the ranks of the enemy army.
Eishun Higurashi put his sword to use as he moved into the armada, cutting down his foes left and right. These beasts, as Kamo had said, were not exactly demons, but his spirit-nullifying sword style still proved quite effective against them.
Aiden Rylack remained on the airship with Aeli Kanna. He stepped in front of her and smiled as a larger portion of the horde came sweeping in. "Goodness," he muttered. "Did they bring enough monsters? I better get busy." He drew a card from his coat. "Adeat," he intoned.
A transparent bubble that slightly distorted sight rose up around him, enveloping him. Within the bubble, behind where he now stood, rose shelves and benches lined with firearms. He swept up a pair of large machine pistols and started reigning fire upon the oncoming horde. The beasts, shredded, dissolved to nothing as his deadly shots tore through them. When the guns were empty, he dropped them and found new guns to use. Some of the beasts returned fire, launching blasts of energy, breathing out bursts of fire, or sending forth streaks of lightning, but all the missiles sailed into that bubble of distorted space and simply vanished. Aiden continued shifting guns, discarding them when they were finally empty, and then sweeping up a new weapon—and on he went, upgrading to larger and larger firearms, from assault rifles to, finally, a large missile launcher that fired its missiles in a three-round burst.
Down below, not far from Eishun, the girl called 'Saber', Artoria Pendragon, ran through the ranks on the ground, cleaving through them with her golden blade. After clearing out some space, she raised the sword above her head and it flared out an even brighter light. "Excalibur!" she shouted, bringing the sword down in a mighty swing, and bringing forth from it a wave of light that cleared a large hole in the crowd.
The black-cloaked Allen 'Jynx' Black flew into the air and spread his arms out. Fire wrapped around his hands. "Well…let's heat up this party, shall we?" He raised his hands and pointed them. "Inferno!" Flame swept through the monsters, turning them to ash.
And Kalan Lockeheart was at the forefront, heading straight towards the palace. Drawing a small katana, a wakizashi, from the folds of his cloak, he went into the battle with blade and spell. He wasn't as flashy as some of his comrades, but he was an inexorable doom, an unstoppable wave of death as he moved without pause towards the palace. Any creature that came to close to him was instantly cut in two, or blown away by the merest hint of a spell.
He touched down at the gates and strode purposefully up to them. At a gesture they threw themselves open. Jynx and Eishun arrived to flank him as he walked into the palace.
There, throbbing in the center of the great entrance hall, was an enormous pink crystal. It glowed with a chilling, evil aura. Steeling himself, Kalan began to approach it.
And then went flying aside from a blast of electricity. Jynx and Eishun watched him soar, then turned their gaze to the source of the attack. A tall, thin man stood there, one hand still extended, dressed in a navy blue suit with wild blond hair. "Poclian Eminus, the Eminus of Thunder," he intoned. "So…the famous Red Wings. I owe you my compliments from my predecessor that you defeated in Grand Chokma. You will not have the Crystal Princess."
Jynx and Eishun readied themselves for combat, but Kalan's voice cut through the air: "Hold it. He's mine." Kalan strode back into view, dusting himself off. "Eminus of Thunder, eh? So they have a more potent general guarding the treasure? Bring it on."
Jynx and Eishun then watched the one-sided scene as Eminus went flying back and forth across the room, Kalan beating him like a rag doll.
"He's not very sharing in situations like this, is he?" Eishun asked.
"Yeah, well…he doesn't take being struck very well," Jynx half-apologized.
Finally the creation went flying out of an upper window. As Kalan slapped his hands together, dusting them off, Aeli walked in with Saber flanking her.
"Ah? Princess…."
The girl walked up to the stone and put a hand to it. She shivered slightly, but forced herself to peer inside. "There she is," she murmured. "First we have to get rid of this." She lowered her head and began to chant. "Guardian Spirits of the kingdom of my ancestors, gather here to banish this darkness from our land." There followed a string of syllables in an alien tongue, and then the crystal, with a low whine, stopped its glow. Then cracks began to spread across the crystal, and finally it shattered, the fragments evaporating as they dispersed. In the place where the crystal stood was a magic circle, and kneeling in the center of it was a small girl, perhaps six years of age, dressed in a royal gown of Kanev Kingdom's ancient predecessor. Her hair was short and red-orange, her eyes bright violet. She gazed up with an almost blank expression.
Aeli knelt down in front of the girl, and in a moment Kalan joined her. "Are you all right, little one?" Aeli asked.
The girl looked at her blankly. "Can you tell me your name?" Aeli continued.
The girl seemed to react to this. "Mai…Mai Alusia Hairen Takiva."
"Quite a name," Kalan noted. "Still…Mai, eh? Don't worry, little lady. You don't have to worry about anything anymore. We'll take care of you." He stood up and turned away. "They're just small fry, but we'll go take care of the beasts so that we can get out of here. I'll leave Mai to you, Princess. Jynx, Eishun…let's go."
"With Aiden, Kuchiki-san and Gato still going to work outside, I'm not sure how many are left," Eishun noted.
"I saw Aiden activate his card earlier," Jynx added. "That'll almost certainly make Byakuya release his Bankai. If he does, there really won't be anything left…."
Aeli took the hand of the girl and drew her to her feet. Aeli could feel the stirring emotions within the girl. She shuddered as she thought of how she must have been raised, prepared as if she were a meat animal, and then drained of the limitless mana she generated, to become a living superweapon….
She shoved the feelings aside and smiled at the girl as they approached the waiting Artoria. "Like Kalan said: there's nothing more for you to worry about…you may not even understand what it means right now, but you'll be safe with us from now on…."
Mai sat bolt upright in her bed. She sat there, gasping, panting, staring at the wall. She raised her hands to her head. "No…don't go away…don't…forget…I have to remember…I…I can help…if only…."
Momo stirred and finally rose. She blearily saw Mai sitting up in her bed. Rubbing her eyes, she made her way over. "Mai…what's the matter…?" She stared at the tears running from Mai's eyes. "Is something wrong?"
"W-what? N-no, nothing." Mai brushed at her eyes with her sleeve. "Nothing at all. E-everything's fine…."
She hurried out of bed and went to the window. She stared out of it, but she was looking at nothing on the other side of the glass. ('If only…I could remember…it's all so close, but it slips through my fingers….') She shook her head. ('They…didn't want me to remember…there was so much pain and sadness in my past. But…I don't want this…everyone's sacrificed so much for me…Takamichi…and Gato, Kalan and Aeli too…I owe so much to them, but…I can't stand it, being in so much debt….
('Other than Kain, no one has more reason to go into the magical world than I do. If I can help him…that will help pay back a little of what I owe….')
8-8-8
"What's this? Why are we meeting here, Mai?" Kain asked.
With Kamo on his shoulder, he stood up on the roof that served as an athletics court for class 3-A, with Mai in front of him and Nodoka, Kagome, Yue, Momo, and Ami flanking him.
"We're recruiting," Mai explained.
"Recruiting?" Mai handed Kain a paper, and he took it and examined it. "'New Club Creation Application'? What's this?"
"Just as it says, of course."
"But…this is sudden…what kind of club is this?" Kain pressed.
"It's like this…you said that once you went to the magic country, you might not be able to come back anymore, right?"
"Ah, yes…but…."
"Well," Kamo piped up, "it is a completely cut-off world, after all…most of the inhabitants of the magical world live there because they want nothing to do with this one, or they have been raised to think that they're different and special and should be separated. They're all pretty isolationistic. We're talking about…well, sneaking into a place like that. Regardless of the actual danger we're getting involved in, you see…."
"So…that's the reason you might not be able to come back?" Mai asked Kain.
"W-well…."
"I don't think that's good enough." She shook her head fiercely. "You have to come back. We have to come back. We're all determined to follow you, and we all are determined to come back here afterwards. I won't say you can't go if it's dangerous…you already asked me, and, more than just because you asked, I want to go, for myself, to help find your father and recover him. So I'm not giving you all the responsibility…we are going, and we are going to come back. Got that?"
Kain stared at her in shock, and then a look of appreciation crossed his face. "Yes. Thank you, Mai."
"Ho-ho," Kamo said, leering. "What a statement…not even Kain's biggest fans have sounded this determined, Mai. Are you finally admitting your true feelings?"
"W-what?" Mai demanded, as both she and Kain reddened. "W-what are you talking about!? I j-just…."
"It's all right, it's all right," Kamo soothed her. "Well, I understand, actually…I would have thought with your personality that you would come on this only reluctantly, or out of duty…as a disciple, or maybe even as a friend. But…you really want this almost as much as Kain, now, don't you? That's pretty much what you said…."
"T-that's right…I did…."
"And you meant it." He nodded. "Even after what Jynx and Hawk told you, your memory is still spotty, isn't it? I'd wager you'd like to find the rest of your answers…."
"R-right." She took in a deep breath and sighed. "Regardless, that means we've got our objective. So, getting back to this club…it's a club for 'Finding Kalan Lockeheart and Making It Back to This School Safely' Club. Okay, I know the name needs a bit of work, but that's the general idea for it. It means we can get school sponsorship for our travel and activities…and I'm sure the school's authorities won't have a problem about it. I've already talked about it and worked some things out with Hinagiku-san and some others. Of course, every club needs a teacher as an advisor, of course, and that means…you. Anyone have a problem with this?"
The five girls behind Kain stared at her in appreciation. Obviously, there was none.
8-8-8
"Oh…the 'Lockeheart Family Research' Club (Temporary)?" Alyssa smiled. "Even if it's only a temporary name, it could use some work…."
"Y-yes, I know," Mai agreed. She was accompanied by Akari, Kiami and Hikaru as she broached her new idea to Alyssa. "It's the best we could come up with right now…."
"In any case, it's a good excuse to cheat some funds out of the school in order to have your vacation to Wyoming, and thence to the magical world, right? Very clever of you. I didn't think you capable of such an idea, Tokiha Mai. Still…about the trip…what does it have to do with me?"
"Isn't it what you want, too?" Mai insisted. "Isn't finding Kalan important to you as well? Since you can't leave the school grounds, we can go in your place."
"Hmph. Of course. And so, you want me to take the title of 'honorary' or 'vice advisor'…and that just means you want my resort to be your clubroom, right? Well, I don't really mind. You're already all using it as your second home, so it's not like anything will change much. Except the resort itself."
Mai glanced at Alyssa in confusion. "What? What do you mean?"
"Why don't you come see? Things have changed since you were last there…."
Indeed, things had changed. There were now five glass orbs set in the basement of Alyssa's cottage, standing on pedestals above a magic circle, connected by glass tubes. Different scenes were found within—a fiery volcanic land, a desert, a frozen wasteland, and a thick and heavy forest.
"W-what happened here?" Mai asked in wonder.
"This is for the boy's new training, of course."
They entered the middle platform, and instead of the usual resort, there was a new palace situated in a jungle, set on a massive cliff with a great huge waterfall flowing around it.
"Oh…a tropical jungle!" Akari said. "Nice!"
Miyu approached, dressed in a maid outfit as she sometimes was at the resort. "Welcome to the Lebenschelt Castle," she said. She pointed at the symbols on the entry platform (like the previous one, on a huge pillar a good distance from the main estate…even longer than the previous estate's)—six magic pentagrams, carefully inscribed. "You may use these warp points to move between the various training areas." She pointed at the sixth pentagram—one was in the exact center with four surrounding it, and the sixth was forward towards where the platform met the bridge. "This one is a shortcut to warp right to the castle, since the distance is so vast here…."
"Mostly, I installed that for Hinagiku," Alyssa sniffed. "I've gotten so tired of her whining every time she comes in."
"Anyway, let's check it out…!" Akari began, heading to one of the pentagrams.
"Yes, let's," Kiami agreed, and the pair leapt onto their target.
"Oi, you brats…."
The pair, followed by Hikaru, Mai and Alyssa, explored the four worlds, marveling at the cold (negative 40 degrees Celsius) of the arctic land, the heat of the desert (50 degrees Celsius), and the threats of the other two lands.
"Anyway, we should head back," Alyssa sighed as they contented themselves with their explorations. "The others should be waiting for you already…."
Miyu led them up to another platform balcony dining area, where Kain eagerly greeted them. "Mai, Akari-san, Kiami-san, Hikaru-kun…I assume your talk went well? Not that I had any doubts…."
"Y-yes…."
"Of course I agreed," Alyssa said. "Really, did you doubt it? I find this all too interesting to deny you your own little whims."
"I figured that," Kain agreed. "But this was all Mai's idea, so I wanted her to be the one to take care of it…."
"Hmm. Of course…. In any case, we're about to take a break from training, and eat and have tea. You might as well join us, since you won't be leaving for a while…because, naturally, the same rules apply," Alyssa informed them. "You're in here for twenty-four hours at a time."
After the tea, the assembled group gathered—Kain, Kenjirô, Hikaru, Mai, Momo, Kagome, Nodoka, Yue, Ami, Hinagiku, Akari, Kiami, Kazumi, Erika, Rei, Nanami, and Kamolai, with Alyssa and Miyu looking on.
"In any case, we've created this club and gotten a club room," Kagome noted. "All that's left to do is officially begin our quest!"
"Actually, I think I'd rather find a new name first," Kiami noted. "The 'Lockeheart Family Research Club' sounds nice and all, but a little…ostentatious…."
"Oh, let's not worry about that again," Hinagiku sighed. "We'll think of something. As long as we know what the club is for…."
"Well, in some ways, this might be setting up to be the best summer vacation ever," Nanami noted. "Thanks to Alyssa-chan, we have the resort to get our homework taken care of right off the bat, and then we'll have our entire summer vacation to enjoy! And with this wonderful resort with its perfect temperatures, hot springs, beach, saunas and massage parlor and everything else it offers at only one hour for every twenty-four we spend in here, we can have an endless summer! And then the opportunity to possibly investigate the magical world? This could be a dream come true!"
"You're awfully excited for someone who really doesn't do much," Alyssa grumbled. "Why are you even part of this group?"
"Ah, well…."
"I can vouch for her," Kamo insisted, hopping onto Nanami's shoulder. "Sure, she isn't a fighter, but she contributes her own part all the same…she's my handy sidekick. And before too long we'll have her contracted, too, so…."
"Hmph. Whatever. You can work the name out, but the other thing you need to do is come up with a president, right? Who's your club president going to be?"
The girls exchanged glances, then Kazumi offered, "Well, perhaps it should be Hina-san…she is our kaichô, after all…."
"W-well, Hinagiku-san might be the logical choice," Ami put in.
"No," Hinagiku said flatly, to the surprise of all. "I'm not the most qualified this time." She turned and stared at the most qualified. "Mai-san is the one who should be this club's president. She has many qualifications for it. After all, she's Kain-sensei's first contract, the one who's kept us all going all this time. She's even the one who had the idea for this club in the first place and got it all ready. And, of course, she's an important princess of the magical world, too, and knew Kain-sensei's father long ago…I think she's the one best qualified to serve as the leader of this club."
Mai was taken aback by this declaration. The rest of the girls exchanged glances at this, looking at each other in surprise…save Kagome, who smiled and nodded. "I agree. This is definitely Mai's project!"
Momo smiled. "I'll agree with that. I'll cast my vote for her."
"I think Mai-san has leadership skills, too," Nodoka agreed.
"Considering how you led during the School Festival's crisis, I agree that you showed the capability," Yue put in.
Kiami chuckled. "Ah, Mai-chan…your popularity is skyrocketing…it's good to be liked, ne?"
Mai stared at them all, then laughed in embarrassment, scratching the back of her head. "Ah…you guys are making me blush…really, now." She looked aside and added, "Well, I-I'm not sure I'm really qualified, but if you'll have me…I'll do my best…."
"Is that so?" Alyssa suddenly piped up. "Well, I'm not sure it's the correct choice. I'm more on the thought that Hinagiku would be better suited."
As the group stared at her, aghast, Hinagiku began, "N-now look here, Alyssa-chan…."
"During your speech to me, you stated the club's purpose as 'protecting Kain-sensei while he looks for his father'," Alyssa explained. "But is that really possible for a girl like you…a mere middle school student? Hinagiku claimed that your previous life's title was a good reason for your ascension to president, but you're actually worlds away from that reality, aren't you? A few scattered memories do not a princess make. You're entering unknown, dangerous territory…of all of you, Akari, Hinagiku and Kiami are the only ones who have shown the necessary skills to be the leader of this kind of adventure. Of those three, only Hinagiku has the mental power." Alyssa glanced askew at Mai. "You could fall into that category…if you were to prove strong enough to contend with the kinds of horrors you'll be facing."
Mai scowled back at her. She was not a particularly glory-seeking or flashy individual, but she did have a healthy measure of pride, and even if she never sought the prestige of being president, to be dismissed so summarily by Alyssa grated on her nerves. "Then what do I need to do to prove myself?" she demanded.
Alyssa smiled evilly. "Shall we have a test? It's a simple one. It will determine if you are strong enough to be this club's president."
"Fine then…what's the test?"
"Is this…really the test?" Kain asked with concern as he and Mai stood opposite each other on the arena platform Alyssa had installed in one of the lower levels.
"The rules are the same as the boy's apprenticeship test," Alyssa explained curtly. "It's Mai versus Kain. If Mai can get one clean hit on Kain, then she passes and can be the club president. This time, however, I'm installing a time limit—you have fifteen minutes."
"Are you sure?" Mai demanded. "No restrictions this time on what I can or can't use? If it's just one hit, I should easily manage that in fifteen minutes, even against Kain…."
"And personally, why do I have to participate?" Kain grumbled. "I think Mai is fine as the president…."
"Oh?" Alyssa hissed. "Well, do you care for your dear Mai, then? Then you should take this seriously. Mai now seems as determined as you are to take off into the magical world, but do you really think any of you are ready? Do you think she's ready to stand next to you as a leader? If your leaders are unprepared, their troops get killed. You better not go easy on her…because if she can't pass this test, she won't be ready to go into the magical world."
Kain glared at Alyssa, but sighed and turned his face to Mai. "Fine, then. No restrictions?"
"None. But remember, Kain…if you go easy on her on purpose, I'll skin you alive."
"If I do, I get the feeling Mai would do that herself," Kain mumbled. He readied himself. "Okay, then."
Mai also prepared herself. "I'm ready, too."
"Very well, then. Begin!"
Both activated their kanka abilities, and Mai followed by calling forth her artifact. ('This shouldn't be a problem…Kain's gotten so strong, but I can use kanka now, too, and even if I haven't learned from Erika as well as Kain's learned from Akari-san, I have some fighting experience and training as well. Plus, I have an even better grasp of my anti-magic powers…Kain can't possibly hurt me with his magic, even his chaos magic. So, clearing this will be simple…and I have to do it…for Kalan's sake, for Aeli's sake…and most of all, for Kain's sake, I won't lose!')
Mai dashed in at Kain…and immediately he moved inside her reach, grabbing her arm and twisting it in a simple lock, then planted an elbow in her stomach. She gasped, stunned, eyes wide, from the force of the blow. As she stared down at his crouched form in shock, he stared up in concern, hesitating.
"Hey! Boy!" Alyssa snapped. "What are you doing? Hesitating? Did Miyu go easy on you before? We have a healer here, too, so don't worry about how close you'll come to killing her! Just take her out!"
Mai had recovered and tried to seize the initiative on Kain as he crouched there, hesitating, but he reacted swiftly to her recovery, stepping behind her and sending her flying with an acrobatic capoeira kick. The kick was strong, fierce, and Mai bounced across the ground several times before falling off the edge of the platform.
"Mai…" Kain murmured.
"Keep going until the woman says 'I give up'," Alyssa instructed him coldly. "It's an insult to her if you don't."
"Easy for you to say…" Kain muttered.
"N-not yet, Kain-sensei…." He turned and stared as Mai floated back onto the platform. "Not yet…I'm fine with that." This she said, despite the fact that she was already breathing hard.
"I'm not done yet!" she insisted, charging in again. Kain suddenly stepped above her and kicked her down into the ground. She bounced like a basketball, but even as she tried to recover, her head reeling, Kain was on her again. She gritted her teeth as she tried desperately to meet his attack. ('How!? How is there such a difference between us!? I'm…I've gotten so much stronger, I can't lose to him this badly…just one hit!')
8-8-8
"…The fifteen minutes are up."
Mai lay on the ground, panting, breathless, haggard, disheveled, unable even to levitate with her rings' power. Alyssa approached her and smirked. Kain, without expression or declaration, turned and walked slowly up the stairs, taking his cloak from Kenjirô en route, knowing he couldn't say anything to her at that point.
Alyssa watched him go, still smirking, then turned back to Mai. "Trying to protect someone when that's the extent of your power?" she teased. "You're just a burden, Tokiha Mai. Perhaps Kain could use the help of the princess, Mai Alusia Hairen Takiva, but the mere middle school student Tokiha Mai should just go back to the classes where she belongs. You're all talk."
Mai managed to glare up at the demon girl, although she could give voice to no response. Alyssa kneeled down and put her face close to the bigger girl's. "But…if you're serious about this…I guess I can give you a hand…so that you'll be strong enough to stand on that stage…."
8-8-8
"Ah! What a nice day today, too!"
"Huh?" Kagome stared at the girls. "Where's everyone going?"
The excited party consisted of Izumi, Riza, Miki, Riku, Risa, Kanade, Yukari, and Matake. "We're heading to Tokyo to do some shopping in Shibuya for summer vacation!" Izumi explained cheerfully.
"We'll be buying swimsuits!" Kanade added.
"Kagome-chan, do you want to come?" Yukari asked. "And you ought to bring Kazumi, too…it's no fair, she's been hanging out with you guys so much recently…."
"Shibuya, huh?" Kagome said with a sigh. "Sounds nice! But we're busy today with our own summer vacation preparations…."
"Really? That's too bad," Risa noted.
"What about Mai-san?" Matake asked. "I heard she was doing something like just shutting herself inside with a cooler on…that's not healthy, I tell you, not at all…."
"Ah, yeah…about Mai…in this case, 'cooler' just doesn't really cut it…."
"W-wait a…minute…" Mai muttered. "W-where…the heck…am I!?"
"What a silly question," Alyssa noted. "You're on a frozen mountain, of course…a sub-realm of the material plane, a portion of my resort. Akari and Kiami dragged you briefly through here earlier, you know."
"B-but why am I here?" Mai demanded, shivering and clutching herself as the wind roared by her, pelting her bare skin with freezing air and snow. "If you were going to take me here, you could have warned me!" Indeed, dressed as she was in a blouse and miniskirt, she was quite ill-prepared for negative 40 degree (Celsius) weather.
"That would defeat the whole purpose, wouldn't it?" Alyssa sneered. "Do you have your card?"
"Y-yeah…right here…."
She took it out, and Alyssa snatched it from her hand. "W-wait a minute…!" she began.
"This is a test for you," Alyssa insisted, waving the card in the air as she began to walk away. "Using this will be cheating. You'll have to rely on your own magical powers to survive in this special piece of hell for seven days." She turned back to her. "This is the real deal, after all. You have shown flashes of brilliance, you talk big on occasion, you help out…but if you're serious about walking side-by-side with Kain, as the leader of his little band of merry women, you have to at least be able to stand up to him, even if you can't defeat him yet. I'll admit…with all he's done, his additional experience and his natural genius, not to mention his insane drive, it'd be foolish to expect you to be able to fight him as an equal so easily…that's why I'm giving you this special chance to catch up to him.
"And so this is the perfect place. It's a perfect risk/reward, on many facets. Firstly: this is a place of ice, and your natural element tends towards fire. It's your worst enemy…and one that, therefore, while more dangerous to you, is also one you are more prepared to defeat, if you tap into your natural power. Secondly and thirdly, it's all about your choices: you'll have to grow, or die here. Either through your own merits…or the merits of the Crystal Princess."
"What are you talking about?" Mai muttered, her teeth chattering.
"Do you know why Momo-chan was suddenly so wary of you after you learned your past from Jynx and Takamichi? Because you are a completely different person from the Crystal Princess that was saved by Kalan Lockeheart. She was worried that reminding you of that would bring her back. Her memories were suppressed, and a new being emerged from being raised here at Mahora Academy. That's why, deep down, you're still just a middle school girl, why you can't really be a part of this world, and why you can't quite remember everything you want to. The Crystal Princess, Mai Alusia Hairen Takiva, is inside there, but you are just Tokiha Mai, a big-busted Japanese girl. If you're desperate enough to survive…maybe you can call her forth to save you…but if she comes out…it may mean the death of your personality…of you."
Mai stared at her…so shocked and disturbed by this revelation that she had forgotten the cold and had momentarily stopped shivering. As a new gust reminded her of her predicament, Alyssa mercifully offered, "I'll give you a beginner's hint. Go ahead and start by activating kanka. It'll protect you from the cold for a while, at least."
Shivering, Mai managed to do so…and to her surprise, as the energy flooded through her, the cold vanished as well. She felt herself at a normal temperature. "Amazing…" she muttered, looking at the various parts of her body as they throbbed with warm power.
"Kanka is a perfect battle skill, utilizing both ki and mana. Filling the body with that energy protects against all natural hazards and serves as armor to resist unnatural ones. You won't have to worry about freezing…for as long as you can sustain it. But it won't last forever…with your stubbornness, you can probably keep it going for thirty minutes straight, an hour at the most, and then it'll leave you, and you'll die soon after. So, you have that time to look within yourself and find the energy you need to survive.
"Of course, that's not the only way out." She drew a bell from somewhere about her person and set it on the ground in front of Mai. "When you're ready to give up, just ring this bell, and I'll take you out of here…but that will be admitting defeat. And I won't let a defeated person go with Kain…for that person's own sake."
Mai stared at her sullenly as she headed for the entrance, but then Alyssa stopped and said over her shoulder, "Oh…just so you know…Kain was doing his best to take you out swiftly, incapacitate you or knock you out in one hit, so he wouldn't have to keep fighting you, but you withstood everything he could dish out. You ended up going the whole fifteen minutes…there aren't too many people who could even last that long against him in that state. I'll admit you have the potential, or I wouldn't waste my time with you like this."
"So, in other words, there was such a world of difference between us he felt he had to just knock me out quickly?" Mai muttered.
"You could see it that way. Best of luck!" And she stepped across the transportation rune and vanished. Shortly afterward, so did the pentagram…sealing Mai inside the frozen mountain wasteland.
Mai glared after her, but her thoughts were on Kain. ('He never aimed at my face, either. Pretending to be a gentleman again…you baka, Kain. I always felt…like I was more his big sister than anything…and now I know…I'm old enough to qualify…and I can't stand to see him get hurt. I have to protect him, too, the way Kalan protected me. Just watch me…I'll catch up to you…Kain.')
8-8-8
"Is this all right, Alyssa-sama?" Miyu asked Alyssa. "Isn't this dangerous?"
"Hmph. I really don't care. I doubt she'll die. I doubt the Crystal Princess will let her. Besides, I can't stand personalities like hers. I'm not sure what I hate more…self-righteousness while not having any real convictions, or that ridiculous sense of responsibility while being coddled all her life…or after having such a peaceful and appropriate world granted to her, tossing it all away and running back into the terrible life so many sacrificed themselves to save her from. If Tokiha Mai dies and the Crystal Princess survives…well, that's an acceptable outcome as well."
She glanced back at the circle of pentagrams with a smile. "But…I doubt she'll give in that easily. She should have more than enough tools to overcome this. She wants to keep Kain safe during their little escapade? That's fine…but I won't permit her to fail. That's why I'm giving her this hell…."
Kagome and Momo entered the palace…and stared at Kain, sitting by himself in the entrance hall. "What's up?" Kagome asked.
Kain glanced up at them. "Oh…Kagome…Momo. Nothing…."
"Where's everyone else?" Momo queried.
"Oh, they're off training…."
"And…shouldn't you be with them?" Kagome pressed.
"Ah…well…."
"He's worthless right now," Alyssa put in, entering the room. "Poor little boy is pining because his girl is far away. How sweet." She laughed evilly as Kain reddened. "Oh, but you're so much fun to tease…but really, so put out because of Mai? So worried about her?"
"Of course I am!" Kain snapped, hotly. "You put Kenjirô and me through that hell for a week, and we barely survived…and now you're subjecting Mai to it!? How am I supposed to react!?"
"I would think with a little more trust and understanding," Alyssa replied coolly. "Remember that you came to me in the first place. I warned you that you might not like my methods, and still you insisted…and now it's Mai's turn."
"Right…I know," Kain growled. "And that's why I'm not tearing this place apart to go rescue her. But I don't have to like it…."
"It is very sweet," Kagome said to Momo.
"It's very sweet," Momo agreed.
Smirking, Alyssa sniffed and turned away. "In any case, Kain is too muddle-headed with this crisis to focus on any training. If you two want to see everyone, come right in. The library trio is practicing spells up in the balcony café, and everyone else should be back from their rounds soon enough. Then you can join them on the next run."
"Is Mai really going to be all right?" Kagome demanded.
"Oh, she should be fine…physically, at least. Her body won't let her die. Her mind, however…." She glanced back and cast Momo a coy smile. "…Well, that's something else…."
Momo, endeavoring to ignore Alyssa's needle, reached down and took Kain by the hand. "Come on," she said insistently. "Let's go. You can't mope around here just because of Mai's tough training…we have to greet everyone…."
"R-right…" Kain replied. "…In a minute." When he continued to resist Momo's pull, she released him, stared at him for a few seconds, shrugged, nodded, and finally followed Kagome up the stairs into the palace proper.
Kain watched them go, then removed Mai's card (his copy of it) from his robe. He stared at it. "I can use this to bring her back at any time…to save her," he muttered to himself. "I can end this entire stupid trial…." He shook his head and put the card away. "But I can't. This is Mai's life to live…to gain or lose…her task to overcome." Thus admonishing himself, he hurried up the stairs after his disciples and students.
8-8-8
"Wind!" Yue commanded. A blast of air movement responded to her injunction, and it whipped across the balcony and knocked over all the assembled cups.
Her friends clapped and cheered in appreciation. "Kya! That's amazing, Yue!" Nodoka cheered.
"That's farther than I got on mine," Ami congratulated her. "And I've been practicing, too. Well done!"
Kain clapped as he approached. "Very well done, Yue! When did you get this good?"
"Ah…well…." Slightly embarrassed, Yue manifested her artifact. "I simply made up a more efficient training method based on information I acquired from my artifact. And in order to gain a further theoretical understanding of magic, I obtained a copy of the beginner's magic textbook from a famous private school in the magical realm, and…."
Kain laughed as she haltingly finished her lecture. "That's great! Really, it's a lot like the kind of things I did when I was learning magic as a child. As expected of Yue!"
"N-not really…" Yue mumbled.
"It makes me wonder why her grades are that bad if she's that smart," Kenjirô mumbled. The group was, as Alyssa had promised, just returning from training, and arrived in time to start witnessing this scene.
"Who knows?" Ami said brightly. "I try to help her study, but…."
"In any case, getting here was the hardest part," Kain murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "As long as you've made it this far, everything else is easy. Another 78 hours or so and we'll be having you using magic arrows and other basic attack magics…."
"S-seventy-eight hours…that's tougher than learning to drive…." She shook her head. "N-no, I'll do my best!"
"Y-yeah! Me too!" Nodoka enthused.
"That's the spirit! I'm still not a master myself, but I'm more than qualified to help with training if it's basic attack spells."
"E-eh?"
Kain moved over to look at Yue's book. "Can I take a look? Let's see…just what kind of training session is Yue using…? Ah…how nostalgic…."
Hinagiku stared at the scene dourly. "Well, he seems to have forgotten about Mai-chan quickly enough," she muttered.
"Let him be," Momo giggled. "He needs this right now. Kain thinks too much, but it some ways he's like his father…he gets an idea and won't let go. His mind is powerful, but sometimes like a freight train, impossible to steer or get off track. He can't train because he's worried about Mai, but teaching magic doesn't remind him of her troubles…it reminds him of more peaceful, happier times from his childhood, and that's the distraction he needs."
"Yeah, I guess so…."
Yue flushed as Kain began to chatter, his face rather too close to hers (from Yue's point of view) as he peered at the book. Nodoka watched as well, almost dreamily. ('Ah…Kain-sensei…personally…how nice…') she thought, imagining it. ('Personal…teaching…personal….') She shook her head as her thoughts began to go astray. ('W-what do I do…?')
["Accept what you feel and continue on with those feelings!"] she recalled from earlier.
('Y-yes, Mr. Priest, you're right!')
"I'll do my best, too!" Nodoka burst out.
"Eh? Y-yes!" Yue responded in surprise.
"I better get back on it too," Kagome sighed with a smile. "I'm falling behind at this…."
As the girls began to jabber about their desire to continue their efforts, Kiami suddenly put in, "Still, some of us did a bit too much sweating back at training. To finish our break, why don't we all take a refreshing bath?"
"Ah, sounds nice!"
"Yes, probably…."
She glanced over at Kain and smiled impishly. "And maybe we should have the boys join us…it might take Kain-sensei's mind off of his troubles…."
"Hai, hai…" Akari murmured, shoving her companion out the door. "Let's go already before you say anything else troublesome…."
"Goodness, they're so laid-back," Kenjirô muttered, although with a smile. "I wonder how many of them really think that they're doing anything more than going on a nice little (exciting) vacation. Mai-san, though…I think she has the closest idea of what she's getting involved in…which is why Alyssa-san is giving her this special training."
"Y-yeah…Mai…."
Kenjirô actually glowered at Kain. "C'mon, would you lighten up already? You can't do anything no matter how much you worry. Besides, I've seen Mai-san at work, and I know she's strong. You should know that better than anyone…."
"Y-yeah…I know…but I can't help it…." He sighed. "I know I asked for this to begin with…I came to Alyssa for training, knowing that she was a demon…but because I know…I always worry she'll take it too far…I mean, when it was just me, I wasn't too worried…I knew I could take it. But…thinking of it becoming someone else's problem…it's not so funny anymore…."
8-8-8
"…n."
"…-chan."
"Mai-chan, do you have a moment?"
"…Hmm?"
Mai opened her eyes and stared up into the slightly worried, youthful face of Takamichi. "What…? Takamichi…?"
"Ah, sorry…were you sleeping?"
"No, my eyes were just closed…you need something?"
"No…well…." Takamichi scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Actually…I was just wondering if you could teach me the trick to using kanka, you see…."
"It's easy," Mai replied, bringing Takamichi up short.
"Eh…?"
"Just turn yourself into nothingness." Mai looked down at her hands as she raised and opened them.
"That's…kind of hard to do…."
"It's not hard at all…right hand…left hand…there." As she spoke, the energies gathered in the indicated hand and then exploded out into the kanka field. She flashed Takamichi a 'victory' sign.
"Ohh!?" Even after seeing it again, it was amazing how easily it came to the little girl. "That's incredible, Mai-chan! Why is it that you can do it so cleanly?"
"…? Why, you ask…? Becoming nothing is easy…after all…I've never had anything in me to begin with….that's why."
Takamichi turned away, cupping his chin, considering this silently.
"…? What's wrong, Takamichi?"
"No…Mai-chan…you mustn't say things like that. At least, right now…people like Kalan-san, and Master…and me, too…we're all here for you, right?"
Mai looked up at him. He smiled at her.
"…But I don't like your master's cigarettes," she insisted.
Takamichi laughed. "I-I think you'll just have to give him a break on that one…."
Mai shook herself back to reality. She started as she awoke. The energy was flowing through her again. Her kanka had run out over an hour ago, but while she'd had it she'd managed to make a shelter for herself. She still couldn't come up with any spell or magic or anything in the meantime, and after it ran out she burrowed herself in the shelter and tried to avoid freezing to death…and then sleep had taken her. Perhaps she should have died, but….
"Now…I have all my energy back…or did I never empty it?" she muttered to herself. She shook her head. "There's still so much I don't know…about myself…is that better, or worse?"
She shook her head again, and then tapped it with her hand. "In any case, it's good I can avoid freezing to death for now, but even if I got an instant recharge, I can't expect to just survive on kanka for a week. Even if I'm a magical princess or whatever, my power has to have a limit. Seven days…isn't that just too hard? What am I even supposed to learn here?"
And then a reply suddenly came to her vocal inquiries…from her stomach. "Ah…I-I guess I need to look for food first. Can't do anything on an empty stomach. Kain was dropping hints earlier about surviving on fish, so there has to be a stream or something around here…."
Alyssa watched her with her vicious smile from afar while she began her explorations. "So, you're finding a little reserve in there somewhere…but how long can you last? If you want to live, as yourself, you don't have many choices. Struggle as you like, human, but you'll be ringing that bell soon enough. Realize your own weakness, the mortality of Tokiha Mai. Those of weak spirit will not depart on this quest. That…is for your own sake, as well."
Mai found a stream and waded into it. Sure enough, there were fish in there, but Mai, never having had Akari's lesson on barehanded fishing, wasn't sure how to go about catching them. "Hmm…maybe turning on kanka full blast would shoot them all out of here for me, but…that's dangerous. I don't know how long I can keep it up, and if I use it all up, I'll really freeze to death. It's like…well, Yue-chan explained it like some sort of video game. Ki uses physical energy, or it's like using HP as a resource, and mana is of course something like MP, so using kanka is like using both at the same time, slowly draining yourself…that's why they need me to train using it more efficiently so much. In any case, I should try to prepare that cave a little better if I want a place I can really survive for seven days…but…how can I get a fire for warmth, or cooking?"
["…This is a place of ice, and your natural element tends towards fire. It's your worst enemy…and one that, therefore, while more dangerous to you, is also one you are more prepared to defeat, if you tap into your natural power."]
Mai looked down at her hands. "Easy for her to say," she muttered. "Tap into my natural power…? Well, it's true that my artifact is a fire-throwing magic item, and…Kagutsuchi…he's a fire spirit…but…I've only summoned him when I've had my artifact…."
She shook her head again. "Well…I just have to try…."
It took far more effort than she would have liked catching the fish and taking it back to her cave. Her kanka gave out before she could figure out how to get a fire started. She huddled down, freezing and unable to either cook or eat her raw fish, and finally drifted off to dangerous sleep. Something in her managed to awaken just before she froze to death, and once again kanka was able to save her from hypothermia…however, having not eaten, her strength was low. She tried several meditation exercises and spell chants she remembered, but nothing would bring forth fire, and finally she just cooked the fish…with nearly the last of this round of kanka. She ate the barely-edible meat before once again snuggling as deep into her cave as she could manage, trying to avoid shivering.
The bell Alyssa had provided sat at the entrance to her cave. She glared at it. "As if I'll ring that," she muttered.
But the days only got harder for Mai, not easier. On fourth day, as she wandered in search of something…anything…that could stave off her fate for a few more hours, her energy ran out, and she collapsed in the snow.
Alyssa appeared, hovering above her. "Have you seen the light yet, Mai?" she said. "Think about it…why is a mere middle school girl like you going through all of this? For Kain? What obligation do you have to that boy? Or is it for your past? Why should you care anything about a past that doesn't matter to your world, to a history soaked in tears and blood? What meaning can you possibly find in this ridiculous training?"
Mai was silent for a moment, and then responded. "N-now that I think about it…was there…a reason I had to do all of this…? Nearly getting myself killed…flirting with death like this…just for Kain…or anything else…I am just a middle school girl…and this was supposed to be a fun summer vacation, too, my last summer vacation of middle school…." She suddenly began to laugh, hoarsely and harshly. "W-who knew…I actually had such half-baked determination…that's no good…I knew it…I should just…."
"That's right," Alyssa put in soothingly. She placed the bell down in front of Mai. "That's why you should ring this. Admit your defeat and your lack of power."
Mai reached out and grabbed the bell. She raised her face in anger. "As if…like hell I'll give up!"
She jumped to her feet, kanka surging through her and once again revitalizing her. "I won't give up! I won't give up! I won't give up!" She reared back and heaved the bell, and it flew off into the mountain blizzard. Alyssa stared in shock, too surprised and overcome (and, perhaps, frightened) to even mention that the bell had made plenty of rings in its flight.
And then Mai collapsed back into the snow, her last-gasp energy depleted.
Alyssa continued staring at her, then sniffed and turned away. "Very well. I must admit your spirit exceeded my expectations, even if your intelligence did not. I'll check on your corpse in a little while." And she vanished.
8-8-8
Meanwhile, in the real world….
Well, more or less.
Chisame laughed as she lay back on her couch, drinking her lemonade as the cool air blasted her and the digital mice spirits floated around her. "Ah! Really, air conditioners are the best! Got to be mankind's greatest invention!"
"Yes, Chiu-sama!"
"I agree!"
And her computer, programmed to auto-refresh and alert her at the page's update, sounded a warning. She sat up quickly. "Oh!? Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes!"
Mahoo!? Japan's 'Weekly Blog Rankings' posted its listing, and at the top was Chiu's Homepage. "Yes! The top spot! My electronic spirit cluster's information manipulation is perfect, as expected!" She laughed maniacally. "With this, the throne of the 3rd Queen of Blogs is mine! With my skills and you electronic spirit clusters, taking control of the online world will no longer be a dream! The conquest has already begun! Thanks to my linking with and building an online extension of Sôma's Romance Threads (that cosplay shop owned by a member of one of the twelve families), my financial empire is already off the ground!"
The spirits began to cheerfully praise and worship their master, but she fell silent as she stared at her computer screen. She set her hands on her desk, and finally dropped her head. "I feel…so empty…."
"C-Chiu-sama?"
8-8-8
"Are you giving up?"
Mai glanced blearily up at the speaker…up into the face of a small child, framed by short but unkempt red-orange hair and bright violet eyes. The girl's expression was blank, emotionless, and she was dressed regally, in a gown of ancient design, fashioned by a civilization that ruled a great world of magic and was pompously aware of the fact.
"Y-you…the Crystal Princess…."
"Why…are you there?" the girl asked.
"I-I can't…go on…I won't…give up…but…I j-just can't…."
"Why not?"
Mai struggled to think. "I-I'm not…you…."
"What are you talking about? Of course you're me."
Mai stared at her and the girl continued. "I can see your heart…deep down, you're half-afraid…that your friend is right…that you're not even the 'real you'. But if it's not you…then who is it? Who is the real…us?"
"I-isn't it you? You were first…."
"I was first. I am a weapon and a tool, and nothing more. I…understand that, understand why I was created. I exist as the tool to dominate Arcanus Myrror. The Obsidian Star is a parasite that insinuates itself into magical worlds and then consumes them from the inside. I was made to make that possible, the final culmination of their plan. It's not even the people…it's the world itself. Humans and the other races aren't even cattle…they're an infestation in the fruit they love. I was engineered as a bug to pollinate it for them. I didn't have real parents, no siblings, family, friends, associates…I don't even know how old I really am, if I was created as a little girl, if I aged normally until they froze my age, or if they aged me quickly once I was born, or made. I had nothing…I was nothing…until I was saved by Kalan, by Aeli, by Gato and Takamichi and the rest. And it was thanks to them that I became anything." She raised a hand and pointed it at the older Mai. "And you are what was born from the life, the true life I was finally given. Whether or not you have my memories, you are the closest thing we have to a real 'us'. If you are not the 'real one'…then who can be?"
She knelt down and was nearly able to stare levelly at Mai, she was so small. "If you don't want to die…if you don't want to lose the life we've gained…then take my power and make use of it. I am you, and you are me, so all that is mine is yours, too…you just have to look for it."
"B-but…I don't know how…I j-just can't see…."
"Yes, you can…you just have to stop being afraid of finding it."
The little Mai reached out her hand, and the older Mai, struggling, did the same, and finally took the tiny appendage. Little Mai then burst into light and spread out like a web in front of Mai's eyes. Concourses of magic, channels and gates and rivers and dams, all spread out before her vision….
…And she understood….
"Kagutsuchi."
Flame erupted around her. Moments later she was floating in the air, resting on the back of the great hovering firebird. It turned its head back to her and cooed inquisitively.
"Sorry for this, Kagutsuchi," she muttered sleepily. "It's a little rude of me to call you for something like this…but, I have no choice…and it's all right…I finally understand…you won't be alone anymore…."
The creature gave another coo in reply as Mai fell asleep astride its warm back.
Alyssa stared out at the creature. "Well, well, well…" she muttered. "I really did underestimate her." She smiled and turned away. "I admit defeat, Mai. Now you are ready to be the president of your little club."
8-8-8
Day Seven of the Hell Training (Part Reverse).
"Healing light, restore life," Kagome murmured, waving her wand, and the bird in the conservatory sat up, its wounded wing mended. "There you go," she told it, and it took wing back into the trees.
Momo watched with admiration. ('Her mage powers are developing well…somehow, it seems she has a natural aptitude for healing. And it's grown so much over the last seven days…perhaps her concern for Mai has helped even more….')
"That's getting easier!" Kagome remarked as she turned back to her friend. "Well, what's next…wait…are you hurt, Momo?"
She was looking at Momo's hand, which was bandaged. "Eh? This? Oh, it's not much. I was just training a little earlier…maybe it was a bit much to take on Kiami-chan and Akari-chan at the same time, even for me…."
"Well, let's fix that up, then," Kagome said, drawing out her card. "Come forth!"
"Eh?" Momo started. "Bringing out Tenseiga, just for something like this…?"
Kagome didn't respond, but closed her eyes and held the sword cross her palms in front of her, rather than taking it by the hilt. "Restore, Tenseiga," she commanded it.
A burst of light and wind energy rushed out, and Momo could feel her injury dissipate and vanish. She removed the wrap and inspected her perfect skin. "Ah…."
Kagome dismissed her artifact and put her card away. "I've been practicing with this, too (mostly on Kain -sensei and Kenjirô-kun, who get themselves beat up the most). I can use its full power twice, but I can now use it many times by invoking a small portion of its power."
Momo smiled appreciatively at her. "Kagome…you've really been working hard at this, haven't you?"
"Yeah…I guess so." She made a serious face. "You want the truth? It's about what that old gentleman said. About Kain-sensei's village…and what happened to it. I know…Kain-sensei would never ask me to, but still, if I can someday get the power to help them…well, I just can't let that go, right? I-I know I'm not much of a fighter, but if I can help by being a healer…if I can do something as great as that…then I'll work at becoming the best healer in the world!"
Momo continued to smile, then turned back towards the others doing their own spot-training a short distance away. ('Yes…Kagome's grown…and she's not the only one. Kenjirô-kun has gotten so much stronger, too, as has Hina-chan, Erika-chan, even Akari-chan and Kiami-chan. Kazumi-chan has improved her own ability to summon spirits. And as for the others….')
"Eh?" Kain stared at the three in surprise. "You've already finished 78 hours worth of study?"
"Y-yes!" Nodoka, Yue, and Ami replied. Nodoka qualified, "I-I haven't finished the practical training yet, but I've managed to finish the study portion…."
"Well, well…excellent work, all three of you! Then, I guess it's time to get started on teaching you the next part…."
"Hai!"
"Ah, those three are amazing, too," Kagome sighed. "I'm supposed to be of mage blood, but their conviction just blows me away…."
Momo just smiled. ('Yes…everyone's gotten so much stronger…we're actually forming into that perfect party Kamo-kun keeps talking about…and speaking of which, today is the last day of Mai's training. How is she doing…?')
"Hey, how's everyone doing!" a new voice called out—more in statement than in question—as Nanami suddenly came wandering in.
She was actually flanked by Chisame, who was practically being shoved in by Rei and Miyu. "I've told you, I'm not going to run away anymore. Just let go already!" the net idol barked.
Seemingly ignorant of her classmate behind her, or just ignoring her, Nanami continued, "I've brought some supplies for our wonderful club, and even brought along an errant member, too!" She held up the sack she carried as Momo approached. "Here's the meat you wanted for the barbecue. Are you sure that's all?"
"Yes," Momo replied, taking the sack. "We've got everything else we need. Thank you for your help, Jinnai-chan."
"And you even brought Hasegawa-san too?" Kagome asked. "Well, she is one of our friends, after all! Welcome!"
"B-ba…you're wrong!"
"She was seen loitering around outside at the corner convenience store, so I extended our club's invitation to her as well," Rei explained.
"Liar! That was half-kidnapping, you punk!"
Alyssa was still absent, but the group broke out everything they needed and started their barbecue, taking a break and celebrating their achievements with good food. Rei glanced around casually (coolly) at the group as she slowly sampled her own meal. ('Cooking…and eating…with…friends…this feeling is….')
Chisame's spirits floated, manifested, around her, sampling the food as well. She ignored them, seemingly used to them, as she inquired, "I don't see Tokiha anywhere, though. This is supposed to celebrate her finishing her 'leadership training' or something, right? Is it really okay to begin without the main star?"
"Ah…she is supposed to be back by now," Momo mentioned. "I am worried about her…maybe…."
"If you're worried, then maybe it's time to go see her."
The group jumped at Alyssa's sudden appearance. "It's time," she said. "I've bothered her enough, and I have nothing more to say to her. Kain, you should go welcome her back…and I suppose you can take her roommates with you." She handed Mai's card over to him and walked up to the table, past him, with a wave. "You know where to go. I'm going to eat."
As Kain, Momo and Kagome hurried off at speed, with Kenjirô and Hikaru tagging along, Chisame stared after them. "So, what's this 'leadership training' about, anyway?" she demanded of Nodoka, who was closest at the time.
"Ah, well, you see…." She explained the situation to Chisame.
"W-what!? That's crazy! Not to mention dumb!"
"W-well…."
"Yes…" Nanami said slowly. "It's certainly extreme. That Mai…she's really fallen head-over-heels into lovey-dovey love with Kain-sensei, hasn't she…?"
Nanami's announcement caused Nodoka, Yue, Hinagiku and Kazumi to do synchronized spit-takes in the middle of their drinking. Amazingly, Nodoka was the first one to charge up to Nanami. "I-i-i-i-i-i-i-is that really true?" Honya cried. "Like I thought…."
"What do you think? Nobody would go through this kind of hellish training on a snowy mountain for nothing, right? It's love, I tell you! L-o-v-e!"
"I-it's love?" Erika said.
"That's love?" Akari added.
"What are you people talking about?" Nanami pressed, barely concealing her joy and glee as she turned to Erika and Akari. "You two are both the same way, too, right? In l-o-v-e with Kain-sensei…."
"Wha…!?" Akari sputtered as Erika reddened.
"You've all locked yourselves inside this mysterious castle, doing crazy stuff like training and all that. It's gotta be big-time love…."
"T-that's not…" Nodoka began, uselessly.
"What are you talking about, Jinnai-san? This is…." Yue added.
"I always train like this," Akari explained. "I have since long before I'd met Kain-sensei!"
"I'm just doing my part for my class, for everyone!" Erika insisted.
Kamo, who had been sitting around eating his own share, began to laugh. "You young ladies…although you all say that, I've got some cold, hard proof here, you know? Well, we're all gathered here, after all. Shall we have a long-overdue update on that situation again?"
He manifested a scroll and unrolled it. "Take a close look! This chart shows the affection level of everyone (female) within this resort in regards to Kain, all according to my research! This updated version even has special parameters added!"
He unrolled it from the bottom up. A quick-eyed individual would take in the notes of five categories rated 1-10 for a total of fifty, with some almost illegible note about some kind of bonus, with the five 'parameters' or categories being friendship, love, closeness, affection, and sensuality. Numbers fell next to each name as they were ordered by total. From the bottom up they listed Miyu Greer, Jinnai Nanami, Higurashi Kagome, Mizuno Ami, Tsukimori Kiami, Hasegawa Chisame….
Before the scroll could show any higher than that, Yue made a diving grab and snatched it up. Her panic mode was in full power.
"W-wait, what's going on?" Ami asked in confusion.
"Didn't I mention before?" Kamo said smugly. "As a spirit of contracts and emotions, I have a high degree of active empathy, and I can easily perceive people's affections for others."
"YOU WHAT!?" the group burst out in a unison mixture of delight, regret, horror, and fear.
"By the way, Yuecchi, I have a ton more in reserve, so don't worry," Kamo assured her, manifesting a half-dozen more scrolls.
"PLEASE STOP!" Yue wailed, and added almost as an afterthought, "And what on earth does 'Sensuality' mean here anyway!?"
Kiami and Nanami seemed absolutely amused by this, but Akari and Erika suddenly snatched up the scrolls from Kamo. "It's not nice to peek into people's hearts like that," Erika said sweetly. Using a spell, she quickly turned the scrolls to ash.
"Oh, wait a waste, it's all burned up," Kiami giggled again. "What an amusing distraction…."
"Oi, any way you look at it, this is messed up!" Chisame seethed. "And how did I get up to 35 points, anyway? Hell no! Not for that idiot teacher! And what the hell is 'Sensuality' supposed to mean?"
"But, you know, is it really that big of a deal?" Nanami teased. "I mean, just knowing everyone's 'affection level' for Kain-sensei…about the only ones who would be bothered by this would be the ones with extremely high scores…." Yue began to panic at this declaration. "Oh? Oh? In that case, those of you who rushed to hide or burn the scrolls just now sure seem suspicious, hmm?"
Her interested gaze swept over Kazumi, Nodoka, Yue, Hinagiku, Erika, Rei, and Akari, all of whose names had not been seen and who therefore were above Chisame's respectable (except to her) 35 score. Several of them blushed and either looked away or tried to make some sort of excuse. She began to laugh. "Just kidding, just kidding. But, still, it looks like there's no mistake that everyone here is all in love with Kain-sensei…."
"There ain't no 'all in love' here!" Chisame snapped.
"Please stop with all this stupid 'love' talk!" Hinagiku barked.
"Anyway," Ami murmured, "where is Mai-san? She should be back by now…."
8-8-8
The usual blizzard had actually been replaced with a freezing fog. "Can't see much of anything through this," Kagome said. "How will we find her with all this mist…?"
"What are you talking about?" Kenjirô replied. "She's shining through, plain as day. Must be up on a cliff or peak up there."
"Huh? Up where? What are you talking about?"
Not speaking, Kain moved swiftly that direction. Momo, Kenjirô, and Hikaru followed him easily, and Kagome, yelping, tried to keep up. Finally, the mist broke apart, and there was Mai, standing on the crest, seemingly perfectly fine in the cold, and staring out over the jagged mountains below.
Kain smiled at her. "Mai," he said simply.
Mai turned and looked at them all. Her expression was serious, thoughtful, and almost cold. Then she suddenly smiled. "Hey. There you are. What took you so long?"
Kain smiled back at her, and tossed her the card. She caught it, and instantly flame blazed around her, circling into her rings and transforming her outfit into a regal half-dress battle uniform they had never seen before. Flame seemed to lick and flow around her, creating a nimbus of visible power. Floating in the air, radiating glory, she seemed less like a 'Crystal Princess' and more like a 'Flame Goddess'.
"Seven days!" she snapped, settling onto the ground and retracting all her adornments back into her card. "Where's Alyssa? Doesn't she have anything to say now?"
Kain chuckled. "I guess not. That must be why she sent us to collect you. Come on…everyone's waiting for you…President."
He turned and started off. After congratulating her, the others turned and followed him…but as she hurried after them, Kenjirô suddenly stopped and turned back to her. "Why?" he asked.
She was brought up short by his interest and question. "What?"
"Why did you go this far, anyway?" he demanded. "I mean, not that I'm complaining…I'm glad to see you've got this much resolve, this much heart. But…forgive me if I say it surprised me, Mai-san. I didn't see it in you before. Why…would you go through all this, for a world you never wanted in the first place?"
"Why? Well…." Mai hesitated, unable to come up with a good answer.
Kenjirô cocked his head at Mai. "Was it…for him?"
"Him?" Mai seemed reluctant to catch his meaning, but finally turned her gaze away and said, "Well…yeah…but not only for him. For myself, too…and…."
Her memories flashed across her eyes…Alyssa standing with knife ready in front of a frozen Kain…Erika and Miyu bouncing over the school, clashing with their bizarre weapons…Momo transforming into a shinigami and attacking Kairen…Kiriha with her hands on Kagome…Kenjirô and Kain locking swords…Eminus blasting Kain from behind…the Graf overcoming both Kain and Kenjirô…Momo, Hinagiku, Kenjirô, Kain, and everyone fighting in the tournament…and Kain fighting Sakura. And not only these…her memories of Kalan, Aeli, Saber, Jynx, Aiden, Eishun, Gato, Byakuya, and Takamichi….
"For all of you. All of our friends…realizing what I gave up before, and how I could always give it up again and return to a peaceful, safe, uncomplicated life…but how I would be giving up all of you as well…my friends…like it or not, I know I belong here now. Alyssa and her little tortures weren't going to keep me away."
She cast a serious look at him. "But what do you mean, 'for him' anyway? What are you, Kamo-kun's secret service now?"
Kenjirô shrugged. "I just wondered. So many of his students have schoolgirl crushes on him, and while I needle him about it all the time, I can't really fault him…or them. It's just the way he is, and I have to admit, guys like him are rare enough. But you…you're different. But more importantly…I think he sees you differently, too."
Mai stared aghast and flushed. "W-what?"
"I'm not saying you're the one girl out of the fifty or so that he loves back," Kenjirô continued smoothly. "I don't claim to be an expert on relationships or people's feelings. But…whether as a sister, just as a disciple, as a friend, or as a lover…I don't know which way, but you're definitely special to him. He showed it during this week, barely able to concentrate for more than two minutes before worrying about you alone in here. But even before that…it shows that you're the closest one to him, for better or worse."
"Mai! Kenjirô-kun! What are you doing? Hurry up!" Kagome called.
Kenjirô smiled. "We better hurry. Sorry to bother you…and welcome back…President."
Mai smiled back and hurried after him, trying to put his last comments from her mind. What did it matter, anyway, just how, exactly, any of them felt? What mattered was, they were all close enough to do what they needed to do…help each other on their great quest. How, exactly, everyone's feelings would sort out…that, as Kain always said, there was always time for it all later.
F I N
Author's Note: Mai's Super Training & More
Whew! I wanted to cram Mai's full regimen and all the chaos happening elsewhere into one chapter, so it went on for a while. It was worth it.
It's really growing…while I'm so carefully tracking Negima right now, people like Mai are, because of earlier decisions and such, growing well beyond their boundaries. I had to make many adjustments to Asuna's coming out moment, not just because I traded her straight-up for Mai, but because Mai's already starting to grasp who she was…and is. Right now, she's definitely moved into a secure number two power level behind Kain.
It was great starting this chapter with the Red Wings group—the source of the name is probably obvious, but not complete. Nagi's group was called 'Ala Rubra', Latin for Crimson Wings, and so taking the name of FFIV's airship force was a natural evolution. I might have revealed a bit too much about them, but it was good to finally show them all in action and give little clues as to their true personas. I would really enjoy writing even the epic Kalan's adventures story arc I've naturally laid out in my head….
Alyssa is harsh on Mai, as harsh as Eva was on Asuna…and appropriately so. Mai is not the idiot Asuna was, but this is still a bit much for her…luckily, she has more knowledge and understanding of her past self, too. We've seen the training portions pretty heavily, and everyone's beginning to establish themselves. We have to resolve the vampire dilemma, introduce Lina, and see what's going on with the various non-participant class members…still lots to do this summer. This Act may end up being larger than I first envisioned, despite it being, like Act 3, a mostly between-big-adventures arc.
I made several interesting references here, like to Ayame Sôma's costume shop from Fruits Basket. Sôma, of course, was one of the names I've borrowed from anime and other media to make up the Twelve Families, and I've always liked the idea that they were 'the' Sôma family (Sohma, normally) just as I eventually turned the 'Saginomiya family' into Isumi's real placement. Of course, I never actually wanted to do much with them…Fruits Basket just doesn't fit into this world (rather, this story) that well, especially since Erika and her vampire family already have so much of that same Sôma family angst. However, if we decide that the Sôma family has experienced events parallel to those of Fruits Basket, we can say that the 'series' concluded about six or seven years ago. From the first few chapters of Fruits Basket we learn that Tôru (Tohru) was born probably in 1982 (since she's a dog, as she tells Shigure, and the years of the dog include '70, '82, and '94…so '82 is about the only that really fits the timeline of the manga's writing and current events/technology). Therefore, the series, ending with her high school graduation, would have finished in about 2000 or 2001. Tôru and Kyo have probably had their kid (or at least their first, how many they had we don't know, only that they eventually had at least one grandchild) by now, and they aren't important to our story at all, but of course Chisame might be interested in Ayame's cosplay shop, especially once she learns about the Twelve Families' real identity. Just an amusing side note.
Developing magic, developing strength, developing feelings…and developing story. Time for some summer fun and relaxation…and surprise visitors! The story continues!