It had taken the force of Utsuki's will, and no little part of the control she held over him due to the heartsworn thing, to make him sit down and listen to Madonna as she apologized for her actions, and then gave them the quick version of her history. Utsuki found it incredible, almost not believing that the woman could really have been that old. Tekeshi, was maliciously wiping a rag along Jakkasu's blade, and trying to ignore the plethora of dirty jokes the weapon was assailing him with. There were a lot of dirty jokes being thrown at him regarding lengths and polishing. Sadly it did nothing to bank the anger he still possessed regarding the woman.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to just tell us the truth from the beginning, to tell everyone the truth, instead of betraying trusts on an industrial scale," Tekeshi let his words do as much of what he wanted to put his blade to use doing.
Utsuki slapped his shoulder and gave him a disapproving look, "Bad boyfriend, no being an ass. Though he has a point. It would have saved a lot of hard feelings and pain if you just told us why you were so against me leaving your fortress. I still wouldn't have stayed, but Tekeshi wouldn't have had to try to choke you to death. Actually I can't guarantee that last one. He may be kind and caring most of the time to people he likes, but he is very unpredictable when it comes to people he doesn't."
"I can understand why," the ancient woman looked away from them, "I lost sight at some point I guess. I outlived not only my children, my grand children, and even their grandchildren, but I have seen empires they built fall, them burned alive, and even seen them killed and eaten by people wanting their powers. I have seen men and women that felt the same pains that I did, and seen them corrupted by their hatreds, and led astray by those that saw their hate as a weapon. I deserve the treatment he is giving me, because everything I did, I chose to. I never tried to see beyond my own prejudices, and it took you refusing to follow me, also a very strong wall, to wake up."
"I have noticed the walls around here were abnormally strong. I wonder if it has to do with the more violent students? You said that there was something about my powers that you wanted to talk about as well, is it about how they are different than yours," Utsuki almost let herself go off on a weird tangent when the wall thing got brought up, but managed to reorient herself when she heard Deesseedra clear her throat from a tree branch above them.
"Yes, there is. Until our confrontation yesterday, I hadn't actively thought on it much. I am the strongest Witch of War alive. There shouldn't be anyone short of an enraged heartsworn, which has been proven," she looked at Tekeshi with an annoyed look as she remembered, "that should have been able to resist me putting them to sleep. You not only did that, but you were able to force me away from you and your mother. I had previously thought that your rapid increase of power was due to how powerful Deesseedra was before you two were bound," Tekeshi interrupted her.
His words were very precise, "You realized that she is showing a much more benign set of abilities than a simple weapon like yourself and the other Witches of War display. Most likely from the circumstances of the binding, rather that the raw power of Deesseedra."
She tried to like the boy, but he didn't make it easy on her. He had a way of just bringing an axe down on the rope holding her patience over the abyss. Well there wasn't much she could do at this point, not with how attached the two teenagers were to each other. Hopefully all the gods were willing to help her not lose her mind.
"Right. Nor is her power threatening to overwhelm her, which has been an issue in the past. While she has blossomed into a very forward and assertive young woman, she was quite weak in how she appeared at our first meeting. Many times weakness in the human partner has caused the demon to, remove them and themselves from existence. They couldn't handle being saddled with weak willed individuals. There were reasons that I considered, even wondering if it had something to do with how powerful you are Tekeshi. Heartsworn are very rare, and previously, my Arthur had been the most powerful. I haven't ever understood the exact mechanisms behind them, so I didn't know if somehow his power wasn't, um, let me think of a good comparison. Backfeeding, into you. That doesn't seem to be the case though. You said that you were feeling grief, which isn't an emotion that most people looking to bind a demon would be feeling. Hate and anger go together, and I would say that love and grief fit with each other better," Madonna let out a deep breath as she spoke.
"Love, and grief go together? I don't know that I really understand that. How would that make me really powerful," Utsuki was a little confused by what she meant.
The older woman smiled, "Hate, burns bright, but it also burns fast as it doesn't need to last long. Why would it, when the person you hate lies in a pool of blood before, is there anything left to hate. What does that hate help in the end. Love, however, always has something behind, and before it. The lengths one will go to, to protect those they love, is impressive. Love burns hot, and long. Something that I had forgotten."
"Love doesn't win wars. Hate does. I have never heard of a soldier loving his enemy to their death. Granted I would rather she never have to see a battlefield, but I don't see how love could be of any use there," Tekeshi had closed his eyes and put his sword to the side as he spoke.
"Why does a soldier fight? What gives them reason? There is always more to war, than simply the killing and pain. Most always have someone to go home to. I became this, I, created this curse, because I hated the bastards that hurt my friends and family. I wanted them dead, and that was the thing I was feeling most when I bit the end of Rougar's finger off. I had that hate, because I had people that I loved. I was misguided and damned myself to what I became. Miss 'Suki, you have seen other people fight each other, right," Madonna redirected seeing that she was unlikely to make any progress on that point.
"Yes, but that happens every ten minutes at this school," Utsuki was a little confused with that question, with its very obvious answer.
Madonna nodded, "Has seeing or anticipating anyone else fighting excited you, or has it only been Tekeshi?"
Tekeshi opened an eye questioningly as Utsuki answered hesitantly, "I, it was, I... I only get excited when it is Tekeshi. I hadn't realized it until you asked. I can't even step out of my door without there being two or three fights in the hallways in the morning. I barely acknowledge them," the look on Utsuki's face was questioning as much as it showed the revelation.
"What are you getting at? I don't understand how that makes any... I will get back to you when my thoughts actually start making sense themselves," Tekeshi was just as confused by the thought.
"I believe that you are the only that will ever excite her, because you were the foremost thing on her mind as Deesseedra was bound. It was a much more powerful, a much purer emotion that formed their contract. Everything about it, is beyond my knowledge for the most part. I can make a decent theory off what I have observed, not to mention that I can't imagine that anyone would have purposely summoned a demon to bind them because they were in mourning over someone without the intent for revenge. Deesseedra, could you please come down here and join the conversation please," Madonna looked at the, as usual, half naked demon laying on a tree limb.
"I don't particularly want to, but I am a little interested in the subject," she rolled over and was dressed by the time she touched the ground.
"I am not really sure how much you have considered all of this since your binding, but what are your thoughts," the original binder asked the demon.
Deesseedra took a deep breath before she spoke, "Honestly Ancient Mother, you have come to many of the same conclusions that I have. Not to mention that I am actually feeling emotions, something that I shouldn't be able to. I know that it isn't uncommon for a demon to reference emotion to describe our thoughts in a moment to make it easier for humans to understand what we are saying, but a demon shouldn't be able to feel actual emotion. Around the time that we left to go to Delicious Bloodsucker's manor, I realized that I could feel, the first such emotions being concern and hatred. I also started to have a real, desire to take care of, and be around Lovely Mistress. I, though it doesn't really bother me, have started to have flashes of, embarrassment, when I am completely naked around others. I think, that the power that her emotions allowed her, have been counter enough to a demon's baser nature, that it changed me in many ways."
Tekeshi finally opened his other eye, "That could also explain why being this heartsworn thing has been capable of influencing the seal my father put on me. A reason to fight, and continue on. Something I never really had with Lizzie. I am so blind, and I don't know if it is just my nature as a vampire, or who I am myself."
Madonna looked at the boy. He was almost a man, both in body, and in mind. He also was willing to do something so many prideful people couldn't do, admit when he was wrong. Honestly she herself had been guilty of it. So many other of her sisters, so many of her descendants, so many humans, and mostly like so many monstrum had been over time. She wished that she could protect this view she was seeing now.
She had been beyond a fool. She had only seen her and her sisters as weapons, things to be used. She had been so wrong in that. Even Tsukune had said he would rather a soldier, than a mere weapon. Just because someone wielded a sword in revenge, didn't mean that same blade couldn't be used to protect. How many lives could have been saved from vain deaths, and genocides. \
"Pardon me. I, had something come to mind that I need to consider in private. I will, continue this later," she stood and walked away.
Rougar formed himself to walk next to Madonna, "You realized that you have been your worst enemy in all of this?"
The question wasn't accusatory. It simply was asked, and an answer most likely wasn't even needed. Yet, she felt like she needed to say it out loud.
"I have been the most harmful thing, to all my sisters. To every woman that I took from their lives, and thought I was helping by separating them from the world of men. Rougar, I was so blind. I am so sorry for how much I must have done to cause you pain these millennia," tears started to leak from her eyes.
"Madonna, I know I don't use that name out of respect, but I feel it will make what I have to say more impactful. Unless, you want to give me leave, to use your proper name," his tone was softer than his form should have allowed.
"You may."
"Morgause, I have been with you for millennia. I know you as well as I know myself. I have many times tried to steer you to more benign paths. I am not like Deeddeors, I am not becoming subject to emotion, but I have developed a sense of morality from observing those around us. Not to mention the time we spent with Arthur. I know that you have not let go of that pain, no matter how much I have tried to make you understand that he wouldn't want you to live like this. I, am pleased that you are starting to see this, and I know that where his spirited lies, he is happy. You have come to a fork in the road, where either you continue on forcing them to be recluses, or you can give them a purpose. In giving them a purpose, also find one for yourself," the words hit harder than she ever thought they could have.
"I am going to join Mr. Aono. Rougar, I don't know if you really could, or if the laws that seem to have formed will prevent you, but could you use my name from now on. I don't want to forget who I am, and what path I am choosing to walk from now on," she let out a deep breath.
She felt his arms surround her in a warm, firm hug, "I am part of your soul. All you ever had to do, was tell me that was your desire, and I would follow it, Morgause. Will you still use the name that Arthur gave you to other humans?"
"Yes. I haven't used any other in so long, that only you remembered my true name. It is a privilege that only you will have. Would you gather the others, I want to tell them as well."
Night fell. They were meeting in a different clearing than the teens used. The fire in the center burned a strange blue color, giving the seven figures there a ghostly appearance.
"I apologize, for the sins I have committed against you. I blindly followed my own prejudices, and misguided hatred and pain. I imprisoned you, and gave you nothing in return. Even with my age, I have gained no wisdom of what is important. I don't ask you to forgive, but I do ask you to continue following me, as I change our path. We will be joining Mr. Aono in his war. I won't force any of you to follow me though. I have done too much of that, and caused too much pain. I only ask, which of you here will folloe," Madonna stood her face turned up to the stars in order to hide her eyes.
"Hey, Sister, has Old Bitch gone daft on us, or is she finally starting to use her head," the woman who asked was a naked version of the woman next her.
"'Ush, Mrega. Madonna, ye don't truly understand how much ye have made us hate ourselves, and see ourselves as monster to tha rest of tha world. Do ye really thing that some pretty words, will make us change our minds on ye? Why shooehldn't we joehst walk away frahm you, and everythin dat you 'ave fahrced ahn oehs? Hmmhm, Why shoul'n't we jus' walk away fro' ye, and everything that you forced upon us," the anger that Anne had made it hard for her to keep her mouth straight, as she called it.
"Anne, Mrega, please. Madonna, I won't use the titles anymore. You lost that with your actions. Do you understand how hard it is to rebuild trust, when you have lost it like you have. I understand your story, and know how much pain you have seen, but you treated us like lepers, rather than women. I don't know the full story that had to deal with the warlocks. That was before my time, and it sounds like you made sure that none would know. So again, why should we follow you," Tomoe fixed the older woman with a stern stare, "especially since you will not look at us when you speak."
No one expected the next voice, "Because she speaks pain to the ancestors. One must listen, not to her, but to how the world around her responds. Mother Madonna, I, will follow you. I know, that I am, not the strongest. I am, willing," Dibea stood and walked over to Madonna.
"Dibea," the woman started.
The younger girl wrapped her in a hug, "I forgive you. One can only follow their own heart, and it can only follow one's knowledge. As long as you know what you have done wrong, you can find a way to atone in the ancestor's eyes."
Madonna could not recall how long it had been since she cried. Had she even been able to cry when Arthur passed from the world. She couldn't remember. But as she stood there in the firelight with the girl's arms tears started to run down her face. She could see the looks of confusion on the faces of the two other women's demons, but as she felt a hand on her shoulder, she finally broke down.
Mrega looked over Yltoun, "Ytal, do you, understand what the hell is going on?"
"No, Slega, I don't. I don't understand this at all," the male tilted his head as he watched.
"I was asked to come here, and this is what I find," the very proper voice was confused as well.
Anne groaned, "Oh great, 'tis the Roman Tart. What are ye doin' her'?"
Agrea stepped forward into the light,"Grand Mother Madonna asked me to come, so that I could relay something back to the fortress. I just, I haven't seen her crying, in at least eight hundred years. What happened?"
"She was humbled, and, I think she had some kind of revelation," Tomoe stood and walked over to the new arrival.
A large armored shape appeared behind Agrea, and spoke with a deep rumbling voice, "I wonder, if she has finally accepted his death. Praetorix, this has been a long time coming. Maybe, we will see the world again, on our terms."
"Indeed Gaaris. I have waited for this day, for centuries. I am happy for her, so happy for her."