204Leaving ain't fair, you know – parting ain't just
People got to move on, people got to do what they must
And we're back together again
And I'm never gonna lose you as a friend
-Indigo Girls
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Epilogue
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While the naginata team had made great strides in its first months of existence, it was not until the following academic year that things really began to take off, and the masked butterflies of Astraea Hill became a force to be reckoned with, first in local tournaments, and eventually culminating in this: their first trip to an invitational in Tokyo.
As important as the tournament was, though, Hazuki was finding herself even more excited about the prospect of seeing Chikaru again: she and Shizuma would be making the short trek from the university to see them in action this weekend, and afterward, Hazuki and Tamao were going to get a chance to see the house they were renting (and which, test scores willing, they would also be occupying within a year).
For now, though, as they made their "camp" in the stands of the indoor arena, Hazuki let her mind switch to coach-mode, and she looked over her cluster of fighters as they chatted and relaxed while waiting for the first-round matches to begin. She liked their chances in the lower division, with Tsubomi and more recently Kagome having made great strides. The senior tier was a question mark, though: Kizuna and Remon, now in the first year of upper-division play, were facing stiffer competition than they were used to, Yaya seemed to be stuck on the verge of turning that last corner, Noriko was brilliant when she managed to check her anger (which was not often enough), and Nagisa had made the hard decision to temporarily leave the team to concentrate on her studies and Étoile duties. They had done well enough at the regional level, but this was a much bigger stage than any they had seen thus far.
Still, spirits were high, and the girls looked far more excited than nervous.
Hazuki was also grateful that Tamao had talked her way into accompanying them on the trip, insisting that an Étoile should be here for this first national naginata invitational in the history of the three schools. Nagisa had been kindness itself in deferring to her counterpart, even though it meant she would be missing out on a chance to see Shizuma. (Tamao had, in return, promised to cover for Nagisa the next time Shizuma came out to the vacation home.)
In the end, they felt Chikaru approaching even before they saw her, and no sooner had the former Lulim president and the former Étoile found their encampment than Chikaru found herself practically tackled by her two now-long-distance girlfriends. It felt like forever since the last time their Souma had touched, and the rejoined energy sang through them as they shared a happy embrace.
The butterflies let out a series of squees and awwwws, along with one shout of "Kiss her!" (probably from Noriko). To be honest, Hazuki was very tempted to do so, now that kissing was an indulgence Chikaru was willing to share, but there would be plenty of time for that later.
"My goodness, my darlings, I have the oddest feeling that you missed me," Chikaru giggled.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Tamao sighed happily.
Suddenly aware that Kizuna and Remon were close by, obviously torn between their vicarious appreciation for the threesome and their own desire to hug their onee-sama silly, Hazuki and Tamao turned to greet Chikaru's silver-haired companion as well. "Shizuma-san," Hazuki bowed, erring on the side of politeness: even now, she was not entirely sure where she and Shizuma stood in terms of familiarity.
Tamao, on the other hand, had no such uncertainty. "Shizuma!" she grinned, throwing herself at the taller girl and hugging her tightly.
"Well, you're not Nagisa, but you'll do in a pinch," Shizuma said with a theatrical sigh.
"Rude," Tamao giggled, not looking at all offended.
"It's wonderful to see you, Tamao-chan," Shizuma laughed. "As for you, Hazuki-chan, I've told you before that you can drop the -san. Or are you in warrior mode right now?"
"No, she's just star-struck," Tamao teased.
"If I may interrupt the happy reunion?" came another voice. The cluster of students (and former students) looked up to see that Kojima-sensei had returned and was giving them a sarcastic smile. "Azuma-san, let's talk," said the coach, giving a little head-gesture indicating that Hazuki was to follow.
Hazuki found Chikaru's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Don't go anywhere," she smiled.
"You needn't worry," Chikaru giggled.
With a last smile and nod to Shizuma, Hazuki followed her teacher up the stairs from their place in the grandstands. "What is it, sensei?"
Kojima-sensei turned to Hazuki and gave her an appraising look. "Did you bring your gear for this trip?"
It was a fair question, since Hazuki did not actually compete in any of their tournaments. "I did, yes."
"Good, good," the sensei nodded. "Do you feel up for an exhibition match today?"
"A what, now?"
"Tell me, Azuma-san. Are you at all familiar with the St. Francesca Academy?"
Hazuki blinked. "Not... really? Just that they have a solid reputation in the sport."
"You're telling me you – you, of all people – didn't exhaustively study the competition before we came here today?"
"I..." Hazuki stammered, glancing down the stairs toward Chikaru. "I was preoccupied."
Kojima-sensei's stern mask broke, and she gave a bark of laughter. "I should give you so much sh!t right now, but I'll go easy on you this time. Anyway, I just found myself personally sought out by the sensei from St. Francesca, and it sounds like you've caught their team's attention."
"But... how?" Hazuki asked. "I don't compete."
"No, but any team that has a fifth-dan master as a student coach is going to raise a few eyebrows. As it turns out, they're in a similar situation: they have student coaches of their own, and one of them has specifically asked for the chance to have a match with you."
"Who?" Hazuki asked, baffled by the very prospect.
"I didn't catch the name," Kojima-sensei said with a dismissive wave, "but she's a fifth-dan, just like you. So what do you say, Azuma-san? Do you think you might be able to find a setting somewhere between teach and kill? 'Show off,' maybe?"
Hazuki thought about this. After everything Kojima-sensei had done for her these past two years, she did not want to let her down, but the thought of fighting an actual match against someone without Souma was still not something she was comfortable with, fifth-dan or not.
Still, it had been couched as an exhibition, and the teacher in her could definitely work with that idea.
"Okay, I'll give it a shot," she nodded.
"Good!" Kojima-sensei grinned, slapping her roughly on the shoulder. "You have twenty minutes to warm up."
"Wait, what?"
All too soon, Hazuki found herself geared up, naginata in hand, standing at one end of the very center sparring square, with her team clustered around one side, and a group of girls presumably from St. Francesca at the other. Somehow, the word of this exhibition match had spread like wildfire, and the stands looked far more filled than they had been just fifteen minutes before.
One of the officiants came out to the center, microphone in hand, and addressed the crowd. "Good morning, and welcome to the AJNF Autumn Invitational! Before we begin the first round, we have arranged for a special exhibition match between two very talented students!"
"Why do I feel like he's about to ask us to get ready to rumble?" Hazuki muttered.
"I didn't think it was going to be quite like this," said Kojima-sensei, which was as close to an apology as she was likely to give. "Obviously St. Francesca has some pull with the AJNF if they could turn it into this level of spectacle on such short notice."
"You'll do great, Hazuki-chan," Tamao assured her.
"Just remember what the samurai fights for, my sweet," Chikaru winked.
The announcer went on to give a bit of a disclaimer, notifying all that both of these girls were fifth-degree black belts and assistant instructors to their respective teams, and would thus be performing at a level which could be dangerous to emulate. Also, as this was an exhibition, it would go the full five minutes rather than stopping once one of them scored two points.
"Fighters, take your positions!" he then thundered into his microphone.
Hazuki resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and stepped out into the sparring square, sizing up her opponent as she did. She appeared to be somewhere between a hundred seventy and a hundred seventy-five centimeters in height, so Hazuki would have the advantage of reach. Even in sparring gear, she was very light on her feet, her steps almost dance-like, and her every motion was smooth and liquid.
"My, my," the other girl said to her, pitching her voice so that only Hazuki would hear. "Is that a butterfly on your mask? How novel."
"It is," Hazuki said, narrowing her eyes. Was this girl going to try to trash-talk her at an AJNF-sponsored event?
"Tiger swallowtail, I believe? Good choice."
"I wear this for a dear friend," Hazuki said evenly.
"A dear friend, eh?" the other girl said, her voice now a bit warmer. "I'm sure she feels very honored, Azuma-dono."
Azuma-dono? No one had called her that since...
"From the academies of Astraea Hill, Azuma Hazuki!" the announcer went on. "And from St. Francesca Academy, Kotatsu Sei!"
"Spar with me, Azuma-dono?" her opponent said in an amused tone.
Hazuki felt as though the world was slowing to a halt all around her, even as her mind spun out of control as she frantically tried to transliterate the kanji in her head. Kotatsu? Zilong? Shiryuu?!
She chanced a look at the crowd of girls from St. Francesca, and her eyes found two familiar figures, one with a long brown topknot, and the other with luxurious black hair tied into a side-tail. They were younger now – probably about Hazuki's age – but there was no mistaking them as anyone but Bachou Mouki and Kan'u Unchou. Both girls grinned at her, and Kan'u even gave her a bao quan gesture across the distance.
She looked back at her opponent, for the first time noticing the familiar violet of her eyes. "Sei?!"
"I made a promise, Hazuki," Chou'un smiled. "Now why don't you show me some of the things you've been teaching in my name?"
There were so many questions she wanted to ask, and so many things she needed to say, but there was a note of challenge in Chou'un's voice, and Hazuki realized that it would have to be first things first. She slipped into her fighting stance, but did not even try to hold back her smile. "Oh, it is on."
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The End
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"Strange Fire" by R.A. Fletcher (Suzume CA)
4 February 2010 - 4 February 2020 (...holy crap)
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AUTHOR'S NOTES
We made it.
Azuma Hazuki, Azuma Hatsumi (Eve), Lilith, Aaya, Ken-chan, Sumeragi Youko, Milka, Yamiyama, this specific version of Tamamo no Mae, the Hat of the Keepers, the Universal Garden, and the Great Library are from Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito, created by Root/Carnelian and animated by Studio Deen, which has finally been released to the west (but get your copies while you can, folks).
These renditions of Ryofu Housen (Ren), Chou'un Shiryuu (Sei), Kan'u Unchou (Aisha), Bachou Mouki (Sui), Chouhi Yokutoku (Rin Rin), Shoukatsuryou Koumei (Shuri), Kouchuu Kanshou (Shion), Ryuubi Gentoku (Touka), Riri, Sousou Moutoku (Karin), Kakouton Genjou (Shunran), Kakouen Myousai (Shuuran), Jun'iku Bunjaku (Keifa), Kazuto Hongo, and the St. Francesca Academy are from Koihime Musou (and its various sequels) created by BaseSon and animated by Dogakobo. (Hongo-san only shows up in the visual novels, thank heavens.)
I had to go with a few more original characters this time, including Kojima Takako, Nakahara Sakiya, Narumi Kaede, Saiga Hoshi, Konno Shin, Kinoshita Kazuharu, and probably a few others I'm forgetting. (I defer credit for the fathers of Kaname and Kagome.)
All other characters are from Strawberry Panic, created by Sakurako Kimino and animated by Madhouse
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Opening lyrics were from various songs by Indigo Girls (Emily Saliers and Amy Ray):
From STRANGE FIRE (1989) : Strange Fire (1, 20), Crazy Game (6), I Don't Wanna Know (25)
From INDIGO GIRLS (1989) : Prince of Darkness (9)
From RITES OF PASSAGE (1992) : Ghost (7)
From SWAMP OPHELIA (1994) : Fugitive (8, 23)
From 1200 CURFEWS (1995) : Back Together Again (Ep.)
From COME ON NOW SOCIAL (1999) : Gone Again (15)
From RETROSPECTIVE (2000) : Devotion (13, 16)
From ALL THAT WE LET IN (2004) : Perfect World (2, 3), Heartache for Everyone (4, 5), Dairy Queen (10), Come On Home (17)
From POSEIDON AND THE BITTER BUG (2009) : Second Time Around (11), Salty South (14), Love of our Lives (21, 22, 25)
From BEAUTY QUEEN SISTER (2011) : Able to Sing (12), Feed and Water the Horses (18, 19)
In my dream anime adaptation, the opening song would be Strange Fire (go figure), and my original thought for the ending theme was Love of our Lives, but... that might actually be better as an OP for Book III...
Other opening lyrics include "Baba O'Reilly" by The Who (Townshend), "Wish The Lads Were Here (Including the Ballad of 32)" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Gill, Johnson, Nash, O'Toole), "Tomorrow" by Ladytron (Aroyo, Hunt, Marnie, Wu), and "Shambala" by Three Dog Night, among others (Moore).
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Ten years is entirely too long to take, and I am grateful to everyone who stuck it out with me for the duration. Will there be a Book III? I'm honestly not sure. The above shows are well over a decade old now (except the KM sequels), the fanbase has dwindled accordingly, and on a personal note, my real-life daughters are now the ages of some of the cast members. Which is no end of awkward, let me tell you.
On the other hand, I think Nine might kill me if I don't continue, given where things left off with Kaname.
(On another other hand, Nine's been keeping us waiting too. More Gravity of Love, please and thanks? Yes, I am a jerk.)
At any rate, my intention going in was to have Book III finish out the school year and catch us up with the original epilogue. I had also considered giving it an M rating so that I don't have to keep censoring Kaname, and because let's face it: people in love sometimes do rated-M things. (No actual porn, though. You folks don't want to see me try to write porn. No, seriously.)
I'd love to hear what you all think, of course. For now, I really should finish up the HOTD crossover and the second Tessellation story. Plus, there's this Vocaloid project I've been wanting to write for literally years now, and...
I guess we'll see?
Meanwhile, before I go...
Chikaru and Tamao were already in the onsen by the time Shizuma found Hazuki standing on the back porch, still wrapped in her towel, taking in her surroundings with a careful eye.
"Aren't you going to join them, Hazuki-chan?" she asked, stepping up beside the taller girl.
"Just checking visibility," Hazuki replied.
"I assure you, no one can see us here," Shizuma smiled. "Nothing but mountainside behind us, and the bamboo grows high enough to give us cover from the sides. I understand this place used to be a hot springs inn, and they took privacy seriously."
"Isn't it an awful lot of house for just two people, though?"
"We've been over this," Shizuma chuckled. "It's a lot for two, but it would be much nicer with five. Now go join the others in the water, silly."
Hazuki looked over at her, and furrowed her brow. "You're still dressed. Are you getting in?"
"Hmm, I prefer not to at this time of the month."
"Ah, sorry," Hazuki blushed.
Shizuma shook her head, then paused to take a sip of her wine. "I do love to use the bath whenever possible, though. I can't tell you how many times Chikaru and I have come out here to relax and unwind after a hard day of studying."
"Oh, really?"
"Mm hmm," she nodded, feeling a sly smile coming on. "It's quite a privilege, getting to share an onsen with a beauty like Chikaru. Don't get me wrong, my heart belongs to Nagisa only, but... your darling is an enchanting vision, truly."
"Indeed she is," Hazuki agreed, giving Shizuma a sidelong look.
"Just think of it, Hazuki-chan," Shizuma continued, leaning in more closely. "Wouldn't it be nice to be able to share this bath with her every night, if you wished? Daily skinship with the ones you love, sharing a home with nothing but space and privacy, along with two very understanding housemates who will likely be seeking much of the same?"
Hazuki was beginning to blush, and Shizuma knew she had hit her mark. "So," she whispered in an echo of her best seductive voice, "how are the mock entrance exams going?"
"Not too bad," Hazuki said carefully, looking fixedly at the short bamboo wall that shielded the onsen (and the other two girls) from their sight. "I... think I could still fit in some extra study, though..."
"See that you do," Shizuma chuckled. "Now, I'm going to go inside and finish my wine, and you..." she tapped Hazuki on her bare shoulder, "are going to join the others in the water and get a taste of the rewards that await the studious."
"Yes, ma'am."
