[Riot Force 6 Headquarters]
[Evening]
After another strict day of training with Nanoha and the Forwards, Maren, Yui, Koji, and their 'pet' were on the way to their rooms.
Today was especially tiring for Koji, though he kept his self-training within the very limits of safety, he still got scolded by Nanoha.
"HMmm~~" Yui stretched her arms, letting out a sigh as she lowered them, "Today's mock battle sure was tough..." she said while massaging her own shoulders.
"It sure was." Koji nodded, "A 4 (Nanoha, Vita, Fate and Maren) vs 7 (Forwards + Ginga + Minawa siblings) mock battle, but we still lost..." He sighed. "Maren sure is a strong opponent."
Maren giggled, "I hope I didn't go too hard on you."
"Ma-chan really scared me with that point-blank feint!" Yui flailed her arms, Treize, who walked behind her, mimicked her.
"And you totally fell for it." Koji shruged. "Getting caught on the bind set up by Nanoha-senpai, I was busy engaging Vita-san with Ginga's help, luckily Caro was able to help you."
Yui nodded with a smile, "Caro-chan is getting pretty good with her shooting magic! She learned it from Nanoha-nee, so it's to be expected~" She winked, Treize added a silent nod.
Reaching an intersection, they stop. "Well, I'm going to my room, Air needs some cleaning and maintenance. After that I'll just go to sleep."
"Eh? what about dinner?" Yui asked.
"I'm too beat up to eat." He forced a smile and walked away.
Somewhat worried, the girls saw him go into his room, and then spoke.
"Onii-chan had it hard today..."
"Yes...I hope he doesn't push himself too much."
"Knowing Onii-chan, this is only the beginning. But I'm sure he'll keep in mind Nanoha-nee's words."
"I see..."
"So, what should we do until dinner?" Yui changes the subject.
"I could use a bath. Showers are nice but soaking in hot water is good for a change." Maren smiled.
"I'll go too~" Yui raised her right arm.
"Then, why don't we all-- mm?" Maren tilted her head and looked at Treize. "Treize?"
"Hmm..." She struggled to keep her eyes open, "...sleepy."
"I see, it's time for your nap." Maren turned to Yui, "I'll go put her to sleep. Yui, you can go ahead."
Yui shook her head, "It's okay, I'll go~" She presented her hand to Treize, "Trei-chan~" Treize nodded and grabbed Yui's hand. "Ma-chan, go on ahead, I'll be with you soon~"
Maren nodded, "Okay, I'll go ahead then." She saw them go, then went on her way.
----------------------------
[RF6 HQ - Hot Bath's Changing Room]
The hot bath. It is often used to ease the body after a hard day's work.
Though not quite like a hot spring, it is still a good place to relax, and female officers make use of this time to chat.
Maren entered, "Ah--" She caught Signum in the middle of undressing.
Signum looked back at her.
"...First Lieutenant Signum. G-Good Evening."
"Enforcer Maren." She replied adding a nod.
Nodding back, Maren unbottoned her uniform's jacket, neatly folding and putting it on the shelf next to her.
Having finished undressing, Signum grabbed a towel and went ahead.
Covering her front with a towel, Maren entered the steamy room, and stepped into the lower part, filled with hot water.
The Blazing General, when compared to her usual demeanor, sat in a rather relaxed position while her arms rested on the edge of the bath.
And to be honest, Maren still
felt uneasy when Signum is present in a room.
It's not like they're on bad terms, but the way they met nearly 10 years ago was...bugging her.
"Enforcer Maren..." Signum looked at her.
"Y-yes?" She jerked a bit.
"When entering a bath like this, the towel is kept from entering in contact with the water." She points it out. "It's bad manners."
"Ah! I-I'm sorry!" Embarrassed, Maren quickly removes the half-soaked towel, removes the excess water, folds it and sets it on her head. Letting out a sigh at the end.
After a few awkward seconds of silence, Maren tried to start a conversation, "I see you're back from this morning's escort...when did you return?"
"Early in the evening, while you were participating in the mock battle. Shari is back as well."
"I see..." Maren sinks a little, (This wasn't a good topic.)
Signum speaks again, " You seem tense...Is something wrong?"
"Ah...well, I'm just wondering if I'm not disturbing you or anything..."
"Not at all." Signum paused, "Besides, this a common bath. It's for everyone to use when they want or feel like it."
"...You have a point." Maren sunk a little from embarrassement.
"Also...I don't mind some company once in a while." Signum looked at Maren.
"Thank you." Maren smiled slightly, and let herself relax.
"Ever since that incident, I've noticed you started acting more natural, instead of being professional all the time."
"And you've been getting along with the captains and the Forwards, as well as the staff...it's good to see that."
Maren nodded, "I've been feeling a lot more relaxed lately, compared to some years ago..."
"Indeed, it's hard to believe you were in such bad shape when we first met..." Signum said.
"Yes..." Maren replied softly. "Those times were the hardest for me, I was all alone...".
~~~~ ... ~~~~
Signum wandered in a desert world unhinhabited by humans, chasing an elusive 'prey' she detected while searching for native monsters to hunt.
Chasing it was proving to be quite annoying, as it concealed its presence and scattered fake ones around the area.
Accurately detecting hidden targets was Shamal's area of expertise, but she wasn't with her now so she had to rely on her senses.
Still, Signum herself wasn't one to be fooled so easily, she was taken by surprise the first time, but quickly caught up with the facade.
She couldn't afford to let this prey escape, if captured it'd fill quite a number of pages to the Book of Darkness, that's what her intuition told her.
Then, Signum decided to change tactic, "I'm afraid time is something I do not have the luxury to spend...I will have to cut short this cat and mouse chase...Laevatein!"
[Exprozion!] the device howled and a cartrige was loaded.
[Schlangeform!] it announced.
With a flick of her wrist, the bladed chain extended to a length far longer that it had as a single blade and started spiraling around Signum, steadily increasing its diameter. It expanded, cutting through dunes, leveling the area, as well as eliminating the fake presences.
Intimidated, the prey attempts to escape while it can, but that only helped Signum in pinpointing the target's real location. Another a flick of her wrist and the chain was sent towards the invisible target.
Upon impact, a cloud of dust and sand spread around the area.
"I missed." Signum muttered, keeping her senses sharp.
"...It seems avoiding interaction is impossible." the 'prey' stood up from the cloud of sand, revealing itself as a short, female (judged by the voice), wrapped in a long tattered cloak that reached her ankles and a hood that darkened most of her face, but Signum could still see her disturbing eyes.
Empty eyes dyed in a dull yellow color that didn't even shine...it was the eyes of someone who is alive, yet does not 'live', someone who just exists because it doesn't allow itself to die yet.
After a silent pause, she adds, "...and even if it was a passive encounter, I would have still avoided it. Please do not stand in my way."
"Unfortunately, I cannot let you leave so easily. You have something I need." Signum said as Laevatein retracts its chain back to a sword.
The cloaked girl blinked slowly, as if processing that was said to her, then gave her reply "It does not appear to be a monetary issue, and even if it was, I have none. I live off vegetation or whatever is foolish enough to attack me."
Hearing that, Signum raised an eyebrow.
"Rest assured, humans are an exception to the previous statement."
"I see..." Signum pauses, "Anyway, you are right. What I need from you is not money, but the magic inside you, as much as I can get." She readies herself for battle. "But I will at least give you a chance to fight your way out."
Once again, a few seconds go by before the reply, "That would be problematic. The closest unhinhabited world is considerably far and requires an equally considerable amount of mana to reach. I am afraid I cannot spare you any."
"Then how about a gamble?" Signum suggests. "If I win, I take what I came here for. If you win, you are free to go."
"...Fair enough." She replied, hunching forward, her arms sliding off from the inside the cloak, "My skills are somewhat rusty for a combat with actual opponents...so please bear with my unorthodox movements." as the girl finishes talking, her hands are wrapped in a golden aura.
~~~~ ... ~~~~
"We fought for nearly two hours, didn't we?" Signum asked.
"Yes, it was a long battle..." Maren nodded, "My powers were already restricted back then, so I had to resort to cunning tactics."
"But in the end, I was forced to retreat because of the time...but now that I think about it, it wasn't a waste of time."
"Yes." Maren paused, "Though, I went through a lot of trouble to replace the cloak you ripped to shreds."
"Actually, I did you a favor...It was in bad shape to begin with." Signum smirked.
Maren giggled, "Even though that was a serious battle, it may have been the closest thing to fun that I had in a very long time."
"I see...I'm glad to hear that." Signum paused, "And then? What happened after that?"
"Not much...I simply wandered aimlessly for 7 years, until a chance encounter with Admiral Mizetto."
"Admiral Mizetto?" Signum looked at her.
"Yes. It was thanks to Admiral Mizetto that I am here now..." Maren smiled, but before she could start, someone entered the bath area.
"Sorry I took so long--eh? Sig-nee?" Yui noticed the blazing general.
"You came as well."
"Yeah, it's been a while since I used this bath~" She steps in. "So, what were you two so cheerfully talking about?"
Smiling, Signum closed eyes. "Not much, just reminiscing the past."
Maren nodded, "Yes, before I joined the TSAB and met everyone."
"I see..." Yui paused, "Now that I think about it, Ma-chan never told me how she met Onii-chan."
"Oh? That is something I would like to hear as well." Signum added.
"D-do I have to?" Maren blushed a little.
Yui nodded, "You have, not, you must!" Her eyes sparkled.
"I guess it can't be helped." She sweatdropped.
~~~~ ... ~~~~
Having extensive knowledge of magic, grasping the principles of Mid-Childa style was easy.
TSAB's military training and Enforcer exam too were completed smoothly.
With my guardian, Admiral Mizetto's recomendation, I started working at TSAB's Main Branch HQ.
Co-workers would occasionally try to start a conversation with me, but all I focused on was working and carrying out investigations.
When facing criminals, I would mercilessly capture them without allowing retaliation.
Like a machine, I effectively carried out missions for the TSAB.
Eventually even my co-workers stopped approaching me, seeing me as cold and with no emotions.
I myself didn't care about it, my purpose here was to be of use while I repent my sins.
Then, due to recent events in Mid-Childa, I was transfered to the Ground Forces HQ.
It was then that I met him...Private Minawa Koji
When I first came to Ground Forces HQ, he was the one appointed to give me a tour of the building.
To be honest, there was a time I thought of him as annoying.
He'd always come to me and start talking, telling jokes or acting silly to the point of being scolded by our superiors.
But those actions are what made me hold interest in him.
Trying to figure out such behavior, I decided to use my free time to investigate him.
Upon research and inquiring co-workers, I found that this was common event in the Ground Forces HQ.
Whenever someone was down, he would be there to cheer them up and be their friend.
Some female officers even mistook his actions as romantic interest.
And, to a small degree, he was improving the office's efficiency...by keeping everyone's spirits up.
Little did I know that this person would be the one to release me of the heavy chains strangling me...
~~~~ ... ~~~~
"Hmm...that does sound like Onii-chan, he's been like that for a few years now." Yui comments.
"It's a little embarrassing, but I ended up being tricked to go on a date with him." Maren blushes.
"EH?! A date? You two dated already?!" Yui moves closer to Maren, her face less than an inch away.
"Y-Yes, we did." Maren sweatdrops.
"Mumumumuu...not fair!" Yui pouted. "I never heard about that!"
"It was before I met Yui."
"Buuu..." She pouted again.
"Heh." Signum let out as she watched them.
"Sig-nee?" Yui looks at her.
"You said you were tricked, but from the way you told it, it seems you enjoyed it." Signum smirks.
Maren blushes again, "I can't deny that." She paused, "But next time, I'd like do go out on proper date."
"I see..." Signum closes her eyes, then gets up.
"Oh? Leaving already, Sig-nee?" Yui asked.
"Yes. Thanks for keeping me company."
"Signum." Maren speaks.
"Yes?" She looks back.
"Let's do this again sometime." Maren smiles.
Hearing that, Signum smiles as well, "Yes, I'd like that too." The door opens and before leaving says, "Also, good luck."
"Ah, yes?" Maren blinks.
Yui and Maren look at eachother, "What did Sig-nee mean?"
"I don't know..."
----------------------------
After a few minutes of soaking, Yui and Maren leave.
On their way to the bedroom, Maren remembers to ask something.
"By the way, Yui."
"Hmm?"
"Why do you adress everyone close to you as an older sister?"
"'Why?' you ask...I've known them since I was little, everyone is kind and nice to me like an older sister."
"I see...then what about me?" Maren points to herself.
"Hmm...Ma-chan is Ma-chan~" Yui hugs her.
"I-I see." She says, (Even though I'm older...)
"Nee, Ma-chan."
"Yes?"
"Do you have one? Onee-chan I mean."
"I do..." She smiles.
"What kind of person is she?"
"Well, she's a bit easygoing and mischievous, but reliable when needed."
"Heeeh~ Sounds like an interesting person."
"Ahaha...If possible, I'd like keep her from meeting everyone here."
"Eh? Why is that?"
"M-My sister has a...peculiar personality and hobby." Maren sweatdrops while looking away.
----------------------------
[Mid-Childa - Cranagan Dimensional Terminal]
[Night]
As usual, the Dimensional Terminal at Mid-Childa's capitial is busy with people coming and going.
But this time, everyone's eyes are set on a woman who just arrived...
Wearing unusual and provoking attire lined with white fur gave her an exotic and refined aura.
The way she walks shows pride, yet elegance and femininity.
Her vivid crimson eyes, brimming with confidence, looked straight ahead.
Finally, her long scarlet hair swaying behind her as she walked, men stared at her as she headed towards the counter.
"W-Welcome to Mid-Childa, miss." The receptionist in his twenties stuttered when she came closer to the counter.
As she stopped, she pulled from between her generous cleavage a hand size booklet, then set it on the counter and slid it towards the receptionist.
Blushing, the receptionist looked down at the booklet and recognized it as a passport, carefully passed a scanner over it, checked if everything was in order and returned it.
"W-What brings you to Mid-Childa?" the receptionist asked.
"The food." The woman leaned forward and started fiddling with the receptionist's tie. "...and the people too." She smirked.
"I-Is that so..." The man looked away.
"Say...is there a nice hotel nearby." She looked at him.
"W-Well...there's the Cranagan Grand Hotel three blocks from here."
"But I just got here, I might get lost..." She sweetened her voice, "How about you take me there?" She said as her face slowly got closer to his.
"M-Miss, please..." He tried to distance himself, but she held onto his tie as if is were a leash.
That moment, she noticed he was wearing a ring on his left hand, "Oh...what a pity, you're married..." she said, letting go of his tie.
Grabbing her things, she went on her way. The receptionist just sighed in relief as he saw her go.
Leaving the building, the woman stepped outside and contemplated the city's night sky.
"Beauties of Mid-Childa rejoice, Scarlet is here~~" She smiled playfully.
2011-05-05, 07:33
. Dog Days actually have noticeable males doing interesting/memorable stuff (or voiced by Norio Wakamoto, which is awesomeness in it's own way). And lucky for him, Caro decided that she can't live without him and auditioned for the same series!-!-!-!-! 
I didn't do enough research. Sugisaki and Hideyoshi needs better lines, and epic Kamijou speech isn't epic enough!
Author
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