Strawberry Soul Chapter 18

    "Asuna, did you hear that?" Sheena asked as they waited for the Headmistress' return.
    Asuna shifted in her seat, glancing at the wall uneasily. "It almost sounded like Tamao-san." She looked back at Sheena. "You don't think Kaname and Momomi got to her?"
    Sheena forced her chair back, determination in her gaze. "There's only one way to find out. Let's go!"

    "Nagisa!" Ellysetta called out as Nagisa skidded onto the library's main path. Nagisa felt a sharp jolt of pain in her ankle, but used a swift weave of Spirit to null the pain and keep running. She would have been out of breath had Ellie not constantly been weaving her exhaustion away.
    Ellie gave a small Feyan curse as Nagisa sprinted even faster. She knew all too well why Nagisa was acting the way she was, but that didn't make her stop Nagisa or try to convince her to slow down. For some reason that only the gods could explain, she felt as if she saw herself in Nagisa, saw the way she would have acted if Nagisa were her, and Tamao were Selianne….
    Nagisa's pace slowed; she caught sight of Shizuma and Rain exiting the building, a flash of blue in Rain's arms. "Tamao-chan!!" she cried, and she picked up speed again, forcing Ellysetta to catch up with her.
    Rain and Shizuma turned to see Nagisa skid to a stop in front of them, clutching a stitch in her side yet still trying to speak. "T…Tamao…."
    Rain's face went stony. "Is alive and well."
    Nagisa began to sob with relief. Shizuma went to cradle her mate while Ellysetta wove Spirit and Earth to ease Nagisa's pain in her hip and ankle. As soon as Ellie finished, she turned to Rain. "Then Tamao has not been marked, yet?"
    Rain shook his head. "I checked her, but she has not. She did receive some physical wounds to her neck and wrist, but it looks like she was able to fend off her attackers." He looked down at Nagisa, who was beginning to calm. "Nagisa, if you do not mind my asking, would you happen to know anyone who would wish harm on you?"
    'Rain…' Ellie gave him a chiding look, but Nagisa wiped her eyes and replied, "No…but Kenjou Kaname and Kiyashiki Momomi are both…both…" She gave another heave, and Shizuma wrapped her more securely in her arms, but Rain had his answer.
    "Shei'tani, weave peace on Nagisa. I shall see Tamao to the nurse's ward-"
    "Rain, wait." Shizuma interrupted. "Don't forget, you and Lady Ellysetta are to remain out of sight from the rest of the school. I'll contact Sheena and Asu-"
    "No need!" said a voice from behind. Everyone turned to see Sheena and Asuna racing towards them. "What….what happened?" Asuna said, her eyes roving from Tamao, unconscious in Rain's arms, to Nagisa, who was still calming, and then to the rest of the group.
"Tamao was lured into a trap, and attacked," Rain said, "Likely by either Momomi or Kaname."
    Sheena swore. "This is bad….if Tamao's been attacked, who knows if the others will be alright…?" She took Tamao off of Rain's hands. "I'll take her to the nurse's ward. Asuna, alert the others to meet at the greenhouse. Make sure they're not seen." With a grim expression, she walked briskly to Spica.
    Asuna glanced in her direction. "Wow…when it comes down to it, she acts more like Michael than he does." She turned to the others. "Okay, I'm going to go round everyone up. Meet us at the greenhouse, and make sure to cast the best privacy and redirection weaves you can make."

    Twenty minutes later, everyone was gathered around a spare table, waiting for Sheena and Asuna to return. Chiyo, Hikari, and Tsubomi were so nervous that they had turned white. Amane and Shizuma were both grim, but Yaya alone seemed fine. In contrast to the others, she almost looked bored, if not unconcerned. Nagisa noticed that Rain kept frowning at her, his hands twitching slightly.
    The barrier around the greenhouse flashed, and Asuna entered, looking sober.
    Nagisa jumped up immediately. "How's Tamao-chan?" she asked.
    Asuna gave her a wan smile. "It's as Rain said. Her throat had a pretty deep cut, as well as some bruising, but she's going to be fine. She should wake up by tomorrow morning."
    "Thank goodness…" Nagisa sat back down, reaching almost instinctively for Shizuma's hand as she simultaneously reached down their threads for her compassion and love.
    "So, what's going to happen?" Yaya asked.
    Asuna folded her arms. "We initially planned to check people within the school when Michael got back, but an earlier incident during the Carmen play made us reconsider." She wove her hand, and a bed appeared near the table. "While Sheena is discussing the situation in a meeting with the Headmistress, Lady Ellysetta and I are going to examine everyone here for Mage-Marks."
    "Everyone?" Amane echoed, "But Hikari and I haven't gone anywhere near Kaname or Momomi."
    "I'm sorry Amane, but your assurances aren't enough. You could have been marked by one of them and not even realize it."
    "She's right," Ellysetta said when Amane opened her mouth. "When Rain and I were beginning our soulbond, I was marked by an Elden Mage. But it wasn't until we learned a little about Azrahn that I…that we learned of my Mark."
    Asuna nodded. "In the past, the only ways to discover Mage-claimed individuals was to either witness the claiming in the act or to wait until they were completely subjugated. In the past few years we learned that Marks reveal themselves in the presence of Azrahn. They appear as a circle of black pinpoints over the top of the victim's left breast."
    Yaya bristled. "So, we'll have to strip in order for you to check us?"
    "Not entirely, only the front of your chest." She saw her glance over at Rain, and Asuna added irritably, "You should only be concerned about whether or not you've been marked, Yaya. Lord Rain may be male, but he is a man of honor. He won't even touch another woman unless Lady Ellysetta allows him. On that, you can be well assured."
    "Yaya-chan, please…" Hikari said softly.
    Yaya grunted. "Fine. But I want to see how this procedure is done, first."
    "Then I shall go," Ellysetta said, but Asuna cut across her, "No, Feyreisa. As you and Rain have a complete soulbond, there is no reason for you to be checked."
    "I'll go, then," Nagisa said quietly. Everyone turned to look at her in surprise.
    "Nagisa, are you sure?" Shizuma asked.
    Nagisa nodded, and added on their bondthreads, 'You heard her, Shizuma. We might bear Mage marks and not even be aware of it. I want to make sure that we're okay….that you're okay.' She rose from her seat. "Tell me what I have to do."
    "Alright, but first thing's first." Asuna gave Rain a pointed look, and he picked up the hint easily. With a weave of Spirit, he disappeared. "Now, then, Nagisa if you could come over here, please?" When Nagisa sat herself on the bed, she turned to Ellysetta. "My Lady, once I bear her chest…"
    "I know the procedure, Asuna," Ellysetta said with a small smile, "Don't forget that I am also a shei'dalin." She bent closer to Nagisa and held her hand next to Nagisa's chest just as Asuna finished unbuttoning her uniform. Nagisa closed her eyes in a thrill of foreboding as she smelled the familiar reek of Azrahn, the air around her chilling considerably.
    'Be calm, Nagisa,' Shizuma said gently.
    'I am,' she replied, but her teeth were still on edge.
    The smell and chill left as quickly as they came; Ellysetta rose from her crouched position as Asuna helped Nagisa redo her uniform.
    "See?" Asuna said to the group at large, though her gaze was directed at Yaya. "It's perfectly fine. It doesn't even hurt."
    Shizuma rose from her seat. "Then I shall do it next. I am not afraid of Azrahn woven by friends." She smiled. "It's the evil kind I worry about."

    After a few unpleasant minutes, nearly everyone went through the procedure and was declared fine. Only Yaya remained, and she now looked nervous.
    "Yaya-chan?" Hikari said as she finished buttoning her uniform. "You're next."
    Yaya shifted uneasily. "I'm not really sure, now…."
    Tsubomi huffed. "You're just scared, aren't you?"
    "She doesn't have any reason to be, unless she has been corrupted," Asuna said grimly. "Now come over here, Yaya." When she still didn't move, Asuna's frown became a glare. "Now."
    "Fine!" She approached the bed and sat down grumpily, already undoing her uniform as Ellysetta waited patiently. When Yaya's left breast was exposed, Ellie cupped her hand, summoned a small sphere of Azrahn, and held it next to her chest.
    For a moment nothing happened, and Nagisa let out a sigh of relief; but she quickly realized that her sigh was too soon. Two small, shadowy pinpricks had appeared over her breast, and Yaya's face became bone white.
    Ellysetta dispersed her Azrahn, and everyone stared at Yaya, who flushed.
    "You're marked," Asuna said flatly.
    Yaya made a tiny, almost inaudible sound. "What happens to me, now?"
    Asuna helped her to redress. "When Michael gets back, he can purge you of your Mage marks. He is more than strong enough-"
    "No!" Yaya reeled back from Asuna in alarm, her half-buttoned shirt slipping out of Asuna's slackened grip.
    Hikari frowned. "Yaya-chan?"
    "What's with that attitude?" Shizuma said impatiently, and Nagisa felt a flutter of alarm as anger sparked in Shizuma's eyes. "We need to keep them from corrupting everyone. Do you want to become a pawn to Kaname and-?"
    "That's not what I meant! Michael…I mean I….er…" she stuttered into silence, and Asuna's expression cleared.
    "You saw Michael's tairen, didn't you?"
    Yaya nodded her head shakily. Sighing, Asuna stood up and said, "You don't need to worry. If his anger gets too high Sheena and I can make him back off. He needs a clear head in order to purify someone, anyway."
    "Why?" Chiyo asked.
    Ellysetta answered. "Azrahn is the most powerful of all Fey magic. No matter how strong Michael is, even he cannot completely tune out the lure of power that comes with weaving it. It is the very source of all of life's essence, known to the Fey as the Maker and the Destroyer. It is so powerful, only a select few are allowed to wield it. Those that do must have excellent control over their emotions, else they risk losing their souls."
    Rain reappeared, his eyes tairen-bright, yet when he spoke he sounded as calm as Ellysetta. "Those with complete soulbonds are immune to the corruption of Azrahn, so long as they wield it wisely and with caution. But those without such a bond can easily be influenced by it, and so need to be watched while Azrahn is used around them, in case they bear Mage marks." He glared at Yaya, who was still white and clammy. "And a Fey's strongest instinct is to kill anyone tainted with the mark of the Mages."
    Before anyone else could react, Hikari had stepped in front of Yaya and held her arms out, blocking her from Rain's view. "You're not hurting Yaya-chan."
    "Hikari?" Amane said.
    "Relax, ajiana," Ellysetta said, "What Rain says is true, but just as we can tell when a life is lost, we can also tell if a life can be saved. There is hope for Yaya."
    "At least until she receives a sixth mark," Rain growled, "Once that happens, her soul will be completely controlled. Not even killing her will release her soul from the control of the Mage that binds her. He, or she," he amended, "will be able to manipulate her like a puppet. He could direct Yaya to kill anyone, even her own friends and family. He would even make her commit suicide if he so desired."
    'Rain…' Ellysetta chided. He noticed that the group had suddenly become tense. He smiled. "But as Ellysetta said, there is still hope for Yaya. She will only be a danger to us once she receives the third mark. For now, she will need constant monitoring."
    "But who will do that?" Hikari asked.
    Asuna frowned in thought. "I think I'll be able to monitor her until Michael returns," she said slowly, "It will put some stress on Sheena, but I am confident that she can handle it." She looked outside, where the sun was already setting. "It's getting late. Shizuma, you'll need to escort everyone back to the school. I still need to speak with Lord Rain and Lady Ellysetta."

    Once everybody had returned to their rooms, Hikari locked the door and turned to face her best friend. "Yaya-chan, did you do anything to Tamao-chan?"
    Yaya looked at her uneasily. "Hikari, I…"
    Hikari held up her hand, frowning. "Please, Yaya-chan. Were you involved?"
    "Yes," she replied in a hoarse whisper.
    She turned and fell on her bed. "I'm sorry, Hikari," she said into the sheets, "I'm truly sorry. I didn't want to help them, but they promised…"
    Hikari sat on the bed. "Promised what?"
    Yaya turned over, her face a blotchy pink. "They promised that if I did what they told me, I would never lose you."
    Hikari's face fell, her eyes glistening with tears. "Yaya-chan, what do you mean? I would never abandon you."
    Yaya put her face back in her pillow, and spoke so softly Hikari couldn't make out what she was saying, though she distinctly heard the words "Amane" and "soul".
    "Amane-senpai is my soulmate, but you're my best friend. The first friend I've ever had! Why would I throw you away to be with Amane-senpai?" She placed her hand on Yaya's shoulder, wishing with her whole being that she could use magic. "I'll never leave you, Yaya-chan. Even when I finish my bond with Amane-senpai, you'll always be my friend."
    Yaya got up again, her face glazed with tears. "Promise?"
    Hikari nodded. "I promise."
    Yaya's lip trembled, and she embraced Hikari in a fierce hug. "Thank you, Hikari-chan," she whispered.
    Cloaked in invisibility, Asuna watched as Yaya wept the last of her tears into Hikari's shoulder.

    "Aoi Nagisa?" the nurse said when she saw Nagisa in the doorway, "I'm sorry, but you are not allowed to be here after curfew."
    "I'm really sorry, ma'am," Nagisa said, bowing deeply, "But my roommate is here, and I wanted to check on her."
    "I'm afraid I still can't let you in," the nurse replied gently, "Rules are rules. But you may come visit her in the morning if you'd like."
    "Thank you," Nagisa said, but once she made sure the nurse was well out of earshot, she took a quick look around and grabbed the doorknob.
    'Nagisa?' Shizuma said along their bondthreads, 'What are you doing?'
    Nagisa couldn't entirely suppress her guilt. 'I want to keep an eye on Tamao-chan.'
    She felt Shizuma's soul sigh. 'Nagisa, didn't Asuna tell you that Tamao will be fine? You don't need to watch her tonight.'
    'She once did the same thing for me,' she said, letting one of her memories flow over to Shizuma.
    Shizuma regarded the memory with surprise, but after a few moments she relented. 'Very well. I shall check on you both in the morning. Be careful…'