Tanuki's Claw

The mayor's manor was an impressive and truly sprawling place, relative to the rest of the houses in this village. In fact, it was probably at least six times as big as some of the larger houses... but it seemed that for once, in Hina's experience, this was not a wasteful or pointless luxury, as an entire wing of the home was used as a halfway house, where ex-prisoners were sent to make their recovery and find work. Similarly, the second of three wings served as an inn and rest stop for anybody crossing over the border; though, the maid leading Hina stated brightly, they might need to start a screening process on anybody who came over the Starrian border, given how tense the situation was between the countries.

"Do you mean tense in general?" Aurelia was the one to ask, looking around at the many expensive-looking portraits lining the walls while they walked. "I know the countries hate each other, but aren't they also tolerating each other?

"That was the case, until recently!" The maid agreed wholeheartedly. "However, well, there have been fights along the borders lately, and then Lop- with your help! Credit where credit is due and all. Well, Lop- and you- took out a bunch of those cruel, racist pieces of... ahem, forgive me!" Hina found herself liking this maid, in a way perfectly non-sexual; she was a bit of a laugh, in the badger girl's opinion. "So the point is," the maid continued, "-that tensions are rising, and I don't see the peace holding for long! Mayor Rand sent word to the Capitol, asking for this town and others on the border to be properly defended and shored up... but we do have the Forest of Fae as a moderate means of defense, so that's nice! Anyway, I'm sorry, I'm rambling quite awfully; in here, please! Only Hina; and I am really sorry, but Lop's mayor has requested a private audience."

Hina felt just a bit anxious, hearing this, but she told herself that such a thing was silly.

"It'll be fine, Hina. We're right here for you, and it's perfectly safe to just stand around." Emily smiled sweetly, brushing her index finger along Hina's cheek to tuck Badger Girl's hair back.

"You'll be fine, Hina. Nobody's going to attack you in there, and if they do, we will beat them to death by taking off your left stocking and filling it with coins, then... well, you can imagine, right~?" She giggled, and Hina did too, feeling a bit better. Slowly, she entered the room, looking around and shutting the door behind her.

"Hello, Hina," spoke a man who looked to be about forty five, maybe forty eight. He sat at a desk, but turned around so that he was facing her. "It's truly a pleasure to meet you in person; it's refreshing to know that there are heroes other than pompous humans, for once."

"I honestly didn't do all that much, sir, I only took a few of the kills, and your people fought much more valiantly than I." For a moment, the chief regarded her with a warm smile, and then he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Hina, as a hero from another world... do you believe in a one true God? Angels, demons, heaven and hell?" Badger Girl blinked; what was bringing this on?

"Well, sort of. I don't think it's as clear cut as religious freaks of the past have tried to make people believe, with all that garbage about God hating the gays and going to hell if you divorce your partner... but, I believe in Heaven and Hell, if not by those names, yes." Mister Chief's smile never faded.

"Hina, a war is brewing, growing. Before too terribly long, Mir will march on Starria; their goal is to put an end to the slavery, racism and worse that can be found there, permanently. I've never really believed in war... but for the first time in hundreds of years, angels have appeared, and they're in Mir, rallying."

"Angels? Like, a lot of them?"

"Hundreds, maybe thousands." Sir Chief rolled his shoulders. "Last night, when the moon was high, one of them visited me; a gorgeous girl with white blonde hair and wings like you'd never seen... I thought my time had come, because not many before now are lucky enough to see an angel in their life time. This angel spoke, and do you know what she said?" Standing, he slowly made his way across to a bureau, opening it.

"What did she say?" Hina paused, wary- but the chief only pulled out a sheathed blade; about a meter and a third long, including the grip, it was styled like a short, traditional Japanese blade.

"She told me that the hero, Hina, is dying, and as she gave me this blade, the angel said that this, here, is your only key to freedom. That, when you're in the right place and the time is right, you will know how to use it." He proffered the blade to Hina, and she took it, confused.

"What, is it some kind of key?" She slowly unsheathed it, and felt her jaw slacken a bit in awe. The blade was orange and brown, streaked and splotched like a beautiful splash of paint can after paint can, ending in a tanto shaped tip. The thing gave off a vague aura of strength and goodness that put her at ease, calmed her still faster-than-normal heart rate.

"I do not know," Chief Man sighed.

"Do you know what she meant, when she said that I'm dying?"

"I do not know that, either," Chief admitted somberly. "I only know that this blade is the keystone to a long life for you... she called it the Tanuki's Claw; which seems strangely fitting, for you."

"Yes, it does..." Hina sighed, sheathed the blade, and slung it across her back. Tanuki, the Japanese word for a raccoon, could also be read as raccoon dog, or, in some cases, badger. Why would a blade have a name so fitting for her? Unless it was specially forged for her... but then, in what world would an angel be the one to deliver it for her?

"Well, I would like to formally thank you for boosting the morale of my people- ah, I almost forgot," Chief spoke, sighing. "The angel who gave it to me. She told me that when the time is right, she will be joining your band, but that for now, she must stay away. That's the last thing she told me, and all that I can give you."

"It was a pleasure to help out... so, an angel's going to be joining up? I'm dying? This sword is a key to my life?" She shook her head. "Is there some demon I have to cut down...? Become a real anime protagonist, kill the demon lord...? I don't even know how to use a katana..."

"You lost me about halfway through, there, but I wish you all the best... as there are so many ex prisoners, here, there also a good number of soldiers. Why don't you ask some of them to show you the basics to swordplay?"

"That's a good idea. Thank you, Chief," Hina spoke finally with a sigh, headed for the door.

"Stay safe, Hina." The chief's voice was soft, and Hina shivered, for some reason, as she exited back into the hall. Emily and Aurelia smiled, but both seemed distracted by the ends of the blade and sheath poking out behind Hina's shoulder and hip.

"I'll explain outside," Hina sighed softly, not wanting to talk in front of the obviously loud-mouthed maid. Then they were being led away... on their way back to the inn, Hina went through everything in detail with her partners, leaving out no details.

"You're dying...? I wonder, was that bite some sort of curse?" Emily raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"The thought crossed my mind, as I was saying it..." Hina sighed. "If there's something wrong with me, I'd like to know, but I honestly feel totally fine."

"Different, though, too," Aurelia commented shyly. "A little more dominant than usual, walking more confidently and strongly than usual while wearing something that would usually be more embarrassing... those aren't bad things, but what if they're the beginnings of something awful, some cursed transformation?"

"I don't feel any different!" Hina insisted, but... "Really, I don't feel much of anything. I was just told I'm dying, and it hardly bothered me at all... something must be wrong with me, at least in that sense," she spoke quietly, sighing.

"Well, we've got time," Emily spoke brightly. "We can head to the Capitol, where all the best mages, healers and such are, and ask them to look you over. Plus, there's probably a number of people there who could teach you to use your new sword."

"I could teach you to use your new sword," Aurelia commented offhandedly, and the other girls blinked in sync, caught off guard.

"What?"

"Oh yeah," Aurelia nodded. "Before I was living in the Forest of Fae, I fought with one of those, it was forged of magical cherry wood and star metal... the thing was stolen from me, though... very valuable weapon and all." Aurelia rolled her eyes, as if this didn't really bother her. "If I get my hands on a sword, I'll teach you what I know, Hina- or really, we could just go to the forest and pick up some sticks."

"Well aren't you just a jack of all trades..." Emily sounded vaguely impressed, and Hina had to admit, she felt the same way.

"Thank you, Aurelia... I've really been wondering what we should be doing, now, but if I need to get looked at by a professional, then it sounds like going to the Capitol is a good idea."

"I agree. One step at a time, pet~" Emily grinned and rubbed the small of Hina's back absent mindedly. "You aren't dying on our watch~"

"I'm not dying, period," Hina answered, voice a bit steely.

"That's our girl," Aurelia interjected cheerfully.

~~~

"Yes! There's actually a carriage headed to the Capitol the day after tomorrow, so if you'd like to ride it, you're welcome to, free of charge. All we ask is that you fend off bandits, should the need arise." The Carriage Master of the Mirian town spoke cheerfully. "We usually hire guards, but if you're wanting to go that way anyway, this sounds like a good solution... right...?"

"Yes, thank you," Hina answered, and turned to go. "Well, that was all, so have a good one!" Not sticking around, Hina exited the inn room. Still wearing the outfit from before, she only had one knife on her, and sighed as she walked down the street. She felt a bit funny, but it didn't have anything to do with curses or harm, she was sure of that much... no, Hina was feeling a little too hot, a little too short of breath, and no matter how she tried to stop herself, she just couldn't calm down. It wasn't too bad, yet, but it was quickly getting worse, and Hina suspected that it was something more... biological. The thought made her shiver as she returned to where Emily and Hina were waiting... it was getting late, though, and she was also tired...

"So, Badger Girl. We're all set, and free... I say we rest up, and tomorrow, we spend a day together before we make any more moves!"

~~~

"So, what's your aim with her?" Aerendyl was relaxing as he liked to most; shirtless, with loose pants and bare feet. He'd told a few lies when he met with Hina; in truth, he wasn't a bastard, born to a noble, or even associated with the elves at all. No, many would say that Aerendyl's associations were more... pure.

Across the small, round table from him sat an angel; a girl with choppy, shoulder length, white blonde hair and clear blue eyes that were deep, and soulful enough to get lost in. She was gorgeous, truly, wearing a sleeveless, backless turtleneck through which great white wings breathed comfortably, a pair of black pants, and with her brilliant white halo slowly revolving over her head.

"I don't see what business of yours it is, Aerendyl. Shouldn't you just be a good lap dog, and do as we say?"

"Well, you know, maybe I'm fond of the little Tanuki, Mel. So I want to ask; do you plan to hurt her?"

"Well, I certainly hope not. That isn't the Director's goal, at the very least... but, there is always the chance that it could result in her death..."

"You sound like you're talking to yourself... by IT, you're referring to...?"

"Why, stabbing her through the heart, of course~" The angel called Melody smiled slowly at Aerendyl, slouching and angling her head as if tipsy. "However, if we're right about this girl, well, she won't die. We'll need to do something about the Devil... I suppose the Succupixie isn't hurting anything, though."

"Do you really think you can just kill off Emily, and expect Hina to work with you?" Aerendyl raised his right brow, skeptical.

"Oh no, I don't at all. Force may be required... but if I'm right about the Devil, and I probably am... well, there's very little chance that she'll die, just like her lover."

"I see," Aerendyl muttered, then sighed, leaning back. "You know, it's awful work, doing the angel's bidding so constantly. The least you could do is allow me to visit a brothel once in a while..."

Slowly, Melody smiled a bit smaller, shaking her head. "I'll tell you what, Aerendyl. Deliver our message and do as we say, then I'll let you have fifty angels at your beck and call, ready to service your perverse desires whenever you please."

"Ah, you make such an attractive promise, Melody~ but you. You've got eyes on Hina, don't you." He wasn't asking, and there was a laugh in his voice.

"Excuse me? I am an angel, and right now, we have a job to do. I don't have time to worry about romances, especially ones with mortals..."

"What do you see in Hina?" Aerendyl wasn't bashing the girl, but he ignored Melody's protest entirely, asking this question instead.

"Potential," the angel girl answered dismissively, making it clear that this was the end of the conversation. "For now, I'll send one of the maids along to service you, you're up for that aren't you?" She didn't really sound interested as she stood up and made her way toward the door.

"Always game for a cute angel maid to... well, you know the idea," He replied softly, chuckling.

"Indeed. Then, Aerendyl..." Melody paused in the doorway. "Tomorrow, you descend again. Make sure to thoroughly abuse the maid, just, not in the wrong ways."

"Consider it done, my hideous troll of a sister~"

A moment.

A laugh.

A snarky "Fuck you", and Melody was gone.