Changes and a Scheme

-Romania. POV: Sakura-

Sadly, it seems we've finally reached the end of the week allowed to us out of school. It was a very productive week, however. This is the last time my Father needs to use war profiteering. I drove my saber into the head of a military cyborg and looked around at the bodies Natsuru, Sam and I stacked accumulated. Seeing Natsuru starting to enjoy the fighting, I suspect my war blessing has subtly influenced her.

We attacked Romania's first and only military fort, where some of its army was stationed. After riling up the masses and creating some partisans, giving them the powers of Kampfer ramped up the intensity of the conflict. And thus we were hired by the rebels to weaken the country so they could take over. It worked out well since this was more of an experiment for what my Father and I have planned for the rest of the world.

~Heh.. 'power to the people'~ I let myself chuckle as I crushed the head of a soldier who was pretending to be dead and made my way towards Natsuru.

The experiment was very insightful. Beginner Kampfer versus average military cyborgs. The Kampfer partisans outclassed the cyborgs but the military had the number advantage. The Kampfer who wielded magic were the most dangerous ones but the gun and sword users I found could learn. Some became fast enough to shoot a revolver three times per second. Some strong enough to cut into armored vehicles with weapons that weren't molecular blades. Lastly, some could manipulate the forces of nature and natural phenomenon. Such as controlling animals and plants along with minor gravity control.

That was a pleasant surprise. But what I found astounding was mine and Natsuru's progress. Natsuru could essentially firebend now. But to a greater degree than that show. What was limited to fireballs was now an extensive arsenal of fire attacks. Fire breath, firewhips, fire disks. I think she even created a rasengan of fire. To top it off, she began to create weapons from compressed flame and has started to toy with the possibility of nuclear fusion.

Her body count was higher than Sam's by now and I couldn't be prouder.

As for myself, apart from my increase in skill with blades, (thanks to Sam)I developed my magic power more and discovered what it truly was. It was mana itself. Natsuru can only ever wield fire and whatever branches off from fire. I can use mana itself and use certain properties as long as I know how such things work.

It was a mix of imagination and science. Add friction and energy to mana and it becomes fire. Add a positive and negative charge to mana and it becomes lightning. Take away friction and energy in mana and you get freezing spells. Hydrogen and oxygen? Water. I essentially became an elemental mage. All I needed to do was set up proper spells for myself so I don't have to remember the entire method.

I looked over to Natsuru as Sam finished off his last section of the compound and found her staring at a mound of burning corpses. Her face has lost any trace of the idiot she once was. Now, it was stoic and cold to the ones she hasn't open her heart to. She looked uncaring and even numb until I placed my hand on her back and saw her affectionate smile directed at me.

"Sakura. Did I.. do good?" Natsuru shyly looked away and scratched her head.

"You did wonderfully, my love" I replied with a smile and held her hand in mine with a smile.

~She's changed quite fast since she's been with me. But then again, what could you expect being around Dad, Sam and myself~ I let my prideful smile show as I looked her up and down.

Her eyepatch, her grown out hair and her bodysuit made her far more attractive and intimidating. Along with her new perspective and attitude, she's truly become my partner. I look forward to her future development.

"Now we're all done. We have school in sixteen hours so we should return as soon as we can. Come, Natsuru. Sam's already finished his side" I say while stepping over the scrap metal and bodies all over the floor with Natsuru behind me.

"What about Jack? We've been testing her for a while but she still won't crack. She's pretty determined to go after Desperado" Natsuru chimed in.

"I have to admit, she's resilient. In a new body while framed as a terrorist and she still pursues her ideal.. Hm.. Why not let her pursue that ideal then? See where it gets her? At least until she sniffs out World Marshal and my Father" I decide, pulling out my phone and looking at the cameras set up in Jack's containment room back in America.

Smirking, I deactivate the restrictions to her body and the power to her confinement. I had other ways to track her. Both hidden and obvious in case she tried to return to Maverick. Yawning, I hug Natsuru's arm and we both walk out of the now ruined fort. Sam was waiting outside, having apparently killed off the reinforcements sent over. Sitting on the hood of an APC and grinning at us.

"Damn.. he won. There has to be two dozen out here" Natsuru cursed with a small pout.

"Ah it's not all about taking on the area with the most enemies you know? I took them down quicker so I could get to the reinforcements outside while you ladies had your fun" Sam informed as he got up, hearing their chopper approach.

"Consider this another lesson until you finish school. Later, Ladies" Sam bid us farewell, grabbing onto the hook dangling off the chopper and letting it carry him away.

"Damn.. I almost beat him too!" Natsuru huffed.

Watching him depart, I found myself smiling at the thought of taking him too. He's a good teacher and smarter than he let others believe. Deciding to rope him into my future group later, I walked with my lover back to the private jet we took here. I had a feeling Shizuku wasn't doing nothing the whole time I was out.

~I look forward to seeing what scheme you have waiting for me, Shizuku..~

-Japan, Seitetsu Academy. The next day. POV: 3rd-

The following Monday quickly came around and it was back to semi-ordinary school life for Natsuru and Sakura. Natsuru had gotten word her childhood friend Mikoto Kondo had returned from her trip overseas. She figured it would be best to explain her situation before school and left early. Sakura agreed and left for school early. Though Sakura noticed something was off as she arrived. None of the students had really shown up yet. It looked empty.

The only reason she knew it wasn't was because she saw Shizuku approach her at the front gate.

"Kaede. Welcome back to Japan. I trust you and Senou had a good time wreaking havoc?" Shizuku asked with a tense smile.

"I suppose you can say that. I see you were busy scheming. Pulled some strings to get the students not to show up I'd guess?" Sakura retorted, looking at the empty school grounds.

Shizuku sighed and shook her head before glaring at Sakura venomously. "I didn't want them injured for this"

Shizuku summoned her chained blades and raised her hand. From behind nearby walls and corners emerged several Kampfer. Sakura's eyes widened as she took the ten new additions in as they surrounded her and Shizuku.

Shizuku held her weapon tightly. "You have to be stopped, Kaede"

"President told us all about your plans for World War Three! To think I never saw you for the snake you were.." Sayaka Nakao said, gripping her rapier as she grit her teeth in anger.

~Ah some of these girls were the henchmen I had in the 'original' plot~ Sakura thought, tapping her chin, seemingly unconcerned.

"I see.. So you snuck into my laboratory and took my Entrails Animals. Not bad. I assume you sent Akane Mishima and Mikoto Kondou to sway or incapacitate Natsuru then?" Sakura calmly guessed, seeing Shizuku's brows furrow in response.

"You deduced that rather fast but does that even matter? Give up, here and now Kaede. Do so and I won't kill you. I'll get you help. You have to realize this plan.. it's insane. You'll kill so many people in this insane quest" Shizuku tried to persuade, only to hear a soft chuckle.

"Pfft.. hahaha.. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!! You seem to have forgotten what I told you, Shizuku. The only ones to die will be the rabbits, mostly. Remember? The ones who use the current system to force the strong to do as they please. To fight in pointless conflicts, bully them off their lands, steal their money and possessions. I'll let you all in on a little secret. This world is going to change regardless of anything. Stagnation is making us all weak. We need to be guided by a firm hand. One who is going to be tested in the next global conflict. You all have power now. You can shape the world with it or simply fade into nothing as Shizuku pretends she wants to do" Sakura smiled and began to strut in the enclosed circle the Kampfer had her in while looking at them all.

"Shizuku may have told you it was evil. But is it truly? Evolution is natural. To desire to change things is not evil. To kill to get what one desires? Is that evil? Perhaps. But who says it is? The ones in power do. But I've said enough now. If my words have not effected you, then attack me. If you hear the wisdom in my words, then stay out of this. I will show you my ideals" Sakura then activated her War blessing and grew once again.

Her muscles more pronounced as her hair grew in length. White magic covered her arms as she summoned a Barret .50 Cal and fired it into the first attacking Kampfer by surprise. It immediately tore a large hole through her chest and splattered blood on Sakura's white uniform. The Kampfer who were about to attack froze in place, seeing one of their comrades die so quickly in front of them. Shizuku herself seemed to be in shock as she slowly looked from the dead body to the intimidating form of Sakura Kaede.

"Kill her.. quickly!" Shizuku shouted, gettinf the shocked Kampfer back as Sakura parried Shizuku with a scimitar.

Most of the Kampfer, running on adrenaline attacked as Shizuku did. But four backed up, showing terrified expressions as they looked at the pinkette who ducked under a Bo staff and tripped the Kampfer wielding it before grabbing her by the throat and throwing her into a Kampfer with an SMG. Sakura leapt gracefully over Shizuku's swing and slammed her heel on the back of an attacking Kampfer with a dagger. Her spine made a sickening 'crack' noise as she did.

The Kampfer screamed in agony before her head was shot by the .50 Cal point blank range. Her head now a bloody pink paste with bone shards scattered all over. The SMG and Bo staff Kampfer paled as she turned to them next, only to be wrapped in chains by Shizuku's weapon. Shizuku wasted no time in pulling her over with a fierce expression.

"Die, Kaede.." Shizuku spoke before stabbing her blade into Sakura's chest.

Only for it to break once it passed her shirt. The skin black and incredibly hard to damage. Shizuku saw Sakura's toothy grin before her face took the full force of Sakura's knee. Blood splattered across the floor as Shizuku's nose broke and her skull cracked in several places. She was barely hanging onto consciousness when she started falling back, only to be caught by her hair. The chains around Sakura gently falling to her feet. The two remaining Kampfer too afraid to get up as they stared at the monster before them.

While Sakura looked.. bored. Shizuku let her guard down and she was the only one truly aiming to kill her. While the rest were unsure and were likely picked by Shizuku just because they were easily manipulated. Sakura sighed in disappointment before looking at the two terrified Kampfer who attacked her.

"Get up and attack me. You might live" Sakura said with a smile.

"I.. I..." Seeing the terror on the shaking SMG Kampfer's face, Sakura scowled.

"I don't wanna die.. Mommy... Daddy.. help me.." The Bo Staff Kampfer cried, curling her legs in.

Sakura looked at them in disdain before shugging and turning around. "Very well. Leave. You only get one chance"

"Th..Thank you..!!" They both wobbily stood up and began to flee.

However, once they had turned their backs on Sakura, she aimed the barrel of the sniper rifle on her shoulder and shot through both of their heads while facing away. Both dropped to the ground unceremoniously while the four Kampfer who had stayed out of it held their breaths in terror. Sakura grinned as the bodies started to fade away, along with the blood. Still holding the unconscious Shizuku by the hair, she took her phone out and called Natsuru.

"You should have trained more, Dear Shizuku. Don't worry.. I'm not going to kill you. I'm more impressed you did all this than mad. What a fun little warm up that was.." Sakura said while stroking Shizuku's bloody face affectionately.