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Description
Okay, in spite of lots of work (and some damn tech difficulties, which shouldn't surprise any of you!), I'm back to really put my nose to the grindstone. Or really try AGAIN to. I'm hoping to honestly be back on a regular basis, but the way my life has been doing, 'regular' might be a pleasant memory. As I said at the conclusion of "Akemi", I had another Slayers story to share...and it's connected to a certain sweet girl because two of the characters who appear briefly in this story know her!

Still and all, this is an Inazuma Fighters story first and foremost! The three beautiful females who are central to this story all had regretful pasts being part of a criminal gang of (mostly!) Demons born on Earth. They knew the lethally unstable leader of that gang and her most devoted acolyte, who had disappeared ever since they were PRESUMED dead by the rest of the world in 's epic, "The Return". Soraya, Karin and Shizuna had to wonder if they'd ever see Natasha Setsushi and Haruhi Asagiri again...

...and thanks to a certain creepy Holy Nun, that possibility will happen sooner than they ever thought! ^___^
---

"So Close, Too Far Away" -- Part One!

--1--

One day, there was a knock at the front door of the Koyanagi household.
The master of the house, Tobikage Koyanagi, answered the door and opened it...and he saw Sister Marie St. Augustine and her aide, Nanase Saionji. They bowed to one another and the Holy Nun greeted, "Good afternoon! Or maybe I should say konichiwa?"

Tobi answered, "Either is fine, Sister St. Augustine-san. Konichiwa, Saionji-san." He and the rest of the Inazuma Fighters first met both of these women briefly during ah, tumultuous events involving the battle to control Sakamoto Pharmaceuticals late last year. Their paths crossed incidentally with the Holy Nun and Nanase again as many forces strove to find and rescue Rika Tsukino in February!

Nana nodded deeply and said, "It's great to see you again, Sensei Koyanagi."

"I'm not so worried about formalities when I'm not teaching, so please, Tobikage will do, miss. Please, come in." He gestured and stepped to one side...

Nana responded, "Thank you, sir." The nephilim entered with her Angel boss close behind.

Tobi closed the door and asked, "What brings you both here, Sister? I hope nothing out of the ordinary...?"

Marie said, "Unfortunately, I dare to say that there isn't much that can be called 'ordinary' these days! You would know that as well as I do."

Tobi sighed. "Yep. Perhaps I should ask how serious your purpose is...?"

"Well, it's serious for your girlfriend and for someone who is a friend to you both. And to one other. She should be here soon, and then we can all have a chat! For the time being, are Soraya Setsushi and Karin Yamazaki available?"

Tobi blinked. "I shouldn't be surprised you know about Karin-chan. You seem to know a lot." Only the Fighters and a very, VERY few knew that Karin was alive.

Dry as heck, Nana commented, "And she usually creeps everyone out one way or the other, sir...!"

The Sister said in a quiet matron's tone, "Now-now, Nana." She looked at the sensei again. "As for Soraya and Karin, may I see them, please?"

Tobi asked, "Of course, but who else is coming?"

"Oh, another good friend of yours, Shizuna Muto. This talk will be very important to her, too -- !"

"Sister?" It was Nana, who from her vantage spotted the car pull up in front of the house through one of the windows next to the front door. The girl with blue hair told her boss, "Shizuna-san is here."

The Angel beamed brightly and declared, "Ah, excellent!"

Surprised, Tobi opened the door again and yep, the athletic beauty and single mom Shizuna Muto had gotten out of her car. She immediately saw Tobi waiting at the front door and smiled. She waved and greeted, "Konichiwa, Tobi!"

Tobi called back, "Hello, please come in!" He left the door standing open and said to the visitors, "I'll get Raya and Karin." He moved out of the room...

...as Shizuna entered, and the lady immediately frowned when she saw the Holy Nun and Nana. Shizu bowed and said, "Sister. Nanase-san." She fixed on Marie and asked, "You're not gonna be too annoying, are you?" Shizu couldn't forget that one strange day she and Fubuki Inazuma wanted to talk to Ai Sosuke in Sapporo, and met Marie and her aide right before that!

Marie shrugged and said offhand, "Only if this talk I need to have with you, Soraya and Karin will be inconvenient, Miss Muto."

"That'll depend on why you're here, Sister."

"I need to talk to you about regretful pasts and hopeful futures, actually. You'll understand the import of what I mean very soon."

That was when Tobi reentered the main room with three more ladies of different ages. The oldest of them was the Demoness Karin Yamazaki, but you wouldn't have been able to tell just from looking at the blonde stunner. Soraya Setsushi was a quiet yet kind maiden only half as old, and just as gorgeous. Karin was just going through more training before Marie and Nana's visit; she was returning back to 100-percent even swifter than her doctor, Leah Masters, could have anticipated. Entering with the two was a girl a bit younger than Raya, a pale beauty who was Raya and Tobi's recently adopted ward: Hieko. Raya greeted, "Hello again, Sister. Hieko, Karin, this is Sister Marie St. Augustine and Nanase Saionji."

Sunny Hieko said with enthusiasm, "Hi!"

Karin's expression was much more conservative as she regarded the visitors...she said to Nana, "I know you're a friend to Kyoko and Misa, Nana-san. It's an honor." She gave Marie a much more guarded look. "I don't know anything about you, though...!"

Marie said warmly, "And you're not going to be likely to, Miss Yamazaki. I don't like to divulge much about myself for reasons both personal and professional. Just wanted to get that out of the way! Maybe we should retire to Mister Koyanagi's spacious backyard?" She deliberately looked at the sensei. "I also need to request that I speak to these ladies without your continued presence, please?"

Tobi opened his mouth awkwardly...and finally asked, "Er, why?"

"Oh, this talk will be important to them, but you don't have to be involved. In fact, it would be better all around if you and Nana entertained little Hieko while we're having our discussion in private. That's how important this talk is."

Everybody was staring at Marie, especially Nana. Her aide asked, "Wait a minute, you're keeping me out of the loop again...?"

Marie informed her aide mildly, "This isn't government business, young lady. You don't have to know why I'm here. These ladies do. Okay?"

Nana frowned more than a little, but finally said, "...Okay!"

"Besides, I'm sure you'll love Hieko." Marie gestured toward the back of the house. "Ladies, if we could step outside...?"

Raya nodded, her own expression guarded now, as she nodded and said, "I'll show you the way." She looked down on her ward. "We'll be back soon." Hieko nodded and Raya began to move, followed closely by Karin, Shizu, and then Marie.

The moment they were out of sight, Hieko raised an eyebrow as she finally said, "That nun's kind of annoying."

Nana positively empathized as she looked at Tobi, who was just plain confused, and then she said to little Hieko, "Marie...gets that a lot. Don't mind her." The nephilim bent over a bit to look more closely at the sweet and unique Demoness and asked with care, "Um, do you like Shouji...?"

--2--

Gathered in Tobi's big back yard, three ladies were just as annoyed. Shizuna said straightforwardly, "I don't mean to sound impatient, Sister, but there had better be a good reason you're here...!"

Marie was just as direct: "It's about Natasha Setsushi and Haruhi Asagiri. They're the two reasons I needed to talk to you." All three of the ladies were affected, and for really personal reasons. "The three of you know they're both still alive and well, correct?"

Shizuna nodded. "Yes, you first told Kyoko and Misa about that scam Sae Yuuma pulled on everyone faking their deaths, and they told us...!"

Karin's expression was tight as she said with tension, "We've been wondering where the hell they've been ever since, especially since Tasha's pregnant!"

Shizu nodded. "She's going to have a son."

Raya was the most affected of the three of them as she said softly, "My nephew."

Karin asked Marie, "If you came to simply talk to us about them...?"

Marie's smile was brighter than the Sun above as she informed them, "Oh, I'm here to do more than that, ladies. It took quite a bit of doing, even with the considerable resources I employ to gather information. But I felt the three of you should know I found Natasha and Haruhi." THAT shocked the three of them. "If you want to go see them, I can provide you their current address. They're really not far away, all it would take is a road trip of a few hours to reach them!

"Now you can see why it was so important I see you. You've wanted to talk to those two again for many different reasons...the most important of them all, of course, being closure. Natasha and Haruhi are part of a regretful past you all have in common since you were each part of the same gang, correct?"

Shizu's mood darkened as she said quietly, "Yes."

Karin, a fighter heart and soul, had a hard edge to her voice as she stated, "I have no idea who you are or how you know so much about us. So pardon me if I ask why you'd want to make this any of your damn business? If you know anything about us, then you must know our pasts are painful and personal!"

It was perhaps most painful of all for the young beauty Soraya...she said in a voice full of quiet agony, "She's right, Sister. Why would you even tell us? What do you have to gain from letting us know where to find my sister???"

Marie nodded and she said with genuine care, "Young lady, I can't blame you for suspecting my motives, but I am an Angel and a Holy Nun sworn to a strict code of temperance and benevolence! If you want to know what I have to gain speaking to you today, I can sum it up in three words: peace of mind.

"All three of you know better than anyone how dangerous Natasha and Haruhi were when they were criminals. And I know for a fact that even though they've gotten better when it comes to certain...ailments they suffered, you're still worried about them." Marie focused entirely on Raya. "You have to wonder what they could be capable of in the future, and you're worried about what kind of mother Natasha could be after she will give birth to your nephew. After all, if she could destroy your parents and try to murder you, not even the Heavens know what Natasha could do when she's stable!"

Karin's eyes narrowed as she began to demand, "How do you...!"

Shizu quickly said, "Karin, you might as well not even ask!" The tiefling regarded the Holy Nun with real annoyance now. "You're never going to tell us how you know the things you do, right?"

Marie spread her hands and answered, "Sorry! My code doesn't include my being obligated to tell you a darn thing about myself. I do make it my business to know things, and it isn't for selfish reasons. I swear that upon the name of my god Jehovah and my very soul, ladies. More often than not, the information I trade in and broker doesn't come cheap...I've got bills to pay like everyone else in the mortal world!

"But there are times I feel it necessary to give that information with no cost or strings when it's of the utmost importance. Ol' Natasha and Haruhi aren't simply a source of worry for you ladies. Certain people on Earth and in higher places are concerned they could create even more chaos one day. They also want some peace of mind. I'm here in the name of everyone's best interests. Now you can take my word for that, or don't. It's up to you!

"Either way...do you want me to tell you where to find Natasha and Haruhi?"

It was silent for a long beat...and Raya finally answered for the three of them: "Yes. Yes, please."

--3--

The conversation lasted for another few minutes, and then Marie rejoined Nana and told her they had to go. They both said goodbye to Tobi and Hieko and left. The pair moved back to Nana's streamlined Lotus; it was her personal car. They approached the girl's ride as Nana asked, "Are you ever going to tell me what this was about?"

Marie answered, "Only if I have to, young lady. Until then -- !"

"Right, right. I am trustworthy, you know!"

They reached the Lotus and both paused. Marie looked fully upon her aide. "If I thought I couldn't trust you, then you wouldn't be part of the High Choir, Nana. Can you at least look at it that way? Trust in me, too. Please?"

Nana's expression softened immediately. "You already know I do. Just like you know everything else about me." Then the girl frowned and looked at the pavement.

Marie urged softly, "Go on. Say what you're thinking."

"Why should I bother? You probably already know."

"I'm not using my sight at the moment. You know I never do that casually."

Nana nodded. "I always feel like I'm at a disadvantage around you."

Marie smiled with loving care. "You don't have to, you dear childe! And please believe me when I say this." She looked into the distance as her expression shifted. "Knowing as much as I do, it's as much a curse as it is a blessing."

"Seriously?"

A true sadness developed in Marie's features. "And there's still so much I don't know...and I wish I did." She couldn't help but think again -- and she had more and more often these days -- of a girl she held most dear and then lost. Marie thought of incredible Akemi as she finished tenderly, "I wish that more than anything."

For a brief moment, Nana knew exactly what Marie was thinking...and the girl also felt a great sadness take hold of her soul. The girl said thickly, "I want Akemi back too, Marie. Besides Jade and Eri, she's the only one of the Asata I ever met and..." A tortured pause. "Gods, I hope she'll be with her family again one day...!"

Marie nodded and purred back, "So do I, childe. That closure might be denied us at the moment...but believe me or not, that can be given to others. That's part of what this trip to see those amazing women was about. But don't ask for anymore details, please!" The enigmatic Angel looked back at Tobi's house then and had to wonder, though: what will happen when those former Annihilators see each other again?

Marie had to hope it would go smoothly, all things considered...!

--4--

Back in the living room. It didn't take long for Raya, Karin and Shizu to bring Tobi and Hieko up to speed. The trio told them both everything Marie told them. Tobi said simply, "My gods. I really appreciate you telling us, but..." He knew how bloody important this was to them, too. He finally sighed, "Damn!"

Hieko was holding her her beloved Raya in green and gently asked: "What did you wanna do?"

Karin and Shizu gazed upon Raya and held that question in their hearts, too. Raya finally answered quietly, "I need to see them. I've always hoped and prayed I'd see my sister again. At the very least, I just want to know my nephew will be all right...!"

Karin said gently, "We all know Tasha and Haruhi better than anyone, Raya. We always hoped they could earn a second chance, just like we did...but...!"

Shizu finished Karin's thought when she said, "But would they want a second chance? Hells, would they even want to talk to us? I haven't forgotten how much Tasha wanted us both dead, Raya."

With quiet pain, Raya nodded and spoke: "I couldn't forget that, either. I'll never forget any of the horrible things my sister did." A growing resolve gave strength to Raya's gorgeous face. "But I do need this...I need to know if I can really forgive her."

Karin looked upon Hieko with care and told Raya's daughter, "This isn't about what anyone else wants, Hieko. It's about what we need. And we need to think about Raya's nephew most of all...!" Little Hieko nodded.

Tobikage nodded too and said with quiet concern, "Yes."

Shizuna knew this was something that they needed to do, too. She gazed at Raya and Karin and said: "Well, whether Tasha and Haruhi will like it or not...it's time we had a reunion of the Setsushi Annihilators!"

TO BE CONCLUDED!
---
You'll find the second part and conclusion at the following link...be advised to check all of your expectations for what will happen next! ^___^

www.deviantart.com/charlesws/a…

Giving credit where it's due!
XNALara created by Dusan Pavlicek; XPS by Dusan and XNAaraL

Models:
's Karin Yamazaki by !
Soraya Setsushi and Shizuna Muto by !
More than a little honorable mention goes to for what he did for Karin and Raya!

Description
Okay, in spite of lots of work (and some damn tech difficulties, which shouldn't surprise any of you!), I'm back to really put my nose to the grindstone. Or really try AGAIN to. I'm hoping to honestly be back on a regular basis, but the way my life has been doing, 'regular' might be a pleasant memory. As I said at the conclusion of "Akemi", I had another Slayers story to share...and it's connected to a certain sweet girl because two of the characters who appear briefly in this story know her!

Still and all, this is an Inazuma Fighters story first and foremost! The three beautiful females who are central to this story all had regretful pasts being part of a criminal gang of (mostly!) Demons born on Earth. They knew the lethally unstable leader of that gang and her most devoted acolyte, who had disappeared ever since they were PRESUMED dead by the rest of the world in 's epic, "The Return". Soraya, Karin and Shizuna had to wonder if they'd ever see Natasha Setsushi and Haruhi Asagiri again...

...and thanks to a certain creepy Holy Nun, that possibility will happen sooner than they ever thought! ^___^
---

"So Close, Too Far Away" -- Part One!

--1--

One day, there was a knock at the front door of the Koyanagi household.
The master of the house, Tobikage Koyanagi, answered the door and opened it...and he saw Sister Marie St. Augustine and her aide, Nanase Saionji. They bowed to one another and the Holy Nun greeted, "Good afternoon! Or maybe I should say konichiwa?"

Tobi answered, "Either is fine, Sister St. Augustine-san. Konichiwa, Saionji-san." He and the rest of the Inazuma Fighters first met both of these women briefly during ah, tumultuous events involving the battle to control Sakamoto Pharmaceuticals late last year. Their paths crossed incidentally with the Holy Nun and Nanase again as many forces strove to find and rescue Rika Tsukino in February!

Nana nodded deeply and said, "It's great to see you again, Sensei Koyanagi."

"I'm not so worried about formalities when I'm not teaching, so please, Tobikage will do, miss. Please, come in." He gestured and stepped to one side...

Nana responded, "Thank you, sir." The nephilim entered with her Angel boss close behind.

Tobi closed the door and asked, "What brings you both here, Sister? I hope nothing out of the ordinary...?"

Marie said, "Unfortunately, I dare to say that there isn't much that can be called 'ordinary' these days! You would know that as well as I do."

Tobi sighed. "Yep. Perhaps I should ask how serious your purpose is...?"

"Well, it's serious for your girlfriend and for someone who is a friend to you both. And to one other. She should be here soon, and then we can all have a chat! For the time being, are Soraya Setsushi and Karin Yamazaki available?"

Tobi blinked. "I shouldn't be surprised you know about Karin-chan. You seem to know a lot." Only the Fighters and a very, VERY few knew that Karin was alive.

Dry as heck, Nana commented, "And she usually creeps everyone out one way or the other, sir...!"

The Sister said in a quiet matron's tone, "Now-now, Nana." She looked at the sensei again. "As for Soraya and Karin, may I see them, please?"

Tobi asked, "Of course, but who else is coming?"

"Oh, another good friend of yours, Shizuna Muto. This talk will be very important to her, too -- !"

"Sister?" It was Nana, who from her vantage spotted the car pull up in front of the house through one of the windows next to the front door. The girl with blue hair told her boss, "Shizuna-san is here."

The Angel beamed brightly and declared, "Ah, excellent!"

Surprised, Tobi opened the door again and yep, the athletic beauty and single mom Shizuna Muto had gotten out of her car. She immediately saw Tobi waiting at the front door and smiled. She waved and greeted, "Konichiwa, Tobi!"

Tobi called back, "Hello, please come in!" He left the door standing open and said to the visitors, "I'll get Raya and Karin." He moved out of the room...

...as Shizuna entered, and the lady immediately frowned when she saw the Holy Nun and Nana. Shizu bowed and said, "Sister. Nanase-san." She fixed on Marie and asked, "You're not gonna be too annoying, are you?" Shizu couldn't forget that one strange day she and Fubuki Inazuma wanted to talk to Ai Sosuke in Sapporo, and met Marie and her aide right before that!

Marie shrugged and said offhand, "Only if this talk I need to have with you, Soraya and Karin will be inconvenient, Miss Muto."

"That'll depend on why you're here, Sister."

"I need to talk to you about regretful pasts and hopeful futures, actually. You'll understand the import of what I mean very soon."

That was when Tobi reentered the main room with three more ladies of different ages. The oldest of them was the Demoness Karin Yamazaki, but you wouldn't have been able to tell just from looking at the blonde stunner. Soraya Setsushi was a quiet yet kind maiden only half as old, and just as gorgeous. Karin was just going through more training before Marie and Nana's visit; she was returning back to 100-percent even swifter than her doctor, Leah Masters, could have anticipated. Entering with the two was a girl a bit younger than Raya, a pale beauty who was Raya and Tobi's recently adopted ward: Hieko. Raya greeted, "Hello again, Sister. Hieko, Karin, this is Sister Marie St. Augustine and Nanase Saionji."

Sunny Hieko said with enthusiasm, "Hi!"

Karin's expression was much more conservative as she regarded the visitors...she said to Nana, "I know you're a friend to Kyoko and Misa, Nana-san. It's an honor." She gave Marie a much more guarded look. "I don't know anything about you, though...!"

Marie said warmly, "And you're not going to be likely to, Miss Yamazaki. I don't like to divulge much about myself for reasons both personal and professional. Just wanted to get that out of the way! Maybe we should retire to Mister Koyanagi's spacious backyard?" She deliberately looked at the sensei. "I also need to request that I speak to these ladies without your continued presence, please?"

Tobi opened his mouth awkwardly...and finally asked, "Er, why?"

"Oh, this talk will be important to them, but you don't have to be involved. In fact, it would be better all around if you and Nana entertained little Hieko while we're having our discussion in private. That's how important this talk is."

Everybody was staring at Marie, especially Nana. Her aide asked, "Wait a minute, you're keeping me out of the loop again...?"

Marie informed her aide mildly, "This isn't government business, young lady. You don't have to know why I'm here. These ladies do. Okay?"

Nana frowned more than a little, but finally said, "...Okay!"

"Besides, I'm sure you'll love Hieko." Marie gestured toward the back of the house. "Ladies, if we could step outside...?"

Raya nodded, her own expression guarded now, as she nodded and said, "I'll show you the way." She looked down on her ward. "We'll be back soon." Hieko nodded and Raya began to move, followed closely by Karin, Shizu, and then Marie.

The moment they were out of sight, Hieko raised an eyebrow as she finally said, "That nun's kind of annoying."

Nana positively empathized as she looked at Tobi, who was just plain confused, and then she said to little Hieko, "Marie...gets that a lot. Don't mind her." The nephilim bent over a bit to look more closely at the sweet and unique Demoness and asked with care, "Um, do you like Shouji...?"

--2--

Gathered in Tobi's big back yard, three ladies were just as annoyed. Shizuna said straightforwardly, "I don't mean to sound impatient, Sister, but there had better be a good reason you're here...!"

Marie was just as direct: "It's about Natasha Setsushi and Haruhi Asagiri. They're the two reasons I needed to talk to you." All three of the ladies were affected, and for really personal reasons. "The three of you know they're both still alive and well, correct?"

Shizuna nodded. "Yes, you first told Kyoko and Misa about that scam Sae Yuuma pulled on everyone faking their deaths, and they told us...!"

Karin's expression was tight as she said with tension, "We've been wondering where the hell they've been ever since, especially since Tasha's pregnant!"

Shizu nodded. "She's going to have a son."

Raya was the most affected of the three of them as she said softly, "My nephew."

Karin asked Marie, "If you came to simply talk to us about them...?"

Marie's smile was brighter than the Sun above as she informed them, "Oh, I'm here to do more than that, ladies. It took quite a bit of doing, even with the considerable resources I employ to gather information. But I felt the three of you should know I found Natasha and Haruhi." THAT shocked the three of them. "If you want to go see them, I can provide you their current address. They're really not far away, all it would take is a road trip of a few hours to reach them!

"Now you can see why it was so important I see you. You've wanted to talk to those two again for many different reasons...the most important of them all, of course, being closure. Natasha and Haruhi are part of a regretful past you all have in common since you were each part of the same gang, correct?"

Shizu's mood darkened as she said quietly, "Yes."

Karin, a fighter heart and soul, had a hard edge to her voice as she stated, "I have no idea who you are or how you know so much about us. So pardon me if I ask why you'd want to make this any of your damn business? If you know anything about us, then you must know our pasts are painful and personal!"

It was perhaps most painful of all for the young beauty Soraya...she said in a voice full of quiet agony, "She's right, Sister. Why would you even tell us? What do you have to gain from letting us know where to find my sister???"

Marie nodded and she said with genuine care, "Young lady, I can't blame you for suspecting my motives, but I am an Angel and a Holy Nun sworn to a strict code of temperance and benevolence! If you want to know what I have to gain speaking to you today, I can sum it up in three words: peace of mind.

"All three of you know better than anyone how dangerous Natasha and Haruhi were when they were criminals. And I know for a fact that even though they've gotten better when it comes to certain...ailments they suffered, you're still worried about them." Marie focused entirely on Raya. "You have to wonder what they could be capable of in the future, and you're worried about what kind of mother Natasha could be after she will give birth to your nephew. After all, if she could destroy your parents and try to murder you, not even the Heavens know what Natasha could do when she's stable!"

Karin's eyes narrowed as she began to demand, "How do you...!"

Shizu quickly said, "Karin, you might as well not even ask!" The tiefling regarded the Holy Nun with real annoyance now. "You're never going to tell us how you know the things you do, right?"

Marie spread her hands and answered, "Sorry! My code doesn't include my being obligated to tell you a darn thing about myself. I do make it my business to know things, and it isn't for selfish reasons. I swear that upon the name of my god Jehovah and my very soul, ladies. More often than not, the information I trade in and broker doesn't come cheap...I've got bills to pay like everyone else in the mortal world!

"But there are times I feel it necessary to give that information with no cost or strings when it's of the utmost importance. Ol' Natasha and Haruhi aren't simply a source of worry for you ladies. Certain people on Earth and in higher places are concerned they could create even more chaos one day. They also want some peace of mind. I'm here in the name of everyone's best interests. Now you can take my word for that, or don't. It's up to you!

"Either way...do you want me to tell you where to find Natasha and Haruhi?"

It was silent for a long beat...and Raya finally answered for the three of them: "Yes. Yes, please."

--3--

The conversation lasted for another few minutes, and then Marie rejoined Nana and told her they had to go. They both said goodbye to Tobi and Hieko and left. The pair moved back to Nana's streamlined Lotus; it was her personal car. They approached the girl's ride as Nana asked, "Are you ever going to tell me what this was about?"

Marie answered, "Only if I have to, young lady. Until then -- !"

"Right, right. I am trustworthy, you know!"

They reached the Lotus and both paused. Marie looked fully upon her aide. "If I thought I couldn't trust you, then you wouldn't be part of the High Choir, Nana. Can you at least look at it that way? Trust in me, too. Please?"

Nana's expression softened immediately. "You already know I do. Just like you know everything else about me." Then the girl frowned and looked at the pavement.

Marie urged softly, "Go on. Say what you're thinking."

"Why should I bother? You probably already know."

"I'm not using my sight at the moment. You know I never do that casually."

Nana nodded. "I always feel like I'm at a disadvantage around you."

Marie smiled with loving care. "You don't have to, you dear childe! And please believe me when I say this." She looked into the distance as her expression shifted. "Knowing as much as I do, it's as much a curse as it is a blessing."

"Seriously?"

A true sadness developed in Marie's features. "And there's still so much I don't know...and I wish I did." She couldn't help but think again -- and she had more and more often these days -- of a girl she held most dear and then lost. Marie thought of incredible Akemi as she finished tenderly, "I wish that more than anything."

For a brief moment, Nana knew exactly what Marie was thinking...and the girl also felt a great sadness take hold of her soul. The girl said thickly, "I want Akemi back too, Marie. Besides Jade and Eri, she's the only one of the Asata I ever met and..." A tortured pause. "Gods, I hope she'll be with her family again one day...!"

Marie nodded and purred back, "So do I, childe. That closure might be denied us at the moment...but believe me or not, that can be given to others. That's part of what this trip to see those amazing women was about. But don't ask for anymore details, please!" The enigmatic Angel looked back at Tobi's house then and had to wonder, though: what will happen when those former Annihilators see each other again?

Marie had to hope it would go smoothly, all things considered...!

--4--

Back in the living room. It didn't take long for Raya, Karin and Shizu to bring Tobi and Hieko up to speed. The trio told them both everything Marie told them. Tobi said simply, "My gods. I really appreciate you telling us, but..." He knew how bloody important this was to them, too. He finally sighed, "Damn!"

Hieko was holding her her beloved Raya in green and gently asked: "What did you wanna do?"

Karin and Shizu gazed upon Raya and held that question in their hearts, too. Raya finally answered quietly, "I need to see them. I've always hoped and prayed I'd see my sister again. At the very least, I just want to know my nephew will be all right...!"

Karin said gently, "We all know Tasha and Haruhi better than anyone, Raya. We always hoped they could earn a second chance, just like we did...but...!"

Shizu finished Karin's thought when she said, "But would they want a second chance? Hells, would they even want to talk to us? I haven't forgotten how much Tasha wanted us both dead, Raya."

With quiet pain, Raya nodded and spoke: "I couldn't forget that, either. I'll never forget any of the horrible things my sister did." A growing resolve gave strength to Raya's gorgeous face. "But I do need this...I need to know if I can really forgive her."

Karin looked upon Hieko with care and told Raya's daughter, "This isn't about what anyone else wants, Hieko. It's about what we need. And we need to think about Raya's nephew most of all...!" Little Hieko nodded.

Tobikage nodded too and said with quiet concern, "Yes."

Shizuna knew this was something that they needed to do, too. She gazed at Raya and Karin and said: "Well, whether Tasha and Haruhi will like it or not...it's time we had a reunion of the Setsushi Annihilators!"

TO BE CONCLUDED!
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You'll find the second part and conclusion at the following link...be advised to check all of your expectations for what will happen next! ^___^

www.deviantart.com/charlesws/a…

Giving credit where it's due!
XNALara created by Dusan Pavlicek; XPS by Dusan and XNAaraL

Models:
's Karin Yamazaki by !
Soraya Setsushi and Shizuna Muto by !
More than a little honorable mention goes to for what he did for Karin and Raya!