fandomtownies | The Beach; Saturday Morning.

Setsuna had trouble trying to think of where would be the best place to do this. Her room would have been private enough, but it would have been too intimate and awkward. They could discuss things over breakfast or perhaps tea at the coffee shop, but she worried that those spaces were too public. Same for the park. So Setsuna had asked the Elder to meet her at the beach, early morning, pulling her jacket up around herself against the morning chill. She imagined, with the autumn weather creeping in, the beach would be relatively abandoned, and, if others did show up, they could always take a walk toward one of the coves.

She stood, waiting and watching, eyes to the water. She was nervous. What sort of news would the Elder have to give her? Why would have had bothered coming here? She knew he, like herself, could not refuse Konoka-Ojou-sama anything, but would he really have come all this way, opened himself, her, up so much...just because she had asked?

[[ beach is open, of course; thread between Set and the me part of

easternmagic is locked to them. Is it bad it's going to be SPed...when it's with myself? heh. sorry it's posted late for a morning post, but i had work ]]

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//"Ah, Setsuna-kun, good."// Eishun put out his cigarette in the sand before he approached the girl. //"I did find the right place, although I figured, with it being an island, and all, there would only be so much shoreline to travel before I found you."//

"Oh!" Setsuna turned with a little bit of surprise, then dropped instantly to her knees, lowering her head in a deep bow. //"Elder Konoe, thank you for coming to speak with me here, this morning."//

//"And here I was starting to think maybe you'd changed, Setsuna-kun,"// Eishun smiled warmly down at her, knowing that asking her to stop bowing would be useless. //"It is good to know some things are always consistent."//

//"Elder,"// Setsuna forged on ahead, as if disregarding his statements. //"I have asked you here this morning so that you can tell me, honestly as I know you would, what the situation is like in Japan. Have the unruly memebers settled down? Is Konoka-Ojou-sama continuing her training and how is it going? Have there been any more attacks on Mahora or Negi-sensei? Is Evangeline still subdued? I...I have so many questions..."//

Eishun chuckled. //"That's quite a lot to answer, Setsuna-kun. Things are quite quiet back home; if they weren't, you know we would have sent for you."//

//"But doesn't the fact that it's so quiet make you suspicious, Elder? Things were quiet before the whole Kyoto incidident..."//

//"The events in Kyoto were exaserbated by the arrival of Negi-kun; you know that. I am not worried with how things are at the moment, Setsuna-kun. Konoka has many people around her to protect her. Negi-kun, Asuna, even Evangeline. And Mana has been doing a good job of filling in when we would have needed you, although I have to admit,"// he paused to chuckle. //"She costs a great deal more than you do, Setsuna-kun."//

//"M...Mana-san?"// Setsuna looked up in shock. //"When...when you would have...."//

Her expression turned fierce and serious. //"Elder Konoe, if there is any reason why you should need me back in Japan for Ojou-sama's sake, please, let me know. I will pack my bags in an instant and be there at her side as I should be. Please..."// This was where the facade broke to display her dire fear. //"Don't replace me so quickly."//

//"Setsuna-kun..."// His smile at her was a little sad. //"You know that you are irreplacable to us..."//

//"Besides, Konoka has been training to head toward becoming a Magister Magi, and has her heart sent on you being her Partner."//

A flush rushed to Setsuna's cheeks. She nodded. //"Yes. We've...discussed it. How...how close is she? Does she have much to learn still?"//

//"Despite my daughter's incredible power,"// Eishun said with a sigh, lifting his eyes and casting them toward the water, //"she has much to learn; she has gone too long without understanding her potential or what she was capable of and has a lot of catching up to do. I...I blame myself, mostly for that..."//

He pulled his cigarette case from the inner breast pocket of his jacket, removed a cigarette, and retrieved his lighter.

Even if Elder Konoe felt guilt over it, Setsuna was grateful for the fact that he had kept Konoka-Ojou-sama in the dark about her powers for so long; if not, then they'd be having to face the issue of the Pactio now, if they hadn't already. Or Konoka-Ojou-sama would have chosen someone else for her Partner. Setsuna grew pale at the thought.

//"I am honoured that she believes me worthy enough to be her Partner. But...Elder....do you...do you find it....acceptable?"// Pale no more, Setsuna was blushing again as she asked.

The Beach; Saturday Morning.

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