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Awesome! I'm glad that you're back. I was getting worried that this story was being discontinued. I can't wait to read more.

And on this note, it looks like the fanfic gang has all but reassembled as the inevitable release of KS looms over the horizen.
Anticipating your next chapter Mirage.

and where there is fanfic writers, there is being readers nearby...

Chapter Nine – Beauty And The Beast
When I arrive in class after my usual morning run with Emi, almost all seats are already filled. Only Hanako is absent again. Misha jumps up as she sees me, waving cheerily. Hearing her “Hey, Hicchan!” I could almost be fooled to think nothing had ever happened, but unfortunately I know better. I wonder how much of her upbeat personality has always been an act...

I shake those thoughts away, because it really doesn't matter. Instead I walk over to her and greet her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Well, I guess Miki will have something more to tell Emi during lunch-break.

I am just about to ask Misha about her visit to the hospital, when Mr. Mutou enters the room and we all have to take our seats.

***

During lunch-break Misha, Shizune and I grab something to eat in the cafeteria, but decide to eat in the more private surroundings of the student council office.

When the door closes behind us, I can contain myself no longer. “So, what did the doctors say?”

Misha falls down on a chair, sighing. “For now I can continue to go to school. I'll get my first poison cocktail tomorrow morning and then one more every day until either the tumour dies or I do. Maybe they'll do some surgery as well, but I'm not certain there are any non-essential parts left for them to remove.” I wince at the deadpan tone she has in her voice.

“...?” Shizune looks at her quizzically.

“Oh that's right, I never told you about that. Last time they removed... Heck, I don't even know the sign for that...” She fishes in her bag for a pencil and a piece of paper and writes out a word for Shizune. When she reads it, her eyes go wide and she stares at Misha, her mouth hanging open.

Misha doesn't seem to notice and just stares at the wall. After a moment of silence, she continues in a toneless voice. “Do you know what's the worst thing about it all? It's not feeling tired all day or being sick all the time. I could endure that. It is brushing your hair in the morning and finding most of it in your brush.” Her left hand is playing with her drills absent-mindedly. “You know I had really long hair before... I got sick. Just like Miki's. I was very proud of it.”

I put my arm around her shoulders and she leans against me. “It's the most depressing thing of all. Losing your hair little by little, a constant reminder every morning until it is all gone.”

“So why don't you shave it off before? That way it will be done with in one go, and what's more, it will have been your own choice.”

Misha sits up abruptly and turns to me as if to check whether I have gone mad. “You can't be serious!”

“Why not?”

She considers that in earnest for a few seconds, then she begins to really smile for the first time today. “Thanks Hicchan, I might just do that. But what about you? Don't you like my hair?”

I spin a curl of her drills around my fingers. “Of course I like your hair, but I love the girl underneath it. If it helps you just a little bit, then get rid of it. The hair will grow back, once you're well again. I'm sure it will be as long as it was five years ago one day.”

We are rudely interrupted by Shizune slamming her hand down on the table. She doesn't bother with signs and simply points at our lunches which are slowly getting cold.

“Oh, thanks for reminding us Shicchan.” Misha gives her a weak smile, and we both unpack our lunches and start to dig in.

***

Mutou's afternoon lesson runs a bit late, and when I have said goodbye to Misha and finally leave the classroom, the corridor is completely empty. I walk a few steps down the corridor until I stand in front of class 3-2's homeroom.

Just as I am about to knock, I hear Hanako's voice from inside, followed by some kind of guttural growl. Some kind of wild animal? Might Hanako be in danger in there?

I try to open the door, but it is stuck. A green glow around the lock confirms that it has been magically sealed. Inside the growling increases in both volume and ferocity. I gather all my concentration and try to set the lock back into its original state. After a few seconds the green glow fades. I turn the doorknob and open the door.

In the classroom, Hanako is standing behind one of the desks, alternately staring at me and a very large wolf that is standing next to the blackboard growling menacingly. I don't stop to speculate how a wolf might have gotten into the classroom, but instead grab a chair and move to stand between Hanako and the wolf.

“Come on Hanako, let's get out of here!”

Hanako just looks at me with wide eyes, but doesn't move. A moment later the wolf makes some gurgling noises and starts to talk with a ragged, barely intelligible voice. “Next time you could simply knock, Mr. Nakai.”

I am so surprised that the chair I've been holding clatters to the floor. I stare at the wolf for a few seconds longer until realization finally hits me. “Ms. Miyagi?”

“Of course. Who else would I be? Now please wait outside for a few minutes so I can change back and get dressed.”

My gaze wanders to a pile of clothes on the floor and I can feel my face getting hot. I stammer something I don't even understand myself and hasten out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me. I spend the next few minutes doing breathing exercises to get my heart to beat with a regular rhythm again.

After a while the door opens and Ms. Miyagi motions for me to enter. “So Hisao, what brings you here? Aren't you supposed to be with Mr. Kanzaki right now?”

“No, he's with Kenji and told me to go to your class today. Didn't he tell you?”

She sighs. “No, he must have forgotten.”

I fix my gaze firmly on the floor. “I'm sorry for barging in like that. I heard those strange noises, and I didn't stop to think...”

She interrupts me. ”Oh well, no harm done. Neat job on the lock by the way.” She pulls a cigarette package out of her jacket. “Mind if I smoke after all this excitement?”

I notice Hanako going pale behind her. “I don't think that would be a good idea.”

Ms. Miyagi turns around. “Oh, I'm sorry Hanako, I forgot.” The cigarettes disappear back into her pocket. Anyway I was just giving Hanako a demonstration of Animal-Transmutation. I've covered the basics with her already, so I might as well ask you. Did you notice anything extraordinary?”

“You mean other than you turning into a wolf?”

She laughs at that. “Yes, that would be a bit extraordinary, wouldn't it? Anything else?”

I ponder the question for a while. “Your voice sounded strange.”

“Well, obviously, a wolf's vocal chords are not really suited for human language I had to make a few changes on the fly to talk to you, but such things are never perfect. Nothing else?”

I feel myself getting red in the face again. “Uh... Your clothes....”

“Exactly. That's what I meant. One of the two basic limitations of all Transmutations. You can transform inanimate matter almost as you like. The same for living beings. But you cannot change one into the other. That means, as you change into an animal, everything you carry has to be left behind. This makes transforming into an animal impractical under most circumstances. Mostly it's better to settle for minor modifications of your body, like claws or gills.”

She pauses. “Hanako, you don't have to listen to all this stuff again.” She walks up to her desk and picks up a book. “Why don't you study this for a moment? I'll be back to you right away.” I glance at the title 'Chemical elements and their composition'. Hanako simply nods and sits down at a desk with the book.

“Why do you have Hanako read a book about chemistry? Can't you just change chemical elements with your magic?”

“It would be nice if it were so easy, Hisao.” She sighs.” If it were, alchemists in the middle ages wouldn't have had such a hard time turning lead into gold. It's actually pretty easy to do, if you know that gold has three protons less per nucleus, but if you don't understand the concept of atoms, the best thing you'd come up with is yellow lead.”

“So, to do Transmutation you actually need to know a lot about natural sciences. Physics, chemistry, biology... You can simply force matter to be something it doesn't want to be - I'm sure you trained with solid water cubes by now - but such things are never permanent. Once the magic fades, the water will return to it's liquid state. If you want a permanent effect, you have to transform it into something that is naturally stable.”

“It's even more difficult with living beings. Living beings somehow remember their original form. No Transmutation of a living being will ever be permanent. Even if a wolf-form is naturally stable, I am a human, and when the effects of the magic fade, I will return to being a human. However, if that is an uncontrolled process it can result in serious injury or even death.”

“Also, any modification you make on your body has to actually work. It's very easy to create gill slits on your throat, but if you don't know how gills function or how to connect them to your lungs, they won't help you shit on your next diving trip. And if you change into an animal, you better have a good idea of that animal's anatomy, or the result won't be pretty.”

Secretly, I am very glad that my ring didn't glow green when I first put it on. I mean, those are very cool abilities, but there are too many opportunities to die a horrible death for my tastes... “So, if you know about the anatomy, you can change into any animal you like?”

“Well, there's still the second basic limitation of Transmutation magic: Mass. I weigh about 65 kilos. That mass has to go somewhere. If I were to change into a mouse, it would be a rather big one. It's also theoretically possible to change into a miniature version of a bigger animal, but most animals don't scale very well.”

I shudder as the image of a 65kg spider flopping on the ground with broken legs comes unbidden to my mind. Hastily I change the subject. “And Hanako is going to have to learn all that stuff?”

“She's a natural. I've never seen anyone devour those science books at such a speed. I asked Mr. Mutou to excuse her from his science lessons. What she's learning here is way more advanced than regular high-school stuff anyway. She might be allowed to cut a few of the other lessons as well. Skilled Transmuters are much sought after, because they are very rare – almost as rare as Abjurers by the way. That reminds me. It couldn't hurt for you to learn a bit about basic anatomy as well. You might be called on to undo a Transformation one day, and it helps to know which part goes where...”

As I listen to Ms. Miyagi's explanations, something in my mind goes click. I file away the thought for closer examination later on. I glance over to Hanako to make sure she is still immersed in her book, then I ask Ms. Miyagi in a low voice. “So, if she has become a trained Transmuter one day, she'll be able to do something about her scars?”

Her face turns somber. “In theory yes, but they would not be truly healed. It would be a temporary fix and it would have to be renewed periodically – and having one's body in a permanent state of transmutation can have some very unpleasant side effects...” She looks at me pointedly. “You know, the sort you'll need an Abjurer to remove.”

I shudder, and she gives me a big grin. “Well, while you're here why don't I give you something to practice other than those boring cubes Kozo is tormenting you with? Hanako?”

Hanako looks up and lays down the book she has been reading. As we both stare expectantly at Ms Miyagi, she begins to turn pale at an alarming rate. Noticing our reaction, she smiles and motions for us to say put. Little by little all colour is draining from her face and hands, and her hair is turning white as snow.

When she speaks again she looks as if she were a ghost. “Changing the colour of an object or being is one of the simplest forms of transmutation.” She walks over to Hanako, takes a few strands of her hair and puts them into her hands. “Now, Hanako, please try to turn these white, and you, Hisao will try to return my hair to normal, but... “ she winks at me, “if you cause my hair to fall out, I'll have to turn you into a giant toad.”

Hanako starts to giggle. I think this is the first time I've heard her make that kind of sound. Ms. Miyagi looks surprised as well.

“Anyway, before you start, let me tell you some things about pigments and refraction...”

********************

Please look forward to chapter Ten:
Colours of the Wind

hmm... now I'm getting more and more interested...

goddammit, I need something to do, KS aint out, DNF aint out, Ive played through my backlog of games (including FFXIII, urgh) and now im trying to find something to do...

This story keeps drawing me in! Good fething work!

Writing's been a bit slow this past week, but I decided to put up chapter ten anyway. Please enjoy.

Chapter Ten – Colours of the Wind
Two hours later, Hanako has managed to copy the feat of turning her hair to white and back to normal, while Ms. Miyagi has pronounced my efforts to return her hair back to its usual black 'satisfactory'. I missed a few strands but at least I didn't cause any hair to fall out, so I guess my amphibian existence has been put off for now.

Outside, the sun is approaching the horizon, and she dismisses the class, though not without handing me two books to study until next week. Not my usual fare, but the prospect of practical application makes the thought of doing some actual studying much less fearsome than I thought it would be.

Hanako and I pack our stuff and leave the classroom together. The other classrooms are empty. There's a message on the door of our homeroom. “Gone to town with Shicchan. See you tomorrow. Love, M.”

A bit embarrassed, I take the note and put it in my bag. It's just like Misha to leave a note like that hanging in the open where anyone can read it.

I turn to Hanako. “So any plans for the afternoon?”

“I... I was going to l-look for Lilly...”

“Mind if I tag along?”

“ N-No...” Hanako shakes her head and we set out for the tea room.

***

We arrive at the tea room, and I knock on the door. “Lilly? It's us, Hanako and Hisao. Are you finished with your lesson?”

There is no answer. I open the door to find the room empty. As I step over the threshold, Takeshi's voice sounds in my head. We've gone to the garden to practice because of the nice weather. Please come and join us.

I turn to Hanako and open my mouth to speak, but apparently she has heard the voice as well. “Well, he's right. The weather is way too fine to stay inside.”

As we go to meet Lilly and Takeshi, I marvel – not for the first time – at how fast we've come to accept all the weird things happening around us...

***

Lilly and Takeshi are sitting on a blanket beneath a tree in a quiet corner at the back of the garden. The flowerbeds around them are spectacular, and for a moment I feel sad for Lilly because she is not able to see them.

As Takeshi sees us walking down the gravel path, he rises and waves. “Ah, Hisao, so you got my message?”

Well, the answer to that should be obvious, but I appreciate him asking and not simply reading my thoughts. “Yes, we both heard it. Thanks for inviting us.”

Takeshi gives me a calculating look, but doesn't comment further. “So, Lilly and I were practising sendings - talking mind to mind. She's actually gotten pretty good at it so I thought she might be ready to try to talk to someone who isn't a Diviner.” He smiles at Hanako. “How about it? Do you want to try?”

Hanako nods shyly. “Y-Yes.”

“Then please sit down on the blanket and hold Lilly's hands. It's easier that way.”

Hanako does as she is told, while Takeshi comes over to stand next to me and watches the two. Lilly's eyes are closed and Hanako looks like she is listening to a voice too faint to be audible. Then a smile spreads across her face. “Yes, Ms. Miyagi changed into a wolf and then...”

“Sorry,” Takeshi interrupts her, “please don't answer out loud. Just think your answer and let Lilly try to read it.”

The following minutes are exceedingly uneventful, as the girls 'talk' to each other. Takeshi must have noticed me getting bored because after a while he asks Hanako to trade places with me.

I sit down next to Hanako and take Lilly's hand. I don't know if it helps to strain one's ears to hear a telepathic message but I do so anyway just in case. To my surprise Lilly's voice sounds loud and clear in my head, just as if she were talking to me normally. Hello Hisao! How are you today? Apparently she's already gotten the hang of this trick after practising with Hanako.

Relieved that this is not going to be that hard, I hurry to think my answer. I'm fine, thank you. You've gotten pretty good at this, haven't you.

Somehow you are easier to understand than Hanako was. I have no idea why.

Maybe Takeshi would know?

Lilly gives a mental shrug. I have no idea how she did that. Maybe. I'll ask him later. Meanwhile she gives me a grin as feral as Ms Miyagi's wolf form. So, I heard that you found yourself a girlfriend? You and Ms. Mikado are an item now?

I feel my face flushing and quickly turn my head away, Hanako and Takeshi won't see. I guess not even Lilly can resist the opportunity for some juicy gossip. Must be a woman thing... While I ponder what to answer, I let my gaze wander across the flowerbeds. I wonder if she will be mad at me for going out with Misha. The two of them don't get along very well, do they? At least I don't think she'll be jealous...

A gasp from Lilly takes me back to the present. I let go of her hand and turn back to her. Her eyes are wide open and her face has gone almost completely white. Did she accidentally hear one of my thoughts just now?

Takeshi is already kneeling besides her, gently shaking her shoulders. “Lilly! Are you okay? What's wrong?”

Hanako is also there gripping her hand tightly.

A few moments later Lilly starts to recover. “What was that?”

We stare at her uncomprehendingly. Takeshi has a strange look in his eye. “What was what?”

Lilly shakes her head. “I don't know. There was... Something... I don't know how to describe it.”

Takeshi's gaze wanders between Lilly and myself as he ponders something. Then he seems to come to a decision. “Okay, let's try something. Hisao, close your eyes!” I wonder what he's got in mind but I do as he says. “Good, now take Lilly's hand again.” I feel his hands gently turning my head to the left. “And now open your eyes again, slowly!”

When I open my eyes I find myself looking at the flowerbeds again. As I feel Lilly gripping my hands more tightly, I finally understand what must have happened.

“Now, Hisao, please describe to Lilly what you are seeing.”

I take a deep breath, then I start talking. “I see a field of grass. A gravel path leads back to the main building. Along the path there are several flowerbeds. The one on the right holds yellow and red chrysantemums, the one on the left...” I almost falter as I recognize the flowers. “Those are Lillys.” I turn back to look her in the eyes. “And this is you, Lilly.”

Tears are running down her cheeks as she struggles to handle all the unfamiliar sensations. Hanako is holding out a handkerchief to her, and she is tentatively reaching out for it, beaming when she manages to take hold of it on the first try.

By now there is a lump in my throat as well. I am unable to get any more words out, and I wouldn't know what to say, even if I could.

The sound of Takeshi clearing his throat ends this magical moment. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but this is enough for today.” When Lilly hesitates to let go of my hand he continues. “Soon you will be able to do this without physical contact and for longer periods of time, but please don't overexert yourself for now.”

Reluctantly, Lilly lets go of my hand. Her expression turns sad, as she is once again returned to not seeing anything. “You have made great progress. I didn't expect you to be able to do that for at least two more weeks.” He winks at the three of us. “I guess I'll have to teach you about colours earlier than I intended to.”

He reaches for Lilly's hand and helps her stand up. “For now, please get some rest. We'll bring you to your room, and try again tomorrow, okay?”

While Takeshi gathers up the blanket, Lilly takes Hanako's arm and together we walk towards the dorms. As we reach the courtyard, I remember about the things Ms. Miyagi said earlier.

“I'm sorry, Lilly, I just remembered I have something to do in the nurse's office.” I nod a quick good-bye to Hanako and Takeshi as I jog over to the auxiliary building. “We'll see each other tomorrow.” For the first time, that line doesn't sound wrong in my ears.

***

Much later that evening I finally return to my dorm. The nurse was surprised at first, but he thought it was a good idea and helped me search for all the stuff I needed.

Now I'm standing in the corridor, carrying two large books and three folders worth of copies and internet printouts – blown up to twice their normal size - and try to knock on the door without scattering them all over the corridor. In the end I place the papers on the floor first.

After the knock it takes a few seconds before I hear the expected sound of half a dozen locks and bolts being undone. Then the door is opened just enough for Kenji to slip out, and he closes it behind him so fast that I have no chance of catching a glimpse of his room.

He has done away with the curtain in favour of a tall staff made of cardboard – probably filched from the art-club's supplies - and I have no idea whether or not he is wearing his magical hat, but I decide not to comment, because that way lies insanity.

Kenji squints at me, trying to ascertain my identity, then he relaxes. “Hey, it's you bro. What gives?”

I hedge a bit, trying to not let my anxiety show. “Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to ask how your studies with Mr. Kanzaki are going. Made any progress yet?”

Kenji brightens as the topic is breached. “Of course I did! You think I'd just sit around idly when an opportunity like this opens up? I'm going to give it my all and use it to start turning the tide on the Feminist Incursion!”

“This afternoon I showed Mr. Kanzaki all the information I've gathered so far, the diagrams, the statistics and my conclusions from them. He was clearly shocked. Said this was worse than he had expected. I'm sure he will join our cause once he has had time to look through all the data.”

“That's great, Kenji, but I was talking about your magic training. How's that coming along?”

He sobers up a bit. “I guess, it's going okay... In a way...”

That doesn't sound good. “What do you mean by 'in a way'?”

“Well... I can see that magic glow in his little cubes. Better than the cubes themselves in fact.”

“But you didn't do any actual magic? You know... By yourself?”

He avoids my gaze and stares at his feet. “Not yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time, until... Hey, what is all that stuff on the floor?”

I remember the reason why I came here in the first place, but in my heart I fear this might be pointless after all. If Kenji cannot do anything at all, how can I expect him to...

It's futile to follow these thoughts any further. I went to the trouble of gathering all this stuff and even if it doesn't help, it can't do any harm either. I decide to go with the story I thought of earlier. “Well, I did some intel-gathering myself, and I wanted to keep you up to date.”

Kenji grabs the topmost folder and squints at the gigantic writing. “That's great, bro, I knew I could rely on you.” He frowns. “'Sarcoma'? What's that? The name of our enemy?”

“Yes, Kenji, that's the most dangerous enemy of them all.”

*********************

Please look forward to chapter Eleven:
God Help the Outcasts

Mirage... <3 <3 <3

Doing great, looking forward to next chapter

Can...not...belive...I did not get the Disney song references in the title ...I feel pretty stupid right now...

scott1and wrote:Can...not...belive...I did not get the Disney song references in the title ...I feel pretty stupid right now...

Wow, so do I...

Ah, I was wondering if someone would ever notice (and bother to write a post about it)

I'll have to tell you guys I'd probably never have even looked for the reference if Mirage hadn't told me when I first started editing for him

It's been almost a month since the last update...
Sorry for the delay, but those past few weeks I've been busy getting the German version of KS Act 1 ready. As soon as that's finished, I'll get back to this story here.

...

*makes a note to get his ass back to editing this evening* ">_>

dont worry mirage... my boredom can handle a little while longe....

... never mind

I need something to do....