This is inspired by
Puella Magi Adfligo Systema | Page 2634 (which had already inspired
Puella Magi Adfligo Systema | Page 2634) and by Christmas!
"Welcome back, Mikuni Oriko, Kure Kirika," greets 'Feathers', as the door opens before me.
I nod respectfully to the mysterious girl, then to Gaikotsu Masami, our host for our most secret meetings, then to everyone else in the room.
Wakahisa Hiroko, seated close beside Gaikotsu; Megane Ono, a seat over from the couple; Akemi Homura, or some alternate version of her with horrid taste in clothing; Kyuubey, the incubator staring soullessly from the table.
And our most recent member, hailing from Asunaro, the city I had just come back from...
Misaki Umika.
Once properly acknowledged, I move to take my seat, Kirika following my steps at my side, when the mysterious feathered girl practically
glides across the room and places a hand on my shoulder.
"Before we begin," she whispers, "Lady Mikuni Oriko, our most dedicated undercover agent: During your latest infiltration into Sabrina's operations, did you notice anything important about her capabilities, magical, physical, or mental, that would aid or hinder our efforts to take revenge upon her?"
The giant hand-held cannon takes shape in Tomoe's hands, the fleeing Magical Girl, Kanna Hijiri, looking back briefly -but long enough for everyone to see the despair in her eyes, her hopelessness.
The eyes of someone who had given up.
"Tiro..." Tomoe's voice resonates in the night as she carefully lines up her shot, her mere utterance sending a shiver down my spine.
"Oh my god," startles Sabrina suddenly, grabbing onto Mami's arm.
The blonde Magical Girl with matching eyes blinks at her girlfriend, nonplussed at the interruption.
Blue eyes widen dramatically. "Mami-" she gasps, "... IT'S CHRISTMAS!"
"But it's still april..."
"No."
Feathers nods at my answer, completely trusting of my judgement, before she steps back, allowing me to take seat at a comfortable two-seat couch. Kirika immediately ignores the extra space and plops herself right onto my lap, ignoring the annoyed glances from some of the members and the 'awww'-s uttered by some of the others as she makes herself comfortable.
I, of course, let none of my feelings show, even as I surreptitiously hold my beloved's hand.
"Very well," says Feathers, "now that all our members are present, we shall proceed to hold our fifteenth meeting of our Grand Organization: Perfectly Justified Grudges Against Sabrina is now in session."
I the proceed to somehow manage to sit through a long and boring status report from everyone on the room.
I take note of the most important bits of information:
One, our most steemed leader, Feathers, seems to have been absolutely stumped as of late, finding herself unable to meddle into Sabrina's affairs, or even 'find' the girl through her feathered magics. I am not the only who nods and pretends to understand.
Two, our newest member, the nun-clothed Magical Girl, Misaki Umika, apparently joined because Sabrina caused one Kazusa Michiru to start wearing pants. Hypocrite.
So it is that,
an hour later, it is finally my turn to share the tale of my latest exploits.
I meticulously share most -not all- the details of my trip at Sabrina's side to the city of Asunaro, Kirika chimming in now and then.
It's sortly after I reach the part about -and carefully omit- Sabrina's latest bout of brain damage that somebody dares to interrupt.
"Your upbringing does you favours, Mikuni Oriko," I very carefully do not let my eye
twitch as Akemi Homura's violet eyes pierce into mine. "But I am worried about you," she shares with a grin that seems to says the opposite, "are you certain Sabrina hasn't seen through your cover?"
Kirika's embrace on me tightens
very slightly, her closeness allowing her to feel the concealed tension on my muscles
"For a moment, I considered the idea Sabrina had found out about me," I confess, and everyone in the room holds their breath.
"I can't believe they let her run away when they had her dead to rights," I complain loudly in the almost deserted street. "If they had just shot her, this would have ended half an hour ago, and we wouldn't have had to track her down by ourselves."
It's here, in the middle of the night, with none other than my beloved Kirika -and the uncoscious form of Kanna Hijiri- that I can speak my thoughts freely.
Kirika, bless her, tightens her hug on my arm. "You have to admit, though, the Candy Cane Finale was hilarious," she says, while licking a candy cane, "... even if it missed."
I blink, still slightly bemused at the 'special' special attack, before my mind changes tracks on me unexpectedly.
"Where did you get that?"
Kirika looks up at me, the candy cane poking out of her mouth.
"Dunno," she shrugs.
"... But I believe she was just playing me a 'friendly prank'," I finish after letting the anticipation grow for a few seconds.
The gathered magical girls collectively relax, sighing, or in Masami's case, laughing softly. "As expected of our spymaster," she nods to me, to which I answer in kind, incidentally brushing Kirika's hair with my head.
My beloved girlfriend shifts on my lap, making a pleasant sound which sends a shiver down my spine.
I look back at Akemi, who huffs slightly, and turns away.
Take that, -I carefully omit the word referring to her choice of clothing from my mind.
Before long, I quickly wrap up the important parts of my tale, before springing my master plan... to escape this dreadfully boring meeting as soon as possible.
"I deeply regret having to leave this meeting early," I apologize to the group, bowing my head, "but our most hated target has quite cunningly forced me to host her and her allies tonight," I explain, letting my lips furrow into an irritated sneer.
Sabrina stares at me pleadingly, mouth half open.
"... Very well," I agree after a few seconds, "I will have you all over for dinner tonight."
"Yay!" Sabrina throws her arms around me -and Kirika- with a bright smile.
I return the hug after I recover from my momentary surprise.
"That...!" Megane Ono practically grinds her teeth. "That damned
Sabrina... who does she think she is, forcing her ways into other people's homes?" she snarls, glaring down at her cup of tea... before her eyes narrow...
ominously.
Wakahisa Hiroko places a comforting hand on Megane's shoulder, turning to give me a pitying look.
"I'm sorry you need to subject yourself to these trials, Miss Mikuni. I know my Masami and me couldn't stand to be around Sabrina and pretend to be her friends for so long," she admits, prompting Gaikotsu to take Wakahisa's hand in hers.
The telekinetic Magical Girl throws Kirika a jealous look, clearly not daring to perform such open displays of affection as my girl is currently doing.
I take no pleasure in watching Gaikotsu's eye
twitch as Kirika lays a kiss on my cheek.
I do, however, return the kiss to my girlfriend's forehead.
"Very well," nods Feathers. "Miss Mikuni Oriko and Miss Kure Kirika shall take their leave early today, to deal with
Sabrina's incessant meddling. Will you require any aid, Miss Mikuni?" she asks me.
"We will not," I shake my head regally and stand up. "I believe Kirika and I will suffice for tonight's farce, and I would not dare pull any of my colleagues away from our important reunion. After all..."
I look around, seeing the girls and Kyuubey stare at me with approval.
"Plotting Sabrina's downfall is of the utmost importance," I finish, bowing my head slightly to the group. "Who knows what horribly plots
she has in store for us?" I whisper dramatically, turning away.
"Every meguca should get at least four hugs a day," says Sabrina seriously.
Mami mutters something which sounds suspiciously like "Only four?" while tightening her grip on Sabrina's waist.
I'm certain Kirika's giving Sabrina a thumbs up behind -or rather, around- my back.
Amidst the silence that pervades across the room at my words, each member of our group no doubt thinking about all the horrible things Sabrina might do if left unchecked, Gaikotsu hurriedly gets up to open the door for me.
'
Wait,' calls out the incubator's childish voice, '
is that a candy cane in your pocket, Mikuni Oriko?'
I half turn around, nonplussed, checking-
"Candy!" says Kirika excitedly, plucking said piece of confectionary from my pockets, immediately popping the cane into her mouth.
"How..." I blink repeatedly, confused.
Then -a collective intake of air- every Magical Girl, feathered being and incubator in the room sits -or stands- straighter, eyes wide.
We all look around at each other cautiously, the same thought running through all our minds, the same accusation.
Sabrina.
"Are you certain you won't require aid, Miss Mikuni?" asks Feathers again.
I close my eyes heavily, as if thinking deeply.
"And that's the third time Hijiri escapes," mutters Kanna Niko.
"There, there," says Kazumi as she and the rest of the Pleiades hug the pigtailed girl.
"... I have this itching urge to put on a mask right now," says Sabrina, chin resting on top of Mami's head.
Finally, I shake my head, and look back at our mysterious leader with confidence, almost challenging her to deny me.
"We will be fine."
With a last look around the group, I turn around and finally exit our most secret meeting.
"Hi Oriko!" greets Sabrina as Kirika slides opens the door for her. "How did the meeting go?" she asks after Mami echoes her greeting.
"Smoothly enough," I answer while I finish setting up the dinner table, reassuring myself for the fifth time that I counted the number of guests correctly. "I believe Megane Ono will attempt to 'poison' your tea next time you meet," I share, receving a nonchalant 'ah' in acknowledgement. "Don't worry," I reassure her still, "Gaikotsu Masami wouldn't allow for such a thing to be done to her tea."
"I taught her well..." mutters Mami wistfully, a hint of pride colouring her voice.
She's immediately pulled into a tight embrace, courtesy of the white haired girl at her side.
"By the way," I comment as Kirika mirrors Sabrina's action with me, "I must commend you on your sleight of hand. I didn't even notice the candy cane you slipped me until the meeting. It ended up being quite a shock to everyone," I smirk, nodding at Sabrina approvingly.
Blue eyes blink back at me, confused.
"What candy cane?" she asks, slightly baffled.
I look at her.
She looks at me.
Kirika looks back and forth between the two of us.
"Fu fu fu..."
We all turn to look at...
Mami, who watches us with lidded eyes, her hand daintily held before her mouth.
"For all your plots, spying, and secret meetings..." the blonde says
smugly, "none of you can pull the wool over
my eyes," she winks, before turning to stare up at Sabrina, pulling herself closer into her arms, and laying a hand to Sabrina's cheek. "That's why my girl is safe," she whispers.
The girl's blue eyes widen like saucers, her cheeks flushing red under Mami's hand-
Kirika
pulls me suddenly away from the dining room and into the kitchen.
... I do
not squeak.
I pinch the bridge of my nose as Kirika actually lets me go for once, leaning against the kitchen's door and peering around the corner with wide eyes... while I turn and go supervise tonight's meal.
'The guests will finish arriving soon' I think to myself as I grab a completely out of place candy cane from the kitchen counter -it wasn't there
five minutes ago- and drop it in the trash can, much to Kirika's dismay.
