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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume7 Chapter1

2008-08-04T02:53:07Z

165.21.155.9:

===Chapter One: The Temperature Difference between the Two===

A young lady with peach-coloured hair was lying horizontally on the bed, with only a thin cape wrapped around her bare skin.

She's the one whom they call "Louise of the Void": Louise Françoise, and only a few high ranking officers of the royal army knew of this secret.

It's now the end of the year, the second week in the month of Wein. Going by Halkeginia's climate, it's now the equivalent of autumn... It's still not considered very cold in the tent. Winter will have to wait until the coming of the new year. It's also because of this that she can dress so sexily without the fear of catching a cold.

On a simple bed made up of a piece of cloth draped over straw, Louise bit her small finger, and sulked indignantly.This gesture of hers has an unbelievable cuteness to it. On that porcelain doll-like face of hers surfaced a peach colour, arising from discontent. Louise sat up, and hugged her knee.

This gesture of hers has a cuteness akin to a god's. With her feelings immediatly written on her face, Louise cannot hide completely the uneasiness in her heart. This uneasiness caused some sort of dramatic change in Louise's girlish air, adding to it a layer of perfume called "sexiness".

Louise's hands non-chantantly touched her long slender legs beneath the cape.

The fingers touched the toes, and returned to the knees.

Unknowingly, Louise did such a seductive move, even gently tugging upwards the cape covering her. It exposed her legs, and her slim yet sexy thighs- All this, were
done unconsciously.

Beneath the cape, was her skin, a young maiden's skin now full of charm, due to her passion.

Which is to say, she's wearing nothing. To ask why; that's because Louise only wears pajamas when she sleeps. Since she forgot to bring her pajamas, she had to replace it with a cape.

If she's wearing her undies, Louise will not fall asleep.

Although the sexy and cute pose from Louise is spreading out an irresistible charm...It's a pity that the other person in the tent took no notice of it.

On the back of the cape covering Louise, was the lily emblem of Tristain. This cape was different from the one worn in the academy. The emblem, a way to distinguish friend from foe, clearly indicated that this area, was a battleground.

As a female officer directly under Her Highness's command, Louise was assigned her own personal tent. In the military port of Losayes, buildings icresembling hostels were rare so tents were put at every stop. Such treatment was equal to a general‘s, but since Louise‘s legendary magic element ‘void’ was considered to be a last resort, it was normal.

Inside the tent lit by a magical lamp, was a simple bed made up of a piece of cloth covering some straw, a foldable dining table, a small cabinet for clothing and accessories, and a bell for ordering the accompanying soldiers. In the battlefield, these items inside the tent can already be considered the "luxurious" type.

In a corner of such a tent, Saito was staring blankly in front of him, feeling low.

"Hey, Saito."

No reply.

Louise sat up, and called him again.

"Hey, I'm going to sleep soon. Come here, quickly."

Although Louise was red in the face as she called him, there was still no reaction.

"It's already past 10. We'll have to be up early tomorrow morning to inspect the frontlines. You've better sleep now."

Even so, there's still no reply from Saito.

This familiar of Louise, who came from another world, was now sitting crossed-legged on the floor, his face full of depression. He was already like this a week ago. When Louise recalled the battle which caused Saito's depression, she felt a dull pain in her heart.

A week ago, the combined armies of Tristain and Germania successfully occupied this port-town of Albion. As the main force of Albion's armies were attracted to the northern port-town of Talnis, there were only about 500 defenders in Losayes. The landing party, numbering 60,000, effortlessly destroyed the defenders and set up camp in Losayes.

During the enticing of the enemy into battle, Louise's "Void" magic showed its power.The Void spell "Illusion', is a spell that can create huge illusions.

Louise used the "Illusion" spell to create illusions of the combined armies landing in Taldanis, causing the enemy forces en route to Losayes to turn back.

But... in order for Louise and others to reach Taldanis, some sacrifices had to be made. That, was the 2nd Dragon Cavalry Company, attached to "Varsenda", the flagship of the Albion expedition.

It was because of their engagament of enemy forces, that the Zero Fighter carrying Louise and Saito could successfully escape the pursuit by the enemy's dragon cavalry.

The price for this battle's success.... The 2nd Dragon Cavalry Company was annihilated.

Although dragon cavalry were very expensive, compared to the possible losses while landing in enemy territory, this sacrifice can be considered minimial. The commanding officer being rewarded was a matter of fact. Also, this was something to be happy about.

The thing is, for those who took part in that battle, and witnessed the destruction of the company for themselves, it was an entirely different feeling,

Louise observed Saito, and pouted her lips.

Of course, it was a sad thing that had happened, but…

During the landing battle, there were sacrifices as well. War definitely brings Death along with it. If every death is mourned, there will be no end to it.

In Halkeginia, there were wars almost every single year.

For Louise, although death was something sad, it was also something very close to her.

Louise stood up. Under the dim glow of the magic lamp, the room was rather dark. Under such conditions, even if the cape didn't cover certain areas, the body should still remain unseen.

Louise crossed her hands in front of her, as if hugging herself, and held the hems of the cape tightly. She walked up to Saito, who's hugging his knees as he sat, and said, "Buck up, alright."

"Emm." Saito grunted lifelessly.

"But, I can't help it. After all, it happened right before my eyes. Although it's for the execution of the mission, still...."

Saito was really down in the doldrums. It was only then that Louise remembered: those teens were about Saito's age.

Saito… he must have projected himself onto them. This kind-hearted boy from another world, with what's going on in his mind being a mystery, must have been hurt by this self-projection.

Just as how Saito had comforted her before, Louise felt that this time, it was her turn to comfort him. But, she didn't know how to go about doing it.

Louise squatted, and sat back-to-back with Saito.(See illustration)

"That.. Although you may find me cruel by saying this.. Compared to the deaths of the company, what makes me sadder is to see you being so depressed. Although I shouldn't be thinking like this, but facts are facts. However, maybe because…you are my familiar and were by my side. I really felt very sad."

Saito slowly turned his head, and stared quietly at Louise.

" Death may sadden people.... But that was a glorious death in the battlefield... for honor. They died for a great victory. They're too pitiful if you felt sad about their deaths..."

"Do you mean what you say... regarding this?"

He felt that something was amiss when Louise started talking like this.

”Of course not, but we have to. We're now at war."

Louise's right hand let go of the hem it was holding, and gently patted Saito's forehead, now that he has turned around. Her fingers caressed the streaks of dried tears on his cheeks.

Saito shook his head, and cried.

"I... I didn't even know their names."

Instead of calling it an unbearable pain, it was more of the inability to forgive.

To die for the mission, to die for honour.

He couldn't imagine the feelings at all.

Doesn't Louise understand this?

He recalled teachers Colbert's letter. The teacher wrote: Never become used to death, never become used to slaughter.

He was wondering at the time "How is it possible that one could get used to such things?"

As Louise looked at Saito's forlorn face, she felt terrible. What she had just said were not lies. Although she felt sad for those youths who had sacrificed themselves, but they had died for the victory of their country.

Louise, who had grown up receiving the education of the nobility, and Saito, who grew up in Japan on the peaceful Earth: there was an obvious gulf between them.

Louise felt pain seeing Saito’s crying face. Compared to mourning the dead, she had a greater desire to heal the pain of the living. If Saito's tears were a kind of gentleness, then perhaps this can be said to be another type of gentleness.

Louise thought of -

What should one do at a moment like this? How does one comfort a boy who had been hurt?

And...

If it was that maid, what would she do? She used just a little bit of her imagination.

She would.... use the warmth of her body. It's all that commoner can come up with.

On this train of thought, she suddenly became angry.

That... that sort of thing... I can do that too!

Recalling that time where he pushed her to the floor, and kissed her a few times on the neck, Louise's face became red at once.

Since at that time, he was being excited all of a sudden (That's how Louise saw it), Louise hadn't forgiven Saito for what he did. Definitely not.

He said something about liking her; surely he said it with doing that sort of thing in mind. Once her mind was on this thought, a burst of anger erupted from within her. After that, she couldn't even forgive herself. Although she was affected by the mood at the time, but she actually lowered the hand which had risen to slap him.

That means... that is to say.....

But, at the back of her mind, Louise shook her head furiously.

That doesn't mean that I've accepted him.

Because he wanted to do it the hard way; he's doing it unconsciously. That's right: unconsciously.

Although Louise didn't know what "unconsciously" actually meant, she hugged Saito tightly, her face crimson-red. Hugging a familiar is something which isn't supposed to be done, due to the difference in status between the two. Yes... letting him sit beside the dining table could be said to be a form of pity. But, hugging him like this wasn't pity.

Louise shook her head. She thought,"What am I doing?" The incredible thing was that her heartbeat was quickening. Her racing heartbeat, seemed to be dissolving the cruel atmosphere of the battlefield.

Despite all this, Saito was still depressed.

Is it still not enough?

Is simply hugging him tightly not enough?

Hoping that he would pucker up didn't mean that she liked him or anything. However, if a familiar was like this, it would affect missions in the future.

Although she didn't have any other feelings for this familiar, she didn't want to lose in battles, no matter what. However, there was no movement in Saito's vision.

She remembered what she was wearing now. Underneath the cape was her skin.

No undies.

Louise took a deep breath. It's only a tiny bit. If doing this could comfort Saito a little, isn't it worth a try?

No way, Louise.

How can you show others your body when you're unmarried?

If you treat him as a familiar, that's still alright. But now, what are you doing?

If he sees it, there will be trouble.

You'll have to marry him.

Those are the rules.

I want to marry?

Marry who?

This familiar?

No way! Impossible! He's a commoner from another world!

Her brain began to fry, as if it was about to explode. Saito stared at Louise in her current predicament, his eyes emotionless.

Sob...Now, even Louise was feeling down.

She really wants to heal this wound of Saito's.

Does Saito really like me/To think about it, although he did say that he liked me/but that was for taking advantage of me/But does my body have that kind of charm/Aaahhhh! This is frustrating!!

Louise grew more and more confused.

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume2 Chapter1

2007-06-21T18:06:09Z

165.21.155.9:

'''Chapter one - A secret Boat'''

Louise, lying on her bed, started dreaming. She dreamt that she was back to her homeland where she was born, which was three days ride away from the Tristain academy.

The young Louise in her dream was running about near the house, eventually hiding in the vegetation which was as complex as a maze to hide from her pursuers.

“Louise, where are you? Come out now!” shouted Louise’s mother. In her dream, Louise was being reprimanded due to her poor results in magical studies. She was constantly being compared with her sisters, whom had much better results than her.

Louise saw a pair of shoes below the bushes.

“Miss Louise is really poor in magic!”

“I totally agree. Why can’t she be like her two elder sisters who are so good with magic?”

Louise, upon hearing that felt sad and dejected at the same time as she bit her lips. The servants have started looking for her in the vegetation. Louise tried her best to escape. She retreated to the place she has name “Secret Garden” – The central lake.

That was the only place that Louise felt at ease. It was a tranquil place with no one else around. Flowers bloomed all around and birds gathered on the benches near the lake. And in the middle of the lake there was a small island which had a small house made of white marble.

Next to the island there was a small boat originally used for leisure but no one comes to row the boat anymore. Her elder sisters had already grown up, and are busy studying magic. Her father, who had retired from his military duties, now mingles around with the nobles who live nearby. Besides hunting for wild game, her father has no other pastime. Her mother is only interested in teaching her daughters and could not care less about anything else.

Therefore, besides Louise, no one ever comes to the forgotten lake anymore, much less remembering that small boat. That is why whenever Louise is reprimanded; she would come to this place.

In Louise’s dream, the younger version of her jumped on to the boat and snuggled into a blanket that was prepared earlier.

As she hid inside her blanket, a noble wearing a cloak appeared out of the mist covered island.

The noble was about sixteen years old. In Louise’s dream, she was only six years old, a ten year difference between them.

“Have you been crying, Louise?” His face could not be seen as it was covered by a large hat that he had worn on his head.

But Louise know exactly who he was, it was the viscount, the noble whom had just inherited the lands around her homeland. Louise felt warm and fuzzy inside, the viscount was the man of her dreams. They had often joined the same banquets together and furthermore, both of their fathers had already made an engagement.

“Is that you, Viscount?”

Louise haphazardly covered her face; she did not want to let the man of her dreams see her crying. It would be embarrassing

“I was invited by your father today regarding the engagement.”

Hearing this, Louise was even more embarrassed to the point that she did not even dare lift her head up.

“Really?”

“But that would not be possible, viscount.”

“Louise, my small and dainty Louise, do you dislike me?” The viscount said in jest.

Louise, gently shook her head and said abashedly,” No, it’s not that. Just that I’m still young and ignorant…”

The face hidden underneath the hat revealed a smile and extended a hand out to Louise.

“Viscount.”

“Lady, please take hold of my hand. Quickly, the banquet is about to start.”

“But…”

“Have you been scolded again? Don’t worry I’ll talk to your father.” the viscount said.

Louise nodded, stood up and reached out to the viscount’s hand. What big hands, isn’t that the hand that I had always dreamt of holding?

Just as she was about to hold the viscount’s hand, a sudden gust of wind blew the hat out of the viscount’s head.

“Eh?!” Louise looked his face and said perplexingly. Because it was a dream, Louise had reverted back to her sixteen year old from god knows when.

“What… What are you doing?”

The person underneath the hat was not the viscount, but her familiar, Saito.

“Louise, come over quickly.”

“It doesn’t matter whether I come over or not, but why are you here?”

“Don’t be so narrow minded, haven’t you fallen for me already?” said replied Saito whom was dressed in the viscount’s clothes impudently

One has to wonder where he got that much confidence from.

“Don’t be stupid, I was just muddle headed that time, you better stop dreaming!”

“Stop making up excuses, my Louise.”

“Who is “Your Louise’!?”

Saito pretended not to hear her at all, and instead went closer to Louise.

“What are you trying to do!? You Idiot?!”

Ignoring her complaints, Saito proceeded and carried Louise whom was in the boat onto his arms.

“Why is it you?” Louise said in frustration while punching Saito. But Saito did not get angry at all instead, his grin became wider. This made Louise to slowly turn red from embarrassment, she did not know the exact reason, but she felt good being in Saito’s arms. This made Louise in dreamland even more anxious.

Saito lying in his bed slowly opened his eyes. The twin moons in full circle shone onto the room, lighting it up brightly. Louise sleeping on her bed made sounds of moaning, as though she was having a nightmare.

Saito prayed that she would continue to be asleep. He got up slowly and slowly approached the sleeping Louise.

“Sheesh…” Saito turned around and put his index finger onto his lips.

“Not wanting me to speak? Why?”

“Sheesh…” Saito shook his head. Once again put his middle finger onto his lips and stared at Derflinger, his partner with annoyance.

“I won’t forgive you for giving me the cold shoulder. My partner wakes up in the middle of the night without tell me the reason. This makes me angry, so depressing!”

After Derflinger said that, he moved and shook his body, looks like he is really angry. What a difficult sword.

Awakened by rattling of the sword, Louise turned around and opened her eyes.

Saito’s heart skipped a heartbeat.

Sitting up, she started to scold Saito.

“Don’t be so full of yourself! You better do some cleaning up, haven’t you see dust gathering all around already? Don’t tell me that you have done it already, you slow witted fellow, and you’re such a dimwit!”

Saito’s body was frozen hard, as though “Harden” had been casted on him.

But after Louise finished scolding Saito, she lay down once more and slept. Looks like she was just talking in her sleep. Even in her sleep Louise was ordering Saito about. Saito felt relived and sad at the same time.

Derflinger which was watching Saito all this time gave a hapless sigh.

“She’s talking in her dreams huh? But it doesn’t seem like music to your ears, Saito.”

Saito stared angrily at Derflinger which almost spoiled his plan and quickly walked towards it and said, “You better keep quiet, you idiot!”

“You’re really too much, I shall not forgive you! If partner wants me to be silent, I would definitely be silent! But for suddenly waking up in the middle of the night and be so sneaky about it, you’ll definitely suffer retribution even if you tell me your reason now.”

Derflinger’s sense of curiosity is the same as its partner, Saito. Looks like it wants to know why Saito’s reason for waking up in the middle of the night no matter what it takes.

Saito sighed, and then pointed to the sleeping Louise.

“What about the Noble’s daughter?”

“What do you think partner?”

Saito used his hands and made a gesture resembling a heart.

“What’s that mean?”

“It represents love.”

“That girl likes you, partner?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know?”

Saito stood up, and danced while not making any noise.

“Ah… you are you saying what happened during that ball?”

“You should have seen Louise’s expression while we were dancing right?”

“Yeah, I saw it.”

“Her face as so red during that time...” Saito said while in a daze.

“Yeah, it was very red.”

“She looked wanting to hold my hand and not letting them go.”

“Are you sure!?”

“Derf, you’re just a piece of metal, so you’ll never understand a girl’s heart. If a girl looks at a male like that, that means she’s indirectly telling him that she likes him.” Saito said while knocking on the sword.

“True, I’m just a sword and I don’t understand interpersonal relationships at all. But since partner you have already spoken, it most probably must be correct then.”

Saito nodded happily and said, “You’re really sensible, Derflinger!”

“Then my good partner, since you’re sure that she likes you, are you going to make her your girlfriend?”

“Yes! I’m sure that she likes me and I’d like her to my girlfriend!”

“That’s impossible. I’ve been around for such a long time this is a first time I’ve heard of a familiar having a love affair with its master. You’re incredible!”

“Ah… that feels good. Come, praise me again.”

“My partner, you’re fantastic!”

Saito stood up and said buoyantly, “Derf, whose the whose handsome man in this world?”

“Of Course it’s you partner.”

“Who is the greatest person in this world without anything besides magic?”

“Of Course it’s you partner.”

All those praises made Saito even more confident. He felt as if the whole world was cheering for him, one has to wonder if he has a problem with his IQ.
“Louise should be really fortunate that I have taken a liking on her. The great and handsome me.”

“If that haughty girl really likes you, then why did she have to scold you even in her dreams?”

Derflinger wanted to continue voicing out its opinions, but was stopped by Saito. “Louise is in reality, extremely stubborn. She would not bare her heart that easily.”

“Is that so?”

“If I went over and asked her, she would definitely reply: What are you saying? You stupid familiar! “

“Like you said, do really know her inside out, partner!”

“Of course! Although she’s always denying it, in reality she desperately wants me to ‘conquer’ her. The reason she’s already deeply in love with me but Louise is a very headstrong girl, she won’t tell me that she likes me directly due to her pride.”

“Partner, you must really be a genius to have deduced this.”

“So now, I’m to represent planet Earth and make this Bishōjo (1) from Halkeginia mine. You understand don’t you, Derf? So could you do me a favor and keep your mouth shut?”

Derflinger shook it’s body, signifying agreement.

“If that’s the case, I would keep quiet then.”

Saito gave thanks to Derflinger and once again approached Louise.

Louise was still in deep sleep. No matter from what angle you look at the sleeping Louise, she still looks as beautiful as ever. Saito took a deep breath; the room was filled with a nice fragrance.

Saito trembling slowly lifted up Louise’s blanket.

Moonlight shone onto Louise who was wearing a nightgown. Even though Louise was wearing her nightie, one could still feel her smooth and supple skin through it. Although just slightly, her breasts have developed, also Louise did not like to wear undergarments when she is sleeping. Saito knows this extremely well - he is the one preparing her undergarments every morning.

Saito was so touched that tears nearly came out of his eyes. From now onwards, the petite and cute girl will be finally mine, he thought to himself. He has been waiting for this moment for a week since the ball has ended.

Rubbing his hands together, Saito approached the sleeping Louise and said, “Itadakimasu… ” (2) saying that, he snuggled into Louise’s blanket.

“Ah, Louise, Louise your skin is really so smooth and supple. Haha… Saito you idiot…”

Saito did not know why he called himself an idiot but nonetheless he was becoming more and more aroused.

He hugged Louise without thinking twice and kissed her cheek. Louise did not look like that she would wake up anytime soon; she was quite a deep sleeper.

“Louise, my dear Louise, your face; you have the cutest face in the world…” Following that, just as Saito wanted to lift up Louise’s nightgown, she suddenly woke up. Saito was initially shocked, but he recovered quickly and hugged Louise tightly around his arms.

“What…What are you doing?!”

Louise immediately realized what was going on struggled to break free from Saito’s arms.

“Can’t you just don’t move?”

“Why…why… are you hugging me?

“What are you saying? I thought that you liked me!?” Saito stared at Louise in frustration; Louise felt the anger and stopped struggling.

“What?”

Saito placed his hands on Louise’s shoulder and asked, “Aren’t you in love with me?”

“What…what… nonsense are you blabbering?”

“It’s all right Louise, I understand how you feel. I’m the one that understands you the most. Don’t be nervous, just relax.”

Saito slowly moved his lips towards Louise’s, slowly; Louise’s face becomes paler and paler.

Me, in love with you??

Louise’s dream just now flashed before her eyes again. The Saito now was exactly the same as her dream, speaking to her in that audacious manner. Thanks to that, the more Louise looks at Saito, the angrier she gets. Both Saito in her dreams and the Saito in reality has made her mad, really mad. You could say its pure anger.

Louise was now trembling in anger. But Saito mistook it for shyness, as Louise had no prior experience before.

“Are you still nervous, this is my first time too. Relax while I take off my pants…”

Louise felt Saito holding up her waist…

Just as swift like a flame salamander catches its prey, Louise shot her right leg and struck Saito between the legs.

Arhhh!

Saito immediately felt his spine carrying the excruciating pain felt in the groin all the way to his brain. Saito not able to take the pain, began foaming in the mouth and rolled down Louise’s bed. Louise slowly got up from her bed and grabbed the horse whip which was placed next to her bed.

Saito seeing the whip, tried to escape but the whip bearing Louise already had her foot on Saito’s head.

“What did you want to do to me just now??”

Saito, slowly recovering from his pain, managed to speak,” Aren’t we just like lovers whispering sweet nothings to each other just now?”