Spoilers:	none yet.  PoA, shortly.
Warnings:	shoujoai, character death, mention of rape and abuse.
Disclaimers:	J.K. Rowling might recognize some of these characters, even
		after I've mauled them.  Takeuchi Naoko might recognize others.
		Miyuu's mine.  Blanca Marina is nickamano's.
 
			 -<{  An End to Deviltry  }>-
				 Chapter Five
				 The Next Day
				      By
			      St. Suika Roberts
				In Response To
			  nickamano@btinternet.com's
			       "Draco Devilism"
				   Stories 

	Natsuko wakes to pleasant warmth under her cheek.  She smiles, rubs
her cheek against the rubbery firmness, then starts as she brushes something
angular and hard.

	`You're awake.  Up,' Miyuu says, sitting up.

	Natsuko settles back on her heels for a moment, just watching as Miyuu
stetches a little, the outline of the Kel-Tec sharp with only Miyuu's tank to
cover it.  `What are we going to do?  Run?'

	`MSE.  What you saw me doing yesterday.  We'll just do a little, to
find out how out of shape you are.'

	`OK.'

	`Megumi, did we get permission?'  Miyuu asks, opening one of her
tansu.

	`Yes, we did.'

	`Good,' Miyuu turns to Natsuko again, hands her a PT uniform, `We've
got your parents permission to train you.  Do you want to be trained?'

	`Yes.'

*

	An hour later, her arms, belly, and shoulders shaking, a deep ache
settling into them, she isn't so sure.

	`Pretty good,' Miyuu says, smiling, `You're almost as tough as a
youma.  You'll train up relatively easy,' wraps the girl in a sweaty hug, and
gives her a kiss on the cheek.

	`Thanks,' Natsuko smiles back, hugging the smaller woman firmly.

*

	`Get dressed, then we'll have a class before chow.'

	`OK,' Natsuko lets herself watch Miyuu dress, admiring the gentle play
of heavy muscles under the woman's skin, then hurridly dresses herself.

	`Finally,' Miyuu says with a smile, `This morning's class is basic
rifle marksmanship.'

	`Which is?'

	`How to hit what you're shooting at.  This class will be all talk and
dry-fire.'

	`Right.  That means no bullets, right?'

	`Right.  The four fundamentals of marksmanship, as the army teaches
them, are steady position, aim, breathing, and trigger squeeze.'

	Natsuko nods.

	Miyuu opens her trunk, and pulls out the Bushmaster, clears it, and
hands it to Natsuko.  Natsuko looks at it, blinks, then copies Miyuu, `What am
I looking for?' she asks, peering into the ejection port.

	`Just to make sure it isn't loaded, and I didn't hand it to you with a
round in the chamber, or that I did, if it's a combat or non-training
situation.'

	`So I don't want to just draw it to full extension in a real,' she
pauses a moment, `situation?'

	`Training is real, but no, just pull it far enough to check for a
round, then let it re-lock.'

	Natsuko lets go of the charging handle, and the bolt locks forward
with a little *snick* `Now what?'

	`Steady position comes from three things, support, strength, and
practice.  What would support be?'

	Natsuko thinks a moment, brings the rifle to her shoulder, pointed on
a safe direction, elbows tucked to her body, `Like this?'

	`Look through the sights.  Is the point of aim wiggling all over?'

	`No, just up and down while I breathe.'

	`How could you minimize that?'

	`Stop breathing when I shoot.'

	`Anything else?'

	`Um,' Natsuko looks flustered.

	Miyuu flops onto her belly, and takes up a good prone position, her
hands wrapped around an imaginary rifle.

	Natsuko copies her, `Oh!  That is better.'

	`It'll make your elbows hurt until you get used to it.  Now, you can
sit up and rest your forward elbow on your knee, or you can take cover behind
something, and rest your forward hand on it.'

	Natsuko pushes herself up with the Bushmaster's butt and kneels next
to her vanity, taking aim at the doorknob, left hand resting on the top of it,
cradling the foregrip.

	`Better?' Miyuu asks, standing beside and a little back from the girl.

	`Much,' Natsuko says.

	`Miyuu?' someone says, and opens the door.  Usagi notices the rifle
and drops, rolling into the room, coming up with a 1911 in either hand.

	Miyuu looks up from where she's yanked Natsuko to the floor, `Could
you knock?  I know I've the door spells keyed for all of my family and
friends, but still.'

	`Sorry,' Usagi says, reaching behind herself to holster her pistols,
`I didn't intend to scare you or your student.'

	`That's OK,' Natsuko says, `You weren't expecting us to be holding
class, and I probably shouldn't have been aiming at the door,' she looks up at
Miyuu, who's still on top of her, `Right?'

	`No, the door's a perfectly fine place to aim, so long as no one
comes barging in.'

	`OK,' Natsuko smiles.

	`I was going to ask if you wanted to do a tactical run or something,
tomorrow,' Usagi says.

	`Sure, sounds like fun,' Miyuu says, `Try to keep your boots off the
tatami.'

	Usagi walks over to the genkan on her knees, `How's that?'

	`Fine.'

*

	`So,' Natsuko says, `That's all there is to shooting a rifle?' holding
her hair out of the way while Miyuu washes her back.

	`That and actual practice.  We'll work on your trigger squeeze some
more this afternoon.'

	`Good.  What else do I need to learn for my tests?'

	`Marching, a little D&C, basic tactics, legal liabilities, and you
need to be able to pass your PT test.'

	`That's fifteen pull-ups, fifty push-ups, sixty sit-ups, and a ten
kilometer march in a sixteen kilogram ruck.'

	`Yep.  How long do you have for the march?'

	`Hour and a half.'

	`Good.'

*

	`Yay,' Miyuu says, when her plate appears without any eggs on it.

	`You don't like eggs?'

	`No,' Miyuu smiles, `And I've put the last three people I've told why
off them too, so don't ask.'

	`OK,' Natsuko says, amd digs into hers.

	Miyuu drops a squareish foil-wrapped candy on her empty plate, then
sits back to drink her coffee.

*

	An owl inobtrusively drops a note on Minerva's desk.  She picks it up,
pauses her lecture.

	`Aino, you're needed in the potions classroom,' Minerva says after
reading the note.

	One of the Gryffindors giggles, but is quickly silenced by her
friends.

	Miyuu nods, stands, and sweeps from the room in a rustle of rubberized
nylon.

*

	Natsuko reaches out a hand as Miyuu enters the room, and Miyuu walks
over to take it.

	`Good mask,' Miyuu says, `I couldn't feel you until I got to the
door.'

	`That's just the classroom wards, probably,' Natsuko says, shakily.

	`What's wrong?'

	`I'm just a little scared.  No big deal.'

	`She's fluxing badly, and disrupting class,' Severus says, quietly,
`I'll find someone to help you catch up, if you'll move to the second year
classes.'

	`With Natsuko?'

	`Yes,' Severus looks a little sad, `I know you said you liked being
able to work ahead, but I don't know how far ahead you are.'

	`It's OK, I was shamming too much anyway,' Miyuu says with a little
shrug, `I'll want to do the first-year potions, too, if that's not too much
trouble, Professor.'

	`I'll grade you for them if you do them,' Severus says, then stands,
turns towards the sudden cloud of smoke, `Weasely!  Did you grind the
nightshade berries?'

	Miyuu smiles at the way the pretty redheaded girl stammers.

*

	Everyone stares at the vehement arguement between Professor Binns and
Miyuu over the causes and consequences of the third goblin rebellion.

	`Professor, there was no legal protection for the goblins at that
time, was there?'

	`There were laws against goblin abuse.'

	`But they had no teeth.  The punishment for killing a goblin was six
lashes or five galleons in gold.  Rape wasn't even covered, nor other forms of
torture.'

	`Who'd want to rape a goblin?'

	`That's what they said, but what were the goblin's grievences?'

	`Safety of their homes and children, the virtue of their daughters,
and the repayment of loans made in good faith.'

	`Do you still think the goblins were in the wrong?'

	`They didn't need to take Elizabeth's consort hostage for six months,
nor kill the dozens of people and muggles who happened to be in the wrong
place at the wrong time.'

	`Didn't they?  Ruth's return was the most valuable bargaining point
they had.  Their army was comperable to the British one in terms of strength,
but few wizards cared for the consequences of having their muggle army wiped
out.'

	`What's different between what they did and what the Irish tried for
the last thirty years or so?'

	`The goblins started from a much stronger position, and their demands
were more reasonable, or at least less costly.'

	`I suppose.  I still don't think full-blown rebellion was needed.'

	Miyuu rolls her eyes skyward.  Binns turns back to the board, a little
smile on his ghostly face.  Natsuko has a silly look on her face, and Miyuu
reaches over to grab her hand, gives her a smile.

*

	`What are you doing with the second years?' Minerva asks as Miyuu
walks into her last class of the day.

	`Professor Snape asked me to move up so I can keep an eye on Natsuko,
and keep her calm.'

	`She was fluxing?'

	`I haven't noticed any, but Professor Snape said she was.'

	`I'll trust his judgement, then,' Minerva says, `You'll be wanting to
sit next to her, so,' she walks back to the front of the room.

	Miyuu settles into the seat next to Natsuko, Weasely settling next to
her, and Creavy behind her.

	`You rescued Nats from Goyle?' Creavy asks.

	`Something like that.'

	`When will he be back?' Weasely asks.

	`He's dead.'

	`Malfoy?' she asks in a smaller voice.

	`He's dead too.'

	`I meant Draco.'

	`So did I.'

	`If Child Protective Services is going through Slytherin, they'll be
thinning out, won't they?' Creavey asks.

	`I hope not.  They're not evil, most of them.'

	`They're going through all of Hogwarts,' Weasely says, `About time,'
she turns to Miyuu, `I'm Ginny.'

	`Miyuu,' she nods a tiny bow.

	`That's Colin.  He's not too bad, but a bit annoying.'

	`Hey, I resemble that remark.'

	Miyuu smiles.

	`Class, now that we're done listening in, let's get started,' Minerva
says from the front of the room.

*

	`Miyuu, stay a moment,' Minerva says as everyone rises at the end of
class.

	Miyuu glances at Natsuko, who nods, then walks to the front of the
room.

	`I talked with Hermoine Granger.  She's agreed to tutor you.  Try not
to be too horrible to her.'

	`I'll do my best, Professor.'

*

	`Change in plans,' Miyuu tells Natsuko, `We're going to work on combat
magic a bit, then do some more marksmanship if Granger doesn't show up.'

	`If she does?'

	`You'll have to start your homework a bit earlier.'

	`OK.  How does combat magic work?  Charms?  Hexes, jinxes?'

	`Raw effort and will.'

	`Wild magic?'

	`No, but it is a lot less structured than wand-magic,' Miyuu pauses,
`Door unlock,' she says in Cantonese.

	Someone knocks, then opens the door.  Pansy Parkinson sticks her head
in, `Aino, you've got a mudblood to see you.'

	`And you didn't bring her?  For shame, Parkinson, I'll have to show
her the peepholes into your bath to apologize,' Miyuu says, smiling.

	Pansy turns paler for an instant, then blushes bright red, ducks her
head to try to hide behind her short dark hair, `Please, don't, there's no
need . . . ' she sputters, then trails off.

	`Oh!  Congratulations, then.  Granger's probably a great catch.'

	`What!?  That's not . . . I didn't . . . '

	`You haven't told her yet?  Let's go get her, and you can stay for the
combat-magic class, OK?'

	Pansy nods, still bright red, `OK.'

	Natsuko walks over and wiggles her feet into her school shoes.  Miyuu
is still in her black socks, so she just pulls her boots on, but doesn't tie
them.

	Up four floors to the common room, and Miyuu opens the door.
Hermoine, poofy hair and all, is leaning against the wall opposite, reading.
Miyuu smiles at the girl's instant readyness, the sudden shift of her
attention, `You'll train wonderfully,' she says.

	`What do you mean?' Hermoine asks stepping cautiously forward.

	`Combat magic class, we were just starting when Pansy came down to
tell me you'd gotten here.'

	`Combat magic?'

	`Come in,' Miyuu says, and heads through the common room.  The couches
are gone, and the desk, leaving several flimsy tables, a bunch of spindly
chairs, and a couple larger stuffed chairs.  Hermoine follows, walking close
to Pansy.

	Pansy glances at her, looks away, blushes.  Hermoine blinks, confused,
but doesn't pull away.

	Miyuu clatters down the stairs quickly, Natsuko working a little to
keep up.

	Natsuko drops to the tatami, breathing hard, and pulls her shoes off.

	`Take your shoes off,' Miyuu says, when Pansy arrives a minute later
with Hermoine.

	Hermoine plops down, unbukles and pulls her shoes off without much
fuss.

	Pansy spends a few moments admiring Hermoine's legs, exposed by her
skirt sliding down her thighs to pool around her hips, then pulls off one
shoe, drops it, steps her bare foot onto the tatami, and proceeds to fall
over.  Hermoine, blushing, helps her regain a little of her lost dignity.

	Natsuko smiles at the sight.

	Once she has all of her students gathered, she starts her class
again, `Combat magic is the use of magic for quick, decisive attack or
defense.  Defense is simple - put something between you and the enemy.  Attack
is harder, and provides you with the skills you need to put something between
you and your enemy.'

	`What do you mean?'

	`There are three basic kinds of attacks, targeted attacks, which focus
on a single target in particular, and expend little energy on flash or special
effects.  Darth Vader dealing with that General in _A New Hope_ is a good
example.'

	Natsuko and Pansy look confused, but Hermoine nods, `Just *Grk* and
he's dead, and even if he was a Sith he'd have had trouble because being
choked really hurts.'

	`Exactly.  Then we have incoherent attacks, which are area-affect, and
spread the further they get from the caster, covering a larger area less
effectively, and lastly you have coherant attacks, which concentate on a
single spot, and don't get bigger with distance.'

	`So a wind that knocks people down would be an incoherent attack,
whereas a laser would be a coherent one?'

	`Exactly.  We'll start with the simplest and least damaging form of
energy, kinetic.  Kinetic energy can kill people pretty easily, too, so be
carefull, OK?'

	She gets a nod from everyone, `We'll start with a paper crane,'
Miyuu's brow furrows as a sheet of paper slips out of her tansu, folds itself,
then spreads its wings as it settles to the center of their circle.

	`You all felt how I did that, right?'

	Three heads shake no.

	She holds out her hand, gives the little crane an unsubtle shove.

	It jumps towards Natsuko, who smiles, `I felt that!  Like this?' she
holds out her hand, and the crane jumps back towards Miyuu.

	Miyuu shoves it toward Hermoine, who shoves her hand out, eyes wide,
flinching a little.  The crane jumps towards Pansy, who is thrown back by the
wash of Hermoine's attack.  Hermoine dives after it, reaching Pansy just as
the crane crash-lands on the girl's belly, `Are you OK?'

	Pansy blinks up at the upset girl, `Fine, just as soon as the world
stops spinning me around.'

	`Oh no,' Hermoine says, `That won't happen for a very long time.'

	`It's slowing already,' Pansy says.

	`Of course it is, but it's going to take several billion more years
for it to stop.'

	`Hermoine Granger, come here,' Pansy tells her firmly.  Hermoine
scoots closer.  Pansy's hands wrap into Hermoine's hair, pull her close, and
she kisses her on the lips.

	Hermoine falls backwards onto her butt, `What was that?' she asks,
touching her lips with the tips of her fingers.

	`Your reward.'

	`For what?'

	`A good fall,' Pansy says, and crooks her fingers, brow furrowing.

	`Eep,' Hermoine squeeks, pulled into the other girl's arms.

	`And this one is my reward,' Pansy says, and kisses Hermoine again,
lips working gently against hers.

	Natsuko looks up, into Miyuu's gentle gaze, and blows her a kiss.

	Miyuu makes a little show of catching it and Natsuko smiles.  About a
minute later Miyuu stretches out her foot and pokes Pansy, `Enough.  You two
can play later,' Miyuu waits for them to pull apart.

	Hermoine sits back on her heels, a surprised, but pleased, look on her
face.  Pansy sits up, a crooked little smile on her face.

	`That's all for today's combat magic class.  For homework, practice on
inanimate targets, and try for targeting and coherence.'

	The others nod.

	`Now, what would I have learned in the hundred and eighty days I just
got jumped?' Miyuu asks.

	`Simple transfiguration,' Hermoine starts.

	Miyuu draws her wand, waves it, the door opens, and a nail flies
in, settling on the kotatsu.

	Hermoine looks at the simple grey shape, blinking when it transfigures
into a hand grenade.  Miyuu sets her wand next to the heavy, defensive
grenade, and screws the fuze out, putting a bit of force into it to free the
staked threads.  She sets the body down, stands, drops the safety clip, then
the pin, opens the hall door, lets go of the spoon, pitches it out into the
hall, and closes the door.

	*Bang*

	Miyuu opens the door, walks about for a few moments, then walks back
in and drops the pieces onto the table.

	Hermoine picks up the fuze, looks at the burst blasting cap, `I think
you have basic transfiguration down.'

	`I wasn't sure, so,' Miyuu shrugs, `At least I've fuzes down.'

	`I think so.'

	`Snape said he'd grade me on potions, and Professor Flitwick had me on
second year work anyway, so that leaves Herbology, Magical Creatures, and
Dark Arts.'

	`What did we learn first and second year in Defense?' Hermoine asks.

	`Round about nothing,' Pansy says.

	`Goldilocks was pretty useless,' Natsuko says.

	Hermoine giggles, `Goldilocks?  What a great nickname for him.'

	`Magical creatures?'

	`I learned more hanging out with Hagrid than I did in class,' Hermoine
says.

	`That's because you'd have been sore hurt if you didn't,' Pansy says,
a little snidely.

	`Not really.  Bitten a little, and maybe Norbert woulda scorched me,
but,' Hermoine shrugs.

	`Norbert?'

	`Hagrid's Norwegian Blue,' Hermoine suddenly looks stricken, `I didn't
say that, OK?'

	`If you kiss me again, I'll forget the last few minutes,' Pansy says.

	`Extortionist,' Hermoine says, then leans forward, pressing Pansy back
until she's full length on top of her, smiling down at the cute little girl
she's captured, then she kisses her quickly on the tip of the nose.

	Pansy scowls, `I need a better kiss than that.'

	`Really?' Hermoine asks, smiling.

	`Really,' Pansy says, sliding her hands down Hermoine's back, then
caressing her butt.

	`Out!  Go play in Pansy's room, or something,' Miyuu says firmly,
pointing towards the door.

	Pansy whines, but unwraps her ankles from Hermoine's, and lets the
girl up.




---
log:
3170/Confusion/54:	Started another chapter, finally.
3170/Confusion/55:	Continued.
3170/Bureaucracy/29:	Continued.
3172/Bureaucracy/73:	Did a re-read, and caught a missing "a".  Fixed.