Disclaimer: Negima! does not belong to me. Only OC's that could or not be introduced throughout the rest of the story will be claimed as mine. The idea does belong to me.

Finished on 09/08/2014

Bittersweet Symphony

Retribution

Setsuna's Quote

Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared. ~Niccolo Machiavelli

Fluttering about the field of withered flowers, Setsuna found that it was easier to immerse yourself when everything around you was as quiet and dead as the jade vines, ghost orchids and middlemist camellias that once belonged to a garden worthy of Gods. One that Antheia herself would have been jealous and proud of.

Bored with the decaying sight before her, she lazily floated on her back, deciding that watching the clouds shape-shift would be far more entertaining. The warm embrace of the Summer winds caressed her wings as they jerked up and down in quick movements; she could feel the tips of her primary feathers grazing the wasted land beneath her as they flapped.

Her lips pursed as the colour of the clouds acquired a reddish hue. Her cold grey eyes glanced briefly at the sun setting behind a marvelous castle not too far away from her location. It was still visible, poorly hidden by the highest tower attached to the main bailey.

Glancing bitterly at the sky, at the scattering clouds and the migrating birds, she longed to have more time.

Not one to dwell longer than necessary, Setsuna made a hasteless return to the imperial structure, wondering how long it had taken her servants to realise she was no longer in her bedroom having her way with one of her fairest maids, the one she had specifically chosen to be the current week's diversion, before she got bored and chose another one to play.

As she arrived, she couldn't help but roll her eyes when her maids fuzzed around her like bees around a delectable flower. Although it did warm her up, she knew the affection had been originally based on an unspoken bond they had formed through nights of carnal desire and temptation. However, Setsuna was content in knowing that they actually cared for her well-being.

Walking sluggishly to the throne room, she ignored the annoyed glare from her General, Mana Tatsumiya. Just to spite her, she threw her a small mischievous smirk her way before opening the large seven feet long doors. As she noticed all the stares in the room directed her way, she snorted to herself. She threw back her black cape with arrogance and sauntered to her throne haughtily, her posture defiant and her eyes challenging.

"Setsuna Sakurazaki-sama, My Lady." One of her advisors called cautiously. His voice was raspy and Setsuna immediately smelled the avarice coming out of him in waves.

She acknowledged him with a subtle nod. He took his cue to continue. "We have spotted human spies on the borders of our land, far into our territory." She straightened, frowning heavily.

"Humans?" She mused out loud, though it was clearly more to herself than the occupants of the vast room. "Yes, I suppose they wouldn't sit still and stay on their side of the world. Far too greedy creatures for that." She smirked, again only to herself. "Good, good. Though I expected this to happen later." She waved the council off and called for Mana. The tan woman barged into the room, manners forgotten. She was clearly still annoyed. For a small moment, Setsuna remembered when they were friends, and angering the other was their favourite sport.

Mana seized her expectantly, her fingers twitching near her holster. She was too itching for a fight, it seemed.

"Find out what the humans want. See which kingdom was responsible for their scouting," Mana nodded, expressionless. "And Mana?" Setsuna called as she readjusted herself on her throne, legs crossed and an elbow resting on a gold-made armrest. "Give the my regards to the one responsible for this." Closing her eyes, she smiled calmly at the dark woman. Mana merely nodded, but Setsuna could tell she was pleased. It had been too long since their last war, in her opinion.

Dangling her left leg over the right one, she finally decided to call her newest toy. An order and five minutes later, a beautiful elven woman strouted into the throne room with the grace of a swan and the bearing of a lioness.

Oh yes, she would definitely have fun with this magnificent creature before her. And, perhaps, she could keep her entertained for another week.

As the woman undressed before her hungry eyes, she definitely considered it a possibility.

"You are tempting with death, Father!" Eishun Konoe clenched his fists at his sides as he had a stare down with his father-in-law, Konoemon Konoe. "Sending our men to the lands of the demons was a reckless move. You know very well that the Lady of the lands will not take kindly to this. In fact, you will give her a reason to start a fight she has long been itching to see break loose." And as soon as she found out that it was the Konoes who were behind the scouting, she herself would jump into battle.

His throat tightened from nerves. Konoemon had basically tied a ribbon around them for the demons.

"They are the best we have. Nothing will happen." The man waved him off. Truthfully, he was a bit worried. The Lady was not exactly a fan of them, and she would undoubtedly bathe in their blood should they give her a reason to retaliate. However, his kingdom was having a hard time in the mineral area, and the other kingdoms wouldn't lend them a hand, so he had sent scouts to find out if there was any gold or silver on the other side of the borders. Demons didn't even touch it, since they used the scales their dragons shred every hundred or so years to build their weapons. Demons did not see the point in jewelry either, so it was not as if he was taking something they would miss.

"Father!" The middle-aged man snapped his head when the frantic voice of his daughter, Konoka, reached his ears. The beautiful woman came running into the room. Her usually snow-white skin was impossibly paler, and her eyes were slightly unfocused. She looked positively terrified.

"Follow me." Was the shaky response to their worried glances.

She guided them briskly through the many halls and rooms of their state. It was too quiet, as if all the voices had died overnight and all that was left was the gentle sound of the running waters of the many fountains.

The throne room was small in comparison to others, but it was still very impressive both in size and decoration. Many trophies of countless battles had been scattered, strategically placed so any visitor would know that the Konoes had history, and dignity, and courage.

None of it mattered to the dark woman in the middle of the room, nor did it matter to the corpses lying around her, with their twisted grimaces of agony and their mangled bodies.

"Mana," They had feared the worst, and she was the second best guess in Eishun's opinion. The right hand of the devil herself. How suitable, he thought bitterly.

Stepping over the dead bodies without any care, the smirking murderer watched in amusement as the human royals finally took in her work. It was then, while Mana was enjoying their very human reactions, that they noticed the blood-dripping bag in the hand that wasn't holding her weapon, one larger than her own body. Ten feet at her right, there was a headless body. Eishun noted with sinking dread that it was one of Konoemon's scouts. Their leader, to be more precise.

"The Lady requests a meeting. Tomorrow." She tightened her grip on the weapon, fingers twitching. "I suggest you do not make her wait. She's been angered enough already." Her smile disappeared and suddenly the room felt colder and bloodier. "As I have."

They did not move as she walked through the main doors, calm as she had arrived. No gunshots were heard, no nothing. A tight lump settled in their throats as they realised she had probably slaughtered everyone but them.

It was truly a beautiful morning. Setsuna spread her arms as she felt herself relax under the watchful gaze of the rising sun. She hadn't been able to sleep again that night. Not even the soft, melodic breathing of her elven companion could get her to finally rest.

The soft breezes carried the dead petals of her field, but they never went far. They knew where they belonged; they always knew. Her foot poked a particularly big flower, or what was left of it, silently trying to remember its original colour. Yellow came to mind, but then so did red, green and violet, so she gave up on her useless quest. It would have been nice, though, to remember at least once more, what this field looked like almost twenty years back.

Her peaceful time was interrupted. She smelt the blood and started walking ahead, ready to meet Mana outside of her field. Everyone knew that bringing blood into her special place guaranteed a slow and painful death in her own hands. And Mana was an old, good friend. She didn't want to kill her.

Her dark friend didn't look like it, but she loved dramatics. The memory of a hand grasping a scout's severed head the day before only served to prove Setsuna's point. And now, she was still covered in her killing's dry blood from the Konoe State 'incident'. She would most likely attend the meeting like that. Curious about the Konoe's reactions, she decided to let Mana play around for a bit longer.

"Shouldn't you be in bed with your newest whore?" Her friend grunted. Setsuna almost bristled as her elf was insulted. She didn't particularly care for her, but at the time being she was hers, and Mana had no right to step into her territory and belt out insults like she was doing. The dark woman understood her position when she saw Setsuna's stiff stance, and apologized under her breath.

"Are we expecting a fight?" Swiftly changing the subject, Setsuna tilted her head to her side.

Mana smirked, "Not unless they now practice necromancy." Setsuna nodded. Years ago, she would have been a bit disturbed by Mana's confession, but now she felt almost nothing for the humans. The years had hardened her, transformed her into something many feared and respected. The battles she had partaked in made her wise beyond her age and cunning like no other.

"Shall we, then?" Setsuna extended her wings and tested them, feeling the wind around her.

Mana stretched her own wings, black as night and bat-like. It was a ridiculously contrasting sight against Setsuna's white, feathered extensions.

Lady Setsuna Sakurazaki was, in Konoka's own humble opinion, nothing short of frighteningly magnificent. With her white wings and hair, her angelic looks deceived the average human. Only the smell of blood, death and sex in excess could give away the true nature behind te calm, feminine face.

"Konoemon. Eishun." She nodded with a tiny smile. Her cold grey eyes landed on Konoka, and suddenly they weren't quite so cold anymore. "Ah, the young Konoka." The brunette bit her tongue from correcting the Lady. She didn't particularly enjoy it when people called her so informally on the first meeting, and this Setsuna woman sure wasn't the exception to the rule.

"Remarkably beautiful she is, Eishun. You and Kanako did a good job that night," She lewd insinuation had Konoka gasping and fuming. She suddenly forgot who the women in front of her were. She marched to Setsuna, unflinching and shoved a finger on her chest.

"Don't you dare say my mother's name with your filthy mouth," She was challenging, unappalled and, by the looks of it, bordering suicidal. However, Setsuna's pleased smile showed that she was not mad at the insult. If anything, she was thrilled by the comeback. It bored her when everyone was so meek and submissive in front of her. Konoka was doted with the spirit of a fighter, and she respected that.

"Shall we proceed then?" Setsuna offered her arm to the brunette, who huffed and quickly marched inside, her legs starting to feel wobbly. Her mind just catching up with what she had just done and reprimanding her for putting her life on the line like that.

Setsuna looked at her extended arm and smiled again, her eyes not so cold anymore, but there was something almost sinister there. Only Mana saw right through her, and she couldn't decide whether to purse her lips at her friend's trail of thinking or smile at the irony of the situation the Konoes were about to be put in. The Lady was looking for revenge and all the bloodbath that came with it, and Konoka would be the catalyst.

An innocent woman for another. How fitting.

She settled for her usual grimace as she followed the men inside the Konoe State, taking in the smell of recently spilt blood in the morning. With only three people to clean, and them being pampered royals, the throne room was probably in the same state she had left it the day before. It would explain the faint smell of decay, only noticeable to trained noses like hers. She patted her knife and the gun in her holster, proud of them and herself for the swift and quiet killings.

The Konoes and Mana entered the meeting room, spacious enough for fifty men and then some. The table in the middle was enormous and round. Setsuna and Konoka sat on opposite sides, one smiling and the other guarded. Mana went to Setsuna and the Konoe men sided Konoka in a protective stance, though Mana suspected they still hadn't caught up with Setsuna's plans.

"Konoemon, first and foremost, I understand that you are upset for yesterday's inconvenience." She smiled at him with that charming yet cold smile she seemed to have mastered. "And apologize for Mana's need to be dramatic, but nothing else." The man was about to protest, but was silenced by a harsh look from the dark woman.

"I am sorry," Konoka interrupted. "But I seem to be at loss here. Can someone explain to me what exactly is going on?" The impatience in her voice startled the demon women. Setsuna and Mana looked at each other, suddenly understanding the implication. Slowly, the Lady turned to the elder members of the Konoe clan. They flinched under her scrutinizing stare and gleeful smile.

"I see," Setsuna stood up. The men mimicked her, tense and ready to battle. There was no need. "Tell me, Konoka, daughter of Kanako, do you not know about the treaty between our nations, forged by your grandfather and myself fifty years prior to this date?" Fifty years. Had it been that long already? Setsuna contemplated in silence as she saw the confusion grow in Konoka.

"We keep from your land and you keep from ours. That was the only condition to establish peace between our cultures after the war." Setsuna almost laughed at the simplicity of the resume.

"Ah, but, my sweet dove, do you not know that your grandfather broke the treaty only recently?" Konoka's head snapped to Konoemon. He was red in the face and the large beard barely hid his gritting teeth. And he was sweating like a pig; he was sweating so much Konoka could almost feel the heat irradiating from him.

"I have been kept in the dark so far," She defended herself. Anger exploded in her. "And even so, that did not give you the right to slaughter everyone I knew!" She slammed her fists on the table, ignoring her relatives' hands on her shoulders. "There were innocent people, hard-working people last night! And all of them are dead now because of one stupid mista-agh!" It was just a flash of a moment, but Mana's knife was on her throat and blood was starting to spill from the hole its sharp end was making. It would only take the woman a second to kill her, and her dead eyes sure implied that she was about to. One look at the Lady and she immediately understood that she had saved her with the raising of her hand. Mana retreated to her seat in silence, glaring all the way at the Konoes. There was blazing hate swirling in them, and more than enough will to torture them all in the worst possible manner.

"There was no mistake, dove," Setsuna was not smiling anymore, her gaze lost on something out of their reach. "I warned Konoemon all those years ago, that if he or anyone from this domain should cross the border... well, you have seen what happened last night. Now imagine that and multiply it by all the lives in this kingdom," Konoka gasped. "That is basically what this is about. I am merely giving Konoemon a chance to explain himself before I decide to vanish everyone here." Silence followed. Konoka now understood the situation, and it did not vide well with her.

"This year has been slow," Konoemon started carefully, as if measuring his words.. "Our gold and silver reserves are dying out. The people is starting to suspect something is amiss. Our market is solely based on minerals, and gold is the most important one. I- I knew that you wouldn't negotiate with me, so I-" He sighed heavily. "I sent scouts to your side to look for gold reserves. I know that you do not use them with frequency, so I guessed that you wouldn't notice if some of it came to our side." Setsuna stopped him with a hand raised and the other rubbing her temples.

"Do you even know why we don't use those reserves, Konoemon?" He seemed ashamed. His knowledge did not reach demon culture and customs. "Gold is sacred to us. We use it for special occasions. There are strict rules in regards to gold, and this is basic knowledge I am speaking about. There are more ramifications to it, though I am sure you get the gits of it." Her grey eyes landed on Eishun for a second, but disregarded him immediately. She did not care for someone who was as oblivious as his daughter. This was now between the older man and her.

"You did not only break a sacrament, but also the one thing that impeded me from exacting my revenge. You are well aware of what I speak about, and I suspect Eishun as well." The man, though not directly addressed, nodded his head grimly. "Now, here is what I want, and I will get it one way or the other." She gave them a lopsided smile as she laced her fingers together on the table. "I, Sakurazaki Setsuna, Lady of Mahora and the lands beyond its sea, demand the right to a night with Lady Konoe Konoka in exchange of my appeasement."

I soooo wanted to do this. A dark Setsuna was my dirty little wish, and now I'm finally doing this!

Read and review if you like, people. I need some more motivation to continue this pilot.