Magic Wars Episode 7

Chapter Seven: Girls Day Out </u>

Sentoki sat at the top of a short hill in the middle of the secret garden. He waited paitently for Yoko. Yoko wore a casual outfit instead of her school uniform and carried two bento boxes wrapped in a pink cloth.

Yoko handed Sentoki one of the clothed boxes. “Here, I made it speacil.” Yoko told him with a smile.

Sentoki smiled back and said, “Thank you.” He took the box from her and unwrapped the cloth and opened the box. “Its beautiful.” He said. Inside the box was a Japanese style potato salad, rice balls with tuna inside, a regular salad and some chocolate mint cookies that were made from scratch. There was also a slot for chopsticks which Sentoki picked up. “Lets eat.” He said with a chuckle.

Sentoki opened his mouth and put a piece of the potato salad. His eyes widened and his smile grew bigger. “This is really good.”

“R-Really?” Yoko asked, amazed that he liked her cooking.

“Yeah, did you make all of this?” Sentoki asked.

“Yeah.” Yoko said. “However Sakura taught me how to do it because I never cooked before.”

“You should cook for me more often.” Sentoki said with a wink.

“Sure, I’d love to.” Yoko said.

Then something came towards Yoko. “Get down!” Sentoki yelled and pushed her down on the ground with him laying on top of her. The object sped at them like a silver bullet but landed in the center of a giant tree behind them. It was a kunai.

“Who threw that?” Sentoki angrily asked the stranger, even if he couldn’t see him or her.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know.” Said a voice, that Sentoki recognized.

There was a girl who looked like Ume but with longer hair and cold eyes. “Aya.” He said coldly.

“Who is she?” Yoko asked, curiously.

“Thats Ume’s sister, Aya.” Sentoki told her. “What are you doing here?”

“You know how I feel about Wizards.” Aya said. “I hate them. I was going to let you live but I see that Ume is no longer of interest of yours.”

“What are you talking about, we’re friends, that’s all.” Sentoki told her.

“Thats what my father said to my mother after he cheated on her with her sister!” Aya said.

“So you're going to attempt to kill every wizard here, huh? Good luck with that. Rubeus is stronger than I am and I am sure he’ll tear you up in a minute.” Sentoki said, holding out his wand in protection. Yoko cowered behind Sentoki, watching the tension blaze between them.

“That isn’t my goal, silly. Ume invited me here for our yearly get together and on my way I see you with your new playmate. And here I thought Ume loved you.” Aya told them.

“Aya!” Ume’s voice said. “Are you terrorizing students again?”

Ume’s coldness melted off her and she had this more peppy feel to her. “No, just having a friendly conversation, thats all.” Aya reassured her.

Ume didn’t buy it. “I’m never going to make friends if you keep threatening to hurt them.” She said.

“I’m sorry, Ume.” Aya said, covering her mouth with embarrassment.

“Come now, I know a few places we can go shopping.” Ume said, changing the subject. They wandered off into town.

“You okay?” Sentoki asked Yoko. Yoko nodded.

“Whats her deal?” Yoko asked.

“Its a long story, but its not mine to tell.” Sentoki said. “I don’t like to gossip.”

“I see. How come she hates wizards? Isn’t she one herself?” Yoko asked.

“She is. However she remains in her human state constantly. Again that Ume’s story if she wants you to hear it. She is usually really reserved. But if she knows you're her friend, maybe she’ll open up.” Sentoki said.

“I’m guessing Ume doesn't have a lot of friends?” Yoko asks.

“No. Most wizards are male and she has a lot of male friends but she barely hangs out with any girls. Thats why I said you should be friends with her.”

~

Kasumi and Max were playing cards as Kiyomi was braiding her hair. Sakura was baking and Hatoka was playing video games. Yoko walked in and said, “I’m back.”

“How did your date go?” Max asked.

“Fine. He didn’t kiss me, if thats what your asking.” Yoko answered.

Kasumi and Max groaned.

“I believe he still has feelings for Ume.” Kiyomi said, apathetically.

“Way to kill the mood, Kiyomi.” Max told her.

“No, he said he was single.” Yoko said.

“Really?” Kasumi and Max asked in unison.

“Does that mean you're gonna ask him out again?” Max asked.

“I don’t know.” Yoko said.

“So you have to give us details of the date. If he didn’t kiss you, what did you two do?” Kasumi asked.

“Well it was rather...odd. Ume’s sister walked in on us and she wasn’t happy.” Yoko said.

“Ume has a sister?” Max asked. “I thought her family was dead. Seeing that she doesn't spend anytime outside campus.”

“Her name is Aya.” Yoko said. “However we didn’t let her get in the way. Other than that we just ate...and talked.”

“About?” Kasumi inquired.

“Just magic stuff. How wizards differ in magic than magical girls.”Yoko said.

“So you're saying he didn’t confess anything to you?” Max asked.

Yoko shook her head.

“He probably didn’t because her clothes look all dirty.” Kiyomi said.

Yoko looked at herself. She had forgotten that her group gave her money to go shopping for clothes on her second day at the school of the Heavens. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Who would want to date a girl who looks like a hobo?” Yoko joked.

“We can go to town and go shopping there.” Kasumi suggested.

“Good idea.” Max piped. “The mall has this uber cute place called Lolis R Us, you would totally like it, Yoko.”

“If she were a third grader.” Kiyomi said. “Thats why everyone thinks your younger than you look.”

“Am not.” Max argued. “I just don’t age well, okay? It runs in the family.”

“I’ll come too.” Hatoka said, turning off his game. “I haven’t been to town in a while. The girls love me there.”

Kasumi chuckled. “Yeah, right.” She joked, playfully punching him in the arm.

“I’ll come too.” Sakura said, taking the cookies out of the oven. “I’ve got nothing better to do.”

“I’ll stay here.” Kiyomi said.

“No, no, Kiyomi, we are going as a group.” Kasumi said, tugging at Kiyomi’s sleeve.

“No thanks. You know how I get when it comes to shopping.” Kiyomi stalled.

“You don’t have to bring your wallet.” Max said.

“No thanks, I have homework.” Kiyomi said, pulling out a textbook, not realizing it was upside down.

“Yeah, right.” Kasumi said, pulling the textbook at of Kiyomi’s hands. “Kiyomi, we’re friends. We should do this as friends.”

“Fine.” Kiyomi said coldly. “I’ll go.”

The team went shopping. Max and Kasumi forced Yoko in almost every store as they complimented her along with Sakura. Kiyomi was bored out of her mind, wanting to go to the most expensive fashion stores or at least the bookstore since she loved romance novels. Hatoka went to his town hangout which was this skateboard store.

“Guys, how much stuff do you want to buy?” Yoko asked, overwhelmed with six shopping bags in her hands as she was trying on an outfit from another store.

“Just buy this one, please?” Max whined. “It looks so cute on me.”

“Sorry.” Yoko said looking in the mirror. She wore a white blouse with a red checkered dress over it. “It just screams not me.”

“Maybe you need something more urban.” Kasumi said.

“Please no more.” Yoko begged. “I’m fine. Really.”

“Oh come one. One more outfit.” Kasumi said, tossing her a red shirt with some jeans.

“Okay, this last one and you promise we’ll be done clothes shopping?” Yoko asked.

“Yes.” Kasumi said.

“Okay then.” Yoko said, putting on the outfit. She overheard two girls talking. Two who sounded very familiar.

“I’m telling you, she wants to do the final earlier.” One voice said.

“She can’t do that? What about the freshmen who are not prepared.” Said another.

“I’m just going by what Meg told me.” Said the other. “Evangeline was told by someone from the Underworld school that they want to have the Magic Wars earlier.”

“But thats so unfair.” Said the second voice.

“Magic war?” Yoko thought, slipping into the jeans. She came out to see Daisy and one of her teammates who Yoko assumed her name was Lilly.

“Oh hey, Yoko.” Daisy said. “You out shopping too?”

“Yeah. I didn’t come with much so my team just taking me shopping.” Yoko said.

“Your team is so amazing, I wish that I were part of your team.” Daisy said in a tone of awe. “Too bad you already have a light user though. Kiyomi, is it?”

“Yeah. I don’t think she likes me very much, though.” Yoko said, looking away.

“Yeah Kiyomi can be very cold sometimes. Especially to newbies to the school. I don’t know what her problem is but she is like on an endless period.” Daisy said.

“You guys knew each other?” Yoko asked.

“Of course. We’ve known eachother since we were kids.” Daisy said. “She is just mad that I always beat her in the sparring practices that we had.”

“I see. So does she have any friends?” Yoko asked.

“Some,” Lily said, coming out of the dressing room, wearing the same exact top as Yoko. “She only friends people who she presumes to be weaker than her or just regular humans so she doesn't have much of a competition.” She laughed. Then she noticed Yoko was wearing the same thing that she was wearing. “Looks like we have the same style. It looks good on you.” She complimented.

“Thanks.” Yoko said.

“Yoko! Are you done yet?” Sakura asked.

“Coming.” Yoko said, strutting her way outside the dressing room.

“Hmm…” Kiyomi said, eying the outfit.

“Its missing something.” Max said.

Sakura snapped her fingers and said, “I’ve got it.” She tossed her  a jean jacket and said, “Try this.”

Yoko put it on and spun around for the whole group to see.

“All you need is a camisole and a headband and the outfit will be complete.” Sakura said.

“Okay, I’ll get this outfit. Then where to we head off to?” Yoko asked.

“Well I was thinking of going to the bookstore.” Kiyomi said, fingering a white scarf, that she clearly admired.

“How about we meet you there. I was thinking Nachos at the Brillo Cafe.” Kasumi said. “They are to die for.”

“Thats fine with me.” Yoko said. “I’ll go change first.”

Once she had changed clothes and paid, Yoko was overhearing more and more conversations about these so called magic wars. It sounded like the biggest thing in town. However she pondered why would Evangeline want to make the final early? She looked over at an abandoned corner and saw an elderly man who wore a top hat but shielded himself from the light. His eye glowed a red color as she looked away.

“Closed? What do you mean their closed?” Max asked.

“They must be remodeling. I heard something about that.” Sakura said. “How about La Luna? They have great pasta.”

“But thats so expensive.” Kasumi whined. “How about ice cream? Everyone loves ice cream!”

“For lunch?” Yoko asked.

“Yeah, I’m so hungry, I’d eat the whole ice cream at 42 flavors.” Max said.

“Okay, Yoko, what are you in the mood for? This place has everything. You name something and we will find something for your craving.” Kasumi asked Yoko.

“I like deli sandwiches.” Yoko suggested.

“Heaven’s Deli it is then.” Kasumi said, leading the way.

Once they had sat down, Kasumi, Max and Sakura discussed something as Yoko spaced out. She had her mind on the magic wars and the man. What was wrong with his eyes?

“Yoko, earth to Yoko.” Max said.

“S-Sorry, just spaced out.” Yoko said.

“Your order?” Said the waiter.

“Pastrami sandwich on rye please and a cream soda.” Yoko ordered.

“Thank you.” The waiter said, taking the menu out of her hands.

“Whats on your mind, Yoko? I never seen you this spacey before.” Sakura asked, concerned.

“Did you hear of something of the magic wars coming earlier than expected this year?” Yoko asked.

The others looked at each other, quizzically. “No.” Kasumi said. “The first final isn’t until December.”

“Why would Evangeline set it earlier?” Sakura asked.

“Just I rumor I heard from some people.” Yoko said, slumping down in her seat.

“The only time she sets it earlier is if someone is being punished.” Said Ume, who was standing in front of their table with Aya.

“Punished?” Yoko asked. “Did we do something wrong?”

Ume shrugged. “It could have to do with Drake slipping into the Heaven’s school and the other underworlders provoking humans lately.” She said. “However when she punishes us that way we usually don’t get graded on our performance. Its just for entertainment of the staff.”

“Another good reason why I don’t attend such school.” Aya said.

“You shouldn’t worry about it, Yoko.” Ume said. “I hear you're a strong magical girl. You’ll do fine.”

“Thanks, Ume.” Yoko said.

“You wanna sit with us?” Kasumi offered.

“No thanks, we just ate. I’m headed back to my dorm now. I have some homework I need to catch up on.” Ume said.

“And I have to get going too.” Aya added.

“Okay see you later.” Yoko called to them.

~
That night as Yoko was asleep, she had a nightmare. She was standing outside the office of Evangeline and she could Evangeline speak to the man in the top hat from earlier that day.

“What do you mean make the wars more interesting? Its hard enough putting my students through the Magic Wars this early.” Evangeline told the man.

“I don’t want a general magic war, I want a fight to the death.” The man said.

Evangeline leaned back in her chair. “Go on.”

Yoko’s eyes widened. She had noticed her eyes were slightly different color. Instead of the friendly brown they were a piercing red like the man’s.

“Only one team from each category can win. That way you do not have any more brats to deal with.” The man said.

“Your on.” Evangeline said.

“No…” Yoko said, she thought she was whispering but she could see the man’s head turn.

The man said in a creepy voice, “Hello, little girl.” His hand reached towards her small body. She looked into his eyes, and his face morphed into Kiyomi’s.

“Your weak.” Kiyomi said, coldly. Then the whole body morphed into Kiyomi’s. She had a machete in her hand and she threw it at Yoko. “Die. Yoko. Die.”

Yoko’s eyes flashed open. She looked at the clock. It was the right time to get up. She went to join her friends in the dining room. Max was on the phone with someone.

“yes, yes we understand.” She heard Max say. Then Max saw Yoko. “oh here she is.” She handed the phone to Yoko and said, “Its headmistress.”

“Hello?” Yoko said, putting the phone to her ear.

“Yoko? This is Evangeline. I’d like to invite you for tea this afternoon.” Evangeline said.

“Okay, I’ll be there.” Yoko said. “Is there a reason why?”

“its just something I’d like to discuss.”