11 Ringy-Dingy [accidental video post]

[female_warrior]

[The PCD turns on to show Asuna sitting on one of the lower limbs of a large tree near Whipstaff. It is early evening and a soft breeze is rustling the colorful leaves around Asuna. She is obviously lost in thought- not bothered by the chill in the night air. She has found some warmer clothing at last and is now sporting blue jeans, a t-shirt, and

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[notamageiswear]

[...so here comes Negi, bundled in a heavy button-up long coat, similar to the one Asuna is used to him wearing, complete with a dark red and gold scarf.]

...Asuna-san, it's a little chilly to be climbing trees, isn't it?

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[notamageiswear]

...I know it isn't selfish. I know. And I know that he's still alive out there, somewhere. They call him invincible, after all. Dad couldn't be taken down that easily.

[He leans into the squeeze. It was nice to be able to spend time with Asuna again. There's a bit of a laugh at that comment, though.]

W-well, to be honest, Asuna-san, in the books I read a few weeks ago, I'm about a hundred and fifty-something chapters ahead of what you remember. I've had a lot of time to grow up.

But...do me a favor and make sure to lock any conversations we have in the future to a private setting. If Envy finds out that you're close to me, it could link all the way back to Al...he could use you to hurt me, and inevitably hurt Al. We need to be careful.

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[female_warrior]

I promise I will Negi. I don't want anything to happen to you or Al.

[She pauses, sighing and watching a bird drift lazily across the darkening horizon.]

You two are the closet thing to family I have. And... so is everyone else in Whipstaff- even Ed. But you and Al- you two are different.

[She keeps her arm around his shoulders.]

Negi, when Al posted about Ed being different... I know I'm different from the Asuna you knew but I'm still Asuna, right?

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[notamageiswear]

[Oh Asuna, you don't know how true those words really are. But he looks up at that question, his expression not quite clear, but bordering on concern.]

Of course you're still Asuna-san. You're Asuna-san no matter what, because you still act like you. It's just...your memories that are different.

But the same goes for me...even if it's just a little bit, I'm different from the Negi that you know.

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[female_warrior]

I've... never thought about you being different. But you are different- you're Negi but you're a little different. I guess I just felt for awhile when I first got here that I didn't have a place any more- that this was your world and... there wasn't a need for me any more. I was just standing in for the real Asuna.

[She chuckles a little to herself.]

I know that's dumb. I know it's not like that.

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[notamageiswear]

...Asuna-san, you're not...you're the real Asuna-san, even if you're not from my world. You're still Asuna-san. Just like...Ed and Al don't remember the exact same things, but they are the exact same people.

So your birthday is different, and some things you remember are different from how I remember them. You're still Asuna-san to me.

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[female_warrior]

I know... but thanks. It feels good to hear you say that.

[She smiles at him.]

Um... Did... my other self... Did she tell you anything about her past?

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[notamageiswear]

[He returns the smile with a gentle one. But it doesn't stay long; that question makes the smile fade into a neutral expression, one that Negi hopes doesn't give much away. He turns his head, looking down at the ground, pointedly looking away from Asuna.]

...Asuna-san, whatever the other you knew...you're from different worlds, there's no guarantee that it will be the same in your case.

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[female_warrior]

[Oh how close she had been to telling Negi the truth... asking for help. But with that answer the moment was gone.]

Yeah. You're right. I'm sorry- I shouldn't have asked. I doubt she would have wanted you sharing with me if she's anything like me.

[That wasn't awkward to say. Nope. Not at all.]

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[notamageiswear]

[...oh god, he's picking up on that, though. He looks back at Asuna.]

...Asuna-san, I'm sorry. It's not really...something that would hurt you to hear it, I just...

[He bit his lip. If he told her that one fragment of information, it might get both of their hopes up. He didn't particularly want to do that, not until he was sure that this Asuna and the Asuna from his world had the same past.]

...the Asuna-san from my world, she found out here that she was a princess from a country called Ostia.

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[female_warrior]

[That was pretty much all she wanted to know. Even though she had been anticipating this being the case she still couldn't hide a look of surprise.]

Heh. So even if we're different we still share some things.

[She nods more to herself than anyone else.]

I... was a princess in my world- when I was very little. I ran away because horrible things kept happening. That's when I ran into Nagi and eventually ended up at Mahora. I... had forgotten so much of it... I know there is still stuff I don't remember.

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[notamageiswear]

...so, my father protected you in your world, too?

[A soft smile. This is more familiar. It makes him feel better.]

In the world I'm from...well, I'm not entirely certain, but I'm pretty sure that my mother was your sister. While he was here, my father told me that my mother was a princess of Ostia that eventually became a queen, and that she had the same eyes as you but in reverse order. So there has to be some relation somehow.

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[female_warrior]

Yes, he protected me. In... In my world he died to protect me.

[As did many others...]

R-really? Us? Related? B-but... No, that can't be.

[Family? Someone who was blood family? For an orphan who had always yearned for some knowledge of her past- someone to call 'family'- this was unbelievable. But, in other way, something about this seemed right.]

If... if I had a sister in my world... I wish I could remember her.

[Was it possible she had a sister? Sure, it was a stretch but both of them had been princesses and their eyes were the same- there couldn't be too many people who fit that criteria.]

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[notamageiswear]

...that's right, you told me that he died in your world. I had forgotten.

Ah, the Asuna-san from my world didn't remember her, either, s-so um...at least you're on par there.

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[female_warrior]

[Asuna smirks.]

It's comforting to know that.

[Another long pause...]

Wait. If your mother is my sister then I'm... your aunt. And... we Pactioed.

[She shakes her head shuddering at the thought.]

Ewwww, gross!

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[notamageiswear]

[Oh hi, small bit of flailing!]

I-I-I know that it's a little awkward...!! Um, b-but we didn't know at the time, a-and that was the only way we knew how to do it back then, um...!