Ko-chan’s Chronicles

Matsuko tenderly ripped off the last piece of ribbon covering Kogamo's eyes. The more of the ribbon she removed, the more she realized Kogamo was trembling non stop. It wasn't the same as the other girl's trembling, theirs was from pleasure, but Kogamo was trembling from something else, something darker.

She held Kogamo's face and stared into her eyes. The little eyes with stars and magic in them were darting back and forth as if they were terrified of something, and they didn't seem to be conscious. A bit panicked, Matsuko flooded a large amount of flame magic into Kogamo's body, hoping to help her wake up and combat the chilling effect of the ribbons.

Seconds later, her eyes seemed to focus, and then the tears started to fall. She was still buried under many layers of ribbons, but she could finally see her shining light once more.

"W-w-what happened to you, Ko-chan!?" Matsuko was trembling herself, unable to deal with the state her lover was in.

Kogamo shut her eyes, but then opened them again, as if to stare through her contacts.

Matsuko felt the fledgeling connection begin to form once more, and she used her own power to force it through the haze of isolation that the ribbons created. In an instant, she could feel Kogamo's spirit once more, and her powers lit up like the morning sun.

"M-M-My Lady...you came for me..." Matsuko could feel the pain and suffering in her voice as she finally heard her thoughts after an eternity.

"It will all be fine now, Ko-chan. I promise." Matsuko rubbed her head instinctually as she sat there with her on her lap.

"I'm... so tired..." Kogamo sent her last telepathic message before closing her eyes again, this time sleeping peacefully.

"Maybe I can also...." With her nerves finally released, she felt a wave of exhaustion that she had been holding back for almost a full day. Just one blink turned into a deep slumber.

* * *

"Let them sleep. They need the rest." The ancestor spoke up as the guard was about to go make a report to Matsuko.

"But... the Young Miss is still wrapped up in those horrible ribbons..." The guard was worried about the Mistress and her lover.

"She's awoken from her nightmares. Her current sleep is peaceful. Matsuko won't let her suffer more before she's freed." The ancestor patiently explained to the guard.

The ancestor's smile shriveled up, seemingly amused by something. "Instead, how would you like to become a bit more useful to her? I'm sure you are all feeling a bit defeated that you could do nothing but act as couriers in this incident so far."

"Can I? I've barely started to cycle my magic." The guard seemed hesitant.

"You'll suffer, but you'll grow nonetheless. If your colleague here is any indicator, it seems you have quite the chance on your hands." She lifted her hand and pointed at the bound and naked girl blushing on the couch.

"What? But.. her magic was the same as mine yesterday... why is it so much stronger now?!" The guard lost her composure as she saw her colleague jumping past her.

"What an interesting thing that ribbon girl has created." The ancestor held up her hand with a little strip of ribbon floating above it.

"It drains and isolates energy, but it also purifies it and stores it. If too much is used, then you will simply be drained to the point of helplessness, but if the correct amount is used, you can use it like a magic refining circuit. Allow your magic to be stolen and purified, then steal it back with overwhelming force. The draining power must never be higher than your own ability to control it, or you will end up like those girls you saw earlier." The ancestor laughed as she considered the possibilities.

"If that girl realized that the very thing she created to defeat Matsuko would become the engine of her defeat, I wonder what she would think? I can't wait to see what happens." The ancestor smiled, as if this was the most entertaining thing she had seen in a century.

"Then... I can also... Like her?" The guard seemed to realize the chance in front of her.

"Gather the rest of your colleagues. You wish to be useful next time she encounters an issue? Refine yourself in even stronger fire." The ancestor issued her edict then fell silent. The guard ran off and returned with about a dozen other guards.

"What must we do, honored ancestor?" The guard bowed to the ancestor with due respect.

"It's not difficult. Sneak in that room and touch your Young Miss. Then come back in here and circle your mana in and out of the ribbons. Your determination will decide how much you gain." The ancestor smiled and went back to her meditation.

The guard clenched her fists. "Next time. We won't be dead weight."

She went into the room, and the second she touched Kogamo's shell, she was stripped and bound just like the guard outside. She blushed deeply but steeled her determination and went back outside to sit down. Slowly she fed her magic into the ribbons and then yanked it back out after one cycle. It was slightly more pure than the magic she fed in. This was the most effective training she had ever encountered! If only it didn't have to be so embarrassing to complete...

* * *

This time, my dream was nothing but me and Matsuko sitting at that lake, watching the fish slowly swim around in circles. It was so nice that I never wanted to wake up, but I knew it wouldn't happen. Slowly, I woke my eyes, and saw the meeting room in front of my eyes. All over the room, piles of ribbons were strewn about, and the only thing I could hear was the slow *riiiiip* sound of someone peeling tape.

"Good morning, Ko-chan. How do you feel?" Matsuko smiled at me while peeling more tape.

"...I dreamed of us. At that lake. I didn't want to wake up, but I knew... our business is not over." I somberly recounted my dream.

"It is true. This time was our complete and utter loss. I didn't even conceive of the idea that we would be ambushed. I should have been more vigilant and none of you would have had to suffer so much." Matsuko sounded like she had been beating herself up for a while.

"Matsuko... no one could have known. It was a perfect ambush, she knew all of our skills, all of our powers. She had countermeasures set up beforehand for every one of our tricks. We didn't stand a chance." I recounted the short version of the battle.

"She would go this far..." Matsuko sighed heavily. "This is trouble I've brought on all of you. It is my matter to settle."

I struggled in the remains of my petsuit. "Hey! Don't think you can run off and fight alone again! I won't let you go!"

Matsuko smiled a little, "Oh, and what are you going to do about it, my cute little pet?"

"I'm gonna get stronger! I'll get the strongest power and stomp her face into the dirt! She made my cool Matsuko cry, and I'll never forgive her!" I tried to sound confident while I still had my limbs folded and bound.

Matsuko seemed surprised and wiped her face reflexively. "I didn't cry. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah right! Do you think you can hide those waves of sadness coming off your spirit? Even when I got caught in the past you'd only get mad or indignant, but why is it that you're sad this time?!" I spilled Matsuko's inner feelings straight to her face.

Matsuko realized she couldn't hide her true feelings from me anymore, but she wasn't really ready to talk about it. "...What about your sadness? You were trembling so hard earlier that I could barely even hold you still enough to peel you."

I fell silent. "....She was there... in my dreams...endless chasing, endless captures, endless orgasms. I had no powers, no way to escape, and no way to resist."

"It was different. In my dreams, even my tutu was working against me. Laces appeared on my skirt that let them force me into a kneeling position. The vibrator remote appeared in a little pouch behind my back even though I know you have the only one. Worst of all, they locked my wings into some kind of frame that completely held me motionless." I complained about my experiences in the dream.

Matsuko hugged me close. "It was just a dream. Zetsuna isn't here, and there's no frames to lock you into or laces on your skirt....yet."

Her final word caused me to let out a tiny laugh. "...I've given you new ideas, haven't I? Well, maybe it won't be so bad when you do it."

I turned somber again when I thought about what she said. "She said I have stars in my eyes but no light. I was locking myself away because I wanted this to happen."

Matsuko fell silent for a while. "Shall we prove her wrong then? We should at the very least, make her feel as much despair as you felt, shouldn't we?"

I nodded. "We have to be stronger. Way stronger. She knows all of our powers and already has countermeasures. We need new powers she doesn't know about."

Matsuko smiled. "I agree. What do you have in mind?"

I slowly debated in my mind. "...I gain power when I overcome the restrictions of new gear, right? I need the strongest power, and there's only one restraint I know of that is scary enough to give it to me."

Matsuko frowned. "You can't mean...?"

I nodded. "I need to conquer this petsuit. I won't let her win. I'll show her what this pathetic, broken pet can do."

Matsuko sighed. "I figured you were going to say that. Let us discuss our plans with the ancestor. I can feel her presence outside."

I gasped. "You can't mean...the one that will decide our fate?"

Matsuko smiled and patted my head. "One step at a time, my dear. Let's solve this problem first."

She stopped unwrapping me before she got to the final layer. I was still lightly wrapped, but one layer of ribbons wasn't so strong that I couldn't burst them with my current strength.

* * *

In the foyer was a scene I would never forget. Every couch was filled with girls, naked and bound, circulating magic in a rhythmic manner. Even Hinari, Naruyo, and Sakari were there participating in the same manner.

Matsuko was a little taken aback by the scene. "What...is this?"

The ancestor looked up from where she was floating. "Good. You have awakened. Let's talk." She slammed her staff on the ground and the scene shifted to the roof in a single blink.

"So, you've saved your friends. What is your next move? Our family has stood at the peak of this world for a thousand years. We will not be attacked unprovoked with no retaliation. You must strike back, and it must be absolute. We will accept no failures." The ancestor's voice sounded like an imperial decree to my ears.

"...I understand your command. That is why I must speak with you. I am planning to undergo training to gain new power." Matsuko reported to her like she would a king or emperor.

The ancestor smiled. "A proper ruler needs a capable retinue. You have many seeds but no flowers. Show me. Become the mightiest gardener of people. I have a gift for you." She held up the ribbon floating over her hand.

"That girl has given you a tremendous gift. Use it well, and perhaps it will be your sharpest sword in the future." The ancestor imprinted the details of the magic circuit straight into Matsuko's mind.

Matsuko laughed. "So it was like that. I can't believe it. I will begin immediately. Come, Ko-chan"

With another slam of the staff, we were back downstairs, and the council was no longer quietly circulating.

"Planning time. Come, Young Mistress." Naruyo's voice called out from the meeting room.