The first place hit with a virulent new flu strain had been Nerima ward of Tokyo in Japan. First two days of communicable stage with minor symptoms, usually within hours of exposure. The next day (third day after exposure) it became debilitating, with fever and other severe flu symptoms. At this stage the infected spent frequent periods nearly helpless but had brief periods where basic necessities could be taken care of. The debilitating stage lasted three days. Total period from exposure to recovery - five days.
It took three days just for the news media to pick up on the problem and begin reporting it as a new flu epidemic - partly because the Japanese didn't want to make a fuss about it. There were problems with the flu taking out reporters and the like and disrupting the flow of information as well. Despite the fact that the male population only seemed to get the first stage, with scratchy throats and coughs being the result.
By the fifth day, reports began coming in from Nerima about people getting better. It took another two days for the lid to be blown off of what had happened to the survivors - mainly because no rational explanation was being offered for a number of things going on.
Catgirls, long a feature of hentai websites and a kawaii-obsessed Japan, were the most common examples of the survivors.
Bunnygirls seemed to have an instinctive territorial dispute going with catgirls, something even the two groups themselves couldn't quite understand - it was more an instinctive thing.
Foxgirls seemed to have slightly more self-control than bunnygirls or catgirls, but it was quickly discovered that was only how it seemed. Many seemed to be fighting inner battles over dark natures that sought to break out. Many also seemed to have some talents with sleight of hand or something similar. As with catgirls and bunnygirls, there was often an instinctive territorial dispute that came up when foxgirls were in close proximity with either bunnygirls or catgirls.
Elves - other than being short and having pointed ears, they seemed to have an inhuman grace and lean beauty. There were light elves, wood elves, and dark elves. Light elves seemed to have an instinctual antagonistic reaction towards dark elves, as well as the reverse - but either group was tolerant of other groups.
Angels - girls with feathered wings that could actually fly, many of whom seemed to develop a glow about their head and have minor telekinetic abilities. Unlike foxgirls, catgirls, and bunnygirls - there didn't seem to be any instinctual hostility towards Angels. Quite the opposite in fact.
Succubi - the naughty side of winged girls. Often having some minor telekinetic abilities like their counterparts. If anything could unite a bunnygirl, foxgirl, or catgirl - it was uniting against a succubi.
Gynoids - rarely, but sometimes those with a scientific or mechanical bent seemed to end up with a biomechanical body. Sometimes the gynoids would also seemingly "cross species" and you'd end up with the rare catgirl-cyborg or catgirl-gynoid or angel-gynoid and so on.
There were tales of those who were rarer, who wielded magic or strange powers. Genies, Mousegirls, Espers, Magical Girls, Kunoichi, and others. Whether they were true or just misidentified more common types would be found out - but right now everything was hardly settled down enough to do some sort of inventory.
And so on. Surviving the transformation seemed universal unless outside forces intervened as happened tragically in some areas.
"Well, Negi?"
"It's magic, or it has a magical component, but it's nothing like Western magic as I've seen it," admitted Negi.
The headmaster harrumphed. "Yes. Nor is it traditional Japanese magic such as the onmyou might practice. It has a similar signature to something of ancient China, but if it was that - it's just a base enchantment which has been worked around a great deal. What else?"
Negi thought about it, trying to put together observations over the past few days. "The magic builds up gradually."
"Yes. Like a dam that slowly gathers a river behind it, and then bursts forth, yes?"
Negi nodded. "Yes! That's it, exactly. There's the physical transformation, but there's more to it, isn't there?"
"The alterations occur rapidly, but not all at once, and the last one is a powerful purification spell. One that cleanses the body of curses, illnesses of all types, and promotes well-being." The Headmaster frowned, though with his facial hair it was hard to tell. "One of my colleagues tells me that the first part of the spell appears to be a vengeance curse, the second part a challenge, and the third an attempt at redemption. His final analysis was that the caster was crazier than a bedbug."
"I see," said Negi, nodding. "And because the last transformation purifies the body - it also eliminates itself but not the changes it's made."
"It is most perplexing in many regards," admitted the Headmaster.
The first to succumb to the ravages of the disease was the first to awaken. The only times that wasn't the case was when the individual had a strong chi or magic, the disease/curse using those strengths against their possessor to speed up the process.
Motoko Aoyama had a strong chi and was the first to awaken of those afflicted at the Hinata Inn.
Upon discovering herself healthy she had been uncertain about seeing Urashima, particularly after being in his care for all this time. Now however, she had just discovered another concern, mainly that she was now:
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(Posted Mon, 02 May 2005 09:54)
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