"Between Kings"
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Chapter 01: The Normal Life
(Friday…)
"YATTA! School's over!" A collective of children cheered.
It was always a favourite part of an average student's day. Yes. The chiming of bells reverberated throughout the pale lit halls of Sainan High School. The doors of the classrooms slammed open….again. How they were still functional after being overwhelmed by waves of students all these years, nobody would know. The corridors buzzed with conversations and footsteps as teenagers in white and green uniforms pranced about, itching to escape the living hell that was school.
"Hey you wanna go to that shopping mall?"
"Sure, let's go before it gets dark."
"Hey, let's visit that maid café…"
"How did you do in the exam?"
"Me? Oh I did alright? How about you?"
"N-not so well…"
Conversations regarding heaven and hell that were the exams spread like wild-fire. A mixture of cheers, moans and 'alrights' filled the air. At least, that is what the students in classroom 2-A could hear.
Within the classroom of 2-A was a handful of students, some more extraordinary amongst them. Golden rays of light from the slowly setting sun shone through the classroom windows, both opened and closed alike, giving everything a golden glow.
"Oy, Rito!" A couple of nameless boys called out.
"Hai?"
"How's your left arm? I heard you got your cast off yesterday?"
"It-it's alright… I guess…" An orange haired student in a chair replied as he raised his arm and rotated it a few times, then twisted and turned his elbow and wrist, signalling his full recovery.
"Awesome! Now how about we hit the arcade-"
"Sorry guys, not today, I've got club activity this afternoon. Maybe some other time next week?" He offered with a small smile. The boys just gave a groan, then flashed him a thumbs up before heading out the classroom.
"Aww maaan…. You said that the week before! Alright then….see ya tomorrow!" The nameless students said as they opened the door and joined the slowly thinning crowd outside, hosting a conversation of their own. One boy was about to close the door behind him, but was interrupted as something shoved him out of the way.
"Riiiito!~" A high pitched voice sung from the doorway. Rito blinked in surprise as he snapped out of his mindless trance and looked to his right. There she was, her bubble gum pink haired flowed down to her lower back, a odd hair clip by the side of her bangs. Her emerald green eyes dazzling and kind. She too wore the typical female Sainan high uniform, which did nothing to little the size of her bust. Two more pink heads popped out from behind.
"Hey, Rito! Are you ready?" Nana asked loudly.
"Rito-san! Let's go home." Momo added sweetly.
In response, Rito picked up his bag and stood up, walking towards the door. "Gomen ne, but I have club activities this afternoon, remember. And I have to hit the supermarket. There's a special sale going on so I'll be back a bit later. Plus, I have to visit Mikado-sensei for her medicine."
The others could only give a helpless smile towards the golden brown eyed boy. "Hai…"
"Lala, Nana, Momo." Rito addressed, causing the three tailed Devilukeans to look up. "Take care of her in the meantime, at least until I get back. She's still quite sick, so make sure she takes her medicine." He said gently.
"You don't have to ask, Rito-san." Momo said as she patted her chest with a fist. "We'll do all we can."
"Alright then. You three should get going." He said, patting the three of them in the head, before walking into the hallway and ultimately downstairs.
"Rito-san sure has changed…" A short haired Momo muttered as she followed her sisters down the opposite side of the corridor.
"Hm? What do you mean, Momo?" her twin counterpart asked. Lala gave an equally question look.
"He's smiling a lot more….and a lot more relaxed." She said, holding her brown school bag with two hands in front. Her spade tipped tail swished behind her casually.
"Come to think of it… Momo's right." Nana agreed as she followed. "What do you think, Onee-sama?"
"Hmm…." Lala said as she placed hand under her chin, her face looking down in deep thought. But within moments, her expression snapped from seriousness to happiness. "Well, as long as Rito is happy, then so am I!~" She cheered, a fist raised in the air.
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(With Rito…)
The boy eventually made his way out of the main school block and turned right, walking along a veranda, which shielded his sore eyes from the blinding sun light. The chirping of birds and the buzzing of cicada filled the warm air as Rito continued his journey down the concrete path. The road eventually led him to a structure constructed of brown wood and thin white tapestry that served as walls as well as sliding doors. As he approached the building, he noticed a blue shuttle bus outside of the compound.
The girls from the club must be back from the tournament. I wonder how they did? Rito thought inwardly with hope as slid opened the door, which had the plate 'dojo' rested upon it. Upon sliding the door open, he walked in, stepping on the wooden floor board. He saw the entire girls' kendo team, sitting on the grounds and sidelines, having just recently changed into their school uniforms. They were lightly chatting amongst themselves, but a down casted look imprinted on the girls' faces. The girls jerked surprise at the new comer.
"Rito-Sensei!" A number of exhausted females called out in surprise at the new entry.
In response, Rito lifted up a hand and walked in the dojo "Just Rito-san will do. You guys are older than me anyway." He chuckled as he scanned the room. He leaned onto a wall of the room, next to a few flustered girls. "So? How was the tournament with Takumi boy's High School?" He asked.
The girls immediately halted their conversations and paid nervous attention to the boy, who gave a face of confusion as the girls sweat with fear.
"W-we….um…aahhh….." A couple of girls stuttered as they eyed their team leader. "K-k-kaichou…"
"Sigh….We lost, but not by much." The voice of a serious girl said as the members of the kendo team turned towards her. "But that's not what I'm upset about the most."
"Senpai's right!" kendo practitioners began joining in. "The team in Takumi boy's high said that K-kendo is no place for a woman."
"They were sexist!"
"Insensitive!"
"Heartless!"
"Rude!"
"Ruthless!"
"Shameless!"
"Ano…..girls?" Rito stuttered and sweat dropped against the rally of protest that was the entire kendo team. The team eventually quiet down and listened to the boy.
"I really don't think you should mind them that much… " Rito began. "Besides, you learn more from losing anyway. So the next time, you'll get them for sure!" Rito finished with a bright smile, lighting the dark world of lost.
"But that does not excuse their poor behaviour!" A girl argued, but was interrupted.
"Rito-san is right. This just means that we have to train more! We'll kick their asses next semester!" A non-particular girl cheered.
"But for now, go home and get some rest. Training will resume next week, dismissed!" The loud voice of Rin shouted, which was met by a barrage of enthusiastic 'HAI!'s. And within minutes, the kendo team left the school grounds. All that's left were Rito, and Rin.
The two people went about their own business. Rin concentrated on packing her things, whilst Rito just….well…. closed his eyes. Rin would occasionally steal glances at the seemingly dozed off boy on the wall. His wild yet slowly taming orange hair brushed against the wind. His expression serene and peaceful.
"You know…" Rin trailed off.
"K-kujou-sempai?" Rito wondered as he opened his eyes, which now were fixated on the girl.
"I was just thinking… why don't you train the team?" The team captain asked, much to the male's surprise.
"Sempai…where are you going with this?" Rito asked cautiously.
"You know…just teach them a few things… maybe give some pointers. "Someone of your calibre and experience. You might even enjo-"
"No!" He shouted sternly, much to his own surprise. Wh-why did I-
Rin's eyes widened as she lowered her head.
"I-I'm sorry for bring it up. It was insensitive of me-" She apologised quickly, but was interrupted.
"I'm sorry, sempai, I shouldn't have shouted. But…..I just can't... I'm sorry." He said as he looked her in the eyes. "Ever since a few weeks ago, I've….well….you know." Rito trail off. Rin DOES know what happened three weeks ago. The two then fell into a moment of silence.
"…How is she, by the way?" the black haired girl asked, concern evident in her voice.
"She's fine. Just…..getting use to the atmosphere at home. It's not the same ever since…." Rito then held his head in slight pain. "Well I better go, Mikado-sensei wanted to see me."
"Sensei? For what?"
"Medicine for her."
"Oh, I won't stop you then. Farewell, Yuuki-kun." Rin said formally as Rito simply waved goodbye, giving her a bright smile as he walked towards the exit of the dojo. He halted with an audible skid on the wooden floor and turned around. He breathed out hard before speaking.
"Kujou-sempai," He addressed the third year student, who had a slightly dejected but surprised look on her face.
"Why do you fight?"
That question came to the black haired beauty as a shock as she stared hard at the floor below her. She tried to come up with a respond, but her voice gave out as she just breathed shakily. "…."
"Come find me when you figure it out." Rito said with a smile as he head out of the door, softly closing it softly behind him.
"Man, that line was sooooo lame…" He said to himself as he began his trek towards the universal doctor's neighbourhood.
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(Twenty minutes later…)
After nearly getting lost in the twisting and turning maze that was Mikado's neighbourhood, the sixteen year old school boy could finally make out distinct brown roof that sat upon her clinic. He calmly walked over and knocked on the white door three times. He stepped back and patiently waited for a response.
She better have her clothes on this time... He said to himself as he blushed lightly, thinking back to the last time he visited her. Moments later, the lock unlocked with a loud click and creaked, opening inwards, revealing the figure inside.
"AH, Ohayo, Yuuki-kun." It wasn't who he was expecting. Instead of the curvaceous doctor, it was a blue haired nurse-in-training in a traditional kimono. Her blue eyes and fair skin complemented her figure perfectly, two beige ribbons on the side of her hair. She visibly lit up at the sight of the boy.
"Ah, Oshizu-chan, you're-Umph!" He was interrupted as the ghost girl tackled and hugged, kissing the boy, much to his surprise. But he snapped out of his surprise and returned the gesture. They stayed together for a few moments, then detached themselves from each other, much to the girl's disappointment. "Y-you're back." Rito stuttered, with a blush on his face.
"Hai. Tearju-sensei wanted to take a detour before returning to Earth, sorry to surprise you, hehe…" Oshizu replied happily. "So why are you here, Yuuki-kun?"
"I came to see Mikado-sensei." He said.
"She's just in her office; I'll take you to her." The ghost said as she held his hand dragging him along.
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(Nek minut…)
The continuous knock woke the fully dressed Universal Doctor up from her nap. She yawned and groggily opened the door of her clinic. She became fully awake at the person before her.
"Ohayo, sensei. Glad to see you're fully dressed this time." Rito said jokingly.
"Ora, Yuuki-kun, what took you so long?" the big chested Mikado asked as she stepped aside, allowing the boy and her apprentice to enter. "You should've been here in a flash-"
"I walked."
The doctor and the nurse gave each other a secretive look toward each other. Of course… he's in no rush now, is he? Mikado thought. "Just wait here, it won't be a minute." the older woman then walked to her desk and took a small boxes and plastic bag. Rito followed in suit and sat down on a chair.
"I heard you got your cast off recently, Yuuki-kun?" Oshizu said.
"Yeah, my arm's fine now, thanks to your sensei."
"Well said, Yuuki-kun." Said a voice from beside him. He turned saw an approaching Mikado-sensei. She handed him the plastic bag. Rito held the bag with two hands and peered inside. "There's the medicine for Mikan, just to get her use to Earth's atmosphere. And the other box is for your eye pain and headache, once every day, each after a meal." The boy gratefully accepted the bag of medicine.
"Arigato, Mikado-sensei."
"How is Mikan, by the way? Is she getting used to…"
"She's doing great, I wanted her to take it easy, rest at home and stuff, but she plans to go back to middle school next monday….."
"Well that's good." She then saw the deeply concerned face of Rito's and chuckled "Don't worry. She'll be safe. At least she's getting used to Earth…"
"…" But Rito had no reply.
Rito then caught a glimpse of the clock by the wall as his eyes widened in shock. "Oh crap! I forgot shopping! I better go, before the supermarket closes. Ja ne, Mikado-sensei, Oshizu-chan!" He shouted as he rushed downstairs. The last thing the girls heard was the shutting of a door.
"How can he be late? Yuuki-kun can-"
"Oshizu, you know he doesn't…..do that anymore. It's fresh start in life for him."
"But what about his eye pain and headache…" Oshizu asked, concerned for her lover.
"Well… a week ago, he approached me, he complained that he could see things, things that weren't there…even without his senses. The headache also irritated him. So he's been on my pain-killers ever since." Mikado explained, now sitting on her desk chair, fiddling with a file cabinet next to her, a neutral expression on her face. He must have overused his senses….I need to do more research…
"Oh…" Oshizu finished off….
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(At around seven thirty…)
Rito returned home with an audible sigh of tiredness. By the he had reached the supermarket, the stores were already closed. As a result, he was forced to get take away from various stores, plus an odd bag of Taiyaki. He took off his brown school shoes and stepped onto the wooden floor board. He pondered over the quietness in the house as he placed his bag on the ground, bringing only the food to dining room.
Oh yeah… that's right, Haruna's house has been repaired…she had to move back with her nee-san. He thought as he turned the corner. He immediately sweat dropped at the sight before him.
There they were, three chibi Devilukean princesses, sitting on the dinner table, mumbling and groaning something along the lines of 'Rito' and 'food'.
"Sorry I'm late. I didn't make it in time so I bought take out."
"But your cooking taste better…" Nana groaned out, as did all their stomachs.
"Hai, hai. Eat up, you guys…" Rito chuckled as he placed the bag of take onto the table with a loud 'thud'.
"We love you food-Rito…" they mumbled tiredly as the four enjoyed a heartfelt dinner.
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(Roughly half an hour lata…)
A golden brown eyed boy softly made his way up the wooden stairs of the Yuuki Household, as to avoid any attention drawn to him. Reaching the end of the stairs, he walked along the corridor, and saw a slightly opened door. From the crack of the door, the boy could see nothing but darkness. With a box of food in both his hands, he silently pushed opened the door. Light shone into a portion of the room.
Rito's eyes softened at what was revealed to him. There she was, soundly asleep in her bed. Her blanket on the ground. With an invisible smile, he walked over to the other end of the room and pulled over a chair by her bed side. He sat on the chair, with the box of food on his lap. He looked at the sleeping girl in deep thought, thinking aback.
Haven't seen her sleep this soundly for a long time… he said to himself as he reached forward and picked up the blanket from the ground, then pulled it over the girl, reaching just over her shoulders. He poked her on the cheeks playfully for a moment before sitting back on his seat, confirming that she really was asleep.
"You know…" he said softly, as to avoid waking the girl up. "I can finally sleep easy, now that I know you're back. And I began training, you know, I became strong. Me, Lala, Momo, Nana, and all the others tried so hard over the year to find you. Heck, we literally crossing the universe to find you." He then gave quiet chuckle "And now that we have, I promise," He paused "I'll keep you safe. Well, maybe not at school, but for as long as I can." He hushed jokingly. "Anyway, don't stress yourself, leave the housework to your Onii-chan. And by the end of the year,"
"We can have a kickass Christmas party, like we always wanted." He finished as he sat up and placed the food on the seat, looking at Mikan for the last time, patting her head briefly before leaving for door, quietly shutting it behind him.
But what he did not realise, under the blanket, were the emotional tear that streamed from her eyes, her hands covering her mouth, her cheeks slight red.
Rito…
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(At the same time, I guess…)
She was immersed and suspended in pure darkness. Nothing but darkness. Softly, she opened her crimson eyes and looked at her surroundings. But found that she could not move, or even speak.
Suddenly, a hand made entirely of small green letters and numbers appeared and reached for her.
"I'm coming for you, Yami-chan…" an ominous and deep voice growled as she stared at the impending digital hand. She struggled against the invisible bindings, but found it impossible to move. "Come to me…."
"No!" She hissed as the girl sat up from her bed, her long golden hair came to life as tendrils of hair transformed into blades, screws, and drills, each thrusting forward behind her back and over her head. Her hands be her side transformed into long shiny blades. Her red eyes shut closely on instinct, her breathing heavy.
But she could only make out an orange monitor floating before her desperately trying to dodge the attacks that are her hair.
"Master! Master! What's gotten into you all of a sudden?!" The speakers beside the monitor pleaded as it narrowly dodged a golden fist. The monitor showed a fearful pumpkin face.
Golden Darkness, having her eyes closed all the time, jolted in surprise at the familiar voice as she halted her attacks, her hair and blades suspended in mid-air. The air around her was still, her breathing erratic and loud. But ever so slowly, she opened her eyes. But through her eyes, she saw nothing but the cabin inside her spaceship, the view of the clear night sky through the star shaped window. Her body was covered in cold sweat. Seeing noting out of the ordinary, her hair began to unwrap themselves and revert back to their original form, once again flowing freely down her back. Her breathing then gradually slowed.
"Master, what happened? Did you…. Have a nightmare?" The Artificial Intelligence asked, two red question marks popped up on the black screen.
"I…I don't know." Konjiki no Yami replied, with voice reflecting nothing but calmness, but a hint of confusion. Though she did not speak her mind.
What… was that? She questioned herself as she got off the bed and headed towards the shower room to the corner of the cabin, leaving Luna more puzzled than ever.
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AUTHOR'S NOTES: HI FELLOW READERS, I'M FINALLY BACK WITH THE SEQUEL TO MY FIRST FANFICTION : "THE LONE EAGLE".
IF THE FIRST CHAPTER CONFUSES YOU GREATLY, IT PROBABLY MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT READ "THE LONE EAGLE" YET, WHICH I RECOMMEND YOU TO READ PRIOR TO THIS STORY. (This is the sequel, after all)
I REALISE THE MISTAKES FROM THE LAST STORY AND HAVE MADE A FEW MAJOR CORRECTIONS TO THIS ONE…
-MOMO AND NANA ARE YOUNGER, THUS PUTTING THEM INTO A DIFFERENT, LOWER CLASS IN SCHOOL (SOMETHING THAT I MISSED…)
-MOMO WILL ADDRESS RITO AS 'RITO-SAN', LIKE IN THE ANIME
-NANA'S TOMBOY CHARACTER
AS USUAL, MORE CHAPTERS STILL TO COME
REVIEW ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED AND VALUED, IT CAN INSPIRE ANY WRITER TO KEEP GOING!
CRITICISMS ARE ALSO ACCEPTED.