Psihopatul here!
This story is a sequel to Mucisian74s earlier work "A little twist to the story" This is also a co-written story with her, there is a poem that is made by 345652SW38 on Deviant Art. We had to made small modifictations to her story so please read the original work here: .com/art/fearful-261163809
Musician74 here, yes this is an odd colaboration. It's my first so I hope it comes out okay... To this day I'm still wondering how Psiho convinced me to do a colab... But ooh well... Go read the story.. GO! Disclamer is on my page
It was the start of the girls' vacation and the end of high school for Nodoka, Yui, Mio, Ritsu, Mugi, while Ui, Jun and Azusa had one last year of high school left.
They were leaving with a heavy heart, knowing it was gonna be hard breaking up, even if their college was in the city just a train ride way in a neighboring city.
Even their club advisor, teacher and a friend Sawako was a little bit sad about this. But, despite being sad about leaving their old high school, they were also very curious as to what the future would bring, how college would change them, what new and interesting things they would stumble across.
For the Hirasawa household nothing had changed, though. Ui was still the responsible sibling and Yui… Let's just say she still loved sleeping and lazing around.
"Onee-chan it's time to get up" Ui's voice called out. A knocking sound came from the door.
"Five more minutes Ui, five more min..."
She was cut off by kiss from Azusa lying next to her. Yui slowly shifted, then looked into the direction of the source of the sweet kiss.
"Tehehehe Azunyan, g'morning."
"Come on Yui, Jun and Ui made us all some breakfast. And remember, we still need to meet up with the others at the café." This made Yui jump up, quickly freshen herself up and then go downstairs to eat breakfast with the waiting trio.
[In cafe a few hours later]
Mio and Ritsu were the first ones to arrive at the cafe the girls had decided to meet up to see what they had planned to do their last holiday together. The cafe was owned by one of Sawako's old classmate and long time fan.
"I wonder where the others are, they're gonna be late… Ooh, and thanks for waking me up, Mio." Ritsu smiled at her girlfriend. She had been woken up by Mio quite interestingly, a way that was too perverted, especially coming from Mio.
Ever since graduation, Mio had moved in with Ritsu and her parents until they went to college so she wouldn't be a burden on Sawako.
"Don't you dare mention this to the others or I won't speak to you ever again." Mio blushed while turning to look the other way.
"Sorry we're late!" Mugi barged in with Sawako.
Soon after, the rest of Houkago Tea Time including Nodoka came. Yui was sitting next to Azusa trying to decide if she should take a parfait or just some chocolate cake. Azusa just smiled, glad she would be able to spend some time with Yui before she went off to college. Tsumugi sat next to Sawako and for some reason she seemed nervous, but the others didn't want to ask her about it. Mugi would tell them if she really deemed it important. Sawako was… well, being Sawako, sitting like a good teacher would and quietly sipping on some milk tea while smiling oddly suspicious. Everyone seemed happy, but they all knew that wasn't true. Everyone stole quiet glances towards Nodoka, who was off in her own world, thinking about a certain someone who disappeared just months ago.
"Nodoka-chan, don't worry! She's fine and we all know that." Yui gave a warm and cheering hug to her long time friend.
"Yeah we're here for you and I'm sure wherever she, is she's alright." Ritsu said, her usual grin plastered genuinely onto her face.
Nodoka smiled. "Thanks, everyone."
She was really fortunate to have such good friends. Still, she couldn't help but wonder where that energetic girl could be and how she was.
"Uhm, I know this is a little sudden, but Sawako-sensei asked you all to gather up here for a reason before we go through our holiday plans" Mugi said, trying to smile but was clearly very nervous. Everyone looked at Mugi expectantly, trying to come up with anything this 'reason' could be related to, but found nothing.
"Mugi, should I tell them?" Sawako asked Mugi, taking her hand into her own.
"No, it's alright, I'll tell them…" Mugi swallowed. This news will certainly shock everyone she thought. Nonetheless, she hated keeping secrets from her best friends so she would have to tell them eventually and now was the perfect time.
"What is it Mugi-chan?" Yui had an excited look on her face.
"Sawako and I… are getting engaged!"
Everyone was quiet. Mugi was starting to think the others didn't like the idea of her getting engaged with their now former teacher and grew worried.
"U-uhm, so… Are you guys… what do you.." Mugi couldn't form a passable sentence to make her fellow human beings understand her. Luckily Mio caught on and quickly replied.
"Ahh, no don't think we're not okay to this! This is great news!"
"Yeah, we kinda suspected you two were going to do something like this and we're happy for you two." Ritsu replied, the same grin displayed once more on her cheery face.
"Mugi-chan, congratulations!" Yui practically glomped onto Mugi, almost making them fall over.
Everyone smiled and Mugi relaxed. Of course they wouldn't mind. They're her friends and they would accept her for who she is.
Smiling lightly, Sawako spoke up. "Well I'm glad you guys find it okay with us getting engaged … We were kind of worried…"
"Ooh please, Sawa-chan, I saw how you were constantly eyeing Mugi while she played her keyboard back in the club room." Ritsu grinned. She may be a Baka at times but she wasn't stupid. Plus she was very very perceptive and so she was the first one who actually suspected a little more then 'just a student-teacher' relationship from the slightly eccentric teacher and sweet and caring friend.
"So… Now that that's out of the way…" Mugi clapped her hands together, a sort of sign to want to shove this embarrassing topic aside. "Let's start planning our last vacation together!"
"Yes! I vote beach!" Yui raised her hands into the air.
"Yui, you sure do love the beach huh…"
"Ehhh… but the beach is so much fun… You should know, Azunyan, you had the most fun when we went there a few years ago…" Yui pouted and slumped back into her seat.
"If I could make a suggestion…" Mugi politely raised her hands the way she was taught to ever since she was little. "How about we go on that trip we were planning several months ago…"
"Mugi that's a great idea!"
"I guess I could go again on our honeymoon afterwards."
"Yeah, the student counsel already went to Kyoto so I'm free all summer."
"Yeah! So where are we planning on going?"
They were so busy planning their vacation that they almost didn't hear Mio's phone ringing, it was a surprise call. Even Mio didn't expect it. It was her cousin and he was just about to arrive in Japan.
"Sorry guys, but I need to go meet someone, How about I meet you guys in the shopping district next to the clothing store we bought Nodoka's birthday gift?" Mio stood up from her seat and put on her coat.
"I'll come, too! Wait, let me help you with that, Mio…" Ritsu also stood up and helped Mio put on her coat. She wanted to accompany her girlfriend to see this mystery person she was going to meet.
As Mio and Ritsu left the Café, the rest of the group kept on planning their vacation trip when suddenly Nodoka received a strange letter brought by the mail man.
The letter contained a poem. As she read its content, she knew right away who the letter was from even though it didn't have a name on it.
sometimes
kissing you is like
kissing a ghost,
phantom vapor
between my lips.
I'm afraid that
you will dissolve
between my
spindly fingers,
gone forever,
because you're
not here with me.
You are far away,
Lost in some fantasy land
where I am
someone else.
and I do not
mind, per say,
Even though I don't want
To remember.
I forget that I am
there. I forget
that you might not
love me the way
I have always loved you.
As she stared at the piece of paper she felt tears slowly rolling down her cheeks. The others were shocked to see she was starting to cry, but Nodoka just shook her head. They weren't tears of sadness… No… She was crying because she was happy.
"What is it, Nodoka-chan?" Yui asked. She was staring at her childhood friend with big questioning eyes.
"Ah, it's nothing Yui. Just a message from… a friend of mine." Nodoka smiled brightly. At least now she knew she was safe.
['The Zone']
[One week earlier]
It was yet another day in 'The Zone' as Ikeda Kenzo a Veteran Merc S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was on guard duty in Renegades base. He saw movement in the bushes and pointed his gun towards the sky and fired a warning shot to the people in the bushes and to the Renegades.
"Don't shoot, we're just here for business." Kenzo, or Crack-Shot as he was mostly known for, couldn't understand even though he had been living in this zone for 5 years, 10 months and 4 days. He didn't understand those people in the bushes because they were speaking Russian, a language he never took the time to learn while he was there.
"Crack-Shot, lower your gun, they're friendly." A Pro-Renegade pushed Crack-Shot's gun down.
"I-is that Strelok? A-and his group?" Crack-Shot asked in amazement as he knew how rare it was to see this whole group all together or even just one of them.
"Yeah, and boss tells me she wants to see you now."
"Okey, you take over."
Crack-Shot jumped from the small guard tower and walked to the middle of the base where there was a camp fire.
Next to the camp fire there were some familiar faces, one new one besides Strelok's Faction. He was already at the door that lead to Renegades' leaders and their right-hand quarters.
"Here, there's your payment and the artifacts you wanted, another job offering came for you. We were already paid." Lumen Obsecurus, the Renegades leader told him.
"Yeah, thanks for everything, we really appreciate it." Luc, the Right-hand man of Lumen, said.
"No problem at all Lumen and Luc, give me a call any time you need me." Crack-Shot walked out to the camp fire, knowing his new employer would be there.
"You must be Crack-Shot, I was told by those guys that you're the one who can train me to become a professional Stalker." A young female suddenly spoke up.
"So you talk Japanese huh? Okay, well two things. One, there are no professionals; only rookies, Experienced, veterans, masters etc... And two, aren't you a bit too young to have that kind of cash on you to hire me?"
"I think this is enough for the payment." The young female Stalker gave Crack-Shot a pile of cash.
"Well I suppose this is more than enough. I'll make sure you learn every possible trick a Stalker would need to know."
"Good, well… My name is-"
"I don't need to know your name, young lady. In 'The Zone' it's wise not to tell anyone you given name. Not even a friend."
"Good, just the way I like it. But then, what will you call me?"
"I'll give you a name."
[A few days later]
"From now on your name will be 'Chaser'." Crack-shot declared when they finished eating after an intense training session.
"Alright, sounds good. So Crack-shot, how long have you been here?" The girl was only half listing to him as she was eating while writing something.
"I've been here for 5 years 10 months plus few days. What are you doing, Chaser?"
"Just writing something for a friend of mine who lives far away from this place. This 'Zone'… how can we send mail to the outside world?"
"Us mercs take care of that, so I can take care of it for you, where do you want to send it to?"
"Japan, here's the address" Chaser handed him a piece of paper.
"Crack-shot... you there?... Radio... Need... Here... Psihopatul... hurry..." The sound of his transmitter interrupted their exchange.
"Shit, I gotta go, don't follow!" Crack shot left dashing from 100 Rads Bar leaving her there, confused at his odd behavior. Despite his warnings she decided to follow him. This ended up being a really bad move as she stumbled across a group of Monolithian Fighters and their Preacher in Limansk-13 or as all the Stalkers call it: Limansk. She was pinned down for a couple of hours.
Meanwhile Crack-Shot found Psihopatul.
"Finally I got you, you bastard bandit" Psihopatul cut the bandits' throat open as he saw Crack-Shot standing a few meters away at a street corner.
"You're cutting people up, again? What's up with that anyway?"
"You fucking Jap, can't you just leave me alone! I better teach you a lesson, come over here." Psihopatul threw the dead body of a bandit onto the ground and started running towards the already running Crack-Shot.
Psihopatul knew all too well that this annoying guy was going to the construction yard so he decided to take a short-cut to get there faster.
When Crack-Shot got to the construction yard, he entered one of the building sites but was struck down by a shot from SVD Dragunov.
"Fuck! That hurts! Come fight like a man you son of a bitch"
"Please, it's Psihopatul. I've been thinking… Since you're from Japan, you can call me Shitsu." This Shitsu guy grinned as he stared at Crack-shot. "Well, I'm off. I need to see who killed my men." Psihopatul just brutally kicked Crack-Shot's head and he fell unconscious.
[A few hours later elsewhere]
"Ack, my head. That fucking bastard is gonna pay for this…" Crack-Shot woke up and held his spinning head.
"You alright? I found you unconscious from Limansk. What happened? And who were those guys? Damn, they're hard to kill." Chaser looked down to see if Crack-shot was alright.
"WHAT? You followed me? I told you not to! Jeezz! Well, I guess I owe you one, so thanks." Crack-shot slowly sat up. His head was till spinning and it made him a little nauseous. He continued speaking "Those guys are Monoliths, really dangerous Faction. The most dangerous of them all actually. You're lucky to be alive, Chaser."
"Sorry, I just had a feeling you were gonna be in trouble and seems like I was right, I brought you back to 100 Rads with some of your friends."
"Thanks once again, damn I think I need time off from all of this." He laid back down as he started to think. A visit to my cousin would be nice…
"I think I'll call my cousin back in Japan. Can you shut up for a second?" She just nodded as Crack-Shot dialed a number on his PDA.
"Hello, who's speaking please?" said a male voice on the other end of the line.
"Hey Uncle, it's me, sorry I haven't been in touch with you for long time, I just thought I'd give a call. Umm, could I talk to my cousin, please?"
"Sorry I don't know where she is, she doesn't live here anymore." Crack-shot could clearly hear the anger and disgust in his voice.
"O-oh, I see… Uhm, well I was thinking of visiting Japan one of these days and I was wondering if I could come by for a visit… If that's alright of course. " He was a little bit unsure as he thought uncle was mad at him.
"Yeah, sure we'll be waiting for your call and you're free to come visit us anytime you want to."
"Alright then, see you soon, bye Uncle."
"Goodbye, kenzo."
After he hung up he made another phone call. Chaser just stared at him, not knowing what to do. Quite frankly she found it a bit awkward to listen to Crack-shot's phone calls and she was getting bored.
After a while, Crack-shot hung up on his second call.
"Well, finally! Do you know how weird it is to sit still while the other person in the room is on the telephone?"
"You could've just gone outside you know."
"I thought you'd need some assistance with something so I just waited…"
"Right… Well, I just talked to my cousin and she's picking me up from the airport. I guess I'm going to Japan."
"I see… Well, when are you leaving then?" Chaser looked a little sad. Aside from Crack-shot, she didn't know anyone else there and if he were to leave, she wouldn't have any company in 'The Zone'.
"Tomorrow… Why?"
"Nahh, just asking…" Crack-shot saw her disappointed look, though.
"Do you… want to come with me?" he asked carefully.
Although she was a little reluctant to go back to Japan, she still agreed. With a smile.
[3 days later]
"Hey it's me, Kenzo. I'll be landing in about one and a half hours. Ooh right, I'm also with a friend of mine. I hope that's okay?" After talking to his cousin, Kenzo walked back to his seat.
"So, Crack-shot. What's your cousin's name? I've been meaning to ask, but I keep on forgetting."
"Ooh, it's Mio. She's kinda tall for her age… Well, not as tall as you, but still.."
"M-…Mio… What's her last name?"
"Huh? Akiyama. Why?"
"O-ooh nothing… Just asking…"
As they landed and got off the plane, Kenzo told Chaser about Mio and her best friend Ritsu; how those two had been friends ever since childhood. He even showed her a few photos of them. When they entered the terminal, Chaser saw two girls looking just like the ones in the photos she had seen and quickly told Kenzo to meet him outside a Clothing store that was right next to a fastfood restaurant. She lowered her hat and started J-walking towards the store. In her haste to avoid the two girls she bumped into one of them, namely one Ritsu Tainaka.
Ritsu gasped as she faintly recognized who this person was… or could be.
"Mio, was that…" Ritsu looked as this person ran right pass them.
"Hmm? What now?"
"N-never mind…" Ritsu looked back one more time, but failed to spot the mysterious person in odd clothing. It couldn't have been her… Could it?
"So… where's your mystery friend?"
"He's right here." A man in what seemed like an worn out and heavy trench coat, probably a few inches taller than Mio, stood right in front of them, a hat on his head.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH" Mio screamed as she freaked out by the man's sudden appearance.
"Still the scaredy-cat I see. Calm down, Mio. it's me, Kenzo."
Mio sighed in relief as she calmed down "Ritsu, do you still remember Kenzo? My cousin?"
"AAAAH So, the mystery person was your cousin Ken-kun, of course I remember him! How've you been? I haven't seen you in over eight years now!"
"Ahah~ I'm glad you still remember me, Ritsu. Or should I still call you Ricchan?"
"Mehh, both is fine… Seriously, Mio, why didn't you say anything?"
Mio, completely avoiding her girlfriend, turned to Kenzo. "So, Kenzo, how have you been? It's true, we haven't seen you since you moved away about eight years ago…"
"Yeah, sorry about that…" Kenzo smiled awkwardly. How to explain to your cousin you've been living in a dangerous place where you constantly fight to stay alive and love every second of it?
"Ooh right, you said you'd come with a friend right? So where is he?"
"It's actually a she… She bumped into you guys just a second ago, but she said to meet her at that clothing store right beside that family restaurant?"
"Ohh~ Does Ken-kun have a girlfriend?" Ritsu grinned.
"Ri-Ritsu!" Mio apologized for her girlfriend's rudeness. "Sorry, Kenzo, she can be such a child sometimes…" Mio shot Ritsu a death glare. "Anyway, yeah, that's where we're meeting our friends so let's go."
While they were walking they were lightly conversing over stuff, family news and such. Anything Kenzo might have missed out on after he and his parents moved away and practically distanced themselves from the rest of the family.
"Ahh, we're here, but I don't see the others anywhere…"
"Mio look, they're still in the tea shop. Should we just go there and grab some lunch instead?"
"Lunch sounds awesome. That airplane food was just disgusting."
"Wait, Kenzo. Look your friend is over there." Mio pointed towards Chaser who quickly hid her face.
"Ooh yeah… I'll go get her, you two go ahead…"
Kenzo walked up to Chaser. "Hey, why are you acting all mysteriously? You're creeping my cousin and her friend out, you know."
"Sorry about that… it's just…" Chaser seemed a little nervous.
"Just what? Spill, Chaser."
"…[Sigh]. Nothing … Never mind."
"Well, whatever. Look, we're grabbing a bite to eat in there and we're meeting her friends so please behave and don't act like some over-suspicious spy. Also, if you feel the need to talk to me, please call me by my given name, Kenzo. They don't know who Crack-shot is and I want it to stay that way."
With that said, Kenzo dragged her to the tea shop, much to her dismay. She sighed once more and let her be dragged into the shop by Kenzo.
"Sorry about that. My friend can be a bit odd at times, but-" Kenzo had to stop as he noticed everyone was staring at his friend. One brunette in particular stared with her mouth open.
"Chicchan? !" Shock could be read on their faces when Yui called out their friend's name.
"Hey guys… Been a long time…" She finally removed her hat, revealing a shy yet daring grin, green emerald eyes and the trademark Yamamoto hair, which now seemed to be shorter.
Little bit more info: words in italics like so are actually the character's thoughts, or if it's in a sentence, it means they emphasize that specific word. Oh and I think I should little bit tell you about how we ended up writing this stoy, Me, Psihopatul, had an idea of co-written story and suggested it to Musician74 and she agreed, after little bit of talking the idea through we decided to make a sequel to her story
Characters and makers:
Chikane/Chicchan/Chika is a character of Musician74 she is a awesome great writer and a friend of mine.
Kenzo is my character and so is Psihopatul aka Shitsu. Shitsu is shorten from the japanese word for 'Psychopath'. R&R Please :)
P.S: This is also my first colab story so be gentle on us, thank you.