Infinite Stratos: Darkness From Within
Note: There will be a lot of concepts that will be similar to the concepts in the persona series. You will see as you read.
Disclaimer: I don't own any.
Chapter 1: Another Ichika
…Orimura Residence…
"Hey, hurry up. We'll be leaving early in the morning tomorrow. So make sure you meet Yamada-kun according to our agreement. And, Don't, do anything that might catch attention, or else we might find some crazy interviewers wanting to bombard us with questions and some fanatics who want to kidnap you and study you."
"Hai…" The Orimura siblings are packing up. They're going to IS academy, an institute for those willing to learn and train on how to use IS, tomorrow early in the morning. Chifuyu Orimura, the older Orimura, is a teacher in that school and right now, all of her time is occupied to the point she doesn't have much time to spend on her house… or her brother for that matter.
Ichika Orimura, the younger Orimura and younger brother of the older one, is the first male to have ever used an IS, Infinite Stratos, and due to this astounding feat, he's been the central subject in all of the media that are looking for facts or something interesting that might catch the public's attention.
"So, anyway, all of the arrangements are complete. You'll just have to fill up a few enrolling papers and that's that. Yamada-kun will lead you to where you will sign those. Just be a good boy and don't do anything that might give Yamada-kun more trouble."
"Hai. So, are you staying here tonight?"
"I'll be late at night. Your dinner is in the microwave. I'm in the hurry so try to hurry as soon as you can and go to bed early, I wouldn't want you to give me more trouble that it is."
"…" Ichika knows what she's talking about. Perhaps being the older Orimura is a very heavy burden and the fact that Ichika feels useless that he cannot do anything to make her feel more comfortable is the main factor in this situation. "Hai. Well, don't forget your keys, I've already prepared supper for you."
"Hm, I'll eat it on the way. Well, see you." Orimura Chifuyu left. Leaving only Ichika in charge of the house.
"Sigh, She doesn't have to hide it, I'm a burden to her, huh. Sigh, why can't I be more reliable and independent?" He lamented on how he feels being a burden to Chifuyu and him being unable to do anything about it. "Hm," Scratching his head as he heads for the dining room, he decided to just finish supper and then head straight to bed.
…Later, at Ichika's room…
Ichika is lying on his bed, staring at the full moon that can be seen from he is lying. They say that when the moon is full, vampires come to be. …Though of course, those are just stories. Ichika had noticed a manga that was given to him by Dan Gotanda, a friend from middle school, lying on the side of the bed. "Huh, Dracula, huh." Yup, it's a manga that is about vampires trying to become comfortable with their lives among the humans. The main antagonist is the first vampire, Dracula, and him looking down on humans for their corrupted nature is pretty much the main conflict with him. "Huh, words such as good and evil are just illusions that have been created by the powerful. Power always wins. Hm," Those were the words that were spoken by Dracula. Ichika wondered deeply about that. 'Good and evil are just words, power… power… power always wins.' Ichika knows that someone saying he's a good person is not convincing enough.
One thing for sure, Dracula is right that good and evil are indeed just words. And words can be cheap and deceitful. And the power to make your ideals and beliefs become reality…
"Power…" Ichika is not a power-hungry guy, but like, he cannot help but yearn for power that will make him strong enough to protect those he cares about. 'If I can see through the deceitful words, I can make the right choices. The freedom to choose. Hm, argh, darn it, why am I relating my own experiences with this manga that Dan gave me.' He threw the manga to the side, feeling ridiculous that the words of a manga character got him into deep thinking. 'But I really hope that I have the power… to make Chifuyu-nee… and everyone else… safe… and… …happy…' He fell asleep as he thought of that.
…Later that night…
"Agh, ugh…" Ichika is sweating in his sleep.
…?...
"Huh… Huh? This place is…" Ichika found himself lying on a ground. He looked around, all he could see are clouds. The sky. It's quite beautiful. But… "Huh? This place is…" Looking around, he found out that he's actually… …in the middle of nowhere. He's somewhere at sea and there are no visible land in sight. "Huh? What the…" He stood up. The "ground" he's standing on is separating his feet from the sea water. One can get the impression that he's standing or floating above the sea water since the "ground" is not visible. "What is this place?"
"…Orimura… Ichika…" A demonic voice called out his name.
"Huh?" Ichika looked around to see if there's someone else here.
"Orimura Ichika, you should acquire power."
"Huh? Who… Who's there!?"
His surrounding became dark. Then the sea is replaced by a sea of blood. Or at least, the sea is red in color this time, it may not be even blood. There's nothing else in sight other than this however. Except…
"Huh?" Someone is approaching. Someone wearing an IS suit. …and an helmet, mask helmet, to be precise. "Who are… you?"
"Who I am is not the question, the questions is: Who are you?" This someone said gesturing towards him. "Orimura, in this place that is full of deceptions and wicked thoughts, one must have acquire power. For it is only through power that one can make one's ideals be realized. That is how the nature of the strong preying on the weak works. If you are weak, then you will die. If you are strong, then uphold that which you hold dear. That's how it works. But… You lack this. That is why…" The saber of this guy's IS ignited.
"Wha…"
"I will test your tenacity to the test. In this place where your resolve shapes everything, can you overcome anything in your path…" He said entering in combat stance. "…including me?"
"Ah."
The weapon pods attached to the back of his IS hovered all over the place. They move around like a flock of birds surrounding their prey, and…
*tsing* *tsing* *tsing*
*Booomm-!* *Booom!*
"Auuh…" That was just a test. The laser beams landed at the sides. Ichika is pretty much surrounded by them.
"Now show me your resolve. For it is only through strength that one can endure suffering and torment." This guy moved forward for an attack.
"But what am I—Huh? Wha—Huh!?" Ichika, before even realizing it, is equipped with an IS suit and it seems to be the IS of his older sister. The first IS invented by Tabane Shinonono, the one who introduced IS to the world, and the one that is said to be the wielder of first IS core that was created.
"Now, show me your will!" He's about to lunge for an attack.
"Grk,"
*Claaaash-!* Both of them clashed with their respective sabers.
The other guy broke up and flew away in a very short distance, then pointing his IS claw towards Ichika.
*tsing* *tsing* *tsing* *tsing*
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
"Ahgh… Wh… What is this…" Ichika just stood there, covering himself from the explosion.
It seems the other guy missed on purpose.
"You won't get anywhere if you just stand there. Stand up and fight like a man! Huaarrgh-!" He moved for another attack.
"Gr, fine, let's go! Huuaaaarrghh-!" Ichika decided to make a move.
Both of them prepared their powerful fists that are also equipped with their IS claws.
*CLAAAAAASSSHHH-!*
Both of their fists came into contact, creating a deafening sound that can hurt the ears.
They broke up afterwards.
"Ahhhrrrghh-!" Ichika, not wanting to hold back, continued with his assault.
"Hmph," The other guy easily dodged the attack by flying away and then, he once again put the usefulness of his weapon pods.
*tsing* *tsing* *tsing*
*boom!* *boom!*
"Grk," Ichika had to make sure that he doesn't get hit by any of those pods.
*tsing* *tsing* *tsing*
"Hmph," Then taking the advantage while Ichika's focus is on the pods, the other guy aimed his claw at Ichika's right arm.
blast-!
*Hit-!*
"Guah!" The right arm part of Ichika's IS exploded.
"Too slow and too weak. You are too reckless, you don't have any trust for anything other than your own recklessness."
"What…?"
"You do not trust your sister, your friends, those who have made contact with you. You do not trust them, neither do you trust yourself."
"What…?" Ichika was taken aback by that. He doesn't trust the others… not even himself…?
*tsing* *tsing* *tsing*
*boom!* *boom!* *boom!*
While being in deep thought, he was decimated by the weapon pods that surrounded him all over.
'I do not trust anybody…' Now that he thinks about it, he seems to be getting paranoid about being reliable and being independent without even considering those around him. If one is going to be reliable, one must also acknowledge those around. For if one is going to become independent in their own way, what about the others…? Will their opinions be unreliable and be insignificant… Will one do not consider what they see or think and simply do what one wants…? Being reliable by one's own whims is nothing more but arrogance and impulsiveness, in other words, being independent may also result into abandoning those around you. In which, being unable to rely on someone is pretty much the same as facing the world by yourself, without your friends and family backing you up… a lonely path… a sorrowful path…
With those thoughts running in Ichika's mind, the other guy continued with his assault and then…
Sliiiccee-!
*BOOM-!*
Ichika's saber was blown away.
"What's wrong? Have you lost your will to fight…?"
"…" Ichika is unresponsive, it seems he has come to a realization. "For what reason can a guy or somebody else… For what purpose can they fight for…?"
"…Some fight for their purpose in life, some fight for their country, some fight for their hatred of the world…"
"…"
"What about you? What do you fight for?"
"Me…? I…" The images of the people he has known came to him. Chifuyu, Ran and Dan, Rin, Houki, Tabane… Indeed, one can ask, what one is trying to achieve…? Reflection are so beautiful, they can tell what we look like, what we stand for, what we are destined to have… "…I fight… for my…" Ichika touched the shoulder part of the IS of the other guy. "I fight… for…" Ichika clenched his fist tightly, crushing the shoulder part of the IS of his adversary. "I fight for… for my freedom… for my freedom…" Once again, the people he has known came to his mind… "I fight because I have the right to choose!"
*POOWWWW-!*
The other guy is blown away, his IS has been damaged severely and the helmet he's been wearing is blown away, his face can now be seen.
He managed to land on the "ground" safely but his IS is in bad shape.
"…" Looking at his face, Ichika sees… a mirror image of himself. This version of him however… Has a demonic face. "Huh?" This other Ichika's eyes are demonic, yellowish in color. His skin is pale and his hair is white as if aging, and there are some scars all over his face. "You're… me?"
"Hmph, I am the true self… or perhaps not. If you can overcome me, then I'll be your shied and be the one to illuminate the path before you. So," With his demonic eyes trying to pierce through Ichika, "can you overcome me…?"
"Ah. So," Preparing his fist once again. "Well, come on!" Ichika charged forward.
"Hmph," Despite his IS being severely damaged, the weapon pods are still very active. He used them once again.
The weapon pods surrounded Ichika.
*tsing* *tsing* *tsing*
Ichika, as if seeing the future movements of the laser beams, swiftly dodged all of the incoming attacks. Then he made a rotating flight towards them, then…
blast-!
*boom!* One weapon pod is destroyed.
*tsing* Another one snuck up behind Ichika but…
*boom!* Ichika used the super booster of his IS and managed to destroy it in a blink of an eye.
*tsing*
*boom!* Another one tried to do the same trick, only for it to be shot down by Ichika.
The other weapon pods hovered about.
Ichika flew towards them.
*tsing* *tsing* *tsing*
"I will…"
Flash…!
Ichika envisioned a black, red seed… It bounced and then it exploded into sparks of light.
"…" Ichika's eyes become blackish in color and demonic in what one can have an impression…
Weapon pods are approaching... But to Ichika's eyes, they're too slow.
"Too slow. Target, confirmed." Ichika said.
*boom!* *boom!* *boom!*
All three weapon pods were destroyed as Ichika used the super booster and destroyed them with his fist and the last one with a beam in a blink of an eye speed. Only two weapon pods left.
"Hm," Ichika moved for an attack towards the other Ichika.
"Grk," Realizing he's in danger, he became nervous as Ichika moved for the kill.
"Huaaaarrrghh-!"
*POOWWW-!*
*CLAAAASSHH-!* *boom!* The right shoulder part of the other Ichika's IS was blown away, disabling the barrier around it.
Flying away from Ichika, the other Ichika used the last weapon pods to attack.
*tsing* *tsing*
*boom!* *boom!*
Ichika blocked them with the barrier that is provided by the right arm of his IS.
"Guaaaaarrrrhh-!" Then with a clean and precise target confirmation, and Ichika grabbing the saber that was dropped when the right arm of the other guy's IS was destroyed, Ichika moved in and getting closer to him with his focus being focused at the IS core of this guy's IS… "Haaaauuurrgh-!"
*CLIIIIINNNGGGEEE-!*
The other Ichika was stabbed by his own saber and the IS core of his IS was disabled, thus, the victory is claimed by Ichika.
"huff, huff. Hm,"
"Hm," The other Ichika touched Ichika's head and pulled him over to tell something. "You'll never escape from me." He said in a much more demonic tone. Then his face started to deteriorate and eventually, his flesh dissolved, revealing the skeleton inside his body and eventually—
*BOOOOMM-!* The other Ichika's IS exploded and with it, he was blown away and Ichika…
"I… have… attained… freedom…" He said raising his hand and seeing the moon above, he tried to grasp it, or at least, he reached out for it and closed his fist as if he has just acquired a piece of the moon. "Hm," He smiled, his surrounding was engulfed by radiant, soothing light.
…Ichika's room…
*knock* *knock*
"Ichika? Are you still awake?" Chifuyu came inside without receiving the permission to enter by the one who owns this room. "Hm?" She sees Ichika sleeping soundly. And sweaty. "Huh?" She approached him. "Hey, are you okay? You're sweating… Huh?" Just as when she's about to reach out for him, Ichika moved to his right… and he fell down from his bed. "Wha—H-Hey, you—You idiot!" Chifuyu moved to him. "What the heck do you think you're—Huh?" Seeing Ichika still sleeping despite falling down from his bed, Chifuyu realized that perhaps he's not just sweating because of the lack of comfortable atmosphere in this room. "…" She touched his cheek. "Huh?" Then his neck side. "Huh? Th-This is…" …He's very hot. As in… feverish. Very feverish.
"Augh… cough, cough… Ahh…" Ichika groaned as he seems to be suffering from a very high fever.
"H-Hey, Ichika! Hey, Ichikaa-!"
"…Ahrgh…" He won't wake up.
"Hey, idiot, wake up! Hey, ICHIKAAAA-!"
End of Chapter 1