Chapter 0 : The Sleeping Dogs

On an artificial beautifully modern designed high tech man-made floating island surrounded by lake at the edge of Tokyo that connected by a long highway and a cable car station, there laid an all out famous female academy with the logo of a 4 winged object seemingly resemblance of an angel. The words of 'I' was engraved on left and 'S' was placed on the other side.

And even though it was only insignia, nobody in nor outside Japan didn't know what it stood for. I.S, Infinite Stratos was a specially designed high tech battle armor for girls. Imagine a mortal could have the shape of an angel. Now they have it, man-made. It was humans' nature. They never felt satisfied no matter what and how high the sky was which reminded him one of the Greek's tale:

Icarus and Daedalus. Both son and father trapped in a labyrinth Minos created and they found a way to escape from the maze by creating a pair of wax shoes that etached with the feather of birds. They flew. Son got high. He intended to go higher to the sun, without knowing that the wax was melt by the heat of sun. As a result , his shoes wore off then he fell high down below to the ground. Returning to the earth. Dead.

Humans were really crafty and foolish creatures, however their foolishness pushed their limits to outcome the challenge, outcome the boundaries and always does in a matter of time. Once again, it was their nature and sin:

Greed.

At first, Tabane Shinonono created it for space-travelling purpose, if he's not mistaken the girl's name until Uncle Sam spoke her creation badly. War machines, killing machines, blah blah blah all that political bullshits and stuffs to shut the machine down. They didn't want other countries' weaponry surpassed them. Again, another sin he found in humans: Pride. In the end, after a demonstration and joint cooperation with Japan, Uncle Sam approved them and changed side to the pros fully supporting the development of IS until it global.

Humans... are really interesting and full of surprise. He wished he was one of them. He never felt that he's a human and never will though he and his evil twin born from a womb of a human. He strolled through the beautiful botanical garden heading into his dorm to take a break from his extracurricular activity, waving hand to greet back the girls who were waving at him from other side who were charmed by his look. He was the 2nd and only male student in this place beside another one. The IS was specially designed for and only girls to pilot. Somehow, by coincident a male named Ichika Orimura successfully triggered the machine and went down into the history as the first male pilot... and now, he's the 2nd, not long after Ichika's news spreaded worldwide.

He had a tall good figure. His silver hair sat amused paired with silver eyes made a perfect combination which none of the girls could resist, not to mention that his cool in both look and attitude won the heart of all girls in this academy and rivalled Ichika's.

However, he turned them down –all of the girls who were trying to get know of him better. He never found women were distasteful nor he's into guys anyway. That's just his boundaries. He didn't want them-those kids, those teenagers if it came for the mortal's lifespan, clung into him. Despite all of his efforts to turn them down, they still clung into him by his cold attitude as if he's a girl's magnet- without they knew the darkness, the devil within who was none than himself.

" Yo! Dante-san!"

A good looking average teenager cheerfully greeted him the moment he creaked the door opened. His room that shared with him was consisted of 2 sets of computers with high speed internet access were sitting nicely on a table, 2 average sized bags were located near the window, outside the window was a view of city. When night came, the stars would lit the sky and the city would turn their lights into the glamour nightlife showing their glamour to them if they looked from the balcony. A bathroom was located inside with a shower. This facility was a must especially he didn't like to enter girl's bathroom in case the man who just entered the room, Dante needed to take a leak.

"Echi-ka, working on your novel again?" He let out a smile and greeted him back in his own style.

Ichika chuckled. He replied with another smile responding his roommate's sarcasm joke. "Is that the way you always greet me, Dante-san?"

"You Japs couldn't differ between 'I' and 'E'. 'sides, Echi suits you better!" He strolled through his bed, throwing a red leather jacket he's wearing right into a nearby chair.

"By the way Dante-san, Chifuyu-nee's birthday is coming up tomorrow. Eveyone's invited, including you. So, can you pull up your performance as usual?"

Chifuyu Orimura, as Ichika called with nee meant that she's Ichika's older sister. She was the first IS champion in the age of 20 and hell, who the hell created the IS Championship in which the event itself was only a large scale battle royale where the last girl standing, wins. A contradiction to the first purpose IS created for. After her won, she became a strict cold sadist teacher who liked to hit and scold students a lot whenever they couldn't answer her questions in class or ignoring the laws given by the academy. Still, no matter how sadist was her, she always getting adored by all girls in this academy like a celebrity.

Talking about Dante's performance, he made his living by throwing musical performances on various streets around the academy. Surprisingly he had the talent, the payment was more than enough to keep his tabs running in the academy although his tuitution was covered by a mysterious man whom both of them hadn't met in person. He didn't want to drag someone's ass to put him into a charity list. But what he could do? Almost nothing but wait until he met the man himself to return his cash.

The lesser he knew, the better it was.

"Where's the place then?"

"In my house, 10.30 in morning."

"You pay the trip? You know I couldn't get there myself." He teased. Ichika replied by smiling and throwing a car key into his palm. He smiled. "I'll drive."

"Up yours Dante-san!" He cheerfully laughed hearing one of his best friend's answer. Then, returned into his business.

Dante shrugged, putting the key on a nearby desk. He slid out an attaché case below his bed. His expression went grim when he took out an object from inside. It was a katana. Carved beautifully in Eastern style with a sharp deadly curve that sheated by a blue colored sheat. Drawing the katana himself, the katana reflecting the image of himself from the light above. He felt the sensation of killing lied inside inside the blade as it yearned for blood-just like the previous owner:

His dead-evil twin, Vergil.

Closing his eyes, his mind trying to shake that bitterest memory off. Every night, the memory came haunted him on his sleep. How could he forget ? The moment when their blades fiercely crossing on each other, the non-stopping adrenaline rush in their veins, their extreme hatred on each other why were they born as twin while standing on their own belief: one to protect, one to destroy.

Deriving some kind of twisted pleasure from the fighting, not knowing that it turned into unforgettable guilt and regret in the end, Dante watching the playback moment the climax where he deflected Vergil's katana, Yamato off from his grip. Then, with a rage that danced wildly, Dante brutally smashing Vergil to the ground below and thrusting from the tip until the grip of his mammoth-sized claymore, Rebellion, straight right into his brother's helpless heart spilling a gallon of blood during the penetration.

He was exhausted but won. However, His victory was given along with an unbelievable last words by his opponent. At first, he thought that he misheard it. But after seeing Vergil kept reciterating those words until he could fully grasp it, he knew it was real.

"Dan...te...Dante...My...Sw...eet...Beloved...Lit...tle...Bro...ther...I...Love...You...Brother...I...Lo...ve...Yo...u...Al...ways...Always...Love...You...I...Love...You...Bro...ther..."

Seeing Vergil finally went limp on his claymore, Vergil's remained slowly and magically dispersed into dust. To win is to lose, the irony came true on him. The soul inside Dante drove him to scream in regret. Screaming loudly. Screaming for the lost of his last member of family.

A screaming soul.

"Dante-san! Dante-san! Dante-san!"

Gasping for air, Dante jack-knifed from his bed. Sweats were pouring hard from his forehead. His uniform was soaked with sweat from the nightmare he just had. Since when did he fall asleep? He took a deep breath, realizing that Yamato was somehow mysteriously returned to it's sheat. Ichika was worriedly standing beside him, giving a water to drink. It happened again. Every time Dante was sleeping, he became like this and came into his concern but Dante always waved him off ensuring everything's okay.

Dante could deal with the bitterest past, getting impaled thousand times more than he could imagine, survived out there in cold since he's not their average beings.

But now, he's got something precious. Something to protect, to keep him living, to make him feel human...

Ichika, and everyone in this academy, were the ones who kept him strong ... And his friend who was battling with death, Yoh.

And behind that name, lied one of the Damned Ones. The Ones who shouldn't be walking on this earth again as death was already ate them away. However, they were banished by heaven and hell didn't want them.

And Dante was the one of The Damned Ones. There were 3 of them.

And when Yoh awoke, it's his duty to obey his command to scorch the earth, turning a blind eye to Ichika and his new friends.

And when the time came, he wished his memories as Dante was lost.

Hanzo academy was just a normal school located in Tokyo. However, it lied a dark secret within. If a hidden panel was discovered, a password was said, then one should be able to reveal a training ground for assassins in Japan.

Ninja and Kunoichi.

Kunoichi was not a new vocabulary in assassination world especially in Japan. The worldwide also used this one but in different words. However, all came into a same meaning.

Ninja girls, female assassins.

They were used since ancient years ago as their charm and beauty were proven more effectively in the mission and chance to success was higher comparing to ninja.

"Ryu-Sensei?"

A girl voice interrupting him from his peace. He lazily opening an eye slightly enjoying a view of a vuloptous body, covered in a white marching band-like design uniform matched with a skirt. The girl's gave him a sharp look and she had blue eyes. Her hair was black, long straight downward like a lady. A piece of arm cloth wrapped on her arm with a logo showing her authority as a class rep.

"Alright, Ikarakuga, what's it?" He lazily asked with a little bit irritation.

"Sensei, you have been spacing out lately. Something's wrong?"

He let out a smile, feeling a little bit better that someone was paying attention to him. Or so he thought since he felt lonely and always did. "Thanks for the concern. Yeah, I'm fine."

"So, what's for today's training?" she asked enthutiastly.

"(There we go again girl, this is not a fun activity. Don't you know what lied beneath this training?) Alright. Round up the girls here 15 minutes from now for modern combat training no.3. let me prep something first."

"Haik!"

His name was Ryu. At least that's his new name and he was left alone again. Alone in the hollow training hall. His mind returned back to the past. It was all began in August 12th 2012, Tokyo. The place was under siege as a B.O.W cut loose from Africa called Alpha Worms brought back by an infected soldier. The infection spreaded instantly, turning people into blood thirsty monsters and the UN decided to sterilize the land of Tokyo at last as there was not enough time left until the end of Tokyo then Japan. As the trained armed soldiers weren't able to contain the outbreak, the government of Japan finally turned their eyes on them, those who were hiding under the shadows of living, the silent-cold blooded killers in black, ninjas.

The method of using them was proven effectively. the numbers of the infected dramatically decreased until the last of them was cut by his own hand.

He remembered the cold violent wind which blew against him when he and his squad of other ninjas were waiting for the turn to jump from the chopper which took them into Tokyo tower. He could still picture the face of his rival, the cocky Kuro Sakamoto and his father, Kanbe Ogawa whom got put out of their misery for the price of betrayal they did as they were seduced by the power of Alpha Worms offered to their body-turning them into one of them.

The incident called Ninja Blade hardened him, leaving a deep wound inside his heart. All of those brave ninjas, those he called with brothers, and one who he called with father, all of them had he slain in a bloody night. To kill was to protect and to protect was to bear guilt. He did that for not a fun. It was not a job that he enjoyed of, but someone had to do it in order to protect the humankind even though it was part of it.

And a Ronin was another vocabulary in ninja words. A one without master to serve, means that one wouldn't live long enough in this world. They would take eternal rest at the age of 20. Years later, after Ninja Blade incident, Ryu's lifespan finally reached it's limit. He felt that he had lived long enough. Perhaps, he thought that time would be the best for him to finally rest and forgot everything he had beared in his lifetime.

Deep inside his heart, he still wanted to live and saw the smiling future of mankind in Japan.

And he came. Granting Ryu's wish. They sealed a pact with a kiss as the ancient ritual told so. He didn't mind it. And he didn't feel any slight of disgust when their lips touched each other, making Ryu felt something strong growing inside his heart to his master who he'd served for the rest of his life.

Was that called with love?

He wanted to express it, but he couldn't as he knew his boundaries. But someday, someday he will. Not on his lifetime but on his next generations who would served him the rest of their life.

Right now, all he could do in the meantime was waiting the awakening of his master by training these...teenagers around the age of 15-18. He didn't want to turn them into a deadly killing machine like him just to follow the governments' ego in assassinating an opposite's party, stealing important documents, or protecting a scared shit VIP while they could enjoy a colourful life as a normal high school girls: hanging out with friends, gossiping, visiting a new confectionary stores, do some window shopping at a mall, or something like that.

He let out a sigh, then slung down an ingeniously custom hand-made Tri Barrel M60 Heavy Machine gun from his back. As the name suggested, the heavy machine gun in a shape of M60. The special feature it got was a three barrels etached on it. It could shoot altogether in a same time, raining deaths on enemies faster than usual. Sounded like a bullshit? Not exactly. The year's 2025. Anything is possible. Every impossibilities are possibilities.

The gun was toasted badly but could still work smoothly despite some lines of cracks were traced on the gun.

And when his master, Yoh awoken from his sleep... he had to turn blind eye to his cute pupils who were standing in front of him now with their enthusiast face painted on them.

And when that moment came, he swore that he would cut down a path for his master together with the other Damned One, as he was one of them.

Yoh weakly opened his blood shot eye and awoke from another sleep, the only thing that he could do while in recovery. The medical pipes which were etached on his body like snakes keeping him alive by transfusing numerous of chemical fluid into him-anything that could keep him breathing. Every breath he took, he felt ache inside his lung like those breathes were scratching inside.

A blood pack was hung on an aluminium stand nearby providing additional blood due to his leak from lower body which was nowhere into his eye. He felt better than yesterday despite all his injuries that still gnawing at him. He could tell it. He moved his arm-the only arm and he did it. He could lift it and grasp the light above. He bailed it into a fist, hatred and anger was flowing inside his blood. He couldn't wait for that day to come. It was no long anymore. That day would come, he could feel it and made sure that nothing would stand in his path...

The day where he could pay exactly twice more for what he did to him.

The man was Jenos Adler, and Yoh would have his vengeance on him.

A.N: Have you realized something? Yep. that's right. this is the chapter for THE SCARFACE and affected the story. The real story begins in the next chapter so stay tuned!