Disclaminer: I do not own Infinite Stratos.
A/N : Thanks for the review
-IS- Place
(Flashback)Time Skip/flashback
"Hm…. It`s rare to have a visitor" Non human talk
Infinite Stratos : The Dark Sky
Chapter 3 : Offer
-German Military Training Camp-
-Training Ground-
Ichika Orimura does not really know what is happening to him. Just a few weeks ago, he was a normal boy who attended school, playing with friend and so on. Then he got himself kidnaped because his famous sister, killed the perpetrators, became IS pilot albeit the unfinished one, having an AI girl in his head, and shipped to German military training camp by his sister. This made him leave Japan, his school and his friend, Gotanda Dan. Well his sister has told him that everything already been taken care of, so he doesn't need to worry.
Of course, he doesn't agree right away with his sister decision but his sister rather adamant about this.
Why he agree to this? Oh, right because he doesn't want to ever feel weak and helpless anymore and the fact he doesn't want to made her sister worried again.
Still it leaves a bad taste in his mouth as he leave without saying a goodbye at all.
Well he hopes that Dan will forgive him if he ever survives this hell and coming back to Japan in one piece.
"What's wrong Ichika! You are slowing down!" yelled Chifuyu as she holds a stopwatch on her hand.
Ichika just sighed as he running faster. Right now, he was in the middle of his twenty laps from running around the training ground.
He never had seen this side of his sister before. The demon instructor side, he had heard the rumours about it when his sister in the high school and became the captain of Kendo club. The club members always talked abput how harsh his sister when they are training but never took it seriously because it just only a rumours. However now he knew that the rumours weren't just rumours but a true fact.
"Okay that's enough for today" Chifuyu told him.
Ichika too tired to speak just nodded at Chifuyu. It had been a weeks but he still not used with the entire training program that his sister gave him. However, it still a lot better than the first day when she training him.
"I have other things to do, you should return to our room" Chifuyu told him simply as he walked away from him.
Looking at the retreated figure of his sister, Ichika couldn't help to worry about her sister health. Because not only that she train him but she also train a squad of German army. In addition, the fact that she is training him on her free time only made him more worry.
"Here I am, trying to be stronger for my sister but I cannot help to think that I just increasing her burden" Ichika muttered.
It could be solved if he training with the German army but the squad that his sister training is an IS squad. What they are training is a lot different from what he is doing.
Feeling tired Ichika walked back to the base not knowing someone heard him and a pair of ruby eyes looking at him with interest.
-Cafeteria-
Ichika sighed as he sat and put the food on the table. He could feel the stares of other soldier on his back. This always happened, he became the object of their curiosity because he is Chifuyu Orimura, the first winner of Mondo Grosso and the strongest IS pilot in the world. In addition, Ichika couldn't help to be a little bit lonely in this place as he has no one to talk except for his sister and few other soldier that Chifuyu training. However, right now they are out for training so he was alone in here.
"Hello there" Someone called him.
This is the first time someone approached him as no one dare to approach him after what his sister done to one of the soldier that tried to bully her brother.
Looking up Ichika could see a woman with black wavy hair and ruby eyes with military outfit. He must admit that the woman before him is beautiful but that is not what gains his attention. What gained Ichika attention is the woman aura and how she held herself, he had seen it every day so he won't mistake. This woman is just like his sister but more sinister.
Ichika forced himself to not shivered, as he never thought that he would met someone that could be on par with her sister as he always thought his sister is peerless. However, right now, in front of him, this woman just shattered that thought.
"Can I help you?" Ichika asked uncertainly as he realized the other soldier seem to be no longer looking at him, without doubt it must be because the woman in front of him.
"Are you Chifuyu brother?" the woman asked in commanding tone.
Ichika just nodded as the woman sizing him up and then sat on the chair in the front of him.
"You know when I heard that Chifuyu brother is in the base I expect something…" The woman trailed off as she seem to judge Ichika, "More"
Ichika couldn't help to be crestfallen at that. That's not the first time he heard about it since he arrived in this base.
"Still it is to be expected from someone that never have such training before" The woman said to herself more than to Ichika.
"Umm, are you my sister friend?" Ichika asked but he immediately regret it as the woman narrowed her eyes and he could feel the dark aura emitting from her.
"You could say…" The woman said as she is thinking her next word carefully, "acquaintance, yes, we are an acquaintance"
Ichika could tell that was an understatement but said nothing.
"Tell me Ichika" the woman said slowly, "Did you satisfied with the half assed training that your sister gave you?"
"What do you mean?" Ichika hissed as he narrowed his eyes to the woman. It was out of character of him to do this but no one insult his sister and her way to train him. This woman not only she insult his sister but also do it right in front of his face. He will dammed if he let this side, even if this woman is a lot stronger than him.
The woman, strangely enough smiled at Ichika, it seems Ichika reaction pleased him. However, that smiles unnerved Ichika to no end.
"Do you wish for power?" the woman asked as she kept smiling.
Ichika tensed immediately; right now, he has the feeling of a strange dejavu. Because that question is eerily similar with the one that black girl, the AI of the core 000 asked him. Speaking about her, she has not contacted him at all and he start to worry something is happening to the black girl.
"Because with the way thing going right now, you will never attain it" The woman said before Ichika could answered her question.
"How can you be so sure?" Ichika asked with a cold tone.
The woman just smiled mysteriously at him and Ichika doesn't like it. The way she smiles saying that, she knows more than he does.
"See how others training and compare it with your sister" The woman said as she stood, "Or better yet, see your sister train other and the different with your training"
With that, the woman leaves Ichika to his own thought. He couldn't help to think that the woman word is like a bad premonition. Still he couldn't leave the woman word alone as he want to prove what the woman said is wrong.
Ichika stood as he leave his food uneaten, that woman made his appetite gone.
(Next Day)
-Training Ground-
Ichika stood at the clearing as he observed the Schwarzer Hase or The Black Hare Squard, the specialized squad for IS that her sister trains. He hasn't told his sister about his meeting with that woman as he doesn't want to make his sister worry and for other reason.
"Ichika-san what are you doing here?" A woman with blue hair cut into an angled bob wearing a beret and dark office clothing, with her skirt split in the center to show her legs, and an eye-patch covering her left-eye asked him.
"I just here to look at your training with Chifuyu-nee, Clarissa" Ichika answered politely.
Clarissa Harfouch, the first time he met her was interesting to say. He will never guessed that the serious woman like her actually an avid fan of Japanese shojo manga or perhaps an otaku. In addition she seem to get a wrong impression about Japan culture because all the shojo manga and the fact her corresponded in Japan is an otaku that gave her the wrong information, for what reason he doesn't want to know.
"Ah, hello Laura" Ichika greeted Laura who is standing behind Clarissa. With her silver hair, it was hard to miss her after all.
Laura Bodewig, Ichika doesn't know what to think about her as his impression of her is that she is an antisocial girl.
"Ichika" Laura greeted him back as she stared at Ichika with her one red eye as the other were covered by the same eye-patch as Clarissa.
The eye-patch seems to be some kind of symbol of the Schwarzer Hase as the other members have it too. He is curious about it but know better than to ask about it because it seems to be a sensitive topic for this squad.
"Is there something do you want to ask Laura?" Ichika asked as he feeling uncomfortable with Laura stares.
"Nothing" Laura replied coldly and walked away from them.
"Ah sorry about that Ichika-san" Clarissa said apologizing for Laura manners.
"It`s Okay, but it seem I was hated by her" Ichika told Clarissa jokingly.
However, instead the usual jab or laugh Clarissa just shook her head, "No, she doesn't hate you Ichika-san. It just….no it`s nothing please forget it"
Ichika just raise his eyebrows at this. However, before he asked what Clarissa means about someone punch his head.
"Ouch!" Ichika yelled as he turned to his assailant, "Why you do that Chifuyu-nee?"
"It's my line idiot. What are you doing here?"
"I`m just want to see how you training them cause I never seen it" Ichika explained but Chifuyu just sighed.
"Just do what you wish"
Laura narrowed her eyes as she looking at the Orimura sibling's interaction. She further narrowed her eyes as she saw the ghostly smile on Chifuyu face. Just how could someone as strong as Chifuyu acting like that.
Chifuyu Orimura, the champion of the first Mondo Grosso. She had seen the video of Chifuyu battle in Mondo Grosso and had been amazed by the sheer strength that Chifuyu show in the tournament. To say she admire her was an understatement as she practically worshipped Chifuyu as she is her role model, her goal. That's why when she heard that Chifuyu has abandoned the second tournament of Mondo Grosso, she was shocked. Just for what reason Chifuyu done that? It was eating her alive.
Until, one of her commanding officer told her the reason.
Ichika Orimura….
He is the reason.
It made her angry but at the same time intrigued. What so special about him that made Chifuyu abandoned her match?
Laura wanted to know the reason but at that time she thought that will be impossible. Then the news about Chifuyu will come to instruct them reached her ears. She don't know if she should happy for this or not, the only reason why Chifuyu agreed to this because the deal that government made with Chifuyu, which involved Ichika.
This also brings her another complex feeling because she will never met Chifuyu if Ichika doesn't made Chifuyu abandoned the match but at the same time it is because Ichika that her idol lost.
In the end there are two feeling that, she feel about Ichika and that are…
Anger and Gratitude
Anger, because Ichika made Chifuyu abandoned the match and the source of Chifuyu weakness.
Gratitude, because if Ichika don't made Chifuyu abandoned the match, she will never met Chifuyu and trained by her.
Then another news came, it seem that Ichika will be with Chifuyu and came to German. When Laura learns about this she was immediately interested with this Ichika. To learn what kind of person is this Ichika and to see his skill, after all he is Chifuyu little brother. Therefore, his skill must be high enough to rival his sister or should be….
Laura couldn't help to disappointed when she seen Ichika skill. His skill is so…normal compared to her or other soldier and pale compared Chifuyu. It's like comparing the sun with a rock. Though Laura noticed that Ichika skill compared the first time he arrived is significantly improved but it's still below the standard of normal soldier.
However, Ichika behaviour is what gains her attention.
To untrained eyes, Ichika seem like a normal boy with a bright and warm personality but to her, is not. Because he had those eyes, the eyes that she had seen in other veteran soldier, the eyes that had seen death and end life, the eyes of a killer. No matter how hard he tries to hide it, the dark gleam of death is still there. In addition, the way he holds himself, though it seems Ichika had done that unconsciously but every time he enters a room his eyes always wondering around sizing the situation. Also the fact he always sit somewhere that could observe everyone movement and near the exit. Furthermore, when he meets someone that he doesn't know Ichika always tensed with his eyes narrowed a little as it's became cold and hard as he seem to be judging the person, he also put himself at an arm distance with that person.
Laura couldn't help to found herself interested more and more as time passed by. Ichika acted like a veteran soldier but have the skill of normal civilian. He acted warm to other but his behaviour just screamed paranoid and not let people easily come near him. His smile is gentle and innocent but his eyes have dark gleam on it, which sometimes became hard and cold. Ichika is a walking contradiction she summarized.
Still, what she found on Ichika is acceptable as it could worse. For example, he could be a pathetic or ignorant man, which something that Laura couldn't accept and if Ichika like that she will sure kill him because he will just sully Chifuyu name. that's why she tolerate Ichika right now even if he is Chifuyu source of weakness. However, Ichika must polish his skill and learn something more because she is barely accepted him.
"Okay, today you all will learn how to deploy you IS partially"
Chifuyu voice broke her thought.
"Yes, instructor" Laura and the other replied.
How she hate IS, it is because of IS that her squad became a failed project.
She know what she is really are, after all her origin is not a close guarded secret, perhaps for other nation but in German, no.
She and all other in Schwarzer Hase squad is part of Germany's uber-soldier project, which aimed to create perfect combatant, more capable than normal soldier and human. For this project, the government gone to a great length to collected every DNA of skilled soldier, even terrorist and mercenary from German and other countries.
Then the government used the abandoned project from the out space exploration project.
Not many know about it but there is another side project of the out space exploration project. This project have been going on even before the out space exploration project began. However, until the out space exploration project began this project had been kept in secret. Only after the out, space exploration project began that this project finally became known. Even so, this project still being secret from the public and only few people knew about the existence of it.
To the public, the out space exploration project goal is to make a powered exoskeletons for out space exploration. That is true, but there is another issue about it that the public doesn't know. Even if they make powered exoskeletons to handle the extreme condition in the space, how about the one that wears it?
There is a limit to what human bodies could take and for certainly human bodies isn't suitable to handle the extreme condition and change in the space or live for a long time without gravitation. Furthermore the development of the artificial gravitation device
Is still not completed and facing several problem of side effect.
Therefore, the government use the technology of test-tube babies to artificially make human that could withstand the harsh condition in space. However, before this project bear some result the project is shut down for moral and other reason.
That is the project German use for their uber-soldier project.
Which bring the birth of Laura and other Schwarzer Hase soldier as they are all born from that abandoned project or to be more specific from test-tube babies. Even so, there is one thing about Laura that made her different from any other soldier born from the uber-soldier project. Laura is born from the perfected and the latest technology from the uber-soldier project.
She received military training unlike any other soldier and became the true super soldier in all sense of word. However, that's until IS been introduced.
The German government not anticipating this is caught off guarded.
Their uber-soldier project have become a failure since IS been introduced. So to anticipated this the government decided to retune Laura by replacing her left eye with an artificial one, a miniature (and heavily down-graded in order to fit into human body) version of the Hyper-sensor package and to all other Schwarzer Hase soldiers.
With it, Laura was supposed to have boost in her sensory system, even when not enhanced by the IS. Coupled with the IS, this was to function as an additional conduit to enhance her response in IS piloting, resulting in a huge efficiency boost in IS operation.
The experiment, however, ended in a partial failure as the new eye installed malfunctioned and couldn't be turned off when needed and this happened not only to Laura but other Schwarzer Hase soldiers. Also Laura's performance not only as a IS pilot but as a soldier began to deteriorate. Other Schwarzer Hase soldiers are also facing the same problem but none as worse as Laura does.
'Because of this….' Laura thought as she touched her eye-patch before shook her head.
Since then their squad referred as the failure or defect, especially her as she took the worse. She became depressive but that's only until she seen Chifuyu. She believed that if it's Chifuyu, she could regain her place once more and not seen as failure or defect.
Still, the main problem is Ichika.
'Why Instructor shows such soft and tender expression to him' Laura thought as she kept practicing her partial deployment using training IS.
'Doesn't instructor know that such thing is weakness?' Laura wondered.
'Even when she training him' Laura gritted her teeth.
She had watched how Chifuyu trained Ichika and couldn't help that Chifuyu had made his training easier that what had she done. Also the fact what Chifuyu train Ichika isn't a military training but just a training, a normal one.
Looking at Ichika, Laura narrowed her eyes as she swears to get an answer if not from Chifuyu, from Ichika himself.
Ichika shivered as he felt that someone just crossed his grave or something. Still he thinks that as nothing and ignore it as he continue to look at the soldier that his sister training.
He still doesn't get it.
What is so different with her sister training him and this squad?
Granted her sister made them to partially deployed the IS, but no one knew about he could pilot IS. Therefore, that's not what that woman mean.
Feeling that he won't get the answer Ichika decided to leave.
Chifuyu is looking at her brother as he walked away.
'What happen to you, Ichika? Chifuyu thought, as she knew that something is bothering her brother.
Last night when he returned to their room, she saw Ichika been in deep thought but when she asked he told her not to worry.
This morning too…
She couldn't help to be worried about her little brother.
'Why Ichika?' Chifuyu thought sadly, as she felt a pang on her heart, 'If something brothering you, you could just tell me'
'Maybe this is the so called puberty?' Chifuyu wondered as she tried to reassured herself.
True Ichika had been reluctant to come with her to German but it's for his own good. She sure that Ichika understand this, after all Ichika wellbeing is her first and foremost priority.
'Are you sure that you don't repeat the same mistake?'
Chifuyu found herself suddenly tensed. She immediately recognized that voice, the voice of her dark counterpart, and the remains of her dark past that she wished to forget.
'Remains? How cold….' The voice said sounded dejected but Chifuyu know better, as the voice is mocking her, 'After all that we have gone through'
'Silent! What do you mean by me repeating the same mistake?' Chifuyu asked sharply.
'Nothing….' The voice replied amusedly.
'You know something' Chifuyu accused. She really doesn't like the tone her counterpart used. Sometimes she wishes that her counterpart is more cooperative with her but she knew that is impossible.
'And if I know something why should I tell you?'
'Isn't Ichika is our top priority?' if there is something that her counterpart and herself have in common that is Ichika.
'True…. But I don't want to tell you' the voice paused and Chifuyu could feel an ominous feeling, 'because if it's your former self you should realize what's wrong by now, how the mighty have fallen heh?'
This statement made Chifuyu face gone pale in instant.
'I will never going back!' Chifuyu yelled to her counterpart but her voice isn't strong like she intended.
'Ckckck…. I wonder what father will say if he sees you right now'
'Never mention that man!' Chifuyu retorted heatedly, that man isn't her father or Ichika, that man is a monster in human flesh.
'Well it seems daddy girl have outgrown her daddy complex, no, that's not right, you didn't outgrown it, you just replaced it with your brother and change it to brother complex hahahha…. ' The voice laughed as Chifuyu gritted her teeth, 'Ah, I still remembered how you running around and trying so hard to please father'
'Don't…' Chifuyu retorted weakly as images of the past assaulted her.
'Don't what? That is the fact, you done everything that father ordered without a second thought, you love him dearly. I still remembered that you said 'Nothing is matter except father' until you found out the truth….'
'No…' Chifuyu grow weaker, she wished that she never found it out and still ignorance to all things.
'Ahahaha…. That's just nostalgic, the sheer of despair, sadness, hatred that consumed you is enough to make any sane people to break down, but you didn't…instead you rise and became the personification of darkness. The you back then was so beautiful like a goddess but the same couldn't be said now…you just a former shell of yourself'
'I….' Chifuyu doesn't brother to denied it as she knew her counterpart is right.
'Admit it, that's the truth of you, the goddess who bring death to the battlefield, the goddess that have her hand soaked with the blood of countless people that you slay in the name of father….then Ichika was born…. He just like father doesn't he?'
'No! Ichika is not like him!'
'Oh spare me that kind of bullshit. Of course, Ichika is like father, in fact he look exactly like father in his younger days. Well except the personality.'
'….' That's true no matter how Chifuyu denied it, Ichika just look like her father, no, Ichika is father carbon copy.
'Then you heard that father plan to made Ichika his successor….then you decided to take him away and ran from everything… just to let Ichika to have normal childhood, but we know that's not the real reason why you done that'
'….' Of course, she had done that because she cannot let the innocent and pure Ichika to become a sick and twisted man like father.
'That's not all. What you want is another version of father, the good version to be exact. You manipulate Ichika to become what you want, just like father done to you'
'NO! I just don't want Ichika to become like father!'
'Keep telling yourself that and denied it. just like how you denied your past, which the reason I was born, to safe guard your past so you can hold Ichika with that tainted hands. You are a twisted woman Chifuyu Orimura, you swear to never become like your father but in the end, no matter hard you fight it, blood cannot lie'
'STOP!' Chifuyu doesn't need for her counterpart to remind her of that. This accursed blood that run in her vein, the things that her father had done, and everything else… especially her past.
'You know that you survive this far because father whim. If father is serious you and Ichika won't be here right now.'
'It doesn't matter!'
'If you think so. However, the time will come when you couldn't hold me anymore, the time we will become one again, the time when Tabane little protection won't be enough and the time when you lie will exposed….so until then….'
With that, the voice gone from Chifuyu head as its leaving her exhausted from the mental battle. She was afraid, terribly afraid, what she should do? As everything have gone wrong since Ichika kidnaping. She just couldn't let Ichika to learn about the truth of their family. It will destroy Ichika if he learns about that.
However, she also knew that her lie will someday will be exposed and Tabane protection won't be enough to keep Ichika safe. Even so, she cannot make Tabane involved in this more. Tabane is her first friend and she will be dammed if she brings her to the other side, the world that she once lived, even if she must to deceive her friend.
'So many lies…' Chifuyu thought sadly and that's true. She is not only lying to Tabande and Ichika but to many people as well but the worst is to Ichika. She told him that she couldn't do any house work because she is clumsy about it. Nevertheless, that's not true, it is because she never do or learn anything like that as father think it as a waste of time. She hides her affection to Ichika as tough love, but that's not true either. Because she doesn't knew how to love somebody normally as her father never love her like any normal father.
In the end, her counterpart had been right, no matter she fight it, blood cannot lie. However, she keeps on fighting it and rejecting her past. Therefore, it's no wonder that her counterpart still exist and became stronger. Still she kept the existence of her counterpart as a secret, no one knew about it, maybe Tabane but no one else.
"Instructor, are you alright?" Clarissa asked worriedly.
"Is something matter Lieutenant?" Chifuyu asked back.
"Yes, you seem to be in trance and your face is very pale Instructor"
"Nothing, just continue your exercise"
"Yes, Instructor"
Chifuyu sighed, she doesn't need this right now. Still, if she paid more attention she will realize that her white bracelet, the closed form of her IS are making a weird glow before become grey.
-Tabane Secret Base-
Tabane frowned as she saw the screen that monitor Chifuyu IS showed several warning.
'Chifuyu….' Tabane thought sadly, 'it's seem only a matter of time before the mental barrier provide by the core 002 will collapsed'
If only that Chifuyu still use the core 001, maybe this kind of thing could be avoided. However, Chifuyu has told her that she won't ever use core 001 again. Even with she try to convince Chifuyu that no one will recognized her as she will change the armor for core 001 so it won't be identify as white knight. Still Chifuyu reject it, to Chifuyu it seems that the core 001 is too pure for someone like her.
Therefore, Tabane gave her the core 002, though not strong enough like core 001, its still sufficient. Tabane knew about Chifuyu counterpart and diagnosed as Dissociative identity disorder (DID) or also known as multiple personality disorder (MPD). She doesn't know how Chifuyu could have that but she knew better than to pry around as everyone have a secret that they doesn't want anyone to know. Even so, it doesn't deterred her to help her first friend. Because Chifuyu refused to go through therapy to cure her DID, Tabane invented a mental barrier and install it in core 002 to help Chifuyu.
Still, the secret of Orimura family is a big one. She had once tried to search information about Orimura family but to her surprise, she found nothing. It's like that they are not exist at all. The only thing she found is about Chifuyu and Ichika but that's all that she could found, it just like they suddenly pop out from nowhere. No matter how hard she searched for it, she found nothing, not a single trace or anything else.
Is it because Orimura is a fake family name? not that's not it. Chifuyu told herself that it is Chifuyu family name, no matter how Chifuyu hate it. Though Tabane doesn't know why Chifuyu hate her family name.
Still it means someone have disposed or destroyed the information about Orimura family and they had done it without leaving any trace. It made Tabane afraid and became more curious about it. just what kind of people that could done something that even a genius Tabane couldn't done as she sure that even her couldn't destroy someone information completely as it still leave documented information even if she destroy the digital one. Just what kind of the people that could done that….
Tabane resisted the urge to shivered.
On other note, this showed how big and dangerous the secret that Orimure family hold. For going to such length….
Chifuyu have told her to leave it alone but she just cannot. That's why even to these days, her information network still searching for any information about the Orimura family. Of course she kept it a secret from Chifuyu.
Tabane although she doesn't said it, she had a very bad feeling about this. She just hoped that whatever the secret Orimura family had won't harm Chifuyu and especially Ichika.
Speaking of Ichika, she really misses him….
"Ichika…." Tabane muttered as a screen appeared and showed Ichika who walking around the German Military training camp as he seeing the other soldier training.
She really wants to visit Ichika but she couldn't right now. Not with Chifuyu near him and him in the German Military training camp, she just couldn't afford someone to see them together. True that she could replace or erase the image on surveillance system but not the people who see them.
"Why you must bring Ichika to German…" Tabane pouted as she sees another screen that showed Chifuyu training other soldier.
"Give me back my Ichika time!" Tabane yelled to no one as she lamented on Ichika hug pillow that she summoned out of nowhere.
(Afternoon)
-Garden-
"So what do you want Laura?" Ichika asked to the point, as he isn't in the mood.
That woman word still plaguing him like a curse and he still doesn't understand what that woman means. He even has seen all the other soldier training all day and he still got nothing. Then out of nowhere, Laura came and asked him to come with her.
Luckily, today there is no training with her sister.
"There is something that I wanted to ask you" Laura said with her back to him. Ichika absentmindedly noted that they are in the garden, which he never knows existed before.
"What are you Ichika Orimura?" Laura asked as she turned to face Ichika.
Now this question leaves him speechless, why Laura asked him that, "What do you mean Laura?"
"You done it again" Laura muttered suddenly but Ichika can hear it.
"Huh?"
Laura stared at Ichika as she sizing him from up to down and sighed, "You are truly doesn't aware about it"
"Could you explain me what you mean by that?"
"I always observe you, Ichika, since you came here"
Okay he should feel flattered by this but the looks Laura gave him told something different.
"And…" Ichika trailed off, urging Laura to continue.
"You seem like expecting someone to jump and attack you, and when you met someone you didn't know you always…" Laura paused as she tried to find the right word, "Distant?"
'Am I truly done all of that?' Ichika thought, as he really doesn't realize it by himself.
"To put it simply you are paranoid"
Thinking what Laura told him, Ichika couldn't help to agree. After all, it's just a few weeks after his kidnapping incident. Therefore, who could blame him if he acted like that, not that he realized it.
"I…" Ichika trailed off.
"I don't know" Ichika answered Laura truthfully.
"I suspected that much" Laura replied coldly and Ichika couldn't help to flinch.
"Still, that's not the reason why I called you here…" Laura said as her eyes glaring at Ichika, "I want to know why Instructor abandoned her match"
Ichika breath hitched, he doesn't need Laura to make him remembered about that. He still couldn't forgive himself, after all it is his fault.
"I wondered…why instructor abandoned her match for someone like you, what is so special about you, Ichika Orimura?"
Laura words are like a knife that pierce his heart and then slice it to a hundred small pieces. It's hurt so much but Ichika steeled himself.
"Instructor is strong but you are weak, how can someone so strong could have a brother that so weak?"
Ichika gritted his teeth. He knew that he is weak and that's why he seek to be strong, so the same thing won't happen again. Still to be told like…. Its hurt, and not to forget the whisper of other soldier that had seen his skill. They also thought that he is weak but none told it to his face like what Laura done.
"You are instructor weakness"
Ichika see red, however before he could jump to Laura, her next word stop him.
"However, I`m not so sure anymore…."
Ichika stopped and looked at Laura who looks back directly to his eyes.
"Your eyes….is the eyes of a killer and has seen death"
Immediately Ichika averted his eyes as feel the phantom image of blood on his hands.
"Why someone like you, someone that's so weak have that kind of eyes?"
"…." Ichika doesn't know how he should answered this question as he remembered the feeling of despair and hopelessness that he felt when he kidnaped.
Laura widens her eyes as she recognized the emotion that running in Ichika eyes. The same emotion that she had seen on herself, when other deemed her as failure and defect as she fallen into the spiral of despair.
Perhaps they are not so different after all.
"Chifuyu-nee" Ichika started, "She abandoned her match to save me"
"Save you?" Laura repeated, it seems there is something more about why Chifuyu abandoned her match.
"Yes, I was kidnaped to ensure Chifuyu-nee won't win the tournament"
"What?" Laura almost yelled, this information is new to her.
"She could choose her match or me but in the end she choose me, her little brother, the last remaining of her family"
Laura who had been trained in warfare understands the significant of information that Ichika gave her. If you couldn't defeat an enemy with frontal assault, then you use other means to do it and that's by holding your enemy weakness. In Chifuyu chase, they use Chifuyu weakness and that is Ichika. She understood now why Chifuyu choose to abandoned the match because there is no guarantee that after Chifuyu do what the kidnapers told her, her brother will be saved.
"A wise decision but…" Laura told Ichika who smiled sadly, "That doesn't change the fact you are instructor weakness"
Ichika flinched, "Yes, that's why I wished to be stronger so I won't be her weakness anymore"
"I see" Laura could understand Ichika feeling as she too wished for that.
"You know, Chifuyu-nee is amazing"
"Amazing?"
"Yes, she strong but in the same she is gentle too"
"But isn't such thing is for the weak?"
"Maybe so, maybe not. Isn't the prove is already in front of you?"
Ichika word struck Laura to her very core. She believes in strength and toughness and that softness is for the weak. However, is Chifuyu weak for having that? The answer is no, Chifuyu still strong even if she has that kind of thing. Still this kind of thing is against everything that she had been raised for.
"But that kind of thing…." Laura trailed off as she tried to understand what Ichika telling her.
"Is impossible? No, there is nothing impossible for Chifuyu-nee. If you ask Chifuyu-nee why she became so strong. I have no doubt that she will answer that because she has such weak brother that she must protect" Ichika told Laura with distaste as he admitted that he is weak.
"Are you saying that instructor became that strong because she had someone to protect?"
"That, I`m not sure…." Ichika trailed off as he remembered about something, "But I think that she became strong because the weakness that she has"
Laura pondered about Ichika word. It actual make sense to her. So, Ichika is Chifuyu reason for her to become strong. Ichika wasn't Chifuyu weakness but her motive…the factor for Chifuyu power. Therefore, Ichika is Chifuyu source of strength.
"I see…" Laura nodded, Ichika isn't Chifuyu weakness and the soft and tender expression that Chifuyu showed her isn't a sign of weakness but the force behind Chifuyu strength.
"Then the reason for your eyes?" Laura asked but instantly regretted it as Ichika eyes became so cold and looking at her sharply, it looks like she has hit a very sensitive topic.
"You think I will just stand and do nothing if someone tries to harm Chifuyu-nee" Ichika said as his tone is cold and emotionless, this is another side of Ichika, the side that born when he killed all of his kidnapers. That even Chifuyu doesn't know as he tried to not make his sister worried.
Laura was shocked as this is not the same Ichika that she had been observed these past days, it's like a complete different person. His sharp and cold eyes that hold no mercy and his cold and emotionless tone that held a strong conviction and power. This Ichika that stood before her is like…..the perfect image of Chifuyu that she had on her mind.
'He is truly Instructor brother' Laura thought as her doubt that if Ichika really Chifuyu brother was erased from her mind. However, a new emotion is rising inside of her, though she doesn't know what that emotion is exactly.
"No, I will crush anyone who dares to harm Chifuyu-nee" Ichika continued, not aware of Laura turmoil, "Because of that I need, no, I will become stronger, I don't want to ever feel that feeling again"
"I see…." Laura trailed off. She doesn't know what feeling Ichika means about but she sure it was not much different than her feeling when she was labelled as failure, Ichika really like herself to a certain degree. She didn't need to asked more as she understood what Ichika tried to tell her.
"Yes, that's why Chifuyu-nee trained me" Ichika told Laura with a small smile, "To became stronger"
"You will become stronger for certain, Ichika" Laura said before she remembered something.
"Maybe that's why she trained you like that?" Laura said offhandedly.
This gained Ichika full attention as he suddenly grabbed her shoulder with his face is so close with her.
"What do you mean?" Ichika demanded not noticing Laura face that became red. It is her first time to come this close with a boy after all.
"A..a..I… Let me go!" Laura yelled as she pushed Ichika away.
"So..sorry" Ichika apologized, "But I need to know!"
Forcing her blush to go away Laura look at Ichika, "The way instructor trained you is not a military training but for civilian. You will become a skilled fighter but never a soldier"
"I..I see" Ichika said as he finally realized something.
"Is there something wrong?" Laura asked at the shell shocked Ichika.
"Nothing…." Ichika said as he walked away from Laura.
"Weird…" Laura said as she saw Ichika retreated back.
-Cafeteria-
Ichika is looking around at cafeteria to find that woman from yesterday. Not knowing else where he should search her. Trusting his gut feeling, he went to the cafeteria and his gut feeling is right. Just there, at the corner and seclude area of cafeteria that the other soldier seems avoid, that woman sat and send a smile to Ichika.
"So, how your day Ichika?" That woman asked as Ichika neared her.
"You…"
"Now, now please sit and then we talk" The woman pointed the chair before her.
"You know about it all along" Ichika accused as he sat on the chair.
"Of course" The woman smiled sadistically.
"Then why don't you tell me directly!" Ichika almost yell but hold himself.
"It's a lot more interesting"
"Just for that reason" Ichika said as he tried to get himself calmed down.
The revelation that he got from Laura isn't pleasant to say at least. He trusts her sister but why her sister only trains him to be skilled fighter but not a soldier. If one to compare the fight with a skilled fighter and soldier the one that will win is without doubt the soldier as they learn more than what a fighter learn. So why?
"You now must be asking yourself why Chifuyu doesn't train you as a soldier"
Ichika looked up at the woman sharply as his eyes narrowed.
"You want to know why?" The woman asked as she taunting Ichika.
Ichika only nodded at the woman since he desperate for an answer.
"It's simple, she is afraid"
"Afraid?" Ichika repeated the idea her sister to be afraid of something seem to be an outrageous idea for him.
That woman nodded, "Yes, you are her only remaining family after all and that clouded her judgement"
Ichika feel relaxed a little, 'So that the reason'
Because he is the only family, that Chifuyu have left. Of course, Chifuyu will worry about him, that's why she doing it slowly as she maybe doesn't want to burden him too much. Still….
"But I know you won't satisfied with it"
It doesn't matter how Ichika hate the woman in front of him but she is right. Ichika want to be strong as soon as possible so he won't become a burden to Chifuyu anymore. However, the revelation that Chifuyu wont trains him to the limit of himself and taking her time are discouraging. It will take him years before he could stand in equal ground as Chifuyu.
"Why? Why you told me this?" Ichika asked as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. His kidnaping accident has taught him the hard way to trust people.
"Is it because I`m Chifuyu-nee brother?" That the first reason Ichika could think off as he knows that some people try to get close to him because they want something from his sister and uses him as the means.
The woman smiles a twisted smile, "That's too but it because your eyes…"
"My eyes?" Ichika wondered as he touched his right eyes with his right hand. He couldn't help to think what Laura said about his eyes, the eyes of a killer.
"Yes, the eyes of someone that stands in the twilight and I want to see which path that you will choose…." The woman trailed off.
"And I wish you will have the same eyes as Chifuyu once has or like that man" the woman whispered so low that Ichika won't hear it.
Ichika shivered at that woman voice, though that woman said with loving tone there is a hint of madness in her tone.
"That's not all" Ichika as he sure if that's only the reason that woman wont bothered to approached her.
"Of course…. Are you a smart one?" That woman said sarcastically.
"Then what do you want from me?" Ichika asked as the woman smiled like a predator that caught its prey.
"I offer you something that you will never get again…"
"I offer you the chance to train under me, to test your limit, to become stronger…."
"I offer you the means to unlock your potential…."
"I offer you power"
Ichika shivered as he heard that. The way that woman said it…..was sweet, yet in the same time….poisonous, like a forbidden fruits that he should never put his hand to. However, he couldn't deny that he is interested in what that woman proposed.
"Something that your sister never could offer you" The woman added.
Something that his sister could never offer him? How….how can she said that with such confident. This woman, she is dangerous…very dangerous, beyond words.
"Just.. just what is your relationship with my sister is…." Ichika asked.
"We are just an acquaintance"
That's a lie, Ichika know for sure that is a lie. The way she said it is so…wrong, he sure whatever the relationship that his sister has with this woman isn't a pleasant one. Because there is no way, his sister involved with someone like this woman.
"I gave you a time to think Ichika" The woman said as she stood, "The deadline is the day your sister finish to train that rabbit squad of failure. So you have four weeks, but the deal will off if you tell Chifuyu"
"Wait!" Ichika yelled as he stood, "Who are you?"
"My name?" The woman said pleasantly, "Major Beatrix Brehmer, commanding officer of German Army 666th Squadron "Schwarzesmarken" (Black Marks) black ops unit, pleased to meet you Ichika Orimura"
"Beatrix Brehmer…" Ichika muttered, as he tasted her name on his lips.
-Unknown Location-
If one to be asked about flower garden, the image that they have in their mind is a field full of many type of flower. However, that's not the case for this flower garden. Because in this flower garden, the only flower they could find is the black rose. With the entire garden covered by the black rose, it's literally become a sea of never ending darkness if someone look it from the distant.
So when someone entered this garden with white clothes they will stand out and easy to find.
In the middle of the garden, there is a man with long white hair on wheelchair wearing white suit as he humming a melodious tone as he painted the scenery before him. However, that man peace soon disturbed by the presence of other in his garden.
From the sky a IS came down and landed behind the man. The IS is Raphael Revive but unlike the usual green and black, this Raphael Revive is painted with snow-white colour and there are few part that different from the normal one, a clear evident that this Raphael Revive have been customized.
The pilot immediately dematerialized the IS and put it in Closed Form when the IS touched the ground.
"Master" The pilot, a woman with long blonde white hair that styled shabby-chic braid, which swept over left shoulder kneeled down as she closed her blue eyes and waiting his master response.
"Spring" The man with long white hair addressed as he kept on painting, "Why you, one of my seasons squad here?"
Spring gulped nervously, the man before him is not any other ordinary man after all. Why it must her that should reported to him or why she must done it face to face with him. She rather fights a whole army than to meet him directly like this.
So lost in her thought Spring doesn't realize that she hasn't answered her master question or that she had been silent for approximately seven minutes. Until her master voice alerted her.
"Sigelind von Fahrenhorst, if you wish to waste my time then I suggest that you leave"
"I`ve come to report master" Spring said hurriedly as she knew if her master start using her full name that's mean bad. It seems her master mood is not in a good one today, "The plan have gone smoothly"
"Is that so…." The man trailed off as he put his paintbrush, "but that's not all, right Spring?"
"Yes, Tabane Shinonono has done another hacking but she failed"
"Ah, that foolish little girl…"
Spring don't know how she must react to that. Tabane Shinonono is the genius that invited IS after all, people worshiped her as a genius that come only once in millennia but her master is the only one that think she is stupid.
"Her great grandfather has paid a great price so we will leave the Shinonono family alone. But whoever thought that one of his descendant will be voluntary involved with us again" The man said absentmindedly in disappointment.
Spring just kept silent as she listened to her master. No one interrupted him after all.
"Please stand Spring, I need your opinion for my painting" The man said as he finally finished the painting.
"Yes master" Spring said as stood and opened her eyes.
When she opened her eyes, she is shocked in what she seen. The painting that her master worked on have finished but….what on the painting and the scenery is completely different. The scenery showed a beautiful black rose garden but the painting show an image that come from hell itself. It was beyond word for her to describe it.
"Hm… do you like it Spring?" The man asked pleasantly as he had made sure that Spring would see his painting, "Its beautiful doesn't it?"
"Y..yes master" Spring answered shakily.
"Do you know what black rose means?"
"No…" How she wishes to get out from here immediately but her master is still speaking to her.
"It means Death, hatred, farewell, and rebirth. Such beautiful meaning from a beautiful flower"
"Of course Master" Spring agreed not because she agreed with what her master said but because she want to leave immediately.
"Hm… you can leave now Spring"
Spring taking this as her cue to get out, she immediately activated her IS and took flight she never looks back.
"Finally…." The man muttered off as he looks at the rose garden, an image of past flashing in his mind.
"The time has come"
"For the fours season to be complete once more"
"Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter"
"However, this time a Bundle maybe needed"
"Then…nothing will stop me, hehehahahaha…..."
...Please Review..
A/N: Okay, for information about Beatrix and Sigelind isn't my OC but I modified them slightly for my stories, They are come from different series. Also, I am having a difficult time to decide 000 name, maybe you all know from where 000 is based from so I will ask this, Should I stick with 000 original name or make a new one?