Chapter 4: Anger
The next day Kazuko, Louise, Saito, Tabitha, and Kirche went to the head masters main office. "We have just received word that Fouquet has been spotted in a small cottage in the forest with the staff of destruction. We need you to identify this drawing since you were the one's who saw her during the excursion.", said Osmond.
"Kirche shouldn't even be here why's she getting into this matter?" yelled Louise.
"I'm here because this is interesting.", answered Kirche.
"Oh brother if she joins it's going to be more hectic than it will already be. Can't say I blame Louise for disliking her that much, I mean she's able to use magic but she's so envious of her... appeal to men. Now that I think about it isn't that why she gets so mad at Saito?" Kazuko thought to himself.
"This is the drawing. Is this the thief you all encountered.", the drawing showed Fouquet again with her mysterious cloak hiding her identity.
"That's most certainly her.", said Kazuko.
"Well then it is settled we must waste no time.", said Osmond.
"Send the imperial guard to go after her." said Mr. Colbert.
"Those bureaucrats will take forever we must handle this thing ourselves or else Fouquet will get away. Who will we send to intercept and capture her?", asked Osmond to everyone in the room.
Nobody raised their hands, "Come now is there no one who will take this quest?", he asked.
Kazuko raised his sword and said, "I will go after Fouquet the sculptor and bring back the staff." Next Louise then Kirche and lastly Tabitha surprisingly.
"Tabitha why are you coming?", said Kirche.
"I want to make sure you are all ok.", she said in her usual monotone voice.
Everyone appreciated her concern. "Now then we must send you all immediately. You all must head out now if we plan to catch her.", said Osmond.
"Excuse me Principal Osmond I would like to accompany them on their quest.", said Ms. Longueville.
"Oh yes Ms. Longueville excellent idea.", said Osmond.
"I already thought of it from the beginning.", she said in an eager tone. Kazuko grew suspicious of that comment.
"From the beginning hmm. And wanting to escort us none the less. Actually she has green hair...", Kazuko thought.
They prepared themselves for the journey then went aboard to their carriage. Ms. Longueville drove and everyone began mentally preparing for what they may encounter. "Hmm this doesn't feel right.", said Kazuko.
"Why do you say that?", said Louise replying to Kazuko's paranoid idea.
"Nothing it's just... nothing.", Kazuko replied.
"Well if anything Saito should have a much better sword in case we run into trouble. That old unpolished looking sword won't do much compared to this glamorous one I bought for you. You still never used when you did that spectacular duel with my darling Kazuko.", said Kirche.
"The key word is looking, Saito that golden sword is probably useless believe me. Louise's sword is an old one but possibly more durable and it talks for crying out loud. Looks aren't everything.", said Kazuko.
"True but he'll keep it anyway huh?", she said while hugging Saito.
"Ok I'll hold on to it. After all you did buy it for me personally.", Saito said trying to act kindly without her charms influencing his decision.
They reached the cottage and found nobody inside. "No one's inside.", said Saito.
"And there are no traps in it either.", said Tabitha.
Louise stayed outside with Ms. Longueville. "Doesn't look like we'll find much in here. ACHOO! Ok this room is dusty beyond belief but nothing is in here to indicate Fouquet was here.", said Kazuko.
"Staff of Destruction.", said Tabitha.
"No way!", said Saito and Kazuko gasping in unison.
"Why is it here alone unguarded?", said Saito.
"Maybe the staff isn't in the box maybe it's a decoy. Let's look and find out.", said Kazuko.
"AHHHHHH!", it was Louise. The ceiling was swiped away by the golem and looked several feet tall.
"Golem!", cried Kirche.
"Not that thing again.", said Saito.
Tabitha and Kirche pointed their wands and used their most powerful spells against the golem, but not a single dent was made. They tried again but nothing harmed it despite their efforts. Louise stood there preparing to cast a spell. Saito was worried and told Louise to run. Instead she used her magic against it causing an explosion on the back of the golem. Surprisingly it made a few dent's but unfortunately irritated the golem causing it to try and crush her.
Kazuko barley managed to chaos controlled and got Louise out of the golems path. "Jeez Louise that was way too close.", said Kazuko unintentionally saying a joke on his quick timing.
"Stand back I must help the princess by stopping this thing and by defending my name! I am a Nobel and not Louise the Zero!", yelled Louise trying to desperately prove her worth.
"Hey I'm all for redeeming myself to her but dying isn't how she'd want us to do that. Oh crap watch out!", cried Kazuko. The golem tried squashing them again separating Kazuko and Louise.
"Get away from there! You won't be able to stop it! Saito and I can handle this!", yelled Kazuko.
"I can't or else people will make fun of me for being a coward! They'll know I screwed up like with everything else!", cried Louise
"I understand how it feels but that's not how you regain your honor, you show it by trying your best no matter the odd's and contributing another way! Believe me killing yourself isn't what the princess had in mind! If you could stand your own against it I'd have no problem with it but-", before Kazuko could finish Saito yelled, "GUYS LOOK OUT!"
The golem slammed it's fist on the ground knocking Louise out with it's shockwave along with Saito. Kazuko got really pissed off and a dark aura surrounded his body. "Now you've really done something stupid. Because now you've made me really angry!", Kazuko's eyes lit up with fire and his blade had spikes come out from it's edges. Saito got back up and then rushed to Louise, getting her away from the battle. Tabitha's familiar arrived just in time taking everyone back from the fight.
"Take her!", said Saito to Kirche. He went back and stood next to Kazuko.
"Let's take down this pile of dirt now!", cried Saito. They charged at the golem and swung their swords. However Saito's more pampered sword shattered on the first swing.
"I told you that thing was useless!", yelled Kazuko.
Saito was shocked to hear that from him. "Partner draw me!", said Derflinger. Saito slashed through the golem's leg while Kazuko in his rage went for the arm. However it regenerated itself.
"Dammit nothings working!", said Kazuko.
Louise got off Tabitha's familiar and held with her the staff of destruction. Which surprisingly was a rocket launcher. "A human weapon here?!", thought Saito. Louise tried to use it to incinerate the rest of the golem but she couldn't operate it. Saito then took it and armed it. "This is what we need to burn down that thing.", Saito fired the rocket blowing up the rest of the golem.
"Kazuko are you alright?", said Saito.
"Do I look fine Louise almost died because you didn't watch her! SO NO I AM NOT OK!", Kazuko yelled.
Kazuko's aura began to dissolve making him calmer. Louise and Saito starred at him in fear making Kazuko feel frightened of his own anger. Then Ms. Longueville appeared revealing to be Fouquet the sculptor. "Thank you for helping me know how to use the staff. Now you will all have to be silenced.", said Longueville.
"Don't act like I didn't figure it out until now. I knew when I got a decent look at you, you were the thief. It was obvious right guys?", everyone acted like it was a complete twist.
"Seemed impossible to me.", said Saito.
"Oh for god sake!", Kazuko said in frustration.
Fouquet then turned to Kazuko. "You know we could offer you a chance to return you your powers. We know you lost them when you arrived here.", said Longueville.
"How would you know of such things?", replied Kazuko.
"It doesn't matter from the looks of things your not going to accept my offer. Goodbye.", she said aiming the weapon. Fouquet then tried to fire the launcher but nothing happened. Saito then hit her in the stomach knocking the wind out of her and rendering her unconscious.
"Unfortunately its a single use weapon. Its called a rocket launcher and it came from my world. So are done here?", said Saito.
As they left everybody looked at Kazuko wondering why he got so angry at Louise and Saito. Kazuko was exhausted by his rage dosed off and prayed he wouldn't have them be afraid of him. Unfortunately they were now. How could he blame them? His powers were unmatched if he went all out and he could possibly lose control at any moment. What was unleashed was his dreaded Uchihan rage that was buried deep inside him. Kazuko had to finish reconnecting his powers or else his unstable rage would overtake him.
Kazuko woke up as they got back to the academy. He was distant from everybody since he knew that his rage was witnessed by his own friends. He had to however explain why he acted the way he did out there. "Guys I know you all want to know why I lost my temper back there.", Kazuko said trying to explain himself.
"Save it Kazuko. Right now let's just tell them that the jobs done.", said Saito. They all went to the headmasters office and explained that Fouquet was captured and the staff was recovered.
"Before we go, me and Kazuko must ask you something sir.", said Saito. The others left leaving Kazuko and Saito alone with Osmond.
"Headmaster this staff is from the world we came from. It's a weapon used in war.", said Kazuko.
"Fascinating I never would have guessed. I found it when a man who wore strange clothing and saved my life. He was badly hurt. I nursed him back to health and did all I could but..", Osmond ended unable to say what his fate was.
"He passed away.", said Saito knowing full well what happened to him from the look on Osmond's look.
"Unfortunately yes. He had another like this I laid it by his grave and kept the other as a momento.", explained Osmond.
"Crap that was our only chance at getting back.",thought Kazuko.
"Dammit how can we get back to our own world?", said Saito.
"Listen Saito ounce I fully reconnect with my powers I'll be able to chaos control us back home. But for now we must be patient.", said Kazuko.
"Your powers seem pretty powerful back there why not now?", remarked Saito.
"That was my rage. I can't control it when I see my friends get hurt.", Kazuko said explained.
"But why were you yelling at me like a jerk?", yelled Saito.
"Saito I never meant a word of it. When my anger lets out I act like another person. Most people in my clan had this flaw, but it's rare for one to control it. At least as far as I remember. But I promise you I can manage it I just need more time.", Kazuko explained.
"Well then hurry it up.", Saito replied.
"Your overreacting Saito.", replied Kazuko.
"You said your clan HAD this problem back in our world right? What happened?", asked Saito.
Kazuko did not answer for he never said that his clan was murdered by Nightmare and he preferred to keep it that way so that his friends would stay out of his battle's. "Listen Kazuko I cannot have you here in this institute if you can't control yourself. It would be too dangerous for everyone if you remained here.", said Osmond.
"Headmaster I assure you as long as this school is well protected then you have nothing to fear from me.", Kazuko said trying to reassure him.
"But you are still capable of going out of control within this school's confines. They all reported you attacking and threatening some of my own students. If you give us any reason to view you as a danger we will be forced to make you leave.", explained Osmond.
"I understand and I will respect your decision that follows with affects my stay here. And I will not object.", Kazuko said hummbly.
"Very well you can still stay here but if you go on a rampage we will be forced to detain you and send you to the authorities.", warned Osmond.
Kazuko left the room glad yet depressed. His best friends started to outcast him and the school is on their guard from him. Kazuko went to Kirche's room and knocked to see if she was in there. She wasn't, so he went in and opened the window to take a look at the sunset over the horizon. He was wondering if it was best to leave on his own until he gets his rage under control again. Before dusk Kirche knocked on the door, "Coming in to ask for another date Kirche? If so I'm not exactly in the mood.", Kazuko answered.
"Actually I wanted to talk. And there's a ball being prepared upstairs in honor of our victory. I hoped you'd only escort me there initially.", replied Kirche.
"Well it doesn't seem like people would want to see me, after what nearly I did out there today. The news had to have hit them by now.", he said refusing.
"Yea but they still think your cool and everything. Besides if you hide yourself from everyone they'll only be more afraid of you. I mean sure that was out of character but most of the time you're a sweet guy who's only tried treating others fairly. Saito for example and that maid Siesta. I'm only saying it's better to still try to act who you are despite what they think.", Kazuko smiled, her words actually comforted him and she was right. He would attend and he had to remind them that he was still the same guy who's only stood up for others.
"Thanks I needed that. And it would be my pleasure to escort you."
"Your always the gentleman."
Kazuko came to the ball with the same tux he borrowed from Guiche, never did give it back yet, and had Kirche around his arm. He caught sight of Saito and had to speak to him. "Saito you know I'm sorry for earlier and you know were still best friends right?", Kazuko said to him.
"I know we still are. And I admit I might have overreacted but why can't you seem to tell me about your clan aside from the basic fact you came from there? Why can't you trust me?", said Saito.
"Saito...its not easy to talk about ok.", pleaded Kazuko.
"Well, if you feel ready to tell me. Then I'll be ready to listen.", Kazuko had his head held high. He knew Saito was right. Kazuko laid his back on the wall and simply watched the ball. He noticed Saito and Louise dancing together and from what it looked like they began to grow close and she started to actually blush when she was near him. "Huh I may not be on good terms with Saito all the time, but that sight just makes me feel a lot better.", thought Kazuko.
Kirche found Kazuko alone and asked him to dance with her. "Don't you have over a dozen others lined up for that?", joked Kazuko.
"Yes actually, but I decided to ask you first. Besides you need one.", Kirche said softly.
"Very well then.", Kazuko took her by the waist and danced with her a lot more comfortably after their date.
"You're getting better at this. Maybe you could sweep me off my feet?", Kirche said teasingly.
"I'd like to, you are an amazing woman ounce someone gets to know you. And I would like to."
Kirche laughed at the joke. She starred at him for a second and whispered, "I saw how you looked at the princess yesterday, and I get it.", Kazuko was shocked at this. She saw him stare at the princess? "You like her. I can read it all over your face."
"But I barley know her. Is that jealousy or something?"
"Maybe, but if your serious about what you said then I'd be willing to make myself available only for you."
"I'd be lying if said I wasn't willing to try."
"Then come with me to Tabitha's home over the summer break. We can start from there and see how far it goes."
"I'd like that.", Kazuko answered.
The dance ended and Kazuko went back to his room wondering about the princess. "Something isn't right, when I was near Henrietta there was some feeling that felt familiar but I can't figure out what. And that thief mentioned about my chaos power. How exactly? If my guess is correct, and I hope I'm wrong... Nightmare is here.", thought Kazuko.