Hello everyone, hope you will enjoy this new chapter of the story. Enjoy and review, and see you soon.
(Sorry about the late update, and yes, it IS a MarcoxAce story)
-Nagisa-kun, you have the members of your group?
Nagisa raised his head from the things he was pulling out of his pack to look at the female class representative.
-If you don't, when you have, tell me or Isogai-kun.
-You forgot? Kayano asked coming toward him. The next week is the school trip!
-Mattaku! A school trip so early in the year, in third year! Sensei can't approve!
Ace raised his head from his desk and stood up.
He went directly to the staff room, catching the surprised gaze of the others teachers.
-Marco, Koro-sensei is acting like Izou.
Marco put down his pen and came to see the new craziness of the professor, who, so excited by the coming trip, had opted to pass for a geisha. Hard thing to do since he was so tall and his morphology so strange.
-Go change, it the most horrible thing I ever saw, yoi, sighed Marco. Even Ivankov is less horrible to look at than you. And you are a little too excited by the idea of a school trip.
Koro-sensei threw him a sullen look (if you could qualify it like that) but walked away in satisfaction.
-Well, either way, I was found out. I confess, I am rather impatient of doing this class trip with you!
Everyone looked at him with deadpanned smile. And that was the super-monster who wanted to destroy the Earth?
Karasuma having some details to take care of, it was to Marco to do the spiel. Which was good since he was the geography teacher. His work was to teach them the geography, but also the usage of the field.
-Well, I don't have to tell you that there is a shool trip the next week. Two days and three nights in Kyoto. It doesn't change the fact that you're still in mission. It's not because we leave this classroom that the situation change, yoi.
-We will have to assassinate him in public? Asked a girl.
-Not really. If you have an opportunity, take it, but stay discreet. Ace, no flames, yoi.
-I know how to be discreet, thanks! Huffed Ace.
-However the territory of Kyoto is wider and more complex than that of this old school. And you will be in group that he will have to supervise in turn. But the main threat, even if I doubt the effectiveness, will be a sniper. Some sharpshooters will be there to support you. If it's a success, the reward will be split between the happy lucky who will put a bullet in his head and you, yoi. But it will all depend on your contribution in the success of the operation.
Marco took his bag on the ground and took out a lot of paper.
-These are the maps of Kyoto, with as much information on the area as possible. To the slightest ant-hill, yoi. Your goal, it's to work out an itinerary ideal for a sharpshooter to have the best occasion to act. Put you by group, now, and I will give out the maps. Don't hesitate to call me if you need a second opinion or some precision, yoi.
They began to decide the groups.
Nagisa consulted the details of the trips that they all had at the start of the class. One look toward Sugino and Kayano, and Nagisa already had two members to his group.
- Seeing that there is so many students, there will be a group with more members than the others, stated Marco already giving out the maps.
-Karma-kun! Ace-kun! You want to join us?
-Mmm? Okay, smiled Karma.
Ace stood up and joined the group with Karma.
-Heee, you're sure, Karma? You won't fight and cause problems during the trip, at least? Asked Sugino.
-Everything will be alright, assured Karma.
Coming from him, it meant a lot.
And to prove it, he showed off a picture of a scared girl and a beaten boy, the two with Karma and showing a piece of identity.
-When I fight outside, I make sure to silence all the witnesses.
We could clearly see the dark horns on the top of Karma's head and a devil's tail waving happily behind him.
Sugino pointed out to Nagisa that it was a bad idea to make him join the group.
-Yes, but we are childhood friends… Nagisa justified himself.
-So? Who do we have next… Nagis-kun, Sugino-kun, Ace-kun, Ayano-kun and…
-I invited Okuda-chan! Said Kayano pulling the timid poison expert toward the group who nervously pushed up her round glasses.
-We must be six so we are full, pointed Sugino.
-Marco pointed out that there will be a group with more people than the others, Ace remind. It's your assassination, I'll only give you advise, so, I don't really count.
-Eeeh… so we take one last person? Understood Karma. To balance, we would need a girl.
This made Sugino laugh who had the ideal person for this.
And like this, they found themselves with the brown haired madonna Kanzaki in their group.
The girl was rather discreet, but very popular in the class. No one would object to have her in the group.
-Yoroshiku ne, Nagisa-kun.
And the little Nagisa couldn't keep himself from blushing madly.
-Marco, we have the full group, called Ace.
Marco gave them a map and they took place around the paper to study it.
-It… it's handmade… noted Sugino. It's Koro-sensei who made it?
-No, that, that's Marco's work, corrected Ace with an ounce of pride in his voice.
-There are so many details! Exclaimed Kayano. It's so precise! We could almost believe that we are in Kyoto itself! How did he do them?!
-Aerial and Earth view, I presume. He was absent last week-end and he was working on some maps lately. It's been a while since I saw him do that. A little more, and I would have believed that I was in old times… Still, well, you have a path to chose, don't you?
-Yup ! From where do we go?
And count on Irina to try to ruin the mood saying that a school trip was nothing for her who had traveled all around the world.
But they were used to her comportment.
-Then, you should keep an eye on the classroom, Bitch-sensei! Said Maehara above his shoulder.
-Eh?
-Take great care of the flowers, his neighbor said.
-Ih?
From surprise, she passed to anger. She took out her gun that she held to the class.
-What are you saying! Don't go without me!
Marco discussing with a group at that moment, straightened.
-Bitch-san, you have to decide. You want to come or not?
-Urusai!
-Since I have wings, I saw a lot of different places in my existence. I stopped counting, however, a simple trip, as childish as he seems, didn't lose his attraction in my eyes. Be it something I already saw or that I'm discovering, it's still valuable in my eyes, yoi.
-Shihihihi! Laughed Ace
The door opened at this moment before Koro-sensei who had very big books of the size of a dictionary with him. One for every person.
-What is that? Isogai asked.
-Touristic guides.
And he distributed them.
-This thing weigh a ton! Complained Maehara.
-In this, you have an illustration of all the touristic places, the top hundred of the gift shop and a manual of self-defense for a trip, from the theory to the practical! I passed all the night to do it! This first edition is given with a paper replica of Kinkakuii!
Marco raised an eyebrow and showed him with his thumb.
-And you complain that I'm workaholic, Ace, yoi?
Ace snorted unamused.
-There are already a lot of map of Kyoto, Marco. Even if your work stay the best of the best, you didn't need to… you know what? Forget.
This made the class laugh. They were so used now to this relation between Ace and Marco, and their constant bickering. Sure, only Nagisa and Karma (to whom nothing escaped) seemed to know that there was more behind it, but for the others, this facade of a brotherhood was a funny spectacle.
-I regret to bother you during this hour so entertaining, but before the trip, the medical examination is obligatory! Stated Cassandra joining them. Karasuma-san asked me to warn you that it will take place tomorrow. I don't understand why he said you had to prepare psychologically, the why I have to announce it today.
-Cassandra, I grew up with you, yoi. So, I can understand that children need a psychological preparation to confront you, sighed Marco seeing the pale faces of his students.
Cassandra stared at him with a raised eyebrow, but Marco turned back to his work.
-When was the last time I did your check-up, Flying Pineapple?
-This sort of threat stopped working on me since I was fifteen, yoi. Do you mind, I have work to do.
-Humph!
And the blond walked away, leaving Marco throwing Koro-sensei out of the room, showing Irina the way out, and continue his work: to advise them, but more generally, talk to them of the geography of Kyoto and its particularities.
XxXxXxXxX
-Ne, Ace-kun?
They wanted to polish a little their itinerary, and Ace had proposed that the group did it afterclass, in his home.
-Mmm?
-It must be strange, no, to live with the prof and the nurse, commented Sugino.
-Not specially. I live with them for a long time, already.
They arrived before a banal house and Ace opened the door.
-Cass', I'm home, but Marco is still at school ! Announced Ace entering.
-Mmmm… said the blond from the living room out of sight. Marco left his material on the table, let me tidy this up and the place is yours.
-How does she knows that we are here, too? Kayano asked.
-For the same reason that Marco is still with Karasuma-sensei. It's a sort of technique similar to the one that allow Cassandra to hurt Koro-sensei without her scalpel dissolving in his body. We call it the Haki. Karasuma-sensei and Marco are working on a method to teach it to the class… a risk-less method.
-Oh.
The group removed their shoes and entered the living room, to see the blond putting away a mass of papers and some objects.
-Cass', Marco stayed awake late again, pointed Ace trying to not look worried.
The blond sighed and deadpanned:
-You know how he is… I'll talk with him, don't worry. Kids, your parents know that you are here?
-Hai!
-Well, I'll leave you to your work, I will read tranquilly out of the way. There is water on fire, Ace. I leave you to keep an eye out?
-Yes yes…
And the group took place around the coffee table.
It was… empty, from Nagisa's point of view. Spartan. Very few furniture.
-We don't plan to stay here long, clarified Ace seeing their surprised looks on the little personalizing. Once Koro-sensei out of the way, we go back home. And we are use to not bother with useless things.
-So ka.
Ace unrolled the map on the table and they went to work They only took a moment when Ace went to pick the water, but worked a while laughing sometimes.
-Ace, I don't want to bother, but…
-At the end of the corridor which is behind this door, Ace answered Nagisa showing a door on the other side of the living room.
-I'll be quick.
Nagisa stood up to do his little affair. He fund himself in a corridor with five doors and walked toward the toilets. But what caught his eyes, was a piece of furniture, not far from his destination. There was a photo on it. It was a group of seventeen persons, with different sizes that Nagisa wouldn't have judged possible if he didn't know Koro-sensei. Marco was in a group, at the left end of the line. Smiling with as little exuberance as usual, but his corporal language in the image said that he was happy. Nagisa remarked the mark on his chest, because of his open shirt. A cross, overcome by an inverted crescent moon. Beside him, there was a black haired boy that Nagisa recognized between hundreds.
Ace.
He was clearly older than now on the picture. And he had very few clothes, in fact he was with a hat worthy of Indiana Jones of a very provocative orange, and just a black short. Nagisa still recognized the protect elbow. Ace still wear it even with his uniform, but strangely, on the opposite elbow than the one in the picture. Then, passing briefly with a little smile on the fact that him and Marco were holding hands in the photo, Nagisa noticed the tattoo on the arm. He would have been tempted to suppose that it was an error of the tattooer, but something told him that the crossed S was intended.
His gaze went over the others. They were all clearly happy to be there, but from what Nagisa saw, the most happy, must have been the giant behind with his surprising beard.
The boy put the picture down and continued on his way.
XxXxXxXxX
The day of departure came.
And of course, the 'Elite' classes were given First Class, as the class E only were given Second Class seats.
-It's the school's rules! Said the homeroom teacher of the D class with a superior smirk.
-Yeah! The students with better marks have priority on the budget! Said a student playing with his sunglasses.
-Oya, oya, isn't it the repulsive smell of poverty? Snickered another.
-Sorry that I'm late… said Irina coming.
Golden jewels, luxurious clothes… count on her to be noticed. And make the class D green with envy.
-Good morning, kids…
-Bitch-sensei, what is going on with this look of a Hollywood's star?
-Holly- what? Ace asked Karma.
-Hollywood. You don't know what it is?
-When you're busy with trying to assure your survival, you miss out on a lot… It's Fuwa-san who initiate me to manga, after all.
-I'll explain it to you during the trip.
-Thanks, mate.
Still Irina found this funny.
-It's the duty of each assassin to highlight his charm. A true woman doesn't neglect their appearance just because she goes on a trip, she said.
Cassandra looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
-No remark, your usual clothes are good enough for a porno, pointed Ace to the oldest.
-It's me who decide when you can train again, Ace, plus all others activities that I could judge straining… so, don't come looking for a fight with me, if you see where I'm going…
-Tch.
Nagisa pitied Ace for a good minute.
Luckily the voice of reason showed herself…
-You get noticed too much. Go change. It's not what an accompanying adult should looks like, pointed Karasuma to Irina.
-Don't be so strict, Karasuma! These kids will become adults during… began Irina.
-Go change. Right away.
Gulps!
Karasuma could be scary when he wanted!
A little later, we could find her in a simple jogging sulking on a seat.
-I suppose she must be a little disconnected from the common society, since she only killed rich people… supposed someone.
XxXxXxXxX
The travel in train passed tranquilly, working the last details.
-Portgas?
Ace turned his head toward Karasuma.
-Where is Newgate?
-Marco? He is claustrophobic. Look out the window, if you see something blue and gold, it's him.
Karasuma looked outside as did Ace's group. Briefly, in a rather aleatory way, something golden appeared in the blue azure of the sky.
-He is discreet, so it's alright, muttered Karasuma nodding to himself.
- I would worry more for Koro-sensei, smiled Ace.
And he pointed another window.
Effectively, trapped outside, glued to the train, the prof was here, making more than one jump.
-What are you doing against the window, Koro-sensei! Nagisa exclaimed.
-Well, I bought some snacks at the station and because of that, I missed the boarding. So, I will stay like that until the next station! But no worry! The teacher told them.
And he became partially invisible.
-With this camouflage, people just have the impression that my clothes are stuck to the train!
-It still isn't normal!
Cassandra sighed and took out her mobile which she put on speaker.
"What?" Marco's voice finally asked.
-You took your time to answer, smirked Cassandra.
"I had to land to be able to pick up, yoi. What it is?"
-We have an octopus stuck to the train.
Silence, then a sigh.
"I take care of it. I'll put him at the next station."
-Thank you. Greeted Karasuma.
Marco hung up and one minute later, we could see, thanks to the camouflage of Koro-sensei, a beautiful creature covered in turquoise blue and golden fire, approach the train easily flying at the same speed. The huge bird showed his talons, making Koro-sensei scream his protestations who was picked from the train and lead toward others skies.
Everyone turned toward Ace and Cassandra for confirmation, but their smile were telling everything.
-Incredible, too bad I couldn't film him… breathed a guy of the class.
XxXxXxXxX
-I hate birds… breathed out Koro-sensei, disguised and in the train. It's hard to travel without being exposed.
-You shouldn't take such a big bag, then, pointed Okajima.
-You always get noticed, Koro-sensei, pointed a little redhead.
-And also, isn't it risky for a state secret to be wandering in public?
Koro-sensei was so shocked that he lost his false nose.
-Even from far away, your disguise don't work on anyone. Even Ace is better at this than you… ne, Ace-chan~! You remember of this stunning dress of Eastern dancer that Izou had found and fit you so well?
Ace stopped dozing in his corner to go after the nurse in the train, madly blushing.
-Koro-sensei! Called a student named Sugaya.
Everyone looked at him throw a little thing to their professor. It turned out to be a false nose.
-We will first begin to change this nose that always fall.
Koro-sensei put on the new nose, a little rounder and noted that it was perfectly adapted and accorded to his round face. It was his specialty, the disguises, the make-up, all of this, to Sugaya.
A little farther, Kayano began to laugh.
-We always discover new faces in people when we travel! She said with a smile.
-Hm! And depending on how the travel will continue, who know what else we will learn? It began this morning with the animal form of Marco-sensei, opined Nagisa.
-Amazing, accorded Karma. Then, we had this interesting story between Ace-kun and this Eastern dancer clothe.
The picture made the group laugh.
-And now, Sugaya's hidden talent, approved Nagisa. I hope we will learn a lot more.
-Ne, I'm going to buy a drink, someone wish for something? Proposed Kanzaki.
-I'm going with you! Proposed Okuda.
-Me too! Kayano said standing up.
XxXxXxXxX
They finally reached Kyoto.
A to D were sleeping in a luxurious hotel.
E, a simple inn.
As scheduled, they found Marco, in the hall.
-You're not tired, sensei? Okuda asked.
-I'm used to long trips with worse conditions. But I see some potential there, yoi.
Effectively, Koro-sensei semmed to have motion sickness and he was totally slumped and green, over a couch.
-Daijobu? A student asked trying to stab him. Why don't you go rest in your room?
He avoided by slipping a little farther where the representatives attacked him too.
-Don't worry, I just have to make a jump in Tokyo… mumbled Koro-sensei in a dyng voice.
-Kayano-kun, I would like to talk to you a moment, called Cassandra.
-I'm coming, said the green haired girl.
Ace and Marco looked at their sister, but the woman gave them a look, making the brothers sigh.
Whatever it was about, the medical secrecy was keeping her from talking.
-Why do you have to go back to Tokyo, yoi? Asked Marco.
-I forgot my pillow.
Ace looked at him in a deadpan. The number one public enemy couldn't sleep without a foolish pillow?
-All of these luggage and he forgot a pillow! Huffed a student.
After all, the bag was so big that it reach the shoulders of the adults men in the room.
-You find, Kanzaki-san? Ace asked seeing the black haired girl continue to search her bag.
-Still not. Luckily you have a double, Ace-san.
Koro-sensei congratulated her for her sense of responsibility but reassure her saying that so long as they had their huge guide, everything would be alright.
-I must be the only one in the class who can hold this damn guide without complaining. Beside, it can always be used as a weapon, commented Ace taking it in his hand.
The red cover of the book turned black and Ace was going to put it down on Koro-sensei's head when…
-Ace. No.
Ace turned toward Marco with surprise.
-With the strength you want to put in the blow, if he avoid it, either you hurt someone, or you break the furniture. So long as your not recovered, and are not able to control your blows, you calm yourself, yoi, pointed the blond.
-Tch. A golden opportunity who tells me goodbye, commented Ace putting the book down.
-You have our itinerary, Ace-kun? Asked Nagisa.
For all answer, Ace took out an old used notebook and showed it.
XxXxXxXxX
The next day, the group were left in the nature. One after the other, they would be supervised by Koro-sensei.
As Ace was with them, it wasn't judge useful to put one more teacher.
-Good Idea, assassinate Koro-sensei with local products! Approved Karma.
-There is still his sense of smell. We need to fin something strong enough to mask the possible smell of poison, Ace pointed out. You got the recipe, Okuda-kun?
-No, Krasuma-sensei told me that he had insisted, but they refused to give him, sighed Okuda shaking her two black twin-tails to show her no.
-When we go home, we will try to do something against that, assured Ace.
-You know, I would like to forget this story of assassination, for the trip, pointed Sugino.
Nagisa raised his face from the map of the city that Marco had given to each group.
-Look at the view we have! Continued Sugino. It has nothing to do with assassination!
-That's what you think, snickered Ace massaging his eyes.
-You would be surprised; Marco-sensei marked a grave on the map, not far. Let's go see.
And they went to see the monument in a rather busy street.
-Sakamoto Ryuma… read Okuda.
-Oh, it's here that in… 1867 Omiya was, the inn where Sakamoto was killed, understood Karma.
Ace pointed another one on the map, and compared it to Koro-sensei's book.
-A little farther away, we find the Honnoi temple, even if they changed slightly the location as the time passed.
-So ka! Oda Nobunaga's death was a sort of assassination! Recalled Kayano.
-You're not use enough to the smell of blood and death to sense it. The grave in the city marked the death of famous people, Ace told them closing the book.
He glanced around him, perceiving the ghosts of anonymous dead.
-Strangers lost their life here. Severals big name of the history died in this little kilometer, but also people who we will never hear about. Some nobodies, whose time erased the memory.
-It's normal, pointed Nagisa. This city always was in the heart of Japan, but it's most of all the temple of assassinations, known or not.
-I see! Now that you say it, it looks more and more like a holidays of assassination, understood Sugino.
-Koro-sensei become a typical target, once in Kyoto, pointed Karma. All those death contribute to change the history, to modify the passage of time. Koro-sensei, the one who can kill us all, fit with this all.
-Should we make a pause to drink and eat something? Proposed Ace. It's Koro-sensei who pay.
His classmates looked at him puzzled, until Ace held a purse with an innocent smile. We could wonderfully see the horns on his head.
-It's not correct, sighed Nagisa, almost uncaring.
-If it's sensei who invite, I approve! Snickered Karma passing an arm around the brown haired boy.
Ace led the group and threw a suspicious look above his shoulder.
One person withdrew in the shadow.
XxXxXxXxX
The group had left Ace to try to find a better place for the shooter. Essentially he climbed on a roof.
But the rest of the group continued without him deeper in the Gion district who was more and more desert. It was their mistake.
They had found the perfect place for an ambush and called Ace.
-Ace-kun! We found the perfect place for an ambush! What do you think for a shooter?
"Let me locate you and I'll tell you that."
It was then that a band of thugs fell on them. High school students against middle school students. They were after the girls. Karma, Nagisa and Sugino were parted from them…
And it was the black-out.
XxXxXxXxX
Nagisa woke up sensing someone shake him.
Ace was there, with them.
-Okuda-kun came to me. How do you feel?
-Yokatta, she is alright, sighed Nagisa.
Ace showed his cellphone.
-It's lucky you didn't cut the line. Your cellphone is with Kayano and Kanzaki.
He helped the boys get on their feet.
-I'm sorry, I ran away without thinking and it's Ace-kun who found me, sighed the little miss.
-Don't worry, Okuda-kun, reassured Ace.
-It was the good thing to do, these guys are used to do that, grumbled Karma sitting up.
He massaged his head.
-Even if we talk to the police, the case will take a long time, continued Karma.
-I have as much trust in the police as in my ability to swim. Knowing that I'm an hammer, it means everything, muttered Ace.
-I would mainly wish to take care of them personally.
-But… how will we find them? Sugino demanded.
Ace walked to a down-pipe and examined it, before he teared it and make it swirl between his hands like an expert.
-What are you doing? Nagisa asked.
-I'm taking charge. You are under my responsibility, so, I'm taking command. I contacted Karasuma to tell him that we had a slight problem. I know how to find them.
He turned toward the group.
Something had changed. He was in command, he could, he had to. He had the power to do it.
-Ready to put some thugs in their place? Asked Ace.
-When do we go? Karma asked, his blood-lust asking for retribution.
XxXxXxXxX
The Punks' reinforcement were knocked out on their way, and Karma took one of them with him, as he entered the abandoned factory, to throw him on the ground.
-How?
Ace made his way at the head of the group. Without glancing away from his opponents, he asked Kayano and Kanzaki if they were alright.
-We're alright, but there are too many of them!
-Don't worry, reassured Ace.
He was so calm, so relaxed, and yet, ready to jump in action.
-How did you come here? Asked the leader of the high-school students.
-I was on the phone when I heard you attack them, stated Ace walking slowly forward, like a feline, toward the center of the room, his iron pipe well held. Your accent leave me to think that you're not from here. I was told that you had uniform, so, you are on a school trip. Since you're not familiar, except particular cases, with the city, you couldn't have gone very far.
Nagisa unrolled Marco's map.
-And since we have a prof who think of everything, the calm and isolated places are written on the map he personally draw, pointed Nagisa. The same method was also in our Travel Guide…
-Our profs envisage everything… commented Sugino.
-Dee? What do we do, big guy? Karma asked. You don't think you already did enough?
Noting a slight sign of Ace finger, they came closer to their comrade, keeping Okuda between them to protect her.
-I think you will pass the rest of your trip in the hospital.
Karma was calm, even with his blood- lust.
A noise behind them alerted them and made smirk the leader of the band.
-You talk a lot for middle-school students!
-Guys. Enjoy yourselves, whispered Ace. Okuda you know what to do. So go!
Ace disappeared immediately, while the boys rushed forward.
In little time body began to fly toward the center of the room, as Okuda ran to free the two girls.
But the three boys didn't bothered. They had to fight, and they fought. They used everything they had learned to reduce the number. They had each beaten two of them when Ace yelled at them:
-HIT THE DECK!
The three boys flung themselves on the ground.
Ace jumped on Karma's back on four legs, threw himself in the air and fell in the center of the chaos, manipulating the pipe like a formidable weapon.
And before they could realize what had just happened… only the students of middle school were still conscious.
Ace released his breath slowly and in a controlled way.
-Everyone is alright?
Nagisa had a scratched cheek, Karma a burst lip and Sugino a black eye, but everyone were alright. They stood up.
-You're mad, Ace, to throw yourself on them like that, commented Sugino.
-Who allowed you to use me as a springboard! Protested Karma.
-You are the one with the strongest stature. You see me do that with the two shrimps?
Karma looked at the aforementioned shrimps.
-You would have crushed them.
-We aren't shrimps! Sugino and Nagisa protested.
Ace burst out laughing and went to confirm that the girls were alright.
-Group of elitist… growled one of the punk.
-Oh, you're still conscious, remarked Ace.
He walked toward the leader and easily lift him up away from the floor.
-Before you accuse someone, learn. Our school may be the best, but we are the Class E. The rubbishes of this school. And unfortunately for you, this year, it's a class in formation of assassins.
Ace tilted his head on the side.
-I saw true elitist in the middle of Grey Terminal in flames. Those guys looked at us from above telling us it was our fault if we were going to die, because we hadn't chosen to be born in a family rich and influential. They may be lost kid, behind me, but I'm another species… I'm a pirate. To gut you right now wouldn't bother me at all. So, put this in your head and pass the word. Anyone who touch the class E will be seen as an enemy attacking my nakamas. And in this case… No mercy.
Ace took out his knife from his shirt and put the blade against the cheek of the thug, holding back his haki with a great deal of effort. The kid was scared enough like that.
-I leave you alive, this time. Next time, I won't be so nice.
And Ace let him fall back on the ground, a deep cut on his cheek. The guy retreated scared seeing the demon under the human appearance who languorously licked the blood on the blade.
Ace put it away and turned toward his friends.
-We're going back?
-That was amazing, mate! Karma said with a huge smile. Give me some lessons to scare people as much as you!
The demon laughed and the middle school students walked away.
Koro-sensei stayed in the shadow and looked at them do. He wasn't needed, and it was best. This group could work alone.
-Oi, Kanzaki!
Kanzaki turned to see Ace.
-You don't need to try to answer to the expectancy of others. Just be yourself. Your origins or the label you were given aren't important, no one else than you have the right to chose who you are. If you fight for it, you will emerge grown up.
-What…
Blushing, Nagisa took out his cellphone in Kayano's pocket and hung up.
-He fell into your pocket when we were attacked, sumimasen.
Kanzaki gave a shining smile and shook her head.
-It's alright. Thank you for coming to save us. And thank you for your worlds Ace-san.
Ace made a vague gesture of his hand saying it was nothing.
-Well, anyway, mister I-am-a-pirate. How do we call you? Karma asked putting his hands behind his neck, while he was walking toward the inn in the setting sun. You don't have a bear, so, hard to find you a classical nickname.
-Hiken no Ace, simply, second commander of the deceased Edward Newgate, Ace told him.
-Commander?! At your age?! Okuda choked out.
-Why is the thing that surprised you the most, is the fact that he is a commander at fifteen than the fact he is a pirate? Asked Sugino.
-Marco is one too. He is the first Commander and fuku-senshô. Seeing that Oyaji kicked the bucket, I think he should be the new captain, but we didn't address the matter. We still succeed in always avoiding the huge elephant in the room.
-Eeeh?
Ace closed his grip on his shirt, on his heart.
-If you were responsible for, with your shits and your insubordination, the death of the person who accepted you as his son, when you have the blood of his biggest rival, I think that like me, you would do your best to avoid the elephant in the room.
Ace turned his head sensing Kayano holding his arm with compassion.
-I lost my big sister, some time ago… I can understand your pain.
Ace squeezed her hand and pulled away.
The trip continued in silence.
-Everything is alright? Asked Karasuma who was waiting for them in front of the inn with Marco.
-The problem was taken care of quickly, assured Nagisa; Everyone is alright. Well… except us three…
-Come on, I'll spare you a visit to Cassandra, Marco told them.
And the three boys followed him.
Ace stayed to make a resume of the story to Karasuma, while the girls went back to join the others. Then, he also walked away, joining the boys of his group, to finally, go change his clothes.
It was at this instant that Koro-sensei came back with his beautiful useless disguise.
-Why didn't you intervene? Karasuma asked, not fooled.
-They didn't need me, Koro-sensei told him. Ace-kun could have done it alone, but I know he must learn to delegate to others and cease to tell himself that he can do everything himself. And it's what he did today. Also, he has to stop being so closed on himself, on his pain. Even if he is older than what he appear, he is still in his heart a child who saw very difficult things. He must go forward again. The class E is here to help him.
And Koro-sensei went to go change his clothes.
Marco began to relax in the room reserved for the teachers with a sigh. The day had been rich in emotions, like some would tell. Well, more in laugh.
The situations which he had faced had been so… hilarious, that he couldn't keep in a chuckle thinking about it.
-You seem to have fun, commented Cassandra, in kimono, entering the room.
She stopped an instant and looked at the one she considers her little brother before a vicious smile appeared on her lips.
-Ace knows that you are in a kimono?
-You're crazy? We are on a school trip! Hissed Marco.
To tell Ace that he was in a kimono, it really was what mustn't be done.
He leaned against the open window, staring at the moon.
-Aaaah, alright… So, why were you laughing to yourself just now?
-The day was… interesting, yoi. And I think that the shooter who accompanied us through this day must have found it just has strange. With the things that I saw, even Yassop wouldn't have been able to kill him today.
Cassandra leaned against the wall under the window, sitting and Marco put his head on her laps. For others, this gesture would have another meaning entirely, for them, it was just a demonstration of their affection which they didn't have a lot of occasion to show often. Something that they needed to stay standing, since Shirohige's death.
-The kids chose such bad places? Asked Cassandra.
-No, on the contrary, they chose well, yoi. It's almost surprising since they asked me so few advises. They mostly asked me for the limits of the shooter and his assets. And with that they found impacable places.
And he described the tentative of murder. The first group had led Koro-sensei in a touristic train without window. It allowed the man to not be sick. This way they had seen splendid landscapes, on the Sagano line. There was a rather famous stopping point : the bridge of the Hozu river. So, the train stopped there, on an iron bridge, above the shining waters of the river, surrounded by nature. There, a girl of the group had caught the attention of the teacher by pointing a boat who was going down the current. Everything was intended. And it was at this instant that the sniper struck. A bullet in the skull, hidden in the trees, the man named Red Eye got the hit.
Or should have.
Except that Koro-sensei had intercepted the special bullet with a simple yatsuhashi, detaining it in the soft dough of the local sweet.
-Noooo, he didn't! Exclaimed Cassandra.
-He did, yoi.
Marco took his cellphone, searched the photos and showed her the ones the group had send to him, Karasuma and Irina. We could see clearly the rifle's bullet of the sniper caught between the two facets of the sweet. You had to be fast to do this.
The second tentative took place at 11h20, at the theme park of Uzumasa. They came across a sort of historical reconstitution, organized like a street show. The boys had been happy for this sword's demonstration. The truth was that with Karasuma's help, everything had been planned. So, when the actors came a little too close to the public, one of the girl dragged the teacher a little closer to her. The demonstration was a perfect diversion. And the point were Koro-sensei was put was perfect too.
It was without counting on the good idea of the prof joining the demonstration… Costume and katana in hand, even if his disguise was better than the one he usually wore, peopple could see that something was wrong. But the professor was having so much fun… and the poor shooter must have bang his head against a wall.
Cassandra held her ribs from laughing too hard.
Third tentative, it was at 2h20 PM, at the foot of the Five storied Pagoda. It was high there that the shooter perched himself. From his rifle scope, he had followed the group to go buy some souvenir near. There, one of the girls had attracted his attention. The prof was sweating. She proposed to put some absorbing papers on his face… But misfortune hit again.
Koro-sensei's sweat was some mucus. And he gathered enough under the absorbing paper that it became bulletproof. So Koro-sensei had a bullet trapped in the absorbing paper on his temple.
-Oh, I'm sorry for this man, he must have become crazy! Laughed Cassandra.
-No. Koro-sensei must have given him a lesson, like he does with the students and pushed him on the good path. After all, because of these organizations, the kids were able to learn more on the city than they could have during a classical trip.
-What are you thinking about, little brother? Cassandra asked softly seeing the look of the phoenix become veiled.
-On one side, I envy the peaceful life they have, yoi. This possibility they have to move forward, one step at a time, and unlike us, thrown in life by a very bad door. On the other, I don't even want to think about any other life than mine. Sure, I would have liked that Marine Ford never took place, that Thatch was still alive… but I'm happy being a Shirohige, and I can't wait for this to be over, to see the Grand Line again, yoi. Even if this world look like what Wa no Kuni could become, in some centuries, it's not our home.
Cassandra raised her eyes to look the crescent moon outside, unique things remaining after its encounter with Koro-sensei.
-We will return to the Shin Sekai, Marco. Leave the time to Ace to heal without him needing to throw up blood everyday. Then, we need the mental scars to make themselves, that he accept what happened. It's not his fault. Anybody with his position would have act like him. You yourself was anraged when we found Thatch's body.
-But I didn't go after him. If I had accompanied Ace…
- We would have even less chances going out of this alive with you, on the scaffold with him. We will do it, little brother. We will do it.
The door opened at this instant on Karasuma.
-I'm intruding? Asked the man.
-No, just my little brother who needed a hug from his dear big sister.
-You are an abhorrence of nature, Cassandra, I hope you know it, yoi, grumbled Marco straightening up.
-Whose fault is that?
-Thatch?
-He didn't do it alone!
Marco shook his head and stood up, arranging his kimono on his long silhouette.
-A problem? Asked the Phoenix, crossing his arms in front of the kimono.
-Red Eye just quit.
-So ka.
Ace joined the group in the arcade of the inn, in a kimono.
He had a smile hearing Kanzaki explain, while she utterly killed the high score of a gaming machine, that she probably was too attentive to the appearances, and that she was finally swallowed whole by them.
-Ace-kun helped me realize on his own way, she said. "You don't have to try to answer to the expectancy of the others. Just be yourself. Your origins or the label you were given aren't important, no one else than you have the right to chose who you are. If you fight for it, you will emerge grown up." He is a little gruff and hard to talk to, but behind the appearance of 'I can kill you if you bother me', he is a nice boy.
-I'm happy to know that I'm a nice boy. I heard a lot of thing in my life, but never this. Thank you Kanzaki-chan!
-Kya!
The surprise made her lose the game.
After all, no one had heard Ace join them.
-Since when are you here? Sugino asked.
-Not long, I just arrived. Is there something wrong with me, Nagisa-kun?
Nagisa had only eyes on a point on Ace's chest. A painful and huge scar, just on the heart.
The girl skept just in time the scream from coming out when they saw it.
-How…
-Oh, this?
Ace put a hand on his chest.
-Aren't you supposed to be the fire? Karma asked.
-I'm not the only one to have similar powers. Light, sable, smoke, ice, darkness… and lava.
Ace turned sighing.
-Sakazuki. Code name Akainu. I had a simple choice to make. Stay on the ground and maybe live. Or stand up, and die. I chose death. Because I didn't want my stupid little brother to die, after everything he did to save me.
He removed the jacket of his kimono, making the part above slid, showing his back. The huge mark of the Shirohige was there, in his skin and damaged by a scar alike to the one on his chest.
-The fist of magma entered in my back, to come out of my chest.
Ace put back his clothes on.
-I don't regret this choice. I prefer it to be me rather than him. Good evening.
And he walked out humming softly.
-Ace!
Ace didn't answer. Karma and Nagisa rushed out of the room… to see that he had disappeared.
XxXxXxXxX
Karasuma didn't look up from his papers when he sensed Ace sit beside him.
-Someone is hiding, muttered Karasuma, still searching what to do for the next assassinations.
-Maybe, not that it concern you, mumbled Ace staring silently at the match of ping-pong before him.
Karasuma raised an eyebrow and continued the study of his papers.
-Karasuma-sensei, come play with us! Called the players.
Karasuma noticed from the corner of his eyes Ace's gesture to make sure his kimono was hiding his chest. The teacher though about the match, and then decided.
-Why not. But I'm warning you, I'm very strong.
He stood up and took the racket he was given.
The youngs had the right to have a pause.
The door of the room opened at this instant on Sugino, breathing hard.
-You didn't see Ace?
-Well yes, he is…
Ace had disappeared again.
-He was there a second ago!
-What's happening? Karasuma asked.
Sugino hesitated, then said:
-We… we saw the why he was convalescent, when he seems to be so well… and…
-So ka, cut Karasuma. You warned Marco-san?
-Kayano went to see him.
-If there is something to do, he will do it. They are bad memories, you can understand that he want to be a little alone.
To distract their minds, Sugino and Nagisa played the game of a ranking of the favorites girl of the class, organized by the others boys. Kanzaki was of course first.
-What I'm interested in is, to know who like who, announced Maehara.
-I can't decide! Moaned Okajima who was fussing behind them.
-Other than Okajima.
-On your side, Sugino-kun, it's going well with Kanzaki? Asked one of the boys.
-With everything that happened, not really, confessed Sugino.
-And you Nagisa?
-Bo-boku?
-And you, Maehara! Attacked Sugino.
-Me? My lips are closed…
But he raised three fingers which meant everything.
-You bastard! And the fact that you are a popular guy is even more annoying! Roared another boy.
Maehara stuck his tongue at him at the moment when Karma came in the room.
-You found him? Asked Nagisa.
Karma opened his soda sighing.
-Cassandra-nee-san told me to give up. To leave him alone, just for tonight. Tomorrow, it will be like nothing happened… muttered Karma.
-You still didn't find Ace? Wondered Isogai.
-You see him somewhere, maybe? Still… what are you doing, you seem to have fun?
Suspicious looks were thrown toward Karma, but the subject was abandoned to go back to the girls:
-There is a girl you like?
Karma took the list, read it quickly and thought about it.
-Okuda-san, probably.
Surprising!
-Why?
-She can make strange substances and chloroform. With this, my misdeeds could go further, it's a good reason, isn't it?
It was more a good reason to prevent the birth of said couple.
We could perfectly see Okuda in witch's clothes on a leaky cauldron, and beside her, Karma, as a demonic prince…
An image that send shiver down their spine.
So, the ranking had to stay between them and not leak. They had to make sure that neither Koro-sensei or the girls find out about it.
Scratch that, Koro-sensei was spying them.
They looked at him taking note, then go away. The boys reacted immediately and chased after him.
It was effectively their teacher, him and his love for gossip.
On the girls' side.
-The boys we like…?
-Yes! School Trip are made for this!
-Hai, hai! Me I like Karasuma-sensei! Said the redhead Kurahashi.
-Hai, hai, but that is the same for everyone, him and Marco-sensei… in two different styles.
-That's true… Marco-sensei is so… zen, laid back compared to Karasuma-sensei! It look like nothing can surprise him.
-I was talking about the boys in the class!
-Ehhh…
-I find that Isogai and Maehara aren't bad looking…
-You think? It's true that Maehara is cute, even if he play on several field at the same time. Wouldn't it put Isogai-kun first?
-Karma has style too! If only his comportment was different…
It was true that Karma was rather evil in a sense.
It make the girls sigh.
-Demo… he isn't that scary, defended Okuda.
-Usually, he is calm, approved Kayano.
-What is he, a wild animal? Asked a girl.
-No, the wild animal, it's Ace! Sometimes he look at you in such a way that you would believe you are before a beast! Roooar!
-Kyyyaa! He is cool, styled, everything in him scream so "Bad Boy" that I melt! Giggled the blond.
-Strangely, I see him more leaning toward boys, said Kanzaki.
All the girls looked at her surprised.
-He may be very masculine, but his constitution is rather slim, maybe not as much as Nagisa-kun, but still a lot. And he has something fragile in him, something broken, unstable. When he walk, it looks like he is trying to hide something heavy and shameful. The other day, I saw him break a mirror with his fist, to not see his reflect anymore. This side of him make people want to protect him…
-It's a point. And the strength count for him, from what I understood. He will search someone that can rival with him, above a weak and defenseless girl.
-He has everything of a boy coming from a manga yaoï… opined the otaku of the class with a giggle. And what about you, Kanzaki?
Kanzaki was surprised.
-Me… I don't like anyone in particular.
-Eeeeeeeh! Honto?!
Kayano jumped on her and the poor Kanzaki was interrogated under tickles.
-Oi, girls! said Irina from the entry of the room. It's supposed to be the hour for light out soon, well, something like that. It's not like something like that will prevent you from chatting. Don't make too much noise.
And Irina began to close the door.
-Sensei will drink alone, it's not fair!
-Who said she was going to drink alone? Asked Cassandra behind. And anyway, we are adult.
-So da! Bitch-sensei! Cassandra-nee-san! Tell us some adult stories!
The two blonds shared a glance.
-What ?
-Well, it will be more interesting than your usual classes! Pointed a girl. And we know so little about you two…
-How dare you… hissed Irina.
One girl passed behind them and pushed them in the room.
Some minutes later, some snacks were laid out on the tatami and the two adults were savoring their drinks.
-Uso! Exclaimed the girls.
-I'm serious.
-It's not possible! You say you are a little over fifty and you appear only as being twenty-five! You're pulling our leg, Cassandra-nee-san!
-Marco is forty-four.
-That's crazy… how are you so young looking the both of you?
-Let's say that I know how to take care of myself. For Marco, it's his power that is like that. He isn't some nameless bird with fire on it. It's a phoenix…
-Kyya! That's amazing!
-And you, Bitch-sensei, how old are you?
-I'm twenty.
-Nanda!
-With all your experience, we expected you to be older.
-True, you're like a black widow.
-With the sex appeal of a black widow, I… WHO CALLED ME A BLACK WIDOW?!
-A little late on the upgrade, Irina-chan…
-Listen to me, the charms of a woman have a short live expectancy. You were lucky to be born in a peaceful country, unlike me. Be grateful and live your life as a woman happily.
Oh. My. God.
-Bitch-sensei said something decent and meaningful, said a student.
-That's fishy… commented another one.
-Don't mock me, brats! Irina got angry.
Cassandra leaned against the wall and gazed at the moon.
-I had the luck you had, but I gave it up stupidly by going too fast, sighed Cassandra. I was young, I was bright, I was cute, but naive. I was two years older than you when I get pregnant. My parents threw me out in the streets and didn't want anything to do with me anymore. My dream to become a great doctor shattered with them. I was going to make loan, with what I still had, when the bank was attacked by robbers. It's this day I met my new family. Marco must have been eleven or twelve. He had a gun against his temple, but he fought back like a lion. He was with a pirate, Edward Newgate, and a boy a little younger than him. Thatch. Thatch took a lost bullet during the fight. I healed him and Edward took me on board. In less than a month he became my new father.
The girls were hanging to her lips.
-I saw some horrors in this world, but I stayed strong. At night, I woke up with a jolt hearing the boys screaming in their sleep. When I tried to calm them, they curled up in a ball, asking for pity, ready to anything to not be killed. I saw them grow up and stronger in spite of their past. I saw Marco try to tame the Phoenix in him. I saw others people join our family. Some, a lot even, died with the passing of time, but we continue to move forward, for them… They are my loving family, and I wouldn't trade them for anything.
She looked at her left hand, and her pinky visibly shorter than the one of her right hand, beside of her skin being damaged.
-During a fight with the authorities, I stumbled on my big brother. I'm only the head nurse. I don't fight. I know how to defend myself, but I don't go searching for a fight. I was only evacuating the hurt people when my brother confronted me. My older brother. Blood and skin. He tried to kill me without any hesitation. My colleagues did what they could for my finger, but nothing could heal what I was feeling in front of the attitude of my own brother. Marco came to see me and without a word, he took me in his arms. That's why even with all the obstacles, we stay close-knit and we continue to step forward. This link between us is our strength and our weakness. But it keep us standing.
The girls found this story touching.
-Don't bother to ask, I won't talk about Ace.
-Ooooh… said the girls dashed.
Cassandra smiled and the girls directed their attention on Irina to who they demanded a story on one of her lover. She began to tell an adventure from when she was seventeen when she noticed a big pink thing in a kimono among the girls.
-Oi, you there! What are you doing among the girls! Screamed indignant Cassandra.
-Don't intrude on girl talk like that! Roared Irina.
-Eh! Don't be so hard, I want to listen to your stories… Yours was moving, Cassandra-san, you have an amazing little brother… smiled Koro-sensei.
-Tch.
-And you then, Koro-sensei! Said a student. You never say anything about yourself!
-True, that's not fair…
An accusing finger made Koro-sensei step back.
-Sensei, you must have your own love stories!
Second accusing finger.
-That's true! You like big boobs! You must have had a crush on someone!
Others fingers were pointed on the pink octopus.
And he ran away.
-He escaped this bastard! I will make him eat his tentacles, roared Cassandra taking her scalpel from her sleeves.
-Catch him, make him talk and kill him! Screamed Irina pulling out her own anti-sensei knife.
In the corridor Koro-sensei was attacked on two fronts. One side, the boys who were after him, and the other the girls. It became chaos, from which Koro-sensei escaped by joining Karasuma and Marco.
Marco wasn't in fact happy to be bothered during his meditation.
-If you don't want something to be set on fire during my rebirth, leave me meditate in peace, please, Koro-sensei. Or I could also decide that my talons would be a good thing to add to your neck and rip it, yoi, Marco hissed to the idiot who was hiding in the room.
-Sorry… it was close.
Marco closed his eyes again.
-What is the meaning of all this noise? Demanded Karasuma.
-The students are trying to make me talk about my love stories. I have by the way hear a very beautiful story about you, Marco-san! I cried hot tears…
Marco preferred not to ask. If he needed to know, Cassandra would tell him.
-Love stories?
Koro-sensei pulled out a sweet of his sleeve and eat it.
-In the past, I had a love life. More than I could count on my hands and feet.
-These stories… they date of the time you still had two hands and two feet? Asked Karasuma.
Marco opened an eye sensing the mood darken.
The air was smelling of regret.
-No, let's no go father, judged Karasuma. Anyway, I suppose you don't want to talk about this.
-You are a wise man, Karasuma-sensei. Even if we are on a trip, that's still rude to ask question about the number of someone's appendices… as much as asking to someone to talk about the time Marco-sensei wasn't yet Fushisho Marco, or even to question why Ace-kun and him wake up during the night screaming.
-I will only say it one time. Ask anything about Marine Ford, directly or indirectly, and I kill you, yoi, hissed Marco. I was ten when I found myself with my wings. I doubt I lived anything interesting enough before then to make a book, yoi. And for Ace, leave him alone, he has enough problems as it is.
He went back to his meditation, ignoring the echoes of his ex-masters' screams in his ears blending with the explosions of Marine Ford.
Kayano had just went to sleep, leaving Nagisa alone at the window.
Karma joined him and signaled him to not make a noise, before leading him to another opened window. There he signaled him to listen.
Someone was singing on the roof.
Ace.
Nagisa pointed the room to Karma who shrugged. He signaled the roof with his chin.
Nagisa nodded with hesitation.
They opened the window a little more ans slid on the tiles in front of them. Karma helped Nagisa to climb on the roof of the inn… and a hand closed on Nagisa's wrist.
-You're stubborn, damn it… groaned Ace helping them climb on the roof.
-You found a good perch! Commented Karma.
Ace shrugged and went back to sitting on his place, a pout on his lips. The others two flanked him smiling at him.
-You must feel alone here. We came to give you some company, Nagisa told him as Karma was getting comfortable.
-The teachers will have a heart attack when they will find us… snickered Karma.
Ace shook his head, and leaned back.
-Maybe, maybe not… all of that depend on if they find us.
