CHAPTER 4
Houki was running. Running as fast as she could. Her breathing was heard loudly as she ran in the infinite darkness, with only herself as a light in it. But she felt as if she was running for an eternity in the middle of nowhere. Adrenaline rushed through her like a raging current, like she was on the run from something. Her loud footsteps were heard with each step that were of one second from one another.
By the time she made her way to an opening, she saw Raiden and Ichika, the former in his IS and holding his broken gunblade in his left hand. His IS looked as if it had seen some battle, in fact it was the same look Raiden had from the forest battle that he had fought with Phantom Task.
She ran up to them before she stopped to catch her breath.
"Ichika. Raiden. What's going on?" Houki asked.
But strangely enough, there was no answer from either of them. Houki looked at her childhood friend who was only looking at Raiden, who was standing in the middle of some chamber in a building that had a hallway behind him. Houki was confused as to what was going on yet as she looked at Raiden, she saw him smiling at her.
This smile was not of a smile of relief to see her though. It was a sad smile. Like something was going to happen. That terrible feeling rose up slowly in Houki as she looked at Raiden with more confusion, if not a little despair, wondering what was going on.
Raiden then holds his right hand up as a white light shines from it. Houki looks to see a clear ice crystal wall for up. She then gasps of what Raiden was intending to do.
"No, please. Stop!" Houki tries to run to Raiden but the wall blocks her.
"Get back, Houki." Ichika says as he grabs her and drags her back, but the vixen was beginning to thrash around.
"Let go, Ichika! Raiden, please. Don't leave me." Houki said as she attempted to activate her IS.
Before she could though, she saw Raiden with a smile directed towards her and her alone. It was a smile of acceptance of fate that was waiting for him and Houki did not like it. She did not want to see that smile though. Because that smile from Raiden only bore a bad omen.
"I know your sister would wish the same as me." Raiden said. "That you and Ichika live happily. All those years as your beloved, only to fail you. Not again. Locked doors and long distances will seal your fate no longer."
"Raiden, please…" A teary-eyed Houki pleaded. A shaking was heard from down the hall before Raiden turned to Ichika.
"My hope goes with you now, Ichika Orimura. Take care of her for me." Raiden said. Ichika nods as he attempts to take Houki away.
Raiden then turns around and faces forward, ready to meet his destiny as the shaking grew intense before a massive explosion occurred from its direction. The doors burst open as it reveals the IS Black Knight. Madoka brings her left fist over her chest and gives a mock bow to Raiden whilst dragging her blade across the floor in front of her to make a half-circle.
She and Raiden give a short glare to one another before Madoka brings her sword up and charges forward at Raiden, while the blind pilot soon tossed away his broken gunblade. As she got closer in an attempt to make the strike, Raiden brought his left hand up and blasted from his fingertips a strong streak of lightning directly at Madoka's chest, thrusting her back against a pillar before falling to the ground.
Madoka however shrugs it off as merely a scratch, gets back up, and charges back in. Houki and Ichika watch from behind the wall as the former insisted to watch.
Raiden fires another streak of lightning with both hands this time but Madoka blocks it with the surface of her blade held up against her. She slowly starts to advance forward towards her intended target.
"Behold the lion king…" Madoka said as she edged herself closer and closer. "…who hoarded tranquility within his precious walls."
Raiden increases the lightning pressured on Madoka but it does little to ease her advance.
Madoka then asked, "Where is your tranquility now, king?"
Madoka then manages to get up close and personal to Raiden despite him intensifying the lightning to no avail as Madoka put up a strong resistance to it.
"Here is your peace, by steel's swift descent."
Bashing her blade against Raiden made him stager and turn around, his lightning now rendered useless. At the same time, Madoka spins around with her blade turned upside down. Houki runs up to the ice crystal wall yet gasps at what happens next.
In an instant sound of flesh being pierced, Madoka performs a backward pierce right into Raiden. Houki screams as Ichika holds her and makes her turn away, as he witnesses his best friend killed. Madoka roars in triumph from behind her IS' helmet, like that of a dragon, as she pushes the blade further into Raiden, the lion struggling against the wound.
Raiden slowly looks up to Houki and Ichika and gives that same small sad smile to the both of them. The last threads of life now faded away from him as his smile kept showing.
Madoka pulls her sword out of him in a spin and pushes him to the ground dead, a triumphant smile emerging across her lips as she looks on with an evil smile. Ichika then decides to leave with Houki in toll, the girl screaming to go back.
All Houki could do was scream before everything went white.
Houki sits up from her bed with a loud gasp. Breathing hard, sweat pours down from her body like a leaking faucet. After a few breaths, Houki looks to see the time was 5 o'clock in the morning. The morning rays were just emerging over the blue sky as it was illuminated. She also looked over to the other bed that was occupied by another roommate, which was none other than Charlotte. By orders of Chifuyu, Charlotte was to occupy Houki's room to provide comfort, at least for the time being until Raiden had been rescued.
A week had already passed since Raiden was captured. The IS Academy was quiet and not the same without Raiden there. It took a while for everyone to get use to the fact that Raiden was captured by Phantom Task and in an unknown location. Chifuyu would use every resource at her disposal to search for Raiden but so far, she has had no luck. This fact made Houki even despair a bit more, but she was always comforted by her friends, who don't wish to see her suffer like this.
Houki looked at her own two hands before she saw the tears from her eyes fall onto her hands, every drop heard with each tear fallen. She could not shake off that image of Raiden impaled, of how he purposely put up that wall for her and Ichika to escape. What did he even mean by failing as her beloved? What did he even mean to her and Ichika living happily together, that it was the same wish as what both he and Tabane wanted? Was this what he thought of her or what she thought in her heart?
Houki could not find the answers to those millions of questions she had. She only choked on her own sorrow, bringing her hands to her face as the tears continued to pour out.
Someone then came up from behind Houki and hugged her tightly, in an affectionate comforting manner. Houki knew this familiar presence was Charlotte, as she had been comforting her almost on every night, especially when she started having nightmares. Charlotte began to pet Houki's head into comfort, like a mother would do for a child, whilst Houki buried her face into Charlotte's bosom.
And the rest of the morning followed with the quiet sobs of a vixen missing her lion mate as she was hugged by Charlotte.
OP song: Suara – Musouka (For reference, look up on YouTube Utawarerumono Opening)
(Four loud bangs of metal are heard in four images in red. The first being the iron tessen; the second Cecilia, Rin, Laura, and Ichika; the third Tatenashi, Charlotte, and Houki; and the fourth being Raiden as he looks frontwards to the camera)
Kodomo no koro no yume wa iroasenai rakugaki de (Like the 1st opening of Infinite Stratos, it starts with the camera viewing the water as it moves forward before it views up to see the IS Academy until a flash of white)
Omou mama kakisuberasete egaku mirai e to tsunagaru (Ichika and the girls, in their IS, fly across the sky like the 1st opening before the scene changes to Raiden looking at the sky, viewing from the IS Academy campus as the camera zooms into him before zooming out, as the camera pans upwards with the leaves before it changes scene)
(Opening title is presented as Infinite Stratos: Kingslayer)
Sumiwataru sora hateshinai hodo aoku (Raiden is viewed on the rooftop with some sake)
Mujaki na kokoro ni mitasare hikareteku (Raiden is viewed closer before he turns to look at the camera with a smile)
(Houki is shown three times in three images, each image bringing her closer to the screen)
Yagate jiyuu ni tobimawareru hane o te ni irete (Tabane is shown with holographic butterfly wings as she flies to the moon and spreads her wings out, the glitter of light coming off as the camera pans outwards while her image turns to the camera with a smile)
Muku na hitomi wa motometeku (Miriam Walker is shown for a few seconds before the camera moves closer as it shows Akane Fujimoto's back behind her)
sora no mukou e ikitai na (Ichika flies across the sky as he comes down with Yukihira Nigata SCENE CHANGE Raiden is shown activating his IS Sovereign Spirit as he points his gunblade to the camera as if giving the signal to charge)
Tomedonai negai kara (Houki slices an ATLAS as she goes through the horde, slicing and dicing with her two katana swords)
hitotsu dake kanau no nara (Cecilia, with her Starlight sniper rifle, hits a ATLAS with a butt of her rifle before turning around and firing two shots to more incoming ATLAS chasing her)
Dare ni mo yuzuritaku wa nai (Rin slices a couple ATLAS in a spin before she fires another with her Shock Cannons SCENE CHANGE Tatenashi slams to the ground with her spear stabbed as a group of ATLAS are destroyed)
yume o tsukamitai to omou yo (Laura slices another ATLAS with her wrist blades as she grabs another with her cables and flings it up SCENE CHANGE Charlotte is seen prepping her sniper rifle, ready to fire at the ATLAS thrown to her before the scene changes to a brief white screen)
Kodomo no koro no yume wa (Raiden is shown at night viewing the IS Academy as the sakura blossoms flow gently in the wind)
iroasenai rakugaki de (Tatenashi and her little sister Kanzashi are shown underneath a cherry blossom tree looking upwards to the sakura blossoms while enjoying some sake)
Itsu made mo kakitsuzukerareta (Chifuyu, Yamada-sensei, Scott, Jake Jackson, and the rest of the IS Academy students are shown in front of their school as the camera moves right to left. SCENE CHANGE The villains of the story are shown as the camera moves from the lower left corner to its opposite side, mainly Phantom Task all the way up to the main villain whose image is obscured in shadow)
negau mirai e to tsunagaru (In quick time montage scenes, the Kingslayer is shown three times as the camera pans outwards with the quick time scenes in between as the creature roars with flames decorating the background. First quick time image shows Project Akuruka, the next ancient fossilized remains of a winged and spiked lion, the last one the Eternal Throne from the Vault and the IS Sovereign Spirit sitting on it while imprisoned in crystal. The last scene ends with an image of GRIEVER unleashing the satellite weapon Amaterasu onto the Earth as all turns white)
(The camera moves upward to show Houki in her shrine maiden outfit with the iron fan in her hands as she dances with sakura petals falling as the scene fades to black with the petals still falling.)
School had proceeded as usual for everyone at the IS Academy. And yet while the atmosphere was supposed to be normal, there was one seat up front and center that was missing. And it had been like that for a full week.
Everyone though remained focus on schoolwork. They could not let a single person gone for long get the best of them. These girls and Ichika were not so easily duped, except for one.
Houki remained, for the past week, dull and quiet. She was not like herself, but it was easy to read her by most of the students. A few tried to approach her for comfort, the person IS pilots included, but she shrugged them off and told them she was fine. But to those who knew her, they knew it was the opposite. As such, Chifuyu encouraged everyone to keep an eye out for Houki and attend to her well-being, while she redoubles her efforts to find Raiden in her after school hours. Scott assisted her with his CIA contacts, knowing that Raiden would leave Houki to her friends to be taken care of.
Charlotte and Tatenashi stood outside Houki's dorm room, along with everyone else. Charlotte knocked a few times on her door.
"Houki? Are you there?" Charlotte called out. But there was no answer.
"We are all going out together this evening for some shopping. Do you want to come?" Cecilia asked. Again, there was no answer.
"Guess we got no choice. Hang on." Tatenashi said as overrode the lock to Houki's room and the door opened. By the time they entered the room, they could only see what became of her.
Houki was in bed with her thick blankets wrapped around her. Her hair was a huge mess, looking like it was barely combed nor washed.
A few of the girls were a little shocked at this turn, but perhaps Ichika was more surprised at it. He could not hep but look out the window and wonder where the hell Raiden is, asking if he has the right to make Houki, Ichika's childhood friend, suffer like this because she misses him so much.
"Houki…" Rin said. "Like Cecilia said, we are all going to go out shopping. Come with us."
Houki only gave a quiet moan of refusal. It was a kind one but it was one easily perceived as not wanting to go out. Tatenashi sat by Houki as she patted her head gently.
"Please, Houki…It's what he would want for you." Tatenashi said. Houki gave it a long thought before she gave her answer.
"Alright…" Houki said. She was then led to the bathroom by Tatenashi and Charlotte to give her a clean wash and makeover.
A FEW HOURS LATER…
"Looks like we got all the stuff we needed." Ichika said while carrying the bags.
"Magazines, cosmetics, food, stationaries. I admit that this is quite convenient." Rin said as she looked at the list. It was quite long for what everyone needed.
"We're still fortunate. If it was the Instructor who needed these things, we'd probably be roasted alive in the fires of hell by now." said Laura.
"You say that but it's excruciating to carry this much luggage." sighed Cecilia due to how tired she is.
"Yeah, and I'm hungry. Alright. Let's have a bite there." Ichika pointed out to a nearby diner.
"Welcome!" greeted the waitress. "Table for eight, right?" The waitress led them to their table as they all sat together.
"This…is called a diner, isn't it?" asked Charlotte as she sat next to Cecilia. "I always wanted to go to a place like this!"
"What is this 'diner' place?" asked Cecilia.
"Let me see. Think of it as a place to eat." Ichika said. "It is quite popular with everyone due to its reasonable prices."
"A place to eat you say." said Cecilia. "I must say that there are quite a variety of customers here."
"There are families. Couples. Workers. And those who are the same age as us here. Well enough about the observation. How about thinking about what you'll order."
"Okay!" Everyone exclaimed except Houki, who kept quiet for much of the time. Tatenashi was sitting right next to her and kept her strong watch on her. She had practically been doing that for much of the time now.
"Oh my!" exclaimed Cecilia as she examined the menu. "They even have pictures in the menu."
"That surprised you?" asked Ichika.
"Yes. But the fact that there's no need for reservations nor proper dress code surprises me even more."
Ichika could not help but chuckle sheepishly. "C-Cecilia, I see that you've been raised quite well…"
"I find this more interesting." said Charlotte as she shared the menu with Cecilia. "Look they eve state how many calories each dish has!"
"That is indeed wonderful!" Cecilia said. Then their moods soon turned dark and depressing.
"But, many of the foods here carry quite a lot of calories…" Charlotte said fearfully.
"One dish will ruin your daily needs…" Cecilia agreed.
Ichika tries to lighten their mood. "W-Well, it'll be alright if you exercise, right?"
That however did not help at all. "You make it sound so easy, Ichika…" Charlotte said.
"How ridiculous." Rin spoke up. "I'm gonna eat what I like. At times like these, it's better not to be so strict with yourself."
That served to bring the mood back up. "You're right, Rin! That's that!"
"W-Well, there's the tuning later so..." Cecilia said as she and Charlotte went back to the menu.
"I guess I'll order the avocado and seafood pasta!" said Charlotte.
"Oh you've already made up your mind on something. Ehhehe." Ichika sheepishly laughed.
"I think I'll settle for the Garrett set." Cecilia decided.
"Garrett?"
"It is a crepe made out of buckwheat flour." Charlotte explained. "With hams and eggs and then cooked as it is."
"It's a crepe, huh. Quite a feminine choice, I see."
Laura suddenly stood up from her seat.
"Hm? Is something wrong, Laura?" asked Ichika.
"I…I really need to go to the toilet." Laura said as she took off.
"So, Rin. Still picking Chinese today?" asked Ichika. But that did not sit well for his 2nd childhood friend.
"Huh!? What made you think I always go for Chinese!"
"But, the Chinese dishes here look delicious." Charlotte pointed out.
"Huh. Oh, I see." said Rin on second look. "Yeah. They do look good. Then I choose chop suey!"
"But that is a Chinese dish!" Everyone exclaimed.
"Now, now. So, Ichika, have you settled on something?~" Rin asked.
"I was thinking of ordering a classic Japanese set but…"
Everyone continued to share their orders as usual, except for one who had remained quiet the entire time.
Tatenashi kept an eye on Houki, who was just staring at the menu aimlessly. The somber expression was still present on her face, her mind in all the wrong places seeking for that familiar presence. At this point though, having seen her best friend in this state for so long, Tatenashi had enough.
She scooted over to Houki's side.
"Houki-chan." called Tatenashi, catching the vixen's attention.
Houki looked up before she felt Tatenashi go behind her and then all of a sudden, tickle her sides and armpits.
"Koochi koochi koochi!"
"Hyaa~?! Guhaa! HA-HAHAHA! STO-STOP IT…AHAHAHA!"
Just like that, they spent two minutes in laughter, and Houki was out of breath when the tickling attack ended.
"Hmm, Houki-chan's reactions are so cute…just like my cute little sister!" Tatenashi said as she hugged Kanzashi who remained unaffected from the tight squeeze as she was looking at the menu.
"Nee-san, I am trying to order here…" Kanzashi said while trying to act cool.
"Mou!" pouted the blue cat. "Can't I at least have a bit of fun with my little sister for a bit?"
Houki could not help but watch and feel a tinge of joy rupture inside of her. She had not felt nor seen anything like this in a long time, not since she and her older sister had a falling out. Though their relationship is somewhat repaired, it was still damaged. Houki never hated Tabane but rather just had difficulty with her since the IS was invented. It had been two years since she last heard anything from her. A small part of her wondered what and where she could be right now.
Houki's mind then wandered back to the need for Raiden as she looked back down into thinking mode again. Tatenashi took notice of this.
"Houki…" Tatenashi said as she gently grabbed Houki's hand. "Remember why you came."
Houki looked deep into herself and reflected the latest events of herself. After Raiden's capture, she spent a couple of days locked in her room alone, spilling out her tears and leaving herself in a bit of a mess. Both Charlotte and Tatenashi have visited her individually a few times to help her, even giving her a bath to wash her oily hair and skin. She hadn't felt this way since she had to be separated from Ichika when they were children, but this was different. She felt more hollow, like something was now gone forever, never to be grasped again.
Feeling the sadness in her heart made it hurt a bit before she brought her hand to her right shoulder, as if she felt a small presence comfort her. There was no one behind her in reality but it felt to her that Raiden was behind her, comforting her with across his face, as if wherever he was, he was thinking of her.
"You're right." Houki said to Tatenashi with a sigh of relief before it was a replaced with a smile, as color returned to her face. "Thanks, Tatenashi."
"Good. Now what are you getting? I've ordered the pork ginger for me and Kanzashi-chan." Tatenashi said, against Kanzashi's wishes who looked shocked comically.
"I think… Houki looked over. "I think I will have the spiced mackerel."
"Good choice." Tatenashi said.
"I'm back." Laura said. Turned out she had to attend to the restroom for a bathroom break.
"Everyone else has ordered. How about you, Laura?" asked Ichika.
Laura revealed. "I'll take the 'Kid's Meal'!"
"WHAAAT!?" cried Rin, Ichika, and Kanzashi.
"But only kids order 'Kid's Meals'."
Laura was surprised. "I-Is that so? However…"
Flashback…
Turns out that Laura went for a bathroom break only to call the Schwarzer Hase for some advice. This kind of trend has been happening too often with her despite giving up on Ichika. Maybe she is just trying to stand out for something or just does not understand society just yet, being a test tube baby and all.
"C-Clarissa! What should I ask for in order to make an impression?" asked Laura on her phone.
"You should ask for the 'Kid's Meal'!" Laura's second-in-command Clarissa advised, though the advice was not so sound. "Men are weak to these gaps! Commander, seeing that you're composed, if you order that, I doubt any man will be able to stand against that!"
"I can't comprehend the details but I'll do as you've advised." Laura said.
Flashback Ends…
"I have no intention of changing my order!" Laura said.
"Okay. Although I'm not so sure if you'll like it or not…" Ichika doubtfully responded.
By the time everyone's food had arrived, Laura was already in awe at the plate served to her. It even came with a small cute bunny toy. Sparks were evident in her eye and around her head, along with a blush face for some odd reason. Rin and Ichika felt uncomfortable seeing this reaction.
Oooh…That's so nice…
"A-Anyways, looks like our food is already here!" Charlotte said.
"Itadakimasu!" Everyone said as they dug in for lunch.
LATER THAT EVENING…
By Chifuyu's order, everyone was gathered one day to one of the classrooms. Taking place just a few hours after school, and after their hangout, the sun was already beginning to set as the red skies took over.
Chifuyu stood face to face with the personal IS pilots with her arms crossed and bearing a serious expression.
"Do you know why I have called you all here?" Chifuyu asked. To her satisfaction, no one responded yet had looks of curiosity.
Chifuyu then reaffirmed herself as she said, "I think it is time you all know the truth."
"The truth?" asked Ichika. "About what?"
"About Raiden's past." clarified Miriam Walker as she entered into the room. Following her was Scott who was right behind Miriam with a projector device.
"But we were all told of it already." Cecilia said. "By his mother inside the IS Core Network."
"You were only told a part of the truth, or rather most of it." Miriam said. "It is time you need to know everything."
Once everyone takes a seat, Scott turns on the projector screen which powered up and revealed all the important information presented on-screen. The first screen detailed Raiden's childhood mainly in the form of videos taken by his father.
"Raiden was born in a typical Japanese middle-class family. His father was a hardworking scientist while his mother, Azumi Hataru, was in the military. Despite their busy schedule, they still spent time with their only child."
Video showed of Raiden as a child playing with his mother, Azumi Hataru, while his father held the camera. The family was in a park as Raiden held his mother's hand, urging her to come along to see something.
"Once the IS was introduced, both parents were drawn to it. Azumi became a test pilot for various IS while her husband studied the IS core. They still made time for Raiden but not as often as they want. To that end, Azumi suggested one of her friends to watch over him: Konomi Tsuhara."
Chifuyu gritted her teeth at that name for she knew who the real person was behind that fake name, unbeknownst to everyone else.
FLASHBACK…
"I'm very sorry to ask you of this, Konomi-san. But I'm afraid Raiden isn't back from school yet…" Azumi said as she poured some tea for Konomi.
"No, no, not at all. I should be apologizing for arriving a bit earlier than usual…" Konomi said. "I got off of work earlier and had nothing else to do. I should've called you though to tell you."
"Coming from someone of your reputation, Konomi-san, it's extremely grateful to hear you say that…" Azumi commented. "With my busy work schedule on the IS, I just don't have enough time to spend with my son. And my husband will be even more busy with his work."
Konomi chuckled a bit. "You sure are quite a frank individual, Azumi-chan. In that case, let me be straightforward with you as well. The value of the IS is too great to ignore yet largely determined by those who seek to control it. And if I'm being perfectly honest, in certain cases those who seek to use it for their own ends almost prefer to deal in works of indeterminate value."
"That is true." Azumi agreed. "I've heard of the recent demands of the Americans regarding trade of IS equipment amongst the Chinese increasing. They're trying to stay at the top of their economical game."
"I believe I may have already explained this when we dined together, but my line of work is not merely a matter of purchasing IS parts and then reselling them. In fact, the largest part of the job involves 'adding value' to the IS obtained. Countries will look to purchase things from still-unknown production managers that seems likely to appreciate in value, then either keep it or sell at a higher price to those who have 'need' of it."
Konomi takes a sip of her tea. "IS make ideal gifts, you see. There are always potential buyers to be found."
"How so?" Azumi asked.
"For example…" Konomi thought. "Let's say America sells an IS at a high price to another country pursuing a particular sort of objective. This country in turn presents the IS to a certain personage without requesting any repayment of a financial nature. Finally, the personage who receives the IS requests services once more, and they are paid handsomely to repurchase it. And so, as everyone profits slightly in their own way, an objectively 'valuable' IS is born. This is the fundamental nature of the process. All of this is to say that, from my perspective, untouched work from an unknown handler is an ideal purchase precisely because its worth has yet to be established…"
"Well then, why not simply trade in the writing of children?" Azumi asked.
"A logical question." Konomi answered. "But it doesn't pay to be too blatant about these things. And on that point, your husband's work has more than enough appeal to attract the viewer's eye if made public. At the moment, the work is not complete, but that's exactly what interests me. If you didn't know me any better, I prefer to purchase chicken eggs and count them before they hatch."
"So then, roughly speaking, what do you think of what my husband is attempting to do…?" asked Azumi.
"It is ambitious, I will say that." Konomi said. "And it will require a lot of time, money, and resources to create it, along with several layers of security to cover it up even from the eyes of Tabane Shinonono. But I would approve of it."
The doorbell soon rang and opened as in stepped in an innocent 6-year old boy with his backpack on.
"Ah, Raiden. Welcome home!" Azumi said as she went over to her son. Gently taking his backpack, she directed him over to the kitchen before Raiden stopped in his tracks and saw Konomi, who was an unknown to him.
"It's okay, Raiden. She's my friend." Azumi told him. But Raiden would not move one bit. It was unknown whether he was afraid of her or surprised. But Konomi had a suggestion to fix this.
She came over to Raiden, bent to his eye level, and opened up a box of hers that was playing music.
"Raiden, do you want some chocolate?" asked Konomi. Raiden hesitantly approaches and takes a small bar as he then retreats past his mother and goes upstairs to his room. Azumi tries to call him out but was too late.
"Does he have any interest in the IS?" asked Konomi curiously.
"Not that I know of." Azumi answered. "But he is smarter than he looks. Almost all of his grades are straight A's."
Konomi could not help but smile as she closed the lid to her music box full of chocolate.
END FLASHBACK…
"From then on, Konomi Tsuhara often came by to take care of Raiden." Miriam said. "She always brought him presents and gifts as a way to get closer to him. I don't know if Raiden knew what she was doing at the time, but it did stand to reason as to who she really was."
"What do you mean, Walker-sama?" asked Charlotte.
Miriam then gave a hefty sigh as she spoke her next words.
"Konomi Tsuhara was, in actuality, Squall Meusel of Phantom Task. Sent by her superiors to recover Raiden's father's work."
Another bomb dropped into the room. Everyone, except for Chifuyu, Scott, and Tatenashi, was shocked that Raiden had fallen into the clutches of a disguised Phantom Task agent. For Tatenashi, it would also connect the history Raiden had with her two years ago back in Kyoto.
"Raiden's life continued on for the next two years after the encounter." Miriam said. "Then one rainy night, the house was suddenly attacked." The next images showed the charred remains of the home.
Everyone except Houki, Chifuyu, and Scott became aghast at this.
"An unknown IS pilot suddenly barged into the door and ambushed the family one night. Both Azumi and her husband were caught off guard and though Azumi put up a fight, she lost her life to the attacker. Raiden watched as both of his parents were killed before his eyes were sliced out by the pilot."
It all made sense. Now everyone knew why Raiden was blind with the blindfold. He actually could not see, not even light. It was just pure darkness behind his blindfold. And yet, they observed he had trained his senses of hearing and smell to replace the use of his damaged sight, giving him a third eye. A human Daredevil some would call him.
This is where Chifuyu steps in to reveal something about that day.
"Before Raiden was killed though, I managed to coincidentally save him."
Everyone turned an eye on Chifuyu.
"Chifuyu-nee, you were there?" asked Ichika.
Chifuyu nods. "It was by chance mainly. But I saw the burning home and heard the cries of a child. When I barged in, I had already processed what had happened. Two dead parents on the floor, a child holding his sliced-out eyes, and the pilot ready to kill him. I fended off the attacker and took Raiden with me to the hospital, where I stayed all night as he was in surgery."
Now everyone knew why Chifuyu cared for Raiden so much and why she had placed him almost on the same level as Ichika in terms of safety and training. It was evident during the Silver Gospel incident two summers ago but the history and reason as to why was not.
"Is that why you canceled some tournaments you were meant to partake in, Chifuyu-nee?" asked Ichika.
"What are you talking about, Ichika?" asked Cecilia who was confused.
"The sight of seeing an 8-year old child with his eyes sliced out left a deep impact on me. It made me realize that despite so many restrictions on it, the IS was still a weapon. A weapon that could be used to harm even children. Because of that, I canceled some tournaments I was scheduled for due what had happened and focused on Raiden's recovery."
"That's why you came home feeling restless all those times." Ichika speculated. "Because of your involvement, you went to the hospital to check up on Raiden and hopefully take him in for adoption."
"Indeed." Chifuyu confirmed. "It's also another reason why I retired from piloting after your rescue from Phantom Task. It brought back memories of that day and I was afraid the same thing could happen to you."
Ichika's mind remembered that day when Chifuyu was competing in the 2nd Mondo Grosso tournament before news reached to her regarding his kidnapping. Using German intelligence to locate him made Chifuyu eventually rescue him in time though the reasons as to why such a kidnapping was orchestrated in the first place still remains unknown. Ichika could remember the relief Chifuyu had upon finding him but Chifuyu learned of one thing that day: fear. Fear of losing another boy and fear of his eyes potentially being sliced out as well.
Chifuyu went back to the topic at hand.
"After Raiden was discharged from the hospital, I pleaded to take him for adoption, but my bosses and the government denied it due to my involvement of the incident with my IS. Thus I was forced to turn him into the orphanage. I made a promise to Raiden that I would be back for him to pick him up when the issue was cleared."
Chifuyu then stopped and lowered her eyes for a brief moment, casting a shadow over them. Everyone took notice of this change.
"Chifuyu-nee…?" Ichika worriedly asked.
"But Raiden…Raiden was not there." Chifuyu said. "Squall had taken him about half a month after I dropped him off."
Another point connected and as to explain how Raiden became associated to Phantom Task. And another point emphasized on why Squall wants him so much. Her unhealthy obsession only adding to the facts.
"After Konomi—no, Squall—took Raiden in, she became something of a parent to him, given of her friendship with his mother. But the treatment would not be what you think of it."
Based on a few pictures and videos taken by Squall personally, it showed Raiden as a child and dressed in maiden clothing. He was sitting on Squall's lap as she stroked his hair and his thighs. Everyone in the room was disgusted at this, Houki most of all. To see her beloved lion as a child undergoing such sexual harassment treatment by a Phantom Task agent.
"You know of the one called M?" asked Miriam. "Or more specifically, Orimura Madoka?"
That perked everyone's ears up when they heard the name M. Ichika especially considering how this twin sister of his is connected to Raiden and perhaps more importantly, connected to his family blood.
"Of all the children Raiden was associated with, M was the closest." Miriam said. "The two of them were like brother and sister. They met at a private terrorist camp operated by Phantom Task in a remote area of Siberia."
"What's so special about this camp?" Rin asked.
"This is where all the subject children of Project Akuruka go to for testing. But it was also in disguise as a training facility for child soldiers." Miriam said. "It functioned as both a training camp and laboratory. It was here where Raiden, under Squall's tutelage, perfected his skills as an assassin."
Images showed young kids in training camp outside in the snow, wearing nothing but typical military garments. Images showed them either training or sparring, along with a few of those images showing the kids injected with Hydra 48.
"But what does M—no, Madoka-have to do with this?" Ichika asked.
"There will be time for that later." Miriam decided with Chifuyu agreeing. "What you should know however is the other one: Autumn."
"What about her?" Tatenashi asked.
"Autumn was both a supervisor to Raiden and also his personal torturer." Miriam said. "She'd torture him on orders from her superiors to turn Raiden into the ultimate weapon, though I suspect she did it for mere pleasure for 'stealing' Squall away from her."
"Stealing?" Rin asked.
"Squall and Autumn share a homosexual relationship but I do not know how far it has gone. In any case, Autumn felt jealous of Raiden due to Squall's obsession so she personally became his torturer. You do not even want to know what he had endured by her hand."
Everyone agreed to that. After all by Ichika's account, Autumn is a sadistic sociopath and her mind is as insane as suicide bomber.
The next slide on the screen read three big words: Operation Asgard's Hammer.
"Operation Asgard's Hammer." Miriam stated. "It was a military juncture carried out by a joint CIA and MI6 task force, along with Japan's Public Security Intelligence Agency. This was to be the place where we flush out Squall's operations in Japan, with the chance of kill or capturing her. But we found something more than that."
"You were there, Walker-sama?" Laura asked.
"Not directly." Miriam answered. "But I did oversee it with the President and his war cabinet in the Situation Room back in the Pentagon."
Photos and videos were flipped through the screen detailing the event. Both showed the situation on the ground and the reactions of the government officials watching. The Situation Room some people would call back at the Pentagon.
"The main purpose of the mission was a kill/capture order on Squall and any other high-ranking officer of Phantom Task. We crippled most of her operations within Japan and had received intel on her hiding place. All went well according to plan, but unfortunately even with a secure perimeter, Squall escaped."
"How so?" Charlotte asked.
"Turns out she knew we were coming and left prior to our assault. We were hoping to catch her off-guard this time." Miriam explained. "Aside from her dead bodyguards and important documents found, we found something else beneath her mansion."
The camera panned over to one of the soldiers in the mansion, along with Akane Fujimoto leading them as they came across a steel door. Planting C4 and taking cover, the door was detonated before they moved in. Flashlights soon showed a child in a ragged one-piece cloth, chains and cuffs wrapped around his arms and neck. Around his neck was a wooden sign, Subject #627.
The young 10-year old silver haired blindfolded boy raised up his head a little to see who opened the door but showed no expression. Akane came over to tend to the child before the unit broke the chains and carried him out, with Akane holding him.
"After finding Raiden, we took him to an American hospital, where Akane Fujimoto, Raiden's rescuer, handled all the paperwork." said Miriam. "It was then decided, on her own personal behalf, that she would take care of Raiden and be his guardian. Our bosses agreed but, on the condition I would be supervising her, considering how reckless she was."
Chifuyu definitely agreed to that with a nod, thinking back on her history with Akane back when they were kids. Middle school was the worst time to remember that as it often resulted in the two of them fighting physically.
"Shortly after Akane decided to bring him in and raise him, she began to teach him her philosophy and teachings. Teachings he still upholds to this day." Miriam said as she showed the next photos of Akane and Raiden together.
(Author's note: Insert soundtrack: Grisaia no Rakuen OST – cigar & coffee)
"It looked as if Raiden was enjoying his life with her." Tatenashi pointed out.
"At first when we found him, he was a mess." Miriam said. "So many bullet holes, slash marks, bruises, and scars that almost seemed to never end. Not only that but he was also severely malnourished and dehydrated. Had to be hooked up to a tube to be fed properly as he never ate his food. It was a miracle he had even survived being trapped there."
"Why such harsh treatment?" asked Charlotte.
"I doubt this was from Squall's doing but rather the other pilots of Phantom Task who were either jealous of him, or just wanted a punching bag."
Miriam then switched back to the main topic at hand.
"For years, Akane looked after Raiden, training him and trying to instill emotion back into him. Although her methods were unorthodox, they worked out in the end."
More photos and videos showed of Akane and Raiden spending time together as Raiden grew up into the fine young man he grew out to be. Whether they were hunting together, going to the shooting range, eating meals, or even training, Akane showed genuine care for Raiden. Many of the people thought she would be equivalent to a second mother to Raiden but to those that knew Akane, they knew that would not be the term to describe her to Raiden. And neither would the term sister.
"Raiden then decided that he wanted to work. That he wanted to follow Akane's path as she did. 'Away from the IS', he would always say. I thought though at the time that was a bad idea."
FLASHBACK...
Raiden was in the kitchen preparing some coffee for Miriam and Akane, who were discussing the most recent mission Akane undertook. Or so the supervisor would like to believe. As Raiden came out with two cups on a tray, he heard a slam on the table by Miriam herself.
"You cannot be serious about this!" Miriam said.
"What's wrong?" asked Raiden.
"Sorry, Raiden." Akane apologized sheepishly. "She found out about you filling for me in."
Turned out Raiden took over the job Akane was meant to be called in for but Raiden took it instead because Akane was not feeling well that day.
"I see." Raiden responded but Miriam was not having it.
"That's it?! Is that all you have to say!?" She cried. "Didn't I always tell you!? When Akane starts doing something stupid, it's your job to stop her! Remember that! You're supposed to be the reasonable one here, not her partner in crime!"
"Calm down, will you?" Akane pleaded. "Drink your coffee or something."
"Raiden! Oh, Raiden, this is exactly what I warned you about! I told you not to let her talk you into anything! I said it over and over and over again! Until I went blue in the face!"
Miriam takes a deep sigh. "Aaah…Weren't you listening to a word I said? How did it come to this? Is the woman blackmailing you or something? Or maybe this is about money? Did you want to cash to play around with? Oh god, I knew I should have been the one to adopt you…What a mess…"
Raiden was unmoved and not out of defiance. "…I'm not sure how Akane explained this, but the first time I took her place out there for her job, I didn't exactly ask permission… It wasn't that different the next time, or the time after that I filled in for Akane on my own initiative She never pressured me to do it, not even once…"
"That doesn't matter." said Miriam. "Akane had a responsibility to stop you."
Akane agreed to that. "Well, I do feel bad…but everyone at least needs their day off of work, right?"
"Don't give me that crap! Listen, Akane! What you're doing to Raiden is no different from what Squall Meusel did!"
Akane could not argue with that. "Uh, when you put it that way…I guess I don't have much of an excuse…"
"Still, this is pretty much the only thing I'm capable of doing…" Raiden said. "I know I'm repeating myself, but I took Akane's place of my own free will, as a way of repaying her… For once in my lifetime, it feels like I'm making myself useful…like there's some actual value to my life… I barely managed to survive this long, you know? I'm not good for much…and of course, I still cannot bring myself to kill…But Akane told me I'm fine the way I am. She taught me to look for the non-lethal way to get things done…"
"…That's definitely the best solution, if you can pull it off. It's something I couldn't achieve myself…But you…just might be able to manage it." Akane said with a confident smile.
"None of that justifies this lunacy!" Miriam countered. "Your life was a brutal nightmare for a long time, but we pulled you out of it! Why would you go right back to where you started!? I can't begin to understand!"
"Well, it's not like you're interested in trying…" Akane said.
"That's not true!" Miriam denied but Akane knew better.
"Sure it is. That's the way it always is with you. You think you understand people, but when push comes to shove, you don't even try to see things through their eyes… You've already decided what the 'correct' choice is, and you'll interpret anything else in the worst possible light. All you care about is cause and effect, see? You don't spare a thought for the actual people involved. Everyone who gives orders for a living ends up that way. If you worry about individuals, you'll always end up going soft. Makes it harder to move the pieces on your chess board."
Raiden noticed Miriam was hurt by the speech so he stepped in to defend her.
"Hey, stop picking on Miri…"
"What? Seriously, whose side are you on, kid?" asked Akane like she actin like a snob.
"You, Akane." Raiden immediately said. "But Miri is just worried about me. So I'm on her side this time."
Akane clicked her tongue. "Seriously? You're too damn soft on women, you know…"
"That's not what this is about. And anyway, shouldn't we try to convince her instead of wasting time like this?"
"Aw, shut up! I've had it with your backtalk!" Akane said. "Hey, Miri! At the end of the day, you're just pissed off because we're breaking the rules, right? Fine, then! We'll just get the kid his qualifications!"
Miriam did not take that well. "Excuse me!? Stop putting words in my mouth! And 'qualifications'? Are you serious!?"
"What do you say, Raiden?" Akane asked her protégé. "Want to get yourself a license to work?"
"Yeah…sounds good." Raiden answered.
"Hold on, Raiden!" Miriam intervened. "Are you really all right with this!? Think it over more carefully! And don't worry about 'repaying' this idiot for anything, okay!? You'll just make the woman's ego worse than it already is!"
"What was that!?" Akane shouted. "You're startin' to seriously piss me off here, you shaggy-headed bimbo!"
"Seriously, don't fight…What a pain…" Raiden stopped the two from going at each other's throats.
"Listen, Raiden!" Akane went all drill sergeant mode. "What do YOU want to do? This is your future we're talking about here! Make up your own damn mind! Don't just go with the flow! Think it over and make your own decision! That's how you make a choice you won't regret!"
"I know…" Raiden said.
"Don't listen to her selfish nonsense! She's telling you to put your personal feelings first, without even considering the effect it has on others!"
"I know… I know what you're saying, Miri…but please, just listen to me… If there is a job that I can handle that gets me away from the IS, then I'll do it. Of course, I don't want to be a burden on anyone, if I can help it…but it's not just that. I want an actual reason to live... I want someone, someday, to be grateful I was there for them…"
"See, look at that!" Akane said. "Fuckin' magnificent! The man's made up his mind, okay!? This is where the women stop squawking and butt out! Let him live his life the way he wants!"
"Just shut up for a minute!" Miriam had enough of Akane but she did not take that kindly.
"What was that!?"
"Raiden, come with me!" Miriam said as she got up and grabbed Raiden by the hand and outside to her car.
"…Huh?" Raiden was confused as he was forced to come along.
"Hold it! Where d'you think you're taking him!?" Akane asked.
"I'm not going to march him into HQ, all right? We're going to talk in private! Don't you dare follow us! Come on, Raiden!"
"Ah! Hey…!" Akane got up.
"Shut UP!" Miriam pulled out her Beretta M9 and fired one off at Akane which hit the wall above her head, making the Mentor stand down and watch as her protégé and Miriam left.
"…Seriously? Look at that…Stupid girl shot holes in the wall… You're not any better than me when it comes to listening to people, Miri…"
15 minutes later…
Miriam and Raiden reached a paved road at the bottom of the road. Miriam's pride and joy – a new green Corvette that had supposedly cost her most of the money in her account – was waiting for us there. She had driven him over to a bridge overlooking a simple lake. The two were outside viewing it, trying to process today's events that had happened. Miriam calmed down at least given that the driving eased off her anger.
"It's not like I don't understand what Akane is trying to say" Miriam said. "I just want to be sure that you are making the right decision in your life. She wants to give you a goal, or a purpose…Something vague to work towards… That's her way of teaching you what it means to be 'strong' I suppose."
Miriam continued her rant. "But this isn't the only road open to you, you know? If you put your mind to it, it's perfectly possible for you to become what you want, even as far away from the IS… Akane might have said this is what you've chosen, but the way I see it, you just haven't found any alternatives yet. You could work at an ordinary company, or a restaurant. You could live a normal life. I'm positive of that…But Akane's the sort of person who can't think outside her own experiences, so she can't help but guide you into her own field…That's what got me so upset back there."
"Yeah…" Raiden said in response. "I understand what you mean, Miri…and I think Akane probably does too… But you know, I once told Akane that I wanted to be like her. When I did, what do you think she said?"
"'The world doesn't need two Akane Fujimotos,' right?" Miriam guess, making Raiden turned to her in surprise.
"You already knew?" Raiden asked.
"She told me about it. 'That idiot. What an idiot. He's seriously an idiot!' She sounded so happy." Miriam said happily, making Raiden do the same.
"I won't take the path of the IS that my parents once had. I'll follow the same path as Akane and make it my own."
"And if you get dragged back into it?" asked Miriam. "What then?"
"If that happens…well, I'll at least figure something out."
Miriam nodded in satisfaction, fully placing her trust into him on that but still unsure about his choice. "I'll ask one more time. Are you really sure?"
"Yeah. I want to pay both you and Akane back properly."
"It's suffocating when you act like you owe me." Miriam said with her eyes closed.
"No worries about it. I won't be able to even repay it. You watching over me from now on is enough."
"Got it." Miriam gave in. "I'll take care of the remaining procedures."
"Thanks, Miri." Raiden said before his supervisor turned to him.
"Your life will be quite troublesome from now on." Miriam advised.
"Hasn't stopped me before, hasn't it? At least a little will keep my life from being boring."
"Try not to be so impudent. Honestly…" Miriam said as she flicked her hair to the wind and walked back to her car.
It was that day Raiden decided his own path, the same path of his Mentor, and become an agent for the CIA just like her.
END FLASHBACK...
"As such, Akane and Raiden went over to America, where Raiden would be applied for the military, mainly the US Marine branch." Miriam said. "Trained under one of Akane's peers, Captain Mary 'Bloody Mary' Rowes, he was given 'extra attention' as they would call it. I will let Stalker explain the rest."
"Scott?" asked Cecilia. "You trained with him?"
"Not exactly." Scott said. "We were both different branches at the time. I was with the Army Rangers while Raiden was with the Marines. But we have both been involved in a few conflicts together in our time."
"Conflicts?" asked Ichika.
"We both met in Afghanistan when we were fighting terrorist insurgents, but ever since then we've moved all over the world from the Philippines to Guam to Bangladesh to even the Korean DMZ. We covered each other's backs."
Scott shows the military photos of Raiden's unit, the Lion Kings.
"Raiden was assigned to the 4th Batallion 2nd Infantry Regiment Marines called the Lion Kings. They would undertake the more dangerous missions assigned to them wherever they went. Raiden was their backup sniper for whenever his unit was on the ground. Killed more insurgents than a noodler catching catfish out in Oklahoma. He had managed to reach the rank of 1st lieutenant."
The last photo showed of the Lion Kings in an African country of sorts.
"The last mission Raiden was in was Mogadishu, Somalia." Scott said.
"What were you doing out there?" asked Rin.
"We were sent for a kill/capture order on a high-ranking terrorist leader surrounded by the militia. It was all hell because they knew we were coming. Raiden nearly lost his unit in their and nearly lost himself too. The mission succeeded but we lost too many men. It was from that battle that Raiden continued onto his Mentor's path."
"What do you mean?" asked Laura.
"Right after Raiden left the Marines, he joined the CIA and took up his Mentor's ID: IQ 542. I promptly joined in about one month later after leaving the Rangers to catch up and work with him. Our skills and reputation got us noticed by the intelligence agency. From then on, Raiden and I went on several missions together with the CIA." Scott said.
"But it still does not explain how he was able to activate an IS and come here to the Academy." Charlotte deduced.
"I can explain that for you." Chifuyu said as she stepped forward. "I was the one who initiated the test right after Raiden was found after much searching."
"I remember." said Ichika. "He told me he was in a similar situation that I was, right?"
"Not exactly." Miriam revealed. "Sure, he was led to an IS that he was to activate. But it more so on the request of his mother's last wish, that her son pilot an IS with the manmade core."
"Why?" asked Laura.
"The core that you all know of was to be kept secret at all costs. Being manmade and all, it was too dangerous to let anyone else pilot it so it was converted and tested by Raiden's parents to ensure it be piloted only by Raiden. They did not want their secret project to be replicated over and over or it would lead to an imbalance of power."
"Once we saw Raiden activate the IS, he was immediately drafted into the IS Academy." Chifuyu took over. "I filled out all the forms for him to enter and gave him everything he needed to learn for the next three years."
Tatenashi then had something to say. "I was assigned as Raiden's roommate on Orimura-sensei's orders to look after Raiden and ensure he was safe here."
"Look after him?" asked Charlotte. "What do you mean?"
"Raiden was in a bit of a prickled mess when he first came. Plus he was emotionless. I was tasked to instill emotion back into him instead of letting his soldier persona that he had inherited take over."
Now it made sense why Raiden was on the 2nd year floor when he first came. After all, if Tatenashi were assigned as his roommate, the reason would not be a coincidence.
"Unfortunately…" Miriam took off her glasses. "Akane would not live to see Raiden attend the IS Academy for all three years."
"Why?" Rin asked.
"Over the years Raiden was taken care of by her, Akane contracted a terminal illness in her heart due to one of her past missions in which she was poisoned. Her last days were not one of Raiden's better moments of his life."
FLASHBACK…
It was already a sunrise by this day. Raiden had returned home after receiving a call from Miriam about Akane's condition. How it had worsened. Raiden knew he was ill but he never knew how Akane contracted the illness and thought it was just natural.
Raiden enters the house and immediately drops his stuff. He is greeted by a relieved Miriam Wlaker.
"Raiden…"
"Sorry I'm late." Raiden said. Apparently he was out on a mission out in Vietnam before he got a phone call from Miriam about Akane's condition and that she had collapsed. He was to return immediately.
"How's Akane?" Raiden asked as he took off his shoes.
"She's been drifting in and out of consciousness since yesterday." Miriam explained solemnly. "The time she spends awake is getting shorter."
"I see."
Raiden soon walked over to Akane where she was resting her eyes.
"I'm home, Akane." Raiden said. "Sorry I'm late."
Akane awoke and saw to her left Raiden with a sad smile on his face. She brought up her left hand as Raiden grasped it gently.
"Welcome back, Raiden." Akane said weakly.
"Hey, Akane. Is it really time for you to go?"
"Yeah…" Akane responded blatantly.
"Weren't you going to decide the meaning of my life?" Raiden asked, with a mix of hurt in his voice.
"I'm sorry, Raiden. I said some audacious things to you, but in the end, all I could do was hone your skills in a shady occupation. And now you're being roped back into that world you never wanted to go back to."
"Didn't you say I still had a long way to go? That I'd barely even begun?" It was noticeable to Akane that tears were starting to show through Raiden's blindfold, evidenced by the wetness of where his eyes were.
"I don't want to lose you like this!" Raiden cried weakly.
Akane chuckled. "As big a crybaby as ever, aren't you? Didn't I teach you that men shouldn't cry so easily?"
"At least let me cry when a woman I care about is dying!" Raiden said.
"Hey, Raiden. It's only when you're about to die that you learn the true meaning of your life. I've said all kinds of proud things, but the truth is I didn't know anything." Akane turns her head back to the ceiling. "It wouldn't have been strange if I'd died at any time, with the way I lived. But, you know… If only vaguely, I think I understand now. I'm a soldier. Soldiers do what they do, then they die. They save a number of comrades, kill a number of enemies, and excuse it all by saying there was no other way. But, Raiden, thanks to that, you didn't have to die. That's plenty, don't you think?"
"Don't be so selfish, dammit!" Raiden said as he held Akane's hand close to him. "After you saved me…That's irresponsible!" Tears poured down onto Raiden's face from his blindfold. "After a life of constant pain, I finally decided to trust you, to try to live for you, and now…"
"Raiden…" Akane said with a smile.
"You were the one thing that gave my life purpose, Akane!" Raiden said. "This isn't fair!"
"It's okay now, Raiden." Akane calmly said. "You can fight and live for your own sake now. As you are now, you can accomplish anything. And even if you fail, you can stand back up as many times as it takes."
"No!" Raiden denied. "I was able to do it because you were there for me! No matter how harsh things were, I had you to come home to!" Raiden's head dips. "Once again, I'm going to lose something precious to me without being able to do a thing. What is there for me in a future without you?"
"You'll just have to find that out for yourself, now that you are attending the IS Academy." Akane answered. "Struggle more. Kick and scream more. That is how life should be. Never try to coast through it."
"I should say that to you!" Raiden said between tears and hiccups. "Don't give up so easily! Don't take the easy way out! It takes all the power out of your words!"
"Raiden, when it comes to soldiers, there are those who abruptly die the day they sortie and those who survive no matter how cruel the battlefield they're hurled into is. The difference is, some are told 'You've done enough. You tried your best,' and are allowed to die. Others are told, 'Not yet. You've still got things left to do,' and aren't. I've gotten permission. Do you understand, Raiden?"
"What's that suppose to mean?" asked Raiden. "Who the hell gave you permission? God?"
"Who knows? Probably." quipped Akane.
Raiden did not want to believe that and did not take the joke seriously. "'God' or 'Buddha', my ass! I never wanted this! If I wanted to, I'll topple every head of every deity doing this to me, even 2,000 meters away!"
Miriam was behind a wall listening with her eyes downtrodden, struggling with her emotions. No tears were shed but perhaps Miriam was ready to have them fall in a moment's notice.
Akane laughed at Raiden a bit. "You're the same kid you always were, huh? Don't make me laugh so much."
30 minutes later…
"She probably won't make it through today." Miriam said to Raiden as he drank a glass of water.
"Is there nothing we can do?" asked Raiden.
"If something could, it would've been done already." Miriam gloomily said.
"I'm sorry." apologized Raiden.
An hour later…
Raiden sat by Akane's side as the skies turned red and the sun rising slowly as ever. Akane was asleep but she was at the final stretch of it all. Her eyes showed signs of dreary, like her final moments were near.
Akane woke briefly to see Raiden. "Raiden, what time is it?"
Raiden looked at his watch on his left wrist. "It's about 16:13."
"I see." Akane said with her eyes closed briefly. "The stars sure are pretty today aren't they?"
Raiden looked outside the window. Though it was clearly sunset, he could not help but see the few specks of stars shining in the sky. This made Raiden give a small smile.
"Yeah, really pretty." He confirmed.
"You know…" Akane said as Raiden turned to her. "Soon after I first brought you here, you snuck out of bed in the middle of the night and looked up at this starry sky, no?"
Akane could remember it clearly when Raiden was just a kid, looking out at the stars at night. This happened almost on a lot of nights but it certainly left an image into Akane's mind of seeing her protégé standing out by the cabin and looking at the stars.
"Yeah." Raiden remembered.
"What was on your mind back then?" Akane asked.
"Who knows? I don't remember anymore."
Akane laughed softly. "Yeah. I figured you would say that." She then gave one last sigh to herself.
"Ah, I'm getting kind of tired. Is it okay if I sleep now?" Akane asked.
Raiden smiled to himself with his eyes closed. "Yeah. Sweet dreams, Akane…"
Akane soon closed her eyes and never opened them again. She was only 25 years old.
END FLASHBACK…
"Akane was then cremated and buried in the same mountain close to her cabin. Only Raiden and I know where it is." Miriam stated. "Shortly thereafter, Raiden began his first year at the IS Academy and I believe you know the rest of the story from there."
It had all come to circle now with Raiden's life, how it all began and where it is now. But the thought of it only made it more dreary, despite the circle being complete.
Miriam then decided to switch topics.
"I am sure you are all well aware of how Raiden's IS has the first ever man-made IS core not constructed by Tabane Shinonono, but by his father and modified by his mother." Miriam asked before all gave a nod in response.
"What about it?" asked Charlotte.
"This IS core is more than just a man-made object sitting inside of an IS." Miriam said. "It stands out of all the cores not just of its construction but rather of its nature. It houses something. Something that should not be possible."
"Houses…something?" asked Cecilia. "What do you mean?"
"I thought Raiden's mother was what was housed inside." Rin said.
"Azumi Hataru is just a manifestation of her will inside the core, to act as a counselor and guardian to the pilot. But there is something much deeper and darker inside than you all know and is the reason for her existence." Miriam said.
Miriam then showed on screen what appeared to be an archaeological dig site. She scrolled through the pictures every 10 seconds.
"These were taken at an archaeological dig site in Mongolia." said Miriam. "It was located at the Tabun-Khara-Obo crater, discovered in the 1960s."
"What would Phantom Task be doing at a crater digging?" Rin asked.
"Rumors about the meteorite that hit and formed this particular crater were not an ordinary one. It was carrying something that was not natural, something not from Earth. Supposedly, it came from beyond the solar system."
"Beyond the solar system?" asked Cecilia. "How is that even possible?"
"Asteroids and meteors are not the only things that can crash onto planets, even though the chances of this can likely be found in some science fiction book." said Scott. "It is highly likely whatever fell to Earth came from a different part of the galaxy, so many light-years away. Its trajectory and destination would have been random due to the gravitational pulls from various planets and stars. It seemed it crashed here on Earth where its gravity was at its strongest."
"But to have come this far…" Cecilia said, as if she was thinking. "Was there anything more about this meteorite?"
"There was." Miriam said as she put up the last photo of the dig site. This photo made everyone's eyes widened and their mouths left open ajar, except Scott.
It was the photo of a creature. A fossil of sorts. It was buried within the rock, its mouth open and one of its claws sticking out. Both sets of its wings were visible within the rock formation. Two pyramid-like shoulders stuck out as its head resembled that of a lion with spikes growing out of its head. Four stuck out on the back of the head while one was up front and center, encompassing much of its forehead. Some of the exoskeleton of the creature remained, mainly on the legs and chest area.
The creature looked very similar in its appearance. For some in the room, they knew what this creature resembled, but the last time they saw it was two years ago at Kyoto.
"That creature…is what fell to the earth." Miriam revealed. "Not a natural meteorite at all. According to the studies, the alien's flesh disintegrated when it crash landed on Earth but its bone structure and exoskeleton remained intact, comprised of a very foreign substance incomprehensible to explain that allowed it to stay in form. Over time, the alien's bones integrated with Earth's crust, fused into the planet and remaining undisturbed."
Miram then revealed one other important fact of information. "Tests showed that the alien crash landed on Earth around 4.5 billion years ago."
"4.5 billion years?" asked Charlotte. "But that makes the alien—"
"About as old as Earth itself." Laura finished her roommate's sentence. "When the planet was still forming."
The room was filled with silence. It was a lot to take in anyway. An alien lifeform that crash landed on Earth when humans were nowhere near existing. And for its bones to remain undisturbed all this time before Phantom Task dug it up. But what this had to do with Raiden is the question many of them wanted to know. Moreover, what did this have to do with Raiden's IS?
"You have all heard of Raiden's One-Off Ability? Akuruturuka?" asked Miriam. "That is what the creature is. An Akuruturuka, an ancient being of unknowable power not of Earth. Something people would call a god."
The next few photos were then different as it showed a group of scientists and young boys and girls strapped to tables and unconscious.
"You have all heard the story of Project Akuruka." said Miriam. "Now you must bear witness to that of what Raiden went through as a child."
Miriam then showed the next slide the title page and symbol that displayed Project Akuruka. Behind the two words was the same white mask everyone saw two years ago, with its familiar two eyeholes, two horns, and a marking on the forehead that showed the upside-down letter of 'T' and two identical vertical lines on the side of the 'T'.
The next slide then showed the creature and its prison of rock in a large lab chamber. Scientists surrounded the structure, studying it.
"After the creature was brought to a hidden lab in a remote location, it was put under heavy study. All the best scientists at work before they decided to extract its DNA and fossilized blood…and inject it into children they held captive."
Ichika gritted his teeth. No child should ever undergo such a harsh treatment, to be treated by scientists as nothing more than an experiment. And to say that the one male he looked up to underwent the same procedure as well.
"How did they even find and capture the children?" asked Tatenashi.
"Many of these children were orphans, either picked up on poor streets or trafficked illegally. Some were bought from orphanages under pretenses of adoption, just like Raiden when he was picked up by them."
A video soon showed a young Raiden, strapped to the table as scientists were watching over him. Multiple syringe needles with purple blood mutagen hung above Raiden's form as they slowly descended into every area of his body from arms all the way to legs. It also included his neck, chest, stomach and head. Slowly but surely, they entered through him and injected the substance into his skin. Raiden twitched a little as he felt the blood go through his skin from all over. It felt like ignited hot oil that was burning constantly yet Raiden held no emotion, no feelings of pain even as he moaned very quietly.
Squall was by Raiden's side as she stroked her favored pet's silver smooth hair. While it looked like she showed care on her face, she just wanted the awaited results of the test, a small part of her hoping this time it would be different.
"Once they have extracted the fossilized blood from the creature, they modified with it by splicing the DNA to extract the harmless and still functioning cells of the entity. Then, by integrating nanomachine technology to it in the form of one micrometer nanomachines, they created a supersoldier serum called Hydra 48. It was meant to increase the human senses and strengths as well as create and install cybernetic implants to increase efficiency."
New images were shown on new slides that showed cybernetic implants constructed and then, via surgery, implanted inside the young children all over their body. But the next images showed a great many children changed in appearance before it showed the process of their skins turning red, red horns sprouting from their heads, their white sclera turning pink and their pupils green with three circles that get smaller and smaller to the iris. Their hands and feet became clawed as their nails extended to being very sharp. Their teeth also became very sharp, like that of a great white shark.
"Usually with these tests, 99% of the children were deemed failures." Miriam said. "The first signs were a change of skin and eye color, along with horns sprouting from their heads. They were driven mad and were unable to be controlled. Thus the scientists deemed them failures and simply dumped them in a pit, to be discarded."
Miriam then showed them that pit where it showed all the test failure subjects. But the images only became more and more disturbing. It showed the mutated children getting into fights like wild animals, even resorting to cannibalism, feasting on each other's body parts. Charlotte, Cecilia, Rin, and Kanzashi turned away from the horrifying site.
"So why is Raiden…not like them?" asked Laura.
"Because of all the subjects, he was the only one whose bonding to the mutagen was a success. He showed no signs of change, only compatibleness. Thus all resources were focused solely on him, with Squall in charge."
The next slide showed Raiden undergoing some tests against some of Phantom Task's best fighters. Injected with Hydra 48 in his body, it showed his compatibleness and his superhuman ability against many of the fighters, which were the discarded children or those yet to undergo testing for Project Akuruka. He left many of them with severe injuries to the point of being near dead or even crying and diagnosed with PTSD.
"As I have said, Raiden was deemed the most successful test subject. About the only one to have succeeded." Miriam said. "it is also why Phantom Task constantly seeks him; just so that they can get him to remain on their side. But the only one he answers to is Squall and she will always look for him."
The next slides soon turned to black before it phased in an out. Wondering if the projector was acting weird, Scott looked into it, but nothing was wrong with it. Soon the next slide showed a video of sorts being turned on and flickering, like it was being adjusted.
"Is this thing on?" asked a voice. "Good."
The video adjusted before it showed Raiden up front and center, in an interrogation room of sorts. His view was directed to Houki, as if he was looking at her dead in the eyes to tell her of something important.
"Houki, my sakura vixen. I cannot imagine what you think of me after hearing all of this. When I was taken at a young age, I faced some bitter truths. I was told that soon enough, I would be released from my captivity. But I could not have been more wrong on my first impression. As time went by, I knew that wheresoever I should go, wheresoever I should hide, Phantom Task, Squall, Madoka; they will always find me. And that by staying here at the Academy with myself at your side, I will have only put you in danger. I knew that if I refused to cooperate, if I took my own life, it would only be a matter of time before Phantom Task realized they no longer needed me to finish what they had begun, even if Squall objected to it. So, I did the one thing that nobody expected: rebellion. I had learned to rebel against the higher ups of Phantom Task by killing them, but I did not learn how to rebel against Squall once she was placed among that position of power. My Mistress is so shrewd that every action I take, every thought I think of, every time I fight, she would find ways to counteract it. In the end, I gave up trying to go against her, resigning to my fate as her pet. I know it is not what you would have wanted. I know the others would say the same. But I do not see any other alternatives. I do not mean any offense, but you do not know just how capable Squall is unlike me."
Houki started to shed her tears at this point, forming up by her eye as she was listening to Raiden's voice that was mixed with much melancholy and reluctance. She hated hearing all of that, it not only hurt her to hear it but it also hurt him. She could hear and feel the pain in his voice even though to most it is easy to not hear.
"What you saw in all those photos, videos, and paperwork is the reason why Phantom Task wants me. They gave it another name: Kingslayer. There is no better term for it. The creature they dug up at the archaeological site in Mongolia, though it was a fossilized skeleton, was still alive. It was just sleeping within its prison of rock, waiting to be awakened at the appropriate time. And now, its blood runs through my very veins due to the injections, combined with all the other nanomachine and drug technology Phantom Task created from it. I can still feel its influence, hear its whispers at night. Thus I began to realize that since the project, I became that creature, a reincarnation if you will. My own humanity robbed from it and never to be reclaimed. There will come a day, a day that is coming soon, when it will be unleashed. And it will require not just you, but everyone to stop it before it brings any more damage than it has already done."
Houki lowered her head and gripped her hands into fists, trying to get rid of that shaky feeling in her chest, the pain in her heart that was evidently present.
"There is a way to defeat this thing inside of me. I've placed a weakness deep within the system of my IS, where the creature resides. A flaw so small and powerful, no one will ever find it, not even Tabane, not even the Kingslayer. But Houki, Houki, if you're listening…My beloved, so much of my life has been wasted. I try to think of you only in the moments when I'm strong, because the pain of not having you with me. Including Charlotte. Including Tatenashi. The pain of that loss is so overwhelming I risk failing even now. It's just so hard not to think of you. Think of where you are. My sakura vixen."
Raiden then directed himself to Chifuyu, almost like he knew where she would be standing in her position in the room.
"Chifuyu, inside Mount Fuji, the Vault, that's the key. That's the place I've laid my trap at. It's well hidden and accessible only to you and Tabane, one activation of it will seal away the Kingslayer. Heed to Miriam Walker, she has the codes with which you can gain access. When the time is right, and it will come, you must use it. This power that lies within me cannot fall into the wrong hands for the wrong purposes. It cannot be destroyed either. Seal this creature away so that I may finally know sleep."
The video soon ended as the screen was turned off. For only a few minutes, everyone remained silent as they were trying to process all what had happened. Their emotions felt like they were sapped away after what had been showed regarding Raiden. With the knowledge of his past now in their heads, it was taking a while to comprehend it all. Even Tatenashi, the one who knew Raiden's past more than most until today, could not help but feel empty like the others. Chifuyu only gripped herself as she closed her eyes and looked down to contemplate on what she had seen. Although she was given information of Raiden by Miriam two years ago, she did not bother to look deeper into it. And now, the responsibility and pressure made it all the more unbearable for her to bear. Now she would have to double her efforts regarding Raiden, who she now sees as a loose cannon.
"For your safety, I'd advise to look after Raiden." Miriam suddenly said as she removed her glasses.
"Why?" Ichika asked.
"He is not what he seems to be. At least in terms of his personality."
"What do you mean, Walker-sama?" Charlotte asked. Miriam then adjusted herself and took a sigh once she closed her eyes and folded her arms.
"Raiden is a child trapped in his past, and not just due to the project or what he had endured under Squall's care." Miriam said. "He thinks that because of what had happened to him that he is worth nothing to anyone, not even to those he loves. He will only see himself as Phantom Task's pet, as Squall would blatantly put it. He'll always put his body on the line to protect the people he cares for. While admirable, he fails to perceive how it affects everyone around him."
The gang could only lower their heads a bit in thought. Countless times have they seen Raiden put himself in harm's way to protect them. But so often has he come back with such injuries. And yet, Miriam seemed right; Raiden was unaware of how it had affected them entirely.
"What makes you think of it that way?" Rin asks.
"It's not an opinion." Miriam said. "It's a fact. It's not that Raiden does not care for the people around him, but rather that he fears getting so close to someone will ultimately break their heart if something bad happens to them. He learned this the hard way when Akane passed away in front of his eyes."
"So basically…" Laura deduced. "He doesn't want to be too close to us because he wants us to live instead of him."
"Precisely." Miriam said. A pair of hands soon slammed the table loudly, which was none other than Houki.
"NO!" Houki cried. Her hair covered her eyes as she gritted her teeth and tightened her fists.
"I don't care if he covers up his emotions. I don't care if he is a Phantom Task pet project or whatever. I don't care what he thinks about us. And most of all, I don't give a damn about his stupid self-sacrificing attitude!"
Everyone was surprised at this retort of what she had seen. Only Miriam and Chifuyu remained unaffected, except the latter had a bit of a chip on her shoulder regarding Raiden, one she kept hidden to herself.
"Even with all this information, it still does not change how I feel. What we all feel!" Houki said. "He is not a killer, even if he claims himself to be. He is a good man, trying to find a light. He has always been there for us, when we needed him most. Whenever something bad happened, he was always there to offer a solution. We all looked up to him!"
"Houki…" Ichika said as his childhood friend continued her banter.
"And most of all…"
Houki then raises her head in prideful proclamation.
"He's the one person I love! I'd do anything to save him!"
The room was then quiet. Hearing that statement from Houki only gave an eerie voice of silence. The only ones that were unflinching were Chifuyu and Miriam who kept their stoic look.
Miriam asked one question, "Then…are you willing to save him even if the whole world is against him?"
"Of course I am!" said Houki. "Nothing will keep me from him."
"So tell me: how much are you willing to sacrifice to even protect him?" asked Miriam sternly. "Will that include the lives of everyone here at the Academy as well?"
This made Houki back off a little as she gritted her teeth to think of something back to say.
"Having just read all of Raiden's history, do you really think you can protect him forever with what you are?" asked Miriam. "You crave for power to protect people like him, but do you have any idea just what kind of cost you will bring with it?"
Again, Houki had no answer for she felt herself hesitate to speak. Her mind was conflicted, like a storm in the middle of an ocean ravaging its waters. For a brief moment, her mind flashbacked to the Silver Gospel incident two years ago, where she nearly lost Ichika due to her craving for power.
"Would you even rescue Raiden even if it meant turning against the entire world? Would you sacrifice the entire human race just to save one?"
It was at this moment that Chifuyu stepped in.
"That's enough, Miriam." said Chifuyu. "She has already gone through that before."
"It doesn't seem that way to me, Chifuyu." Miriam said. "Has she even considered the cost of her actions before?"
That made everyone stand up in defiance to Miriam, in the belief she went too far. Though many were angry, rage clouded Ichika's mind for such an insult to be said onto his childhood friend. Just as they were about to argue back though, Houki pounded her fist onto the table again but breaking it this time with her sheer strength. The CIA agent did not even flinch one bit as Houki slowly walked right up to her, anger and tears filling her eyes.
"No matter what you say or what you do, I don't give a damn." Houki said. "I will save Raiden, no matter the cost."
With that, Houki leaves the room immediately, storming out and marching back to her room. It was all but quiet as everyone was left to their own selves and think about what they had just seen. The days could only grow more and more ominous as they wandered where Raiden is.
At a different part of the facility, Raiden was secured in his IS yet his hands were strapped by long chains that produced electrical currents into him. They did not hurt however as Raiden had become numb to the pain, yet it did jolt him enough for him for Phantom Task's goal of an attempt to return him as an assassin of Phantom Task.
Raiden was not alone as Squall was in the room with him. She was not exactly torturing him, but it was merely part of her training regime to Raiden that she used on him when he was but a child. Torture and pain were clever ideas to use for discipline as it made Raiden numb to it all, focusing past it, adapting to it. Soon pain would be nothing but a memory, a weakness that has left him a cold and emotionless killer.
"Raiden. It is time you knew the truth." Squall said in front of her pet. "Underneath the IS Academy lies a secret only Chifuyu knows…The Rabbit."
This shocked Raiden as his eyes behind his lion helmet widened.
"She…is there?" Raiden asks while being electrocuted. "The IS creator?"
"Yes." confirmed Squall. "And you are going to kill her. Once she is eliminated, nothing will stand in the way of my plans."
Raiden's lion jaw on his IS soon clamps together as does the faceplate. Soon enough, darker colors start to appear on his IS, beginning at the repulsor core and spreading out. Where once Sovereign Spirit was white and silver, now it has turned black and gray, along with an outline of dark purple.
"The dreams of the Rabbit…will come to an end." Squall said with Raiden confirming in a yes. "And your world will be born, at last…Kingslayer."
Squall then comes up close to Raiden and stares right in front of him, asking one question.
"Do you seek my forgiveness and your redemption…Raiden Hataru?"
That was the last straw for Raiden as the eye sockets on his lion helmet of his IS soon gave that familiar purple, fiery mascara. Raiden felt relaxed, like a new purpose overcame both his body and mind. Like the memories of his past life were suddenly swept away into the deep recesses of his mind and he felt empty, hollow. All emotion left him as all was left was nothing but the cold, the feeling of it like ice water from the Arctic.
But Squall had done it. She had successfully brainwashed Raiden. She now has her favorite pet back. It left her a smile on her face as she saw her work come to fruition. It even went so far as to send an exhilarating feeling coursing through her, one that was very intimate for her.
Raiden then asks only one question to his returned master.
"Mistress…what is your will?"
Hiding away yet watching, Madoka leans against a wall and smiles malevolently as her red eye scar glows.
Author's note
So...I believe I owe you all an explanation for breaking my promise for May. Long story short I was incredibly busy.
April: I had a lot of schoolwork and final projects and papers to finish up to which left me no time, especially in the final home stretch.
May: Graduation from College (YAY!) but also moving from apartment back to my parents' home was a pain in the ass. Driving from Tucson to San Jose with my dad was no fun.
June: Started to work for part-time job this summer as a lifeguard. And am also looking for a full-time job in Japan.
Overall, I am so sorry for my silence. But I do plan to upload at least two more chapters by this month. I only ask that you keep reading and commenting on this story. Plus this chapter was a pain in the ass to make since it was about revealing Raiden's past.
Like, follow, favorite, and review at your leisure!
