Conquering Hokkaido
Shinko entered the main lobby of Honnoji Academy expecting to see no one, but when he arrived there were two dozen people all suited up in Fencing Club attire, One Stars but still. They all turned as he entered the room their faceless bodies locking onto his Two Star Goku Uniform like a condor upon a dead bull.
"You're our new cap'n?" one of them exclaimed having seen Shinko before in courtyard without the Two Star uniform.
"Lame," another joined into the disbelief unknowing that the warrior taking charge was probably one of the most qualified to do so.
"Great, there goes our season. On the positive Uzu will have to find us a new-" the sound of a foil sword cutting through the air echoed through the chamber.
All three of the none believers soon looked down as their pants fell to the floor. Shinko appeared behind them foil in right hand as there belts split into dozens of tiny pieces. Red blushes lit their faces before they hustled off to find new belts and/ or string to hold their pants up.
"Don't bother coming back you won't make it in time," Shinko shouted down the hallway as the rest of the Fencing Club, now silent exited the lobby into the waiting carriers.
Shinko sat in the front unknowing of the posh black leather seat that was situated in the back of the glorified troop carrier. Those who had not lost their pants walked in and to their assigned seats one of which happened to be in sequence to the newly appointed captain. A Year One student sat down and looked at his shoes.
This teenager was not faceless in fact it was the opposite, he had a face and it brimmed in tears. Shinko looked over and the child looked up cool green eyes glowing with sadness or was it nervousness?
"You're okay right?" Shinko asked crossing right leg over left. He felt the Kamui under his Goku Uniform shift that way as well perfectly quiet for security sake.
The kid wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at the new Club leader." Y-you're the new Club head right? We're going to lose," it was pessimism that struck Shinko the hardest and here it was again.
"Why do you think that?" the black haired youth asked staring at the One Star Student with a calmness in his eyes. This member did not say anything for a moment pondering the question.' He's upset at me for winning? Man Satsuki knows how to screw up an entire generation doesn't she,' the Fencing Club leader thought as the member cleared his throat again.
"B-Because we haven't had practice for two days," the teen grabbed the foil hooked to his belt, it looked dulled substantially when compare to Shinko's that had come with the Goku Uniform." Shinsuke had us do ten thousand strikes a week on a target to keep our skills and foils sharped but you haven't done any of that sir," he went on to say.
"Let's nip this in the butt real quick, I am a student not a superior. My name is Shinko Kurosaki, you and I are equal. Second how long had you been training with Shinsuke before he went full idiot and tried to fight me?" Shinko established some baselines before going onto a more serious question.
"Well, Shinko sir, we had been training with him for six whole months for this match," the student brought up but Shinko had only heard half of it after the sir part. Shinko placed a reaffirming hand upon the younger teen's shoulder a broad grin on his face.
"Six months huh? You know he was overworking you," the leader of the club said staring out the window Honnoji Academy and the city under it now in the rear view. He felt Sentokitsu clutch his body, but talking to him now would prove detrimental." Your foil's point is razor sharp this is not going to be an easy match, but you have to remember what and who you are doing this for," motivation radiated from the Atticus Kurosaki's only son but it stopped dead when he realized what he said as the next part." the glory of Honnoji Academy and Lady Satsuki," a chill filled his blood.
'Are you insane?' Sentokitsu's voice rose up to his wearer, but the previous still froze Shinko.
"You're right! We're going to win this for Lady Satsuki thank you," the green eyed kid with messy dark purple hair laughed punching his captain in the arm. Shinko took the blow no problem but still the words haunted him.
'Why did I say it like that? She's the enemy,' Shinko thought as Sentokitsu kept shouting at him from under the Goku Uniform. He placed a shaky right hand over the star at the center of the uniform to calm himself and the Kamui below." You're welcome all I'm doing is my job as captain," a grin crossed the Fencing Club chairs face.' And making my stomach drop like I ate a ton of bricks,' he finished internally.
"By the way my name is Ichiro Hanzo," the youth looked up with a grin a certain degree of trust falling upon the leader of the club.
"Nice to meet you," a sick feeling still filled Shinko's mouth but he remained strong on the outside.
'You are buying into her saying you won't throw the match aren't you?' the Kamui asked as they approached the Hokkaido High School. Shinko did not respond instead trying to focus his nerves on something.
"A little yeah. The entire ride I've been thinking about it," Shinko answered as the rest of the club members exited, all bearing the three sword of fencing on the belts around their waist. When he rose the One Stars conformed to the line the path out of the bus for respect." What if I can't throw the match does that make me a traitor to dad?" he questioned his clothing as the helmet materialized from the Goku Uniform yet again.
'That is something I do not know,' Sentokitsu responded as they entered the gymnasium. The crowd inside seemed ravenous as they walked through, streams of obscenities being spouted their way.
"She wants me to throw the match. I know she does," Shinko said gripping the foil around his belt as the two red stars on the mesh of his helmet glowed into existence." I'll prove her wrong here and now," he hopped onto the strip of raised floor, it was the finest cedar it had been bought for this even exclusively.
"So the new captain steps forward first. Guess that means I should too," a sneer almost came dumbly from across the large auditorium. Said owner of the sneer was six foot two with a jacketed set of muscles that pushed through the white clothing padding his body. Two locks of brown hair hung between his eyes that rest draped down his back in a mane-like configuration.
'This opponent will not be easy. Just because he's big does not mean he is slow,' the heirloom gave one last piece of advice as the opposing Fencing Club chair lowered the mask over his face.
"I know that much. Thanks buddy I can handle it from here," Shinko responded jokingly. This first bout was a typical foil match, two-of-three with a brief intermission if it went to the third round of the match.' He's bigger than I expected but still this should be easy,' Honnoji's newest club captain noted as the massive teenager shook the cedar platform by jumping onto it.
'I do believe you can,' the Kamui went quite afterwards.
"It appears this first match is the captains bout: To the right is Shinko Kurosaki, the Captain from Honnoji Academy," the Public Address announcer shouted to rile the fans even more. They were frenzied so much so that bottles were being thrown at the stage upon which he stood." And to the left our own Captain, Shun Hattori," the bottles that had been thrown at the stage were all impaled upon the Captain's trusted foil.
"Hope you're ready to lose," Shun snickered lowering the masked over his faced, the mesh blocking any emotion out. They both drew their foils and pointed them downward a neutral stance as the fifteen feet between them was established as the neutral zone.' Li'l punk is going down,' the rival Captain thought as Shinko's mask glowed with the two stars emblazoned on the mesh.
"Funny aren't you," Shinko held the blade down as the shot clock on the wall counted down. A shake riddled both hands as it ticked down past the ten second mark thought pouring through his head.' She expects me to throw the match but what if she doesn't? If I win I could just be falling into a trap,' that specific thought ran through his mind constantly as now five seconds remained.
"Begin!" the PA announcer shouted the crowd riled up and jumpy.
'He's so slow,' Shinko noted the footwork which to many would appear fast but with the enhancement of the Two Star Goku Uniform were slow. He swung under the initial strike and thrusted three jabs forward all hitting the mark around the chest of the brute.
A blur and then a poke with the end of a foil. That was all it took. The opposing Captain did not even see it coming but three holes were marked around his heart, where the jabs had all been precise. He looked down in awe as Shinko stared up spinning the foil around and pointing it back at the ground.
"It appears that this match is over! At the one second mark?!" the announcer addressed as the clock had stopped so suddenly." No my apologies there are still two rounds left, the guest have yet to claim the first match!" the crowd began to get even more feral, shouting louder obscenities and throwing food wrappers and food at the stage.
"Dumb luck that's the only way you could beat me," the opposing Captain spat drawing the sabre now from a quiver of blades presented to him. Shinko simply though and his sword morphed into the sabre, the benefits of a Goku Uniform.' He has one of those Wukong Uniforms or whatever. Guess I could stack the deck some,' Shun smirked as the food wrappers and bottles kept raining down upon the stage.
'No I won't throw this match those kids look up to me, Satsuki if I play into your hands so be it I am winning this,' Shinko gripped the sabre firmly its hilt chilling in his hands. Both blue eyes had been closed taking in the vibes of the arena without seeing them was beneficial a certain intuition allowing him to 'see' through the hail of food parts and beverages thrown his way." Believe what you want. I'm not even trying yet," in the heat of the moment Shinko's blood warmed substantially, the proof of a heated competition.
'Your blood is warm. I guess that means you are striving to win this,' Sentokitsu remarked as clock ticked down to zero. He got no response of course but Shinko's blood told the true definition.
"Begin!" the announcer said amidst the rain of trash upon the stage. The home Captain charged as Shinko remained there eyes closed senses keened on the environment around him.
'Fwap!' the blade of a sabre met another sabre. Shinko's eyes opened and Shun finally realized how screwed he was. Their blades made contact several more times over, but it was obvious who would win the exchange. One strike through another split the opposing sabre and poked the opponent at the same time it was over, victory Shinko.
"Again?! This is incredible our undefeated Captain has been beaten so simply! Honnoji scores one set in the match!" the announcer shouted as Shinko left stage helmet disappearing back into the Goku Uniform.
"Way to go Captain! Shinsuke wasn't even that good," Ichiro laughed pulling the helmet down over his face. He was the next match in the set, against a somehow even bigger lug from the defending Hokkaido High School.
"I dunno he hurt a lot when he got me," Shinko smirked as Sentokitsu's green eyes began to shine through the Goku Uniform.
"Good one," the first year rushed up to the stage holding foil in hand. This match was a foil specific bout hence why Ichiro went according to the records given to Shinko earlier in the day he was the best all around fencer on the team.
'Something is amiss look at the ring,' Sentokitsu said both green eyes locked onto the thin layer of something upon the stage.
"Wax? What for?" he asked staring at the thin membrane of white that had been placed on the stage and the strange adaptation to the shoes of the opposing fencer." They placed it there to cheat not that they need it I was just lucky to have a Goku Uniform," Shinko grabbed at his chin as Ichiro stumbled upon the less than bearable footing.
'So what are you going to do Captain?' the Kamui joked as the match began. Both fencers rushed up and down the surface but Ichiro was constantly struggling for any sort of balance.
"This round will go quick but I can help him out between them," Shinko sighed as the trash continued to pelt the stage and the wax began to do more damage to his teammate's balance. A quick thought entered his mind as the round came to a head a quick poke dead center ended it rather swiftly.
The PA announcer shouted something and the crowd was whipped into an even larger frenzy.
"Ichiro get down here," Shinko shouted calling a time out with a hand gesture. The official recognized it and brought the next round to a temporary halt. The student rushed down to his Captain, falling from the running motion to the floor. Luckily the helmet was there or else things would not have been so clean.
"Yes Captain?" the wax-covered youth questioned the leader of the club.
"Give me your shoes we only have a few more seconds on the time out," Shinko ordered and he was answered back by a pair of waxy shoes that obviously were not going to go in the next round." Take mine," Shinko hopped out of his Two Stars shoes, which had adapted cleats with spikes and a plastic paddle down the middle to prevent slipping.
"But they are a Two Star Goku Uniform part they are not compatible," the time left was minimal.
"They take this too," he removed his Goku Uniform top to reveal he was wearing his Kamui underneath albeit with Sentokitsu having shut eyes instead of two gleaming green ones." The pants are universal. The shoes and top are the only two things that really carry the power. So go up there and win," Shinko crossed both arms over his chest as the teen rapidly changed tops and shoes.
"Thanks Captain," he rushed back to the stage.
'I appreciate the fresh air,' the Kamui started off with after all being stuck between a person and a Goku Uniform probably was not too fun.' Such kindness for a kid you don't know. Your father would be proud of that,' Sentokitsu spoke as the now Two Star Ichiro Hanzo stepped up on stage.
"I think so too. But I am still helping the enemy no matter how you look at it. This kid though he'll be something after all of this, while I'll just be that guy that stopped REVOCs," the teen spoke to his Kamui, ignoring the first part entirely.
'And saved the world,' the Kamui reminded why they were even on this crazy train to begin with.
"That too," he smiled as the round came to a decisive end.
"Honnoji fires back with a swift round win! What will happen now!" the PA guy continued to hype even though the second match was all but won.
'Sorry dad. I'm helping REVOCs grow but trust me that will make my ending all of this even better,' he made a promise to a long deceased man as the next round started and ended swiftly as it began." Which one of you is going up there next?" Shinko remarked as Ichiro came running down utterly overjoyed with the victory.
"I'll go," one of the faceless One Stars remarked running up to the waxy stage against finally a normal student of typical build.
"Thanks again Shinko I would have lost without it," the student began to remove the Two Star Goku Uniform. Behind him the Honnoji Student was bested in the first round of the match.
"Had they not cheated you would not have needed it," the black haired teenager sighed taking the Goku Uniform top from his subordinate. The shoes soon followed and Shinko accepted them without hesitation." Guess we've got to wait a little long to head home," Shinko rolled his eyes as the student he had sent up a few moments ago slipped into the winning strike.
"Care to give me a shot?" a No Star student stepped, up. It was obvious he was a No Star by the fact he was wearing a pure white suit like the opposing school. Through the mesh one could barely make out two emerald eyes and a mess of dark brown possibly black hair." Or are you going to keep me from that too?" the young man grabbed the foil from his belt laying the other two swords on the ground beside him.
"Shinsuke Wannatabe, yeah go ahead. You can't do any worst than he did," Shinko still in his socks slid the shoes over to the former Fencing Club leader." Wear those and you'll be golden, and if you want the top take it," he threw the Fencing Spec forward yet again its two stars shining as it was thrown through the air.
"I don't need you sympathy. And I certainly do not need this," with the end of the foil he caught the Two Star top throwing it back with a flick of the wrist." Now if you'd excuse me," Shinsuke, the disgraced former Fencing Club leader walked up white napkins put in the grooves of his shoes, it was almost unrecognizable but they were there.
"I didn't know Shinsuke was still at Honnoji Academy," one of the One Stars said from behind the Captain.
"I don't think he is after losing to the new cap," another said.
'I really got to him. He risked everything to prove that he should be leader of the Fencing Club and frankly he should be. If Gamagori finds out though,' Shinko had a chilling recollection of this morning where Gamagori simply locked up in that whip and he could not even budge.
The rounds were expertly fought. Unlike the prior rounds where the two sides tried to win instantly Shinsuke and his opponent danced up and down the stage matching blow for blow but never quite going in for the all important win. To outsiders its was like a work of art two blades constantly whipping through the air but never connecting with anything but another sword. To those in the know about fencing which was not a majority of people, it was an incredible physical and mental battle between two teenaged veterans of the craft.
The fight itself came down to the third round which went on for an impressive two minutes before the decisive strike. a poke under the opposing foil and into the midsection just below the sternum, an expert place. Shinsuke withdrew his blade tip from the opponent's midsection before tucking it back into his belt and leaving the stage professionally.
"If you gave them the chance you would see how well these students shine," Shinsuke remarked coldly to the Captain of the opposing team before walking out of the gymnasium.
After a handshake he was soon followed by the rest of the Fencing Club of which Shinko exited last, now staring a clipboard to go over the events that transpired. The bus was a chatter with how well they had done, under Shinsuke apparently they had to constantly go to a fifth match. Shinko marked that as a testament to the previous leader's desire for skill rather than outright victory.
When they did return to Honnoji a student stopped Shinko when he got off of the carrier." Sorry Captain, sir, Lady Satsuki would like to speak with you personally," the young man was nervous.
"All right," he remarked dropping the quiver of foils and sabres he had been carrying. He turned to the Fencing Club one last time a faint smile crossing his lips." You all did really well today. Hopefully that'll get you far," his eyes scanned for Shinsuke who was no where to be found a safety precaution to be sure.
Shinko entered Satsuki's quarters casually now with the Two Star Uniform draped over his shoulder and Sentokitsu the only clothing outside of his underwear. The Elite Four all looked at him with raised eyebrows as he hung the Two Star on a hook by the door opting not to give it to Soroi who was probably more capable. Shinko continued onward until he reached the center of the room, Murasama now appearing from the Kamui onto his back.
"Well Fencing Club Captain how did the meet in Hokkaido go," Satsuki said sipping from an ornate cup of tea. Shinko stood firm with a smile waiting slightly to see if he could get a rise out of the Student Council President. It did not work Satsuki was too professional for something like that to have any effect.
"Satsuki," a whip crashed across his back Gamagori providing it. It was a correction strike and even with the Kamui there it hurt like a son of a gun." L-lady Satsuki," he almost puked himself as he looked at her an said that." We won in four matches with only one failure. I have already submitted the records and adaptations of such to the Athletic Committee secretary," Shinko said with an almost refined look on his face.
"You got yourself a neat pet there monkey," Nonon Jakuzure laughed. Apparently, it would seem, that Shinsuke was not very prompt with the record release and the summary of the events that transpired at a meet.
"Please refrain from calling other students names," Inumuta said searching for the results on his computer.
"Shove it doggy!" the pink haired Elite Four member snickered sticking her tongue out.
"I am not his pet I am just doing my job," Shinko could not hold it any more frustration with the entire day boiled his blood. His left hand was reaching for the stud that activated his Kamui, frustration and aggression were the only things he could think about.' I'm going to cut them all down to size,' he went to press it in but found himself incapable.
'You are out-numbered fighting them now is suicide,' Sentokitsu reminded that all of them had a Three Star Goku Uniform and Satsuki had a Kamui.
"Ooh did I hurt your feelings? Grow up!" she stuck her tongue out continuing to provoke the Fencing Club's leader.
"Wow, there Kurosaki calm down. Nonon's annoying but going at her like that isn't smart," Sanageyama remarked popping open a can of something stronger than soda.
"I'm not someone you can boss around Uzu. You may be head of the Athletic Department but that does not make me one of your pawns," Shinko said through grit teeth staring back at Satsuki.
"Shinko Kurosaki, you are dismissed your cooperation is appreciated," Gamagori walked him through the large double doors before handing him a key once he exited." That is the key to your Two Star estate. It is located of course on the Two Star level of the city," the blonde giant said simply before shutting the doors.
"Rubbing some pretty high elbows aren't you," Aikuro, in his Mister Mikisugi garb, walked up slumped shoulders and all. Mikisugi was smiling almost gleefully a slight blush from alcohol present on his face.
"Yeah, not that I wanted to," Shinko sighed staring down at the key in his hand, it was golden with a emblem of two stars. Mikisugi saw this but just led him down the hallway away from any prying ears.
"I see," Mikisugi was now in his more youthful visage having hidden in a janitor closet with the student. Shinko was obviously weirded out by the choice of location, but Aikuro would not pick it for nothing." How long before you and Matoi have until you two go against each other?" the blue haired man asked staring at the golden key in the teen's hand.
"Don't know yet they didn't talk about that. Satsuki probably wants to lull me in and then throw me against Ryuko at the end," Shinko leaned against a ladder propped in the corner of the small room.
"Or right away as in tomorrow considering how livid Ryuko was when she saw you in that Goku Uniform," Aikuro smiled the blush of alcohol still present on his face.
"I'd let her shred this piece of trash too. If she's frustrated there is no reason why she shouldn't get that much," Shinko smiled holding tightly to the Fencing Spec in his hands.
"At least make look good if it does come down to that. Satsuki probably would take you as the type to let Ryuko batter you around if she was angry," Mikisugi in a whirl of motion was back into his old teacher gimmick.
"What do I do about this? I mean its a huge freaking house for only one guy to live in," he remarked as Sentokitsu looked up at him.
'A place like that would be essential for you to actually rest on something that is not a couch. You hide it well, but laying on the floor and benches over the course of the past few months has whittled you down,' the Kamui remarked having filtered through his host's blood.
"Hey be quiet everyone who offered a couch helped out a lot," the blue eyes teen yelled at his clothing.' Though the Makanshoku's couch was like laying on a pile of rocks in fact it may have actually been easier to lay on a pile of rocks.'
"Get some rest kid it may be the last solid amount of sleep you get for a while," the kindly old teacher laughed exiting with hunched back an disheveled blue hair as per normal.
'Just take advantage of it. Your dad would not be upset if he had the chance to sleep at a five star hotel made specifically to his liking,' Sentokitsu, even strictly against the dictatorship of the Kiryuin family, knew that a gift horse should never be looked in the mouth; even if it had the eyes of a snake.
"Fine, just remember if my blood gets fatty or salty or anything else for eating too much you'll have to deal with it," the human raced out of the janitor's closet and down the hallway.
Hope you enjoyed,
~Herodan