Here's chapter 7!
I wanted to post this as fast as I could. Things certainly take a turn here but I hope you like it! Also I think this chapter helps establish Etsuko more.
Thank you for all the feedback! It really motivates me to write/post more frequently.
Enjoy! :)
I had felt better.
I had changed my view on things.
I was no longer going to avoid things and hoped they would past.
Now I had a new resolution.
I was going to secure my own fate.
Several days had passed since I had last talked to Mastema. I had no need of him so I didn't bug him anymore. I think he enjoyed the peace because instead of telling me to eat more candy, he slept more. It was always interesting to hear his snores when sitting in class. He helped block out unnecessary noise.
Gou had not made any other attacks but I would pass him at times. A small smirk would form itself on his lips and his eyes taunted me. He was ready to pounce for an attack at any time but contained himself. Until the day he actually does something, I just ignored him. This started a fire under him and he did not appreciate this sort of taunting. He was rash but not stupid. He was waiting for the right time.
Although Toujou passed along Aoi's message of not fighting back, it didn't stop her from coming to me one day.
Generally we tried to stay out of each other's way.
We had some bad blood between us.
So this was a surprise.
"Takenaka."
I looked up to see the petite girl standing in front of my desk.
"Come with me"
Aoi had a stern expression on her face. This was the queen talking, not the girl who turned red and started to babble on when she saw Oga.
I started to get up to follow her but stopped once I saw that Toujou was watching me.
"I'll be back"
He nodded as if giving me his blessing.
Ever since I became a part of his gang, the guys had managed to include themselves in my business. It felt normal for Aizawa to do it since he was their informant but it was Toujou who who began to do it too. The two of them together was a pain. Jinno was usually more entertained by his book than by us.
"I've been stressing this with everyone and thought that I should do it with you too...it is strickly business."
Of course. I wasn't thinking that you'd ask me to be your best friend…
I did not say this though but merely nodded. She would kill me if I actually said this too her.
"The Six Knights are after us. They had already messed with several of our classmates but in no way should we hit them back. We're on a thin line here"
I guess she doesn't know I got attacked too.
"If I hear that you have put anyone in a coma, I will personally make sure to reprimand you.."
Now there's the Aoi that I love.
"I got it. Calm down and worry about yourself"
Aoi narrowed her eyes and drew her wooden sword. She was not joking.
"Watch yourself. I am not the sister of a traitor!"
This was the reason why we had bad blood: my older sister.
I was not the first Takenaka to go to Ishiyama, my sister was,Takenaka Saeka.
She was the leader of a all girl gang that had an alliance with the red tails but that alliance was cut short when my sister tried to take down the leader at time, which happened to be Oga's sister. Hence the reason why she had been labeled a "traitor" and why I am not friends with Aoi or the red tails. I was one of the few girls they did not swore to protect.
"It would be better to put that away. There's no need to draw weapons. I am not my sister and can not be held accountable for her actions." With that I walked away.
What my sister did at the time was because she thought it was for the best. It may have been foolish to go against someone stronger than her but she did it in order to make sure that her friends would not lose any protection in the future. It cost her a lot in the end when losing and she realized she was acting out of fear. Oga's sister forgave my sister but that did not stop the rest of the red tails from hating her.
I did not want to repeat what my sister did. With my new resolution, I knew that I could not carry it out with fear. I needed to become stronger. Not only mentally where I had to open myself up but physically too. I could not be clouded or else things would slip out of my grasp.
I clenched my fist.
I now knew what my first step was. I had to go back to that day, where I became the "Reaper of Ishiyama".
"Hey, Toujou"
I had made my way to his desk. He stopped talking to Aizawa and turned to me with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah"
"How about a little match?"
At my sudden request, Toujou did not know what to say but once noticing the determination in my eyes, he agreed.
After school, we had meet up in a empty lot. I had specifically asked for Aizawa and Jinno not to come. I just wanted it to be Toujou and I.
"I'm not ganna go easy on you. So be ready"
I looked down and nodded. Fuck, I was nervous as hell.
This time I was not running away from him like when I first meet him but I was about to go against him.
Here he comes!
I saw his figure blur for one second before he appeared a few meters ahead of me. I got into a stance and secured my footing. He raised his right hand into a fist and with it picked up force as he got closer and closer to me. He was aiming to punch me straight in the face.
I on the other hand was planning to block that attack. Once he swung, I brought my arms in front of me and formed an "X". Once the impact was made. I was sent a paces back.
That hurt like a bitch
Pain had taken over me. My hands trembled still feeling Toujou's force. But I needed to push through this. I saw that he secured his own footing and was waiting for my attack. Considering my arms just took a beating, I had to attack with my legs.
I lunged forward and before I stopped in front of him, I jumped over him. In the air I turned my body so that my foot went up in the air and brought it down to hit his back. Toujou responded quickly though and turned his body to face me. He reached out towards my leg to grab it but I retreated it in time and ducked down. Placing my hands on the ground, I swung my legs to trip him. He avoided that move easily and jumped out of the way.
Once he landed far from my attacks he stood straight. I was already losing my energy while he looked peachy.
"This is the place I first saw you."
He broke the silence that was between us. He was right. This was the parking lot that he had seen me send those guys to a coma.
"Out of all the places to fight."
He smirked and cracked his neck. This was all amusing to him but he did not know that there was a reason why I picked our fight to be here.
I needed to remember.
"Toujou, stop playing and actually come at me!"
I needed that fear that I felt back then to come back.
Toujou was the perfect person to restore that fear.
Because fighting him, had me shaking.
My heart beat even faster once I saw him ready to attack again. This time he was faster than before. I had no time to block this punch and once it made contact, I was sent flying.
Time seemed to stop for a moment before I collided with a wall.
I gasped as it all came.
The pain.
Which was worse than before.
It had my body begging me to give up.
But also a fragment of a memory.
I had felt pain like this.
I was running away from a group of guys.
My breath had become ragged and I had exhausted myself.
My body wanted to stop but I couldn't.
I was scared.
"I'm ganna get you!"
I remembered thinking that I wanted this to end.
Their footsteps stopped and before I knew it, a hand flew out in front of me and pushed me to the wall next to me.
"Got you"
There were three guys in total.
Two had moved to hold me down as I thrashed to get free.
Their leader stood in front of me.
He took out a knife and pressed the blade against my check.
"Let's wipe that pretty face off you"
I shut my eyes as he cut the side of my face.
Someone help me!
I was unaware that someone was watching this happen. From up above in spirit form.
You want to make it stop?
Yes!
I can help you human.
Their leader took his knife back and put it away. He then proceeded to beat me.
Do whatever to make them stop…
My vision blurred and my body went numb.
A dark fog began to circle around us.
"What the hell?"
This dark fog intensified and arms started to come out of it.
The three boys screamed as they were grabbed by force.
My body feel once I was free but I no longer felt weak.
I stood up and turned to look at them as they stood in front of me.
"My turn"
A large skeleton emerged from behind me and by my command went forth towards them.
Moving its arm, it grabbed a hold of all three of them.
Their bones cracked in the large hand of the skeleton.
"Sleep"
A light radiated from my hand and I shot a large amount of energy towards them.
Once the fog cleared. Their bodies lay on the floor.
So that was what happened…
Finally you figure it out. As you can see, you called for someone to save you and I answered.
Why?
You seemed capable of handling my power. Plus it would be funny to see those assholes get their ass kicked by a little girl.
I smiled at Mastema's words and positioned my hands to push myself up.
Now that I understand. There's nothing blocking our connection. You don't want me to lose so lend me some power.
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and turned my attention back to Toujou.
"Get ready Toujou because I'm not playing anymore"
