NA: And now here we are!

Chapter 9: I am…

"Both of you, stand down!" Chifuyu barked at the escalating situation, just a few seconds ago one of her students from Germany went ahead to try and slap her younger brother, only for her to be restrained by his quick reflexes.

"Do you have some sort of death wish?" Ichika hissed at the silver haired girl with an eyepatch on her left eye.

"That's my line you dumpkoff!" the girl retorted and tried to break free from his hold.

"I said STAND DOWN!" Chifuyu barked, and finally both of them relented. "Both of you sit down this instant, I will deal with you later after class. Now you, introduce yourself."

"R-Right, I am Charlotte Dunois, nice to meet you all!"

~oOo~

"What was the meaning of this, Laura Bodewig?"

"I refuse to accept him as your brother!"

"And who the hell do you think you are?" Ichika hissed while gritting his teeth, "Do you really want to die?"

"Ichika, enough!" Chifuyu ordered him, this was not going well, she had to drag the both of them into her office as to not create a public incident. "I will not have you two try and kill each other, so unless you two create some sort of compromise…"

"As if this little insect can harm me." Laura scoffed at the black haired young man.

"Underestimating me already?" Ichika sneered. "If that will be all sensei, I will be heading down to the hangar."

"Just go." Chifuyu then shooed him off but then looked at Laura, "But you're staying."

"Yes, instructor."

~oOo~

Down at the hangar where Houki was in her IS suit, rushed up to her boyfriend, "Are you okay, that gave me a scare."

"I'm fine, although that girl thinks she's holier than thou."

That made the brunette frown, "Who does she think she is to try and hit you?"

"Apparently she was under Chifuyu-nee's tutelage in Germany, I think that girl hates me because she forfeited her match seven years ago in the Mondo Grosso."

"So she blames you because her streak was ruined?" she looked incredulous, "Unbelievable!"

"Let's just go, I still have to help out during the IS practice for the others, that means you too."

~oOo~

Out in the field where several Uchiganes were deployed, Ichika arrived with his AC and noticed Laura wasn't present, that's good at least. The newcomer Charlotte Dunois was there, and by the necklace she was wearing she must have her own personal IS. He jumped off from his unit's cockpit and noticed Cecilia and Rin on the ground in a small crater, looks like they lost to… "Yamada-sensei?"

"Hi Orimura-kun!" the green haired teacher in her Rafale Revive IS waved at him.

"Orimura, you're late." Chifuyu told him.

"Apologies sensei, Supplice needed a few more calibrations, some of them were damaged during the… incident."

Chifuyu nodded in understanding, she knew what he was talking about but he also read him like a book, he was still jumpy from that debacle this morning. "Just be sure to be on time next time."

"Hai!"

"Those with personal ISs will separate into groups. Orimura, since you do have knowledge in IS, you will group with the others as well."

Ichika nodded and motioned some of the girls in his class to follow him to where his AC was beside an Uchigane, Houki of course was in that group, there was no way she was going to let these girls get too close to him.

"Alright, I want you to line up by your student numbers, so the first one will be…"

"Me! Me! Me!" a girl with dark magenta eyes and hair raised her hand, "Call number one! Kiyoka Aikawa! I'm from the handball team! I like watching sports and jogging!"

"Ah, no fair!" one of the girls protested. And this ended up with the rest of the group doing their own introductions, except for Houki who had eyes twitching in irritation.

'This is not a dating service.' Ichika sweat dropped at the introduction, "Okay, get onto the IS and start walking around a bit just to get the feeling of it."

Kiyoka did as told and got on the IS, after she was done it was Houki's turn to get on it, unfortunately Kiyoka forget to bend the IS down for easy access. "I can't get up."

"That's a common mistake!" Maya told them, "You'll just have to help her up."

"Yeah." Houki beamed, "Help me up."

Ichika chuckled and shook his head, "You sneaky little minx."

"Ah, no fair!" the girls cried out in protest as they watched Ichika pick Houki up like a prince would do to a princess.

"There you go." Houki then got in and fitted herself into the Uchigane.

"Ichika."

"Hm?"

"Where are we going to have lunch later?"

"You want the cafeteria, roof, or hangar?"

"Well I cooked lunch so I guess the roof would be nice."

"The roof it is."

~oOo~

"So…" Houki began, "how are we going to deal with Laura? She's obviously out to get you."

"I'll handle her, don't worry." Ichika assured her as he fed some baby food to little Chifuyu, "What we need to worry about is when she sees our baby girl, no doubt that she will be angered by the fact that I have a daughter that looks like Chifuyu-nee."

"If she harms her there will be hell to pay!" Houki growled.

"That I have no doubt." He said, "Best if Chifuyu-chan spends some time with Chifuyu-nee, that way she can get guaranteed protection and we can just worry about Laura, we will have to deal with her during the tournament, so this means I will have to formally challenge her."

Houki didn't argue, "That plan seems to be the best, I just wish I had a personal IS."

"Have you called your sister yet?"

"No."

"Ichika!" Jason ran up to the roof, "We got a situation!"

"What is it?"

"Cecilia and Rin are in the medical wing, they got into a fight with that Laura chick and got steamrolled!"

"!"

~oOo~

Ichika frowned at the sight as he hid behind a tree where Laura was voicing her disagreements with his sister.

"WHY ARE YOU A TEACHER HERE!?"

~oOo~

The next day out in the arena, Charlotte Dunois was practicing her shots with her weapons on her custom built Rafale Revive. To her surprise Ichika came in with his Supplice, "Ah Ichika."

"Afternoon to you too."

"What a headache..." Chifuyu rubbed her temples as the fifteen year old girl was voicing her displeasure, "Don't let me repeat this again. I have my duties to perform, that's all."

"What kind of duties can you possibly have in this small far-east country!?"

Ichika shook his head in disappointment at the behaviour this girl was displaying. Wasn't she supposed to be in the military? She sure isn't acting like a soldier, more like a spoiled brat.

"Please instructor. Please come back to Germany to guide us. You can't even show off half your abilities here."

"Oh?"

"Basically, the students over here aren't worth teaching."

"Why?"

"They aren't prepared enough. They have too little sense of danger, they think that IS is a trendy thing, those low-class people aren't worth the time for instructor to te-"

"-End of the line, little lady."

"Ugh...!"

Chifuyu's voice actually scared her as she turned to gaze at girl.

"To think that you believe you're rather good after we haven't met in a while, is it? Just 15 years old, and you think that you're superior to others. I'm impressed."

"I, I'm..."

'Egotistical little brat.' Ichika inwardly thought, 'She does have problems, that's for sure.'

"It's getting late, go back to your dorm." Chifuyu ordered her, making her relent and do as she was told like a good little soldier. After Laura was out of ear shot, the black haired woman turned her head to look at the tree, "You know it's a bad habit to eavesdrop. I can't allow such abnormal fetishes."

"I'm not here about the German." Ichika said casually as he made himself known, "I'm here to ask a favor."

"And what would that be?"

"I need you to watch over Chifuyu-chan while I deal with this fiasco."

Chifuyu narrowed her eyes, "You don't mean…"

"I'm going to officially challenge her into a match. My AC against her IS, I'm going to end this. If she finds out that I have a daughter that not only looks like you but is named after she will see it as nothing but an insult."

"Do you absolutely think Bodewig will harm her?"

"I have no doubt." Ichika retorted, "I am a parent and I am only thinking about my daughter's safety. I will drop off with you later."

Chifuyu could only watch as her brother walked away, it unnerved her that he could be like this, sometimes she wished that he would be some clueless idiot that she would use her clipboard on as a disciplinary tool.

"You know…" Ichika paused as he turned his head to look at his sister, "You didn't have to go and try to rescue me seven years ago. I was nothing but a burden to you. In fact I actually envied you. I felt weak and useless, and I hated it."

At those words a single tear fell down the woman's cheek.

"So in a way I am thankful that it turned out the way it did." He said and noticed his sister's face with water welling in her eyes, "Now it's my turn to protect you."

~oOo~

After dropping off little Chifuyu at her aunt's, the couple were now sharing the same bed with Houki's head on his chest. "So the first match will be you and Laura as a special show for the UN."

"Yup, seeing as Laura's IS right now the most powerful I've seen, I also want to know what I can do, all I know is that it has some kind of barrier that prevents its target from moving towards her. So missiles are a definite must."

"Just promise me you'll be okay out there, she's not Cecilia, she's actually someone strong if Chifuyu-san trained her."

"I won't let my guard down." He said as he leaned his head and kissed her, "I am Berlioz, I always respect my opponents."

"What about Jason?"

"He's doing some contracts for the UN so he won't be back until the tournament." He then pulled Houki closer and leaned his head on hers.

"Ichika?"

"I love you."

Houki's heart raced at she heard those three sweet words, three words that she had always wanted to hear.

"I love you."

The brunette smiled and wrapped her arms around him, "I love you too."

~oOo~

Day of the tournament

The Supplice, a five metre tall machine of war stood towering over the two and a half metre tall Schwarzer Regen, an IS built for artillery as its large three metre long rail gun was there for all to see, the weapon was larger than the unit itself.

Both combatants stood there as they looked at the timer…

5…

Ichika breathed as both hands were on the controls.

4…

Laura glared at the large black machine, its left shoulder bearing the mark of a scythe with a large red blade pointed down. It unnerved her that such a machine existed, and only now was she able to see it personally.

3…

Ichika then begun to remember his first day as an AC pilot, how his mentor was with him on his training day.

"Remember, Berlioz… never underestimate your opponent, respect their strength and their resolve to fight, for if you don't it would your doom."

"I will!" the young Ichika Orimura who was only thirteen nodded enthusiastically as he looked at his new AC, an 03-AALIYAH by Rayleonard, "This is mine?"

"That's right, your very own NEXT."

Ichika tilted his head in confusion, "Next?"

"NEXT." The mentor corrected, "They are the next generation in Armored Core, they are faster and much more well-rounded, able to equip more advanced weapons, but you must remember it all comes down to the skill of its pilot, and that is why I trained you so hard as I knew this day would come."

2…

"So what are you going to name your AALIYAH? It is tradition that all pilots name their crafts."

Ichika thought for a second and then smiled, "Supplice, I am going to name you Supplice. For it is going to inflict terrible pain upon its enemies, it is an executioner, a reaper. I will put down those who are dishonorable in battle, I will defend those who could not defend themselves."

"A fitting name for a machine such as this."

"And once I see my sister again, it will be I who will do the protecting."

1…

The Supplice knelt forward with its two assault rifles at the ready, its OGOTO cannon and 051ANAM missile launchers were still folded but he was going to use it as a surprise when Laura uses her Active Inertia Canceller or AIC, an inertia that effectively stops any projectile and attacks directed at her.

He folded his hair back, showing more of his forehead as his eyes changed to that of a soldier, hardened by war, a warrior baptised in fire, eyes that can only be gained by being in the middle of it all.

START

Supplice then began to move, engaging its boosters as its eyes shined a bright red.

"I am… Berlioz…"

[Outro: Where is the Future by BACK-ON]

NA: So Ichika does not have a split personality, but it's more like he is a different person when he finally feels like he has met a worthy opponent, thus he looks different with his hair swept back instead of the usual style he has. I wish I could draw what he looks like when he has his hair swept back, but imagine Meijin Kawaguchi from Gundam Build Fighters, that's the best I could think of.

Berlioz in AC4 was an honorable man, he is considered to be a charismatic leader and possesses a subtle streak of compassion. Although he was the top Original, Berlioz never underestimated his opponents, adding to his charismatic outlook.

I need help in picking out who would have been a great mentor to Ichika during his first days as a LYNX, any ideas?

The fight between Ichika and Laura will definitely be fun, I am still learning how to write battle scenes so you will have to excuse me.

Tune in next time!

CIAO!