Infinite Stratos: Recollections
A/N: Update again! Asking if anyone knows about the date of the new IS OVA, they just said it is in 2014 with no certain date or time. (Sigh)…. Also can anyone tell me happened to the Yuuki Homura manga version of Infinite Stratos?
Anyway I'll stop complaining and focus back on the story. Finally I managed to complete the history of the Orimura's for my fanfic, the Recollections. I have now a clear idea what path Recollections should take, from the childhood of Ichika to in-fighting inside the Orimura that preludes the beginning of the canon IS-verse.
Big sister, little brother and the rabbit will be updated next, men I totally forgot about that fic since I was too busy with Truth Be Told and Recollections.
Just a few more days before vacation! Yes!
Through the eyes of a young boy: part 5
Ichika and his attendants finally arrived in the floor of the To-ji temple where the event is taking place.
"Look there are so many people." Ichika was so glad, they have finally found their objective.
"We have a lot of families to observe here, Ichika-sama." Sora was happy but behind her smile she is really worried about their current situation.
(I think I just heard Izanami-sama roar, did she find out already?)
Sora was really terrified inside, she can't begin to imagine the grim faith they will suffer once Izanami gets her hands on them. But they don't regret doing this, this was Ichika's wish, if they die following their young master's wish, no regrets will ever well from their heart.
"Sora-nee! Let's go and look closer!" Ichika waked Sora from her daze and pulled her to the mass of people, the other three attendants followed him and Sora.
Ichika began to observe the families present here. The young boy intently looked the parents and how they interact with their children.
"The parents really loves their children, they are no hidden motives in their affections just plain old love." Ichika was visibly amazed.
"It is normal Ichika-sama, Izanami-sama feels the same way for you." Sora told Ichika that.
"Yes! But mom's feelings for me are stronger."
Sora didn't find this unusually in-depth comment of Ichika, she has gotten used to how sharp her young master is now.
"But…"
Sora noticed the sad turn in her young master's attitude.
"Look, that family over there has two children but the mom and dad loves both their son and daughter." Ichika's expression became very sad all of a sudden.
"That would only be normal." Sora answered.
"But… Mom doesn't love my nee-chans." Ichika said that with tears slowly welling up on his eyes. Sora and the three attendants quickly tried to cheer up their young master but Ichika is not paying attention to them.
"Ichika-sama I don't that Izanami-sama feels that way for Chifuyu-sama, Chigusa-sama and the others….. She cares for them….." Sora tried to convince Ichika with that half-baked truth but it turned out that she couldn't coax Ichika anymore.
"Please don't lie to me Sora-nee. Whenever I see mom and my nee-chans interacting, I get an empty feeling. There is no love between them; in fact, I can even say that mom hates my nee-chans. My nee-chans too….. Whenever they look at mother, they look at her as if she was a stranger to them. They only call her mother for appearance….. But they don't really love her….." Ichika's tears began to roll down his cheek and when he spouted that painful truth.
"Ichika-sama…" Sora is greatly troubled now; she couldn't stand to see her young master in tears, a full blown crying is not far behind.
"Not just to mom and my nee-chans….. Even the others, everyone in the family do not love each other. Their eyes are cold…."
Sora finally couldn't stand the sight of Ichika in sadness so she embraced her sobbing young master.
"Please Ichika-sama…. Do not despair like that…" Sora gently ruffled Ichika's hair, trying to calm him down.
Sora and the other three attendants are really worried about Ichika but they have no idea how to calm him down, they can hear that he is sniffling now. But they only seem to be overthinking things; Ichika later wipes his eyes and stood strong again.
"Sorry for crying….." Ichika tried to act tough while trying to wipe the tears from his eyes.
"Let's continue!" Ichika revealed a smile, it was not a fake it was a genuine smile.
Ichika's attendants did not say anything anymore and went along with their young master's wishes.
So Ichika and his attendants walked around the temple, watching the families present. Soon when noon arrived, Sora decided to take Ichika down to some restaurant to have lunch. She initially planned to make lunch for their trip here but due to the small window of opportunity they can use to escape the heavily guarded boarders of Orimura clan guarded by inhumanly sharp and extremely deadly guards they have to travel light, really light. So now she has to resort to seeking sustenance on humans here which she greatly distrusts.
"Sora-nee, why are we leaving the temple so soon?" Ichika asked Sora.
"We have to eat lunch first."
"But I'm not hungry!" Ichika stubbornly said, but he was contradicted by his grumbling stomach.
Sora and the three attendants giggled when they heard their young master's cute action of hiding the fact that he was hungry.
So the five ended up going to the city and searched for suitable place where they can have their lunch. And so far Sora has rejected many choices on the grounds that they don't look safe or don't have enough escape routes in case they are attacked.
Sora and the three were running now, one of the attendants is carrying Ichika on her back. The continued grumbling of Ichika's stomach alarmed the four.
(This is bad; Ichika-sama is really hungry now but we still haven't found any suitable place to dine in.)
Sora began feeling anxious, she considers this as a severe lapse on their duties as Ichika's attendants, not being able to attend to their young master's needs weighed heavy on their hearts.
"Ichika-sama please hold on, we will find the most suitable place for you to dine." Sora told Ichika that while running.
"Don't worry Sora-nee I'm not at the least bit hungry!" Ichika smiled but after he said that his stomach grumbled, making the guilt of his four attendants even worse.
Just when Sora was despairing about not finding a suitable place, she came across a fast food restaurant.
(Perfect!)
Sora found the ideal place. Good vantage point from the inside, easy escape routes, and spacious enough to bring out the big guns if they have to. This was the place Sora is looking for.
"Ichika-sama we are here, let's satisfy your hunger now!"
Sora and the four attendants ran towards the fast food restaurant.
"Wow, so this is how everyone have lunch." Ichika curiously looked around the strange surrounding. Families, teeagers, old people, many people are here in this big establishment.
"There."
Sora spotted an empty six seater table. She and the three attendants with her walked there with Ichika. The five are now seated at the table.
"Based from my knowledge with the human culture, to get food from this place, one must order from there." Sora whispered that to the other three attendants, they are trying to keep Ichika out this because so that their young master don't make a fuss again.
"But what if the food is poisoned?" One of the attendants worriedly said.
"No matter, we will taste the food first; we have high tolerance to poison after all. Before Ichika-sama eats his meal we will check it first before he does. And if the poison is slow acting we have antidote here that can neutralized over 200 known poisons." Sora said answered with confidence.
"So everything is set then?"
"Yes, we came prepared."
Ichika finally noticed the strange behavior of his four attendants and wanted to join in the conversation.
"What are you talking about?" Ichika scooted closer to the four, wanting to join in.
"N-Nothing Ichika-sama we were just discussing something trivial, no need to be worried about it. Anyway I will order our meal now."
Sora told Ichika that, she then stood up and went to the counter.
"Where is Sora-nee going?" Ichika asked the three attendants left on the table.
"Sora-sama is going to get the meal." The attendant answered.
"Can I go there with her?" Ichika hopefully asked his three attendants.
"N-No…."
"Ichika-sama, it is too tiring for you, you haven't eaten anything yet so you shouldn't expended too much energy."
"We should just wait here."
The three tried their best to convince Ichika.
"Okay then." Surprisingly, Ichika did not disobey and sat still.
Meanwhile on the counter…
"Yes mam, how may I help you?" The customer service happily asked Sora.
Sora looked at the choices above; there were kid's meal, jumbo meal and some other kind of food combinations.
"Which of this is suitable for a hungry boy?" Sora's piercing stare stabbed the clerk.
"W-Well you can try the Ultimate Meal set." The slightly unnerved clerk suggested.
"Then give me that." Sora's ice cold voice made the clerk and the clerks shiver in fright.
"Just one thing, the food is not poisoned is it?" Sora eyes narrowed at the clerk.
"N-No we make sure that we served the best food to our customer." The clerk shivered while she answered.
"I hope so, because if you disappoint…. I will make sure you'll dearly regret it…" Sora's threat made everyone near her shiver in fright.
Minutes later…
"Here you go Ichika-sama." Sora came back with a huge tray filled with assorted amount of food. Fried chicken, French fries, a huge plate of spaghetti, a huge bowl of mash potato, three plates of burgers, salads, hotdog sandwiches, four pitchers of drinks and four plates of assorted cakes for dessert.
"Wow, that's a lot!" Ichika was so happy when he saw the huge pile of food brought before him.
"They are all for you." Sora smiled.
But Ichika did not agree to what Sora said.
"No, I will share this with Sora-nee and the others; I can't eat while the four of you are hungry." Ichika was very adamant on sharing this huge meal with them.
"But…..." Sora wanted to humbly declined but knowing how stubborn her young master is, this would only drag on for a long time, so conceding to Ichika's request was for the best.
"Okay then."
Hearing Sora agree, Ichika revealed a big smile.
(Scene Change)
Orimura territory, Ichika's mansion.
Izanami had all of Ichika's attendants gathered in the main courtyard; Izanami's own guards surrounded Ichika's servants. Her son's servants are all kneeling on the courtyard enduring the nauseating presence of their young master's mother.
"Where is my son?"
It was a bit odd that Izanami would suspect Ichika's own attendants like this, but it was correct since enemies cannot even set foot on the mountain without being cut down, so no external force could infiltrate the Orimura territory. So the only possible explanation is only the attendants could've done it. But Izanami isn't suspecting them of betrayal, but merely disobedience of her laws here.
"I will ask again, where is my son?" Izanami grew more irritated now; her fingers began forming ominous movements, like flensing knives.
All of Ichika's attendants are visibly scared of Izanami, clearly the aura of the angry matriarch alone was enough to sap away their courage to even look at Izanami's feet. But despite that they never said anything that would compromise their young master's wishes.
(As much as possible please keep this a secret from my nee-chans and mom.)
Each and every one of Ichika's attendants has that memory of their young master in their mind. Ichika told them to keep this little plan of his a secret, but Ichika did not mean that they should really keep it a closely guarded secret but his attendants intend to make sure his word is done, so they won't tell anything to anyone under the pain of death even now that they are faced against the one person who can give them the most despicable death, Izanami.
"…"
All the attendants did not speak a word even if they know that Izanami is getting more and more irritated.
"I am getting tired of this." Izanami held out her right hand, one of her attendants gave a giant black folding fan about the same as Izanami's height but when she open it, the length of the fan doubled. The giant folding fan made a terrible grinding noise as it opened but all that is present here did not eve mind the brain-searing noise. The tips and edges of the giant fan gleamed when it was revealed by Izanami.
"I will say this one more time…. Where is my son?" Izanami walked towards Ichika's servants and her hand picked up one of the servants and lifting her up while holding her neck. Izanami grip did not put much effort into her grip but the power in it was enough to make the servant she is strangling bleed through her mouth.
"Guhhh….guh…"
The poor attendant was close to dying now; blood began to flow out of her mouth and her eyes were about to roll back. But still she did not falter in the face of Izanami's callous action.
"Ichika-sama….Trusted….us…..to...keep…..this…a….secret we….would….rather…..die…..than...disappoint him….."
The dying attendant managed to utter those words before her certain demise. But fortunately, Izanami released her neck before the attendant became a resident of Tartaros.
"So my son did this out of his own accord?" Izanami slowly lost her anger and in turn her rage was replaced by curiosity.
"Y-Yes….." One of Ichika's servants answered.
Izanami smiled briefly when she heard the answer.
"So my son ordered you to keep this a secret and even though it is against the laws of this family you still let him do as he wishes to go out to the city of humans?" Izanami asked, her aura slowly seeping out of her frame and infested to surroundings like a miasma of death.
All of Ichika's servants are visibly shaken to the core but it doesn't mean that they would waver, their loyalty and love to Ichika their young master is what makes them strong even if they faced against the demonic matriarch of the clan.
"Our loyalty is to Ichika-sama alone."
"We would prefer death than betray him."
"To us his words are absolute."
"We will take orders from no one else."
Izanami's eyes grew scarier after Ichika's attendants bravely answered her. But what the matriarch did after was a surprise to everyone.
"Fuhahahahahahaha! Good."
Everyone was confused, first she was enraged and now she was happy. Izanami's capriciousness just grew more and more.
"I like that, perhaps it was a good decision to make all of you my son's loyal servants rather than have all of you executed." Izanami closed the giant folding fan.
"Your loyalty to my son saved you a lot of agony… But I cannot overlook the fact that my son is there outside the protection of the clan and is surrounded by those pests." Izanami turned around.
"… My facsimiles….." At Izanami's words, her own attendants stepped forward.
"I will not allow my son to be tainted by those pests outside…. Go and retrieve him….. On second thought I will lead the search myself….."
Ichika's attendants became fearful when Izanami said that.
"It has been a long time since I last went outside….." Izanami stretched her arms and soon her body. When she stretch her limbs, loud snapping sounds resounded, almost like the sound of metal being twisted.
"Hmmm….. You six seem to feel the same too right?" Izanami looked above the roof. Minutes later six girls came out from hiding on the roof and jumped down.
"Chigusa, Chifuyu, Yuuko, Misaki, Saya and Chisaya since the six of you have nothing better to do here, why not accompany me in looking for Ichika."
The six remained expressionless but they revealed nasty smirks later.
"We'll find Ichika, even if we have to turn Kyoto upside down or inside out." Izanami's evil grin came out, her suffocating aura came flooding out of her body.
The sky turned dark that day, signaling the arrival of the death gods coming to the city of Kyoto.
(Scene Change)
Unknown Location, in a strange Japanese style castle.
On the top floor of the beautiful facsimile of the Himeji castle, only three inhabitants are there.
A young-looking woman wearing a glittering silver yukata with lustrous red hair is walking in the empty halls of the castle while carrying a tray where a large bowl of soup sat; she was carrying it to the top most room.
"Izanagi?" Minazuki was her name; she is the sister of the matriarch of the Orimura clan. She slowly entered the room.
"Izanagi, please lie back down on your futon. You need to rest." Minazuki went to the handsome young man looking on the balcony of the castle.
"Minazuki….." Izanagi turned to the young woman behind him. His face was very sad for some reason.
"Come on Izanagi, don't exhaust yourself too much." Minazuki held the man on his shoulders and slowly led him back to the futon.
"How are my daughters out there?" Izanagi anxiously asked Minazuki that question.
"They are fine. They are doing well in their missions." Minazuki answered as she opened the lid of the bowl, revealing nido soup inside it.
"Here, Shiori made this for you." Minazuki took the spoon set beside the bowl and dipped the spoon on the soup.
"Open up."
Izanagi is now being fed by Minazuki.
"It's delicious." Izanagi smiled a little.
"Good to know. I wanted to make something for you too but….. Shiori is the only one who knows how to cook among the four of us." Minazuki glumly said.
"Don't be down; I'm sure you, Izanami and Shizuka can do it if you try." Izanagi smiled wanting to cheer up the depressed Minazuki.
"Me and Izanami have very little patience and Shizuka is just plain lazy. The three of us fail as your wife." Izanagi reached for Minazuki's cheeks and gently rubbed her soft pale skin. Minazuki enjoyed touch and smiled a little.
"I love all four of you no matter what." Izanagi told Minazuki that before he was fed again.
"Alright stop being so mushy okay." Minazuki continued on feeding Izanagi.
The shoji door opened and came Shiori and Shizuka, Shiori is wearing a white yukata with her hair tied to a ponytail while Shizuka looked like she just woke up with her hair absolutely messy, even her yukata was crumpled probably because she really did just woke up from sleep.
"Izanagi!" Shizuka draped herself over Izanagi.
"Hey don't bother Izanagi he is still not feeling well." Shiori scolded her sister for being so clingy to their sick husband.
"It's so nice that all of you are here, oh? Where is Izanami?"
Izanagi noticed that someone is missing.
"She said she'll be here, but I don't know what's keeping her." Minazuki answered.
"It's rare for all of you to be here, it would be nice if my daughters and Ichika can come here to visit. By the way, Speaking of Ichika, how is he?"
Minazuki, Shiori and Shizuka flinched when he asked about his only son.
(This is bad if we tell him, he'll be very worried…)
The three thought of the same thing.
Things are going to become very lively in the Orimura household now.
