Wow been a while huh? Well I decided to to get this chapter out for you all. Now I just want to say thank you to everyone who followed and faved me and my stories. It means a lot, same to everyone who reviews. I love hearing back from you all. Anyway guys let me answer your reviews.
Evowizard25: I am glad you like how I've taken things with this. As for Tye and Tabane things will work out... It will take a while though, plus I have a soft spot for bunny girl's as well. Also I agree with you on that babe magnet thing. Also poor Tye, his life is going to become more complicated when the summer hits. Just wait and see.
Gian Carl Xedrick Olores: Yes... Yes it is, and much like my main character Magnus (My other stories)... I can't stop making references, it's a curse and a blessing.
Anyway I will see you all in the next chapter!
The school trip ended not long after the Gospel Incident, and we were all shipped back to the school. Though those of us who were involved in the fighting, we took a different bus then our classmates. Mostly because we had to go to a security briefing about the Silver Gospel, the majority of the briefing was just us being sworn to secrecy. If any of us said anything, we would be sent straight to jail. So… No talking about what happened… To anyone that isn't on the level. Anyway, after the bus pulled into the parking lot, we began to disembark.
"Tyler dear allow me to help you." Celica offered me her arm, so I can get off the bus easily.
Brushing of the British blonde, I smiled slightly. "I'll be fine Celica, I can get off the bus myself." I am a strong independent cripple, I am not handicapped. I'm handicapable.
"Nein the doctor's said, one of us should help you." Laura insisted as she grabbed my arm, a frown on her cute face. "As my bride, it is my duty to help you." Giving me a glare with her red-eye, the silver-haired girl helped me off the bus. The school trip ended not that long ago, and thing
"Tyler you really should let us help you more." Charlotte told me with a small frown.
Grumbling I rolled my eyes. "Ichika please help me here."
"Sorry Tye you're on your own, plus I thought you would like this sort of thing." The Japanese boy grinned at me, as he slung his bag over his back.
Snorting I shook my head. "Traitor." Don't get me wrong the attention is nice, but the girls… They are way too overbearing, especially Laura and Celica. Charlotte isn't too bad. Though she has her moments. Luckily Rin and Houki are cool, and while they offer to help its very tame. As I got off the bus with the other's following after me, I saw someone I never expected to see again in my life. Standing at the front gate of the school, is a tall woman with wavy blonde hair. She is dressed in a blue-suit, similar to Chifuyu's. Her eyes were bright blue, and she had a smile that brightened up the day. I knew this woman, because she is the one I faced down when I took my sister to the I.S. testing facility.
"Natasha Fairs." My jaw dropped in shock.
"The U.S.'s IS representative Candidate.!?"
"What's she doing here?" Laura frowned in confusion.
Rin bit her lip. "Maybe because of the Gospel incident?"
Slowly walking up to us the older woman looked at us all, as she placed a hand on her hip. "You six were involved in stopping the rampaging IS, correct?" None of us said anything, mostly because we were ordered to keep quiet under pain of death. "I'll take that as a yes, listen I just want to say thank you."
"Huh!?" We all shouted in shock… She came to thank us… but why would-Oh wait I know why now. Okay, things are starting to make sense to me.
Brushing a strand of her wavy hair behind her left ear, the older woman turns her head. "Let's just say you have done myself, and the U.S. government a favor by handling this situation." Natasha walks over to Ichika and kisses his cheek. Which caused my best-friend to blush brightly, while Rin and Houki both shouted. Normally this would have caused me to laugh, but with my ribs? No dice. However, my joy at Ichika's discomfort soon ended, as Natasha turned her attention to me. "It's been a while Tyler, tell me how your sister is?"
"Sh-she is well." I managed to quickly stammer out.
"Good to hear." Smiling the blonde woman walked over to me, and slowly looked me over. A concerned look on her face, touching my face gently Natasha sighs. "I'm sorry you were hurt in the fight. So, because you were hurt I think you deserve a special thank you." Leaning forward Natasha kisses me gently, much to a few of the girl's shouting. "When your eighteen give me a call." Winking somewhat playfully Natasha, slips me a card and walks away.
"… Good thing I'm turning eighteen in a few months…" I muttered with a huge blush on my face.
"Tyler dear… What do you think you're doing?"
"Ya you're my bride, you will not be kissing some woman."
"That is not acceptable Tye."
"You're seventeen?" Ichika asked in confusion.
"Anything you can do to slow it down till work for me! Gah!" I was hit by a stray blast by the Gospel. Grunting in pain I looked down to see a part of my armor was now gone… This is the problem with the Hunter form of the Victory Dragon. The armor was thinner and lighter which allowed greater speed but at the cost of being a tank. So, I had to be careful otherwise I will die… even if what the Bunny said about me being stronger and more durable was true.
Gritting my teeth, I backed away and took a moment to examine the damage that the Gospel caused. The wound… It wasn't pretty the silver IS caused not only damage to my armor, but it smacked into my leg and given the amount of blood that was pouring down my leg… We didn't have much time… Looking closer I noticed a piece of metal sticking out of my leg. "Laura, I need you!" Flying for a large rock I dismissed my IS and began to tear at my shirt, around that time the silver-haired German landed on the ground her IS vanishing as well.
"Tye what is the matter…" Her red eye going wide Laura quickly rushed to my side and began to check over my wound.
"Laura… Do me a favor and rip the metal out of my leg… And then use that little laser blade from the Schwarzer Regen to cauterize the wound." Panting heavily, I gripped my leg as I tried to stabilize my breathing.
"Tye I am not sure… You could bleed to death and if I nick a major artery…" Laura sounded hesitant.
Groaning out in pain I looked her in the eye. "Laura if you do nothing I'll bleed to death… This is the only option we have."
"Fine… Hold still… "Deploying the arms of the Schwarzer Regen Laura waited as I took the piece of my shirt that I ripped off and stuffed it in my mouth and when I nodded in a swift motion she removed the shard of metal and quickly replaced the metal with the laser blade of her IS.
"Ahh!" My screams of pain was muffled by the piece of t-shirt in my mouth but that didn't stop my pain from being seen… I am pretty sure I passed out a couple of times as the only things I could remember was the smell and sound of burning flesh. When I finally came too I slowly stood to my feet with Laura acting as my support, and despite the immense pain I was in… I knew that we had to finish this fight. Looking at Laura I knew she understood this as well. Looking up in the sky I could see that the Gospel was now in it's second shift form and its wings were feathered wings of light… This isn't good but despite this we had to fight.
Deploying our IS's we took the sky, the armor over my leg was still missing but I could deal with that later. Looking around I spotted Houki was on was on a small rocky boulder similar to what I was one… But she wasn't alone… There was a silver/white blue IS with her… "Ichika!" I couldn't believe it the idiot was out of a coma… And his IS… It was in it's second shift. "That damn idiot… I guess it's true the hero always shows up at the last minute."
As Ichika came into sky we all surrounded that idiot with smiles. Though mine was hidden behind my helmet.
"It took some time for us to recover." Laura said nodding at the Japanese boy.
"Right then it's time we staged our counter attack." Celica smiled at him.
"Alright Ichika let's finish this in short order." Rin nodded with a firm expression on her face.
"We have enough energy for this so don't worry about us." Charlotte added with a nod.
Smiling behind my helmet I nodded at Ichika. "Glad to see you're sleeping beauty… Ichika with that thing in its second shift I don't think you alone will be enough but… If we combine our one-off attacks we should win."
"Laura, Celica… Rin, Charl, Tye… Come on! Let's do it! Ichika took off into the sky with all of us following him as the sun slowly began to rise over the horizon.
Charing after the Gospel all the girls took up key points around the battle field as Ichika and I headed straight for the damn thing head on. Houki who now had her hair tied up with a white ribbon she helped us in the close quarters doing her best to whittle the energy the Gospel had. "Ichika, Tye now!" Houki shouted as she captured the Gospel.
"Ah!" Ichika and I charged toward the silver IS but upon noticing us it blasted Houki and soon Ichika and I began to attack it, but our every attempt was blocked. Damn it this thing is even better then before. As Ichika and I avoided the attacks it launched at us.
"Laura now!" I shouted as the German girl
"Ja wohl!" She shouted as she fired two massive shots at the IS both of which grazed the Gospel, avoiding the rest of the attacks Laura fired the Gospel returned the favor and attacked the small girl but was interrupted as the bits of Celica's IS attacked it.
"I'm right over here you monster!" Celica slashed the air, but just as the IS turned on Celica it was blasted by the shock canons of the Shen Long.
"Tye! Ichika Hit it one more time!" Rin shouted as the Gospel took off into the air and launched an energy attack that covered the battle field. However, Charlotte saved her from being killed by deploying some kind of energy shield around her and herself.
"Hurry you two we can't hold out much longer!" The French native shouted at the both of us.
Taking toward the Gospel I knew that I had only once chance of beating this thing… I had to put all my energy into this one last attack. "Vic transfer all power to our boosters and claws."
"Tye if I do that- "
"Just do it!" I shouted as Ichika and charged at the Gospel full speed. "Ichika I'll hit it high!"
"I'll hit it low!"
Charging together we struck the Gospel with full force we kept pushing our attacks as far and deep as we came crashing straight into the beach side of an island causing a massive explosion….
"Ahhh!" Screaming I began to look around in a panic… I couldn't see… Where am I? Where is the Gospel? Where is Ichika?
"Tye! Calm down please calm down! It's just a dream."
It took me a while, but I was finally able to calm down with Vic's help… It had been a week since the Gospel incident and even though summer was right around the corner things were going badly… I've been having… well nightmares every night since the fight, that wasn't the worst of it… I was very irritable and snappish with everyone… and to make matters worse I couldn't do anything with the IS… Every time I tried to activate the Victory Dragon, or I saw the girl's or Ichika's IS I would freeze, and I was instantly taken back to the fight with the Gospel…
"What's wrong with me…?" I muttered holding my left leg… Because of the fight with that rogue IS, I broke all of my ribs which were still on the mend. To make it worse, I was stuck with a stupid cane to walk with because I hurt my leg. Some shrapnel from my IS ended up in my thigh, and Laura had to pull it out and then cauterizing a wound with her IS. Chifuyu told me that I was lucky nothing went wrong, I also dislocated my shoulder. Though that was the one problem that was easily fixed.
"Tye you could have PTSD, you are showing the signs. Perhaps you should talk to someone, like Chifuyu." The AI program said his voice filled with concern.
Looking down at the bracer I sighed... I knew he was right, but I couldn't talk to anyone… It was impossible… They couldn't understand… Could they? It doesn't matter, there was only one person I wanted to talk to and that was Tatenashi, but she was gone. She left a note for me saying she had some issues she had to deal with, and I wouldn't see her until after the summer. Which meant I was alone… Okay not really. I had Vic, but I needed someone else to talk with. "I don't know buddy… I mean what would Chifuyu tell me? She would just call me an idiot…"
"I don't think so partner, but you could try Ms. Yamada. If she doesn't work, what about the others? I'm sure they would understand. They went through this just like you."
Looking down at my hands I nodded shaking slightly… That's true Ichika and all the other girls, did go through the same thing. Though were they having the same nightmares, did facing their IS's freak them out? To be honest I was so wrapped up in my own world, that I didn't even notice… Maybe I should try talking to them… But how do I even bring up the subject? Do I just go up to them and ask, 'Hey are you having nightmares, can we talk about our feelings?' Yeah right. The sound of knocking drew me from my thoughts… Who could that be at this hour? Slowly climbing out of my bed I gripped the plastic cane that was resting next to my nightstand and slowly hobbled to my door. When I opened I was shocked to see Celica standing there wearing a light blue night gown and a shawl around her shoulders. "Celica…? What are you doing here?"
"Forgive me Tyler, but I couldn't sleep… Could we talk for a moment?" The blonde asked pulling her shawl closer around herself.
"Uh… Sure…" Stepping out of the way I turned on the light in my room, walking into my room the British girl sat down in my desk chair. Closing the door, I slowly made my way over to the small kitchenette. "Would you like some tea? Or coffee?"
"You don't have to trouble yourself…" Celica started to say but stopped as I held up my hand.
"You came all the way over here, might as well make you a drink."
Celica frowned and stood up. "Then let me assist you, after all you shouldn't be standing on your leg to much."
Together Celica and I worked in silence making our drinks, tea for her and some coffee for me. After we both had our drinks I waited patiently for Celica to… Well talk about whatever she wanted to talk about, but as we both finished our drinks and moved on to our second cups. I figured she wasn't ever going to talk. Not that the silence was uncomfortable just I had to wonder what she wanted to talk about to me about, especially around three in the morning.
"Tyler, I- "Celica started to say, but stopped and immediately looked down at her cup.
"Celica, if you don't want to talk, then don't." Putting my second cup of coffee down on my desk, I leaned back in my chair. "We can just sit here." I wonder what she wants to talk about thought, could it be the same thing that has been bothering me?
Nodding the blonde slowly took a sip from her tea and sighed, the silence wasn't uncomfortable, but it was there. Finally, after several minutes, the British girl placed her cup down again. "Tyler, have you been… Have you been able to sleep lately?" She asked finally looking at me. Frowning I slowly shook my head and I was about to ask her the same question but that is when I noticed it, the bags under her eyes. She looked really miserable, I wonder… how long has she been like this? I felt bad just seeing her like this… It made me wonder, how everyone else was dealing with this… "Tyler? Did you hear me?"
Shaking my head my mind came back into focus. "Sorry… I was stuck in my own head… What was question?"
"Have you been having nightmares?" She asked almost timidly.
Closing my eyes, my mind was taken back to the fight with the Gospel. Shuddering I slowly began to nod. "Yeah… How about you?"
"I… Yes." Celica sighed looking down at her cup of tea. "I haven't been able to sleep well, for the last week…"
I wasn't alone in the nightmares… I almost felt relieved that I wasn't on my own, but at the same time… I was upset that someone like Celica is going through this crap like I am. Slowly leaning back in my chair, I thought over our options before sighing. "Celica, we can't go on like this… We need to talk to someone… Get some help, from anyone or anyone."
The British blonde bit her lip but nodded. "I agree but who…"
"Well… Maybe we should talk to the others… Then to a teacher… Chifuyu maybe." Biting my lip, I thought over our options, yeah, she may call us stupid or idiots and blow us off… Maybe but… Maybe she could help us or someone to help us… Hell Vic suggested Maya, she could help us...
"Yes… perhaps you are right…" The blonde stared at me with a thoughtful look, but she seemed doubtful. "Tyler… I don't think I will be sleeping anymore tonight, could I perhaps stay here with you?" She looked desperate and frightened… Something I am not used to seeing.
Sighing I finished off my coffee, placing the cup down I nodded. "Sure… I am not going back to sleep any time soon, but I want to sit in bed. This chair is hurting my back." Slowly standing to my feet, with some help from Celica we both walked over to my bed. Carefully climbing into bed, the blonde joined me without really asking. Not that I minded, I think we both needed this. Gingerly she wrapped her arms around mine. Celica and I spent the rest of the night or early morning just watching some tv, we both sat silently in our chairs, not talking. I wasn't even sure what I put on I just picked something at random. As the mindless noise blared through my room, I kept thinking over the Gospel attack. I wondered what could I have done different, or if I had the CAS system before hand and went with Ichika and Houki myself…. We could have stopped the Gospel and go back to living life…
"Tyler... It's almost six, I should be leaving."
Shaking my head, I looked at Celica and nodded. "Right… Don't want people getting the wrong idea."
Giggling slightly Celica smiled slightly. "Would that be so bad?" Slowly standing to her feet Celica walked over to me and gently placed a kiss on my cheek. "Thank you, Tyler." With that she left my room leaving me to get ready for the day.
Hobbling to my shower I slowly but painfully stripped out of my clothing. Taking a very long and extremely hot shower. As the water cascaded down my body, I thought over what I was going to say to the others when I talked to them. How could I brooch the subject? 'Hey guys I think we all have PTSD, we should get your heads checked.' Why do I keep going back to the same questions? Screw it, I'll think about it all later. For now, I'm just going to enjoy the hot water, and try to forget about all this crap for the moment. After I was thoroughly cleaned and washed, I turned off the water and opened the door of my shower to find I am not alone.
"Hey Tye-chan!"
"Tabane!?"
Well after my heart attack and I calmed down, I got dressed and forced myself to deal with the Bunny. "Why did you sneak into my room?" I asked sitting in
"Oh Tye-chan I wanted to see you!" She smiled happily, rocking back and forth on her heels.
I really doubt that, she never does anything without a reason. "Uh huh, tell me why you're really here."
Pouting the Bunny stomped her foot. "Spoil sport!" Sticking her tongue out, Tabane crossed her arms and looked away. "I just came to help you recover is all."
"The last time you said that, I ended up not having pants for a week." Shaking my head, I stood to my feet. "Tabane, just go back to the lab. I can do without your help, plus I'm still angry with you. Thing's worked out and you helped fix your mess, but you have a long way to go before I ever come close to forgiving you." That is how I honestly felt, the Bunny has done some really horrible thing. To many, many people. While she helped with the Gospel incident, I am sure she only did it because I forced her to.
Tearing up slightly the Bunny sighs. "You're a big meanie Tye-chan!"
… Damn it I don't have time for this, and I don't like seeing her cry… As much as she pisses me off, I can't stand seeing her cry. "Okay I am sorry, but I really don't have time for this. I have to get some breakfast, and then get to class. Which isn't easy given my ribs and leg." I gestured to my sides and leg with my free hand.
"That's why I'm here Tye-chan!" Smiling happily the Alice in Wonderland dressed girl, pulled out an injector. "Tada! Behold my latest invention! This little puppy will fix your ribs and legs right up, Then I give you all the hugs I want!" Without warning the Bunny pressed the injector into my side, and suddenly I felt my entire body just…. Snap in pain.
"Gah!" Falling out of my chair and onto the ground, I didn't know what to grip. My ribs or my leg. "You crazy, stupid… Wait I am not in pain…" Gingerly I poked my ribs, but no pain… Same for my leg…. Did the Bunny… "Tabane… Did you just… Fix my problem?"
"Well of course silly, it's just a simple nanite solution that repairs fractures, tissue and nerve damage. The tricky part was making it biodegradable, but I am a genius!" Grinning widely the Bunny gave me the victory sign, winking at me with a stupidly happy look on her face. "Now… That business is out of the way, let's move on to pleasure." She said her voice dropping an octave, a creepy look passing over her voice.
Oh no… I know that look. "I need an adult."
"I am an adult- "
"No, no you are not." Giving her a blank stare, I shook my head.
"Hmm… So true!"
Paling slightly, I gulped and quickly stood to my feet. Picking up my fallen chair, I held it between me and the Bunny. "No means no!"
"Just one hug!" Holding up her hands and flexing her fingers, the insane woman pushed aside my make-shift shield and tackled me.
"Tye how are you walking without your cane!?" Ichika shouted as stared at me in shock, before frowning in confusion. "Also… Why do you look like someone who, was on the losing end of a fight with a bear?" The Japanese teen stared at me in confusion.
Shuddering slightly, I shook my head. "I rather not talk about it… Suffice to say… I have a good doctor, and they managed to fix my problem." At least one of them… Sighing I went back to my eating my breakfast, while my best friend just continued to stare at me in confusion. I'll tell him later… At least about the good the Bunny did, but the other things? Yeah no, that stays with me. There are some things that I rather not talk about.
"Hurry everyone, if you are late to class you will be running laps- "Ah the sweet sounds of our loving dictator, how lovely she sounds so early in the morning. Looking up at Chifuyu, I thought over what I had discussed with Celica… Sighing I slowly stood to my feet, making my way to the teacher. When I walked over to her, the older woman raised an eyebrow. "Kane, I can see you can walk again. Good. Which means if your late you'll have no trouble running laps."
"Yeah… Miss Orimura, can I talk to you about something?"
Frowning for a moment the teacher gestured for me to continue. "Go on." Slowly I began to tell them her about the dreams, along with Celica's issues. When I was done, Chifuyu was silent for a moment. When she did speak, what she said didn't surprise me. "You're an idiot Kane, but I am glad you came to me." Placing a hand on my shoulder, the black-haired woman smiles slightly. "I already figured you had PTSD. Which is why I already contacted a psychologist, they'll be here soon to evaluate you and the others."
"I… How did you know…?"
"Unlike you and my brother, I am not an idiot. Now finish your breakfast." When I began to walk away, the older woman shook her head and muttered. "Plus, it's easy to recognize when you have it yourself."