...
The first encounter
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- I'm thinking – Ritsuka had been fidgeting on his seat for some time now – About what was said by the Mysterious fighter… - he paused under his brother's heated glare.
- It. Wasn't. Nisei – Seimei spat.
- I'm not saying it was him – Ritsuka's ears twitched in irritation – What I mean is, what if he hadn't been referring to a person's name but their characteristic trait? – he stammered nervously, intimidated by his brother, just as when they'd been still children and Seimei had been explaining something to him, making him awe his knowledge.
- Red eyes? Intriguing – Seimei tapped his chin.
- And rather convincing – Ritsuka was encouraged – Logically reasoning, why would he remember his opponent's name? I can't see Nisei introducing himself in a battle, what would be his point? To make himself easier to caught? It's normal to say the name of your unit, but then, the Mysterious fighter would have recalled 'Beloved', not 'Akame'.
Seimei cursed himself in his mind. He'd been so engrossed in proving Nisei innocent that he hadn't spared that detail much thought. What Ritsuka was saying was blatantly obvious.
- Besides – Soubi finally spoke up, albeit sullenly – The fighter was pretty much out of it, therefore I highly doubt he'd been able to remember somebody's surname. But even in his horrible state, he would have his killer's eyes literally in front of him.
- An albino? – Seimei frowned – Even if that's so, it's very rare for an albino to have red eyes, they usually have them of a light blue colour.
- Not necessarily – Ritsuka amended – The killer may be an albino, true, but they may simply wear contact lenses or, the whole eye appears to be red not an iris only.
- A congenital alteration or an allergic reaction – Nagisa provided – I do agree that albinos are rare to have red irises. But some inflammation are prone to cause a 'bloodshot eyes' effect, even to a very extreme extent that may be mistaken for red irises. We need to remember that guy was under severe shock.
- That's something. Not many fighters have red eyes – Soubi was ready for some action – Can we check it somehow?
Nagisa smiled at him:
- Quite easily. I keep records of all the students ever arriving at the Academy, so we may find clue about someone having problems with their eyes or being an albino – she hurried to bring them.
While they were waiting for her return, Nana reappeared, sweat moistening her forehead:
- I'm never going to do that again! – she exclaimed, sinking on a chair – Your fighter's a madman! – she shot at Seimei angrily.
Aoyagi smirked.
- What happened? – inquired Ritsuka, fighting a laugh – You look unnerved.
- Unnerved! – the technician hid her face in her arm – Gods! He almost got us caught! I don't even want to know where he has learnt to break into the police system… I don't care, but he waited for the very last second until he kindly removed himself from their data! If they had caught us, they'd track us right back here…
Seimei snickered, that was very like Nisei to scare Nana with that possibility.
At that moment, the fighter emerged, holding a pile of papers in his hands, grinning like mad:
- Here you are – he handed the papers to Seimei and plopped down on a chair – I'd say I have two news: good news and bad news. Which one would you like to start with?
- The good one – Ritsuka decided and Seimei nodded.
- Alright – Nisei sounded business – Then I managed to find the reports concerning our murders and steal them.
- I can't fathom what is the bad news in that case – Seimei frowned.
- Well – his fighter sighed, giving him a pleading look to understand he wasn't at fault – Only two victims have been identified.
- How's that? The DNA tests…
- Have been run. Unfortunately, DNA is pretty useless when you have nothing to compare it to – Nisei grimaced – There's been no material available to the coroner that may have enabled him to identify the corpses. He's left with no match in his database.
Everyone was extremely disappointed with that, having hoped for some breakthrough.
- The two identified people? – Seimei asked.
- Right here – Nisei handed the right reports to him – A girl from the first pair and, unluckily, the Mysterious guy.
- At least we'll find the IDs of the first unit… - Ritsuka tried to find a bright side – After Nagisa brings the files…
Soon, the scientist returned with the Zeros.
- They'll help – she explained – There are tons of them – she deposited the files in the centre of the table – Have you found something? – she noticed Nana.
- We know the names of two victims – the technician was still badly shaken.
- Is everything alright?
- No, Nisei almost gave her a heart attack – Ritsuka snorted – He seem to have behaved rather reckless with obtaining the data.
- I had everything under control – the fighter huffed, folding his arms – She exaggerates.
Nagisa sent Nana a compassionate smile:
- My files are pretty safe. Let's begin – she divided the files into eight piles and gave them to the people around the table.
- Cool – Youji eyed his pile – Ten hours and we're done.
He was awfully right, judging by the size of each pile. That was why Seimei always preferred others working for him.
- Hey, look! – Natsuo shouted after minutes of silence – I've found your file – he turned to Soubi, beaming – Wanna hear it out?
Soubi's face showed his disinterest:
- If you have to.
- People, listen! I guess we can skip the name part… Ah! Ritsu's notes: 'has a gift with words… Etc., etc.… Fiercely loyal, devoted… an invincible fighter…'
- Boring! I've got something better – Youji snickered devilishly – Aoyagi Seimei!
Seimei actually looked up and Nisei leaned over to hear better, already grinning.
- 'Appears to have an inclination towards unpredictable behaviour… At fourteen, has developed a huge self-esteem… Difficult to work with because of arrogant and dominant personality… Seems to display a sadistic streak… Disturbingly persistent…'
Nisei laughed out:
- How very true! – he patted Seimei's shoulder – I totally love the 'disturbingly persistent' part!
Seimei shook his hand off, lifting his chin up:
- Do you now? Because *I* have found something even more interesting – he showed a file titled 'Akame Nisei' to everyone.
- B-but – Nisei stuttered – I've never attended the Academy!
- Nothing to be proud of – Soubi chuckled – You'd learn self-control here.
- At least this way I'm not a robot – Nisei stuck out his tongue at him.
- Read it! – Youji nudged Seimei with excitement.
- Ok – the sacrifice readjusted his glasses – 'Displays signs of severe mental disorder… An extreme case of a borderline personality… A sociopathic behaviour… Does not seem to understand the concept of socially accepted morality and ethics… A bipolar disorder…'
- How awful! You made it sound as if I were a total psycho – he gave Nagisa an offended look.
- Well – the scientist's lips twitched upwards – It's not as if I've made it up…
- And the photo! – Nisei didn't appear to have heard her – I truly look as if I was mentally ill! – he tried to pry the photo from Seimei's hand.
- News for you, you always look like that – Youji snickered.
- That should give you something to think about – Natsuo added, elbowing him.
- How horrible! I'm so very cute! – Nisei smiled sweetly – Stop waving that damned photo! – he frowned and jumped up to catch it.
The sacrifice chuckled, pushing him to his chair:
- I've told you black doesn't suit you.
- It does suit me on the inside – Nisei pouted.
- That was a very sane thing to say – Seimei commented dryly and the others began to laugh despite their dislike towards the fighter. He really looked funny, pouting and feigning being offended.
Suddenly, the door opened and a very confused Ritsu stepped inside. Nagisa tried to say something but giggling prevented her from voicing it. Ritsu's mouth twitched:
- I'd understand him – he motioned to Nisei with his head – Laughing over a murder, but I certainly don't get everyone other but him to find it funny.
Everyone surpassed their laughter immediately. Seimei even looked as if someone had slapped him.
- We weren't exactly laughing at the murder – Ritsuka whispered apologetically – And we have a clue.
- Good, what's that?
- Names of two victims – Ritsuka omitted the part about red-eyed fighter, thinking that eyes were a delicate subject for the principal.
- We're looking them up – Nagisa added.
- I've got her! – Nana said at the same time – I've just opened her file: Suzuki Akiha – she read the first few lines – She's the Speechless sacrifice, leaving the school over ten years ago.
- Right – Seimei looked to the coroner's report – She was 28 when she died.
- Young age – Nagisa frowned – We should remember her quite well… Ritsu?
- As far as I recall she left a day after her fighter was found… He wasn't Japanese and had been trained somewhere in Europe… A pure luck they met each other.
- His name was Doyle Tanaí – Nana read aloud – We don't have anything on him.
- He's Irish and he's rather small. And it's actually Tanaí Doyle, he's a Westerner – Nisei unfolded his arms.
- Have you met him? – Nagisa demanded.
Even Seimei looked at him sternly.
- I've never seen the guy – Nisei defended himself – But the name is Irish and it means a 'slender person'.
- You speak Irish? – Seimei asked angrily, ready to backhand him for withholding information.
- I don't. I used to try to learn it when I was about ten or something. Got bored, though.
- Alright – Nagisa sighed – So we have the first pair, Speechless. Now let's find the rest.
They dived into the files and Ritsu excused himself from the room, knowing he couldn't help them. Unfortunately, no file held anything about a red-eyed fighter or sacrifice.
Finally, Seimei called a break.
...
Soubi was smoking, leaning against a wall in a garden. He felt so numb, so completely drained of energy. He knew it was meeting Seimei that affected him in this way.
He sighed, taking a long drag from a cigarette.
Gods, he had kind of come to believe that Seimei had abandoned him for some unspecified reasons concerning names or simply by a twist of fate. Maybe Seimei, ever-so-perfect Seimei, have decided sharing a name with a blank was derogatory, that he'd been tainting the name of Beloved. He had even hoped that Seimei had envisioned he'd become a fierce, loyal protector of Ritsuka, that he'd come to love the boy and therefore had left him with his brother. Maybe he hadn't wanted to use his first fighter for such abominable acts he'd been planning to commit, had deemed him too good for that.
He now knew he'd been fooling himself. He'd been discarded because that fucking Akame was *better*.
He'd been feeling like a dumb shit the whole morning, never coming up with an idea worthy of mentioning, while that psycho had turned out to be *bright*. Not only bright, but *skilled*.
Soubi couldn't use the Photoshop for the life of his and Akame had put Nana to shame with his computer skills. Heck, he'd even showed some initiative with finding all those articles and missing people lists.
Soubi could see clearly why he'd been thrown away. Nisei was Beloved. Nisei was highly intelligent. Nisei was knowledgeable and resourceful. Nisei was witty and had a charming personality when he only wanted to. So what he'd lost to Soubi in a battle? He'd been drunk so it'd been no fair duel.
He exhaled, sinking to the ground. Maybe Nisei had been right, he *was* envious of him.
- Soubi? – Ritsuka's soft voice shook him out of his musings – Why are you here? Everyone's eating cakes…
The blonde smiled gently:
- It's alright, I didn't want to smoke inside, especially when people were eating.
- Soubi – Ritsuka kneeled down – Don't worry.
- I'm really ok – he tried to sound happy.
- Don't worry, because I'm going mad with it myself – Ritsuka laughed a little – I feel like a moron.
Soubi looked up, surprised:
- You too? – he didn't mean to say that, but Ritsuka only giggled more:
- Yes! Gods, I feel like that stupid sidekick every superhero has, you know, the one wearing orange thighs and a green waistcoat while his super-friend is clad in fashionable black outfit.
Soubi let himself smile a little.
- Hey, listen to me – Ritsuka nudged his head up – You may not be a fucking Bill Gates, but you're still the best fighter ever in my opinion. It doesn't matter Nisei's the best in my brother's opinion, because, really, you're for me and he's for Seimei. I don't need the same things Seimei does – he explained sternly, then caught himself on calling Soubi a thing – I mean…
- Shh… - Soubi lifted his head to kiss Ritsuka – I understand. You aren't jealous of Seimei owning Nisei, because you actually prefer totally hopeless cretins – he chuckled, spotting Ritsuka's cheeks flaring.
- Stupid Soubi – he murmured affectionately.
...
- Help yourself to a cookie, before that guy eats everything – Youji grumbled when the Loveless pair entered the room, motioning to Nisei propped on a window still, a fistful of cookies in front of him.
- He's taking advantage of Seimei having gone to a toilette – Natsuo was equally grumpy.
- As well as the fact you're afraid to stop me – Nisei commented in a liquid voice, not sparing them a glance, a lazy smile on his face.
- Who's afraid of you! – Youji jumped up, glaring at him.
- You – Nisei bit on a cookie – You reek of your fear of me.
- We're so gonna show you! – Natsuo was right behind his sacrifice.
Nisei chuckled darkly:
- You? You were huddled in a corner, shaking like leaves until Agatsuma came back – he tossed a cookie in the air and caught it with his mouth – How entertaining!
Both Youji and Natsuo were red to the tips of their ears.
- You shouldn't be afraid of him – stated Ritsuka.
The Zeros, Nisei and even Soubi gave him a doubtful look.
- You shouldn't be afraid of him – Ritsuka stressed – Because we're a team and allies don't attack each other – he knew better than to say allies *trust* each other.
- Well spoken, Ritsuka – Seimei snickered, standing on a doorstep – He won't attack anyone – he reassured the Zeros.
- Great, then… - Ritsuka's words were cut off by his mobile – Yes? – his eyebrows furrowed as he listened carefully – He's right, we'll be there – he shut the mobile closed.
- What's that? – Soubi spotted his distress.
- It's Ai, we need to go, now! – he turned back and hurried out of the room – Another attack, hurry up! The battle's still unfinished!
Soubi ran right after him, followed by Seimei and Nisei, who put all his cookies in his mouth, naturally choking on them after taking a step.
- Don't choke on them, you idiot! – Seimei grabbed his arm, forcing him out.
They reached the Toyota in a record time.
- *I* am driving – the older Aoyagi pushed Soubi away from the driver's door – Ritsuka, give me directions, you two – he gave the fighters a stern look – On the back. The one to open his gob is going to lose his teeth.
They got in without complaints, already high on adrenaline with the prospect of catching the murderers.
- Where to? – Seimei started an engine.
- An old warehouse in the suburbs – Ritsuka was a little shocked that Seimei would drive, it seemed out of character for him – Fifteen kilometres from here.
- Let's go.
...
- We're here – Seimei stopped the car on a puddled road – Where are your guys?
- Somewhere near a small forest over there – Ritsuka pointed shadowed trees ahead – Soubi, can you sense them?
- I can see them – the blonde got out and strolled to the Breathless pair, the others on his heels.
- Ritsuka – Midori ran up to the boy – They're still fighting, just behind the trees.
- The fighter's extremely strong – Ai scratched her arm absent-mindly – His aura's like Soubi's, only darker and thicker…
- We'll worry later – Soubi interrupted her impatiently – We need to stop them.
- It's nearing the end! – Nisei suddenly took off.
- Wait – Seimei's order went unnoticed – Damn you – the sacrifice scurried after his fighter.
- Who's that? – Midori didn't have a chance to notice the other newcomers' faces.
- Later, stay here and guard our backs – Ritsuka grabbed Soubi's hand and ran after his brother.
...
- Nisei! – Seimei called his fighter to a halt, but was once again ignored – Wait!
Nisei only gritted his teeth, his right hand on fire with pain from disobeying and speeded up, reaching a small clearing behind the trees. He quickly looked around, his senses picking up the signs of a battle being held. He lifted his upper lip, canines showing for a second and released a massive bubble of energy, the kind of energy that carried his "fighter's fingerprint" – alarming the opponent of his strength and aura. He hoped it would distract the attackers enough to lower their guard and enable him to force himself into the system.
He tensed up, ready to let his power loose, when he felt himself being sucked in and thrown to the ground. He caught himself with one knee and his hands, only to see the battle system shut down and two dark figures flee in the opposite direction.
- ¡Joder! – he swore, breaking into a run. He wanted to at least get a glimpse of the pair, as they were clearly avoiding a challenge from him.
- Nisei! – Seimei arrived on the clearing only to watch his fighter leave – Fuck you! – he ran after him, fearing for the fighter facing the deadly opponents alone.
The Loveless pair also reached the clearing.
- Soubi – Ritsuka noticed two figures laying on the ground – The victims!
To his relief, the pair was alive, a fighter cradling his sacrifice's limp body to his chest:
- Who're you? – he rasped out, shielding the sacrifice, giving Ritsuka a guarded look.
- Aoyagi Ritsuka and Agatsuma Soubi – Ritsuka put his arms up to show he had peaceful intentions – We're Loveless.
The fighter clutched the body he was holding even stronger:
- Go ahead, I'm not going to fight you.
Ritsuka stepped back, puzzled. It was Soubi who spoke calmly:
- We're not here to fight you.
- No? Then why did you release your power into our battle?
- It wasn't me – Soubi folded his arms – We're here to help.
Ritsuka took advantage of the guy being distracted and kneeled down next to him:
- Is he badly hurt?
The fighter frowned with distrust, but was in no condition to move away:
- I don't know – he replied unwillingly – The spells were so powerful… - he looked ready to faint, but Ritsuka propped him up and made him lean on his own shoulder.
- Don't worry, we're going to bring you to a doctor – well, Nagisa was a doctor after all, at least she'd confessed having graduated a medicine university.
- Why would you help us? – the fighter was fighting to stay conscious, his eyelids closing on their own accord.
- Because it's wrong to hurt people – Ritsuka replied soothingly.
- They're back – Soubi announced and soon Nisei emerged from the shadows. On every other occasion, it would be frightening.
- Fuck them, they got away – he was furious and letting it show on his face – They had a motorbike parked behind those lone trees. Without a plate, of course…
Seimei caught up, panting and sweating:
- You damned idiot! – he slapped his fighter hard, making the unknown fighter gasp and regain slipping consciousness instantly – Don't challenge people without my orders!
- It's not my fault you're fucking slow! – Nisei yelled back, massaging his cheek – If I'd waited for your damn orders, they'd have finished those brats off!
- Since when you're such a white hat? – Soubi snickered in amusement.
- Since that sluggish jerk makes me one! – he was ready to punch something, anything really, and Soubi just happened to come in handy.
To his surprise, Soubi blocked his fist.
- Control yourself, Akame – he spat, twisting the thin wrist.
- Let him go! – Ritsuka shrieked – Can't you two hold a normal conversation, without plucking out each other's eyes? – he was a little despaired, as the boy he was helping up was clearly petrified.
Soubi reluctantly released Nisei's wrist. The dark fighter gave him a murderous glare and inspected his hand. He cried in outrage when Seimei snatched his scarf and wiped off the sweat from his forehead with it:
- What are you doing! It cost more than your entire outfit! – he wanted to continue, but fell silent under Seimei's cold stare.
- That's why you're the errand boy here – he handed the wet scarf back – Take care of it.
Nisei put the cloth in his pocket, wrinkling his nose.
- Sorry to interrupt – Ritsuka's voice resembled Seimei's – But we're here to help them, not banter happily.
The fighter in his arms was beginning to weigh more and more, his eyes closing despite his efforts to stay aware. Soubi bent down to pick him up.
- Tell him to take the other one – Ritsuka suggested to Seimei, pointing at Nisei.
Right, just how do you tell your little brother your fighter is a weakling unable to pick a boy up without breaking in half and don't lose your face?
- Sure – he stepped aside to let Ritsuka go after Soubi.
The boy sent him a suspicious look, but went nevertheless.
- Ok – Seimei sighed – Take him by his arms and hang him on your back and I'll hold his legs.
They swiftly arranged the limp body on Nisei's back and clumsily proceed after the Loveless pair.
The guy's feet stunk ungodly.
...
- What the hell are they doing here! – Ai shrieked spotting the Beloved pair swaying on the road, an unconscious person arranged between them in a pitiful heap.
- Show some fucking gratefulness, stupid brat – Nisei grunted – If it wasn't for me, your skinny little ass would be highly endangered and *not* only by my libido – he leered at her suggestively.
- Nisei! – Ritsuka cried out, reddening.
Midori stepped in front of Ai, covering her and glaring at the dark fighter. The atmosphere grew tense.
- Don't worry – Seimei's light tone was completely out of place – If his private parts got near anyone other but me, he'd lose them.
- How nice! Sounds like a love confession for me – Nisei snickered. He'd gladly jump at Seimei to hug him, but a dead weight on his back stopped him effectively.
- Why is your brother here, Loveless? – Midori wasn't swayed by that pointless talk.
Ritsuka shifted uncomfortably, so Soubi lent him a hand:
- They're helping us with the case, the murderers have turned out to be much more dangerous than we've expected.
- But Beloved! – Midori wasn't at all convinced.
- I can't think of a stronger ally – Ritsuka quietly explained.
- But I can think of several more *trustworthy* allies – Midori deadpanned.
- I do trust them, for the duration of the case – Ritsuka confessed shyly, knowing how stupid it made him.
- You're so naïve, Loveless – Midori shook his head – Your brother still affects you as strongly as ever – he looked at Seimei with disgust.
- I'd be happy to chitchat – Seimei drawled – If you were actually worthy of my attention.
Nisei smirked and Midori only glared harder.
- We should get going – Soubi decided before a verbal (hopefully only verbal) fight began – They're in serious need of medical treatment.
They stood before a big problem: how to transport eight people in a small Toyota.
- I know that theoretically nothing is impossible for him who will try, but I guess Alexander never drove a compact – Nisei joked, testing the range of the car seats movement.
- It doesn't take a genius to see we won't fit in – Seimei sighed, wishing to be back already. Field work wasn't for him, the events of the day confirmed that.
- We'll get a bus – Midori announced, making it clear he's offended by the mere prospect of being in one vehicle with Aoyagi Seimei.
- We'll meet at the Academy, right? – Ritsuka tried to sound cheerful.
- Yes – Midori walked away, with Ai trailing after him. She did wave to Ritsuka, though.
- They'll get over it – Soubi whispered, hugging him from behind – Give them time. You're right, we desperately need their assistance.
- Listen – Seimei began in a strong voice, getting their attention – I'll drive, Soubi will sit next to me with Ritsuka on his knees and Nisei will take care of the bodies on the backseats. Hurry up – he was already slipping inside, while Nisei tried to fit between the prone body of the sacrifice and the car's door.
...
A/N Comments are gladly welcomed :)