The Ruling Key

by Zoram Selrof

Sequel to Mahogany Agony. The year 2207 has rolled in but Hyde and his accomplice are giving trouble to the Satella Police with their hit & run campaign. Things suddenly make a turn for the worse: enemies fought in the past resurface to fight the Satella Police and their allies to try to defeat them. Pressure is placed on Subaru and frustration is on the air. Rated M for lemon.

10. Chapter 10: Kidding

Chapter 10: Kidding

09:33 AM (Japan Time), Sunday January the 27th…

"… Hello."

"Ah. Guys. You came. Thanks."

"We visited Gonta – kun already."

"Hey, iinchou… Say something, no?"

"I think she doesn't dare to."

"Guess that…"

Kizamaro, Luna, Tsukasa, Kiboyama and Jack came to visit Subaru: he was sitting on an armchair next to the bed and had an open novel on his lap: the guys were calm but Luna looked nervous and was glancing elsewhere: Solo wasn't in the room.

"Eh… Subaru – kun… Are you… alright?" Luna timidly asked.

"… Yeah. I'm better."

"Eh… You can do it!" She suddenly blurted.

"Excuse me?"

"W-well… You've got your limits, no…? Yesterday was a bad day, but… Next time you'll do better, no?" She timidly ventured.

"Of course. Please understand… I'm not invincible. I've got my limits, just as you said… I happened to reach them… But it'll surely won't happen again…"

"I knew it! That was just bad luck… And I'm sure the bad person used some trap or something like that! The Subaru – kun I know wouldn't be caught so easily! Right?" She got in a better mood.

"You're right. But they won't get away with it. I'll have them be judged and send them to the prison."

"Good!" Kizamaro smiled.

"As long as you don't bring up your newest "11th law of common sense", then…" Pedia ironically commented.

"11th?" Subaru rolled his eyes.

"Eh…" Kizamaro gulped.

"Why 11th?" Jack asked.

"Thought it sounded more realistic."

"It doesn't." Kiboyama muttered.

"At all." Tsukasa added.

"Ki-za-ma-ro~…! Who told you to open your mouth?" Luna scolded in a hush.

"I'm sorry, ma'am!" He whispered back.

"Fine. We'll settle this later. Anyway… Subaru – kun: I'm going to tell this to the other students. I don't want the bad people to get away with it: with striking our morale."

"I owe you one, iinchou."

"In exchange…"

"What?"

"Support me when the next iinchou election, will you?"

"Of course. Piece of a cake."

"Good. Let's go visit Misora – chan next. By the way… You were sharing the room with someone else?"

"Solo. But he's gone to have a blood analysis."

"Ah. Then send him greetings from us. Let's go, you guys." Luna calmly ordered the group.

"Roger."

"Thanks for coming."

The group left and Subaru sighed: he resumed reading the novel and looked like he was getting in a better mood.

"I'm back." Solo walked back in.

"How did it go like?"

"There was no abnormality and the levels were all green. We can leave this afternoon after a final check."

"Good. The class dropped by to greet and are going to try to explain to everyone that even I have my limits. That should help counter the depression they have."

"Fine. If that will disrupt Kuroban's plans, then…"

"We benefit."

"Beware! Ms. Lil Trap teams with Ms. Big Trap! The result? Koumei's Trap! The most infamous trap of all history!" A familiar voice rang out close by in a whisper but loud enough to be heard.

"Huh? Omega – san!" Subaru gasped.

Omega became visible but today his eyes displayed amusement and like he was up to some prank along with a broad grin.

"Yessir. Uncle Mars Warrior, on the scene…! Shachou told me you were a bit down so he told me to provide some humor… And since he directed a thousand Death Glares to me then I'll have to keep it small… By the way, B-B-B-B-Bertie~… Did ya know?"

"Know… What?"

"People say that "B-B-B-B-Bertie~" gotta be a distant familiar of yours: they've started to realize you and the fella look alike!"

"No wonder." He wasn't too surprised.

"And so… I bring forth… A cookie!"

He suddenly drew a cookie and tossed it towards Subaru who calmly caught it with his left hand: he frowned.

"It's a plastic imitation!" He complained in a hush.

"Yessir. Dragon gave me a hand!"

"Dragon – san… He must've felt "inspired by Master Confucius" again, I guess…" He rolled his eyes.

"Ah! Solo. My bad. Didn't see ya. I know a way to turn Kuroban ugly and repulsive!"

"Oh yeah?" Solo looked slightly interested.

"Turn the guy into Pinkban."

"Pinkban? Heh. Why not…" He looked amused.

"Oh please." Subaru found it silly.

"Omega… Don't go over the board. I'm listening!" Vadous hushed over his radio.

"Don't worry, Vadous. I needed something to boost up my mood." Solo shrugged.

"If you say so…"

"Well. Here's a joke. "Here are the plane tickets."… "Plane! What luxury!"… "I knew it! That it couldn't be a plane!"… "Bus: "The Plane"."… Get it?"

"So instead of a real plane it was a bus named "plane"? What a way to trick someone." Subaru sighed.

"Heh, heh, heh!"

"So… Anything new?" Solo asked.

"Nothing yet. We've combed the Moon's surface just in case but found nothing. We've sent Viruses to explore the insides but that will take some time… It can be a dead end but you never know." Vadous replied.

"Well. Exhaust all possibilities." Solo shrugged.

"That's what I'm doing."

"So! Bertie!"

"Subaru, sir. My name is Subaru. And you know that."

"Bertie is cuter!"

"I don't think so, sir."

"Here comes Dry Guy!"

"Omega…!" Vadous hissed.

"Oops. Time to switch topics. Ahem, ahem! If Ishikawa won't go to the mountain the mountain shall go Ishikawa."

"I'd heard that before." Subaru shrugged.

"Did ya know? Utagai has been ascended to Duke of Disbelief!"

"HUH? Oh come on. Omega – san. It's stupid, sir. And don't bully poor Utagai – san if you may, sir."

"I'm not bullying: just ascending the guy!"

"Loopholes, sir."

"Indeed! Stop saying bad things about others, Omega." Vadous fumed.

"Oops. Looks like shachou is short in patience today. Oh well. I'll be going back and tell Dragon about Crimson Dragon. He'll add it to his picture book of "Mythical Dragons inspired by Master Confucius' Teachings"… And if you don't believe ask him to show it to you guys." He blinked Subaru the right eye.

"Dragon – san…! He takes his own named too literally… Why did he name himself "Dragon Hell" to begin with? Did he love dragons when he was younger?" Subaru wondered.

"I dunno myself too." Vadous admitted.

"Talk about an odd guy." Solo was surprised as well.

"OK, then… I'll be going back to the HQ. See ya around and beware of flying and zapping sea-gulls! Heh, heh, heh!"

12:22 PM (Taiwan Time)…

"… Shinobi! Inform me: what's the status of things?"

"Yes, Hyde – sama! The Satella Police is searching every nook and cranny for Kuroban. No wonder. After what he pulled yesterday."

"What?"

"I told you, Hyde – sama, yesterday afternoon."

"Did you?"

"Yeah. I've got it recorded, Hyde."

"Ah! Now I remember. That spatial fleet. Huh! I wish one too! Then I could restore Vienna's pride and honor!"

"I'm SO skeptical."

"Uh-oh…"

Hyde called for Shinobi to come to report to him and he announced he'd done so already: Phantom confirmed it and Hyde then remembered what it was: he suddenly made a grimace and closed both fists: Phantom sounded skeptical and defeatist while Shinobi foresaw trouble.

"By the way, Hyde – sama… Speaking of Vienna… I intercepted a mail written by Akatsuki that said that Kuroban had announced that he was gonna show up in the Opera House…"

"WHAT! Intending to dirty the prideful and gorgeous Opera House? I won't let them, by my might! I swear!"

"What do we do?"

"Head over there! NOW!"

"A-alright."

"Hyde~… How can you be sure it's not misinformation that that Kuroban guy spread to lure the Satella Police away from Japan?"

"I don't care!"

"You should. Maybe the guy's aiming to take us all out by collapsing the building as soon as we come in?"

"Then that's another reason to rush there! I'll find the bombs, toss them outside, and become a National Historical Patriotic Glorious Grand Mighty Magnificent Splendid Admired Nobleman Hero!" He began to list a long string of adjectives.

"You're getting cocky. Cool your head, man."

"SAYS THE TABLOID HYBRID!"

"I DUNNO WHY YOU'RE SO OBSESSED WITH TABLOIDS: THERE WEREN'T IN MU TO BEGIN WITH!"

"THERE WERE 'CAUSE I SAY SO!"

"REALITY DISTORTION FIELDS GO HOME!"

"Oops." Shinobi muttered.

Hyde began to yell at Phantom and he lost patience so he began to yell back: Assassin suddenly showed up and began to flip in the air while making a hollow chuckle: it was obvious it was laughing at how Phantom finally lost all patience.

"You shut up." Shinobi grumbled.

"REALITY CONTROLLING FIELDS ARE MY SECRET WEAPON!"

"YOU MORON! IT'S A TRAP: EVEN A KID WOULD REALIZE IT!"

"TRAPS AND WHATEVER! I'LL BE VICTORIOUS!"

"YOU SAID THE SAME THING WHEN WIZARD CITY AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!"

"HAH! BUT I HAVE CRIMSON AND I CAN SELL IT!"

"SO WHAT!"

"WHAT!"

"THAT DOESN'T CHANGE YOU'RE BEING CHASED!"

"HAH! LET THEM CHASE ME: I CAN'T BE CAUGHT!"

"SAYS THE MAN! THEY CLOSED YOU IN JAIL BACK IN DECEMBER! SHINOBI HAD TO COME RESCUE YOU!"

"THAT NEVER HAPPENED!"

"DENYING REALITY WON'T MAKE YOUR STRONGER!"

"Kuu, kuu, kuu!" Assassin kept on chuckling.

"You shut up already, you idiot." Shinobi was getting annoyed as well.

"How pathetic." Kuroban's voice echoed all across the space.

"You're Kuroban!" Hyde, Phantom and Shinobi gasped.

"Indeed. This originally belonged to me. I left some hidden programs there and there and one of them tells me the current location. But don't try to find me. I'm remotely accessing the speakers."

"Damn it all!" Hyde cursed.

"See?" Phantom grumbled.

"Hmpf. And you call yourself smart. How pathetic. Truly. I don't know why you got Orihime's eye but you must've pretended to be more competent than you actually are. Whatever. Not like it matters by now. What matters is that… You're weak. That's all."

"Says the man! You're always hiding!"

"Hmpf. I'm cautious! The type that would take a stone bridge apart just to make sure it's solid." Kuroban fumed.

"HUH? Are there types like those?" Hyde gasped.

"There are." Phantom grumbled.

"Whatever. I don't need this thing… for now, that is."

"You bastard… Threatening me!"

"Threat or warning… Pick whichever you want."

"Nya~rgh!"

"You want to fight me so badly… Come at Vienna. I'll be waiting to show you how weak you really are. I can predict you won't even last 10 seconds in front of my power. The power of the On'Setsu Kingdom."

"No wonder. It's said that you almost defeated Rock Man through a hidden ability." Phantom muttered.

"Indeed, servant of my enemy!"

"I won't deny that. But I wasn't around when the invasion. I was created later on." Phantom shrugged.

"Fine. But nevertheless, Mu is my enemy."

"Of course! I wasn't trying to run away from the fact."

"You're intelligent. So why do you stick around to this fool?"

"I'd loved to quit but… Got a debt, ya see. This guy freed me from a Mu ruin and I owe 'im that much." Phantom admitted.

"That's the only reason you follow me?" Hyde grumbled.

"Of course. Were it not for that reason I'd gone somewhere else already because one day I'm gonna turn crazy."

"Hum. A debt is a debt indeed… Fine."

"I wasn't asking for your sympathy, either. We're enemies, no?"

"I wanted to measure your intelligence. That's all."

"Ah. If it's just that." He shrugged.

"As for that other Denpa Body…"

"Oreesamaa?" Assassin asked.

"… "The great I?"… Yeah, the guy means you. And don't boast."

"Hum. Too simplistic in mind. That "Assassin Clan" only wanted a tool to make their assassins stronger and that's all. I'm amused at something."

"What?" Shinobi asked.

"You killed 26 men and nevertheless you can act rationally and all. So that means you forget the faces and names of those you kill?"

"Yeah. I trained myself to. They're uninteresting. Got better things to focus upon, anyway. And don't try to convince me, because it was Hyde – sama that granted me the strength to become who I am." Shinobi calmly replied.

"Fine… So we've got 2 clever subjects and 2 stupid subjects." Kuroban concluded with a snicker.

"STUPID?" Hyde grumbled.

"Onoree!" Assassin growled next.

"See?" Phantom sighed.

"Yeah, you are." Shinobi replied to Assassin.

"FINE! So I only need to come to Vienna to fight you! Get ready: I'll crush each and every one of your damned BONES!"

"You will try." Kuroban dully replied as if to further taunt him.

"Shinobi, man. Follow us as a backup. Ya never know."

"Alright. It's better this way, anyway. But I think we shouldn't leave this thing empty to begin with."

"Hmmm… True… Oh well. Stay here and monitor us through an eyeball. If things turn awry turn the portal on and rescue us."

"That sounds more careful."

"Stop chatting like damned parrots of southern jungles!"

"You're the parrot." Phantom replied.

"FINE! We'll settle that LATER! TO VIENNA WE GO BY MY ROYAL BLOOD AND MY MIGHT!"

"You've got none of those to begin with, man. Sheesh."

07:47 AM (Vienna Time)…

"… Here we are! The Opera House!"

"Hum. I can't feel anything in a 20 meter radius."

"Show up, Kuroban!"

"I'll show you my pawn."

"What!"

"Go, Club Strong!"

"Mugro~h…! CRUSH! DESTROY! DELETE~!"

"Damn it all!"

"Saw it coming."

Phantom Black appeared in the stage of the Vienna Opera House and called out for Kuroban but Club Strong materialized there inside: he brought down his club and Phantom Black dodged at the last second while the floor broke due to the blow.

"The historical Vienna Opera House~! Kuroban! You savage!"

"Hmpf." Kuroban was unimpressed.

"Hruoh!"

Club Strong swung the club and formed three tornadoes which Phantom Black dodged by quickly warping from one spot to another: he snickered and suddenly warped outside of the stage so Club Strong followed him into a square in the Wave Roads above a nearby plaza: Phantom Black shot a Machine Flame Battle Card at Club Strong and inflicted damage: Club Strong roared and attacked again by randomly hitting the floor with the club while forming Wood Towers: Phantom Black snickered and dodged the attacks while shooting Machine Flame at Club Strong again and again until he roared and was deleted: he quickly turned around and found Spade Magnets rushing towards him.

"Hah! I had the hunch! Come, rubbish!"

"They seem to have been rebuilt in a rush… Or maybe it's supposed to give you the impression you're very strong but then plans on sending the real deal…" Phantom muttered.

"Whatever!"

"Hmpf. Then… Huh? Someone's approaching…? Damn! Tactical withdrawal! I'll crush some other day! Farewell!"

"What! The rascal run away!"

"Found you! Hyde!"

"Akatsuki!"

"Same one!"

Acid Ace rushed in and the Spade Magnets had warped away before it'd reached Phantom Black.

"So you're the cause of my humiliation!"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Kuroban was here! Close by! But you came! And the guy fled!"

"Oh yeah? I just got a report that you'd been sighted here and you were fighting someone."

"Don't play dumb! You're the one who sent the mail saying Kuroban would show up here!"

"I never sent such a mail. Kuroban must've sent it. Like yesterday: the guy loves to fake emails using my name." Acid Ace grumbled.

"Damn it all! So I got fooled by that bastard! I'm sure he wasn't intending to fight me directly! Wanted to lure me out of the base! Hah! But I left Shinobi as backup there! I'm a GENIUS!"

"That was MY idea." Phantom sighed.

"No wonder." Acid Ace muttered.

"Indeed." Acid dully added.

"NYA~H! THEY ALL MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME~!"

"Heh. You brought this into yourself."

"Damn them all! Shinobi! Is everything nominal over there?"

"Yeah, Hyde – sama! I shut off the central computer and turned off the backup energy sources for it just in case. Placed some sensors in the control bridge too." Shinobi reported.

"Don't lower the guard! Kuroban could be about to intrude there and try to steal it in front of my noses!"

"R-roger!"

"Alright. I'll take the chance to…!"

"Damn it! The rubbish is back!"

"What! That cheap copy! I'll beat it and…!"

"Hah! Fool!"

"Shit."

Acid Ace had been about to battle Phantom Black but he gasped and signaled behind Acid Ace so he whipped around but Phantom Black snickered and formed a "portal" to sink inside and it closed: Acid Ace grumbled under his breath.

"Lovely."

"We fell for such an obvious trick… Shame on me." Acid sighed.

"Now's not the time to worry about this."

"I know, Shidou."

"Hmpf. So you're a fake prophet as well, like I thought!" Kuroban's voice rang out from close by.

"So you've come back, huh? You think you're a fox?" Acid Ace taunted.

"Who knows, you damned fake prophet?"

"Hmpf." Acid Ace wasn't impressed.

"Soon… Once "Wiita" is completed… I'll bring it out… And no barrier shall be able to stop me!"

"Wait and see."

"Hmpf. Stubborn barbarians."

"You're one to talk. Wrecking an Opera House."

"Hmpf. These fools needed a lesson: they've always thought they were so mighty and all but were mere fools."

"I wonder about that."

"What?"

"You didn't leave a strong impression in History."

"Hmpf. Those damned Mu overshadowed us… But we've got pieces of technology that have survived the passage of time… Hidden across the world and waiting for their awakening… When they do… The world will be ours!

"Guess that."

"Hmpf. Fake prophets will never understand the sacrifices we've done to protect our glorious and bright On'Setsu Kingdom!"

"Shoo, shoo. You're not scary."

"Not even that damned Lucifer impersonator will be able to halt me: now that I have earned "that power"!"

"Soul power?" Acid Ace taunted.

"HMPF!"

"So you're like Burai, huh? You hate bonds."

"They're fake prophets too! What "bond power"? Rubbish!"

"Maybe so maybe no."

"Whatever. I've got better things to take care of than having to stick around with a fake prophet that makes my blood boil. Soon enough I shall have buried you all! Farewell!"

"It'd seem he's fled." Acid reported.

"You couldn't figure out the location?"

"No. It'd seem there were several Viruses acting as speakers set there and there in a 1 km radius."

"Hum. So the guy was never physically here. And wanted to try to crush Hyde but I happened to come."

"So it'd seem."

"Fine. Let's go back and report."

"Shidou… In the meanwhile… A mail from Omega has come. I've checked the origin and Vadous' server acknowledges that such a mail has been dispatched so it's real."

"What does it say?"

"Well… Oh no."

"Don't tell me that…" He seemed to predict what it was.

"Yes… "Moon Ace and Acid Disaster"… Not again."

"Yeah… The guy… He'll never tire of that stupid and childish joke. He needs to be upgraded too. Oh well. Better that than the other Omega lashing out at everyone and everything and being unable to think in a rational manner. By the way: make sure to continue the watch over that Suzuka girl. Kanaya might target her and use her as bait to lure Hibiki into her ugly clutches." He turned serious after complaining.

"Understood. It's already being done but I'll tell them to exercise further caution and to raise the guard."

"OK, then… Back home… This is far from over…"

The tension is too high… Let's hope no – one ends up dead! Damn it!