Chapter X

Hello and greetings to all! Yes, I know, it has been... quite a while since the last update. I do apologize for that. There are numerous reasons behind that. Some public, some personal. But I will not bore you with those irrelevancies. I hope everyone enjoyed the previous chapter, I know some of you did at least, and I hope everyone enjoys this chapter as well. Make sure to leave a review if you do. As usual I would like to thank my coauthor Bakuto Masaki for all of his help with making this story and all of the other stories he has helped me with so far. But with that said, I suppose we should move on with the reviewer responses, hm?

CrystalPhoenixBlader: Yes. Yes it does. Yeah, Ling's having a rough go of it, huh?

superpeirce: Oh now it's getting out of hand? Hehe, that's how most of my stories are anyway.

demonfox2140: Yeah, I don't think you need to be a psychiatrist to figure that out. She did. Yes, don't worry, Laura and Charle will get their moments. I already have plans regarding that. I can't tell you anything about the Candidates yet since it would spoil the story a bit. Who knows? Oh, well, I do, but... just read.

black-ace-rockman: No, not exactly. I simply took characters, events, and places from Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle and transplanted them into parts of Gamindustri. I see. I prefer the English versions of the names myself, so unless I'm unable to they're what I'll go with.

Well that was a rather healthy number of reviews. Let us hope it keeps growing this time around. So without further adieu, we begin!

Ling screamed in pain as Jude's slash sent her flying, her shields quickly depleting, opening her eyes just in time to see Jude hit her with a powerful downward swing, rendering her shields empty and sending her crashing into the ground, causing her IS to cease function.

Jude sighed as he walked up to Ling. "It's over."

Ling stood weakly before immediately dropping to her knees as Shenlong dispelled, tears raining from her eyes. "… Why…? Why…?"

"Because I'm not him."

Ling scowled desperately at Jude. "No! You have to be! He… he can't…"

The group's attention was then diverted as Chifuyu entered the room before surveying the damage and sighing in annoyance. "Good grief. Look at this mess."

Ling stiffened before turning slowly to Chifuyu.

Chifuyu mostly ignored her and walked up to Jude. "Hopefully she didn't cause you too much stress."

Jude groaned heavily. "I felt like I was gonna die. For several different reasons. The three of them are over there…" he noted before pointing over to Noire, Blanc, and Cecilia's hiding spot, "and didn't jump in to help…"

The trio paled in fear as Chifuyu took note of them. She then turned her attention to the sobbing Ling and walked over to her.

"This can't be real… this can't be…" Ling stammered, her voice distorted through sobs.

Chifuyu crouched beside her with a sigh and put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "You can't keep holding on to the memory like that."

Ling looked up at her in disbelief. "B – But…"

"Hanging on like that, trying to wish reality away, won't change anything. It just makes it worse. It will only hurt you more and hurt those you still have."

The brunette's fingers curled in desperation. "But… but… it's… not fair…"

Chifuyu's expression fell subtly. "I know… But do you think Ichika would want this?"

Ling's eyes suddenly shot wide before she slumped back. "… No…"

"Then you should let it go."

"But… if I do that… then it means he's really gone…"

"Not in your heart."

"But… what if I forg –?"

"You can't ask 'what if' about every little thing. It'll destroy you inside. What if I was faster, what if I was stronger, what if I was able to take her place. Those questions… they will drive you to do stupid things…" he scratched his chest absentmindedly as he spoke, "and hurt those that you still have."

Ling looked at him in shock.

"So instead of trying to think of what you didn't do, remember what you did do, and try to build new memories with those around you."

"I – I see…"

Jude stepped closer to her, deactivating Byakushiki, and then smiled warmly. "I can't replace Ichika, but maybe I can help you make some new memories."

Ling's face turned bright red at the declaration. "H – Huh?"

Jude tilted his head in thought before his own face reddened. "I – I didn't mean it like that! I – I just meant th – that I'd help you find new fun things to see and do…"

Ling blinked before snickering and then laughing.

"H – Huh…?"

Ling merely kept laughing wildly.

Neptune tilted her head in confusion. "I think ya broke her Judie…"

"Oh great…"

Later in the day, Jude sighed heavily as he sat on his bed, rubbing his shoulders in discomfort. "Man… I'm so sore… Didn't think something like that would have happened…"

Houki handed him an ice pack. "Think this'll help?"

"Yes." Putting it on his shoulder with a sigh he added, "Thanks Houki…"

Houki nodded with a smile before frowning slightly. "I kinda feel like this is all my fault…"

Jude shook his head in response. "No. It's no one's fault. Ling had issues she needed to move past. This will help her move forward."

"Still, I should've realized there was something off earlier, so I –"

Jude put a hand up to interrupt her, cringing slightly in pain. "I said it before, don't play the 'what-if' game. What's done is done. You can't change it, all you can do is accept it."

Houki blinked in thought and then smiled warmly. "Also… my body's kinda stiff, so could you help me put my arm down?"

"S – Sure?"

The next day Jude sighed as he sat down in class.

Cecilia was instantly at his side with worry. "Jude, dear, are you alright?"

Neptune twitched an eyebrow in irritation. "Now he's her 'dear'?! She isn't a Tsundere Vert at all! She's just a Verty Vert!"

Vert chuckled lightly. "Indeed. Hmm, she'd make a fine mini-me."

Jude sighed lightly and turned to Cecilia. "Uh, y – yeah, I'm fine. Just sore from yesterday."

"Oh…" Cecilia noted in disappointment.

Jude stiffened and answered, "B – But if I do need anything, you'll be the first to know."

"Okay, Jude dear."

"Alright everyone, sit down," Chifuyu commanded as she walked in.

Neptune remarked, "I uuhh, think everybody already done sat Chi-Chan."

Chifuyu gained a tic mark and threw an eraser at Neptune.

"Gah! Eraser Bullets! Blanc, be my loli shield!"

Chifuyu stiffened and sighed with a large bead of sweat falling down her cheek. "Ahem, let's start the lesson."

Jude chuckled weakly. "That'd be a good idea…"

Later in the day, Jude and the others sat in the classroom waiting for the next instructor.

Jude sighed in boredom when Blanc commented, "I don't think anything will happen today."

The entire group immediately turned to her in deadpan, with Neptune grumbling, "Dude. Never say that. It's certain to flag an event."

Almost on cue, Chifuyu entered the room and announced, "Listen up everyone, coming up in one week is the Class League Match, where the representatives of each class will fight in a tournament."

The others stared deeply at Blanc, causing her to curl up in shame.

Jude sighed in annoyance. "Oh great… wait, that's me!"

Noire raised an eyebrow in thought and remarked, "I'll get started on the training schedule."

Chifuyu interjected, "That's not necessary."

"Huh?" Noire muttered, turning to her in surprise.

"I've already chosen someone to train him."

"Who?" Houki questioned.

Suddenly, Tatenashi burst into the room energetically. "Yaho! Student Council President Tatenashi Sarashiki reporting for duty!"

"Oh," Jude muttered bluntly.

"Ah," Blanc uttered weakly.

"What!?" Cecilia and Houki exclaimed.

Noire twitched an eyebrow in annoyance.

Tatenashi smirked slyly. "Don't worry ladies, I'll take good care of Jude for ya," she noted with a wink.

Houki and Cecilia growled in frustration.

"Oh she will be a fun one," Vert noted in amusement.

Tatenashi then walked up to Jude and put a finger on his chin with a smirk. "I wonder what would be appropriate for our first training session. School uniform? Gym clothes? Or maybe noth-ing. At. All."

Jude shivered, his face red. "U – Uuhh… H – How bout regular clothes…?"

The bluenette pouted in disappointment. "Humph, no imagination. Where's your sense of adventure? Maybe I can 'arouse' it for you."

Houki slammed a hand on her desk angrily. "Okay, that's enough!"

Blanc nodded in agreement. "Yes. Before I do something… drastic. Like call a certain cousin…"

Tatenashi turned to Blanc and blinked curiously before paling in horror. "Eek!" she shrieked before bursting out of the room.

Noire gazed at the empty space in confusion. "Well… That just happened…"

Vert tilted her head in bewilderment. "But what was it?"

Jude explained, "Her cousin is Mina…"

Vert and Neptune blinked in thought before looking at each other. "… That makes sense."

Later in the day, Jude walked into a large, darkened room and looked around in worry. "S – Sarashiki…? Y – You here?"

Tatenashi's snicker was audible in the darkness before the lights flicked on, showing Byakushiki standing next to her.

Jude blinked in confusion.

Tatenashi waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I didn't break it. I just made a few… improvements."

Jude frowned in concern. "What kind of improvements?"

"Oh, nothing much. Here, catch." She then tossed a silver bracelet to him.

Jude looked at the bracelet in confusion.

"Now, put it on and call Byakushiki's name."

Jude slapped it on his wrist and extended a hand out. "Byakushiki!" He was suddenly enveloped in light which then quickly died down to reveal he was now in Byakushiki, causing him to smile brightly. "This is great! I don't need to carry that case around all the time!" He then turned to Tatenashi curiously before noticing various bruises and scrapes on her hands. "Did you… do this all yourself?"

Tatenashi stiffened and laughed weakly. "Uuhh…" Scratching her cheek weakly she added, "Maybe a little."

Jude frowned and walked towards her. "… Here, let me see your hands."

Tatenashi jerked back from him in response. "I – I'm fine!"

Jude frowned in frustration.

"Right. Let's begin your training."

Jude nodded in agreement. "Right. Where do we start?"

"Unequip Byakushiki."

"Huh?" Jude muttered. "What for?"

"I need to train your body some more."

"Meaning…?"

"Eighty pushups, eighty situps, eighty squats, twelve pullups, and run eight kilometers!"

"You're crazy!"

Later that night, Jude slowly walked into his room before collapsing onto his bed with a groan. "… Ow… That… was good training…"

Houki walked over to him curiously. "You okay?" she asked with concern before patting him on the arm, causing him to wince.

"Not really… But… that's… a good thing… for training… The tougher… the better…"

Houki sighed and then laughed quietly in amusement. "Geez. You're hopeless." She raised an eyebrow when she heard an odd noise and realized he was snoring. Sighing, she then placed a blanket on him, causing him to wince lightly.

The next morning, there were several powerful knocks at the door, causing Jude to sit up suddenly. "Dogoo spitting dragon!"

Houki groaned as she made her way out of bed and towards the front door. "Geez… so early in the morning."

Jude glanced to the side as he saw Houki walk past him, her eyes half-lidded with sleepiness, her hair flowing down her back, pooling at her feet like a fountain, her pajamas tightly gripping her voluptuous form tightly. "Beautiful…"

Houki blinked curiously, still half-asleep, as she looked at him. "Huh…?" Her eyes then widened as her face reddened when she realized what he was referring to. "U – Uuhh…" She instantly moved back behind the dividing wall and came back out with her hair tied up and wearing her uniform.

Jude flinched in surprise. 'S – So fast… H – How…?'

"Ahem," Houki coughed into her hand before the duo heard furious knocking at the door. "Alright, alright! I get it!" she snarled before swinging the door open.

Ling, standing in the door with annoyance, snarled. "Yeesh, what took ya so damn long?!"

Houki frowned suspiciously. "… Why are you here Ling?"

Ling flinched in worry. "O – Oh, right. Here." She then gave Houki a basket and pointed at her with a red face. "I – I just made too many, that's all! J – Just make sure Jude gets some!" she shouted before running off.

Houki stood in silent bewilderment.

"What happened?" Jude asked as he walked up to the brunette.

Houki answered, "Ling stopped by. She gave us these. Whatever they are." She pulled back the cloth on the basket showing pork dumplings in thick red sauce.

Jude gulped in astonishment. "Looks good."

Houki frowned suspiciously. "They do, but… this is Ling we're talking about."

Milla, suddenly in the room, grabbed one of the dumplings and ate it. "They're not poisoned, if that's what you're worried about."

"Yeppers," Neptune added as she too ate one of the dumplings.

Houki twitched an eyebrow as she looked at the two oblivious gluttons. "… Why the hell… are you… in here?!"

"We smelled food," they answered in unison.

Houki's eyebrows twitched furiously before the duo were suddenly thrown out the door. "Get out!"

Jude sighed in exasperation.

Later in the day, as classes went on, Chifuyu stood at the board before calling out, "Mathis."

Jude did not respond, on account of being asleep.

"Mathis. Mathis!"

Jude immediately woke up and sit up stiffly. "Giant super Dogoo!"

Chifuyu sighed in irritation. "This is going to be a long week." She then turned to Jude fully. "I assume the reason you're so sleepy is your training?"

Jude nodded with a sigh of exhaustion. "Y – Yeah… Tatenashi was rough…"

Cecilia twitched an eyebrow and snapped the pen in her grasp.

Vert chuckled lightly in amusement. "Wrong wording Jude dear."

Jude blinked in confusion. "Huh, it was?"

Chifuyu sighed and interjected, "Let's just start the lesson before they try to strangle you."

Cecilia smiled sweetly as she held her broken pen like a knife. "Trust me, Ms. Orimura, it's not Jude who needs to worry."

Jude gulped in fear.

Chifuyu groaned in irritation. "Please don't kill each other while you're at school, that's far too much paperwork."

Jude chuckled weakly in exasperation whilst the Goddesses shivered at the word paperwork.

Later in the day, Neptune sighed as she sat in her room. "Bored… Now that Judie's spendin' all his time with Miss Important I haven't had a chance to ride Li'l Judie in a while."

"You did that only a few days ago," Blanc retorted.

"But it feels like it's been forever!"

Blanc sighed in irritation.

"Hhmm… hey, Blanny."

"What?" Blanc asked before sipping some tea.

"If you feel all Judie's emotions, whaddya think it'd be like if you rode Li'l Judie?"

Blanc immediately spat the tea before turning to the excitable girl with a bright red face. "Wh – Wh – What kinda question is that you friggin' dumbass?!"

"A good one," Neptune retorted.

Vert nodded in agreement before blushing. "Yes, I too wonder it would be like. To feel that massive rod digging into my –"

"Shut it Thunder Tits!" Blanc shrieked. "I don't need your commentary at all!"

"Fufufu, no sense of humor."

"Screw you!"

"My, my. So that's how you really see me."

Blanc immediately transformed into White Heart. "Sure! How 'bout I let my ax give you a nice deep hug!?"

Vert pointed ahead. "Oh look. There's Jude naked."

"Nice try, dumbass, I can sense where he is!"

Neptune suddenly tackled White Heart down and looked around. "Where!?"

White Heart, annoyed, grumbled as she sat against the wall, upside down. "I hate you…"

Vert giggled in amusement. "I know you mean love."

White Heart flipped her off and reverted to her human form.

"You truly are too cute at times dear Blanc."

Tatenashi snickered as she stood above a battered Jude with a ball of water swirling over her finger. "My, my, I'm surprised you lasted this long."

Jude huffed and panted, beaten and dirty. "I – If I didn't I'd be useless to everyone."

Tatenashi blinked in surprise and then smirked. "You are an interesting one."

Jude looked at her in confusion. "H – Huh?"

Tatenashi walked over to his prone form with a smirk and leaned over him. "Oh, nothing."

"Huh?"

"Just head back now."

"Okay…" he answered weakly before standing up weakly and limping out.

Houki walked up to Jude, who was lying on his bed in pain. "Are you sure you're gonna survive this training?"

Jude sighed heavily. "Yes… If I don't… it just shows I'm not good enough…"

Houki sighed and remarked, "You know, if you keep up with that sort of attitude you'll burn out when you're needed most. One of the first things I learned in kendo training is moderation. If you do too much too fast you'll exhaust yourself, and then you won't be any good to anyone."

Jude frowned in disappointment. "If I don't I can't… save anyone… Um… can you help me?"

"With what?"

"My whole body's numb and I can't lift my legs into bed."

Houki chuckled and grabbed his shins. "Geez, you really are hopeless."

Jude sighed in annoyance.

Later in the night, Jude woke up with a groan. "Geez, I forgot to eat dinner." He glanced to the side and saw the clock reading three A.M. "Hhmm… maybe I should see if Houki wants any. Yeah that'd be best." He stood from his bed with a grunt, walked across the dividing wall and laid eyes on Houki, sprawled out on her bed, covers off, her pajama top riding up, showing a small portion of her bust underneath, her bottoms hugging tightly enough he saw the shape of her body. He reddened and immediately ran to the other side of the wall, bleeding heavily with blood dripping down his nose. 'Okay, calm down, calm down… You didn't see a thing, Jude. Though… her boobs sure are big…' He immediately shook his head vigorously. 'No, no! Bad thought, bad thought!' "This was a bad idea… Just calm down… all I need to do is make some dinner and then go back to bed."

The next morning Jude groaned as he woke up before realizing he was still experiencing a physical reaction to the previous night's events. "Great… that's miserable…"

Houki walked over the dividing wall, still wearing her pajamas, yawning, and turned to Jude. "Oh, good morning, Jude."

Jude stiffened and turned red as he looked at her. "Uuhh… I – I need to go!" He swiftly got changed and dashed out the door.

Houki blinked in confusion. "… Huh…?"

Jude sighed as he walked down the hallway towards the classroom. "Why now…? Just why…?"

"Something wrong, Jude?" Blanc asked as she approached him.

Jude stiffened and turned red as he walked. "Uuhh…"

Blanc frowned and simply stared suspiciously.

"Wh – What…?"

"Nothing," Blanc retorted before walking away.

Jude watched silently as she left before hearing Houki running up behind him.

"Hey, Jude! Why'd you run off like that?" Houki asked as she approached him.

Jude turned to her curiously before gaping as he saw her bosom bouncing as she ran towards him. '… Crap…!' He instantly dashed away once more.

"Huh?" Houki puffed her cheeks in irritation. "Honestly, what's gotten in to the jerk?"

"Who got what now?" Neptune asked curiously.

Houki blinked and turned to Neptune. "Oh, hey Nepta… Neptunia, Nepto… what the?"

"What? Havin' trouble with my name?"

Houki blinked curiously. "Y – Yeah…"

Neptune smirked and waved a hand. "Bah, happens to the best of us kid. You can call me Neppy, Nep, Neppoleon, Nep-Nep, Nep the first, Neptuna. Whatever ya want."

Houki flattened her brow incredulously. "… I'll stick with Nep."

"So you're an Iffy girl I see."

Houki twitched an eyebrow in irritation. "What was that, runt?"

Neptune pouted and then transformed into Purple Heart and smirked. "Who's the runt?"

"Still you," Houki deadpanned.

Purple Heart pouted before returning to her human form.

"Come on your holiness, we'll be late for class."

Jude groaned as he sat in class. 'Great… I'm probably gonna be jumpy all day…'

Neptune grinned and slapped Jude on the back. "How's it hangin' Judie?!"

Jude immediately jumped straight up in pain.

Neptune blinked in surprise. "Huh…?"

Houki knocked her on the head with a frown. "You idiot, don't hit him so hard. That tramp's been pushing him so hard he comes back to the dorm looking like he might turn to dust at any moment."

Neptune looked at her in confusion. "… Huh?"

Cecilia gaped and shouted, "He WHAT?!"

"Uwah! Loud!"

"Why that no good –!"

Chifuyu immediately flicked chalk at Cecilia, silencing her. "That's enough shouting for the day. And let Mathis rest a bit before hounding him. Combat training can exhaust anyone."

Blanc nodded in agreement. "Especially if it involves that family. They take combat training seriously."

Chifuyu sighed and redirected, "Right. Now, to begin…"

Later in the day, Jude sat at his desk and yawned heavily.

Houki walked up to him concerned. "Hey, you alright?"

Jude nodded before answered sleepily, "Just a bit tired."

Houki leaned towards him curiously, unwittingly causing Jude to see down her blouse. "You sure? You've been acting weird all day."

Jude gulped and began to sweat in worry. "Y – Yes…"

Houki frowned suspiciously. "If you say so…"

"Good."

Jude sighed as he sat in the nurse's office. "Geez…"

Maya, the de facto nurse, walked up to him with a smile. "So, what's bothering you?"

Jude sighed in mild frustration. "I'd be more comfortable talking to a male nurse about this, but I guess I don't have a choice. I… kinda saw Houki almost naked this morning and… now it's stuck in my head. I haven't even been able to focus all day."

Compa blinked in surprise. "Wow. I read about that."

"Look, can you just give me something to calm my nerves?"

Compa smiled innocently and readied a massive syringe.

Jude retorted, "Calm my nerves, not sedate me."

Compa pouted cutely. "Aaww… No one lets me give them shots…"

"So this is where you went," Chifuyu remarked as she walked into the room.

Jude turned to her in surprise. "Oh. Ms. Orimura. What do you need?"

"You've been acting unusual all day, so I wanted to figure out why."

"Oh…"

Maya then proceeded to whisper into Chifuyu's ear.

"Ah. I see," Chifuyu noted in thought.

Jude gulped in concern. "Uuhh…"

"You could just tell her."

Jude deadpanned, "She'd kill me. Slowly. With her wooden sword."

"And what makes you certain of that?"

"She hates me, that's what. She made it clear on day one."

Maya, Chifuyu, and Compa all sighed in disbelief.

"… What was with the sigh in unison?"

"It must be nice to be that naïve," Maya retorted.

"Huh?"

Chifuyu urged, "Nothing. Just get back to class."

"But what about –?"

"I'll handle it."

"Okay…"

Later, Jude sighed as he made his way back to class before he saw Chifuyu talking with Houki and paled. 'Sh – She can't be… IS SHE TRYING TO GET ME KILLED?! I am dead…'

Houki nodded to Chifuyu who then walked away and then saw Jude nearby, causing him to pale and run off. "H – Hey, Jude!"

"Wow…" Neptune commented in disbelief. "Judie sure can run fast…"

Houki huffed in annoyance. "Oohh… what did I do to make him so skittish?"

Neptune shrugged in response. "Dunno. So what'd Ms. Scary Teacher want?"

"Huh? Oh, she just told me to make sure Jude takes it easy when he's not with Sarashiki."

"Aahh."

Houki sighed in irritation. "But I can't really do that if he won't even look at me."

"I'll do it!"

"You'll just make things worse."

"How?"

Jude sighed heavily in frustration as he sat on a bench.

"What are you doing out here by yourself?" Noire questioned as she stepped up to him.

"Trying not to die…" Jude groaned out.

Noire sat down next to him. "What'd you do this time?"

"Something stupid… I saw Houki naked last night by accident and haven't been able to face her since…"

"A – Ah… I see…" she responded with a heavy blush.

"Yeah…"

With a mumble, she remarked, "W – Was I…?"

"Huh?"

Noire flailed her arms frantically. "N – Nothing! Nevermind!"

"Okay?"

Noire then looked away from him, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "Y – You know… i – if it… b – bothers you that much… I – I could…"

"Could what?"

Noire shook her head fervently. "N – Nevermind! Forget I said anything!"

Jude frowned suspiciously before Neptune, suddenly behind them, commented playfully, "Aww… Nowa wants a womb full."

"Uwah!" Jude and Noire shouted suddenly as they stood up in shock.

"Don't do that!" Noire shrieked.

Neptune, ignoring her, turned to Jude. "Hey, Judie, whaddya think that smell is?"

Noire clamped a hand over her mouth and laughed weakly. "J – Just ignore her…" She then suddenly shivered through her whole body before pulling her hand off and then punching Neptune atop the head. "Y – You pervert! Why'd you lick my hand!?"

Jude merely sighed before walking away.

"J – Jude…" Noire growled before pointing angrily at Neptune. "Great, now look what you did, idiot!"

Neptune blinked in confusion. "What I do?"

Noire groaned angrily before walking away.

Neptune snickered before muttering aloud, "Ya know, I'll have to thank Mi-Mi for telling me that if I want Judie to notice me, I need to be blatant about it."

Noire stopped suddenly for a moment before walking away.

Jude sighed as he sat on his bed in thought. "Well… Tatenashi is busy with student council stuff… so I need to figure out how I can apologize to Houki. … Who am I kidding? She'll kill me…" Jude glanced to the side before he saw Houki walk into the room and paled before trying to run, Houki grabbing his wrist to stop him. "If you're going to kill me make it quick and hide the body!"

Houki grumbled, "Would you stop for a minute?!"

"… H – Huh…?"

Houki remarked in exasperation, "What have I done to make you so mad at me…?"

Jude blinked in confusion. "… Huh?"

"All day, you won't look at me, you run away from me, and you look afraid every time I get close. Why?"

"Uuhh…"

"Well?!"

Jude looked at her in surprise. "Wait… you're not mad…?"

"I thought you were…"

"No…"

"Then why…?"

Jude gulped heavily. "W – Well…" he turned bright red and glanced away, "I – I sorta… d – dreamt… about you…"

Houki blinked in confusion before her eyes widened as her face turned bright red, however she calmed down when she noticed him flinching away in fear. "… W – Was it… a good one…?"

"Uuhh… Y – Yes… please be quick with my death and hide my body…"

Houki sighed in exasperation. "… I… I'm not going to kill you, o – okay…?"

"Huh…?"

Houki, blushing heavily, retorted, "J – Just don't do it again, okay?"

"I'll try…"

"O – Okay…"

"S – So… you're not mad…?"

Houki shook her head in response. "I'm not."

Jude sighed in relief.

Houki, still blushing deeply, noted, "I – I'm going to go to bed."

"Y – Yeah…" Jude replied weakly.

The next day in class, Neptune watched as Jude and Houki spoke. "Is it just me… or are Ho-Ho and Judie acting friendlier than normal?"

"It's just you," Blanc rebuked.

Vert giggled in amusement. "Fufu, not necessarily. Jude might be normal, but Houki is most certainly acting more familiar with him. Looks like the first week mentor route is going well. Wonder when they'll kiss."

Noire sighed as she began scribbling notes in a book.

Neptune leaned over and asked, "Why ya doodlin' chibi pics of you and Judie holdin' hands Nowa?"

"Eehh!?" Noire shrieked before scribbling over what she had previously drawn. "Wh – Wh – What are you babbling about, you idiot?! I – I was just making n – n – notes! Notes, notes!"

Vert giggled in amusement. "That was more obvious than my dear Chika's want to bed me."

Noire slammed her head into her book with a groan.

Blanc interjected, "Just be straight with him and tell him you want him."

Noire immediately turned to Blanc exasperated. "I can't do that!"

"Neptune did it."

Vert nodded in agreement. "True. I guess it means Neptune is greater than you."

Noire frowned somberly. "… What if he rejects me…?"

Vert raised an eyebrow curiously. "Jude? Reject you?"

Noire nodded in responses. "Well… yeah. I mean, I'm pushy, and temperamental, and impulsive, and, and…"

"Oh boy…" Neptune commented.

"What you lack is confidence," Vert commented.

Noire turned to her in annoyed confusion. "H – Huh?"

"Ufufufu…"

Later in the day, Jude sighed as he stood in the training arena with Tatenashi.

Jude nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Don't hold back."

Tatenashi snickered lightly. "Oh, you don't want that. You haven't even seen my IS yet."

Jude shook his head in response. "It's got nothing to do with 'want'. The best way to get stronger is to fight someone at their best. Win or lose you come out of the fight more experienced."

Tatenashi sighed and then shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Come to me, Mysterious Lady!" Tatenashi was bathed in light that quickly died down to reveal her in tall, pointed, light blue and white armor, long wings on her back and a javelin in her grasp.

Jude widened her eyes in awe. "Beautiful…"

Tatenashi blinked with a light ting before smirking. "I wonder how long you'll say that."

Jude readied Byakushiki and then raised his sword. "We'll see."

Water began swirling around her before she raised her javelin. "Don't blink or you'll miss your defeat."

"We'll see about that."

Water suddenly swirled around Tatenashi violently like a tornado before dispersing, the girl herself gone.

Jude stiffened before jumping to the side suddenly, barely dodging a sweep from Tatenashi's spear.

Tatenashi chuckled in amusement. "You're fast. Let's change that."

Immediately, ice began forming and crystalizing on Byakushiki's surface, causing Jude to gasp in shock.

Tatenashi then dashed forward at blinding speed, multiple copies of her appearing around her.

Jude snarled and moved in his crippled form, narrowly dodging most of the strikes and blocking the ones he could not. 'She's fast.' One of the Tatenashi's took a swing at him and Jude dodged before swiping at her torso, causing her to disippate into a puddle of water, a clone. '… Damn!'

Tatenashi, now above him, hit him from above with a massive chunk of ice, causing him to hit the ground hard.

Jude stood weakly, his body covered in bruises, and soared up at her.

Tatenashi blinked in surprise. "Still going, huh?" Steam began to fill the area, blocking Jude's sight, before Tatenashi snapped her fingers.

Jude paled as pieces of Byakushiki shattered. He then grit his teeth angrily. "Damn. Got to get rid of the damaged parts. They'll slow me down."

"Shield energy depleted," the unit's computerized voice remarked.

"Huh?!" he exclaimed before he turned to Tatenashi holding a small black box, Byakushiki's shield generator. "Damn it!"

Tatenashi tossed the small box back to him. "Like I said, you can't beat me. After all, aside from the base frame, I built my IS personally."

Jude grit his teeth angrily. "I'm still weak… n – no… it's this machine… the only good thing about it is this damn sword… nothing else…"

Tatenashi frowned before slapping Jude across the face. "Even if I was using an Uchigane you would have lost. A weapon is only as good as the one using it."

Jude did not react to her slap and merely clenched his fists. "But… I should have at least been able to damage yours… If I can't do that… How can I help Noire and Blanc…"

Tatenashi raised an eyebrow and then smirked before water began condensing on the tip of her finger which she immediately shoved into Jude's mouth.

"What the…!?" he exclaimed before widening his eyes as he felt consciousness fall from him, his vision going black.

At that exact moment the door to the arena smashed down as Blanc slammed through it, a look of worry and anger on her face.

Tatenashi, with the unconscious Jude sleeping on her lap, waved to the petite girl. "Howdy."

Blanc walked up to her angrily. "What. Happened."

Tatenashi put a finger up in front of her lips. "Shush."

Moments later, Jude awoke in the same, white expanse as he had seen before. "What the…? Wait… this is… the same as my dream…" Jude gulped deeply in horror. "Please don't let me be dreaming again…"

"So, you're the new one, hm? So, you've finally come," a voice from behind Jude rang out softly.

"Huh?" Jude mumbled before turning and seeing a tall, young-looking woman with long, waist-length, flowing white hair, one bang on her forehead a deep crimson, hanging just above her dark brown eyes, wearing a tight, dark red blouse that tightly hugged her curvaceous bosom, a detached collar and sleeves reaching her wrists, a short, black skirt, dark brown stockings, and brown boots. "Wh – Whoa… Who… are you?"

The woman pouted with dismay. "Really?"

Jude raised an eyebrow in mild confusion. "Well I've never seen you before so it's only reasonable to ask."

The woman remained silent for a moment before sighing in resignation. "I suppose until you figure it out, you can call me Amelia."

"Okay…? So where is this place?"

"Your mind," Amelia answered plainly.

"… No seriously, where are we?"

"In. Your. Mind."

"But that's… insane."

Amelia retorted with a deadpan, "You're living with five goddesses."

Jude stiffened as a bead of exasperated sweat fell down his cheek. "… Touché. So, if this is my mind, why is it so… empty?"

"Oh but it isn't. This is just the driest spot."

"I… see?" Jude then began panning around the area in thought, looking for landmarks, until his gaze landed upon a single, shriveled tree nearby. "That tree… Ah!" He immediately turned his attention back to Amelia. "You're…!" he trailed off excitedly, causing Amelia to smile brightly, "the woman I saw in my dream!"

Amelia slumped her shoulders and sighed in annoyance. "One step forward two steps back…"

"I'm really sorry that I don't recognize you. You'd think I'd remember meeting someone as pretty as you."

"Yeah? Well you keep calling me nothing but armor."

Jude blinked in thought before widening his eyes in shock. "… EEEHHH!?"

"Loud…" Amelia grumbled.

"Y – You're Byakushiki!? How?!"

Amelia took a breath and then began calmly, "For one WE AREN'T JUST ARMOR DUMBASS!"

Jude flinched back at the volume of her holler. "Wait… so all IS are like this? Er, like… you, I mean."

"All but those Mass Produced units. They really are just mechanized armor."

Jude widened his eyes before slumping his shoulders in shame. "I can't believe… that I didn't realize you were a living thing…"

Amelia huffed in response.

"Can you forgive me…?"

Amelia smiled before patting his head gently. "Just so long as you don't call me or my sisters 'things' or 'armors' again."

"Okay…"

"So, what'll you call me now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well now you know I'm Byakushiki."

"No, you're Amelia. At least that's what you told me to call you."

Amelia blinked in surprise before smiling. "So be it. Amelia it is."

Jude sighed and then scratched his head with mild embarrassment. "So, um… will I still be able to talk to you? Once I'm awake, I mean."

"Yes. It'll take time, but as we become more attuned you'll be able to just send your thoughts directly to me even when you don't have me equipped. For now, it'll only work when I'm attached to you."

"Good to know. Though, I have to know… why me?"

Amelia shrugged lightly with a smile. "Call it a whim. Or fate."

"You could have chosen much better."

"Perhaps. But power requires one who can wield it properly. And it takes weakness to learn the value of strength."

"But that's just it. I am weak. And not improving."

Amelia smiled and put a hand on his cheek. "Because you don't think you can."

"I've fought many battles. Fighting everything from kings to what my people could consider a God. And yet… and yet… with you enhancing me I couldn't even lay a scratch on one person!"

Amelia shook her head in response. "Because I wasn't. To you, I am still but an armor, a tool. Your opponent has bonded with theirs, they fight as one."

Jude frowned somberly. "… I am weak…"

"But it can change."

"How…?"

"You must discover that for yourself."

Jude growled in frustration. "I am running low on time though!"

"You will know it when it comes to you. Now, I think it's time you go back."

Jude was then enveloped in light.

Shortly later, Jude woke up back in the arena. "Know it? And if I learn to late…?"

Tatenashi grinned playfully. "How was it?"

"Ah, you're awake!" Neptune shouted next to him.

Jude blinked as he turned to her. "Neptune?"

Tatenashi grabbed his chin and turned him to her. "So, what was it like?"

"Unhelpful and no straight answer. But, she was beautiful…" He then blinked in confusion before turning to her. "Wait, did you know that would happen?"

Tatenashi chuckled lightly. "Duh. I had to get it so you saw Byakushiki as a person, not a thing. You dummy, you were just supposed to meet her, not interrogate her."

Jude frowned in annoyance and began to retort, "Her name's –"

Tatenashi put up a finger to interrupt him. "Ah-ah, an IS' real name is only for their partner to know. Okay?"

"Okay… And now I only reaffirmed what I know. That I am weak."

Neptune pouted and then slammed her forehead against Jude's.

"Gah! What was that for?!"

Neptune retorted, "Why you bein' such a big dummy?!"

"H – Huh? B – But…"

Tatenashi argued, "You do know that you'll never beat a girl if you can't fight her for real."

"B – But I did. Y – Yet I…"

"No, you didn't."

Jude growled in irritation. "Of course I gave it my all!"

"No you did not. With every swing I saw your arms tense up so that you didn't hit me with full force and with every charge I noticed you utilizing your breaks so that you didn't collide at full impact."

Jude's eyes widened in shock. "Wh – What?"

"You're holding back. So I wanted you to meet your IS' Core. While you did that, I had it repaired."

"Huh…? How long was I out?"

Vert answered, "Six hours."

"Six hours!?" Jude howled.

Tatenashi smirked and rebutted, "Yup. Now, I say it's time for another spar, wouldn't you?"

Jude nodded in agreement. "Right. I need to get stronger." Quietly, he mumbled to himself, "I need to be of use."

Tatenashi smiled confidently. "Perfect. And you'll want to go all-out against me this time."

"Huh?"

"Whoa!" Neptune shouted in shock.

"Wh – What the…?!" Vert exclaimed in disbelief.

The both were then lifted up by giant cranes, held tightly.

Jude widened his eyes in shock. "Neptune! Vert!"

Tatenashi smirked as she readied Mysterious Lady. "You see, I know your type. So if you don't beat me, those cranes will crush them."

Jude turned to Tatenashi and scowled before growling with rage as he summoned Byakushiki. "Damn you! Are you insane?!"

Tatenashi looked up in thought before putting a finger on her chin. "Maybe," she chirped cheerily.

Jude surged forward at Jude with rage.

Tatenashi smirked and fired a blast of water at him.

Jude easily slashed through the blast and neared her.

Tatenashi flinched and jumped back, creating multiple copies of herself, however Jude slammed directly into her, headbutting her directly in the abdomen, causing her to fly back into a wall. She winced before looking up in shock. 'Wh – What the…?!'

Neptune glanced at Vert curiously. "Uhh… Ya know… Didn't Mi-Mi gives us a bit of a run down on what happens when Judie is all anger filled?"

Vert put a finger on her chin in thought. "Hhmm… did she?"

"I think so but uhh… I forgot 'bout it…"

Vert frowned in worry. "Will Tatenashi be okay?"

"Not a clue."

Jude dashed back from Tatenashi and swung his fist, shouting, "Demon Fist!" a blast of energy flying out at her.

"Uhh… Yeah, she's gonna be in trouble…"

Tatenashi erected a wall of ice to block the blast, but Jude slammed through the wall towards her, however he vanished upon reaching her, only to reappear behind her.

Vert sighed lightly. "Oh my… I do believe we should do something…"

"Like what?"

Vert almost instantly transformed into Green Heart.

"Ah, that'd probably help."

Green Heart broke free from the crane and dashed down, blocking Jude from hitting Tatenashi. "I do believe that is enough."

Jude stiffened and looked at her, surprised. "V – Vert…?"

"Yes. It's time to calm down and stop fighting."

"B – But she…"

Purple Heart landed next to him and put a hand on Jude's shoulder with a smile. "We were never in any real danger."

"… Huh?"

Purple Heart reverted to Neptune and smiled playfully. "Yeppers! It was all a clever ploy ta get ya to fight her for reals!"

Tatenashi chuckled weakly. "Y – Yeah… and I have to admit, when you're serious you pack a real punch."

Jude gulped in confusion. "I – I see…"

"So I'm not sure what it is, but you're usually holding back. But when you get serious you hit pretty hard."

Jude frowned and looked at his hand curiously. "Strange…"

Tatenashi smirked before wrapping her arms around one of his, pulling his arm into her cleavage. "Maybe I'll give you a reason to be serious."

Jude gulped in worry before Vert grabbed onto his other side, his arm sinking into her valley.

Vert snickered in amusement. "Allow me to get in on this deal as well."

"H – Huh!?"

Neptune grinned before transforming into Purple Heart and wrapped her arms around his torso and pressed her breasts into his chest. "How about me too?"

Jude trembled before the overflow of sensation caused him to pass out with a nosebleed.

Later on, Houki sat on her bed with a worried frown. "His training's taking too long…" Suddenly, images of him in perverted situations with Tatenashi filled her head, causing her to blush wildly before shaking her head wildly. "N – No! He wouldn't do that! He's not that kind of person!"

Jude walked into the room with a groan. "That was rough…"

Houki turned to him suddenly. "Y – You alright…?"

"Yeah… Just a bit strained…"

"O – Oh…"

Jude sighed before turning to her. "Have you had dinner yet?"

"No…"

Jude nodded in understanding. "Okay, then I'll make something."

Shortly later, Houki ate guiltily as she noticed Jude rubbing his arm in discomfort.

"Something wrong?" Jude asked as he looked at her.

"That's my line," Houki retorted.

"Huh?"

"All you've done since you got back is rub your arm."

Jude blinked curiously before wincing as Houki jabbed his arm lightly.

"… See?"

Jude flinched lightly before frowning. "It's nothing."

"Yeah right," Houki retorted.

"It is. All I did was sprain it punching threw a giant block of ice."

Houki stiffened in confusion. "H – Huh…?"

"What?"

"Why were you punching a block of ice?"

"Tatenashi created it using her IS and threw it at me."

"… Eh…?"

"What?"

"How'd she create ice?"

Jude sighed in exasperation. "Ah… that's a little… hard to explain."

Houki blinked in confusion.

"A – Anyway, the tournament's only a couple days awa –" Jude stopped midsentence as the school was shaken by a loud explosion. "What was that?!"

"I don't know, but it sounds bad!" Houki yelled before they both ran towards the source of the explosion, meeting up with several of the others.

"What happened?!"

Ling, who was with the others, shouted, "I – I don't know! Th – There was just an explosion all of a sudden!"

Houki turned to the window and paled before pointing outside. "J – Jude… what are those…?"

Jude turned as well and widened his eyes. "Killachines…!?"

"And there's so many…" Blanc muttered in shock as they looked at the numerous Killachines flying in the air above the academy.

Jude growled angrily. "Damn Avenir!"

"This isn't good!" Neptune hollered.

Vert nodded in agreement. "No, if they attack now the students will be in danger."

Jude equipped Byakushiki as the CPUs transformed. "We need to get them away from here!"

"We'll draw their attention," Green Heart urged as she readied her lance.

Suddenly, one of the Killachines landed behind the group and swung its mace, Jude blocking with his sword. Another Killachine charged at Jude from behind, Jude ducking down, causing the two machines to crash into each other and dashed to the side, only for a third to land in front of him.

Purple Heart widened her eyes in realization. "They're after Judie!"

Jude narrowed her eyes as he looked around at the mechanical monsters. "I'll lead them away!"

"Jude!" Black Heart yelled as Jude flew away, the Killachines pursuing him closely.

"We need to help him damn it!" White Heart cursed.

"Yeah!" Purple Heart agreed.

Green Heart nodded before narrowing her eyes. "Indeed, though… how did Avenir even know we are here?"

"We don't have time to think about that!" Black Heart growled.

Jude growled as he flew over the academy, the Killachines in close pursuit. "Damn, they're really keeping on me. Good. It means they won't attack the students." However, he was forced to dash to the side as a beam of energy fired up at him. "The hell is that?!" He looked towards the source of the blast and saw a huge, grey and blue, mechanical beast with a tall head crest. "What is that? It looks like an IS…"

The machine emitted a loud droning growl before flying up at Jude at high speed.

Jude grit his teeth before charging at the monstrous machine. "Bring it on!" However, as he flew towards hit, he had the feeling something was coming from the side and turned to the side to dodge the attack. "What the-?!" he began to say before being forced to block an incoming strike that sent him flying.

"Jude!" Black Heart shouted.

Jude groaned as he sat up, the CPUs approaching him. "Noire?"

Black Heart looked up at the machine in dismay. "Wh – What is that monstrosity?"

"I have no idea. It's nothing like the Killachines… It's almost like… It's an unmanned IS…"

"Is that… even possible?"

"Anything is possible."

"You don't know much, do you?" a new voice asked.

Jude turned and saw a tall, dark-skinned woman with long, waist-length, straight silver hair, her fringe falling just above her dark blue eyes, her bangs framing her face with a single tuft of hair sticking up, wearing a dark purple one-piece suit with long gloves and tall boots.

Purple Heart gaped as she looked at the woman. "Whoa! Dark skinned hotty!"

Jude narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the woman. "Who are you?"

The woman smirked as she sat on the machine's shoulder. "You can call me T-Elos. Though, it matters not what a dead man calls me."

"Confident I see. And the Avenir machine? And your friend?" Jude asked as he pointed at a short girl with short black hair wearing thick armor.

"This is the CPU Breaker. I suggested a more… amusing design for it, but Ganache chose this instead. And her? You can just call her M. Now, do me a favor and die."

Jude readied his sword and snarled. "Sorry. Dying isn't something I can do yet. I still have to help Blanc and Noire take back their Nations."

T-Elos smirked in amusement. "You really think you can do that? How amusing." T-Elos turned to M and ordered, "M, I want to deal with the boy myself. You and our toy here handle the Goddesses."

"Understood," M answered plainly.

Jude turned to the CPUs and ordered, "Blanc, Noire, take on the machine. Neptune, Vert, handle M."

"Right!" the CPUs answered in unison.

Green Heart smirked in amusement. "He's kinda hot when he's serious."

White Heart sighed in irritation. "Focus tits-for-brains."

Green Heart chuckled lightly. "Yes, yes. Fight now, have sex later, I know."

M shot forward at immense speed, Purple Heart dashing straight forward as Green Heart dashed around back.

T-Elos leapt up from the CPU Breaker's shoulder and flew at Jude, whom clashed his sword with a blade of purple energy from her gauntlet.

White Heart howled and flew towards CPU Breaker with her ax, Black Heart shortly behind.

T-Elos smirked in amusement at Jude before pushing him away roughly. "Not bad, for an organic."

Jude hissed a bit before steadying himself in the air. 'Organic? Why would sh – wait, she's a machine?'

T-Elos smirked and flexed her fingers, causing two large minigun platforms to appear in her grasp, each containing three groups of three barrels that spun around. "Try not to die too fast."

"That's a lot of barrels," Jude muttered before dashing to the side at high speed, narrowly dodging the incoming hailstorm of bullets. 'Got to close the distance.' Jude suddenly vanished before reappearing behind T-Elos, whom merely smirked before panels on her shoulders popped open, sending out a hailstorm of miniature rockets. Jude managed to evade most of the rockets and closed the distance on T-Elos, only for the missiles to turn around midair and fly at him from behind.

Black Heart saw the missiles closing in on him and gasped. "Jude look out!"

"Hu – gwah!" Jude muttered before he was hit by the barrage of rockets.

"Jude!" the CPUs shouted in unison.

Jude groaned as he floated in the air, his shields mostly drained. "I – I'm fine…! Don't worry 'bout me and focus on your targets!"

Purple Heart begged desperately, "B – But we –!"

However, Jude interrupted, "Just do as I say!"

Purple Heart tightened her fists in frustration. "… Right…"

T-Elos snickered in amusement. "Trouble amongst your toys?"

Jude scowled angrily at the remark.

"I take that as a yes," T-Elos answered with a smirk.

Jude growled, "I don't care what you say to me, but I won't allow you to insult them. Ever."

"Like you can stop me from saying what I want about your tramps."

"Shut up!" Jude snarled before charging at her.

T-Elos smirked before sidestepping his charge and firing a hail of bullets at his back.

"Gah!"

T-Elos laughed loudly. "You organics are way too easy!" T-Elos landed next to Jude, kicked him in the abdomen and then stomped on his side with a sadistic grin. "I don't see what she likes so much about besides that meathook." A chainsaw made of energy then emerged from her gauntlet again before she grinned madly. "Perhaps I should bring just that to her."

Jude coughed heavily, blood splattering on the ground. "Do what you want to me… just don't hurt the others…"

T-Elos huffed in boredom. "You organics are so dull."

"Jude!" Houki shouted as she ran towards him and T-Elos.

Jude growled angrily and reached out weakly towards Houki. "No… Houki… run away!"

T-Elos blinked in thought and then smirked before pulling a purple revolver from her waist and aimed it at Houki, causing Jude's eyes to widen in horror. "Maybe now you'll show me something interesti –" she was interrupted as Jude suddenly jumped up and hit her so hard that she went flying into CPU Breaker, causing both to slam into a wall nearby. Jude huffed and panted as he stood, exhausted and bleeding. "I won't let you…!" he growled, his eyes starting to glow red. "I won't let you hurt them dammit!"

And fin! That brings the tenth chapter of Tales of Neptunia to a close. I hope everyone enjoyed it, be sure to leave a review if you did. If you were confused or unsure on anything post your thoughts in a review and I will answer them as best I can. If you did not enjoy it, review if you must, just keep it civil, though I would suggest doing something you actually enjoy instead.