wChapter 9

November 28, 2014

Koyuki and Ryujin trudged through the snowy forest. They walked in silence. There was not much else to be said. The principal suspected him. Keira suspected him. Only Saki and Kousei jumped to his defense. Why don't they trust you, senpai?

"Koyuki. It's okay. Please turn back now if you're worried." The Vaporeon stopped walking and looked at her. "I wouldn't blame you for suspecting me," he said gently.

"No, senpai… they're all being ridiculous… but… running…"

"They all think I kidnapped Mitsumi. I knew her the best, I've got the skillset to do it, and I was at the mall at that time. I can't say much…"

"Senpai…"

The Vaporeon sighed. "We'll rest here. I don't think the police will find us here."

He set down his bag and sword. "You said your parents have a house in the mountains."

"They own a temple. Wait, you're not thinking of going there, are you?! It's a three day walk!"

"Then turn back if you want. There was no reason for you to come with me." He looked around. "There's a slight overhang there. I'll sleep there to stay out of the cold."

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November 27, 2014

"W-what?! Mitsumi senpai is missing?" Koyuki shrieked.

Ryujin clenched his fist. "How?! What happened?"

The police officer, a large Emboar just huffed. "It happened. Miss Mitsumi was in the back, then she vanished."

"Senpai… weren't you going to say hi to her earlier today?" asked Keira.

"Yes. I just saw her a half hour ago."

The officer narrowed his eyes. "What's your name?"

"Ryujin. Ryujin Rakachi."

He wrote down the name in a book. "Hey, you aren't suspecting senpai, right?" asked Koyuki.

"Hmph."

"Wait! What if… what if…"

"Koyuki. They'll find out it's not me. There is nothing to worry about." The Vaporeon rested his hands on her shoulder. "There is no problem. But… Mitsumi… she has a lot of fans. Some of them may want to do some nasty things to her…" He looked away. "Officer. Please find her."

"Y-yes. Of course. Say…" He rubbed his chin. "Don't you do kendo?"

"Yes. National champion for the past two years. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. Just… we'll let you all know. Please leave the crime scene."

"Eh? What are you all doing here? Ryujin, what's your dorm doing here?" A large Arcanine stood behind them.

"Principal! I'm sorry… we were just concerned for our friend." Ryujin bowed slightly.

"Very well. I want to find the kidnapper as soon as possible. Please head back to the dorm, Ryujin."

"Of course sensei. Let's go."

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"So who do you think it could be?" asked Saki.

"I… like I said, Mitsumi has a lot of fans…" The Vaporeon had put his wooden sword on his back. He was staring out a window.

Koyuki wanted to comfort him, but Keira shook her head. No, Koyuki.

"Senpai… could it be… perhaps… the hooded figure?" asked Kousei.

The Vaporeon didn't respond.

"Hooded figure? I… I don't recall…" Keira narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I… he tried attacking me at the masquerade." The Vaporeon crossed his arms. "I don't want to spread panic."

"You never mentioned it before!" hissed Keira. Koyuki was shocked by her anger.

"Koyuki… please, calm do-" Kousei tried resting a hand on her shoulder, but she threw it off.

"She's your sister almost! Don't you care for your family?!" The Espeon narrowed her eyes. "Unless you killed her."

"Don't say that! Senpai wo-"

"Don't you understand the importance of family?" asked Keira.

The Vaporeon turned around. "Shut up!" He walked right up to the Espeon. "Do you think it's easy, knowing your sibling is with rapists? Or perhaps an old rival? No you don't! So be qu-"

The doorbell rang. Rin ran over and answered it. "Ah, Tsuyo-senpai! What are you…"

"Ryujin. Run… they found her dress cut up. Principal thinks it's you…"

The Vaporeon's face was shocked. "But… how? What could have happened?"

"Leave now! The police are coming for you!"

The Vaporeon shook his head. "I'll prove to them that-"

A sack thudded on the ground in front of him. "Go." It was Naruchi. "In there are maps, sleeping bags, and food. Get away from here like I did."

"Why? Why should I have to leave? I have not done anything wrong! But…"

"Really? They'll come after you. What will you say? They have evidence. Find your sister."

"I…" The Vaporeon looked at them all. "I'll leave you all. See you soon."

"Wait… senpai…" Koyuki stepped forward. "You'll need some help out there… I'll come with you… why are you all turning against him?"

Keira didn't respond, and most of the others hung their heads. "Ryujin is the only student with a sword… well, the only one with a sword who saw her."

"I…"

"Ryujin! They're coming. Go now!"

The Vaporeon nodded. "Thank you."

Koyuki stepped forward. "Then I'll come with you. I think…"

"Wait, what?!" The others all gasped.

"Yes. I'll go with him." Mitsumi smiled. "We all have secrets, but mine can help Ryujin-senpai succeed."

The Vaporeon looked at her, before saying, "Let's go then. They're coming."

And with that, the two of them walked outside, where the first snow was beginning.

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November 28, 2014

The Vaporeon had filled a pot with boiling water using Scald. Koyuki sat across from him, watching him cook.

"Senpai… ugh-"

"Pease just call me Ryujin. And Koyuki… I know… I know what you've been hiding from me."

"I…" She paused. Which one? "Er… I don't know what you're talking about."

"Koyuki Matsuchi. You think I wouldn't recognize the name of the former girls' national Kendo champion?"

"I… oh, you had to bring it up…" She sighed. "I hoped we wouldn't have to talk about that… it's all in past. Plus I've never even touched a sword in the past two years."

"Really? I never talked to you before when you still took Kendo. But I figured there was a good reason for you never bringing it up."

"Yeah. It's… complicated. Family, friendship, everything."

He sighed. "So why did you choose to come with me though?"

"Because… I… I thought you'd need help looking for the kidnapper." She made sure not to let him see her reddish face. "I'd be willing to pick up the sword again if you need help finding a friend."

The Vaporeon nodded. "You know… I'd never found somebody who could understand me at our school. You never mentioned it, so I thought to just keep quiet." He stirred the pot thoughtfully. "You tried to fit in by acting normal, am I right?"

"Yes. I… I don't want them to know what happened. But… please don't tell them…"

"Of course. The same goes with those feelings towards me, right? It was all an act right?"

She nodded reluctantly. "Yes. They were nothing more than an act to try fit in."

He sipped the broth, then pulled out some bows and chopsticks. "Let's eat." The two blue eons ate in silence. "Is it good?"

"Y-yes. It's very good. A little hot for my liking, but…"

"Well, you are an ice type," he said. "Now… I'd like to spar with you later tonight to see if you've still got it."

She shook her head. "I'm still confident I have it in my bones, Ryujin. I believe we've both seen each other fight and know what each other can do."

He tossed one of the wooden swords to her. "Come on. Let's have a quick match."

She sighed. "Really? Do I have t-" She jumped back as he took a vertical slash at her.

He chuckled. "Come on, it'll be fun." Alright then… I have to at least show him I'm pretty strong. Who knows… he might like a girl who can defend herself… She quickly countered with a four slash barrage, which he deflected. "That's more like it!"

"You know… I don't get why-" She ducked under his attack. "You keep fighting like this. We don't even wear helmets now. Kyaa!" He knocked the sword from her hands with a quick hit on her hand. He held it to her chest.

"I owe it to my deceased parents to keep the tradition going." He picked up the sword she had been using and put it away. He put his back into its sheathe.

Koyuki rubbed her sore hand. "What happened to your parents anyways?" The two of them sat down and continued eating.

"Accident. My family was driving home from the beach and we flew off the road. It was by a cliff, so we fell into the water. The only reason I survived was because I chose to evolve at that time."

"I'm sorry. So both of your parents… they passed on?"

"And my younger sister. All three of them… they died that day. I was the only one to survive because of timing from a water stone I discovered that same day. I gave it to my sister, but… she wasn't ready." He pulled out his wooden sword and examined it. "This was a gift from my father when I first started kendo. I've used it ever since. That's what Mitsumi's dad told me to do to honor them."

"Mitsumi's dad?"

"They adopted me into their family after my family died. Our mothers were good friends."

"Oh… so that's how you knew each other. I'm... I never realized so much happened to you."

"That's why I lost my temper at Keira when she said I didn't care about family. I did. I tried saving my sister… but… couldn't." He looked back at Koyuki, eyes calm as ever. "That's why I must find Mitsumi. And I won't lose any of you the same way I lost my family."

"Ryujin… I always thought you were a strange one. But… I never knew…"

"It's okay. Don't… don't worry about it. But… there is one note… one thing that I must find."

"What is it?"

He paused. "This… I hope to find… the one who did this to my family." He looked down, so she couldn't see his eyes. "A note was sent to our house from an unknown address. I'm sorry… so sorry for what I did…"

"What?! You're saying…?"

"Somebody killed my family."

WHAT? Yup, you better believe it! Read and review to see what happens next!