Author's Notes:
Hey everyone! Welcome to Part II of The Pawn's Gambit! I don't know if everyone caught this last chapter, but this will in fact be a three parter. My first ever! Should be fun!
We got a lot going on this chapter. In fact, we'll even get a bit of a look into Akio's past!
I had fun writing this chapter, so I hope you guys have fun reading it.
Oh, and a big shout out to the guest reviewers! I can't message you all personally, but consider this as my thank you to you!
So sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kill la Kill.
Gamagoori turned in his seat, resting his arm on the back of his chair as he addressed the trio.
"What's wrong? Did you break down?
"Whoa!" Mako exclaimed, blinking excessively at the Elite. "I reeled in Gamagoori!"
"Yeah," Akio chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "My car's gas gauge is busted, so we ran out."
"Hmmm. That's too bad."
"Yeah, but what're you gonna do, you know?"
"Huh? Why are you guys talking like friends?" Ryuko said, looking back and forth between Akio and Gamagoori, before settling for a hardened glare at the giant. "You followed us here, didn't you Gamagoori?"
"Calm down," Gamagoori replied, closing his eyes and turning back to his steering wheel. "I have no intention of fighting you here."
"There's no reason to worry," Akio agreed. "Gamagoori isn't one to pick fights outside of school grounds. He's rather reserved, in that regard."
"Indeed. Our fight will be at the Sudden Death Runoff, Matoi."
"What do you want, then?"
"Get in."
"Huh?"
"I am Ira Gamagoori, Honnouji Academy Disciplinary Committee Chair. If I come across a Honnouji Academy student in trouble off of campus, it is my duty to assist them. That holds true for even you. Get in."
Akio shrugged and moved to the front seat. He wasn't going to complain. A free ride is a free ride, and Gamagoori had a pretty sweet ride.
"You sit in the back with Matoi, Takahiro. I want to continue my conversation with Mankanshoku about these so called 'PJs.'"
Akio nodded with a smirk, moving to the back seat and taking a seat. Gamagoori seemed to have taken quite the interest with Mako, similar to a scientist who discovered something he didn't quite understand. It was probably due to her nature. Compared to Gamagoori, Mako was nearly a polar opposite. Hell, Mako probably wouldn't mind, either. She did love her PJs.
"Holy crap," Akio bounced up and down in the seat a few times. "This is a very nice car, Gamagoori."
Gamagoori met Akio's eyes in the rearview, giving a nod of thanks.
After Mako had finished marveling over the cars exterior, the two girls joined Akio, Mako sitting up front and Ryuko sitting in back.
Gamagoori adjusted his rearview mirror, then the side ones, and finally his seat belt, before turning to his three guests.
"Does everyone have their seatbelts buckled? Are all arms and legs inside of the vehicle?"
He sounded just like one of those people that work those roller coasters at theme parks. What a surprise.
"Yes, sir."
"I'll pretend I didn't catch that tone in your voice, Matoi."
With that, Gamagoori pushed down on the gas, and they drove off without any other words spoken to each other.
So they tootled around with Gamagoori driving at the exact speed limit. Eventually, him and Mako started their conversation on PJs, right after Mako had finished the car song she had been singing beforehand.
Ryuko rested her elbow on the car door, her head placed in her hand. She watched the city lights and buildings fly by, her mind elsewhere if her furrowed brow was any indication.
Akio leaned back in his seat, draping his arms over the back and resting his head on the soft cushion. He watched the stars above as they drove along, thinking about absolutely nothing except for what a beautiful sight it was, thankfully not diminished by the lights of the city.
He should really talk Aikuro into getting a convertible.
"Hey, Akio."
Akio lifted his head and looked over to Ryuko, who had been watching him for the past few minutes with a curious expression on her face.
"Yes?"
"What about you?"
Akio rose an eyebrow. "What about me?"
"You know, your family. I know all about Mako's, you know all about mine, but you've rarely talked about yours, except for your pervy brother and dancing mother."
"Hmmm," Akio hummed and glanced over at Gamagoori.
Ryuko followed his gaze and shook her head.
"Don't worry. They're so engrossed in their conversation I don't think they'd even notice if one of us died back here."
Akio snorted. There was some truth to that. Just at first glance, you could tell that Mako was enthralled with talking to someone such as Gamagoori, and Gamagoori, even though he was driving, was listening attentively as Mako talked about her favorite PJs and the benefit of wearing them.
"Well, alright then. Fair is fair. What would you like to know?"
"You said you were adopted, right? What about your birth parents?"
Akio exhaled slowly and rested his head back on the seat, turning his eyes back to the sky above.
"They were young when they had me, only seventeen and still in high school."
"Really?"
"Yeah. My grandparents on my mother's side were very prestigious lawyers, and they didn't like the idea of their seventeen year old 'princess' having a bastard with some random kid. My father's parents were once clients of her parents, so of course they agreed. To be honest, I think they were relieved. I doubt they were fond of the idea, either."
"Whoa... what about your parents, then? Didn't they want to keep you?"
Akio shrugged. "I don't know. I've never tried to contact them."
"Why not?"
"They didn't want me, so why return the favor?" Akio answered with as little resentment as possible. "In my eyes, Aikuro's parents are my actual parents, and always have been. They fed me, raised me, loved me. They were all I could ask for and more."
"What about them? What do they do?"
Akio smiled absently as his thoughts drifted to his parents.
"As you know, my mother was a dancer. In fact, in her younger years, she even danced in Broadway plays and the like."
"I still find it funny that she taught you to dance. I'm still not totally convinced that you don't secretly do ballet. One day I'll find you dancing in a pink little tutu, and I'm going to tear you a new one for it."
"I wouldn't doubt anything less," Akio chuckled, sitting up in his seat to face her. "Good luck on catching me, though. I only dance in my underground Bat Cave at midnight."
Ryuko laughed and turned to face Akio as well, resting her elbow on her seat and propping her head up with it.
"And your dad?"
"Funnily enough, he was actually an undercover teacher as well. He taught science in high school as his day job, but at night he would help your father in his lab. Now you know where Aikuro got his influences from."
"Wait, so does that mean your dad would undress at the drop of a hat? 'Cause that'd be sort of-"
Akio laughed and shook his head. "No, nothing like that. No... that one is an Aikuro special."
"Thank god," Ryuko sighed in relief. "I was worried that it'd run in the family."
"Yeah, it'd be cool though."
Ryuko rose an eyebrow, opening her mouth to question what the hell that meant when Akio burst out laughing.
"Good lord, you're easy to fool."
"Yeah, yeah," Ryuko growled, punching Akio in the shoulder. "At least I'm not a prissy little dancer."
"You're just jealous. They always are."
Ryuko laughed, but her laughter died in her throat when something caught her attention from behind Akio.
Akio rose an eyebrow and turned around to see what she was looking at.
Another car had sped up to match Gamagoori's speed. The car looked similar to something that you'd see in a drag race, with a big engine in the front with several exhaust pipes leading out of it.
"What nerve!" Gamagoori growled. "This is a no passing zone. Don't they know the rules of the road!?"
The hood of the car peeled back, and two men in blue jumpsuits with blue biker helmets stood up in the car's seats, pulling out two guns and aiming them directly at Akio.
"Get down!"
Ryuko pounced across the seat, grabbing Akio by the head and pushing him down.
"Mankanshoku, down!"
Gamagoori did the same as Ryuko, pushing Mako's head down as he pressed down on the gas pedal. Slowly but surely, their car pushed past their assailants, leaving them in their dust.
Ryuko released her hand Akio's head, turning in her seat to watch the car that was chasing them.
"Thanks," Akio mumbled as he sat back up, rubbing the top of his head.
"Don't worry about it," Ryuko answered, her eyes on the fast approaching car. "Who the hell are these guys?"
"The Automotive Club and the Airsoft Club merged to form the Automotive Airsoft Club. I'm the one they're gunning for."
"Because you're Elite Four?" Akio asked.
"Yes. A lot of the clubs know that Matoi is the only one that can properly wear a Kamui, so they're after my Three Star uniform."
Another dozen cars appeared off of an exit ramp, speeding up to match the previous car's speed. A single car broke ahead of the pack, leading them in their charge. The car itself was decked out with multiple airsoft guns, and had the shining red areas that indicated the presence of Life Fibers. A single human head rested on the hood, none other than the original Automotive President himself.
"We've got company!" Akio shouted.
"What's the matter Gamagoori!?" The president called out from his spot on the hood of his car. "Do you think you can escape the Automotive Airsoft Club President Ryosuke Todoroki in that clunker, Mr. Disciplinary Committee Chair!?"
Ryuko stood in her seat, raising her scissor blade to protect the other three from the bullets that would be fired at them at any second.
"Looks like we picked the wrong car to get into."
The president's car pulled up besides Gamagoori's, getting dangerously close to its side, threatening to ram it.
"Interesting! But can you keep up with my driving skills?"
With zero warning, Gamagoori spun the steering wheel to the left, causing the car to spin out.
"Whoa!"
Mako was thrown into her seat, then her chair, then into Gamagoori's shoulder.
"What the fuck!"
Ryuko fell from her perch and landed in Akio's waiting lap.
Akio himself had his arms raised in the air, laughing childishly as if it were some type of carnival ride.
"Damn it, Akio!" Ryuko shrieked. "This isn't funny!"
Gamagoori's car spun like a top along the highway, causing several of the cars pursuing him to back off lest they were to be hit by Gamagoori's unpredictable spinning.
Gamagoori laughed as well, finding as much pleasure as Akio was in the turn of events. Eventually his laughter died out, replaced by a surprised gasp when he realized he couldn't control the car.
"H-how can this be!?"
Apparently the Disciplinary Chair wasn't entirely sure how things worked out when you cranked the steering wheel to the side like it was your job.
"Don't give me that!" Ryuko shouted. "When you spin the steering wheel like a maniac, you're obviously gonna spin out! Is your brain as rookie as your license?"
Akio ceased his child-like laughter as he noticed the fast approaching wall, and the fact that Ryuko had yet to vacate his lap due to the g-force caused by Gamagoori's rapidly spinning car.
"Brace yourselves!"
Akio barely had time to pull Ryuko down and into his chest before the car crashed into the wall. He felt himself fling forwards, but immediately get pulled back due to his trusty seat-belt. The back of his head slammed into the back of his seat, missing the cushion and hitting the exterior of the car itself.
Ryuko fared better than he did, as she only fell from Akio's lap, her head hitting the seat in front of her as she fell down to the car floor.
Thankfully, both Mako and Gamagoori were wearing seat-belts, and with the protection of the air bags, neither one of them received very serious damage.
Akio slowly lifted his head, bringing a hand to the back of it to check for damage. He was bleeding slightly from where his head had hit the car, but it was surprisingly not that bad. He didn't feel concussed, either. All things considered, it could have been a lot worse.
"Is everyone alright?"
"I think so," Ryuko groaned and sat up, rubbing her head gingerly. "Thanks for the save."
"Don't worry about it," Akio answered then looked to Mako, who still had her head resting on the air bag. "Mako?"
At the sound of her name she turned her head, giving Akio a toothy grin and a big thumbs up.
"A-OK!"
She said that, but the fact that her nose was bleeding profusely made him think otherwise.
Akio activated the blades on his right glove, using their sharp edges to cut a square piece of cloth from the car's cushion.
"Here, tilt your head back and use this to stop the bleeding," Akio told her, handing her the cloth.
Mako nodded and did as she was told, never dropping her jubilant demeanor.
Any recovery the four might have wanted would have to be put on hold. Several car headlights shone on the car. The Automotive Airsoft Club had no plans on backing down now. Their pray was cornered and defeated. Now was their time to strike.
Ryuko climbed on to the trunk of Gamagoori's ruined car, brandishing her scissor blade.a
"Oh, you guys think you're hot stuff, huh?"
"Matoi, stay out of this."
Ryuko looked behind her to see Gamagoori step out of the car.
"What?"
Gamagoori walked out in front of Ryuko and the others, his gigantic body shielding the three from the headlights.
"It was my mistake, so I'll fix it."
"We have you cornered, Gamagoori!" The president shouted as he revved his engine. "Cry or shout all you want, you'll get no mercy from us!"
"It'll take more than the likes of you to make me cry! And even if I did shed a tear, I would wipe it away myself! I would ask no one else to!"
"You're still gonna talk big, huh? Let him have it!"
An airsoft club member appeared out of one of the cars, carrying a homemade RPG on his shoulder. With the pull of a trigger, the rocket left its case, flying directly at the chest of the giant Disciplinary Chair.
Gamagoori didn't budge an inch. Several flashes of light emitted from his Goku Uniform, signaling its activation.
The rocket struck true, engulfing Gamagoori in a giant fireball.
However, it would take more than that to bring down Satsuki's Shield.
"Three Star Goku Uniform: Shackle Regalia!"
"Shit!" One of the drivers exclaimed.
"H-he transformed!" Another cried.
"Don't let that faze you!" The president shouted, trying to get his men back on track. "Get him!"
More than a dozen guns were raised at the Three Star, their nuzzles erupting as thousands of airsoft pellets were shot from them.
Akio, Ryuko, and Mako ducked underneath the cover of Gamagoori's car, only daring to have the tops of their heads peek out over the metal doors.
"Man, that thing is hard..." Mako said in awe.
With the blasting lights of the car's headlights, along with the flashes of fire from the guns, it was near impossible to see Gamagoori's outfit completely, but Akio still watched in amazement at his back. He could sort of see what looked to be various straps of cloth squeezing against his form, like some type of bondage. Several spikes lined his body, and it appeared that his arms had been tied to his chest by something. He was guessing the straps.
His Goku Unifrom took every bullet fired at him, none of them even leaving a single indentation in the cloth. It was incredible.
"Just what the hell is he?" Akio murmured.
Gamagoori erupted into a fit of laughter and giggles. It was as if he liked that this was happening and the pain he was feeling. It was very disturbing, to say the least.
"That's it! More! Punish me more! I've been a bad boy! Punish me! Every time you punish me, my heart is whipped!"
"Holy shit..." Ryuko breathed. "That's creepy as fuck."
"What the hell is he?" Akio repeated, dumbstruck by Gamagoori's sudden and disturbing change of demeanor.
"Yes! The more it's whipped, the stronger I become! Just like I was that fateful day so many years ago!"
"Oh, please no," Akio grumbled, fully aware that Gamagoori was preparing to go into a flashback. "We should have just walked home"
Gamagoori proceeded to go into a lengthy retelling of his experiences at his junior-high school, everything from how he tried to protect a kid who was being forced to jump off of the school's roof by some hoodlums, all to his first confrontation with Satsuki herself and the words that she had said to him that had changed his life forever.
"That was how I first met Lady Satsuki! For two years I waited. I awaited her graduation, enrolled in Honnouji Academy at her side, and acquired this Goku Uniform."
"Hang on," Ryuko stopped him. "Just how old are you!?"
"I turn twenty this year."
"That explains your old man face!" Mako exclaimed.
The president of the Automotive Airsoft Club was growing impatient. Revving his engine a few times for good measure, he hit the gas, his wheels screeching as the car shot forwards.
"How long are you gonna keep yapping!?"
Two other cars followed their president, forming a three pronged attack at Gamagoori's front.
The three cars collided with the Three Star, but did absolutely nothing to deter Gamagoori's stance. If anything, the cars took more damage than Gamagoori did.
"Yes! That's more like it! The more I'm punished, the more my hardness towers mighty and strong!"
"Hooooly shit..." Akio mumbled. That's all he could do.
"He's a pervert with an old man face..." Mako whispered, echoing Akio's own thoughts.
"Not pervert, convert. The instant I reach my climax, the power that has been building up inside of me will burst out!"
Akio's jaw hit the floor. Was... was he talking about what Akio thought he was talking about? Surely Gamagoori could have used better wording than that. That just sounded... wrong. Akio felt a bit dirtier for just hearing it.
"What the fuck..."
It appeared that Ryuko had the same feeling.
Regardless, Gamagoori's uniform began to emit flashes of purple and yellow light, signaling that his uniform had indeed reached its 'climax.'
"ALL AT ONCE!"
The straps that were bound to Gamagoori's body burst open, revealing what was actually lying underneath it all.
Hundreds of tendrils exploded from Gamagoori's center, each one of them finding a desired target. The Automotive Airsoft Club didn't stand a chance. All of their cars exploded, sending their passengers flying every which way.
Akio's jaw dropped even further. It had only taken Gamagoori one hit to destroy each and every one of their vehicles. His power... it was unreal.
A few hours later, the four found themselves outside of the Mankanshoku's back alley clinic.
With the fight won, Gamagoori had kept up on his promised and drove the three back here, even with his heavily damaged car. Gamagoori was nothing if he wasn't a man of his word.
"Be careful," Gamagoori warned from his car seat. "They say 'a picnic is not done until you reach home safely.'"
"Jeez, it's not a picnic," Ryuko replied bluntly. "And besides, we're like ten feet from the door."
"I'll be waiting for you at the Sudden Death Runoff Election," Gamagoori told her, ignoring her previous comment. "I'll arrange a fitting spot for our battle."
"Come again?"
Gamagoori ignored that as well. Starting his car, he slowly pushed down on the gas, driving off into the night.
The trio watched him leave, all with different levels of curiosity etched into their features.
"So, Akio," Mako spoke up, breaking the silence. "Do you want to join us for dinner?"
"I appreciate the offer, but I can't," Akio answered politely, bowing his head in thanks. "It's getting late, and there are some things I have to talk to my brother about concerning the upcoming week."
"Fair enough. Come along, Mako" Ryuko said, turning and walking towards the back alley clinic. "Good night, Akio."
"Night, Akio!" Mako shouted, running after Ryuko.
"Goodnight you two."
Once the two were completely out of sight, Akio sighed and turned away from the clinic, his thoughts already racing.
He knew one thing, however. He had a lot of training to do.
After what he saw today, he could only hope that Ryuko would as well.
One week later...
Ryuko glanced around the full Academy courtyard, observing her surroundings. Hundreds of students filled the courtyard, all with varying degrees of injuries. Some were sporting a few minor cuts and scrapes, while others were dealing with a broken bone or two.
She could spot the four Elite Four members, all with confident smiles on their face as they looked up to the now visible Academy tower.
Ryuko ground her teeth, her fingers digging into her palm. It pissed her off just looking at them. They were all so full of themselves. No doubt they all had the same feelings of superiority running through their heads. She could almost feel it from here. The only one that looked at least somewhat composed was the giant Gamagoori.
Turning her gaze to the very back, she looked around for the only ally she could hope to expect from this upcoming bloodbath; Akio. And yet, he was nowhere to be found.
Ryuko sighed and turned her eyes back to the top of the tower, where the president herself was getting ready to make her announcement.
She couldn't worry about him right now. She could only worry about herself, like she used to.
She had to win this.
Besides, Akio could handle himself. She wasn't sure how he would stack up to the Elite Four, but credit where credit is due, he was smart; calculating, even. He wouldn't do anything if he didn't have a plan first.
Satsuki slammed her sword into the ground, signaling the crowd to quiet down for her to speak.
"Fellow comrades of Honnouji Academy!" Satsuki bellowed, her voice reaching the ears of every student. "You have done well to struggle through seven days of mortal combat to gather here to take part in the Sudden Death Runoff Election!"
Satsuki paused, turning her head up at the crowd.
"However, your battle has only just begun! Every battle over the last seven days has been recorded!"
Ryuko eyed the crowd warily, her muscles twitching in anticipation. Any second now...
"With that in mind, I will begin designating new Three-Star students based on the results of the battle here!"
The minute Satsuki had finished talking, the ground of the Academy starting shaking.
"Tch!"
Ryuko drew her scissor blade, her eyes darting back and forth as she awaited whatever the queen had planned.
The ground in five different spots began to break apart, allowing five, giant, spiky pillars to erupt from the ground. At least three of the pillars were in the vicinity of a crowded area, knocking many students over or trapping them on one of the pillar's spikes.
"There are five towers in the schoolyard!" Satsuki announced pointlessly. "Those standing atop them will be considered front-runner candidates, and the election will be conducted!"
Ryuko growled. How like Satsuki to do something so devious.
The second Satsuki had finished speaking, Ryuko heard a snapping sound in the distance, followed by the distinct sound of something whistling through the air.
Hearing something land by her feet, she looked won, smirking when she saw what it was.
A smoke grenade. Courtesy of Akio.
Several explosions rocked the arena, sending giant clouds of smoke to cover the courtyard. They seemed to be a bit stronger than the last one, as some of the explosions sent some of the students flying. They weren't injured, but there was definitely no hope for them now. It was probably better that way. Now they wouldn't get trampled on.
"Ever the pacifist," Ryuko grinned and lowered her scissor blade.
Waiting no longer, Ryuko dashed through the crowd of stunned students, her scissor blade dragging on the ground behind her. Originally, she had planned on bowling her way through the students, not even giving a second thought to who might have been injured in her warpath.
Maybe Akio was rubbing off on her.
Her feet smacking the ground as she ran, Ryuko had made it to the pillar nearest to her, only knocking over a few students here and there.
The confident grin that Uzu had been wearing all morning had never left his face, even with the unexpected smoke bombs that had rocked the crowd. Unfortunately, it seemed that most of them had been clumped near him, and he'd be lying if they didn't stun him slightly. It shouldn't matter too much in the end, but he didn't like that he got caught with his guard down.
Oh, well. Compared to the rest of the students here, Uzu could have two broken legs and he'd still make it to the top of that pillar before anyone else.
And as luck would have it, it seemed he was right. The mob of students that had reached the pillar before him were still struggling heavily with climbing the tall stonework, but it'd be no match for Uzu.
Taking large strides, Uzu jumped through the air and directly at the pillar.
With that single hop, he nearly cleared half of it.
Uzu's smirk grew.
Child's play.
Within seconds he made it to the top of the pillar. Compared to the rest of the Four, he had to have been first. With that speed? It was no contest. There was no way someone like Jakazure or Inumuta could have beaten him. He was the Athletics' Committee Chair, after all.
As expected, Uzu was the first of the Four to reach the top of the tower.
However, that didn't make him the first person.
"Hello, Sanageyama."
The No Star Akio Takahiro stood at the other side of the pillar, his arms crossed as he grinned victoriously at the Elite Four member.
Author's Notes:
So there you have it! A shorter chapter, but a fair bit going on in this one.
Well, we did in fact get to see some of Akio's past! Not a whole lot, but some.
And of course, also very important, was who Akio was planning on fighting in the Sudden Death Runoff Election.
Uzu? Is he crazy? With Uzu's ability to "see the entire world with his mind," how could Akio hope to compete? Well, I understand where he's coming from. Given the fact that so far, Uzu is the only one that fights with melee combat, Akio must assume that he'd be his best chance of victory. Maybe he has something else up his sleeve as well...
Anyhow, thanks for reading guys! I always appreciate it.
Until next time!
