Disclaimer: I own nothing. Ken Akamatsu does.
Reviewer mail-
"Jimmy Bonez- Thanks for the praises. Good to know there are some great dudes out there reading my story. I'll keep writing if you'll keep reading."
"de bombz- u want longer? U got it dude."
Goldamon X- Wait a bit longer. I got something big planned. I'm sure you wont be disappointed."
"When he has quitted his body and the difference between virtue and vice is known he cannot approach God till the purging fire shall have cleansed the stains with which his soul was infested. That same fire in others will cancel the corruption of matter, and the propensity to evil."
Gregory of Nyssa
Matsumura Shizuna lay on her stomach as she reads from her book. It was already the early evening outside of her apartment with the cool breezes of late March gently gliding through her open window. The room was dark with the exception of the sun's faint orange glow casting it's reach along her bedside. There comes a knock at the door; the female scientist bookmarks herreading and answers the door.
In her doorway stood a woman, brown hair tied in a bun, and wearing librarian glasses, with a very modest curved body in her early twenties. "Matsumura-sama, may I come in?"
Her name is Hayami Reiko. She is currently one of the members of the team responsible for Soma's rebirth. Several years younger than Shizuna, she also graduated tops in her class at theTokyo Universityin the field of technology. She is also responsible for the nanotechnology in her son's bloodstream.
"Good of you to stop by, Reiko-kun. What can I do for you?"
She invites her in, the two of them sitting down to a pot of piping hot tea.
"Thought you might want the company. How are things coming along?"
"I'm fine."
Reiko sighs, "Not this again. Matsumura-sama, please tell me if something is wrong." She takes a light sip, "After all, you're a terrible liar anyway."
Shizuna giggles, "Yes. Yes, you're right." The older woman places her cup on the coffee table. "It's about my little boy."
"Should've known. You're going to worry yourself some wrinkles. Remember, he managed to obliterate Kojiro without too much trouble and he's only getting stronger."
"But I'm worried about the next model he'll force me to use to retrieve him."
The younger woman thought for a minute. "You mean the Ohiko model? But he's an incomplete version; and he's really nothing more than just a scrapped design."
"Remember, I was forced to erase his entire combat repertoire. He may not even be as developed as the second try."
"The next driver we give him will guarantee his survival." She offers her a biscuit, "The old man cant afford to waste another couple million making another clone. Plus he doesn't have the support of the SDF from his current position. Your little boy will only have to worry about the Ohiko model."
Shizuna manages to crack a smile. "Maybe you're right. I should really consider the fact that Pharsti is watching over him."
"Don't worry. You made him, you should know better than anyone else he's your masterpiece."
This infuriated her. Shizuna slaps her co-worker across the face leaving a swelling mark, "Don't you dare refer to him as some kind of a wind-up toy! He's my son, you understand?" She was in permanent denial. All she ever thought about were the haunting screams of her son as was burnt alive. For four years, that kept her awake at night as she toiled endlessly assembling genes and being abused by the Murakumo corporation.
The younger woman understood what she had struck a chord. Rubbing her cheek, she apologized, "I should've known better. You're right." She got up off the floor, "I suppose I should be on my way for the night. Do try and get some rest, you hear?"
"Alright, if you insist." Reiko turns around and felt a hand on her left shoulder, "Listen I'm sorry for that outburst. I didn't really mean that."
"No, you wouldn't have done that if I didn't refer to your son as a plaything. I have to go, we have to wake up early." She let herself out of the room.
Shizuna sat down on her bed and fell back into it. She sighs in depression as she stared at the ceiling, "How are they treating you, Soma?"
The morning of May 10th…
The Tokyo U couple eagerly anticipated their results, confident in their work (At least the fairer half). In one hand Narusegawa Naru had blazed a trail through her exam, shading in letters with the greatest of ease and academic skills. In the other, Urashima Keitaro wore a hollowed expression of depression, barely finishing just as the instructor tells the students to hand in their forms.
Soma was sitting up against his folded up futon looking at a picture frame on his desk. In it was a picture of everyone wearing their new years kimonos. He had admired how much more Naru's kimono had stuck out more than everyone else's, just a bit more than Shinobu's. He winces as he bit into some leftover ValentinesTexas Hellfire Chili giri chocolate he had received from Suu. Groaning, remembering that he promised her that he'd eat it.
A knock on the door. "Soma? It's me."
"Come on in Shinobu-chan."
She let herself in, bearing lemonade. "I brought you something to drink."
He graciously takes a glass, "Thanks, Shino-chan." Taking a small sip, he relishes the sweetened taste. "Sempai still up there?"
"Yeah. He's been like that for a week now."
"You think Naru-san could've done something?"
"As much as I don't want to say it, yes."
Keitaro sat up on the roof, staring out into the ever brightening horizon. He was perched along the edge with his mouth agape with dirt and bird feces. What he was thinking was all a mystery to all but himself.
Chapter 11 – "Road to Recovery" (Part 1 - Arbiter)
She wasn't the girl from my past… After all that's happened, we're nothing but total strangers…
The two year ronin sulked for a few weeks after this realization. He had been on a wild goose chase the entire time. This caused his focus on his test to sink to rock bottom
Keitaro fell on his back, looking behind him to see Naru and a near point-blank panty shot. Normally he'd react with a couple of sputtered words before he kissed the sky, but today was different. He had to go see how terribly he had done on the Tokyo U entrance exam, again.
"Aren't you going to see your results?"
"What's the point? I failed."
She began to roll his limp body down the roof, letting gravity introduce his face to the ground.
Over at Tokyo University, the hundreds of students look at the giant board with the names of all the worthy students who gained the right to access the campus indefinitely. Many run away to commit seppuku while others raise their exam cards to the heavens in rejoice. The fate of these two was dependant on a giant piece of wood.
"Urashima…Urashima Keitaro…No, not here." Keitaro looked all over the board for his name, leaning up on his toes to get the best view possible. What he sees doesn't surprise him.
"I failed…"
Keitaro looked for Naru among the crowd to congratulate her, "Hey, Naru! Where are you? Great job on getting in!"
She had strayed from the crowd. Keitaro wondered what kind of a grin she wore as she nearly vanishes from sight.
Soon, night fell and she still walked the streets. Her study partner buys a can of coffee from a nearby vending machine offering it to her. Naru continues to ignore him as she wandered aimlessly through the night.
"C'mon! Are you upset I didn't pass? At least express your happiness."
"Keitaro, don't follow me."
"What? Naru, wait!"
Naru began to run away from him. She took him through several blocks sprinting at full speed bowling over one pedestrian and, managing to slow him down at a train station turnstile.
"Argh, who the hell was that?" said Soma as he picked himself off the ground. "That bitch made me drop my groceries."
"I think that "bitch" was Narusegawa-san. She ran down the stairs in a hurry. Don't just sit here, she might be in trouble!" Soma ran after the college student.
"I said don't follow me!"
"You don't have to act so high and mighty since you got in and I didn't!" she slowly began to pull away from him.
We're just total strangers…but I don't want to just say goodbye!
"Naru!"
Before he knew it the two had crashed into a new shipment of prize grabber toys. Finally he had a glance of Naru's face.
"Just…leave me alone."
"But Naru, I—" her face was red; cheeks pink and puffy.
"I… I didn't make it."
"What?"
She shakily got to her feet, staggering into a nearby bar. Keitaro struggled to stop her by grabbing one of her arms and yanking her away from the door. She throws him off and sat herself down, managing to order anddown several cups of warm booze. Keitaro did all that he could to calm her down.
"Why? Tell me why I couldn't pass!"
What the hell is this? I mean, I failed too.
Naru began to order everything in the appetizers section. Taking a warm Namchu, shechugs the entire thing in one swing ala Adam Corolla/Jimmy Kimmel.
"For two years…for two long, tedious, mundane, arduous years I did nothing but study." She buried her head between her knees. "No social life, no parties, no school festivals, not even a boyfriend."
"Hey, if anyone should be crying, its me." He sighs, "I really did think you were that girl I made that promise to. But just before the test—"
"What the hell, are you blaming me for your stupid mistakes? I was just clarifying things. After all, the person I made a promise to is in a class all his own. A douchebag like you couldn't ever be in his league. Hell, you aren't even playing the same game."
"You busted your ass for a guy all this time? That's pathetic."
"You're one to talk, working to fulfill a promise to a girl you don't even remember! That's just dumb!"
The two began a massive binge drinking contest, downing warm beer after warm beer. With each passing swig, their insults cut deeper into their already bruised egos.
Outside, Soma was asking around to the whereabouts of his friend. He hears familiar yelling in one certain bar.
"Hey mister! You seen a pretty girl, long flowing autumn hair, nice rack?"
"Oh yeah! I seen one of them. Saw one just now, walkin' on inside."
"Thanks pal." He walks on his way. Before he could step inside, the bouncer stops him with one arm.
"Whoa kid, this is for adults only!"
"She's underage too!"
"No, she told me herself she's nineteen!" What a dolt. Was he really this gullible?
Thinking irrationally, he drew his gun and leaned in to hold the barrel against his victims throat. He threatens the bouncer by giving him instructions. "Bend down." The bouncer did as he was told, leaning over to just about Soma's height. "Good."
Soma then slams his fist into the taller man's skull knocking him out onto the pavement. He sticks his gun back into his inner coat pocket before he walks into the bar.
"Was that really necessary?" asked Pharsti.
"—I'm not the least bit surprised you couldn't pass that test! Even if you did manage to get in, I doubt that girl would ever want some piss poor piece of shit loser like you!" Naru nearly announced to the restaurant/bar patrons. Keitaro became increasingly infuriated.
"What about you? You burned your eyes out studying to the point where you gotta wear these big ol' coke-bottle and you still couldn't pass! If you ever got in, that guy you promised wouldn't even give you the time!"
Naru began to quiver, tears welled in her eyes as Keitaro hit her hard below the belt. She grips her bag and swung it with all she had. Soma took the bag to the face for Keitaro.
"Naru-san! What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Soma, stay out of this!"
"I've never seen you so pathetic in my life!"
"What would some murderer understand about how I feel?"
A powerful slap was applied to her left cheek, knocking her to the floor. "Don't you ever say that again!" He continued his verbal assault.
"You failed once and you think it's all over? You told me that I shouldn't just lay down and die just because I don't succeed! At least Urashima-san had enough courage to try again! Even if he knew he didn't have a chance in hell!"
Keitaro calms down a bit, "Thanks Soma-kun. I really—"
Soma grabs the back of Keitaro's head by the hair, and drives his face through the table.
"You're no different! You mocked her about how hard she worked and shattered any dignity she had left!" He stands up from the mess he made. "You make me wanna fucking puke."
Soma walks over to Naru, who was sitting up still weeping softly. "Is everything you said a lie, Naru-san? Hypocrite."
He walks out of the restaurant with clenched fists. Back home, everyone waited for the return of the would-be college students. When Soma walked through the door, Haruka was on the couch watching the eleven o'clock news.
"Earlier tonight, there have been reported by several citizens that they have been severely beaten by a little boy. No one has any solid evidence other than the same alibi. More tomorrow at six."
Soma walks past his foster mother trying not to attract her attention. Before he could even touch one stair…
"Where have you been?"
"I got held up."
"What did I tell you about playing nice with the other kids?"
"They made fun of my mom."
"You're a sucky liar."
"Please. Not now. Can I just go to bed?"
She shows him mercy. "Fine. Go up to bed."
He did what he was told. After entering his room he collapses onto his unfolded futon face first. He sat motionless for a long period. That was broken by Motoko barging in for her usual scare-the-crap-out-of-Soma routine.
"Minaraikou!" she yelled as she ran into his room. She stopped short as she noticed he wasn't moving. Lifting up his body she sees a damp spot on his cloth.
"Strange…, Minaraikou why is…" she sees a very unwelcome sight. Soma's eyes were red and tears were streaming down his cheeks.
"Sensei…please…don't…"
"You're crying? Very un-masculine."
"Leave me alone, sensei. I'm not feeling very well..."
She suddenly lost heart in tearing him a new one. She sighs, "It's late. Perhaps I'll just continue in the morning. Get some sleep, minaraikou. I'm...not going to hold back next time." He wiped the tears from his face, "What the hell is wrong with me? They deserved it, right?"
Meanwhile…
At the train station, it was early morning. Keitaro stood at the Shinkansen platform waiting for the next train to arrive.
"The next train to Osaka will be leaving on track fourteen"
"I guess I should just go to some far away place…"
Next chapter-The KGB and Red Guard make a move. Keitaro and Naru eloped? Oh my…
Give some shout outs. Keep reading, I keep writing. Peace.
