Okay back into the swing of things. Hopefully this is going how I want it. I have an idea of what I want to do and am gonna try to fit some things in here and there to try to make it work.
Here's chapter 12. Enjoy!
"Ochibi!" As the brothers walked into the canteen, Echizen was tackled by Kikumaru. "Are you alright? We were worried after you collapsed but you were able to control your powers! Isn't that cool?"
"Yes, absolutely spectacular." The amount of sarcasm in his voice was enough to make anyone annoyed. "Will you please get off me?"
"What does it feel like?" Kikumaru ignored him. "Having two powers flow through you? How are you able to differentiate between the two? Do you think that someone would be able to learn a new power?"
Ryoga ignored the two of them and went to sit with the others. "The mood seems to have lightened up a bit."
"Well seeing as we finally have the answers to our questions." Inui said with a blank stare at Ryoga's direction.
"R-Ryoga-san, if you don't mind me asking, who did you stay with after the- incident?" Oishi asked.
"Ryuzaki-san actually." He answered. "Well, not her specifically. We had a plan that if anything happened, we would be put under her care because of her ties to Cardinal. We were staying at a sort of half-way house when Chargarde tracked us down; a few people were able to get us out but the whole place was completely demolished, several people who were like family to us, who we grew up with, died to protect us. We tried to find anyone that might have survived but we couldn't go back because Chargarde agents had taken control of the area. We've been basically wandering for the rest of the time until you found us."
"You didn't think to go to the Headquarters?" Marui asked.
"Of course we did; hell we were looking for anyone with relation to Cardinal. I knew that we were probably on some sort of special list and that getting us to at least a camp would probably take priority over what they were currently doing but Cardinal forces seemed to be a bit scarce where we were. We originally lived in the Kanto Region but where we were placed was the Chugoku Region."
"Down there is crawling with Chargarde bases." Kaidou said. "Why would you be there?"
"Probably because hiding right under your enemy's nose seemed safe at the time." Jackal answered.
"We had to lay low for a long time but when we finally managed to get out we started to head back towards the Kanto Region." Ryoga shrugged. "We were caught a few times but we managed. I figured that as long as we were in the area, someone would find us and that's basically what happened."
Everyone seemed content with the story, hoping that it was the true. Ryoga had no reason to lie about anything anymore since all the cards seemed to be on the table.
Inui looked over to Echizen, who had given up trying to escape Kikumaru and just lay underneath him, giving no more than a yes or no to the questions he was being asked. "What are our plans for today then? Seeing as there's new information, I have a few things I'd like to- test."
"Seeing as we've had more action than what we planned for, everyone can do whatever they'd like today." Tezuka answered, not really bothering to hide his tired tone.
"I agree." Yukimura added to his team. "We all need a chance to regroup and recoup."
"If that's how it's going to be then I'm going to take a nap." Marui said as he got up from the table and started to head out. Jackal shrugged and followed.
"I'd like to see your training room if you don't mind." Kawamura said.
"If it gives me a reason to get away from everyone else then I'll take you there." Niou answered as he got up and gestured for Kawamura to follow him.
Inui adjusted his glasses and walked over to Echizen who had completely given up and was trying to sleep. "Echizen, would you mind accompanying me to the lab?" Echizen visibly perked at hearing he was going to be saved from the happy terror of Kikumaru.
Kikumaru whined. "Eeh but I still have loads more questions to ask him."
"You can ask when he's done."
"I'd like to conduct a few tests now that we have all the information. It'll help with general need-to-know things and we'll know how to handle everything if you end up getting injured or sick."
Kikumaru paled slightly. "But the last person you did that to-" he turned and griped Echizen by the shoulders. "Ochibi!"
Echizen was thoroughly confused. He didn't mind having Inui do tests on him but the amount of worry that was on Kikumaru's face made him anxious.
Inui's glasses gleamed as he grabbed a hold of the back of Echizen's shirt and pulled him out from under Kikumaru and started out the door. "Yanagi, I'll be using your lab for a while."
"Make sure you clean it up when you're finished." Renji said.
"W-Wait." All the things he was hearing plus the worried looks on not only Kikumaru's but Oishi's and Momo's also. Though he struggled, he couldn't escape Inui's hold and both of them went out the door.
"Is he going to be alright?" Ryoga asked with slight concern.
Fuji smiled. "He should be- for the most part."
"I'll be continuing off the other information I had gathered before we left for here." Inui said as they entered Renji's lab. "I should be able to get proper readings with everything this time."
"Why are we in here and not outside?" Echizen asked.
"The first time at our base was merely a test of abilities; being here allows us to do the actual science of your power and perhaps see why you have two genes instead of just one. All in all it's a simple thing that all troops that have the M-Gene have to do when they enroll in the military. Now, if you'll remove your shirt."
Echizen shrugged. Inui's logic seemed sound enough. Inui attached a few electrodes to his chest. "What are these for?"
"They will measure the amount of energy you exert with everything you do."
"So- you're basically giving me a physical like for sports?"
Inui stopped for a second. "I suppose that would be an accurate description." He led Echizen to a treadmill. "Although this one is most likely more intense. I'm going to try to push you to your physical and mental limits at the same time. You can still use your powers without saying an incantation correct?" He nodded. "I'd like for you to only perform in that sense for now."
Echizen shrugged and hopped onto the treadmill. Inui set the speed at a three, general walking speed.
"Alright, let's begin with some questions." Inui grabbed a chair and took out a notebook. "Introduce yourself to me as you would in a classroom."
That's not a question. Echizen rolled his eyes. "Echizen Ryoma, 16, I enjoy tennis."
"That's it?"
"If you haven't noticed, I tend to keep my life private Inui-san."
"Fair enough." Inui jotted down a few things. "When you were at our base, you noticed soldiers practicing with weapons. Do you know why they were using things like bows, swords, and maces instead of creating things like rifles?"
That was a question Echizen didn't count on, nor had he thought about it. "Is it because- you need to understands the workings of what you're creating? Primitive weaponry like that is simplistic and it's easy to maintain over a longer period of time; doesn't take a lot of mental energy or focus. Something like your rifle has lots of inner workings; not that it would be impossible to make firearms but all in all bows and swords make the fight- easier?" he looked to Inui for an answer but was only met with the sounds of scribbling. "Aren't you going to tell me if I'm right?"
"All in due time." Inui set the treadmill to nine; speed walk or slow jog. "Do you think you would be able to make a rifle from your powers?"
"If you mean out of only one then no; too complicated when I don't even know how to keep it separate normally."
"Then make one using both of your powers."
"While I'm on this thing?" he gestured to the treadmill.
"I told you I'm going to push you to your physical and mental limit. What if you're running from the enemy and you need a weapon but you're focusing on running too much to be able to form one?" The frown that appeared on Echizen's face made Inui smirk. "Try to make one exactly like you remember mine."
Echizen pressed his lips together but held out his hand and began to craft Inui's rifle; long barrel, two inch scope, a weird custom butt. All in all, it looked like Inui's rifle with fire and electricity flickering off it.
"Very good." Inui scribbled in his notebook. "Try firing it."
"What?" Echizen stumbled a bit. "I can't fire it."
"Why not?"
"It's just a shell. I don't know the inner workings of a gun. The thing would just explode in my face."
"For an answer to your question; yes. That's exactly why people with the M-Gene use primitive weapons. The fact that you refused to fire proves it. But that doesn't mean that there aren't people out there that have the gene and an extraordinary understanding of weapon management that would be able to do what you weren't." He once again turned the speed up, this time to a running pace. "Alright Echizen, what's 12x2+ 9x-3 if x=4?"
"Haa?" Echizen nearly fell on his face. "What does math have to do with any of this? I thought you were supposed to be testing my power level."
"This is all a part of the test Echizen. Answer the question."
Echizen huffed. After about a minute he finally answered. "It's 225."
"Correct." Once again it was sped up.
"Inui-san."
"We're almost done. Drink this."
The cup that was handed to him had some sort of red liquid in it. "What is it?"
"All in due time."
Inui's tone didn't make Echizen feel like everything was going to be fine but he figured he wouldn't get anything else out of him even if he asked. He pressed the cup to his lips and downed the liquid- and the yell that came from his mouth was able to be heard throughout the base.
"Ah Inui-san must be done with the test." Momo said from his bed.
"What- was that scream exactly?" Ryoga asked with slight concern for his brother.
"If you're not careful then you'll have to go through it as well." Fuji said with a smile that made Ryoga feel like it was a threat. "Anyway, what do you plan on doing when all of this is over with?"
"Living a normal life is probably out of the question right?" Ryoga ran a hang through his hair. "I never really thought that we'd reach this point. I kind of just planned on having to run for our lives longer. There's no real way to completely get rid of Chargarde is there?"
"There'll always be someone with a different point of view." Momo answered as he scratched his head. "Supposedly you two could try to live a normal life somewhere but Chargarde probably has your faces plastered all over and might even be offering some sort of compensation for finding and bring you in."
"So it's completely out of the question." Ryoga sighed. "I don't know. Maybe Ryuzaki-san can help us think of something."
"You're practically family right? And she is one of the most powerful people Cardinal has-"
"Not to mention how important you two at the moment." Fuji added. "She'll be able to figure out something."
"And if worst comes to worst- I don't know, you two could stay here and be trained as Cardinal soldiers. At least we'd know you'd be safe." Ryoga and Fuji stared at Momo. "What?"
"Yes Momo; having them as trained soldiers, fighting with magic and guns is completely safe." Fuji teased.
"You know what I mean Fuji-san!"
"Actually, that might not be a bad idea." Ryoga earned genuine looks of surprise for the two of them. "You're right when you say we'll most likely always be hunted and even if we were able to live a normal life, Cardinal would check up on us regularly, right? Right now it seems like the best."
"Fuji-san you're a witness!" Momo laughed playfully. "If Mamoshi ever says I have stupid ideas again, you can tell him about this."
"While I understand what you're saying Ryoga-san, it's not just your decision." Fuji put in. "Not even your brother's either. When it all comes down to it, it belongs to Tezuka and Ryuzaki-sama, but considering you two are special, I would think the commanders of the other Cardinal groups would like to have a say in it as well."
"You think they'll say no?"
"Half of them probably; complaining about your lack of training and the possibility of compromising missions. They'd also probably bring up the fact of how young he is."
"He's sixteen. I'm pretty sure that Horio and a few others were around his age." Ryoga cross his arms. Fuji wasn't wrong but the facts still stood.
"They're different. Besides the fact that they don't have the gene, they're training with Oishi and learning how to be medical officers." Momo countered. "And they didn't exactly have a choice in being here. We found them wandering around an abandoned town about a year ago. It was either leave them there or bring them back and everyone at base needs to have something to do."
"But Chibisuke knows how to defend himself and with training I'm sure both of us would be an asset to your team."
"That may be true but-"
"If it comes down to us, we'll side with you." Fuji interrupted. "All in all, the only one you should worry about is Ryuzaki-sama."
Ryoga raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say that other commanders would want a say in it?"
"Yes but she usually just does what she wants anyways." Fuji smiled while Ryoga sweat dropped. "Now that that matter has been taken care of, why don't we go see the damage Inui's done on your brother?"
When the four (Kawamura joined along midway) arrived at Renji's lab, they found Echizen lying on the ground and Inui prodding him with a metal rod and a bunt stick.
"What happened here?" Kawamura asked trying to take in the image in front of him.
"Just a test." Inui's glasses were gleaming. "Echizen, you'll be done once you set the stick on fire or shock me with the metal one."
The sound Echizen made was like a dying pig.
"Is he going to be alright?" Ryoga asked with concern.
"He'll be free to leave as soon as he finishes the test." Inui dodged Ryoga's question and continued to poke Echizen.
"Won't doing that aggravate him Inui-san?" Momo asked.
"That's the point. He's been lying there for the past ten minutes."
"Are you sure he's not dying?"
"You went through the exact same thing when you were initiated Momo." Said Fuji.
"Yeah and I remember I felt like I was dying. I'm pretty sure everyone who had to do your test felt like that. I mean look at him."
Echizen's hands slowly moved from his sides. "Were you trying to poison me Inui-san?" he moaned from the floor as he weakly grabbed the metal rod and the stick and simultaneously shocked Inui and lit the tip.
"Well, I can…" Inui smirked. "But we'll save that for another time. You're free to go- unless you'd like another dose."
Echizen's hands dropped to the floor. "Don't even joke about it." He pushed himself up. "Someone hand me my shirt."
"Well that was fun." Momo said in a bored tone. "Let's to get something to eat."
"Don't talk about food." Echizen moaned.
"Will you be joining us Inui?" Fuji asked.
"No. I'll stay back for a little while to analyze the results I got. I'll join you later."
"Chibisuke can you even stand without help?" Ryoga took his brother's arm in an attempt to help him.
Echizen let his brother pull him from the floor. He slowly started walking from the lab and away from Inui in general. Momo said that he remembers the same thing and felt the same way and Echizen was sure that the first time at the Seigaku camp, people were complaining about 'a drink' too. Did that mean that they had to drink that stuff on a regular basis?
"We'll see you later Inui." Kawamura said as they followed after Echizen.
"Ah." As they left, Inui turned to the stick and rod that were setting on a table. The stick actually had a rod inside of it that measured the temperature of either fire or ice, depending on which element the person being tested had. Echizen had managed to burn through the wood in a matter of seconds and the rod inside had started turning red. The other plan rod on the other hand, the handle was covered in rubber so that no one could actually be electrocuted; Inui was though. "Interesting…"
However powerful Inui originally thought Echizen was being increased dramatically.
In the canteen, Echizen currently had his head down on a table, moaning whenever someone sat down and made it move. The Seigaku group was more or less ignoring him, with the exception on Oishi who was doing his best to make sure Echizen wasn't going to be sick at the table.
"What's up with him?" Marui asked as he sat next to Echizen.
"He just went through Inui's test." Kikumaru said.
"So, what, he's tired?" Jackal asked.
"More like he has food poisoning." Kaidou answered. "He had to drink one of Inui-san's juices."
"Getting sick off of a juice? Are you sure this kid is the savior of everything?" Marui teased.
Echizen turned to him and grabbed the front of his shirt. "Imagine the worst tasting food you've ever eaten. Imagine the flavor it left in your mouth. Now imagine it sitting in the sun for three days; bugs have gotten to it, it's begun to rot. Imagine that bug infested, rotting food getting put in a blender, liquefying it, turning it into sludge then adding a completely unknown substance to it to make it red and letting it sit for a week. Imagine having to drink it." Echizen let go of his shirt and placed his head back on the table. "It's not a juice; it's hell in liquid form."
All of the Rikkaidai members that were present looked like they were busy picturing what Echizen had told them as their faces contorted into looks of pure disgust. The Seigaku members merely nodded in agreement except for Tezuka who had been stoic and Fuji who was laughing.
"That's the most accurate description I've ever heard." Momo said with a chuckle.
"Well now it's over, right?" Niou questioned hopingly. "You don't have to drink it again."
"No." Oishi said with dread. "It's used as a punishment."
"B-But wouldn't you get used to it?" Kirihara asked.
"It's different every time. Sometimes he mixes two of them together."
Hiroshi put his hand on Kawamura's shoulder. "You have my condolences."
The group of them sat and chatted for a bit while they picked at their food, having lost their appetite. After about half an hour, the remaining members of Rikkaidai, Inui, and Ryuzaki joined them.
"All right you lot, pack up your stuff." Ryuzaki called out, addressing the Seigaku group. "We're moving out in two hours."
"Where are we going?"
Ryuzaki smirked. "We're going to Cardinal's Headquarters."
Aaaand there. Finally.
Well there it is. This took like forever to write. I'm so sorry it took so long to come out but there was Christmas, and my sister came home and then there was my mom's birthday; all in all I've been busy.
I think I can squeeze three or four more chapters out of this, maaaybe five if I try hard enough but whooooo what a ride this has been.
Please forgive grammar and spelling and bad puns and corniness and lateness and overall stupidness and oh my god I'm sorry.
Hope ya liked it. See ya later!
