Chapter 35: Preparation
Nathan's P.O.V.
I arrived in time to watch most of Akua's fight against Lingling, studying how Akua moved and trying to sense the power needed to use the Hougetsu Jigen-Tou. I know the theory behind the move, but I have yet to be able to replicate it on my own. Basically it works like a saw, which cuts through planes of existence. It temporarily delays your existence on the physical plane, before allowing you to return. I watch as Touhou Fuhai returns, which signals Moka and Tsukune's release as well. When Touhou Fuhai demonstrates the true nature of the Hougetsu Jigen-Tou, which is his technique originally, I finally am able to replicate it. Akua, also having seen the demonstration, fires off a Hougetsu Jigen-Tou shockwave only slightly smaller than the one Touhou Fuhai had made. Right as she does that however I jump into the mix firing one of my own, countering hers… mostly.
"Aw man… looks like I need more practice." I say as the dust settles. I hear everyone's reaction to my state. My left arm had been cut off by the remaining power of Akua's attack that I had been unable to counter. I held my right hand over where my arm had been just moments before. "Yep, definitely need more practice."
"So you killed those two then?" She knew Darke was here?
"Yeah, I did. I assume you're talking about your little toy I was arguing with when you first got here, and that vampire guy, Darke, that joined later."
"You killed both of them? Alone?" Why was she so surprised?
"Yes I did, why do you find that so hard to believe? You just had a demonstration of my Youki when I blocked your attack. Well, most of it."
"Kid." I looked over at Touhou Fuhai. "There was no Youki in that attack, and judging from her questions, neither of us can sense you right now."
"…" I looked back at Akua. "Oh. Well, I just don't have much power left is all. It took most of my energy to take out the other two, what I have left must be getting suppressed by my limiter." Everyone who can hear me looks doubtful. "Whatever, believe me or don't, doesn't matter to me. Now, unless anyone has any objections, I'm going over there to pass out, and probably die." I notice Akua smirk a bit. "Oh don't worry, death is but a temporary setback, I'll get over it before we have to fight again." I say as I walk away. I admit to enjoying the look on her face at my last remark though. Arriving in an out of the way corner, I do as I said I would and promptly fall to the ground, and into the darkness.
I woke up in a room I had no memory of. I rolled out of the bed, and fell flat on my face. That was a longer drop than I expected, I realized why when I stood up. I was about the size of a toddler. Grabbing the clothes I saw nearby I got dressed. I assumed, upon seeing the clothes, that one of the girls picked them upon seeing my current form. I was dressed in that cute little sailor outfit every little boy seems to be put in at least once in his life. I'm honestly surprised I was left alone given the personalities of the girls in question.
"Speak of the devil." I mutter as I hear footsteps approach. I turn around towards the door just in time to see Cocoa drop what she was carrying, and stare at me. "Oh no…." I whimper as I see a grin form on her face, one anyone who watches enough anime should recognize and possibly fear.
"KAWAII!" She shrieks, instantly grabbing me and rubbing her cheek against mine.
"Oh god! My ears, why must they bleed!" I sob. She stops cuddling me just long enough to look at me.
"Sorry." She says softly, before swatting me on the butt. "Cute little babies shouldn't talk like that!" She scolds before going back to cuddling me and purring kawaii at random times. I was just staring blankly at her. I was saved when Ginei came in.
"Tsuchimaru, you okay?" He asked as he took in the scene in front of him.
"Aside from ruptured eardrums, and a steadily decreasing lung capacity, yeah I'm fine. Two functioning arms and everything." I say, flaring just enough flame to make Cocoa drop me. I step past her and look up at Ginei. "Just laugh, I can tell you're fighting it." His cheeks puffed up for a second before he threw his head back and roared with laughter. He choked out something about my outfit before I rolled my eyes and walked into the hall behind him. I was looking for the pool that would take me to the training area when I heard muffled sobs coming from one of the rooms I walked past. Backing up, I peeked in seeing Kurumu kneeled over a coffin, shoulders shaking from her sobs.
I felt the pit of my stomach drop as I realized the only reason she would be crying like that. Neal was dead. I walked into the room and put my hand on her shoulder. She sniffled and looked at me. She tried to smile at me, but instead just hugged me and started sobbing onto my tiny shoulder. After staying like that for almost half an hour, Kurumu has cried herself to sleep, probably for the first time since she heard. I look at the door where I sense Ginei and Cocoa watching. I gesture for some help and Ginei comes in to carry Kurumu to a bed so she can sleep. Cocoa leads me to the training area and we hop into the small pool of water that leads to it. The training area is a pocket dimension that is a replica of Hong Kong, it's a bit disorientating at first since it's a "mirror world" which makes you enter the world upside down. Since I already knew this, I was able to adjust to it somewhat. Cocoa grabs my hand and leads me to where the others are, I guess no matter how I behave she will still treat me like my appearance suggests.
We arrive to find everyone still arguing about who to train with. Upon seeing us, Haiji instantly claims he will train with Cocoa, which turns the focus of the group to us. Upon seeing Natalie, Mizore, Yukari, Lingling, and Routier start to grin, like Cocoa had before, I instantly plug my ears and hide behind Cocoa.
"KAWAII!" It didn't help, my ears still bleed. I now find myself being smothered by all five of the girls. Wait, five? Cocoa is watching, like she might pounce at any second, Kurumu is sleeping. That leaves Natalie, Mizore, Lingling, Yukari, and… ROUTIER!? I escape from the death-cuddle and am now hiding on Haiji's back.
"Why is she here?" I ask pointing at Routier.
"I brought her." I look to see the leader of the Miu Family, and Fanfan's childhood friend.
"Figures…." I look back at the death-cuddle, who just noticed I was gone, and were now staring at me. "Eep! Haiji, I'm a cute little kid! Protect me!" I squeak, as I withdraw my head behind his shoulder. Haiji laughs, but I feel him slide into a ready stance. Wait, I'm still on his back, this will not go well….
Knew it… I am now stuck in another death-cuddle, from all six of them now, and Haiji is a bleeding heap about ten feet away. I look up at the males and speak.
"By any chance, is there a change of clothes in here? It'd be easier to train if I was… older…." Thankfully Touhou Fuhai gestures to a nearby wardrobe. I escape again and open the wardrobe. "…. Why are they all female cosplay outfits?" I look over my shoulder at the tiny old man. "Never mind, stupid question." I slam my head into the door, only to have it blocked by Fanfan sliding a folded outfit in front of my face. "Fanfan, you are my favorite person here right now." I say as I grab the clothes and sprint down the block. I unfold the clothes to see what size they are, not paying attention to what they are yet, and conjure flames to advance my age to one that would be able to fit into those clothes. It's not until I am dressed in what Fanfan gave me that I noticed what I was wearing. Now at about eleven or twelve years old, instead of three or four, I was now wearing regular black slacks, that were a little snug on my hips and butt, but stretchy enough I could still fight, and a crop-top that had 'Daddy's Little Princess' written across it. "FANFAN! I yell loud enough I know he can hear me, as I start sprinting back to them. "I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" I skid to a stop inches in front of Fanfan. He has a big dopey grin plastered on his face, and everyone else bursts out laughing. Touhou Fuhai recovers first and speaks up, breaking all of our focus.
"Alright, we've had our fun. Now we have to get on to training. We only have two more days before we have to go save Moka and Tsukune." Wait, Tsukune was taken too? I look around and for the first time, notice that he isn't here. Carp. "Tsuchimaru, I will be training you. The rest of you, pair up or something." I do a quick head count and realize that would leave thirteen of them.
"Actually Touhou Fuhai-san." I say distracting everyone. "I have some suggestions about how everyone should train." When all eyes were on me I took stock of who was here. Ethan, Nick, Natalie, Cocoa, Routier, Miu-san, Fanfan, Yukari, Mizore, Lingling, Haiji, Ginei, and Shuzen Issa. "Shuzen-san, can you grant me thirty seconds?" At first he looks confused, but when I slide into a stance, he nods and does the same. Thirty seconds later I speak again. "Shuzen-san, you spar with Cocoa. Cocoa, fight him like I showed you before. Miu-san and Routier, you two will spar with Fanfan and Yukari. Shiki, you'll be facing Mizore. Heero, you get Ginei. That leaves Haiji and Lingling." Everyone nods and starts to walk off with their partners to train, and Natalie looks over at me.
"What about me?"
"Touhou Fuhai, our training was going to focus on facing Akua again right?" He nods. "Then Aiko should come too. She should be able to learn the Hougetsu Jigen-Tou nearly as quickly as I did, and this way there will be three of us who will know how to combat Akua, in case one of us gets locked in combat against someone else." He thinks it over for a moment before sighing and gesturing for Natalie to follow us.
Once Natalie got the technique down, I started sparring with her. Doing my best to emulate Akua's style of combat so Natalie would be familiar with it. Fortunately Natalie had a similar style so it was beneficial to me as well, should I be the one to fight Akua. On the second day of training we sparred against Touhou Fuhai, as well as each other. This was more to enhance our skill with the Hougetsu Jigen-Tou, and less to sharpen out movements. Just before we ended our training for the day, everyone met back up and we spent the last three hours of daylight in a free for all to appraise everyone's progress. With that done, we called it a day and went to bed.
The next morning, the bus driver arrived with reinforcements from Yokai Academy, the entire MMA club and C.R.E.G. he also had a plane, which would get some of us to the Floating Garden, Fairy Tale's final stronghold. Issa, Miu-san, Routier, Kurumu, Ginei, Mizore, and I would be going in, under cover, with Hokuto and the First Branch.
~A/N~
I own nothing.
So this is the part where I would address some main points from the chapter, but I'm not really sure where to start or how to go about it for certain parts. So I await reviews so I can answer your comments instead.
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See you next chapter!