The afternoon rolled around rather slowly for the girls of Hinata Sou. Even with Sarah and Su up to their wild adventures, the dorms felt rather quiet. Kitsune had disappeared off somewhere before they left to the cemetary, and Keitaro had yet to return. Naru never suspected that the soldier was with her best friend Kitsune. All her thoughts remained on what Keitaro was feeling. To lose one's comrades, one's lover, and one's parents at once was a horrible thing to deal with. Losing a person was something she knew she had to deal with one day, but what Keitaro was going through was something he should have to deal with for a long time.
"Keitaro". Naru thought as she walked through the hallway.
The brunette looked out the window to the large training building Keitaro built. It was still hard to believe that Keitaro built that whole thing in just a few days. As she thought about the training room, she remembered about the soldiers now living in there. Once they returned from the memorial ceremony they all stayed in the other building. The only time any of them made their presence known was to use the bathroom. She didn't blame them. It was the day they lost most of their comrades They were probably depressed and didn't need to be disturbed. However, Naru was never the kind of person to leave well enough alone.
"Maybe I should go check up on them", Naru said as she made her way outside, "Just to make sure they're okay."
As Naru opened the back door, she found Motoko, Kanako, and her cat Kuro on the porch. Kanako rubbed her cat's back as Motoko kept reading, "Demons of the Past". It was the same book Keitaro let her borrow some time ago.
"Motoko, Kanako, what are you two doing here", Naru asked.
"Haruka asked us to watch over Keitaro's friends while Mutsumi and Shinobu helped her in the Tea shop", Kanako said.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes", Motoko answered as she closed the book. "Haitani, and Shirai were considerable perverts, and I don't want them causing any trouble."
"That is true. I was going to go check on them and see if they were okay", Naru said.
"Naru is that really a good idea", Kanako asked. "They're soldiers, we don't know what they could be up to."
"I know, but I just ant to see if they're okay. It would be a good chance to see if they're up to anything bad", Naru added.
Hearing this made them think twice. Keeping an eye on these people was their task for the day, and a closer view could be productive for them. Besides, bordem did reach people, even those from the Shinmei-ryū.
"Very well", Motoko agreed with them. "I am curious to what these men are like."
While Motoko had mellowed out towards Keitaro, she still had a small problem in dealing with men. In any way, Motoko, Naru, and Kanako were all too curious to see what was happening in the training room.
The three girls crept quietly towards the dojo room. It was ironic that GIRLS were actually the ones sneaking around to get a glimpse of BOYS. Normally it would have been the other way around. The trio didn't tip toe their way to the dojo, nor did they casually walk up to structure. They suddenly froze when the door opened a small crack. It remained open as a punching bag for children was placed to prop open the door. Seeing that no one exited the door, they decided to move in closer. Motoko jumped a bit when she saw the punching bag was in the shape of a ninja turtle. They ignored the training equipment and looked into the room. They didn't know what to expect, but they sure didn't exect to see what they saw.
One by one, they all took note of each character. Near the window was Nentou as he smoked a cigarette. Han sat on a bench as he held a small framed photo in one hand. His other hand pet Skinny who sat in the bigger man's lap. Motoko's brother-in-law, Tokui, sat in the lotus position as he sharpened his sword with a small sharpening stone. Sitting across from him was Haitani. Keitaro's old friend tossed a basket ball into the air as he laid on his futon. Shirai rapidly shifted the different colors on his rubix cube. The soldier was very focused on the small toy in his hands. Finally, there was Angel. The white-haired young man had taken apart his sniper rifle to clean each individual part. The ERT recruits didn't seem to be doing anything wrong, that was the good thing. The bad thing was that they didn't seem very happy at all.
"They look...Kinda sad", Naru whispered to Motoko, and Kanako.
Just as she said this, Angel took the barrel to his gun and held it to his eye. As he stared through the hole, he focused it around the room. His extremely good eyes eventually fell to the doorway. This in short terms, blew the girls' cover.
"Hey, what are you three up to", Angel asked.
Naru and her friends felt embarrassed and shocked all at once. They hid back outside, hoping that Angel thought he was seeing things.
"Now, now, don't be shy Motoko", Tokui said never taking his eyes off of his task.
Motoko now felt the most embarrassed out of the three. She should have expected this, as Tokui also trained at the Shinmei-ryū. Motoko slowly pushed the door open to let her presence be known. Kanako and Naru stood right behind her as the door loudly creaked open.
"K-Kanako", Han said in surprise.
The soldier jumped to attention, causing Skinny to jump from his lap. He quickly brushed off the pine martin's fur from his lap as he also hid the picture he was looking at.
"W-what brings you here Kanako", Han asked as he scratched an imaginary itch behind his neck.
"Nothing in particular", Keitaro's step sister responded. "We just wanted to see how you were all doing."
"Oh-umm, thank you", Han said sheepishly.
Everyone could clearly see how embarrassed Han was around Kanako. Normally the other soldiers would seize this opportunity to make fun of Han. However, the atmosphere in the training room was really depressing and no one felt like making fun of anyone else today. The silence around the area was very uncomfortable. All eyes wandered on everything in the room except for each other. Kanako's vision returned to the picture Han was looking at.
"Who is that in the picture", Kanako asked the soldier.
Han looked back to the picture before picking it up in his hands.
"That...that's Irie", Han softly said as he handed the picture to Kanako.
Motoko and Naru circled in to see the photo Kanako was given. In the frame was a younger version of Han, maybe three years ago. On his shoulders was a boy close to sixteen. His facial features were close to Han's, the same black hair, the same hazel eyes, and even the same smile on his face. The only differences were his age, his height, and there was a small patch of hair on his chin.
"Is he your brother", Naru asked.
"No, he's my cousin", Han said, "Or her was at least."
"What happened ", Motoko asked.
Han sadly sighed before answering, "He was one of the victims of Draconian's betrayal.
"Oh, Han I'm sorry", Kanako said now regretting she asked in the first place.
"No, it's okay", Han said as he took the picture back in his hands. "It's not your fault.
Han looked at himself and Irie in the frame for some time. Much to everyone's dislike, the silence returned. What was one to say to someone who lost someone they held close to them? What did they feel at a time like this?
"Han", Kanako asked.
Han looked up from the picture as she spoke.
"Are you...Angry...Angry that Draconian took your cousin away."
Han put the picture on a table as he took a seat. He clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them.
"In all truth, I think I'm more sad than angry. I'm sad that I lost my baby cousin, but I'm also sad that I couldn't stop Draconian either. Till this day, we're still hunting him, Neon, Viperous, and a few other people that were responsible."
"How do you plan to stop them", Motoko asked.
"We're gonna fight fire with fire", Haitani said as he continued to toss the basket ball into the air.
"More like match stick with fire", Shirai said.
"Oh yeah, that's helpful thinking", Haitani sarcastically said to Shirai's comment.
"Fight fire with fire? What do you mean fight fire with fire", Naru asked a bit confused.
Shirai hesitated to speak up for some time. After a few seconds, he set the rubix cube aside and removed his glasses.
"Naru, the Experimental Recruitment Training or the ERT, you know the organization we're in."
Naru nodded as her, Kanako, and Motoko listened to what he had to say.
"It was originally a program for people to join in and endure certain...experimants."
"What kind of experiments", Motoko asked.
"Under classification I can't tell you. But what I can say is that most of them were taken by the wrong people. You already know about Draconian, Neon, and Viperous, right?"
"Yeah, Keitaro had a run in with them only a short time ago", Motoko said to Shirai.
"Right", Shirai nodded. "Anyways, when the projects were stolen, the program's purpose changed. Instead of the remaining ERT signing up for new projects, we're being used to clean up our mistakes", Shirai explained.
"But why my brother", Kanako asked since she knew that Keitaro was in constant danger. "Why the remaining ERT?"
"Because, we're better equiped to do it", Shirai said.
"Basically, we're the remaining rejected freaks of the military", Haitani said.
"Oh yeah, now who's the sarcastic one", Shirai said to Haitani.
"What are you talking about", Naru asked.
Haitani sat up from his futon.
"I think it's easier to just show you", Haitani said as he removed his military cap.
Everyone was taken back by what he say. Underneath his hair, camouflaged by the color of his hair, were two rounded ears. Both ears were colored with black and brown fur. It only got stranger by the moment. Haitani reached into the back of his pants before a thick, fluffy brown tail, with a white tip emerged. He wasn't the only one, Shirai did the same from where he sat.
"What happened to you too", Naru asked remembering that none of them had these features from two years ago.
"This is what happened when we tried out "Project Wild Dog", Shirai explained.
"Hey man it was you're idea to try it out", Haitani said.
"Yeah, well it was your idea to try it with me!"
"A brother is a friend given by Nature! If you jumped in, I HAD to jump in too!"
The small argument between Shirai and Haitani ended as the girls asked more questions.
"So if you have these abilities, then why are you called rejected freaks", Naru asked.
"Well with these features they have some side effects. Sometimes we smell stuff we don't want to know about, loud noises are extra loud or, SQUIRREL!"
"WHERE, WHERE'S A SQUIRREL", Shirai shouted.
Everyone watched as Shirai and Haitani were glued to the window. Their tails wagged as they watched a squirrel run up a tree. Since they were going to remain in that state for a while, the Hina girls decided to ask everyone else a few questions.
"So, does that mean all of you have dog ears", Naru asked.
She tried to picture Keitaro in his military uniform with dog ears and a tail, while on all four.
"I'm a good boy Naru", Keitaro spoke in her head.
The Narusegawa girl blushed and her eyes darkened from the thought. If one paid close attention to her, they could see a small drop of blood threatening to spill from Naru's nose. However, Nentou's voice cut off all other pervy thoughts for Naru.
"Just because we're all freaks doesn't mean we're all animals", Nentou clarified.
"I see", Motoko answered Nentou. "If you don't mind me asking, what is it that makes you part of the ERT?"
"Me, I'm just a pilot. I can drive anything, plane, chopper, boat, you name it."
"So you don't see combat", Kanako quizzed.
"No", Nentou told her. "Truth be told...I'm dying. Doctors don't know what it is, and there's nothing they can do for me. My body is slowly weakening, and the ERT doesn't have room for a weak soldier. I'm no good on a battlefield, but I'm one hell of a pilot."
The girls remained in silence hearing what Nentou said. Everyone knew one day that they were going to die, it was a natural part of life; But to have death's cold hand on your shoulder and slowly suck your life force was a scary, and sad feeling. As they felt sorry for him, another thought popped in their mind.
"WAIT A MINUTE, IF YOU'RE DYING THEN WHY ARE YOU SMOKING A CIGARRETTE", Naru lectured.
Nentou looked at the small tobacco filled tube in his fingers.
"I'm dying anyways, not point of clean living anymore."
"That's no way to go through life Nentou", Naru told him.
As she was about to leture him further, Nentou cut her half way.
"Naru I know what you're going to say. I've had this conversation over and over with Keitaro and Angel...Especially Angel."
Naru didn't notice as Nentou and Angel glared at one another.
"I know I shouldn't be smoking because I only have a short time left to live", Nentou continued, "But I'm okay with it. I don't have any relatives, I've already written my will out, and pilots are a dime a dozen in the military."
Kanako could see how Naru wanted to argue with him further. Before she got a chance to, Keitaro's step sister decided to change the subject for all of their sakes.
"So Han, what is it you're capable of", Kanako asked.
"Oh me, well there's actually nothing special about me", Han said now embarrassed.
"It's better if you show them too", Angel insisted.
"No really, it's nothing", Han pleaded.
C'mon Han, there's no need for shyness", Angel said as he tossed the basket ball to the bigger soldier.
Han caught the ball in a single hand. He gripped the basket ball in his palm for a some time. With a loud pop that scared everyone, the ball burst from Han's grip.
"That's a very strong grip you have", Motoko said to him.
"Strength is something I have always had since I was a child", Han told them. "That's why Seta took me along for some of his digs."
"I see", Said Kanako. "Much like my brother, he has always had a high endurance level. Are there any weaknesses to it?"
"He's clumsy, especially around girls", Tokui quickly added.
"Hey now wait a minute", Han shouted as he stood up.
Standing up was not the wisest choice for Han. As he did so, Han's knee knocked a chair over. The tipped chair rattled a small wooden table that dropped Han's picture of him and his cousin. It was enough that they knew he was unnaturally strong, but now they watched Han in one of his most humiliating times. Han said nothing at first, he only hung his head in defeat to what Tokui said.
"Here let me help you", Kanako said.
"Um, thank you", Han told her.
The two began carefully picking up the pieces to Han's precious photo. Tokui chuckled to himself in the corner of the room, but not for long.
"Tokui that was very mean of you", Motoko shouted in Tokui's face.
Despite him being a few years older than his sister-in-law, Motoko could still scare the ghost out of his body.
"I'm sorry Motoko, please don't strike me", Tokui pleaded as he cowered in a ball.
"You should apologize to Han this instant", Motoko insisted.
"Better yet, why don't you tell them your weakness", Han said to him.
"A weakness, what weakness could a member of the Shinmei-ryū have", Motoko wondered.
"He's afraid of lizards", Han blurted.
"Hey, that's not real weakness", Tokui defended.
"It is when you're supposed to be the one fighting Draconian", Han told him.
"You", Naru asked a little surprised. "You're supposed to fight Draconian.
"Yeah."
"But why you, wouldn't Han, or Keitaro be better to fight Draconian", Naru asked.
"No, Han is more built to fight someone else", Tokui said to her.
"What about Keitaro", Naru questioned.
"Well...How should I put this", Tokui asked rhetorically. "Keitaro...Wouldn't be of any use fighting Draconian. He has too much anger focused on him. The anger he feels clouds Keitaro's judgement. In the end Keitaro would only get hurt, either from Draconian, or from himself. We keep Keitaro away from Draconian for his own safety."
Naru took a little while to let it all sink in. An image of Keitaro with his back turned to her appeared in her mind. In her closed image, she wanted to reach out to him, but hesitated. Naru shook the picture out of her head to ask more questions.
"Wait, if you're afraid of lizards, then how are you able fight Draconian", Motoko asked.
Truth be told, she was only asking to learn how to deal with her fear of turtles. However, she didn't want Tokui to find out about this.
"Easy, we got a guardian angel to watch our backs", Tokui pointed to the sniper.
Angel had just finished reassembling his sniper rifle now that the parts were all clean.
"Angel, what special powers do you have", Naru asked.
"I don't have powers, I'm just told I'm amazing."
"You don't say", Naru said as a small bead of sweat dripped down.
"It's true", Tokui backed up what Angel stated. "Every time we've been in a pinch, Angel has always been there to save our asses!"
"Really, what's your secret", Naru asked now very interested.
"No secret, I'm just a gifted sharp shooter...However", Angel spoke as he pulled out a small silver cross that hung around his neck. "The reason why I'm in the ERT is another story...Three years ago, I was stationed in Hong Kong. It was should have been an easy task, I was assigned to take out the guards on a stationed building while my team snuck in to retrieve a hostage. When it was all over, I was supposed to rondevu with them at a train station, but they were waiting for us. Out of twelve guys, only three men from my unit made it out, not including the hostage."
"And you were one of them", Kanako asked.
"That's the thing, I didn't make it out of there alive", Angel said.
"Huh", All three girls asked in unison. They looked to each other to see if any of them knew what he was talking about.
"I'm afraid I don't understand", Motoko said to him.
"You see, that day I was shot in the chest seven times. My heart had stopped, and my body shut down. I was dead before I even hit the ground. It's kind of sketchy after that. I remember everything didn't go dark...It went...White. Next thing I know, I'm in on a morgue table gasping for air. The doctors said I was technically dead for over seven hours. I had no bullet holes, I suffered no brain damage, nothing."
"How is that possible", Kanako asked in amazement.
"Scientifically speaking, it was a freak phenomenon in my nervous system. Even though my heart had stopped, the electricity in my body kept flowing up and down my spine. There was nowhere else for it to escape, and it began increasing in my spine. Eventually, the electricity found its way out through my nervous system, and to my heart. The sudden surge of electricity jump started my heart again like a backup generator."
"That's incredible", Motoko said with astonishment.
"Yeah, but it did come with some side effects too. I can't take this cross off, or the electricity with escape my body. Without the electricity, I'd live for less that a minute. I can't go anywhere with a lot of electronics, like movie theaters, arcades, powerplants, and a few other places."
"That's terrible", Naru said. "It must be tough living like that."
"It is, but I'm just thankful to be alive", Angel said as he held the cross at eye level. "I know I do a lot of bad things, and I know one day I'm gonna have be judged for it all. Being a sniper is my job, but if I can be my team's guardian Angel, it makes it all worth while. I know I don't deserve a second chance, but maybe I can give a few other people a second chance. It just proves to show that God wants me around a little while longer."
No one said a word. It was some pretty in-depth stuff to think about. These soldiers were not like anyone they ever met. While they did argue and joke around like any other people, they were anything but ordinary people.
Sorry for the long wait everyone. School has kept me chained to a desk lately. This is a longer chapter, so I hope it made up for lost time. I wanted to post something up before Saint Patrick's Day. Yay to the Irish! This chapter tells about the people Keitaro works with. Next time Keitaro will be back, and you'll see just exactly what him and Kitsune were up to. To explain thoroughly, the animals Shirai, and Haitani were are called African Wild Dogs, or the African Hunting Dog. The reason I chose this animal is because I wanted an animal like experiment, and a wolf seemed to cliche. It worked better since the wild dog is a social animal, and Haitani, and Shirai work well together. Thank you all, hope you post some reviews, and hope you all enjoy the update.