Chapter 55
The man stared at us with still no hint of expression. "Didn't you hear me? I asked what your name was!" IF demanded, though I don't think it's a good idea to antagonize someone who just saved us.
The man held his arm up and opened his middle and pointer finger, making it look like a peace sign. "We know that you're peaceful. But what's your name?" I asked again and the man traced his other finger between the two fingers he held up. "...V? Your name is V?"
The man nodded, he looked behind him and saw the broken rock before turning back to us. "Why aren't you talking?" Nepgear asked him and he held his throat and rubbed it. "You can't talk…?" the man nodded slowly, Nepgear and I walked towards him.
"Wait! We can't trust him." IF stated without taking her eyes off him, "We can't trust him at all! He could be working for ASIC too!"
The man looked at Nepgear and eyed down to her leg, before I could say something he held his hand out and took ahold of her shoulder. Making her turn to him, "Y-Yes?" He pointed down towards her N-Gear. "You want my N-Gear?" he nodded. Nepgear took her N-Gear out and handed it to him, he took it and scrolled through it before slumping his shoulders. He showed it to Nepgear, "Can you not find something?" He handed it to her and then held out his hand and started moving his other hand over it like holding an invisible pen. "A notepad?" he nodded.
Nepgear scrolled through and hit one button on it before handing it back to him. He pressed a couple buttons before turning it and showing us what it said, "You don't have to trust me. Just know that I hate ASIC as much as any other. Please allow me to travel with you, I promise that I won't be a burden."
I stared at the message before looking at everyone else, we all exchanged a few words with just our sights then looked back at V. "Alright. You can come with us, but we will be watching your every move." I told him and V bowed. Nepgear looked over at the Mascot.
"What now…? The Mascot…"
"Worry not, CPU Candidate." a voice was heard and we all looked around the area.
"A voice… but who…?" Nepgear asked.
"I am this Nation's Mascot. How unexpected to have my body destroyed while I was sleeping…" the Mascot said.
"You're okay? You're talking even though you were smashed to pieces." I pointed out.
"Okay is not quite accurate, but fortunately, I was able to seperate part of my power from my body." the Mascot reassured, "Here. I will grant what power I have left to you."
A bright purple light flashed from Nepgear, forcing V, IF, and I to shield our eyes. When the light died down Nepgear was flashing Purple, her eyes were closed. "So this is the power of the Mascot?" she asked and a bright light flashed from her again, revealing her CPU Form.
"CPU Candidate, I have no way of knowing what has transpired since I began my long slumber… But I have faith that you will use my power for a just cause." the voice said then the flashing on the rocks disappeared.
"And just like that, the Mascot vanished completely. Man, that was a close call." IF pointed out and gave a sigh of relief.
"Yes, but we managed somehow. Thank you everyone." Nepgear said and looked at V. He stood staring at the broken body of the Mascot. He's just strange though… his emotions are so blocked that I can't tell how he's feeling about anything. They're completely locked up.
"Let's report back to Histoire and let her know about the Mascot." IF suggested, we all turned and nodded at her. V just looked over and stared.
We went back to Planeptune right after that, only this time I was riding with IF and V was driving the other bike… I was really upset that I couldn't drive back! I'm good at driving, sure I looked away from the road a couple times and almost hit a couple rocks but I moved out of the way!
When we went into the Basilicom, V had this black hat on now with a blue feather on the side of it, don't ask me where he got it. One second he didn't have it and the next he did. We went up the elevator and went into the living area. Histy and Shizuki were sitting down on the couch when they saw us.
"There they are!" Shizuki said and got up off the couch and walked towards us, "Kotomi… that wound and… who's this?" she pointed at V behind us. He took his hat off and bowed.
"This is V. He helped us when we got to the Mascot." I explained, "But there was someone there that destroyed the Mascots body." there were a lot more words I wanted to say about that Underling. But I want to try to be a little formal for a change… even though it's hard to hold back.
"At least Nepgear obtained the power of the Mascot. However…" Histy started.
"Yeah. ASIC knows of the Mascots, and they're trying to get rid of them." IF finished.
"But why? The Mascots are neutral so why would they want to destroy them? Don't they want to keep violence to a minimum?" Nepgear said.
"Funny way of showing it…" I muttered.
"What if they're getting rid of the remainders of violence?" Shizuki guessed, "Even if the Mascots are neutral, they hold incredible power right? It would make sense why they would want to destroy them."
"Still… to think that they would even go after the Mascots… this is a terrible time indeed." Histy muttered. "Kotomi, IF, Nepgear, V. The four of you have to go to each of the nations and stop ASIC from destroying the Mascots and reunite the CPU Candidates."
"We will." I stated and looked back at V, he stood staring at Histy before nodding. "Shizuki, We'll need to use your bike." I felt a hand on my back and saw V shaking his head.
"He's right, you can't attract any attention." Shizuki said, "It's better if you all went on foot, you wouldn't make much noise if you see anyone."
"It's getting dark though, let's rest up before we set out for Lastation tomorrow." I suggested and looked at V, "You can come with me. I have a place you can sleep." V stared at me before nodding his head.
"Then our mission is set." IF stated and smiled, "Let's stop ASIC."
"Yeah!"
IF and Shizuki left for the night and then I left and was walking through the streets of Planeptune with V, when I glanced back at him he had his hat down over his eyes, but he could still pay attention to where he was going. We went back to Hikan's house and I opened the door, taking my shoes off before stepping on the hardwood floor. V saw and did the same. I don't know if I should give him Hikan's room or not… It should be okay right?
"I'll show you to your room. Follow me." I said and walked up the stairs towards Hikan's room, "Here. This is where you'll be sleeping."
I opened the door and he walked into the room, he looked around the room before taking off his hat and sitting it on the stand. He removed his coat and set it aside too. Revealing more of his metal arm and his normal arm. He was pretty skinny for how he acts, he sat on the bed and moved the hair from his other for a second before letting out a breath.
"So… what were you doing in Gamindustri? Before you started fighting ASIC." I asked him, he reached out for his pocket and pulled out the phone that IF let him borrow. He tapped some buttons into it before handing it towards me.
"It's not something that I want to say right now, I'm sorry." the message read, I looked up from the phone.
"That's fine, sorry for asking like that." I said and gave the phone back to him, he stared down at the phone and then looked up at me. "I'm going to bed. My heads killing me…" I said and walked out of the room.
I walked down the stairs into the guests room and went to the attached bathroom. I turned the light on and looked into the mirror, I lifted my hair and saw the wound on my forehead. It was closed now but man… she did hit me good didn't she?
I pulled my hand from my head and pulled my jacket off and then pulled my shirt off. I stretched real quick and then took my shorts off along with my socks. I left the bathroom and then opened my drawer and pulled out a tank top. I quickly put it on and hopped into my bed and stared up at the ceiling. V is definitely strange… we don't know anything about him or what his goal is other then getting rid of ASIC. A part of me wants to believe him but another part of still doesn't trust him. But if he was an enemy then why would he save me back in the Virtua Forest? Could it be he's trying to gain our trust and then stab us in the back? No… he wouldn't do that, even if I can't read his emotions, he purposely saved us from the good in his heart.
I was about to go to sleep, but I heard the door to the outside open. I jolted up and hopped out of bed. I opened my dresser and grabbed a pair of black sweatpants Hikan bought me and put them on, then opened my door and walked out of my room.
I left the house and locked the door behind me as I looked around, the sky had already turned black and the moon was shining above me. I looked down and saw V walking through the streets, looking around him as he walked. What is he doing?
I slowly crept behind him, he took cover in the alleys and behind things when guards would walk by. I was doing the same so I wouldn't be seen either. After they would walk past V would come out from hiding and continue his path.
After about twenty minutes of walking, V turned down an alleyway. I turned down and saw V still walking, I stepped a couple steps closer before feeling a hand slap across my mouth, I let out a startled gasp as I felt someone grab my arms. "And just what do we have here?" a voice said and I looked back, I saw a guard smiling down at me. "What are you doing out at this hour?
I let out another muffled yelp and V quickly turned around, he saw me in the man's arms and quickly dashed towards us. He pulled back his fist and punched the man in the jaw. V then grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the guard. While we were running we heard him calling for backup.
V led me around for a couple minutes before pulling me beside a house. We sat down and I started breathing heavily from running. He looked at me with an angered gaze, it wasn't what I wanted, but at least I know he's not entirely emotionless. The red highlights flashed from him too.
"I know. You're angry that I followed you but I wanted to know what you went out for." I told him and he looked around the house and then back at me. He nodded before tilting his head to the side, suggesting to follow him. He slowly came out from around the corner and slowly walked across the road. I slowly crept behind him and looked back behind us, the guards stopped tailing us at least.
I ran into V's back and looked ahead, "Why did you stop?" I asked and looked around him, standing in front of us was a complete blockade of guards. More of them filed in behind us too.
"You two." one of them shouted, "Stand down now and face the consequences."
V looked between everyone and around the area, then he held his hand behind him. I grabbed ahold of it and he took a firm grip and then reached for one of his many pockets. He pulled out a gun, aimed at the roof, and fired. A small grapple came out of it and stuck to the roof, pulling us both into the air. V vaulted over and picked me up princess style and jumped from the rooftops. I felt my face redden as he held me…
He hopped off one of the rooftops and landed on the ground. He put me down and looked behind us. Then he turned to face me again, "You… you didn't need to carry me…" I said and looked away to hide my blushed face, he scratched his head before looking up and stepping around me. In front of him was a robed figure, who held their hand out.
"Don't fret, come with me. I can help you get away." they said and turned, "Follow me."
I looked at him more closely and saw a green highlight flash from him… he doesn't want to hurt us, he does want to help us. "Come on, we can trust him."
I followed after the figure while V cautiously followed behind me, the figure walked for a good bit before turning towards a house and went towards the side of it, there was a cellar door, he knocked on it twice and then three fast knocks and the door opened. Revealing someone else under it, a young boy opened the door and let the figure in. Then we followed after them.
There was a table with maps on it and several chairs pulled around it. Another person was sitting going through some of the maps while another one was sitting beside him with a blushed face and a bottle next to him… from what I smelled, it's alcohol. The robed figure sat down and pulled his hood off, an old man.
"My name is Saito. The old leader of The Saviors." he said, Saito… that's one of the names that Sanjiro said back when I was still captured, they're brothers I think. "Don't worry, I'm not with ASIC."
"You were supposed to be dead… were they serious about bringing the dead back to life?" I asked, Saito nodded.
"Correct, they brought back myself and two of my close subordinates Kinoshita and Nagana. They wanted us to hold back some of the CPU's while Yagi fought off Hikan." Saito said, just hearing that name made my blood boil, that bastard was close to Uni and he backstabs her by capturing her sister… I have to let her know what he really is.
"Why did you bring us down here?" I continued to ask questions.
"I came to let you know that you have our support." Saito answered and looked around, "We may not have many forces, but our power alone is strong. Nagana's strategies are rivaled with that boy Makoto's and Kinoshita's strength rivals White Hearts subordinate Nishihara. We once thought that the CPU's were the problem with Gamindustri… but we soon realized how wrong we were. The CPU's are needed to keep Gamindustri peaceful, including Hikan himself." Saito said and looked up at me again, "Young Kotomi, you must find Hikan and have him defeat the leader of ASIC. I know as much as you that he's alive out there somewhere, and when you find him and attack the Gamindustri Graveyard, we'll do our best to assist in any way possible."
"Thank you." I replied, "but you said there were others. Where are they?"
"We all split up to make sure we weren't found. I have been hiding here with the last of the Saviors. The boy who let you in is Moronobu, the one looking at the maps there is Tokuhei and the one that is asleep next to him is Kinji. Nagana has returned to Leanbox in secret and is currently spying on the enemy as we speak. Kinoshita is in Lastation trying to find some other members. I found out that some of the other members are locked up in the Guild here in Planeptune, but I don't believe they'll let them out if I ask." Saito explained, "I didn't mean to be rude, but I was eavesdropping on your conversation about going to the nations to reunite the Candidates and stop ASIC from destroying the Mascots, I recommend going to Leanbox after you are finished in Lastation and find Nagana. He'll give you intel on ASIC that he's found, I'll make sure to let him know to keep an eye out for you."
"I never thought that you would turn a new leaf like this." I told him and gave Saito a smile. He smirked as well and closed his eyes.
"Hikan was able to change me, I regret the decision I made all those years ago, the things I've put him through… I don't even deserve to be forgiven, yet he prayed for me and cried when I parted from the world…" he said and I saw tears well up in his eyes. He looked at me, "Go Kotomi, find Hikan and reunite the CPU Candidates. Stop ASIC and bring peace back to Gamindustri."
"I will." I said and stood up from the chair, V stood up with me. Saito looked at V and stared at him, the two seemed to be having a quiet discussion.
"Please. Protect her." Saito said and V held his arm over his chest and bowed. Then we both turned and walked up the stairs…
