Chapter 10: Pink Slip
Compa let an exhausted sigh from her mouth. Wandering the streets of a place that was apparently called Asakusa, she had asked several people where she was but each party only ended in the other being confused. All around her people lined the streets. An array of shops with vibrant red lanterns lined both sides of the streets, causing Compa's breath to tighten slowly as if they were closing in on her. The intoxicating smell of food taunted her, as Compa looked down into her hand at her Gamindustri credits with a slight tear in her eye.
"So… tired… money… not valid… need food…" Compa groaned through her frowning mouth and crossed eyes. Suddenly Compa slammed right into someone, knocking all their groceries out of their hands. "Oh! I am so sorry about that! I wasn't looking where I was going."
The girl she knocked into appeared to be a school student in a white uniform and dark-blue skirt. Shaking her fluffy pink hair around, she straightened her topmost black ribbon. "Oh no, I'm sorry! I was lost in thought and thought I could make a shortcut through here! I should have known better."
"Oh, still I ran into you! Here, let me help you pick up your things." Compa then began putting the girl's things back into her bags.
"Oh no, you don't have to do that! It was my fault." The girl smiled, waving her hands in minor protest.
"Unthinkable!" Compa raised her voice a tone. "It was I who ran into you. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't help out." The girl gave in as Compa picked up the various items, helping her retrieve them. But as she helped, Compa couldn't help but drool at the various products the girl had. Garlic Egg Donburi, Udon Noodles, Yakitori packs, cans of Miso, packets of Spicy Tempura, fresh Mentaiko, and all forms of sushi caused Compa's mouth to tremble as she bit her lip.
"Pardon me, miss. But I didn't catch your name." the girl said.
"Oh! It's Compa. And yours?" Compa replied.
"My name is Hibari." The girl smiled.
A warm smile radiated from Compa, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Hibari… Wow, your eyes are so pretty."
"Hehe, thank you but they really aren't that pretty." Hibari smiled a bit, breaking eye contact as her pupils drifted to the ground.
"Oh, don't be silly. I have a friend with eyes just like that. Only… I think hers looked like music notes… or something." Compa said to which Hibari looked back up.
"Really? Someone who has eyes like mine? Hmm…" Not wanting to linger on the subject, Hibari quickly backtracked, "But were you okay, Miss Compa? You started slowing down more and more just a moment ago there." Hibari asked with concern in her eyes.
"You've just got some really delicious looking products, Hibari. Can I call you Hibbi?" Compa finished picking up the remainder of the packages and helped Hibari get a grip on them.
"Sure, I guess. But this food is kinda common." By now Hibari suspected Compa of being a foreigner. Hibari's eyes widened as she heard a stomach growl which wasn't hers. Compa scrunched her face in embarrassment. "You haven't eaten in a while, have you? Do you not have any money?"
"I have plenty of money, Hibbi. But everywhere I go says that my money isn't valid." Compa almost whined before showing Hibari a Gamindustri credit. Hibari's eyes sparkled at the shiny golden coin with a C embroidered into it.
"It's so shiny. I've never seen a coin like this in my life." Hibari looked at Compa, having an strangely good feeling about her. She doesn't feel like a Shinobi. But then again, I don't come off the type either at first. Still, she can't be an enemy. Hibari then grabbed Compa by the hand. "Miss Compa. Let me buy you something to eat. It's the least I can do after you helped me out like that. And then I'll help you find a foreign currency exchange."
"Thank you, Hibbi. But I already tried that. They said my currency didn't exist. Which is total nutters, as a friend of mine would say. Besides, all I did was help you with your groceries. You don't have to buy me food over that." Compa smiled lightly.
Hibari shook her head. "Mm, mm! I can't pass up somebody in need like this. Besides, if they denied your currency, then what are you gonna do?!" Compa went silent. "At least let me buy you something."
"Thank you, Hibbi." Compa smiled. "But if that's the case, then I'm gonna help you carry all those heavy groceries. Wouldn't want ya to fall again."
"Oh, but you've done enough." Hibari replied.
"Nonsense. You're being kind to me, so I'm gonna return the favor." Compa giggled in a way that made Hibari feel like warm inside, causing her to smile back, thanking Compa. Hibari and Compa continued their walk through the streets, where Compa learned she was in the Nakamise shopping street of Asakusa. Hibari, who's curiosity started as a spark, was now blooming into a slowly anxious intrigue. Guiding her by the hand, Hibari took Compa around, allowing her to pick from a large assortment of street food, which caused Compas eyes to flood in amazement and her taste buds to explode in ecstasy. But by the end of it, Hibari's funds were crying.
"Mmm! Thank you so much, Hibbi. That was absolutely delish." Compa groaned happily.
"Ooh, but I didn't watch my spending and now I have only 81 yen left!" Hibari pouted a teary-eyed frown.
"If only I could find some way to repay your kindness, Hibari. Carrying your groceries around is the least I can do."
"Mm, mm." Hibari shook her head, "you've done enough, Compa. You're so kind. All I did was help somebody in need after I carelessly bumped into them."
"Oh don't be silly, Hibbi. I was the dumb-dumb for bumping into you." Compa gave a slight grin, scratching the back of her head.
"But you were light-headed from lack of food. It's not your fault. I still can't believe they thought you were lying. It's not fair!" Hibari puffed her cheeks in a frustratedly cute way, which made Compa desu.
"Aw, I don't think they thought I was lying, Hibbi. They just didn't believe that my currency was real."
"That's the same thing!" Hibari retorted before asking to see Compa's currency again, feeling it's weight. "Ya see, even though I've never seen a currency like this… How can someone as nice as you be a liar?" Hibari said. Compa thanked her, offering her some mochi ice cream. Hibari leaned forward for some, but lost her balance slightly. Though able to catch her balance, she fell forward, smashing her little nose into the mochi. Holding her nose with both hands, Hibari shook her head shrieking "Cold, cold, cold!" with the most adorable scrunched eyes to which Compa couldn't help but giggle, which then turned into a laugh.
"I'm sorry, Hibbi. Your face was just priceless! I couldn't help it-… AAH!" Compa yelped as Hibari took the Mochi that she had nosed in and rubbed it on Compa's cheeks.
"Hmph! You need a makeover, Compa!" Hibari then watched Compa rub her cheeks while letting out a stuttering cry. "Hehe. You look so much prettier with makeup!" Hibari giggled.
"Hibbi, you meanie!" Compa pouted but then couldn't help but chuckle, with both girls sharing in the laughter of the moment before Hibari reached into one of her grocery bags, pulling out some napkins.
"So where is this Gamindustri?" Hibari asked.
"I… I don't know. I was chasing some bad people. Suddenly… everything went white and I ended up here. I know you probably think I'm crazy, Hibbi." Compa's eyes dropped to the ground, her tone going down.
"Mm, mm!" Hibari shook her head, "Like I told you before. Someone like you couldn't be a liar so I believe you, Compa. Besides, stranger things have happened."
"Oh? You mean like a secret research lab doing human experiments and trying to open a dimensional rift? Upside down stuff like that?" Compa asked. Hibari had question marks above her head to which Compa simply sweatdropped an "oh, nevermind."
"So what about these bad people? What do they want?" Hibari asked.
"They're enemies we've all fought in the past. They wanna bring about Gamindustri's destruction. The only thing is, we thought we defeated some of them. And others shouldn't even know each other. Next thing we know, they're holding two of our friends hostage and plan on releasing a bunch of monsters into the world! We managed to rescue them, but a fight broke out. Suddenly I was blinded… and I haven't seen any of them since." Worry floated on Compa's tone.
Hibari asked if they would be alright but secretly wondered about the "monsters" part. Compa applauded her friends on their combat abilities. "So… you're all fighters, eh?"
Compa chuckled, "I know I don't look like it, but I am your resident combat healer as Lady Vert and Nep-nep call me." Just then several officers in blue uniforms approached them, which Hibari recognized as Japanese police.
"Are you Miss Compa?" One officer asked. When Compa confirmed he told her that she was under arrest for false ID and counterfeit currency. Compa nervously began to protest as she showed her Gamindustri ID with the words 'citizen of Planeptune' on a large, thick card that looked almost like an old gaming cartridge. The police appeared to hold back laughter as they proceeded to grab Compa's wrists, despite her disapproval.
Hibari stepped forward, Compa sensing a slight glimmer from her eyes. "I am sorry, Officer. My friend is a little bit ditsy. She means no harm and is not the person you're looking for."
The one officer nodded his head, but the other two gave him strange looks as he let go of Compa saying. "Yes. Me make big oopsy. Your friend is good girl." The officer's tone was flat as he gave Compa an eerily robotic head pat, Hibari making sure she kept eye contact.
"Hey! Wait a second. What are you up to?" One of the other officers said, stepping in front of Hibari. Hibari stuttered and the officer who let Compa go staggered backwards, holding his head as though he had a hangover.
"What just happened?" He said as his other comrade came over to his side. "That girl looked at me and I don't remember a thing!"
Hibari muttered an 'uh oh' to which the Officer who'd gotten in her way said "Alright. You're both under arrest." Hibari gulped, feeling her heart pumping faster with her hyperventilating breath moving in sync. Time seemed to slow down as a drop of sweat trickled off the side of her hair, hitting the floor with a drip nobody could hear. "Now come along quietly and cooperate." The officer said.
"I-i… I'm sorry!" Hibari cried, turning around quickly, closing her eyes as she dropped a smoke bomb out from under her skirt. The area was engulfed as Compa began coughing along with the police. A hand grabbed her wrist and suddenly she found herself running alongside Hibari who was taking the lead.
"Hibbi?! What was that back there!? Aren't we gonna be in more trouble if we run from the police?"
"Uh uh! I know a good spot we can hide! Come on, Compa!" Hibari lead Compa through alleyways, down the street and through some suburban homes before they reached the back of a school yard. Compa looked upon the school in all it's glory, most notably it's size, which she noted that Planeptune had few schools that grew close to that size.
Hibari lead Compa to the entrance, guiding her through security measures first before finding a remote room full of seasonal school supplies that were not in use. Hibari then proceeded to take the groceries off of Compa. "Stay here for now, Compa! I have a few things to take care of, but I'll be back in a little bit. I promise."
"Um… A-alright but… What's going on, Hibbi? Who are you exac-…" Before Compa could finish, Hibari dashed off with a 'gotta go!', leaving Compa in the mostly dark room with only a spot of sunshine coming through a single window at the other end. Compa began looking around out of curiosity, at the various supplies before she sat down in a chair and picked up a volleyball with a mysterious looking note on it.
Hibari casually walked back into the familiar sight of the Hanzo ninja room. Opening the sliding Shoji doors, she announced "Hey guys, I'm back."
"Where the hell have you been!?" a slightly angry Yagyu said, folding her arms.
"Y-Yagyu!? What is going on!?" Hibari took a confused step back.
"We've been trying to reach you. Ikaruga went missing and was most likely kidnapped!" Yagyu's face was as grave as her tone. Hibari looked over at the small sushi bar where Daidoji sat, with her face down; Asuka in the next seat over, trying to comfort her.
"I should have gone with her… I SHOULD have gone with her! Damn those Gokudō scumbags! They WILL rue the day when I-… Augh, Ow!" Daidoji had stood up, shaking her fist in the air, only to recoil in pain. "Damnit! If it wasn't for that gooey blue mutt!" Asuka tried to calm her down as she helped Daidoji back into her chair, who took a swig from a large mug of Whiskey before continuing to ramble in a depressed manner.
"Ikaruga's been captured?!" Hibari walked up with Yagyu to where Kiriya was speaking with Katsuragi, showing her where he suspected Ikaruga's supposed captors of being.
"Sensei, might I please see the item?" Yagyu asked. Kiriya then handed her the hilt of a broken three-pronged weapon as she then showed it to Hibari. At the base of the hilt was a symbol depicting a Koi fish and a dragon, their tales starting up the middle before the remainder of their bodies bent into the shape of a diamond.
"I've never seen that symbol before." Hibari gazed upon it, a chilling tinge crawling up her spine.
"Neither have any of us until today." Katsuragi commented. "Apparently they operate in secret even by shinobi standards or something?" Katsuragi looked at Kiriya, subtly asking for details.
"The Gokudo Academy for Boys, also known as the Secret Gokudo Boys Academy, has a habit of keeping a very low profile. They're an evil shinobi school, with discrepancy being on a similar scale to the Yoma. If I recall correctly, they're cleverly disguised as a psychotherapy department." Kiriya informed.
"But… that doesn't make any sense." Hibari scratched her chin. "If they wanna be so secretive, why print their symbol on a weapon? And why kidnap Ikaruga?"
"I've been wondering the same things, myself." Kiriya commented, "This kind of act, against another shinobi school no less, violates their very code of discretion."
"Poor Ikaruga. So what happened?" Hibari asked.
"I'll tell you what." Came the scratched voice of Daidoji. "Ikaruga along with Yomi and Murakumo saved me from that jelly bastard. Afterwards, Yomi and Murakumo went their own ways as Ikaruga helped me back here. Kiriya was out on business with the higher Shinobi Council, looking into these recent events. Shortly after that an intruder triggered the alarm and she went to investigate. I tried to come with her, but she insisted that I stay, and my body was screaming at me. It was Master Kiriya who detected the Shinobi Kekkai and found the aftermath. Funny… the one time I am not stubborn… and it comes back to haunt me." Daidoji let a small tear form in her eye.
"Again, if you had been your usual self, you might have been captured along with Ikaruga or even worse, not even here with us now. Do not be so hard on yourself, Daidoji." Kiriya replied.
"But Sensei! It's not your fault, it's mine!" Daidoji began sobbing, "You believe me, don't you, Asuka!?" She began shaking Asuka by the shoulders before swallowing the rest of the whiskey and letting out a burp. "I'm not drunk! I promise!"
Kiriya sighed and Katsuragi, Yagyu, and Hibari reacted with rolling eyes, sweatdrops, and face palms. "At ease, Daidoji. Here, have a cucumber futomaki." Asuka offered, Daidoji snatching it up fast as she munched into it.
"Sneaking into their school should be a non-issue if you disguise yourself as one of their business clients, too." Kiriya added. "We can go over them in more details before you leave."
"It's still pretty mysterious as to why this Gokudo school would do such a thing, but even more so…" Katsuragi then turned to Kiriya, "How do you know about them, Sensei?"
"Everyone in the Shinobi Council and faculty is aware of them. Simple as that." Kiriya replied.
"Kiriya Sensei… are you sure about that?" Asuka raised an eyebrow, but Kiriya was quick to shut down the discussion, which Hibari took note of.
"But there's still something missing." Yagyu stated, her eyes turning straight at Hibari. "That amount of groceries should not have even taken half the time you took. Where did you go this entire time?!"
"Ehehehehe, weeeelll… about thaaaaat." Hibari nervously scratched the back of her head.
"Lemme guess, did some nasty perverts try to get their way with our poor, innocent Hibari?" Katsuragi grinned goofily as her fingers squeezed the air in a groping manner, slightly moving closer to her.
"You wanna lose an eye, Katsu?" Yagyu glared.
"Eeeeegh. Learn to take a joke, Yagyu." Katsu rolled her eyes.
"It's no joke if you're corrupting Hibari."
"Look, we all love Hibari, but how about you just let her grow on her own? Always Hibari this, Hibari that. She can do things on her own, you know." Katsu's frown then turned into a cat like smile. "Maybe you need to loosen up a bit!"
Yagyu blushed angrily as a giggling Katsu jiggled her jugs, "I swear, Katsuragi! I am going to kill your ass!"
"Katsu-ne. Leave Yagyu alone." Asuka said. "And besides, let's allow Hibari to finish what she's saying!" At this, the rest of the class turned their eyes on Hibari, except for Daidoji who was talking to the remainder of her futomaki roll, which she had dissected and turned into the shape of a kappa.
Hibari's muscles tensed, an uncomfortable pressure seemed to cloak over her head as it slowly draped down the rest of her body until her little legs began to shake. "U-u-um… Well… Iiii met somebody… and… she was in trouble… so I… helped her. Aaaand I figured she could come here sinccceeee she had nowhere else safe to goooo. Hehe. Hee."
"Are you telling me you let a stranger into Hanzo Academy's ninja sector?! Hibari, what have they done to you!?" Yagyu said before tackling Hibari to the ground, running her hands all over her. "How is your stomach?! Are you bleeding?! Any new suspicious accessories you pick up?! Are your eyes still pink?! Are your panties still striped!?"
With the last one, Yagyu stuck her face down towards Hibari's ass, only to get booted off by an angry Hibari. "Chill out, mommy Yaggy." Katsuragi rolled her eyes, then pointing at Hibari "And you. Were you born yesterday?! Keeping your shinobi identity a secret is something you learn even before enrolling! Do you know what kind of repercussions you could cause if you just go letting any normal person know!?"
Hibari yelped but then Yagyu stepped in "Hey. Don't yell at her, I'm sure she has a valid explanation for…"
"That's enough, Yagyu!" Kiriya's voice echoed.
"Yeah, Yagyu. Dat's enough!" a still intoxicated Daidoji waved her Kappa shaped futomaki at the group while flexing her voice in a strange manner.
"Go back to sleep, Daidoji." Kiriya sweatdropped before returning to the topic. "Your interjection on Hibari's behalf needs to cease, Yagyu! You cannot keep fighting her battles for her, whether they be physical or mental! Katsuragi is in her every right to be upset! Violating rules of this kind usually mean consequences of death according to the shinobi laws." Hibari gulped, Yagyu placing an arm in front of her. "But, Yagyu also has a point. I am sure she has a good reason. So please tell us, Hibari."
"Uh… hehe. Well, if it helps, she doesn't really know that I'm a shinobi. The poor girl didn't even know what area of Japan she was in." Hibari's lips trembled as she tried to improve the situation.
"And you believed her? Hibari, for your own safety, do not talk to strangers when I'm-… or… none of us are around. Any one of these clueless foreigners could be a spy." Yagyu cleared her throat.
"She's not a spy! She's too kind a person to be one! Besides, she might know something about the mysterious monsters that have been helping the yoma!" Hibari rebutted. Just then a scream could be heard down the hall. "Compa!" Hibari gasped, dashing down the halls. The others followed, with Daidoji staggering behind.
Hibari ran into the storage room where she had left Compa only to find that the girl was now strapped to a chair with bound ropes squeezing her around. Hibari cried out to Compa. The others soon caught up in time to her Compa cry out "Hibbi! Please help meee!"
"Hibbi?" the nickname seemed to irked Yagyu's very blood for some reason. There's something about this Compa. I don't like her.
Asuka's eyes widened "What the actual hell?! Hey, you! Don't move! If you keep struggling it will squeeze tighter and your clothes will-…" before Asuka could finish, Compa screamed, the tight rope her outfit tearing and leaving her in shreds, exposing her smooth skin as the tips of her hair let down over her bare shoulders. Compa looked up at Hibari, teary-eyed and blushing from embarrassment.
"Asuka…" Kiriya sighed, "What is that chair doing in THIS room?"
"Ehehe. Well… after that original incident with us, Ikaruga got angry and decided to throw both the chair and the volleyball into this room. It seems Hibari's new friend got a hold of both somehow." Asuka confessed.
"Ha! Gotcha intruder! Ooh. Well aren't you a well endowed one. Lemme give you the Hanzo Academy Welcome." Katsuragi laughed lecherously, air-groping towards Compa.
"InDEEEEED. Da Hannzo greeting of Aca-daymia! Allorw mee ta join ya Katsu-ne!" Daidoji laughed in a maniacal manner that was both equal parts silly and scary.
"Katsu-NO!" Hibari protested. "And stop, Daidoji! You're drunk!"
"Squeezy, squeezy!" Katsuragi and Daidoji began squeezing Compa's melons while chuckling.
"How could you do this to me, Hibbi!? I thought we were friiiieeeends!" Compa cried.
"N-no! It's not like this at all! This is all wrong! Oh, I messed uuupp!" Hibari let out an exasperated cry through an adorably scrunched up face.