Chapter 1: Gathering Along the Horizon

That morning was the same as any other. Nothing particularly stood out. Everything was as usual. I thought these days would last forever, but they shatter as they draw to an end. When the time comes, I…

The night sky.

Such a deep blue it turned to a shade of violet. Spangled in stars and marked by two gleaming silver moons, below that expanse the darkened rows of mountains stretching into the distance.

Towering high into the sky, divides shaped like pillars cut through it. Where these pillars stood, as if imposing themselves across the land, both the sky and land itself. Where they began, sky and vegetation dissipated as if hitting a wall. An endless number of these pillars stretched across the earth, as if flaunting their existence to any who could observe. Their numbers were immeasurable, their spacing erratic, their size inconsistent.

This divided sky held three things.

First, was the wind rising from the mountains, rising and giving birth to clouds before fading away. The second, was waves. Forming lines that spread across the sky, leaving behind a white wake. Third was the source of these waves: Ships.

Eight white ships crested through the clouds, leaving behind the waves in their wake, navigating through the pillars and mountains. The Aerial City Ships, grand in their scale, carried towns and parks atop their upper sections. These ships were tied together by massive ropes securing each one in segments. When the ships would move, these ropes stretched and tightened, pulling the remaining ships along to match the others. Lined up two in the center and three on port and starboard, each of them stretched kilometers long from bow to stern.

On each ship their names were emblazoned. First was the name "Musashi", emblazoned in black. Afterwards were the names of the individual ships, unsurprisingly also done in black.

First Starboard: "Shinagawa"

Second Starboard: "Tama"

Third Starboard: "Takao"

Center Leading: "Musashino"

Center Trailing: "Okutama"

First Port: "Asakusa"

Second Port: "Murayama"

Third Port: "Ouma"

As these eight ships making up one whole crested through the sky, on the residential block of Takao, a lone figure strode through the scarcely lit streets. Dressed in rugged traveling clothes, with dark grey and white hair bearing white feather pins scattered across the right side of his head, the teenager swept his gaze across the homes he wandered through, frequently checking a sign frame opened in front of him. Slung over one shoulder was a packed full duffel bag, strapped on top of that being another wrapped object, the shape giving away its nature as a sword. As the boy's eyes stared at the sign frame, his golden eyes flashed under the moonlight. "Come on, it's only been a year… can't have forgotten much about this place."

The teenager sighed as he kept scanning around, coming to a stop once he found a sole house without the lights on. Outside of the house's door was a nameplate reading "Belmont." The teenager brushed his fingers along the plaque, a nostalgic smile showing on his face. "Surprised it wasn't bought out by someone else. Hopefully Shirojiro doesn't suddenly say I owe him anything tomorrow, heh. Well then, coming on in."

The door opened quite easily for something he could only assume had underwent a year of neglect, the digital lock coming undone the moment his hand pressed to the wood. The entrance hall of the home was predictably dark. Setting his things down on the shelf nearby, he caught a small bit of light coming from one of the doors down the hall. Someone's in here? Keeping a cautious step, the teenager grabbed the sword off his luggage, quickly unfurling its wrapping and bringing the weapon to his hip. Once he was close to the door, he pressed his hand to it, slowly opening it, light washing out into the hallway, and…

"Whoa now kid! Barely home for five minutes and already drawing a weapon?"

The teenager's attempt to swing around was caught, his hand being pressed down as he tried to draw his sword. The hall light flashed on, and the teenager heard a jovial chuckle as a pipe poked his cheek in. The one who did so was a grizzled, middle-aged man in a light blue haori. The man removed his grip on the boy's sword, chuckling as the teen relaxed.

"Don't go surprising me like that, Sakai-jii," The boy's lilting tenor went dry as Sakai drew his pipe away. As the light illuminated the boy's face, it cast shadows from his messy bangs across his pale face, accentuating the golden sheen of his eyes even further. "How long have you been here waiting?"

"Well now, first time we see each other in a year and that's how you're gonna greet me?" Sakai chuckled as he reached into the open door and shut the light off, then strolling into the living room.

"Considering your idea of "greeting" is to sneak up on a guy in his own house? Yes."

"My my, that tongue of yours has only gotten sharper since you left Musashi. Guess that fella in Hexagone Francaise was teachin' you more than just swordplay."

The man was Sakai Tadatsugu, the Principal of Musashi Ariadust Academy. For the sake of Historical Recreation, he bore the name of one of the Four Divine Generals of Tokugawa Ieyasu, though whatever time was needed for that role had long passed. Now he went about his days as he pleased in Musashi, and as of more recently, taking on the role of guardian for a one Takeru Belmont. Sakai looked back as they entered the living room, observing what a year abroad had resulted in. The differences were little since last he'd some him, but sizing him up felt about necessary.

His body was tall yet slim in build, though it was likely the baggy traveling clothes were hiding a well-trained figure beneath their folds. Sakai knew a well-trained swordsman when he saw one, and Takeru was giving off that aura even not taking the sword at his side into account. The long stretch of the boy's grey and white hair, which ended in a tapered manner at the small of his back, looked like he'd been using that same sword to cut it for who knows how long. He'd make a hairdresser cry if they saw that mess. The principal thought. And of course, those golden eyes, which only seemed more intense.

If there was a word Sakai would have described Takeru with, it was wolf like. His face was otherwise quite boyish, the man was quite tempted to prod the lad for such pretty features. But the sharp angle of his eyes gave his expression a natural fierceness. Though… I suppose I should only expect that from a half-werewolf, thought the elder man.

"Well, I can tell that year abroad had a lot going for you," Sakai took a seat on the sofa, Takeru nodding as he leaned against a chair. "I remember when you were just a little runt, now look at ya'."

"Ah come on, a year out and about in another country is hardly much… even if I spent most of it out in the woods, because like hell I'd be caught dead in one of their cities considering my abilities."

"Ah yeah, that Technohexen stuff, just like your two Angel friends. Heard a lot of the Europeans ain't fond of that stuff," Sakai chuckled as Takeru then looked to the side. "You told any of 'em you're back yet?"

"I… haven't really had the time. I mean, I'm sure Oriotorai-sensei is gonna tell everyone tomorrow morning anyway. Not like I could surprise them, y'know?"

"Fair enough point," Sakai chuckled, rising from his taken seat. "Alrighty then. I just wanted to make sure you actually arrived. I'll come back in the morning so we can finish your registration… well, re-registration I suppose. Sleep tight kiddo!"

Takeru nodded as Sakai left, waiting until he heard the door closing. Once he could tell the man was gone, he stood and looked around the living room. Sure enough, it was near exactly how he remembered it all. Covered in a year's worth of dust sure, but the way he recalled it. A long couch, a couple of chairs, and a few decorative shelves of books and empty vases. Even the walls still had picture frames from ages ago hanging on them, covered in enough dust to obscure the old photos within.

Exiting the living room and collecting his things from the front, as he began to go up the stairs to the bedrooms, Takeru froze when a sound echoed in his ears. Drifts of silver light entered his vision from behind him, and when he snapped around, those drifts vanished. Not a thing was behind him, except for the quiet, almost inaudible echoing of something like a wolf's howl. And then, appearing before him was a sign frame formed of a series of crucifixes. What it said was a simple phrase: Do you Accept the Legacy of the Divine?

His eyes narrowing, Takeru shut the window with a wave of his hand and hurried up the stairs. That was a question he wasn't keen on answering.

Not yet.

Musashi Ariadust Academy was many things. Educational facility, governmental body, training grounds, and a general location of mischief and mayhem among the student body. Takeru's memories of the school ended around the time he had begun middle school, just before his departure from the school for the first time as his parents, for reasons he was still unaware of or perhaps simply could no longer remember, began traveling the Divine States. Unfortunately, it wasn't like Takeru could compare the academy to any of the others across the Divine States, he'd never been to them in any form he could remember. He did at least know their purpose though.

All Academies were as much governmental bodies and military headquarters as they were actual schools. Anyone who was counted as a "student" was as such either a soldier or a politician of some form. And heading them all were the Student Councils. Most academies had no restrictions on just who could be a student, so even adults were counted among their numbers. However, Musashi Ariadust Academy was the lone exception.

Due to events Takeru considered far too complex, Musashi was the only school which retained the concept of "graduation" to limit its overall power. Students graduated once they reached eighteen, meaning the overall body controlling it would forever remain behind the rest of the schools in some form. All as a form of punishment for even causing the world's current situation to begin with as it happened to be. But that was a history Takeru rarely himself bothered with.

"So, how's the uniform feel after so long?" Sakai's question drew Takeru's attention as they walked the halls.

Instead of his rugged and somewhat worn traveling clothes, Takeru now stood in the primarily black garb of a Musashi uniform. Though to it wasn't quite the standard uniform most other male students wore. The jacket he found was the primary difference, more akin to a samurai's tunic than the militaristic jacket that was standard, leaving Takeru with loose, flowing sleeves. Otherwise, the uniform was the standard fare. Black hakama pants, a white tunic underneath, fingerless gauntlets and boots decorated by red ribbons, and a red sash that now carried his katana in it.

"Certainly different, but I can get used to it," Takeru said. "Was the different coat your idea or something?"

"Well you always talked yourself up as wanting to be a proper samurai when you were a kid, so I figured why not? Consider it a welcome back gift," Sakai chuckled as Takeru shook his head. "Anyway, the classroom isn't far. It's Class 3-Plum, and the group you know well enough hasn't really changed much."

"Well, that's good to know," Takeru chuckled they came to the classroom door with the associated label. Tadatsugu slid the door open… only to find the room completely unoccupied, despite it being about time for classes to get started.

"Ah, seems not. Let's see… a right! It's that time of year, so instead of here, they'd be outside about now."

"Outside?" Takeru was quiet for a moment, and then as if a switch clicked on, he let out a sudden yell. "Shit! That! It's gonna start without me!"

Takeru rushed to one of the windows at the end of the class and threw it wide open, leaning out and scanning until he got a view of the front of the school. His eyes passed the expansive staircase leading from the front yard of the school and to the park district beyond, the well-known "Remorse Way" even he could remember after so long that was the central road leading to the school. And while it was faint, Takeru was able to spot a sizable crowd standing at the center bridge, a lone figure standing before them. If he had to make any guess, his classmates and teacher.

And no sooner did Takeru move to head out and meet up with them, he caught the teacher leap down the steps at a record pace and then bolt off down Remorse Way. To then be followed be the whole class as they vanished into the trees.

"Dammit, I'm gonna fall behind if I take the long way!" Takeru clambered onto the windowsill, looking back as Sakai let out a laugh. "Ah quit it! Anyway, see ya later, Sakai-jii!"

With a slight wave, Takeru leaped from the window, dropping to the ground and bolting off at full speed, audibly cursing at himself the whole way. Sakai leaned out from the window as he watched the boy run off, taking a drag from his pipe as he lit it.

"Those kids are gonna end up in something special, I can tell that much," the old man let out a curious hum. "With the world heading towards an apocalypse, I wonder…"

If there was a thing that Takeru was currently thankful for, it would be his nature as a Demi-Loup Garou. While he couldn't boast to the same abilities as a true Loup Garou, it still stood as a truth that bloodline gave him advantages. Strength, reflexes, heightened senses, all beyond that of a normal human, and enough to compete with if not match certain other non-human races in the world. His body may have been limber, but even that limber body of his was able to rocket across the ground at enough speed that he could just see the crowd of students ahead of him.

And considering the pace they were all moving at, if he wanted to catch up at all, then moving as fast as he could was absolutely a necessity. And as he neared the crowd as they reached the transition point from Okutama to Tama, a snicker escaped him as he dashed across the connection line hot on the tail of his classmates. I suppose the reinforcements will be appreciated.

Drawing his katana and launching himself upwards, Takeru arced above the approaching streets of Tama, landing heavily onto the nearest rooftop of the residential area and taking off from there. Now he could actually see the fighting ahead of him, not just hear it. His face was split by a smirk as he raced over the rooftops, feeling that beat of anticipation as the fighting ahead of him got clearer and clearer. It certainly helped the environment favored a nimble fighter like him who had grown used to fighting on uneven terrain through years of practice at is.

And as he finally caught sight of the group lagging behind the main force as they moved over the length stretches of low rooftop of the residential area, increasing his speed as he caught sight of the teacher at the lead of the pack off to his right. A woman, swinging a sheathed longsword around to deflect incoming shots and attacks from the melee fighters in pursuit of her. Takeru's eyes focusing as he set his mark, and as he launched into the air again, he near laughed as a declaration boomed from his lungs.

"Incoming! Takeru Belmont, Strike Forcer, joining the fight!"

The air rang as Takeru's sword collided with the teacher's sheathed blade, the woman's eyes going wide for a moment before a grin split her face as she forced Takeru's sword back, launching herself back across the rooftops and resuming her sprint.

"Well well, looks like our returnee arrived right on time! Talk about a reintroduction kid! Well then, feel free to join the rest! All you need to do is land a clean hit! The reward is five excused absences!"

"Judgement!"

Takeru fell back as Oriotorari rushed ahead. And no sooner was there some distance that Takeru heard several people call out to him as they rushed to close the gap. Leading them was a student in ninja-like garb, his name tag reading "Tenzo Crossunite."

"Well well, if that isn't a face I haven't seen in ages!" Takeru laughed as he fell into pace alongside Tenzo, the ninja nodding to him.

"Indeed! Even a mere year is too long, Takeru-dono! While I and the others would love to catch up…"

"Catching Sensei is more concerning, right?" Takeru chuckled as Tenzo nodded again. "Sounds fun! We can catch up with each other once we're done here. So, what's the situation so far? Considering I missed the start of it."

"So far, Adele-dono and Hassan-dono have gone down. Margot-dono and Malga-dono are maintaining fire on Oriotorai-sensei while we give chase," Tenzo tilted his head as Takeru looked to the side at the mention of those two particular names. "Do they not know you've returned yet?"

"I sort of just got back last night so…" Takeru paused to jumped to another building. "I kind of hadn't had time to tell anyone I'm back yet! I figured Sensei would've told everyone. Margot and Malga can rag on me all they want later once we're done with this!" Takeru winced when he saw an explosion from up ahead as they transitioned into the industrial district at Tama's bow. The more uneven, higher rooftops would make the ranged fighters' attacks harder to easily land. "So, what's the plan?"

"Me, Ulqui-dono, and Nori-dono are leading the next attack on Sensei now that we're this far. Will you lend us your abilities in the plan?"

"No need to ask! I'll take the rear!"

Tenzo nodded as she sprinted forward, Takeru leaping to a higher building with an easy jump. He understood the plan almost immediately as Tenzo rushed Oriotorai. Tenzo's going to rush her, and while he comes at her from below, Ulquiaga will descend from above. And if those attacks fail… it'll be up to Noriki to do the final rush. Takeru smiled to himself. He felt glad that even after a year, he could still read his old friends well enough to catch onto their plan so quickly.

And true to it, that was what followed. Tenzo came at Oriotorai from low down, his hand at his short sword to draw it. But as he did so, another shape descended. The half-dragon Ulquiaga, clad in white and blue armor, shooting down with his gauntlet plates set forward. In a moment so fast Takeru wondered how many people could actually catch it, Oriotorai's sword came down and hard. A click of the sheathe sent it forward as if the blade were a rail, slamming into Ulquiaga square on the head and knocking him into the roof.

And in a move perhaps even more daring, Oriotorai grabbed the strap of the sheathe with her teeth, a twist of her neck yanking it back into place just in time to meet Tenzo's blade head on. In the moment of pause, another boy rushed up from behind Tenzo, his arms raised into a boxing position. Noriki, a boxer by nature and his choice of plated gloves and vest proved it. His fist, marked in a torii gate symbol, flew forward, only to slam into Oriotorai's sword as she released it. And now Takeru best understood how to ply himself as the sword and its wielder went up high.

"My turn!" The air burst behind Takeru's as he shot off the roof, a flick of his fingers across the flat of his sword bringing images of twirling squares around it, marked in the word Sabreas he shot at Oriotorai. "Aller!" The sword flashed as he aimed for Oriotorai, who to Takeru's surprised twisted in the air, grabbing his arm as the slash followed through, the flash turning into a wide arc of red light in the air. "Shit…"

"Watch your language, Belmont! But I'll give you props for trying!" Oriotorai laughed as she used Takeru to shift herself in the air, the boy yelling as a kick sailed down for him, sending him careening into the nearest roof and hard while at the same time causing Oriotorai to spring back through the air once more.

"Owwww…" Takeru grumbled at the dull throbbing now at his back, bits of debris falling from his hair and shoulders as he yanked himself out of the crater. "Dammit! I thought I'd actually manage it after a freaking year!"

"It was a good attempt," Tenzo landed nearby, offering a hand that Takeru took for the help getting out of the crater. "We call Oriotorai-sensei 'True Amazon' for a reason after all."

"Talk about one hell of a reminder," Takeru rolled a shoulder as he and Tenzo took off. "So, after that, who's up next?"

"Asama-dono is taking the next shot. And if that fails, Malga-dono and Margot-dono will attempt to catch her when we pass over to Shinagawa."

"As good a space as any for magi-gunners to fire at," Takeru mused, Tenzo nodding as his gaze turned to an opened sign frame before him. "Mind keeping me updated? I still need to renew my contract with Musashi since I had to go off the radar."

"Of course," Tenzo shifted his hand to place the sign frame between the two of them. What Takeru saw was a first person view with the name "Asama" in the upper corner to note perspective, Oriotorai in the individuals view past their lifted, drawn at the ready bow. Takeru watched as the arrow gleamed with an enchantment and was fired, Oriotorai turning and swinging her blade, only to seemingly miss as the arrow redirected and get hit… but rather than actually fall, she merely flipped back and resumed her spint.

"Nice try, Tomo!" Takeru shouted, he and Tenzo rejoining the main body of students. From above, Takeru could see a large, broad man across the rooftops. His muscled chest lacked a shirt, and his face was hidden by a full western style helmet. Two girls were using his shoulders as perches. One a small girl who's bangs hid most of her face, and the other a girl with billowing hair and mismatched red and green eyes, who sighed as she lowered her bow. Respectively, they were Persona, Suzu Mukai, and Tomo Asama. "You noticed it too, huh?"

"Notice what?" Tenzo asked.

"She used her hair as chaff!" A voice from below shouted, Takeru peering over to spot a glasses wearing boy looking up at them. The name attached to his armband read 'Toussaint Neshinbara.' "It was when she had her sword up to her neck. She cut her own hair in that moment and let some of it loose when the arrow came for her. So when the arrow hit the chaff of her hair instead of Oriotorai herself… well, it decided it had hit its target. But hey, we couldn't even make her do that last year!"

"And all my training got me was getting thrown onto a damn roof," Takeru grumbled, Neshinbara chuckling.

"Eh to be fair you got pretty close yourself. Asama-kun, what's your capacity for internal-fuel blessings?"

"It reached thirty-six at the start of the school year. I can do that about nine more times," Tomo sighed, then casting her gaze to Takeru as she hopped down to resume running herself. "And Belmont-kun, when did you get back? We didn't hear a word about this from Sensei!"

"Apparently she couldn't be bothered," Takeru muttered, shaking his head as their path began to converge from wider streets to the wall of the ship, forcing the rooftop runners to descend to the streets. "I got back last night, before we hit the Sagarmatha Corridor! When we're done here, mind helping me with my contract? Had to cut the old one off so I could lay low while in Hexagone Francaise."

"That's why you didn't send a single message that entire year?!" Tomo's shocked reply was met with similar shouts of objected from about every other student around, Takeru's vein popping as his face flushed a bit.

"I GET IT!" Takeru snapped.

"Geez, you always were doing odd things…" Tomo's sigh was a tad exasperated, but soon turned to a friendly smile as she nodded. "Alright, but let's focus on this first!"

"Judge!"

The chase had finally left Tama and reached the airborne corridor of thick mooring ropes between it and Shinagawa. The ropes consisted of a mix of oil and water pips, all of which made to be pliable and durable to the stress of air travel. Each one was around a meter thick. A gravity floor cast along their stretches made an invisible path that stretched above it while leaving plenty of room to move across without worry of falling.

Takeru was glad to find his year off of the ship hadn't reduced his natural balance when moving across such a pathway, because the brief glimpse he dared take to the ground far, far below was a not so pleasant reminder of how far a fall would end up being.

Yet not a single student hesitated as they ran out onto it, their motions shaking the white string that marked the edges of the gravity corridor.

Once we get to Shinagawa, it's going to get a lot more complicated to fight Sensei. But, Shirojiro should be setting things up so we can go all out during the final spurt. Takeru thought, his eyes catching glimpses of black and blonde in it. But… if there's a zone I excel in when it comes to fighting, tight quarters encouraging close range would be it. Katanas are normally hard to use in tight spaces since you need to use two hands… but I didn't learn a thing or two about European swordsmanship for nothing!

Smiling to himself as he set a plan for later, Takeru focused on those flashes he had seen. The first thing that came into focus for him were wings. Six black, six blonde. The two girls who bore those wings had hair to match the colors. Malga Naruze and Margot Naito, the two who Takeru was sure would happily be ready to blast him with a spell for his year off the radar without so much as a message being sent. They were two of his oldest friends among their entire group, and like him were Technohexen.

So frankly he wasn't at all surprised to see the girls take a moment to shoot him glares as their wings carried them up into the air. Glares he turned away from before looking ahead once more. Later… they can grill me for it later!

So it was back to observation as Takeru spotted Malga and Margot's spell frames, or Magi Figurs when it came to Technohexen like them. Takeru knew the process by memory, since his own abilities were based in the same system as theirs, though his sword operated as a medium rather than a Magi Figur. Malga draws, Margot shoots… that's why they're Zwei Frauen. Though it was when the blast the two fired was dodged by Oriotorai that Takeru let out a yelp. Nobody was hit, thankfully, but it certainly shook the rope as the rest of the crowd kept running along it.

"Are you trying to kill us?!" Neshinbara shouted as they all broke through the smoke cloud, Oriotorai already bolting up the stairway at the other end.

"Watch the cone of fire!" Takeru added in, his head moving to the side to avoid an unblessed bolt that Malga fired at him. "Oi!"

"We'll lecture you later!" Malga shouted, Margot nodding.

"You deserve way more for not even messaging us for a year, Takkun!" shouted the blonde, Takeru letting out a stilted noise.

"Whatever! Let's just actually beat Sensei this year!"

Takeru ignored the protesting yells of the girls as he bolted to the head of the crowd alongside the other melee fighters. He was a bit more worried about being shot in the back now, a bit.

Shinagawa was an area within Musashi that was under what one would call loose management. Having been primarily a shipping and cargo storage zone, it's conversion into a temporary residential area and market meant the oversight of activity within it was rather light. From Takeru's memory, it made the zone a prime place for less… savory sorts to occupy, particularly yakuza groups.

But he wasn't much concerned about the management of the ship as he and the other students continued their chase. The pursuit had turned into having to navigate the winding roads of the residential market and shipping zones, meaning those less apt at navigating difficult terrain – or who couldn't just bypass it entirely – were lagging behind as others kept ahead in pursuit of Oriotorai.

And now it was Takeru's turn once more as Oriotorai broke away from another ranged attack courtesy of Margot and Malga.

Rushing in, Takeru swung his sword from a spinning, upwards sweep, Oriotorai matching the slash by bringing her sword down on top of his, the metal ringing from the collision.

"Aller!"

At Takeru's command, the katana flashed red, and as Oriotorai pulled away, the range of the slash extended. Takeru cursed as the extended slash missed by a hair, Oriotorai leaping away with a smirk. But Takeru shoved his foot to the ground hard, cratering part of the wood as he shot after the teacher, his still glowing blade raining down in a series of well-aimed slashes, each one being dodged or parried by his target. Even as Oriotorai ducked into a tighter passage made by a set of shipping containers, Takeru didn't let up, shifting his left hand to the blade itself to make it easier to move in the tight space.

When the two burst out from the passage, swords rattling together as Takeru tried to force contact, Oriotorai gave the boy a grin.

"You've learned a lot more in Hexagone Francaise, huh? You used to barely be able to swing that thing in tight spots during your first year!"

"I had a good teacher is all! Drove in the importance of blade control pretty literally!" Takeru drew his left hand back down to his katana's hilt, the glow around the blade increasing until it turned into crimson ribbons. "Aller!"

As Takeru drew his sword back to be parallel to his shoulder, the ribbons of energy gathering around his blade fired out in a torrent of bolts. Oriotorai flipped into the air, avoiding the torrent, kicking off a stack of shipping crates and back through the air.

"Ah come on!" Takeru bit, getting back into his running pace.

"It was a good attempt, Takeru-dono!" Tenzo bolted past with that remark, Takeru shaking his head.

"But not good enough!"

By the time the chase had reached the bow of Shinagawa, Oriotorai stood before her group of over a dozen students, nary out of breath herself. Whereas the students were one and all in various states of collapsed on the ground. Some were face down or on their backs, others seated and panting for breath.

"Hey now! You can sleep later!" Oriotorai's breathing wasn't so much as ragged as she spoke. She then turned to Suzu, who was the only one without so much as a scrape. "Suzu's the only one still alive?"

"What?" Squeaked the small girl. "W-Well, I-I wa-was car-car-carried so, ah… yes," stuttered out the girl.

"It was based on teamwork, so it's fine. One survivor, and it looks like you even rescued the ones who retired on the way here. Far better than your second year. And a good return showing for Belmont too."

Takeru tiredly raised one of his firsts in the air to show his acknowledgement, currently using his sword as a crutch while his forehead was planted against its pommel. He then promptly pitched to the side, a puff of dust coming from under him as he collapsed.

At that same moment, the door of the building constructed of black shipping crates behind Oriotorai flew open.

"Quiet down dammit!" The objector was a humanoid at least three meters tall, his body end to end covered in red scales and bearing four arms, while a pair of large, pointed horns curved out from his temples. A member of the demon race.

"My my, how the demons have fallen," Oriotorai chuckled as she glanced over her shoulder. "Well, we're in the air right now, sooo…"

"Who do you think you are?" growled the demon. Suzu flinched, while everyone on the ground rose up.

"Alright kids, it's time for the practical lesson," Despite the situation and the looks from her students, Oriotorai didn't even bother to turn fully towards the demon or draw her sword. "First, a lesson about demon-folk. Since they have organs that contain approximations of ether reactors, their internal buildup speed of their internal-fueled blessing is nothing to scoff at. Plus, they've got heavily armored skin and are as strong as a light God of War."

"Well aren't you an expert!" The crimson demon scoffed as he approached. "Who the hell are you guys?! Having a picnic outside of our building?!"

"Well, see, the night watch asked me to do this. 'Please deal with them', they said. But, personally, I'm here about the land buyout in Takao the other day. Remember that?"

"Huh?" Takeru lifted a brow, leaning over when Tomo tapped his arm.

"Sensei got kicked out of her house the other day. So, she's here for revenge."

"Oh."

"Huh? You think I remember every little thing?" The demon barked.

"Ah you poor thing! About to get beaten up without knowing why!" The concern Oriotorai's students suddenly felt went totally unnoticed as their teacher turned towards the demon with a smirk on her face.

"You…!"

The demon's large frame clearly held a suitable amount of power behind it. Nobody would doubt the idea such a large man would punch hard enough to send just about anyone sailing across the deck with more than a few broken bones. But Oriotorai smoothly dodged past the two punches the demon threw with his right arms, her right hand going to her sword and pulling it from her back without removing it from the sheathe.

"Now listen up, because it's time for a demonstration!" The woman didn't miss a beat as she dodged the demon's continued punches. "Every animal has a brain in their skull. Hit 'em in the head hard enough, and that's how you give someone a concussion! For a human that'd be the tip of the jaw. But for a demon, the best way to do that is…" taking her sword into both hands, Oriotorai swung the sheathed weapon around, the hard metal scabbard slamming into the demon's left horn hard enough to resound across the bow. "Like this! Then you whack 'em fast and hard from the opposite direction!"

As the demon fell to his knees, Oriotorai wheeled herself around. Her sword rose up from her left, resounding a second time as it slammed into the demon's right horn. The demon pitched back with a gurgle, flopping onto the ground like a heavy sack.

"And that's how you defeat a demon!" Oriotorai returned her sword to her back, turning to face her rather dumbfounded looking class. "And now that your first practical lesson is complete…"

While she was speaking, the door to the office behind them slammed shut. Oriotorai couldn't help but chuckle as she glanced back.

"Ah, they've gotten scared of me," As the students began to gather themselves, ready to take their worn out selves and head back to the academy, instead, their teacher looked to be having other ideas. "Hmm, then how should we get in? The entrance is definitely being defended now. And even though I'd be in the lead, smashing in through the roof could be difficult…"

"Uh, Sensei?" Takeru spoke up, raising a hand. "What exactly are you planning on having us do?"

"Hm? Raid the place, obvious! This is a practical lesson after all! Since I demonstrated, now it's your turn!"

"Like we can pull of something like that!" protested all of the students at once. Except for Takeru.

"Eh, I probably could," muttered the swordsman, getting shocked looks from his classmates.

"See, that's the attitude you should have!" Oriotorai's words made everyone else's faces go pale. "If you can't do it, then you'll learn how to today!"

"Hey hey, what's everyone up too~?"

Everyone turned to the boy's voice. A single new arrival was standing to the side of the class. His brown hair hung loose and short, his brown eyes matching the smile on his face. He clutched two papers bags to the left of his long, crumbled uniform decorated in thin chains. Taking the smaller bag to his mouth, he tore at a piece of bread sticking from it as he passed through the crowd, the decorative chains clanking with each step.

"Toori 'Impossible' Aoi…?!" one person in the crowd spoke the boy's name, and he gave a quick glance after shoving the rest of his bread into his mouth.

"Hm? Yeah, that's me! So, what's up guys? I, Aoi Toori, am right here!" Toori strode past the class, ignoring the fallen demon as he did so. "But man, fancy running into everyone here! Were you in line too?"

"Why don't you share why you skipped class to stand in line?" Oriotorai's voice was giving off the slightest waver to give off her annoyance.

"Eh?! Are you seriously interested in my loot? Check it out!" As Toori opened the packaging of his other item, Takeru, leaning out frm the crowd of students, couldn't help but feel he knew where this was going. And when Toori produced a box which had artwork marked by an R-18 symbol, that feeling went through the rest of the class as well. "Can you see it, Sensei? They just released this new, R-Rated eroge called 'Nuruhachi'! It's supposed to be a real tearjerker. The line for the special edition opened this morning. I'm gonna install it on my PC when I get home and bawl like a baby while being a perv!"

"I see Toori hasn't changed his tune one bit since I left…" Takeru's left eye was twitching as he spoke, his voice too barely containing a level of exasperation. Several of the others nodded along with him as Takeru then raised four fingers. "And Sensei snaps in four, three, two…"

"Now tell me…" And as Takeru lowered his pinky, Oriotorai grabbed Toori by the shoulder, her face stuck in a snarl pretending to be a smile. Toori hardly even flinched. "Do you have any idea what I'm thinking?"

Everyone else took a few steps back, being sure to be clear of the impending mayhem.

"What brought this on, Sensei?" Toori seemed to be the only one unaware of the coming doom that was his situation. "I always know what's on your mind."

"Hahaha…" Oriotorai's laugh had nothing resembling mirth in it. "If you knew what I was thinking, you'd have to commit suicide ASAP!"

"Huh?! Say what?!" Toori gasped, shooting around as he stowed the game package into his uniform. "Weren't you gonna let me group your boobs?"

"Damn brat, where do you think you're looking?!"

"I hope he still has that Funny Man's Protection blessing…" Takeru sighed, already seeing where this would lead.

"Yep, right now, it's this!" Without a second's hesitation, Toori reached forward and grabbed the teacher by her chest. Almost everyone in the student group had shocked expressions, sans the exasperated Takeru and a couple of the more stone-faced students.

"Ah… does that mean he landed an attack?" One girl said aloud.

"Hmm… and here I thought they'd be firmer," Toori, heedless to the danger – or simply knowing what would happen regardless – continued to knead at Oriotorai's chest for a few moments before stepping away as if he hadn't done something so braze. "Hey, guys, listen to this! I've talked about doing this before, but I'm gonna ask her out tomorrow. Ah, well, I guess Take wouldn't know about it since he's been gone! Hehe, since when did you get back anyway?"

"Oh now you bring it up!" Takeru snapped, Toori laughing in reply. Looking around, Takeru took note of how everyone else had clearly realized what Toori was getting at. "But also, yes. I am out of the loop. Please explain."

"Then allow me to do so!" A girl strode forward, her billowing brown hair tied up with a set of ribbons as her arms pushed up her plentiful bosom. "Considering you have been absent for a year Takeru, allow me, Bel Flore Aoi, to inform you of my foolish brother's situation!"

"Kimi's been at it with the stage names again, hasn't she?" Takeru got a series of nods in reply. Right in time for Kimi to take a rushed step over to him.

"Now do listen up rather than going off with those snarks of yours, yes?" Takeru only raised his hands in relent as Kimi's ever-smiling face seemed like more of a threat. Seeming pleased, she stepped away with a laugh. "First off, my foolish brother, one shouldn't declare such things while holding an eroge! If this girl is on the other side of the computer screen, stick your dick in the power socket and die! That'd be great!"

"I thought I was getting an explanation!" Takeru snapped, Kimi laughing once more.

"Whoa, sis!" Toori dragged the point away from the explanation by drawing said eroge from his coat. "Tomorrow's the day, so this marks my graduation from eroges!"

"Someone please explain what this is about!" Takeru snapped.

"I mean c'mon, it's not like it's complicated," Toori chuckled. "I'm confessing to Horizon."

"Huh?" Takeru's eyes fluttered for a moment as Toori said that name. It was a person's name, yet… "Wait, hold on… but she…"

"See what you've done, foolish brother?" Kimi's shoulders sagged. "You've gone and let our poor grey wolf get confused. Horizon died ten years ago; in that 'Remorse Way' you hate so much. Our father even made the tombstone," and despite her earlier mocking, the tone that came to Kimi's voice was that of a kindly elder sister instead. Though Takeru bore an expression saying 'Stop talking like I'm some pet' about it.

"I know. But I don't want to keep running away from her anymore," Toori turned to his classmates with an assured smile. "I'm sure I'll end up causing trouble for you guys after I pop the question, since I'm pretty useless and all. And what I plan to do after that might as well be declaring war against the whole world. Tomorrow marks ten years since Horizon passed away. That's why I'm asking her out tomorrow. No more running away!"

"I'm still somehow feeling completely lost," Takeru mumbled.

"Then, foolish brother, you have a lot to do today," Kimi chuckled. "Does this make today the last day of your ordinary life?"

"Don't worry sis, I may be inept, but I'll always aim high!" And the rest of the class was suddenly remined of their earlier worries when Oriotorai slid up behind Toori, silently tapping his shoulder. Toori turned around once more seemingly unaware of impending doom. Takeru started counting down again. "Sensei, did you hear my embarrassing little confession?"

"A person goes deaf when she's blinded by rage," said the teacher.

"Jeez, Sensei! I'll say it one more time! I'm gonna ask her out tomorrow, and I welcome whatever comes next!"

"Alright, you just raised the death flag!"

The next second, a hole had been created through the door and rear wall of the yakuza office. A vaguely Toori shaped hole as he'd been launched right through it by a spinning kick courtesy of Oriotorai. On the other side, Toori was left stuck into a rut of the opposite wall, Oriotorai pumping a fist like she'd just scored a goal. And yet, Toori look otherwise unharmed aside from being dazed.

"Ah, so he does still have it," Trotting around the building, Takeru reached for one of Toori's arms, grabbing it and yanking the boy free with a quick wrench of his forearm. Toori fell to the ground in a heap. "You're one hell of an idiot, y'know that Toori?"

"At least spare me some mercy, Take!" Toori faux whined, turning his head while not getting up. "I spend all this time psyching up for this, and then I get kicked! Oh it's cruel!"

"Hehe… well, you owe me an explanation once we're done here," Takeru reached out a hand, Toori taking the offer. "But, now that I'm back, come what may, how about I see it through to the end too? How about it, mon roi?"

"Ahh, there's the samurai I remember!" Toori chuckled, Takeru snickering as he pulled the other boy up, the two shifting into tapping their firsts atop each other and ending with a fist bump. "Glad to have you back, Takeru."

"Good to be back, Toori."

A/N

Something possessed me to make this and I just decided to throw it out, see what the heck happens. Not a lot of Horizon fics out there so hey, can't blame a man for trying something at the very least, eh? Crazy enough to cook up this whole concept that at LEAST feels like it could fit into the lore of this whack series without a lot of issue... so hey maybe I'll see how this goes.