Chapter 4: Rin Kamishiro, the Swordswoman
"If anyone makes jokes about magic being in the air," Asuka starts. "I'll go all out." This made Ash and Al sweat drop. "So, according to the sign, this is the Aoi Academy. I guess what I'm trying to get to..."
"I believe it's we having this question," Al cut in.
"Where in the world are we?" Ash asked, finishing the string. They tour the perimeter of the school, up to a walkway, when a scream caught Pikachu's ears, and it sounded like they were closing in.
("Someone's coming,") the Pokemon warned. The three hid in a bush, adjacent to the walkway. Then, a skinny male brunette teen, appeared, running scared, but stopped when he needed a place to hide.
"Oh, boy. Where can I take cover?" he ponders in fear. Ash stepped out and grabbed the startled boy in a hostage-like style.
"Over here," the trainer commands. They both head back to the bush, where he opens Al's breastplate and stuff the teen inside, along with Pikachu. "A little comfort in there." He closes the breastplate.
"Why did you put him in there?" Asuka wondered. That's when a parade of teen girls run past the spot, calling for someone named "Kazuki." After five seconds, the back of the lady pack passes, emptying the area. "What was that all about?"
"Good question." That's when, yet, antoher girl, with pink hair, strut outside.
"Kazuki? Kazuki, where are you?" she calls out. That's when the boy opened Al's breastplate, and ran to the girl.
"Yuna!" he calls out. the 'A'-team watches in awe.
"So he's that Kazuki," Asuka grins.
"And he has Pikachu with him," Al sighed. Asuka's grin grew, much to Ash, worried about Pikachu's safety.
"Kazuki, you didn't use your magic to get away, did you?" Yuna worryingly asked.
"No, someone helped me get out of there," Kazuki grinned. That's when Pikachu jumped on his shoulder to get a better look. "Hey, what are you doing, you little rascal?"
"Kazuki, what is that and who gave it to you?" Pikachu jumps onto Yuna's arms and gives it a puppy kiss, making the pink-haired giggle. "It's cute." Then, Ash exits the bush, and approaches the couple.
"Excuse me, but that Pikachu is mine," he said. "He has a charm for women."
"Well, that clears any suspicion. I thought another woman gave it to you. By the way, who are you and why are you here? Did you come to give Miss Iba some video game tips?"
"No, my name is Ash. Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend?"
"Actually, my name is Yuna Miyama...I mean Shikimori, and I'm Kazuki's wife."
"Wife?" echoed Al and Asuka.
"How long have you been married?" Ash wondered. That's when three more women: one, a tall blonde who's well-developed with black stockings; another a brunette; and the last a violet-haired wearing a samurai's outfit, appeared and ran to the three.
"Kazuki!" they shouted in unison.
"Kuriko," Kazuki called, refering to the blonde. "Rin," mentioning the violet-haired. "Yamase," talking to the brunette.
"What kept you, ladies?" Yuna asked.
"We got caught up in cross traffic," Kuriko said in a serious manner. Then, she sees Ash. "Is this Kazuki's new friend? He's really cute." That's when she pulled Ash in between her breasts, and hugged him. Ash was struggling to breathe, and was flailing his arms for help. Kazuki, Yuna and Yamase were pulling Ash out, and succeeded. The trainer tried to catch his breath, as Yuna picked up his cap.
"Usually, it's the guys who are willing to dive in to a woman's development," Kazuki groans.
"No offense, but over-developed women are a turn-off for me," Ash gasps.
"Kuriko, you could've suffocated him," Yuna barks.
"I meant no harm," the bombshell pleas. That's when Asuka and Al came out of the hiding place and approached Kuriko, who turned to them. "More trouble." That's when a spiritual entity appeared, in a form of a lavendar-haired girl, not quite a teen.
"Hold it," the spirit called. Soon enough, arguments were erupting and it was able to forget what was the original cause. That's when Pikachu unleashed a thunderbolt that got everyone. The arguements stopped, and everyone hit the deck in shock.
"We needed that," Ash groaned. A little while later, everyone was up and had done introducing theirselves. "I find it a little hard to believe that you two are husband and wife."
"I'll say, you guys look like you're just dating," Asuka added.
"Well, if anything, it's my excuse to be with him, forever," Yuna gleed.
"So what's with the key you have?" Kuriko questioned.
"We were teleported over here using these keys," Al answered. "It started with Ash who placed a key in a small device in this town called Pallet, wherever that is. That's when he ran into me and Ed in Resembool. After we found my key, we were sent to this Tokyo-3."
"That's where I come in," Asuka responded. "After my discovery of my key, well..."
"We ended up, here," Ash finished.
"From the sound of it, there should be a similar key here, too," the spirit, known as Elizabeth, hypothesized.
"It makes sense, Liz."
"Is there anything else about the keys that we should know?" Rin questioned.
"There is. When I tried to pick up Alphonse's key back at Resembool, the key phased through my hand, and Ed's as well."
"Seems as though the key seeks the person to handle it," Yuna pondered. "Don't you agree, Kazuki?"
"Yeah," the brunette male nods. "But if we do find it, how will we know who the chosen is?"
"That's a good question," Asuka mutters. "My best guess is whoever can get a hold of it."
"I hope it isn't Kazuki," Yamase said in a worried state.
"Why do you say that?" Al wondered.
"It's hard to explain right now, without Dr. Akai with us," Kazuki motioned.
"Why don't we meet up back at my office," Kuriko grinned. Everyone agreed. "Elizabeth, why don't you guide our new friends there?"
"Okay," Elizabeth grinned, as well. She floats up to Al's height, as she escorts Ash's group to a tall skyscraper. A sign was placed by the front doors.
THE KAZETSUBAKI FOUNDATION-MAIN BUILDING
The main office was large and roomy, with three sofas placed like it was in a square. The posh enviornment overwhelmed Asuka in excitement. "Oh...my...god," she shrieked. "This is heaven!" Her cheery attitude only made the other three a little nervous. Asuka, then, runs to Ash. "Let's check out the kitchen, fifth child." She pulls on the trainer's arm, to drag him away, leaving Al, Elizabeth, and Pikachu in disbelief.
"How often does that happen with her?" the ghost asked.
"First time that's happened," Al monotoned. A little later on, around 3:30 P.M., Kazuki and the other girls arrived. Rin looks around and senses something missing.
"Where are your other two companions?" she asked, demanding an answer.
"They're in the kitchen." That's when a man, in a doctor's labcoat, walks in. "You must be Dr. Akai."
"Indeed," the man replied. "So, what do you think these friends of yours are doing in the kitchen?"
"Especially, without my permission?" Kuriko added.
("Wouldn't you like to know,") Pikachu sqeaked with a smirk. Yuna was a little uneasy with this.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" she muttered. In the kitchen, Ash and Asuka were making the final touches to the food they were preparing. They covered the meal with the lids. After they exchanged a nod, they bring the food, via catering cart, to the office. They knock on the door, where Yamase and Yuna opened the door. Ash and Asuka wheel in the cart, much to everyone's surprise.
"Oh, no you didn't," Kazuki joked. They open the lids to reveal...fancy ham, bacon, and cheese stuffed red potatoes; gourmet meat buns with vanilla icing; shrimp-style sushi, wrapped in a handmade leek; 15-piece fruit and vegetable salad with a yogurt dip, peanut butter bars with white chocolate, as well as Oo-long tea and premium roast coffee to drink.
"We thought, because we approached each other on the wrong foot, we decided to do this as an apology," Asuka said confidently. Yuna picked up one of the P.B. bars.
"Well, they look good," she said in inconfidence. She takes a bite, and squints, as if it was bitter.
"Yuna?" Yamase and Kazuki spoke in unison. That's when Yuna's eyes lit up and she exposed a giant smile.
"This is so yummy!" she yelped and giggled. Ash and Asuka sweat dropped.
"You had us for a second, there," Ash grinned. After everyone found their place, Dr. Akai was ready to speak. "So what's the deal with you saying that you hope Kaz doesn't get the key?"
"It's funny you should ask that," Akai smirked as he put his cup of coffee down. "Everyone has a magic limit. That limit is about the number of times you can use magic in your life. When you exhaust all of your magic, you cease to exsist and your body turns to ash. (Kazuki) Shikimori can only use his magic eight times in his life."
"How do you determine how many times someone can use magic?" Al asked.
"Back in the old days, people determined the amount to the stars they see in the sky. If there were many stars, they could see that there would be no problem about recklessness. Otherwise, they would exercise caution." He brings out a monicle with a green lens. "Today, we have these to get a better glimpse on the amount. It's called a magic optic. Let me demonstrate." He puts it on his glasses, and points to Ash. A number comes up. "16,500 uses. Now you." He looks at Asuka. "8,520."
"What!" Asuka shrieked. "How come I get less magic use than fifth child?"
"So that was how many times we can use magic, right?" Ash guesses.
"That is correct," Rin answers. "Kuriko's last check was well over 100,000 uses."
"Over 100,000?"
"When I once exhausted my magic, I was turned into a ghost," Kazuki speaks. "After a trial to get my body back, I recieved my magic as well."
"Is your magic why that mob of girls were after you?"
"Sort of."
"It's his genes that the girls are after," Kuriko adds.
"His genes?" Al echos.
"What brand are they?" Ash questions, thinking 'jeans'.
"Wrong genes, Ash," Kuriko corrects with a paper fan slap. "I mean his DNA."
"Wait a sec," Asuka raises her voice. "You mean his magic is powerful?"
"Very," Akai responds. "Since his family lineage contains at least 50 of the most powerful magicians in history, every woman wants Shikimori's genes, even these four."
"Makes sense," Al nods.
"Guess Kazuki and Pikachu are related, somewhat," Ash jokes. Pikachu shocks his master, in offense to the comment.
"Not the thing to say, Ash." The group conversation lasts for three more hours, with everyone's lifestyles mentioned. That's when they all start to separate for the night. Yuna, then, approachs Ash.
"Ash, is it alright if we can borrow your Pikachu for the night?" She asked. "I promise to take good care of it, like I do to Kazuki." Ash turns to his Pokemon.
"Well, buddy, do you want to go with her?" he asked.
("Of course,") it squeaked, then, jumped into Yuna's arms. Kazuki stepped up.
"Yuna, why don't we invite him over, as well?" he asked.
"We don't have enough space in the dorm room for him," the pink-haired answered. "Besides, Kuriko invited Asuka and Alphonse to her mansion, and said that he can stay over at Rin's temple."
"I refuse to accept Ketchum into my place," Rin protested.
"Rin, please, for Kuriko's sake." The blue-haired sighed.
"Fine, as long as he doesn't do anything obscene. Come."
"Ash, tomorrow, the both of us go shopping, okay?" Ash was surprised to hear this, but proceeded to nod. "Alright, I'll see you later." They separate. At a temple nearby, Rin shows Ash to his room.
"Now, don't go barging in to my room for any reason, you got that?" The trainer nods and enters the room. "Tell me something."
"What is it?"
"Why do you always have a positive attitude? It seems, as though, nothing phases you, even your pet's shocking ability."
"I don't always have a positive attitude. The reason for this is that I'm trying to be calm around the surrounding, and remain alert. Look, I'm not completely like Kazuki, who sacrifices his magic without regret. I'm a trainer, who works with Pokemon, to help those in need." Rin stares at Ash, believing him. Ash looks back, and sees the worried face on her. "I'm sorry if I-"
"No, it's okay. Umm...Did Yuna tell you why she wanted to go with you?"
"She didn't."
"I see. Well, good night." She walks out of the room. At Kuriko's mansion, She and Asuka were enjoying a nice, wonderful bath, as Al and Elizabeth were standing guard.
"I was a little curious about why you call Ash 'fifth child'?" Kuriko asked.
"Well, the pilots of Evas go like this: Rei is the first, I'm the second, Shinji is the third, and Toji is fourth. Ashy boy would've been the fifth."
"It seems you admire that boy a little." Asuka blushes a little.
"Well, syncronizing ratios to Evas, between us, we're even. Besides, he looks like a guy who would prefer brunettes more than redheads, at least that's how I see it."
"Alright, well what about you? What do you prefer?"
"Me? Well, I'm more into older guys, like that hunky Dr. Akai." This made Kuriko laugh a little. "Hey, I'm being serious."
"I know, but I just had a funny image of how it would turn out."
"Oh, I got it." Then, they both started to really laugh.
"The sound of it is like they're sisters, doesn't it?" Elizabeth joked.
"They actually do," Al replied. The next morning, Ash was walking to the Saiun Dormitory, where a woman in a funeral dress was sweeping the sidewalk, smiling like the weight was lifted off her shoulders.
"Excuse me, but is Yuna here?" he asked. The woman looks over to the trainer.
"Yes. Miss Miyama was getting dressed for the walk out," she said. "Why, is this a date?"
"I doubt it. She wanted to go shopping, and I bet I know who it's for." Then, Yuna runs to the gate, with Pikachu on her shoulder.
"Ash, you're early," she grinned. "Miss Hirosagi, he wasn't a disturbance, was he?"
"No, he wasn't," Hirosagi smirked. "Well, why don't you get that shopping thing done." Both Ash and Yuna nodded and ran out to the market street. They stopped by a jewelery place, where "Kazuki's wife" was roaming around the front display case. Ash looks over to the watches, and finds a fancy glow-in-the-dark wristwatch with a cute winged heart emblem as a cover. Yuna finds something herself: a 24k ring with a beautiful sapphire heart cut on top. She tells the clerk that that ring is the one she wants. Ash decides also to purchase the wristwatch, since, for some reason the money from his world had transformed into the money here: yen. They both walk out, happy with what they got.
"So is it true that big-breasted women are a turn-off for you?"
"It's true," Ash admits. "Women think bigger 'mountains' will attract more men. I think it's nothing more than a waste of time. I'm not trying to offened you, by the way."
"None taken, and I see where you're getting at, too."
"Yeah, well I can practically imagine what would happen if Brock got a good look at Kuriko, or any other girl."
ASH'S VISION
Brock starts to hold Kuriko's hands. "Oh, Kuriko, your witching power has casted a spell which guides me to your heart. Please, let me be a member of your magical lifestyle and absorb the spells as a reminder of-" Brock's overzelous speech was interupted with a mallet to the head by...
"Say the magic words and Misty's man-handling mallet will give you a 10-count," Max moaned as he drags the unconccious breeder away from the blonde.
END VISION
"He goes crazy over cute girls, does he?" Yuna asked sheepishly. Ash nods in nervousness. "I see. Well, if you were Kazuki's age, would you have wanted to date me or Yamase or even Rin?"
"That's a good possibility." Then, screams ring out. "What's going on?" Suddenly, a giant navy blue beast was charging down the street. The wolf/tiger like beast was causing havoc in its wake and was blitzing to Ash and Yuna.
"It's a behemoth!" That's when Al ran past the two and shoulder tackles the beast. "Thanks, Alphonse." Ash gets a better look at the recovering behemoth.
"Al, doesn't that behemoth look like a chimera?" Al examines as well.
"It looks so," he answered. Pikachu ran up Al's armor, catapulted itself high and performed a thunderbolt, which hit the behemoth. As it fought off the shock, it's long tail slaps Pikachu back to Ash, who catches the brave Pokemon. The beast, then, charges at the group, but is stopped when Al raises a stonewall with a drawn transmutation circle. The collision KO'ed the behemoth for a little while when...
"Don't hurt my precious beast!" a male voice rang out. A tall teenager, who's hair was darker than Kazuki's, ran up and jumped between the behemoth and Al. "Don't hurt my pet!"
"Nakamaru," Yuna shrieked. "Why are you protecting this behemoth?"
"Don't you know how much damage this monster has done?" Al roared. That's when the others arrive.
"Kazuki," Ash grins. "Kuriko. Rin. Asuka. Yamase."
"Why is Nakamaru protecting that behemoth?" Kazuki asked.
"Wish I knew."
"Shikimori," Nakamaru barked. "Do you know how much Class-S creatures are worth in the black market? I'm refering to millions per unit!"
"Is that more than what human lives are worth?" Kazuki yelled.
"At least, more than your pathetic life!" Ash starts to growl, and realizes convincing Nakamaru to surrender wasn't going to work. He grabs a Pokeball from his belt.
"Swellow, go!" he calls. A black bird emerges from the Pokeball. "Swellow, use Steel Wing on the beast." Swellow's wings started to glow as it flies to the behemoth. The beast swung its tail at the flying Pokemon, but whiffs at every chance. The Pokemon's steel wing attack hits the mark on the forehead, making the behemoth wobble. This got Nakamaru boiling mad.
"How dare you hurt my behemoth!" He holds his hands in front of him, and gathers energy into a glowing ball, ready to fire at the gathered group. "I'll take you all down, along with the lineage!"
"Clear a path!" As the group separates for Ash, Kuriko sticks an ofuda on his back. "You have no right to defend a wild monster." He rushes to Nakamaru. "That behemoth is going down, even if we have to take you with it."
"You won't do it, will you!" Nakamaru launches a magic force beam at Ash, and hits him, sending him flying to Rin. She lifts her katana to protect herself from the flying trainer, but before contact, both Ash and the katana started to glow. When they touched, both were engulfed in a light. After a few seconds, Ash appears again, but in a red and blue samurai outfit, with Rin's katana. "What the-"
"Fifth child," Asuka worringly spoke.
"What happened to him?" Al wondered. Ash began to approach Kazuki's classmate.
"That behemoth..." he starts. "Is going down." The behemoth jumps over Nakamaru and charges at the newly looking trainer. It swings a paw at Ash, but he disappears. Ash reappears, and concentrates. That's when he starts to multiply himself and surround the beast.
("He's using Double Team,") Pikachu shrieked. Elizabeth, coming out of Kuriko, heard and understood Pikachu.
"He can't be doing what I think he's going to do," she muttered. Ash's team runs down to the behemoth. Every copy strikes the giant beast, making it screech in pain, as it falls. With one last gasp, the behemoth becomes silent and still.
"He did it!" Yamase cheered.
"Amazing," Kazuki grinned.
"Fifth child is full of surprises, isn't he?" Asuka grins, as well. Nakamaru was looking very angry, since Ash managed to euthanize the reckless monster, and walks over to him.
"How dare you kill a behemoth, you little son of a-" He shouts, but was interupted when Ash pointed the katana at his throat. Ash's eyes were still narrow, staring the angry magician down.
"Don't you even dare," Ash growls, like he was willing to keep killing, and Nakamaru was his next target. The brute realized that he wasn't going to win over the trainer, and immediatley dropped to his hands and knees. Police arrived, just as Ash sheathed the katana, and escorted Nakamaru away.
"Yukihiko Nakamaru, you're under arrest," an officer growls. "For one count of summoning an illegal organism, and multiple counts of attempted murder vie neglect." Ash walks over to Rin, and hands over her sword. That's when the trainer started to glow, again. After a few seconds, he re-emerges, back in his normal attire, and wobbled a bit before steadying himself.
"Oh, man, what was that all about?" he groans. Rin placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Ketchum," she whispered. "You were great out there." Ash blushed as Rin acknowledged his actions. Kazuki, Yuna and Asuka ran over to the dead behemoth, and found...
"Hey, Ash," Asuka yells. "Queen's Key, number four." The others ran to the location of the key. "Wonder who's joining us?" Then, Kazuki reaches for the key.
"Wait, Kazuki," Yuna snaps. "Don't pick it up."
"But how will I know if I'm the one?" he persist. He slaps at the key, but the hand phases through the key. "See? Nothing to worry about." Yuna decides to try her luck, but the key denies her, as well. She grins, knowing that she will be able to stay with her 'husband.' That's when Rin gives it a shot. She places her hand on the key, and lifts it.
"Looks like Rin's coming with us," Al spoke up. "Why don't we go back to Kuriko's office. I think a clarification is in order." Kazuki and Yuna nods. Back at the Kazetsubaki office room, Kazuki stopped Al. "Kazuki, what are you doing?"
"I want to thank you for protecting Yuna. I thought I can give you your body back."
"Do you know how?"
"I think so. Didn't you say you had a blood seal that keeps you hear?" Al removes his helmet, and points to the seal. Kazuki, then, starts to see what appeared to be a human form of Al with Ed. After a second of shaking his head, he reaches his hands inside, and over the seal. Kazuki's body starts to glow, as he yells and turns himself and Al into a ball of light. Five seconds later, the light dissipates, and Kazuki was still placed in the spot. His hands were on a blonde boy's forehead. The boy opened his gold eyes, and sees Kazuki. The rest were amazed about the success of Kazuki's magic use. The boy, about Ash's age, saw his hands, flesh and blood.
"I'm...human," he muttered. He looked down to see a t-shirt and jeans on him. Yamase ran up and hugged the new bodied boy.
"Alphy, how do you feel?" She asked. Al's stomach starts to growl, making them both giggle.
"Ash, Asuka, you still got leftovers from yesterday?"
"Right here," Ash said as he brought out a bag of P.B. bars and tossed it over to Al. "Come to think of it, Al and I are somewhat alike."
"In what way, Ketchum?" Rin grinned.
"We...sometimes think with our stomaches." He chuckled a little. After a while, the two, Al, and Asuka along with Pikachu, grabbed their keys. Before taking off, Elizabeth appeared.
"Mother, is it all right if I go with Ash?" she asked Kuriko. The volopturous blonde thinks about it for a few seconds. Then, she turns to Ash.
"You think you can take care of Elizabeth?" she asked. Ash smiled and nodded, giving Elizabeth a reason to cheer. The ghost raced into Rin's body, and stuck her head out.
"Ash, you and I will become great friends." Ash sheepishly chuckled. A little while later, the four key holders raised their keys, and a portal, similar to the previous times, appeared. Then, Kuriko approached Ash.
"Ash," she calls as she knelt to Ash's height. "You've got a lot in your future, and with Rin and Elizabeth by your side, well... I don't think you'll be bored, at all." She gives Ash and Pikachu a kiss on the cheek: the same cheek in which he got kissed on by Melody and Latias. Ash turns around and walks into the portal, joined by his partners. Then, the portal closed. Afterwards, Kazuki noticed a small jewel box in Yuna's hands which were at her back.
"Yuna," he starts. "What's that?" Yuna pulled the box in front of her. She takes a deep breath, and opens the box.
"Kazuki," she starts. "I want this to happen in a year, and since you were the first person to ever show me happiness, this is proof that I love you. Kazuki, will you marry me?" He was caught off-guard with her proposal, but grins and gives Yuna a deep kiss.
"I do, Yuna." He proceeds to hug her. Meanwhile, Ash's group appears in what appears to be an open field with a dirt road.
"Okay, where are we this time, Ash?" Al wondered.
"I have no idea," Ash muttered. "let's walk around until-" He was interupted by a scream for help.
"Sounds like help is needed," Rin monotoned. Pikachu squeaked in agreement. Asuka sighed.
"Must we help everyone who needs assistance, fifth child?" she moans.
"There's bound to be a reason, somewhere," Ash groaned, and the group ran to the scream.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Ash, Al with his human body back, Asuka, and new partner Rin, have traveled to a new world, where they assist a distress call. Find out about it. Next time: "Junpei: the Martial Artist."
A/N: For anyone who has yet to know about what his other kisses, read the story "Pokemon and Digimon: Clash Worlds."