A second Lemon chapter for a valentine day update. Enjoy.
Ah, I'm reposting this chapter with a new bloodier version. Some new scenes and fix several grammatical mistake… I THINK I got all of them. Call it: Chapter 6 Extended Vampire version.
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This is how L-Elf started that day.
"So here's how it's going to be." L-Elf started. "The rules are the same. You need to pass 10 markers under 1000 feet roof, in order to unlock a shot from your paint gun. However, there's one difference." He turned to Haruto and Saki, riding the red and green Kagerou. "Tokishima Haruto and Rukino Saki must shoot their target 10 times each. This hasn't changed." And then he turned Jin and Nao aboard their red and blue striped Kagerou. "Jin Hinomoto and Nao Ota however, need only to shoot the opponent 5 times each in order to win."
"WHAT!?" Saki roared in protest. "That's a bit unfair, don't you think!?"
"I ask you, Rukino Saki, of the four you, which ones had become the ultimate lifeforms?"
Saki groaned, unable to counter that reasoning while Haruto merely shrugged. "So… it's a team battle."
"Yes. And we start in… 3… 2… 1…!"
And as soon as the gong sounded, the four Kagerous dashed out into space. Haruto and Saki had done this dozens of times to the point they automatically completed several laps within minutes, collecting several rounds, before they rendezvous on an asteroid. Haruto asked. "How many shots?"
"5. You?"
"6." Haruto sighed. "So… what to do?"
"You tell me. I didn't know what to expect." Saki groaned. "I didn't even know he trained two teams! And what is this talk about replacing you as the pilot of 01!? Pino would disagree!"
"Funny thing is… I don't think Pino would care." Haruto scratched his chin. "Remember, the most important thing for her is that someone will provide her with Runes. I bet she wouldn't care less from whom. And I kinda understand his logic. Outside Valvrave we're still vulnerable."
"Haruto! Let's be serious! If we lose we'll give up the Valvraves!"
"Yeah, yeah." Haruto answered… somewhat half heartedly. "…let's try frontal assault, just to test the waters. We'll sacrifice 1 or 2 shots. Ready?"
"Okay." Saki nodded.
The two Kagerous flew out of hiding and went straight forward. Apparently, the other team also thought the same and attacked. Paint projectiles were exchanged in between the two sides amidst the asteroid field. Jin's Kagerou, a red stripped unit with a wing attachment on its back fired ferociously at Haruto's red and black unit. Out of 4 shots, 1 hit Haruto's leg, and 1 hit his shoulder, and the other two hit an asteroid which Haruto used to take cover. Saki, in her black and green Kagerou fired rapidly at the available target, a blue and white Kagerou with some extra blasters on the shoulder. Nao peeped under the onslaught, and 3 out Saki's four shots came in, two on Nao, 1 on Jin. Nao returned fire blindly in panic, and out of her 3 shots, one lucky hit reached Saki's arm. Likewise, Haruto suddenly jumped out of hiding, zoomed to the opposing team's rear and returned fire 4 times. 1 hit Jin's unit on the back of his shoulder, 2 hit Nao's unit, the last one missed. Jin angrily returned fire twice, but both missed as Haruto used the asteroids around him as shield before he zoomed away back into the cover of asteroid field, followed closely by Saki.
After that first skirmish, the score (as in how many times they were hit): Haruto: 2; Saki: 1, Jin: 2, Nao: 4.
"Oi! Nao! What's this all about!? You got shot 4 times already!?"
"Sorry! Sorry!" The pink haired girl fretted.
Haruto and Saki kept their calm and finished a couple more laps to earn a couple more shots. "Okay… that was… fruitful." Haruto shrugged.
"Haruto, you got shot twice! You do remember the opposing team needs only 5 shots to win right?"
"I know… but that guy Jin… did I wronged him in his past live or something?"
"Hm?"
"As soon as we start fighting, he went straight at me. Quite viciously too. He seems to be having a grudge on me or something."
"You remember ever do anything that piss him off?"
"I didn't even know him until today." Haruto sighed. "What about the other one?"
"That Nao Girl? I'm not sure we should be worrying about her. We shot her 4 times remember?"
"Ah… but L-Elf said these two matched our scores, and I doubt he trained them any less harsh just because they're still human." Haruto sighed. "Don't let your guard down."
Saki nodded. "Let's take them out one by one, then."
"Good idea."
Meanwhile the other two opposing Kagerous had also 'reloaded' and prepared their next move. The two red and blue Kagerous flew together amidst the asteroid field, searching for their target. "Where are they?"
Nao fidgeted nervously as she checked and rechecked all of her sensors, searching for the two targets.
However, all the sudden, a single burst of paint gun zoomed towards them, and it barely missed Jin's Kagerou. "What-!?" The blast came from an Asteroid rock above them.
"From there huh!?" Jin roared and dashed towards the asteroid. The Paint Gun also kept firing a couple more shots. Nao felt something was off but followed anyway.
When the two Kagerou units arrived at the target, they were surprised to find instead of a Kagerou, they only found a paint gun on a trip wire. "What?" Jin gasped.
All the sudden, Haruto's Kagerou appeared from another asteroid right behind them and opened fire at the duped team. Jin gasped and received 3 shots before dodging the rest. Nao receive 2 shot but she returned fire almost immediately after. Surprisingly enough, one hit Haruto's Kagerou right on his face. Jin: 5, Nao: 6, Haruto: 3
"Gah!" His camera was momentarily blinded by paint, disorienting the pilot and the unit for some time.
"GOT YOUU!" Jin opened fire at the paralyzed Haruto. He managed to score one shot. Jin was about to fire another shot, but Haruto quickly move away, albeit he's flying blind. Haruto: 4. Jin needed only one more shot. But Nao quickly looked at the rifle and at the trip wire. Following the wire, she looked up.
At the same time, said wire tripped gun opened fire again, scoring another hit on the caught off guard Jin, before said rifle was being reeled in by Saki. Nao had already figured out her location and opened fire. When the rifle is returned to her hand, an alarmed Saki dodged a shot to her face. 'What's with her!?' Saki quicly returned fire and scored another hit at Nao, while she returned fire as well. The exchange of shots earned a hit on both. Jin: 6, Saki: 2, Nao: 8.
"Why you!" Jin returned fire. Saki dodged several shots, but one hit her by the shoulder. Saki quickly turned away and took cover in an asteroid. Nevertheless, she gained a newfound caution on Nao. 'That girl…' Saki: 3
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L-Elf watched the proceeding of the test with his usual cold and calculating observation. In the mean time, he checked the parameters of the pilots. 'Nao Ota… like Sakurai Aina, she possess a respectable level of spatial awareness at B+, coupled with an A+ caution. Her overly cautious nature made her like a sensor. She works well with Hinomoto Jin, redirecting his vicious attack properly. The only problem is…'
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"Kyaaa!" Nao squealed when Saki concentrated her attacks at her. She flew as fast as she could while Saki persistently followed her, making her a primary target. Saki only stopped as soon as she ran out of ammunition. But she did score another shot. Nao: 9.
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'She lacked killer instinct… even worse than Sakurai Aina…' L-Elf shook his head. 'And then there's Hinomoto Jin. He had a respectable parameter, but has tendency to disregard his surroundings when he focus on something. However… in truth, his parameter is far beneath Tokishima Haruto. Tokishima Haruto had absorbed the memories and skills of Dorssian soldiers… made it his own. This makes him possess skill equivalent to a Dorsian elite soldier… but Hinomoto Jin has something Tokishima Haruto does not.'
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Jin searched everywhere for his main target. Just one more shot. One more shot and he win!
"Hinomoto-san."
"Hm?" Jin blinked. A com screen with the words voice only appeared, sending Haruto's voice.
"Did I wrong you before or something?"
"Huh?" Jin gaped. "Oi, oi! You're not seriously gonna talk with me right? We're in the middle of a fight here…!"
"I know… but I'd like to know the reason for entering a fight." Haruto added. "Especially because you chase me down so single mindedly…"
"…maa… I got some reasons of my own… but more than anything…"
"?"
"That Dorssian soldier said… if I beat you, I'll get to control that red unit right?"
Haruto twitched. "You want to pilot 01?"
"Why? You mind?"
"You saw the video of what I have become right? A monster that feeds on human. You seriously want to be like that?"
"Well… the thought of becoming a vampire did give some pauses." Jin sighed. "But then after some more thoughts… I say… why the hell not? Being humans are boring anyway."
"Boring huh?" Suddenly, Haruto's tone grew more intense. "I see."
Suddenly, Haruto's unit dashed out of an asteroid, opening fire at Jin's unit several times. Jin was caught off guard and paid for it with a shot hitting his leg. Jin: 7
Jin returned fire, but Haruto dashed to the protection of an asteroid field. Jin quickly moved his crosshairs to the area after the asteroid, expecting his main target to come out. He didn't. Jin quickly returned back to the area before the asteroid, where Haruto's Kagerou spring out from the other side, throwing a loaded paint gun magazine at Jin. Jin instinctively fired at it. At the same time, Haruto timed his shot and fired at the magazine as well.
Paint magazine has no life rounds, but enough pressure, from two paint gunshot simultaneously hitting it hard for example, can still break the high pressure paint canisters, causing a violent explosion when ruptured. The magazine caught a shot from Jin and Haruto before it exploded on Jin's face, literally. Jin's unit was disoriented and his screen was covered in paint, momentarily blinding him. Haruto used this chance to open fire at him. Haruto managed a shot, but he ran out of shots and so he flew away to 'reload'.
"That paint explosion count as one shot." L-Elf announced.Jin: 9
'Holy… what kind of tactic is that?' Jin gritted his teeth. 'Not only that, his moves changed completely…' He grinned. Jin became even more spirited and chased after Haruto. He opened fire several times, but Haruto dodged them all easily. Both only need one shot to win, but Jin knew right away things had gotten more difficult by a few notches. His opponent had finally taken him seriously. "Awrite. This makes beating you more worthwhile!" Pretty soon, he ran out of shots and quickly prioritizes on reloading.
Nao still have a few more shots in her, but she had no time to return fire. Saki kept chasing after her in an almost single minded drive, rivaling Jin. Saki had taken a couple of shots; all of them narrowly missed the target. Said target also returned fire every now and then, but when Nao's in panic, her accuracy went sharply downhill to say the least. As long as Saki pays attention and keep the pressure, she won't get hit by a thing. 'And this girl's score was supposed to rival mine!?' She only has two shots left. She needs to make it count and finish this.
Meanwhile, Haruto and Jin had also reloaded. 4 shots each, and now they're back to frontal engagement. Both crisscross shots with one another, narrowly missing each other by a paper thin margin. Knowing how his opponent is showing his stuff at last, Jin took precaution this time and took defense by hiding behind an asteroid. Haruto looked for his target, turning left and right, but his mind stay calm. 'Where could he hide…' He saw a small patch of asteroid field. He easily surmised Jin's unit hid somewhere in that area, but he's not stupid enough to go into an enemy territory. He grabbed a sizable asteroid, spin it several times and throw it into the field, full force. One rock hit another, its debris spread everywhere, knocking stuff, causing chain reaction, the whole asteroid field is suddenly a mess. Jin realized he can't hide anymore when an asteroid the size of a building headed his way.
He flew out only to be welcomed by a shot from an expectant Haruto. Jin barely dodged the shot and quickly moved away with Haruto hot in pursuit.
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L-Elf saw the proceeding of this match and smiled in approval. 'Impressive Tokishima Haruto. You managed to adapt the many strategies and skills you have absorbed to your benefit. Impressive. So this is what happens when you put your mind into it.'
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Haruto's chase of Jin inadvertently brought them close to Saki's chase of Nao.
Haruto saw a chance when he saw an asteroid rock. With controlled angle, he shot the asteroid, pushing it to shoot forward, hitting another asteroid along the way, and like a pool-ball game, the said asteroid floated right in front a surprised Jin. "THE HECK!?" Too late, his unit's wing unit smashed against the asteroid, Jin's kagerou spiral out of control, hitting multiple rocks before he crash-landed on a sizable one, suffering massive damage.
Saki kept following Nao relentlessly. Nao noticed Jin is on the verge of defeat, and she went there, bringing Saki with her. She only got one shot left.
Haruto landed right in front of him and aimed his gun at Jin, getting ready to finish it. But before he truly pulls the trigger: "Why… why are you so ready to give up your humanity?"
Jin chuckled. "Oh come on. Another sermon?" Meanwhile, Jin struggled to move his gun at firing position.
"…"
"Okay… that question, I'll ask the same of you. Why did you give up yours?" He succeeded, and now he's just waiting a chance to fire.
"…revenge." Haruto shrugged. "For a childhood friend I thought had died. Now I just want to protect everyone."
Jin jaw dropped. "…that's it?"
"Yeah. That's it." Haruto sighed. "Look. I don't care if boredom is your reason, but seriously? You DON'T want what I've got. And if you insist… then I'll do anything to stop you." Haruto took aim and getting ready to open fire. Suddenly, he was hit by another seizure. Something suddenly nudged him violently from inside his chest. Haruto gasped and panted. Another attack! 'Oh no… not now!' In his struggle to regain control, Haruto's finger couldn't finish pulling the trigger and Jin wondered why the last shot never came and Haruto's gun barrel visibly shakes.
Haruto's growls of pain reached Saki's ears. And that was more than enough to distract her from her persistent chasing of Nao. "Haruto!"
Seeing the distracted enemy, Nao instinctively reacted and aimed her gun at Saki. At the same time, Haruto regained control and noticed Saki was in danger. He turned his gun away from Jin and shot Nao right that instant. Nao's unit was hit by the chest before she can shoot. Nao: 10. The Sarin gas quickly invaded Nao's suit and she quickly squealed and vomited, drowning in her bile.
Suddenly, Haruto also felt the Sarin gas entering his system. He quickly understood why: at the same time he turned his gun away from Jin to shoot at Nao, Jin instinctively pulled the trigger and fired at his chest. Haruto: 5. Haruto quickly succumbed to the gas…
"HOW DARE YOU!" Saki angrily shot all her bullets at the now helpless and sitting ducks Jin's unit. Jin: 10. And his suit was soon filled with his bodily rejects. Saki: 4
Winner: Rukino Saki.
Chapter 6:
The Future happened
Extended Vampire Edition
All pilots stood before L-Elf to receive his evaluation. All of them, bar Saki, were still smeared with vomit, feces and urine on the insides of their suit.
First, Saki, the winner. "Rukino Saki, your persistence is good. But fair warning. There's a difference between never giving up, and being stubborn. A good hunter sometimes must know when to give up a prey in pursuit of the larger picture. Exercise caution and always be mindful to your surroundings, and differentiate between bait and prey. Understand?"
Saki nodded.
Then, Nao. "Nao Ota, your cautiousness deserves some merit… but too much caution will result in cowardice. All your parameters went down sharply whenever you panicked. Get your emotions under control, or you will not get far."
Nao bent her head down in sorrow.
And then, Jin. "Hinomoto Jin… like I always said… parameter wise, you are a good soldier… but you have a tendency to let your emotions get in the way. When that happens, your movements became predictable. Rectify that."
"…" Jin nodded, but he seems to have something else in his mind. Obviously this has something to do with Haruto, given the fact he kept eying the pilot restlessly.
Haruto merely waited L-Elf's evaluation of him… but surprisingly, L-Elf actually skipped the evaluation completely and declared: "From here on out, Hinomoto Jin will pilot unit 01."
"WHAT!?" Saki roared in anger. "Like hell he is!"
Jin gasped in shock over L-Elf's decision but say nothing for the moment.
Saki continued her protest. "Haruto lost the match because he was helping me!"
"Before he do that, he had 30 seconds to finish the fight and then helping you." L-Elf glared at Haruto darkly. "Instead you have to waste time spouting useless nonsense."
"…" Haruto frowned.
"Remember what I said to you the first time we met?" L-Elf growled. "Would you cut the yolk from a ham 'n egg breakfast in half, or split your love for a girl in half? Happiness isn't something you divide in half… neither is responsibility."
"…"
"Tokishima Haruto… when I first said whoever won this match will earn the right to pilot the Valvrave, I knew right away your conviction wavered." L-Elf narrowed his eyes darkly. "A part of you wanted someone to take that burden away from you, isn't it? A part of you wanted Jin, who clearly has more desire to pilot Valvrave than you to take over. Or… were you thinking of sharing the burden of being 01's fuel?"
Jin blinked and looked at Haruto in surprise. Haruto didn't say anything, but that was like confirming L-Elf's theory.
L-Elf scoffed. "I took 01 away from you wasn't because you lose. No. Quite in fact, I immensely enjoyed the way you fight during the last moments. What I'm greatly disappointed of, is that it took you that long to unleash everything you got. You could've beaten Jin Hinomoto a lot earlier, with less margin of loss, but no. You have to take your sweet time getting into the mood. How many of your precious friends will die during that time, Tokishima Haruto!?"
Haruto frowned and bent his head down in deep thought.
"That's what you lack. Conviction. I thought if I threaten to take unit 01 from you, you'll gain some backbone. I guess I was wrong. You have to have the luxury of keeping your conscience clean first before you even make a move, right?" L-Elf chided. "Remember this: people die when you can't keep your morality out of the picture. Your enemy doesn't have it."
"I know." For the first time, Haruto replied. He even glared at L-Elf to make his point. "That's why it's so important. It's what separates us from them."
L-Elf twitched. "Have you forgotten-"
"-That I'm not human anymore? Thank you for trying to remind me of that fact at least every hour, L-Elf." Haruto glared back. "But that won't stop me from trying to keep what's left of my humanity for as long as I can."
L-Elf blinked in surprise as he did not expect this much defiance from Haruto of all people. Truly, Tokishima Haruto can be decisive on certain things. "Your conscience won't matter if we don't win this war you started, Tokishima Haruto."
"It matters." Haruto replied. "The manner of how we win matters."
The two glared one another at this clash of ideals; the tension was so thick, the other pilots felt like there's a wall enclosing these two opposing forces that they can't get through.
Suddenly…
"Hai, hai! That's enough!" As if on cue, Shoko came in clapping her hands as if breaking a fight between children. Shoko looked straight at L-Elf. "And L-Elf… you're out of the line."
L-Elf frowned. "Last I checked, you authorized me to select the second team. You gave me full control-"
"Backup pilots." Shoko barked. "NOT replacement pilots. You have the right to choose which person will be included in the second team that will pilot the Kagerous. But there's only one person who has control of all Valvraves. Only one has the right to decide who pilots which unit, and that's Haruto. NOT you." Shoko glared at L-Elf. "And speaking of pilots, I just told every pilot, main and backup, that they have a day off today and tomorrow."
"What!?" L-Elf gaped in anger. "You can't-"
"They're burned out, L-elf." Shoko cut him off right then and there. "You've been drilling them hard for three weeks straight. You made them vomit, urinate, and defecate involuntarily 4 times a day, AT least. They barely had time to eat, they barely had time to sleep. If the enemy shows up tomorrow, all we got to fight them would be a bunch of half dead, half asleep pilots!"
L-Elf glared angrily at Shoko, but he knew that Shoko was at least 10 times more stubborn than Haruto at his most obstinate condition. His angry glare didn't even faze her and Shoko even returned one of her own. "I'm not asking, L-Elf. I'm telling you. Give everyone a time off. Now."
And for a second there, L-Elf looked like he was ready to actually slap Shoko in the face… but then; he resolved it by simply stating: "But my assessment remains the same. Tokishima Haruto is not fit to pilot a Valvrave." L-Elf nodded once and then he angrily stormed off.
"We'll be the judge of that." Shoko smirked in triumph and then she looked at Haruto and a smiling Saki. She gave them a V for victory.
"Shoko…" Haruto smiled weakly.
"Get a break, Haruto." She nudged Haruto, releasing a disgusting squishy sound from beneath his now damp pilot suit. "-and for the love of god, get a bath!" She laughed.
Haruto chuckled weakly and walked away.
Saki smiled in gratitude at Shoko. "Thanks, Shoko-san! We needed that."
Shoko smiled. But as Saki also walks away, Shoko quickly added. "Rukino-san…"
"?" Saki looked at Shoko.
"Look after him will you? As you know… he can be quite an idiot some times."
Saki smile faltered slightly… and then it was replaced with an even sweeter and bigger smile. "Yeah. Tell me something I don't know?"
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Akira smiled in satisfaction upon seeing the conclusion of that potentially devastating confrontation at the Kagerou hangar. Shoko really did show that smug L-Elf a thing or two.
Suddenly, she heard knocking from above. She perked and glanced. It was Satomi.
"Akira? Akira? Come out! I brought you some food!"
Akira's eyes narrowed to a glare and she curled into a ball, ignoring his brother's repeated pleas.
"Akira? Akira?" Satomi knocked 06's cockpit hatch time and again. And still she won't answer. Unwilling to give up and desperate to talk with her sister, Satomi kept banging the hatch. "Akira! Akira!"
"What are you doing?"
Satomi's hand stopped mid-swing and he turned around to see A-Drei looking at him curiously from behind him. Satomi's face quickly frowned in anger. "You, stay away from her!"
A-Drei merely shrugged indifferently. "You're her brother. And you're concerned of her. I can understand. I have a sister too. And I worry of her all the time." However, after he discovered the 'truth' about said sister, that relationship is currently under direct reconsideration. "But what's wrong with her, really?"
Satomi has no answer for the man largely responsible for turning his sister into what she is now. Satomi sighed in sorrow and finally said: "Akira. I'll leave the food here. But I'll keep coming back every day, okay, Akira? So don't let anyone in! You hear me?" Satomi left the bag containing Akira's favorite junk food floating near the hatch and he floated away, completely miserable, and passed A-Drei without a word but an angry glare.
A-Drei looked at the departing brother, and then he looked at the sister inside the unit 06.
Takahi, who's been peeking from behind a pillar, frowned.
Akira looked at A-Drei's face looking at her… and out of a whim coming from nowhere in particular; she took a picture of his face just before he turned and left.
Not long after…
Satomi went into the vending machine and grabbed a fruit juice.
"You know… I've heard rumors."
Satomi gasped and turned to see Takahi looking at him as she rested her back on the door frame. "…some few years ago, there was an unprecedented case of government security breach."
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Likewise, A-Drei, now completely curious, opened up the Wired Internet and start searching for some data regarding a certain redhead. He found it. "…Arus Secure network was breached by a malicious hacker… is this it?" The article didn't mention who did it. He saw the clipping was 9 years old… which means Akira was only 7 when she did it. 'Of course they wouldn't mention the age… if they did, the humiliation to the government security would be too great.'
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"The newspaper didn't say anything, which is odd… but rumor circulates that it was her who did it. Right?" Takahi shrugged. "Curiosity killed the cat, they say. Your sister was digging her own grave, so no need to beat yourself over it, right?"
At this unintentionally callous remark from Takahi, Satomi lost his cool and snapped angrily at her. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW!?" In his momentary outburst, Satomi squeezed his fruit juice, causing its content to spurt out, shocking Takahi.
Upon seeing Takahi's horrified look, Satomi realized his mistake and regained his calm. Throwing away his fruit juice, he floated. "Sorry." He muttered at Takahi and floated away.
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Meanwhile, A-Drei had dug out enough information to get the good grasp of the situation of what really happened. "I see…"
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At the same time, he's not the only one who did some digging. Akira ran A-Drei's face through facial recognition scan and browsed the net for a match. She doesn't know why she did it, but she couldn't help but to feel awkward about this newfound curiosity of that one eyed Dorssian soldier. At first, most of the data about him were redacted by authority of the Karstein head of school. 'Karstein… Karstein… now where have I heard that name?' And then she remembered that A-Drei once told her that Karstein is some kind of a high school of Death he attended. She need to know more about the Karstein.
And the only way she can do that is by hacking into Dorssian maximum security network.
By the time she finished her second bag of potato chip, she's already trudging through Dorssian most secure files. "Karstein, Karstein, Karstein… ah! Found you." The first view images she saw were sickening. Children were ordered to open fire at anyone they didn't recognize by face. They had to endure the most inhumane and brutal boot camp, forced them to fight and even kill or else they'll be killed themselves. Children for the love of god! CHILDREN! Kinda explain why L-Elf was such a cold hearted and twisted asshole.
She persevered through the horrifying images and searched her primary target. She found it. A-Drei at the age of 10 with two eyes and no smile. But Akira murmured without thinking. "Kawaii…" She blinked several times, and shook her head. Yeah right. What was she thinking again? Saving the image though, Akira then began going through his files and saw his data, uncensored. And then she found the name. Not that awful code name, but his REAL name.
And then she searched that… And then she found it… and if her jaw can get any lower upon finding the truth, it will. Most of the existing articles about him while bearing that name were dated… at least 12 years old.
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Haruto rested his forehead against the wall as he let the hot water washes over his body. He already washed away the filth from him some time ago, but right now, dirt is the last thing he's worried about. Right now it's not his external condition he's worried about… it's what burgling in his insides that's bothering him to no end.
Suddenly, he can feel someone is staring at him from behind. He glanced from his shoulder. "What is it, Hinomoto-san?"
"I want a rematch." Jin stated easily. "10 shots vs 10 shots. Fairly this time. And I want you to bring everything you've got this time."
"Not now."
Jin frowned. "You didn't shoot me back there wasn't because you were waiting for me to change my mind right?"
"I said…" Haruto turned around and growled angrily. "Not… now…!"
Jin gasped when he saw Haruto's eyes glows red with red scars on his face and fangs protruding from his teeth.
Jin frowned and raised his hands defensively. "O… okay… whenever you're ready."
Haruto sighed and calmed down immediately.
He turned off the shower and walk away. Curiously, there are a mass of boys hanging by on the entrance towards the changing room. Something, or someone, is preventing them from re-entering the locker room. "Oi Tokishima! Help us!"
"…What?"
"Your girlfriend is right outside!"
Haruto blinked. He quickly walked outside with only his towel covering his lower half, and there she saw Saki carrying some brochures in her hand. "Saki…? This isn't like yesterday; you don't get to say I was blinded by vomit this time."
"Thank you for the observation, Mr. genius." Saki smirked and then he handed Haruto the brochures. "Date."
"…excuse me?" Haruto blinked in confusion. And then he looked at the brochures and they all showed info about the best spots in the module for a loving date with your girlfriend.
"Take me out on a date will you? We've been together for… how long now?"
"A couple of weeks." Haruto think it again. "…a little over three weeks I think."
"Average statistic shows that if a boyfriend didn't take their girlfriend on a date even once during that period, they're either a cheat or they're not interested."
"What? No! I'm not a cheat!"
"Then take me out on a date. Tomorrow morning. Got it?" Saki glared. This is not an order, this is an ultimatum.
"You barge in into a boy's changing room just to get me to ask you out on a date?"
"Yes."
"Tomorrow morning." One embarrassed Toishima Haruto shook his head in disbelief. "What time?"
"9." She turned around and smirked. "AM."
And with that final statement, she turned around and walks away, thereby the Locker room is once again accessible.
Haruto looked dumbly at the brochures in his hand… and then he glanced at the other boys peeking through the showers.
"That is some girl…" One of them muttered.
Haruto nodded in agreement.
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Pino is now overseeing the final finishing touches on the masterpiece that what was once his brother's Valvrave. Human technology had truly advanced to incredible levels. Back then, in their own world, it took them several decades to construct one valvrave. Of course there was the fact they were spiritual beings trying to create a 25 meters tall physical image of themselves. Yes, the oversized scale was a bit much. But Valvrave construction was their first undertaking towards the unknown territory of the physical realm and so they went overkill… a bit… to cover all contingencies.
And now… it took the humans only less than a week to bring the Valvrave from ruin to… this. Pino shook her head. If his brother saw this, he'll be rolling down in shock and excitement.
"I take it this is unit 02?" L-Elf looked at the still offline but nearly finished unit before him.
Pino smiled. "Yes. I modeled it after my brother, Prue." Pino noted.
"Why does it look like…"
"A wolf?" Pino guessed correctly. "When he first landed on earth, he took possession of the first animal that tried to eat him. A wolf. He likes being one. In fact, many of my friends told me he had a sweeter disposition as a wolf, some say he'll make a better wolf than man, thus they told him to make the transformation permanent. Regrettably, when he finally took a human body, things went a little out of hand with his genes – something to do with the radiation emitted by the moon's light. Can't seem to decide whether he's a human, a wolf, or something in-between."
L-Elf quickly guessed. "Werewolf. Your brother is the one who started the legend of werewolves."
Pino nodded. "Come. Let me show you something."
Pino floated ahead and L-Elf followed behind her. They're heading towards the hangar where 01 is being hanged. They've upgraded a lot of things, added a new enormous exhaust vent on its back. A pair of extra Exhaust vents of similar design and size was hanging near the Valvrave's shoulders. Its side skirt had been added with extra long armor with exhaust ports. A pair of manipulator arms was attached at the hardpoint at the rear waist area, just beneath the hardpoint for a new set of wings. Said wing had yet to be attached on the said hardpoint. It is a heavily reinforced set of wings, with seven Neon Green Sense Nerve feather rings embedded on a reinforced armored wing: Three feathers on each wing with one feather, the largest one, at the center.
"We call it, Valvrave Full Beast mode." (AN: basically, it's similar to Valvrave 01 full impact mode, but with extra equipments mentioned above )
L-Elf noted flatly. "You increase the mobility… added some armors and some thrusters. Making it significantly harder to control… but faster, more agile… and tougher as well."
"But that's not what I'm here to show you. Come with me." Pino floated away from unit 01. He moved towards the forge. A massive warehouse. And then she showed its content to L-Elf.
A pair of Katanas. Massive as befits the fact that it will be used by a 21.9 meter tall giant robot.
"Z-Muramasa blades. Much sharper and stronger than the previous Z-Edges. Build using the basics of sword making used by Japanese Swordsmith of the 12th century." Pino explained. "I even named it. This one, is called Futtouchi (Literally: Boiling Blood)." She pointed at a blade with serrated edge on the blunt side. "And that one-" She pointed at a peculiar blade with the serrated edge on the cutting edge, a mirror image of the previous blade. "-is called Gyouketsu (Blood Clot). They may well be my finest work since Juuchi Yosamu (十千夜寒, "10,000 Cold Nights"). What's more, I'm told that the engineer applied a High frequency treatment to it. Basically, it reinforced the blade by-"
"-By coursing it with a powerful alternating current that resonates at extremely high frequencies. This oscillation weakens the molecular bonds of anything it cuts, thereby increasing its cutting ability. It also renders the blade in a monomolecular state, making it extremely sharp, and virtually indestructible."
"Hm. You know your stuff." Pino nodded. "Come. There's something else I want you to see."
Pino took L-Elf to another hangar. This time, Pino showed… a huge three legged Raven Mech. Its design follows the raven theme on the Impact Boosters, but this one look more like an actual raven rather than a plane. What's more, L-Elf noted, it has a pilot seat on its head, which has a neon green sense nerve similar in design to that of the Valvraves, with actual eyeball like cameras embedded on it. Its wings were structured to look like actual Raven wings, but it has two pair of what appears to be a two digit talons extended out at outermost part of each wing, making a grand total of four talons. The tips of the talons were long and sharp, made of red clear fossil, as do the feathers decorating the other part of the wing, with 2 rings of neon green sense nerve embedded on each of the wing's base and span. It has a surprisingly long tail wing… which strangely looked like a wide twin scabbard to hold two blades.
"This is…"
"Familiar Drone specifically designed for 01's use, the Yasha-Garasu." Pino explained. "The pilot seat is cosmetic by the way, you don't actually have to pilot it. It's only there for maintenance and test-run. I show you this to teach you how to use it… and in turn you can teach Haruto all about it later."
"Pino." L-Elf frowned. "…does anyone… who has been transformed by unit 01… will be… just like Tokishima Haruto? Berserk seizures and all?"
Pino chuckled. "Those seizures are instinctive reaction. A bodily self defense mechanism went into hyperdrive, every Novus Magius have it. But… I can understand what you mean, and my answer is no. Chalk it up to the fact that Haruto was different. He is… unique. From the very basis of genetic built-up, he was different. That makes him one of a kind. So even if Hinomoto Jin entered unit 01 and transformed into a Magius, he will be different than Haruto."
L-Elf sighed. Hearing the name mentioned by Pino means she already knows about the whole replacement ordeal… somehow. Great. "Why him?" L-Elf finally asked. "What makes him so special that he deserves his genetic template to be different from other children?"
"You mean why him and not you?"
"That is a childish notion; I do not weep for what I will never have." L-Elf glared coldly.
Pino merely chuckled. "Nothing. There's nothing special about Haruto. He's just an everyday boy you can find anywhere anytime. It just so happens his father was the head of the VVV project but all in all, there's nothing, special, about him… at all." Pino smiled simply. "And that's what makes him special. Because he's a no-one he can be anyone. He represents the limitless potential that every human can one day become just like him."
"So you're saying Haruto was lucky… or unlucky… to have his father to be the head of the project that he gets his special genetic upgrades?"
"Do you really think someone's gene determined what he will become? You of all people?"
L-Elf twitched. "What do you mean… me of all people?"
"I read your file, Mr. One Man Army." Pino smiled while L-Elf merely looked on in discomfort. "You were once a nobody. Just a street urchin. Not a royalty, nothing. At birth, the higher ups consider your genes useless and slated you for execution. But you didn't let it beat you. You rise up, with your own strength, you survive against all odds. You take back your life with your own two hands. And now, you wanted to bring out a revolution to your country, for Lieselotte, using my Valvraves and the Novus Magius to do so."
"What's your point?" L-Elf grunted.
Pino chuckled. "My point is… I think you should listen to Shoko, and calm down a bit. And why don't you reassess Haruto a bit more, hm? You'll be surprised on how much you two are quite alike… one way or another."
The very thought he had any bit of resemblance with Tokishima Haruto sits nicely with the thought of throwing his guts out and then piss on it. "Just shut up and tell me what I need to know about the familiar UAV before I change my mind and walk away."
Pino merely shook her head and laughed. "Aww… why can't you be more honest?" Nevertheless, she stopped with the teasing and began explaining.
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Later that evening…
Saki took a deep… deep breath. Right. Everything is set, she picked her clothing carefully, she already made preparation on all possible dating places that Haruto will pick, and she already made arrangements. Now she must have resolve.
First… she needs a transport.
She can use her Kagerou but… she make a quick peek at what becomes of her partner, Carmilla. She looked at 04, Carmilla Mk. 2… and she couldn't believe her eyes. "Oh… my… god."
She HAD to take her on a ride. Right here… RIGHT THE HELL NOW!
And so alarms blared allover the Module when an unauthorized flight was registered. Bu~ut, Saki quickly silenced them all. "Shut it, I'm taking her on a test drive!" Saki squealed happily.
"B… But!" The hangar crew stares helplessly at the cheering idol on their computer screen.
"Whoo hooo! Wheeeeee!"
Pino arrived at the scene together with a distressed L-Elf. Upon being told of the situation, Pino merely shrugged. "Meh, let her." She looked at the performance of the new Carmilla Mk. 2 with Saki at the helm. "Carmilla Mk. 2 has an output like nobody's business now. She needs to get used to it. Just make sure you don't go too far, okay, Saki-chan?"
"Ro~oger!"
After a few minutes of death defying and hair rising maneuver, Saki was quickly reminded on other pressing matter.
She quickly docked the nearly finished revamped Potemkin and visited its salvaged brain farm reactor.
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Next morning…
9 O'Clock sharp.
Haruto arrived at the agreed upon spot. And yet he couldn't find Saki anywhere…
"You're late." Her voice came from his behind the bushes.
"Eh!?" Haruto gasped as Saki walk out. "How could I be late? This is exactly 9 A-" Haruto's retort was cut off when he gasped and he almost forgot how to breathe upon seeing the sight before him.
Saki's body is practically bursting out of her cloth. She wear a strapless green flowery dress which slightly revealed her bosom, and its frilly skirt reached slightly above her waist, revealing her beautiful legs. And her hair is tied on a tail to one side, creating an asymmetrical, but cute look. "A girl always comes earlier than the boys you know! You should've think things through. And you still… made… me… wait…?" Saki's reply trailed to a stop when she noticed Haruto was staring at her long and hard.
"…" and Haruto's eyes bulged as the heavenly sight before him are carved to his very mind.
Saki smirked; pleased that this clothes is getting exactly the kind of reaction she was hoping for. "Helloo… earth to Haruto?" She gleefully swings her hand in front of his dazed eyes.
Haruto flabbergasted. "Uh… hm… uh… you… look… uh… pretty…? hm… breathtaking…? umm…" Haruto gulped. He kept trying to say something smart… but all he managed to do was opening and closing his mouth without saying a word. One of Saki's many merits as a self made idol was that she's already naturally beautiful without her trying to be… and now, she just give her best shot to look as beautiful as she could… and it worked like wonders on Haruto's hormones.
A fact that Saki noticed… however, there's one glaring flaw that distracted her from enjoying his attention. "…don't tell me you don't have any other clothes besides your student clothing."
And then Haruto looked at himself and realized that, next to Saki's gorgeous dress, the fact he's still wearing students clothing is just unacceptable.
"…most of them are in my house… and my house was on a different module. The only ones I have in my dorms are mostly student clothing. Because that's what I wear… almost every day… really…" Haruto stated dumbly, still staring at his date's breath taking features.
"You… never bought any other clothes?" Saki blinked in disbelief.
"…never needed it."
Saki pouted cutely and then she finally resolves to simply hug Haruto's arm tightly. "Then you better make this up on our date." She snuggled herself tightly on Haruto's arm, and, either accidentally or purposefully, snuggled it in-between her breasts, much to Haruto's slight panic. "First stop: the boutique."
"Eh!? But… I was planning to…"
"Yes?" Saki glared at Haruto.
"…I was planning on taking you to a bike store first…?"
"Bike store… why bike store?"
"…I was thinking we can… ride bike together…?" Haruto continued. "You know… get ourselves some transport first and then we can go anywhere much faster… that should cover a lot more places in shorter time…"
Saki looked flatly at Haruto and then she smiled adorably. "My, my… you did think this through."
Haruto blushed at the compliment. "Well… I like riding bikes and all... so I thought we could spend the day riding bikes…"
"Bikes?" Saki's eyes twitched and her smile of admiration disappeared. What's with the plural? Did he not see what she's wearing!?
Haruto looked at Saki's dress… the skirt joining her hips together… practically impossible for her to cycle a bike on her own. "I meant bike. You sit at the back and I pedal the bike. Yeah. Of course. What was I thinking?" He grinned nervously.
Saki glared flatly at Haruto, which Haruto interpret as her being angry at him for being insensitive on their first date.
"I'm sorry… I didn't expect you to be wearing that… that incredibly… beautiful… dress…"
Saki blushed at the compliment and smiled widely. "Well come on then. To the bike store it is."
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On that day off, everybody has their own idea on how to spend their god given much needed day of rest.
For example, Yusuke and Raizo had just been shown the heavy modifications that had been made to their unit. Unit 03 Mk. 2… and its new familiar companion, Unit 03-Reverse Mk. 2.
And now they're in a fierce argument over one thing. The one most crucial thing, so important that we're talking about blood on the streets, open war, revolution, and songs to be written:
"NOBU-LIGHTNING IS AS LAME AS HELL!" Yusuke roared.
"AND YOU THINK YOUR LORENTZ-STEIN IS OOZING WITH SEX APPEAL!?" Raizo retorted.
And that is deciding the unit's nickname.
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Moments later, they arrived at the bike store… and they found a complication. The store's closed. The owner was apparently a former particle physicist and so he was arrested when Dorssia attacked the very first time, and unfortunately, they haven't found and freed him yet. "Okay… hrmmmh… what to do?"
"What to do? You can just grab any one bike." Saki shrugged. "Just smash open the shutter or the window or something."
"That would be stealing."
"Hey, we own this country. We own everything inside it until the owner comes back. You can just keep it and then return it to him later if he looks for it."
"…" Haruto sighed and finally nodded. He placed a palm on the garage shutters containing all the bikes. He grunted as his fingers sank into the metal shutter and then he tore down the metal door like it's made of Aluminum foil. Within the store are bikes of every kind. Haruto chose a purple bike with a basket at the front and a comfy passenger seat for his girlfriend at the back, and the bell. Let's not forget the all important bell. "Okay. This will work." Haruto demonstrate this by ringing the bell several times like one would rev their motorbike engine in style. "Ready?"
Saki laughed and happily sat behind Haruto. "Ready."
"Okay. First stop… department store, Boutique."
And Haruto began to pedal across the streets of the city. It felt weird… at first. Many people had returned to the city of the module, but they still have so many empty buildings. So many cars just left around on the broken deserted streets. So many shops are still closed. It felt eerie and scary.
But with the silence, came a heightened awareness of things. And right now, there are only the two of them in this silence. And thus how Haruto, and especially Saki, began to enjoy the silence. It's as if there's nobody else in this world but them. A world just for the two of them. Saki contently found the idea to be extremely alluring. No war, no combat training… just the two of them, living together happily ever after, like in the fairy tale.
And then the road went downhill and the bike picking up speed. The gentle breeze of the wind blows against her face, causing her hair to flutter behind her. She sighed in happiness and comfily rested her head on Haruto's arching back, feeling his warmth against her face, hearing the sound of his heartbeat in her ears. She finds it very calming and soothing.
"Saki?"
"Haruto…"
"You okay back there?"
"Never better." Saki dreamily smiled. She's in heaven, in fact.
"I'm gonna pick up speed. You hang on tight."
She complied by lovingly hugged Haruto's waist before tightened her body to his. Haruto blushed as he can feel Saki's skin on his back, her ample breasts pressing against his back. Haruto blushed furiously, but he tried his best to distract himself from this mellow feeling on his back by pedaling his bike a pace faster.
When they arrived at the department store, the electricity is still out. Indeed, the student council decided to manage the electricity, prioritizing on the essentials such as air, water, food, trash recycling system and other stuff whose task is to keep the human inside the module alive. That means all other pleasantries are secondary.
"So what are we going to do now?" Saki asked Haruto.
"Hmm… where's the electric box?"
They found the box at the back of the store. "Haruto… what are you going to do?"
Saki's question was answered when Haruto placed his hand over the electric box and frowned. Green Rune Energy surged from his hand into the box, and then through the cables… and finally the whole store.
Moments later, the store lit up and everything inside, from lamps, cash registry, cashier computer, and even escalators all went online.
"Haruto!" Saki looked disapprovingly at Haruto.
"Saki?"
"Remember what Pino said! Don't use your runes so callously!"
"It's okay." Haruto smiled calmly. "I kept a safety margin. Besides, powering an entire department store is a cinch compared to powering a Kagerou or a Valvrave."
Saki still felt greatly troubled by this. Haruto's clearly lying. She knows exactly what happened yesterday. He had another attack. Feeding the other pilots, using the Kagerous surpassing its specifications so many times… it all takes a toll no doubt. He just keeps masking it out.
"Hora, come on. Let's go get some clothes." Haruto grabbed a pouting Saki's hand and bring her into the store.
Once inside, Saki's gloomy mood instantly disappeared. And in its place was the excitement of a normal girl in a department store. Contrary to the initial plans, Saki went straight to woman's clothing section. Haruto on the other hand, doesn't mind.
Truth be told, this is what he had planned all along. He did owe her for quite a number of torn clothing articles… And so he just let her have her fun picking clothes.
One set of clothes, two of set of clothes…
Yeah. Let her have her fun.
Three sets… 6 sets…
That's… right… let her have…
9 sets… 12 sets…
Wait… wait a minute…
20 sets… 35 sets…
"Uh… Saki?"
"Hm?" Saki peeked out of the fitting room. She couldn't find Haruto anywhere. "Haruto… where are you?"
"Right here…" Haruto's hand reached out beneath the pile of clothing that buried him. "Help…"
Saki flatly looked at Haruto's plea for help… and then she asked. "Can you still breathe?"
"…yes."
"Then you'll be okay! There are still a couple more clothes I wanna try." And she's back inside the fitting room, leaving Haruto buried under.
Some hours later – and few more dozen clothes squeezing the life out of Haruto, Saki finally left the store with a new cloth for her safely in the bag. "Right… now I need… this way!" Saki grabbed Haruto's arm who, at this point, had been virtually reduced to a traumatized crumpled dish rag, unaware of what's happening around him, and thus he's unaware that Saki is dragging him across the floor towards a certain section of the store.
Saki put a very tired and still barely conscious Haruto on a seat. She then grabbed some choice articles before she went into the fitting room, situated right in front of Haruto. In the mean time, while he waited, Haruto regained his senses and saw exactly where they are. 'Wait a second…'
He looked left: camisole and brassiere.
He looked right: forward hook bra and G string.
He's in the woman's underwear section. And he's sitting right in front of the fitting room.
Moments later, the fitting door opened, revealing a half naked Saki, showcasing her beautiful body wearing an incredibly sexy and revealing black underwear: a very tiny and obviously undersized thong and a bikini bra which only consist of a sizable patch to cover nipples and groins, hanged by thin strings… and nothing else. "Well? What do you think?"
Haruto nearly short-circuited. Nearly. He resorted to merely state a quick: "Good." Before he ran out of the woman undergarment section like a bat out of hell.
Haruto waited outside the section, panting and gasping, holding his heart, feeling it beats a mile a minute inside his chest. And some minutes later, he felt a poke on his back and saw a cutely pouting Saki with puffed flustered cheek, standing behind him, once again wearing that green dress, hands crossed… carrying a second bag, a second clothing article. Some black strings sticking out of the said bag quickly confirmed Haruto's worst fear. "S… Saki… you… that… string of an undergarment… you… bought it?"
"Why not? You said it looked good on me." Saki smiled. "I think I'm gonna wear it beneath my clothing every day now." She grinned naughtily at a pale Haruto. "Next is… ah! Yes! I need a new swimming suit!" Before Haruto can protest, Saki had already dragged him towards his second most dreaded store in the woman's clothing section, and yet Saki's cheerful smile melts away all resistance and plans of protest.
Once again, Haruto was situated to sit in front of the fitting room. "This time, don't you dare to leave me alone like before!" Saki pouted as she bent down and angrily glared at Haruto's face.
"Ah… but I-"
"What if some stalker killer attacked me while I changed my clothes!? A boyfriend's job is to look after his girlfriend during her most vulnerable moment, you know!"
"…okay. I get it. I'll stay."
Saki smiled happily having won the argument. She grabbed a few swimsuits and entered the fitting room. Haruto shuddered at the thought of what kind of show she'll be giving him next.
When the curtain was open, all of Haruto's worst fear was realized.
Saki wear a flowery two piece string white bikini which showed plenty of her ample breasts and even highlighted her groin area. "What do you think?"
"I… it's good!" So says Haruto with his hands covering his peeking eyes. But given how Haruto positioned his hand to cover his eyes, the only thing he can see was a tiny piece of her face. Saki re-entered the fitting room to change to a new bikini.
This time, it's a sling bikini consists of only pair of strings that was hung from his neck, stretched down to cover only a small part of her breast, and joined together on the groin. "How bout now?"
Haruto could barely look. He was too embarrassed to say anything. But he managed a tiny peep. "It's… good." Saki pouted and then she reentered the fitting room. Haruto literally begged on his knees. "Saki! Please, I'm begging you! Could you please… enough with the risqué bikinis!?"
"Daijobu." Saki smirked. "The next one is a one piece."
"A one piece? Oh…" Haruto sighed in relief and returned to his seat. 'Thank god. If it's one piece I think my heart can rest a bit easier.'
And then the curtain was removed again… and Haruto's jaw reached the floor.
This time… she's as good as naked. Yes, it's a one piece bikini. To be exact: a see through bikini. Her bikini are so skimpy, and they were also made of a material so thin Haruto can actually make out her skin behind it. It also barely enough to cover her groin, and even then her bulging womanhood are still visible in an erotic outline. And then from chest up… it's covered only in strings. Literally.
That was too much stimulation for Haruto. He fainted while standing up.
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Aina spend her free time walking around the school, seemingly going nowhere as her mind were greatly troubled. This morning, someone showed the vid of the close battle between Haruto and Saki vs Jin and Nao of the second team. Saki barely won, and Haruto lost in the end. And now there's this talk around the school that Haruto might be replaced. A prospect she found horrifying… and confusing.
If the idea is a replacement, then she, who scored the lowest out of all Valvrave pilots, should be the first on the chopping block. She looked everywhere for L-elf, asking him to rescind that decision. Instead, she found a couple of students in pilot suit walking around, talking something about second team showdown. She quickly hid behind a pillar and eyed their suit. Unlike the Valvrave pilots which had their own custom color, their suit is monotone silver. For some reason, she decided to follow them and listen to what they say.
"Hey, have you seen the vids?"
"Yeah… that Haruto guy lose!"
"Yeah… but… those last maneuvers… damn, are they amazing or what!?"
"Amazing, schmazing. He's still lose." The said pilot retorted. "Way I see it, this is also a chance for all of us. If we can beat the other main pilots, maybe we can take over!"
"Yeah… but who? Saki-chan is definitely right out… and Yusuke is an idea, but I'm not sure I can handle that Raizo…"
"I saw the scores. At the bottom is that Aina girl. If we beat her, then there's the ticket to make our way to the top!"
"Heh. Cool." And the two pilots walk away, far from Aina's earshot.
Aina heard enough anyway. In the end, she couldn't find L-Elf anywhere. Dejected, she spill her heart out with Inuzuka inside the refurbished 05's cyberspace.
"Oh don't say such silly thing about being replaced!" Inuzuka growled. "That L-Elf had no right! No right to decide what's what! Besides, your scores are improving, aren't you?"
"I don't know sempai." Aina reiterated. "In that training exercise, I can do what I had to. I can fight. I can shoot. But… that was just paint gun. And I know I'm fighting my friends, and they mean me no harm but…" Aina buried her head to her knees, more miserable than ever. "…when we had to fight… when we really had to fight… for real… I don't know if I can do it. To pull the trigger. I mean… to shoot total stranger…"
"Aina… if you don't kill them, they will kill you, or worse, they will kill all our friends." Inuzuka replied.
"But they're people too. They must have a life. They also have friends! Families! Husbands, sons, brothers… if they die… what about those who were left behind?"
Inuzuka smiled kindly at Aina. Truly, she's a very kind girl. L-Elf and A-Drei would've called her naïve fool… but, Inuzuka doesn't think so. Her naivety makes her human. And unlike others, she didn't resign her humanity the first time for herself… she's doing it for him. That makes her the most human out of all the Valvrave pilots. And he'll be damned if he let this war took that humanity away from her. "I understand, Aina-chan."
"Senpai?"
That's right. From the very beginning, it should've been him, in her shoes right now. "Aina. You won't fight. You don't have to pull the trigger."
Aina blinked.
0000000
Sometime later…
The two Kagerou pilots were suddenly confronted by Aina, who looked at them in a strangely, angry way. "You two…" Aina growled. "Get aboard your Kagerous. Let's see if you guys got what it takes to beat me down."
The two pilots looked at each other in surprise. They were just planning and joking about it… and now the girl in question actually challenged them right in the open without them having to do anything? Talk about a golden chance. They grinned widely. "You're on girl!"
5 minutes later, L-Elf detected another unauthorized launch… but it's coming from the hangar where the Kagerous were being stationed. He simply rolled his eyes and took his time to go there.
When he finally arrived, the battle was already over.
A black and blue Kagerou dual wielding a pair of paint gun is standing triumphant with only 3 shots marring its body, while two others were floating limp and helpless in space, covered in various places with paint blots, its pilots drowned in crap, urine and their lunch.
L-Elf smirked and contacted the pilot. "Admirable performance, Inuzuka Aina."
Inuzuka growled. "You keep her out of this. You hear me? If there's target needs killing, I'm your guy. But don't you dare ask her to sully her hands with blood for my sake."
"Provided that you can compensate for your limited combat capability and you do not compromise our chance of victory, I'm all ears." L-elf coldly replied.
"Then we have ourselves a deal." Inuzuka cocked her guns.
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Moments later, Haruto woke up and the first thing he sees was Saki's smiling face.
"Wakey-wakey, love." And she's fully clothed in that green dress, thank god.
"Saki… where am I?"
"We're out of the swimming apparel section, if you're still worried about it." Saki lovingly played with Haruto's hair.
"A… ah… I see…" Haruto sighed in relief. "And that swimming suit… oh… never mind. I don't want to remember it." The first Novus Magius groaned and rubbed his aching temple. His face hurts, he must've fallen on his face when he fainted.
Saki wisely decided to keep the news on which swimsuit she bought a secret for now. Too much of a good thing is bad after all.
Haruto's eyes adjusted to get a better look at the surroundings. He saw his condition of how his head is laying down atop Saki's plump and soft thighs, and… he's looking at Saki's well endowed figure from below.
Haruto stared at it for a few full seconds and then he murmured. "…toilet."
Saki nodded. "In that case, get changed! I picked up a few clothes that I think will suit you."
Haruto got up, took the clothes and quickly went towards the restroom. Once inside… he did what he had to do… answer nature's call, getting changed… and more importantly: bring himself under control.
BANG! CRACK!
Haruto punched the concrete wall with his fist, generating a deep crater, denting the electric cable planted inside, causing the room's lighting to temporarily went on and off. Haruto panted up and down. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, the fangs had began to show and the markings vaguely appeared on his face… but then he took a deep breath… and bring himself under control.
Indeed, that wasn't an ordinary fainting. Haruto had been trying his very damndest to stop his curse from overtaking him and take her then and there. But… the clash between his uncontrollable animalistic instinct and his human rationality born from his unwillingness to hurt the woman she loved took a massive toll on his being. Saki's teasing doesn't make it easier, but it's not like he want her to stop. He'll just have to endure it until their date is over.
When he comes out of the toilet, Saki was waiting patiently next to his bike. She smiled brightly when she saw Haruto had put on the clothes she bought him. The new clothing includes a black jacket over a red T-shirt and blue jeans. It suits him just fine. "So… where to next?" She smiled.
Haruto returned the smile. "The Amusement Park."
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"Is there no way we can increase Kagerou's performance…" Ryuuji stated. "Particularly its defensive and pilot survival feature? Remember, these are teenagers that will be piloting them! We need everything that will make up their lack of experience and skills and increase their survivability. An extra weapon or something?"
"There might be a way…" Kibukawa nodded. "Putting aside the fact that Kagerou's outputs are significantly lower than a Valvrave, let's not forget that these things are still, from mechanical standpoint, Valvraves. They still possess the same parts, the same hardpoints, and the same component."
"You're saying…"
"Many spare parts that was meant to be used by the original five Valvraves is no longer usable on them due to the extent of the modifications we made upon them. But I'd like to think that they're not entirely obsolete."
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The amusement park, like every other part of the city, is virtually deserted. Kinda lose its charm a little, as it lack the cheerful, joyous atmosphere that usually comes from the other crowd visiting the park. But in the dating couple's personal opinion, there's always a silver lining: No queues.
Unfortunately, like with the Department store, no electricity.
No problem, they'll just have to repeat the routine of powering things up using Runes. They found the electric box, but before Haruto can do it, Saki stopped him.
"Oh no. This time, it's my turn." Saki showed her glowing hand and then pressed her hand on the electric box. Green energy surged throughout the whole park, and then the carousel start spinning, the lights lit up, the arcade blared to life, and the music also starts to play.
Saki laughed happily upon seeing everything is online and she quickly grabbed an amazed Haruto's hand and dragged him in. "Come on Haruto! Let's have some fun!"
Shooting gallery
It all started with how Saki went love at first sight with a giant stuffed bird like doll. So normally, she quickly hounded Haruto to win it for her.
Unlike before, they can't just smash their way to get it, it was locked behind a thick electronically locked Plexiglas casing. They'll have to win it.
Of course, there's the option of simply break the case, but that would be too unsporting and where's the fun in that?
The goal is simple. They just have to shoot a UFO flying erratically on top of good old planet earth from their stand using the provided built in air soft gun. The time limit is 40 seconds.
After handling and pursuing L-Elf in his maniacal maneuvering, a preprogrammed UFO maneuvering is a cinch.
Or it should be.
First try, Haruto failed, and Saki gets a complimentary tissue gift. Saki pouted, and Haruto was all smile and chuckles. "Alright. I'll try again, we'll get it this time."
Saki smiled happily at Haruto's enthusiasm.
And yet, 10 minutes into the shooting, and Haruto had yet to win the much sought after doll. And Saki grew increasingly irritated at her boyfriend's failure. "Haruto~!" Not even the infamous puppy dog eyes incentive can help. But as usual, Saki knew if you want something, you have to fight for it too. "That's it! I'm joining the fight!"
And yet, even with two shooters, the pesky alien invader continues to elude them, and the couple is swiftly running out of patience as their feet are being buried by that useless complimentary tissue gift. Even the usually patient Haruto found himself angered. "What is this!?"
Saki's was equally angered, but her anger quickly pave way for a calmer state of emotion: suspicion. After the nth failure to shoot that blasted UFO, Saki checked the air soft gun barrel. From the outside, the barrel seems okay… but if one to look at the gun hole… "I knew it… the gun was rigged!"
"Eh?"
"They bent the barrels at the inside." Saki grumpily slapped the gun in frustration. "No matter how much of a crackshot we are, the bullets will never hit."
"Never hit eh?" Haruto growled. Now this isn't the matter of winning anymore. This is the matter of pride as a boyfriend wanting to give something that his girlfriend wanted badly. Another try, and this time, Haruto put every bit of his skill he earned with his blood, sweat, and tears during the intense training. 'Okay… take the bent barrel into consideration… when I aim at something, the bullet will fly to 3 cm off target… offset that… and…' and soon, the bullet is starting to go where he wanted it to be.
Saki looked hopefully at Haruto with gleaming eyes.
And finally, one bullet hit the UFO.
"YES!" Haruto and Saki cheered.
Time's up. And Saki get…
The complimentary tissue.
"What!? WHY!?" Saki roared in anger.
An equally irritated Haruto looked at the rules again. "It says… you only get the grand prize if the UFO is knocked over…"
The two looked and saw the UFO was indeed NOT knocked over. Saki walked into the booth and take a closer look at that UFO. Luckily, the stand owner was arrested, so he wasn't there to stop her. And then she found that the UFO was made of metal plate, and the damn thing was bolted tight to the manipulator arm. Even if they were to rain the UFO with air soft bullets all day long, that thing will never be knocked over till judgment day. "Even the target is rigged." Saki stated angrily.
Haruto's eyes twitched dangerously. Final try.
Haruto enhanced the bullets with runes this time, as do Saki. Both fired in a shooting frenzy out of the need of a stress relief and a mad case of anger management. By the time they were done, the UFO – and truth be told, the whole booth - now resembles a Swiss cheese, and it was knocked over at last. The sign of the winner lit up and the Plexiglas container containing the doll opened up for Saki to claim her prize. "Yay! Thank you, Haruto!" She hugged it and then snuggled at Haruto in gratitude and love.
Haruto smiled, happy for Saki. As they atke their leave, the barely standing shooting gallery finally collapsed into complete wreckage. Haruto and Saki looked at the ruins one last time, feeling little to no regret, and they walk away.
"That stand was a bit much… but… let's try not to blow up every booth shall we?"
"Sure. Where to next?"
"Let's take turns. Saki, you pick."
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Water Slider Boom Space car
Technically, it's the same with the usual Bumper car… with one difference. You do it in zero G. And why is it called water? Because you do it atop a giant floating blob of water. The goal is to keep yourself astride your bumper car, and above water. Problem is, the bumper car has been designed specifically to prevent the rider to be nailed on the seat. There's only a safety cable tied to the leg long enough to prevent the rider from being thrown too far away from the car, but not enough to prevent you from falling into the water. You hit your opponent, they sink, and you won. At least in theory. The rule does not stipulates if the fallen rider can remount their car and dish out some cold wet payback.
Understandably, regardless of whether one will win or not, all players will, invariably and inevitably, drenched six ways under. Fortunately, this particular fact came with a big bold written warning right at the entrance. Unfortunately, because a huge written warning has been given, the players are expected to bring their own swimming suits.
Haruto jawdropped. "Oh lord no."
Saki grinned. "Oh hell yes."
Haruto: a normal boxer swimming suit.
Saki: that near see through one piece bikini that has been effectively proven as hazardous for any male in vicinity in the extreme.
And the strategy worked like clockwork.
Throughout the bumping battle, Haruto was on a complete run. "Wahoo!" Saki bumped Haruto for the nth time.
"WHOAA!" Haruto could barely hold on. Half of his pants had been dipped in water. "Saki! Take it easy!" Then again, even if Saki wasn't wearing that awfully distracting swimsuit of a bikini, he's not one to play it rough.
Regrettably, Saki didn't share the sentiment. "But this is fun! Whoo-hooo!" One last hit and Haruto was thrown off the seat and into the water.
Saki laughed happily as he saw bubbles next to Haruto's car which denote where he is. She's still smiling even when Haruto didn't show up after some time. 'Any minute now.' She's still not worried…
And then the bubbles stopped… and Saki is officially in panic. "Haruto? HARUTO!?" She quickly approached the spot where Haruto fell and bent her head down. "Haru-"
Suddenly Haruto jumped out of the water, grabbed her and then pulled her into the water as well. "KYAAAA!"
Saki quickly burst out of the water, shivering and very angry, and yet she's looking at a grinning Haruto.
He smirked. "Is that fun enough for you?"
Saki pouted… but then, she smiled back and splashed Haruto's face, which he quickly returned. The two played this splashing game with laughing and squealing mixed in for a few minutes. Saki pull back, getting ready to push forward with a huge charge, intending it to be a big one, but then she forget that her leg is still tied to her boat.
She get her big splash, but at the same time her whole body tugged backwards, losing her balance, she fell right into Haruto's welcoming arms.
"Saki… you alright?"
"Yeah… I'm alright."
Saki hold on to Haruto's neck, trying hard to keep herself afloat with just one foot while Haruto did the same. And as they calmed down and looked at each other and chuckled. But then, Haruto's attention was quickly distracted from Saki's wet smiling face… to what becomes of her clothings.
A really skimpy see through one piece… is effectively an inexistent swimming suit when it's completely wet. All the blood rushed to his face and Haruto swallowed a gulp to keep himself from fainting – which given their condition might ended up with both of them sinking.
"Uh…" Haruto had to put an end to this. "Let's… let's… get out okay? We're both wet enough already."
Saki chortled. "Right."
Not long after, the two had already dried themselves up and changed back to their dating clothes. When they left the ride, Haruto was still too embarrassed to say anything, dragged his bike across the pavements. Saki hugged Haruto tightly, snuggling her body to his to make them a bit warmer.
But with the cold comes the growl of a pair of hungry stomachs.
"Do you think they have anything to eat?" Saki purred.
"There's a nice crepe bar… right over there." Haruto noted in a tired tone.
0000000
When they arrived at the crepe bar, they found another complication. Unlike the many other automated amusement ride, this one is manual. And seeing the owner went missing, anybody who's hungry for crepe has to be able to make the crepe themselves.
Something that neither Haruto nor Saki knew how.
So they split the job. Haruto handles the dough, Saki handles the filling. And while she do excellent job with the grounded beef burger…
"Well I mean… this should be easy… you pour the dough on the baking pan…" Haruto accidentally poured the whole pot, overflowing the pain.
In the end… Haruto had to cut pieces of the 3 inches thick crepe from the over flowingly thick dough, creating a bizarre bread… that can easily be mistaken for a bread colored rubber.
The crepe turned into a rather awkward burger with misshapen bread… and as it turns out, it didn't just look like a rubber, it also has the elasticity of a rubber. How did Haruto managed to create it? Lord knows. Saki and Haruto had to struggle to rip the damn bread to pieces with their fanged teeth.
The struggle went on for several minutes, and they finally just toss away the half eaten bread and finish the burger.
"So… what next? Your turn to pick Haruto." Saki still clings tightly to Haruto's arm. Haruto looked left and right and then saw…
"Hey… that one!" Haruto pointed one of the must have in dating.
The Photo Booth
The couple entered the booth. Drat their luck, the camera is malfunctioning. It's not the matter of electricity… more like too much of it had short-circuited the camera. "So… what to do?"
"Well… I have a camera on my phone, we can use that instead."
"Okay."
Haruto held his phone while Saki snuggled close to Haruto as she hugged her doll before them and she rested her head on a blushing Haruto's shoulder.
"Okay. In 3… 2… 1…!"
Flashes of light from the camera and the two break their pose. Haruto and Saki looked at the results.
The couple was beheaded, only the doll gets the full view on the picture.
"Haruto… how could you behead us like that?" Saki pouted again.
"Okay… I'll take it again…"
Another flash of light… and Haruto was in full view, the doll is okay… but Saki was bisected in half.
Another picture, and only their heads are visible.
Another click, half of their body was cut off, including the doll this time.
"Haruto~o" Saki glared darkly at an unnerved Haruto. "If this is how you treat your girlfriend~" Saki growled as the latest picture had her beheaded and a portion of Haruto's head was sliced diagonally.
"Sorry! Sorry! I'll do it again! I'll make sure it's right this time!"
"You better!" Saki's glare says something way worse than 'if you get it wrong I'll kill you'. Her look now says: 'if you get it wrong, I'm breaking up with you!'
Haruto made sure everything is right this time.
Another camera click…
And this time, he got it right. Haruto is standing on the right, Saki on the left, and the doll at the center. All three were smiling, including the doll.
Saki smiled happily. Great. Something to remember this day. She looked at the photo… now… what is this? The way they position themselves with the doll at the center… replace the doll with a… a… and they get a… a… a… well… they're immortal… what would their s… s…
Saki's face turned red like tomato. What was she thinking?
"Saki? Are you alright?" Haruto, still holding the phone before Saki.
Saki nodded. "Now… my turn to pick, right?"
"Please… something that doesn't involve us opening clothes… please?" Haruto figuratively pleaded desperately.
Saki nodded. "Right. Something of a… break I guess." She pointed at the next ride.
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Roller Coaster
They're going up…
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHH!" Haruto screams…
They're going down…
"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Saki cheered…
Left, right, barrel roll, upside down, the works.
5 minutes later…
Haruto is throwing out all his lunch into a nearby trash can.
"You know… we pilot Valvraves… we perform all sorts of crazy maneuvers… dodging bullets and missiles left and right…" Saki shook her head. "…and you still can't handle a good old fashioned roller coaster."
Haruto didn't reply and he kept vomiting.
Saki now felt really bad. Haruto had always chosen the calming relaxing activity while she chose the hair raising and heart pounding rides. She's forgetting, this is supposed to be a break. A relaxation! "You know what… Haruto… you pick this time."
Haruto looked at Saki, as if confirming that her offer is genuine.
"Yeah. You can pick this time. Whatever you like."
Haruto nodded and smirked with his mouth still covered with some bits of vomit smeared on his lips. He weakly pointed at the-
0000000
Haunted House
Saki took a few steps… and she realized she… is so not going to enjoy this.
Haruto put a hand behind her back, 'reassuring' her to go on. But he still whispered: "I'll understand if you don't want to go."
He just took a step back in order to rattle the cages. Saki became even more determined to prove Haruto wrong. "D…Don't be ridiculous! I'm a full grown up woman! I can handle scary stuff! I'm a freakin' vampire for cryin' out loud!"
They sat on the cab, and it began to move on its tracks. First was the zombie horde from the graveyard, and Saki's fingernail sunk into Haruto's arm.
And then grim reapers sprouting from the misty walls and Saki's lips visibly tremble, and Haruto can hear her teeth clattered slightly behind her lips.
A headless knight carrying his talking head astride burning horse armor came to view, and she's already hyperventilating while her cold sweat can fill buckets. Haruto began to regret bringing her here.
And then, finally… the worst… a dark room. A very dark room and a gaunt lady with scissors for fingers sprang up from above them, scaring both shitless. Saki who were so scared she actually blacked out, and Haruto, who panicked when Saki actually fainted in his arms.
10 long minutes that felt like 10 lifetimes later, the ride ends and Haruto carried the cold sweating Saki to a nearby bench, where he placed her on his lap. "Saki? Saki!? Oh god! Saki!"
Saki groaned as she lay weakly in Haruto's lap. "Saki… Saki…" He shook her several times in panic.
After several shakings, Saki groaned to full wakefulness. "Haruto?"
"I'm sorry. Oh god. I'm so sorry. I didn't think you'll be that scared of haunted houses… I'm sorry."
Saki smiled weakly.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry…" Haruto kept repeating it over and over again.
Saki reached out her hand and touched his face gently. "It's okay, Haruto…"
"I shouldn't have brought you here…"
"It wasn't you."
Haruto still look so miserable.
Saki sighed. "…can I pick again this time?"
"…I think we've had enough of amusement park today."
"One more. And trust me… this one is easy on both of us."
0000000
Ferris Wheel
The two lovers sat calmly in one of the cabins. Haruto was silent the whole time, wallowing in remorse, while Saki remained quiet as she enjoyed the view from above. They didn't say anything, not a word.
Until…
"When I was a little girl…" Saki started, and Haruto gave her his attention. "I rarely go home. I mean, what's the point? I only have my loser alcoholic dad and my drug abusing half sane mom."
"Saki…"
"Whenever I did come home, more often than not, she and my dad never fail to have some argument going on. My father would make his point by throwing empty bottles allover the place, mum would never be further than an arm's reach away from a pair of scissors." Saki chuckled bitterly. "Scissors." She repeated.
"Saki." Haruto repeated, and then he kinda understand the scissor effect on Saki. But now her face is just too painful to watch. She's in pain. So much pain and fear, and she's trying her best to keep herself from cracking.
"When they ultimately divorced… I think either lawyer think I would be better off without either of them-"
Haruto wasn't asking anymore. He immediately closed her mouth with his before she utter another word.
Saki blinked, and then her eyes widened in surprise… and then she calmly and happily reciprocated the kiss.
The kiss lasted for 10 seconds, but it was deep and passionate enough to make it felt like it was 10 hours. They parted, and Saki was left with a very happy expression on her face, and Haruto was utterly flustered. "Feel better?"
Saki didn't answer, but she had this… wide satisfied grin on her seemingly surprised face, as if she had a moment of clarity. And indeed she was. The epiphany was: "That was the first time."
"What?"
"That's the first time… you actually took the initiative and actually kissed me first."
"…really?" Haruto frowned.
"Yes. Yes. Every time we… kissed… I had to make the first move and then the whole curse thing had to take over and down goes the romantic scene." Saki chuckled while Haruto still feel a bit flustered.
Saki sighed in content. "Haruto… what's your next plan?"
As that subject brought up, Haruto looked at Saki awkwardly.
"This is still a date?" Saki smirked. "We still have hours before sundown. Dates lasted a whole day… right?"
"Well…" Haruto sighed. "…I spent hours planning what to do… but after that… thing in the haunted house… honestly? I'm a bit at lost." Haruto scratched his not so itching head. "In short, I've forgotten what I had planned to do. Then again, perhaps that is for the best. You definitely need a rest. We've had enough fun-"
"No." Saki stated firmly as she glared at Haruto in all her seriousness. "No we're not. There's one more place to go that will make this a perfect date. And it just so happens, that's the one place I want-no-need to go."
Desperate to make it up to Saki, Haruto readily asked: "Where?"
Saki pointed at the place, easily spotted from their top view position.
00000000000000
Movie Theater
Like everything else, the place was deserted. Raizo and his gang had done watching and looted out all of the porn movies in that place, so people found little use of it. Haruto turned on the electricity with a little jolt of rune and Saki put the movie on the projector while Haruto cleaned up the best seats from stale leftover pop corn and unfinished soda pop.
The movie was… in a word… normal. It's a romantic drama story. Nothing fancy. Not great, but not too shabby either. What caught Haruto's interest was that Saki played in this story. Not as a main character, but as a minor supporting role, a side character. And throughout it all, Haruto must say, she performed brilliantly.
Saki watched herself in the movie. She remembered the days she spent taking part in this movie. She remembered the countless waking hours she spent, going through the scripts, speaking to the mirror to see how her expression looked like when she uttered each syllable, making sure she get the right emotion across.
And then…
"I've always been alone." Saki suddenly muttered, much to Haruto's shock. "No friends, no family. Nobody chose me. I wanted to be chosen. By just one person. If my loneliness became our loneliness, that would be enough for me."
"Saki?" Haruto looked at Saki. "What are you-"
"I've always been alone." The Saki in the screen repeated. Haruto looked at the screen. "No friends, no family. Nobody chose me. I wanted to be chosen. By just one person. If my loneliness became our loneliness, that would be enough for me."
And in that one sentence, Haruto saw not whatever character Saki was playing, Haruto saw Saki herself uttering those words. And in that one moment… that single heartfelt moment, Saki wasn't performing. Which is why she shined incredible bright in that one moment. The other actors in the film were admirable and brilliant, but that sentence; that performance by Saki at that exact, specific moment… made everyone else in that movie looked like B-rate movie actors.
"Amazing right?" Saki snickered as she got up from her seat. "It's been 2 years since I played in that movie and I still remembered every word, every detail. I'm quite the actress, wouldn't you say?"
"Saki…" Harto understand completely. She wasn't performing. That was real. The emotions were real. "Saki… you're not alone anymore."
"Question: what do you think the actress was thinking when she said those lines?" Saki smiled… first mischievously… and then… "And second question…" She clasped Haruto's face, and gave him the most loving look she had never given to anyone but the one true love of her life. "What… is she thinking… now?" She whispered sweetly… before she brought her lips to his… deeply.
The kiss was passionate and long. Their mouth opening and closing on each other, trying desperately to swallow each other's lips, tongues meet and engulfed one another, tasting one another.
A burgeoning nudge coming from within haruto's chest had to ruin everything.
Haruto suddenly parted away from Saki as he pushed her back. Both are panting and gasping, a string of saliva still connected their lips. "Uh… um…"
Saki at first looked a bit chagrined… but then it gently and easily shifted to indifference… and finally a light smile of understanding. That is just so Haruto. Shy and wanting to keep a nice pace of everything. And she knows what lurk in his soul. And he want to keep that in check, for her sake. If only he knew. If only he knew what she's been doing to him. Saki chuckled. "Well… that was… intense… I guess?"
"I… guess… so…" Haruto felt really awkward. "Uhmm… let's finish watching the movie?"
"Nah. Let's ditch it. My character died unhappily by the end of the movie anyway. It sucks." Saki chuckled. "Let's go."
"O~okay."
When the two left the movie theater, the sky had turned purple yellow, indication of evening. Local time, it's 6 O'clock.
"WELL! This has been an amazing date. Well done, Mr. Tokishima. Not bad for your first time." Saki gave Haruto her evaluation of their very first date. "On a scale of 1-10 I'll give you a solid… 8 minus."
"Minus?" Haruto gawked. "Minus!?" He repeated.
"You scared me halfway to death until I fainted. You made me cook our lunch, which you partially ruined with that thick and rubbery crepe. You mutilated me several times during that photo-booth, 8 minus is more than you deserve really."
An officially incredibly depressed Haruto went crestfallen. "…sorry." He peeped.
"Well… there's one way I may turn that into a 10…" Saki smirked naughtily, pushing the right button at the right time.
"?" Haruto's ears perked.
"…stop by the supermarket and then walk me home?"
Haruto blinked in confusion. He understand the walk her home part, that was his intention from the beginning. But what's this about the "…supermarket?"
"I need to buy ingredients for dinner." Saki smiled. "OUR dinner. You're going to eat dinner with me, I'm cooking. Or are you telling me you're okay with that god awful crepe?"
Haruto raised his hands in defeat. She won.
00000000000000
Supermarket…
"I'll be honest with you… no offense, but I didn't know you can cook. Really."
"Hey, I think we both agree that the most delicious part of that crepe is the burger I cooked, no?"
"…you're never gonna let me go on that one, huh?"
"No." Saki replied with finality. This rubber crepe ordeal is going to stretch a long way down the history of bad culinary.
And thus how Haruto walked Saki all the way to the entrance of the said supermarket when he remembered something. "Oh no…"
"What?"
"I forgot something… something VERY important." He slapped himself silly. "Saki… uhh… take your time here, I will come back as soon as I can. I promise!"
"What? Forget what? Haruto-!?" Haruto didn't give her a chance to finish her question, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and he quickly dashed into the street on his bike like a man possessed.
Saki glared at Haruto's speeding figure and she shook her head, visibly upset. She took a basket and entered the supermarket. As it happened, she was not the only one.
The supermarket was filled with students. However, she'd like to note that she's the only one wearing a dress amidst other kids wearing students' uniform. Kinda makes her a little bit out of place really. Hence the reason why, as soon as she entered the supermarket, everyone stopped moving and all eyes turned to her in awe and shock. They can't seem to remember there's someone that beautiful in their school. Some students even took pictures of her. Ignoring their awed stare, Saki grabbed a basket and indifferently went on doing what she came here to do.
She began grabbing things from the shelves as she start forming an image of what she's going to cook for the two of them. Regrettably, that image has been slightly marred with how upset she was that Haruto left her like that. Hence why instead of imagining something delicious that will reach a man's heart located next to his stomach, she began thinking of a dish that will give Haruto a stomach-ache of a lifetime.
She absent mindedly grabbed a bottle of honey when she realized said bottle was also being grabbed by another hand. The struggle was short as Saki regained her bearings, traced said arm and came face to face with the hand's owner.
"Ninomiya Takahi?" Saki rolled her eyes.
"Rukino Saki?" Ninomiya Takahi, that aristocratic blonde girl is there as well, with her trolley parked behind her.
Just then, her two friends, Lily Yamamoto and Eri Watari, came after her, and they gasped in shock when they saw Saki is right in front of their… well… their 'queen'. They quickly rushed to her side and stand between Saki and Takahi defending the latter. "Rukino Saki, you stay away from Ninomiya-sama!"
Saki shook her head in amusement. "Easy-peasy girls. I'm not in a slapping mood at the moment."
But then, Saki noticed something was off about them… and then she understand: all three of them were not wearing their revealing skin tight gymnast clothing or their student uniform… no, they're wearing heavily armored silver grey PILOT suit. Takahi had hers unbuttoned all the way to her chest, revealing her well endowed bosom.
Takahi asked first. "What were you doing?"
Saki lifted her basket. "Shopping. For dinner. You?"
"I was doing the same thing actually." Takahi looked at Saki's dazzling appearance in awe. She looked… stunning. Her usual look was pretty, but this… this is worlds apart. She can tell that her friends were quite entranced with her beauty, all the guys are going head over heels, and all girls were brimming with envy. Now she understands why she's an idol. "Don't tell me you… you shop… dressed like that?"
Saki chuckled. "I could say the same to you. Why are you wearing a pilot suit?"
"Why do you think?" Takahi smirked.
Saki thought quickly and then she chuckled in disbelief upon reaching an understanding. "You? Part of the second team? You?"
"Is there a problem?" Takahi narrowed her eyes sharply at Saki's shocked expression.
Saki shook her head and smiled awkwardly. "Nah. I'm just surprised. But why?"
"Why?" Takahi crossed her arms beneath her breasts. "Maybe because I just don't want to keep relying on you and other odd jobs like that Raizo and Yusuke to look after myself."
Saki rolled her eyes. "Odd jobs huh?" She chuckled.
"Problem?"
"No, no… it's fine. We can be a little bit… odd, I grant you." Saki smiled gently at Takahi, much to her confusion. She can understand Takahi's apprehension: Yusuke, a geek who knows better in fixing stuff rather than breaking it, Raizo being… Raizo… with his Thunder and all that… And then there's the whole Sakurai/Inuzuka Aina/Kyuuma mind swapping ordeal… Akira… a complete shut in… and Haruto… who, to put it kindly; have some serious mental health issues. And then there's her, Rukino Saki, who's just being… difficult. "I just never take you for a fighting woman who's willing to get her pretty hands dirty." Saki grinned.
Takahi was a bit caught off guard. What happened to her? She looks so… calm. So mature. So… radiant. Even her friends looked at Saki in awe. "I'm just… stating the facts, Rukino Saki. You can be unreliable at times."
"I know you did." Saki nodded, again much to Takahi's further surprise. "Look I don't like you. And you don't like me either. But that doesn't mean that everything you say is wrong." Saki sighed. "Look… I understand that we Valvrave pilots can be… difficult, sometimes. But… whatever we do… know that we do it, because… whatever we've become… we're still students of the Sakimori high. What we do, we do it to defend this school, and everyone in it. If you can believe that… then I say that's a step in the right direction."
Takahi blinked several times, and then her look somewhat softened, as if seeing Rukino Saki eye to eye for the first time. She nodded. "Truce?" She offered her hand.
Saki nodded and gladly returned the shake. "Truce."
The two shake hands and made their peace. For now. And then they're back to shopping.
And then Saki asked the most obvious question. "So… why are you dressed like that? Aren't we supposed to have a time off today?"
"Satomi thinks we should have some training in the simulator at least." Takahi answered.
"Satomi?" Saki paused for a moment, and then she nodded in understanding; Satomi was in the second team too then. "Ah… that one I can somehow see coming." She chuckled.
"He wanted to protect his sister, anyway he can." Takahi shook her head. Satomi's over-protectiveness of his sister does seem a bit… odd? "After he saw the latest vids… he realized we really are falling behind, so he suggested we drill some more by training in the simulators."
"Vids?" Saki frowned. "You saw it? You saw the fight?"
"Your team battle with Hinomoto and Ota. Your one sided butchery against Nao is one thing… but Haruto's fight with Jin… now that's an eye opener. We've been piloting that thing for 3 weeks, we have no idea it can move like that."
Saki felt a tinge of pride. After all, that's his boyfriend she's complimenting. "Of course. Who do you think he is? He's the first of the Novus Magius, and the first to pilot the Valvrave. He knows more about that robot than either of us." Saki smiled happily.
Takahi looked at Saki's glowing expression. Goodness gracious, the girl's longing of Haruto couldn't be more obvious. Now she understand where that radiant glow coming from. She's madly in love, the poor girl. "My, oh my. Look at that lovesick written all over your face. When is the happy day, may I ask?"
"Day?" Saki perked.
"You know? The wedding day? Has he proposed or something?"
Saki blushed furiously at Takahi's comment. "Piss off."
But Takahi chuckled and wouldn't stop at her teasing. A nice way to get back at her. "You better make sure to buy some after-morning-pills."
"I did. The whole strip." In fact that was the first thing she did right after their first time. And she takes it every time they did it. Though there are also times she forgot if she had taken it. "Already finished the whole pack though. I think I need to buy some more."
Everyone in that supermarket who had been eaves-dropping the diva stopped dead on their tracks.
Takahi turned around and looked at Saki, perfectly dead serious, and blushing all the way to her ears. "…you really… have… done it… how many times now?"
Saki blinked innocently at the Blondie. "Excuse me… you were just joking?" The fact that Takahi's eyes widened to the size of a teacup was confirmation for Saki. "You were just joking." Now she felt so embarrassed she just wanted to find a hole to crawl in. Then again, if she wasn't joking, one shouldn't callously reveal something like that in PUBLIC! What is wrong with her!?
As if on cue, a ringing sound coming from a certain person's bike bell coming in from outside. Moments later, a flustered Haruto walked into the store. "Saki! I'm back! I…"
Haruto suddenly found himself being glared upon with angry bloodshot eyes from every angry, understandably jealous, male in the store. He saw Takahi's mouth gaped open in shock… and Saki's head was down, and her face was as red as the tomato in her hands.
"…what… happened?" Haruto blinked.
Within seconds, Saki finished her shopping and quickly snuggled at Haruto, burying her head down to her chest. She was so embarrassed; she could barely manage a whisper: "Let's go."
"…you're done?"
Saki nodded quietly.
"You're sure?"
Saki nodded again, more furiously this time. She tightened her hug on Haruto, trying to hid her embarrassment from everyone, including him. Haruto understand something embarrassing had happened and Saki wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Okay." Haruto finally nodded.
She sat at the passenger seat as Haruto pedal away as fast as he could, quickly leaving the supermarket behind.
As they zoomed across the streets, Haruto couldn't help to ask. "Will you tell me what happened?"
Saki didn't answer. She just hugged Haruto tight and buried her head into his back. She's still too embarrassed to say it. Instead, she tried to distract herself. "Where were you?" She sulked… again.
"I…" Haruto nervously fidgeted. "I was… picking something I forget to pick." Haruto chuckled. "…umm… where is your house, again?"
Saki murmured the directions, and they soon arrived at an apartment. Haruto blinked in amazement at the size of the apartment as Saki climbed down from the bike. "Well come on." She pulled Haruto's sleeve several times and Haruto followed quietly.
In the elevator, Haruto found it strange that Saki kept quiet the whole time, her eyes remained hidden beneath her bangs, and yet the blush had yet to disappear. Now, Haruto was more worried than curious. "…did Takahi tease you that badly? Or did she-"
"She couldn't hurt me even if she tried anyway." Saki chuckled. But she still looked somewhat… down. As if she was overwhelmed by a great sense of guilt of having done something really wrong. But truth be told… this isn't about what she had done… this is about what she's about to do.
"Saki… I'm… I'm really worried now… are you okay?" Haruto suddenly blinked. "Were you mad because I left you all alone in that supermarket?"
Saki looked at Haruto's concerned face, and she snickered. Just like Haruto to always worry about others before himself. She smiled naughtily and regained some bits of her mischievous self. "Yes. I'm mad. Do you have any idea what it's like when I shop while I was dressed like this without anyone by my side? Everyone's staring at me! It felt so embarrassing I could die!"
"Sorry." Haruto fell into depression again.
Saki chuckled and then she laughed. "Oh come on. Turn that frown upside down, it's not that bad." Saki approached Haruto and caressed his face, lifting it up. "Still… I'm curious. What exactly did you picked up? It must be really important for you to panic like that."
"It is." Haruto smiled nervously. "…to be honest… it's… for you really."
Saki's gentle smile faltered slightly.
Haruto reached into his pocket and then he handed something for her. A gift that, though she had not known it, she will treasure for centuries to come.
A simple, cheap… and very ordinary pink locket.
"I took it from the gift shop near the movie theater. Something to… make up for… well… having a minus date and all and…"
Saki took the locket from Haruto and glued her eyes on it, never leaving it from her sight, not saying a word until the elevator reached their destination.
"Ah, we're here." Only when Haruto said so did Saki averted her eyes from that unassuming locket.
"R-Right." Saki nodded. "H… Haruto… be a good boy and bring my stuff to my room? Third door on the right."
"Sure." Haruto nodded and grabbed the bags containing her stuff. He momentarily stopped and looked back at Saki. She seem a bit… off. A bit… uncertain with herself. "Saki, seriously… are you alright?"
Saki perked and smiled sweetly at Haruto. "I'm alright. In fact… I felt… better than I've ever been all my live." She once again caressed Haruto's face. "You go on ahead. I'll be just a sec."
Haruto felt something was off with that request, but he nodded anyway and walked ahead first.
Saki grasped the locket in her hands… and then she fell with her back against the elevator walls. Lord help her. Now she knows what's wrong with her. It all makes sense now. She is crazy. Yes. Crazy. She loved Tokishima Haruto so much… she's gone mad because of it. And it felt good. She likes going out of her mind because of her unending love for Haruto. "That's right. No turning back… no… this is definitely… what I want. No need to get cold feet."
That's right. She had been preparing for this since yesterday's evening. Spent hours choosing the right clothing, the right perfume, every action she take yesterday and today was for this one last step.
"Uhh… Saki?"
"Yes?"
"The door's locked."
"Right." Saki ran after Haruto as she put the locket over her neck. "I brought the keycard." And the final seduction began. She pulled out the keycard… from inbetween her breasts right in front of Haruto. He blushed furiously and momentarily averted his gaze. Saki chortled, fully expecting that will happen.
The card slide down, and the door was unlocked. "Come on in."
"A… Are you sure?" Still blushing, Haruto suddenly didn't find going into a girl's room, even if she's his girlfriend, a very good idea.
"Oh yes I'm sure. I still need to cook you a dinner." Saki opened the door and motioned Haruto to come in first. If nothing else, to ensure he won't try to escape when she's not looking. Haruto walked in and Saki closed the door behind him… but not before she threw away her keycard OUTSIDE the door. The beauty of modern day electronic lock: you need keycard to get in AND out.
The two are effectively locked in her room. But her beloved Haruto doesn't need to know that… yet. "Bring the stuff to the kitchen will you?"
"Sure…" Haruto carry the bags to the kitchen… but as he walked through Saki's room, he was surprised to find how… empty, it was. It's definitely larger than the normal dorm, there's furniture, there's tables and chairs, there's painting, there's kitchen, there's bathroom, there's bedroom… the only thing it didn't have… was proof that a living person lived here. Everything in here was something that was come built in, provided by the apartment… but there are none that is in her style… or having her personal touch in it. What's more, everything still smells of soap and cleaning agent. She just recently cleaned the whole room, probably just for this occasion of him coming in. A sign that either this place was really filthy or messy, which means she doesn't care about it until today.
All in all, it's like… this is someone else's room that was vacated and she just made use of it.
He put the bags on the table in the kitchen. "Okay… I just put the stuff in the kitchen… I…" Once again, Haruto's heart skipped a beat when he saw Saki had almost finished undressing herself. And for the record… the only undergarment she wears was a single white pantie, and nothing at top. "Saki! WHAT-!?"
"Come on, are you still gonna get flustered every time you see my body?" Saki laughed. "Why don't you go and take a hot bath while I cook something up?"
"Very good idea." Haruto literally ran with his tails between his legs into the bathroom.
Saki smirked. Time for the final blow.
Haruto literally drenched himself in overly hot water just to distract this burgeoning feeling inside his chest. What is with Saki today? For their first date, her stimulation of him is just criminal! She kept stirring up his libido over and over all day… "Wait…" Haruto's mind raced back to zero hour. Everything she does… the clothes she wear… her choice of overly exposed swimwear… And now here he is… inside her room… inside her bath…
"Haruto~o." Saki appeared behind Haruto, completely naked. "Dinner is serve~ed!"
Haruto just stare at the wall while Saki hugged him tightly from his back, pressing her breasts against him, preventing him from taking another step. He can feel her nipples poking him, smothering his back. Haruto's body was involuntarily pressed against the showers, and the handle was pushed to an off, and the shower stopped.
"I have to do it… no…" Saki whispered sweetly. "I want to do it."
"S… Saki…" Haruto gasped. Oh god. This was her plan all along. Dinner… with her as the main course. She want him to rape her… to feed on her. And it's working like clockwork. His chest began to growl again. "Saki… please… get away from me."
"No." Saki's breathings grew heavy, Haruto can actually feel her heart pounding through her squeezed chest.
Haruto gently turned around and beheld Saki's beautiful flustered face. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth hung open. "S… Sa-mmm!" Before Haruto can say anything, Saki's mouth swallowed his, and her wet salivating tongue pushed into his mouth and start playing with Haruto's unprepared tongue. Her arms sling past his neck, hugging and pressing Haruto's head deeper into hers so as to meld her lips with his.
"Mm… mmmhmmm…" Their lips continue to smother one another for minutes. And then she parted slightly, but she kept her face locked to his. "Haruto… it hurts… right?" She moaned.
"S… Saki… w… what do you mean…"
"Don't lie to me." And then she did something that made his heart skipped a beat. She erotically showed him her exposed neck. She purred sweetly. "Why do you think I pick that strapless open cloth? Why did I pick so many embarrassingly revealing swimsuits… why did I so wanted you to lose control… to make love with me?"
Haruto saw her white skinned neck… and gulped. The beast in his chest is growling again.
"You want to feed. Right?" Saki whispered alluringly. "After that Magius, everyone has been feeding of you… and you haven't fed on anyone else again… have you? You've been eyeing every bit of my exposed skin. But that wasn't because how I bat eyelashes at you… you were hungry. You were thirsting to sink your teeth on my flesh and drank my blood. I'm a food. A delicious food whose nutrition you severely needs."
"Sa… Saki… you're not… seriously…"
Saki confirmed by seductively smothering her lips around Haruto's. "I've locked the door. No one can come in… and no one can come out."
Haruto gasped. "S… Saki… W…wait…" He held Saki at bay by her shoulders. "Remember what Pino told us! If I sucked in your runes, I'll suck in your memories! Then… what will happen to you?"
"It's okay." Saki nodded towards a nearby trash can, it was full of empty tin cans. Haruto narrowed his eyes and saw traces of green glowing particles. "They called it Synthetic Rune. It's the thing they used to power the carriers and the Walkits… I've been drinking that stuff since yesterday evening. Now I'm like a big tank of Runes right now, just waiting for you to-" She drove the last coffin nail by whispering it erotically word per word. "Suck… it… all… out…!" She licked her lips as a final measure.
"Saki-!" Haruto gasped. Upon hearing those words, Haruto's bestial instinct is one breath away from going completely out of control.
Saki parted from Haruto and stands completely naked in front of him, showing him her body in its entirety, stirring his beast even more. Just like that time in the showers. But this time… it's way worse. This time, Haruto wasn't sure if he can stop himself… as it is he felt like he might even ravage Saki then and there even when there are other people watching.
And Saki had ensured that there won't be any other people watching.
"Saki!" Haruto couldn't control himself anymore and he dashed forward and pushed her to the wet floor. And the ravaging begins.
"Good…" Saki smiled.
He violently grasped her breast and hungrily bite it, sucking it. His other hand also yanked and tweaked her other vacant breast. His teeth actually sank into her supple breast. Blood trickled out as Haruto thirstily drank whatever liquid pouring into his mouth. At the same time, Saki also felt Haruto was sucking more than just her blood. She knows what it was… and she's glad for it.
"Yes… Yee~es!" Saki gasped in pleasure and happiness.
Haruto started by kissing her naked body again and again. He started by kissing beneath her breasts, nibbling and smothering down her womb, teasing and licking her navel until he finally reached her groin. It was already soaking wet. And without further ado, Haruto, maddened by hunger and lust, actually bite into it, thirstily drinking whatever gushed out.
Saki squealed in pain but she kept smiling. "Yes… that's it… AH!" She ignored the pain. Focus on the pleasure. It wasn't hard. The way Haruto kept licking, kissing, drinking everything she leaked out, the pleasure easily overtake everything, including her sanity. Saki's hand caressed Haruto's head, pressing him deeper. "That's it. That's good… Haruto…" She clawed into his hair, pressing him deeper, deep into the very threshold of her pleasure senses.
"KYAAhAHAHAAARGnnhH!" After one last lick before the final bite, Saki gritted her teeth in ecstasy as her back arched into a curve. She can feel her lower area melts and something gushed out like a flood. A flood that Haruto drank hungrily. She can feel his mouth sucking into her fleshly opening, and she gasped for breath.
Saki's arched back quickly flat down in a limp on the flooding floor. Her smile showed how much pleasure she's feeling. And yet, instead of dying down, she wanted more. Amidst her pants and gasps, she peeked at Haruto. It seems he had regained some his common sense and backed away from her in daze and fear, his back pressed to the wall. His confused face was smeared with some leftovers from her juice. Couple that with his usual cute baby face flustering, it made him more alluring.
"Haruto…" Saki purred slurry. Saki crawled on all fours, her body's burning warm like an animal in heat she is now. She reached Haruto's downed being, and she began moving erotically to that specific body part, purposefully caressing her breasts against his limbs, sensually tickling him to no end. "S… Saki…"
"It's okay…" Saki started by licking the still somewhat limp member. But by the time Saki had licked every inch of it, it stood tall and firm. Saki didn't waste time and happily swallowed it, much to Haruto's shock at the immense pleasure he received. "Holy-" He gritted his teeth in ecstasy while his hands helplessly grasped Saki's dark hair while her head continue to move up and down, her mouth gently caressed its load. Haruto moaned and gasped. "Aahh… Ahhnn… ahh… Sa… Saki… ahh…" It's like it was being caressed very gently by a slimy, slick… rope. A rope so long it encircled and squeezed his several time, sucking things out of him and yet at the same time preventing it from letting anything out. One last suck, and Haruto gritted his teeth, gasping, releasing, pouring everything uncontrollably until it trickled past the corner of Saki's mouth.
Saki back down while it's still spurting furiously, the liquid trickled out of her open aghast mouth, and her dazed expression were marred with the splattered liquid, her face erotically soiled with the Haruto's essence, making her even more alluring to her dazed and panting mate.
Saki knew this. Licking her smeared lips, she wasted no time and closed his lips with her own. Their juice stained face smothered one another as saliva and drool trickled out of their gurgling lips. But such was the passion entailed, they kissed each other so ferociously and deeply, they almost forgot to breathe.
Almost. Saki parted from Haruto as her hands caressed her lover's face, her eyes gleamed happily as if she's looking at the most beautiful thing on earth.
Haruto could say the same, in regards to Saki's flustered face. "Sa…ki…"
"Haruto… I'm yours." She tucked her forehead to his. "My body… my soul… they belong to you and you alone. From the very last strand of my hair to the very tip of my toes. All of it. Yours." She reaffirmed this by planting another deep kiss. "When you said you're willing to spend the rest of your life with me… I made that silent vow then and there."
Saki began to move her waist up, positioning her opening right above Haruto's member. Saki teased it several times, touching his and hers several times and then she slammed her waist down to let it pierce her in its entirety. She gritted her teeth in mad pleasure. Haruto gasped when he felt the tightening down below.
"Saki…" Haruto gasped… the red scars began to appear, just as Haruto's eyes turned red again, but he's still dazed and somewhat confused. Confused in trying to comprehend this pleasure. "Haruto…" Likewise, the glowing green web markings appeared on Saki's left neck just as her eyes turned green.
Saki's legs sling forward and tighten behind his waist, as she grabbed his face and brought her lips to his again. Saliva trickled from their conjoined lips as they moan and grunts. Her waist began to move up and down like there's no tomorrow. Saki's moaning filled the room, just as Haruto's sighs turned to moans that grew louder and louder as well as the pleasure began to mount again. Their conjoined organs down at their groins are dripping. Problem is… that beast is… growling.
"Take it." Saki can seem to feel when her mate is on the verge of losing his sanity. She moved her left glowing neck to Haruto's mouth as she struggling to catch her breath. "I will give you everything. So please… take it. Take it all." And still Haruto hesitates. Seeing this, Saki decided to take the initiative, taking a leaf out of Haruto's own book, in fact. She let her curse overtake her, and her waist movements grew more violent.
One last shook from Saki's waist, Saki shrieked as she climaxed. At that point, her fangs suddenly extended and at that precise moment, she sank her teeth into Haruto's neck. Haruto screamed in pain and shock. As he felt the pleasure of his release and the pain of Saki's fangs, a new pleasure also invaded his mind. The pleasure of Saki's climax completely overwhelmed his senses. And with it, came everything: her love, her lust, her pain, her joy, everything. Soon, the pain was gone, replaced with pleasure. An overwhelming pleasure that robbed him of his senses and sanity, and yet all Haruto can do was gasping helplessly as Saki's fang gnashed tight into his neck as blood trickled and her arms hugged him tight. He poured and poured into her, he screamed and screamed with each load unleashed. Haruto's eyes rolled, and he finally roared, completely overtaken by the curse… and the pleasure… and the lust to do more. He pushed Saki down, tearing her bloodbathed smirking lips away from his neck and as he pinned her arms, and now it's his turn to sank his fangs into her neck as his waist pounded in and out of hers again furiously. Saki can feel what it's like in Haruto's shoes, the tightening on his member, the many muscle in her womanhood spasming around it, squeezing, squishing, sucking…
"Suck me out!" Saki shrieked.
Haruto grunted as his mouth remained gnashed on Saki's neck while his waist moved in and out; Saki screamed and squealed in pleasure as she came again and again. Their mixed liquid is now spurting in and out of her slit, following the hammering of Haruto's manhood inside. At some point Haruto didn't even notice he's climaxing and yet he kept pounding in and out of her, doesn't seem to care the liquid who's also pouring out of his partner's slit. Saki laughed and screamed as pain and pleasure coursing throughout her body, his teeth sank on her flesh locked her body place. She couldn't move, his body weighing down on her, his fingers squeezing with one of her her bleeding breast, she was completely nailed on the spot, unable to do anything but to helplessly accept this pleasure coursing through her veins, robbing whatever restraint she had left, corrupting her soul. She loved it. But… is there nothing she can do? She saw Haruto's neck, and smacked her lips. Yes there is. She opened her fanged teeth, and with a growl, she bit him as well, transferring her feelings, her sensation to Haruto just as she came. Haruto growled as the pleasure drove him wilder and crazier than ever, and his teeth sank deeper, draining his willing mate of everything. After a while, Haruto's teeth finally parted, as do Saki when their bodies arched in ecstasy upon their nth climax. The wet floor had been flooded from their interconnected genitals. They still want more, and upon seeing each other's blood stained lips, their fanged teeth glistened with the red liquid coins of their soul, they grew more aroused and as Haruto lifted a laughing Saki up as she slung her legs over his waist, she squealed when her own weight drove Haruto even deeper into her womb. Their blood stained lips also met, licking and caressing each other's face clean.
"Defile me!" She squealed.
When Haruto climaxed again, his whole body plunged at her so hard as if he wanted to nail her deeper. It pushed into her so deep, her whole body was thrown and Saki's back was slammed to the bathroom doors, hard, forcibly opening it. They all lose balance, and both fell on the floor face down, complete dazed and covered in each other's fluid. Haruto, still crazed, grabbed her arms and pulled her back as he pounded her from behind, hard. Saki squealed happily as Haruto grasped her fingers tight, pining her down as he fell upon her like beast… and she welcomed his violation of her like a female beast in mating season. Seeing the blood stain on her body, Haruto grew hungrier. He roared and growled. One of his hand clawed her breast and the other hand reached down to her slit, when his fingers slip in, Saki erotically squealed and her body arched backwards as Haruto lifted her up, her neck in full display and he once again bit her from the back. This time, Saki was even more helpless than before as she cannot resist nor bite back. She was completely restrained, her nipples squeezed and her slit is more stuffed than ever. She screamed and screamed helplessly, as Haruto drank her fluid, and at the same time, pouring into her repeatedly, as she let out uncontrollably. She's hungry, and yet so full. She had her fill of pleasure, but never satisfied. An addiction she will never want to be cured from. A high that will never end and she will always crave for more. Haruto grabbed both of her arms and pulled her violently until her back arched and her bouncing bleeding breasts were hung bare, locking her in place as he moved his waist up and down into hers. Haruto's arm held her waist tight as his other arm yanked one of her breast and Haruto left her neck and bit into her breast. Another violent pound and Saki climaxed uncontrollably, as do Haruto, coupled with a hysterical scream. Her legs trashed and her eyes rolled up as she can feel him overflowing into her. It was so violent of a reaction, her hair tie snapped, and her pony tail unraveled into her usual disheveled long straight hair.
"Violate… every… inch… of me…" She moaned.
Said long black hair was disheveled even further as Haruto still wasn't finished yet. Saki, in her insane state, half hope he'll never be finished. She felt like she can die with this much pleasure coursing through her, then she'll die happy. Haruto turned her around and began pounding into her as he lifted one of her legs upward. Saki laughed madly as the pleasure keep coming and coming. What's more, they've been biting into each other's body several times violently, they regenerate within seconds, and then they tore each other again, the cycle repeats over and over. As her juice covered breasts bounced left and right with each violent motion, and Haruto had bit it god knows how many times. A cycle of seething pain, immense pleasure, and then the numbing regeneration had played with her senses, she began deriving pleasure even from the pain. At this point, Haruto had bite deep into her so many times, her whole body was full of bite marks and blood smears. "Ah… ahaha… HaAAA!" A completely insane Saki found some strength and pushed her mate until Haruto is suddenly under her, and Saki laughed as she returned the favor and start biting back in between passionate kisses to the boodsmeared lips. Blood splatter from Haruto's body with each bite, spraying allover their body. But instead of pain, the two can only feel pleasure. Saki moaned and cried as her tearful eyes rolled upwards and when the two came again with their lips locked, there doesn't seem to be any part of their body that wasn't smeared by each other's fluids, be they tears, cum, snot, saliva, blood, and other stuff. Saki's juice covered blood stained body was raised to a limp upright position on top of Haruto's equally bloodied body, and her waist happily moved up and down the rod inside her.
"Break… me…"
They somehow reached the living room… and they're still at it. The curse marks on their faces and their glowing eyes had long synchronized into the gold color some time ago. They both climaxed furiously while their lips locked until their fluid burst out of the seams of their interconnected organs and splattered on their already sticky body, and still they keep doing it. They've lost their mind to the interconnected pleasure that binds them through the runes. They're in mating frenzy, copulating sensually and bestially in a swirling pool of golden runes leaking out and seeping in through every crevice of their sweating and conjoined body. A normal human would never be able to endure this much pleasure. This… excess… is something only cursed superhuman like them can enjoy. To find pleasure in the very threshold of pain, to made love with their very lives on the line and still find happiness in it. Truly, they are monsters. A fact neither cared at the moment. A dazed Saki's waist kept swaying up and down atop Haruto's equally dazed self, their fingers locking with one another as their blood and saliva dripping tongues wrestle with each other. Even the runes seem wanted to ensure this bond lasts for eternity as strands of runes tied their fingers together, wrapping around their swaying waist as to tie them even closer. Making them more one than they already are.
"Filthy… ah! my… Yes! very… AH! soul…" she murmured in between moans…
And finally, in the bedroom, Haruto is pounding at her from behind, and Saki screamed happily as her fingernails ripped the bed sheets and the bed beneath it in another violent and satisfying climax. Haruto's arm held on to the bed's frame so tight that he crushed it beneath his grip when he unloaded all of it into Saki. "T… there's no way… I can be satisfied… with normality… anymore…" Saki declared, as she can no longer feel any bit of decency in her mind. All she can think about now are all perverted thoughts that will hound her to the end of her days, if it ever comes. Finally, Haruto had regained enough of his full strength, their mating had reached a level no normal human can survive, no joke intended. Each of his pounding had enough force to push Saki's body so hard that she cracked the floor she's using as support, and even her fingers nailed deep into the concrete wall. The whole room even shook with each motion. Saki's womanhood was so tight, Haruto felt his might be clipped off. Her legs were sling around Haruto's waist, locking it so tight with, unknown to the two, enough force to bent steel. Their fingers clasped tightly, their mouths locked with one another's, her breasts and his pressed against each other, their whole naked bodies were practically glued by all sorts of liquid that came out, and both of their waists continue to move furiously, even as more of the bodily fluid were being poured in… Saki's eyes rolled upwards, her locket going up and down her bouncing breasts, and her mind was lost and perverted to love and lust as her cum dripping tongue stick out of her drooling and grinning open mouth. "Oh… Haruto…" "Saki…" "I… Love you-!" "Saki…" "I love you!" "Sa…GRGHH!" "I LOVE Yo~-AAAAARRRRRRRGHHHH!?"
One last gasp from Haruto, one last hysterical scream of pleasure from Saki before the two fainted in one final explosive climax inside her, the juice is still flooding out from their still connected bodies as they lay on top of each other.
0000000
When Saki woke up, her whole body was sticky allover, but all her wounds had disappeared. She gently got up, winced a bit as she had to pull it out of her. They slept while still being connected. She found it… strangely sensual. Saki chuckled and gave Haruto a kiss in the lips. It was just a quick peck, but it was enough to wake him up.
"S… Saki…" Haruto's eyes quickly adjusted to the morning sunlight, and when he saw a naked Saki… and his naked self… he understood. "We… we…"
"We did it. Again. And it's the most amazing one yet." Saki smiled and planted a deep kiss at Haruto. "It was so amazing… my beloved Haruto…"
Haruto quickly went full awake, though he still feels a bit… awkward. He's not tired anymore in that his head seems to be fully awake and operational, but the rest of his body still need time to catch up. He looked at the surroundings and gasped. Tables overturned… the wallpapers had been torn viciously, some of them were smashed actually, what's with those hand shaped craters…? And they're not sleeping on a bed, they're sleeping on a couch. The bed has been… viciously ripped in half. "Saki… did we have sex… or did a typhoon just came in and tear everything apart?"
"Well, a typhoon did came in." Saki chuckled and kissed Haruo's neck several times. "A typhoon called an immortal super human couple madly in love with each other and went a little nuts with their kinky." She hugged Haruto tightly. "Besides, you think this is bad? You should see the other rooms!"
Haruto blinked… and then he felt… faint. Saki hugged him again. "Rest, love. I'm gonna take a shower. A long shower." She got up and felt her stomach felt strangely full… Saki paid it no mind at first. The amount Haruto poured in into her last night… it was incredible. As she headed towards the bathroom, she quickly added. "I'll be skinny dip, and you HAVE to join me." Saki winked seductively.
Haruto blushed, but then, he still having a hard time waking up, hence preventing him from getting up and join the fun right away. Hence he simply nodded weakly.
Saki smiled sultrily before disappearing from Haruto's sight as she turned around the corner into the bathroom. Haruto then heard the distant sound of the shower.
And then, as the rest of his limbs are activating, he felt something else. He felt refreshed and… full of power. There's new fresh strength coursing through every fiber of his being. The beast that had been clawing inside his chest was no more. It didn't disappear. It simply fell into deep content sleep, having had its fill till its stomach burst. Waiting for the time when it'll wake up all hungry and starving, craving to feast again. But, Haruto can positively say, that will not happen again in a long while.
All this, thanks to Saki. She sacrificed everything for him. Her humanity, her dreams, her body, and now, quite possibly, her soul. How can Haruto ever possibly repay her?
THUD!
That sound coming from the bathroom made Haruto's heart skipped a beat. "Saki?"
She didn't answer.
"Saki? Saki!?"
She still won't answer.
And now Haruto's initial shock turned to worry. "Saki!? Saki, answer me! What happened?" And when she didn't answer, that worry turned into fear and panic. Willing his body to recover faster, Haruto finally get back on his feet within moments and he quickly rushed into the bathroom.
And there he found Saki…
…lying on the bathroom floor unconscious.
"SAKI!"
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Some time later…
That morning, the two pilot teams meet for the first time in the hangar.
Team A, the main pilots: Inuzuka Aina, Yamada Raizo, Yusuke Otamaya, and three other currently absent or otherwise preoccupied pilots: Tokishima Haruto, Rukino Saki, and Renbokuji Akira.
Team B, the so called backup pilots: Hinomoto Jin, Nao Ota, Satomi Renbokuji, Ninomiya Takahi, her two friends; Lily and Eri, Satomi's deputy Iori, and a few other random students L-Elf had picked up, 30 people in all, including the two people who gave Inuzuka Aina a weird terrified look.
And just now, the JIOR hangar crew had just delivered some extra units of Kagerous, adding the number of combat ready unit to 10 units.
Satomi started. "Well then, let's do our best today of trying not to get our asses kicked again. Yes?"
Jin snorted sarcastically.
Satomi looked disapprovingly at Jin. "And would it kill to you follow my instructions this time?"
"Following orders is not exactly my style."
"Guys, let's stop fighting will you?" Yusuke smiled nervously. "Let's do some warm up. We're here too early anyway."
And then, as the two teams made their way into the hangar, they found someone is already waiting for them, all dressed up in pilot suit, ready to face the day.
At first they thought it was L-Elf. But as they get a better observation, everyone was surprised to find that it was a grim faced Haruto.
"Tokishima-kun." Satomi started. "We-"
"Pick." Haruto immediately cut him off.
"Excuse me?"
"Pick… 9 of your best pilots… and suit up. Launch in 10." Haruto coldly stated in a chilling cold tone not dissimilar with L-Elf's.
"9 of our best pilots?" Satomi still don't understand what exactly Haruto wanted to do. "Tokishima… I… I don't understand? 9 of our best?"
"From both teams. 9 people." Haruto motioned at the Kagerous behind them. "I counted 10 Kagerous. I'll pilot one. The other 9 will get the rest."
"To do what… exactly?"
Haruto's flat face turned into a frown of irritation. "All 9 of you are you going to fight me right now. Same rule as before. 10 lap, one shot, 10 shot to win. But you all will only need to shoot me 5 times. The winner gets to control the Valvrave."
Everyone jaw dropped. Haruto scored top, technically speaking, he's the best pilot out of them all. But… he can't be that good.
Jin on the other hand, saw something in the way Haruto looked at all of them. There's something in there. A fire of determination that he didn't have before.
Takahi suddenly mentioned. "Where's… Rukino? Is she not with you?"
Takahi's comment just now made that fire in his eyes became even more obvious. Jin quickly surmised whatever happened to Tokishima, his girlfriend is involved somehow. Jin smirked. "Alright. I'll do it. But cut it out with 5 shots. I wanna fight you fair and square, Tokishima!"
Haruto actually chortled. "I'm sorry for not being clear. You're not going to fight me one on one. Oh no. All 9 of you will come at me all at once." Haruto smirked. "That and me giving you only 5 shots is MY way of being fair and square. Because seriously? I doubt any of you could even land a shot at me."
That was Haruto's final word before he quickly entered his Kagerou and flew off.
That comment also made 9 of the existing best pilots made ready for action within moments: Jin, Aina, Takahi, Satomi, Yusuke, Nao, Raizo, Lilly, and Eri. Soon, 9 Kagerous flew out of the module hangar.
15 minutes later, L-Elf arrived to the now empty hangar and find he's missing at least 10 students and 10 Kagerous. All the best 10, in fact. "Where are the others?"
That question went unanswered by everyone present. Their eyes were transfixed at the scene playing out by the monitor. Too distracted to even notice his presence.
"Excuse me? Where are 10 of our best pilots?" L-Elf repeated. And still it went unanswered. L-Elf finally looked at the monitor, curious as to what exactly is distracting them.
He saw the asteroid field… and judging by the paint blots on some of them and the number of disabled Kagerou with at least 10 paint blots on them, a fierce battle is going on at the present. The pilots were entranced by the battle proceeding before them. Judging by the way their eyes widened in awe, it must've been quite an eye opening event.
One Kagerou is still functional, which L-Elf recognized as Ninomiya Takahi's unit. She had 9 blots, and she's taking protection behind an asteroid. It's quite a well protected spot… until a Kagerou unit which L-Elf quickly recognized as Haruto's unit zoomed down right above her, and he fired at her head, knocking her down. As the Kagerou went offline due to its pilot being overwhelmed by gas, another unit, which is identified as Jin's custom unit, flew past the downed Kagerous all around him and went straight at Haruto's, opening fire at him. Haruto flew away, easily dodging his shot, and he disappeared from the screen.
It was then at this point, L-Elf noted how Jin's unit had 6 paint blots at it… and Haruto's unit was unblemished and unmarred by an even single paint blot… a stark contrast with the other units. His quick thinking mind deduced what is happening. "Tokishima Haruto… challenged all 9 top pilots all at once… yes?" L-Elf asked to all the pilots within earshot.
One of the awed pilots nodded without averting his eyes from the screen. Some of them were awed, some were terrified. One such example of the latter was Iori Kitagawa, looking completely frightened at what she's seeing, and she commented nervously under her breath. "The guy fights like a demon…" Some of the other entranced students nodded in a silent agreement.
Suddenly, everyone gasped when Jin's Kagerou unit suddenly were slammed violently against an asteroid right in front of the screen, with Haruto's unit right on top of it. The Kagerou had inexplicably lost one of its arms, the number of paint blots on its body had increased to 7, and Haruto had yet to earn a single mark on his spotless unit. Haruto's Kagerou grabbed Jin's unit by the neck and lifted it up.
Inside his unit, Jin smirked like crazy. He was beaten. So thoroughly and completely that he has no excuse. He gave it all and he was beaten. Nothing is more satisfying than this. 'That's right! This is how it's supposed to be!' "Finish it, Tokishima!"
Haruto didn't need any more coercing; he aimed the gun and fired 3 times at the spot where Jin's cockpit would be, point blank. And then he let go the now limp unit as the pilot inside was being overwhelmed by gas.
L-Elf looked on. A flawless victory. 9 units ganging up on him, and none were able to hurt him. In his assessment that's a direct straight A+ on all skill related parameters. But Haruto's problem is not his skill…
Soon, Haruto's Kagerou landed with the other 9 units in tow. As he floated out of the cockpit, he saw the other pilots looked more frightened rather than awed. The only one who dared to approach him was L-Elf.
And the first thing he said about it is: "Excessive."
"…excuse me?"
"That was a tad excessive, Tokishima Haruto. While it definitely earned you back the right to your original unit… why… 9 pilots?" L-Elf noted and then he quickly added. "Unless you want something more than just the return of your Valvrave?"
Haruto nodded. "I'll do whatever you say in your strategies. You say 'jump', I'll say 'how high'. So long as you commit to our agreement: without any sacrifice. And one more thing-"
"?"
"Whatever initial plan or schemes you had in mind… alter them. Alter them so as to keep Rukino Saki out of it."
"Rukino Saki?" L-Elf looked at Haruto's determined eyes. "Hmm… sure. I can easily do so. But… even if you can make up her absence with your sheer skill, 04 will still need a pilot. If not her, then someone else from the backup team, I suppose?"
"Yes." Haruto nodded. "She recommended… and I still can't believe it… Ninomiya-senpai to replace her."
"She recommended…?" L-Elf blinked in surprise. "Wait, she agrees to this?" He knew her as the most stubborn of all pilots, with her determination to pilot at AAA+. It's hard to imagine someone like that would give up her rights like that.
"She doesn't have a choice." Haruto added. "Not on this matter."
L-Elf nodded and he made the suitable changes on the pilot lineup. And then he chuckled and smirked at Haruto. "This is so unlike you… Tokishima Haruto. So decisive. It is a welcome change… but… what happened?"
Haruto looked at L-Elf. And for a moment, he was reminded of what he had learned in that trip to the hospital, that little talk with Nanami-sensei about the little device she used to test Saki's urine.
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In the hospital, a bed ridden Saki had just finished explaining things to a wide eyed Shoko and Pino as she gently caressed her womb.
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Haruto also gave him the answer.
"The future." Haruto, now officially the second best pilot in that module (right after L-Elf), replied. "The Future happened, L-Elf."
And that's how L-Elf begins this day: by changing Tokishima Haruto's determination ranking from D- to AAA+, which automatically increased all his skill parameters from A+ to AA+.
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Meanwhile, out in space, a Dorsssian Walkit class cruiser, half beaten to wreckage, is floating, drifting towards the Module…
A signal was being sent repeatedly…
"Dorssia… fallen… help…"
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