AN: Hello! I'll start by mentioning a huge spell error in the last chapter. The line about Peko and Fuyuhiko was supposed to have 'the next day' instead of 'yesterday.' Don't know how that happened. (its me being dumb lol) Another thing I'd like to address is the lemons I was considering writing. No one has voiced any negative thoughts on this so I'll take that as people wanting or not minding it. Lemon won't play a major part and wont happen very frequently but it'll be there. Enjoy the chapter!
He sat alone in his tower, the barren room having little in the way of entertainment. Then again, he wouldn't want it anyway. He had to meditate. It was the only way to relieve both his never-ceasing stress and his paranoia. He sat on his bedroll and faced towards the main enormous window. There were three in this tower room, giving it the feeling and appearance of a prison guard tower, minus the men armed with rifles. There was only one way up to him; the flight of stairs leading up from the sidewalk were shiny and looked new. He had his back to the entryway, his eyes closed as he plunged himself deep in thought. ''I've been thinkin'. Kinda strange how of allllll the people ya know, I was the one to become a figment of your imagination. Weird how it all works out, huh?'' Gundham's eyes opened and flicked to the right side window.
Kazuichi Soda was both a creation of his own mind and one that he already knew in life. ''Be silent, fiend. Now is not the time for conversation but one of silent reflection.'' ''But that's boring, man!'' Gundham sighed and closed his eyes again. Soda had been an illusionary phantom in the dark depths of his malevolent mind for what seemed like a millennia. But the Dark Overlord of Ice could silence this powerful persona with concentration. ''Hey, do you miss her?'' Gundham furrowed his brow and squeezed his eyes shut further. ''Sonia, I mean. How often do you think about her?'' Gundham's face fell and he scrunched up his face. He exhaled strongly. ''Not a day passes where I don't think of her. At first it was in grief but as time decayed, I recall our company in as positive a light I can fathom.'' ''Then why don't you join us? She'd love to see you again and so would the rest of the class.'' The dark-haired boy kept a straight face. ''I've told you several times and I will tell you again. You cannot lure me to the afterlife through falsehood and promise of newfound love.'' ''Who you talking to Gun-Gun?''
A feminine voice echoed through the large single room. ''Kazuichi again?'' Ibuki asked as she approached, hamster food in hand. They could obviously smell the good as they peered out of the folds in Gundham's scarf. ''Yes, I am beginning to regret allowing him to suggest such horrible actions.'' Ibuki tore open the bag of food and poured it into 4 small bowls that Gundham had placed next to his bedroll. The Four Dark Devas of Destruction gradually made their way out of the scarf and over to the newly-placed sustenance. Ibuki put the bag aside, never breaking her line of sight with Gundham's face. ''Why don't you talk to Hajime about this? He's got quite a few mindy-type talents up in his big ol' brain.'' Gundham tried not to look away from her but gave in and looked at the Devas who were coming to the end of their meal. Ibuki was the only one who knew about Kazuichi. She was the only one he had truly been able to confide in. Especially when something about Sonia or Kazuichi came up. She had witnessed their deaths the same way he had and it showed in their conversation.
There was only one aspect of that day that he couldn't relate to and as much as he sought to comfort his musical friend, he couldn't muster the courage to bring it up for fear of crippling her mentally. Sexual assault was something he had witnessed several times in his life on television and real life but he was too young to remember how the victims had felt in the aftermath. Perhaps it was better that way. ''I find it difficult to trust him. While Hajime cannot remember what Izuru has done, his darker self remains ever vigilant in the catacombs of his mind when he does not retain control over the material.'' Ibuki frowned. It was true that Izuru was always 'home' even when Hajime was in control but would Izuru use something like that to his advantage even if he did become aware of it? She was unsure and she assumed Hajime would be as well. ''Why not tell Makoto? Big Mac seems trustworthy. And he's probably got a way to fix it. He always seemed to in the game at least…'' She trailed off, waiting for an answer from the Breeder. Gundham seemed to ponder for a moment. Ibuki seemed content in waiting for his mind to think it over as she watched the Devas form a hamster pyramid on Gundham's pillow.
''The meek one.'' Ibuki met his gaze. ''The one with the glasses and the distorted mind that splits into two dastardly beings of existence. Do you think she may have wisdom she wishes to pass on to someone experiencing the same affliction?'' Ibuki nodded and urged him to give a reason why he'd turn to arguably the most emotionally unstable of the 78th class. ''She may provide insight into what it truly means to be of two minds but of one body. If not in her average, powerless form, then perhaps in her most unfavourable one?'' Ibuki gave him a wide grin. This was small progress but progress none the less. He'd actually chosen to speak to someone other than her about his problems! Gundham doing that was the equivalent of finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. She reached forwards and clasped his hands. She leaned in slightly and showed off her grin as clearly as she could. Her smile was infectious and soon Gundham returned a small smirk of his own. Ibuki released her grip on his ringed fingers and stood sharply before practically sprinting to the door to the stairs. ''Drop by tomorrow Gundy?'' She asked with a raised brow. Gundham bobbed his head in accordance and Ibuki giggled before running down the stairs. ''She always was one of the good ones, huh?'' Kazuichi leaned back in the computer chair by the main control panel. Gundham found himself nodding at the ghost as he flexed his fingers. Her hands were warm.
And that's all she wrote! I wanted to write another chapter to make up for me being late with my last update so here it is! If you want to see more shorter exposition-based chapters like this in-between larger chapters, leave a review or PM me! Thanks!
