Note: Chapter revised May 2, 2020
Disclaimer: All characters and settings (including OCs) are properties of their respective owners.
Legend:
"Normal speech"
"[English speech]"
"{Other language}"
"Thoughts (Assume character's native language)"
Second Round - The Scarlet Swordswoman
Visual: Himari lying face-up on a bed with Yasutsuna beside her, wearing a black and red Periphery logo hoodie. Around her neck are a pair of black Audio-Technica M50x headphones.
"Now..."
If there had to be one phrase that ran through Yuuto's head about the situation on the rooftop right now, it would probably be "freaked out." In all caps. With the Caps Lock function on for good measure.
How can he not after everything that's happened up until now? It was supposed to be just a typical lunch with Taizou at the school cafeteria, plain and simple. But then he was forced out of the classroom by Rinko to go find the new exchange student - Gordon Evans, he believed his name was (or as Rinko likes to call him, the "Skate Punk"). He tried many times to convince her not to go through with beating him up, but it just goes in one ear and out the other.
Then not too long after Rinko tried to have her go at the exchange student, Taizou suddenly appeared on the rooftop. Yuuto was hoping he would get him and stop Rinko's rampage together, but...
He was behaving...really, really strangely towards Gordon, saying he's a descendant of some family with...special powers or something, and that he needed to die. At first, Yuuto thought it was some kind of sick joke, but...
All of that changed the moment Taizou conjured and threw that dangerous dark sphere at Rinko and the international student, the two hardly escaping with their lives.
Then things took a turn for the worse when Taizou transformed and grew a set of spider legs amid his scuffle with Gordon. To say it was frightening would be a bit of an understatement at that point. Heck, he even doubted the spider-man that used to be his classmate was the same person anymore, given how many times he and Rinko pleaded for him to stop.
And now Yuuto was watching Taizou getting ready to strike Gordon, who was trapped to the fence by webbing the redhead produced from his mouth.
"Receive...OUR HATRED!"
Crap!
"NO TAIZOU, STOP!"
"MASAKI-KUN, NOOOOO!"
Unfortunately, neither his or Rinko's shouts prevented Taizou from launching his spider legs at the dark-skinned student.
But then...
WHOOSH!
A sudden blur caught Yuuto's attention, moving faster than his eyes can perceive it. Before he can make out what it was, though...
SHING!
The sound of a sword drawn from its sheath caused Yuuto's eyes to widen at what lay before him.
A mysterious young woman in a red school uniform stood behind Taizou, wielding a katana that was a hair's breadth from the redhead's neck. Her long, ebony ponytail flowed in the gentle breeze, and her face had a stern countenance with her violet eyes bearing a sharp glint at her potential foe. Yuuto was also quick to notice Taizou's spider legs being just millimeters away from Gordon's face. The exchange student himself also looked shocked as well, and he couldn't blame him. Anyone would be scared out of their minds if they find themselves just mere seconds away from death.
"Y-Yuuto? Who's...that girl?"
Yuuto glanced down at Rinko, who was on the ground after seeing Taizou transform to his current spider-legged state. She wasn't shaking as much compared to before, but even he wasn't oblivious to the fact she was still reeling from it.
"I...have no idea," was his answer to her. Still, should they regard the swordswoman as their friend for intervening, or does she have an agenda of her own?
"Release him."
Their attention was brought back to the mysterious swordswoman after hearing her voice for the first time. It was sharp and cutting, almost like the katana she was holding.
Taizou, on the other hand, didn't seem at all phased or intimidated. If anything, he was annoyed by this woman's interference. Greatly annoyed.
"...Who the hell are you? Kh-!"
The redhead visibly flinched when the swordswoman pressed her blade onto his skin, nearly drawing blood. Though that didn't stop Yuuto and Rinko from having a panic.
"H-Hey, hold on a sec!" the ribbon girl cried out. "That sword better be some kind of prop!"
"Stop! You can't kill him! He's my friend!"
Ignoring (but keeping in mind) their protests, the swordswoman kept her katana pinned on Taizou's jugular, her eyes narrowed further.
"I refuse to give my name to Ayakashi such as yourself," she stated, maintaining her firm tone. "Now release that man at once. My patience wears thin."
The atmosphere grew tense all over the rooftop, particularly with Gordon who was still at Spider-Tai (his nickname for Taizou's current state)'s mercy. He was thankful for Scarlet's intervention, lest he wound up becoming swiss cheese. But on the other hand, the New Yorker was just as concerned as his other classmates. Can he honestly trust this girl not to kill Masaki with that blade of hers?
The Black teen's thoughts were interrupted when he saw Tai...er, Spider-Tai turn his head towards Scarlet, glaring hotly at the black-haired swordswoman.
"You...! Don't...GET IN MY WAY!"
The furious redhead turned and attacked Scarlet with his spider legs. However, the swordswoman anticipated the move and deflected the appendages with her katana. Scarlet soon took the offensive against Spider-Tai, each swing of her weapon producing a bright arc. Every so often, a few rays of sunlight would bounce off the lustrous curved blade, creating a brilliant shine - a testament to the weapon's craftsmanship.
But Spider-Tai wasn't about to get beaten by some pesky samurai wannabe, and thus he started his counterattack.
"HAH! HYAH!"
The redheaded student used all six of his spider legs to strike Scarlet in a flurry of stabs, forcing the red-clad warrior to parry. Knowing she wouldn't stand a chance against such an attack for much longer, the sword-wielding schoolgirl got away from Spider-Tai by sidestepping a fair distance, then propelled herself towards her spider-legged foe. Spider-Tai spat out some webbing in hopes of slowing the schoolgirl down, but it proved futile against Scarlet's near-superhuman agility and reflexes.
Gordon couldn't stop gazing at the spectacle from his webbed prison, amazed at how Scarlet was duking it out against Spider-Tai. The Brooklyn teen nearly got done in by the redhead after he transformed, and yet the swordswoman proved to be more or less on equal footing.
"Hah!"
WHUD!
"GAH!"
Spider-Tai was struck in the stomach by Scarlet's katana, the black-haired swordswoman using the back of her blade to do so. The spider-legged redhead went flying a few feet before landing hard on his back.
"Taizou!" Yuuto shouted, rushing towards his classmate. But the male brunette stopped after seeing a dark mist shooting up from Taizou's body, turning him back to normal. He looked up and his eyes widened at what was above him.
Right above Yuuto's head was a giant, green-and-blue spider creature with a grey, humanoid face. The arachnid spewed out a large glob of web from its mouth, the projectile heading straight for the brunette.
Yuuto was about to let out a scream before a familiar figure suddenly stepped in front of him.
SLICE!
Before his mind can make out what was happening, the web projectile was quickly split into two, sending them scattering in different directions. The boy looked ahead and after some clarity saw the red schoolgirl with her katana raised in the air, implying she was the one who intercepted the projectile.
"Please, take that man to safety! It is dangerous to be over here!" the swordswoman ordered, turning her head.
Yuuto blinked for a brief moment before giving an affirmative nod, dragging Taizou's body along with him.
With the male brunette out of harm's way, Scarlet readied her katana and engaged the spider Ayakashi.
CLANG! CLANG CLANG!
Stroke by stroke, the black-haired swordswoman deftly blocked the giant spider's strikes with her katana while at the same time evading and bisecting its webshots. She then swung her katana in a sweeping arc towards the spider, hoping to cut off its legs and render it immobile, but the giant arachnid jumped and spewed a string of web at her. Scarlet quickly sidestepped and jumped to meet her foe, hacking and slashing at the blue-and-green spider. She then rammed her katana at her foe's abdomen and slammed it towards a nearby water tower.
"KREEEEEEEEEEE!" The defeated Ayakashi screeched and howled in pain before dispelling into a violet mist. The water tower also did not fare well, now sporting a hole that spurted out a deluge of water, some of which got on Scarlet's school uniform.
Not that she seemed to mind, of course, given that her focus was on one person in particular.
Gordon, naturally, noticed Scarlet's gaze and for some strange reason, it didn't make him nervous. Instead, it made him feel...a bit relieved she was here. Perhaps? Maybe?
I can't help but think of one character after watching Scarlet's fight.
Samurai Jack.
Back in middle school, me and my Crewmates were totally hooked on that show when we first discovered it. Shit, I still remember every bit of the intro. Gives me chills every time.
Hiro would always act out Aku, mostly for his theatrics. He even dressed up as the guy for Halloween one time. Kibou did a real good job with the mask she made herself.
But for me, it was Jack that got me pumped. The way he hacks the living snot out of those baddies with his sword was beyond badass, even now.
Just looking at how Scarlet handled Spider-Tai...gave me that kind of vibe from her, you know? She even sounds like him if he ever spoke Japanese, as weird as it sounds.
Still, Scarlet Jack, huh? Hmm...
Nah, doesn't really work when you put'em together.
Scarlet's quiet fixation on Gordon didn't go unnoticed by a curious Yuuto and Rinko, who were tending to an unconscious Taizou.
"Hey, does that girl know the Skate Punk from somewhere?" questioned the latter.
"Maybe. I don't want to assume, though," answered the former.
Meanwhile, Gordon watched Scarlet descend from the water tower onto the rooftop, landing with little effort. The violet-eyed swordswoman then slowly made her way towards the sepia-skinned student, her long black ponytail swaying in the breeze. She stopped midway through her approach after spotting Gordon's omamori lying on the ground, its cord split in two from Spider-Tai's brush with it. Crouching down, Scarlet picked it up and took a silent glance at the charm, letting off a puzzled hum before returning her gaze to Gordon. She resumed her walk towards the exchange student, the distance between them growing closer with every step until the swordswoman stopped less than a meter away from him.
"..."
"..."
Both silently stared into each other's eyes, slowly becoming trapped in their own little world. One made just for them.
For Gordon, it was similar to his first encounter with Scarlet, with how her amethyst irises gave off a captivating allure that added to the mysterious atmosphere she seemed to exude. However he now knew they are also capable of producing an intimidating presence, as evidenced by her early interaction with Spider-Tai and the ensuing strife.
With Scarlet, she saw in Gordon someone whom she respected greatly, that raised her as if she was his child.
An image of an elderly man appeared in the ravenette's vision, bearing the same steel-colored eyes as the Brooklyn skater. Though it only lasted for a brief moment before it slowly disappeared, revealing Gordon once more.
It was then that Scarlet regained her composure, her lips spreading into a soft smile.
"Are you unharmed?"
Gordon was brought out of his daze by the swordswoman's question but quickly understood why. Given he was just seconds away from becoming a shish-kebab by that spider, it was only natural Scarlet would express concern for his well-being. Unfortunately, the skater was also a bit shaken by the incident and thus couldn't speak, so he opted to give Scarlet a nod, causing her smile to widen.
"That is a relief. I am glad you are not injured." Her smile fell when her gaze met the webbing trapping Gordon, a grimace taking its place. She glanced down at her katana for a brief second, then back at Gordon with a serious expression. The New Yorker was initially confused for a moment until he looked at his current position.
Yep, still trapped. That sucks.
"Please, stay where you are."
Gordon lifted his head to see Scarlet readying her katana. He became frightened at first but quickly calmed down when he realized the reason behind it. He gave Scarlet another nod, allowing the swordswoman to proceed.
However...
"WaitwaitwaitwaitSTOP! What are you doing!? Don't kill the Skate Punk!"
"Please! He hasn't done anything!"
It appears Rinko and Yuuto misunderstood the situation from afar and, as a result, have begun to panic, concerned for what awaited the foreign classmate.
But Scarlet, knowing what she must do, ignored their cries and swung her katana.
SLICE! SLICE SLICE!
SLICE!
With a few swift strokes, she cut apart the webbing trapping Gordon, causing him to fall to the ground in a slump. Shaking the cobwebs out of his head, the skater flexed his fingers and wrists, glad to be able to move after being stuck for so long. That was not fun for him in the slightest. Two out of ten; would not recommend.
And here he thought his spars with Ronnie and Olivia at the local Y left him drained like this.
Gordon saw a hand reach out to him and took it without hesitation, allowing him to meet Scarlet up close. The skater was amazed at how surprisingly soft and supple the woman's hand was, considering she was probably vice-gripping that sword during that fight. No calluses to be found anywhere. His expression soon changed when his eyes landed on the omamori in her opposing hand. Scarlet noticed Gordon's shift in gaze and offered to give the red charm back to him. The Brooklyn teen graciously took the omamori from her and after tying the broken ends of the cord hung it around his neck.
"Thanks."
Scarlet gave a silent nod before turning around and leaping towards the fence on the other side, landing on its edge without losing her balance. She gave one final look at Gordon and flashed a gentle smile at him, then bounded off the fence and slowly disappeared into the distance, hopping from rooftop to rooftop.
"Evans-san!"
Gordon snapped out of his brief daze when he saw Yuuto approach him, with Rinko trailing behind.
"Are you okay?"
"We seriously thought that samurai lady's gonna kill you," Rinko added, heaving a relieved sigh.
"Pot, meet kettle," Yuuto remarked at his neighbor's hypocrisy.
"But seriously, Skate Punk, you know that girl from somewhere?"
Gordon looked ahead to where Scarlet took off from, the memories of the battle still fresh in his head.
"Your guess is as good as mine," was all he can mutter out.
The rest of the school day went on without incident for Gordon. Apart from having to spend some time in the infirmary to get his bruises treated alongside Taizou, nothing out of the ordinary happened, though Shimamura had a few concerns of her own when she came to check on him. Obviously since the skater couldn't tell the class president what actually happened on the rooftop, he decided to make a cover-up about him being in a scuffle with some delinquents, with Taizou getting knocked out trying to diffuse the situation. It was far from truthful, but Shimamura believed his story, surprisingly enough. As it turns out, the reason why the rooftop was closed off was to keep the delinquent students away. Gordon counted himself lucky with that, otherwise he'd be digging his own grave then and there.
With all that said, that didn't mean the New Yorker got off scot-free, unfortunately. He wound up being scolded by some of the other teachers and was forced to spend an entire period standing outside his classroom. It wasn't a good impression to be made, he'd have to say. No doubt the rumor mills are starting to turn their greased-up wheels.
Welp, at least it's not Malcolm and his cronies this time around. Those guys have been a massive pain in the ass back home at his school for him and his Crewmates. And pretty much anyone unfortunate to be in their line of sight bar the principal and assistant principal. Or god forbid, Ms. Na and Ms. Blumenthal.
Arriving at his house after a long walk from school, Gordon took off his Vans shoes at the entryway and stepped into the hallway. It was an average-sized, two-story home with three bedrooms all located upstairs, a kitchen, a bath and shower, a living room, and a laundry room. There was also a decent backyard. Gordon was quite shocked to have a house like this all to himself when he first settled in. Apparently, his grandmother knew someone who had a home she rents to students since Touryou was a pretty popular school and that she was more than happy to hand him the keys (albeit via a letter). Lucille already had things taken care of on her end; everything else was on him.
Gordon headed upstairs into his bedroom, which was the last door in the hallway. It was a well-furnished room with a full-sized bed, a bookshelf, a desk and nightstand, and a dresser. There were two windows, one beside his bed that gave Gordon a view of the backyard and another above his desk, giving him a view of the side street. The room was, of course, personalized with much of Gordon's belongings. Posters of his favorite comics and metal bands decorated the walls, and a guitar case and amp lay next to his desk. His bookshelf was lined with die-cast models of his favorite cars and trucks, with a blue Chevy pickup placed on the top shelf.
Gordon approached his bed and plopped down onto it, heaving a loud sigh while gazing at the white-painted ceiling above him.
"First day conquered, I guess," he thought to himself. Though...
At last, I've found you… Descendant.
Here I find a descendant of the Kohgawas, and it's just some foreigner who hasn't even learned to channel his powers. How underwhelming!
Receive...OUR HATRED!
What happened on the rooftop still remains fresh in the Black teen's head. He still couldn't believe he was almost killed by one of his own classmates. Or rather, the giant spider monster possessing him. What did Scarlet call that thing again? An...Ayakashi, was it? What even are those, anyway?
And just who or what on earth are these Kohgawas to begin with? That spider keeps raving on about them like they're the scum of the earth or something. Are they some kind of elite clan? Like Japan's equivalent of the Rockefellers, Kennedys, and Vanderbilts? Or the Gremories and Phoenixes back home?
Oh, and another thing. Powers? Really? Even he's not that stupid to believe that BS! Humans never had any superpowers, no matter how many Power Rangers shows he used to watch with Hiro say otherwise.
BUZZ BUZZ!
AAAAAAGH!
"[Hm?]" The sound of the infamous Wilhelm Scream brought Gordon's attention over towards his smartphone on the nightstand. The skater accessed it and saw a notification from his messenger app. Tapping the app logo, he was brought over to a chat room.
Yuuto: Evans-san, it's Amakawa. You there?
After the incident on the rooftop, Yuuto was the one who considered exchanging everyone's contact info as a means to keep in touch. He figured it would be the best way to communicate in secret, considering the nature of the event.
Gordon: Yeah, I'm here. Ribbons joining in?
Yuuto: She has club activities, so she'll join in later.
Gordon: 'Kay.
Thirty seconds had passed before a new message popped up.
Yuuto: About what happened to Taizou back there, it... It really freaked me out. I've known him since elementary school so I know he wouldn't act the way he did.
Gordon: Yeah, I know that feeling alright. Really thought we were goners for sure.
Gordon sent the message and followed it up with another.
Gordon: So any clue on what Masaki was saying?
Yuuto: ...I'm just as confused as you are.
Gordon: That makes two of us. Haah...
Gordon inserted a sighing emoji to emphasize his frustration.
Yuuto: Hang on a second. Taizou...no, "Spider-Tai" did refer to you as "Kohgawa" for some strange reason. Any guesses?
The skater was about to reply with his grandfather being Japanese, but his personal feelings kept him from doing so.
"I wanna get Gramps involved in this, but..."
There was no way, not after what he did to disrespect his late mother all those years ago.
Instead, he opted to do a little shake-up.
Gordon: Ha! Knew you'd come through with the nickname I gave him!
Gordon awaited Yuuto's response, and after a couple seconds passed...
Yuuto: Th-That's not it! I only used that to differentiate him from the usual Taizou! It's not even cool at all!
Gordon: But you used it, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU!?
Yuuto's only reply was a fork and poop emoji, to which Gordon snickered as if to say "Got 'em!" After regaining his civility a little, the Brooklyn teen decided to steer the conversation back on track.
But then...
Ribbons: Hey guys! Just got out of practice! What'd I miss?
Rinko suddenly jumped in on the conversation.
Gordon: Sure took your time, Ribbons.
Ribbons: Can it, Skate Punk. I'm here now, aren't I?
Gordon: True.
Yuuto: Glad you made it, Rinko.
Ribbons: Thanks. Anyways, spill.
Gordon and Yuuto proceeded to update Rinko on what they had discussed earlier.
Ribbons: So neither of you guys know why that...spider-thing called the Skate Punk "Kohgawa," right?
Yuuto: Not really.
Gordon: Nope.
Ribbons: Okay, then how about the weird samurai lady that showed up outta nowhere? Got any ideas?
Thus began the real meat of the conversation regarding the enigmatic swordswoman, Scarlet.
Himari was sitting atop one of the telephone poles overlooking Takamiya's residential district, Yasutsuna resting across her lap. The sun was just about to set, the sky slowly shifting from blue to many vibrant shades of red and orange. Despite the picturesque scene, the swordswoman's eyes were trained on one location in particular.
The house that Gordon resides in.
After saving him from the Ayakashi that possessed one of his classmates, the Crimson Blade scoured the neighborhood to ensure no other Ayakashi came to harm her future master. Thankfully for her, there were none, at least for now.
That was the easy part. Now would come the more challenging part of her mission.
Namely, getting Gordon to accept his grandfather's lineage. It will be a daunting task, considering the deep animosity her master holds against him, according to one of the letters from his grandmother.
I doubt Gordon would want to listen to anything involving his grandfather, but I assure you it wasn't always like this. Back when he was a child, he would always ask me about him. Of course, I couldn't, but he persisted.
But that all changed after his mother died. Nowadays, Gordon refuses to acknowledge him, all because he wasn't there to see Laura for the first and last time.
The damage has been done, but...perhaps you can help Gordon understand why Taiji could not see his family, and what he needed to do to protect them. I would tell Gordon if I could, but...I doubt he would want to listen to me.
So please, Himari-chan, don't hold it against Gordon if he speaks badly about Taiji. I understand he was the one that trained and raised you, but your duty comes first.
Himari stood from the telephone pole, her eyes still fixed on Gordon's house. Though it would be difficult, she has waited all these years to meet her master. It matters not what he has to say about Grandpa Tai, so long as she can fulfill her duty as his bodyguard.
"Fu...Funyaaaahh~"
Though that didn't mean she should skip out on resting up.
After letting out a tired (and surprisingly cute) yawn, Himari jumped off the pole and made her way to Gordon's house, landing in a tree planted in the backyard. Descending from the tree was a white cat that trotted over towards the veranda and situated itself near the patio door, where it let off a yawn before curling itself to sleep.
Ribbons: She did WHAT now?!
That was Rinko's reaction after Gordon explained his first encounter with Scarlet. He didn't know what her expression was, but he would guess it would be one of total shock.
That or yelling. Lots of yelling.
No, definitely yelling.
Yuuto: I...never expected her to be so bold. You said it was your first time meeting Scarlet-san since you came to Japan, right?
Gordon: Yeah. As I said, even I was surprised she knew my name.
Ribbons: Think she's a stalker?
Yuuto: Rinko...
The male brunette signed with a nervous emoji right to her name.
Ribbons: Hey Skate Punk, you better be careful around that Scarlet girl, especially when she has her sword.
Gordon rolled his eyes. "I doubt she'd want to kill me, Ribbons," he refuted in his head.
Gordon: Right. So do either of you guys know what an "Ayakashi" is?
Less than a second later...
Yuuto: Ayakashi?
Gordon: Yeah, that's what Scarlet called that huge spider when she threatened Spider-Tai.
Ribbons: Hmm...
Ribbons: I've heard of Ayakashi from a sentai show I watched a few years ago. What was it called...?
Yuuto: Shinkenger?
Ribbons: Yeah, that's the one!
A thumbs-up emoji from Rinko.
Ribbons: I think she meant those kinds of monsters, in a sense.
"Shinkenger?" Gordon was a bit confused by the show's name, so he asked them to send a picture for clarification. When the photo came, his eyes widened after seeing a familiar group of bright, spandex-wearing heroes.
A show he and Hiro watched a few years back.
Power Rangers Samurai.
So here it's called Shinkenger, huh? He should make note to buy DVDs of it as a souvenir for Hiro. He'd love 'em for sure. Or maybe buy him a figure?
Right, getting back to the subject.
Gordon: So Scarlet's some kind of demon hunter, then?
Ribbons: I think that girl's nuts if she honestly thinks monsters like those are real.
Yuuto: I kind of doubt it, too, but...what happened with Taizou seemed all too real to me.
Ribbons: C'mon Yuuto! You can't honestly believe that!
Ribbons: What about you, Skate Punk?
Gordon was hesitant to answer Rinko's question, but like Yuuto he, too, held the benefit of the doubt. Even if these so-called "Ayakashi" exist, hardly anyone would believe it until it was smack dab in their face.
And boy did it hit him hard.
Gordon closed his eyes for a bit before typing his reply.
Gordon: I have to side with Amakawa on this.
Ribbons: C'mon, seriously!?
Gordon: I almost got killed by that spider, you know! Don't tell me you forgot!
Ribbons: O-Of course I didn't forget, stupid! I was right there! It's just...
A slight pause from Rinko.
Ribbons: I just don't get any of this! Monsters like those can't be real! If they were, we'd have known a long time ago!
Rinko brought up a valid point. Why didn't they know about these "Ayakashi" until just now? He's not the type of guy to delve into conspiracy theories, but...are there any chances that Japan's government somehow knew of their existence and are hiding them from the masses?
Gordon fervently shook his head. He probably shouldn't think about that too much. Damn those Men in Black movies.
Yuuto: My grandpa told me many stories of Ayakashi when I was a kid. Maybe that's why I'm not as skeptical as Rinko.
Gordon can imagine the ribbon girl giving Yuuto the middle finger through her phone.
Gordon: I see. That checks out.
Yuuto: So what do we do? Should we go look for Scarlet-san after school tomorrow? She seems to be our best bet.
Ribbons: Seconded. Can't be helped now that we're all in this mess. No thanks to you, Skate Punk.
"C'mon, I didn't ask for this shit either, you know," Gordon snapped back at Rinko before typing again.
Gordon: Fine, whatever, Ribbons.
Gordon: Anyways, let's end this here. I don't wanna keep this going for too long.
Ribbons: Same. Got homework to do, so see you around, Skate Punk.
Rinko signed off with a wave emoji.
Yuuto: See you tomorrow, Evans-san.
Yuuto followed up with a "Bye" emoji, signaling the end of the conversation.
Letting off a long sigh, Gordon placed his smartphone back in its charging pad. He went to his guitar case, carrying it back to his bed and opening it to reveal a white, seven-stringed electric guitar with contrasting black hardware, a matching white headstock, and a dark fretboard. It was a loaner guitar from Rika, along with the amp and multi-effects pedal. He has been practicing guitar for a little over five years, with Rika teaching him every step of the way. He's not as good as his Crewmate-slash-neighbor, but he can keep up in some places. Plus, it makes for a great stress reliever whenever he's stuck on something.
Gordon removed the guitar from its case and plugged it into the amp. After making sure it was kept in tune, he struck the top string with his pick.
DJUUUUNNNN!
A low, distorted B-note resounded through the room, bringing a satisfied grin to Gordon's face.
Elsewhere, the white cat that was sleeping on the veranda slowly stirred awake after picking up several high-pitched sounds from above. It gazed up at the light coming from one of the second-floor windows, its eyes never leaving as the feline observed it quietly.
I can see it in their eyes
They've already died
Inside, but as for the outside
I'll take their fucking heads
Gordon was rocking out to Trivium's "Kirisute Gomen," one of his favorite songs to jam with Rika back home. Even though the album it's featured in is close to being ten years old, he still finds himself going back to this particular song. That or "Down from the Sky," another favorite off that album.
Going into the solo, the Black teen again thought of Scarlet, particularly her swordsmanship. How many years did she have to train to even get at that level of proficiency? Was she that dedicated to hunting down those "Ayakashi"? Did these "Ayakashi" do something terrible to her in the past?
The more he thought about her circumstances, the more he couldn't help but feel a bit concerned. When it boils down to it, she's just a regular schoolgirl. Surely she has friends and family that are just as worried about her current lifestyle as him.
But at the same time...
Are you unharmed?
That is a relief. I am glad you are not injured.
Gordon feels that he owes Scarlet for saving his hide back there. Only question is, how can he repay her?
Have you grown to be a man on the inside, too?
"Gh-!"
Gordon wound up playing the wrong chord towards the end, causing the skater to cringe. As the drum outro of the song began to fade away, Gordon stared at his fretting hand, then let off an exasperated groan.
"Sheesh, the hell am I thinking?"
Of course he wouldn't stoop to something like that! As tempting as that may sound, he has his limits! Not to mention it's an international incident just waiting to happen!
Taking a short break from the guitar for now, Gordon headed down to the kitchen to whip up something to eat. He's by no means a professional chef, but he can cook a decent meal when the situation calls. You can say the death of his mother influenced him a little. That and he can't just eat takeout all the time.
Holding a plate of spaghetti and meatballs fresh off the stove, Gordon seated himself at the table and started eating, the taste of the Italian delicacy overtaking his taste buds. Not a bad batch, the skater had to admit.
TAP TAP!
Gordon paused his dinner after the sounds of tapping caught his attention. A surprised look dawned on his face after seeing a white cat near the patio door, rapping its paw against the glass while on its hind legs. The grey-eyed teen got up from his seat and against his better judgment let it inside.
"[Well, well. How'd you end up here, little fella?]" he asked the feline, crouching down to meet it. Gordon noticed the lack of a collar around its neck, implying it must be a stray. Then again, Shiro and Kuro don't necessarily wear theirs unless they go outside, the latter being an utter chore in and of itself.
The skater reached for the cat's right ear and gave it a gentle rub with his fingers, his usual routine when greeting Shirone. For a stray cat, its fur was surprisingly soft and smooth to the touch, almost silk-like, in a sense.
Similar to Rika's cat, the stray responded with a soft and gentle purr, its ears twitching with delight.
"[Guess you're the friendly type, huh?]"
The cat let out a delightful meow before becoming fixated on the omamori tied to Gordon's neck. Raising its paw, the white cat tried to bat at the red charm, only for the skater to grab it.
"[Now hold on, there. Ever heard the phrase, 'Curiosity killed the cat?']"
The white cat grumbled in disappointment but decided to up the ante by jumping for the red charm.
"[Whoa, hey! Calm down! Down!]"
"Myah! Myah Myah!"
"[Come on, I already said you can't touch it!]"
"Myaaaaah! Myah!"
"[Dammit, at least let me finish my food!]"
This went on for a few minutes before Gordon finally relented, placing his omamori down on the table for the stray cat to see.
While eating his spaghetti, the grey-eyed skater couldn't help but observe the white feline's fixation on the charm. Of all the things to become obsessed over, it had to be that old thing.
"Strangest cat I've ever seen."
He's not complaining; he just finds it a bit odd.
"[Can't stop looking at that thing, huh?]"
The cat simply gave Gordon a curious glance, causing the grey-eyed teen to let out a sigh.
"[Honestly, it ain't even that interesting. Just some old charm I've been wearing for god knows how long. Grams said a friend of hers made it just for me so I figured, 'If it's that special, why not?']"
Gordon silently chewed on a meatball and swallowed it up before continuing.
"[Anyways, I'm almost done eating here so I'm going back to my room. Got homework to finish up for tomorrow.]"
After finishing the last few bites of his dinner and washing the plate, Gordon climbed back upstairs to his room, the cat trotting beside him on the railing. The door was open and the snow-colored cat already made a run for his bed, standing atop the pillow and sniffing it a little.
"[Hey, I put my head on that, you know,]" he chided, taking the kitty off it and moving it to his (or rather, Rika's) amp. It was a common sight to see one of Rika's cats chill on top of the amp, so he figured why not emulate that with the stray. It seemed to agree with him, stretching its body out before lying down to take a nap, its tail hanging downwards.
With the cat sleeping peacefully, Gordon went straight to catching up with his homework. Before he knew it, nightfall came about and Gordon was more or less finished with his studies. After taking a quick shower and changing to his PJs, the New Yorker laid down on his bed and checked his smartphone. He opened up Twitch, checking to see if his favorite two streamers are online. Sadly, neither The_RuinPrincess nor VampInABox are live, which sucked because he really wanted to see the latter try his hand at Resident Evil.
Finding himself bummed out, Gordon took a quick look at his phone's clock on the home screen.
23:37
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Shit. Of course his birthday was still going on. Seriously, can't time move any quicker? It's his least favorite day, for fuck's sake. And he's not talking about Valentine's Day (which also happens to be Xen's birthday, believe it or not).
"[Ah, screw it,]" he sighed irritably, pulling his sheets over. Might as well get some shut-eye since it's this late.
At the same time Gordon went to sleep, the white cat stirred awake, letting out a small yawn after stretching its body for a bit. Its violet eyes scanned the blacked-out room until they spotted Gordon's sleeping form.
A mischievous smile emerged from the feline as it descended from the amp and made its way over to Gordon's bedside, hopping straight into the Brooklyn teen's sheets and crawling underneath them.
RUSTLE RUSTLE
"[N-Nnnnh...]"
The sound of rustling leaves was giving Gordon a bit of difficulty in going to sleep. Did he leave one of the windows open by mistake?
RUSTLE RUSTLE
No, that can't be. He made sure to shut both windows after changing to his sleepwear. He might need to invest in some earplugs if this was going to be a thing.
"Fufu~"
Gordon's eyes snapped open after hearing a faint giggle. The grey-eyed teen quickly scanned the room but found nothing out of the ordinary.
"Please tell me this place isn't haunted," he thought worriedly. For the love of god, he seriously didn't want this right now, especially considering what happened at school. Did that friend of Grams set him up or something?
"I see you have awoken."
"[Huh?]" Gordon looked down and became puzzled when he saw movements from under the sheets.
"What the...?"
His curiosity (and paranoia) peaking by the second, Gordon very slowly lifted his blanket, his heart racing and his hand shaking from the potential horror of what may lay underneath. A pair of eyes soon appeared in his vision, causing the skater to unleash a loud and frightful yell.
"[AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!]"
Gordon scampered away from his blanket until his back slammed against the wall, completely scared out of his mind and sweating profusely. His breathing was also shallow, almost to the point of hyperventilation, and the New Yorker's eyes dilated in fear. Honestly, he has never been this terrified since watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre at Ronnie and Olivia's place, and that was when he just started middle school!
The blanket moved around a bit, prompting Gordon to scurry from his bed and rush for Rika's guitar, grabbing its neck and brandishing the instrument as a weapon.
"[S-Stand back! Don't make me go El Kabong with this guitar here! I mean it!]"
Though Rika would definitely nuke him to oblivion if she ever finds her guitar smashed in a million pieces. But hey, better that than...whatever's hiding under that blanket.
A hand soon emerged from under the sheets and pulled it away, causing Gordon's eyes to widen when he recognized who was underneath it.
It was an all-too-familiar face by now.
Hair the color of the darkest obsidian, with long and straight tresses.
Vibrant amethyst eyes that bring an air of allure and mystery.
Both features stood out in the dimly-lit ambiance of the room with the light from the windows striking her lily-white skin, most of which was hidden behind a pale blue yukata with an orange sash tied at her waist.
Finding himself at a near-loss for words, Gordon lowered the guitar and plopped down onto the floor.
"[R-Right, it's... It's just...you again, Scarlet.]"
The sienna-skinned teen closed his eyes for a few moments, releasing a relaxed sigh as he felt the tension leave his body.
...
...
...
"[Wait, WHAT!?]"
Grey eyes quickly expanded and the tension soon returned once Gordon let out a loud shriek that would do Lil' Jon proud.
"[Wh-Wh-Wh-When!? You! My house! How!? WHY!?]"
He has so many questions to ask Scarlet, it's almost overwhelming. How on earth did she sneak inside his house? Did she follow him all the way home? And if so, how long has she been hiding? Was she waiting for the right moment to show herself?
Perhaps Ribbons was right about her being a potential stalker, after all.
"Damn, I'm confused as hell right now."
Maybe Dante would enjoy this if he was in his shoes, but this is an entirely different matter! What Scarlet was doing was tantamount to breaking and entering, not to mention trespassing. He can technically press charges given those circumstances.
"Huh? Whoa!"
Gordon quickly recoiled when he saw Scarlet close to him, her face centimeters away from his. The raven-haired beauty was on all fours, her lengthy locks cascading down towards the floor. His eyes unconsciously trailed down towards the open portion of Scarlet's yukata, where a significant part of her breasts and cleavage were in full view. He did get a feel of her chest when he first met her, and the silhouette was pretty visible even with that red blazer on. If he were to take a guess, he'd say they were almost as big as Olivia's.
Realizing what he was just thinking, Gordon shook his head to clear them away.
"Come on, get it together!" he chided himself before finally addressing the woman in question, his expression turning firm.
"Mind explaining why you're in my house, Scarlet? This is basically breaking and entering, from what I can read."
"...Is that how you address a lovely girl such as myself after coming all this way to meet you at night?" Scarlet countered with a slight frown. "You can at least show some appreciation."
Ah yes, the old "Answer someone's question with another question" maneuver. A technique that withstood the test of time, I'm sure.
Needless to say, Gordon was not satisfied by Scarlet's roundabout answer and let off an irritated sigh.
"I also think it was quite barbaric to threaten me with an instrument, but getting to the topic at hand..."
The raven-haired beauty shuffled around a bit, folding her slender legs to the side to get more comfortable.
"Were you reminiscing over the events that transpired this afternoon?"
Gordon simply nodded at Scarlet's question, ruffling his hair a little. "Yeah, I... I almost thought I was a goner back there, all things considered."
The Brooklyn skater lowered his arm and released a weary sigh, closing his eyes and shaking his head a fair bit.
"Yeesh, I don't know what's going on, seriously. And I still can't wrap my head around what that crazy spider said. It's all so damn confusing, but..." he opened his eyes, returning his attention to Scarlet. "I'm kinda glad you came and saved us, so...thanks again."
A soft smile slowly took over Scarlet's lips. "Think nothing of it, just so long as you are safe."
The ravenette inched closer towards Gordon, causing him to flinch.
"H-Hey, mind not getting so close?"
"Fufu. I do not see why considering it is just us at the moment."
"You probably should... Whoa-!"
THUD!
Before he knew it, Gordon found himself pushed to the floor by Scarlet, the violet-eyed swordswoman now lying on top of him with a seductive gaze in her eyes, and the grey-eyed teen once again felt her pillow-soft breasts press against his chest.
BA-THUMP!
Gordon's heartbeat quickened at the sudden development, the boy growing nervous at Scarlet's advance.
"H-Hey, Scarlet, what are you...? Yee-!"
A yelp escaped the skater's mouth after feeling the wet sensations of Scarlet's tongue, the obsidian-haired temptress slowly licking his neck and leaving trails of saliva in its wake. Several chills ran up and down Gordon's spine with each ministration and his body was tensing up like crazy. If Dante was in his position right now, he would definitely enjoy what Scarlet was doing with her tongue.
Though Gordon was far from the hapless skirt-chaser that is his Crewmate.
"Scar...let..."
He tried calling her name, but it came out a bit strained and hushed due to his current position.
"Scarlet, please..."
Scarlet's licking moved up towards the bottom of Gordon's ear, causing the grey-eyed teen to shudder once her tongue flicked his earlobe. She let out a bemused giggle at Gordon's response, drawing her lips close to his ear.
"There is no need to be so worked up. If you wish, I can give you much more than this."
The highly-suggestive nature of her proposition nearly drove Gordon up a wall. Having had enough of the woman's lascivious advances, the skater grabbed Scarlet's shoulders and forced her off.
"CHRIST, KNOCK IT OFF, WILL YA!?"
Gordon's loud outburst echoed through the room before it immediately turned to silence. The dark-skinned teen can barely contain his breath for a few moments before calming down a little. His attention drifted over to Scarlet, where his expression quickly turned into one of guilt after seeing her current state.
A confused and pained expression overtook the black-haired beauty's features, her amethyst eyes staring at Gordon's with a similar sentiment and blinking a few times. She then placed her hands on her chest, averting Gordon's gaze a little. The way she looks now, she clearly resembles a kicked kitten.
"Ah shit, I've really done it now," Gordon cursed himself for his temperament, letting out a regretful sigh.
"[Aaagh, this can't be happening to me right now... Seriously, the hell's going on...]" he murmured to himself, covering his face in frustration. Honestly, this day has been nothing but one colossal mess the size of Midtown, and on his birthday, no less.
"Very well."
Gordon removed his hand from his face and saw Scarlet reaching for his shirt – or rather, what was on top of it.
His omamori.
"Wait, this is what you came for? Why? There's nothing special 'bout it at all, from what I can tell." First that cat and now Scarlet? Was the charm some kind of beacon for them or something?
Speaking of the stray cat, he hasn't seen it around since he woke up. Must have gone downstairs to sleep, then.
"So the spell has ceased to function after all..."
Gordon's attention was brought back to Scarlet, the black-haired woman holding the red omamori close to her, or at least as far as the rope allows. But what she said about it got the skater curious.
"Wait, a...spell, what?"
"Please allow me to explain," Scarlet started to address the matter at hand. "You may not be aware of this, but this omamori once harbored a ward of protection. Unfortunately, it is only active until you reach a certain age. In other words, once you turn sixteen." She directed her eyes to Gordon. "Have you noticed any changes when you wore it the other day?"
"Hm? No, I...guess I hadn't?" he answered, confused at what the violet-eyed swordswoman was implying. So his omamori was...magical? But why would that magic fade at a certain point in time, and on a specific day, too?
Regardless, Gordon's answer caused Scarlet to close her eyes as if gathering her thoughts.
"I see. I would not be surprised had you realized something beforehand." The swordswoman's expression then turned serious after opening them. "Now I want you to listen carefully. From this day forward, you will encounter more Ayakashi like the one you had encountered. Such is the fate your family's blood has bestowed upon you."
At last, I've found you... Descendant.
Gordon's expression turned grim when he remembered the first words Spider-Tai spoke to him. The whole experience with that spider still gave him chills. If Scarlet hadn't come that time, he and his new friends would have died on that rooftop.
"H-Hey... You...can't be serious about this, right?" he asked, his voice growing nervous. "You're saying...there'll be more of those things coming after me? But why? I didn't piss 'em off or-"
Gordon was caught off-guard by Scarlet placing her finger on the New Yorker's lips, silencing him. Just like before, Gordon can feel the softness of her body, which was made more apparent through the slightly thinner fabric of her yukata.
"Please do not worry. Your omamori has completed its duty, but there is no need to fear. As I had pledged..." She shook her head while stroking Gordon's hair. "No, even if I had not so pledged it, I would still protect you. You are my Young Lord, after all."
"Say WHA-!?"
Gordon found himself at a complete loss for words. D-Did Scarlet just call him her...master or somewhere along those lines? Did it have something to do with the pledge and her protecting him? And who would even come up with something like that to begin with?
"H-Hold on a sec, Scarlet. You're not making any sense here, like, at all. What do you mean by 'Young Lord'?"
Scarlet simply giggled while brushing a hand over Gordon's cheek, in turn causing the skater's cheeks to redden.
"It is exactly what I mean. Simply put, you are my master."
"Uh...huh..." Gordon nodded slowly, still trying to wrap his head around Scarlet's words. At this point, he wondered whether or not the girl in front of him was pulling his leg, but...
She sounded way too sincere to be playing tricks on him. And given she apparently knows his name...
Wait. So far, he has only called Scarlet by the nickname he gave her. If they were going to be what can be considered to be partners, it's only fair he should at least know her actual name.
"H-Hey, Scarlet?"
"Yes?"
"Mind...giving me your name?"
It was then that Scarlet drew herself back from Gordon a bit, wearing a soft smile all the while.
"Himari. I am also an Ayakashi as well. An adorable kitty cat."
A set of white cat ears appeared atop Scarlet's head after formally introducing herself to Gordon, catching the young New Yorker's surprise as they twitched cutely.
...Yeah. That really threw me for a loop right there. I mean, I never would've guessed Scarlet would be an Ayakashi, too, just by looking at her.
Though I probably should've known she wasn't normal to begin with when she pulled a Shunpo the first time I met her.
And then there was that fight with Spider-Tai where she went all Samurai Jack on him...
And just now, she outed herself as some kind of cat...girl...person.
...
...Okay, then.
"You did get part of my name right, if I might add."
"Huh? I...did? How?" a puzzled Gordon asked, to which Himari nodded.
"The first part of my name translates to either 'Scarlet' or 'Crimson' in your language," she explained, resting her chin atop her clasped hands.
"It... It does, huh?" Gordon honestly didn't expect that, since he only gave Himari the nickname for her uniform. Hindsight is 20/20, as the saying goes.
Gordon's eyes strayed towards the catwoman's ears, his curiosity growing by the second at the feline appendages. Nearly hypnotized by the sight of them, the Brooklyn teen slowly reached for the left ear and started to stroke it a little. He became surprised after finding out how smooth and soft it was, almost as if he was touching Shirone's fur (he never got a chance to feel Kuroka's, for obvious reasons).
"Fufufu~"
Gordon snapped out of his trance after realizing what he was doing, withdrawing his hand. "Whoa! S-Sorry!"
Himari let out an amused giggle. "Has the Young Lord taken a liking for my ears?"
Gordon looked away, his cheeks reddening in mild embarrassment. "Don't...make this into a thing, please."
Himari chuckled, tucking back a portion of her hair. "T'was a mere jest. Either way, I am in your capable hands, Young Lord. I hope you will treat me well."
"Y...Yeah, right back at ya...Himari."
There were a lot of questions Gordon wanted to ask the cat-eared Ayakashi, but that would have to wait until tomorrow. Right now, he's in desperate need of sleep, and the more of it he got, the better.
Definitely the weirdest birthday of his life. Period.
To be continued…
And that concludes chapter two! The next chapter will mostly be basic exposition about the demon slayer families, as well as a reasoning behind Gordon's dislike for his grandfather in his own words.
I forgot to mention this in the last chapter, but Yuuto and Rinko will remain part of the main cast due to them already being witnesses, despite the former not being a demon slayer this time around. Hope that clear things up a little.
Like always, feel free to leave a review and I'll see you guys in the next chapter! Later!