Chapter 9: We are just Childhood Friends, right?
Night
In Michael's house the teen was currently reading a book with an orange cover as Mochi was watching television about the karate kid following their movements like a copy cat. Michael was currently thinking of his challenge on whether or not he should tell Asuka or the others. He had already told Kiriya sensei but the advice he was given was to stay alert at all times.
Suddenly a few knocks were heard from the outside door were heard, sighing to himself he put down his book and walked to the door and open it to see a basket holding Asuka smiling at him.
"Oh Asuka-san what brings you here?" Michael asked.
"Well I stopped by to give you these, I figured you were hungry so here." Asuka handed Michael the basket.
"Oh thanks that was really nice." Michael smiled and looked inside to see many pieces of sushi and bananas in it, "And I see you've also gotten Mochi's favorite." The small white monkey hopped on Michael's shoulder and grabbed the basket before scurrying away. Michael groaned as Asuka laughed at the monkey's silliness.
"Since we have dinner ready do you want to come in?" Michael asked.
"Me really well I promised Mom and Dad, I'll be home after doing this so..." Asuka trailed off as she bit her thumb. It was clear she had wanted to stay just for a little while but would her adult figures let her. Suddenly a ringing was heard from Michael's house.
"Excuse me." Michael walked inside and picked up his phone and nods which turns to a smile, "Okay thank you." He turns back to Asuka still at the door frame he said, "Your parents called they said you can stay the night."
"Wait what?" Asuka questioned.
"I don't know they giggled and chuckled once they heard you came over and told me to be a man and other things." Michael shrugged.
"I don't think I feel comfortable staying here now." Asuka gulped.
"Don't worry just come in." Michael grabbed Asuka by the wrist and pulled her inside the house and closed the door behind him. Asuka was first nervous at the sudden hospitality Michael showed but then saw the many organized things inside his house like his organized paper works to DVD's and pictures.
"Wow you really are organized Michael-kun." Asuka smiled sheepishly.
"A ninja must always be prepared in both combat and daily life." Michael explained as he sat down Asuka to his table.
"Now stay here while I cook you something good to eat." Michael smiled.
"C-cook but what about the food I got you?" Asuka asked.
"Nothing I just want to show my hospitality to you is all." Michael smiled as he entered the kitchen.
"This can't be good right Mochi. Mochi?" Asuka looked to her left to see the monkey was rope tied to one of the table's legs, "This isn't good at all." Asuka waited for 30 minutes and was literally shaking in fear. No longer able to hold down her fear she had decided to see what Michael was doing. Slowly walking to the kitchen she peered her head in the kitchen to see Michael peeling a potato with a knife while a dark aura surrounds him.
"Oh god I have to leave!" Asuka began to step back in fear but bumps into Michael who stood behind her holding a dish of food which exudes a purple aura.
"Asuka-san where are you going?" Michael asked with lusterless eyes.
"Oh no where." Asuka smiled until Michael grabs her by the wrist with a tight grip.
"I made you dinner so please enjoy." Michael smiled handing her the plate of food he had just created.
"No I'm fine I just ate before coming so..." Asuka stopped herself seeing the dark expression in Michael's eyes grow darker.
"So your saying that my food is not good enough for the rest of you stomach, I see." Michael lowered his head.
"No that's not what I mean." Asuka shook her head.
"Its okay I understand if your really that full then we can wait." Michael went inside the kitchen and brings out a butcher's knife frightening Asuka.
"Michael what are you holding!?" Asuka screamed.
"Oh this well its just a knife nothing special." Michael places a hand on Asuka's shoulder and sits the girl down at the table. Following soon after Michael does so too and stabs the butcher knife inside the wooden surface.
"We'll just wait here until your hungry." Michael explained as he props his head up with both hands.
"Okay sure I can't wait to eat your delicious food." Asuka trembled saying those words how could she be able to escape from something like this. Maybe she could just make an excuse to use the bathroom and escape through the window. No... that is a horrible way to leave a situation and plus if Michael is in this state he would wait for her the whole night not suspecting anything. Another thought crosses her head if she were to leave or reject his offer than he would ignore her for who knows how many months. So to let things be over with she breathed in and out.
"Hey Michael-kun I'm hungry now and I think I would love to taste your food now." Asuka smiled.
"Okay then eat it." Michael said with extra pronunciation.
"O..okay." Asuka trembled as she grabbed a spoon of the purple exuding food, she took a look at it then at Michael who somehow transported next to her looking at her eye to eye. She quickly goes back to the food and breathed in and out as she prayed for her stomachs forgiveness, Asuka shoved each spoonful of the food down her throat. Once she was finished she had realized that nothing had happened and even she didn't taste anything at all.
"So?" Michael asked.
"It tastes great Michael-kun." Asuka lied about the taste part but was glad she didn't feel any side effects at all... Suddenly her legs fell limp as she fell on her side, "I can't feel my legs what's going on?"
"Asuka-san have you fallen for my cooking I'm so happy." Michael smiled.
"N-no I'm losing feeling in my bo..." Asuka's entire body went limp as she faded from consciousness.
"She must've fallen asleep from how good my food was." Michael smiled as he looked over to Mochi, "Now its your turn." Mochi cried and shook his head.
Midnight
Asuka was able to wake up from her horrible death at the hands of Michael's cooking once again. It seems to be that he was able to create a new type of food which takes effect after a time period. Each day his cooking becomes more and more dangerous along with his attitude outbursts. Suddenly remembering her position she wonders where she has passed out or where Michael and Mochi were.
She opened her eyes to see the ceiling to Michael's home staring right back down at her, she laid in a spread out futon. She sighed and said to herself, "I'm still at Michael-kun's place, but did he just leave me in a room by myself?" Asuka turned to the right to see a sleeping Mochi cuddled next to her.
"Aw so cute." Asuka smiled, feeling the monkey breathe from both sides of her neck she was relieved. Wait...both sides that's impossible unless... Asuka spins around in bed slowly and sees a sleeping Michael next to her. She refrained from screaming to scare the boy and monkey from their sleep.
'Michael what are you doing?' Asuka gasped trying to sit up but then Michael's arms lazily wrap around Asuka's waist pulling her closer to him.
"Zzzzzzz...Asuka..zzzzzzz." Michael snored.
"Y-yes?" Asuka blushed as she trembled in Michael's drowsy embrace.
"Please...don't leave...me alone." Michael said in his sleep pushing Asuka tighter to his chest.
"Alone?" Asuka's eyes widened.
"Asuka-san...please." Michael was face to face with Asuka and leaned into the girl tapping his forehead with hers.
"Michael-kun..." Asuka trailed off dreamily.
"Asuka-san..." Michael leaned in and abruptly kissed the shocked girl for a few seconds and pulled back and said, "Please don't die before me." The sensation was too much for Asuka as she suddenly passes out from the kiss.
Morning
Michael wakes up alone in bed as he sits up he gives a big yawn and scratches his head searching around for his guest.
"I wonder where Asuka-san is?" Michael yawned.
"I'm right here." Asuka exits the kitchen wearing her Hanzo academy uniform while holding a platter of eggs and bacon.
"You made me breakfast?" Michael asked.
"Yes enjoy." Asuka puts the platter on the table as Michael walks over to her, he stares at Asuka's happy face and became suspicious.
"What did you do?" Michael crossed his arms.
"Nothing why would you assume that?" Asuka smiled.
"Because your being overly nice to me and since you rarely do this it means you need help with something or you already caused a mess and you have me lean it for you." Michael explained.
"No its nothing I just want to make you breakfast for yesterday." Asuka smiles brightly.
"Um okay." Michael nods as he sits down and eats the food quietly as Asuka watches hoping for a satisfied answer.
"So how is it?" Asuka asked.
"Its great." Michael said with a expressionless tone.
"Thanks." Asuka blushed happily.
"Well then I'm off." Michael does a single hand sign as smoke poofs around Michael as he wore his daily wear.
"I'll walk with you." Asuka smiled.
"Okay lets go." Michael nods then remembers his little companion.
"Oh Mochi I put him in your hair just like you do every day." Asuka smiled as Mochi pokes out of Michael's messy hair.
"Oh thanks." Michael smiled.
The pair left the home and went on their way to school, it was a great morning with the sun peaking its head from the clouds and the many birds chirping. The walk was great but unusual than before, Michael had a little problem moving since Asuka clung to his arm the whole walk there. Every time he asks what she was doing she kept answering "Because its nice to walk closer together in case of an enemy ambush." Michael bought the excuse clearly blind to what she really meant.
In class Katsuragi was near the door awaiting for Michael to come through it, it appears that her sexual harassment towards the other girls have been decreased a little since the ninja first arrived to the school. But since it was a difference in gender it gave her a rush to see her age mate stutter and cry out in embarrassment.
"Katsuragi-san what are you doing?" Ikaruga asked approaching the blonde third year.
"Oh just waiting." Katsuragi scratched her head.
"I see." Ikaruga said with a glare in her eye, "So who is it you can't wait to see?"
"No one special, anyways shouldn't you be doing your regular before class studying like usual?" Katsuragi grinned with a sly look on her face.
"Well I just thought I could change up my usual schedule now and then." Ikaruga crossed her arms, "And besides Michael-kun helps explain the lessons easily."
"Are you sure because from what I heard you just take his lesson book and complete it all by yourself without him raising a finger." Katsuragi teased.
"That changes nothing on how I efficiently work better with him watching for any mistakes I make, in fact I might stay to wait for him too to discuss about my cons and how I should work to prove them." Ikaruga stood next to Katsuragi causing a fierce stare down between the two.
"Yay Hibari and Yagyuu brought lunch!" Hibari hopped in the classroom with Yagyuu holding two pairs of lunch boxes.
"Be careful Hibari or you may spill the second one." Yagyuu smiled warmly entering after the energetic ninja.
"Hey Yagyuu-chan and Hibari-chan whose other boxes are those for?" Katsuragi asked suspiciously.
"This is for Michael-senpai." Hibari giggled.
"We both made him lunch as appreciation for helping us with our studies." Yagyuu explained.
"Well then I'm starving too, why don't I join you with him?" Katsuragi grinned.
"That won't be necessary." Yagyuu took a defensive stance.
"Yeah because Hibari, Yagyuu-chan and, Michael-senpai are going on a picnic." Hibari giggled.
"We'll see about that since he promised me we'll go out for ramen." Katsuragi points her thumb at herself.
"Well he promised to take me out on a walk through the park with him." Ikaruga stated.
The girls looked at each other with competitive stares from left to right, it seems that neither of them were gonna budge an inch. Suddenly the secret door was heard opening along with a few footsteps.
"Michael-kun!" the girls glared at each other and made a dash for the entrance.
Upon entering the sight of Asuka holding Michael's hand stopped the rest of the girls run towards him.
"Good morning!" Asuka smiled.
"Yeah...good morning." Michael sweatdropped while smiling nervously.
"What's going on here?" Katsuragi asked.
"Asuka-san said this is a great way to watch your friend's back in case of a shinobi ambush." Michael explained as Asuka shook her head and sighed.
"Yeah..." Asuka looked down after hearing the word friend coming from Michael's mouth.
"Senpai we made you lunch!" Hibari and Yagyuu walked up to Michael.
"Oh thanks but all I need today is just this apple." Michael pulled out an apple from his backpack. This action saddened both girls as they shied away and said, "We see sorry." The two walked away with disappointed expressions.
"Uh sorry for what?" Michael asked.
"Well then Michael-kun aren't you ready for today?" Katsuragi hooked her arm around Michael's neck and took him away from Asuka's grasp.
"For what?" Michael asked.
"Your promise that you made about us going to the ramen shop later." Katsuragi grinned.
"I don't remember such a thing." Michael sighed and closed his eyes revealing an annoyed expression while breaking away from her grip.
"Well then what if I promise you that if you take me I can give you dessert." Katsuragi placed Michael's hands on her breasts and forced him to fondle her.
"Please stop doing that." Michael said in a normal tone while showing signs of being flustered.
"Michael-kun." Ikaruga received the teen's attention.
"Hmm?" Michael tilts his head.
"Today would you like to accompany me to the park?" Ikaruga said in a mature fashion while holding back a blush.
'Liar. She told us that he already promised that.' Katsuragi pouted while crossing her arms.
"I'm sorry I can't I have work but maybe some other time." Michael smiled sadly as he bowed.
"I understand." Ikaruga nodded in a professional fashion but the sigh she exudes was shown clear on how she really felt.
"Well then Asuka-san I'm going to work on my desk, thanks for coming over last night it was fun." Michael pats Asuka on the shoulder.
"Right!" Asuka smiled while nodding as Michael went to work.
"Last night?" Katsuragi approached Asuka.
"Yeah what does he mean by last night Asuka-san?" Ikaruga approached Asuka with an opposing aura around her. Asuka slowly stepped back from her spot as tried to explain what happened.
"N-nothing to worry about I just went over to give him some food and-" Asuka was stopped when Yagyuu and Hibari blocked her path.
"What happened Asuka-san, Hibari wants to know so badly." Hibari asked in a cute threatening way.
"Explain everything or else." Yagyuu brings out her umbrella.
"Wait please its a misunderstanding." Asuka trembled not sure on how she'll get out of this problem until Kiriya-sensei appears from nowhere by using a smoke bomb.
"Why are you all creating too much noise?" Kiriya sighed putting his hand to his forehead.
"Sorry sensei." all the girls bowed apologetically as Asuka sighed in relief saved by the bell once again.
The day was just normal debriefing on what a ninja is and their purpose in the world as Good or Evil Ninja. The case of rogue ninja in the world are limited due to them being supported on their own or wanted fugitives of the shinobi world.
Evening
At his desk Michael was finishing up some documents on his desk as Mochi simply ate one of the bananas Asuka gave them. With everyone gone for the day Michael was able to clean up the mess he made with no trouble at all.
"Michael-kun!" Asuka rushed over to the busy teen.
"Yeah." Michael grabbed his apple and looked up at the girl.
"Are you ready to go home yet?" Asuka asked.
"No." Michael shook his head, "But I'm almost done so take seat next to me." Asuka doesn't hesitate to do just that as she sat a little too close to him. Michael looked over to the girl and said, "Your too close."
"Oh sorry." Asuka scooted away and looks at the mess Michael had, "So you seemed busy today."
"Yep." Michael sighed, "Its not easy trying to keep up with Kiriya sensei unfinished work and checking you 5's too." Michael smiled.
"Uh-huh." Asuka nods then thought of what to say, "Say Michael what do you think of all the shinobi including me?"
"Well Katsuragi is perverted but fun and nice to be around so she's mostly a friend, Ikaruga has a mature and aristocratic sense about her with a sisterly personality towards me so she's a friend and Hibari is cute and innocent but is sometimes clumsy so she's a friend and lastly Yagyuu is cool, calm and collected so she's my friend too." Michael explained as he took a bite of his apple.
"That's great so what about me?" Asuka asked.
"You? Your a great friend of mine your caring, your a hard worker, your dedicated to your ninja training and studies, and your pretty cute when you puff your cheeks in frustration so your more of a friend or just a childhood friend." Michael shrugged his shoulders.
"So just a friend?" Asuka asked.
"Always will and always will be." Michael commented with no expression.
"But what if there was a chance we can be more than friends maybe?" Asuka asked.
"That'll never happen." Michael said coldly as he packed the rest of his things then changed his tone to his usual calm and meek one, "Now then I'm done with my work we can go home together." Michael saw the lowered head of Asuka and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I...Its you, your the one whose wrong!" Asuka screamed at Michael who stepped back in shock.
"What do you mean?" Michael asked.
"I mean... you saying something like you and me as friends is all we'll ever be is it and I don't agree!" Asuka scolded Michael.
"Well aren't we just friends?" Michael asked.
"I...don't..know but hearing you say that just makes me angry for every time you that!" Asuka stomped her foot down in anger.
"I don't see how this is my fault." Michael answered.
"It is your fault for making me feel this way." Asuka growled.
"Well its your fault for making me do this myself!" Michael slammed his fist onto the table.
"How is it my fault your the one in denial about this!?" Asuka yelled.
Michael looked at the girl with an observant eye and sighed as he shook his head.
"You've forgotten about it haven't you?" Michael sighed and got up as Mochi jumped onto his shoulder.
"Forgot?" Asuka asked.
"There's no point in trying to talk to you if you can't remember a single thing about what was wrong in what you just said then I can't talk to you." Michael sighed as he walks to Kiriya office.
"Well I don't need to remember anything about you anyways stupid, You should have never had come back!" Asuka storms out the classroom with her things in hand.
Night
After storming out the academy Asuka walks in the park to cool herself off in the gentle night breeze.
"Stupid Michael he says all of that like he feels nothing but what he did last night proves that he likes me." Asuka bit her lip, "And what does he mean by me forgetting anything, he's just using me as the scapegoat in this." Asuka kicked a twig and sent it flying into a man watching the night sky.
"I'm sorry!" Asuka bowed.
"Hm?" the man looked down at the twig and back at Asuka, "Make sure to keep your stupid outbursts to yourself." The man had White hair with a streak that covers his left eye which were blue eyes, as he wore a long sleeved white jacket zipped all the way up, a grey scarf covering the lower half of his face and, a pair of black jeans and white shoes.
"Sorry!" Asuka bowed then set off on her own again until the man stopped her by making a comment.
"Have you ever wondered why the stars always shine so perfectly in the night sky?" The man asked.
"Excuse me." Asuka asked.
"The stars." the man said in a calm voice, "If they stay into place they can shine in the most perfect spot but the other ones seem to die out faster then the perfect ones, this seems to show how people in this world need absolute justice to keep things in place." the man looks back at Asuka and said, "Isn't that right Granddaughter of the legendary ninja Hanzo, Asuka?"
"You know my grandfather, wait are you a shinobi?" Asuka gasped readying herself for battle.
"Yes and I have to use you for a bit so relax." The man raised his hand as many female kunouichi wearing gray uniforms surrounded Asuka.
"These uniforms they can't be!" Asuka gasped.
"They are Asuka-san." a familiar voice said as a girlish figure appeared by the man. She had medium length gray hair and icy blue eyes while wearing the gray standard school girls uniform with black leggings.
"Yumi why are you...?" Asuka asked but was suddenly chopped at the back of her neck sending her into unconsciousness.
"Perfect now we just need to lure in that piece of trash with evidence of his ally here." the man cracked his knuckles.
"Remember we are just here to prove ourselves not kill them." Yumi explained.
"I know that, I just want to make sure you all didn't give up Grandfather's dreams over such a loss against them." the man clenched his fist and growled, "I'll make him fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness!"
In Michael's home the teen was in his nightwear of: a white t-shirt and black sweatpants as he laid back against the wall holding an old picture of him and Asuka with her family.
"If you can't remember then don't complain to me." Michael said to himself.
Then suddenly a sudden thud was heard against his door, he slowly walked towards it while bringing out his scroll. He quickly opens the door to see that no one was there. He was almost fast to resign into his house until he saw a note stabbed to his door with a kunai knife. He tore the paper off and read it.
"Dear Scum"
"Its me again and this time I have something you want so if you don't want your precious something to be broken then come. Oh and please remember this isn't a threat its just a reason for you to come against your will."
"Terrible Wishes from * * * * *"
Michael saw that something was tapped to the back, he peeled the tape off and took out the extra note only to find it wasn't a note but just a picture. He shook with controlled anger as he gripped the photo. It was a bound Asuka to a tree completely gagged and blinded by blindfolds.
"I wasn't sure if I should use it but." Michael's entire expression turned empty along with his lusterless eyes as he dropped the photo onto the ground and looked at his hands, "It's been a while since I turned my switch on."
Next Chapter- Hanzo's Prodigy vs. Gessen's Perfectionist Pt. 1
Thanks for reading everyone!
Well I'm out so Peace Out!