We stopped nervously in front of the school gates, waiting until they opened. And by we I meant Cecilia and my inner self, I'm not going to show any sign of nervousness and fear anymore, my past experiences taught me how to lie and maintaining a poker face. By the way Cecilia, what the hell happened to that mischievous look from a while ago? I wanna see it again.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Cecilia asked me. I took off my helmet and showed her a gentle smile.
"It's me we're talking about. What else did you expect?" I asked her. Cecilia just gave me the 'Do you really want me to answer that?' look. I sighed and entered the academy grounds.
"There's someone waiting at the entrance. An acquaintance of yours?" Cecilia asked me. I looked at the person around 150 feet away from us. No, no fucking way he's here. G deploy visor and zoom in on him… It's true, isn't it?
"Oh yeah, Genki's here and smoking again."
That just CAN'T be good—or it might if he already met the representatives from the two families. The old man may actually help me. I rode through the opened school gates and pulled over 15 feet right of the entrance.
"So, when were you going to tell me how and where you got that bike?" Genki asked me with a teasing smile.
"When were you going to tell me that you started smoking again?" I asked with a serious look. But he could see a glint in my eyes that he recognized all too well. He sighed and threw me an envelope.
"Two weeks after you left, which makes it three in total." He said begrudgingly. It was quiet for a second until I started laughing, hard. Genki just facepalmed and muttered something about my ego and gambling luck while Cecilia looked at me like I was crazy.
"Uhm Haru, would you mind explaining?" Cecilia asked me.
"Yes Haruka, please explain why you arrive with a motorcycle and a girl that's clearly above your league." Genki said with a mischievous grin. Oh no he didn't! I swear I just felt an anger vein popping up.
"Well old man, at least I know how to win the heart of a girl." I said frustrated. He became frustrated as well.
"Back in my days I was quite the womanizer so maybe you can learn a trick or two from your 'old man'."
"I'm pretty sure that the seduction techniques in the prehistoric age were just trying to capture an animal as large as possible. Things have changed old timer, you need to be more subtle about things."
"…"
"…"
"Am I the only one who missed this?"
"Nope, I missed arguing with you as well."
"Then we have that in common. So, how bad is the situation inside?"
"Relatively bad. The Ichinose representative is quite the diplomat, so be weary of what you say and look for a hidden motive and meaning behind his actions and words. But the Kurasabe representative is kinda like your mother, only a bit more reserved and polite. She's quite the remarkable woman." Genki said with a smile. I nodded and thought over what he said… except the parts that he said over my mother, I just want to forget those as soon as possible. I mean, imagine having that old man marry my mother, I don't even want to think what kind family we'd be. Well, I can think about that later, for now let the shit hit the political fan.
"Is there something else I should know?" I asked him.
"Yes, I'm taking your mother out for dinner tonight."
"I meant about the REPRESENTATIVES, not abou—YOU'RE WHAT?" I yelled as the meaning of the words dawned upon me.
"Oh, you meant about them. No, nothing noteworthy. Now go inside, they're getting anxious." Genki said trying to avoid the question.
"You damn better still be here when it's over because we're going to have a long conversation about certain things." I said to him quite agitated. He just started laughing.
"Don't worry, I'll keep the girl company while you annoy the crap out of those families." Genki said with a smile. Somehow he didn't assure me at all.
"Cecilia, if he tries ANYTHING at all, don't hesitate to shoot him with your sniper." I told her before entering. Somehow, I can't shake the feeling that something's going to get VERY ugly. I entered the lobby and saw four people waiting for me. Chi-chan and Mom sat across each other at the left end of the series of seats that were put there for visitors. At the right side sat a guy in baggy pants and a black shirt reading a magazine about cars. Across him was a guy in a white yukata, closed eyes and a Colgate smile that I don't trust at all. No I'm not being paranoid, I just don't trust people… okay, so maybe I'm a bit paranoid, but still. Colgate smile saw me first and stood up.
"Ah Haruka-kun, thank you so much for meeting with us. I hope we didn't interrupt something important."
You interrupted the first date with my girlfriend, what the bloody fuck do you think?
"Not at all, if the Ichinose and Kurasabe want to meet with me, it has to be important. Although I'd appreciate it if you sent a message to warn me beforehand next time." I said with a polite smile to Colgate smile. I think I'll call him Smiling Bastard from now on since I don't want to insult Colgate.
" I'm glad to hear that. Shall we get on with our proposition then?" Smiling Bastard asked me.
"Just shut up, sit down and get to the point. You're wasting the boys time for god's sake!" the Kurasabe representative yelled. I like him already.
"How can I get to the point if I have to shut up?" Smiling Bastard asked him.
"you can shut up to stop with your needless blabbering and then get to the point, or is it customary to bore your targets first so that they lower their guard first? By the way, I'm Li. Nice to meet you kid." Li greeted me. I gave a nod towards his direction as a way of greeting.
"You already know my name so I don't have to introduce myself. Now, what's that proposition of yours?" I asked calmly. Just spit it out and get the fuck out of here. Smiling Bastard just sat down and looked at me… I think. It's hard to tell with those closed eyes of his. How can he even see?
"Very well then. Our deal is quite simple. We are willing to take Haruka-kun back in our family if he openly admits that he's from the Ichinose. In return, we and our allies will fully support you with whatever resources you need." Smiling Bastard said with a tone like it was great honor. But why would they propose it if I already—oh, so that's how it is. This is gonna be fun! Miyuki looked me in the eyes and had a small smile. Genki stood next to her and shook his head, but had a smile as well. They were out the line of sight of Smiling Bastard, so he couldn't see that something was wrong.
"Why do you offer this and what kind of resources are we talking about?" I asked innocently. I don't actually need them since Swarchzer Hase already covers me, but… Who am I kidding, they interrupted my date, so I'll waste his time while mocking and making fun of them… wait, aren't mocking and making fun of something different words with the same meaning? Meh, don't care.
"Well, we have connections with the banks and IS development facilities in Japan which allows you access to funds and help you get new technology that'll improve your skills. All that we ask in return is that you openly admit that you are a member of the Ichinose family and that you rename your IS to Kaminoyari (Spear of God)." He said quite cheerfully. He just dug his own grave.
"Well, it does sound very tempting…" I said like I actually was tempted by their offer. Smiling Bastard leaned a bit forward in anticipation and Li looked like I was nuts. Genki and mom were just trying to hold their laughter.
"Do you mind if I think about it for an hour and consult with some people I trust? This is an grave decision after all that could affect my life." I said with a tone like I actually meant it. Smiling Bastard just nodded and excused himself while dialing a number. When he left, Miyuki, Li and I started laughing.
"Kid, that's just wrong to waste a man's day like that!" Li said while laughing.
"So? He ruins my plans, I screw up his. Now, how long do you think we can make him wait?" I wondered out loud.
"Well, how long are you planning to do that?" Miyuki asked me.
"Let's start with an hour and a half and we'll see until he's completely pissed off and can't think normally anymore." I said with an EVIL grin.
"And how are we going to fill that time?" Cecilia asked me.
"Who's up for breakfast?" I asked with a smile.
I won't bore you with the small talk we made, so I'll summarize it for you. We waited three hours before I went in. During that time Clarissa sent me something important through (Which will make him shut up if necessary) and made some small talk with Li, Miyuki and Genki. Everything's fine at the shrine, my family has apparently a lot of lunatics and assassins in it and Genki came here on request of Miyuki to support me. I still have no idea how she got his number, although it probably happened that day I lost my phone in the infirmary and I only found it after returning from the bathroom. Really smooth mom. Anyway, right now I'm meeting Smiling Bastard outside on the terrace.
"Ah, there you are Haruka-kun. I was beginning to worry you'd forgotten me." Smiling Bastard said while still, well his nickname already says it all.
"Not at all. There were certain things that required a more deeper and harsher discussion." Like how you should eat pancakes. If you keep putting so much butter on them Li, you'll veins will be clogged with it in a few years. And let's not forget the ancient discussion of Apple pie vs. Chocolate cake. Seriously Cecilia and mom, how can you debate 30 minutes about that topic? Just friggin unbelievable.
"Well, I hope that you made the right decision." Smiling bastard said a bit TOO emphasized on the 'right'.
"I'll have to 'humbly' decline." I said with an innocent smile. Smiling Bastard lost his smile and opened his eyes. Oh Fuck. Did you know that there are 100 laws of anime? No I'm serious, people actually wrote them. One states that Anime characters who always have their eyes closed and smile are about to do something drastic or get serious when they open their eyes if that law also counts in my life…
…
…
I'm in a shit load of problems if I don't play this right.
"And why is that?" he asked me.
"Because IT'S A TRAP!" I yelled, forgetting the part where I have to be careful. Oh come on, like you never wanted to quote Admiral Ackbar. Yes I know I use a lot of Star Wars and other science fiction references, but be honest the whole situation with the IS is just asking for it.
"Excuse me?" Smiling Bastard asked me confused.
"Simple, it's a trap since you have nothing I'd want."
"Oh really?"
"Uhu."
"IS maintenance and research?"
"My IS maintains itself and updates whenever there's something useful."
"Funds?"
"I already have a sponsor."
"Who?"
"The elite military IS unit Swarzcher Hase."
"You're bluffing." I showed him my dog tags.
"Does this look like a bluff?" I asked him with a smug look.
"And what about family and honor? Don't you want to regain those?" he asked me, almost sounding desperate.
"Are you fucking kidding me with that pathetic shit?". I asked with a smirk. Smiling Bastard looked curious towards me.
"You fuckers banished that spineless worm I had to call dad and afterwards never checked up to see our situation. Then suddenly I can pilot an IS and I have to think about the honor of an family that has nothing to do with me? you good sir, are an royal idiot if you actually thought you could bribe me with such pathetic attempts. Now, do you actually have another proposition or loop hole or would you like me to point out the three HUGE flaws in your plan to adopt me?" I asked him with a taunting smile. Smiling bastard kept his eyes open and looked at me in silence without his grin. There's a shocker.
"I'll take that as a yes then. Well, it's quite easy actually because your own pride screwed you over. In case you don't believe me, I'll quote a of part Ichinose Sekai's code he made for the family." Smiling Bastard started laughing.
"You are going to recite something I learned by heart?" Smiling Bastard said while laughing in a barking way. The students around us walked away quickly thanks to the fight or flight instinct.
"If you know it, then you should know this passage. Under no condition may an exiled clan member be acknowledged by the family until his or her honor has been reclaimed by either heroically feats or Sepukku. However if the head of the clan deems fit, the member may return, albeit in the lowest position and with all their rights revoked. If during the time that the condemned was away offspring was born they may choose for themselves whether they will come into the family or not ." I quoted my Great great great great great and some more greats grandfather. Smiling Bastard gained an insanely creepy grin. No seriously, it's on par with the Wretched Egg. Again, I watch too much anime.
"About that, there's someone who wants to see you." Smiling Bastard said in a sadistic tone. Oh fuck no, they didn't…
"It's been a while Haruka." Said rueful voice behind me. I turned around both anger and shock evidently in my eyes. At the edge of the terrace stood the catalyst of all the things that happened to me. That one piece of shit I didn't want to see. In case you don't remember, it's that waste of space called Ichinose Daigoh aka Dad.
"You actually have the guts to show your face here?" I asked with my rage barely concealed.
"I thought that it would be nice to see you again. It's been too long since we've seen each other." he said with a smile.
"You're right, it's been a long time." I said before standing up and walking towards him. Nobody dared to move because the next reaction would be decisive for the whole negotiation
…
…
…
Oh look, a monkey on a unicycle. No wait, that's in my imagination.
…
…
…
Enter stereotypical cowboy music right before a duel here.
…
…
…
Somebody else feeling hungry?
(GET ON WITH IT!)
All right all right, I'll just quit the tension building and skip to the part everyone expected.
"What's the mat-" Dad didn't get to finish his sentence as I did an open palm strike on his rib cage, blowing all the air out of him. I spun around and roundhouse kicked him in his stomach, sending him flying for a decent 20 feet.
"Get the fuck out of my sight." I said slowly while letting my killer intent rampaging. I should be feeling mad or have a uncontrollable bloodlust, maybe some irritation or disappointment. But I didn't feel anything at all. I found myself in a serenity without any emotion.
"you just gave me a fourth reason. Now leave before this gets any worse." I said calmly. Smiling Bastard left together with dad but not without shouting a last threat.
"This isn't over yet Haruka!"
Let them threaten me all they want, I'll keep beating them at your own game. Figuratively speaking of course.
Aside from the little negotiation attempt, things were fairly calm and it seemed that after only moments Monday was already knocking on the door. Have I already mentioned that I fucking hate Mondays? So I took the day off and went back to class on Tuesday (Thanks for covering me mom). Ever since I'm back in class people look at me like I'm some rare animal. So I've been in the infirmary for a week because of a severe mental breakdown which normally I shouldn't even dream of having, what's so special about that?
"Haruka, you're back!" Ichika said excitedly.
"Yeah, how's Houki been treating you?" I asked him. I already realized that she would take out her anger on the poor dense fool here. The only question is how bad it is.
"Well, she's as strict as possible with the kendo training."
"It can't be that bad… right?"
"She forces me to train with weights of 15 pounds on each limb."
"Which is actually quite a good way to train your muscles and reflexes. What else?"
"She and Cecilia were kind enough to try and help me with the IS training."
"Whaddaya mean try?"
"… I'm telling this in confidence so don't tell the others okay?"
"You got my word." Even if it's barely worth anything.
"Cecilia uses way too complicated explanations which I can't barely understand and Houki was only making sound effects."
"…"
"…"
"You're serious?" i asked him dumbfounded.
"Yes." was the serious answer that came.
"Sound effects?"
"Yep."
"I've got to see that one time."
"You're enjoying watching me suffer, don't you?"
"Well, somebody has to do it."
"Do what?"
"Take the role of the awesome and everything knowing ass with a way too big ego."
"Looks like you're already on your way then."
" I do my best. By the way, you're starting to get a spine. I'm almost proud of you."
"You just rubbed it off on me."
"Yeah, too bad I can't cure your biggest problem." I muttered softly.
"What was that?" Ichika asked me.
"Nothing." I said casually. He looked at me for a second before shrugging.
"Sarge I've got some nice intel for ya!" Honne yelled in her drowsy way. Ah it's nice to have someone who keeps tabs on thing s for me without asking something in return.
"What do you have for me Honne?" I asked her.
"You know about that match between Class 1-1 and 1-2, right?"
"I've heard rumors of it."
"Well, Class 1-2 has a new representative, she came by here yesterday during homeroom and introduced herself. She's the Representative candidate from China, so naturally…"
"She has her own IS." I finished Honne's sentence. That is good to know, I can already come up with certain strategies.
"Also, there has been a certain uneasiness between Orimu-kun and Hou-chan after your Black Op." Honne concluded with a drowsy smile.
"Thanks Honne, keep me updated." I saluted her in a joking manner with only my index and middle finger. She returned the gesture before she went back to her friends. I returned to my seat and talked for a few minutes with Ichika until someone yelled my name.
"Is Garisaka Haruka in here?" a high pitched voice yelled. I turned around to see a somewhat small flat chested girl with twin pony tails and piercing green eyes.
"Strange, I didn't know we had a middle school section." I said out loud. Ichika paled when I said that and immediately took cover. I wanted to ask why until I felt a killing intent.
"What? The? Fuck? Did? You? Say?" the girl said in a growling voice while a gauntlet appeared on her arm.
"Uhm, Honne, she doesn't happen to be-"
"Oh yeah."
"Well fuck me."
"Shouldn't you say that against Alcott-chan ?"
"I will at the right time if I survive this."
"Then you better fight."
I didn't respond but materialized my gauntlets together with the Phantom Blades. She smirked before charging and throwing her fist towards me. I ducked under her fist, grabbed her arm and threw her over my back into the wall while she looked confused over what happened. She got up after a few seconds and charged again with a roar. I prepared to grab her arm again, but she stopped right in front of me, catching of guard and punched me in the gut with her gauntlet. Due to the sheer force I flew backwards right into the teacher's stand . getting up with a grunt, I decided that it was time to take her serious. The two of us charged at each other.
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" and skidded to a halt right in front of each other as Chi-chan's voice boomed through the classroom and probably the whole floor.
"Oh Crap" muttered the pettanko chibi* before she ran away. She escaped because Chi-chan was focusing all of her killing intent on me. Not fair.
"Life ain't fair kid."
Shut up G.
"Well, it seems that you made full recovery Garisaka." Chi-chan said quite angrily, but I knew better.
"Aww, did you miss me Chi-chan?" I teased her. She hit me with an irritated look, but my shields didn't get damaged. That's all the proof I need.
"Shut up and go to your seat." She said with a miniscule smile which only I could see because she was two feet away from me.
"Yes sensei."
* For those who don't know, a Pettanko is a girl with a small chest and a chibi is the mini cartoon version of someone. So basically Haru calls Rin a small chested midget.
YES, CHAPTER 15 IS DONE AND MY WRITERS BLOCK FINALLY OVER! REJOICE MY FAITHFUL READERS! Now let's answer the reviews like usual.
AnimeL0ver00: We have our own news channel in this branch? Awesome. I'm glad the last 4 words of my description made stuff a lot clearer for you and I hope He screwed the family over in a good way. But it isn't over yet Mwuhahahahahaha!
Haruka: Seriously, do you have to laugh evilly like that?
Uhu, it's practice for when I take over the world!
Haruka: keep on dreaming.
Fangking2: Glad that I could create the mood so well
attis89mackan : I know, but it's kinda hard to get him in the fic in a logical way.
Haruka: Since when do you care about logic?
Since it helps improving the story.
Unknown: thanks for the compliment. It's a shame that he hasn't updated in what, four or five months? There was some potential in it.
EnigmaZX: I updated today and you were right, but I kinda made it too obvious.
Mandalore Requiem: Dude where do you keep finding those comedians, they're absolutely brilliant!
Haruka: They were quite entertaining.
Shut up killjoy!
TheDude: Dude, first of all thanks for the compliments. Now for the ranting. One, English is not my native language so sorry if I make a mistake that my freaking Grammar corrector didn't notice. And second and most important of all, THAT THING WITH LAURA WAS NOT MEANT TO SHOW HER ONCE AND THEN TO DITCH HER! I just make the story progress at a slow pace, but she will get a larger role in the future. And with Charlotte, well let's say that I got another thing planned for her Mwuhahaha*THUNK* *THUD*
Haruka: Finally he shuts up, I started to get annoyed by his laughter. By the way, I apologize on behalf of xtenchix if any of these comments seem rude or offending. He sometimes gets a little to fierce when he defends something he works hard for so please don't take it personally.
That's all and until next time. Now where should I hide his body…