Chapter 2
Morals of the Story
I do not own Aria the Scarlet Ammo.
So... Not much to say here. Normally I would have something like an Author's Rant cooked up for your entertainment, but I've got nothing. Nothing at all...
MAJOR LIGHT NOVEL SPOILERS ARE STILL HERE! READ THE LIGHT NOVEL AT BAKA-TSUKI!
Anyway, I guarantee something's going to catch your eye this chapter. I've got no catchy slogan or words to get you into reading... So, like I do with most of my stories...
LET'S DO THIS!
"Come on! Move your ass!" I was outside, jogging with my new apprentice.
"Damn... You..." Kinji panted, completely exhausted. It was our tenth lap around the man-made island. I sigh. I forgot kids these days were so unfit.
I let him catch up to me. Then I pull my gun out and level it at his head.
"What the hell?-!" He falls to the ground, looking up at me.
"Bang." I make the motion of the gun firing. "If this were real, you'd be dead. A Butei should be prepared for anything."
"But I don't even want to be a Butei!" Kinji argues.
"Your brother wouldn't say something like that."
Kinji scowls. "What do you know?-! You don't know anything about him, or anything about me!" He shouts.
"More than you'll probably ever know." I admit.
"What does that mean?" Kinji growls as he helps himself up.
"If you knew, I'd have to kill you."
"What are you, some sort of operative for some secret organization?"
I just chuckle, and continue my run.
Later, I'm sitting on my bed, holding my phone. I'm thinking about calling someone, but I hesitate. I soon give in, and dial in the number... Hopefully the guy is free.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Kinichi."
"What is it Akira? I've just gotten out of a HSS strain... Say, what have I missed these last ten days while I was unconscious?"
"Not much, life went on. I've got an apprentice now."
"Oh? The "unsociable, unapproachable" Armada decided to get an apprentice? Who is it? Many in EU want you to teach them something."
"And what could they teach me in return? Nothing of major value, that's what..."
"So what if it is of little value? It's still valuable. Anyway, what's the name of your apprentice?"
"A certain Kinji, Kinji Tooyama. Ring a bell?"
There's silence over the phone.
"...Really?"
"Yes, really. Your little brother."
"He must be a great Butei by now. Just like Father."
"Er..."
"... He doesn't like the profession much, doesn't he...? I should have figured. What rank is he? Give it to me."
"He's ranked E. E, for god's sake. I assume he's an S rank under Hysteria Mode, but without it... He's weak. And extremely unfit."
"... Oh really? How do you know? How did you measure him?"
"He couldn't keep up with me on a simple jog around the island."
"... And how many laps?"
"... About ten."
"Akira, you've got to remember that normal people can't keep up with people like us."
"Normal my ass! He's got a superpower/genetic trait that turns him into a suave killing machine every time he feels like he's about to get a hard on!"
"... It's a perverted world we live in, but who cares as long as it keeps us alive. And healthy. And entertained."
"I can agree with that... So... Are you dressed like a girl right now? And am I talking to Kana or Kinichi at the moment?"
"... You just had to ask... And it's Kinichi right now."
"Yes, I did, you crossdressing son of a bitch..." I chuckle.
"Watch your mouth."
"Anyway, is there anything needed for me to do? I haven't been to the Vostok in months... I wanna know if there's anything else needed for me to do other than here in Tokyo."
"I just so happen to have a job for you in Kyoto. It specifically requests for you. Are you up for it?"
"Don't you want me to train your brother?"
"He can handle himself... I hear Riko has something in store for him. Say, how's Vlad? Still a sadistic little prick?"
"You bet he is... Still looking for a chance to kill the bastard..."
"Why haven't you already? You know his weaknesses and have an advantage over him."
"The power vaccum that will result... I don't think I could handle the amount of people fighting over the spot of EU's #2."
"True... Any action for you as the Moderator? Something's probably gone up."
"No, no..."
I am not ranked in EU. I am simply a "Moderator", a person who keeps the people affiliated with EU in line. I am responsible for keeping them orderly and efficient, coupled with removing any threats to the organization. I keep the organization secret, I keep the members from doing anything stupid that threatens the organization, and I keep the peace among the conflicting affiliates with and within the organization.
I'm a diplomat, a law enforcer, and a hitman all rolled into one.
"So? Will you take the job?"
"I'll take the job."
I'm waiting for a bullet train to Kyoto. Apparently, I'm going to settle some hostilities between the Hotogi's Kyoto branch and an unknown party.
Ring. Ring.
I answer my ringing phone. Caller ID says it's Kinji...
"AKIRA! MACHINE GUNS MOUNTED ON SEGWAYS ARE SHOOTING AT US!"
"... Goodbye." Ah, the stories kids tell these days.
"WAIT! SAVE US-" I cut the call.
Maybe I should have "saved them" from those "machine gun wielding segways"... Meh, he said "us". His friend can help him in some way. Ah, here's my train.
I step on. On to Kyoto for a few days...
I arrive in the culture filled city. It's a lovely place, I hope to take Yuriko here when I can. I exit the station, and a bus takes me to the outskirts of the city. Time to meet these Hotogi...
I arrive in front of some large estate. Wow, this place is pretty damn impressive. A priestess takes me into the garden. You could fit the entire Assault department building in here a few times, and that's not even adding the house, no, mansion...
So, that Shirayuki girl grew up in a place like this? No wonder she's old fashioned. This place is a shrine, or so I remember...
"Wait in here." The woman ushers me through a screen door after leading me through the colossal maze of a shrine, and I kneel down on the tatami mat.
"Are you Akira De Leon?"
I nod. Stepping into the room is a priestess, or so I assume from her elaborate outfit.
"I am Yuki Hotogi, and I am the Head Priestess of the Kyoto Hotogi branch. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"And I to you." I reply.
"My, my, so polite. Nothing like the inelegant brute I imagined." She smiles seductively at me. She's a rather beautiful woman, and if I weren't already in an amazing relationship, I'd be staring at her and drooling by now.
"I'm here for business. So, may I ask, what is the reason for which I am needed?" I ask.
"Straightforward as well..." She muses. "No matter. To answer your question, we have some "difficulties" with a splinter group of the Hotogi. They are radicals, who have resorted to violence to voice their adversity." She explains.
"And how would you like me to deal with these "radicals"?"
"I fear negotiations are beyond us. I regret coming to this decision, but like many before me, I have decided... Violence must be fought with violence." She sighs.
I nod. "Where do I start?"
"I'd suggest scoping around the city; they have taken up residence there."
"That's fairly vague, the city's pretty big." I answer. I need more details.
"I have seen some things through my divination, and you'll be rather surprised of what I have seen about your future."
Ah, the famed Hotogi Miko Divination. Rumoured to have the ability to see the future...
"Then do pray tell, what does fate have in store for a plebeian like me?" I ask.
"Akira De Leon... You will encounter six major things in your life. You will adopt a kitten off the streets, you will kill a demon in his sleep, you will fight for a princess chasing her throne, you will dance with a reaper in his home, you will wage a war under a burning flag, and..."
"And what?"
"You will sleep in death's embrace."
"... Not very fortunate, is it." I muse.
"Entertaining, yes, but not very fortunate at all." She agrees. "But these events will shape your world, the world we live in, and world that's yet to come."
"Is that another prediction?"
"That's for me to know, and you to find out."
"Alright... I'll begin my work. Call me if you need something." I stand up, and leave the room.
"Oh I'll call you alright... Though watch yourself as you leave..." She whispers after me.
I figured she would say something like that. But really? A kitten, demon, and a princess? I did not expect that.
I honestly don't believe in this kind of the supernatural. It's a bit farfetched to me.
Suddenly, I can feel eyes watching me.
"Is that a man?"
"Really? Here at the shrine?"
"He's from the outside!"
The voices continue to whisper around me. I look around. People are starting to gather. Then I remember the one thing that bugged me about coming here, to the Hotogi shrine.
It's a miko shrine. A miko shrine. A women only, miko shrine. DAMN.
How could I forget that? It's also completely forbidden for men to enter other than few exemptions. Such as myself...
"Evil man! Begone from this place!"
A young girl wielding a katana rushes at me. As she comes within cutting distance, I freeze her in place with telekinesis.
"What kind of evil magic is this?-!" Then she sees the faint red glow shining through my right arm.
"Irokane..." She murmurs.
I kneel down to her eye level, "I don't play around kid. I could snap you like a twig right now, and you wouldn't be able to do a thing."
She growls at me. "Don't be like that." I smile. "Tell you what, I'll take my irokane off, and we can brawl." I slip the chain off my arm, and slip it into my pocket. The telekinesis is still holding her in place.
"You're still using it! Take off your other irokane!" She scowls.
"I don't have another one." Her eyes widen in realization.
"I am Akira De Leon, 7th generation telekinesis ability user. Albeit a weak one. My ancestor could control an entire fleet of naval ships on his own without an irokane, while I can only control a few guns and anything within a four feet radius without it... So, what can you do about it, kiddo?"
"I'm not a kid! I'm 14!" She frowns.
"Well anyway, what can you do, other than divination?"
She grumbles. "Not much..."
"Exactly..." I release the hold on her. "I have business to deal with, a request from Yuki-san... Now go, shoo." I wave her away.
"Don't take me lightly!" She swings her sword at me again. I shift my head away from the blade, and freeze it in midair. I rip the sword out of her grip with my ability, and make it float in front of me so I can inspect it.
"A nice blade, I give my accolades to whoever made it." I make it do a few swings, and smile at its fluidity through the air. I take it by the hand, and hold out the handle to her.
"Well I have to go. See you around," I give a gesture for her name.
"Konayuki... Konayuki Hotogi."
"Well, see you around Konayuki-chan." I grin at her now abashed expression.
"You can't call me that!"
I chuckle, and turn around and walk to the exit.
I weave through the city streets, chasing leads. I don't know where to start... I should have pegged for more information rather than listen to her junk about my future! I don't believe in that kind of thing anyway!
I've been wandering for hours...
I stop walking. Might as well just get some snacks, and hopefully something will come out in regards to my job... I enter a convenience store, and come out loaded with snacks. I munch on a sweet bun, and continue on my way.
Shuffle. Shuffle.
I hear the sounds of something shuffling through the garbage as I pass an alley. It was probably some stray animal. I begin to walk again.
"Waaah..."
I freeze where I stand... I hear the sounds of crying.
"Hello?" I say, looking into the alley.
"It hurts..." I quickly run into the alley, looking around.
The sounds of whimpering grow louder. But where is it... Aha! I throw the lid off a dumpster.
Cowering amongst the garbage, is a tiny little girl. She cradled a cut hand close to her body, blood seeping from the wound onto the rags she had as clothes. At the sight of me, she squeals in fear, and tries to hide.
"I'm not going to hurt you. Let me see your hand." I say slowly, about to climb into the dumpster.
She shakes her head furiously, crawling to the corner of the dumpster. She's frightened, a hollow look of starvation and malnutrition plaguing her face.
"I'm not going to hurt you, I swear."
I climb into the dumpster, and manage to approach the girl... She was so little, so frail. I carry her in my arms, and get out of the dumpster.
"It's going to be okay." I assure her.
Something twitches on top of her head, in her hair. At first, I think it's a bug that crawled in there, but when I sweep my hand over her head... A pair of dark hazel brown cat ears with white tips twitches back at me, hidden among her similar coloured hair. Upon closer inspection, a tail slips out of her "clothes", swaying softly.
The girl has supernatural, "demonic" blood in her. Perhaps that's the reason she's out on the streets.
I run like hell back to the Hotogi shrine, telekinesis augmenting my running speed.
"Yuki-san!" I shout, as I enter the large shrine building at a breakneck pace. Yuki's coming down a flight of stairs, and spots me.
"What is it- Oh, you seem to have come across a little kitten- Oh my." She gapes at the girl in my arms. "I expected you to be a few days little one... No matter, to the infirmary!"
She whisks us off to an infirmary in the corner of the building.
"Sit here, little one, please don't cry, it'll be alright..." She takes the girl from my arms, and sets her on a bed. She takes her hand, disinfects it, and wraps bandages over the wound.
"It's okay now." She smiles at her. She turns to me, "I've got to go get something, I'll be right back." She rushes out of the room, and leaves us alone. I walk over to the girl, and sit beside her.
"Are you alright?" I ask her, wiping away the tears on her face. She puts up as strong a smile as she can. "I'll take that as a yes." I smile back.
Gruuuuuuuuumble.
Her stomach grumbles, and she places her tiny hands on it.
"I have just the thing." I chuckle. I unwrap a peach bun, and hold it out to her. She takes it from my hands gingerly, and takes a small bite.
She blinks, and as quickly as I ran here, the bun was in her stomach.
"Would you like another?" She nods vigorously. Soon, my snack supply dwindled to nearly nothing.
"I bet you enjoyed that." She gives an embarrassed expression at all the wrappers now littering the infirmary floor. She held the bun she was about to eat out at me, as if she was apologizing. I shake my head, and pat hers.
"It's okay." I reassure her. She quickly finishes the bun like all the others. She stretches, and suddenly rests herself in my lap. She purrs like a cat, and falls asleep.
I stroke her hair, making sure she was comfortable.
"She's rather attached to you, isn't she?"
My head snaps up. It's Yuki. "I couldn't get any leads." I tell her.
"You didn't have to. Because they don't exist." She replies.
I blink. It makes sense now... You will adopt a kitten of the street...
"You sent me on a wild goose chase across the city? Just to find this girl?"
"It is part of your destiny. Though I did figure it would be longer." I open my mouth to protest, but Yuki cuts me off with a wave of her hand.
"Oh hush. No matter how much you refuse to believe in something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I told the future, your future. It is up to you to decide on what happens. These events will come to pass, but it is you who will determine the outcome and the results. Fate is not set in stone. Your fate is not set in stone."
"... So these things you predict are going to happen? And I can't fight it?" I ask.
"Oh, you can fight all you want. It'll just make the event happen in a different way, possibly in a different interpretation of what I divined." She explained. "It's you who's going to deal with these events. Just have some flicker of faith in yourself, and you should survive."
"You predicted my death." I point out.
"But death claims everyone. It's just a matter of how. Death is the end. And so, it was your last prediction."
I give in. "So can you give me anymore details?" She shakes her head. "I figured."
"You may stay here in the infirmary. I will arrange transport for you back to the school in a few days... Oh, don't give me that look. Just relax, and enjoy yourself. May I ask you one question? Even if you dislike having your life predicted before you, do you regret helping this girl?"
... Do I?
"No. I don't." I admit.
"She seems rather attached to you." She giggled.
"Yeah... Yeah she does."
I woke up in the infirmary, due to the sounds of, well, something. It sounded like an old blender attempting to crush ice. I open an eye. The girl's leaning against my side, purring.
I sit up, and the girl climbs up on my back.
"Good morning." I say to her. I blink, when I realize I don't even know her name.
"Do you have a name?"
She shakes her head. "Do you want one?" She nods.
I have no clue on what to call her... Actually, I've got one.
"How about... Koneko?" She smiles, nodding. I smile back, petting her head.
"Let's go find something to eat." I let Koneko hang on my shoulders, resting beside my bag full of guns. Fortunately, I keep them unloaded until I need to fight... Because I'm pretty sure she kicked or pressed the triggers of a few of them.
"Good morning." I say to Yuki, who was waiting out on the front porch, sitting on a bench.
"Tea?" She asks, holding out a pot.
"No thanks." I reply, taking a seat beside her.
She gives a scone to Koneko, who eats it happily.
"We'll get a doctor and check the progress of her health over the next few days." She told me. "During that time, I'd recommend you get to know her."
"And what good will that do? Isn't she going to stay here?" I ask.
I feel Koneko freeze on my back. I turn my head around, and she's staring at me with huge watery eyes.
"D-Don't cry, Koneko-chan!" I say hastily. Dear god, I'm not good with kids.
"Just get to know her. It'll be good for her health." She pushes on.
"What about school work-"
"Your experiences with EU have already guaranteed that you have more than enough knowledge to pass school effortlessly." She argued, "Just do as I say, alright?"
I give in. "Alright."
Over the next days, I more or less played babysitter for the cat-eared girl. I didn't have many complaints though. I somehow roped Konayuki into helping me. Koneko was getting healthier by the day.
At evening, after a long game of hide and seek, I found Koneko staring at the sunset. The little girl never spoke much, but it was easy to tell what she wanted. But now, I didn't have a clue.
I sat down beside her, and she leaned against me.
"Onii-chan..." She purred.
I pet her head, and watch the sunset. It's beautiful here in Kyoto.
"Onii-chan?"
"Yes Koneko?"
"What's a family like?" She asked, looking up at me.
"Hm... A family... A family is a group of people that you absolutely love the most. The people who spend time with you, the people who understand you, the people who care for you... Those people are your family." I explain.
She adopts a far off look. "I've never had a family..."
I wrap my arm around her. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll find one soon."
She presses against my side, and we continue to watch the setting sun.
Later, the children of the shrine are having an arts and crafts time, just playing around and being creative.
"I overheard what you said to Koneko on the roof this evening." Yuki says to me, as I watch the kids draw, paint, craft etc., "That was rather nice of you to say those things."
"They just felt like the right thing to say at the time."
"Oh? What happened to the cold, indifferent man that I heard rumours about?" She giggled.
"That's only during missions." I tell her.
"Isn't this supposed to be a mission?" She points out.
"This doesn't count..."
"Oh really? Well, then again, this is more a mission for yourself, rather than for EU." She notes.
"Onii-chan!" Koneko suddenly squeals, and runs over to us, "I need to use the bathroom!"
"I'll take you there." Yuki says, taking Koneko by the hand. "Come along now."
They leave the room, quickly. The girls are already filing out, talking about what they made for the day. I'm left to clean up the messes, all the stray paint and glue. As I sweep up cut paper, I come across a drawing, and pick it up gingerly.
Drawn on the paper, in messy crayon, are two people. A smiling young man held the hand of a younger, cat eared girl. Even though it was a messy drawing, it was clear who the two were... And scrawled in the same rough crayon on the top was...
My family.
I don't know how long I stood there, just looking at the photo.
"So, what do you do now?" My head swings. Yuki's standing at the doorway. "Koneko-chan's asleep... And you go back to school tomorrow. What do you do?"
I sit down on the table. "I don't know." I admit.
"That girl's attached to you. It's imperative to her psychological health that she stays with you. She even considers you to be her family." She says, sitting beside me.
"Did you predict this? All of this?" I ask weakly.
"I didn't. All I predicted was that you would adopt a kitten. You could have adopted a kitten, like an actual cat, and my prediction would have been correct, but... Remember, different interpretation. You found a kitten, just not what you thought." She replied.
"What do I do now? What am I supposed to do?" I don't have a clue.
"Anything you want."
"I don't even believe in this future divination crap! We're talking about the life of a girl here! I'm not what's best for her!" I shout angrily. "I'm not some toy of circumstance!"
"You're not." She agrees.
"Then do I have to do this?" I ask.
"Do you want to do this?"
"... Yes. I do." I admit.
"But you don't have to. You could very well walk out that door, leave this shrine, and never come back. After all, you aren't a toy of circumstance. But will you take that first step? Will you forego the life of this girl, just so you can make a point?"
"I-"
"Don't answer, just act. I'll see your answer in the morning. If your still here. Good night." She leaves the room.
I sit there in thought, before standing. I wander the halls of the shrine, and somehow, I've ended up before the infirmary. I enter the room, and waiting on her bed is Koneko. She's curled up in a ball, eyes open. I sit down beside her.
I'm not the best choice for her. Not at all... But is that really for me to decide? I don't believe in this future divination crap.
I've seen the supernatural, like magic and the demonic, but seeing the future has its personal limits to me...
Could I give this girl a life? A good one at that?
... Whenever I'm troubled, I make a call to someone who probably has the best advice. So I pull out my phone, and make a call.
"Hello?"
"Professor?"
"Oh, Akira. Faring well, I presume?"
"Very well, thank you..."
"Is something the matter?"
"No- actually, yes... You see, I'm about to make a decision, that could change my life and the life of another. I've been told that it would be a good idea to go through with that decision, but I don't know if it's the right thing for me to do."
"Sounds like quite the predicament. But do you want to go through with it?"
"I do. Very, very much. But as I said, it's not the best decision."
"Are the consequences profound? Do the advantages/benefits outweigh them?"
"To be honest... I don't have a clue. It's a personal decision, not some sort of gamble... But the consequences are severe. Very severe. But the advantages... I believe they may be very worth taking the decision... But what do you think?"
"Then boy, I'd go through with it. Be cautious, but move forward. Though give it some thought, some heavy thought. Don't blindly rush in, and if it doesn't go as well as you've anticipated it to be, then back out immediately. Just think about it first."
I sigh. "Thanks Professor. Good night."
"Good night." The call ends and I pocket my phone.
I cup my head in my hands, thinking. I don't know what to do. I'm scared, but not for myself... I don't know what to think.
So what the hell do I do?-!
The sound of Koneko snoring snaps me out of my reverie. I could give this girl a life. With the money I have, I could help her; give her a much better life than living out on the street. I could give her a family.
Or I could just abandon her, and let her leave my life without a trace. I could leave her here at the shrine, broken for the first time for losing someone she cared about. I could leave, and wouldn't feel guilty. After all, she was initially not my responsibility.
But she is my responsibility now... And frankly, I do care about her. Very much, to be honest... I think I've made my decision.
I hope it's the right one.
I rest my head on the pillow, and Koneko subconsciously crawls onto my stomach.
Soon, I'm fast asleep.
And then, the sounds of "Evil man!" wake me up.
"Pervert!" I slightly creak an eye open. It's Konayuki, and she's gaping at us.
"Oh quiet, Konayuki." Yuki walks into the room.
"... Yes mother..."
... Konayuki is Yuki's daughter? I should have damn figured.
"Don't they look cute together?" Yuki comments. Konayuki just growls.
I slowly rise, eyes closed to pretend I was sleepwalking. I had my mouth slightly open, drooling.
"Must... Glomp... Konayuki..." I said, almost zombie-like.
"Die, you possessed man!" She swings a katana at me. It freezes in the air, and gets launched at the wall. I latch onto Konayuki, and pick her up and swing her around.
"LET ME GO!"
"Stop playing around, Akira-kun." Yuki giggles.
"Alright, alright." I reply, setting the now fuming girl down.
"Onii-chan..." Koneko had awakened, and walked over to me. She latched onto my leg, and climbed up to my shoulders.
"Good morning Koneko-chan." I smile.
"So I guess your decision is unanimous? Your bus will be here in a few minutes. Pack up what you have, and prepare to leave." Yuki says.
I nod. "It was nice meeting you." I hold out my hand to her. She smiles, and takes it. Then she pulls me in, and gives me a wet kiss on the cheek.
"MOTHER!" Konayuki shrieks.
"Just a little something to remember me by." She giggles at my massive blush.
Later, I was outside on the courtyard, most of the mikos seeing me off. Koneko was given new clothes, and she looked like a normal girl, well, minus the ears. I'll bring her to Sayanaki for a check up when we get back... Well, maybe under heavy scrutiny, along the lines of, forced at gunpoint with the threat of blowing him to smithereens if he tried something...
I knew what he was... And I could control a lot of guns...
"Take care." I wave farewell to them.
"Goodbye!"
"Visit soon!"
"BE MY BOYFRIEND!" There's silence for a second.
"Already taken!" I shout back.
Even more silence.
"WHAT?-!"
I turn around and run, maintaining a firm grip on Koneko. Arrows fly at me, and they're chasing me with swords.
"YOU FLIRTATIOUS TWO TIMER!"
"NO GOOD PIECE OF TRASH!"
"I'LL KILL THE BITCH WHO TOUCHES MY AKIRA-KUN!"
WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?-!
I leap into a taxi at the exit of the shrine's estate. "DRIVE!" And we're off. I stick an arm and my head out the window.
"See you soon!" I bid farewell with Koneko.
I've made a few calls, and I've managed to secure a new two bedroom dorm. Man, Kouhei was surprised that I was moving out. But not that much, since the dorm room was right beside our old one.
It was late at night when I arrived back at the academy.
"Welcome to my school." I told her, as we wandered the island. She looked on with wide, amazed eyes.
The grappling hook mechanism attached to my left wrist released a wire, and I swung it up to latch on to the roof of the dorms. It reeled us up, and we were on the roof, taking in the night time view of the academy.
Look at myself... I feel like some character in a fictional story. I've had my future predicted, I've gone on a trip to an all women "paradise", I've more or less adopted a catgirl... All that's left is for planes to start randomly falling out of the sky!
I blink.
No. Fucking. Way.
A plane just swooped down at a fast rate pass the dorm, and in an intense moment, just barely landed on the extra island attached to the school, and more or less crash lands near the end of it. Holy shit.
"... Am I dreaming...? Pinch me."
A pair of tiny hands pulls my cheeks apart. "Thanks Koneko."
She smiles at me, ears flapping.
"Now, let's go set up your room."
POV: Kinji Tooyama.
It was a few days after the plane incident, and I'm exhausted... So much stuff has been happening lately... And all this talk about this organization called EU... What is it, anyway?
"Come on!"
I'm following Aria and Riko through the boys' dorms, looking for a room.
"Why are you still here, anyway?" I ask Riko.
"Riko's taking refuge for now, until I can get a plea bargain!"
"Then why are we following you through the boys' dorms?-!" Aria shouted.
"Because first, we're going to meet this really scary EU operative!"
Aria and I stare at her, tensions rising. "Is this EU member responsible for some of the crimes against my mother?" She demanded an answer.
"Why don't you ask him?" Riko replied.
"What rank is he then?" Aria asked, preparing her guns for a fight.
"He's not ranked." She answered.
"Then there's nothing to worry about, right?" I ask.
"Wrong!" Riko chimed. "He's a Moderator! And one of the best, if not the best Moderator in EU!"
Aria pales a bit. "R-Really?"
"What's a Moderator?" I ask her.
"He's the one of the guys responsible for most of EU's dirty work! He keeps the incompliant members of EU in line, by using negotiations, bribery, conning, or straight up violence! He helps protect the organization, but is the same chain that helps keeps it together! He keeps EU secret, efficient, and uses any means necessary to keep it that way!"
"Sounds like a scary guy..." I muse, checking over my gun as well now... Seems like we're going to be in for quite the fight... "Will someone tell me what EU is?"
"Here we are!" They just ignored me.
Huh, this EU member lives beside my "master", Akira De Leon...
"It's hard to believe such a guy lives so close." I murmur, Aria nodding. "It could be a trap..."
"I doubt it!" Riko chimes, "Even though he's scary sometimes, he's still a really nice guy to Riko!"
She pulls a few tools out of her pockets, and begins lock picking the door.
"Got it!" The door opens. We enter quietly. The guy sure lives in quite the nice dorm. A two bedroom dorm meant for 8 people, and this guy has it all to himself...
Shuffle.
Something scurries by us. We all have our weapons out, even Riko.
"What was that?" Aria asks.
"I don't know- There!" We swing to the side.
A small figure runs past us yet again, and Aria trips it. We all aim our guns at it, ready for anything. Well, almost anything.
Cowering and clutching a hurt knee, is a little girl. With cat ears and a tail. Wow.
"Waaaaah!" She cries.
"S-Sorry!" Aria squeals, trying to help her. We step over to assist her, when we suddenly freeze.
"What the hell?-!" We can't move one bit. It's like we're being restrained by chains of some sort.
"Don't panic!" Riko snaps.
Clatter.
As suddenly as we try to break out of something's invisible grasp, something begins to clatter. We freeze, staying as still as possible, well, we can't even move anyway, but we still freeze.
"What... The... Hell...?"
Around us, guns slowly rise from their places on tables. Handguns, submachine guns, shotguns, assault rifles. They rose from their places, and aimed at us. Like one mass motion, they primed, ready to fire at us. They drifted through the air, and formed a protective shroud around the girl.
"Koneko!" A young man runs and takes the girl into his arms, comforting her. Then he looks up.
No. Fucking. Way.
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?-!" The man shouts at us, the guns mobilizing and snapping into place, aimed at our heads. He glared at us with a murderous fire in his eyes, which, from a single glance, made me feel...
That this man could kill us, at the slightest whim.
"... Riko? Kinji? Aria? What the hell are you doing in my dorm?"
It's Akira. Akira De Leon. My teacher. No way.
"Riko, what are you up to?"
"Er... Let me explain."
He releases some hold on us, and tells us to sit down around a table. Riko explains everything while he still coos comforting words to the girl in his arms.
"... So you want to bunk here while you wait for the verification of your plea bargain?"
"Just for a bit! Riko won't be of any trouble!" She tries to persuade him. He adopts a thoughtful expression.
"So... What's with the girl?" Riko asks.
"Her name's Koneko. And I'm her guardian, temporarily." The girl's ears spike up at the word temporarily, and adopts teary eyes. "O-Okay! Not temporarily!" He stammers. "Anyway... She's technically... My adoptive... I guess my adoptive daughter." He says us.
Riko gapes, while Aria and I blink.
The girl's, Koneko's, ears flap and her tail sways happily, content.
"Can I call you Daddy?" The girl asks him.
"Yes- Wait, what?"
"Yay! Daddy!" She chimes, and clings to him.
"... You all saw nothing."
We nod slowly. Very, very slowly.
Knock. Knock.
Someone was at the door.
"Hey! Akira! It's Kouhei Takeda, your best friend you hopefully didn't forget about, and Yuriko Chikanatsu, your psychotic girlfriend- GAH!"
"I'm not psychotic! Now open up! Hey... The doors opened already..."
Akira quickly stands up. "Not a word of EU, alright?"
A young man and woman enter the room.
"Akira! You missed the craziest week in the school's history!"
"I missed you! Where have you been?" The woman, Yuriko, pulls Akira into a long kiss.
The young man, Kouhei, and Riko whistle.
"Just... Out..." Akira weakly answers, breathless.
"Oh? Who's this?" Yuriko asks, looking at Koneko. Koneko walks up to her, looking up at her face.
"Mommy!" She points with a little finger at her.
Her jaw drops. "I-I'm not your mommy!" She stammers.
"But you kissed Daddy! So that makes you Mommy!" Koneko exclaimed.
Silence... Complete and utter silence...
Akira adopted a "oh shit, I'm fucked" expression.
"AKIRA DE LEON! YOU WILL SIT DOWN, AND EXPLAIN!" Yuriko roared.
POV: Akira De Leon.
"Well, I was working a Butei mission in Kyoto." I start off my meticulously crafted half-truth, half-lie. "I was hunting a drug operation with the Kyoto Police Department. During my time there, I spent the day scouring for leads. When I passed by an alley, during my search, I heard cries, and whimpering. I ran into the alley, and threw the lid off a dumpster. Inside, was Koneko, huddling and scared, a hand sliced open from broken glass." I held Koneko's hand, which was bandaged.
"Then I took her to the place I was staying. Which was the Kyoto Hotogi shrine."
Kinji blinks.
"They welcomed me, much to my surprise. They helped me treat Koneko, for both her injuries and other health problems. And for the next week, I juggled spending time with Koneko, and working on my mission."
"So why is she here?" Kouhei asked me.
"You know, I'll just let Koneko answer that one. I've got to go out and grab some food... Got to feed three mouths rather than two..." I stand up, glaring lightly at Kouhei. "Watch her for me, alright?"
I was about to leave, when a hand tugs on my wrist.
"Don't go..." It was Koneko, looking up at me with a sad expression.
... Damn you, guilt!
"I'll just be out for a bit. I'll be back as soon as possible, alright?" I assure her. She nods. "Just play with these guys while I'm gone." I give her a hug, and then leave for the grocery store.
POV: Kinji Tooyama.
Everyone simply just stared at the eccentric little girl. As soon as Akira left the dorm, she immediately latched on to Yuriko.
"I'm not your mommy!" She argued.
Koneko shook her head. "Mommy."
"But I'm not!"
"You're Mommy, because Daddy loves you." Koneko pointed out.
"So, Koneko-chan... Why are you here with Akira-ku- I mean Akira-san?" Riko asked the little girl, making sure not to use –kun in the presence of the guy-in-question's potentially psychotic girlfriend.
"Because he's my family!" Koneko chimed.
"But you two are not related." Riko pointed out.
"So?"
"Then you can't possibly be family." Aria interjected.
She looked hurt for a second.
"But that's not what Daddy said!" She argued.
"What did your... Your father say to you?" Yuriko asks her.
"Daddy said to me, that a family is made of people who love you very much! The people who spend time with you, the people who understand you, the people who care about you! That's what makes a family! I've never had a family before! And I don't wanna lose Daddy! Daddy gave me a name! Daddy spent time with me! Daddy understands me! Daddy cares for me!" She shouted.
"So determined..." Aria murmured.
"Why are you so adamant about having Akira as your family?" Kouhei asked Koneko.
"Because I love Daddy very much. That's why Daddy's my family." She smiled happily.
Kouhei and I smile, as the girls gush over the little girl in Yuriko's arms.
POV: Akira De Leon.
I'm sitting in the park, collecting my thoughts. I'm in quite the predicament... And this one is not related to my problems concerning Koneko. Damn.
What to do now...? Well, like every single time I'm in a predicament of some sort, I'll just make a call.
"Hello?"
"Jeanne?"
"Ah! Akira-sempai!"
"Cut the honorifics, it's not like we're in the Vostok right now."
"Alright, Akira-kun."
"... You know what, just forget it."
"So... Why did you take this occasion to call?"
"I've got a bit of a problem... Concerning one Riko Mine..."
"Ah? Riko? What kind of problem- Oh yes, she failed that mission of hers- Oh my..."
"That's right... Since I'm a Moderator, I've got to "deal" with her..."
"She hasn't leaked out any of EU's secrets? Is she safe at the current moment?"
"Don't worry, she's just going for a plea bargain... I'll make sure she keeps EU secret... But how will EU react? She's a vulnerable source of information."
"She doesn't have that much information concerning EU... The only times you've had to do some "quieting" are when the involved party has information about the Vostok, irokane, or something very important, correct? So you shouldn't't have many problems."
"Except one major one. You remember a certain "Vlad of Endless Sin"?"
"EU's famed #2? Why?"
"He's taken an unhealthy interest in Riko... And I know for a fact he's disappointed with her. He may try to pull something..."
"Why don't you just take care of him? It would solve your problems."
"The power vaccum for control of the postition. People will fight for the spot, and kill for it as well. After all, infighting is allowed in EU, but I only have to deal with it when it gets out of hand..."
"Then take the position yourself. That would get rid of the issue entirely."
"Then I would have more attention brought to myself. I'm trying to live as normal a life as possible when I'm not dealing with EU related things."
"I apologize that I'm not of much help..."
"No, no, it's okay. Say, what are you up to?"
"Actually, I'm preparing to travel to your school. I've got recruitment and a scouting to handle. The recruiting is classified though."
"Then who are you scouting?"
"A person named... Kouhei Takeda."
"... Damn."
"Are there any problems with that?"
"No, nothing... Just didn't expect it..."
"Do you know him?"
"You could say that..."
"I'll see you and Riko soon... Ah, look at the time. I've got to go. My flight leaves in an hour. Goodbye!"
"Bye." The call ends.
God damn. Kouhei's being scouted for EU. I did not expect that... Oh well, might as well get those groceries now... And a steady supply of those peach buns... Apparently Koneko likes them...
POV: Kinji Tooyama.
Everyone's watching TV. Who knew Akira was rich? Riko told me that EU members got paid very well when they did some missions, or traded something valuable.
Oh, that reminds me. "Aria, apologize." I tell her.
"What? Why?" She hisses at me.
"You hurt her!" I point to Koneko.
"But it was an accident!"
"So? Just do it."
Begrudgingly, she complies.
"I'm sorry for tripping you..." She says embarrassed to Koneko. The little girl simply smiled, and held out a peach bun as a peace offering. Aria blinks, and takes it with thanks. Then she quietly walks back to her seat.
She takes a big bite of the bun.
"I like her." She says, eyes sparkling.
POV: Akira De Leon.
I sat back in the park, after getting the groceries. Damn it. Stupid future prediction...
You will adopt a kitten off the streets. Already done.
You will kill a demon in his sleep. Will I kill Vlad? Seems likely...
You will fight for a princess chasing her throne. I don't know any royalty...
You will dance with a reaper in his home. That's vague as well...
You will wage a war under a burning flag... What war? Is a war coming? Who's fighting?
And you will sleep in death's embrace. Should have figured. Everybody dies, it's just a matter of how and when. Will I die in this upcoming war?
What the hell am I going to do? What's going to happen to Koneko and Yuriko? What's going to happen to my life?
And last question.
Why do I keep asking myself questions that I don't know the answer to?
I sigh, and pick up the groceries. I sigh. Time to head home... To the people I care about...
To my family.
Chapter 2 Complete! Not much to say to you people. So R/R, enjoy life, read great fiction, and let the creative juices flow. And not only for you lemon writers. Aw well. – EthernalRain