Openings song: The walking dead of the Dropkick Murphy's.
I got a message from someone to tell a bit more about Nanites and I'm a bit ashamed of myself I haven't done it sooner. So, now, a large part of this chapter will be spent on it. Just needing to find the right time. Something else, the reason why I waited with updating, is because I have no idea to write about now.
I hope you like this chapter and my explanation. Something else, Ichika is going to be OOC from now on, so I changed him a bit.
I will this on a break, meaning I don't know when I'll update. I have currently no ideas where I should go with my story, so for now, this story will have to wait.
It's not on hiatus, meaning I abandoned it, it's just that I just have no inspiration and that it may take a while before I update. Judging my situation, six months is the maximum of time I won't update. Sorry.
But as usual, first some things to say.
The reason why I updated this sooner, was to close this part of the story and begin with something new. I had loose openings and ends, but with what I got in my notebook, I have some fresh ideas. With the year ending, I saw it fitting to end this and begin something new in the new year.
Now for my other stories.
Cold Revenge. While I ended it, I got the request to make a rewrite. While I'll promise Unicorn gundam, I'm going to make one, I really have no idea when. It was just a try out for myself. It was interesting, but it isn't a thing I like to make. Don't get me wrong. Dark fics are nice to read, especially in this kind of thing. And I really enjoyed making a bad guy. It's just hard to make a dark fic and switching to this one with the protags.
For those who want that I make a dark one, that will take a while. Don't know when. A month, two months, till summer. I really can't tell.
Comforting a rough hearth / in the summer nights. The reason why I made two lemon spin offs is just because I don't want to turn this into M. One was a request. While I like to make it, it's just not something I'll make often. If you have requests for me to make, just ask. If you want that I won't mention it, just pm me. Would be interesting, but let me as writer be allowed to pick my own clients. With that I just mean that if you ask for too explicit, I'm sorry. Oh and something else, I don't write slash. Just because I don't want to imagine.
Just let me know.
En route to a better life. New, fresh story, published yesterday. Been on my mind for a while, now finally the first cuts. I have read some high school dxd fanfics and they're really good. So I wanted to make one myself. Still, ideas are processing, so when I'll get an update, I don't know. What I do know is, that I'll really like writing in the universe.
The graduated student and the Irish street punk. Now, for the ones both following the two, that story is little more than a side project. It's just my rewrite of the canon series which a child can do (referring to myself). Still, it's nothing more than for a weird thing I got. For when I really want to write a story, but have no clue where to go in this one. I really like writing on it, but with the update more than a week ago, it may take a while before getting back. It will have irregular updates. When I'll update it, I don't know. what I do know is that, that I'm making it more than just a rewrite.
First, I have some more free time, but I want to make sure I have a new chapter for this one. Just because I got more followers on this one and because, I feel this is really mine story.
The reason why I put so much information on my chapter intro is just because New Year is lurking around the corner.
2015 hasn't been the best year to me. It had many up and downs. Events that led me to this site and let me begin to write. I'm glad I became a FanFic writer. I like being on this site, reading about what other people make, great stories to explore. I just hope 2016 will get me the same thing.
With that all, let's get on the new chapter.
Accepting faults and learning of the past.
"Which drink do you want?" Ichika asked his presumed younger sister, Madoka. Right now, she sat on a bench in one of the lanes of the school. Ichika had no problem taking her down, due the brutal training of Anaton. Before she could even draw out her gun, he took her hand and slew her against a tree. With a punch in the stomach, she went down her knees. When she looked up, he laid on her back, he activated his hidden blade and pressed it, softly so to speak, against her throat. Only when he heard, "I'm not here to fight, Ichika. I have given up my foolish quest to kill you and Chifuyu-neesan." She could say what she wanted, Ichika wouldn't buy it. Her eyes, those were the ones, they spoke the truth. Ichika sighed annoyed after his attack and got back up.
"Green tea." They found a vending machine and Ichika put her on the bench while buying the drink for both and after he got the cans, he gave on to her as a friendly gesture. After that, he sat next to her. He pulled his hood down, drank some of his own and sat back. "Ah, this is better. So?" He looked to her and the way they were similar and different, it was one nice juxtaposition. Ichika had the white clothes as uniform, but unlike last year, he wore a sweater instead of a shirt, while Madoka was in black. It looked like yin and yang. It was like last time, but now, they were friendly. They both were fixated on their drinks. Ichika bended forward, looking to her. 'She really looks like Chifuyu-nee.' He thought.
"So?" She spoke back to her brother. 'Okay, this is awkward. I only met her twice and every time, she wanted me dead. Now, I took her down and I bought her something to drink." He smiled. Peace for once wasn't bad. After a while, Madoka began to speak. Ichika wasn't sure if he should attack her or leave her alone. "They got Chifuyu-neesan, right?" She asked in anticipation. Ichika sighed. The fact his older sister, the strongest Brunhilde was taken down was hard to believe. Nonetheless, he nodded. "Yeah and if it wasn't for Kerlongsj, we would have lost her. It wasn't Phantom Task." Madoka nodded. Ichika got a harder look. "I take it is the thing neesan hides for me?" Madoka nodded, but had more motion in it and a harder look. "Yeah, our family. They have been hiding for so long, they got back, ready to take back the world. Or at least Japan." Ichika crushed his can with sheer strength. "Neesan stood in the way." Madoka nodded again.
Ichika grinned. "Well, that sounds promising for the future. Question. How did you end up in Phantom Task? And are you still aligned to them?" Madoka shook her head. "Don't worry. I left them. Maybe it isn't a surprise, but our family holds Phantom Task. They took it back. Staying there was as good as dying. And it would be most gruesome." Ichika clicked his tongue. "Kerlongsj got me out of there. He came to rescue Cirluk. Been here not so long." Ichika looked surprised. "Where do you stay?" Madoka smiled and looked up. "Cirluk."
"So my little sister is staying at a hackers place?"
"What, your big sister is doing the same thing? Besides." She pointed at the hidden blade. "Aren't you on yourself?" Ichika and she both laughed a bit on it. "True."
"So that Kerlongsj. Is he our brother in law?" Ichika got his hand over his neck.
"You can say so. And I'm approving of him. I have never seen someone like him.. He is strong. Like really strong. Near Chifuyu-nee's level." Madoka nodded. "I have seen him taking out all enemy soldiers at once. Couldn't believe someone that strong lived outside our family."
"Heh and considering that he said he was holding back. Do you think he can take our family on?" Madoka looked up. The sky was now dark, with the moon and stars shining down. "I don't know." Ichika looked back, bit angry about the answer. "Sorry, Ichika. I really don't know. I guess he can, but not alone. But still, that guy. He is not only a good soldier like neesan. He's used to war. Like he can command an army." Ichika had to agree. "He saved you, right? We were both saved from Phantom Task by him." Madoka looked surprised on her brother's comment. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you know about the Second Mondo Grosso Champion ship. Where Chifuyu lost, because she saved me. Well, Kerlongsj and she switched targets and he got after me."
"That wouldn't surprise me. Still, Ichika, why did you become a hacker?" Ichika shrugged and looked at his fingers and then his arms where the two bracelets were on. "Cause, I'm sick at being weak and not growing. I want to prove myself. Stand next to my friends. And if the Infinite Stratos isn't enough, I'll take everything to become stronger. Hey, Chifuyu-nee refuses to tell me anything about our family. Can you at least tell me something?"
"Do you take enough with immoral?" Ichika had a grin and scratched his hair. "I can picture it. Why did you want to kill me and Chifuyu?" Even now, Madoka wasn't a threat. Still, he wanted an answer. It was time he got in his past and faced the things that wanted to harm him. They had to start again, so admitting mistakes is the best for now.
"Well, after neesan left, my treatment got much worse. Not that many people have escaped Ichika. Last century, I think four or five made it." Ichika nodded, he had an idea that Madoka wasn't lying. "After she did it, I did the same. Phantom Task found me and the rest is history I rather not share." Ichika understood her, this was her past as much he had his own. "That's why I loathe Chifuyu-neesan. Living the life as a star while that almost killed me." Much more wasn't to say, because she got a slap from Ichika. Surprised her brother would rely on violence, by slapping a girl. She never thought of him doing that. "Don't. Don't you dare talk about her that way. Do that again and you won't live long enough to regret." His hidden blade was out for emphasis. She piped down and would listen to him for a change.
"Much more isn't to say. If I wanted to hurt her, I had to kill you. That's all." Ichika stood up and looked around. "Okay."
"That's all?"
"That's all. You wouldn't believe me, but I'm glad you're alive, Madoka." Madoka looked up and saw her brother smiling. After all that happened, he still considered her as family. She smiled and nodded in response. "I'm stuck on this academy, but I guess you can call this safe. So have you finally decided which girl you're going to take?" Ichika's knife got back on. "None of your business. I'll see you around if you stay with Cirluk. How is the guy actually?"
"Good kid, nice to talk. Takes care of me. Respects me, I have to say. We own the hackers a lot."
"You bet. Later." He left, tired of all that happened the last days. Still, he had to stay awake. There was a group of young hackers that wanted answers.
At the dormhouse.
"So that's why it took you so long. You got a GF yourself." Tizof feigned anger, but was laughing his ass of the inside. "Okay, but now you understand why they all fell in love with me." Erzof sat on the ground. "We can surely use the info, but that was interesting things you got from us." It earned him a hit from Raton. "Lads. That's not everything. We can use it, but they have to figure it out themselves that they all can't be around Ichika. Like in mine and Kashal's case, our route is almost cleared." The rest of the guys glared at them, with the exception" of Ichika, Tizof and Anaton. "I'm not bending my knee to Cecilia."
"I'm no hero. More an antihero."
"Protecting her, that won't be easy." Anaton smiled at the guys. "Then best them. What it comes to is that in some point Ichika saved one of them, right?" Ichika nodded. "You saved them and they began to see men as strong or at least Ichika. If you show them, he's not the only one, we have a begin. But guys mentioning Houki isn't going to work. That will backfire and maybe with Jozalof and Tatenashi, we'll get some effect." Ichika nodded; "If you can best them, you'll be able to be close. Or get them to train together. So you'll spend time. For now, I'm training with Anaton. but how are we getting the girls to train with you?" Anaton smiled on his response.
"I might have an idea. If we let Houki train with us, what we'll need, they'll get jealous. Promise them that they can train as well if they defeat you. And guys, I know that you can defeat them. You're way stronger than you showed me." The guys had some ideas, but Anaton was right. For how strong the girls were, those guys were trained to take on pilots in their own special way. Tizof shrugged on it. "Okay, in any case, I'm after Honne for now. We'll see." The guys knew it would work somehow, but now they needed rest. So, it took five minutes before everyone was down sleeping.
Cirluk was reading his room, it was the first time since Madoka came here he was alone. After a while he saw Madoka entering." Welcome back. Where have you been?" He asked reluctantly. Madoka wasn't still allowed to go out on her own. She smiled and sat down next to him. "Well, I was walking around and I passed Ichika." Earning a smile from the Palestinian kid. "We chatted a bit. Still, my family is responsible for this and all what happened last month." Cirluk sat up, so he and Madoka were sitting next to each other. "Do you think?" He paused looking to her. "They'll come for us?" The girl shook her head. "Not immediately, Cir. They gave us a beating, but they caught a few punches. For now, it will be quiet. So, we'll need to prepare." Cirluk gave her a hug by getting his arm over her shoulder. "Wait for that. With all what happened now, even Kerlongsj can't help you. He is human, even he has to stop at one point. Let matters calm down and after that, we'll find a way to get you in school. You might hate it, but your sister is the only one who can help you." Chifuyu played in her mind for a second. Still, she hurt? She couldn't picture it.
"Well, better enjoy some peace. It will be over before you know it." She smiled on his response. Peace, inside her. It was unique. Really, that hacker was the best thing that happened to her. He gave her the meaning of the word peace inside her. She laid next to him. "It's a crazy life we all live. I think that neesan made a good job choosing Kerlongsj. It helps her." She pulled Cirluk to her and softly kissed the boy. It surprised him. He spent time with Madoka and they slept together, being one bed in the room, but it was the first time she kissed him. "And I'm happy with my choice." The two had a tight embrace when they fell asleep.
Next day.
The guys woke up in a calm state, but with a weird dream. The group came down together and they made a plan. Tizof invited Houki for training and when the girls reacted on it, the hackers would step in. They had a good excuse. Houki used a similar fighting style like Ichika and she was necessary for combining their moves. Ichika could learn it from both her and Anaton. Tizof on the other hand wouldn't be in the plan anymore. After all what happened, he wasn't too much in Honne, because he rarely saw her. It also gave Kerlongsj to get some rest. For Raton, that almost was enough to get close to Charlotte. Before he ignored her, he made it very clear that he liked her a lot and that he was prepared to fight for her.
And it would give Cecilia, Rin and Kanzashi no chance to escape Kerlongsj order to train. Ichika could swear that he saw Madoka waving from a window. Actually, she did that after the guys left. Ichika and Anaton left for the arena. Ichika had to control the energy and the sooner, the better. So that's why he could skip classes. He even had the orders of Chifuyu. Most likely, they came from Kerlongsj. But still, he wanted to practise. He saw how Tizof, Erzof, Izolf, Thazalof, Raton, Kashal, Izolf and even Anaton with such power to match personal pilots. Kerlongsj was even possible to match his sister. He heard of Tabane being biologically engineered to fight, but Kerlongsj was natural in this. Like his sister. Last night, when he and Anaton stayed behind, he talked with him about that. Kerlongsj was strong by the usage of nanites. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to fight. But it was not only that.
Ichika was surprised when Anaton explained him on the way to the arena how Kerlongsj became so strong.
Kerlongsj was incredibly strong for a supportive ground type. More than the normal ones. A ground type was a hacker whose second attack was pure strength.
Of course, that's why he picked up the attention of Azalof. But even so, Kerlongsj proved that he, since he got nanites, often pulled stunts that would kill a normal hacker. He survived multiple injuries, could run and walk even exhausted for three days. He was punched through the shield of an Infinite Stratos.
It was hard to find his end point. He would stand and fight, even he could barely walk. As long his friends needed him, he would fight. He fought on battlegrounds and would even rely only his strength to make himself useful. By initiating him, Kerlongsj proved that besides being a good hacker, he got a nearly unlimmeted stamina.
That given was the reason why Kerlongsj grew to an unseen level of power as hacker. His sync rate was something unseen, even unheard of. No one, but Matthew Orlejov was the only guy who used nanites the same way Kerlongsj did. Ichika was surprised that Anaton was so different from him. Ichika, always being compared to Chifuyu, the best pilot ever, always felt down and tried never to let her down. It weight on Ichika. He picked up fast and learned fast. Chifuyu never admitted, but Ichika had, besides the ability to pilot the Infinite Stratos, the knack to become a great pilot, if he was trained well.
Anaton on the other hand never felt that way. The young boy explained to Ichika that Kerlongsj never cared how others would expect of Anaton. By Low Control, he was one of the lowest sync rates known by the hackers. It was something he was ridiculed about, but he never gave it up. He would fight to get his own way to become a strong warrior. He made his own moves, like Hell's Punch, relied on his brain and had often miraculous solutions for problems. Due to the low sync rate, he learnt not to waste power and use his nanites to the fullest. Just like Ichika, he never stood down. He fought till he got what he wanted.
Kerlongsj was often surprised by how the young boy fought and how he learnt to fight. Because Kerlongsj learnt from him. Hell's Fire was a program, unknown to the hackers. Anaton could use the program and just knew how to. He had a knack for it like he was born with it. Kerlongsj made it a secret, but because of Anaton, he became the strongest hacker. Sure, with Alesia, he stood out, but only by mentoring Anaton, Kerlongsj became the Flemish Devil. That's why he never treated Anaton the way Chifuyu did. Unlike Chifuyu, who requested the best of Ichika, Kerlongsj requested this. "Give it your best shot and if that isn't enough, don't give it up."
Ichika was somewhat jealous of hearing how Kerlongsj was. Unlike Tatenashi, Kerlongsj would let Anaton catch his breath, rest out and gave him a day off. The reason why Kerlongsj carried Anaton in his neck or back was nothing more than a habit. By the training, that often was meant for guys above sixteen, Anaton could barely move when he started at the age of eight. For that reason, he was carried around for giving his sore muscles rest.
The guys just continued the habit at the school. After the whole talk, the guys began to train. Ichika activated Byakushiki and Anaton got ready. First, they sparred for a while. Because the program was connected by the Infinite Stratos and now being active, Anaton figured Ichika learnt faster by using it. And the young captain needed every bit of experience to fight Ichika.
In the class, it was busy. Even more than usual, because neither Chifuyu nor Kerlongsj were at the place. What happened last Saturday was kept secret between the only ones known. Maya came in and gave everyone some much needed information. Even for the ones involved.
In the lunch, the girls went to sit up on the roof. They missed Ichika, besides Houki who got a mail from Tizof to keep quiet about her love life. She also got a letter from him from the plan. The guys on the other hand stayed in the classroom.
They merely raised an eyebrow as they saw Jozalof flying to the wall. Good for him that he was used to that kind of injuries. And thanks to his experience, he landed safely. They saw Tatenashi with a fierce red blush on her cheeks. It was something else to see her as teased one. "You, stop that. You surprised me."
"Funny, I did the same thing you do with Ichika. You like, no love, to tease, but you hate to be teased yourself." Erzof whistled and moved his open hand quickly up and down. All five lads heavily nodded. "Should we worry about him?" Izolf asked. Kashal looked to Jozalof. "I don't think so. Look, he's walking. Besides, we have our own problems. Right?" Izolf nodded. In what ways, they would get close to the girls, they would avoid that way.
Still, Tatenashi fumed on it, giving Jozalof the reaction he wanted, and left. Jozalof picked himself from the rubble and gave his kouhai a nod before they made a way to the roof. Up there, they made a simple message. If they could beat the guys, they could train Ichika. By losing they would train under the hacker until he saw it as fit to let them try again. Tatenashi wasn't allowed to join, due to the fact Jozalof was keeping himself busy with her. His special gift was the he could control the different kinds of energy like her nanites. Where its wasn't for Anaton's gang, his gang would be placed first. The guys gave the girls the charts and told who they had to face.
Houki didn't have to face Tizof by defeating him on a kendo match. And Houki being the only machine manoeuvrable enough to avoid attacks from the male pilot / newfound hacker. She was the fastest and most complex unit next to Byakushiki. Ichika's secret girlfriends agreed and soon five pilots had to face five hackers. There was no way back. Beggars don't choose, so the conditions were on the hackers.
They had to fight the hackers and those guys were part from a new divisions of hackers. As the young lads were trained to take on pilots, even on their own, odds were on their side. The girls could start the challenge whenever they wanted and could even ask the guys to train before the fight. If someone thought they could get some secrets, the girls knew they were wrong. By even discovering secrets, it would just a battle of endurance. In which the hackers were again better. Meanwhile, Tizof had left the roof and was crashing around. Honne, despite what he said, he grew fond of her. Still, he looked up in the sky.
"I enjoy her company, but is it really a good idea for myself to stay time around her?" The brown-haired guy touched his scars. "She doesn't know of my world. Where nothing is normal. A world a child like her shouldn't live in." He closed his brown eyes. Still, she was something and meant a thing to Tizof. He didn't pay attention on his walk and felt someone bumping into him. "Owie." A child like voice said. One he recognized all too well. "Yo, Nohotoke." He responded. He offered Honne a hand. She looked to it and smiled. "Hold on." He pulled her back with his two hands. "There you go."
"Thanks you. I was looking for Kanzashi." Tizof pointed with a thumb over his back. "On the roof. But better not disturb them. they're a bit pissed." She looked up, a bit surprised which Tizof found for some reason supper cute. "Is it because Orimu?" Tizof nodded.
"Yep. He became a part time nanite hacker." Honne smiled back at him. "What's up?" He asked, bit surprised of her smile. "Well, I have a question for you." She put her hands behind her back and began to look the boy up. She passed him and looked up and down, examining the boy. "Go ahead?" Tizof asked a bit surprised by it and if he had to admit flustered. "You guys, you call yourself brothers, but?" Tizof understood what she meant. "No, not all of us are blood related. Before often is what the case. We just kept the name. But in mine and Thazalof's case, we're blood related. Most are brother-in-arms. But it's more like close friends." Honne wasn't completely satisfied by the answer. "How come?"
"Well." Tizof leant against a wall. "I don't know how it works with girls, but guys call each other brother when they're good friends. Normally spoken, a hacker pact was done with a brother of blood, but nowadays, it's often your best friend. We didn't change the name. sorry, but why are you asking this?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Most girls have a way to fill it in?" Tizof was surprised. "How exactly?". He asked. He had an idea what Honne could meant by it if he heard Ichika talking about it. "Well, in most of our manga's we have seme and uke's, so most girls filled it in as brother." Tizof shut her up by putting a hand for her mouth. "Consider the picture painted. You can tell your friends it's only meant as comradeship. And in mine and Thazalof, it would be incest, what would be worse to imagine. Besides, the high ups wouldn't have sent yaoi characters to this place in the first order. Why are you so good with anime?"
"Kan-chan was always interested in those things and you can say she infected me. But that was something most girls would ask me. But I had another reason."
Tizof crossed his arms. "Oh, another one, besides accusing me of being homosexual?" Honne got a blush. "Well, it's bit weird. I have an older sister and we got along quite well, but it's nothing like you and Thaza." He smiled at his brother most hated nickname. "Oh, how?" Tizof now had a point with her. "Well, you and Thaza have the same age."
"Differing by a five minutes making him older than me. At least, that's what we get told." Tizof added. "Well, you and Thaza, do you guys argue or fall out?" Tizof began to think. Disputes weren't uncommon on the hackers, he was often one of the characters in one disput, but he couldn't remember one time he made a row with Thazalof. "No, not so far I can remember. Not with him, at least." Honne smiled.
"You often argue with your sister?" She shook her head. "No, but Kan-chan and Tacchan-san."
"Sorry, Tacchan-san? Whose nickname is that?" Tizof asked, now Honne stood next to him. "Tatenashi ojou-sama. They can learn from you. They don't know how to act toward each other." Tizof looked to his conversation partner. "Well, me and Thaza were always together and we never made a secret to each other. How come you know Kanzashi and Tatenashi so well?"
"Well, I'm Kan-chan's personal maid and my older sister is Tacchan-san's maid." Tizof whistled on that statement. "Well, hackers don't have servants or anything like that?"
"Really?" He got from the childish pilot. Tizof nodded on that. "Yeah, for us, binding someone who has to serve us from below is a sin. It's a bit logical if you consider that personal freedom is part a reason why we came to life. It's our highest good. So having servants ourselves, that's hypocritical. No offense." Honne's hand raised her head.
"How's that with Anaton?"
"Well, the young boy is our supportive, meaning we're more his soldiers and he's the officer. But we talk about it and we discuss orders. He would never let us in danger unless it's really necessary. Most hacker officers are like that." Honne put her hands in her sleeve. "It's weird that so many girls fall out with their siblings." Tizof looked up, surprised by her saying. "Shinonono, at least what I heard from Tatenashi. Orimu and Orimura-sensei. Kan-chan and Tacchan-san." Tizof had to give her credit. "If you think about it, aye. You're right." He heard Honne's stomach grumble. "We better get some." Honne nodded and left with him.
Because the hackers stayed in the classroom, she and Tizof spent their lunch in each other's company, earning a lot of views. They were talking about their previous lives. Tizof fond a liking to her, but she was too innocent for him that he found he had no right to sully her. Meanwhile, the rest of the day went on and finally ended. Honne left with her friends, but not before she waved at Tizof. He went to Cirluk for a training. With his teammates away, he wanted a decent spare. Thazalof delivered Houki at the arena. She was shocked to see Ichika. He had been fighting since 8 in the morning and finally managed to use his nanites to a decent level and let them sync with his Infinite Stratos.
He could keep Reiraku Byakuya up for hours and right at the moment, Houki entered he and Anaton were clashing. Ichika had two roles with his nanites. He could use them for his Infinite Stratos, but served as a battery for Anaton, because Ichika had not so much control over his nanites. He could use them, but not the way Anaton did.
Being talented for nanites, he could use Ichika nanites for making himself or his gang members stronger. Right then, Ichika's sword and his fist were in a blinding light, where Ichika forget this. Anaton had two fists and he felt the left one in his face. When Ichika got down, he saw Houki at the arena. "Oh, hey Houki." Ichika responded, calmly like he wasn't just hit in his face." She was shocked to see Ichika in that state. He was sweating, but didn't look more than a warrior in years. He swung his sword over his shoulder and smiled at Houki. 'What?' She thought. "Shinonono, could please have a match with him? He doesn't know when to stop." An extremely exhausted voice said. She looked to Anaton who was going to fall face first, but was caught by Ichika.
He had a soft smile, knowing that Anaton was exhausted by everything. How Ichika was unseen, he had to talk with Kerlongsj. Normally, a hacker had to get used to the nanites and take it easy. That would last for two weeks till a month. Now, Ichika and Anaton had been fighting for at least hours without a break, so Ichika was really strong. Not Anaton disliked the idea of having a strong ally, but Ichika was unseen and so Anaton was a bit shocked about it. Still, he was glad that Ichika adapted so well. With a few weeks of training and Ichika could fight like he was in the Hell's Hounds for his life.
Houki smiled. This was her Ichika, her ideal one. Well, not by kendo like in the world purge, but he was still strong. For how so long, she saw him fighting, she was glad that Ichika could adapt. And while it wasn't pure like she hoped, she had to admit that the hackers brought a lot of good things to the academy. She nodded and came down. Thazalof joined her and carried Anaton away to the stairs where he could rest for a second. "You look like you've seen hell." Thazalof spoke to his young captain. Still, catching his breath, Anaton nodded. "You …. Paint….. bet. That guy, man, where he gets the strength from. It is unbelievable. He got the hang of it and by our training, he has a knack for getting us down."
Thazalof grinned. "We gave the message to the girls. You need to rest now. For coming hours, we're going to train. I'll call the lads." Thazalof left and Anaton could rest while enjoying the fights. Due to the pre hacker training his gang gave Ichika and now his nanites, Houki had a rough time of dealing with Ichika. For training with her, he only relied on his sword. Unlike what Houki thought or would guess, Ichika for the first time, the two fought enjoyed it, but he stayed calculated. He wasn't in for blood or violence, but he enjoyed it to clash with her. He often had a grin on his face when the two came close, but it never faded in a psychotic smile like Autumn's. He liked it, that was it.
She got a better idea on how Ichika changed. Whenever they trained, he felt it like a duty to be better than the girls, but now, it was like he didn't care. He could take her on and didn't want to put her down. He enjoyed. With every damn right he had.
Meanwhile at Chifuyu's room.
Chifuyu and Kerlongsj stayed at the infirmary. Kerlongsj started to heal her again, so her energy would come back. She closed her eyes, it gave her energy, but she most of all enjoyed it. "How are you?"
"This feels nice. Hey, Kerlongsj. I have a question." Kerlongsj looked up surprised. "You can ask. I hope I can give you answers."
"Well, I got some idea on how nanite hackers work in groups, but how do nanites get their energy? Like in Infinite Stratos got cores, how do you guys fix that?" Kerlongsj was surprised that his lover had questions, but he decided to give them either way.
"Well, as you might know," Kerlongsj said while taking a chair and setting it at her bed. "Nanites got a core like Infinite Stratos, only to be installed in bodies." He came to sit closer, seeing she was getting interested. "By their initiation, we receive nanites in our bodies. It send in as a core. You remember Mireau, right?"
Chifuyu nodded. The older brother of Charlotte, being a hacker and CEO of the Dunois company. "Well, the cores you've seen on Charlotte, that's we get send in, but unlike those, the nanites spread over our body. One nanite is a small, but smart, self-reproducing energy bundle. By having thousands in one core makes it possible. Just like shifts on Infinite Stratos, they're linked to our emotions. As long you have a strong emotion, you'll get the nanites to work." Chifuyu looked surprised. "I don't follow."
"Well, you don't know, but by emotions, you release inside energy. That's a boost to nanites and those little things will make it possible. They follow your mind and help you become stronger. In mine case, it happened to the extreme." Chifuyu touched his hand. "Go on."
"Well, two years after I became a hacker, I met someone who was really strong. She impressed me. Not only by her strength, but by her personality. I fought and tried to push what I had to the limit. By that, my nanites reproduced and I became like this." Chifuyu smiled. "So I was the one."
Kerlongsj nodded. "Yeah, I have never seen someone like you before. That's why I wanted to be strong. You might have noticed it at the second Mondo Grosso Championship. I was already growing way stronger than the original program. After I learned that Infinite Stratos could have shifts, I wanted the same thing." Chifuyu placed a hand on his own. "So you wanted to be strong. But what kind of emotion?"
"The wish to be accepted or regarded as equal. You don't know, but you've done with me. You remember the fourth time you and I met. You began to see me as equal. By calling me. Strong emotions awakened at the time. As long you have a goal in front of you, sky is the limit." Chifuyu smiled. "That's why I'm glad your brother became a hacker. His fire, his will to protect. It's huge, he wants to protect his friends and stand next to them, regardless who they are." Chifuyu looked outside. "You didn't make a wrong decision. But I meant what I said. Give him a compliment every now and then." Chifuyu nodded.
"Go on with the story, I'm getting interested. How do weapons work?" Kerlongsj smiled back at her and let her hand go. "By the emotions in our heads, we can create weapons. Most hackers pick one weapon suited to them. There are hackers who are possible of creating more weapons, but until now only two programs are meant for the three types of hacking." Chifuyu had a feeling which programs that would be. "Devil's Code and Hell's Fire?"
Kerlongsj nodded. "They were created by Azalof and while strong, even I have no idea where it will go to. For now, we only have to wait until we have more answers and that's by growing."
"But some hackers are born with them?"
"Yeah, it happens more and more later years, more because it's often safer to be born. Of course, nowadays hacker initiating is safe, but it hasn't always been that way. Wait for later and we'll see." Chifuyu knew that Kerlongsj had no reason to lie about that. "What are sync rates?"
"Chifuyu, really?" He asked with a smirk "That's maybe the only thing that we're similar in with Infinite Stratos. How good we're in sync means how many power we can get from our program and how good we can work with our weapons. We can save energy that way. Being better in sync means less energy loss and energy conserving. When you get higher in sync, you can get better weapons and so on." Chifuyu smiled. "Okay, but I've seen how you fought, but as supportive, you work different, right?" Kerlongsj nodded with a serious face. "Yeah, close and long range fighters deploy nanites on the outside. They're something different, but their weapons are meant to fight. As supportive, your nanites work inside of you. But you can manipulate them." Chifuyu looked puzzled, a rare expression, Kerlongsj knew.
And he found it adorable. "What I have done to you or when I healed others, I send nanites inside you to help you. I can also twist them and force them to run havoc in your system. You remember how I ended the invasion, right?" Chifuyu nodded. "By energy restore, I forced my nanites to look for anything that was hostile and let it overdrive. Anything friendly received the energy." Chifuyu let her hand through Kerlongsj right scarf. "But before you ask, Anaton's Hell's Punch or my Hidden Blade are despite being complete opposites, weapons with the same goal." Chifuyu looked up.
"What do you mean?" Chifuyu asked surprised. "Well, since hackers came into Infinite Stratos, we have been looking for threats and came up with ways to counter them. There was and you have to believe me, still is, the only reason why we didn't attack the Infinite Stratos. One weapon that was only in three Infinite Stratos and where only two are still working." Chifuyu had an idea what Kerlongsj meant. "Yukihira." She spoke. "Yep, the double edged swords you and your brother wield. Kurazakura has the same weapon, right?" Chifuyu nodded on Kerlongsj's question. "Yes, indeed. But how did that stopped you?"
"Part of the fact your weapon could pierce to any shields and we had no weapon to counter it. But mine and Anaton's can be effective." Chifuyu agreed on that. She saw Anaton not only stopped Ichika, but completely destroyed him and the Infinite Stratos. Like nothing of defence was left. "What do you mean with opposites?" Kerlongsj raised his hands to his sides. "Well, my special weapon, Hidden Blade makes it possible to match any kind of energy and counter it. The reason why I can make it and rather maintain it, is only thanks to the huge energy I got stored. The big difference between Hell's Punch is that Anaton's Low Control can make him control only a small amount, but them to the fullest. Do you still follow?" Chifuyu nodded and laid back.
"Despite having the same effect, we both use a completely different way to get there. That's why we differ so. Still, the reason why I train Anaton, despite learning so myself, is because I believe that he can become a greater hacker in his own way. Better than I'll be. The same reason with Ichika, right?" Chifuyu nodded and looked outside. "We have some crazy things in our lives. Still, Kerlongsj, it might be stupid to say, but I'm glad that I met you on my way." Kerlongsj stood up and squeezed her shoulder softly. "What I can say? Our paths are crossed in history and now are fates our entwined. We'll be stuck with each other for a long time now. You're right about our lives. But I'm glad I met you. We're in this together."
Chifuyu placed her hand on Kerlongsj and nodded. "Yeah. I believe we can work it out." Kerlongsj sat on his chair and both their eyes locked. Her black eyes had the same fierce look as his green-grey. "Still, you have your secrets and don't worry. You can tell them when you see fit. But now, I wanna sleep. We finally have some rest." Chifuyu and he fell asleep next to each other. Life's been hard, life's been unfair to them, but who said life couldn't grant someone similar?
Later that evening.
Anaton was walking through the academy after the training of Ichika. It was no wonder that the young boy was tired, but still, he wanted to see his older brother. He had been with Chifuyu after the initiation. And Kerlongsj was now at the end of his rope. Anaton didn't find it weird after the stunts he pulled. Ending the invasion, now healing Chifuyu and initiating Ichika. Anaton was surprised his older brother was like that. It has been a while since he saw his brother like that. He smiled at the thing. He and Kerlongsj had been together ever since he came in the hackers. Now, it was weirder to see the two.
Sure, Anaton was glad that his older brother was close to the woman he loved, but he couldn't help, but miss his best friend. After all, Kerlongsj was his best friend. Besides that, he was his older brother, his mentor, his father, his caretaker. He was a lot for Anaton. Of course, even he had some to love. Something the boy couldn't give and didn't want to give. Still, Anaton missed him.
Now, as much, he missed his mother.
He shook his head. Now was not the time for that kind of thoughts. They had a new gang member and Anaton needed Ichika, battle able and ready to fight again. Still, he was a bit jealous of Ichika. After the battle with Houki, the two stayed behind chatting. It has been a while when the two did that. Somehow, Houki found a better way to talk to Ichika than last year.
He knocked at the door. "Come in" He heard, but not from his older brother. "Orimura-sensei. Good evening." He spoke to Chifuyu. She looked up as she saw Anaton entering. "Anaton?" She spoke surprised that he would use Orimura-sensei and not Chifuyu. Still, she had a soft smile when the young boy entered the room. "What are you doing so late here?" He smiled at her. "Well, we're done training Ichika and I just wanted to say goodnight to Old Man. Is he asleep already?" Chifuyu nodded. She pointed him the other bed. Kerlongsj was fast asleep.
"He is a heavy sleeper, isn't he?" She asked Anaton. The young boy looked from her to his older brother. "Yeah, he can pull through a lot, but when he can sleep, it's hard to wake him up. I have never tried it." Chifuyu looked surprised. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, just. When I was new in the hackers, Kerlongsj and I slept in the same room. Just because I had nightmares at the time. Kerlongsj helped me through it. Now, it's less than before." He looked back to her. Chifuyu thought about it. Anaton was just like Kerlongsj scarfed by the pilots. Still, Kerlongsj accepted them and by most Chifuyu. But did Anaton do the same?
He got in the academy and never made a problem, but still, did Anaton really accept Chifuyu? She wondered on that. Ichika had accepted Kerlongsj as his older sister's lover. You had to see Kerlongsj as Ichika's brother in law, but because Chifuyu was more than his sister, Kerlongsj was something like that as well. Still, what Chifuyu meant for Ichika, Kerlongsj was the same for Anaton. So, Chifuyu hoped that she could get along with him.
Anaton never caused trouble, but he would never go to Chifuyu when there was something. "Anaton." The boy looked surprised to Chifuyu. "Yes, sensei?" He asked in anticipation. "I, eh, just want to know something. Do you hate me?" She asked flatly. Anaton shook his head in surprise. "No, I … don't … think so. Why do you ask?"
"Do you hate the pilots? Kerlongsj told me about what happened to you." Anaton found exactly what Chifuyu meant by those words. "No, at least not everyone. Of course, at first, yeah, for killing mom and my sister and brother. But now, not anymore. Course, I miss them. But less than earlier." He went to lean to the bed, causing Chifuyu to look up.
"Can I ask you something, sensei?" Chifuyu saw his back. "Is it weird or wrong that I can't remember my mother or my siblings face?" Chifuyu sat up, looking at the back of the boy. "When I try to see my mother in my head, I can't. I see Kerlongsj instead. When I want to think of my siblings, I see my gang members. Must be, because I have been for so long with those guys. Especially, Old Man. I think the longest time I wasn't around him was the time you requested his help? I remember it." Chifuyu thought back on the first official time Kerlongsj was her partner.
"Yeah, you saved us after that." Anaton smiled. "Besides that, me and Kerlongsj were often together. Always actually. When we were training, in meetings, I was always around him. Sitting his back or neck. Still, I don't regret meeting him. I just hate myself. For not being able to remember my mother. I miss her. Of course, Kerlongsj helps me and it's less. But still, I miss her. Even he can't replace her. My siblings is less worse, cause I have my friends. Even so, I miss mum. And I hate it. With everything that happened, I can't be weak. Kerlongsj needs me. The thing is." Chifuyu now saw the tears coming down.
"I miss him. More than I want. It's weird that I miss him, being at the same place, but as teacher, I don't see him so often as brother. We see each other in class, yes, but with you around, he spends time with you. I understand, I don't blame you guys. He loves you. And I think it's right for him to have someone like you. You're a good influence on Kerlongsj. I have a question for you. Do you hate me, sensei? For being his brother." Chifuyu was surprised. "Of course not. Why would?"
"Because Kerlongsj still has me. I'm his brother, his son, his young friend. He can't focus solely on you." Much more wasn't to say, because he felt Chifuyu hugging him. "Stop it, Anaton. I don't hate you for it. You and Ichika are the same." He looked to Chifuyu with a questioning look.
"Ichika needs a father figure. Something I can't fulfil, but Kerlongsj can. For me, your brother is important to me like my own brother. And if have to care for you as well in that way, it's nothing than more than normal. Like Ichika needs a father, you need a mother. I can't become your real one, but the point is Kerlongsj isn't your real father right?" Anaton nodded. "Still, he managed to become yours." Again, she got a silent nod. "So, you think I can fulfil your mother figure." Anaton softly nodded. "I think that's a good idea." Anaton closed his arms around her neck and began to cry everything out. "Listen, Anaton. You remember the time Kerlongsj was around me. He told me about you. I decided for myself that if I ever would become close to Kerlongsj, you would be part of our family. As much Ichika is." He nodded and enjoyed it.
After ten minutes, he stopped crying. "I don't ask the same thing as Kerlongsj. Just that, outside school hours." Chifuyu was surprised. "Be prepared to act as my mother figure. Could you tell Kerlongsj about it. Oh and sensei?" Anaton said when he left the room. "As Kerlongsj told me about you, I was ready to accept you. Life is weird, right?" Both Chifuyu and Anaton nodded at that. "I come tomorrow again. Rest out. Maybe, I bring Ichika. Good night."
"Sleep tight, Anaton." Anaton left the room with a feeling a lot came off his shoulders.
Chifuyu looked after the boy. "You finally told him?" Startled, she looked up and saw Kerlongsj lying in his bed with his arms after his head and a grin on his face. "You're awake?" She asked. "Not at first, I wasn't. But my nanites told me that Anaton was entering. Was too tired to wake up for a long time. After a minute or two, when he didn't leave, I heard you talking. About the time the boy began?"
"Kerlongsj?" Chifuyu asked, no idea what he meant with that.
"Anaton was silent the last days or at least less open to me. So, there was something at emotional level bothering him. Normally, he would come to me, but due to everything that happened, well, he never found a good time. So when he began talking to you."
"Wait, wait, wait." Chifuyu interrupted him. "You knew something was wrong?"
"Course I did. Like you can notice such things of Ichika, I can do the same for him. He is just a lot more subtle about it. But I was surprised he would open up to you of all persons. Never expected. Still, I'm glad he did. And Chifuyu, I can't thank you enough for explaining everything you said to him. It must have helped him a lot." Chifuyu merely shrugged. "Ichika accepted you as my lover and so, his second care taker. You accepted him as brother. It's no more than fair Kerlongsj I did the same." Kerlongsj softly shook his head on that. "That has nothing to do with that. You accepted Anaton as person, not out of obligation. The way you accepted him was nothing you could change, but the fact you accepted him, is for me and him the best part." Chifuyu smiled on that.
"Well, in that case. How do you see our family?" Chifuyu laid back. "Me and you as father and mother role. Ichika, Anaton as children and may I count Madoka in?" Chifuyu nodded. "Our little family." Kerlongsj nodded. "That's what it is. Still, Chifuyu, I'm glad I met you."
"Me the same, Kerlongsj, me the same."
[Unknown place]
[Unknown time.]
In the Japanese garden, one black haired woman looked with utter disgust on her profile. There was a very slight amount of what maybe some would call fear. The reports didn't lie. That man was a descendant of the Matthew Orlejov. Unlike most families, they were a small group and more relied on adoption than on getting children for the unfortunate habit not living long enough. But still, it was clear he had blood of that man.
Matthew Orlejov. A man who just made three of the oldest families on the earth kneel. Not for himself, but for his cause. It made her more angry that the descendant was close to the failure and the weakling who escaped the clan. How could they win this?
Sure, he didn't care for Japan, but he stood in the way. But still, the weakling who ran away, she would never live through the attacks the soldiers gave her. Until, she got someone entering the room. "And?" She asked, not even looking up. "Well, they got the orders and delivered the attack. But she survived."
The eyes of the receiver went wide open and looked to the one entering the room. Being her younger sister, she held back. "How did she?"
"That man. He healed her." The older sister punched the ground, making it tremble. And destroying half the garden. Her younger sister looked annoyed to the destruction. "Goddammit, is there no way we can defeat him? What about the ones returned?" Her younger sister shook her head. "They got back, but heavily wounded. Not much, but the young boys fought valiantly, but enough to hurt them. They fled when he appeared. What do we do now?"
The older sister looked around. "What about the youngest?"
"She is in the academy, saved by that man apparently." The younger sister sighed. "That guy, it's like no end to him. He won't look for us. Still, he will never get out our way. And now, he'll get more from the runaway." The oldest sister. "We're getting someone else. But now, let them enjoy the peace." The older sister said. The idea to deal with Kerlongsj was cruel, but it was risky.
If no human could defeat him, than a monster could. And it was hard to call those people human.
Happy new year everyone. Last day of the year, so I decided to put it online before we're in 2016. More, because I don't' know if I'll get something on our monthly update the twenty second.
I was thinking of a short one, but it grew to a level for having more ideas. More so, because I have done this in the free time I had last week of Christmas Holidays. Got a few pm's finally noticing who inspired me, but that was on another story. Most of the antagonists in this story are or inspired by imherepresent tbt or are OC's from him. Still, those won't appear for a while. Not with the ideas I have now.
The part with Anaton was a thing that just got in my head yesterday night. I wasn't home today, because most shops will be closed a few days. So, I got out and only around six pm I was finally done with writing on the little script I had. I really wanted to post this online before 2016. At least in my time zone.
I spent last days on my computer and I now really want to spent this evening with my family, so I'm really glad I could write this before the new year.
For coming chapters, I will get something else. More work of myself on some things.
The reason why I got an earlier update is, because I wanted to make a short chapter, so I could begin, well, you could call it an arc, on my story. I have some ideas written in my notebook and I got luckily some more plans to write that out. Coming chapter will have some fighting and something else. Still, I would love some feedback, see my previous chapter to get an idea.
Due to the fact that at school most of my modules are closes, meaning I got weekends again time to write. Still, I don't know if I'll get something done till the 22 of January. More, because the idea I now can work out has a gap and for now, I really have no clue how to fill that gap.
The point is that I really ask you guys to give me some feedback. I have a way to get it, but I don't know if that will be the right way.
But that's just asking. I'll see you guys in next year.
Still, with all this said, I'm happy with this story. For me, my writings began as a way to avoid the stress in class, but now, I'm happy writing for you guys and getting feedback. I'm glad that so many people got hooked on my story and my other ones.
This little thing began in July with a short chapter and now, six months later, I have nearly 5000 views on this. Ideas I had, feedback I got, request, I really like it that so many people are interested in my story.
Therefore, I'll like to thank you guys for following, favouring or reviewing my story or the other ones. This is my best story I got on FanFiction and I hope I can do it as good coming year.
Special thanks to Lione 'Tabuukilla' Fortuna for recommending me on TV Tropes and reviewing my stories as the first one.
I wouldn't forget my normal note.
Saluut.