This was last Updated/Corrected Mar 1, 2013. (see end notes for details.)
Disclaimer: Campione! was written by Taketsuki Jou, I get nothing out of writing this fanfic save personal satisfaction (and possibly reviews).
Author's Notes: I'm currently doing an overhaul of my grammatical and punctuation errors, and while I'm at it I'm going to enhance scenes wherever I can. But know that the story won't change! I also intend to revise Athena's narration into something easier to write and read, but still recognizable as a goddess' narration.
All of the volume one chapters (1-15 or 00 - 9after) will be updated in one go. So if you like the current chapters as they are (or just want a copy to comparison) feel free to save them before I replace them. I don't have a solid date yet, but my earliest estimate is March 15.
A reminder... I've already mentioned before that I'm going to change some of the abilities of Verethragna's forms. Some of them will be different. Some will be will mostly the same. And frankly I don't get why people keep giving me fake reviews to ask me why it's different (or something similar)... Maybe they didn't read the notes... fine. But I like reviews. I don't usually ask for them and you aren't obligated to give me any. So please stop giving these kinds of reviews, it gives me false hope that I have a new one and decreases my motivation.
(I might have over reacted over a few "reviews"... and I am sorry. Still if you're going to do something similar- to what I've just ranted about- at least give an actual review with it... or just PM me such queries directly... please? For the record I like PMs too. No pun intended, but I was trying to be funny.)
Since I'm already reminding you guys of stuff... I will be crossing over characters, but not in the pull-them-from-their-world-and-stick'em-into-this-one kind of way. I will be rewriting them to (more or less) fit this fanfic's settings in the Campioneverse.
I posted this chapter two days earlier than I intended to. Because as usual having a chapter (that I'm more or less happy about) sitting in my hard drive bothers me (like an empty inbox). XD
I have a new poll (actually it's been there a few days), if you feel like motivating me a little (before, after or instead of reviewing)... vote.
Also know that from this point on more canon stuff have been thrown out the window... Enjoy!
- - - 7th - - -
Pet na Campione-sama!
- - - 7th - - -
Prologue Two: Kaoru: "It's just not a good day..."
- - - 7th - - -
It was already late, but a few members of the Tokyo Branch of the History Compilation Committee and I were stuck in the office on a Wednesday night. We were not always so busy. Although most of the paper work on my desk was mostly due to my own procrastination. And my being unable to do them at my leisure today is thanks to a certain family heir who just would not learn (or give up).
However, two hours was my limit.
"We have discussed this over and over already, Mikihiko-san. Mariya Hikari has already cut her ties with the magic community; so just because she and her family have made amends, does not mean she is going to change her mind about the becoming a shrine maiden."
'But-'
I cut him off immediately, as I have already heard everything that he has to say to argue his cause, "I am sorry, Mikihiko-san, but we do have rules. While the Committee exists to find, protect, and cultivate magicians and miko, we will not force them to undertake duties that they do not wish."
As I was saying this, Amakasu Touma appeared just outside my office. Seeing that I was on the phone, he lingered by the door and pretended that he was not listening by keep himself busy with his phone.
'Yes, but-'
"I know that Mariya Hikari possesses the rare power that your shrine desperately needs. But unfortunately, there is nothing more I can do. She has cut her connections to the Committee and the Hime-Miko. You are still free to try to convince her personally... but I'm afraid Mariya Hikari has made her point quite clear."
'But surely-'
"I apologize, Mikihiko-san, but I still have other work to do today. All I can tell you now is to try to mind your manners next time. While it is easy to get you out of jail, it would be rather troublesome to erase the stains on your record- again."
I hear him audibly flinch from the other side of the phone.
"And remember that unlike her traditional sister, Hikari is a modern girl. Pulling family ranks- especially when she had been willing to disown hers- will not work on her. Also keep the stalking within the daylight hours, everything bad always seems worse in nightlight. With that said, I wish you good luck and bid you a good night."
Without waiting for a response from the Kuhoutsuka's heir I hang up the phone and let out a long and relieved sigh.
Amakasu-san took that moment to enter my office.
"Was that the fifth time Kuhoutsuka-sama called to make a petition this week, or the sixth?"
"It was the seventh, he called me twice yesterday," I answered as I tried to relieve the headache caused by talking in circles for so long.
"I'm surprised, he isn't calling more."
I glared at him for making such a comment, but the he just pretended to flinch and he continued to smile at me. Kuhoutsuka Mikihiko calling more was second to the last thing I wanted to happen.
I quietly sighed again as the thought of the last thing came to mind.
"Is something on your mind?" He was sharp... but that was why I had him assigned to me.
I considered not telling him. And as seemingly interested as he sounded, he was mostly asking out of courtesy. It was not part of his job to know and he has on many occasions declared that he does not like working anymore than we pay him to. However, I could not resist. This was bothering me too much, and I hated being the only one who was bothered.
"Do you remember what I told you about Ena's call?"
"Seishuiin-sama's... huh, hmm..." he held his unshaved chin as he thought for a moment. Then said, "I believe you said she called you early Saturday morning."
"You forgot the 'very' part."
"Ah, yes!" His annoying affirmation almost sounded like laughter. "You did mention that. 3 A.M. if I remember correctly, now.. You never did tell me what she wanted to tell you so early." (Not like he asked.)
"..." I had almost reconsidered keeping it to myself for now, but I suppose it was not something I can prevent by simply delaying the spread of information. The world just did not work as conveniently as one of Amakasu's beloved games. "Please close the door and cast a sound sealing barrier in this room."
Amakasu's smile never left his face, but his eyes definitely looked curious. It was probably because I have not made such a request for secrecy before. As trust worthy as he was, Amakasu Touma was not someone high enough in the order of things to have access to top-secret information (unless a situation requires it). But as I requested he locked the door and created a seal barrier that enveloped the room without voicing a word of complaint or reluctance.
"..." I hesitated for a moment longer before I spoke. "Ena called to tell me that she received a message from the Old One."
"Oh my...! This suddenly sounds even more serious that I previously thought." Despite his annoyingly perky tone and still smiling face, I could tell that he started to regret walking into my office this evening.
"The Old One told her to pass on this message: Another King has been born."
"King... huh? Hmm... from our perspective, it can only mean a Campione. But why would-!"
I'm glad Amakasu is one of the sharper people I have to work with.
"Alexander Gascoigne, John Pluto Smith and Salvatore Doni... are the three Kings born in the current generation. But there aren't any records of the Old One telling us about their births." I paused to let it sink in. "So why would he do so now?"
Amakasu swallowed the knot stuck in his throat and answered me with his theory, "This new King... might be Japanese."
"I thought so too..." I put a hand on the stack of reports on the table. "But nothing in the past few days, suggests that we've had any sort of encounter with a Heretic God. So it might be that-"
My office phone rang again. I considered ignoring it... but I could not. Just because it might be the Kuhoutsuka heir again, does not mean I could ignore my secretary (who was working overtime for me).
"Excuse me for a moment, Amakasu-san," I said before answering the phone, "It's me."
"Chief, you have an international call from Jinguji Kuesu-sama," said my secretary.
The Jinguji family was formerly one of twelve demon hunting clans in Japan. By demon hunters, I mean magicians and miko who had used their powers exclusively to hunt Ayakashi (and occasionally their foreign counter parts). Although most of these clans have died out (living on only in name), or have lost the special traits of their bloodline. The Jinguji are among the latter, but they have more than made up for this by learning western witchcraft.
Jinguji Kuesu is the heir apparent of the family. And according to our intelligence, she should be starting her completion training tour of Europe with a family contact in Italy. I wondered what she could possibly want from me.
"Secure the connection and forward the call to me."
"Right away, Chief," The line went silent for a moment before a loud click signaled that I was now connected to Kuesu's call.
"Kuesu-san,"
'Oh! It finally got through to you, Kaoru-san. What took you so long?' Although, Kuesu's words sounded agitated, her tone was rather amused.
I suppose it was only courteous to immerse in a little small talk if that is where your caller leads you.
"I have been hesitant about picking the phone up lately. Kuhoutsuka Mikihiko has been bothering me all week."
Kuesu laughed. No doubt news and the details surrounding the Kuhoutsuka heir's arrest still reached her even after the Committee had covered it up.
"Anyway, what can I do for you today?" I asked with as much politeness as I could muster this late evening.
'I happened to have come across some very fresh information. I thought that you might be interested in purchasing it.'
The Jinguji clan is a magic family that is very loosely associated with the Committee. We collaborate from time to time, but only when our interests coincide. And while most of their family still resides in Japan, most of their work related connections are in Europe and America. This was because the Committee had- in its own way- taken over their duties. So this offer to sell us information was rather rare and unexpected.
"Oh? What kind of information?"
'Oh, I don't know... like... the name of the new King perhaps?'
That took me by complete surprise that I almost yelled, "What?! You know him?" But I quickly realized that I had just made a mistake.
Kuesu now knows that I desperately want that information. She will now try to squeeze me for whatever she could.
'Not personally of course, but I do know his name and where he is right now.'
"How do I know this is genuine?"
'I'm neither low nor desperate to even try bartering with false information,' she proudly declared with tone hinting that she took offense in my inquiry. 'But to quell your doubts, I will tell you that I just happened to have passed by the sixth Campione today and overheard his conversation with a several others- including the seventh king.'
That sounded legitimate enough... but what is this going to cost me?
"I apologize for doubting you, Kuesu-san. What do you want in exchange?"
Kuesu then declared, 'One million euros.'
"Two hundred and fifty thousand," I quickly haggled down.
'Nine hundred thousand,' she countered.
I hoped that she'd go for, "Five hundred thousand."
'Seven hundred and fifty thousand euros, and that's as low as I'll go.'
"..." I thought about it for a moment. It would probably cost far less if we investigate it ourselves, but there is no telling what kind of person this new king was. What if he intends to rule Japan similarly to the Balkan's Devil? The sooner we have information about him the better. And although the price Kuesu was asking was very high, we might have to get used to a lot of spending from now own (if he turns out to be like the sixth).
Still I tried to make the deal seem worth it, "If you're willing to add any worthwhile information that you might pick up during your tour of Europe, then I can agree to that much."
'Hmph... That is if I pick up anything else,' she agreed in a rather cunning tone.
"Of course..." I knew that Kuesu was a prideful person; she would not fail to live up to expectations of her nor fail to keep her promises and contracts. Still I knew that my filler offer was a long shot, but it was better than nothing. "Now, can I have the name?"
'Not so fast! When can I expect payment?'
"It is late at night here, Kuesu-san. The banks have been closed for quite a while now, so I'll transfer the money in the morning. But your information can't wait."
'True... very well. His name is Kusanagi Godou. He seems to be about fourteen to seventeen years old, he looks like a pure-blooded Japanese, and he seems like the aloof and quiet type. But he's a Campione, so I have no doubt that you'll find something eccentric about him sooner or later.'
I wrote the details down on a pad. "And where is he now?"
'On a plane back to Tokyo,' Kuesu said like any another simple matter of fact.
To me however, it was almost like saying a nuclear missile has been fired at Tokyo.
"What?!" I felt the blood drain from my face.
'The flight he's on had just left actually. And he has a silver-haired Italian girl accompanying him. Also, if their conversation is anything to go by- she's his personal knight,' added Kuesu.
A personal knight... huh?
"Anything else you can tell me?"
'Yes, actually he defeated Lord Salvatore.'
"..." I was so shocked that words just did not form.
'Well it wasn't quite a fight though,' she added.
Not a fight? "What do you mean?"
'Well... he mostly picked the sixth Campione up and threw him from the airport towards the Mediterranean Sea.' Kuesu sounded very amused.
"Are you serious?" For a battle between Campiones to end so quickly was unheard of. But even so, it is rather doubtful that would be enough to off the sixth.
'Completely.'
I sensed no deception or exaggeration from Kuesu's tone.
"..."
'I'd suggest that you make contact with that silver-haired knight of his, Lu- no... Liliana Kranjcar... I think. He seems to listen to her.'
Now there's a familiar name.
"The Fairy Knight huh..." What could the Bronze Black Cross be planning by sending off one of its great knights with a foreign Campione?
'Oh? ... I take it that she's famous?'
"A little, yes."
'Hmmm... Anyway I expect to be paid early.'
"You'll have it as soon as the banks here open."
Thinking about it now, Kuesu had actually sold the information quite cheaply. Since this Kusanagi Godou was already on his way home to Japan, there was a good possibility that even if I refused to purchase, I would have found out his identity anyway. Still that seven hundred fifty thousand will hurt the Tokyo branch's budget.
'Good. Well then, Kaoru-san. Have a good day,' without waiting for me to return her fancy goodbye she ended the call.
I replaced the phone receiver and sighed nth time today. Why is this happening to me? This job used to be a lot more carefree.
"More bad news?" asked my rather unkempt subordinate.
"No. It's just that I had to pay a lot of money for this information."
"That I gathered..." I tried not to roll my eyes after he said that.
"I want you to have someone gather any and all information on his person." I slid the notes I had taken down towards him. "As well as this Italian Knight," I added as I pointed at the foreign name. "Then take a small reconnaissance team to the airport and check the passenger manifest of all the flights coming to Japan."
"I take it that the owner of this name is our very own Demon King?"
"That is a reasonable possibly."
"You're not sure?"
"Unfortunately the evidences are stacked against me... unless they are all collaborating to torture me."
For a moment Amakasu's smile widened in amusement. "Somehow I doubt that."
"And unfortunately so do I," I said as I stood up from my office chair. "Since Kuesu-san was supposed to be in Italy, check the outgoing flights from there first. If he is on a plane from Italy, then he and his companion should arrive at around ten tomorrow morning. If you find him, have him discretely tailed until he gets home. If you know a committee member or a collaborator in the area that he lives in, consider asking their help."
"And if there's none?" he asked.
"Do a recon of the area and make plans to create observation posts. We will discuss it in more detail once we have more information."
"What if he senses our presence and decides that we're a nuisance?" It was a perfectly sensible question.
And I could only give him a sensible answer. "For now... Run."
"Very well." He sounded relieved. With that the conversation should have been over. But to my surprise Amakasu stood for a moment longer and asked with a knowing smile, "Will that be all?"
I could not help frowning and sighing again. "Tell my secretary to remind me about a money transfer to Jinguji Kuesu's account tomorrow."
"Understood."
- - - 7th - - -
Prologue Two: End
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Chapter End Notes: Surprised by how much of this chapter is Dialogue? ... I was. And I wasn't planning that. As usual, I hope it flows well.
I finally figured out that my word processor and this sites online editor had grammar checkers of sorts... Although I'm not sure how much it'll actually help.
Jinguji Kuesu from Omamori Himari makes a "voice" appearance, she'll probably come back much later in the story.
Recent Changes: Pound and Yen use was removed and changed to Euro, after it became obvious that it was confusing and aggravating my readers. And after I learned that Pound was not the currency in Italy... I'm sorry, Italy!
Also a small detail involving Amakasu was removed... because after reading the chapter again it seemed unnecessary to keep it.
A certain day has been changed, after I realized that I had been using an unchanged day based on the original date used in Erica's Epilogue Chapter.
