Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto owns Itachi and Yasunori Mitsunaga owns Lilliane. I do not own any of these characters...just this fic XD
CH 09: PRINCESS DELINQUENT
It was another one of those peaceful days. The afternoon is sunny and the skies are clear in Sasanaki City.
With the exception of a certain hilltop, where heavy clouds seem to always swirl. It doesn't rain in that particular area, but the black, stratus clouds are constantly there.
The princess sent him out for some errand in the city, to meet a contact she has from the kingdom.
So that's where she gets her financial supplies. Considering it would be dangerous for her to go to and fro in the monster realm. She has contacts.
Looks like shes planned on being independent for a long time now.
He got home & heard from Reiri that Flandre attacked Hiro with a lawn mower. In which Hime did not believe him and dismissed him. Then afterwards that briefing for him, she excused herself and went back to sleep.
...
The princess has actually invested in a mining project in the kingdom that was profitable. A small one, but an efficient one nonetheless.
''So how did it go?''
''The transaction went well, Hime-sama. You chose your contacts well.''
''fufu… of course. Being a princess doesn't mean Ill have to rely on the title's benefits alone. Its always good to have a back-up plan… Don't you think so?''
He had to agree on that one.
''How is the racoon-man? Has he said he and his family are doing well?''
''Yes. But may I ask how he became of service to you? I thought the racoon race are a gentle clan who do not partake in any business with the royalties.''
''He tried to assassinate me once.''
''Oh?''
''He was in a desperate situation then, and became a vampire hunter. He mistook me for one.'' She smiled, recalling an entertaining memory.
''Even so, you made him your associate?''
''fufu… why not? Why make enemies when you can make friends?''
...
Itachi pondered on this. After hes dismissed and with nothing else to do, he started towards the mansion's library. This day he didn't use any of his kage-bunshin. The jutsu consumes a considerable amount of chakra, and he doesn't have much reserves to begin with, just on average level. Not even the princess' blood-giving-life can solve that.
He walked through the corridor when he noticed several doodles on the ceilings and the walls, crudely drawn with spray paint. Hiro wouldn't do this. Reiri and Riza more unlikely.
Seems something is about to happen so he went back to the dining room to tell Hime. When he reached the doorway, he saw the princess' android is the cause of it. By the time he was about to knock, he heard Hime exclaim from the inside, ''that's impossible.''
"Hime-sama, I think you should see this…'' he slightly opened the door and called out to them softly so as to not attract the android's attention a few feet from him.
Riza and Hiro are with her too. Riza looked like in anguish, like the time he beat her at racing.
And Hiro looked like hes been ran over by a child's toy car. A heavy, android-carrying toy car.
They went out the dining room and witnessed the little android on the act. An aggressive looking Flandre faced them, from her mouth she spat a screw like a bullet.
''Watch out!'' Riza warned. She was able to get the princess out of the way from the projectile, but Hiro was behind them and it hit him headshot instead.
Seriously… this boy's reflexes are lamentable… He thought. Blood warrior or not, he doesn't like seeing the kid get thrashed everytime.
He furrowed his brows when the princess still dared approach Flandre who is waving a chainsaw around. Then even became incredulous that she actually attacked her master. Thankfully, he was able to block the chainsaw with a kunai thus protecting the princess from getting her forehead slashed.
But the little thing broke, & luckily only got some of the princess' hair.
He silently cursed the inefficient material that he bought from this world. Most of the original ones he had were spent during the battle on the night he died and with the zombies.
By this time, clearly Flandre is berserking.
...
Hime kept silent all the while… Her frown indicates that shes in a deep thought, thinking of possible courses of actions and the outcome. Finally, she spoke in a soft tone.
''Itachi… can you stop Flandre?''
''Definitely Hime-sama. Without damaging her of course.'' He added. He knows very well that this little android is her longest-time companion, possibly even since she was born.
''How?'' she faced him with hopeful eyes.
''… Im going to restrain her with metal wires… but I doubt it'll hold long. And Im sure the house instead would take the damage. Flandre is a powerful android after all.''
''Then do it!''
''Ah. No need. Princess Sherwood has arrived.''
As if on cue, the younger princess came through the main door and is greeted by a projectile Hiro who was sent flying to her direction. He held on to her in an embrace to maintain his equilibrium, but the cute, young princess interpreted it in another way.
''Oh Hiro~! I don't know what to do if youre this happy to see me~!'' She returned his embrace, thankfully, the little princess is perceptive enough to see the actual dilemma her elder sister's household is facing right now, and sent her bigger android for help in their current situation. Francesca has lifted the berserking little thing effortlessly.
Perfect timing. Itachi thought, & he knew Hime thinks so too.
….
They went down the basement in Flandre's room. Where her battery charger is placed along with other necessary tools required for her maintenance.
''Ive never heard of this before! An android that's attacking its own master.'' admitted Sherwood.
Itachi wished that he had studied more about machines. But he was unable to find any information about such intricate and complex machinery anywhere, even in Hime's library which she has permitted him to use.
He could only watch as Flandre flail around, trying to get out of Francesca's grip.
''Flandre… right now were trying to find out whats wrong with you… so stay still.'' He heard Hiro say.
And hes dumb enough to approach a flailing Flandre.
Itachi's too focused on the overflowing data displayed on the monitor when CRUSH!
Even Itachi couldn't save the kid from that one… only Uchiha Shisui of the body-flicker can. But hes not here.
That's the first time the girls of this house saw the stoic Itachi pinch the bridge of his nose & looked so stricken.
Not that he would know the pain of a pair of nuts being crushed, hes too fast for that…
But being the same male gender, he understands.
By all the Japanese gods, he is never going to forget that sound. Once again, he inwardly thanked the powers of the princess' healing blood. If not for that, Hiro would surely never be able to have children of his own.
''Fuga! Fuga! Fuga!''
Hime would've said something about finally seeing a human expression on his face, but is too concerned about her Flandre. Some other time perhaps…she thought.
''The user's manual! If we have that, we could immediately find out whats wrong!'' Sherwood gladly exclaimed.
Everyone looked at Hime expectantly.
''I left it at the kingdom.''
"You too, onee-sama..." she mumbled.
''…''
''Then read those and fix her!'' Riza cried, pointing at the monitor.
''As if I can read that massive thing.'' The princess replied.
While the red-haired complained about the negligence of the sisters about the User's Manual, Itachi took this time to check up on Hiro, still slumped on the floor. He knows that Hime left in haste, escaping for her life so its understandable that she failed to bring the book. Riza probably doesn't know that yet.
''Hiro, are you alright?'' he asked him, when an all too familiar ominous sound echoed throughout the room.
Flandre's self-destruct command activated.
...
Francesca is nearest the royal sisters so when the sonic blast hit them, he prevented a bunch of pipes from impaling Hiro and the upper floor from crushing them instead.
His calculations were right.
Somehow, Francesca, being a bigger android, has stronger resistance against sonic attacks & had successfully protected both sisters from the falling debris.
"Hiro! Are you alright?!'' Riza called out as she punched a boulder from her way. Relief showed on her face when she saw Hiro is fine. ''Nice one, Itachi!''
Then she looked around, ''wheres Flandre?'' The princess looked around for her android as well.
''Over there, onee-sama….'' She pointed at the hastily retreating figure of the little maid in the thick foliage on the back of the mansion. Her direction is clearly in the city.
''After her, Hiro! Riza!'' she ordered. Sight fast enough that she saw Itachi hurt. He did receive the sonic blast that was supposed to be for Hiro and sustained the impact of the falling wreckage when he shielded the kid. So Hiro and Riza are the most able to go after Flandre.
''Itachi, are you alright?''
''Yes Hime-sama.'' He replied while carefully removing a metal pipe impaling his left arm, with two more slender iron pipes pierced through his shoulder to be removed. His always pristine long-sleeves now stained with blood. Steam rose from the wounds, already healing. He hissed from the staggering pain, but otherwise detached those from his body with poise and without another sound. ''Im also ready to go after her.''
''…''
''Then lets go too, onee-sama.''
''Wait. Theres something Id like to know first.'' The princess proceeded to read, or tried to read, the massive letters and numbers of data displayed on the screen.
Hiro and Riza kept following Flandre. Even in her motorcycle's maximum speed, they cant catch up to her. Then they met an accident on the way because of an unseen road construction, increasing the distance between them. They crashed and her motorcycles rendered useless, so they have to try to catch up to her on foot.
''Francesca, search through section 4, something about android-and-master connection.''
''Fuga.''
''She says that that subject doesn't exist in section 4, onee-sama…''
''Then search through the whole document!''
''Fuga.''
''She says that it will take 4 hours to find that subject through all that massive data, onee-sama…''
''That long? Then we wouldn't have time until… until…''
Seeing his master trying hard to conceal her worry but doing it poorly, he felt a bit sad for her. Knowing what he's about to say will earn him a lot of unwanted questions, he helped her out anyway.
''Hime-sama, I think Ive seen something about that in section 38, say, page 1496…''
Sherwood asked in surprise, ''How did you know? Are you sure that was there?-''
''Type in Francesca!'' Hime cut-off.
''Fuga?'' The android looked at her master for permission.
''Alright. Do it Francesca.'' Sherwood approved.
''Fuga.''
''She says its there, onee-sama!''
Both sisters concentrated on the information before them.
''I knew it. It is as Ive thought…'' she said gravely.
''What is it, Hime-sama?'' Itachi took the liberty to ask, to confirm his assumptions as well.
''I'll explain later. Right now, we must follow them!''
And that they did.
...
In the first stop, it looked like there seems to be a recent damage on the road, with new skid marks on the concrete. Her broken motorcycle was left in the side of the road, but theres no sign of Hiro and Riza so they moved on, Francesca behind the steering wheel of the truck.
The second stop seemed to be a miracle, as the spectators have said. A girl was stuck on a tree, trying to save her cat. But now shes the one who cant go down.
The girl continuously cried, but help seems to be taking its time. Then she was finally saved by a cute maid, going at full speed in her toy car, and knocked down the side of the tree trunk.
The poor tree slowly gave in, and the girl was able to get down from there.
Great… a good thing came out of this predicament.
...
The third stop was on a bank. There was a robbery going on but the situation is quickly dealt with when a cute maid girl riding a toy car easily knocked down the suspect. ''The cute girl maid saved the day!'' one interviewed accountant said on the TV.
Due to the direct impact of the cute maid hitting the robber from behind, he had to be immediately delivered to an emergency room. Aside from the raider himself, no one else was injured.
Another good thing. What are the odds?
...
The fourth stop was on the middle of the road, with witnessing citizens around. The whole chase of the cute maid by a red-haired girl and a school boy caught on tape and currently being aired for the mass to see.
Then suddenly, a floor on a building was on fire. The red-haired pinned the cute maid girl down on the concrete highway. When the school boy tried to talk to the cute maid, the cute girl showed incredible strength. She got out of the red-haired's grip and flung the approaching boy in the air. Said boy landed head first on a fire hydrant. The impact was so strong that it broke the metal lid and water came gushing out.
Astonishingly, the water pressure is so strong and the angle was just right that it reached the burning floor and the fire was quickly extinguished.
''Another miracle from the cute maid!'' exclaimed the onlookers.
Rather than being truly impressed, Itachi cant help but feel someone has planned this. He looked around and scanned the area. 4th time in a row?
Maybe its just pure coincidence, or just his ninja instincts over-reacting. XD
...
They continued to follow her as she headed towards the electric power plant. The city's main source of electricity.
The facility deployed heavy tanks and a number of security guards to halt the unstopping advance of the civilian maid-girl. But not even the maximum security measures cannot stop her.
''If she goes wild here, who knows what will happen to the facility?'' questioned Riza.
Hiro just whispered Flandre's name in uneasiness. Its obvious if Flandre went crazy here, its not just the facility but the whole city's power supply would be in jeopardy.
''oi Hime, cant you do anything?''
''Hime?''
Princess Sherwood rescued her silent sister and commanded her own faithful android. She brought out her regal feather-fan and issued an order.
''Well~ It cant be helped. In situations like these, Ill have to lend my power. Francesca!''
''Fuga.''
The princess watched most intently as the two robots fought each other. Her little maid is surprisingly a match to Sherwood's full-sized built one. Both dealing powerful strikes to each other. Metal bodies impacting on the hard concrete ground with each other's force. All thoughts of her other blood warrior's help without damaging her android completely lost in her mind as she focused on the clash before her.
''What do you intend to do if she decides to blow up here, onee-sama?''
''You take Francesca. Itachi, you take Hiro and Riza. You all run away. I shall witness Flandre's end with my own eyes…''
Her statement made Itachi guiltily grateful. Guilty because theyre going to lose a comrade, but at the same time, grateful that he doesn't have to disclose another one of his powers. He doesn't actually want to activate Susano here and now.
...
Alas, the little robot won. Leaving the full-sized one too damaged to fight.
Hiro's feelings overpowered his thinking. He offered his help, by speaking to Flandre.
Riza loudly expressed that itll be pointless. Hes no match for her. But he insisted. Even if Flandre cant remember him, she might be able to remember Hime.
Such a kind boy.
''Ill be sad for Hime and Flandre if this keeps going!'' he said sadly. Only for his plans didn't work out and he got smacked off.
It worked. Though only for a brief moment when the little robot glanced back at her master. But went back to acting wild when the princess spoke when asked if shes gone back to normal.
Guess not.
In the end, she headed toward the sea.
Maybe its where she intended to go in the first place, as princess Sherwood have said. "With what little loyalty she had left for her master, she headed to the ocean to self-destruct there. Limiting the casualty to anyone…''
Riza and Hiro showed great unhappiness. But it is the princess who's filled with grief more than anyone. With everyone that mattered to her beside her in this moment, she hid it splendidly.
When Francesca made a salute of farewell, he almost felt sorry for Hime.
Almost because before hes about to feel truly sorry, he sensed theres something in the water, something big.
He decided nows not the time to tell Hime because shes about to watch her most loyal and long-standing companion be gone forever. And perhaps not.
...
As the figure of Flandre finally disappeared in the water, a big splash occurred.
Hime let out a breath she was holding. Hiro dropped to his knees. Their expressions went from unbelievable shock, to confusion, to recognition as the wide-scale splash presented itself to be the giant form of the prince Emil's android, emerging from the surface of the sea.
Big Flanders, held tiny Flandre on its right hand.
Hes right not to worry. He knew it, and suspected Hime does too.
From this event, he recently discovered that these robots are programmed the expression of relief. Just now, he saw Francesca do it.
Flanders tightened the screw on little Flandre's head, and she started acting normal again. Back to her usual self.
She knelt down to welcome her repaired companion. ''Have you gone back to normal?''
She answered with her two-syllable vocabulary with the gentle voice she was automated from the beginning. An aggressive Flandre is unsettling. But now they don't have to deal with that berserking anymore. They made it through this serious affliction without losing anyone.
...
''My sisters.''
The prince started. Calling everyone's attention from atop his giant android.
''If the screw on an android's head is even the slightest bit out of place… who knows what could happen.
Here. Read it properly next time.'' He passed them a thick, hard-bound book.
''Youre helping us?'' asked the princess. Whereas everyone wants to know as well. Especially the ninja. Even if the prince Emil is known to be a good person, one can't help but feel doubt. To people at war like them, it just feels like there is always a catch to everything.
''My sisters, the next time we meet…'' was all he said. Then departed away as soon as he came. Flander's silhouette disappeared in the sunset horizon.
''Humm…. Lets go home.''
...
Things went pretty well soon after. The sun has set when they arrived in the mansion. Little Flandre resumed her favourite nightly TV series, Kerberotte-chan. The half-breed resumed her normal routinely bicker with the roused vampire. The boy resumed being happy for having everyone back in the house again. And the ninja resumed on thinking of ways to access that book. Who knows? The thing might be a trap. It might be rigged & make Flandre even worse. Or maybe not.
It wouldn't hurt to be extra sure.
The show ended, and its time for the regular humans to sleep. The pure-blood excused herself in advance for her 'evening stroll'. For the ohter one, being a werewolf is quite being nocturnal, Rizas not as restricted as Reiri, but she went ahead to her own bedroom for the night as well. Itachi is no exception. He retired lastly, after having the princess' permission to read the Manual. He was about to go but it seems the princess has more to discuss with him. When theyre finally alone in the room. She started her inquiry.
''You continuously surprise me, Itachi.''
'' I aim to serve well.''
''How did you find that specific data amidst that sea of information?''
''I just saw it by luck. & it was just chance that it was the one you are looking for.
Itachi smoothly answered. Hes still a good liar. He does not intend to show anyone in this world his ocular powers. He fears the outcome if he ever did, especially to Hime. He doesn't know the full extents of her life-giving blood yet. "Better a dead ninja, than a ninja who is used as bane to his own." he remembered his father once said.
The princess continued gazing at him. Not buying it.
''Oh? I doubt anyone can read something from all those writings that fast, with the exception of androids…''
''I did.'' He swiftly replied.
He always positions himself at the back of the group. Always standing behind them so they wont see his sharingan whirring, memorizing every detail in every picture.
After a moment of calculating each other, Hime decided to let the matter go. As long as Flandres fixed, that's all that matters now. Besides, this is one of the reasons shes not interested in the throne. Too much troublesome contemplations. Too much puzzles to analyse. Too much mysteries that really don't interest her.
Her blood warrior reeks of too many secrets. But she knows he has his own reasons. And she respects his privacy. He looks like he doesn't want to prolong the topic too.
''Machines just greatly interest me. We didn't have this advanced technology back where Im from.''
The ninja already confessed and asked forgiveness from her. He admitted that the way he tied the wires around her arms and the way he hooked it in Flandre's head when he pulled her out from that sinkhole could have been the primary reason why her screw rotated loosely.
"Its my fault that you almost self-destructed, accept my deepest apologies, Flandre...''
''Fuga, fuga.''
"She said that you could make it up to her."
"…"
"fufu… By watching Kerberotte-chan everynight with her.''
Reasonable price. He smiled kindly at the little maid. It would take much from his reading-time, because the show airs late in the night, anyway, its a light penance.
…..
During his first day in this world, he found out about different cultures, different countries, and different languages. And all these information accessible with just a few push of buttons. He is truly amazed at whoever invented this 'internet'.
Then during his first week, he's already taught himself all the major languages of this world. Impossible without the utmost convenience of his mangekyo sharingan. So of course he now understands deutsch/german, the language input of Flandre's data, but Hime doesn't need to know that. xD
''Is there anything you require of me, Hime-sama?''
''No. Youre dismissed for the night. Sleep well.''
''Thank you Hime-sama. A good night to you as well.''
After he left, the vampire entered the living room through the window. She is a nocturnal creature.
"Good evening, Hime-sama~ may I join you for tea?''
It took the princess longer to respond. Shes in a very deep thought.
She felt like theres something missing. Something that isn't in place. As far as she knows, Itachi is similar to that of this world's Japanese origins. Even his name is proof. And the data classification of him in the monster prison. His name and his spoken language supports this assumption.
So she found it strange. How was he able to understand that information? It is set in Deutsch. Perhaps he learned it? But how was he able to in the 8 days he existed in this world. Maybe he's just THAT talented… But deutsch is among the most difficult languages to learn. So she discussed this with Reiri, the vampire did ask for details about today's interesting event. Looks like Reiri prefers talking with her than her 'evening stroll' nowadays. Especially if the topic is about their favourite issue. (Note the sarcasm) The mystery that is Uchiha Itachi.
''Well… from the first time I saw him, I knew hes the kind of person who holds many secrets… and keeps them well.'' Reiri said. ''My darling bats' report of him are all just him reading whenever he goes to the city.''
''A mysterious person indeed… & frankly, very dangerous. Knowledge is a very powerful weapon…''
''A ninja through and through. Plus, as a stranger to this world, he would naturally be curious. But you don't have to worry right~? He's sworn loyalty to you~''
Her statement reminded Hime of her former servant, Lobo Wildman. She grimaced at the memory of betrayal.
''hm…That's true. But you know as well as I do that true loyalty isn't just spoken. It takes time to confirm it's authenticity…
Still, can I ask another favour from you?''
''You know you can~ Aren't we friends, Hime-sama? What is it~?''
''fufu… alright. Can your familiars look closer on what sort of things he researches about? Everything he reads?''
''ah! That would be impossible, Hime-sama! He senses all of my darlings within 10 meter radius. I already lost 4 of them to him… All precisely struck in the head!''
''What? So that's what he informed me about! He thought they were spies from the enemy. Im sorry… Accept my apologies, Reiri.''
''oh my… You swim on even more dangerous waters than we thought, Hime-sama…''
''yes… formidable indeed.''
''You don't think… hes listening to this conversation right this moment, Hime-sama?''
''fufu… I trust hes gentlemanly enough not to.''
''Youre right. I don't sense any presence around us.''
''And Flandre's scanned the room. There are no listening devices or other living presence besides us.''
''Well that's impressive~ Anyway, thank you for your time. It's a beautiful night, a perfect time for me to hunt.
Good night, Hime-sama~''
''Likewise, Reiri.''
In the dim lighted room, with only the light of the moon illuminating the space from the open windows, the princess sat alone. She feels tired, but sleep has eluded her. She sipped the last of her cold tea and resumed thinking in the peace of the moonlit night.
…
Too bad though. Itachis heard every, single, word. Old ninja habits. They never die. They checked the life signature and scanned for any device that transmits electricity. But they have no idea of a jutsu capably defies both sensors. A technique that cannot be found by both human and machine.
Looks like his terrible days in the Anbu paid off. He learned a thing or two about advanced spying using scrolls and written techniques. He silently thanked his decision to buy that recording-scroll from Otogakure. Its their special kind of fuinjutsu that works like when whatever words are spoken in a room, the ink writings appear on the scroll. Its also a joint technique specialized by the Yamanaka and any other shinobi in charge for Interrogation. Very handy and efficient.
Satisfied with what he discovered, he slept well that night.
...
...
A/N: how do you like it?
You know this is for you Mica~~~ so no worries on this dahling, I already have an ending in mind. Pardon for the "oddparts" just imagine me reading this to you as a bedtime story… with my melodic and metal voice huheuehuehue
Gg
Ez pz
Wp
Happy trickster out~