Punch, Brother, Punch

by KibaElunal

Himi Akira uses her duel avatar, Aqua Current in order to protect players of low levels from those who would take advantage of them. Her role as bodyguard is one she takes with pride, though lately her job has become more and more dangerous, despite her cautious nature. With no one else to turn to, she inducts her American classmate and trusted friend, Zack, to become her partner.

2. Chapter 2

Punch, Brother, Punch Ch .2

AN: Whoo! Chapter Two! So, I hope you guys really enjoy this story. I'm going to be working on it every now and then. Sorry for the huge info/lore dump, but I imagine this is a process every OC has to go through when first picking up the game. That being said, I'm super excited to see what you guys think of the chapter. Be sure to review! -Kiba

"Chocolate Recluse? Isn't that the guy who attacked you yesterday?"

She nodded her head. "Yes, I'm afraid it is. Something about his story sounded suspicious, so I checked up on it. It seems that he is the real bully."

"Figures."

"The boys he was referring to are both level two. They've been teaming up on him to keep him from stealing their points, but they haven't gone on the offensive." Her eyes gleamed as she once more shifted her glasses. "I wish to help them, but I fear that Chocolate Recluse is something of a counter to my body. His venom disrupts the membrane that protects my body."

"But since I'm metal…"

"Venom would not affect you. That is correct."

"So how do we find him?" She bit her lip, taking the opportunity to drink some tea. "You don't know where he is," I realized. "Well...don't you have someone who tracks people or something? I mean...you threatened him yesterday with the Red King or whatever. What if we talked to him?"

"No!" she abruptly shouted before catching herself. "No, that's a bad idea. It is best that we do not get involved with the Kingdoms. I'm afraid we'll have to resort to something that is a little less than ethical."

"Such as?" I asked suspiciously.

"Hacking into his social account and cross referencing his hotspots to triangulate his area."

"Are you insane?! Akira, this is just a game! I'm pretty sure that's a crime!" I ran my hand through my hair in panic. "I mean, how would you even…"

"Done," she commented, her fingers flying over the screens on her neuro linker. "As I suspected, he's in the Red Kingdom's territory." She pulled up a map, displaying it to me as she highlighted the area she'd managed to find him in. "It looks as if he's going to ask the Red King herself for help."

"I'm sorry. Herself? I thought it was a King."

"Simply a title. Three of the kings are female: red, purple, and black."

"Which Kingdom do we belong to?"

She stopped, taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes. Did I say something wrong? "At one point, we were allied with the Black King, but I fear something happened that sent me all the way down to level one. This is why I am now unaffiliated with any Kingdom."

"So she just ditched you because you were level one! That's utter bullcrap!" I clenched my fist, going for the door. "Maybe I'll talk to this Black King and get her to take you back. She can't just abandon her…"

"I left," she interrupted moving between me and the exit. "I'm the one who chose to leave the Nega Nebulous. Not her. But this isn't important right now. I need you to focus on this mission. Now, we're going to most likely run into some trouble with the Red King if we're not careful. Luckily, I have a connection on the inside."

"Really? Then what's the problem."

She huffed. "I sent her a message last night. She wishes to test you herself, though I told her I'd be more than willing to do it. Alas, if we want her help, I am only allowed to spectate."

"Ha! Well I promise I'll put up a fight. I won't let her get the best of me. I'll give her the old one-two punch." I thrust my fist outward in a jab to indicate my point. A slight snicker came from Akira that had me conflicted. On one hand, I couldn't believe she was laughing at me. On the other, I'm glad that she was laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," she lied. "We should meet her now. We'll head to the Strawberry Palace."

"Lead the way, I guess."

"There are a few more rules you need to know when it comes to Brain Burst," she explained as we sat on the bus. "Firstly, never allow someone else to find your true identity. The importance of us locating and defeating Chocolate Recluse isn't that he's dangerous or a bully, but that he now knows my identity. Amongst friends, it's okay to trust them with your name, like you and I, but with others, you should keep that information as limited as possible. You said earlier 'this is just a game', but that's incorrect. In the accelerated world, people of all walks of life are given power. That means there are people who use it for good and who use it for evil."

"I see. So telling people my name could lead to an incident like what happened yesterday at the cafe. Right?"

"Precisely. It is why I instructed you not to use my real name yesterday. I've already introduced you to my friend, so don't worry so much about keeping that secret, but know that she is much more reserved. Do not expect her to repay the favor."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

Taking a deep breath, she sighed. "I'm not trying to scare you Hughes...I mean Zack. I'm just telling you to stay alert. I need you to help me, not to become another client, understand?" My heart sank. So she didn't think I would be capable enough to help her? "Don't be sour. I chose you for a reason, after all. If I didn't think you could handle it, I wouldn't have given you the file."

"So keep my identity close to my chest. Got it. What else?"

She seemed a little nervous to tell me the next bit. Shyly, she removed her glasses, wiping them with a cloth, and replacing them on her face before speaking again. "May I speak frankly?" she asked. Once I nodded, she let out a soft sigh before continuing. "You must value your friends and keep them close. In the accelerated world that we live in, it's important to not let things tear you apart. If you do, it could very well spell out your end."

"How can you say that to me?" I snapped. "Of course I value my friends! Do you honestly think that I don't know how important they are? They're everything I have!"

"Calm down…"

"Don't tell me to be calm! You said yourself that we were friends! Do you really think I don't value you?!"

Her head turned towards me, her eyes focusing intently on to mine. Hers were a beautiful gold unlike any I'd ever seen. She rested her hands on mine. "Understand, please. I am not questioning you as a friend."

"You could have fooled me, because it seems like that's exactly what you were doing."

She remained quiet, slipping her hands from mine again. "Zack...how long have you lived in Japan now?"

"A few years now, you know that. We went to Junior High together."

"And after these last three years, how many people would you count amongst your close friends?" My fist clenched tightly. Able to see my anger, she continued calmly. "Zack. I am not saying anything about you. But I've found that it's quite obvious that you keep me around less as a friend and more as a social comfort. To you, I am a safety net. To me, however, you are someone I can rely on to not only be there when I need it, but you can also be someone who may come to me with a problem."

"That's...not true…" I tried, slowly relaxing my hand. "I don't want you to think I see you as just someone I can use if I need help. I wouldn't be helping you now if that was all I saw you as."

"You would," she insisted. Her words hurt me. Was that really what she thought of me? "You are afraid I would leave you. So you put on a facade of friendship because of that fear. In truth, I'm not able to gauge how much you truly care at all."

"What do you mean?"

She said nothing at first. "We will discuss it later," she finally replied after a long pause. "Right now, we must keep catching you up on rules. Rule number 3: If you fight an opponent or opponents whose combined sum is at least three levels higher than you or your teams combined sum, even if you lose it will not drain you of all of your points."

"That's handy. Then shouldn't I solely fight those people?"

"Just like any other game, levels indicate power. The higher level you are the more special abilities you unlike. For you and I, being level 1, we only start with the first ability we are given. For you, that is Echo. For me, that is Memory Leak."

"Memory...leak?"

"I can wipe away the memories of those I fight or encounter, but to do so I must be in a match with them and I must face them head on. It is not an easy ability to use. That is another reason I am bringing you along. I may need you to restrain someone so that I may erase my identity from them."

My heart began to pound fiercely in my chest. It was as if I were at the top of a hill on a rollercoaster just before it plummeted downward. Why did her power terrify me so much? If she noticed, she didn't bring light to it.

"There is one more rule that is very important for you to remember. Possibly even the most important."

"All right. I'm ready."

"Have fun."

I blanked for a moment. For a moment a small grin came across my face and I began to chuckle, until I realized she was not laughing. "You're serious? That's the super important rule? You sound like a children's baseball coach."

"I have seen many people fall to the darker side of Brain Burst. But in the end, this is 'just a game'...in a sense. Hold on to that and don't ever let it go. The moment you cease to see Brain Burst for what it is," she shot me a look that chilled me to the core. "I'll drain your points myself."

"Holy crap, Akira. Lighten up. I get it okay? I'll have fun."

"This is also a safety thing, Zack. There are people who have died over this game, understand? You saw it yesterday in that boy's eyes. That's why we are going to drain him of points. He's become far too dangerous. We can't allow him to continue being a Burst Linker."

"So...what? We're like the Accelerated World Police now?"

Since the start of our conversation, she smiled for the first time. "Yes. I think I rather like the sound of that. Accelerated World Police. Well Officer Punch, do you have any questions for your Guardian?"

"Guardian?" I snickered.

"That is what we call the person who first gave us the game. It is your responsibility, should you share it, to teach them the ways of the Accelerated World and ensure that they are safe and protected. Just as I am doing with you, now."

"Fine, but I'm not calling you Mistress. So just throw that thought out the window."

She giggled softly. "That's okay. I completely understand. Oh, one more thing! You've played Pokemon, yes?"

"Umm, yeah? Why?"

"When you are challenged by a Burst Linker, you should give it your all. Don't hold back. To do so would be considered rude. You and I will share many battles...hopefully. I need you to never hesitate or hold back when we fight."

"Except against you...right?"

She didn't say anything, simply looking down at her feet. "No. Not even against me."

As the bus came to a halt, we disembarked in front of the large cafe. Descending the steps into the small and cozy room, I immediately felt the eyes of a few others on us. She wasn't kidding about the territories. It felt like a gang would jump us at any given second. "Good afternoon. Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything?" The waitress asked us.

"Yes. I'll have tea, and you will have iced coffee. Is that not correct?"

"Erm...yes. Thank you." It was odd that Akira ordered for me. Was there something important about this? Despite her calm response, she seemed really nervous. The feeling quickly spread to myself.

Just as the waitress set our order down, her lips moved. "Burst link." I barely had time to fathom what she'd said before being hurled into the Accelerated World at blinding speeds.

"A New Challenger Appears" burned into existence as our life bar and special gauge formed above us. "FIGHT!" The compass appeared before me, blinking urgently that someone was behind me. I quickly dodged aside just as a woman performed a fierce kick towards me.

"Phosphorus Punch…" she purred, examining my name. "Interesting."

Following her gaze, I read her tag before looking back towards her. "Blood Leopard? That's not intimidating. Why couldn't I have gotten a name that was more bad-ass?" She chuckled slightly. "What's so funny?"

"You remind me of someone, is all. If you won't come to me, however, I'll come to you." All around us I could hear laughs and jeers as she raced towards me. Sliding a foot back, I put up my fists. "If you just stand there, you'll make a much easier target!"

Performing another flying kick, my head retracted backwards before I drove my fist up hard into her back. Knocking her out of co-ordination, she rolled mid air and managed to land on her feet. "Maybe I'm just gauging how good you are," I retorted. "I'd hate to be a disappointment."

"Didn't your Guardian tell you? You're supposed to give it your all!" Just as she finished speaking, I rushed her, drawing back my fist and leaping high into the air to slam it back down. My special gauge wasn't nearly full enough to use Echo yet. Just a little more.

Before I made contact, she vanished, reappearing behind me as I smashed down to the ground. Where was Akira? Did she not come in with me? She managed to grab me around the back as I spun, trying to strike her with my elbow, but instead, she sank her teeth into my neck. I could feel her draining me of...something. As my health lowered, my special gauge seemed to flow into her. "You'd better not leave a hickey," I grunted before grasping her neck. With a quick movement, I flipped her over my shoulder to land on the ground a few meters away.

"You have jokes, I see. Don't you ever take anything seriously? Or do you just intend to continue being an embarrassment to your Guardian?"

I inhaled a sharp breath. I couldn't let her get into my head. "I only take serious things seriously. Come on. A love bite? I know you can do better than that."

"It's a shame the same could not be said of you," she countered, her body twisting and contorting. Her shape began to change until at last, she looked like a full grown metallic leopard. Hunched low to the ground, I could tell she was preparing to charge.

With a roar, she lunged straight towards me, fangs bared. I didn't have hardly any special in my gauge left. She expected me to be taken off guard, so I stood my ground and just as she was within reach, I slammed my fist into arc on her back in the exact same spot as last time. "I'm not letting you get to my neck again!"

"I don't need to." She snagged my upper leg, taking me down to my back as she sank her teeth even deeper than last time, drawing out a loud cry of pain from me. "Did you know that the biggest artery in your body is in your thigh?" Her voice was a playful purr as with great force, she ripped my limb clear off before tossing it aside.

My health bar was barely a sliver of blue now, but hers was at least at three-quarters full. Shit. I'd failed Akira. "You can do it, Punch!" I heard her cry from above me. Looking up to the roof, I could see her standing amidst multitudes of other onlookers, particularly ones that were the color red. "Prove that I didn't make a mistake in picking you!"

Blood Leopard watched amused as I rolled over, pushing myself to my knee and my stump. I wouldn't be able to move anymore. Not that I moved much to begin with. "She's right, you know?" I sighed. "Aqua Current is pretty smart. I'm practically useless. But, if she thinks that I can do it, well...I'd hate to see her be wrong for the first time."

"Still making jokes?" she snarled, coiling her muscles like a spring before pouncing at me. Just as I went to swing, however, she suddenly veered off course, causing my fist to drag along her underbelly. "Ugh...my stomach hurts...what did you do to me?"

"Seriously? Am I the only one who pays attention to chemistry? Phosphorous is highly poisonous. I wondered why you kept biting off pieces of me." Sure enough, her health bar was deteriorating rapidly. "Props to this game though. They really thought of everything. But this is the end now." Just as I reared back my fist to punch her, I realized that it was now covered in flames. "What the Hell?"

With a whoosh, the flames engulfed me causing me to scream in agony before my health bar emptied completely, causing me to shatter. When I came back with a start, I quickly began patting myself, only to find that I was, in fact, not on fire. "What was that about paying attention in chemistry?" Our waitress teased. "Phosphorous also is what is used to make matches. Current, you have permission to hunt your quarry in our territory. Punch...thanks for the match."

"Thank you," I replied as well, bowing my head.

Akira smiled at me over her teacup as she sipped from it. Our waitress returned to the counter as I drank my own iced coffee. "So?" I asked her, curious as to her opinion on my match.

"You're far too stationary," she immediately replied. "You're not a defensive type, so standing and waiting for them to come to you is a bad idea. You'll get beat every time."

"But...But...I almost beat her," I protested.

"She was holding back," she stated matter-of-factly. "In a real fight, she would have had you in the first strike. She is of course, unlike any other opponents we'll be fighting, but it doesn't change the fact that you need to improve yourself."

Just as I was about to argue, the door opened and the tinkling of a bell could be heard as a young girl came in, a big smile on her face.

"Uh oh," Akira whispered. "Trouble."

I looked over my shoulder at her then back to Akira skeptically. "The little girl?"

"Keep your head down and don't say anything," she urged me, her eyes focused intently on the child. What was she so worked up about? The girl seemed rather cute actually. I doubted she'd be capable of being dangerous to anybody.

"One slice of Strawberry Labyrinth please," she cheerfully requested. Blood Leopard smiled, fetching her the piece of cake she requested.

"That'll be 600 yen."

Taking out her coin purse, she opened it before her face visibly sank. "Oh...I don't have enough," she murmured. Just as Blood Leopard was going to put the cake away, I stood up.

"Here, let me cover that for you," I offered, giving her the money.

"Gee, thank you 'big brother'. I really appreciate it!"

I simply shrugged. "Don't mention it. We were all little kids once."

Akira was instantly up and pulling me back towards the table. "Just put a tip on the table, we're leaving," she commented.

"What? What's wrong?"

"THE FUCK DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!" the little girl boomed. Immediately, many of the occupants of the cafe blocked our way. "You insolent little shit. You think you can just fucking mouth off to me like that because I'm smaller than you?"

Akira quickly moved in front of me. "Yuki," she calmly stated, "it was an accident. He didn't know."

"Current. It's been a while. Back to visit your Mom, huh?"

Mom? My eyes looked from Akira to Blood Leopard. The two didn't look anything alike. Before she could speak, the waitress cleared her throat. "Actually Master, I requested they both come here. I wished to test her Son before the two set out on a mission together. But it is opportune you are here. They wanted to make a request of you, isn't that right, Current?"

Son? Master? Then...did that mean…? Oh shit. "I'm really, really sorry," I tried, "I meant no disrespect."

"Shut you fucking pie hole until I'm ready to talk to you, maggot!" she growled before looking back to my Guardian. "Geez, how long have you been training this dumbass anyway? I give him a week before he's out of points."

Akira sighed. "Today is his first day. I have confidence in him though."

"Are you going to make him stay level 1 like you?"

She didn't respond. It never occurred to me that she could choose to stay her level. "That will be up to him," she finally replied. "I made that choice on my own. I want him to do the same."

"Pssh, you're such a liar," Yuki argued. "You didn't choose to be level 1, some monster drained all your levels. That's really why you quit the Nega Nebulous. I told you, should have joined the Red Legion, you'd have been a lot happier right now."

"At any rate," Akira murmured, adjusting her glasses, "Punch and I have a mission to attend to."

"Oh, pray tell?" She asked, coming closer to look up at the two of us. "What sort of mission is it that brings you here to our Kingdom, hmm?" Her crimson eyes burned holes in mine and I realized she was asking me to answer.

"Oh...we're...hunting someone."

"Who?"

I looked to Akira, and she simply nodded. "His name is Chocolate Recluse. He attacked my Guardian in real life yesterday. We intend to shut him down before he has the chance to hurt anyone else."

"Ah, it's that jerkwad. Well I tell you what. When you see him, tell him that the Red King is also on his ass so he better watch his fucking back!"

"So...we're good then?" I asked cautiously. "No hard feelings?"

"Nope. Burst Link!"

Oh shit. Appearing into the fields, I looked down to see that her duel avatar was only about half my size with a small pistol on her hip. "Scarlet Rain," I noted to myself. "Interesting name."

"Shut up asshole! It beats Phosphorous Punch!"

"Fair enough. You have me there." I prepared myself. She was a King, so what did that tiny pistol of hers do that was so damned powerful? I'd be really pissed if this game just made guns over powered for 'realism' or something stupid. The earth below me began to rumble as volcanic flows began to course around us, leaving large platforms of stone.

"Ah, a volcanic area. This should be interesting," she grinned. I could already feel my body starting to heat up as I looked her square in the eyes.

"So if you kill me this once, will you let us go?"

"I don't know, that depends on how bored I am!"

All right, think Zack, think! The timer's counting down to start and we saw that even friction lights this body up like a torch. Advantages: She's tiny. I can over power her with physical strength...Oh shit, I don't have any more advantages.

"Quit undressing me with your eyes, pervert!"

"Oh my God, really?! You're like...7 years old! I'm over twice your age!"

"That just makes it even more disgusting!"

That was when an idea popped into my head. I knew what to do. It may not let me live, but it'd be sure to damage her enough to make her less interested in fighting me for round two.

Three…

Two…

One…

Fight!

As soon as the letters faded, a large light appeared behind her. Sure enough the heat alone was enough to make my body combust. Her eyes went wide in surprise as I put my plan into motion. I'd only have one shot at this.

I ran as fast as I could towards her. Raising her pistol, she fired, catching me in the arm and dealing a small amount of damage. But by then, I was upon her. I wrapped my arms tightly around her in a bear hug, using my size to keep her hoisted off the ground where she had no traction.

"Hey! Who said you could touch me, pervert?!" I grit my teeth as the flames engulfed us both. Our health bars were going down rapidly. Sure enough, her tank swallowed the both of us, leaving me behind her while her arms were restrained in its controls. "Let go of me!"

"No!" I hissed. "You wanted proof I'm worthy, Current?! Then here...it...comes! ECHO!"

"Echo?!"

Duplicates of myself and the flames burst into life, causing our health bars to begin dwindling even faster. She jerked and squirmed in my grasp, trying to strike at me with her feet her elbow, anything she could use to try to escape. That's when I saw a series of missiles launch free, before turning back towards the cockpit. "Oh shit…" I muttered as the words reverberated through the copies.

"SAY GOODNIGHT SUCKER!" she cackled, as they swarmed inside of the cockpit. No! Her Health bar was almost empty! I was about to beat her! But as the explosions echoed around me, all of the damage quickly shattered my health meter, causing us both to awaken in the real world. "You asshole!" She growled, coming up to me and punching me as hard as she could in the chest, over and over again.

It stung of course, but due to her size, I wasn't too badly injured. I let her hammer on me for a bit longer before I finally caught her wrist to stop her, causing her to wrench away from me. "Look, I'm sorry," I repeated. "I didn't mean to insult you, I'm not a pervert, and I was just trying to do something nice by paying for you to have a slice of cake. Thank you for giving us permission to hunt down Chocolate Recluse, but please, don't hold it against me for not knowing better." Getting down on my knees, I bowed down to her. "I am begging your forgiveness."

She put her foot on the back on my head, pressing my face into the linoleum. "You almost took me down to 0 you son of a bitch! I am not going to let my reputation be sullied because some Level 1 asshole pervert fucker decided he didn't get enough hugs as a child and figured he'd get them from me."

"Perhaps," Akira replied, stopping her from stomping my head in, "you simply underestimated him. He has a natural talent, and I imagine that a King such as yourself doesn't often need to sully yourself with fighting level 1 players. With your full power, we all know, I believe, that he'd be no match." I kept my head low in disappointment. Was this always going to be Akira's reaction to my fights? I came close, but only because they were going easy on me?

"You know what? Yeah! That must be it! I was going easy on you. You better be freaking grateful, Rookie! I decided I'd make you look pretty good in front of your Guardian, so you owe me now, got it? Just for that, I'll make you buy me another slice of cake."

"Fine...whatever you want," I murmured as she took my foot off of me. Tossing the money on to the counter, Akira took my hand and pulled me after her. Just as we reached the door, Scarlet Rain called after me.

"Hey, Rookie!" I turned back to regard her. "Cheer up. You didn't do too bad...for a newbie. If you find yourself looking for a Legion, I may even consider letting you be my lap dog! Think on that, k?"

I nodded before opening the door for Akira and following her out. As the door closed behind us, the two of us began our long walk to the bus stop. "That's quite the honor," Akira stated, causing me to look at her.

"Oh yes. I'm sure being a lap dog to an Elementary School student is a huge honor. It's pretty much a universal title with all the prestige that entails."

Akira frowned. "I'm not joking. The Red King does not often give out praise. Despite how she may seem, she's actually very kind hearted, but she would never give a compliment out of said kindness."

"Forgive me if I'm doubtful," I sighed. "Akira, why did you say all that stuff about me?"

"What stuff?"

"That stuff about how everyone could beat me if they weren't going easy on me. I just...I hope you're not regretting this decision already. I'm trying my best. I had no idea she was the Red King, I was just trying to be nice...you know?"

She paused, giving me a soft smile. "Of course I know that. No I don't regret my decision, not by a long shot. I said those things because you hurt the Red King's pride. She's called the Immobile Fortress, because she's so heavily armored and has so much fire power that people can't get within arm's reach of her. I'm pretty sure you're the first person in a long time to actually manage to touch her, and that's why she was so upset. That being said, she was, in a sense, going easy on you. There are rules for the accelerated world that even the Kings must follow, but those are not yet for you to know. Someday, you may learn them, but that day isn't today. Now come on, we have a bus to catch. We can discuss your 'strategy' on the way there."

I tried to return her smile, but in truth, I was very overwhelmed by it all. This game was insane, in multiple ways. We have elementary students ruling virtual gangs. On top of that, Akira seemed to imply that I'd still only scratched the surface after fighting one of the most powerful players in the game. Which begged the question, how did Akira know so much about her and why did the King call Blood Leopard her 'Mom'? All of those questions could be summed up into one: just what is Akira hiding from me?

To be continued...