Chapter 13 Part 1: Dishonored

I am sitting on my seat obediently, listening carefully to Chifuyu-nee…I mean Orimura-sensei's lesson. My mechanical pencil once in a while forming notes on both trivial information I possibly missed in the yellow-page like book known as Fundamentals of Infinite Stratos. I am thankful of her ability to pinpoint missing information inside the book, correcting flaws and explaining those mistakes in details and most importantly, her summarizing skills to simplify a whole page of information into 3 crucial sentences she utters in front of the class. Thanks to her, the whole book begins to make sense to a class dunce like me in her class. The average students in this school is on a same level as an I.T wizard who musters physics and mathematics at the same time whilst the smart ones…let's put them as the grandmaster of the I.T wizards I mentioned.

The air is breezing peacefully without Dante-san in class. What a perfect day to study without the troubles he pulls in class, mainly because of his squabble with Orimura-sensei for his callous rebellious attitude which leads him into detention. But that does not put an end to hid delinquent behavior, even Maya-sensei has already given up at disciplining him. Because every time she tries to put a strict act against him, Dante-san makes her retrace backward to the wall and perform a kabedon where he hit the wall using his palm and gazing her eyes at a long time-long enough to make her flustered and panic that she forgets her initial intention of being strict at Dante-san from as she flabbergasping throughout the rest of the class afterward. Every time she panics like that, I can feel envies emitted by my classmates for reasons unknown.

I just don't understand girls. But well, to be honest, I kind of envy Dante-san's confident trait since he reminds me of those cool characters being portrayed only in games I used to play, the one who charms many girls wherever he goes and saves the day eventually.

Despite that, there's something off from his cool hotshot behavior which he rarely displays on Yamada-sensei to escape from her detention. It feels…like he just made them up comparing to the cold distant persona he emits to drive people away from him.

Of course, the shout out and squabbles between Dante-san and Orimura-sensei are cease to exist without Dante-san. But still, I can't help the feeling of something is missing in this class. Wait a sec! Why would I miss that jerk at the first place? I should be happy to be finally studying in peace with the rest of my classmates without any interruption!

Huh? Strange….I…I can't help it but missing something important here.

"Orimura! Orimura!"

In reflex to the commandeering voice to my name, I raise from my seat, eyes are front and center. Only to shudder with terror later upon learning that Orimura-sensei is no longer at where my eyes looking at but next to my side. She has a look of killer. On her right hand there exists a lethal instrument of a thick book and judging from her pose, she's preparing to abuse me using that object.

"And what did I explain to the whole class just now?"

CRAP! I shouldn't have gotten lost in my thought!

"Errr…that's…Uhhh…"

SLAP!

Ringing ears, blurry vision, I was brought into the front of death's door from the Fundamentals of Infinite Stratos. Making my instant painful recovery, the back of my head is throbbing with an antagonizing sensation of the mortalities of my million brain cells.

"Out, now!"

The cold sernous command, like a death verdict dlivered by a judge to a criminal responsible for his unforgiven crime. I oblige shamefully. Behind me, Chifuyu-nee and the eyes of my classmates are following us until we disappear into the school corridor alone together. Her cold glares are still on me, her mood is as sour as a lemon. I better bow and apologize before her mood getting worse than this.

"I am sorry for not paying attention in your class, Chifu-I mean Orimura-sensei." That was close. Real close.

"Forget about it. What we are here for something more important."

Collecting myself, I shoot a quizzical look in regards to the strange turn of event. I wonder what this is all about.

"It's about Dante's representative match. There's a slight change of rules and it will be a two on two tag team matches with five sets of rounds."

"Uh-huh, and?"

"You are chosen to be his partner."

"What?! No. No way! There must be some kind of mistake Chifuyu-ne.. OW!"

"That should be Orimura-sensei and YES, ma'am!"

"Go…Gommennazai Orimura-sensei, yes ma'am. But I still object to be paired with him."

"You have a minute to state your reason."

"I am not qualified for the match in the first place even. My one and only weapon was snapped broken from the previous match."

"Then fix it! Don't give me that idiotic look I know you have been neglecting your weapon maintenance ever since."

I slap my own forehead. How come I forget such crucial thing?

"If you have time to fool with the girls inside Dr. Bradley's infirmary eating cakes rather than doing what you have to, you'd have spared me from this trouble, idiot!"

She gives me another downward slap from her book. The impact almost brought me down to knee.

Nevertheless, I still don't want to be paired with Dante-san.

"But why me? Why not somebody else?"

:What's with that complain? You should be happy working with another male."

"Not with him though."

She put her hand on waist. A sigh escapes her mouth. "Since when did you complain so much Ichika? Look! I even don't want you to be his partner in the first place but after the school board discussion in mixing and matching every student in this school, you are the only one who potentially has the highest field pairing compacbility and follow up skills with Dante against Tatenashi and Fairs."

"That's absurd!" I exclaim "We are not in good terms in the first place even! Who is Fairs-san anyway?"

"Don't tell me you forget her already."

"We never meet before. How am I suppose to remember her?"

Her tongue clicks for reasons unknown.

"You are one stupid dense little brother. The order is still. Get yourself ready!"

She turns around and leaves me standing still, mouth agape in total defeat. I take my time to collect myself from the bitterness of reality injustice. Oh well, I'd better get used to it. With the school bell tolls for the lunchbreak, I set my foot into the cafeteria where the dining hall is still empty-save for the lunch crews and the cafeteria lady.

"Ara? Ichika-kun, you are early today." The lunch lady greets.

"Yes, Obaa-san. I'll have the salmon set for today, please."

"HEere you go. Since you are the first one to eat my dishes, I give you the fattest salmon I have today."

"Wow! Really? Thank you auntie!"

"Ohohoho, the pleasure is mine. Now eat up bfore it's gone cold!"

I smile kindly for the delicious treat. Finding an empty seat next to the silver idol of our snowy rice whose warmth lightly dancing in the air like thin smoke in the air entice my eyes. The big juicy boneless fish lays lifelessly on the center of my plate arousing my appetite. At the bottom of the meat, my eyes are feasting onto the bubby clear mild liquid and more comes out like dew when I pinch the salmon by the wooden chopsticks provided from my tray.

Unable to contain the rumble of my stomach and the flow of my saliva, I flip over the salmon to mix the untouched part with the oily fat below, then I tear a huge chunk of the flesh and stick it together with my bowl of rice and finally, itadakaimasu!

As the food entering my mouth, the oily juices squeezed out by my teeth and melts together with the warm fragrant rice. Chewing the mixture in my mouth twice, I create a ball from the mixture of the chewed food and place it on the center of my tongue. Then slowly, raise the ball with my tongue, the ball is now squashed and the inside of my mouth is bursting with an unspeakable edibleness that I savor every moment in bliss until it disappears down into my throat.

Later on I am joined with Cecilia, Laura, Ling, Houki and Charlotte. Cecilia is having a set of school sandwich, Laura has a ramen for today, as the rest carries their own home made bento they bring into the cafeteria. By the moment my ears pick up a conversation, I realized that my position as a listener to the lively conversation set by the girls has been decided autonomously. Being a boy, my concentration draws from the topic naturally in instant when they are conversing about Cecila's discovery on fashion ina department store near the school. Aside from me and Laura, who is apparently to be munching her food in bliss, the rest of the girls are listening lividly to Cecilia's talk. And once 'girls talk' starts, the talk rarely ends in short time.

As I conclude my meal at, the talk is still exchanging in the air. Oh God! Someone please just ring the school bell already! I bury myself onto the dining table in desperation for an escape form this hellish conversation.

My prayer is soon answered miraculously halfway in sinking myself to the table as I notice the lively talk suddenly stops. Rising my head while theirs drop, the air around us-no. The whole cafetaria takes a downward gloom for unknown reason. All of other students lowering their head timidly, seemingly to avert their gazes at something I am clueless at.

"Charlotte, what's wrong with everybody?"

"Shhh! Lower your voice Ichika-kun. He's here."

"He? You mean…"

Charlotte nudges slightly toward my back by her chin. I turn around. My eyes are instantly wide opened upon the sight of a tall, slightly muscular silver haired man entering the dining hall. He's Dante-san. The notorious delinquent, a shame who will not be missed in my class…no one, but me alone.

So that's what makes them afraid.

Ironically, this shame of my class carries the weigh of the world in his shoulder and I, stripped from my rights by a strong influence that is ultimately against my will, become his ally in his bloody wage. Following behind him is Maya-sensei's replacement, Lady-sensei. It appears that having around Dante-san, his obligations to the school rules seems to make its appearance, not to mention his cooling down tempers despite the cold hostile air swirling around him that put us in the bay.

"I see who you mean." I whisper at Charlotte.

Cloaking in silence, the people in the cafeteria are sitting together under the queasy quiet. I didn't expect my prayer would be answered instantly in such unpleasant way by Dante-san's appearance. I rise, unable to take much of this icy air. Walking to the tray return center carrying my clean plates and eating instruments on a single tray, I can feel all eyes are on me. Making the drop, I later quit the cafeteria wordlessly with a heavy heart. It won't take long until Ling, Cecilia, Laura, Houki, Charlotte, then the rest of the girls follow my suit.

Once we are all outside, we scatter into our own direction and the hallway never been packed with so many crowds before.

I make my way to the armory. But before day, I steal a glance over my shoulder to see a gloomy face belongs to Dante-san, whose eyes depict lonely sights. Suddenly, our eyes joint together from a distance.

For that instant moment, I can feel his pain, anguish, loneliness, stress, exhaustion and his wretched sufferings are conveyed through the soulless silver orbs.

Is it because of the upcoming match with Tatenashi-senpai, with the fate of the world resting on his broad shoulders beyond the weight he can carry?

I want to help. To set him free from his torments. Yet those lonely eyes turn into a hostile frown the moment I convey my wordless intention through my eyes. Those are the same eyes he gave when he did the 10 laps which prevent me from getting into him- to understand his reason to shun other people who wants to help him.

"Ichika! Ichika!"

Those worrying sharp but sweet voice belong to Houki drag me back to the reality. I am seeing her queasy maiden face clearly in such closure that I also can make the sweet fragrance trailing into her broom-like ponytail.

"Houki? What's wrong?"

"Thank God you are back!"

"Well yeah, I was just spacing out for a bit."

She does not reply to me immediatey. Instead, she makes a quick glance at Dante from our distance. I then notice something is portrayed inside her eyes. I have known Houki since we were kids and I clearly know what those eyes stand for whilst her calm composure.

Fear.

Afraid, she is afraid of someone who is obviously sitting far away in a desolate corner of the cafeteria with his assigned companion. Thinking back what she told me the past nights, which I am still contemplating the logical values behind this 'supernatural' things she showed me. Whatever she is afraid of, I guess, not good.

"Let's get out of here."

"Huh? Whoa, chotto, mande, Houki?!"

With an iron-claw like grip, she seizes me by my wrist and pull me off. I try to wrestle, only to find myself struggling with the pain of my contracting arm muscle from being pulled by her. Since when does she has so much strength like this?! Even she's practicing kendo as a matter of fact, I can still outmatch her power. I don't know how she obtain such brute force that is capable to tear my arms off.

One thing for sure, her current strength is not human's.

My breathing is paced in keeping up with her briskly walking speed. I cannot slow down to complain about the pain on my arm, else I'll lose my walking rhythm, later turn into small jogs.

Exhaustion finally kicks in. I can't keep up with her anymore.

Thank God she finally stops!

She bends downward placing each hand on her knees. Meanwhile, I make the wall next to me to support my weight as we are collecting ourselves together.

"Hufff! Ichika…Huff! I told you…Huff! To stay…away from…Sparda-san…Huff! Didn't I?"

I reply with the same ragged breathing.

"But…is it…necessary…Huff! To…pull my arm? Hufff…You almost….tear my arm…off."

"Sorry…But I have to….Else, you'd…be totally charmed…already."

"Charmed?" I shoot a perplex look "What do you…mean with that? I did not! I just….spaced out a…little bit!"

"That's what I am saying!" She pauses. "You think… that you are just spacing out…but in truth, you fell…into his…charm…or influence in other words already!"

She continues.

"The Western Devils…are known for their deceptive charms toward their human preys….What you thought just now is a total lie Ichika! Your consciousness was fading away and I had…to cast…a waking spell to bring you back!"

"I…If that's what you say…then thank you."

"Your welcome."

"But I still don't get it Houki."

"Get what?"

"Should Dante-san charmed we, wasn't he supposed to…umm…how can I say this to you?"

"Showing you an erotic dream or romanticing you?"

She glares dagger. Inside, there is disgust that brings uncomfortable awkwardness. Still, she got me by my tongue and there is no use denying but to nod. Oh wat! There IS something I can object!

"What? No! Not really, I swear! You got it wrong Houki."

"Then what did he show you?" She straightening herself, facing me, sweats forming a transparent thin layer on her forehead. Several making inconsistent streams from her bangs downward to her cheek, then chin, later neck before completely soak into her bosom.

"Pain, sufferings and loneliness. I can feel him Houki. I can feel them from his eyes and to be honest, I don't think that…if Dante-san is indeed a bakemono in a first place based, also based on what you told me just now, Dante-san looks like another human who is loking for someone to console him and share his pain. I have no clue what happened in his past but his eyes, those lonely silver eyes are screaming for help!"

That's for certain! I know it! But why, why does he shun people away if he's helplessly pleading for help?"

"Does he look like human to you?"

Eh?

"Houki, that's…that's tad cruel! Of course he does!"

"Oh Ichika, how naïve you are! Demons are destined to be condemned for eternal sufferings whichever layer of living they are into. Be it physical, or emotional sufferings, those are punishments they have to carry for the sins they committed in the previous lives. And from what you told me just now, not all demons entice their victims with illusionary pleasures. Some of them lure their victims with their wretched sufferings. Once you fell into their trap, there is no turning back!"

I am speechless. Both from the awe of Houki's interesting explanation and…and… how can I say this? Cold heartedness. This is the first time I see Houki like this. She did act timidly for no reasons (which I believe she was seeing things) and I always be the one consoled her from other kids who would pick her up in her cowardice.

That was until one of us had to move away.

"You have changed Houki."

"What?"

"What happened to you? You used not to be like this!"

"I…I…"

"Did something happen to you after all these past 3 years? Something that made you become like this?"

"No…Nothing."

"Oh yes, you are definitely hiding something from me, Houki. We have been close friends since we were kids. Tell me, maybe I can help you."

"STOP IT!"

Her cry pulls me back in surprise.

I see tears are coming out her eyes and she begins to sob.

That totally makes me guilty from pressuring her.

"G…Gommennazai, Houki. I… didn't mean to corner you there."

"No…No. *Sobs!* That…that's ok…ay. I…It's fine. I understand." She collects herself. "It's just… a lot of things happened three years ago after you moved. A…Anyway, Orimura-sensei told me to keep you a company in fixing your sword. I also informed about the sudden change in your match. In fact is, as we are talking here, the news have already spread fast. So…shall we?"

"Yeah. Let's."

"Hey Ichika! Where are you going?"

"The armory, of course."

"Well duh, it's right here."

To my amazement, I did not realize that we have arrived at our destination all these times. That aside, we step into the high security area, only to find the room is completely empty.

Which gives an eerie creeps from the hollowness.

Part 2 (which will be the tail) will be coming soon in the beginning of March. Been busy lately, Lunar New Year is here. Time is short and I ran outta time here in publishing the whole piece. Sorry folks, but Dante and Ichika won't be facing Tatenashi in short time. Maybe 2 more chapters before they go into a showdown and I can't rush to the battle.

That aside, Happy Lunar New Year to y'all. I wish you prosperity and good health this year folks.

Your sincerely,

Qin.W.X