Can Cats Eat Octopus? Chapter 8
AN: Oh boy! This chapter! I am so happy that I got it done and complete, it was kind of a slog to get through in the beginning, but I had sort of a lot of fun with the ending! But speaking of the ending, I want to give a BIG disclaimer.
I want to give a warning; this chapter gets semi graphic and deals a little with trauma of assault near the end. PLEASE PLEASE if these are triggering to any of you, please skip this chapter and possibly the next cause that will also begin kind of graphic. I just want to be considerate for you all!
Thank you so much for keeping this in mind! And if you continue reading, I hope you guys enjoy! Remember I only own Neko and the OCs, I don't own Assassination Classroom! Thank you!
/
My feet ran as fast as they could take me up the mountain to the old school building. This was not because I was running late, I was actually making good time. It was because today is the day where I get to hear about the plan for my very first school field trip!
I was so excited; I couldn't sleep a wink last night!
Yesterday Mr. Karasuma announced that the whole school will be going to Kyoto in the upcoming week. Sure, it was a standard trip that normal classes take. But I'm not in a normal class. I'm in the Assassination Classroom! And this trip is a place to try and kill the class's target with my new friends and peers!
That alone made my smile widen as I kept trying to go up this mountain.
Mr. Karasuma told us in PE that we will be in groups, and trying to kill Koro Sensei in the city, but not just us. They've apparently also hired some sniper assassins to help aid in the assassination. That will be interesting! Whoever I group with, we'll have to pick good areas to visit so that way the sniper can try and hit Koro Sensei. It may be awesome, but it's still weird for me to think about all this.
Though this is a two-night trip and it's the first time I'm going out to another city with people who aren't my family. And it's not for moving either!
I wasn't the only one excited for this trip though! It makes me still laugh that Koro Sensei came in dressed as a geisha the other day! Even though he tried denying at first he was excited for the trip. And is it wrong to say he rocked that outfit way better than I ever could!
'But I won't deny though, there is one person I'm hoping to be in a group with… the idea makes me more looking forward to the trip!'
My thoughts immediately made me think of a specific red head. If I'm in a group with him, maybe I can understand more of why he makes me feel so elated. Why I need to be close to him so badly? I just hope that there is a chance I'm in.
However, that might have to wait as I need to reboot my darn lungs!
I panted hard when I finally made it to the school building on the top of the mountain. Who knew not getting enough sleep affects your stamina!
It's been getting a lot easier to hike up here compared to the first time I came. Going up it every morning and going down in the afternoon for this past week has helped a lot, but this moment was not a good example of that improvement! I know that I look like I'm about to die right here on the grass.
It wasn't just me getting used to the hike of the mountain that I improved on, but as well as getting to know Class E. I've gotten to know a lot more people here, including remembering more names of my peers. It was a colorful cast of students, so it wasn't hard to remember who was who. Even if I occasionally mixed up a couple people here and there.
After finally reworking my whole lungs in my body, I wiped my sweaty forehead under my white beanie. Making sure my ears were tucked securely one more time, before I headed to the entrance and walked inside. Walking down the hallway, I could already hear commotion coming from the direction of my classroom.
'Seems I wasn't the only one who came excited to pick groups.'
It made me chuckle as I opened the door closest to my desk, stepping inside the classroom, and I placing my stuff down. Taking a peek around the room, everybody was already in their groups, chatting away. My eyes glanced specifically towards crimson red hair.
Karma was already at the front of the class with what seems to be his group already. It had not just him, but Nagisa, Kayano, Okuda and Sugino. The latter even brought attention to another classmate, a pretty girl with dark hair and light brown eyes. I can't remember her name exactly…
I sighed dejected, feeling my ears go back while I brought out my stuff. The group looks already full, and I don't want to push myself in. No matter how much my heart is twitching to. Maybe I should ask Koro Sensei if there's a group with an opening?
"Oh, all of you children are adorable," I heard Ms. Irina begin speaking to everyone and looked over to her flipping her hair, "as someone who's been around the world, such a small little trip is nothing."
No one was really paying attention to her though. Which made me chuckle, especially when Maehara and Okano just brushed her off.
"That's fine, you can stay here then Professor Bitch."
"Don't forget to water the plants while we're gone."
Then they went back to planning their own tour spots with their group. That however didn't sit well with the blond woman, as I could literally see her eyebrow twitch from where I stood. Before she pulled out her handgun from her coat, aiming at the poor guys! "Oh hell no! Don't you dare leave me out of your fun plans! I'm going whether you all like it or not!"
"What the-! Jeez woman do you want to come or not!" Maehara exclaimed right back.
I watched them bicker for a few more seconds before my ears perked up to my name being called.
"Neko. Can you come here please?" I looked over to see it was Isogai, who moved away from his group to walk a little over to me. I nodded and walked over to him as he pulled out a clipboard with papers on them.
"Hi Isogai. What's wrong?"
"Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Kataoka and I though noticed that you haven't been listed in a group yet. For safety and guideline purposes you need to be in one during our trip."
I rubbed the back of my neck, avoiding eye contact, "right sorry… groups formed really fast, and I'm still not used to everyone here. I didn't want to integrate myself forcefully into an established group already."
Isogai nodded, seeming like he understood what I meant, "that's okay. But I still suggest joining a group. If you want I can help choose a group for you. They need to have at least six and at most seven people. I'm sure there is a spot open somewhere…"
What he said made me more hopeful! So hopeful that I went closer to Isogai who was looking at the list of names and groups written on the clipboard in his hands. Peeking a little over his arm, there was one specific name I was looking for. I found it in the middle list of names under Group 4.
"Okay so it looks like there is an opening for Groups 3 and 4."
Before Isogai could explain further, I already knew which group I wanted to be in. "Can I be in group 4? I know them a little better."
The brunette looked at me nodding, "sure. We can go ask them if it's alright."
I followed the class representative that walked to the group while they were bringing tables and chairs together. Probably to begin their planning of the trip with also the best places to visit and assassinate.
"Hey Nagisa," the group stopped what they were doing to look at Isogai, noticing me behind him. He called to Nagisa specifically, probably because he made the group in the first place, "Neko doesn't have a group, so would you guys consider letting her join?"
"Sure, we would love to have her." Nagisa immediately agreed which made my nerves of feeling bad but really wanting to be in their group, just ease away.
"I'll go grab you a chair!" Sugino spoke quickly and that was very gentlemanly of him. He was sitting next to that pretty girl who I saw earlier with them.
She smiled at me kindly, her eyes very gentle, "it's nice to meet you Neko, I'm Yukiko Kanzaki."
That's who she is! I remembered hearing a Sugino talk about her to Maehara, he must have a crush on her because he sounded so enthralled with her. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, it's just hard not to when you have good hearing! Even if your ears are constantly covered.
'So that's why he wanted to get me a chair, to show off his kindness.' I thought with a sly thought.
Smiling back at Kanzaki, I gave small bow to greet, "it's nice to meet you too! Thank you so much for letting me join your group."
"I'm glad that's all settled. I'll see you all around later." Isogai stated one final time before leaving us to go back to his own group.
Sugino came back with an extra chair, placing it in an open spot right next to Karma and Okuda. The latter looked still a little awkward, but her eyes shined behind her glasses when I sat next to her. Kayano leaned forward to look at me as well, grinning excitedly, "we're so happy you can join us Neko! It's going to be a lot of fun."
"Welcome aboard." I looked next to Karma while he leaned lazily in his seat, hands stuffed in his pockets. He smiled a little at me, where I could feel everything just seem brighter.
Laughing then looking back at everyone, "thanks for welcoming me everyone."
When we began to try and get started on our plans for the trip, the door suddenly slid opened and now everyone in the class stopped what they were doing to look over at Koro Sensei who walked in. But he had something, or should I say some things, in a lot of his tentacle hands. They looked to be… encyclopedias? At least big enough to be so!
"Here you are my students! One for each and every one of you!" He announced, before the next thing I knew, he sped away so fast around the classroom! Then one of the large books was in my arms, before I could get a good grasp on its sudden heavy weight, I had to drop it to my lap!
"Sweet caviar!" I exclaimed trying to get this darn thing off my lap onto the table, so I don't lose the circulation in my legs!
My groupmates also struggled with the sudden ton weight in our hands!
"Holy crap this thing is huge!" I overheard Mimura yell out.
"What the hell are these things?! Dictionaries?!" Maehara also called out to our octopus teacher who went back to his podium. Flipping through easily one of his own red large books, all happily.
"These are my School Trip Guidebooks! Just something simple and small that I made last night for you guys. What I put inside are illustrations of every major tourist attraction, a top one hundred local souvenirs with where to find them at the lowest of price, and also travel self-defense techniques that you can use to stay safe from beginner to advanced, and the best part is that the first edition comes with a small paper model of Kinkakuji!"
He said all that in one breath! And just because he can move at Mach 20, does he need to speak at that speed too?!
"You are way too excited about this right now!" Okajima exclaimed while the girl with bright orange hair struggled hard next to him to put her own book down with her petit arms.
I gave my own two cents at the teacher, heaving and finally placing the book on the table in front of me, "and if this is what you call simple and small for a book, I'd hate to see if you made a novel!"
This made my group chuckle a little while Koro Sensei looked back and me and the others, laughing sheepishly. "What can I say, I'm very excited to go on this first journey with you all and want it to be a safe and fun experience."
Well, I couldn't argue there. I'm just as excited as him for this trip with everyone, and want to be as safe as we can be! With all that said, we began to plan out the trip for tomorrow, trying to also come up with good spots to try and kill Koro Sensei as well. It's already becoming a memorable trip, and I can't wait for it to actually start!
…
I walked down the train station early in the morning, trying to get to where the rest of my class would be. Closer to the lower end, AKA coach class, of the train to take us to Kyoto. I adjusted my overnight bag that hung on my shoulder to across my chest. This was my mom's, but I kept it from when I moved to my apartment so I'm glad I still had it. It was bigger than other overnight bags because of my mom liking to put her computers in it.
Even now it weighed a lot heavier than it should! And that's not because of my clothes and necessities I need, but also the fact I had stuffed that stupidly heavy travel guidebook in it as well! I tried reading it a little last night but couldn't as I was having a bit of stomach problems. I ate leftover take out, and I think because I forgot when I bought that food I didn't know if it expired or not!
I woke up to stomach pain as well, but I was not going to let it make me miss this trip. I would still go to this even if I lost a leg!
"Neko, wait up!" I stopped, looking behind me to see Nagisa running over to me with his own overnight bag on his shoulder as well. I smiled, waiting for him to catch up to me.
"Hey Nagisa. You excited? The day is finally here."
He stood next to me, his height reaching up to my eyes before we both began walking side by side to the others. "Yeah I've been looking forward to this trip. By the way Neko, are you okay? You look a little pale?"
Wow did I really look that sick that he noticed?! I tried my best to make a fine smile, nodding, "yeah I'm okay! I woke with a tiny stomachache, but don't worry about me! I'm feeling a lot better now."
The blue haired boy slowly nodded, concern still in his eyes, "okay… But if you don't feel too good let me and the others know. We'll take it easy."
I stared into his blue eyes, kind of surprised. I can't believe that I used to feel something negative and animosity towards this sweet guy. Instant guilt hit my stomach, but I gave him my best bright smile, "okay Nagisa. I will, thank you so much."
He smiled back at me softly, "anytime. I also brought some playing cards so we can all play them on the train."
Watching him reach into his bag's side pocket, Nagisa pulled out a deck of cards in a box. He showed them to me making me grin.
"That's a good idea! We don't know how long the train ride will be. I brought Koro Sensei's dictionary of a guidebook to read, but playing cards sound a lot more fun to do." We both chuckled, while I looked ahead to see the coach car and our class getting ready to go inside. Yet I saw how Class D and above got to ride in first class of the train. Sighing, I commented, "it would be even cooler if we got to go in first class. Eat all the rich fancy food there."
Daydreaming of what all the fancy fish looked like did honestly the opposite of my stomach then I thought it would. Instead of growling with hunger, it instead growled with anger and twinged with a nauseous feeling rising.
Nearly gagging, I had to cover my mouth with my hand. Nagisa immediately took notice, placing a concerned hand on my arm. "Neko? Are you okay?"
Taking a deep breath through my nose, I nodded smiling to fake that I didn't actually want to vomit my guts out. "It's fine Nagisa. Once I sit on the train I'll be all good."
He didn't seem to really believe me anymore. But he also didn't have time to say anything else when Sugino called out to us, "Neko, Nagisa there you are! Hurry up or the train will leave without you."
"We're coming!" Nagisa and I both simultaneously called back going up to our group as we all began to board. I'm quite sure I also saw from the corner of my eye that Mr. Karasuma reprimanding Ms. Irina for her… glamorous… attire.
When we all took our seats, the train began to move. While the seats could only hold six people, three people each facing one another, I volunteered to be the one left out and sit behind the others. I was still seated close to them, and I watched them all over their shoulders as they began to play cards.
"Hey by the way," Sugino began as we all stopped to look at him. "Has anyone seen Koro Sensei? I don't even remember seeing him at the train station."
"That's true," I agreed looking around the train car. "For someone who was very much excited for this trip, he wouldn't have missed this you would think…"
That was till my ears perked under my white beanie at Nagisa exclaiming, "what the! Sir why are you sticking onto the window?!"
I looked over at what he was talking about to see that our cephalopod of a teacher was glued onto the side of the train by our window!
"I was trying to buy some snack when I lost track of time!" He told that was muffled a little. "But it'll be okay, I'll just stay here till we get to the next stop."
"Yeah people are gonna notice you there." I called back to him. And he couldn't have quickly bought those snacks at his super speed and catch the train?!
"Don't you worry, my cloaking will disguise me!" He tried to ease us while the yellow of his body disappeared, so it was just his clothes and bags with us. "Now it's just a bunch of clothes and luggage stuck to the side of this train."
"People are gonna notice that too!"
Well luckily no one actually did, and Koro Sensei did manage to make it on the train. Or at least in the train. He was seated in his weird disguise while other students talked to him about the subject. But I wasn't paying attention as right now, my stomach wanted to murder me!
I tried to not make any noise to bring awareness of my upset stomach. Hunched over and holding the side of my head. I reached under my beanie to rub my soft ears to try and bring some comfort to myself. But now I was more nauseous than I was earlier this morning. Even feeling my face flushed in my cheeks.
"Hey, you okay here?" My ears twitched up, as I quickly hid them once more. Looking to the entrance of my own seating area, Karma stood there. His eyebrow raised and eyes squinting as to what was going on.
I thought he was playing crazy 8s or Go Fish with the others, and would be too busy to notice. I didn't want to seem so weak to him again, so I forced myself to sit up straight nodding.
"Y- yeah! Don't worry, just get a bit train sickness…" I mumbled, even though I'm pretty sure he knew that was a lie since he knew I took the train before. Waving my hands off to him as assurance, "I'm A- okay- "
Although even the slightest movement was a big mistake, as I instantly retched then coughed. I'm sure I looked a lovely shade of green as well hunching over once more. Now my whole group heard the sound as everyone shuffled behind me.
"Neko are you okay?!" Nagisa asked coming to where Karma used to stand.
Now the red head though was seated right next to me. I have no idea when he moved so closed to me, but I was too busy trying to contain my stomach to even really care like I would. But his scent seemed to calm me down a little bit…
"I'll go get her a plastic bag!" Sugino announced running down the car.
Everyone in my group was sitting or standing in the area I was in. Kanzaki was on my other side rubbing gentle circles on my back. This is the last time I trust old takeout in my fridge!
"It's okay. Breathe in, breathe out. Deep breaths." She repeated softly.
Okuda and Kayano sat in front of me before Okuda suggested, "we should get her some water…"
"Yeah! I'm sure the next car over has some. We'll grab a couple water bottles." Kayano agreed while Kanzaki stopped rubbing my back.
"Alright, I'll come with you guys. Please keep an eye on her." She told the last two boys with me while the girls hurriedly got up to get what they need.
Nagisa sat in front of me now, but I just kept my head down shutting my eyes tightly that tears pricked from them. I was pulling my beaning down so close to my head, trying to resist the urge to rub my ears. My nails dug into the fabric, almost poking holes into them.
"Maybe if you take off your hat you'll feel better." Karma suggested, making my eyes open in time to see him reaching to grab my headwear.
My fast response kicked in with panic and fear overpowering my nausea! I quickly grabbed his wrist to stop him, looking straight into his eyes. He seemed slightly surprised when I just grabbed and gripped his wrist like lightning. His arm stiffened as a reflex.
"Don't. Please…" I spoke above a whisper, looking probably pitiful but dead in the eyes serious. My grip loosened; I didn't mean to grab him that hard… I just couldn't let Karma remove it.
He only nodded slowly still staring back into my eyes. "Okay." He agreed with no playfulness or smirk. Just as serious as I was. Yet also with understanding of my boundaries.
He knew I wasn't playing or joking, and that made me a little relieved he understood. Not that I'm sure he understood specifically why I didn't want it removed, but that I just didn't.
I went back to looking down and focusing on my breathing to distract from my discomfort. Yet, while lowered my hand down to the armrest next to me, I never let go of Karma's wrist. It wasn't to make sure he didn't try grabbing my hat again, but because I needed the contact. To feel those little electricity jolts in my skin like when I shook hands with him the first time. It made me feel a little more relaxed.
Especially knowing Karma didn't move his hand away.
Let's just say that the rest of the train ride till we made it to Kyoto was both uneventful and crazy at the same time. When Sugino and the girls came back with the supplies it helped a lot, until almost 5 minutes before the train stopped at its destination. I had run to the bathroom to hurl my rainbow guts out! But that was kind of what I needed since after that terrible experience, it helped me feel even more better! That was till Koro Sensei heard I wasn't feeling well, and panicked. Giving me nausea meds he brought, a heating blanket, a damp cloth, and other things that I had to say no to cause I was now actually fine.
Yet he really should've used those items for himself, cause the minute we arrived at the inn that Class E was staying at, he looked like he was the one about to die. I sat on a couch with the heating blanket on my lap, watching in the main resting lobby Koro Sensei on another couch. Looking deflated like a balloon and sick.
"So… A creature that can move around the world as fast as he can, gets also motion sickness?" Mimura questioned like the rest of us. Standing next to Nagisa who jotted the notes down.
Karma sat on my left next to me on the large couch, with Sugino and Okuda standing next to his other side. "Maybe he caught what you had." He spoke suddenly under his breath, that since I wasn't paying attention I barely missed it.
Looking up at him, I tilted my head confused but raised an eyebrow. "I had probable food poisoning, not motion sickness."
The slightly taller boy looked back at me with his own head tilt but smirk, "I thought you said you were getting 'train sick'?"
My heart immediately jumped at the fact he remembered that lie I said back then and was just now calling me out on it. My silence and wide-eyed revelation must have been answer enough for the boy as his smirk only grew and my face got hotter.
Turning away from him quickly, "I'm not talking to you about that anymore!"
Meanwhile, while Koro Sensei limped on his couch, Okano, Kataoka, and Isogai stood behind him to still try and stab him. But even in that sorry state, he moved too fast avoiding them. "Do you want to take a nap in your room real quick?" Okano asked like she wasn't currently trying to stab his head.
He continued evading with a tired answer of, "no I'm okay. I need to fly back to Tokyo soon, I forgot my favorite pillow at the school."
"How do you forget one thing with that much stuff in your bag?!" Exclaimed Mimura which made me laugh.
Chuckling and running my hands on the soft heating blanket, I contemplated on giving it back to the Homeroom Teacher. But I was too comfortable, and he'll be fine. I turned my attention towards Kayano and Kanzaki that were on my other side. Yet something seemed a little off. They kept rummaging and going through Kanzaki's bag as if looking for something.
Kayano asked the dark-haired girl, "still can't find it?"
Kanzaki responded back with shaking her head, looking worried and solemn. "No… it's so strange."
"What's wrong?" I asked scooting closer to the pair who looked back at me.
"We can't find Kanzaki's itinerary she made."
That's right, to make things simple and easy, Kanzaki made an itinerary that had everything we were going to do. She had times and layouts of routes we were going to take for the day. I'm more of going with the flow then scheduling in advance, but that notebook did have the best places we were going to check. To see if they were the perfect places to assassinate Koro Sensei with the sniper.
I looked back at Kanzaki who still rummaged through her bag, "do you remember the last place you put it?"
"I had it in my pocket the majority of the ride here, at least I thought I did." She looked back at me with her light brown eyes staring into my red ones. "When I couldn't find it on me, I thought maybe I left it in my bag. But it's not here either."
"That's strange…" I muttered leaning closer to see if maybe an extra peek would help a bit. It didn't of course, but it wouldn't hurt to try.
Koro Sensei spoke up though at hearing our dilemma, adding to the conversation, "you are such a good student, Kanzaki. For going out of your way to make your group an itinerary, but never fear," he talked as he was still trying to be stabbed, deflated still and avoiding the others, held up his large guidebook, "my super elaborate helpful guidebooks has everything you need for our trip."
"She made the itinerary so she wouldn't have to carry that thing around." Maehara and Okajima answered bluntly.
But Kanzaki was more concerned about the item she lost to really pay attention. "I hope I didn't leave it on the train…"
"It's okay Kanzaki," I assured her, kind of glad I brought my own guidebook with, just for worst case scenario, "even if you did and someone found it, what person would be interested in a bunch of middle schooler's schedule for a field trip?"
...
After everything got settled with the inn, the next morning we were off to see the sights of our grand adventure in Kyoto! Though once again this morning I woke up to a stomachache, I thought it would just be a 24-hour bug, but I think I might actually be coming down with something…
It wasn't that bad though, and a lot more manageable then the day before. Not everything I ate made me want to bolt to the toilet, but my sensitive nose was something I had to be cautious of with all the different scents.
However, that luckily wasn't a problem at the moment because my group and I were taking in the fresh air and waking around the sights of the city! All of us stood on a bridge, while Sugino and Nagisa looked at the map at where we were. Checking to see if the tall building ahead as a good spot for the sniper to be. I was currently looking out towards the river the bridge stood over, the breeze was so nice though my pink hair under my new red beanie. It was all very calm, and the scene was so peaceful, it eased all my worries and internal ailments.
"You know this really one weird field trip," Kayano commented making me look back at her.
Jumping down from where I stood on the ledge of the bridge against the railing, I had to agree with her. "Yeah… I mean what other class do you take a field trip to try and assassinate someone?"
"You both have a point, but I think that's what makes it fun." Nagisa agreed moving the map down to look at us.
"Sure, sure, but what I'm most looking forward to is trying the sweets around here!" Kayano exclaimed super excited, her mouth was practically drooling at the thought. "Can we please get some green tea warabimochi dumplings?!"
I on the other hand was not as excited to hear any kind of food that my stomach still seemed sensitive about. But what did sound good to me made me practically giddy with the idea, "how about some local taiyaki too?!"
"Even if it's not a real fish you'll still want to eat it~." Karma teased behind me.
He didn't even faze me though as I just smiled proudly, "you got that right!"
"That's honestly a clever idea," Okuda chimed in with much excitement, "we can put poison in them!"
Kayano and I gasped at the same time at such a preposterous idea towards delicious food! "That's evil! Why we do that?!"
"We'd give them to Koro Sensei of course!" The small girl in twin braids explained.
I faked gagged dramatically, "well if I'm not the one eating them, then I guess it's fine. But I don't like how quick that idea came to you Okuda!"
"I think it's honestly a great idea," Karma agreed to the plan making Kayano and I look at him in betrayal, "we'd be taking advantage of his sweet tooth and excitement for the local cuisine~."
"That's such a waste!"
"You both are sick!"
We both exclaimed together ashamed of how quick these guys were to take advantage of the delicious food here!
"If only there was a poison that actually worked on him…" Kanzaki muttered which was a good point. Not even my terrible cooking could kill him.
Sugino groaned audibly though resting his arms behind his back, "I was honestly kind of hoping we could take a break from the whole assassinating, trying to save the world, business here. We're in Kyoto, look at the view and the tourist spots. None of this really screams 'assassination'."
He did have a point. There was so much to see and so little time, it would be nice if we could enjoy this without thinking of the mission…
"Actually Sugino, you'd be surprised how much this city has relating to assassination." Nagisa proclaimed with a smile on his face before leading the way, "come on, there's something I want to show you guys."
We all followed him, till Kayano saw a sweets cart that we had to take a stop at so she can buy her green tea dumplings. Then I got my taiyaki! The place though that Nagisa lead us to was this pointed long head stone that was like a marker. And on the stone side etched in was 'Here marks where Ryoma Sakamoto and Shintaro Nakaoka met with disaster.'
"Wow! The Ryoma Sakamoto was assassinated here?!" Okuda asked bewildered leaning closer to the stone to read it as she fixed her glasses.
"That's right. This is where Omiya used to be." Karma added as I looked up at him confused and intrigued, taking a bite from fish shaped cake's head. He looked back at me, explaining what he meant, "the inn where in 1867, assassins came in and killed Sakamoto as he was hiding there."
Just as he finished, he swiftly took a piece of my taiyaki before I could take another bite, and put it in his mouth smiling proudly! I glared at him before Nagisa spoke up.
"Yeah! And there's more! Neko can I borrow your guidebook you brought?" I paused my glaring towards Karma to look back at Nagisa and nodded. Using a free hand I pulled out my giant guidebook in my bag and handed it to him. He turned to specific page, "and just a few ways away is Honnoji Temple. Even if it's moved a few times."
"'Honnoji Temple'," I mumbled as that name sounded familiar… that's it! Kit told me about it when she was talking about a historical book she was reading! "Ah that's right! That's where Oda Nobunaga died!"
I remembered that history lesson Kit gave me when all I did was just ask if she was liking the new book she got so far… I shook my head, until I caught Karma stealing a piece of my taiyaki! Again! What's worst is how much he acts like he didn't do anything!
'You make fun of me for getting it, yet you're the one who keeps stealing my food!' I wanted yell at him!
Instead, I had had enough! Ripping the tail end off the fish, and grabbing Karma's hand, I gave him that darn piece so he would leave me and the rest of my food alone! He was a little surprised but did chuckle and take the piece.
"Oh, I guess Nobunaga's death would be considered an assassination." Kayano spoke regaining my attention back at the others while she ate her sweets in peace.
Nagisa hummed in agreement looking back at us handing back my guidebook. "There are a lot more different assassinations that happened around these places. It's kind of ironic when you think about it. Kyoto may be a nice tourist destination in Japan, but also has a lot of history associated to assassinating. Kind of does make it the perfect field trip for our class."
"I guess you're right about that that then Nagisa." Sugino this time began leading the group down the sidewalk after hearing Nagisa's lesson. "It's honestly like an assassination vacation."
I laughed at how that rhymed in English, walking next to Kanzaki and Okuda after throwing away my napkin having finished my food.
"It's all so interesting! Next up then is Yasaka Shrine." Okuda instructed next as we all kept walking.
I heard Karma sigh though behind us, "can we take a break though? I really want to try their sugar-loaded Kyoto coffee."
"I'm down!" Kayano instantly agreed but I playfully glared back at the red head.
"Why's that, huh? To wash down the taiyaki you stole from me?!"
All he did was shrug with his shoulders has his hands were lazily in his pockets, "I say I was helping you out. Don't need you getting even sicker~."
"You were helping nothing you thief!" I exclaimed causing everyone to chuckle at my dismay!
We did end up taking that break, and somehow it wounded up with me paying for Karma's drink he ordered when he claimed to have left his wallet at the inn. Yet the stinking thief lied about that!
I forced him to pay me back by withholding his coffee hostage and threatening to dump it in the trash if he didn't.
We did laugh together about it, drinking both our coffees as we now lead the group together. We were going down the path that Kanzaki suggested from her itinerary. As we spoke, my heart had such a warm flutter to it, it almost felt like I could warm up the coffee cup in my hands.
'Maybe the reason I feel this way around Karma is because I can feel like myself around him. I'm not a cat girl to him, cause he doesn't know what I am…' I thought, but that idea didn't sit right with me completely. It felt like maybe that could be part of the reason, but not the complete answer.
Taking a sip of my coffee I kept trying to think of the reason… 'Maybe I like who I am around him? I can be someone else, a normal girl? No, that doesn't feel right either…'
"Wow Gion is so deserted around here." Kayano commented breaking my train of thought.
Looking back at her and the others behind us, Kanzaki agreed. I caught Sugino staring at her while she spoke, "yeah, the back streets over here are sometimes off limits to visitors. So not a lot of people come down these ways. It's super secluded for us. That's why I thought it would be perfect place to take Koro Sensei and assassinate him."
Wow! So she's also really thought and invested time in this assassination idea! That's honestly really impressive! And the fact she remembered the way from her lost itinerary, even she knows her strengths in this class.
"That's a great idea Kanzaki! This is a perfect place to do the deed! I say let's bring him here."
I agreed with Kayano as did the rest of us! This was a great spot to tell the assassin where we wanted to kill Koro Sense.
However, a new distinct smell, something that made my stomach churn. Yet not from being sensitive. It caused me to stop and look ahead at the exit of the back street. I felt the hairs on the back of my head stand up, as did my ears before going back in caution.
From the corner of my eye, I watched Karma stop too, but stared at me. Yet I didn't look back at him when from behind the building in front of the exit, three taller men stepped out of the shadows. They wore dark school uniforms and obviously looked like high schoolers. These were the definition of high school delinquents.
"You're right about that, it is 'perfect'," the big man in the middle stated with a dark chuckle. "The perfect place for kidnapping that is."
There was only three of them, but that number nearly tripled when I heard footsteps coming from behind us at the entrance we came through. My group and I turned to see even more delinquents now boxing our only way out, laughing.
We were trapped now!
I turned back to stare at the three more closer in front of me, and I could feel my body trying to shake. But I had to remain calm, I can't show fear in front of these guys. Because I'm fairly sure high schoolers can smell it!
'Why do I always get attacked in back alleys?!' I mentally screamed, gripping my cup in one hand and my bag in the other.
Then Karma suddenly stepped in front of me, almost as if shielding from the delinquents. To where I had to look over his shoulder to watch them. Stepping back closer to the others, I heard Karma speak first as if he wasn't afraid, "what's a bunch of gentlemen like you fellas doing around here? Come to shop for new purses~? "
He taunted as if there wasn't a bunch of punks right in front of us who literally just said they were kidnappers! Granted he did bash a drunk older man's head with a glass bottle when we first met, so I don't think 'fear' is in his vocabulary.
"Don't try acting like a hero here, red. Just hand over your lady friends and we won't have to hurt-." Karma did not let that big guy finish his sentence though as I watched him move so fast to grab the guy by the face and knocked him down hard to the ground!
Karma got back up and smiled back at us, "see you guys? Fighting is no problem when there aren't any witnesses to stop you."
"I don't know if I like how honest and nonchalant you said that." I honestly told him. But hey he was at least a good fighter to help us!
He just chuckled before we all saw a second guy, who had a stubbled goatee, pull out a switchblade from his pocket and charged at Karma!
"Look out!"
Nagisa warned as the attacker threatened to stab and slice him! That didn't sit well with me, most likely from worry, but I had nothing to fear when Karma's reflexes were too fast!
He splashed the delinquent in the face with his coffee, making him cry in pain a little at the stinging sensation in his eyes! Before Karma grabbed a cloth that was on a lone bicycle next to us, using it cover the punk's head and push him down the street like his pal!
"If you're gonna make that kind of threat, at least have the moves to back it up~."
I wanted to chuckle, but that wasn't the case when in a blink of an eye, Kayano and Kanzaki were pulled away from right next to me!
Gasping I saw it was those delinquents just behind us that grabbed them! "Kayano! Kanzaki!" Another man was just about to grab Okuda, but I swiftly pushed her out of the way to hide, dropping my bag in the process.
The punk that tried to grab her, took my wrist instead! I struggled and tried to pull my arm free from his strong hold, "let us go!"
"Kanzaki! Neko! Kayano!" I heard Nagisa and Sugino cry out as the man holding me began to try and drag me away from the others!
I looked back at my friends, terrified, Nagisa and Sugino being blocked by other delinquents. And to see Karma noticing what was happening. We made eye contact before he tried coming for us. Yet that third delinquent that he didn't take care of, who had greased back golden hair and a thin, skinny build, came from behind with a pipe and whacked Karma with it!
The force bringing him to the ground, as the same delinquent began kicking and beating Karma on the head and body! Beating him to the point where I could smell a little blood…
"Karma!" I screamed.
My own blood ran cold… before it started to get hot.
Everything felt distant, as slowly around me the only sounds I could hear, and the only thing I could watch, was the high schooler beating on Karma. 'How dare he!'
Growling, and struggling now much harder. This time I did the trick Karma used and splashed my own coffee I was still holding, to my own captors face, "you son of a bitch!"
I cursed with my teeth clenched as the coffee in the eyes was enough to get him to let go of me. I took my now free opportunity to try and get to Karma and the bastard touching him! But before I could even get far, a force grabbed me by the collar, yanking me back.
"We tried to be civil," a new voice seethed as he was the one that grabbed me. I looked at him, seeing how it was the leader of this group with a scar on the side of his face, feeling the instinct to scratch out his throat strong in me! "But you've definitely worn out our patience!"
With anger in his tone, he pulled me close to him, just to suddenly feel a strong impacted punch straight to my gut!
I gasped for breath and from pain, my senses being brought back to me as I dropped to knees dry heaving! I coughed hard, holding my stomach, throw up slightly coming out as the impact caused all waves of nausea from yesterday and today to return back tenfold. My head was spinning, I tried to remain focused, but I was brought back up to my feet and raised higher by a grip on my neck.
I could barely open my eyes, trying to get any air, as I couldn't really see the same leader of this group holding me up above him. "We'll still have some fun with you, don't worry. Take them to the car!"
My throat was finally relieved as he tossed me to another man who wrapped his arms around me. I was too much in pain to even focus on what was happening, but could feel myself being dragged away from the others. Still hearing their shouts and Kayano and Kanzaki's cries coming closer, I was tossed in a van groaning in a pain.
I wanted to fight back. I needed to fight back! But I can't. It was getting hard to remain aware of everything as I tried focusing on my breathing, still dry heaving. Just like Kanzaki said on the train when I was nauseous. 'Breathe in, breathe out… deep breathes…'
'If I'm kidnapped, Mother will find out. And if she finds out, then these kidnappers will be in for something… Maybe Koro Sensei will come. I wish I did have a phone now to call for help. They also hurt Karma, hurt my friends, kidnapped not just me, but Kayano and Kanzaki. I feel the need to make them pay, but my stomach hurts too much to move… and what could I even do…? I'm not an assassin like I want to be to fit in with everyone… I'm not even a normal girl…'
Groaning and finally reopening my eyes, I'm not sure if I did pass out or not. The next thing I knew though was my wrists were bound with duct tape behind my back, and I was kneeling next to Kanzaki and Kayano who also were taped up like me. I felt a lot better though, even if there was pain shooting from my stomach, but it wasn't sick pain.
The first thing I focused on was my ears, to twitch them and see if my beanie was still covering them. Luckily they were, which was the only relief in this situation.
"Go ahead and scream girlies, but no one will hear you. We're gonna have some fun with a few other buddies of mine who agreed to help us with a photo shoot." I moved my head up to see the leader of the delinquents and his friends all surrounding us with sick looks in their eyes. I've seen those disgusting eyes before…
"Now I know where I've seen you before," the leader pulled out his phone. Then he showed us, specifically Kanzaki who he was talking to, a picture of a young girl that looked like Kanzaki but had curly wavy hair bleached out at the ends! She wore also a punk looking outfit, almost nothing like the girl sitting next to me that I just met. "I took this picture last summer in Tokyo at an arcade. I asked my buddies to be on the lookout for you. We were going to kidnap you there, but you gave us the slip."
The leader just put his phone away, still monologuing, "I never would've suspected you being one of those stuck-up smart kids at a prestigious junior high school! But now I understand, when you're so high up on the ladder, you just want a taste of what it's like to fall~."
This creep all of a sudden got super up close and personal in Kanzaki's face, even I could smell is disgusting stench stronger. "Don't worry though, sweetheart~. I'll help you with falling and showing you and your friends a fun time~."
His taunting and suggestions made him with his friends laugh. They began to move and walk away with one final threat of not escaping, or else. Frankly, I knew for certain that they would make good on that threat…
The girls and I sat here now, as those people walked off to some kind of bar on the other side of the building. Looking around our setting, I have no idea where we were… It had a bar, and a couch was right behind us, but there were also all these mechanical parts like it was a workshop once. It must've been an abandoned warehouse, and probably used for parties and delinquency. Which is why these guys knew about it, and why the smell absolutely sucks in here.
I looked down wanting to almost cry… 'I came to Kunugigaoka for a selfish reason, and now look what's happened…' I blinked away my tears, feeling my ears against my head.
"I'm sorry, Neko. Kayano." I looked up surprised to see Kanzaki look just as depressed and scared as us. "It's my fault you guys are stuck here… they probably found my itinerary and knew where we were. And he said they've been after me since summer…"
"Hey now Kanzaki, it's not your fault." Kayano assured first as I agreed.
"That's right! Don't ever blame yourself. The others I'm sure contacted Koro Sensei, so he'll be on his way any second now I'm sure." Even if I haven't been in E Class for long, I already know that it seems Koro Sensei will go to great lengths for his students.
Kayano spoke once more as I tried to feel and maneuver my taped bound wrists, "though seeing you in that picture, it was kind of nice knowing you were also just any other teenager who went through a phase like us."
That is true. Though I don't know if I went through a phase, or maybe I'm going through one now with learning in a real school for a guy.
"Yeah… my dad was super strict. He pressured me so hard to do so well in school, go to an excellent high school and college, build up a good application and resume. I just wanted to be free… be someone I'm not." I looked at Kanzaki, listening to her as I realized I could move my hands enough to begin scratching at the duct tape. Taking a deep breath, elongating one of my pointed nails more, I subtly began scratching and trying to cut through the tape.
Kanzaki spoke of how the pressure of being perfect was too much for her. Going to an arcade where people wouldn't recognize her, it felt like a retreat for her. But even then, she couldn't escape her fate of this prestigious school we go to, and was sadly sent down to E Class…
"I don't even know who I am anymore.. where I belong or fit in."
Her words, they sound so familiar… and relatable… if she doesn't even know where she belongs, how am I supposed to know either.
I paused my cutting to say something to her, "Kanzaki, I- "
But was interrupted when that disgusting leader came into our conversation, kneeling down in front of us smirking a sly smile that made me gulp scared. "If you don't know where you belong, baby. Well there's always room here with us~. None of those grades and all that bullshit mean crap to us here either. We like to only have fun and a good time, cause that's all that matters to people like us."
I wanted to glare and throw up at the same time. My body was starting to shake. I don't want to be here… yet Kayano from my other side grumbled only her disdain, "you're such a pig…"
Looking at her shocked a little, I never thought I would hear such disgust from her mouth… her scent seemed a little more off as well. But I didn't have time to think about that, when that man suddenly grabbed Kayano by the neck like he did to me earlier! Lifting her up high, I gasped, "K- Kayano!"
"I see how it is! This is what I mean, you elitist entitled bitches like to look down on people like us!" He was beginning to choke her, and I could hear Kayano try and gasp for air. Almost turning blue right before my eyes!
Without thinking, I yelled out, "let her go!" Then kicked the punk in his calf with my foot!
He cried out in pain, dropping Kayano on the couch who was now breathing heavily. I kneeled a little more to try and check on her before my long hair was suddenly grabbed and yanked back hard! Causing a scream to escape my lips from pain, and my hat nearly to sliding off!
"You little shit! Seems like you need to be taught a personal lesson!" The leader raged before tossing me like I was bag of nothing onto the ground. Groaning a little, I tried to sit up before my face was pressed back down to the floor by a heavy foot. "How bout my pal Ichiro takes care of you~. A pretty little thing like you would love it~."
I tried regaining focus when the foot was off my head. My ears even more pinned back now. I could feel becoming almost visible when my beanie shifted slightly more. Tears were this time building up more from my eyes at both the pain and the situation I was in. Before the back of my collar was grabbed to lift me up, then used to also drag me away somewhere. I could hear Kayano and Kanzaki cry out to me, as I realized now that was being taken away from them.
Alone with a delinquent now!
I struggled as much as I could, begging to let me go, now working faster on trying to cut the tape off. But when I was taken to a back room, I was thrown inside to the floor once more. If I wasn't in such a dreaded situation, I would've joked about all the scrapes and bruises I was receiving.
Yet I couldn't think of anything, as there was now a pressure on top of me, pinning me down hard to the cold floor! I tried to let out a scream, but a hand covered my mouth as all I could do was stare up in fear at the disgusting eyes of the greased back golden-haired punk. He may have looked thin, but he still was heavy on top of me.
"Just hold still and I won't have to hurt you that much, okay?" He spoke in a slippery tone. I couldn't hold back the tears in my eyes anymore.
My arms were bound tightly behind me, I couldn't even try and push him off. I tried struggling with my legs, kicking, and moving them to get him off me, but it didn't work.
'Please… please no… not again.'
Panic set in even harder when his eyes, no longer dark black. Instead, in my imagination… in my memory, they turned ice blue. He's on top of me! I can't breathe! I'm frozen!
'No one is going to save me this time… I really am weak and helpless.'
I closed my eyes, hoping that this all was a bad dream. That I'll wake up back home. And not my apartment home, but my home with my mom. Usagi. Kit. Ushi and Koara. With Hebi as well… I don't want this!
Just as I slowly only struggled, I could now only hear him laughing at my pathetic state.
When my nose that wasn't covered caught the scent of something. Something metallic and familiar mixed in, like spices and smoke in it… The metallic scent though was something I did recognize.
Blood.
But I wasn't bleeding, it wasn't my blood I smelled… and it didn't have a scent that made me want to throw up, which meant it wasn't this vile man's blood. I reopened my eyes as he still continued to only laugh, unaware as I looked for where the blood came from. It was on his shirt. Just a few drops but it was there. I could smell it.
And it smelled like Karma.
This was the man who hit Karma with a pipe on the back of the head. Beating him down to the ground. Kicking his head and body.
My blood felt like it was running through my veins like ice, but the heat in my stomach flared remembering that I watched it happen. I watched this bastard beat someone who makes me feel complete. Someone who didn't do anything.
'He made him bleed.'
That lone thought speaking, and I felt my mind snap.
My heart, I can hear it thundering in my chest.
Want.
Need.
It all surfaced in me, a feeling I can't describe. A feeling I hate, and a feeling I want to release.
I want to make this man pay.
I need to no longer be helpless. I'm done with these people, and I'm done feeling like this.
How dare he touch me and someone I care about with his vile hands. I'm going to make him hurt! Make him suffer!
'I'm going to kill him.'