The Lone Vigilante Issei – High School DxD
Hey everyone, it's me Hide Shinyama.
I apologize again for this chapter was supposed to be released last weekend, but I had a bunch of seminars in the past three weeks and a job interview today, too.
But I have released it, and this will be the chapter before the next arc.
What is going to happen, you might ask?
Find out in…
Chapter 47 – Loony and Crazy
12th of October, Monday, 11:31 am – hallway, Furinkan Vocational School, Nerima Ward
It was a normal day at the Furinkan Vocational School. Issei, Matsuda and Motohama were hanging out in the hallway as usual and enjoying the break.
At least, they only did it as well as they could.
They noticed it since this morning.
Sanma and Ryuga were avoiding each other – again. They would at best just glance at each other with Ryuga giving Sanma a glare. After that, they would go their own way minding their own business. Granted, both boys would still hang out with the Trio but… they would do so when the other wasn't around.
What's worse, is that both Sanma's fiancées, Cat Fu and Nakane, would avoid Sanma as well. No talking, no greeting, not even a glance. Heck, both of them would even march off if Sanma was nearby. It was as if Sanma was a leper.
And what would Sanma say or do to all of that? It was either ignore or brush it off.
He would say things like "Ah, Ryuga/Nakane/Cat Fu is always like that!" or "It'll be fine!" or even "That's how things always are between us!".
And every time Issei would hear that, he would cringe inside of him.
How long ago was it since he and Sanma spoke about this? Three days ago? Granted, Sanma wasn't avoiding their morning training sessions like the time after the Hotel Incident (in fact, he took part in it this morning), but still.
Issei even had to walk over to the Tengu residence to fight an intense spar with him just to cheer him up. Maybe, he should go visit that place again. That way, he would also see Kasumi again.
Ahh… Kasumi…
"Umm… earth to Issei? You're drooling…" Matsuda spoke to Issei while waving his hand in front of him to get his attention.
Issei's daydreaming burst like a bubble as he turned to Matsuda.
"Sorry, uh… what were you saying?" Issei asked Matsuda flustered.
"We… didn't say anything…" Motohama dropped a sweat. "We just noticed that you were drooling that's all."
"Oh!" Issei exclaimed as he noticed that saliva was running down his chin. He quickly wiped it off with his hand.
After doing this, Issei noticed Matsuda and Motohama staring at him.
"What?" Issei asked them.
"Spill it. What were you thinking?" Matsuda demanded from him.
"Yeah, were you thinking of something hot? Don't leave us out if you were," Motohama said to Issei.
"No… nothing like that at all…" Issei lied, trying his best not to reveal his infatuation with Kasumi. "I was just… thinking about what happened recently, that's all."
At this, Matsuda's and Motohama's faces softened.
"Oh… you're still thinking about Tomo, weren't you?" Motohama asked while giving Issei a sympathetic look.
Issei briefly widened his eyes in surprise at the answer. Then his face became somber.
Tomo… his familiar that he had become friends with on his last adventure. It was only for a few hours and yet it felt like a lifetime's worth of friendship. Issei was truly heartbroken after Tomo had died. It took him another goodnight's rest for Issei to recover from his grief. Even then, Issei still had not fully recovered. Issei was still on Sunday, but Ddraig, Matsuda and Motohama took good care of Issei.
They ate breakfast as usual. They went out to train. They went out to relax and do things together. They made lunch and dinner together, while talking about things from their favorite doujin manga.
They were small steps, but they helped Issei. They helped him distract from the loss that he had suffered.
But what helped Issei the most were the words that Shinyama had said.
The words that kept Issei to push on forward…
The words which Issei could find solace in…
"Continue fighting, no matter what. You can't turn back the clock. You can only go forward…"
Those words echoed inside Issei's mind, imbedding themselves in Issei's psyche.
"No, it's not that…" Issei told them truthfully, though the mere mention of Tomo caused Issei to think about him at that moment. "I was more concerned about what's been bothering Sanma."
"Oh… you mean that weird love-web between him, Ryuga and those girls?" Motohama asked him with a tone that revealed a hint of annoyance.
"Yup, that's the one," Issei confirmed.
"What's up with that?" Matsuda remarked with disdain. "All this tension and avoidance… I can almost smell it every time the girls or Ryuga pass by Sanma. I hate these complicated romance issues. Just… why does it have to happen with those around us?"
Issei agreed. This conflict was clearly affecting Sanma and those around him. Issei knew that.
And judging by Sanma's past words about the matter and him saying that he wished he could just run away from his problems, made it clear for Issei.
"Guys," Motohama said as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, while giving off a serious demeanor. "If this wasn't going to be solved, Sanma will suffer – and perhaps others, too…"
Before either Issei or Matsuda could say something in response, the boys heard a girl's voice call out in the hallway.
"San-chan?" the girl called out for Sanma with an endearing nickname.
They turned and saw Ukyu, one of Sanma's love interests, heading towards them.
"Kuongi-san, what gives?" Issei greeted her as he walked up to meet her.
"Have you guys seen San-chan around? I wanted to share my notes for English classes with him. Where is he?" Ukyu asked Issei, looking left and right for Sanma.
"Well, I heard he went to the bathroom. He'll probably be here in a bit," Issei answered her.
"I see…" Ukyu said, her voice drifting off at the end.
An awkward silence ensued between them for a few seconds.
"Say, uhh… Kuongi-san?" Issei asked her.
"Yes?" Uyku asked.
"Do you…" Issei started off, then hesitated, wondering if he worded it right.
Ukyu tilted her head in confusion.
Issei thought of what he wanted to say, then managed to formulate his question.
"Are you and Sanma… a couple now?" Issei asked sheepishly.
Ukyu blinked in surprise, before blushing at the question.
"I'm not sure…" Ukyu answered truthfully. "…he spends a lot of time with me. Unlike before, he doesn't avoid me anymore. Plus, he even visits me after school and on weekends to order okonomiyaki at my place."
Ukyu made a cheerful smile at the thought.
"It's almost like we went back to our childhood," Ukyu beamed happily.
Issei, Matsuda and Motohama nodded. They heard that Sanma and Ukyu had been childhood friends. However, for whatever reason that the boys forgot, Sanma had gotten engaged to her along with Nakane and Cat Fu. What's more, was that their pig-tailed friend was too dense to realize that Ukyu was really a girl. Up until last year, Sanma thought Ukyu was a boy.
[A… big… fat… OOF!] Ddraig remarked internally at this, which only Issei heard.
And then, Ukyu sighed.
"But I know that the only reason he spends so much time with me is because he wants to avoid Nakane at home," Ukyu said sadly.
"Man, that sounds…" Motohama left the sentence hanging, unable to find the right word.
"…kind of depressing," Matsuda found the right words for his friend.
"I'm sure you guys have also noticed that Cat Fu and Ryuga have been giving him the cold shoulder, too," Ukyu continued. "San-chan keeps saying that he's fine, but I know it's not true. Even though we drew closer to each other, it still feels like his heart is so far away."
Ukyu had a sad expression on her face.
"Deep inside, I know that he still has feelings for Nakane and Cat Fu. So long as he does, our relationship will never advance," Ukyu stated sadly.
The boys sympathized with her. In their hearts they could not refute what she said. Sanma had always been indecisive when it came to girls and all because of these weird engagements made by some martial artist's code or tradition. What's more, Sanma genuinely had feelings for all three of the girls and that was the crux of the matter.
'Poor Ukyu,' Matsuda thought to himself. 'Such a cute girl was practically being abandoned. If only Sanma could just simply choose the harem route, then everybody would be happy… Oh wait! That only works in connection with hypnosis!'
"Say, Hide-san?" Ukyu asked of Issei.
"""Yeah?"""
To the surprise of the trio and Ukyu, the three pseudo-brothers said it in unison.
The four of them could not help but laugh at this.
"I meant, Issei-san," Ukyu clarified after she stopped laughing. "Though if Motohama-san and Matsuda-san want to answer that's fine, too."
Ukyu made a mental note reminding herself to call the three boys by their first names whenever they were together.
"What is it?" Issei asked of Ukyu.
"Can you help him?" Ukyu asked of Issei.
The bluntness of the question surprised Issei and the others.
"Help him how?" Issei asked her back.
"You boys get along with Ryuga, right? If you guys can help San-chan mend his friendship with Ryuga, I think San-chan would get better," Ukyu suggested.
Issei bit his lower lip.
"That's… a tall order," Issei told Ukyu with a serious look. "The reason why things are so sour between them is because Ryuga has a crush on Nakane and Sanma is in his way. After that fight between Nakane and Sanma at the hotel, Ryuga just followed Nakane in giving Sanma the cold shoulder."
"But you guys are the best chance in doing this," Ukyu gave Issei a pleading look. "I know that Sanma still feels down because of Nakane and Cat Fu, but I know you guys can't reach out to them like you can with Ryuga. So, please…"
Ukyu looked at Issei with puppy eyes. This caught Issei, Matsuda and Motohama off guard and made them worry that she was about to cry.
Issei sighed at this and massaged his forehead a bit.
"I was planning on it… no, rather we were planning on it," Issei answered Ukyu truthfully. "Sanma is our friend and whether it be terrorists or monsters or any other challenge, we'll be there for him."
"Thanks," Ukyu smiled at them.
Just then, she saw Sanma heading in their direction.
"San-chan!" Ukyu ran up to Sanma with a cheerful face.
As the two of them conversed, Issei looked at Matsuda and Motohama.
"It seems you were right about it being a problem for everyone," Matsuda said to Motohama.
"Yeah, though I sort of wished that wasn't so," Motohama replied as he shook his head.
Issei said nothing. He just watched as Sanma and Ukyu were happily engaged in conversation, all while trying to figure out what to do with Ukyu's heartfelt request.
12th of October, Monday, 3:15 pm – on the way back from school, Nerima Ward
Issei, Matsuda and Motohama were walking back home as usual.
Classes went normally, aside from Tatsuki-sensei and his bizarre makeovers as a variety of foreigners (which at this point the trio had gotten used to). But the glaring difference was that they weren't going home with either Sanma or Ryuga. With Sanma, it was that he had a date with Ukyu. Ryuga had made the excuse that he was busy. The boys did notice him leaving with Nakane.
"I really don't get what he likes about her," Motohama said to Matsuda and Issei. "I mean… she's so violent and tomboyish. Even Murayama and Katase weren't that tomboyish and violent."
"Yeah," Matsuda agreed, though he added a counterargument. "Then again, isn't Ryuga also someone with a short fuse?"
"I guess…" Issei replied and sighed.
Issei still was thinking about Ukyu's words. Reconciling them… Was that even possible? Ryuga was so into Nakane that he would immediately share her resentment towards Sanma. In other words, he needed to mend Nakane's attitude towards Sanma first. Only problem was that neither he nor Matsuda and Motohama got along with the tomboyish girl. Matsuda and Motohama may have spent the most time with her back during the Fallen Angel incident, yet whenever any of them tried to approach her, she would sniff at them and avoid them. Did she resent them for dragging her into their adventures?
Regardless, Ukyu really asked for the impossible as Ryuga and Nakane could be headstrong like a boulder. And Sanma was too indecisive to solve his problems.
So, what should Issei do?
"Huh, what was that!?" Matsuda suddenly called out.
This shook Issei out of his thoughts and put him on full alert.
"What is it?" Motohama asked him, as he, too, was caught off guard by his Matsuda's outburst.
They saw that Matsuda was pointing up in the air towards the rooftop of a building.
"Did you see that?" Matsuda asked them, as Motohama and Issei tried to ascertain what their friend was pointing at.
"See what?" Issei wondered. He saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"I… thought I saw a person in green swinging past the rooftops," Matsuda told them.
Issei and Motohama looked at Matsuda incredulously.
"Really? Well, I didn't see anything," Issei answered him honestly.
"Me neither," Motohama said, shaking his head.
"But… I'm… Oh, forget it…" Matsuda gave up in trying to persuade them. "Maybe it was just my imagination."
With that, the trio decided to move on.
As they walked down another ten meters, Matsuda stopped again and pointed at something.
"Stop, there just now!" Matsuda called out. "This time I saw something! I swear!"
Issei and Motohama tried to ascertain where and at what Matsuda was pointing at. But they saw nothing.
"Are you feeling all right?" Motohama asked Matsuda with a frown.
"I'm telling the truth! It was a human figure in green! I think it was a girl, too!" Matsuda insisted.
Issei shook his head in disbelief. "Come on! Why would a girl be wearing green and swing around like Spider-Man through the city?" he asked rhetorically.
[I would not be so dismissive, Partner] Ddraig spoke up, as the Boosted Gear manifested on his arm.
"Ddraig! Why are you coming out now!?" Issei asked alarmed at the Boosted Gear's sudden manifestation.
[Because I sensed something. I'm surprised you didn't sense it, given your enhanced senses] Ddraig explained to Issei while chiding him. [Whatever it is, it has been following us for some time now.]
"What!?" Motohama looked around and above him in alarm. "Why didn't you say so?"
[Because I thought my Partner here was vigilant enough to tell you, though evidently that is not the case] Ddraig answered coldly.
As the three boys looked around, suddenly some metallic balls fell from out of nowhere.
"What the…?" Issei voiced in surprise.
Matsuda and Motohama gasped, but before any of them could say or do anything, gas leaked out of the balls. The gas enveloped the three boys in a purple smoke.
"Cough, cough… smoke… cough, cough…" Matsuda coughed as the gas entered his lungs.
"I feel dizzy…" Motohama said weakly, trying his best to fight against the effects of the smoke.
"I'm so tired…" Issei said as he stumbled and then fell on his face.
Matsuda and Motohama fell unconscious immediately thereafter.
Issei managed to stay awake just in time to see a big car come to a screeching halt in front of them. He also heard a voice of a man call out from the car.
"I have brought the car, Mistress Komachi," the driver, a rather short man, said upon stepping out of the car.
"Ohohohoho… OHOHOHOHOHOHO!" the voice of maniacal ojou-sama laughter echoed in Issei's ears.
And then he passed out.
12th of October, Monday, 4:15 pm – unknown place
"Ugh…" Issei groaned, as he woke up. "My head…"
Issei was about to feel his head when he realized that he could not move his arm. In fact, he could not move anything for he was tied to a chair. Issei struggled and strained but could not free himself.
Seeing that Issei could not get out of his bonds, he decided to look around him. He was in a small dark room that looked like a prison cell. He recalled what had happened before falling unconscious. He growled.
He has been kidnapped and was now being held prisoner.
Just then, the door swung open and Issei flinched from the brightness of the light.
At the door stood the small man Issei had seen earlier. The man was dressed in black with only his face uncovered like a ninja. Right beside him stood a young woman with a black ponytail and a green leotard with a predatory smile.
He may not have been familiar with the small ninja, but Issei recognized the girl in the green leotard.
"You!" Issei roared out, as he struggled against his bonds. "You're that crazy loon that's been pursuing Sanma!"
"How dare you insult, Mistress Komachi!?" the ninja bellowed in outrage, but his mistress stretched out her hand to tell him that it was fine.
"Ohohoho! It seems like I have quite the admirer!" the girl laughed after either failing or ignoring the fact that Issei was insulting her.
"Hardy admiration," Issei spat out. "Why did you do this? And where and Matsuda and Motohama?"
"Ohoho… Don't worry they are fine," the gymnast girl laughed heartily. "They will be released as soon as they agree to my conditions. The same goes for you."
"Conditions?" Issei asked warily.
"Perhaps I should elaborate," Komachi answered with a mirthful smile, which betrayed a hidden danger behind it. "You have mentioned it already, my pursuit of Sanma Raotome, that is."
Issei cocked his eyebrow upon hearing that.
"Wait, is this what this is all about?" Issei asked of her with a sullen expression. "If that's the case, why kidnap us? If you've been following us, you should have noticed that he was leaving with Ukyu Kuo-"
"Don't you dare mention that harlot!" Komachi snapped at Issei with an angered expression.
Issei flinched in shock at the sudden change of her demeanor.
After a moment of tense silent had passed, Komachi resumed her explanation with a slightly saddened expression.
"Yes, my dear darling Sanma… doesn't exactly have his eyes on me…" Komachi said sadly. "…all he does is spend time with either that tomboyish gorilla of a girl whom he calls his fiancée… and the Chinese Amazon… and that okonomiyaki girl… and most importantly that red-haired pig-tailed wench…"
With every mention of Sanma's love interests, Komachi grew angrier, clenching her teeth all the while.
'Red-haired pig-tailed wench?' Issei thought to himself. 'I recognize the girls she is talking about. They are Nakane, Cat Fu and Ukyu. But who is the last one?'
"Sanma darling even spends more time on that tomboy's sisters, even though neither he nor they have any interest in each other," Komachi continued. "I have tried everything under the sun to make him mine. I tried to hypnotize him to make him love me. I tried to kill those harlots so that I could be the only one for him. I tried to kidnap him and make love to him last month. I even went out of my way to find out about his fetishes to make him lust after me. I even tried to stimulate him while simulating every pornography scene, picture or movie out there while trying to have sex with him…"
'Holy crap! This girl crazy! Especially that last sentence!' Issei thought in utter bewilderment at what the crazy girl told him.
"But alas, he always either spurned me, run away or his lovers managed to frustrate my plans…" Komachi sighed and glowered shortly thereafter. "Nevertheless, I never gave up. I pursued him, stalked him and tried everything in my power to make him fall for me. But nothing I did ever worked. Ever since my attempt to make love with him on that beach last month in my sexy swimsuit, he seems to avoid me more than ever."
'Wow, now I really wish that I had been there. I mean, just the description alone is making me feel hot!' Issei thought to himself, as anger was starting to give way to arousal.
"And then that day came at the hotel. When those terrorists took everybody hostage. I am sure you know all about. I heard you were there," Komachi told him.
At this Issei widened his eyes. She was there at that day?
"Unfortunately, I was busy playing a piano concert there and could not see him. And then the terrorists took me and several other VIPs hostage in the upper floors. I hated the lecherous looks on their faces…" Komachi shuddered at the memory.
'Come to think of it, I think I did see her playing there. So, that's why I thought that piano-playing girl seemed to so familiar…' Issei realized.
"All of that ended when two boys happened to rescue us. And could you imagine my surprise when I saw two familiar faces?" Komachi asked Issei with a devious smile.
Upon hearing this, Issei widened his eyes.
"Wait, you mean…?" Issei wanted to ask.
"Your two friends Matsuda and Motohama," Komachi answered, confirming Issei's guess. "I was really surprised to see two fairly ordinary classmates of my Sanma saving the VIP hostages. Ever since, I decided to keep tabs on those two out of curiosity. And, again, to my surprise, I found out that they are all friends of my beloved Sanma…"
Komachi purred at the revelation, bringing her face closer to Issei. Issei blushed but kept a defiant stare.
"…and that was also when I stumbled upon you. I had my retainer Satsuke…" she gestured to the ninja, now known as Satsuke. "…do some investigation on you. And do you know what I found out?"
"Umm… what?" Issei tried his best to keep a straight face as the loony girl looked him in the eyes.
"I found out that not only were you a friend of his, but you are the only one Sanma would ever open up to," Komachi revealed her answer to Issei.
Issei blinked in confusion. "I don't quite understand…" he admitted.
Komachi groaned. "Oh, dear… Do I really have to explain it to you? I mean to say that I know all about your conversations with Sanma. He talked all about his problems and insecurities to you. Sanma had never done this to anybody else… but you," Komachi backed away at this.
Issei finally understood now and that truly surprised him. Sanma really trusted him that much? Did he never tell anyone else? Not even his dad or Kasumi?
But hold on. If she knew about Sanma's struggles and dilemmas…
"If you know about Sanma's issues regarding his complicated love web, then you must know how bad he is feeling about it all. And to that extent that he is having a hard time solving it, right?" Issei asked the black-haired gymnast.
"Ohohohoho… Of course, I know…" Komachi laughed. "And that is why I have been trying to help him all this time…"
"You have…?" Issei wondered.
"Of course! Sanma can only be happy with me in his arms. Once he understands that I am the one and only one for him, all his problems will be solved," Komachi answered Issei with a straight face.
Issei immediately frowned at the answer Komachi gave.
"But what about his obligations to his family? If you know Sanma so well, you must know that his dad and the Tengu family arranged to have Nakane and Sanma marry each other. How are you going to get his dad's approval?" Issei asked Komachi.
"Oh, that old fool and his friend. He and his arrangements with the Tengu family are of no interest to me," Komachi said dismissively. "The same goes for all those other hussies and their rules and pledges. There only exists my love for Sanma and nothing else?"
Issei could not help but disagree. Issei dared to ask another question.
"What about his feelings? As you've said earlier, you couldn't win him over by force. You know that Sanma is not comfortable with you. How do you expect him to love you when all you do is drive him away?" Issei challenged her.
Komachi giggled mischievously.
"Yes, that may be the case. He won't listen to my persuasions and confessions of heartfelt love. In fact, he won't even talk to me," Komachi admitted as she looked away in the darkness of the room in contemplation. But from the darkness of the room, she turned her face back to Issei.
"And that brings me to you, Issei Hide," Komachi addressed Issei, finally getting down to business. "You see, there is a reason I brought you and your friends here."
"Why did you bring me here then?" Issei demanded from Komachi.
"I want you to convince Sanma to reject all those hussies and choose me. I want you to show him that I am the one for him. I want you to tell him of the depths of my love. I have long brooded in agony as I watched men after men lust and ogle after me. I despise seeing their disgusting faces. But Sanma is different. He is the only one handsome, strong, brave, charming… sexy… enough to make me wish for him to make me his. You don't know how long I sought to have him come to my bed and ravish me… tear off my clothes… take my virginity here and now…" Komachi moaned as she covered her chest with her arms in a dramatic fashion.
Issei stared at her blankly. Komachi noticed this and realized she was going off track.
"Anyway, you understand what I am trying to say. So, won't you help me?" Komachi asked of Issei.
Issei did not need to think. He answered right away.
"No. Way," Issei bluntly answered Komachi in two words.
At this, Komachi suddenly seized Issei by the chin and looked him straight in the eyes.
"And why not?" Komachi asked with a straight smile, though it was clear that she was angry.
Issei was caught off guard by her actions. Issei felt intimidated like a rabbit in front of a wolf. Yet, Issei mustered his courage to remain defiant.
"Because it's clear to me that you're crazy. You don't care about Sanma, nor do you care about his feelings. If you did, you wouldn't be trying to force yourself on him. I will not persuade him to choose you, especially not after kidnapping Matsuda, Motohama and me. What you need to do is to leave him alone. He needs to make his own decision on whom he loves. You can't make him love you, you crazy yandere," Issei said his opinion firmly and clearly.
Komachi glared at Issei for a few seconds, before letting Issei's chin go.
"No matter. I guess I must do this the hard way. You and your friends will have to stay here for a while. Speaking of which, I think I will move to your friend with the glasses next. Motohama, was it? A little psychological torture always does wonders…" Komachi said ominously, as she walked out of the cell.
Satsuke followed his mistress out and closed the door behind him, locking it tight.
With Issei now alone in the darkness of the cell, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness, she's gone…" Issei breathed out in relief as he relaxed. "…I thought that loony chick was going to be the end of me."
[If it was, I'd be disappointed in you] Ddraig finally spoke up after all those moments of silence.
"Well, at least the ropes can't hold me," Issei said as he looked at the rope that bound his wrists together.
With a green flash the Boosted Gear appeared on Issei's left arm.
[Boost!]
With increased strength, Issei strained against his bonds and snapped the rope in two.
Then Issei proceeded to cut open the ties to his ankles with the sharp appendages of the Boosted Gear. With his legs now free, Issei stood up and stretched himself.
"Man, sitting in that chair all the time sure is uncomfortable…" Issei yawned as he stretched.
After he finished stretching, Issei turned his face to the door.
"Now, all I need to do is get Matsuda and Motohama, then get out of here…" Issei said as he looked to the door. "I'd better hurry. There's no way I'm going to let her hurt Motohama."
Issei walked up the door and was about to raise his fist to destroy it.
[Wait!] Ddraig called out to him.
"What?" Issei wondered at Ddraig's call.
[There might be alarm systems out there. I suggest going another way] Ddraig suggested.
"And where do you suppose I should be heading out?" Issei demanded.
[Well, up there] Ddraig gestured to the ceiling.
Issei looked and, sure enough, there was a way.
And yet, Issei could not help but groan loudly.
12th of October, Monday, 4:27 pm – air vents, unknown place
"Why is it always air vents…" Issei grumbled as he crawled through the tight air vents.
[Better than getting caught and tied up again, right?] Ddraig reasoned.
"I guess. If not, I wouldn't be here," Issei conceded.
Issei was using his special glasses to look in the darkness of the vent. He could see that the facility he was in was quite big. This was no ordinary building. It seemed to be like a huge dungeon or something. There were cells all over the place. Issei could see them through the vent grates.
Normally, Issei would have climbed out of this crammed situation, except that he was currently trying to stay hidden. If he was caught, who would save his friends? They were in the middle of enemy territory and there was no backup.
Issei had only one chance. Do or fail.
After a few minutes of crawling through the vents, Issei picked up a specific set of sounds in the distance. It sounded like the snapping of jaws followed by a splash of water. However, the most notable sound of them all…
"NO! STOP! GET AWAY FROM ME! HELP!" a familiar voice cried out in fear.
Issei recognized that voice.
"That's Motohama! He's in trouble!" Issei said out loud and picked up speed.
As Issei headed towards Motohama's location, he suddenly spotted Komachi and her retainer below him heading in the opposite direction.
"Such a shame… That's one more potential ally that refuses to know better… sigh… I'll check up on him later... If Mr. Crocodile doesn't eat him that is… OHOHOHO!" Komachi laughed heartily.
But Issei felt a chill down his spine. This did not sound good.
"That crazy…" Issei glared at her from above but decided to leave her.
Saving Motohama from a hungry crocodile was a priority.
Issei crawled to the area where Motohama was located. A sense of dread filled Issei's mind.
Upon arriving over the room Motohama was held in, he could see Motohama hanging with his hands tied to a rope over a pool of water. Jumping towards him was a huge… huh?
huh?
To Issei's dumbfounded eyes, he saw something unexpected. For what he saw was no crocodile like he had expected, but rather…
[That's a turtle…] Ddraig said with a deadpanned expression.
Indeed, a giant turtle was trying to eat him. And Motohama was trying to lift his body as far away as he could even as the rope was slowly making him descend.
Without further ado…
[CRASH!]
Issei smashed through the vent and rushed at the giant turtle.
[WHAM!]
With a single punch, it sent the giant turtle reeling and floating on its back on the water. It was unconscious.
Motohama sighed in relief upon seeing Issei.
"Thank goodness, you're here. Get me down from here!" Motohama urged Issei, as he dangled from the rope.
"I'm coming! Just hold on!" Issei called out and scanned the room.
Issei saw that Motohama was held by a rope that was suspended from the ceiling. Issei knew what to do right away.
Upon seeing what Issei was up to, Motohama started to become panicky.
"Umm… Issei, I…" Motohama gestured to the ceiling.
[Dragon Shot!] Issei fired a small beam at the rope, severing the rope and puncturing the ceiling behind him.
"WAH!" [SPLASH!]
Motohama fell into the pool, causing a huge splash, which Issei avoided by jumping back.
"BLUBUB! BLURUB! BLUBUBUB!" Motohama sputtered as he struggled to keep his head above water.
Issei waded right in and to help Motohama. Upon entering the pool, he realized it was waist-deep and thus wasn't in much danger of drowning. Issei helped Motohama get up, propping him up as they both got out of the water.
After taking a short rest, Motohama finally spoke his first words since being freed.
"The next time… let me get ready first… before you drop me into a pool of water…" Motohama said to Issei, as he tried to squeeze out the water from his shirt.
"No problem," Issei replied as he dried his clothes with the heat of the Boosted Gear. "You better get some of this or you might catch a cold."
Motohama nodded and came near Issei's Boosted Gear to be warmed.
"Crazy floozy… I knew she was insane, but to think she would go this far…" Motohama cursed the love-crazy woman.
"Why did she do this to you?" Issei asked Motohama, as he enjoyed the warmth.
"She wanted me to get Sanma to fall in love with her. I told her she could go screw herself. She just went loony and tied me up there to feed to Mr. Crocodile over here," Motohama pointed at the still unconscious turtle. "Forget about finding love, she needs to be put in a nut house."
"I know, right?" Issei asked rhetorically while nodding. "She tried to do the same to me, too. Except she tied me to a chair while talking about how she tried to get Sanma horny for her. Said something about acting out porn in front of him."
Motohama looked surprise at Issei's statement. Very surprised. He was about to ask more, but then decided that given who she was, it was best not to dive too deep into the topic.
After all, dive into crazy and you become crazy.
"Anyway," Issei said as he stood up. "We need to hurry. I'm afraid Matsuda is being tortured by them as we speak."
Motohama looked at Issei in surprise, then stood up as well.
"Then we should hurry. Do you know where he is?" Motohama asked Issei.
"I'm not sure, but I'll find him," Issei said with a firm conviction. "With my trusted glasses, nose and ears finding him will be a piece of cake."
[Ahem!] Ddraig coughed to get Issei's attention.
"Oh! And you, too, Ddraig. Sorry about that…" Issei apologized to his Dragon.
[And never forget that!] Ddraig said to Issei.
"Anyway, let's go…" Issei said to Motohama.
"Good… Let's get…" Motohama wanted to go through the door out of the cell.
To his surprise Issei decided to climb some scaffolding for indoor construction and headed for the ceiling.
"What are you doing? The door is this way!" Motohama pointed out.
"I know," Issei replied with a serious look as he gazed up into the ceiling. "But there might be alarms out there. That is why…"
12th of October, Monday, 4:37 pm – air vents, unknown place
"Air vents… great!" Motohama murmured to Issei.
"I know, but we don't have much of a choice…" Issei sighed as they both crawled forward.
Issei was currently crawling ahead of Motohama towards wherever it was they were crawling.
"This kind of reminds me of those times back in Kuoh," Motohama remarked to Issei.
"Huh? How so?" Issei asked as he looked back towards Motohama.
"Back then, there was this one time where we also crawled through the vents to peek on the kendo girls. Remember?" Motohama reminded Issei.
Issei stopped to think for a moment.
"I guess…" Issei answered uncertain. "…though I have other memories about crawling in vents…"
Issei thought back to the time he went through Hotel Entertainment through the ventilation system.
[With all this crawling in vents, you should be called the trio of the ventilation shaft] Ddraig joked.
Issei and Matsuda ignored his statement with silence.
[Oh, come on! It was funny! Why aren't you guys saying anything? You guys don't even react in anger. Why is that?] Ddraig asked in frustration.
"Well, it just didn't sound that funny to me…" Issei remarked honestly.
"…or enraging…" Motohama finished the sentence.
Issei moved on with Motohama following suit.
[Grumble, grumble, grumble…] Ddraig grumbled out loud.
After a few minutes, they heard a cry of someone in the distance.
"AGH! UGH! F***!"
It was a voice they recognized.
"That's Matsuda!" Motohama said to Issei.
"He's in danger!" Issei agreed with him, and the two boys sped up.
They crawled forward as fast as they could. They followed the moans and curses and were getting closer.
'We're coming, Matsuda… Please, hold on…' Issei pleaded to him.
They arrived over the top of the room and watched in dread as Issei and Motohama saw their friend tied up to a pole. Matsuda was struggling and straining against the rope, trying to break free. In front of him was the henchman known as Satsuke and he was holding a smartphone in his hand.
"F****** S***! CONTINUE!" Matsuda cursed and swore.
"No way. Not until you agree with Mistress Komachi's demands!" the ninja told him.
"COME ON! LET ME SEE IT TO THE END! I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMORE!" Matsuda yelled at Satsuke.
Issei and Motohama froze in surprise at the conversation. They had puzzled looks on their faces.
What was he watching?
"No! I will only let you watch her gymnastics routine performance once you submit," Satsuke declared as he shook his head.
"I can't… gymnastics… flexibility… haah… haah…" Matsuda panted in desperation.
At this, Issei and Motohama had a deadpanned expression.
"Motohama?" Issei said with a monotonous voice.
"Yes? Motohama asked back in the same tone.
"Let's end this clown show, shall we?" Issei suggested while keeping the same neutral face.
"Agreed. I'm on it," Motohama said and got to it.
Motohama summoned his glue gloves and started to charge.
[Too bad… I wanted to see him die of blue balls] Ddraig joked as he watched the ninja torment Matsuda some more.
"Ehehehe… Just let it go…" Satsuke whispered sadistically to the desperate Matsuda. "…If you agree to help my mistress, you shall… hmm?"
Before Satsuke was about to say more, he stopped upon hearing a creaking sound.
He looked above him, but it was too late.
[SQUISH!] "OOF!"
Motohama and Issei landed on top of the ninja retainer with a huge mass of dark glue cushioning their fall.
Issei and Motohama groaned as they stood up. They brushed off the remains of glue on them before turning to Matsuda.
"Oh, thank goodness, you're here!" Matsuda rejoiced upon seeing them in front of him. "You can't believe what he was about to do with me."
"Yeah, we heard…" Issei said awkwardly.
"Oh… you did?" Matsuda wondered and looked at Motohama.
Motohama just nodded, confirming what Issei said.
Matsuda blushed as a result from embarrassment.
'Oh, goodness… they heard everything!' Matsuda thought to himself.
Issei went to check on the fallen ninja.
"He's unconscious… It's best to tie him up…" Issei said to Motohama.
"I'm on it!" Motohama said and went to work.
He immediately freed Matsuda from his bonds and used the rope to tie up Satsuke.
"Man, so good to be free! I feel so stiff!" Matsuda stretched his arms high up in the air.
"Say, Matsuda?" Issei asked his friend. "Other than being blue-balled, you are all right, right?"
Matsuda blushed again, but decided to answer, nevertheless.
"Yeah, I'm fine…" Matsuda answered. "…though seriously, that chick is crazy! She insisted I help her make Sanma fall in love with her. I told her to f*** off."
"So, did I! And she tried to feed me to a giant turtle," Motohama told Matsuda.
"Oh, man, that really sounds bad!" Matsuda admitted.
"Well, now that we're all free, let's get out of here," Issei said to them both.
"But how?" Matsuda wondered.
"We have to go through the vents…" Issei answered Matsuda.
Motohama groaned. "Not the vents again…"
"There might be alarms out there and we can't afford to get caught. You know what that loony girl is capable off," Issei said to Motohama.
"But still…" Motohama argued. "…I don't want to go through entire maze of vents just to get out. It cramps!"
"Me neither, actually…" Matsuda admitted hesitatingly.
[Why go through all that when you can just blast your way out?] Ddraig blatantly suggested.
This made Issei look at the Boosted Gear in confusion.
"But if we do, the alarms will go off…" Issei argued. "…you were the one who warned me about them. That's why we crawled through the vents, remember?"
[I only said that because you were on a rescue mission and stealth was the focus. With all three of you safe and sound, there's no need for so much caution. In fact, when you face a complex problem, sometimes the best way to solve it is to just use brute force] Ddraig sagely advised him.
"Ummm… okay…" Issei said uncertain.
[Besides, I can see a window leading outside just over there] Ddraig hinted at a certain direction.
The boys looked and indeed. A window with bars leading to the garden.
There were two problems. One, the bars were very thick. Two, it was about 2,50 meters up.
The boys pondered what to do. They discussed what to do.
Eventually, they came up with an idea.
"Okay, one, two…" Matsuda said as he counted.
Matsuda and Motohama were lifting up Issei with their hands and arms. Issei stood on the palm of their hands.
Issei went up to the window.
[Boost!] [Boost!]
With the increased power of the Boosted Gear, he tore the bars open.
Matsuda and Motohama were impressed. They would have applauded if their hands were not occupied.
"Let's get out of here!" Issei said to them, as he got down from his friend's palms.
Motohama and Issei first lifted Matsuda who climbed out into the open.
Then, Issei helped Motohama get out by propping him up to the window.
As Motohama climbed out, all that was left was Issei.
Issei was the last one.
But there was a problem.
Because of how high the window was from the ground; he could not reach it normally.
There was no chair and no one to give Issei a boost. He had to find a way out of his own.
The three of them, plus Ddraig anticipated this. Somebody had to be left behind a find a way out on his own. And the lot fell on Issei.
Issei looked up at his friends. They looked back at him.
"Good luck, Issei," Matsuda encouraged him.
"Don't die, man!" Motohama told him.
"I won't," Issei said with a smile that radiated of assurance.
Issei turned around and readied the Boosted Gear which was shining red and green.
"Let's rumble, Ddraig," Issei said to his Partner.
[Yes] Ddraig said with excitement.
Issei kicked the door and immediately…
(((ALERT!)))
The alarm echoed throughout the halls of the dungeon.
Issei anticipated this and rushed out in full speed.
At once, nets fell from the ceiling to trap him… darts meant to tranquilize him… and dogs to bite him.
Issei either dodged or knocked them out.
He went from hall to hall, blowing away any traps or enemies.
[Dragon Shot!]
Issei blasted a door open and headed up the stairs.
Issei arrived to see the enormity of a mansion hall. It was screaming wealth and upper class. There were pillars of marble and rich furniture of all kinds.
But Issei did not care.
He was about to head out when…
[Partner, watch out!] Ddraig warned him.
Issei felt a harsh sting on his shoulder.
"AGH!" Issei cried out in pain and nursed his shoulder.
"OHOHOHOHO! Where do you think you're going?" a familiar voice said to him.
Issei turned around.
It was Komachi and she had a ribbon tied to a stick. It was the kind of object one would see in a gymnastics tournament.
"Crazy loon, leave me alone!" Issei demanded from her.
"You're not leaving until you agree. And if you don't… OHOHOHO!" Komachi laughed before giving Issei a cold look. "I will make you!"
With that, she went on the offensive.
She tried whipping him again, but Issei used the Boosted Gear to protect himself. He blocked off her ribbon as it wrapped around him.
Issei and Komachi were locked in a tug-of-war for the ribbon.
[SNAP!]
The ribbon snapped in two.
"MY RIBBON!" Komachi cried out in shock.
"Sorry about that. Toodles!" Issei mocked her as he ran for the exit.
Komachi made a mischievous smile.
"Good thing, I have more!" Komachi called out as she pulled out another ribbon.
She sent it out, this time against a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. She sent it crashing down towards Issei.
[Partner!] Ddraig called out.
"Damn!" Issei cursed as it landed on Issei.
Issei tried to get it off him when Komachi came near him in an instant.
"I've got you now, my dear Issei…" Komachi gloated with a smug smile.
"I don't think so, my dear Komachi," Issei retorted with a look of defiance.
Issei shoved off the heavy chandelier, sending it crashing against the wall. Komachi jumped back and used her ribbon to send a vase towards him.
Issei smashed it with the gauntlet of the Boosted Gear.
Komachi threw a pole towards Issei's face like a javelin with her ribbon.
Issei dodged it.
She threw a rose from her hair, which flew to him like a dart.
Issei caught it in the gauntlet.
"Is that all you got?" Issei challenged her.
"Almost…" Komachi said with a smug smile.
"Huh? What the…?" Issei voiced as gas came from the rose dart.
Issei coughed and hacked as he fell on his knees.
Komachi walked up to Issei unafraid. She looked down on him with a haughty look.
"That rose is filled with a special hypnosis gas. Its dose is quite strong. Now, you will help me make Sanma fall for me," Komachi said to Issei, who tried to fight it.
But it was no use. He slowly stopped moving and his arms became limp. Issei remained like this, as though he was a puppet without strings.
Komachi went up to Issei and ordered him.
"You will help me convince Sanma darling to become mine. Do you understand? I want him… I need him… He is the only one who can satisfy my needs… the only one…" Komachi became more deranged with each word. "…who gives me meaning in life… I want him to devour me with his manhood… Shower me with kisses… Take my virginity… All other men are inferior to me and their vulgar manners… So, help me, dear Issei. I ask of you…"
The hypnotized Issei remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"That's not how love works," Issei said softly.
Komachi blinked in surprise at Issei's response.
"What did you say?" Komachi asked Issei.
"Love has to be approved by both parties. It cannot be forced by one party on the other," Issei explained in a monotonous tone.
Komachi realized something was wrong.
"You… you're supposed to obey me!" Komachi nearly screeched, yet Issei continued.
"Listen, I used to peep at girls not too long ago," Issei continued and proceeded to sit down as though he were having a friendly chat. "At the same time, I also hated the idea of being a virgin. But over the past weeks, I have come to know… that relationships, they start with respect. You have to understand him and what he likes and does not. You have to understand what Sanma is going through. That is the first step. After that, follows friendship… then affection... then love."
"Why… aren't you…?" Komachi tried to ask in disbelief at the ineffectiveness of the gas.
"What you are doing is setting up a path of ruin for yourself," Issei looked at her straight in the eyes. "Even if you made Sanma yours through whatever schemes you devise. Let me tell you this. You make him your lover, but it will come at the cost of him doing this out of reluctance, fear or even pity. Maybe, he'll just be everything you want him to be. A lovey-dovey puppy with nothing but eyes for you. But such feelings go against a healthy romantic relationship. In such a relationship, you will only feel miserable… empty… lonely…"
Komachi saw Issei's eyes were filled with sadness… compassion… it struck her just how deep his eyes were.
"…that is why, please. I beg you," Issei asked of Komachi as he stood up to face her. "If you truly love Sanma, please, be friends with him. Stop hypnotizing him or kidnapping him. Stop stalking him. Sanma has been hurting and what you have been doing is adding to the misery he is going through."
Komachi remained silent, as her bangs covered her eyes.
[That was quite the speech, Partner] Ddraig remarked impressed.
"It's the truth," Issei replied.
All the sudden, Komachi started to laugh quietly to herself. Then she laughed out loud. It was different from her usual laugh, which was haughty and ojou-sama-like. This time, it was more insane and yandere-like.
"AHAHAHAHAHA! What are you saying, you peon?" Komachi asked Issei spitefully. "My Sanma will love me and when I get my hands on Sanma, I will finally achieve my happy ending!"
Komachi no longer looked sane. Rather, it seemed like she lost her sanity by being in denial.
Komachi was just about to attack Issei with her ribbon. Issei scrambled up to fight, but then…
"It's the truth, Komachi," a voice came from behind Issei.
"Huh?" Issei looked behind him.
And lo, it was Sanma, accompanied by Matsuda and Motohama.
"Sanma…" Komachi immediately calmed down upon seeing him.
"Listen, you said you wanted us to help win Sanma over to you. We reject your demands, especially after what you put us through," Matsuda told Komachi clearly.
"But at the same time… please listen to what Sanma has to say," Motohama urged her.
Komachi, having calmed down, stood in silence to hear what he had to say.
Sanma was in an awkward position. Here he was with the last girl he wanted to see and yet he was now trying to muster up his courage to speak to her.
"Komachi, I…" Sanma started off hesitatingly. "…Issei is telling the truth. I really don't have an easy time choosing which girl I wanna be with. That includes about my feelings for ya. Ya always chased me. I know ya wanna be with me… but… I just can't…" Sanma continued, as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Sanma darling…" Komachi whispered, as she looked down with sadness in her eyes.
"I dunno what I want from a relationship, as every relationship I have now has gone down the drain or is danger of going bust… I always felt like running away from ya… 'cuz I was scared. The thing about girls like you, Nakane, Ukyu and Cat Fu is that y'all pressure me to be with ya. I… just can't do it like that…" Issei said solemnly.
"Darling…" Komachi whispered, as a tear rolled from her eyes.
"But that doesn't mean there is no chance," Sanma quickly added.
Komchi widened her eyes in shock.
"So, here is the thing. Issei said it best. Let me… let us start our relationship properly. No poisoning, no hypnosis, no attacking my friends… just you and me… I don't wanna be lovers with ya… yet. I just want someone who I can trust no matter what… How about we hang out. Find out if we've got interests in common. If that works… then maybe a relationship could work. So, what do ya say…?" Sanma paused and made an awkward smile. "Shall we be friends?"
A tense silence filled the hall after Sanma finished speaking.
It was the lamest proposal ever in Sanma's opinion. Friends? Just measly friends?
The Trio looked on in awkward silence and worry. Will she freak out and attack him for what he said? They could not bear the tension.
Komachi looked there stunned. She was shocked at what Sanma just said.
She looked at Sanma with tears in her eyes.
"Do you really mean it? Do you really want me to be friends with you?" Komachi asked as she trembled, breaking the silence.
"Umm… well… yeah," Sanma said shyly, as he shuffled his foot. "We can start off today. I just happened to be free this evening. I can even pay for dinner when we go out to eat. Is that okay with you?"
Komachi looked at Sanma in awe, her eyes swimming with tears. Then she stood up. Then, she ran up to him and jumped at him.
Issei, Matsuda and Motohama were taken aback by her actions. And Sanma was extremely startled as he held her in her arms.
"Komachi!?" Sanma called out her name in surprise.
"Yes, finally! I have waited so long for this! I have so longed for the day you and I went on a date!" Komachi rejoiced as she smuggled up to Sanma's chest.
"Hey, hold on! We're just friends… you and I…" Sanma lamely tried to make clear.
"Yes, yes… we are friends…" Komachi agreed with a happy smile. "And from there on starts our relationship on the way to love… ufufufufu…"
"Yeah, umm… anyway, let's go… it's kind of awkward to be around others like this…" Sanma said as he glanced at the trio.
"Of course, ufufufufu…" Komachi answered.
And the two of them departed with Komachi still in Sanma's arms.
The Trio was left behind dumbfounded with their mouths open.
"What a bizarre ending to this adventure…" Issei remarked.
"Totally," Matsuda agreed with a nod.
"Yeah, I don't know if they are now just friends or a couple," Motohama commented as he stared at the departing duo.
"Yeah, or if we just helped Sanma with his weird love problems or made it worse," Matsuda said as he folded his arms in front of chest.
"Why was Sanma here anyway? Did you guys call him?" Issei asked the two of them.
"Yup," Matsuda answered. "Just as we left the ground, he just happened to pass by. What a coincidence. We told him what that loony girl did to us, and he followed us to this place right away."
Issei, Matsuda and Motohama stood there in the mansion hall in silence.
"When we arrived, we heard that girl say she sprayed you with gas. What kind of gas was it?" Motohama asked Issei.
"Komachi said something about it being for hypnosis. But I didn't feel hypnotized. Maybe, just a bit tired, but nothing more than that," Issei answered truthfully.
[That's because your dragonized body can resist such measly gasses. If it was an ordinary human, it would have been different] Ddraig answered clearly.
"Ahh… that explains everything…" Issei remarked in understanding.
It truly was a strange day. But somehow it was also a fulfilling one, at least for Issei.
Issei realized that although there was much to do, Sanma's problems had just been made a little easier.
[Hold up! What about that girl, Ukyu?] Ddraig wanted to know. [She was with him after school. It's clear she likes him, too. What about her?]
Matsuda was the one to reply.
"It wasn't for that long. She is busy running an okonomiyaki stall, after all," Matsuda answered.
"I wonder what she will think about this?" Motohama wondered as he looked out the exit.
Issei shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I think we'll have to wait and see."
Issei walked out of the mansion first.
"For now, I've had enough of Sanma's love web issues. Let's go home. We've got homework to do, and I don't want to slack off," Issei told the two of them.
"Wait for me!" Motohama followed after Issei.
"Me too!" Matsuda added.
As the three boys departed, somewhere in the distance Ukyu saw the whole thing.
What none of the people involved knew except Sanma and herself that she had invited Sanma to speak about his problems.
Flashback – Thirty minutes earlier
"You have to make up your mind," Ukyu told him.
"I… I just can't…" Sanma said to her in frustration. "…If I pick one, I'll get attacked by the others. Cat Fu, Nakane and Ryuga are mad at me for doing so. My pop and Nakane's dad are pressuring me. I…"
"San-chan!" Ukyu stopped him.
Sanma stopped and looked at his childhood friend.
"Listen. Whenever you choose a girl, you must do it of your own will. Otherwise, you and the girl you choose will never be happy in the long run. Before you think of who to pick as your fiancée…" Ukyu paused at this while giving Sanma pleading eyes. "…think about who get along best with personally."
"How do I find that out?" Sanma asked of her.
"Easy," Ukyu put on a smile, as she looked up in the sky. "Remember the times we had as kids? We had so much fun. No obligations… no worries… We weren't even lovers. We were just friends…"
"Yeah, I remember. Those were good times," Sanma smiled as he looked up in the sky.
"And? What's your point?" Sanma asked where she was going with this.
"If the girl you're with can make you feel those moments more than I can… if she can make you happier than you have ever been… then… that's the girl of your dreams…" Ukyu gave Sanma the advice he sought for.
Flashback end
Ukyu said that because she was trying to convince him to pick her. It was quite subtle, but still.
She meant what she said back then after Sanma left to think about it.
Ukyu thought there was no way, someone could be a better female friend to Sanma than her… up until now.
While Komachi and Sanma still had a long way to go before reaching her and Sanma's level, she did not feel so confident.
Although, Ukyu was also happy for Sanma that he was solving his love problems by one major step, at the same time…
"…why do I feel so… sad?" the Okonomiyaki girl asked herself with tears flowing from her eyes.
And that was Chapter 47 of The Lone Vigilante Issei.
Now, I was going to do a comedic chapter about the Furinkan Vocational School. But then I decided to put the focus on Komachi Kono (who in Ranma ½ is the equivalent of Kodachi Kuno).
It was supposed to be a filler chapter, too. However, I ended up making it more story focused than I had planned. But I'm also really happy that it turned out the way it did.
Only downside to it was that it took me five weeks to finish this.
I apologize for the delay once again.
Well, Sanma has started a strange new friendship with Komachi, the gymnast. Like her original counterpart, I imagined Komachi as a freaky, zany, ojou-sama-like woman with violent impulses. Nevertheless, I also think she has a charm and allure that makes her irresistible. I do plan on doing more with her character in the future.
As for Ukyu, I decided to give her more focus regarding her childhood friend background – like her original counterpart Ukyo Kuonji. I did not watch or read much of Ranma ½, but I always imagined her as someone who understood the protagonist better than any of the other girls in the series. And thus, naturally, she would be the better friend to him. But alas, being friends is not enough for a girl like her. Where this is going, you'll find out soon.
As for Issei, Matsuda, Motohama and Ddraig, I simply wanted them to get dragged into the craziness of Komachi's antiques and schemes. And they ended up helping not only her, but Sanma as well.
I had quite enjoyed writing this chapter, despite how serious it turned out to be.
In the meantime, what did you think of this chapter?
Did you like it?
Please read and review, I would like to hear from you.
And as always, I hope to see you around next time.
Until then.
Hide Shinyama
