I do not own Infinite Stratos nor do I own Rurouni Kenshin. All rights respectively go to Izuru Yumizuru, the author who created Infinite Stratos, and Nobuhiro Watsuki, the author of Rurouni Kenshin.


"One week from today, I will come again for the answer," Ōkubo said. "On May 14th."

Ōkubo's door to his Mercedes is then opened for him by Yamagata but just as he was about to step in, he hears his name called out.

"Ōkubo," Raiden called out, making the Minister of Defense stop. "You look rather worn out, old friend, compared to eight years ago. You should spend time with your wife and child more often, that I would suggest."

The Minister of Defense, not feeling offended by Raiden's suggestion, looks back with a rather tired smile. "It is far more difficult to raise a new era than to break an old one, especially an era of the Infinite Stratos created by Tabane Shinonono. That is what it means to be a Minister of Defense. I am hoping for a good answer from you, Raiden."

And with that, the door to Ōkubo's car closes as the trio of vehicles take off in a convoy formation and leave the Academy. Raiden could only look in the direction the cars were going, like he was saying goodbye to an old friend.

Nobody knew of it then, Raiden included, but that would be the last time they saw Ōkubo Ichiro, the Minister of Defense of Japan's government. The promised day, May 14th of the 4th year of Reiwa…

It would be a fateful day. It would be a day when everyone's lives would change course.

But they did not know that yet.


OP song: Suara – Hikari (For reference, look up on YouTube Utawarerumono Futari no Hakuoro trailer)

Kimi e no omoi wasurenai you ni (The first scene begins with a pair of hands grasping a red and black ribbon divided by a white line adorned with a pair of gold and silver bells. The camera soon pans out to show the said person grasping that ribbon)

mune fukaku kizamikomu kara (The person holding the ribbon is revealed to be Houki, underwater and in her IS suit as she closes her eyes, keeping the ribbon, revealed to be Akatsubaki in its standby form, close to her heart before the bubbles cover the screen)

(Opening title is introduced as Infinite Stratos 2)

Arifureta hibi wo tobikoete yukeru (Chifuyu watches from the balcony of the IS Academy the sunrise before a gentle wind blows her hair.)

habataku yuuki wo motteru (The sun's ray hits her eyes before she adjusts her sight)

Mada minu sekai ni tobidashite yukeba (Tabane Shinonono travels via a carrot-shaped airplane, colored in orange with a green tip, as it travels across the skies and she heads towards the moon)

nanika ga kitto matteiru (The camera pans over to the moon before it shifts down to Houki in her IS Akatsubaki, facing forward as her hair is blown by the wind)

Tamerau hodo no kizu wo oottemo (A blue meteor-like object falls to the arena of the IS Academy, creating an explosion of water, before revealing Tatenashi Sarashiki in her IS, Mysterious Lady, as she twirls her spear as the lake water falls like rain)

akiramenaide subete ukeireyou (Kanzashi Sarashiki appears in a holographic world in her IS, Uchigane Nishiki, while holographic data surrounds her)

Kimi e no omoi wasurenai you ni (Camera zooms down to a battlefield just beginning between IS Golems and the gang. Laura is the first to attack as she descends and slices a Golem with her wrist blades before using her cables followed by her rail gun. Rin parries a Golem with her Souten Gagetsu before taking off its head in a spin)

mune no naka fukaku kizamitsukeru(Ichika appears to take out one Golem before he dodges an incoming attack and dismantles another. The next scene cuts to Charlotte and Cecilia prepping their sniper rifles to fire.)

mezasu mirai wo yasashiku terashite (Raiden and Madoka, without their IS, engage in a close quarters weapon combat, Raiden using the Sakabatō and Madoka using the Mugenjin. After a couple of hits, Raiden is thrown high into the air from another hit from Madoka before he backflips and deploys his IS and fires his ion blasters at Madoka. Madoka, in turn, dodges while activating her IS, Black Knight, and flies up to Raiden to engage him again with her fusion cannon on her right arm deployed)

hikari hanatsu hoshi no you ni (Madoka and Raiden clash, creating a violent explosion before the next scene switches over to Luxembourg ten years ago, where Hitokiri Kingslayer stands by the steps to the destroyed Royal Palace, his back to the camera as Luxembourg is enshrouded in flames by Phantom Task, with a massive warship looming overhead as its IS pilots are deployed like a squad of fighters)

(Miriam Walker is shown in front of the CIA headquarters building in Washington DC as the camera moves upwards. Akane Fujimoto is shown on Omega, overlooking one of the poor districts from her apartment, with a cigarette in her mouth. Squall Meusel is shown in her bath robe sitting on the edge of her bed smirking at the camera, with Autumn sleeping naked in the background. Edea Crownsworth, the Archon of Phantom Task, sits upon her throne overlooking the world within a spaceship. Chifuyu is then shown in the deep recesses of the Academy, looking at the White Knight IS kept in storage and locked down, her hand on the glass)

(Raiden is shown next as he turns around with his Sakabatō before sheathing it before he is replaced with the title of Infinite Stratos 2.)


Today was May 14th. One week had passed since the incident with Akari, followed by the meeting with Ōkubo Ichiro, the Minister of Defense. The incident was still fresh in everyone's minds and Raiden's wounds have not fully healed from the fight. And his IS was still in need of repair although it was now down to non-critical functions and systems. With Houki taking care of him at their dorm room, everyone else was secretly assigned to look after Raiden whether in class, at lunch, training at the arena, or even outside of school. Raiden did not mind the company yet he knew why they were doing it.

Whether it was Laura and Charlotte following him for lunch, Cecilia and Rin training with him at the arena, Houki and Ichika at the dojo, or even Tatenashi and her sister analyzing his IS data, every personal IS pilot kept a close eye on the blind lion.

Still, the fact that everyone, Chifuyu included, had nearly seen a student get cut down by an old rival from the past and is now being asked to go to the Diet and meet with the Minister of Defense was still something of a sour note. They want to ensure that Raiden does not attend such a meeting, fearing that the Hitokiri Kingslayer would return and sow fear across the nation. Intentional or not.

Now though, with May 14th here, they would have to watch Raiden meet with the Minister of Defense again. And bear witness to his decision whether to aid the government and go to Kyoto to stop Phantom Task or not.

LIU'S APARTMENT

"Hey, Liu!" Rin opens up his bedroom door.

Liu tucks himself further into the sheets. "I had a late night last night. And I'm still a bit mad of what that bitch detective did to me."

But Rin would not have it. "Wake up, you moron! How can you stay asleep like this? Do you know what day it is today?"

"May 14th, I know," Liu revealed. "It's the day Raiden leaves or will."

"Exactly! And we have to make sure that he doesn't! Today is the day when that Minister of Defense is coming to get an answer from Raiden!"

Liu soon springs up to life. "Has that old man…"

Rin shakes her head. "Not yet. But Raiden and the others are meeting up outside the Academy today by the river where they go to take walks."

IS ACADEMY

Back at the Academy, Raiden was taking a walk with Ichika on campus grounds. Following behind the boys were Houki, Charlotte, Laura, and Cecilia. They kept their distance while the boys talked about guy stuff. A good way for the only two men in the Academy to pass the time and get closer as friends and fellow male IS pilots.

"Today is finally the day, isn't it?" asked Charlotte.

"Yeah," Cecilia nods. "It is."

"We need to protect Raiden at all costs," Houki said. "Despite the pressure Ōkubo put on him, we cannot let him go to Kyoto."

"And what does the Kingslayer say about this?" asked Laura.

Houki reveals with a sad smile, "He hasn't said anything about it."

As the girls catch up, they hear Raiden speak about what seem to be fireflies happening last night.

"Fireflies in the beginning of summer, is it?" asked Raiden.

Ichika nods. "Yeah. I wonder if it's because of this year's warm weather. It must already be that time of the year."

"Raiden, why don't all of us come watch tonight, yeah?" asked Houki as she heads to her boyfriend's side.

But Raiden only responds, "Fireflies, is it?"

Houki could only respond with such a worried look. Fireflies are indeed beautiful at night and while they display the beginning of summer, she could not help but wonder why Raiden responded with melancholy. It could be that he remembers them as something from his past, or it could be because today is the day he has to give his answers.

"Hey!" cried a familiar face of Liu who came with Rin. "This isn't the time for leisurely strolls. I don't think it's possible, but you're not thinking of taking that offer, are you?"

"I'm worried because you're such a kind man, Dear Raiden," Tatenashi also arrived with her sister, Kanzashi.

"They're only asking you to go to Kyoto for their own selfish reasons," Kanzashi concurred.

"Selfish or not, I have to respond to Ōkubo's demands. He and I go a ways back, that we do. And while the Diet may be corrupt in some parts, it isn't all filled with that. But, if Minister Ōkubo was filled with personal greed, Akari would have slain her long ago, that she would have."

The name of that IS pilot and detective of the Osaka Police Force rings through everyone's minds as they remember the fight that took place recently, along with events prior. And it already made everyone's mood sour.

"That delinquent cop?" asked Laura.

'Aku Soku Zan. To slay evil immediately was the justice shared by the Shinsengumi and the Kingslayer.'

"She lives to this day, carrying out the justice of the Shinsengumi like her ancestor before her. Even today, in this Reiwa era. She is still the Wolf of Mibu, her fangs are bared in the darkness where the sun doesn't reach," Raiden said before his mood turned a bit sour. "Although, that doesn't mean I can easily be friends with her, that it does not."

Everyone around him seemed to have agreed wholeheartedly.

"Yeah!" Ichika nodded.

"Of course!" Liu agreed.

"I hate her!" All the girls said, showing their disdain for the detective.

MEANWHILE

Saitō Akari was at a restaurant eating some nice hot soba noodles. However, she soon starts sneezing. And rather a lot.

*ACHOO ACHOO ACHOO*

"Sheesh, Ms. Fujita…" One of the waitresses saw, thinking she has allergies.

"Ah, excuse me," Akari apologizes as she slurps her soba. "It seems like someone really hates me. Oh, well. In any day and age, the Shinsengumi will be disliked.""

Akari soon reaches for her cup of tea and drinks before she looks at the calendar and sees it is the fated day of May 14th, but it makes her smirk. "Now, how will you go about this, Kingslayer?"

BACK AT THE ACADEMY

"Well now…" Raiden said as he stood up.

"And where do you think you are going, Raiden?" asked Charlotte as she moves to confront him.

"I'm going to see Minister Ōkubo now," Raiden confessed plainly.

But Cecilia asks, "Why? He will be coming to us!"

"The Minister of Defense is a rather busy man. It's faster for me to go see hm than for him to come see me."

Raiden tries to then take his leave without delay, but a certain student council president intervenes swiftly.

"Not so fast, Dear Raiden!" Tatenashi gets up front before she has what looked like in her hand a collar. With a chain on it.

*SHIING*

And with one swift motion faster than anyone can see, she manages to wrap the collar around Raiden's neck and hold him by the chain.

This stuns everybody, making them jaw drop, including Raiden.

"Oro?"

Tatenashi felt proud. "Secret technique, Dear Raiden the Pet. Now, he can't go see Minister Ōkubo, let alone go all the way to Kyoto! If all else fails, I'll use this paralysis powder to hold him while I do whatever I want!"

To prove her point, Tatenashi holds up what looks like a bag holding said powder, white in color. Though it could easily be mistaken for some kind of drug, she still laughs haughtily as she has all of her covers well contained.

But not everyone was impressed.

"Tatenashi-san, what would that be?" Houki cried angrily.

"Raiden, shake hands," Rin commanded Raiden.

"She made a paralysis powder?" asked Charlotte.

"That's… rather scary to think of," Cecilia was visibly disturbed.

"The student council president is a menacing person," Laura had to admit.

"Onee-chan, where and when did you concoct such a thing?" Kanzashi needed to ask.

Tatenashi giggles, displaying her fan that says the word 'precautions'. "I was thinking something like this might happen, and secretly made it."

But then, somehow someway Tatenashi has the collar back in her hand. Raiden, having somehow escaped, casually continues walking past her.

"Now with that out of the way…" He said. "I'll be going now."

"Go?" asked Liu. "Do you know where Ōkubo is right now?"

"I heard he was going to visit the Cabinet over in Akasaka. So, I'll bump into him if I go around Chiyoda."

"Then we'll go with you!" Ichika declared.

"No," Raiden denied as he looks back with a smile. "It will be a long discussion, and it's better if I go alone."

Raiden soon departs from the group, taking his leave. Not even Liu bothered to stop him, knowing that he is not one to convince someone to change their mind since they have made up their decision. But out of everyone who watched, Houki was the one most worried, knowing of what this could entail. And she worried that her boyfriend may fall back into his old ways whether he reverts to becoming the infamous Kingslayer or not by choice.

"He'll be alright," Ichika cheered up his childhood friend. "He has already nested himself in the Academy. He won't leave and go to Kyoto."

"Yeah. He won't be an assassin for the government now," Rin concurred.

"We will absolutely not let him go. I'll force him to stay if I must."

"Without the paralysis powder, Onee-chan," Kanzashi reminded as she takes the bag.

As Raiden walks further away and heads out to the tram leading to the main island, he cannot help but ponder much in his mind.

'I must make sure that I will really be helping maintain peace if I go to Kyoto. And if that is the case…'


CHIYODA, TOKYO. NEAR SAKURADA GATE

Minister Ōkubo sits in his car as he is being chauffeured over to the IS Academy, not knowing Raiden departed from that place to meet up with him in the middle. As he looks out though, his hands shake as he remembers that the Sakurada Gate was where his ancestor, Ōkubo Toshimichi, was assassinated by rebels of Saga Takamori's army. He has passed through this place many times but the mere passing of this place every time sent chills up his spine.

'Today's meeting will be a long one. It seems that I won't get to the Academy until after dusk. I wonder if Raiden will go. No, I must get him to go, no matter what.'

"If Raiden doesn't move, this country will crumble," He said to himself.

As his convoy pulls up near the Sakurada Gate, it gets stuck in traffic thanks to a red car up front, with a female driver and two other female passengers in the back seat.

"Hmm? What is it now?" The driver asked.

Strangely however, the female driver from the car in front of them steps out of the vehicle and heads towards the car. And then they planted something on the window, something the driver and his partner in the passenger seat could not tell.

"What is that?" asked the driver.

But that's when they started hearing a beeping noise like a countdown.

"Bomb… Bomb!"

Panic ensued for the two, but it was too late. For when the countdown reached zero…

*BOOM*

A sudden explosion soon occurs underneath the car, engulfing it in a massive fireball. A shockwave came out so powerful that the nearby windows of the stores shattered and the people inside were thrusted back. The entire convoy was destroyed instantly.

Screams were heard far and wide as everyone around panics and runs to safety. All the while the three women in the red car come out, armed with assault rifles and Minebea P9 pistols, and head towards the destroyed convoy. Using the smoke for cover, they conceal their presence easily to get to Ōkubo who was still alive.

Battered up and bleeding, the Minister of Defense was still alive. Despite the ringing of his ears, he retained enough cognition and strength to open up his passenger door of his destroyed vehicle.

As Ōkubo opens up the door however…

*BANG BANG BANG*

Three women fire their Minebea P9 pistols at the Minister of Defense, killing him on the spot. By the time the police arrive on the scene, the women make themselves scarce and flee, taking the alleyway as their getaway.

Ōkubo Ichiro, descendant of Ōkubo Toshimichi, had died in an assassination just like his ancestor at the Sakurada Gate nearly 150 years ago.


HOURS LATER...

The entire ward was closed off and quarantined by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. The entire country was in chaos but luckily, the Prime Minister and the Imperial Family were relocated to a more safe and classified area in case they were also being targeted. While police and crime scene investigators were still examining the destruction, they were also tasked of holding the bystanders away who were wondering what happened. Medical ambulances arrived to treat any victims who suffered collateral damage, civilians mostly due to the explosions. Few were even being interrogated by detectives to determine what had just occurred.

Raiden, as part of said crowd of bystanders, manages to weave himself through and get to the front row spot to get a better look at the crime scene.

And what he saw shocked him. The Minister of Defense's car blown up. And Ōkubo Ichiro was nothing more than a burnt corpse, covered by a white tarp. Despite being killed by bullets, his body was left burning inside the vehicle.

"Ōkubo…" Raiden mourned, his head dipping in shame.

But then someone interrupts his mourning, in a sweet voice.

"You too…" A female voice said to Raiden, without making him turn around as they were back to back. "If you don't want more people to get hurt, then come to Kyoto where Squall is waiting."

"Did she send you to deliver some message, Rain Meusel?" asked Raiden, knowing whose voice that was.

The woman, named Rain Meusel, was a tall, curvaceous young woman with her long blond hair tied back in a ponytail by purple ribbon and large breast. She wore a rather fancy green casual dress. But Raiden knew who she was: she was the niece to Squall, his former mistress.

"Just doing my job. As we all do."

Rain takes her leave through the crowd just as Raiden turns to face her, only to see her disappear from view. But the message Rain delivered to him already left him feeling bitter.

"You really will go this far, Mistress?" asked Raiden to himself, imagining him in the palm of Squall's hand like everything was being played out exactly as she intended with Raiden.


IS ACADEMY

"Extra, Extra! Minister of Defense has been killed! Minister Ōkubo has been assassinated!"

That was the message being heard across world news, both domestic and international as it sent the entire world into shock. And the IS Academy was no different with the gang in the cafeteria hearing the news.

"What?" Laura was shocked.

"Minister Ōkubo was killed?" Rin asked.

Chifuyu, who had delivered the news, nods her head. "Yes. He was assassinated hours ago at the Sakurada Gate. A car bomb went off in his ride."

Houki takes the newspaper handed to her from Chifuyu and reads, "We have lost the man who was our iron shield forever. Dissatisfied with the government, seven culprits were led by members of an old Ishikawa samurai family."

Officially, while the Ishikawa family was held responsible, those who knew Ōkubo personally and why he was assassinated knew that it was a cover up. Phantom Task will eventually have to claim responsibility, but the question is, how will they go about it? Many people in Japan assumed that some other terrorist organization or even Omega did the bombing, but Aria immediately denied responsibility.

'Not my style. Too flashy.'

As the Pirate Queen would interpret her words to be. And to Chifuyu, she knew Aria was right. Car bombing is not Omega's M.O., especially for going after a big political figure in Japan who was well known internationally.

AT TOKYO METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT HQ

Hands were slammed onto the table by Lieutenant General Yamagata as he read the news. The one person he just said goodbye to hours ago was killed, right under his nose. To have put a car bomb underneath the Minister's car and have it blow up halfway to the Academy. Raiden and Akari were present in the room with him.

"This is how Phantom Task does things!" He mourned with a shaky body. "Squall got information about an assassination beforehand and used it. As she and Phantom Task planned, the true culprits are either going to announce or use a stupid cover up. They will never come out in the open. They will gradually disable the government's power until they are ready for a massive revolt all over the country."

Yamagata soon sheds tears for his friend gone too soon. "Ichiro…"

A couple knocks were heard as the door opens revealing another member of the JSDF. Like Yamagata, he wore an officer's uniform with the rank of major, but his facial features consist of formal black hair and a small mustache.

"Excuse me, general," He greeted as he enters.

"Major Yamayoshi from the Fukushima Prefecture Association," Yamagata introduced without turning around, still mourning. "He and I were the last people to speak to Minister Ōkubo before his death."

"After finishing the business meetings in Tokyo, I went to the Ōkubo residence earlier to say farewell before going home," Yamayoshi revealed. "To think that such a thing would happen soon afterwards."

FLASHBACK BEGINS

Both Yamagata and Yamayoshi were present at the house where Minister Ōkubo lived at before taking off for the Academy. With the daily meetings done, now it was time for him to get an answer from Raiden regarding the deal they made one week ago.

"It's been ten years since the IS was invented and the world was turned upside down," Minister Ōkubo said while having tea with the two military figures in the dining room. "But I've had to calm many incidents inside and outside the government and have made so little progress, it's embarrassing. As it stands, the plan I have had in mind is far from complete. Thirty years are necessary to solidify the foundation. The past ten years have been the first stage, creation and stability."

Ōkubo soon set his teacup down. "The next ten years will be the stage of prosperity: organize the internal government to enrich lives nationwide and internationally. That is the most important period. As powerless as I am, I wish to act carefully during those years to make prosperity happen, to bring the true ideals of this country to reality."

As Ōkubo sits up and looks out to the window, Yamayoshi asks, "What do you mean by the true ideals?"

"I would like to build Japan as the central powerhouse of the IS."

"Central powerhouse?" asked Yamagata.

"A powerhouse strong enough to hold the nation together on its own, both as the founding nation of the IS and a strong one that can withstand attacks whether from weapons of war or political ideals. One where IS pilot decide their own paths for themselves. It cannot remain like this, where all nations are making us claim responsibility for training all pilots. If this country becomes a strong powerhouse through the IS, we no longer have to show our cowardice by submitting to other stronger nations like the Americans. That is what I believe."

FLASHBACK ENDS

"A powerhouse nation-state…" Akari mused. "An ideal that is too large to handle, even if Japan is one."

"But it was an ideal that we could believe in," Yamagata said, still in mourning as he reads the news. "If Ōkubo… If only Ichiro was still alive."

"I was concerned about one thing," Yamayoshi stated. "Minister Ōkubo is always calm, but this morning he was unusually passionate. I don't think it was because he foresaw his own death, but perhaps today something was to be determined which would have affected the future of this country."

To everyone in the room but Yamayoshi, they all knew what that meant. Hours ago, Ōkubo was supposed to receive Raiden's answer at the IS Academy, regarding whether he will work with the government to stop Squall Meusel, his former handler, and by and large Phantom Task. Now though, he was never going to get an answer.

But Raiden knew in his heart what this whole assassination plot was targeted for. It is to get him to leave the Academy and come to Kyoto, where Phantom Task currently was.

As Raiden and Akari walk down the hallway and out of the building, they begin to reminisce about the current circumstances.

"Yamagata seemed to be very depressed, that he did," Raiden noted. "If anything, he may be pushed to be the next Minister of Defense."

"His talent was first spotted by Ōkubo," Akari said. "However, Yamagata and the JSDF aren't the only ones in turmoil. The US is in uproar of an attack on its close ally and want to hunt down Phantom Task, having been told by the CIA. President Kirkman is trying to get his cabinet in line with that. And with Ōkubo gone, the political world only has third rate powerless idiots. Now, Japan will surely enter a time of confusion. Of course, Phantom Task will not miss such an opportunity."

While Akari continues walking, Raiden stops and watches his old rival continue walking down. "Akari, what are you planning to do?"

Akari stops in her tracks and answers, "There is only one path to Kyoto. Phantom Task is there, and so is Squall. That's how it is."

Akari continues walking down the hallway, leaving Raden there to think. If Akari is going to stop Phantom Task, she will have to rally the KMP, the Kyoto Metropolitan Police, behind her even if both the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and the Kyoto Metropolitan Police are not exactly on equal terms.

But to her, she was also leaving a question in the air of what Raiden will do. Is he going to stay at the Academy and continue his leisurely life there or is he going down to Kyoto to confront his past?


LATER

As Raiden walks down the streets, he ignores all the papers being spread on the media and the people's reactions to it.

"What's going to happen now?"

"How horrible!"

"Something catastrophic might happen."

"Is there going to be a war?"

"Maybe the government will collapse."

"Is Japan back to square one?"

"Is there no God? Won't Buddha save us?"

As Raiden looks out from the bridge to the ocean that surrounds Japan, his mind was swimming in the words of Minister Ōkubo, Yamagata, and Akari.

'If this country becomes a strong powerhouse through the IS, we no longer have to show our cowardice by submitting to other stronger nations like the Americans.'

'It was an ideal we could believe in… If Ōkubo… If only Ichiro was still alive.'

'Now, Japan will surely enter a time of confusion. Of course, Phantom Task will not miss such an opportunity.'

Japan was now in chaos. And in Raiden's mind, only someone as powerful as him can quell the fires that Phantom Task have lit up thanks to Ōkubo's death. But can he do it? Will he take up arms once more and go against his former employers for the good of the country? Will he have to revert back to who he was as Hitokiri Kingslayer?

Will he have to face Madoka, his former partner, again? Or Squall, his former handler?

As Raiden thinks of recent events, he could feel a ghostly presence behind him. Of someone he has not seen since last semester. The ghost's appearance was one that Raiden had never forgotten.

Udō Hina, former assassin of Phantom Task. She still bore that same appearance of when last seen, with a sword still embedded in her chest and bleeding. But she only felt no pain. Only satisfaction of seeing Raiden's mental state of the current circumstances.

"Kingslayer, I told you," The chuckling ghostly apparition spoke to Raiden behind him. "You are truly a hitokiri from the bottom of your heart. A hitokiri is only that until they die. They can never be anything else. There is no other path for you to live but that of carnage. I know that you know that. Your bloodstained hands can't let go of the sword, can they?"

Hina chuckles at Raiden's silence and says her final words before disappearing. "Be honest with yourself, Kingslayer."

As her laughter echoes in the winds, Raiden reminisces on Hina's final words. Words that have now come back to haunt him.

'A hitokiri is only that until he dies… There is no doubt that Kingslayer is one part of my true self. Destined to live only within war.'

Raiden hated to admit it, but he knew this was true. With Ōkubo dead, the Diet will now be in peril of how to organize Japan's defenses. But by the time they do organize it, it will have been too late. And Phantom Task will have won. Squall Meusel will have won at this game now being played. And the next move was on Raiden for his chess pieces.

'The times are beginning to move again. I am no longer allowed to remain still.'


The IS Academy was quiet with everyone in bed. Almost everyone. Raiden had not returned yet from his meeting at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police headquarters. Then again, the meeting was an emergency that required his attention since Ōkubo was the one who requested him. But with Ōkubo dead, he would have to meet up with Yamagata of the JSDF.

Everyone waited for him to return, but one by one they all started to turn in at Chifuyu's orders. The Brunhilde wanted to carry on with the usual teaching days despite Ōkubo's assassination this morning. At least there is no lockdown of the IS Academy or shutdown notification from the government but she fears that such a thing will come to pass eventually.

Houki however was the one most worried of all. Despite being reassured by Ichika that Raiden will be okay and will come back, it only made her worried more. Ichika initially thought that with Ōkubo's death, Raiden will not have to go to Kyoto to confront Phantom Task but that is easier said than done. Raiden could still go and on his own accord without approval from anyone, to confront Phantom Task and his own past.

Unable to sleep, Houki decides to go for a stroll outside the Academy near the Sakura trees. Thankfully the Academy had lights to light up the pathway. The night was lit with beautiful fireflies from the darkness. As Houki stops to admire them, it seemed fitting for her to see that with the chaos of this morning's events, the night had a way to calm it down with everyone asleep.

"There are beautiful fireflies," The familiar voice of Raiden spoke up, catching her attention.

"Raiden!" She called out excitingly.

As Raiden shows himself, he approaches Houki with a rather somber look. Even from behind the blindfold, Houki could see that her boyfriend was not the same and usual Raiden as before.

"Raiden?" asked a perplexed Houki.

"I take it you heard of what happened this morning, Houki-dono?" Raiden spoke. "About Minister Ōkubo?"

"Yes, I know that," She answered.

"It was done by Squall Meusel and her henchmen," Raiden revealed, surprising Houki. "I can't leave my former mistress alone now, not with you and the Academy in danger."

Raiden then revealed the final piece that ultimately made him make his choice. "I will be going to Kyoto, that I will. Alone."

Houki was shaken up as she turns to view the fireflies in the darkness of night.

"Kyoto…" Houki muttered. "Back to that time… back to how you were eight years ago?"

"I don't know," Raiden answered solemnly as he looks up to the sky. "For the past eight years, I have fought to stop myself from becoming the Kingslayer. However, that battle with Saitō Akari really taught me something. Deep within me, there is a vicious hitokiri who will never change."

"But…" Houki replied back. "But, you were able to go back to normal soon afterwards! No matter how close you got to the Kingslayer, you are yourself, Raiden. A wanderer who doesn't kill, my boyfriend and-"

But Houki stops herself as she sees the expression on Raiden's face. It was one of humility and forced acceptance.

"If I stay here any longer, I will endanger everyone with each incident and I will return to being the Kingslayer every time. Phantom Task will still want me back in their service or my head on a silver platter."

Raiden then turns around to face Houki with a sad smile as the flashbacks of previous semester roam in his mind.

"When I first met you, Houki-dono, you told me that you didn't care about my past. I was happy about that. Day after day, I continued to rest my soul and I really felt that I could become a normal student."

Out of nowhere and all of a sudden, Raiden gently hugs Houki into his arms lovingly. The fireflies lit up the area like this was a crucial moment in time between two lovers. Houki was stunned at the sudden act of her boyfriend but that was just a small measure of comfort before Raiden had this next thing to say.

"Thank you for everything. I am a wanderer, and I must be wandering again." He then cups Houki's face as he looks at her face to face.

*CHUU*

And with one small kiss on her lips, which catches the fox by surprise again, he lets go as his forehead touches hers and his hands cupping hers.

"But no matter what happens, know that I love you. I always will. Thank you… for everything. And… farewell."

And with that, Raiden lets go of his beloved Houki, separating from her as he turns his back to her and begins to walk away. Houki is left stunned and heartbroken as all she could do was watch her beloved walk away into the darkness of the night.

"Raiden…"

Houki's weak legs soon give in as she falls to the ground, cupping her face in tears as she continues to quietly cry. But all that was before her was her boyfriend, her roommate, her fellow samurai, and classmate departing before her very eyes. She wanted to reach out and call his name, but she couldn't.

"Raiden…"

The eleventh day of May, Reiwa Era. On this day, Raiden Hataru returned to wandering once again and into the path of black darkness, he disappeared alone.


And so, after a year long hiatus, I am finally back to writing. And we kick it off with Ōkubo Ichiro assassinated in the same place where his ancestor, Ōkubo Toshimichi, was killed. If the car bomb did not finish him off, then bullets can finish the job. Plus, we get a cameo of Rain Meusel, or Daryl Cayce as some would remember.

While everyone was scrambling at trying to prevent Raiden from going to Kyoto and hearing the news of the assassination, Raiden ponders about what to do and finally makes a decision after being consulted unwillingly by a dead hitokiri. A choice that has forced him to leave the Academy and everyone behind as he goes to confront his past in the form of Phantom Task and Squall Meusel.

Finally, it all ends with Raiden saying his goodbyes to Houki in a gut wrenching scene. Keep in mind that this is not a break up scene, merely Raiden telling Houki that he made his decision to go to Kyoto. Which will then lead up tot he last two episodes of season 2 of Infinite Stratos being taken place in Kyoto.

You all are probably wondering why it took so long for me to get back to writing? Well, life happened basically. I had to take care of my dad's health problems, I moved to a different state, got a different job, and had basically been working my ass off for so long that I had inadvertently taken a long break from writing. Plus I lost any form of motivation for it because life had kept me distracted. But I am now back at it. And hopefully for a good long while before I go back to hiatus. Hopefully I also upload my other stories already in the works or being planned out as explained on my profile.

Like, favorite, follow, and review at your leisure. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.