Finally finished this chapter, not a lot will happen here, but there will be a few plot points for the upcoming chapters
JC silently sat on the railing outside his apartment, looking down at the newest concept for another manga he was creating, an otter samurai, he had been recently reading up on combat styles, both modern and historic, for some reason, he found himself gravitating towards the unarmoured samurai, he was so deep in thought, that he nearly didn't notice Legoshi returning,
"hey Legoshi" he called out to him "you're out late, extra shifts at Udon Bebebe?"
"no, not tonight" Legoshi replied, a small but awkward smile creeping onto his face "i actually had dinner with Haru and her family" JC gave a small smile
"that's great" he replied "it's a big step in your relationship"
"though, it kinda wasn't planned" Legoshi admitted "her father came out when we were exchanging schedules" JC nodded, remembering what he had suggested to Haru a little while ago "and he invited me to join"
"well, the best and worst things of life happen unexpectedly" JC said holding his arm where blood was drawn, while glancing down at his knee where he took the bullet "so, how was it?" Legoshi stared for a moment,
"well, it was a bit nerve-wracking, you know those movies where a giant monster is rampaging in a city?"
"yeah? What about it?"
"well, it kinda made me feel like the monster" Legoshi explained "but less destructive, and more" he paused as he struggled to come up with the right word,
"awkward?"
"yeah, I felt like I was an invader into their world" JC stared for a moment
"i know what that's like, I've experienced it for 11 years" Legoshi looked at him, remembering his history "and I feel like it'll happen again, I'm planning to visit Juno and her family some time during her summer holidays"
"i could, you know, give you some advice on what to expect on wolf families, even though it'd be second hand" Legoshi offered, JC nodded,
"that'd be nice Legoshi, thanks" he said, understanding where Legoshi was coming from, he glanced down at the sketch silently.
JC awoke with a start, feeling a bit of pain in his knee, he sat up and rubbed it a bit, the doctors mentioning that he would feel a dull pain at times, but this felt more like the pain he had felt after he was shot, he frowned gently, glancing to the side as his phone started buzzing, he slowly answered it,
"hello? Why are you ringing me?" he said to the caller "what? What!? Where? Understood, I'll be there" he got up, the pain in his knee slowly subsiding as he headed to the hospital, pausing to grab something from his room before he left.
JC was surprised to see both Yahya and Gosha there, he paused as he watched the two, the air was a bit tense, seeing Gosha going from worried to aggressive within seconds, attacking Yahya with surprising speeds, only for Yahya to dodge and counter, not doing anything else to attack the old lizard, this gave Gosha an opening to cling to the ceiling, in, what JC speculated to be, a surprise attack, but the fight was interrupted by the nurse, a female sheep who came out to deliver some odd news, Yahya glanced over towards JC as Gosha and a doctor, a large bison, entered the room with the sheep, Yahya approached,
"seems like Legoshi is much stronger then what I anticipated" he said, squaring JC up "but honestly, this all falls onto me, I was too reckless, I didn't take all the necessary precautions when apprehending him" JC frowned, not saying a word as Yahya explained himself "i never expected him to fall from a silver tongue, I should've expected that, but I didn't, we were this close"
"you did get reckless" JC said, piecing everything slowly "you thought that you had the head of the BB cartel, but you underestimated them, and now their back on the street, getting wiser"
"yes" Yahya looked towards the room silently "for him, I will not put his grandson's life in danger anymore, in spite of the bad blood between us"
"it that why you called for me, to finish what Legoshi started" Yahya looked back at JC before looking over the balcony
"in a way, but if it comes to it, will you be able to pick up where Legoshi stopped" he asked, JC staring over the city,
"i might be able to" JC said, reaching down to the object he grabbed and attached to his belt "but I'm still learning how to use this without harming others around me" Yahya's eyes travelled over the sheathed katana, around 3ft in length,
"don't you desire something that has a bit more stopping power, a glock maybe?" he questioned, "or perhaps a weapon of your ancestors?" JC looked at him,
"as unique as they are, they are, admittedly, too primitive for the urban jungle" he responded "and I have a bad history in regards to firearms"
"ah yes, I apologise for my lapse in memory" Yahya said "but I do have something to add to our previous conversation, something that Legoshi opened my eyes too"
"and what's that?" JC questioned, Yahya sighed gently,
"that a Beastar is what they want it to be, there is no set path, my path might not continue to my successor, as my predecessor's path is not the one I have walked, so if you do succeed me, then choose your own path" he explained, looking JC in the eye, the two of them stood in silence for a while before JC headed home to resume his sleep.
JC silently wandered towards Cherryton, seeing graffiti on the walls that wasn't present last time, he frowned and went inside, seeing that there was another change, the carnivores would be confined to the lower level while the herbivores were at the upper level, this made some sense, the herbivores had evolved to be more comfortable while being elevated in order to see predators better, JC passed several students, none daring to approach, seeing what he was carrying as he headed up to Gon's office,
"welcome back JC" Gon said as JC stepped up to the desk "please, take a seat" he glanced at the chair and sat,
"I'm surprised that you're still head of the school, considering" JC said, Gon furrowing his brow, knowing what he meant,
"despite all of that, some of the board does want me removed, others see it as me giving up the school's morals if I did" he sighed and leaned forward "these are confusing times"
"indeed" JC silently placed the sheathed katana onto the desk, then looked Gon in the eye "you do know why I'm back"
"mm, I do" Gon replied "and, unfortunately, I still do not have an answer for you, I'm sorry" JC stared at the older tiger for a bit,
"no need for that, in fact, I've been told what it is, but was also recently told that it's what I see it as" Gon stared at JC "i see a Beastar as one that all look up to, those who praise them, those who fear them, those who respect them, but I also see them as someone who should respect themselves as an individual as well, seeking their own betterment, while doing the same for everyone else"
"you've grown a lot since you've left" Gon admitted, standing and going over to a window, looking out at the school "i am glad that you managed to find your own path" JC sat silently for a bit "i feel this school is slowly dying, despite our efforts, I just hope that with you here, everything will be alright again"
"i'll only be staying for a fortnight" Gon turned, watching JC run his fingers over a pattern etched in the sheath "i have unfinished business in the city, and don't worry about me having this here, it's for protection first, for show, second, to kill isn't even in the top 5" Gon nodded
"fair enough, but you must know, your old cabin is being used by someone else" JC looked up at him when he said this "and I believe that you know her"
Juno laid on JC's old bed, the cabin the only place she now felt at home within Cherryton, the bed being the closest thing she had to JC being with her, she gently inhaled, trying to detect any minute trace of JC's scent within the mattress, sheets or blankets, she gently sighed, laying on her back
'4 months, and his scent is already starting to fade, I hate not having him here with me, and only able to see him properly on weekends, if I'm lucky, but he's been rather distant over the last few weeks, it's kinda making me worry"
She silently stared at the ceiling, her ears gently flicking as she heard someone approaching the cabin, but thought nothing of it, thinking that it was someone passing to go to the club buildings, she sighed again, then glanced at the door as someone knocked,
"please go away" she said "i'm not interested in company right now" the gently frowned and got up as they knocked again "look, I just want to be alone" she said in frustration a she went to the door "so why don't you just go-" she cut herself off when she saw JC standing there,
"i guess that this is a bad time?" he asked in a joking tone, she stared before leaping into his arms for a hug, JC swinging her a bit as he caught her,
"JC, I'm so sorry, I didn't think that it'd be you, guess I was too focused on everything happening here"
"hey, it's alright, I used to hide out in here during tough times last year, before and after I met you" she gave a weak smile and guided him in, soon after they were talking about everything that happened since they last saw each other,
"and I'm doing my best, but I feel like my best isn't good enough" Juno explained, JC silently listened to what she was saying "i don't feel like a Beastar anymore, not since the segregation, you leaving opened my eyes to how bad it all is" JC inhaled and sighed,
"is that the only reason?" he asked
"no" she responded "i also feel like anything I do won't be enough" JC gently placed his hand on hers
"Louis gave me some advice last year, after my speech at the Adler performance" Juno looked at him "he told me that I had to believe in the abilities that I have, no matter how minor and use them to lead the students into the future, I feel like you should do that too, I know that you can do it Juno, I've seen that" she gently smiled and hugged him again
"i missed you so much" she said to him,
"so have I" he responded "but I'll only be staying for 2 weeks, maybe less, but am still interested in meeting your family" she smiled a bit
"i could arrange something if you want to meet them sooner"
"whenever you wish, this week, next week, next month or next year, up to you" she giggled
"that's just like you, allowing me to make all the big choices about us, like our first time" JC nodded with a smile
"best night of our lives" Juno gently nodded, her eyes looking down at the katana but didn't question it, knowing that he has a reason for having it.
Later that night, JC slowly got up as to not disturb Juno as she slept, something was weighing on his mind since meeting with Gon that morning, he pulled out an envelope that was given to him,
"what's this?" JC asked as Gon handed it him,
"it arrived around a week after you started" Gon explained "with instructions not to give it to you until you graduated, but since all that had happened, I thought I'd hand it to you"
JC stared at it for a moment, opening it and seeing the instructions on a smaller sheet of paper, he then pulled out a letter and a photo, he stared at them both silently, re-reading the letter over and over, then looking at the photo silently, tears welling up in his eyes for a moment.
A few days passed without much incident, JC was permitted to wander the school as long as he didn't cause any trouble, he often headed up to the gardening club to make sure everything was running smooth, seeing that it was as vibrant as when Haru had left, he was wandering close to the stairs leading up towards the herbivore floor when he spotted someone heading up there, as if by instinct, he followed to try and get them back down, pausing when he heard Pina saying something similar to them, he smiled and turned to go, but then paused when he heard him say "Legoshi" JC headed up and saw him there,
"JC" Pina exclaimed as he came up "looks like what Juno said was true" Legoshi turned, he looked as if he went through all 9 circles and 7 rings of hell thrice over, each a return trip,
"JC, never expected you to be here" he said,
"same with you" JC added, all 3 of them heading to the drama club, JC saw that both Tao and Kibi were back, Bill explaining that the club is pulling together but barely, only remaining active because of the condition that all members were able to score high on exams, JC frowned but approached Juno and other sophomore members to help them out, Legoshi getting the full rundown, even complimenting Bill on becoming the president, JC mentally smacking himself, having forgotten to mention any of this to Legoshi, but then looked over at Aoba when he mentioned a special class that learnt the full history about their world,
"special class? Full history?" JC echoed silently, glancing to the side
"we only know as much what we lived through" Jandamarra explained "we pretty much kept to ourselves, cut off from the greater populace, well…..until"
"of course" JC responded,
"of course what?" JC looked over at Bill who had walked up to him "what are you thinking about?"
"oh, nothing" JC replied, looking down at the textbooks, seeing a glancing mention of his species as the targets of a culling before the 1970's, he frowned gently "just got a reminder" both Bill and Aoba glanced at the text then at each other, understanding instantly,
"if we knew ahead of time, then we would've done it already" Aoba quickly said,
"no need" JC muttered, approaching the stage "i'm done hiding from it, and honestly, I don't care anymore" everyone looked at him, feeling like he had gone into a downward spiral since he left the school, he glanced over the stage as he remembered watching Louis practising his swordplay, rehearsing the catch scene he did with Juno when she was made Adler, even sparing with Pina to get him ready for his role, he climbed up and drew his katana, examining the blade for a moment before picking up one of the practice swords, comparing them, then sheathing the katana, he inhaled and sighed, getting into a starting pose, everyone watching silently as he practised a few swings but stopping after a bit, looking at everyone as they pretended to be at their studies, he didn't say anything to call them out on this.
A few days later, JC was idly talking with Harmony about the fun time that he had with her, Juno and Sheila when he saw Legoshi rushing in their direction,
"whoa, Legoshi, where's the fire?" he asked him,
"members of the basketball club are instigating a conflict with the drama club, in the only corridor both groups are able to traverse, I'm getting the Adler skull to try and stop them" Legoshi said in one go, JC frowned,
"grab the cursed one's hat and mask, then meet us there" he said, Legoshi nodded and rushed off, Harmony looked confused
"us?" she questioned as she followed JC "why do you need me?"
"because if Legoshi is going to do what I'm thinking he is, then I think the same should be done" he replied cryptically,
a moment later Legoshi handed JC the hat and mask and stepped out, delivering the lines that Louis and Juno once did, both clubs watching silently, both shocked at this, a second later, the cursed one stepped forward,
"how interesting to see you here" they said, looking and sounding somewhat different "finding you amongst the living" they looked at the basketball club "looking to recruit more dead?" this caused them to run off in fear, Legoshi soon removed the hat and skull, saying that he shouldn't have butted in, with him not being part of the drama club anymore, Els hugged him, saying that she though he was Louis come to save them, she then looked at the cursed one,
"and thank you JC" she said with a smile, which faded a second later
"thank you for what?" JC asked, stepping out behind them, the entire drama club and Legoshi gawked at this revelation, Harmony removing the hat and mask,
"sorry to deceive you all" she said "but JC suggested that this would work better" Juno gave a small chuckle,
"jerk" she muttered, causing JC to chuckle a bit, everyone getting confused, JC and Juno recounting the story about how he tricked her with a similar tactic when she was made Adler the previous year, the whole thing getting a laugh from all of them, except for Legoshi, who looked lost in thought since Els mentioned Louis.
JC sat on the roof of Cherryton alone, looking up at the stars, the letter he received from Gon clutched in his hand,
"JC,
We hope you get this letter when you turn 18, and we need to apologise about leaving you for all these years, we hoped that it didn't reach that stage, but considering the circumstances, it did.
But we have been watching from the sidelines, but we couldn't do anything to help you, leaving us powerless, but we are proud to see that you have a treasure to remember us by.
We hope that we'll see you soon, we're always here for you.
Love, Mum & Dad"
the photo showed them with JC as an infant, the man looking a lot like JC but with ginger hair, hidden under the hat that JC wore, the woman having the black hair, and softer features that he had, both of them standing with a dingo and kangaroo all wearing the same khaki tops and shorts, JC sighed gently, silently vowing to find his parents once all of this was over.
Spoilers for the next chapter, JC will not be encountering Kyu or learning about the Imaginary Chimera (yet), instead, he'll be visiting Juno's home and meeting her family, her father Julius, her mother Rosie, her brother Apollo, and her sister, not spoiling her name, but it'll be a stealth crossover with another show i'm enjoying and wish to create a story for, no hints to who they are here, until then, Stay too True Blue.