Hey everybody! Welcome to Chapter 2 of Unwanted Bond!
Hopefully, I will be able to do more than 3k words. Inspiration kinda sucked for me after writing the prologue, but Chapter 1 galvanised me into action again.
Again, no reviews, but my imaginary YouTube skincare channel will soon gain an audience :)) Don't forget to follow me on tumblr.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inazuma Eleven, or any of the characters, except for those who I have created.
ENJOY ~
"Otis. You are tearing us apart."
'Don't worry, dear sister. It will only bring us closer."
"What do you think?"
Tenma stared at his best friend as he drank water on the bench, the dark-haired forward staring at him, waiting for an answer. Despite how well Tsurugi always concealed his thoughts, Tenma knew him well enough to figure out the confusion in his words.
Why did Kuroiwa Ryuusei, who mysteriously disappeared after Grand Celesta Galaxy, appear so suddenly just to give them Soul training? And it wasn't like they were even using their Souls - so far, they were only covering the basics.
"I don't know," the captain answered slowly, staring down at his shoes. "It's all so mysterious. I feel like Coach Endou is hiding something."
Beside him, Shindou looked at the two second-years and quipped, "At least we'll be getting started after this interval. I reckon this will go on until sun-down. The others will have gone by then."
They were all suddenly pulled out of their discussion by none other than Fideo, who was clapping his hands as he gestured excitedly for the teens to follow him onto the field.
Kuroiwa Ryuusei stood before them, his hand steadfast onto his waist, his sky-blue suit gleaming in the light of the indoor field. His black shades glinted at them, sending a ripple of his imposedness among the players.
Looking at his former coach, Tenma couldn't deny that this man certainly had drip.
Kuroiwa's lips began to move, and the brunet could feel Shindou beside him straightening up as they all attentively listened.
"I am satisfied with your progress in Soul powers. However, your skills are very elementary, making your Souls easy to manipulate." After the collective gasp, he continued. "Let me remind you all of the disappointing effect Berserk Ray had on you all. With your Souls so vulnerable to these attacks, you will be branded as an easy target should you play intergalactically at all in the coming time period.
"Soul Restraint is a type of skill that limits your Souls from rampaging on you and serving more than one master. Your skills already depend on your strong willpower and physical strain, but a special type of training should be undertaken to ensure you do not fall in the same trap once again."
From the players, Tenma could hear Tetsukado blurt out, "Is that it? Is that why we're all gathered here?"
With Kuroiwa's slow nod, Tenma's suspicions were hightened. "But, Coach Kuroiwa," he spoke, "Why do we need to learn this? Are we at risk of another space conflict? Is there something threatening us?"
There was an awkwardly long period of silence before Natsumi spoke, "Tenma-kun, it's important to have those skills anyway. Berserk Ray exposed your vulnerability to the whole galaxy and we want to be on the safe side."
There was a tense edge to her voice that almost kept the brunet from answering, "I understand."
"Very well." continued Kuroiwa. "Like Keshin evolving, Soul Restraint depends on the clarity of the goal in front of you, of focusing every part of your body towards the particular goal, of moving your heart and mind like a single entwined fusion. It is not as physically taxing as Keshin," he added as he eyed the three original Raimon players, "but it requires much more determination than any of you have ever known. Your subconscious mind has to be coaxed into accepting the need to overcome that goal, which is what makes Soul power so unique and set apart from Keshin and hissatsu. By achieving this growth, your Soul will evolve, making you immune to the effects of Berserk Ray. It will also unlock more ways to project your Soul in situations that do not involve soccer."
We can use it outside of soccer? mouthed Shindou frantically as the two brunets stared at each other.
With a last look at the teens, Kuroiwa finished, "We will leave it at today with the training. Let this knowledge seep into your minds and make you aware of what you need to understand."
As the man turned around and left, Tenma remembered the rocky mountain he'd climbed almost a year prior, remembered how easy it had been to develop his Keshin compared to developing his Soul. Dismissed, the three Raimon players walked a little to the side of the group, their mouths silent yet a thousand words stilled in the air between them.
They lagged behind, volunteering to pack up the equipment as the rest of the group filed out. Walking out of the building, all that remained was the sound of Tsurugi scuffing the ground with his shoes, none of them daring to say the thought they all shared.
That is, until Tenma spotted a certain brown-haired figure standing next to Aki in the distance.
"Master Denichi," came the sound of Ah Song, the former's maid, calling out to the young man sitting at his desk. "Your father is in his room and wishes to speak with you."
The young man in question tugged at his long, dark teal hair, which was currently twisted into a plait running along his back, although a few strands had escaped from the front and were now gliding along his thin finger. In a hurry, he pushed past the maid without a word and strides towards the master bedroom, its doorway dark and smells of old cologne wafting from inside.
After a moment of hesitation, Fujita entered the room, and in a deep, formal voice, he uttered, "Father. Is there anything you need from me?"
"Hmph." came the scoff of a man sprawled out all over his bed. "Son. How old are you now?"
"Nineteen, only been a few weeks since."
"And how long has it been since I ordered you to find a wife?
Fujita found himself silenced again.
His father continued. "I remember expressly ordering you to get married by your nineteenth. Our family name needs to be carried. Even the marriage brokers are at a loss with what to do with you."
The only word in Fujita's mind, that had been dangling off the tip of his tongue, now scrambled its way out as he mumbled, "Asami."
Silence, silence for a long moment.
Then sense knocked into Fujita, and he continued, "Father. Let me marry Asami, daughter of the master of the fabrics shop. She is the one who catches my fancy."
His senior narrowed his eyes and exploded, "How dare you marry an untouchable nameless of the commoners in the village?! She does not even carry a family name. She will bring shame on us and the peasant stock she comes from will be a burden on us all."
Fujita, whose wrinkled face showed it already expecting that answer, only waited for his father's verdict.
"You are to marry your cousin Miyo. You have been set up from birth and doing so will combine trade between our estates." His father finished, carrying in his chest a kind of victorious pride that always came with ruling with his own opinion.
His son, however, carried that of a heavy heart, giving his father a deep bow then leaving the room.
The only thing the teal-haired man saw in his mind was the exquisite sight of Asami, the girl's wavy brown hair carried by the wind, the breeze making strong licks against her face. She stayed atop the tree, her eyes closed as she laughed at the feeling.
As always, the blue sheen Fujita was so familiar with shone around her. It was the only thing he needed to know that the love of his life was the happiest she had ever been.
Two hours later, Tenma found himself lounging in the living room of Kogarashi Manor, all worries of the suspicious Soul training gone from his head.
The reason for that sat right in front of him, running his hands through his hair as he chatted with Aki, an air of confidence surrounding his tall, lean figure.
"So I said to Walt, if he needed the confession, he might as well gotten it from his employees!" he was laughing. "That man is a caution. If it wasn't for the league, I would've never returned to America.
Ichinose Kazuya. His future cousin-in-law.
("So that's the mysterious America boyfriend you told me about!" Tenma said to his relative.
"Mysterious America boyfriend?" Ichinose feigned confusion as the three of them walked down the road from Raimon Jr High. "Really?"
Aki only blushed and held on the older brunet's elbow, a slight giggle escaping her as Tenma told her, "If only I knew you were dating a pro-league player."
A slight moment of calm, in which the serenity of the riverbank was received by their ears, before Aki inquired, "Say, Kazuya, why did you leave?"
"Just some team issues-" the man had mumbled before asking Tenma about his day.
Looks like Aki wasn't the only one keeping secrets.)
And as the couple sat in front of Tenma, a small part of him distinctly worried about what "team issues" could possibly mean.
His answer was to be given no later than lights-out.
Ichinose, who had his items set up in the room across the hallway from Tenma's, had been called inside Aki's to talk.
And from the sound of it, their discussion didn't exactly come out smelling like roses.
"What do you mean?" came Aki's voice through the walls.
"Like you heard it." Then a few words came through that Tenma couldn't decipher, then - "Don't know if disbanding will be the outcome; even Mark and Dylan won't talk to each other."
"Of course it would get disbanded." A few moments of silence followed her reply, then - "What about your studies?"
"I have my degree," replied Ichinose. "I can get a job here as a teacher."
Another stream of indecipherable speech, then Ichinose took a deep breath before saying, "Then I'll marry you."
Tenma suddenly backed away from the wall and hurried to his room. He didn't have the right to listen to that.
Saturday, saturday. Coach Endou had cancelled practise today, so Tenma had been spending the morning watching tv, which, since his joining Raimon, was always fixed on the sports channel.
Aoi, looking very tanned and relaxed back from her holiday, nudged him on the couch and pointed to the tv. "That's the woman who interviewed you. Look what she's saying!"
Tenma raised his eyes from the magazine and stared at the reporter as she read, "And we have a very strange problem popping up in soccer teams around the world." Pointing to the screen behind her, she revealed to the audience, "We've received information about the following pro-league teams being disbanded." the Unicorn logo, among others, was displayed. "Explanations all go along the same line: fights, arguments, and mysterious injuries. I wonder how the tournament next year will look like?"
"Tenma." Aoi was staring at him in concern. "Do you think the Japanese team would also end up the same way?"
"I'm not sure," he replied, "I just hope they don't fall into the same situation."
Monday rolled around quickly, and soon, Tenma found himself leaving the changing rooms, clad in yellow uniform. Turning to Endou, he asked, "Coach, are we still getting the Soul training today?"
The goalkeeper nodded. "Kag-Kuroiwa is expecting you in the inside field. You'll be getting started at the Soul Restraint today!"
"Matsukaze."
Tenma looked up at his former coach, who was surveying him behind his dark shades. "Do your duty as captain of Earth Eleven."
Huh? "What is it, Coach?"
A pause, then, "What you think is right. Endou Mamoru has kept this from you, but your team's Soul users are at risk of getting attacked. There are forces more vile and more threatening than Berserk Ray."
At Tenma's jawdrop, Kuroiwa took it as his cue to continue. "Do not put your team in danger by accepting any challenges from unknown sources. Consult Endou in every decision you make as a team." Another pause. "It is why I have chosen to you to lead the Earth Eleven."
The older man didn't say it, but there was the mutual phrase between them. I trust you.
Tenma opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he found Kuroiwa speaking in a strange voice, "What time does the Raimon team finish their training?"
...
"Four thirty." the brunet replied. "May I be excused?"
The man inclined his head yes, and the captain hurried off to his team.
"DAMMIT!"
Matatagi punched the ground again, sweat beading along his hairline.
Tenma extended a hand, and the other took it gratefully, muttering under his breath about "stupid Souls" as he stood up.
The two of them stared at the rest of the team, who were kicking balls, red marks dotting the wall in front of them. A few seconds before, Tenma had witnessed Matatagi kicking the ball with unbelievable force, a blue vapour materializing around him then disappearing as quickly as it came. The forward now puffed as he chugged his water bottle, then turned to his captain and asked, "Why is it not working?"
The latter shrugged in confusion, his eyes straying to the shelter. Kuroiwa had disappeared again, leaving behind Natsumi, armed with a clipboard as she surveyed the teens. Fideo had gone on an errand involving "visa matters", and Endou was busy with the Raimon team on the outside field. Although, with a glance at his watch, Tenma realized they must have been done by now. Where had the two men gone?
"Hey, you two!" Shindou appeared again between him and Tsurugi, who was also taking a rest. "Any results?"
At their two shaking heads, he spoke again. "I just got an idea. It wouldn't hurt to use our Keshins. Keshin evolving also requires focus, so why don't we use that as well? The rest of the team can keep going with Soul," he smiled at Matatagi, who stood listening to them, his arms crossed as usual. "Really put your mind to it. Take control of your Soul. Imagine-imagine you're swallowing it!"
The three Keshin users then stood up, and, taking a side of the field, they lined up before their balls and focused.
Just like the first time.
Tenma could feel the wings erupting out of his back, the thrill of his Keshin flowing through his veins. As he felt him materializing behind him, he cried, "Demon God Pegasus Arc!"
"Instrumentalist Maestro!"
"Sword Saint Lancelot!"
He ran up to the ball, his ears deaf to his friends doing the same, or his other teammates staring in awe.
Focus.
It was just him and the ball now, the purple lightning bolt etched on it so similar to the one he had at home.
Now.
He let his arms dangle behind him, his legs moving at unfathomable speed. Then, he lifted his leg and -
He only realized his Soul was also there just when he could feel things go wrong.
A small choke forced its way out of his throat, his hands catching him as he crashed to the ground. A persistent hum stayed in his ears. He could feel something made of pure, dark evil taking control of him, filling his arms, legs and chest, not feeling them as they writhed, not feeling they were his. Everything got hotcoldhotcold and went rightleftrightleft and he distinctly recognized a hubbub around him, a scream - maybe it was his. He didn't know.
You are mine now.
The voice shrieked in his head, covering every thought of escape, eating him, devouring him, it was painful and not painful at the same time, it was -
It was hell.
(Leave me alone)
You are mine now.
(What did I do)
...
"...Tenma..."
R15 successfully administered.
"You're a heartless piece of shit."
Pretending it didn't bother him, Otis muttered, "Oh, dear sister. Don't act like you don't have the power to stop me. You and I both know how much we need this to happen."
And as lightning crackled beneath his fingers, he penned in his notebook, Team 24 down.
Heheh -. I finished this at school. It's official: this fanfic is more important than Maths :))
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed Chapter 2! I'm wondering, is this a suitable length? I'm worried about my chapters being too short haha.
I used to hate reading cliffhangers in fanfictions, but now I'm in a position of power, and I just realized why so many authors do it. Because it's cruel. MWAAHAHA
Alright, I'll see you later, if I get inspiration for Chapter 3?
Love,
Bee ~