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.


'Dammit, Raiden. You always put everything on your shoulders. I won't be satisfied if you end up suffering alone!'

But as Sayaka chases after Raiden, the crowd of people was getting more packed. And not just in the form of tourists but also the fact that it was now rush hour traffic in Kyoto. Cars would be held up in the streets, sidewalks filled with people either walking or waiting for the bus, bicycles going up and down, and not one person bothering to make room considering the limited amount of space.

And running through this kind of traffic was a bad, bad idea.

*BAM*

"Uwagh!" Sayaka screams.

"Aagh!" Ichika collapses from being hit.

"Ouch! Watch it, you shrimp!" Sayaka screams behind to Ichika.

But Ichika replies, "Hey, you were the one who bumped into me!"

"Ichika! What kind of language is that towards girls?" asked an admonished Houki before she turns to Sayaka and says in concern, "I'm sorry, but we were in a hurry…"

Sayaka though didn't care as she looked in the crowd. "But anyway, I lost sight of him! Raiden, you idiot! You selfish bastard!"

Sayaka was about to get up and go but her dress was caught by Houki's hand who pulled her back.

"Wait! What did you just say?" asked Houki with tears of excitement beginning to form in her eyes. "You… You know about Raiden? Tell me! Where is Raiden?"

Sayaka's eyes widen though, realizing a startling truth about what Raiden told her not too long ago.

'Could it be that this person is the one Raiden was talking about? The girlfriend he parted with in Tokyo?'


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.)


At FEISAR HQ, Houki and Ichika were brought to Trixie's office, which was not too different from Maverick's, and told of the situation. How Sayaka had bumped into Ichika and Houki and learned that they were looking for Raiden. And in turn, the two childhood friends were told that Raiden was just at FEISAR and left.

"So, Raiden was here?" asked Houki.

"Looks like we just missed him, huh?" asked a rather frustrated Ichika.

As Houki looked around Trixie's office, she brieflyt saw an image of Raiden looking out the high-rise window, as if he was gazing at the vast city of Kyoto in its daylight. That image soon fades away as if it was just a memory. But this only brought a hint of sadness in Houki's eyes as she rekindles herself.

"I had a feeling all along that Raiden had left someone dear to him back at the IS Academy," Trixie stated. "Although I guess we are not surprised you came. I know it by looking at your eyes. I mean, I can tell despite his blindness how deeply you have been supporting him."

Houki did not deny it. "I want to see him. At any cost."

"Wait a minute," Sayaka said before she places her hands on Houki's shoulders and stares intently. "You know that Raiden, right now, is being challenged to fight for the future of Japan. You know that getting involved with only superficial feelings would put yourself and him in danger, yes?"

Houki nods yet still feels unsure.

"And do you still want to see him?"

Houki did not waste time in thinking.

"I still do, yes," Houki confirms. "If I only had superficial feelings, then would I have come all the way from the Academy to Kyoto to see one person?"

But that answer, replied in the form of a question, surprised Sayaka. In Houki, she saw herself in her. That same look of determination in her eyes, the perseverance of looking for someone until they are found. It was something the young woman knows all too well.

Because the only person she wanted to see again was her brother, Jake Jackson. And since the events of that horrible day FEISAR nearly lost their best squad, Sayaka had been searching for her brother, following every trail she could find, chasing every rumor down to every dead end. And no matter how long she was gone for, Sayaka was adamant and determined to find her older brother no matter the cost.

'I will find him. Even if I must cross the Pacific and the Atlantic… even if I must travel back to Sierra Leone… I will find my brother!'

They were the only living family left after all. Siblings driven apart by war and conflict.

"All right then…" Sayaka nods before she stands up and turns to Trixie. "I'll take these two to where Raiden is! Tell me, Trixie, where he is."

Trixie, perhaps sympathizing with the situation, nods before handing over a piece of paper. "Alright. Here. These are the directions for which he was traveling to."

Ichika was ecstatic. "We did it, Houki!"

Houki was also relieved. She was now one step closer to seeing her boyfriend after being apart for so long. Although it was only a few days, those few days were miserable to her. But now, a happy reunion was all but possible.

"Thanks, Trixie," Sayaka thanked before turning to the two guests. "Follow me."

"Right." Houki soon bows to Trixie. "Thank you so much."

Trixie nods in understanding as the trio head out. Even though Raiden would probably not be wanting this reunion with Houki and Ichika, it was something that needed to happen regardless.

MEANWHILE

As Raiden walks over to the nearby residence at the top of the hill, he sees someone sitting on a log in front of the handmade brick kiln. The fires within were still burning bright and hot, even as the silence was broken by its crackling from the drywood within. Raiden however had no need to call out the man sitting on the log, knowing who he was.

Hiko Seijūrō XVIII. The master of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū. And Raiden's teacher whom he had not spoken to in two years.

Physically, Hiko is a tall man with a somewhat angular face and a very developed physique. But he has a rather youthful appearance, despite being 43 years of age. He is also considered very handsome. He has long, jet black hair, usually kept in a ponytail. He wears a short-sleeved gi, colored blue, and black hakama pants tucked into knee-high boots. He also wears an ankle-length, white cloak with a red lining. The cloak is an heirloom of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū and is comprised of several heavy materials that weigh down the wearer, as well as counter-springs in the shoulders that constantly apply a pressure of roughly 200lbs.

Once Raiden silently gets behind his old teacher, he prepares to draw out his sakabatō.

*SHIING*

Raiden attempts to cut down Hiko Seijūrō, but the master, without even turning around, vanishes as he jumps high into the air before landing behind his rather poorly coordinated and cowardly attacker.

"You sure are a rude chap, cutting down at a simple potter so suddenly like that," Hiko Seijūrō said as he stands up.

Raiden sheathes away his sakabatō and replies, "Hiko Seijūrō is no ordinary potter. He goes by another name, that he does. The name of Ryuuin Shinonono."

Raiden then turns around to greet his master. "It's been a long time, Master."

It was hard to tell by Hiko, or Ryuuin's face, but he did express surprise of Raiden's appearance. "You…"


Back at FEISAR HQ, Trixie heads on over to Maverick's office, called over for an important last-minute meeting. And to discuss something that was too sensitive to send over secure channels or even email.

"You called for me, Mav?" asked Trixie.

Maverick, bearing a serious expression, answers, "I did. We've received a message specifically for you."

"Me? Who's the sender?"

"It's best if you see for yourself," Maverick said as he hands a datapad to Trixie. As she looked at the contents of the letter telling her to simply come meet the contact at specific coordinates at Teramachidōri, she saw who the signature of it was.

Written in a codename. But a codename she dared not to hear nor wished she read.

Jack the Ripper.

Her eyes narrow, she asks, "Is this signature valid and confirmed?"

"It is. It went directly through FEISAR channels and was aimed at you," Maverick confirms.

Trixie eyes in on the signature on the datapad. If Maverick's words were valid, which they usually are, then she has no choice but to set out and see Jack the Ripper himself. A codename of someone she and all of FEISAR know all too well.

LATER…

Trixie's walk soon takes her to Teramachidōri, a historical street in Tokyo that, when translated into English, means temple town street. Running north and south from Kuramaguchi Street to Gojō Street for about 4.6 km, the street is littered with a vast marketplace that has is a hub of religious gizmos along with the necessities like foods.

Trixie soon ends up at a manju shop where she saw, from the other side, a man leaning on a metal post behind him with his back to her. He was well built, athletic if anything, and definitely that of a male figure. While it may look like he was some sort of American cowboy, his shoes were a pair of formal black leather ones and his trousers had red trimming around his ankles. His blazer was black with a flat collar and looser which allowed a more prominent view of the Burgundy colored shirt and white tie he was wearing. His left eye was covered by a large black eyepatch that a shared a similar design to Laura's but his had a dark purple outline across the edges and a black and purple emblem which was unfortunately too small to make out just now. But the biggest thing, however, that stood out was that black western style hat he was wearing. Not many knew this, but the man was a Texan, and it would make sense.

His name was Jake Jackson, captain of the FEISAR IS Squad. Bearer of the secret codename Jack the Ripper. And secretly, to FEISAR's only, another male IS pilot who piloted Storm Ghost.

"It has been a while, hasn't it?" Trixie asked as she took her seat behind Jake, their backs facing one another. "You usually are not this devious when it comes to meeting with us, you know?"

"Not unless it is about an undercover mission," Jake answered.

"Then I suppose we can do away with the formalities," Trixie said as she smokes a cigarette. "Why haven't you come by FEISAR HQ? Your little sister wants to see you badly."

"She's old enough to look after herself," Jake responded before Trixie offers him a cigarette which he accepts and smokes. "And I would not want to drag her into the mess I am in now."

"And that mess being?"

"I'm looking for someone. He is here in Kyoto and he just made contact with you guys. His name is—"

"Hitokiri Kingslayer, yes?"

The name of it convinced Jake immediately that Trixie knew something. "Where is he?"

"Even if I knew, I would not tell you as you are right now."

An expected answer from his caretaker. One that Jake was not surprised by.

"Jake, you need to wake up. The squad is still alive thanks to the Nova 6 you provided. And they are all worried about you, Maverick and your sister included. Don't you want to let them know that you are alive at least? Or is that too much to ask?"

Jake remains silent, smoking his cigarette at a faster rate than usual. If he were not driven by revenge, he would take his time enjoying the nicotine flavor, vile as it is.

"Jake, I saw what happened," Trixie said. "We all did. It was foolish of us to go after Phantom Task because of a possible lead on Raven Head. A lead that turned into a trap and nearly destroyed us. Repaying that blood with more blood won't change the outcome of that battle."

"We may have been close allies, and I have not forgotten the debt I owed you for saving me in Sierra Leone," Jake replies before he tosses his cigarette and begins to walk away. "But until then, my hunt for the Kingslayer will not end until he lies dead before me."

As Jake walks away, Trixie stands up from her seat and resolute. "Jake… I'll tell you one thing at least. If you have chosen to become Jack the Ripper once again and shame not just yourself but your FEISAR family, I will take responsibility for your actions in front of Maverick."

She then turns her head to look at her pupil with this declaration. "And I will stop you, no matter what."

A bold statement, but Trixie meant every word of it and Jake knew it as well. Still, the fallen captain of the FEISAR squad continues his walk and disappears into the crowd of busy tourists. Trixie likewise takes her leave, going in the other direction as she returns to FEISAR.


Inside the small hut, shelves of pots lined up the walls as Raiden takes his seat in front of his master, Hiko Seijūrō XVIII a.k.a. Ryuuin Shinonono. How Raiden knew of his master's other identity is unknown but perhaps irrelevant given the present circumstances.

"It's been two years," Hiko Seijūrō brought up as he sits by his bench. "And now, you show up. What do you want with me, Hiko Seijūrō?"

Before answering though, Raiden wanted to ask, "To think you changed your name of Ryuuin Shinonono and were living the simple life as a potter. But why pottery now?"

"Becoming an artist is the best way to avoid annoying, ordinary society," Hiko Seijūrō said with a smirk. "Well, a true genius can do anything. Heh…"

One could not help but see a brief shine of light on Hiko's teeth as he smiles with pride, after flicking a small part of his hair in front of his face.

"Still very arrogant as usual, I see…" Raiden noted.

But Hiko decides it was enough on small talk. "Don't change the subject. You came here for something that is hard to talk about."

Raiden was surprised. If his master had known he was coming to him after so long for something important, then he probably did not need to expect such drama. Then again, Hiko Seijūrō XVIII was a proud samurai of the Shinonono lineage, able to control his emotions unless provoked and master of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū. Such emotions Raiden knew as Houki was the first he bore witness to.

"I'm your Master, remember?" Hiko reminded. "I can see through my stupid apprentices easily, even my own daughters whom I have not seen for years."

Raiden, now knowing that Hiko knows of his unstable heart, decides to get right to the point.

"Very well. I would not have come all this way to find you if I did not consider it, but…" Raiden said as he takes his sword out and places it to his side before prostrating before his master. "I would now like to ask for the teaching of the finals secrets of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū left undone two years ago!"

But Hiko, after looking at Raiden for a few seconds, already had his answer to this request.

"No thank you," Hiko refused, but this was not so much of a surprise to Raiden. And Hiko would explain why. "You were the one who ran off back then. Besides, why now?"

Hiko stands up to walk away but Raiden grabs his cloak gently to stop him. Hiko looks to see that on the expression of his stupid apprentice bore one of pleading.

"Please. I beg you."

Hiko smirks, amused at Raiden's begging. "Hm. Looks like you're under pressure to do something…"

BACK OUTSIDE

Back outside and walking up the same hill Raiden walked on not too long ago, Sayaka and Ichika took point while Houki was following right behind them.

"It's getting dark," Ichika noted with how much daylight is left. "We should hurry. Chifuyu-nee might start to worry."

"You're right," Sayaka agreed. "And FEISAR will want to know where I am as well."

"This Hiko Seijūrō…" Houki said. "This is Raiden's master in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū?"

"Yes," Sayaka confirmed. "At least according to our sources at FEISAR. But the thing is, Hiko Seijūrō is not even his real name. It's just a title passed down from one to another."

"A title?" asked Ichika.

"In the case of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, Hiko Seijūrō is the name of the founder, passed down generation after generation. It's inherited by those who have completely mastered the style and will pass it on. It's been around for a long time and so Raiden's master is Hiko Seijūrō XVIII, the 18th master of the school."

Ichika then had a sudden realization. "Then… that makes sense why Raiden never taught me his sword style. He said his training was incomplete. This is why he came back to Kyoto to see his master: to learn the rest of it!"

"Exactly," Sayaka confirmed. "And if he learns the final teachings, he will be stronger than ever!"

Houki, listening to the conversation, had time to think for herself of what that meant.

'Stronger and stronger… It makes sense and it is only natural for a swordsman. But…'

Her next thoughts soon turn up to the road ahead of her. The road leading to Raiden and his master. Yet she cannot help but feel anxious.

'I'll be seeing you again, Raiden… You and your master. But why do I feel like I don't want to see either of them? What is this bad feeling in my chest?'

MEANWHILE…

Hiko Seijūrō, after sitting back down to face Raiden, understood the reason why Raiden was asking for the final lesson of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū.

"Hm, so you are becoming Hitokiri Kingslayer again, due to the arrival of your former Phantom Task handler, Squall Meusel. And the recent clashes with your former partner, Madoka," He acknowledged. "To defeat Squall, let alone your former partner Madoka, without becoming a hitokiri again… you must get stronger than where you are now. But you're being greedy!"

Raiden though pleads, "But Master—"

"I thought I taught you…" Hiko interrupted. "A sword is a weapon. Swordsmanship is learning how to kill. No matter what ideals and names you use to cover it up, that is the truth of the world. Your sweet little dream of escaping your past and the serious reality of this era saying you want to protect both is just simple selfishness. At the root of this, your first mistake was two years ago when you left."

But Raiden was adamant in that decision. "I had no choice. The government learned I could pilot an IS, that they did. If I refused, I would've been hunted down and placed everyone in danger."

"And that's precisely with that reason that you submitted so easily. You gave in to their threats, of actions they would never commit on you because of who you were to them. I was aware that your mother was involved in the Infinite Stratos heavily, and that Squall Meusel played your life like a fiddle even before acquiring you."

"You believed Squall had something to do with me going to the Academy?" Raiden deduced fearfully.

But Hiko denied, "No. I simply didn't want you to get involved with the IS in any shape or form, having endured enough suffering with it as you were. Had you stayed to learn from me, you would've accomplished far more things than going off and using some weapon my eldest daughter built as a toy."

Hiko wasn't wrong. The world was so inwardly focused on the Infinite Stratos that they would acquire anyone, even men who can pilot an IS, to, in his words, experiment on them without doing too much damage. Had Raiden stayed, he wouldn't have needed to have been treated like their pawn again for data gathering. Nor would he have to get caught in whatever antics his eldest daughter, Tabane, was involved in since he suspects she knows everything about him.

"Back then, you were a brat that couldn't be held down. Like a lion out of its cage, the result of you leaping from my teachings is this," Hiko pointed to Raiden, surprising him. "Your swordsmanship was superior even at a young age, but when you first started out as a 14-year-old boy, you could barely lift a wakizashi. The stupid apprentice whose mind hadn't matured since his hitokiri days suffered deep wounds that would not heal his eyes and his heart, becoming an unstable swordsman and swaying between a hitokiri and one who does not kill. And your Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū as a result allowed for your former mistress and the one so obsessed with you, Squall Meusel, to lure you to Kyoto just so she could capture you. You became the bait in her plans and fell right into the net she cast into the waters. You swam right towards it without thinking, all of it starting back to when the Minister of Defense was assassinated."

The shock and realization of it all painted Raiden's face. When he heard his former mistress was in Kyoto, he felt he had to finish cleaning up his past without others getting involved. His intentions were noble but ultimately flawed as pointed out by his master. And it caused a lot of collateral damage in the process back at the IS Academy.

And knowing Squall Meusel, she had anticipated all this. Why she has not shown herself yet is unknown but Raiden now knew the truth thanks to his master. He swam into Squall's net and took the bait, becoming entangled in its ropes.

Hiko then stands up sternly, his voice raising higher in anger. "Do you understand? Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū has been taught to protect people from the pain of the times! But only as a free sword that is not under the power of any influence at all! Because you didn't understand that, you are not qualified to learn the final secrets of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū!"


BACK OUTSIDE

The trio soon arrive at Hiko Seijūrō XVIII's residence, right by the entrance to his pottery workshop.

"It's here," Sayaka said. "No mistake. Now, Houki-san…" Sayaka turned to the samurai but stopped mid-sentence when she saw the anxious expression.

Even Ichika noticed it. "What's wrong?"

Houki though wouldn't answer.

"What are you doing?" asked Ichika.

"Yeah, Raiden is on the other side of this door!" Sayaka pleaded.

But that's when they heard said voices on the other side of the door. And not Raiden's.

"Get out!" The voice of Hiko Seijūrō XVIII ran out, grabbing the three's attention. "It was a mistake for me to teach an idiot like you Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū!"

Houki though was shocked to hear who said that, making her mutter to herself. "That voice…"

But Ichika and Sayaka were another story as they immediately became bothered of hearing Raiden being talked down to like that.

"Like you?" asked Ichika.

"Idiot?" asked Sayaka.

The two soon approach the front door and each raise a leg upwards.

*BAM*

And promptly kicked the door down like they were police involved in a search warrant raid.

"Hey!" Ichika called out.

"Who are you saying that to?" asked an angered Sayaka.

But Hiko was not impressed as he saw more guests. "Who the hell are you?"

Raiden though was surprised hearing their voices when he turned around. "Sayaka-dono… Ichika…"

A gasp was heard from him soon afterwards as he beheld the third figure behind the two. A beautiful teenage girl of average height yet taller shape with long dark brown hair that she keeps in a slightly messy ponytail that seems to be divided into two sections in the middle to the end with a red and white ribbon, dark blue eyes and a slim, curvaceous body, and large breasts. She wore her IS Academy uniform modified with white stockings and black knee-high boots that have white soles.

And only one person, in Raiden's mind, fitted that description.

"Houki…dono…?" asked a stunned Raiden.

This was something he did not expect to see his girlfriend after so long. Though he was informed by Maverick that the IS Academy was coming to Kyoto for a field trip, Raiden didn't expect Houki and Ichika to look for him. Chifuyu must have ordered them to do so, having planned two steps ahead of the trip.

And the situation could not have been more awkward for Raiden as he saw both Houki Shinonono, his girlfriend, standing in the presence of her father, Hiko Seijūrō XVIII a.k.a. Ryuuin Shinonono. Houki's face, upon seeing the two men, was one filled with anxiety, fear, and shock.

She had realized, to herself, that her father, Ryuuin Shinonono, was Hiko Seijūrō XVIII. And Raiden's master in Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū.

"You know them?" asked Hiko, apparently dropping his stern tone from before.

"Y-Yeah…" Raiden confirmed.

Hiko sighs reluctantly. "Good grief. I've got a lot of guests today and I sure didn't want to meet any of them. Not even family."

Ichika and Sayaka remained annoyed, but Houki seemed a bit hurt as she cringed a bit, her mind conflicted of what she had just heard and seen. Her own father, standing there and berating her boyfriend, her friends, and herself.

But that did not mean he lived alone in these mountains as a simple potter.

"Ara~," A new mature and female voice spoke up from behind, but this surprises Houki further upon hearing it as she turns around. "You shouldn't say that so harshly, dear. Our daughter's come home to visit us, and she's brought friends."

Approaching from behind Rin and Ichika was a young woman with black hair that is tied in a messy bun with bangs that frame her face and large amber eyes. Despite looking sickly, she is in fact perfectly healthy just like her daughters.

(Author's Note: Her appearance is that of Minako Ayuzawa from Kaicho wa Maid-sama!)

Her name was Miyuki Shinonono, former shrine maiden and caretaker of the Shinonono Shrine and Ryuuin Shinonono's wife.

"M-Mother…?" asked a stunned Houki, having not seen her mother for years.

"Welcome home, Houki-chan," Miyuki greeted with a warm smile as she walked over and hugged her youngest daughter gently.

But Houki remained stunned of seeing her mother in the flesh for the first time in a very long time. Slowly, she feels her mother's warm embrace and hugs back. She hadn't felt such feelings in so long since she was forced to be separated due to Tabane's invention of the IS. The last time was when she was just a little girl long before the creation of the IS.

As heartwarming as this family reunion was though, Hiko had other concerns at the moment.

"Raiden…" Hiko calls out to his apprentice. "Go down to the river and fetch some water."

"Oro?"

"Water, I said, water."

Raiden though stands up, confused. "Why do I have to…"

"I don't have any left up here," Hiko replied plainly.

"No, that's not what I mean. Why can't you go, Master?"

Annoyed, Hiko responds, "You still have some nerve. Stop whining, just hurry up and go!"

Raiden could only smile humbly, realizing that Hiko probably wants to speak to Houki alone and wants everyone out of the room, starting with him. Standing up and grabbing an empty bucket, Raiden walks out and heads to the nearby river. But along the way, he ignores Houki being hugged by her mother, the atmosphere awkward as it was.

"Miyuki…" Hiko called out to his wife, revealing her name. "Can you take Orimura and his friend out to the house? I want to speak to our daughter alone."

Miyuki understood as she lets go of Houki and said to both Ichika and Sayaka, "Come on, you two. Let's go to the kitchen and make tea, yes?"

Miyuki soon takes the two out of the pottery house, but Ichika looks back briefly out of concern of Houki before he is pulled along. Houki and Hiko were soon left alone, sitting across from one another like master to student. Though to the former, despite looking remote, she still bore a face of surprise, like she wanted answers to the questions she wanted to ask.

But silence was all that ran between both father and daughter for five seconds.

"You seem to be doing well, Houki," Hiko spoke up, catching his daughter's attention. "Although, I didn't think you'd come here to Kyoto looking for my stupid apprentice. Unless of course you've only just learned about where your mother and I have been hiding?"

"I… No. I didn't even know you were here, father," Houki confessed in a shaky tone, having not seen her father for years. He was always a gentle giant, but his aura as a samurai intimidated her presence.

"So, why are you here?"

"What am I- To see Raiden..."

"And?"

"Eh?"

"And what else are you here for?"

Houki didn't have an answer to that. Indeed, she wanted to see Raiden again and bring him back home. But the fact that not only did she find him, but also her parents still left her confused of the situation at hand.

"Good grief," Hiko shook his head. "You came all this way to see him, and that's it? You're not bothered by the fact that he just up and left you? And that you want him to come back? Some stupid apprentice he is, perhaps the worst."

But that is when she realized something he said. "Wait, you said—"

"Huh? He didn't tell you?" He asked before heavily sighing in realization if not disappointment. "Good grief. That idiot tends to keep to himself a lot. Then again, I'm not surprised he didn't tell you I trained him."

"But… But you were an instructor in the ways of Kamiya Kasshin-Ryū at our family dojo! How can you claim to be Raiden's teacher in Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū? Why wasn't I told of it?"

"Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū is a sword style meant only to pass down to one person. And only a few can ever make it through the complicated and difficult training it provides. It's cruel and unforgiving to the body and mind. If I passed it to you, who knows when you would start abusing its power?"

Houki was stunned at that answer her father provided. "You… You don't think I would—"

"You thought I wouldn't know?" Hiko asked before smirking. "Like my stupid apprentice, blind as he is, I can see through my daughters easily. Well, any true genius can attest to that. Heh."

But Houki was appalled. "And I never thought of you to be this arrogant. Is this how you really are?"

"Perhaps you just had some sort of skewed version of me in your head. Perhaps to replace all that your big sister did. Not that I blame you of course. I know how short-sighted you can be when it comes to acquiring great power as demonstrated last semester at that beach trip of yours."

"What?" asked a very stunned Houki, her eyes widening.

"Yes, I am aware of the Silver Gospel incident. Your teacher, the Brunhilde, informed me."

Houki was shocked. All this time, her parents, in hiding as they were, were keeping tabs on their youngest daughter through Chifuyu. Why Chifuyu never informed Houki of this is unknown, but it was most likely in the form of safety to keep Houki away from the paparazzi or the government given of her relationship to Tabane. With Tabane still hiding from the world, only Houki would be seen as a link to her sister and that was something Houki's parents and Chifuyu did not want to take any chances on.

"So… you and mother hadn't forgotten about me," Houki said.

"Of course we haven't. We just couldn't contact you lest we risk paparazzi coming to us. And besides, at least we can be informed on one of our two daughters and ask how her life is at the IS Academy."

"You were Raiden's master in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū and mine in Kamiya Kasshin-ryū," Houki noted. "You had mastered both styles yet kept one of them a secret to ensure only one student can be trained in it."

"Correct."

"Is that why you didn't train me that way?" Houki asked hesitantly. "Did you… not think I could handle it?"

"I did not think you should have had to," Hiko modestly answered.

A simple yet fulfilling answer, one that Houki accepted with a grain of truth. According to Raiden, the training in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū was brutal and unforgiving. While it eventually helped calm down and contain the monster in him that is Hitokiri Kingslayer, the training he had to go through to master each and every technique was harsh. There were times where he thought he was going to pass out and die from the intensity, or even worse quit and leave the dojo. But had he done that, then he most likely would continue the path of being Hitokiri Kingslayer but as a freelancer and not a student of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū.

Houki's family had many secrets, but her father being a master in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū and Raiden's teacher was perhaps the biggest secret kept under lock and key. She cannot help but wonder if Tabane also knew of this, informative as she is of everything that goes on with her.

But then the next question would be if Raiden knew that his teacher was Houki's father by the name of Ryuuin Shinonono? Did her father divulge this information to him or did Raiden figure it out earlier on?

"I'll be honest with you, Houki," Hiko broke her silence as he pours himself a cup of sake. "I don't know what you saw in my stupid apprentice, but he seems to be quite popular. And quite smitten with you just from the look on your face."

Houki could not deny it. Bashfully, she admits, "W-Well, he and I… are in a relationship."

An unsurprised Hiko responds, "That so? I stopped getting news about my stupid apprentice when he left me two years ago. What has he been doing with the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū I taught him? That's what I want to know."

"He never told you?"

"I don't want to hear it from him, but from those who know him better than me. Including you."

"Well, it is a bit of a long story."

"Is that so? Then please, enlighten me."

As father and daughter sit together while tea was being prepared by Miyuki, the former listens to the latter's story about his pupil in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, taking in every word and piecing everything together.


As Raiden walks down to the river with bucket in hand, his mind races across the fact that Houki Shinonono, his girlfriend, was here. As were the rest of the IS Academy students most likely. But he was unsure if this turn of events was a sign of good fortune or ill omen.

'If Houki and Ichika are here, then that means the rest of the gang is here as well. Including Chifuyu, Yamada-sensei, and the rest of the first-year students. It is most likely that the two teachers know Phanotm Task is here in Kyoto but while Yamada-sensei will see to the students' safety, Chifuyu will be planning a counterattack once Phantom Task makes the first move.'

Kneeling to the cold river, he takes the bucket and drags it across the surface, filling it up with river water. Afterwards, he begins to walk back to the pottery house with the bucket of water in hand.

'Now the battle with Phantom Task will be even more difficult. I do not doubt my friends' IS skills, but they are going up against terrorists who have no problems killing innocent people. It will be a tough fight on their hands once they encounter them, more so than the school festival invasion weeks ago.'

By the time Raiden came back to the Shinonono residence, night had already fallen. Houki and Hiko Seijūrō XVIII were still talking but Ichika and Sayaka were with them, as well as Miyuki. Hot tea was served to everyone in the room.

As soon as Raiden enters though, the talks began to cease, and the atmosphere become somewhat awkward. Houki was afraid to turn around and speak to Raiden, not only fearing his response for her being here but also that the memory of their last conversation left her broken-hearted. Ichika and Sayaka wanted to get the both of them to speak, but Miyuki forbade it, holding up her hand as this was not the appropriate time.

Hiko soon speaks up as soon as Raiden puts down the bucket of water. "So, while at the IS Academy, you've embarked on the path of a rurouni and spent the first semester defending those students using Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū and without killing your opponents. And even before that, you spent two years using Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū to help those less fortunate while having to deal with the hitokiri inside of you. Have you finally started to heed the lessons of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū or is this your way of atonement for the murders you committed under the name of Hitokiri Kingslayer?"

"Both, that it is," Raiden replied. "But also because of what you said two years ago. Before my eyes, people are suffering, people are in misery. Whatever the reason, I don't want to leave them as they are. And I have no desire to kill anymore, not even to my enemies."

Hiko smirks. "Heh. Even though you're a stupid apprentice, when push comes to shove, you talk like a grown-up still strung about your ideals. I see…"

Hiko Seijūrō XVIII soon stands up and declares, "I will pass down to you the final teachings of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū."

A shock came over the faces of everyone, Raiden included. To be rejected at first to learn the final teachings, only to finally be granted his request after hearing of his actions at the IS Academy with Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. Only Miyuki was not surprised, perhaps expecting such an outcome.

"No matter what your line of reason is, we can't just let Phantom Task do as they please. And it's high time you face your past in the form of your former employers. Plus, I don't want to have to look for another pupil to train, not even my daughter."

"Master..."

"The Japanese Diet can't do anything, and the Western allies would offer assistance while wanting something advantageous in return. And I don't want to have to deal with terrorists coming to threaten my family. But you have a responsibility, Raiden. Master the final teachings, and you may be able to stop Phantom Task."

Raiden believed in his Hiko Seijūrō XVIII's words. In truth, he was right. If Raiden was going to complete his training and master the final technique, he will no doubt need to utilize this against Phantom Task. By now, Phantom Task will have learned from their previous battle back during the IS Academy school festival and will come back stronger than before. And Raiden needs every advantage he can have if he is going to protect his friends and fellow students.

A burning resolve to learn and desire to finish his training ignited in his heart. Whether he was ready for this or not will be determined by his master.

"Come with me," Hiko Seijūrō XVIII ordered as he walked out the door.

"Yes, sir," Raiden complies as he follows suit.

Houki, seeing Raiden leave, quickly stands up and follows outside in a hurry to catch up to her boyfriend.

"Raiden!" Houki calls out, making the blind lion stop but not turn around. "I came to Kyoto, without even thinking of the danger. Are you… mad at me?"

Raiden replies honestly, "Half of me is. But the other half feels… relieved."

"Relieved?" asked Houki.

"We don't know where Phantom Task could be hiding, so be careful."

Raiden then continues his walk to catch up with Hiko Seijūrō XVIII, leaving Houki alone with Ichika, Sayaka, and Miyuki. She wanted to say more but now that he was going to commence his training to finish learning Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, all she could do was watch and once again feel powerless.

Miyuki walks over to Houki's side and gently places a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. He'll be alright. Your father will take good care of him."

"How can you be sure, mother?" asked a worried Houki.

"Because I trust your father in what he does. And I trust in his student as well. So, place your trust in them."

But Houki turns to face her mother and asks, "You knew as well? That father was Raiden's master and learned Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū?"

"Of course," Miyuki confirms. "Your father and I agreed to keep such sensitive information away because of how harsh this path is. Only a few samurai who learn Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū survive the brutal training it offers. We couldn't bear to see our youngest daughter bear a heavy burden like this."

"I… I understand," Houki acknowledged.

"Now come inside. Help me make some dinner, will you? And I'll prepare a bedroom for you."

Sayaka then brings up an idea. "Houki, you should stay here with and look after Raiden. Ichika and I need to head back and give our report to FEISAR and Chifuyu respectively."

Ichika had completely forgotten, "Oh shoot. We were supposed to be back by tonight. Don't worry, Houki. I'll tell Chifuyu-nee what has happened."

Houki smiles and nods, "Thanks, Ichika."

With that, Houki stays behind with her mother while Ichika and Sayaka take off. This reunion with her family and boyfriend has been both bitter yet sweet. Right now, though, she needed time to sort out her emotions and thoughts together of this family reunion.


To be honest, this chapter felt way too easy to write. And despite double-checking and triple-checking for anything that needed fixing, I am quite satisfied with this.

First, we finally get to see the appearance of Jake Jackson. The captain of FEISAR who seeks vengeance against Raiden for what happened to him and his squad years ago. Yet Trixie, his commanding officer and superior, sees him going down a very dangerous road of darkness and will do whatever it takes to stop him for his, Sayaka's, the squad's, and FEISAR's sake.

Hiko Seijūrō XVIII. In Rurouni Kenshin, Hiko Seijūrō XIII was the 13th master of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. And considering how the timeline places it around the Meiji era, I figured five more successors of the style was appropiate and to have it catch up to the current Reiwa era. But anyway, about the man himself, I'm sure many of you will ask this question.

Hiko Seijūrō XVIII is Houki's father? Answer: yes.

And my reason for it? In Infinite Stratos, Houki's father does exist by the name of Ryuuin Shinonono. But all we know from him was that he is Houki and Tabane's father and master of the Shinonono Dojo and Shinto priest of the Shinonono Shrine. That's all we got. Not to mention that he is only mentioned and that is it. No appearance whatsoever.

So I decided to use him as a template for Hiko Seijūrō XVIII. While it would've been more original to use an original character, it won't provide that sense of trust and connection between Raiden and Houki through the latter's father Hiko Seijūrō XVIII . Ryuuin Shinonono. As for his wife, Miyuki Shinonono, we don't know anything about her in Infinite Stratos since there is absolutely no mention of her. The only maternal and elderly Shinonono we know of is Yukiko, Houki's aunt, but we do not know if she is related to Houki's father or mother.

And now, after being denied the first time, Raiden finally gets to learn the final secrets to Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. So next chapter will be that training segment.

Credit for the creation of OCs Jake Jackson, Mimi, Lola, Synatra, Freya, Maverick, Sayaka, and Trixie, along with the organization FEISAR, goes to I-S-X-C-S Storm-Ghost. Check out his story called The Devil among the Angels: Return of the Ripper. Yes I did gain permission from him using his OCs for this story, and not just for this chapter but also for subsequent future chapters to come.

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