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.
The first match of the Tag Team Tournament had begun. Ichika Orimura and Charles Dunois against Laura Bodewig and Houki Shinonono, the latter deployed in an Uchigane. Everyone gathers at the arena to watch the competition unfold between them, with Raiden taking his place in the command center with Chifuyu and Yamada-sensei.
"Who would have thought we would face each other in the first round? You're not Hitokiri Kingslayer, but you will do," said Laura.
Ichika merely replied "I'm glad to hear that. I feel exactly the same." Ichika then had a face of determination, if not a bit of anger, as he next said, "You are going to pay for what you did to Rin and Cecilia."
Laura could only shrug it off and respond, "I'm glad you came out here actually. Because of you, the Instructor would have won the 2nd tournament and retain her title. She calls you her strength, but you are her weakness. So I will take great pleasure in defeating you, then Hitokiri Kingslayer."
Houki gave herself a slight growl at Laura for saying that last sentence since the one man she asked out would be unable to participate in the tournament. When she heard that news, she wanted to object but Raiden convinced her otherwise, saying it was Chifuyu's orders. Rather reluctantly, she was forced to accept it.
But for Ichika, the moment Laura insulted him about being Chifuyu's weakness, it hurt his pride a little. He was already all too well aware of what she was talking about. About the incident five years ago in which Chifuyu broke off from duel at the 2nd Mondo Grosso just to save him from being kidnapped.
That day, he vowed never to let that happen again and make his sister worry. He wanted to get stronger. And anything that insults Chifuyu's reputation will be met by his hand.
As the timer sets off to zero, the match begins. Ichika charges forward with Yukihira in hand but Laura simply puts up the AIC barrier to halt his advance.
"Launching an attacking after the get-go? You're really easy to understand," said a smirked Laura. "As I said, you're no Hitokiri Kingslayer."
"Glad we agree on something," said Ichika in response.
In the command center, Raiden pays close attention via audio visual to watch the match due to his damaged eyes. While he does not doubt Ichika's skills combined with Charles' teamwork against Laura Bodewig, he fears that something is about to happen.
Something big. Whether one team wins or loses, something may happen. And it won't be anything pleasant.
(Insert OP: A Cruel Angel's Thesis by Yoko Takahashi)
Zankoku na tenshi no you ni (After a drop of water hits the black screen, it brightens up to a red sky with clouds and stars as it shows the IS Academy symbol)
Shounen yo, shinwa ni nare... (Camera pans upwards as it shows the schematics of an Infinite Stratos before it shows its heart, the IS Core and then everything tuns white)
(Title of the show appears as Infinite Stratos)
Aoi kaze ga ima mune no doa wo tataitemo (Raiden is shown fully clothed and carrying the Sakabatō on his left hip)
Watashi dake wo tada mitsumete (As he watches the waters surrounding the IS Academy Island, the shadowy silhouettes of Akane Fujimoto and Miram Walker appear at the side of the screen going up and down respectively)
Hohoenderu Anata (As the silhouettes fade away, Raiden gives a small smile as if content with something of his life)
Sotto Fureru mono (A shadowy hand is shown pointing to the ground before an IS blueprint of Akatsubaki appears)
Motomeru koto ni muchuu de, (And then Houki is shown next as her image looks up at the sky)
Unmei sae mada shiranai itaike na hitomi (Houki's shadowy image sits on the ground with her arms around her knees as if crying before she looks up while Raiden is in the background and then Houki's image is replaced with that of Tabane, staring out of a window and her eyes blinking twice)
Dakedo itsuka kizuku deshou Sono senaka ni wa (Raiden is seen in his IS, looking upwards as he prepares himself for a fight, embracing his persona of Hitokiri Kingslayer. Four brief images of Hiko Seijuro XVIII, Akane Fujimoto, Miriam Walker, and Chifuyu Orimura are shown in order)
Haruka mirai mezasu tame no hane ga aru koto... (Raiden cannot contain the darkness he kept within himself any longer as Hitokiri Kingslayer emerges and the background is shrouded in flames of Kyoto)
Zankoku na tenshi no tēze (Ichika duels with Raiden, clashing his blade, Yukihira Nigata, against Raiden's Sakabatō, fighting on even ground)
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu (Raiden and Ichika break away as Rin comes in to assist the latter against the former with her Souten Gagetsu. Brief images of the various cast of IS, including students of the Academy, Liu King-Sang and members of the Righteousness Union, and members of FEISAR, are shown in quick timeframes)
Hotobashiru atsui patosu de (Laura was next as she unleashes her cables at Hitokiri Kingslayer, but he dodges in the air and attempts to cut her down but is blocked by Charlotte's shield)
Omoide wo uragiru nara (Raiden backs away as Cecilia unleashes heavy firing onto Raiden, making him move and slice down her BIT drones. Brief images of the various cast of IS, mainly the main antagonists are shown in quick timeframes, in order of Udo Hina, Squall Meusel, Autumn, Madoka Orimura, and the shadowy form of the Dark Lady)
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku (Raiden in his IS takes a Battojutsu stance and charges forward as executes a Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu attack)
Shounen yo, shinwa ni nare (As Raiden comes in and slices at the camera, everything flashes white as the title of the story, Infinite Stratos Hitokiri Kingslayer, comes up on screen)
Laura's railgun was then pointed towards a trapped Ichika, at point blank range. Up close and personal and trapped in her AIC field, Ichika could not escape.
But Charles jumps over Ichika's head and begins firing her sub-machine guns that shower down like rain.
Laura's cannons deviated slightly due to Charles' attacks, and the shots missed. Also, because of Charles' attacks, she had to back away and widen the distance between both of us.
"Don't you run away!" Charles cried as she pursues her.
Charles immediately changes her gun and pointed it forward, summoning an assault rifle on the left hand. Light gathered in the air and formed a gun in less than a second. Charles activates her special skill called Rapid Switch, summoning weapons in battle without calling it out. This could be pulled off due to Charles' skill and decision making.
"Don't forget about me here."
Mobilized in the Uchigane, Houki appears to block the attack that was aimed at Laura as she deploys a physical shield that was well-suited for a defensive IS, knocking the bullets aside as she hacks at Charles.
"You're the one who forgot about me!" Ichika said.
Being released from Laura's AIC, Ichika immediately accelerates towards Charles from behind. Just when he was about to crash into him, he enacts a backflip to switch positions with him. This chemistry is all due to the special training of teamwork.
Houki and Ichika were locked in close-ranged combat as their attacks let out sparks. The Byakushiki pilot continues to use his sword to attack and defend as he increased the power of his thrusters. The accelerated slashes started to push Houki back.
"Ugh! Damn it...!" Houki curses.
Being pushed back, Houki panics and raises her sword up high. Now's the time!
"Charles!" cried Ichika.
"Got it!" Charles acknowledged.
Ichika used both hands to grip the sword tightly and used the Yukihira to knock Houki's attack aside. At this moment, Charles, who was on standby behind me stretched both hands out. She was holding two .62 caliber auto shotguns, and it was impossible to dodge them at this short range.
It was too late for Houki as she went pale, and Charles squeezed the triggers. Suddenly, Houki disappeared right in front of them, and the rain of bullets zoomed past vacuum.
However, one of Laura's cables was caught around Houki's waist. Intentionally.
"Wh-What are you doing!?" Houki cried before she was flung out of the way. "UWAAAH!"
"How bothersome," A cold Laura said.
Having switched positions with Houki, Laura quickly closes in on Ichika. She uses one of the cable guided blades on Houki's leg and used the centrifugal force to toss her to the edge of the arena.
But Laura wasn't intending to help her partner at all. She just wanted to throw Houki aside, thinking that she's a bother, resulting in Houki getting tossed aside like a ragdoll. However, Laura herself didn't hear that as she launched the attack at her opponents.
Laura deploys the plasma blades and attacks them from both sides. The mix of slashes and stabs accurately forced Ichika and Charles to back away. Laura Bodewig, who would actually say such words, is truly as strong as a monster. Right now, she was engaging in close range combat with Ichika as she held Charles off with the cabled blades to separate her from Ichika. Though she couldn't combat all 6 cabled blades at the same time, she swiftly shot them out and retracted them in fluidly to create a rapid-fire attack.
"Are you alright, Charles?" asked Ichika.
"What about you, Ichika? I'll support you now."
"No, it's alright. She's mine."
Charles and Ichika speak on a private frequency to talk for a short while and switch their battle plan to what they originally planned, which was to beat Houki down first. The reason why they chose this plan was simple—basically, Laura's battle strategy was to go up against many enemies at one go, which she would never expect to fight in group, so she probably wouldn't help Houki.
So, they should defeat Houki first and attack Laura in a 2 vs 1 situation. Of course, Laura has the ability to take on many machines at one go, but this is where the trap lies. A tag team is formed by having 1 plus 1, but there aren't 2 possibilities.
"Sorry I'm not Ichika," said Charles as he confronts Houki.
"What...? Don't look down on me!" cried Houki.
Leaving Laura's range, Charles immediately closes in on Houki. Houki didn't understand what was going on, but Charles' taunt certainly made her blood boil. Charles used the close-ranged knife to block Houki's sword, and then, while maintaining the position, she starts to fire the shotgun with her left hand.
"Kuu...!"
The impression that Charles gave was that she's really strong at shooting, but actually, the biggest attribute about this ability is 'flexibility'-and in fact, she won't lose to anyone in combat. Also, with the Rapid Switch, once the opponent feels that she wants to fight it out with melee style, she can suddenly switch into a gun to shoot, and once the distance is pulled apart, she can close in to close combat range again. She can maintain a certain distance and attack motion whether the opponent's near or far away, and her attacks and defenses are great. This stability is hard to break through.
"So it's a tactic of beating one person? That's meaningless."
Laura most likely never factored Houki in, but this was still meaningful to her opponents. Ichika's role was to hold off Laura's attacks until Charles defeats Houki.
The two plasma blades in her hands and the cabled wires form wave after wave of attacks, and it wasn't easy to deflect them all. Also, once Ichika was not careful, the distance would be pulled apart. So he could only hang on and maintain close proximity.
"You only have that sword as your only weapon, so you can only damage the opponent being in close range, right?" asked a taunting Laura.
That was also another reason, right? However, the main reason was because if the distance was pulled apart again, Ichika would become the target of that large caliber railgun, and she had those electric cable-controlled blades. If the distance was pulled apart, Ichika would have to use a lot of time and energy just to get close to her.
Ichika switches the Yukihira Niigata to his right hand and uses his left to hold Laura's plasma blade off by grabbing her left hand. His legs were maintaining their position as they continued to operate fully, kicking the cabled blades aside. The movements of the cabled blades were very complicated, he would be scratched if he didn't kick it to the side, so right now, the situation is that 'It will be over if I don't concentrate'.
This was now a zero distance battle, and Ichika didn't know when his concentration would run out as he continued to rely on Charles.
"...Time to end this."
Laura shut the plasma blades off. Not good! Ichika's body froze like ice. Laura's blades were crossed as she raised her hands towards Ichika deploying her AIC field.
"Disappear!"
Six cabled blades shot out at Ichika.
"Damn!"
It was useless to shout as the cabled wires pierced into his body and took off 1/3 of his IS armor. His shield reserves dropped to nearly half. And Laura's attacks weren't stopping as she used 2 cabled wires to tie his right hand and twist it around a few times, seemingly trying to twist it off and slam him to the ground. Unable to take the impact that pierced through him, his breathing immediately stopped. Just when Ichika thought to get back up again, Laura's large railgun was aimed at him.
"This is the end!" She cried.
With a heavy sound, Charles used her shield to block the shot, and then sliced the cabled blade apart to drag Ichika away from the battle zone.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" She said.
"You saved me there...Thanks Charles!"
"No problem."
"Where's Houki?"
"She's taking a break."
After saying that, Charles turned to look aside, and Ichika turned to look at where she was looking—at the side of the arena, there was an unhappy looking Houki, who was in a severely damaged IS with 0 shields and kneeling on one leg.
"Nice!"
"Say that after we win!"
Charles tossed aside the twin assault rifles in her hands to summon new weapons—they were an auto shotgun and a machine gun.
"Now's the real show."
"Right, let's show her our chemistry!" Ichika activates Reiraku Byakuya and charges at Laura.
"I heard that all the shields will be drained once I touch it...but it's nothing if I don't get hit," said Laura.
Laura's AIC binding attacks continue to assault Ichika. His right hand, left hand, vision, all these continued to be assaulted. He immediately stopped, turned and accelerated, barely dodging them all in the process.
"Running around like that, what an eyesore...!"
She then started to become more vicious in her attacks while striking at Ichika with more cabled blades, but Ichika wasn't fighting alone.
"Ichika! Break through the front at 2 o' clock!"
"Okay!"
"Che...another of your petty tricks!"
After zipping through the cabled blades, Laura finally entered his range.
"It's useless, I can predict your attack," said Laura, whose arrogance was starting to show.
"That normal slash's just a start, then-what about this!?" Ichika raises the tip of the sword that was below his foot to chest-level.
"It's useless!" Laura cried, raising her left hand.
Ichika's body froze as the AIC net completely stops him.
"I have no need to focus on your hand. As long as I stop you before that-"
"...Ahh, what's wrong, have you forgotten? Don't you know? We're-a tag team!"
Laura frantically moves her eyes in realization, but it was too late. Closing in to zero distance, Charles quickly fires off 6 shotgun bullets, and at the next moment, Laura's large railgun explodes with a loud bang.
*BANG*
"Ku...!"
As what they predicted, Laura's AIC had a fatal flaw. The flaw was that if she didn't focus on the target she wanted to stop, she wouldn't be able to maintain the effect', so right now, Ichika was freed. Then came Charles, who immediately used Ignition Boost to the maximum speed.
"WHAT...! Ignition Boost?!" cried a shocked Laura.
For the first time, Laura showed a dumbstruck look. Maybe it was because the data never specified that Charles could use Ignition Boost, and Ichika was shocked as well-because even Ichika didn't know of that.
"Well...this is the first time I'm using it!" Charles revealed.
"Wh, WHAT...? Don't tell me you learned it just now!?"
It seems now that Charles' flexibility isn't just a unique attribute, but a skill altogether. Maybe one can even call it a 'one and only unique ability'.
"Humph...But it is no use against my AIC!" Laura said as she switched into the AIC activation mode, however, the one who stopped was-Laura herself.
*BOOM!*
Being attacked somewhere that's unexpected, Laura looks around before seeing Ichika, who's right below her. He's holding the loaded sub machine gun that Charles threw just now.
That's right, that's the gun that he was allowed to use in the training. At this point, Laura finally realized that the throwing of the loaded gun just now was Charles and my double-set plan.
"Now you can't use the AIC!"
"Damn you!" Laura shouted, but she still didn't lose her cool.
She probably would ignore my inaccurate shooting and focus on Charles. She again aimed the AIC in front.
"But I got a window to attack now."
"So what! With a 2nd Generation Attack Power, trying to take me down is-"
At this moment, Laura suddenly stopped.
That's right. She discovered the strongest weapon amongst the 2nd generation in terms of offensive power. And Charles always had this weapon hidden in her shield.
"I won't miss at this range!"
Charles' shield armor opens, revealing the wheel and pilebunker that was fused together. It's the .69 caliber battering ram, also known as—
"Shield Pierce!?"
For the first time, Laura revealed a panicked expression that showed that she didn't expect to make it.
"OOOOHHHH!"
Charles clenches her left hand to charge forward, and it was a simple forward thrust like what Ichika had just done.
However, what's different is that she even used Ignition Boost to close in, so it was too late to even activate AIC on her. If Laura couldn't stop the battering ram between these few millimeters, she would be hit directly.
Laura focused on that target-but missed. In a moment, just for a short moment, Charles showed an angelic smile that looks like a declaration of death, a dazzling yet guilt-ridden smile.
*BAM*
The battering ram hits Laura's abdomen like a pounding fist. If she concentrated all her shield reserves and activated Absolute Defense, she could block this hit, but as her reserves were almost drained, she couldn't block the impact, and it slammed hard through her body. Laura's face twisted with anguish.
However, the attack was not over. As the shield pierce had a roller function, it could be quickly filled with explosives-in other words, there were multiple shots.
Four consecutive hits. Laura's body trembled terribly. Purple electricity jumped up her frame, forming a forced ejection sign.
But in the next moment, another change occurred as Laura delved deep into her own thoughts.
To think that I...would actually lose here, me! But even so-I CAN'T LOSE! HOW CAN I LOSE...!
Laura Bodewig. This is my name. A code to identify myself. My earliest codename was Gene Perfection Experiment C—0037.
I was created through artificial human means, born out of a metal womb. I was created, born, bred and trained to fight. That's my only objective. I only know how to attack humans. I only understand tactics on how to defeat the enemy. I learnt to fight, use guns and remember how to use weapons. I was outstanding, and in terms of capabilities, I always had the best records.
But at that time, as the strongest weapon, the IS appeared, and my world suddenly changed. The operation to implant the Odin's Eye into me in order caused a drastic change.
The actual term of Odin's Eye should be a hyper-sensor package, and what it does is that it can heighten nerve processing to the brain at an explosive speed. The aim is to react quickly in a hi-speed combat. The operation was supposed to transplant the nanomachines into my eyes, and those eyes that went through this operation are called the 'Eyes that Surpasses the World'.
There were no risks with the operation, and logically, there wouldn't be a rejection—logically. However, this operation caused my left eye to turn gold, and I couldn't control it. It couldn't shut down on its own, it was always activated.
This 'Accident' caused me to deteriorate amongst my peers in IS training. I don't know when I fell from the top position. What awaited me were the mockeries and humiliations of my peers, and the mark of 'Trash'.
My world changed—I went from infinite darkness to even more darkness. And the first time I met the light, it was when I met the instructor—Orimura Chifuyu.
"Though you look like your grades are bad, there's nothing much to worry. In a month from now, you should be able to get back to being the strongest in your squad. You're going to be trained by me after all."
Those words weren't a lie. Though I just obeyed that person's training honestly, I managed to get back to the top after I started learning IS. However, I couldn't stay in the same situation. I didn't care about my peers who drifted away from me.
I continued to admire that person greatly. Strong, courageous, indomitable. Seeing her like that made me anxious.
-Ah, I really want to be like this, I really want to be like her.
With these emotions, I would talk to her when I had the time before she went back to her own country half a year ago. No, it's alright even if we don't say anything. As long as I could stay with her and stare at her figure, I can feel strength coming out from within. It's somewhat a feeling of 'Courage'. Maybe that's because she had such power.
One day, I tried to ask, "How did you become this strong? What must I do to become this strong?"
At that time—ah, it's at that time...that person, that instructor who was as strict as the devil showed a gentle smile. For some reason, it felt like my heart got punctured through by a needle.
"I have a little brother."
"A little brother...?"
"Once you see him, you'll understand, what's strength, and what's more than strength."
"...I don't understand."
"It's good that you remain like that. Ah, if you have a chance to come to Japan one day, maybe you can meet him...but let me give you a warning. That person—"
A gentle smile, a fearful expression. That's—That's not right. That wasn't what I envisioned you—Strong, courageous, indomitable, that's you. So—I won't forgive the person who made instructor show this expression. I can't agree with the existence of this little brother who made instructor like this.
I wanted to defeat him! USE my own power to beat this fool, that imbecile...INTO DUST! That's why, I can't lose here! That guy, that bastard's...still moving. I must thoroughly break him until he can't move! That's right! So—I WANT POWER!
But then…
The next thing I saw were flames. Flames that engulfed the surrounding area. And within those flames were four bodies. All female. Slain. All by a sword.
And looming over those bodies, a man. Silver hair. Blinded with a blindfold. A cold expression, like an icy heart standing amongst the roaring inferno. With the ground drenched in blood.
Hitokiri Kingslayer.
And with a cold hard look despite being blinded, I see him turn and walk away as if not caring for what has happened. As if the hunter was leaving to find fresh prey.
I hated him. He took away four of my friends. Their bodies cold to the touch. Unresponsive.
He will pay for this. When I am done with the Instructor's brother, I would come for him! And to hear him say he no longer kills disgusts me!
No, I cannot forgive him. I will NEVER forgive him! Not until he pays in blood. He owes four lives stolen from me, and I must collect!
I must have the power to destroy him!
I… Will… Kill Him!
Someone or something soon rumbled deep inside her, and it spoke.
"—Do you wish for it...? Do you, wish for a change within yourself...? Do you want a stronger power...?"
"Of course. If I have power, if I can get it—I'll even pay for it with this hollow existence! So give it to me...give me the invincible, strongest, absolute power!"
Damage Level...D
Mind Condition...Uplift
Certification...Clear
Valkyrie Trace System...boot
*ZIING*
"AAAHHHHHHH!"
It seemed that Laura just got ripped by something as she let out a scream. At the same time, her IS Schwarzer Regen lets out a strong electrical jolt and knocks Charles off and away from her.
"Ugh! What's going on...-!"
"WHAT'S THAT!?"
Charles and Ichika couldn't believe their eyes. In front of them, Laura was in pain. And her IS was changing!
No, it wasn't that simple to say that it was changing. The lines that formed the armor were melting softly into something soft and sticky, engulfing Laura's body in it. The pitch black corroded darkness swallowed Laura in whole.
"What is that thing..." Ichika subconsciously muttered. Anyone else who saw this would think the same thing.
Normally, IS won't change shapes, or more accurately, it can't. IS could only change shape 'In the first shift when it gets used to the pilot' and 'Switches Modes'. Though the equipment and some other parts may change slightly, it was impossible to have a base change. Anyway, that was just impossible. That's a flaw on the design.
However, the impossible thing was happening in front of them right now. And this wasn't just a change in shape, but a mud doll that was shaped through the fusing of the sticky mass.
What was supposed to be Schwarzer Regen covered Laura's entire body and continued to move on the surface. It then started to beat like it had a pulse and slowly descended to the floor.
The moment it landed on the floor; the body looked like it was quickly changing at a high speed before forming a shape.
Standing over there was 'something' similar to the black IS, but it was completely different from the one that attacked last month. The appearance and shape was of Laura's shape. The girl's hands and feet were armed with the minimum amount of armor, and the head had armor that covered the entire body. Also, the red lights of the display sensors could be seen from the eye below the armor.
The problem, however, was the weapon in her hand. Ichika definitely couldn't be mistaken. That's a—
"Sakabatō?!"
It was similar to the sword Raiden currently wields. It was basically a duplicate. Ichika subconsciously grips onto the Yukihira and raises it to the middle.
The next moment, the black IS flew towards him. Looking at the way it was keeping the sword in its sheath ready to pull out, she must be trying to use Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū or Iaido. Either way, if it used it at a distance where he'd definitely be hit, it'd be a flash sure-kill hit.
But the thought of seeing such an IS using Raiden's sword style felt insulting to Ichika.
'That was definitely the katana technique that Raiden uses.'
*BANG*
In a quick flashing moment when it draws out the Sakabatō, the Yukihira Niigata that Ichika was holding tight on was knocked away. The enemy soon jumps upward and raises the sword up, flipping the blade over to its sharp side and coming down with a vertical slash.
*SLASH*
"Gaagh!" Ichika cried.
The sharp slash that was swung down straight on assaulted him, and Ichika couldn't receive it with his sword at the last minute. At that moment, Ichika immediately ordered Byakushiki to 'back away'.
It was because Ichika knew how Chifuyu fought that he was barely able to dodge it. However, Byakushiki's shield reserves had already dropped to 0, and the left hand only got a little grazed, yet there was blood flowing out. That emergency evasion took out the last of him, and Byakushiki disappeared from him in a glow of light. But right now, it didn't matter to him.
Driven by burning emotions of seeing such a fake before his eyes in the form of the one male friend he admired, Ichika clenches his fists as his weapons and rushes towards the black IS.
"You son of a bitch!" He cried.
However, he gets grappled from behind by Houki, holding him back with all her strength.
"Idiot! What are you doing?! Do you want to die?" She asked.
"LET GO OF ME! That fake is just toying with me! Let me go!"
That technique just now was the first technique Ichika saw from Raiden: Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū – Ryū Tsui Sen. He can still remember the first time he saw it, and the impact he felt from it when Raiden struck him the day of the three way duel for the title of Class Representative.
And it was then that a flashback occurs in his mind, back to his childhood when Chifuyu told him about what it means to swing a sword.
FLASHBACK BEGINS…
"Listen Ichika, a sword is to be swung, but just trying to swing it isn't kenjutsu," A young Chifuyu instructed a much younger Ichika.
To Ichika, who lifted that heavy piece of metal item for the first time, the weight alone made it hard for me to carry it. He was already sweating while it was on his hand, and he couldn't even lift it because of the weight even though he tried to make a pose.
"It's heavy, isn't it? This is the weight of a weapon, one that can take someone's life away."
The cold and slightly glittering katana. An existence that was born, created and refined to kill.
"You have to consider what does it means to carry such a weight. This is what it means to be strong."
When she said that, Chifuyu's eyes were stern, yet it had a tinge of gentleness. It looked somewhat dazzling, an expression that was different from usual.
And it was here that she told him of words that, at the time, he didn't quite understand. Words she would tell Raiden in the future.
"A sword is a weapon. Swordsmanship is learning how to kill. No matter what ideals you use to cover it up, that is the truth of the world."
That was why Ichika chose to become strong, to become Chifuyu's supporting power...that's right, ever since that day, Ichika always—
FLASHBACK ENDS…
"Let go of me, Houki! Just let me—!"
Houki had enough of his struggling. "GET A GRIP!"
*SLAP*
Ichika's face got hit from a slap, and he landed horizontally on the floor. His face felt the pain as it touched the floor, causing his rage to drop.
"What's going on!? Tell me in a way that I can understand!"
"That...that's Raiden's data! His technique! That's something that only Raiden has! That...DAMN IT!"
The black IS remained motionless in the arena. Right now, it seemed like it was automatically programmed to attack anything that had weapons or that would attack.
Houki however was not buying into Ichika's reasoning. "Really? That's what this is about? All because it has Raiden's name all over it? What is it about him that makes you want to do this?!"
"That's not all! The corrupted power that Laura's using, I don't like her for doing that. The black IS, Laura...both of them...I have to stop this! To restore Raiden's honor!"
Power—this so-called strength wasn't referring to offensive power. That power couldn't be called strength, but mere violence.
"Anyway, I must beat that thing up," He sighs to clear his head. "I need to calm down first."
"I understand your reasons, but what can you do now? Byakushiki doesn't even have any energy; how are you going to fight?"
Houki was right. It was likely that the black IS didn't have much energy left, but right now Byakushiki didn't even have enough energy to deploy, let alone attack.
"Urgent emergency! All matches are suspended! Situation's at level D. Teachers are to deploy to suppress the enemy! All guests and students, please evacuate! I repeat!"
"You heard it," Houki said. "Others will handle this even if you don't do anything, so—"
"So there's no need to jump into a dangerous situation necessarily, right?" Ichika guessed.
"That's right."
Houki was right, but even though that reasoning was sound, Ichika's conscience still refused it.
"That's wrong, Houki, completely wrong. It's not that 'I have to do it', but 'I want to do it'. I don't care what others think, but I won't be me if I back away now. I won't be Orimura Ichika!"
"Ah, you idiot! Now what are you going to do? You already ran out of ene—"
"If you don't have it, just get it from somewhere else. Isn't that right, Ichika?" A voice spoke up, making the two turn to see it was Ichika's fighting IS partner.
"Charles..."
Charles seemed to have recovered from the jolt just now as she gently lands beside them. "It can't be helped if it's just a normal IS, but I guess my Revive can use the core circuits to transfer energy."
"Really? Thanks, hurry up and help me!"
"Then let's start...opening the Revive's core circuits and allow the outflow of energy. Ichika, set the Byakushiki's mode at single 1 mode. You should be able to use Reiraku Byakuya now."
"Oh, got it."
The cables reached out of the Revive and attached themselves to Byakushiki, which was in bracelet mode, and the energy flowed through it. It felt like a sudden surge in energy. Ichika felt this power as he had an explicable feeling. It seemed like Ichika hadn't had this feeling for a long time, and there was an inexplicable sense of reunion and nostalgia, and the feeling that the world was reborn, this feeling of being able to feel the surroundings completely.
"Done! I transferred Revive's remaining power to you."
As Charles declared, Rafale Revive Custom II scattered into bits of light and disappeared in particles of light. And Byakushiki, which was restored with some energy, began to build itself on the body. But it only revealed a partial deployment on Ichika's right hand, with Yukihira in hand.
"So the most you can go is the weapon on your right hand," Charles said.
"That's more than enough!"
Byakushiki understood that it was about to use Reiraku Byakuya as it materialized itself on his right hand in the form of Yukihira Niigata. No defenses, a definite loss if he got hit, and at best, heavy injuries. However, Ichika was prepared to be hit, and now, it's his turn.
"Ichika!" Houki cried out to her childhood friend. Truth be told she was scared for his life, risking it to preserve Raiden's honor. Normally Raiden would be the one to deal with the situation but because he was forbidden to intervene or partake in the tournament, it is likely he would have to let Ichika handle this.
For if Houki cannot even believe in her childhood friend and send him off like Dunois, then what chance does he have?
"Don't die…" She said. "Make sure you don't die! Please!"
"What the heck are you all worried for, silly?" He asked.
But that flustered her. "Wh-What do you mean 'silly'?! I'm—"
"Believe. Believe in me, Houki. You don't have to worry or pray. Just believe in me and wait. I'm definitely coming back. I'm gonna preserve Raiden's honor."
Ichika understood that he was not doing this for glory or self-recognition. But he does this because he respects the one man who had defeated him with Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. Who takes the path of Katsujinken, the sword that gives life. He wants to be strong, just like his sister, just like Raiden; to protect the people he cares for.
"Okay, I'll be back."
"Y-Yeah! Win and come back, Ichika!"
Ichika faces the opponent in front of him. He glances at Charles briefly, and she doesn't say anything, only nodding her head silently.
"All right, bring it, you bastard, because this one is going to be for me, for Chifuyu-nee, and for Raiden! Reiraku Byakuya—activate!"
The blade that could erase all energy sources and negate it appeared with twice the length. It doesn't have to be this big now. What Ichika needs is speed and sharpness, and to be able to draw the sword fast. A refined blade. Ichika gathered his concentration and imagined a shot of light in the darkness. It then became smaller, fine and sharper. Once this concentration was at the maximum, Yukihira changed. What was just a Yukihira Niigata that was giving a large glow was now becoming smaller and sharper.
The moment the transformation was complete, the original physical blade of the Yukihira was completely gone. The blade was just an energy sword that was made out of the Reiraku Byakuya, and the energy was forming a katana-shaped blade. Ichika kept the blade at his waist and got into a sword drawing position in front of the black IS. That was a fusion of what Chifuyu taught him and what he learnt from Houki, the 'First Flash, Second Strike' move.
The black IS meanwhile assumes a battojutsu position, sheathing away the Sakabatō and ready to draw it out in response to Ichika's stance.
"Listen, you must draw the blade through its weight, not through your hand, but to be treated as a part of your body. When drawing, don't do too many unnecessary movements. No gaps, no mistakes."
Both of their postures overlap in his mind, forming his own posture. Ichika lowers his body and readies himself, bringing the hand with the sword behind him. His eyes continued to gaze forward, and a motionless surface of water appeared in his heart. Then, while it seemed that he could respond to all the movements, Ichika seals his feelings, that consciousness into a single spot, right at the enemy in front of him.
The black IS charges forward and, after taking that last step, draws out its sword. That was a move identical to Chifuyu's, a slash that quickly attacked the enemy from the shoulder on one side to the waist to the other side. Despite such an observation, with data based on Raiden's, it was clearly Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū in battojutsu, unsheathing the sword at god-like speed.
However, there was none of Raiden's will there. In other words, that's—
"THAT'S JUST AN IMITATION!"
*SLASH*
Then, Ichika's immediately raises the sword above his head and slashes the enemy down from the top. This is the 'First Flash, Second Strike'. The first is to strike like a flash, and the other is to slash the target.
Purple electricity jumped about, and the black IS got sliced in half, releasing Laura from her captivity.
And the moment Laura was about to lose perception, Ichika exchanges quick looks with her. Her eyepatch drops off, revealing the golden left eye before falling unconscious and into his arms.
In her subconscious, Laura could only float within the void. She had just been released and yet, even with all that power, she could not defeat the man she truly hated. The one she hunted relentlessly for years for the deaths of her comrades.
Hate. It's a strong emotion but it leaves no purpose, no goal to follow. What is there to hate? Moreover, what is hatred?
And if Chifuyu could have Hitokiri Kingslayer as one of her students, how has she not the opportunity to simply slay him where he is? Why does she keep him around? And how does he make her give off emotions that she rarely gives off?
"Why?" asked Laura. "Why are you so strong? Why do you pursue strength?"
"I do not," A voice spoke to her, in the form of her target. It was soft and gentle, not cold like Hitokiri Kingslayer. "Strength is not the only thing I need. Without compassion and wisdom, I won't be able to save any lives."
"You want… to save lives?" asked a perplexed Laura.
"I've killed enough for a lifetime, that I have. Maybe two," Raiden said. "The blood will never be washed away. It is a constant reminder of who I am. I hold no regrets nor attachments to the name Hitokiri Kingslayer. But I will never give it away."
"You sound neither proud nor resentful," Laura scoffed. "As expected of a heartless killer."
"That it is," Raiden did not deny. "However, someone who doesn't know who he wants to be cannot worry about being strong or weak because he doesn't even know what path he wants to take."
"My path…?"
"Where you're going and why you're going there. If you're not doing what you want to do, then you become lifeless, that you do, like an empty shell justifying his actions on the reason of simply following orders."
Laura was perplexed. Here stood the one who killed her friends. Yet it was not the same person she saw in the flames. Not the same one that stood over the bodies covered in blood. Here stood a manslayer who was repentant, who sought to take a new path. One without bloodshed.
Perhaps, Hitokiri Kingslayer truly no longer exists.
"You… You really have changed, haven't you?" She asked. "But why? What made you stop the bloodshed?"
Raiden smiles. "That… is a story for another time. Right now, I want to protect people from death and harm. I want to fight for someone else, giving everything I have without killing."
An image of Raiden soon conjures up, with an expression that bore wisdom. And a smile.
"If you wish to know more of this path I'm taking… then follow me, that you should, Laura Bodewig."
By the time Laura had woken up, it was already sunset. The skies were orange as the sun dips slowly over the horizon which will soon give way to darkness. She was not wearing her eyepatch yet found it next to her on the table.
"Where am I?" asked Laura.
"You seem to be awake," said a familiar voice to her left. Laura looked over and saw Chifuyu next to her. "Your entire body took too much burden, causing wounds and muscle fatigue. You can't move at the moment. Don't force yourself."
Laura could only agree to the situation at hand. She couldn't really move much and all she could do was turn her head left or right.
"The Valkyrie Trance System," said Chifuyu which caught Laura's attention. "To think you could sneak an illegal program like that in your IS through the scanners. The pilot's mental state, the damage the machine took, and most importantly, the pilot's will...no, the desire. It can only activate with all these conditions."
On hearing Chifuyu's words, Laura grabbed tightly onto the bedsheets. For some reason, she looked down at the void below her eyes.
"Laura Bodewig. Who are you?" asked a stern Chifuyu.
This caught Laura's attention to which she lost the words to express to answer this simple yet complex question.
"If you are no one, that's convenient," said a regressed Chifuyu. "You will become Laura Bodewig from now on. Besides, there's a lot of time, since you have to stay here for three years. After that, you still have a lot of time to use, so continue to be bothered, young lady."
Laura stayed silent. It was then Chifuyu gave her advice on becoming this young lady. "By the way, someone would like to speak with you."
It was then she pointed over to Raiden, who was standing by her side, to the surprise of Laura. But given of the limitation of her body right now, she couldn't move at all, not even draw out a knife or gun in self-defense. But it seemed like he was not there to kill her as no doubt he has not pulled out his sword yet.
Chifuyu then got up to leave before she said, "Oh, and also…You cannot be me."
As Chifuyu walked out and closed the door, the only ones left were Raiden and Laura, the former sitting in Chifuyu's chair. Silence only filled the air as the two could only be still, not looking in each other's presence. Not to say the atmosphere was awkward but rather it felt strange. Here stood Hitokiri Kingslayer before Laura, and at any time he could pull out his sword and kill her.
That is until Raiden broke it. In words that soon caught Laura's attention.
"Mimi. Synatra. Lola. Freya. Those four girls… I now remember who they are, that I do," Raiden said.
Laura was stunned though as she looks at the looker with widened eyes. "You knew?"
"I had Chifuyu run a background check on you to figure out why you wanted to kill me. I never met nor knew of a group called the Schwarzer Hase. But when I learned of its connections to the PMC company called FEISAR, I looked up its members. And found the death certificates for four of them that held the same cause of death: slain by Hitokiri Kingslayer."
Laura remained silent as she begins to recall the day she found out about their deaths at the hands of Hitokiri Kingslayer. Those four, despite not being from Schwarzer Hase, were the best friends she made outside of the military. Along with their captain. And when she learned of their untimely deaths, shock first filled her up, then sadness, and then hate. Hate for the one responsible for it.
And the next words spoken to by Raiden only added more salt to the wound. Though not his intent, the tone he spoke it in was almost cold.
"Lola died trying to protect her captain from the Kingslayer's blade, Synatra's stomach was split open by the sword, Mimi's back was crushed and broken, and Freya had her own throat slit open from behind. All of these four deaths, the captain had watched while missing an eye."
Laura soon had tears pouring down her face as she looks out at the window to her right. She could see the ghost images of the four slain members of FEISAR looking at her with smiles on their faces. Smiles that were of the past before their deaths. The last thing she remembered the last time she met them.
But now, all that hatred, all that vengeance… it left her feeling empty. Realizing she had become a victim of her own hate for two years, she nearly got herself killed with the VTS and it was only thanks to the murderer she was hunting that saved her.
Perhaps Chifuyu was right. Perhaps Hitokiri Kingslayer is no more. Now it was just Raiden Hataru, a rurouni. She wondered though if her comrades could see that. With them gone though, it was hard to decipher. They were dead, all of them, slain by the infamous legendary assassin years ago.
All except one.
"So, where is Jake?" asked Raiden in concern.
"He… He went missing after the deaths of his squad by you. He was given psychiatric leave by FEISAR, but I think he took that chance to get away and look for you. That was two years ago though. And now he—"
"He may come to the Academy, if he's been tipped about where I am now," Raiden deduced. "Well, that settles that, that it does."
"Do you intend to fight him?" asked Laura.
Raiden answers, "If it comes to that, I will do what I must. Without killing him."
"You must know he will try to kill you."
"Of that, I am more than certain. But what about you? Are you going to help him?"
Laura closes her eyes, wiping her tears and humbly shaking her head. "No. I think… I know understand. You are Hitokiri Kingslayer, but you have changed. If you're going to walk on this… new path, then perhaps I'll tag along and watch for myself."
Raiden nods in approval. "Thank you."
And so ends the feud between Germany's Representative Candidate and Hitokiri Kingslayer, the hunt called off in favor of a start to a camaraderie.
"And so, the tournament was canceled afterwards," said Charles. The three boys had sat together eating their dinner. Ichika had some ramen, Charles was eating some pasta, and Raiden was having some miso.
"But they do want everyone's individual data, so they'll complete the first round," continued Charles.
"I see," said Ichika. The boys' attention was soon caught to the three gossipers spying on them.
"Our chance to win the tournament is gone."
"No more chance for the date."
The three girls only cried as they left in despair at their chances now gone. With the tournament canceled due to an unforeseen event, there was no way to get a date with one of the boys now. And that was such a shame. Then again, if any of them were caught dating Ichika, they'd probably get Chifuyu's immediate disapproval.
So they'd probably take their chances with either Raiden or Charles. But now that was no longer an option. Perhaps the next tournament they will bring back the offer.
"Orimura-kun. Dunois-kun. Hataru-kun. I bring good news!" said Yamada-sensei as she entered the cafeteria to meet the boys. "The place that lets you wash away all your worries has finally opened today!"
"The place?" asked Charles.
"What she means to say is that the men's bathhouse is open," clarified Raiden. Yamada-sensei could only stand there in surprise, thinking if she knew what Raiden was thinking.
"What do you say, Charles? Shall we go there?" asked Ichika.
"Oh. Um…Sure. Let's," said Charles. Ichika then turned to Raiden and asked the same.
"Raiden?"
"No thanks. I'll be taking a shower instead in my dorm room. I've got a lot on my mind lately," said Raiden.
"Oh. If you say so then."
HOURS LATER…
As Raiden returns to his dorm room, Raiden enters and sits on his bed, but not before taking out his Sakabatō out of its waist holdings and placing it on its stand. Afterwards he takes a seat on his bed before falling backwards, relaxing with a sigh. With Ichika and Charles at the bath, Raiden took this time to think about past events.
'Today has been one heck of a day, that it has. Although, I do wonder how Laura-dono snuck in something illegal into her IS and it remained undetected from scanners?'
It was indeed a good question. Unfortunately, the VTS was unsalvageable once Laura's IS was examined while undergoing repairs. And by unsalvageable, it had purge its systems of power and data once Laura was cut free. Either Ichika cut too deep and destroyed it, or the program had a failsafe installed to ensure self-destruction in the event it is destroyed.
But the news of today still made Raiden grim. How Laura acquired such an illegal program, no one can answer. Not even Laura herself. Whether she kept secrets or has become amnesiac of it remains a mystery. But Chifuyu had decided to shelve the issue away, claiming that the threat is over, and Laura is still a student of the Academy, not meant to be interrogated.
Raiden's own thoughts were interrupted by the noises coming from the bathroom. And not just cause of the shower that was on and pouring down water.
"Haa… it looks like they got bigger again," Houki's voice was soon heard from the bathroom. "There's not much I can do about it. It'll be time for seaside school pretty soon. Speaking of… Yeah, the sea! If I'm wearing a cute swimsuit, maybe I can charm… Raiden…"
The mention of his name made Raiden's ears perk up. Curious, he places an ear to the wall to hear more of Houki speaking to herself.
"At any rate, everyone else is training freely with their personal IS. I'm someone without my own unit. While I'm in shared practice, everyone else is… It's as if they use them every day to be with Ichika. Well, then again, I think Ichika knows how to look after myself. But Raiden…"
Houki's voice veers off afterwards, wondering in her mind why she said his name. Indeed, she has been spending more time with him, as his roommate and fellow samurai. But her heart remained… conflicted. Certainly he protected her from the Golem attack when he fought Rin and was worried for him when he was unconscious. But that was just because he saved her from being vaporized.
And yet, the gallantry the man showed in front of her, taking the blast on his own while covering her, demonstrated such courage that no other man could do. Perhaps Ichika, but Raiden was the one to do it.
And she didn't want to be protected anymore. If she wanted to be alongside Ichika and the other girls with Personal IS, then she needs to step up her game.
"If I could ask my sister to make my own IS, then… the same thing would apply to me. Equal ground with the others. And with Raiden. I've been standing still this entire time. Everyone else has already gotten way ahead of me. It's because this hurts that I want to geta jump on everyone else. I can't be the one at Raiden's side without an IS. No… In the first place, up until now I was pulled around because of my sister. It's not a problem if I ask for something selfish for once. Like hell I'm staying behind!"
She said that last sentence with such vigor that for one moment she had conviction, but the next it looked like she had tears forming in her eyes. But it was unknown if it was from the shower or her actual tears.
"Is she… crying?" asked Raiden to himself.
"No, no, I have to be cheerful!" Houki said wiping her face. "All right!"
With a bucket of water in hand, Houki dips her face into it, as if needing to vent off the stress underwater. But that sent the wrong signals to Raiden who was still listening from the other side of the wall.
"Houki-dono! What's happened?" He asked. "Houki-dono?"
But no answer came.
"It can't be!" He said as he rushes to the bathroom door.
"PUWAH!" Houki lifts her face out of the bucket and turns off the shower. She gives herself one last rinse with the bucket before stepping out to get a towel.
"Don't be so hasty!" Raiden cried as he opens the bathroom door. "Don't kill yourse—"
But the moment he enters, he can feel Houki's presence. Not to mention her naked beauty right before her. Houki meanwhile stood there, shocked and her mouth ajar as she saw Raiden enter in a haste to check on her. She was about to reach for the pink towel, but now she beheld herself before the blind IS pilot, revealing her beautiful wet skin.
Time somehow seemed to stop for him but then it was in that moment that he barged into the bathroom and on a naked Houki, he had only one word to say.
"Oro?"
Silence follows for a few seconds before Houki's face turns red with embarrassment.
"G-G-GET OUT! PERVERT!"
Stuff is then thrown out towards Raiden by the shrieking samurai. She first throws some body soap which he ducks down. Next came a wet rag she used, which Raiden moves to the right a little to dodge. Then he jumps over the shampoo bottle being thrown.
But before he could land…
*BAM*
"ORO!"
Then, an empty wooden wash bucket is thrown and smacks Raiden in the face, sending him flying backwards and out the door. And he was left on the floor in a daze as Houki covered herself up with a towel and shut the bathroom door.
30 MIN LATER…
The moon hung high in the clear sky as nighttime shrouded the Academy. All was quiet, with no one outside to barge in and trespass on the grounds. Not even a certain male Triad the last time that had happened.
Raiden however was facing a wall, rubbing his head after being knocked out by the bucket. One thing is for certain, he had pissed Houki off. And how could he blame her after being caught naked? Even though he was blind, he could definitely sense that she wore no clothes.
The bathroom doors open to reveal Houki in her sleeping robes. When she steps out, she was still mad as evident when she gives a HMPH to Raiden after seeing him look at a wall in repentance. She wasn't sure if he was being stupid or was truly reflecting. She takes her side of the room, sitting on her bed as she combs her hair straight. With every stroke she took, it vents her anger out of being seen by Raiden.
But after calming herself down, knowing that it could not be helped, she sighs.
"Raiden… is everything okay?" Houki asked, snapping Raiden out of his trance.
"Y-Yeah. I spoke to Laura-dono earlier today," Raiden replied, causing Houki to raise a brow to him.
"About what?" She asked.
Raiden then turned to face her. "About the truth of her hate for me. I found out just what it was that led her to try to kill me." He said bluntly.
Houki paused for a moment upon hearing that, knowing what this was about.
"I see," She said as she holds her head down. "Are you… comfortable talking about it?"
Raiden let out a faint sigh as he turns his head back to the wall. "Honestly... not yet. Of the people who know the truth of Laura-dono's hate, only Orimura-sensei does. Unless of course you want to hear it, if you do?"
"No, no," Houki denied. "I-I don't care much of the past. Your past anyway. I probably do not want to know."
"I understand," Raiden accepted.
"But… tell me honestly. Are you… really Hitokiri Kingslayer?" She asked hesitantly. "The infamous manslayer who killed the king and queen of Luxembourg?"
Raiden answered honestly after a few seconds. "I am."
Shock came over Houki but she held it in, trying not to make a scene. But still, she heard stories of the Kingslayer, of how he had cut down numerous foes with his sword. A legendary assassin who was blind and had silver hair like that of a lion's. But that is not the Raiden she saw now. This one was gentle and kind, who vowed never to kill again. Proof of that being the Sakabatō that was sitting on its stand.
Forcing herself past her fears and worries, she clears her throat and says, "I see."
Raiden however was surprised. "You don't seem scared, that you don't."
"It's just like you said. I don't care for people's past. I don't want be remembered as a woman who had Hitokiri Kingslayer as her roommate. But the 2nd male IS pilot."
But as soon as she said that, Houki immediately began to blush, wondering what made her say that. Certainly by now, not only has Raiden saved her, but also beheld her nakedness. And she has seen his handsome body before, when he was hospitalized or wearing his IS suit for training.
But then she had an expression of defeat on her face. She didn't win the tournament as hoped for and Raiden quickly understood.
"R-Raiden. I…" Houki spoke up before she was interrupted.
"Houki-dono," said Raiden. "I'm sorry for not fulfilling my end, that I am, considering how Orimura-sensei made me not participate in the tournament."
"Ohh. R-Right…"
That statement made Houki hung her head in shame and embarrassment. But the next words she heard were of big shock.
"But I'm still willing to go out with you, that I am," Raiden said with a smile.
Houki shot up and asked as she runs to Raiden, surprising him like she was about to tackle him, "Really? You really mean it?!"
"Uwaah uh, y-yeah. Yes, that it is," Raiden nods.
Houki regained her composure and asked, "Why? Let's hear your reason."
Raiden got slightly confused before responding "I keep my promises, do I not? Either way, I think it will be fun, that it will."
Houki turns around, her back facing Raiden's, as she blushes heavily, unable to contain her excitement.
"I get to go out with Raiden!" She mutters to herself quietly. "Th-This must be a dream! W-We'll probably go see some tourist spots. O-Or, maybe we can go look at some katanas. Yes, he seems to have some knowledge of forging a blade."
"Shopping sounds good, that it is," said Raiden nonchalantly as he caught wind of her muttering..
But then she gasps, realizing that she had forgotten she was not alone in the room. Bashfully, she turns to see Raiden, who was wondering what was up with her. But for Houki, she forgot that while Raiden may be blind, he has enhanced his other four senses to the point of being superhuman. Including his hearing.
"Oro?" Houki-dono?"
And then, a right fist comes up. "Wh-What are you making me say now!? Raiden, you idiot!"
*BAM*
"ORROOOOO!"
And Raiden is sent flying across the room, knocked out again with swirls over his head. And he kept saying "Ororo."
Class today was only filled with awkwardness as Yamada-sensei looked on with fear and embarrassment. Raiden was sitting in his usual seat behind Ichika. Good thing Chifuyu was not here to see this.
"T-Today we have a new student here. Yes…" Yamada-sensei said as she stuttered and drifted at the end of the sentence. In front of everyone and with a holographic board lit up from behind, it said Charlotte Dunois.
Wait…Charlotte?
"Hello everyone, I'm Charlotte Dunois. Pleased to make your acquaintance once again." Charlotte said standing and giving a smile.
"So, Charles Dunois was actually a girl named Charlotte Dunois," said one girl.
Houki could only say one word to herself. "What?"
Followed by Raiden with, "Oro?"
The classroom erupts into conversations about how they thought the whole thing was weird and trying to understand the situation at hand. One girl even asked,
"Wait a moment. Didn't the boys use the bathhouse last night?"
Ichika became shocked and froze on spot while Raiden was indifferent. Thank goodness he went to his own room for a shower. The door to the classroom was suddenly barged in and in came Rin deployed in her IS.
"Ichika!" said Rin as she charged her Shock Cannons and ready to fire at the poor boy. Ichika turned to Raiden for help, but the blind boy only replied, "Oro?"
Ichika didn't want this and, the idiot that he is, didn't even bother to dodge from the shots of the shock cannon but for some reason, they didn't hit him.
"Huh? I'm not dead yet?" asked Ichika with his eyes closed.
Ichika opened his eyes and saw a familiar black IS with an AIC deployed. Laura had arrived and saved Ichika.
"Laura," said Ichika as the German deactivated her AIC and turned around. "You saved me. Thank you so much."
"Think nothing of it," Laura said.
Laura deactivates her IS and soon walks over to Raiden, giving that same glaring look the first time she had met him. The atmosphere looked tense once again, almost like déjà vu. But with the feud over, everyone thought that there was not going to be any more assassination attempts on the blind pilot.
But then…
*BANG*
A knife is pulled out, as is a Sakabatō halfway. A loud clang was heard as the two knives crossed blades again. Laura had just tried to kill Raiden, again. And Raiden just pulled out his sword to block the strike.
Houki was flabbergasted. "So, you're back for more?"
"Wait, Houki-dono!" Raiden stopped. "It's alright, that it is!"
"How can that be alright? She tried to kill you. Again!"
Laura however smirked, to Houki's confusion. "You haven't lost your touch even after all we went through recently."
Raiden smiles back. "You give me too much credit, that you do. Though I wonder why you tried to kill me, that you did."
"I was just testing you," Laura said sheathing her knife away. "That's all."
"Well, that is a relief," Raiden sighed.
"Indeed. Which is why… I-I want to become your disciple in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū! This is final, and I won't hear any objections."
Silence was filled in the classroom.
"EEEEEHHHHH?!"
The entire class gawked, their jaws literally dropped to the floor, and eyes popping out of their skulls and rolling across the floor. Their skins went pale white.
And only one word came from a surprised Raiden.
"Oro?"
Meanwhile, at a certain apartment compound in the city, Squall stood watching more CCTV footage of the recent duel that took place at the Academy. Despite half the footage that was recovered due to hacking Academy security cameras showing Laura's duel with Ichika and Charles, it did not bother her as she witnesses the effects of the VTS on Laura.
But the best part for her was when Ichika defeats the VTS program, freeing Laura from the ooze that was cut and melted. It was something that put a smile on Squall's face and excited her, feeling something of an itch down below her lower front in-between her legs.
Standing next to her was a man of lean build, pale skin, and black hair. He wore a black turtleneck, matching plaid dress pants, and black dress leather shoes. He watches with a cold gaze at the VTS footage of Laura being consumed by the program. And then being freed by Raiden. Even so, his expression did not change like he was a cold logical man who lost all sense of reason.
"That German girl did well," Squall said as she stops the footage. "To think she is unaware that she has given us the combat data we need thanks to you giving her the VTS package in exchange for information on the Kingslayer's location. You struck a perfect deal there, Nobuo Iwasaki."
"The Valkyrie Trance System was designed to mimic former Mondo Grosso winners. Thanks to extensive modification, it not only was meant to remain undetectable and purge its systems as a failsafe once it expires, but also kill its host," Nobuo said in a voice that was like the cold expression of death. "Logically, it should have killed Laura Bodewig once she activated it. But thanks to the Brunhilde's little brother's swordsmanship skills, she was freed from its grasp before it had the chance to consume her mind."
"Yet thanks to the transmissions we acquired before the VTS was disposed of, we have everything needed to analyze Byakushiki. Remarkable."
"Yes. Quite an act of providence."
"I am sure the Archon will be appreciated of your contribution to us. But what happens now for you?"
"I move on to other dealers. Another appointment is made and one I must attend," Nobuo said as he takes his leave. "Give my regards to the Archon."
As Nobuo takes his leave with his bodyguards in tow, Squall was left alone. She sits on her couch looking out to the city from above and smiles as she crosses her legs. As the leader of Phantom Task's Monochrome Avatar Direct Action cell, and secretly the second-in-command to the leader of Phantom Task itself, it was her job to ensure the best interests of the organization.
But that does not mean she cannot have her own fun once in a while. And with that in mind, she has an idea regarding what to do with Raiden.
"Hina!" Squall calls out while taking out some pink fingernail polish. And then a figure partially emerges herself from the shadows.
"You called for me, Squall?" asked Hina, whose face was obscured by the darkness, along with her black kasa, a type of Japanese straw hat. But she wore traditional samurai clothing, cloaked in black.
"I wish to entrust you with a task I would normally reserve for myself," Squall said without turning around as she paints her fingernails. "That is, if you wish to prove yourself worthy as a hitokiri of Phantom Task."
"You wish for me to assassinate someone?"
"Not exactly. I want you to lure out a former… asset of ours. He resides within the IS Academy. Draw him out, and I would suggest you bring back up. Lions can be a handful, especially when cornered."
Hina however grins underneath her black kasa, chuckling at the prospect of a new hunt issued to her. And she couldn't wait.
At long last, the feud between Laura and Raiden ends, with a twist to its ending. And for good reason because I do not intend for Laura to be a part of Ichika's harem. Rather she will be paired up with someone else. But she will display her military tendencies when it comes to life, like cute things such as cat pajamas. And instead of addressing Ichika as her wife, which I still don't know why she calls him that, she will instead go to Raiden, her former enemy, and comically go to him in order to, in her words, keep an eye on him and watch the new path he takes. Granted she is a bit more serious compared to her canon counterpart but I still intend to have her be bold.
Houki and Raiden grow closer and closer to one another and not just of commonality but also of comedy. Of course, since Raiden is blind, he cannot see Houki's naked form. But with his enhanced senses, he can sense that Houki is naked and wet from the shower. Hopefully though the memory fo such an event does not deter their date later on.
And we also learn of a twist on the VTS. Since we do not know how Laura acquired such an illegal program and installed it into her IS, I put my own theory behind it with a twist to it. Orchestrated by a black market dealer in allegiance to Phantom Task. And with that debacle over, now comes another plan from Squall: sending in a hitokiri from Phantom Task. From this point forward, Hina will be the main antagonist of the final episodes of season 1.
Next chapter will be another Rurouni Kenshin focused chapter, mainly episode 6 but without its ending. Then after that, it will come to the last few episodes of season 1.
Credit for the creation of OC Jake Jackson, along with Mimi, Freya, Synatra, and Lola, goes to -Ghost. Check out his story called The Devil amoung the Angels: Return of the Ripper. Yes I did gain permission from him using his OC 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.