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.

A typhoon had swept by at military facility of the Japan Self-Defense Force, specifically the navy. The rain pouring constantly like a tremendous thunderstorm was overhead. The water levels rising on the floor and every single drop echoed off of anything made of metal. The gusting winds didn't make this storm any less beautiful and neither did the lightning that emerged.

But typhoons and chaotic winds are the least bit of the worries of this facility.

*SLASH*

"GUAAGH!"

A JSDF guard was cut down by a sword, along with many others from someone wielding a katana. Her sword dripped with the blood of all those good men. The tip letting down droplets that echoed as they hit the floor.

The captain of the facility had shaky legs and hands, seeing his good men cut down by the mysterious assailant. With just a M1911 pistol in hand, pointed towards the assailant, he hesitates to fire.

The assailant approaches but the scared captain shouts back, "S-Stay back! I'll kill you!"

The assailant however does not respond as the captain soon gives in to despair and fires.

*BANG BANG BANG*

Emptying the clip in his pistol does he fire every single bullet. But they were all deflected by the katana of the assailant. She could only snicker calmly of seeing and relishing the final moments of the captain. But before she could attack in retaliation, she smiles wickedly. And then…

*SHIING*

With one gaze of her eyes does the captain catch onto it and instantly, he becomes paralyzed with fear.

"M-My legs…" He realized, seeing that he could not move.

Still bearing that wicked smile does the assailant approach the captain with her sword raised and cries,

"Die!"

*SHIINK*

Just as the thunder claps and the lightning emerges, the captains life ends by the sword of the assailant.

(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 Udō 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-Ryū 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)

It was a weekend at the IS Academy. With no classes to take, everyone was either out shopping, at home with their parents, training in their IS, or staying at the Academy hanging out. Since this was the weekend, it was a perfect time for a break, especially on a group of IS pilots who have their own personal IS, minus one.

In the cafeteria, the gang, plus Liu King-sang who was invited, was served a traditional Chinese dish called zhajiangmian.

And it was made by Houki, who was getting some cooking lessons thanks to a Chinese recipe book she borrowed from Rin.

As for Liu, he got special request to enter the Academy thanks to Rin. It took a lot of convincing for him to visit, but Chifuyu allowed it just this once. In return, they must not speak of Liu's true nature to anyone else, not to one single other person in the Academy, student or otherwise. Surprisingly, Liu accepted and was officially seen as "just visiting."

"Well, everyone, how is it?" asked Houki as she serves some of the zhajiangmian.

But she got no response from them all. Raiden seemed to be keeping a smile as he eats the zhajiangmian. Liu had an expression that this was the worst dish he had. Cecilia tried to keep a straight face, but she and Charlotte raised eyebrows of the taste. As for Laura, well, she tried to remain calm but the taste in her mouth was expressed through how bad it was.

"Well, everyone, how is it?" asked Houki again when she got no answer. "I rolled up my sleeves for this! Say something!"

When she looks at Liu, she could not help but remark, "Oh, Liu is drooling all over because it's good! Not!" Houki giggles at her joke.

But Liu was not impressed with both the joke and the dish and only responded with one word.

"Disgusting," Liu said.

That made Houki angry real fast as her hair flares up, her eyes narrow in anger.

And sad to say, the others felt the same as Liu.

"It's too salty," Cecilia said whilst drinking water.

"Too spicy!" Charlotte concurred.

Ichika tries to reassure them as he eats. "Now, now. Houki at least did her best so we can at least appreciate her efforts."

Even though he said that, Ichika did find the dish did not taste so good. Still, he was not one to criticize his first childhood friend's cooking. If he did that, he'd feel bad about it, and perhaps get another beating from Houki.

Raiden however was quiet, continuing to eat his portion. Either he kept silent on the taste, or he was rather enjoying it oddly enough.

"Hey, Raiden," Liu looked at his blind friend. "It must be tough for you if you eat Houki's Chinese like this every day as her roommate…"

Raiden however tries to keep a positive attitude to maintain Houki's dignity despite the bad taste in his mouth. "No, no. Houki-dono's cooking is good. It tastes better each time I eat, that it does."

That was just a blatant lie and Liu knew it. "It's not food from a foreign land… WOAAH!"

Then suddenly stuff starts flying out towards the Triad. By Houki herself. "If you have complaints, don't come here! You come to the Academy for free anyway!"

Liu, hiding behind Raiden and using him as a shield much to the blind boy's confusion as he says "Oro" every time he is moved, replies, "Hey, Rin was the one who invited me in the first place! If you got someone to blame, blame her!"

"Oro. Oro. Oro."

*BAM BAM BAM*

"ORROO!"

Raiden gets hit several times by all the ingredients and other stuff thrown by Houki.

"Why, you little…!"

*BAM*

"ORO!?"

One last hit to Raiden was an empty wooden mixing bowl, which rolls across the floor of the cafeteria. And it nearly hits the foot of an incoming person who intrudes.

"Huh? What's going on here?" Rin asked as she saw Liu behind Raiden using him as shield.

"Ah, Rin!" Houki saw. "I was trying to cook a zhajiangmian from that cookbook I borrowed from you. I did follow the recipe but for some reason everyone hates it! Even Raiden here!"

Rin looks to see Liu used Raiden as a shield, and multiple steamy lumps formed on the blind pilot's head from all the stuff being thrown at him. The Chinese Representative Candidate could see why Raiden got what he deserved.

She then looks over at the zhajiangmian Houki cooked and takes a whiff. "Well, it does smell like one. It can't be that bad, can it?"

Rin then takes some chopsticks and grabs some of the noodles to have a taste. After one mouthful, she chews on it. But the next moment came when her face turned blue.

Quickly, she runs over to the kitchen sink, facing down onto the drain.

*BLEEGH*

"EEHH?!" Houki was stunned.

After spitting out her portion, Rin quickly grabs bucket loads of water from the faucet and drinks, spitting some out into the sink to get the bad taste out of her mouth.

"How much ginger did you put in there!?" Rin asked turning around.

"The book you sent said three tablespoons!" Houki defended herself.

Rin was shocked. "Three?! Who the hell puts three tablespoons of ginger in there?!"

Rin quickly rushes over and checks the book Houki had with her. Looking up the recipe, she goes through the ingredient list and then spots the problem.

"It says three TEAspoons!" She said pointing it out to Houki. "Not TABLEspoons!"

Houki looks over the book and then, bashfully, turns red out of embarrassment.

"…Oh."

"Hey, who's that over there?" asked Cecilia pointing to the empty area of cafeteria.

Laura then sees someone to her left approaching them, someone of the military. Still not use to life as a student of the Academy, she gets tense and assumes a defensive stance on the assumption of an approaching hostile. But a hand stops her.

"Easy there, Laura-dono," Raiden reassures, somehow normal with the steamy lumps on his head gone and his wobbly vision now clear. "He's a friendly one."

"Alright," Laura acknowledges, standing down yet watching Raiden approach the incoming person.

To the shock of all, the person was a man who appeared in a white military ceremonial uniform, complete with a hat and the ranking stars on his shoulders and ranks on the left side of his chest, indicating he was from the JSDF. A lieutenant general. He was a man of his late fifties to early sixties, sporting a thick mustache.

"Raiden, we finally meet again," The man said with a smile as he removes his hat. "You've grown to be a fine young man."

Raiden replies warmly, "And you got yourself a mustache, that you have, Yamagata."

Liu then asks, "Raiden, you know this man?"

"Everyone, meet Yamagata Haruto, lieutenant general of the JSDF. He's an old acquaintance of my guardian."

"Raiden, you're familiar with the JSDF?" asked Charlotte.

Yamagata explains, "Raiden's guardian, Akane Fujimoto, was a member of the JSDF who, operating with international authorization as a member of the CIA under my request, founded the Kingslayer and took care of him for eight years. Under my legal watch, of course."

"Yamagata…" Houki was then shocked with widened eyes. "Wait, Yamagata like Yamagata Aritomo?!"

"Houki, you know of the name?" Cecilia asked.

"Yamagata Aritomo was a military commander of the Imperial Meiji Army during the Meiji Era, its Chief of Staff to be exact. He then became a twice-elected Prime Minister, ruling Japan for almost 15 years. He was pretty much the head of the entire Japanese military during the Meiji Era, the father of our modern military."

Laura, perhaps to respect the fact that she beheld herself a lieutenant general of the JSDF and an ancestor of a historical military figure, stands up and gives a salute.

Charlotte then understood. "I forgot Laura was raised by the German military. Ehehe."

"Ahh, so you know of my ancestor," Yamagata was impressed of Houki's knowledge. "Yes, I am a direct descendant of that man. But I have no ambition to be Prime Minister like Aritomo before me. I am content as lieutenant general of the JSDF, even if Japan technically no longer has a military."

"How did you get in, Yamagata?" asked Raiden. "The Academy is prohibited to all, even the JSDF."

Yamagata then turns his attention over to Raiden and answers, "On that note, I need to speak to you privately, Raiden. There is something I must talk to you about."

"I have no problem with that, Yamagata," Raiden acknowledged. "But… you may need to convince her first, that you do."

When Raiden points over to his left, Yamagata turns to see Chifuyu standing there, with something of a stern look as if she heard everything.

But even in the presence of a teacher, of the 1st Brunhilde, Yamagata was unfazed. But out of respect, he does give his greetings.

"Forgive the intrusion on your students, Brunhilde, but I need to speak to Raiden about something. Alone."

Chifuyu though was not having it, whilst maintaining her cool. "General, you know the Academy prohibits all outside forces of using students for their own gains. That includes the JSDF."

"I'm not asking for a student. I'm asking for Hitokiri Kingslayer."

That send a shock to everyone before they turned to Raiden. But his expression looked remote, like it was unchanged.

Ichika was the first to speak, thinking of what the military general was doing. "Oi! You can't just take our best friend and have him kill—"

"Quiet, Orimura!" Chifuyu reprimands before turning her gaze back to Yamagata. "General, do you really intend to unleash an assassin from ten years ago? Since when have the politicians at the Diet got this scared to the point they need to turn someone into something they do not want to be ever again?"

Yamagata however reveals, "I am aware that Raiden has taken a vow never to kill again, Brunhilde. His disappearance from the world as Hitokiri Kingslayer was a show of determination of his vow. Although, I admit, Akane Fujimoto takes most of that credit. And I am not asking him to ever go back to that path. All I ask is for his help this one time. Of your students, he is the only one who has seen the dark side of the IS and knows how to contain it."

"But he is still one of MY students."

"And one that may be helpful to us in what I must share with him."

"Helpful to you and the Diet? Or helpful to the students here?"

Yamagata then said, "Helpful to everyone. And I mean, Everyone."

The Brunhilde glares at the lieutenant general, still not buying his words. She wouldn't allow anyone, or anything, touch her students, not even Raiden. Ever since Raiden entered the Academy, he was under rules and regulations regarding the use of the students by outside forces. As explained in the Academy Appendix, as long as the students are enrolled for three years, they are not affiliated with any nation, company, or group while in school.

At the same time though, Raiden was a special case. He was Hitokiri Kingslayer, the legendary hitokiri who slew the king and queen of Luxembourg. She was given the full history and file regarding his hitokiri life and identity thanks to some people she knew in intelligence agencies around the globe. And she saw for herself that he wanted to change and follow a path of nonviolence. While Chifuyu is sometimes one to bend rules here and there, it was done so for good reason. But ultimately, this was down to Raiden's decision. If the lieutenant general of the JSDF is here for Raiden, then the situation must be so urgent as to acquire his help alone.

Chifuyu sighs in reluctance. Though she didn't like it, she had to comply.

"Very well, General. But on one condition: you tell ALL of us here in this room right here and right now. No exceptions."

Yamagata nods, not wanting to continue further arguing with the best pilot in the world.

With the table of food clear, Yamagata sits across from Raiden, who sits with Chifuyu next to her. Everyone else had to keep their distance since there was little room, so they all pulled chairs from the other nearby tables and sat across from the view.

Of the IS pilots closest to the meeting, Laura was the first, followed by Houki, Liu, Rin, Ichika, Cecilia, and Charlotte.

"Thank you, Raiden," Yamagata thanked. "I'll keep this brief. We recently uncovered a target that the JSDF would like your help with. An IS pilot gone rogue."

That shocks everyone except Laura, Chifuyu, and Liu. Their eyes narrow instead.

"Codenamed Kurogasa," Yamagata explains. "She's an IS pilot of amazing skill. For the past five years, she has gone after people connected to the IS, ranging from big-name politicians to business corporate CEOs and even to Representative Candidates."

Rin was stunned. "Representative Candidates?"

"She announces her targets before going to work. First she slices through the police guard, including our IS pilots, and kills bystanders as if she enjoys slaying people. Among the victims have been countless women and children."

Ichika was aghast. "That's horrible. Why hasn't anyone been able to stop her?"

"Every time the police guards are on duty, they're all slain before they can even pull out their guns and anti-IS weapons. Some of our IS pilots were even slain before they had a chance to activate their IS."

"Before they activate their IS?" asked Cecilia.

"Which means we are dealing with a pro here," Laura deduced in a serious mood.

All eyes looked to Raiden, who was quiet regarding what has been told. Then, he breaks his silence to voice his opinion.

"Kurogasa…" Raiden said. "She must be what I was back then: a hitokiri, that she is."

"A hitokiri?" asked a surprised Charlotte.

"Ten years have passed since Tabane Shinonono introduced the IS to the world. And yet, this IS pilot's heart is taken by the smell and color of blood, evident of the fact that she can pilot an IS, a weapon that man cannot wield. She cannot stop being a hitokiri, that she cannot. A poor woman, that she is."

Chifuyu then asks, "General, why is the JSDF involved in this rogue pilot?"

"Just this morning, I received word that Kurogasa had attacked one of our military facilities developing new IS defense weaponry. She had already stolen the blueprints on a design of a fusion cannon meant for the new Representative Cadet of Japan who was a member of the JSDF Navy. But with her dead and the state of the art technology now in enemy hands, the politicians have been hounding at me for our next move."

"And you decided to come to Raiden for help," Chifuyu deduced.

"Exactly. I would not have made such a choice if there were no other options. Granted, I did consider asking you, Brunhilde, but the Diet has considered you to be 'retired from IS piloting' and basically swept you off the table."

Chifuyu scoffs at the decision. "What a bunch of idiots. You still could've asked me privately, General, before you decided to take one of my students for a joy ride. If I could still pilot an IS and take this rogue pilot on, you bet your ass I would have!"

Ichika, hearing his sister's proclamation, was stunned to hear Chifuyu this angry in front of a lieutenant-general. Sure, his sister is strong, and he does not doubt her strength. But her anger of using one of her students to fight a rogue IS pilot must be hitting her nerves quite badly. And to hear her being swept off the table by the politicians really wounded him as well, thinking that the politicians see her as weak and no longer someone to depend on.

"You're preaching to the choir, Brunhilde," Yamagata said calmly despite Chifuyu's anger. "If it were up to me, I'd give you a damn medal. Unfortunately, not everyone will see it that way. Thankfully though, no one at the Diet knows that Raiden is the Kingslayer. And besides, they do not expect me to look for help in the form of the 2nd male IS pilot."

The lieutenant-general then looks towards Raiden, who looked back at his good friend.

"You may have killed many as a hitokiri, Raiden, but you ceased the slaughter and vowed to never do it again. For those politicians who cannot admit this, I will use my…"

"Authority to put them down," Raiden finishes, surprising Yamagata. But still Raiden maintains a smile of content and peace. "That train of thought is what creates conceited men like those on the Diet. We once fought with our swords. Not for power or glory, but for a world where everyone can live in happiness. If you forget that, Yamagata, then you're a usurper."

"But, Raiden… times have changed. It is the Reiwa Era now. The IS has been prohibited to be used as a weapon, and noble samurai like you are all but dying out. You can't do anything in this Reiwa era with just one sword, one IS… without power."

Still, Raiden smiles. "Even if it's just the people that I see as I walk by, I can protect them with one sword, that I can."

Yamagata was not sure what to say. While he certainly agrees that Raiden is not one to kill any longer, he still needs his help regardless. Perhaps a small part of him wished for Raiden to go back to what he was temporarily in an effort to eliminate the rogue IS pilot Japan was having. Any other would be asking the same request from him, thinking only on the safety of their nation.

Sighing, Yamagata says, "Very well. We will play this your way, Raiden. We'll see how far your vow can take you in this."

"I appreciate that, that I do," Raiden thanks, bowing in gratitude.

"So, what's Kurogasa's next target?" chimed in Laura. "Is it the JSDF again?"

"No," Yamagata denied. "We had received word from one our spies from the Osaka Police Force that Kurogasa's next target would be someone from Dunois Enterprise."

Upon hearing the word Dunois, Ichika gasps. As does Charlotte. Their bodies stiffen up in response to the name, prompting the others to wonder what they were surprised about.

But for Raiden, upon hearing such gasps, he keeps still and remote.

Later that night, Raiden worked his way over to a tall corporate building that was one of Dunois Enterprise's international headquarters, situated in Japan. With permission from the police and the JSDF, he was allowed to take part in the protection of one of Dunois Enterprise's important members. Rozenta seemed to not know who Raiden is despite his appearance, but she

As for Rozenta, she was surrounded by her own personal guards, plus some young jocks she had hired or bribed for money in exchange for protection. For someone as Charlotte's stepmother, she sure was a coward in the face of her own death. Then again, they could have been hired by her husband Albert Dunois to protect her while she is overseas.

Raidne sat far away from the group, not wanting to mingle with any of them and knowing how

"To think Dunois Enterprise would resort to these young jocks to protect their lady…" Liu muttered disgustingly. "I don't like these guys."

Raiden then asks Liu a question regarding his presence. "But, why are you here?"

"In one word, Omega. Turns out Aria's also looking for Kurogasa and wants someone to handle it. Problem is, she can't use her own men lest they be caught by the police thanks to being on their wanted list, so she has to depend on outside help like the RU."

Raiden nonchalantly warns, "This is going to be a bloodbath, Liu."

"No shit. I heard all of JSDF members were slain before they could pull out their guns. What does it mean?"

Liu brought up a good point for Raiden to ponder. "Perhaps it is…"

"You have a clue?" Liu asked. "By any chance, do you know who Kurogasa is?"

*DING DONG*

Before Raiden could answer, the clock struck midnight. The time when Kurogasa would strike had come. Everyone prepares themselves to protect Rozenta Dunois. With all entrances blocked by security and their perimeter more than secured, Kurogasa would have no choice but to kick down the front door since stealth was not an option.

Some time passes though yet the guards outside hear some bushes nearby rattling. One of them pulls out a gun and calls out, "W-Who's there?"

In a flash, something emerges out and draws its blade, slashing at the guard. And all the rest outside.

"GAAAGH!"

The sounds of screaming outside made both Raiden and Liu go to the window and open it. They looked to find the bodies of the security guards cut down and dead right on the spot. They didn't even have a chance to pull out their guns, just like the reports said regarding Kurogasa.

But that is when they heard more screams, this time inside the building near the front door.

"He's coming!" Raiden said. "Liu and I will take frontlines. Everyone else, protect Rozenta Dunois!"

Everyone prepares their weapons as Liu and Raiden activate there is and stand right in front of the front door entrance leading to the office. If Kurogasa was coming after Rozenta, she will have to get through a plethora of guards, two IS pilots included.

But five intense minutes had passed, and all was quiet. Too quiet.

One of the young jocks lets his guard down and scoffs, "W-Was it just a prank?"

It was the wrong thing to say as he soon found out in a flash.

*SHIINK*

"UWAAGH!"

Sliced across the back and killed instantly made everyone turn around from the front door and look to the window. And lo and behold laid Kurogasa, the rogue IS pilot. By the looks of it, she was piloting what appeared to be an Uchigane IS, a 2nd generation model no doubt. But there were several notable differences.

For one, it was painted black and blood red in color. Another was that the armor overing above the shoulders and on the hips was shrunken down a little in size to be made to fit her stature. And instead of an IS suit that normal trainee pilots wore, Kurogasa had covered hers with parts of her clothing that she still wore.

And its name unsurprisingly was just like the assailant. Kurogasa.

Beneath the IS, she wore a black bodysuit that covers all her body except her face and gray hair, over which she wears a tan kimono with a brown belt and a long red scarf. She also was wearing black boots and a black straw hat.

Kurogasa chuckles with that wicked smile, holding her sword which appeared to be a standard issue katana that all Uchigane IS pilots wield but the hilt was gold colored instead and the blade dripped with blood of her slain victim.

"Here they are…" Kurogasa said as she looks up. "Little bugs with no lives."

Lifting up a finger and pointing, she counts how many people there are in the room.

"One, two, three…" Kurogasa chuckles. "About fourteen or fifteen. Less than I thought there would be."

Liu whispers to Raiden without taking his eyes off the female rogue pilot, "T-Those eyes… She's too dangerous!"

"I'll deal with her, "Raiden said. "I trust you with Rozenta Dunois."

But Rozenta, hiding behind her chair out of great fear and desperate to preserve her life, orders, "K-Kill her! Whoever defeats her will be paid five times over! I'll get you into the army as an officer, too!"

The young jocks all got excited at that offer and charge in.

"Five times!"

"Officer!"

"All right, this bitch is mine!"

"I will have it!"

All the young jocks, spurred by such an offer of greed, then took their guns and charged right in, firing as they do. Liu could only scoff and call them idiots, seeing them throw away their lives for greed.

For Kurogasa however, she could only laugh like mad at the young men charging at her. She jumps over the first one, mockingly laughing at them, and cuts down the first. Three more charge in but were easily wide open for her to cut them down like they were nothing.

"What a good feeling…" She said in joy like she was a madwoman.

So quick. But Hina does not jump in the same way Raiden does, yet her sword gleams in a creepy way.

Both Rozenta and the remaining volunteers were now struck with fear, shaking tremendously at the slaughter. Some of them crapped or peed in their pants. Others had shaky legs and even fell to the ground on their butts.

"Don't move!" Kurogasa suddenly cried as she casts her gaze onto the crowd.

*SHIING*

And just like how she paralyzed the captain at the JSDF facility, everyone was caught immobile by her gaze.

Even Liu couldn't escape. "T-This is… I can't move!"

"It's wrong to run away…" Kurogasa said as she walks like a predator to its prey. "Once men draw swords, they must face each other until someone dies. It's not fun otherwise. Hehehe."

Liu, still unable to move, asks, "W-What the fuck did you do?"

Kurogasa looks to her left to see Liu struggling, but he was able to move his right foot to take a step. He tries to hold up Venom Slug in his right hand, but he could barely move it.

Kurogasa however was impressed. "Oh, you can still move? You aren't as weak as I thought, for a male IS pilot of the Righteousness Union."

She then approaches him with her sword and asks, "What would you like me to cut off? Your arm? Or your head?"

"Fuck you, bitch! Ggh…" Liu retorted as Kurogasa draws ever closer.

But it seems fate was on his side.

"Nikaidou Heihou, Shin no Ippō," Raiden's voice was heard. "Another name for it being Iskumi no Jutsu – the technique of freezing in fear!"

Raiden soon appears in his IS Lion Heart, jumping behind Liu to the surprise of Kurogasa and draws out his Sakabatō in a battojutsu stance in the air. He executes a quick Ryū Tsui Sen that hits the top of Kurogasa's blade before he dashes forward. Unfortunately, he was cut in turn on the wrist but it was a shallow wound.

As soon as he lands, Raiden turns around. "So it was you! I heard rumors in Luxembourg ten years ago. A hitokiri who could target by forcing energy from her eyes into theirs! The user of Shin no Ippō. Phantom Task hitokiri, Udō Hina!"

Kurogasa laughs, seeing that her true name is revealed for all to hear. She turns around to face Raiden while still bearing that dark smile.

"I have also heard of a legendary hitokiri, once part of Phantom Task, who had now been using Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū. A manslayer with long silver hair like a lion's, and a blindfold to cover up his scarred eyes from which he cannot see! Hitokiri Kingslayer!"

Hina further laughs, like she found her real prey.

"This is fun," She said. "I haven't had this much fun in some time. To think that I would meet the Kingslayer… The days of ten years ago that I have longed for finally return."

She then looks briefly to her left of the victims still paralyzed by her Shin no Ippō before looking back to Raiden. "I no longer care for pigs rotting in money and power. I have finally found my real target, and with it, the task to complete my mission given to me by your former handler!"

*SHIING*

Using Shin no Ippō, Hina freezes Raiden in place, trapping him. However, it did not last long, not even for five seconds.

"HAAH!" Raiden cries as he breaks out of the gaze. "Shin no Ippō is not sorcery, but a competition of wills! If my swordsman's spirit is at your level, I will not fall prey to it!"

Hina was slightly amused at seeing the greatest of all hitokiri break out of her gaze. The legends really must run deep and true.

"Hina, we both slaughtered many during those tragic days in Luxembourg, that we did," Raiden said. "But you did it just to see blood, regardless of foe or ally…"

Raiden and Hina then recall for the latter in Kyoto, slaughtering both friend and foe alike in different locations. But while Raiden was reaching his target i.e. the royal family of Luxembourg, Hina was just slaughtering anyone in her path, including innocent men, women, and children. If there was ever a killer in Luxembourg that day that was overlooked by the authorities, it was her.

"If Squall has really sent you, then go back and tell her this. I refuse to become her pet again, that I will not! I found a new path, a new life!"

Hina however retains her smile. "I can hardly believe me ears. Kingslayer, the merciless manslayer who slew the king and queen of Luxembourg, who would freeze men's blood from fear. But I will not go back. In fact, you are the reason why I have been hunting and killing: to draw you out. And now that I have..."

Hina soon turns her attention over to a frozen Lorentz Dunois, still paralyzed by Shin no Ippō as she leaps up to skewer the woman in question. "First, I will get rid of this rotten slime of a pig and fulfill my vindication role of assassination."

"URAAGH!" Liu cries as he too breaks free from Shin no Ippō. This catches the two hitokiris' attention as they see him bring out his nodachi, Heavenly Emperor. "A bit too early for checkmate, fucker!"

*SHIING*

And with one mighty swing of Heavenly Emperor, Liu unleashes a crescent moon beam slash towards Hina's blade at point blank range.

*BOOM*

One small explosion later and it seemed like Liu got her. However…

*PSSH*

Blood sprouts from his arms to see that they were both cut. Both arms of his IS were also cut off as well as Hina could only stand where she stood, having blocked his attack easily.

She laughs and mocks, "Pathetic. A Triad such as you, even if you are another male IS pilot, could never take on a hitokiri."

Raiden had enough of her laughter as he charges in. "Hina!"

Soon, a clash of two former hitokiri and their swords takes over the rest of the room. With Liu injured and everyone else still trapped from Shin no Ippō, they could only watch as two assassins duke it out.

*CLANG*

Their blades meet in contact as Raiden spins in the air and lands his feet on the ceiling before charging back down. Hina did not react in time from being assaulted from behind.

*BANG*

And one swing of the Sakabatō sends Hina flying, but she uses her hand to land and push off from the floor before hopping back to the open window. Her head bled from the result of Raiden's impact but it was not enough to knock her out.

To the naked eye, both Hina and Raiden looked like they were evenly matched. Despite the back and forth of katanas, both had switched to offense and defense in an almost rapid pace.

Raiden jumps up to avoid Hina's slash, implanting his feet to the ceiling before he comes down with a Ryū Tsui Sen. Unfortunately, Hina was so strong that she can block a mighty blow easily. Raiden backs away and prepares himself yet Hina chuckles, lowering her guard.

And the reason for that is because Raiden's left arm bore a small scratch, and it bled.

Hina, noticing this, mocks, "Boring. How utterly boring. You're nothing like what you were ten years ago, as the Kingslayer. When a hitokiri stops slaying men… When you don't kill anyone for ten years… You should realize how much your swordsman's spirit will go down!"

Wasting enough time in this debacle, Hina sheathes her katana away. As she does, the effect of Shin no Ippō dissipates, breaking everyone including Rozenta Dunois free from Hina's hold.

"I will give you one week," Hina said to Raiden as she stood by the window in her IS Kurogasa. "By then, return to who you used to be! Become again the hitokiri who froze men's blood! I want to kill that Kingslayer from Luxembourg ten years ago!"

Hina laughs as the winds pick up, the curtains on the window frame covering her form.

"Hina!" Raiden shouted.

But as the win dies down, Hina was no longer standing where she was. Liu runs out to the window to see where Hina was but could find no sight of her. The threat was over, at least for now.

AN HOUR LATER…

With the battle over, everyone is treated of their wounds. Rozenta was tended to by her personal guards while the police count their dead. Raiden and Liu sat separate from the others, all patched up and thinking about Udō Hina.

"Fuck…" Liu groans. "That IS pilot totally lost it. You've become her target now."

An unconcerned Raiden responds, "I don't care. This works out better, that it does."

Liu then realizes, "You… You accepted her offer, didn't you? Knowing that this would happen?"

"She does seem to have a point," Raiden said. "Right now, there is no way for me to win against her. However, I intend to defeat her regardless…"

Raiden then stands up before putting the Sakabatō by his side. "As someone who also lived as a hitokiri ten years ago, this battle is a part of my life that I cannot continue to avoid, that is."

Liu couldn't find any fault with Raiden's thinking. And with him injured, he knew that assisting Raiden was not an option. Nor would it be one he would consider taking as the situation now has no direct threat to him or to the Righteousness Union.

"Looks like I'm completely out of the picture, huh?" asked a casual Liu. "Fine by me."

Raiden then turns to Liu and says, "Liu, I have a favor to ask. Please relay a message to Houki-dono and the others."

The next day, on a Sunday, Liu heads over to the IS Academy, this time stopping at the dojo to inform Houki of the news about Raiden. Thanks to knowing about Houki's morning schedule with Ichika, Liu knew that she would have to be at the dojo training in Kendo.

But when Liu finds Houki, she sees her outside by the dojo and asleep while sitting and leaning on a wall, with a bit of drool coming down the side of her mouth.

"Sheesh…" Liu said. "That isn't the face a girl her age should make."

"She said she was worried about Raiden last night, and couldn't sleep," Ichika revealed as he was sweeping.

"Is that so?"

Now Liu had several ways to wake a person up. Usually it would just be a light tap on the shoulder. If they won't wake up, then he'll keep doing it until they do. He's patient enough not to pull some sort of stupid stunt and have his sword in a person's mouth or a gun to their head.

But for this case with Houki, maybe it is fun to do something comical.

Taking both of her cheeks, Liu stretches them outwards, making a funny face. Even asleep does Houki bare such a humorous expression, only when her cheeks are pulled.

Ichika could not help but snicker at the sight, trying to hold in his laughter. However, the fox soon wakes up with a shinai in hand.

*BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM*

And steamy lumps were formed on the boys' heads.

"Welcome back," An irritated and woken up Houki said.

"Yeah, I'm back," Liu said, maintaining his cool. Ichika though was knocked out, almost.

But as soon as Houki regains her cool, she realizes that Liu was alone.

"Ara? Where's Raiden?" She asked.

Liu, after rubbing his head, answered, "Raiden won't be coming back."

A gasped and shocked Ichika asks, "Not coming back? What do you mean?"

Even Houki too was stunned, learning the blind boy was not coming back.

"He's to throwing everything away to fight Kurogasa."

"Throw everything away?" asked a confused Houki.

"If he came back and saw our faces, his heart would soften. He wanted to stay away for a while, and concentrate. Otherwise, he can't defeat that monster… so he said. I think he's trying to come as close as he can to becoming a hitokiri again."

This was shocking news to the two. Based on what Liu said, if Raiden was going back to his hitokiri mode, then he may never return from it. The legendary manslayer from ten years ago would come back to life and spread fear and paranoia across the school.

For Liu, he sort of understood the choice Raiden made. He intended to fight this fight alone but not be suicidal about it. Even the Triad was no match for the IS pilot last night and his hands were still recovering from the wounds he was inflicted with. If Raiden has to become Hitokiri Kingslayer just to defeat Kurogasa, then it is by his choice to do it. But what he fears most is if he will have to break his vow to not kill.

Ichika though was not happy to listen to it, hearing that his best friend may have to become a hitokiri.

"But-But we can't just let that happen!" Ichika protested. "Raiden would never do that! We should go help him."

But Liu stops him. "No!"

"What do you mean no?"

"Ichika, I was there fighting Kurogasa and she is insanely strong. Enough to make my arms bleed even after I attempted to slice her with my sword. Only Raiden managed to hold his own but just barely. You may win against a Golem, but against a rogue IS pilot, even your sister would hold you back from engaging."

Houki however had enough. There was no way she could just sit by and just do nothing, not when she heard Liu saying Raiden may go back to being a hitokiri again.

Getting up, she goes to run out.

"Hey, Houki, where are you…" Ichika shouted.

"Where else?" Houki said turning around. "I'm going to look for Raiden!"

"Don't be stupid!" Liu said. "Are you going to get in his way? That rogue IS pilot is many times stronger than everyone here! And you don't have an IS on you!"

A stubborn Houki soon falters, hearing that last phrase. Indeed, she does not have an IS. And there was in no way she could aid Raiden against an IS pilot who has killed multiple innocents. It pained her heart that she could do nothing.

But she was a Shinonono, from a proud and prestigious family dating back to the Sengoku era. And her pride as a samurai and as a woman would not allow her to just simply stand by while the man she admires and cares for goes off to fight. In fact, it scared her to think he may become Hitokiri Kingslayer again despite having never seen him fall to it yet.

"If Raiden… If Raiden doesn't come back, what are we going to do?" asked Houki. "Yes, I'm sure he's not going to come back! If he defeats Kurogasa, he will return to his old self… And he's going to go wandering off again!"

'I don't even know when I'll wander away again.'

"Mother and Father were forced to leave me because of my sister," Houki said. "And if Raiden leaves me… I don't want to be alone again. No, I don't!"

With that, Houki takes off immediately, leaving behind her Kendo equipment as she races out of the Academy.

"W-Wait, Houki!" Ichika called as he goes to chase her, but a hand stops him. "Liu, what are you—"

"Let her go, Ichika," Liu said. "Perhaps she can speak some sense into Raiden. And besides, Raiden hasn't ventured far from the Academy."

"How do you know?" asked a confused Ichika.

"There's a spot he goes to, a park to be exact, overlooking an ocean. And on that lake lies the IS Academy Island."

Sitting on one of the parks on a bench, looking out to the bodies of water that separated the IS Academy from the mainland, Raiden sat in contemplation with his Sakabatō in his hand. Ever since the battle last night, he had been thinking deeply on how to proceed with Udō Hina. Right now, her whereabouts are unknown, but it is most likely she will come to the IS Academy. And if she does, there will be nothing but mass chaos and slaughter. Her thirst for blood knows no bounds and Raiden barely managed to hold her back.

'Can I win with a Sakabatō?'

If Hina wasn't stopped, she will continue slaughtering anyone in her way. And the other Personal IS pilots will be no match for her; not even Ichika will survive. Somehow, someway, there has to be a way to lure Hina away from the public to a remote and open area. Somewhere far away from people.

And with Hina targeting Raiden, she'll find him when he is alone and not surrounded by anyone.

Footsteps were soon heard behind Raiden, and he pops his Sakabatō out of its sheath just in case to draw it out on whoever was behind him. However…

"Raiden…" An angered Houki called out from behind.

Raiden turns around with an "Oro," and when he realizes it was Houki, he startles himself in shock, sheathing his sword but cutting his thumb in the process.

"There you are," Houki said, still pissed and walking over to sit right next toi Raiden.

'She's even scarier than Hina, that she is.'

As Houki sits down next to him, she says, "I heard the story. I'm not going back to the Academy, either. I'll stay here with you."

"You heard about Hina, that you did?" asked Raiden seriously.

Houki confirms, "I did. But I'm not going back."

Raiden did not want to argue with Houki, but he could not exactly follow with her reckless if not foolish plan to stay with him.

"If I fight while protecting someone…" Raiden said. "I cannot possibly win against Hina."

Houki could not exactly argue with Raiden when he says that. Though it felt offensive to her personally, he was nonetheless right. If Raiden was fighting a rogue IS pilot and an innocent bystander was caught in the middle, it could put Raiden at a disadvantage. His vow to never kill again ties into the wellbeing and protection of other people, IS pilots included. Though not an IS pilot herself, Houki was his roommate. And someone whom he considers special to him and vice versa.

But she was not going to just sit by and watch someone fight without her in it. Not while she had something to say about it. Her personal conscience would not allow it. Standing up, she walks until she looks at Raiden face to face.

"Houki-dono?"

Houki then lets loose her green hair ribbon, letting down her long hair. She holds it out and says, "My favorite green ribbon. I'll lend it to you, Raiden."

Raiden was perplexed. "Even if I borrow it, I have…"

"Just borrow it!" Houki demanded.

"Yes!" Raiden squealed, being surprised.

Houki returns to her normal expression. "All right, I'm just lending it to you! You have to return it! If you go on a journey after you fight, Hina, and forget to return it…" Houki warned while blushing a bit. "I won't forgive you."

Raiden didn't know what to say as he views back and forth between Houki and the ribbon in confusion, wondering what this promise was all about. But a promise was a promise and, for the sake of not angering Houki further, he decides to keep the ribbon and places it inside his coat.

"All right," Raiden smiles. "I promise I will return to the Academy with this. So rest assured and wait there, that you should."

Houki smiles in satisfaction. "All right. That's a promise…"

Unbeknownst to the two, watching them from afar from her car, Chifuyu watched the interaction with a remote look. With the report she was told earlier today by Raiden regarding last night with Kurogasa, she had a bad feeling that a second encounter with the rogue IS pilot was inevitable.

And Houki was going to be caught in the middle. With that in mind, she best prepare for that beach side trip.

So finally we get this Rurouni Kenshin inspired chapter out of the way with the introduction of a villain inspired by one from Rurouni Kenshin. Udō Jinei. What better way than to make that villain an IS pilot whose motives and personality and fighting style ins inspired by the first majopr villain of the series.

But Udō Hina is not the only character inspired by Rurouni Kenshin. JSDF Lieutenant-Gerneral Yamagata Haruto, descended from Yamagata Aritomo, who was a real person and actually a Prime Minister of Japan. Watsuki knew what he was doing when creating the Rurouni Kenshin series, using infamous people from the Meiji Era into the story whose roles worked out very well. While I would describe him as like the Aritomo in terms of personality, given that he is a descendant of the man, I'd more attribute him to Admiral Steve Hackett from Mass Effect, someone who believes in the words of a fellow soldier when faced with an imminent threat.

The fight between Hina and Raiden was not really the best one I can make, I admit. But reading the manga version and watching the anime version of the fight made it difficult for me to decipher and describe the moves from both opponents. Especially if they were moving at such speeds of constant clashing. I'm no sword expert nor am I a trainer that can observe how a fight goes down and because samurai had often fought so swiftly and fast as compared to normal medieval knights who make it all dramatic, it was hard to analyze the fight.

EDIT: thanks to watching the 2023 series of Rurouni Kenshin, I found a much clearer fight scene to use, albeit shorter than the last but still better described.

Finally, we get to see Houki become real upset of Raiden's vendetta. Of taking the choice to fight Hina alone without help from anyone, and possibly going back to his Hitokiri Kingslayer mode. In response, she gives him her green hair ribbon from season 1. Now I know what you're thinking. "Why give him the green hair ribbon? Have you forgotten it burned up in episode 11 of season 1?"

No, I have not forgotten it burned up. Houki will still receive the white ribbon that she wears from now in in season 2. But let's just say that during the Silver Gospel battle, she wore a different hair ribbon of a different color while Raiden kept the green one as a promise.

Next chapter is the infamous beach episode with lots of twists in it. Then after that comes the Silver Gospel.

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