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.
After school, at the open-air area of the cafeteria, Kanzashi was facing the fuming Rin. Without any explanation, she had been brought here and then was treated like this. As the "shy" personality of hers was being clearly exposed, she trembled while cringing.
But Rin was not the only one present. Houki, Cecilia, Charlotte, and Laura were also around. Although for Houki, she was only there to check just how close Kanzashi was to Raiden as both of them had observed the lion working close to her in terms of their IS.
If a certain person or two were to join them, all of the first-year personal-IS pilots would be gathered here. Eight people in total, which also meant eight IS machines. A number that only a handful of militaristic countries can barely compare themselves to.
"Err, Rin, could you calm down? You are scaring Kanzashi," Charlotte stood up and expressed her gentle nature to comfort everybody.
"Stop it, Charlotte," Laura demanded. "I'm already holding back the desire of resorting to torture and truth serum right now."
The angry Laura shot down Charlotte's words while crossing her arms and standing up. Even so, she was acting a lot gentler than how she would usually act, which was by using her bayonet.
"Don't say that, Laura. Here, Kanzashi-san, have some orange juice. You must be thirsty, right?"
Kanzashi looked up at Charlotte timidly. Seeing this, Charlotte revealed a kind smile. In Kanzashi's eyes, the French girl did not seem like a bad person.
Or so she thought, as she began drinking the orange juice. On her second mouthful, Charlotte, maintaining her "gentle" smile, asked, "So what exactly is going on with Ichika?"
Not understanding the question, Kanzashi returned a clumsy smile while tilting her head. At the same time, Cecilia and Houki stood up, outraged.
"I-I-I am saying! W-Wi-With Raiden or Ichika that!" Cecilia exclaimed.
"I-I-In a relationship?!" asked a shocked Houki, thinking Raiden is being cheated on her by another Sarashiki.
To be suddenly asked such a question, Kanzashi blinked in surprise and then gasped. After a while, her face turned red.
"M-Me and Ichika... are not like that... Neither are Raiden or I…" She frantically stated.
"Ichika?" Rin repeated in surprise and then went into thought.
'What's wrong with this person, suddenly calling him by his first name. Doesn't it seem too intimate? Wait, come to think of it, am I not the same? Well, it's not such a big deal...Yeah.'
She was boiling a second prior, then returning back to calm the next second. Then, as the five people, boiling again, stared at Kanzashi, the latter could not help but continue to shrink.
"Thi-This... is... aah... though I do not bear such thoughts... in short, it is like this..."
The usually soft-voiced Kanzashi, under the pressure of the five people in front of her, had her voice become even softer. Her last few words could not be heard. But seeing her lowering face, which became red, while fiddling with her fingers, everyone confirmed something.
"Aah, another rival, huh?" All girls stated, except Houki.
Kanzashi, like a frightened little animal, curled up. The five, now aware that Kanzashi was not actually in a relationship with Ichika or Raiden and seeing her in such a pitiful state, frantically tried to change the topic.
"Ah, um. Sarashiki... -san?" Houki asked in a state of panic.
"Kanzashi... Please just call me Kanzashi..." Kanzashi replied in the same state as well.
"Th-Then, just call us by our names as well. It's fine, right?" said Rin.
"Ah, uun..." Kanzashi replied in a slightly louder tone.
"Bu-But, thinking back, to suddenly bring you here was a little bit rude," said Cecilia with an unnatural smile.
"I'm just, just a little shocked..." Kanzashi, also feeling sorry for making them worry, responded with an awkward smile.
"Ah, um, do you want another cup of juice?" asked Charlotte.
"No, no need..." Kanzashi gently waved her hand to decline.
"Sa-Say. Since we are all first-years, why don't we all have some combat training together?" asked Laura.
"Ah, um. Thank you..." Her strong yet gentle voice made Kanzashi nod twice.
"Ahh..."
By coincidence, all six of them let out a sigh of relief. All six individuals thus carried a slightly shocked expression, releasing it only after a brief moment.
"This is kinda strange, isn't it?" Charlotte said this at the perfect timing, reaching her hand out to Kanzashi.
"From today onwards, I'll be in your care."
"Ye-Yes... I'll be in your care..."
Seeing those two shake hands, the rest nodded in agreement. Thus, a problem that weighed the heart was solved and a new competitor for Ichika and companion was born.
OP song: Suara – Hikari (For reference, look up on YouTube Utawarerumono Futari no Hakuoro trailer)
Kimi e no omoi wasurenai you ni (The first scene begins with a pair of hands grasping a red and black ribbon divided by a white line adorned with a pair of gold and silver bells. The camera soon pans out to show the said person grasping that ribbon)
mune fukaku kizamikomu kara (The person holding the ribbon is revealed to be Houki, underwater and in her IS suit as she closes her eyes, keeping the ribbon, revealed to be Akatsubaki in its standby form, close to her heart before the bubbles cover the screen)
(Opening title is introduced as Infinite Stratos 2)
Arifureta hibi wo tobikoete yukeru (Chifuyu watches from the balcony of the IS Academy the sunrise before a gentle wind blows her hair.)
habataku yuuki wo motteru (The sun's ray hits her eyes before she adjusts her sight)
Mada minu sekai ni tobidashite yukeba (Tabane Shinonono travels via a carrot-shaped airplane, colored in orange with a green tip, as it travels across the skies and she heads towards the moon)
nanika ga kitto matteiru (The camera pans over to the moon before it shifts down to Houki in her IS Akatsubaki, facing forward as her hair is blown by the wind)
Tamerau hodo no kizu wo oottemo (A blue meteor-like object falls to the arena of the IS Academy, creating an explosion of water, before revealing Tatenashi Sarashiki in her IS, Mysterious Lady, as she twirls her spear as the lake water falls like rain)
akiramenaide subete ukeireyou (Kanzashi Sarashiki appears in a holographic world in her IS, Uchigane Nishiki, while holographic data surrounds her)
Kimi e no omoi wasurenai you ni (Camera zooms down to a battlefield just beginning between IS Golems and the gang. Laura is the first to attack as she descends and slices a Golem with her wrist blades before using her cables followed by her rail gun. Rin parries a Golem with her Souten Gagetsu before taking off its head in a spin)
mune no naka fukaku kizamitsukeru(Ichika appears to take out one Golem before he dodges an incoming attack and dismantles another. The next scene cuts to Charlotte and Cecilia prepping their sniper rifles to fire.)
mezasu mirai wo yasashiku terashite (Raiden and Madoka, without their IS, engage in a close quarters weapon combat, Raiden using the Sakabatō and Madoka using the Mugenjin. After a couple of hits, Raiden is thrown high into the air from another hit from Madoka before he backflips and deploys his IS and fires his ion blasters at Madoka. Madoka, in turn, dodges while activating her IS, Black Knight, and flies up to Raiden to engage him again with her fusion cannon on her right arm deployed)
hikari hanatsu hoshi no you ni (Madoka and Raiden clash, creating a violent explosion before the next scene switches over to Luxembourg ten years ago, where Hitokiri Kingslayer stands by the steps to the destroyed Royal Palace, his back to the camera as Luxembourg is enshrouded in flames by Phantom Task, with a massive warship looming overhead as its IS pilots are deployed like a squad of fighters)
(Miriam Walker is shown in front of the CIA headquarters building in Washington DC as the camera moves upwards. Akane Fujimoto is shown on Omega, overlooking one of the poor districts from her apartment, with a cigarette in her mouth. Squall Meusel is shown in her bath robe sitting on the edge of her bed smirking at the camera, with Autumn sleeping naked in the background. Edea Crownsworth, the Archon of Phantom Task, sits upon her throne overlooking the world within a spaceship. Chifuyu is then shown in the deep recesses of the Academy, looking at the White Knight IS kept in storage and locked down, her hand on the glass)
(Raiden is shown next as he turns around with his Sakabatō before sheathing it before he is replaced with the title of Infinite Stratos 2.)
Ichika appeared agitated sitting on a chair as Yamada-sensei entered the room with a clipboard in her hand. Raiden appeared still as ever with a straight back and stern face, ready for why the two boys were called to the infirmary. Usually when either of them would go it would be for injuries. But the case was different this time.
"I'm sorry for making you two wait so long," Yamada-sensei said. "But everyone should be here soon."
"For what?" asked Ichika.
"Physical examination. Considering the attack on the Academy by the unmanned IS units, the Academy realized that they must improve there is suits, and precise body measurements will be important."
"By precise body measurements, you mean that we need to take body measurements on these girls?" Raiden guessed as Yamada-sensei pulled out the measuring tapes.
"Here. You will need these."
Ichika was flabbergasted while Raiden was somewhat surprised.
Ichika sighed. "I understand that, but why are we the ones taking the measurements?!"
"I have a bad feeling that Tatenashi-dono is behind this," Raiden said sheepishly. "But it looks like there is nothing we can do other than doing it, that we have to."
Ichika was shocked. He then gasped at the horror that Tatenashi purposely set them both up to take body measurements to tease them, only Raiden was taking it more moderately than him, accepting his fate. The Orimura first-year could imagine the SCP laughing with an evil aura of sorts.
"What the hell could this twisted school be thinking?!" Ichika shouted.
"What are you blabbering about now, you blockhead?" Chifuyu just entered the room before she set her hands on her hips.
"Orimura-sensei…" Raiden greeted.
"Chifuyu-nee—"
*BAM*
Ichika was met with a smack from the clipboard.
"You are supposed to address me as Orimura-sensei, you idiot!" Chifuyu sternly reminded. "I do not know why you cannot just follow through your duty like you're supposed to, unlike Raiden over here."
"But—But I was set up! Me and Raiden, both!"
Ichika complained as he pointed over to Raiden who just shrugged his shoulders, as if saying there is nothing anyone can do about it.
Chifuyu could only frown with her eyes closed at her younger brother's antics. "Do you have to be a drama queen over everything? I got the solution to solve all your problems."
Chifuyu gave Ichika a black blindfold. If he can do this blindfolded like Raiden, then perhaps he doesn't need to be distracted by the cleavages of women. But there was a problem: the blindfold was a see-through piece of cloth.
"Why does this Academy have to be so cruel?" Ichika complained. His plea seemed all so useless just as a group of girls entered the infirmary with anticipation.
"Ah, Orimura-kun! Hataru-sama!"
"Oh, so it's really Orimura-kun and Hataru-sama who are taking measurements?"
"Eeeeeeh, so it's like this!? I might have eaten a little too much last night!"
"Okay, everyone please be quiet~. We're now going to take measurements for the IS suits, so please do not wear any unnecessary clothing ok?" Yamada-sensei happily announced to everyone.
Raiden was relaxed and cool as a cucumber, ready to take measurements without perverted intentions. But to Ichika, this was no different to a death sentence. Sooner or later, he was going to get clobbered in the end.
Yamada-sensei continued to give the instructions over to the girls. "Gym clothes must be taken off, please be in your undergarments only, ok Everyone will enter that cubicle one at a time. Form up two lines, follow the order of undress, measurement, and re-dress. All will be done in there. Thus there will be no worries of being seen in underwear by anyone."
"Yamada-sensei, won't you be able to see them!?" Ichika shouted in rage, renewing his determination to get away from this atrocious situation.
After all, Orimura Ichika is a person who can never understand a woman's heart. A guy through and through. And also a guy who has spent almost all of his days playing around with other boys only, making him all the more sensitive to the bodies of women even when compared to the average guy.
"I'll be back recording the numbers that you two will call out, so whip out that measuring tape, and get started!"
Yamada-sensei gently shoved Ichika back in the room while Raiden casually walked in to his, a large curtain separating the two of them. While Raiden gentle proceeds with his duties, Ichika meanwhile was trying to think his way out but to no avail. Out of the frying pan and into the fire as the first one, Kiyoka Aikawa, was ready to strip.
"Index number 1, Aikawa Kiyoka, it's my turn!"
"Wa-Wait-Wait a sec!"
"Eeh~, so slow."
Walking into the measuring area, Aikawa Kiyoka was clearly only wearing her undergarments: bra and panties which were yellow in color. She was excited for one of the boys, mainly Ichika, to be taking her measurements but Ichika was flabbergasted of her partial nudity.
'That-That's right! It will be fine if I just do it with my eyes closed! Use the mind's eye! The inner third eye!'
Ichika closes his eyes tightly despite wearing the blindfold and picks up the measuring tape. Kiyoka could only tilt her head at his situation in confusion.
"Excuse me, Orimura?" She asked.
That snapped Ichika out his stupor. "Th-Then, here we go. I'm gonna put the tape around you so hold your arms out, please."
"Ok~."
Kiyoka extends her arms out as Ichika hesitantly proceeds. Using his "third" eye, Ichika made his way to measure Kiyoka's upper waist. If Ichika would actually open his eyes, he would know where he was measuring.
*SQUISH*
"—Huh?"
Ichika accidentally shoved his backhand onto Kiyoka's right breast.
"Hyah!?" Kiyoka shouted. "O-Orimura-kun, what are you doing all of a sudden-AAH!?"
"Eh, ah. No, this is—"
A soft full feeling slowly spread throughout his hand as Ichika felt the breasts. His clumsiness with the measuring tape made him to that. Raiden, on the other side of the curtain, was sighing and groaning in disappointment at what he was doing.
"I-I said, don't... aah~!"
Kiyoka moaned from the touch that was unfortunately making her more and more aroused. She tried to scream for help as Ichika did his best to measure her body. But all it created was a bad situation, and an indecent act on another girl. Just as it could not get any worse, Cecilia and Rin ripped the curtains to his room down, with fury across their face for what they saw in front of them.
"Ichika-san, what are you doing!?" said Cecilia.
"—Ichika, get ready to die." said Rin.
Both of the girls, like tigers, pounced on the poor boy and proceeded to beat the crap out of him. Ichika's screams and the growls of the two girls echoed throughout the sunny afternoon.
On the other side of the curtain, Raiden had no trouble at all measuring the girl's and their measurements. With precision and accuracy, he took out the measurements of the girls and called out the numbers to Yamada-sensei. Yet for some reason, every time the girls came out, they felt a sense of enlightenment come across their face, as if they came out of a massage. Raiden could not tell whether this was a coincidence or that a small part of his mind did something intentional.
The next one up was Houki, who seemed to have no problem of Raiden taking her measurements, even more so when she strips down to her underwear. Then again, it would not be the first time.
"Houki-dono," Raiden greeted. "Are you wearing new lingerie by any chance?"
"I-I just happen to have a pair of black ones," said a rather bashful Houki as she takes her spot. "I bought them with Takatsuki. She suggested it."
Raiden takes out the measurement tape and, standing up, stretches and wraps the tape around Houki's chest area. Being this close to each other was nothing new for these two because if anything, Houki did not mind given that the curtains surrounded both the lion and the vixen. She could feel the lion's hands around her body, which brought her memory back to that night at her shrine during the festival that she remembered clearly.
Raiden looks over her shoulder as he was measuring Houki's bust. Being this close to her face made both of them hear and feel their breathing by their moist lips.
Sadly though, their tender moment would have to wait as there are other girls waiting to be measured.
"Alright, all done," Raiden said as he takes the measuring tape away. "You can take your leave now, Houki-dono."
"R-Right…" Houki said. "Hey, Raiden."
"Hmm?"
"We haven't had a lot of time to yourselves lately. D-Do you… want to go on another date?"
Raiden smiles as he hugs his vixen from behind, surprising her. "I'd like nothing more."
Houki smiles as she hugs her boyfriend back, loving his touch and smell. They soon break apart their hug as Houki gets dressed and emerges out in a brighter mood, ctaching the eyes of other girls who were peculiar of it.
"Shinonono-san seems to be in a happy mood."
"She looks like she is sparkling."
"What did Hataru-kun do to her?"
So many questions were gossiped throughout the girls, but Houki ignored them all as she made her way out of the infirmary.
The rest of the days forward proceeded as normal. No attacks on the IS Academy but tournaments have indefinitely been pushed or canceled due to these attacks until the school board and the government installs some defense systems into the school.
For Raiden, there were a couple things that were of some concern to him. One of them was Olrun, and by extension Phantom Task's, goal that was to reveal not just his name as Hitokiri Kingslayer to the school but also who he worked for previously. Of the people in the Academy who really knew, only Chifuyu due to some private investigation. Houki had suspicions from Kurogasa but shrugged them off because she thought of them to be nothing more than lies. But now, thanks to Olrun, the entire school knows.
'As a member of the IS Academy and former hitokiri, you are a traitor to Phantom Task. And are hereby sentenced to death.'
Olrun's words were recorded on screen for everyone to hear during the evacuation of the students. And everyone, even the staff, were stunned to hear of Raiden's former allegiance. But while the staff gave him a wide berth due to the recent attacks, the students were divided. Half of them were afraid while the others gossiped. Admiration for the blind pilot turned to fear and gossip. While there were some that tried to defend Raiden's dignity as someone who protected them from the IS Golems and Phantom Task, a majority were all but afraid of him and kept a fair distance.
And then there was the second problem. Many of the girls from the gang besides Cecilia were sick. One by one they just dropped like flies, as evidenced when they were absent. First was Houki who was interned into the infirmary due to a stomachache. Next were Charlotte and Laura due to the same condition. Then Rin also stayed in her dorm room due to some cooking disaster in her kitchen, which was nothing short of an explosion.
This was not a coincidence for Raiden, according to his thoughts. When he heard Houki was sick due to a stomachache, he rushed her to the infirmary one morning to allow herself to heal. But the day after that, Charlotte and Laura were also ill. And with Cecilia being the remaining girl in the classroom given that Rin and Kanzashi were in different classrooms, Raiden had suspected that a form of foul play was being held. He pitied the fact that Ichika could not figure out what was going on with the absence of the others.
Speaking of Ichika though, after class one day, he was called by his sister Chifuyu to come to her office. When he asked why, he was not given an answer and simply told to meet her at sunset after club activities were over. Cecilia was a bit frustrated that she would not get to be with Ichika but it seems she would have a bit of luck when Raiden decided to call her over for tonight for dinner.
LATER…
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Cecilia knocks on Raiden's door a bit before she is allowed entry into it. After closing the door behind her, she sees Raiden and is surprised to find him by the kitchen with some ingredients and cooking utensils out and ready.
"Cecilia-dono…" Raiden greeted. "I heard that you have been getting some cooking lessons as of late."
Cecilia was surprised. "Y-Yeah. How did you know?"
"Well, forgive me for saying, but the day we were having lunch on the rooftop you looked a little disheartened of your food. And then I heard you went to the girls for cooking lessons, only to find them mysteriously absent from class except for you."
Cecilia, perhaps unaware of her ill intentions, stated with surprise. "Oh. Well, yeah. I mean, I thought I'd make the dishes a bit more… flashier."
"I didn't call you to accuse you, that I will not," Raiden sighed calmly. "Instead, why I don't I teach you firsthand how to make some homemade jambalaya?"
"Jamba-whatnow?" Cecilia asked.
"A classic dish from south Louisiana. I learned of it when I went to America one time with Akane and Miriam, having a vacation in New Orleans."
Cecilia was rather intrigued. The second male IS pilot who defeated her on the first days they met is now going to teach her how to make some jambalaya. With Houki in the infirmary, Raiden can focus up and behold Cecilia following his instructions. Provided of course that she can follow them without adding perfume or using her BITS.
"Okay, first let's oil up the heated pot," Raiden said as he brings out the pot and turns on the stove. "Drop in about two tablespoons."
"Oil? Tablespoons?" Cecilia cocked her head in confusion.
"The bottle with the yellow stuff in it," Raiden points. "Be careful. This time is extremely easy to catch fire with. And the measuring tablespoon should be right next to it. While you measure, I will cut the meat, onion, and peppers."
*CHOP CHOP CHOP*
As Raiden gets to work pulling out raw chicken tenders and andouille sausage, Cecilia carefully and methodically measures two tablespoons of oil and puts them in the pot. Soon, thanks to the pot being on low heat, the oil becomes slick enough to cover the whole bottom easily, just in time as Raiden finishes cutting the meats and brings the cutting board over and pours the meats, onion, and peppers with the back end of the knife.
"Let's cook this up first. Sautee the onions and cook the meats, that we will,," Raiden said as he grabs a ladle to mix and cook. "Then we'll add water, that we will. About 2.5 cups."
While Raiden does the heavy stuff of cooking the meats, Cecilia measures out 2.5 cups of water exactly in a measuring cup. No need for separate measuring spoons and cups since Raiden happens to have a full 5 cup holder.
With the chicken and sausage cooked, Raiden allows Cecilia to pour in the water, before Raiden pops the lid on.
"Okay, let's let this boil. Then we'll add in the spices and rice."
"How long will it take?" asked Cecilia.
"Shouldn't be too long with the stove remaining at the same heat temperature," Raiden answered.
And after about 10 minutes, the water in the pot begins to boil as Raiden pops the lid and steam emerges out.
"Okay. Let's add the creole spices in. Let's start with Cayenne."
Cecilia though cocks her head. "Cayenne?"
Raiden then holds up the red spice and ushers her to smell. "That's… spicy."
"It's got a nice kick to it, that it does. Now, salt and pepper. Along with white pepper."
With the shakers, Cecilia adds the proper amount of the seasoning, including garlic powder and onion powder.
"Good. Now toss in the thyme, basil, and oregano."
As Cecilia adds in the remaining spices and seasonings, Raiden pours in the rice into the pot filled with cooked chicken, boiling water, and spices.
With those mixtures added in, the jambalaya is given a proper stir for about two minutes before the lid is put back on and cranking the heat down to low.
"Now, we'll let that simmer for 25 minutes so that the rice can cook and integrate with the meats and vegetables," Raiden said. "Afterwards, we'll take it off the stove and let it cool for five minutes."
Cecilia however was a little bit impatient. "Isn't there a way to cook this faster? Maybe if I use my BITS—"
"No!" Raiden shouted and stopped her. "You can't use them in the kitchen, that you cannot! You'll blow the whole place up like with Rin-dono's!"
Cecilia is forced to stand down with a sigh. But luckily, Raiden had an idea of how to keep her company. He soon pulls out a vintage bottle of wine, gifted to him by Miriam with a note saying "Use with Care."
"Cecilia-dono, do you drink wine by any chance?" asked Raiden.
30 MINUTES LATER…
Cecilia and Raiden were having some good wine, along with some hors d'oeuvres made in the meantime which was mostly crackers and cheese and salami. Thankfully because of their high alcohol tolerance, none of them were drunk and were actually snacking away like proper human beings.
Soon, the timer by the stove goes off.
*DING*
After 25 minutes of simmering and cooking and, along with another 5 for cooling afterwards, Cecilia is asked by Raiden to pull the lid of. A cloud of steam quickly rises before it reveals the fruits of her labor. Jambalaya, and the smell became very distinct.
"Mmm~ It smells good!" Cecilia was stunned.
"Yes, it does," Raiden said. "Shall we eat?"
A beaming Cecilia, now entranced by the smell of the food, nods her head, "Yes!"
And from that day forward, both the British noble and the blind samurai had dinner in the dorm room comprised of some good old jambalaya.
Ichika stands before the office door to Chifuyu's office. Having been called earlier today to show up at her office after club activities had ended, he felt nervous.
*PSSHH*
Doors open up as Ichika looks to see Chifuyu on the couch, rather hunched forward instead of relaxing on her back. She looked like she was either in a reflective mood or mourning. Either way though, it was still a bit nerve wracking to see her like this, or rather he had never seen her so serious like this before.
"You called me for me, Chi—Orimura-sensei?" asked Ichika as the doors behind him close.
"Come in. Have a seat," Chifuyu invited. "And please. Let's not speak as teacher and student, but as proper blood siblings."
'Chifuyu-nee seems… different. Did something happen?'
Ichika takes his seat across Chifuyu, relaxing despite seeing the serious expression of his sister.
"You went through a lot recently," Chifuyu began. "I'm sorry I wasn't around to help you out."
Ichika was surprised. "Wha—No, Chifuyu-nee, you don't need to apologize for that. If not for your training, I-"
"Ichika…" Chifuyu held up a hand before setting it down gently. "Don't be so quick to be modest. As your sister, it's my job to protect you."
"But Chifuyu-nee, I can't remain a child forever," Ichika tried to defend himself. "I, I want to fight, to protect those dear to me. Like you did."
Chifuyu smiles. "And that is a worthy goal to have. You've matured in some areas though I can't say it's been a complete transaction."
"Eh?" asked a confused Ichika. "What do you mean? I feel like I'm strong enough."
Chifuyu didn't given an answer for she knew what she had meant, and that Ichika did not understand. It was about women. He still has that dense brain of his when it comes to the feelings of a girl and how sometimes he says things that go a bit too far. It is no wonder Raiden does things better, especially with him and Houki so close.
Though Chifuyu admits to herself that she figured both Shinonono and Raiden would end up in a relationship. It was only a matter of time since they were the same roommates.
"So, why did you call me, Chifuyu-nee?" asked Ichika, switching to another topic. "It sounds like you want to speak something to me privately."
Chifuyu then said, "I heard that you were nearly assassinated by Phantom Task. And that Laura and Raiden saved you."
"Y-Yeah. What about it?"
"The assassin… did she ever mention her name?"
"Uh, y-yeah…" Ichika recalls that night. "And even Raiden called her by her name. She said she was… Orimura Madoka. But you said I don't have any other family. That I was your only one."
Chifuy gives something of a somber sigh. "I see."
"Chifuyu-nee, is there something I should know?" asked a concerned Ichika. "Do you… know that name?"
Chifuyu shakes her head. "No. I do not. This is the first I ever heard of it. I did tell you that we were abandoned by our parents, correct?"
Ichika nods. "Y-Yeah?"
"That isn't entirely true. Well, at least for the most part."
"What?" Ichika widens his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Chifuyu soon decides to drop the bomb. "Ichika… you and I were born… as an experiment."
"Experiment? What do you mean? You said we were abandoned by our parents, or is that not true?"
"Our DNA came from two nameless scientists, a man and a woman, who held no parental affection. We were born in test tubes, like Laura Bodewig was. We were not born through natural meiosis, or in our mother's womb. So I wasn't lying when I said our parents abandoned us. I just worded it differently from a certain point of view."
"A certain point of view?" asked a confused Ichika.
"Ichika, you'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. I fear that this, Orimura Madoka, was created in the same manner as you and I, but without my knowledge. I could acknowledge this Madoka as blood but not as a sibling since I hardly know of her."
"Why are you telling me this, Chifuyu-nee?" asked a scared Ichika. "Why… did you lie about our parents?"
"Like I said, I told you from a certain point of view," Chifuyu said. "It was the only way to get you to understand at the time. You were but a small child, an elementary school student. Do you think you would've made sense if I told you the truth back then?"
"Well… no, I—I don't think so."
"The right choices to make are not usually the easiest ones. And believe me, it was hard for me to conceal the truth from you. But now with recent events, I feel I owe it up to you for you to know everything."
"Everything? About what?"
"Your IS, Byakushiki, is unique," Chifuyu said. "And you should know of its origin. Specifically, its IS core."
"What do you mean?" Ichika asked.
"Do you recall how the Infinite Stratos was first made? How it was rejected before, and then came the White Knight Incident?"
"Of course. It is the reason why the Alaska Treaty was made in the first place in response to the power of the IS."
Chifuyu nods, seeing as how her little brother was studying its history. "It is also the reason why there is a piece of history long forgotten and only remembered by a few within the ten years the Infinite Stratos has been active."
"A long piece of forgotten history?"
"When Tabane developed the Infinite Stratos, she created the very first IS core, Core Number 001, and spent countless years modifying and working on it. It is encoded to respond to the DNA of Orimura blood, meant to be passed on from one Orimura to the next willingly and cannot be taken by force. You now carry it within your IS, Byakushiki, and I suspect Tabane purposefully did that just so you can carry on my legacy."
"I carry the core… of your previous IS?" asked Ichika. "Is that why I see you in my visions sometimes?"
"Precisely because I was an IS pilot who had that core before, right up until my retirement. But there is also another thing you should know. Your One-Off Ability, Reiraku Byakuya, is derived off of my own ability encoded into the IS core. It's how I became the first Brunhilde and the world's strongest because of this ability."
Ichika was more stunned. "You mean to say that you used Reiraku Byakuya? I mean, I knew you wielded Yukihira, but I never heard you had my One-Off Ability."
But Chifuyu denies that last part. "I didn't. No two One-Off Abilities can be the same. What I had was… a premature version of your own. If my One-Off Ability was the caterpillar of my IS, then the one you wield is its butterfly, formed from your own experience with Byakushiki after its time in its chrysalis. Simply put, Reiraku Byakuya is the evolved version of the One-Off Ability I had before you."
It all sort of made sense for Ichika. First was his blade, Yukihira, that was once his sister's blade that she used in the Mondo Grosso. Now it was the core of his IS, Core Number 001, that Tabane worked on and that was in Chifuyu's previous IS. And finally, it was his own One-Off Ability, derived and evolved from Chifuyu's own, which only she knows of.
"But One-Off Abilities have been around since the start of the Infinite Stratos, a side effect of the IS cores and the experience of IS pilots melding together to create power," Chifuyu revealed. "Not many people know of this because there are not enough pilots who gain enough experience with their IS, at least not in this day and age. There was however, back then, a One-Off Ability that at the time made everyone truly fear the power of the Infinite Stratos."
"One-Off Abilities formed from 1st Generation IS?" asked Ichika. "And there was one ability that made everyone afraid?"
This makes Chifuyu nod. "The name of that One-Off Ability was called… All For One. It allowed its pilot to steal One-Off Abilities from other Infinite Stratos. And the pilot could keep those abilities for herself or pass them on to others."
This stuns Ichika, hearing this new ability for the first time. "What? You mean… she could steal powers?"
"This was back when the Infinite Stratos was starting to become a serious subject, after the initial rejection the world had on the idea. After the White Knight Incident, the Infinite Stratos was revealed to the world as a weapon. When the Alaska Treaty was made, it was done so to prevent the IS from becoming a weapon for warfare purposes. But the revelation that only women could pilot it had sent the world to chaos, turning it upside down as women now dominated society. It suddenly became impossible to determine who was normal or not. Laws and human rights were hotly debated, civilization's progress stalled, and society decayed because of this change. Women were often subjected to sexual harassment and physical abuse from men, who felt they had been usurped of their thrones by their gender counterpart."
Ichika then realized, "If the IS was kept to its purpose of deep space travel, then maybe this wouldn't have happened if we didn't focus on weapons."
"Right. Since the IS could only be piloted by women, Tabane Shinonono took in thirteen volunteers, myself being one of them, to be the first women to pilot the Infinite Stratos. Among the thirteen of us, there was one IS pilot named Edea Crownsworth who managed to rally many people together, both men and women. She convinced them that men can be the engineers and scientists while women would be the pilots and fighters. And she was the first to display her One-Off Ability - All For One. Instead of using its power for good intentions however, Edea became ambitious with it, and stole other One-Off Abilities from other IS pilots, including those who have yet to manifest them. And then, with her overwhelming abilities, she spread her influence across the world. She manipulated and charmed people into her services, committed evil acts with little resistance. In a blink of an eye, Edea became a leader of Japan, ruling in the shadows through the IS. From Japan, the world was now under her control."
"Is this why this piece of history is forgotten? I mean, it's not mentioned in our textbooks."
"Precisely because it's the kind of shameful history that even Tabane herself condoned and that people would rather ignore. Anyway, when a pilot gains the ability to pilot an IS, they enjoy showing it off to others."
"How does this tie together though? What is your involvement in it or my One-Off Ability?"
"Remember how I said All For One can grant One-Off Abilities to others? Edea made other pilots trust her or submit to her will by altering their abilities. But apparently, there were many poor souls who couldn't bear the burden of the abilities they were given. They became like mindless living dolls incapable of speaking, only for them to be turned into senseless husks programed for one purpose: pilot an IS and use it as a weapon."
Ichika was stunned, hearing that these pilots throughout the years were nothing more than experiments to Edea, their bodies used for testing on the Infinite Stratos. A fate much worse than even death itself.
"Meanwhile…" Chifuyu continues. "Some One-Off Abilities actually evolved as they were passed on. Some even combined with other power sets. Among the thirteen IS pilots, there was one who was Edea's little sister and one of the first to defy Edea, taken prisoner as a result. Compared to the other pilots, she was small and sickly and had no One-Off Ability, but she had a strong sense of justice that couldn't have been more different. It pained the little sister to see Edea's deeds, not to mention Tabane doing nothing about it, so she kept resisting her. And then, Edea transferred a One-Off Ability to her sibling, one that would allow her to stockpile power. Edea believed that the ability was useless to her and simply placed it on her like she was nothing more than a safe for storing abilities. Whether she was doing this with good intentions to her little sister or simply forcing her to submit to her is unknown."
Ichika's eyes widen, realizing what this was about. "Don't tell me…"
But Chifuyu confirms. "Yes. Even though everyone, myself included, thought she was without a One-Off Ability, it turns out the little sister had a One-Off Ability though even she had not realized this to be the case. She had a useless power that only allowed her to pass on One-Off Abilities. One that she passed on to me in her final moments when she was rescued."
Chifuyu then reveals the great truth. "And so the two One-Off Abilities merged together creating a predecessor of Reiraku Byakuya. That is how my One-Off Ability, Saigo no Kōgeki, came to be. A One-Off Ability I inherited from one of the Thirteen. The one that evolved into Reiraku Byakuya."
Ichika was stunned. To hear his sister's One-Off Ability was one that was passed onto her by one of the thirteen original pilots, a best friend of hers at that, and that it was created by one of the worst criminals to pilot an IS. And that power was being used against its unintended creator.
"I always find it ironic that justice so often spawns from evil," Chifuyu stated.
"Wait hold on!" Ichika interrupted. "I understand the real history of the origin of the Infinite Stratos and their One-Off Abilities. But this pilot must be long dead or retired by this point. So why are you bringing this up?"
"One who steals One-Off Abilities has no limits. Anything's possible. There are abilities that can treat a pilot's injuries, repair their broken bones or even IS parts, even enhance their own weapons. It's unknown at that point just how many Edea had stolen. For a long time, Edea seemed to be immortal symbolically. The other eleven original IS pilots either went missing or were killed in action by her. Tabane did not bother to solve this because she was still in hiding from the world who put a price on her head for the knowledge regarding the creation of IS cores. When the little sister had died from her disease, she had decided to pass on her powers to me in the hopes of building it up and stopping Edea. She believed that I would be the key to it, and I used it throughout various tournaments for years to build up its power to the highest so that one day, I could confront Edea myself. And then, the opportunity came during the 2nd Mondo Grosso tournament."
Ichika then remembers that horrible day, the day of the tournament where he was kidnapped by an unknown group and held prisoner, now knowing it was Phantom Task behind it thanks to Autumn telling the truth.
"You mean, when I was kidnapped?" asked Ichika, remembering that terrible event. "I learned that it was Phantom Task, Chifuyu-nee. Was it true?"
"After doing some digging myself, it turns out it was," Chifuyu nods. "And more importantly, it was Edea that ordered you to be kidnapped and held prisoner."
"What?" Ichika asked.
"After I rescued you and left you in the care of the German military, I tracked down Edea and confronted her. We tore up most of Germany, razing the countryside. Until finally, I managed to defeat Edea Crownsworth, killing her by driving my sword into her heart… or at least, that's what I thought."
"What? You don't mean-"
But Chifuyu nods. "But she survived. And is now back in action as the leader of the terrorist group called Phantom Task, ruling it as the Archon."
Chifuyu soon stands up and walks over to the windows of her office, watching the sunset that continued to lower over the horizon of the ocean. Ichika remains in his seat, watching his sister.
"So now you know…" Chifuyu said. "The one behind your kidnapping during the second Mondo Grosso tournament… was one of the thirteen original IS pilots. Edea Crownsworth, Archon of Phantom Task. As my little brother, Edea used you against me in order to kill me. As the holder of Reiraku Byakuya, my power that is now evolved and one created invertedly by Edea, you may one day have to fight against this great evil yourself because I failed. I know you didn't expect this but-"
"I'll do my best!" Ichika stated, making Chifuyu turn around as he stands up. "I'll do whatever you ask. No matter what it might take. As long as you're with me, Chifuyu-nee, I can do anything. I know you'll have my back!"
But Chifuyu could only look at Ichika with a somber expression, conflicted of what she should say. She wanted to say more, to tell Ichika that she cannot fight in the IS much longer or that she won't be around for long due to her wound. She has to pass on the fight to Ichika so that he may take her place. Her time is over and his is just beginning but he is still very much attached to her as family.
'Come on, dammit. Tell him. He needs to know. That's not how it will happen. Our futures' are—He won't understand.'
Rather reluctantly, Chifuyu could only say one thing to her only family.
"Thank you, Ichika," Chifuyu thanked. "You may take your leave. Head to your dorm room and get some rest."
Soon afterwards, Ichika departs from Chifuyu's office, thinking hard to himself about all that he had just heard from his sister's mouth. For now, he will keep it a secret from the others and try not to spill any of the beans.
But behind him and watching him from her office door was the Brunhilde, bearing that expression of conflict and mourning.
'I'm so sorry, Ichika. But… by the time you face Edea, or even her successor Madoka, I won't be by your side anymore.'
To prove her own thought, she holds her right hand to her left side, feeling the permanent wound from five years ago throbbing.
MEANWHILE…
Within the confines of a massive ship in Earth's orbit called the Revenant, in the private chambers of the ship were monitors and health equipment laid out, the former viewed by the occupant on her throne, which was more or less a life-support chair.
The Archon. But she also went by another name, a name only very few know of.
"Hitokiri Kingslayer," Edea spoke. "I didn't expect Olrun to defeat him that easily. But everything else went pretty much as expected."
Edea looks over the image of Madoka on her monitor, battling the Kingslayer on the day of the attack during the Academy's school festival. She also views the most recent battle of the former hitokiri struggling against Olrun.
"Now that he's exposed to the students thanks to Olrun revealing his origins, those who still wish to see him captured, or have his head on a silver platter, will seek out Phantom Task as a way to satisfy their urges. Orimura Madoka will be put into position where she must unify many new recruits."
"I believe things will move much faster if you were to talk to them yourself though, my lady," Nobuo Iwasaki replied, but it made Edea chuckle.
"Then you had better hurry and fix my body, doctor," Edea said.
Iwasaki took that advice to heart, clearly not seeing it as an insult despite the most recent setbacks lately of both Phantom Task operations and Edea's own personal medical issues.
"If only we had gotten our hands on the White Knight's regenerative ability five years ago," regretted the doctor. "Now that your wounds are all healed, it can't really do anything to help you."
Iwasaki walks behind the life-support chair Edea sat in and looks at the next image on the monitor, which showed Madoka.
"So she is to unite Phantom Task under her banner?" asked the doctor. "I wonder if the child can pull it off? How much has she really grown?"
"She'll do well…" Edea reassured. "Even if I have to work her to the bone. It's the only way she'll be able to take my place." Edea soon brings her right claw-like hand over to the image of her student. "I know that girl will rise to the occasion. She was born with the twisted mind needed to become my successor."
Edea soon directs her attention over to the image of the White Knight in her head, her next expression one of distaste behind her red beak-like mask .
"Enjoy your small victory while you still can, Orimura Chifuyu. Because very soon, this transient peace of yours will all come crashing down!"
In all honest there is not much to say for this chapter nor this episode. I awnted to get this one out of the way quickly because of how much of a drag this episode was. And I wanted to add my own twist of things so as to not make it boring.
First there was the measurement scene, which I am sure we all know how that turned out and there was enough said on that. Second, Raiden making jambalaya. There's something you do not hear every day. But the reason I chose this was because I've tried jambalaya given to me by family and I love it. And I love New Orleans food a lot, which is why I thought to add this recipe in.
Now we get to the main part of the chapter that really mattered: Chifuyu and Ichika having a brother and sister talk regarding the Infinite Stratos and the kidnapping years ago during the 2nd Mondo Grosso Tournament by Phantom Task. In the canon, we are not given a reason why Phantom Task kidnapped Ichika; all we know is who did it. But first things first, there is talk about the Infinite Stratos and its history, including One-Off Abilities. To me personally, I feel like One-Off Abilities are like Quirks from My Hero Academia: no two quirks/One-Off Abilities are the same and each is unique to the hero/pilot respectively. People say they were developed during the 3rd Generation IS production but I do not believe that to be the case. Then we get into the history of Edea Crownsworth, who is basically the female version of All For One from My Hero Academia in Infinite Stratos.
To sum it in a nutshell, Edea had a One-Off Ability that allowed her to steal other abilities and keep for herself and she used that power to spread her influence across the country. She had a little sister who had no power but opposed her evil and was thus forcibly given an ability that was deemed useless until that power became that which was passed down to Chifuyu for her to use in her IS, Shirokishi. Now that ability has been passed down to Ichika which had evolved into becoming greater than its predecessor. Reiraku Byakuya, Ichika's One-Off Ability that once belonged to his sister's. Now it is up to Ichika to do what his sister could not do: defeat Edea Crownsworth.
And lastly, Edea plotting her next move. With Olrun's task now done, Edea can now focus on the next steps of her plan revolving around Madoka and Chifuyu. Clearly, she wants the former to succeed her but to what end and how will it be accomplished?
Next chapter will not shift away from Infinite Stratos season 2 and focus more on the Rurouni Kenshin side of things, meaning it will now be focused on Raiden. In Rurouni Kenshin, it will be the start of the Kyoto arc, which is what the last two episodes of IS season 2 will be focused on. I plan to combine both events together in a way that fits very well and shifts in between.
Like, favorite, follow, and review at your leisure. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.