Rent a Girlfriend: The Return of the Otherworld Hero (Short Story) Part 3
Characters:
Kazuya Kinoshita
Chizuru Mizuhara
Mami Nanami
Ruka Sarashina
Sumi Sakurasawa
Nagomi Kinoshita
Yoshiaki Kibe
Shun Kuribayashi
Sayuri Ichinose
Harumi and Kazuo Kinoshita
Mimi Yaemori
Umi Nakano
Darker Side: (Based on the FATE OF THE RETURNED HERO Manga)
"I want to experience this World. See and feel the...Atmosphere of this World." Zai said a few hours after she and Chizuru had their discussion. Kazuya had no idea what they talked about, and they had told him they would not tell him. If he had to guess it was something that neither wanted him to know about and he was fine with that. Push comes to shove, if he really wanted to know all he had to do is ask Zai straight out and she would have no choice but to tell him.
"It is kind of late...Are you sure you will be alright?" Chizuru asked and Kazuya chuckled as he shook his head.
"She might look like a delicate, young Girl. But Zai is immensely powerful. In fact, she is probably stronger than I am. There is not many that could survive her anger if she really gets pissed off." Kazuya said and Chizuru once more looked at Zai and the Djinn Girl smiled broadly. It was just as Kazuya had said, in her estimations Zai looked like an extremely beautiful young girl about seventeen or eighteen.
"Yes...As Master has said. I am not some helpless girl. I am a Djinn...A Djinn Princess. There are not many as powerful as me. I could destroy this City with a flick of my finger with no real hassle." Zai said with a huge smile and a twinkle in her multi-colored eyes.
"But she won't. Because if she did...Then she would be in serious trouble. Right Zai?" Kazuya said smirking at her, and Zai pouted.
"Yes, I would be. I am sure the deities of this World would be extremely upset with me. As would my Master." Zai said and stopped pouting. She smiled again but this time it was not as blatant as before.
"If you run into trouble or someone tries to hurt you. Do not kill them. But do make them regret it." Kazuya ordered her and Zia nodded.
"As you command Master. Well, I am off." Zai walked towards the door and her Clothes shimmered into something more fashionable than her almost see threw gauzy pants and partial blouse and jacket. Her sandals formed into boots and as she neared the door. "This should give you both the opportunity for some...Time alone." She said as she smiled coyly and winked at Chizuru.
The next morning, Kazuya saw Chizuru off as she went to attend one of her Acting School Lessons. Last night while they were spending some time alone, they decided to watch an Anime that had come out in the last year. It was called, I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too. During the first episode there was a scene that sparked his interest. Where the Protagonist could convert spoils into assets. It was called ASSET CONVERSION. On a test, he pulled out a silver coin from his Item Box and used a similar technique. To their amazement, the Coin turned into 10,000 YEN. What made him laugh was Chizuru almost fainted when he told her that he probably had about 500 billion Yen worth of treasure within his Item Box. So, finances were no longer a concern anymore.
Sitting at his Laptop, Kazuya was actually concerned about Zai. Not so much about her safety. But more like what type of mischief that the Djinn Princess could get into. Just as he was about to use a locating spell, Zai had returned. "I am back Master." She announced as she came in the door.
"Welcome back Zai. So..." Kazuya was about to ask Zai about her time out and about, but he could tell there was something wrong. She had a certain air about her that indicated she had seen or experienced something that had her acting a little sullen. "What's wrong?" He asked and she let out a deep sighing breath.
"Master...There is something dark and twisted in this World. Something that you showed me before. But here it is worse." Zai said and it was decided they would discuss it over some Tea. As they sat at the table and after several calming sips of Tea. She once more acted like herself and not so somber.
"What did you find that has you so...It is unlike you to be this way?" Kazuya asked and Zai closed her eyes.
"Master...There is a darkness here that I thought could not be in this World. With all its wonders and the tranquil feeling that can be felt. Sure, in the World I am from it is common and even though you had the Kingdoms eradicate it. Here it is more devious and secretive." Zai said and Kazuya had an inkling about what she was talking about. "Last night while I was traveling...I was accosted by three men. These were not ordinary Men. They had an aura of treachery and evil about them. I of course charmed them, and I learned a few things. Afterwards I laid a curse upon them to punish them for what they had done in the past." Now that concerned Kazuya.
"What type of curse? I hope it wasn't something too...What did you do?" Kazuya asked and Zai smiled wickedly.
"I only placed one on them that makes their bowels release if they ever attempt to do what they intended to do to me." Zai said with a little chuckle.
"What your saying is that if they try to accost another girl...They will end up having diarrhea? Or was it something else?" Kazuya asked and when she nodded, he chuckled. "Okay, tell me what you have learned?" Zai took in a small deep breath.
"It appears that there are those that call themselves the Upper Elite. These men were hired by them to find...Well to find young ladies that they could either pay or in my case abduct." Zai said and then after another breath continued. "One of those I charmed told me that these Upper Elite are exceedingly rich and believe they are above any moral or legal obligations. In fact, they have their hands in several illicit endeavors. Prostitution, drug smuggling, anything that brings them more riches." For Kazuya to hear this he felt enraged. Then worried. Chizuru was an extremely beautiful girl just like Zai. He worried that perhaps there were ones like those that tried to abduct Zai could be after Chizuru, or Sumi, or Ruka or even Mimi. Reaching out with his right hand towards the center of the room.
"I summon the Four Shadow Wraiths." Kazuya said and four figures dressed in black seemed to slither and ooze from the shadows. Each one to him looked like ancient Ninjas. All clad in black. But they had no real faces. It was just a shadow of darkness where their faces should be. The four knelt before him.
"You called Master." The nearest Shadow Wraith said in a whispery voice.
"Yes. You will observe and protect these four." Kazuya used imaging magic to show what each of the girls looked like. "If anyone tries to harm or abduct any of these four...Then take the ones that dare to do that to the Shadow Realm and inform me immediately. I will want to interrogate them later. Understood?"
"Of course, Master. It shall be done." With that the four slithered and oozed back into the Shadows. They would hide within each of the girls shadows and only let their presence be known if someone did try to harm them. But not to their assigned girls.
"You know I could protect them with just as much ease. There was no need for you to summon level 20 Shadow Wraiths." Zai said as she looked at the shadows within the room. Suspecting that the Shadow Wraiths had left an essence of themselves within those shadows so they could report immediately without any delay.
"I know that. But we are going to be busy making those perverts suffer and pay for their sins." Kazuya said as he began to think of a way to bring these so-called elite down. He had wondered why the Police or at most some Reporter had not tried something. But he knew how those like them worked. It was the same thing in the other World. There was Nobles that used their positions to bribe and influence the Royal Knights assigned to their Domians in line. That is until the Hero made it clear that Slavery or anything as demented would not be tolerated even by the Nobles. At that point the Royal Knights grew a conscious or backbone and fulfilled their duty in fear that the Hero would bring divine punishment upon them.
"How about we expose these cowards? Remove all their assets and make them confess their crimes. It would be easy for us to do that." Zai suggested and Kazuya liked that idea.
"First, I take it that those that tried to kidnap you are..." Kazuya was about to ask further, and Zai smiled.
"Oh, they are sleeping soundly in the Mirror World. I thought that you might have need of them. So, I stashed them somewhere for the time being." Zai said and Kazuya was worried that Zai had taken those three to her home. The Mirror World like the Shadow Realm was not a place Humans would be comfortable in. One was a maze larger than anything imaginable. A never-ending Maze of Mirrors that showed nothing. No reflection. Nothing. Only Zai knew how to enter and leave that void. While the other was darkness. Complete darkness that spanned forever. A person there could not hear, see or even feel anything. It was as if you were floating in nothing. He and Zai could enter without losing their minds. But no one else. That was the domain of the Shadow Wraiths. After interrogating the Three Thugs, Kazuya and Zai discovered who the Thugs reported to. Within five minutes they discovered the Man and from that man to another. By then they had all the information they needed.
Confrontation:
Walking home rather late, Chizuru had sent a text notifying Kazuya that she was on her way home. She smiled as she thought about the fact that he was now her Boyfriend. She even changed his name on her phone to indicate as much. In her musing, she suddenly felt as if someone was watching her from the shadows. Of course, she believed it was just her imagination. But still, she knew it was a bad idea to be out this late or rather after dark and where there hardly wasn't many people around. She was sure she could defend herself, but after what Kazuya had called and told her. She did feel a little anxious. She had no idea that kind of thing was going on. She suspected that there were others that thought the same thing. "Ignorance is bliss." She muttered as she neared the street that was near her house. What she did not know was she had been followed and it was not anyone associated with the Elite. No, it was someone she knew and had not given up on his notion and belief that he was in love with her. But as he was about to approach her, something grabbed him, and he lost consciousness. Good thing too, because if he had seen what grabbed him. He probably would have screamed in horror.
"We have captured a threat that was targeting the one designated as Chizuru." A Shadow under one of the stands said and Kazuya looked over at it. He and Zai had been planning exactly what they were going to do against the higher ups within the Elite. When one of the Shadow Wraiths had made that report.
"Really? Bring him out and let us see who it is. Maybe we can find out something more about the Elite." Kazuya ordered and the Shadow under the Stand grew larger. A body dropped out from it and Kazuya sighed loudly. Shaking his head. "That is just Umi...Umi Nakano. He has a thing for Chizuru even though she has never encouraged him or even responded to his constant confessions. Take him back where you found him and drop him off there." He said with a huge smile finding it funny and relieved that Umi appeared to be unconscious. So, he would not remember what had happened to him. The Wraith did as he was told and it was just in time, for Chizuru had just opened the door as Umi was dragged back into the Shadow. She immediately knew something was up, due to Kazuya had an extremely guilty expression on his face.
"Okay, what did you do now?" Chizuru asked with her arms crossed in front of her chest and since Kazuya swore never to lie to her ever again. He had no choice but to tell her exactly what had happened. She let a long sigh and shook her head. "Now I agreed to have that...You called it a Shadow Wraith keep an eye on me because you are worried about me. Still...Someone stalking me is not a reason for it to...What would have happened if Umi had not fainted?" She tried to scowl at Kazuya but liked how much he was concerned about her. Proving how much he did love her. So, she could not be completely upset over what had happened to Umi. Mainly because she was getting a little annoyed over how many times in the past couple of days, he had tried to confess to her. Ever since she told him that she was now with Kazuya and Kazuya was now her Boyfriend. Umi had become even more persistent. "Don't let none of those Wraiths do it again." She stated and Kazuya nodded with agreement.
After Chizuru went to bed, it was time for Kazuya and Zai to confront those within the Elite. The plan was simple, with a little alteration magic that would change the way they both looked. They would make their way to where the Elite according to the three thugs that those members would have their sorted affairs. Where they would force themselves on young girls that were blackmailed, paid or kidnapped. From what Kazuya gleamed from the thugs is that tonight since it was Friday there would be almost all those that attended would be there in about an hour. So, tonight was a perfect chance. It was time to bring them down.
He was known as the Ogre. His real name was Tobinoshi Taranaka and ever since he was in Middle School, he had been obsessed with strength. Being the strongest was the most important thing in his life. He had been thrown out of School during his first year of High School for beating up his Homeroom Teacher. From then on, he did nothing but work out and become stronger. Now at 79 Inches tall he was by others estimate a monster. Huge arms and legs. The Elite had hired him after he had been arrested for a brawl in a Bar. Where he had sent over a dozen Men to the Emergency Room. In his role as employed was to be an Enforcer, he had on a number of occasions used his Strength to ensure that what his Bosses declared was followed. He had personally beaten-up Police Detectives and Reporters that had the audacity to not take the warnings on not to interfere in whatever the Bosses were doing. One Detective he had actually broken the Man's back by slamming the Man's Spine down onto his Knee. Snapping the vertebrae as if it was a set of Cheap Chopsticks. That is who he was, and he loved to fight. He loved the sound of breaking someone's bones. So, when a much smaller man who was with an extremely beautiful girl suddenly threw him away as if he was an utter weakling. He tried to punch the Man and to his utter shock the smaller man caught his huge fist and held it without any real effort. That is when Tobinoshi felt it. The Man had a presence that was overwhelming. So much so that Tobinoshi felt fear for the first time in his life. Pulling himself out of the rubble from the Wall he had been thrown thru, he met the eyes of the man, and the glare was worse. As if he tried to attack again, he would be facing his own demise. "Do it Zai." The Man ordered, and for some reason Tobinoshi felt an urge to go to the nearest Police Station and confess all of his crimes. Standing he led the others to the Elevator and soon found themselves at a Police Station several blocks away. Telling and confessing everything they had done.
"This is the place, Master." Zai said pointing at the entrance of a Corporate Building. There were two armed men at the entrance and Kazuya simply cast a sleep spell on them. After that the pair entered the Elevator and rode it to the 78th floor. They had learned that there was another Elevator under guard that went to the other two floors. So, on the 78th Floor they encountered a half dozen men and one large man that to Kazuya reminded him of a Troll or an Orc. The man was huge and when the large man rushed towards him like a bull. Attempting to hit him. He simply caught the fist and then proceeded to throw him away. While Zai simply charmed the other men and then the Large Man. After Kazuya told her to do it. She charmed them all to go to the nearest Police Station and confess their sins.
"This is where we split up. Are you sure you can do what you said?" Kazuya asked and Zai nodded. "Good. Once you are done...Join me above." With that said, Zai walked down the hallway towards the Computer Room. Once inside she cast a spell on the computers that would amaze any Hackers. First, she seized all of the Elites ill-gotten gains. Distributing the entire amount amongst the Elite's Victims and just about every Charity that there was. Billions upon Billions of Euros, Dollars and Yen. Next, she sent to every Law Enforcement Agency where the Elite had interest in everything illegal or illicit. Everything that would ensure that anyone associated with the Elite and their business would end up in prison for a long, long time. That was her job and as she finished, she set it that no one could alter or stop what she had done. Spell blocking the computer core in a way that it would take someone like her to unblock it. She then went to join Kazuya on the top floor.
When Kazuya reached the top floor, he noticed a large metal door with a Biometric Eye Scanner near the left side of the door. He smirked. Grabbing the handle, he simply ripped the door off its reenforced hinges and set it aside. Two Guards inside gasped and reached for their Pistol's. Drawing the Weapons, they aimed and fired. Kazuya caught all the bullets. When they finished firing, he crushed the bullets into powder and then dropped the powdered metal. The Guards saw this and gasped again. Staring at him wide eyed. "You might want to just leave before I get annoyed." He stated firmly and the Guards hightailed it. Now at another Metal Door with another Biometric Eye Scanner, Kazuya did the same thing as he did before. Stepping inside and what he saw made him furious. There was about a dozen young girls kneeling on the floor on their knees. All of them were only wearing their underwear and their hands were bound in front of them. When they saw him, they cowered, believing he was one of the Perverts that was about to force himself upon them. "I am here to help. Here take these." Reaching into his Item Box he pulled out several blankets. Handing them out. As he did, he snapped and broke the restraints. They all put the blankets around themselves. "It will be alright...No one is going to hurt you." He added reassuringly. Just then Zai entered. "Zai, protect them and take care of them. I am going to go see those inside there." He gestured towards another door; this one was just a normal door that he surmised led to where the Elite were about to come in and have their fun with these girls.
"Yes Master. Oh, I was able to do all as we came up with. As for now...All of them are now without anything. I was also able to send everything you said to send them." Zai told him as Kazuya neared the door and after opening it. He found seven Older Men all lounging about in long white Bathrobes. Shutting the door.
"Who the hell are you?" One of the Men asked in a growl. "Do you even realize who we are? We could end you and your family's life without any real effort." The one boasted with a sneer and the others laughed.
"I doubt that. Right now...All of you are broke. Your so-called company is broke. Oh, and every shady and illegal activities you have done has been brought to light." Kazuya said calmy and they continued to laugh. That is until one of them decided to check his accounts on his Cellphone. Kazuya watched as the Man checked and rechecked.
"It is true. All my...All my Money is gone. Even the money I had in my secret accounts. It is all gone." The balding man wailed as the others checked their own and they all started panicking.
"The Company Assets...There gone. Everything is gone. That is hundreds of Billions of Euros and Dollars. Trillions of Yen. It is all...Gone." Another Man stammered out in disbelief.
"I cannot access the records. The ones that show our involvement in...All of our endeavors. Wait they have been sent to...Oh My God! Everything has been sent!" A shorter pudgy man sorrowfully said as he dropped to his knees. Realizing that soon he might be facing criminal charges from at least a dozen countries. As would they all.
"What have you done?" Another demanded, clenching his hands into fists and Kazuya smiled at him.
"Making sure you all pay for what you have done. To tell the truth...I was not supposed to be this involved with your demise. But I figure that you all deserved this." Kazuya said and with his maxed-out level he could distinctly hear that a large group was coming. From what he could hear, he could tell that they were the Police and a few others from the Government as well. "It seems it is time for me to depart." He turned and walked towards the door that led back to where the girls and Zai were waiting. "Time to go Zai." He said as he entered, the men back in the other room were panicking. Asking each other what they could do. While others kept repeatedly attempting to find their assets. Both he and Zai used teleport and returned home just as a couple dozen Police entered. He was a little surprised how quickly they got there. But he suspected Zai had a hand in that.
Morning Run:
Getting up early once more, Kazuya eased out of the house and made his way to the Park. There he met up with Sakura who was waiting on him. They had started running together. Her goal was to be able to keep up with him and perhaps even surpass him. But her goals were not going to be easy. Especially when she lapped her several times as she pushed herself to the limit. She dreaded hearing the familiar phrase as he passed her on the left. As she basically collapsed on the bench they had originally talked, after about half an hour. She watched as he ran for another ten minutes, and she guessed that he probably had run about ten miles in that time. As he neared her. "I still have no idea how you can do that. But someday I will be the one that passes you." She declared as she downed another bottle of water and handed one to him. What really amazed her was he did not seem out of breath or was not even sweating. He laughed as he sat down next to her.
"Well, you are getting better." Kazuya said and Sakura elbowed him lightly.
"Yeah right. You still left me in the dust." Sakura said and then leaned forward putting her elbows on her knees. She took a small breath. "Is it really okay that you come here in the morning to jog with me? Is it really okay with your girlfriend for you to come here?" She asked and Kazuya smiled over at her.
"She is alright with it. Actually, she said better you than her. She tried to jog with me before and...And she was a little upset afterwards." Kazuya said and Sakura chuckled.
"You left her in the dust too, didn't you?" Sakura jokingly asked and Kazuya nodded with a small shrug.
"She told me to not wait on her or humor her. Though she won't jog with me anymore." Kazuya admitted and again Sakura chuckled knowing how Chizuru felt. She herself was too stubborn to give up on trying to outrun Kazuya and even pass him like he does so many times to her.
"Okay as long as she is okay with it." Sakura said taking another drink of water from her Bottle. "Oh, I have some good news...Well...For me that is. I am getting a Promotion and being transferred to Intelligence. Which is great since...I am nearing retirement age if I remained a Captain." Kazuya looked at her oddly.
"Retirement? That is...How can they retire you...I am confused?" Kazuya stammered out wondering how they could retire someone as young as Sakura. She laughed and shook her head.
"Kazuya...I am 36...I have two teenage Daughters in their second year of High School." Sakura told him and he gasped loudly. Unable to fathom that she was as old as she said. For she looked more like she was nowhere near that old. In fact, he believed that she was between 23 to 25 Years old. Not 36. With teenage daughters. He could almost imagine what they looked like. (To see them. They are Aina and Arisa from same Manga-The Case about two sisters becoming extremely obsessed with me after I saved them.)
"You don't look it...There is no way. I thought at most you were only a couple years older than me." Kazuya said and Sakura laughed.
"Thank you. But remember you have a Girlfriend and I am not into stealing someone else's Boyfriend. But if you ever break up...Like I asked before...If we could perhaps date." Sakura said smiling coyly, giving him a look that would and did send his hormones into overdrive. Kazuya blushed. "Well, I got to get going. I have to report for duty in about two hours and I still have to make breakfast for my Girls. See you tomorrow." She then walked away, swaying her hips and he could not help but watch. Admiring the view. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and thought of Chizuru. Which cooled his hormones immensely. He too returned back home, it was his turn to make breakfast and he had to get back before Chizuru got up.
Taking a quick Shower, Kazuya started making breakfast and soon was joined by Chizuru and then Mimi. The thing was, he was not using the stove as he used a minor bit of fire magic under the frying pan to fry some eggs and bacon. "Don't let Mimi seeing you do that." Chizuru said as she entered the Kitchen and beelined it to the Coffee Pot where she poured some Coffee for herself and then a cup for Kazuya.
"I won't." Kazuya reassured her with a smile as he flipped the eggs, knowing that she preferred them over easy. So, he reduced the amount of fire under the pan. Chizuru shook her head as she sat down at the Table.
"Why are you not using the stove?" Chizuru asked and Kazuya shrugged as he moved bacon and toast over to a plate that already had two slices of Toast. He repeated the process for his own.
"Don't know how. That stove is tricky and since I know Mimi won't be up for at least another hour...I just decided to use a bit of magic." Kazuya told her and Chizuru chuckled as she smiled. He brought her and his breakfast over to the table. Setting a plate before her and then one for himself. Sitting down across from her.
"I will show you later how to use the stove. Though after tomorrow...Mimi will be moving out then." Chizuru said as she ate. She smiled. She liked this. Eating breakfast with her boyfriend. She never imagined it would be like this. If she had known, perhaps she would have decided to acknowledge the truth before recently. That she was in love with Kazuya and wanted to be with him. Not prolong it so long. "What have you got planned for today?" She asked him and he let out a slow sighing breath.
"That all depends on what Zai discovers. She said she felt a tingle of Malice and she left to go check it out." Kazuya said and Chizuru frowned.
"Remember not to be so flamboyant as the last two times. You are, according to what you told me...Is to subtly and secretly change the World. Not let everyone know you did something so...so...memorable and showy." Chizuru said scolding him. She had seen the news reports about a man and a girl being the ones that saved multiple young girls from a horrific fate. That they were the route cause that now several countries had evidence of a whole slew of illegal and immoral activities against almost twenty high level executives of a company and now were facing criminal charges in those countries. Not that she was not proud that her boyfriend did something so heroic. But if he continued to let others see him and what he can do. Eventually someone would figure out it was him. That did concern her.
"Alright...I will try. It is hard though. I was not planning last time to let anyone know we were there. But...After what Zai told me. I lost my temper." Kazuya admitted actually liking how Chizuru was scolding him. It made her look extremely cute
"From what the News Reports say...I can understand why you felt it necessary to do what you did. But still, I would prefer you not put yourself into any dangerous situations. I do not care how strong and powerful you are. I still worry that you might get hurt or worse." Chizuru said as she clasped his right hand in hers. Giving it a gentle squeeze. "So, please be careful from now on. No more doing anything that puts you at risk...Okay." He smiled and nodded.
"I will try...I promise." Kazuya said and Chizuru felt relieved somewhat.
"You know what I would like?" Chizuru inquired and she moved herself closer. Smiling partially up at him. "I may have rehearsal later today. So, I would like my Boyfriend to take me out on a date."
"I can do that. How does a movie sound?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru smiled.
"Sounds great. Let's both get ready and go." Chizuru said about to stand up but delayed long enough to peak him on the lips as she fully stood. Then headed for her room to get ready. Leaving Kazuya in a daze over being lightly kissed. He could tell that in that small moment it actually promised there would be more later.
To be concluded: