Last Chapter, Sora was pretty sour about Katsuragi-...(ahem) violating him, AND almost causing Ikaruga to nearly receive a painful injury like he did. So the class's teacher, Kiriya, requested the two to have a sparring match in the Dojo. But since our heroes were not allowed to use their advanced powers and skills, the fight was more of a sparring match of hand-to-hand combat.
Meeting Katsuragi made Sora truly HATE the world he was in, being told the people he had in his life would live on and go on without him, but before the battle, Ikaruga urged him to not hate their world. His love for his friends was genuine, and Ikaruga wanted to tell him he had options even if he can't go back home. The talk sounded like Ikaruga was asking him out, but Kiriya started the match before anything could be explained...
The fight between the two was short, as Katsuragi demonstrated a mastery of martial arts. However, she knew her actions crossed a line and admitted her wrongdoing to Sora while apologizing for nearly hurting Ikaruga while nearly killing Sora. Seeing Katsu's apology as genuine, Sora chose to forgive her and become her friend.
Before the day was done though, the girls would go with Sora to find out if the boat Sayuri used to take him to the city was still at the docks, after all, he needed a place to sleep...
Kagura Hearts
Chapter 8 ~ The Hanzo Boathouse
"The school day is at an end until tomorrow, so until we meet again, take care of yourselves, and don't be careless around the unpredictable." Kiriya said. And with that, the school day ended with the students leaving…
But Kiriya stopped Asuka to tell her, "Along with the recommendation letter, your Grandmother told us something vital…she wrote that the afterlife's keeper is here as well." Asuka froze from what her sensei told her, and asked, "W-wait, the 'Afterlife's Keeper'? A-are you…talking about the Grim Reaper?"
Kiriya explained, "Not every Summon is a free prize for dabbling in the forbidden Realm of the Dead. Sayuri had experience with this being before, and from what her history can tell you, such a being is not one to forgive such an exchange. He WILL try to take Sora back, before he can have a chance at returning to the Realm of the Living. So your Grandmother, being one to defend the rights of the worthy and cheated, saw it fit for you and your friends to keep the boy safe and help him through his mission."
Asuka looked at Sora as Ikaruga checked his head for any more scars, hoping the wound he received earlier wasn't serious, and could only smile…
"Sensei, Death isn't a particularly popular subject my friends and I like talking about, so I'm sure we won't have anything against a little bodyguard duty, especially not for someone who deserves a second chance." Asuka said. Kiriya then nodded and said, "...then sharpen your blade, Asuka. I wish you the best if it comes to that." Asuka nodded while making her way to her friends…
Suddenly, Kiriya's phone started to ring. He picked it up and said, "This is Kiriya."
"Hello honey, I heard from Daidoji that you've just accepted your first male student in a while." The caller said. Kiriya went back into the building and said, "The 'honey' thing isn't necessary, Rin, we haven't really reached that step yet, anyway. Still, I owe you more than just my ear for your help last time." Rin then said, "Now now, Mr. Romance, I have a more important reason for flirting and checking on recent events…this boy…he's a Keyblade Wielder, isn't he?" Kiriya then said, "He has one, and is not a master of the weapon, but why does that-?"
"-Because my reconnaissance mission has brought some interesting news. Kiriya…I'm sorry, but it's no longer just the Four Fiends we need to worry about."
Kiriya's eyes widened as Rin continued…
Elsewhere, Sora brought his new friends from Hanzo Academy, Asuka, Ikaruga, Katsuragi, Yagyu, and Hibari, to the boating docks near Kabukicho, expecting that along with his summoner, Sayuri, the boat she used to take him to the city is also gone without a trace…
Sora then said, "Don't be surprised that you came here for nothing, guys." Hibari then said, "Don't say that, we go on adventures all the time." What Hibari said caught Sora's ears as he asked, "Really? You guys travel and go on adventures too?" Katsu then said, "OF COURSE! The places we go to are CRAZY! There's cursed forests, shrines of enemy ninja factions, beaches of-...ya know what, never mind the beaches, just know there are places we prefer not to talk about." Yagyu however siad, "One place we could tell you about is the Amusement Park based entirely on candy-." Hibari then said, "I almost died there. The sweets they had could fill the Titanic…" Sora then said, "I'll take your word for it. For now though, maybe we should just check if that boat's still-."
But before Sora could say anything, the last place he remembered his summoner's boat being at was occupied by a lengthy-sized boathouse.
Sora then said, "It looks like my summoner's really gone…kind of…makes a guy feel unwanted." Yagyu however patted Sora's shoulder and said, "Another idea is that she knew you'd be OK on your own. Some summoners don't exactly stick around with their servants after all, they expect their minions to do the work because, well…I mean, you're on our team now, so no worries, OK?" Sora nodded, "Thanks Yagyu, I think I can manage on my own somewhere close to school-."
"Um, Sora…this letter is for you." Asuka said as she picked up a letter, with his name on it, near the boathouse…
Sora took the letter and read it aloud…
"...'Dear Sora, sorry to cut and run, but as you may have noticed, you're surrounded by more p-POTENTIAL WIVES'?! (ahem) I'm normally the kind of guy who likes a good joke once and a while, but I do NOT appreciate being forced into something I'm not prepared for! Now where was I? Oh yeah, 'sadly, your old summoner can't stay forever. I have other matters to attend while you perform your duties. The Heartless and their bosses are many, and this old shinobi's got better things to do than play baby sitter. Still, I understand the dilemma, you started alone, but there IS a reason I had you meet Asuka, who-to this point in time, you may have guessed, is my dear Granddaughter. By the time you were in the store, I…I…"
Asuka was curious about what froze Sora, so she tapped him on the cheek and asked, "Why did you stop reading? Are you alright?" Sora answered, "...Asuka…your grandmother…she attached her side of the contract to you…and before the letter ended, she wrote 'Happy Birthday'."
Asuka took the letter, read it from start to end, and said, "We met for the first time yesterday…that was September 8th, my Birthday, when I was…just buying ingredients for my favorite food…so Granny…summoned you to help me fight the Heartless."
Katsu then remarked, "That old crone loves her tricks and twists, doesn't she? It's almost funny how she gave her half to Asuka, like she trusts Asuka with the same mission as Sora or something." Ikaruga nodded and said, "I can understand where she's coming from, Master Sayuri doesn't have much time in this world, and like Master Hanzo, has other important matters to attend to."
Hibari then hugged Sora and said, "You know what this means, right, Sora? This means you will officially be a member of Team Hanzo, along with us! Sora chuckled and said, "Well, I'll try not to disappoint you guys." Asuka then noticed more written on the letter and read the following…"
"P.S., as a new Hanzo Student, you will need a residence to live in, so feel free to indulge yourself in my private Houseboat! It will be the love of your life and the comfort you always dreamed of. Take the keys in your hand and open the damn thing, I'm sure your new friends are as anxious to see your temporary new home as you are. Take care of eachother, whipper-snappers. Take care, Asuka. Love, Granny." Asuka smiled and held the letter close while whispering, "...I love you too, Granny." Sora was touched by what was written while at the same time, surprised about what Sayuri wrote…
"This…this houseboat…IS MY HOME NOW?!"
The girls cheered while Sora said, "NOW HANG ON THERE, you guys assume I'm able to get us in there, but Sayuri claimed I had the Keys, BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN-(keys suddenly appear in his hand)-THE-...PALM…of…my hand…did I always have these, or…?" Katsu then wrapped her arm over Sora's shoulder and said, "Magic is magic, bro, don't let it weigh you down. SPEAKING of 'Weighing', I've usually been handsy on the team, and liked what I indulged…"
Katsu then shocked Sora with her writhing feelings from left to right, on every part of him!
"-BUT WHO'D'VE THOUGHT I'D GET AS MUCH PLEASURE FEELING UP A BOY?!"
Sora, frightened by Katsu, who latched onto him from the back while rubbing him, tried to shake her off while running around, trying for dear life to get a pervy girl off him!
Ikaruga then said, "Huh, you'd normally see Katsu misbehaving around us the same way." Asuka then asked, "Can we PLEASE drop it?! Watching the poor guy get Girlhandled by Katsu is giving me HORRIBLE Flashbacks." Yagyu then said, "Kinda wish the poor guy would stay, just to steer Katsuragi from fondling us, but yeah, I can tell even the poor guy can't handle it anymore than we can."
"-GET-IT-OFF-GET-IT-OFF-GET-IT-OFF-GET-IT-OFF-SHE'S EATING MY EAR AND REACHING INTO MY SHIRT, SO CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE GET THIS PSYCHO OFFA ME?!" Sora begged as he ran around. Katsuragi meanwhile laughed, "Ooh, you sure you got a girl waiting? Because from what I can tell, SOMEBODY screams like a single Cat Girl in a Convention! YUMMY!"
The hours spent for the group consisted of Sora, looking around the inside of his new and temporary home, followed by the Hanzo girls, who marveled at everything set up for his home away from work. The kitchen, the living room, the bathroom, the bedroom, and the POOL, everything was roomy, traditionally Japanese, an architecture that you would normally compare to a rich lord's temple was literally everywhere in such a hom, making Sora truly admit, "...I am DEFINITELY in another world…"
Asuka then asked, "Not exactly in Kansas, anymore, are you, Dorothy?" Sora laughed and answered, "Can you blame me? I spent years fighting for the safety of other worlds, so it's only natural to feel a little out of place wherever I go…I was just…never used to the 'Royal Treatment'. Now that I think about it, the deal I made to answer the summons…I would be taken to another Realm where my friends could reach me. Chances are though, wherever I'll be taken to after all this, won't be as rewarding as this. So…maybe I should enjoy what I was given until my time is up."
"Sora…does that include the women?" Asuka asked. Sora freaked and answered, "NO! I'M NOT GOING TO 'ENJOY' WHAT YOU THINK! YOU GUYS ARE MY FRIENDS!" Asuka flicked his forehead and said, "Come on Sora, I know you wouldn't do the dirty deed! You're squeaky-clean purity in human form!" Sora blushed while noticing Asuka carrying a couple of things, "Um, Asuka, what's with the stuff? You even…have…a-."
"YES SHE DOES HAVE A SLEEPING BAG, 'HONEY'! As. Do. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Katsuragi cheered while she, Yagyu, Ikaruga, and Hibari revealed they had brought bags and snacks in the boathouse!
Asuka then said, "This is Katsuragi's idea, not mine, but I think a club activity and initiative celebration would make things feel more positive and welcoming for you, especially since the 6 of us are going to work together." Sora blushed at the thought of 5 girls being in his new home, but Sora knew he couldn't exactly tell them what to do, so he said, "...Alright, let's make ourselves at home! I'll see if I can cook us something-."
"-I will cook Dinner!" Ikaruga demanded. Surprised, Sora said, "I…appreciate the generosity, but I think I can cook the class something tasty." Ikaruga however argued, "I insist! I am an exceptional chef after all, it will be an honor to cook for you…I owe you after all." Sora shook his head and said, "Ikaruga, you don't owe me anything, you're my friend, not an enemy, in fact, I should be the one apologizing to you earlier."
As sure as Sora was, Asuka clearly noticed Ikaruga's frustrated feelings for him…
End of Chapter 8
Next Chapter...
The class celebrates with their new classmate, while Ikaruga finally has time with the Keybearer...