Inazuma Gakuen – Main Building – 2 days later
Sid Renen, Raisa Ubiytsy, Toramaru Nagare and Yuriko Kazegawa were sitting on the Seiza position (Traditional Japanese Position) Standing in front of them, with a strict glare, was Garo Takayama, Archer Extraordinary and Inazuma Gakuen Teacher. He was clearly pissed at them. –You bunch of stupid youngsters!- He stomped the floor, enraged, as he kept talking, pacing in front of them. –You leave the school, get involved in a city wide incident, get greatly injured and then you have the balls to attempt re-entering the school in the night trying to avoid detection.- Toramaru decided to talk. –You can’t blame us… we went to give a friend of ours…. A hand….- The Half Oni shook his stump and added. –Get it?-
Raisa faintly shook her head and Yuriko face palmed hers face as Garo punched Toramaru right in the top of his head, ignoring the flames thanks to his Ki. –You think this is funny? We already got your co-conspirators, Ms. Sizhou and Mr. Nakatsuka are already under heavy punishment and the same is going to happen to all of you, so you learn that you don’t leave the school without permission.- As they were shouted at by the Old Archer, Andy Bonham entered the main building, ignoring them but grinning maliciously at Sid while waving. Garo noticed the newcomer and his demeanor changed a little. –Bonham, did you take care of your family business?-
-Yeah, it was a success, thanks for granting me the permit Takayama-sensei.- And with that the Heir to the Bonham Family left without allowing anybody to point out the truth.
50 Km away from the Japanese Eastern Coast – 5 days later
Torn corpses lied in the cracked concrete floor of what once was an artificial island, a bastion for the Imperial Navy during the WWII. Dozens of JSDF soldiers were dismembered, blood splattered all over the place. The sound of steps over the wet, bloody, ground was the only thing echoing against the old buildings of this forgotten military base. An animalistic grunt took over slowly turning from a guttural noise into a fully fledged cry of madness. –CEMENTERIO!!!!!!-
Masako Hihashi, covered in blood from head to toes, roared with absolute anger and disgust, metallic tendrils bursting all around him piercing the buildings and making many of them collapse around him. The bodies surrounding him were ripped to shreds and consumed by the tendrils that pierced them, even drinking the blood like a man who just walked 3 days and 3 nights in the desert without a drop of water. Soon the buildings reached the ground and the echoes of their thundering roar died out.
The Apex Predator walked towards a structure in the other extreme of the island, the hull of an old submarine that was submerged. The place of his second birth, when the Benkeinium bonded with him, as he strode forward only a single phrase was uttered by Masako. –I’m vexed.- And he repeated it like a mantra.
JHWAB Kanto HQ – Undisclosed Location – 1 week later
-So the effects in Osaka already stopped? We aren’t about to get invaded by Gainen again? De gozaru- A man with a strange voice, with metallic undertones, cloaked in shadows sitting among others around a table asked concerned. His questions were quickly answered by another man with a cold voice and glasses reflecting the faint light of this strange room. –No, the surge detected was just the remnants of energy locked inside one of the Containment Devices, excited by energies attuned to its conceptual nature. - The man with the glasses exhaled a small cloud of extremely cold breath and fixed his glasses back on. –Still we should consider further investigation on the matter or at least interview the suspect.-
A woman interrupted the man with glasses, her silhouette displayed the outline of fox-like ears coming out from her head and her voice was elegant and seductive. –You seem like a nice boy, why are you always so formal? If you want to try and torture old man Fukuma just say it, we won’t mind it, because when you say interview we all know what you’re talking about Su-chin- The man in glasses showed a grimace of disgust to the interruption but before he could replay another young voice joined the fray. The outline in the poorly lit room had a faint golden luminescence, barely enough to show fractions of his tanned skin and bleached hair. –Moe-dono is right Subaru-kun, you don’t need to beat around the bush, if you want to share your clearly impulsive idea you are free to do so.-
-Impulsive!?- Subaru Yukishiro, head of the JHWAB Intelligence Branch snapped furious at the one putting him in evidence, Yukio Shiraginu, equally ranked leader of the Cultural Branch. –Yes, for somebody so “cold” you’re quite hot-headed at times Subaru-kun. - Yukio smiled. – You never consider the consequences of your…ehem…- He looked at the old man at the head of the table. –zealous actions.- Subaru, losing his composure smashed his fist on the table, creating a small frozen area around the point of impact. Enraged he was about to reply with hateful words but a small and well mannered cough from the man at the head of the table, Roshi Yasumori, leader of the JHWAB stopped him on his tracks. The Cold Investigator breathed deeply to calm down, as Roshi always instructed him to do, and asked. –Which consequences? - Trying, with small success not to sound confrontational.
Yukio smiled, it was a bit smug, but he was truly happy not to hear more shouting. –Is easy, not only Fukuma-dono exile is self imposed, but he also protects the…- The Cultural Leader made a brief pause as the thought. - How did you call them? Containment Devices? – Subaru nodded. –But he also has a very important following by the Martial Arts community of the Our World, trying to interrogate or treat him as a hostile when he only tried to save his student will only get us bad publicity.- Yukio opened a couple of displays showing the other individuals involved in the events till the end. –Not to mention they situation was diffused by a private group because our hand was stopped by the government. – The Shiraginu Heir kept explaining with a confident smile. –If we act against them we only display weakness, making us seem like puppets of the government when in theory we should be an independent organization. - After saying that his eyes locked on Roshi, who was silent until now.
Breaking the silence Subaru decided to mark a counterpoint. –You speak of avoiding the display of weakness, but we left a Miyata brat roam around Osaka with a band of Inazuma students, now a private school, mercenaries and criminals fighting a local denizen who was hiding an army and a Tengu Level death squad with an equally dangerous scientist…- It was Subaru’s time to glare at one of his equals, locking his eyes on Eien no Ha, who was sitting with his legs rudely crossed. –How did Kago escape Shirokumo Prison?- The Inmortal Blade clashed glares with the Intelligence Branch Leader and quickly replied with his usual monotone metallic voice. –That’s still under investigation as well others cells that were vacated without our knowledge, I was going to ask you for help, like sending Bushitora-dono to help, as he has a hand on this kind of task-de gozaru.-
-That will be arranged. - Roshi finally intervened in the conversation. Every Branch Leader looked at their boss with anticipation. The Omnyo Master changed positions and lowered his head, with both knees and palms on the ground. Everybody in the room gasped at such sight, Moe giggled amused, while Subaru’s face showed his sadness. Roshi raised his head and glanced at all of them as he started talking. –I had no choice but to let this slide, the Shishioh had enough influence and resources to lock us out from the situation.- The JHWAB leader’s face had a sad smile. –I hoped that the situation didn’t went out of hand, but I didn’t knew of Kago’s freedom, nor I considered the factor of Reiji Fukuma, but who could blame he, he never left that island for more than 15 years, I never thought a single pupil would get him so riled up.-
-We were still reeling from the disaster in Shinjuku last year, especially after all the information of the incident was lost.- Roshi was clearly distraught by the whole situation and nobody was even saying a single word as he expressed his opinions on the incidents. –At least our response time was enough to avoid mass exposure, we are still cleaning in Osaka and getting all the information we can find, but Kago destroyed his computers after leaving and his teleportation technology seems to be, according to the reports from the Intelligence Inspectors, untraceable.- Roshi sighed. –I think that our best course of action here, especially with the team and Fukuma is to ignore them, they did everything for a very good reason and even if they caused some collateral damaged they finally managed to get Aoiminato out of Osaka, not to mention the discovery of Kago’s escape.-
-So that’s it? We ignore the danger the Containment Devices represent?- Subaru inquired a bit pissed. Roshi quickly replied. –No, we don’t ignore it, but we don’t take direct action, just increase the security around Sakurajima, get members of the BHA if we don’t have able manpower available in the south.- Moe Akagitsune took the word as soon as Roshi stopped talking. –But we don’t have money to hire more BHA tramps, we are barely making it as it is.- Everyone looked at her, as she always tried to pull that card and she always failed. Roshi glared at her. –So all the money we took form Aoiminato HQ and accounts has already vanished?- Moe nodded as Roshi stood up and started walking to the exit. –Okay, then unless you find that money again you’re getting a pay cut to hire those BHA members we need, spare no expense for them and don’t forget to send me every single file before doing anything, understood?- He opened the door.
-Yes sir. – Said a resigned Moe as Roshi closed the door leaving the conference room. Outside a man on his early 50's, elegantly dressed, with combed black hair and glasses was waiting for the JHWAB Leader. -Oh Oboide-kun, what is my schedule for today?- asked Roshi Yasumori to his assistant, Kyotei Oboide...
Shishioh State – Outskirts of Tokyo – 2 weeks later
Masayoshi Shishioh, Gen and Rin’s older brother opened his eyes. His head was pounding and his body aching. His muscles almost completely numb after weeks of deep coma, with amazing effort he managed to move his arms, his very sensitive fingertips rubbed his chest, as he felt that something was off. Soon he realized what was bothering him. Dozens of stitched wounds were all over his chest, evidence of many procedures done to implant the new set of organs he got. Masayoshi grunted in pain as he touched the freshest of the seams, a grunt that alerted the people inside his room.
Gen was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed while Rin was sitting besides his bed with a book in her hands. She immediately stood up leaving her book on the bedside table and stopping her oldest brother from rising up. –Stay down Masa-niisan, you aren’t well enough to sit, you will open the stitches.- Masayoshi could barely see without his glasses. –Rin-neechan? Is that you? What is this all about? Why am I stitched? The last thing I remember was… Did…did I collapse again at college? - Rin looked around for her brother’s glasses while Gen sarcastically commented. –Shame they didn’t fuckin’ get him my fuckin’ eyes, he might have stopped usin’ those fuckin’ things…- Masayoshi, still unable to properly see everything around him turned to the source of the voice.
-Gen!? You came back!?- Masayoshi sounded extremely happy to hear his brother’s voice. –I hope that it wasn’t my condition, I know how much you wanted to go on your own, I don’t want to be the reason of you being here.- Rin almost giggled while Gen, with veins popping on his foreheard blasted out this reply. –Yer fuckin’ condition makin’ me come back!? Yer fuckin’ condition will make me mostly fuckin’ stay here…- The Eldest Shishioh was surprised by the sudden outburst of his younger brother and confused about the “mostly” part, but he was delighted to know that and quickly told Gen. –Really? I hope you stay for long, the house was really boring without you, without you there was nobody to get me sake or ramen while I was binge studying for exams.- Masayoshi stopped talking with shock, trying to lock his eyes on the blurry figure that was Rin.
He weakly joined both hands as if he was praying. –Please Rin-neechan, don’t tell our parents about that, you know they don’t like me drinking or eating unhealthy food, but I must admit my love for Ramen knows no bounds.- He faintly smiled but his expression changed to surprise as Rin replied. –Masa-niisan, our parents won’t be a problem anymore…- Masayoshi’s surprise changed to preoccupation as he heard Rin’s grim tone. –Did something happen to them? - He asked with concern on his voice. –I fuckin’ hope for that, but…- Gen started rudely talking but was interrupted by his sister. –They are okay Masa-niisan, they just decided to take a break from leading the Zaibatsu, they went to do volunteer work on Africa, they won’t be back for a couple of years.- Rin was making up half of that, but she didn’t lie about the location nor the time they would be away.
-Really? So who is in charge of everything? - Masayoshi asked, going right to the point. Gen smiled wolfishly. –Ya’re aniki, ya’re in fuckin’ charge and even after they come back ya’ll be in fuckin’ charge…- Rin finally got Masayoshi’s glasses and passed them to him, who started looking around while he meditated on what they told him and as the smartest of the three quickly realized something was off, as he added everything up. –I was dying? Wasn’t I? - The Eldest Shishioh saw their reaction quickly gathering more evidence of the situation. –And now I’m stitched head to toes and you’re as well, right Gen? - With his glasses he keenly noticed the massive scar on Gen’s chest. –What did I lose? My liver? -Both of his siblings didn’t reply. – My kidneys?- Once again neither Gen or Rin replied to his inquiry. –What happened? What did you give me Gen?- The Spirit Boxer clenched his fists in anger. Gen left the room without speaking, slamming the door as he left. –What was that about? - Masayoshi asked Rin who looked down and didn’t reply.
She would tell him with time, but before that she left him to rest and went to stop Gen. –Gen! GEN!- The Boxer was muttering insults while kicking anything kickable in his way out, ignoring his sisters calls. Finally Rin used her Ki to boost her speed and stood in front of Gen. –You can’t leave like this… we need to explain what happened to him… he isn’t guilty for what happened!- She used several arguments trying to win Gen over, but her brother was too pissed. –I know he isn’t fuckin’ guilty RIN!- The Hot-blooded Boxer punched the nearest wall, opening a crooked hole on it. –But every time I fuckin’ see him I remember what fuckin’ happened and I want to fuckin’ punch somethin’… -He lowered his head in anger and frustration.
-Then just promise me one thing… promise me you will come back, don’t leave forever, now that our… parents aren’t here anymore you don’t have any reasons to bail on us.- Rin grabbed on her brother’s jacket, looking at him with pleading eyes. –Not only for Masayoshi, but also for us… we need to find out the truth… we need to find out who is our real father… I don’t know what to do about…sob… it was too much to find out then… sob…- She started crying, her head over Gen’s shoulder. The Boxer was clearly feeling a bit awkward about the situation, he tended to make people cry, not being cried on, but quickly his brotherly instincts took over and he hugged his sister, patting her head trying to calm her down.
-I won’t leave forever Rin… I just need to get my fuckin’ head straight…- Gen smiled, not a bloodthirsty grin, but a strange gentle smile, that on his face seemed out of place. –Ya know? I need to punch some fuckin’ idiots… The Old Man is hookin’ me up with a mission in Europe… Last time I fuckin’ went there I punched an idiot hard enough to throw him over half of fuckin’ London… - Rin stopped sobbing and looked at Gen who kept talking. –I promise ya sis, I’ll go there, play the fuckin’ hero and then come back… We’ll fuckin’ talk to Masa when I come back… and we’ll fuckin’ deal with the fuckin’ mystery… Deal?- He extended his hand to Rin, who clutched it firmly before letting it go.
And after that touching moment Gen left towards Sakurajima, and then he would go to Romania, to assault Orasul Sange.
Honnoji Temple – Kyoto – 3 weeks later
-I still don’t understand the whole plan, you created chaos in Osaka just to enter Sakurajima?- Ikari Fukushi, sitting on the wooden outer hallway of the temple took a sip of a canteen he carried after asking. –We entered to Sakurajima last year without problems, it took our combined effort and the help of that idiot from Germany to deal with the stubborn old man… so why do you caused a Oni Level disaster just to enter to that Island?- Kuro-san took a sip of tea from his simple ceramic cup. –I don’t need to explain myself, but if you really want to know, I just needed the island for myself, I had to set very complex triggers to activate Fukuma-dono implanted memories, I need him to send the Shishioh brat to Romania, so Jaakuma-san can handle him.- Ikari snarled. –The writer girl? You put too much faith on her, I still don’t understand the scope of your ideas, considering all the information and resources you have, can’t you take over the JHWAB?-
-I could… if it served a purpose. - Kuro-san replied calmly, in contrast to Ikari’s increasing agitation. –Before I would have taken it, but then I was aimless, trying to play in several fields at the same time, not putting enough effort in any of them, now I’m focused in a goal and I won’t stop until achieving it.- Kuro-san looked at the Memory Medal on his hand, that he pulled out of his pocket while talking. –So you still plan to crash their party? I would love to be there, but you sent me to deal with those Trinity Gate idiots…- Ikari stood up and took another quick chug from his canteen. –You sure you don’t want help?- But Kuro-san shook his head. –Don’t worry, I already have a helping hand.- From around the corner of the main temple a figure with black hair, rugged beard and a strange golden sheathed sword emerged.
-Fukushi-san, meet the Herald, he has been helping me to achieve my goal, next year you two might work together alongside Jaakuma-san, so you better get to know each other.- Kuro-san stood up and started walking away. –Please keep me posted about Hihashi-san whereabouts and send the money for Bonham-kun, he might be useful in the future when we deal with the issues with Garyuu Overseas Trading’s most recent acquisition.- And with that Kuro-san stood up and walked away, with the Herald, who upon closer inspection looked like a traditional swordsman this time around, leaving Ikari alone with his thoughts. The Agent of Hatred owed a couple of debts to Kuro-san but even if he didn’t he would join up to this mysterious mission, just for the sheer curiosity is managed to generate on him.
Fooling everybody in the world was a truly hateful thing to do to a world that fooled you. An Eye for an eye and teeth for teeth.