《Codename Prometheus》


 Chapter 1

    || Codename Prometheus ||


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    (let¡¯s. make. reality. fictitious.)


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    Kazuo whistled while he meandered down the military base. He had a meeting with Rikyu, named after the venerable tea master Sen no Rikyu. Though Rikyu was more apt to drink chocolate milk rather than tea. In fact, Rikyu was barely out of diapers; yet he was his superior. At fourteen years of age, Kazuo would¡¯ve found the notion ridiculous if it were anyone else other than Rikyu, who currently was nine years of age. Strange how the world worked, didn¡¯t it? Though Kazuo got involved with far stranger things on his missions. He suspected that something even stranger was going to be assigned to him soon.


    He cleared his throat and knocked on the door to Rikyu¡¯s office.


    ¡°Kyu-chan? You called me?¡±


    The door was opened by a white-haired male with a piercing blue gaze. He frowned slightly at Kazuo. Come on now, couldn¡¯t he have some fun? The kid was serious enough as it is; he didn¡¯t need grumpy Papa to scowl at him like that.


    ¡°Rikyu is currently having lunch,¡± Shirou said stiffly. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you come at a better time? It¡¯s just like you to pop up at inconvenient times.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he could spare a few minutes,¡± Kazuo grinned.


    Shirou sighed and made a way out of the door.


    ¡°As Rikyu¡¯s father, he¡¯s in my care. I don¡¯t want anything happening to him. God forbid, he causes enough trouble on his own. He doesn¡¯t need a troublemaker and bad influence like you to corrupt him further.¡±


    ¡°Since when have I been anything except perfectly respectable?¡± Kazuo said while quirking a brow at Shirou. ¡°I make sure that he brushes his teeth every day. That he has naptime at about the same time as always, 3:00 sharp for thirty minutes, right? And also, I make sure that he is safe from harm. I¡¯m a perfectly respectable bodyguard, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°You certainly have skills, ¡°Shirou said. ¡°Though sometimes I wonder about you. The only thing you care about is money, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh come on, it¡¯s a favor,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t mind getting paid handsomely for my efforts, but if it¡¯s for Rikyu, I¡¯m willing to put my life on the line for him. But honestly, shouldn¡¯t you let me in by now? I¡¯m sure he will get testy if he doesn¡¯t have his meeting.¡±


    Shirou obliged.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kazuo said with a nod before he slipped in and made his way to Rikyu¡¯s desk, who had carefully arranged his fruit snacks of butterflies and conches and another assortment of pretty creatures in a neat line.


    ¡°Being particular about your food, Kyu-chan?¡± Kazuo said pleasantly, while Rikyu gave him a serious look.


    ¡°They¡¯re categorized by weakest to strongest,¡± Rikyu said in a serious tone. ¡°Weakest being less number of them, while strongest is the most numbers. In the art of mastication, they¡¯re all the same; they¡¯re there to be consumed by a greater predator. Me. I¡¯m the top of the food chain in this environment.¡±


    He gestured to his chocolate milk and then the meal of chicken nuggets.


    ¡°I eat my food in a particular order, you see. I eat the proper meals first and save the sweets for last. As much as I would like to have sweets first, I¡¯m learning the art of delaying gratification."


    ¡°That and, you get crazy when you¡¯re hyped up on sugar,¡± Kazuo said with a grin. ¡°What¡¯s the occasion that Shirou allowed you to have some sugary fruit snacks?¡±


    Rikyu gave Kazuo a meaningful look. ¡°I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t come here to listen to me ramble on about the Darwinism about fruit snacks, however. Here, take a look at this.¡±


    Rikyu then handed Kazuo a photograph.


    Kazuo whistled while examining a picture. The woman was a real looker all right, with long purple hair and sharp, piercing violet eyes that could penetrate one¡¯s soul. He was smitten, for sure, though that¡¯s not the reason why he was given a picture of her. Not for any perverted reasons, mind you, though Kazuo did like flirting with pretty girls on his missions. No, he was strictly to observe this woman, infiltrate the school, and make friends with her, perhaps. But wow, she had the stunning appeal like a Tokyo model. She had what you would call Torpedo Tits, though of course, that was an inappropriate language for the company he was present in.


    Kazuo cleared his throat. His superior, Rikyu, seemed to know what he was thinking of. He didn¡¯t know, he didn¡¯t know why, but sometimes Rikyu had this unerring ability to hone in on Kazuo¡¯s thoughts and guess correctly what he¡¯s thinking without him saying so. Was Kazuo that simple-minded, or was Rikyu just that scary? Sure, Kazuo loved beautiful women, there was nothing wrong with that, was there? Or didn¡¯t every man have their vice? His was women. Sometimes he wondered if Rikyu would ever be interested in girls whenever he grew up. On the other hand, Kazuo must preserve his innocence! Though Rikyu probably knew about anatomy and reproduction from books, Kazuo didn¡¯t want to think about. His little Kyu-chan, reading those things! It¡¯s unthinkable! Maybe Kazuo should give him the talk one of these days?


    Yet Rikyu was too precocious for his own good! When Kazuo was nine years old, he was throwing paper airplanes in class and flipping up girl¡¯s skirts for funzies. Yet Rikyu was different. He was what you would call a well-behaved boy¡­usually. His Kyu-chan, growing up and learning the ways of the world! Ah, there was so much that Kazuo wanted to teach him, but Rikyu accelerated in his learning and experience at an unreasonable rate! While Kazuo himself? He was devolving! He was sure!


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Rikyu said, as though reading Kazuo¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Kazuo said while he looked up from the picture to the nine-year-old boy that tapped his foot on the ground impatiently.


    ¡°Strictly observance, only,¡± Rikyu said in a stern tone. Kazuo chuckled.


    ¡°Come on, Kyu-chan, I¡¯m not that depraved I would go touching a woman without her permission. I¡¯m a gentleman, you know. A gentleman.¡±


    Rikyu sighed. Kazuo cleared his throat again. He was being awfully serious, wasn¡¯t he? Frowning so much would only give him wrinkles beyond his years! His hair would be grey and his back would be hunched over! Rikyu was an old man in a nine-year-old¡¯s body. Just as crotchety too, he supposed. In fact, he could imagine Rikyu with a cane waving him off his lawn. The mental disparity was both disturbing and amusing. Rikyu really needed to relax more. But how could Kazuo put the young boy¡¯s mind at ease?


    ¡°Just think for a moment instead of being a moody sac of hormones. This girl can play an important part in our organization, though we must handle the situation delicately, I must say.¡±


    ¡°You know that I have the finesse for this mission, Kyu-chan.¡±


    Rikyu frowned.


    ¡°Could you please stop calling me that? I¡¯m your superior, after all.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Kazuo said with a teasing edge in his voice. ¡°But I really owe a lot to you. Couldn¡¯t I refer to you with more affection than just ¡®Captain¡¯?¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°We¡¯re professionals,¡± Rikyu said, to which Kazuo¡¯s expression turned serious.


    ¡°Right,¡± Kazuo said, finally sobering up. ¡°But do you think that she really is the one?¡±


    Kazuo¡¯s brow furrowed. There were clear indicators that she might be what they¡¯re looking for. She wasn¡¯t just eye candy, she apparently had brains like Rikyu did. Though Kazuo would¡¯ve joked that Rikyu was awakening to his manhood, Kazuo knew better. Though still, he spent an awfully long time listening in on her. Kazuo wondered if Rikyu felt any sense of unease about stalking and watching over a woman without her knowing. He didn¡¯t particularly like this part, but it was a part of the mission. Kazuo needed to put his personal feelings aside for the time being.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re going to determine, aren¡¯t we?¡± Rikyu chided gently, breaking Kazuo out of his train of thought. ¡°You will be observing her school activities and monitor her home activities by moving into an apartment next to hers. Then you will be given a fake student ID to enter the school that she works from.¡±


    ¡°Hm, I don¡¯t like the idea of stalking women, but I guess this is important to the mission,¡± Kazuo said with a nod. ¡°You should be more sensitive to women, you know? You don¡¯t have any qualms about doing this to the poor girl, do you?¡±


    Rikyu glared at Kazuo. Yikes, when Kyu-chan¡¯s anger roused, people had a bad habit of falling victim to technological failures in the base such as electrical wires shocking them or the AI rebelling against the people tending them by trolling them with memes. ¡°Unlike me, she isn¡¯t disposable.¡±


    Kazuo held up his hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kyu-chan. Christ. I was just joking!¡±


    Rikyu sighed again. ¡°You need to take this more seriously.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll do as I¡¯m told,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°But remember, Rikyu¡­dont¡¯ overwork yourself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Rikyu said in a nod of acknowledgment towards Kazuo¡¯s statement. ¡°Your first mission is a surveillance mission. You will move into an apartment quite near to hers and monitor her daily activities. You will report everything to me, including the most intimate detail. Nothing is sacred or private here. I want to know everything.¡±


    ¡°Are you awakening to hormones?"


    ¡°As if. Get moving.¡±


    Kazuo saluted and then walked out the door.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    ¡°Attention!¡± Tomoyo Aburame said in the classroom, straight iron rod straight as her stern expression overlooked the students before them. What a pathetic lot, she thought. They didn¡¯t take their responsibilities seriously enough! How else was she supposed to discipline them into better students, nay, citizens? Their future meant a career in something that made a comfortable living in modern day Japan, where apathy ran strongly but did any of them care? Not one bit! Only Tomoyo cared! She wanted to straighten out these students one by one by shaking them by their perfectly pressed collars and shout insults in their faces. But she had a reputation to keep, and that meant she would let her trusty shinai do the talking instead of her words. Of course, Tomoyo could verbally eviscerate a student if she wanted to, but she held back for their sake. They needed to think for themselves, damn it!


    ¡°Please take these pamphlets I¡¯m going to be handing about,¡± Tomoyo said as she started to hand them out to the students, who whispered while she was in the middle of talking. She slammed the shinai on the desk of one hapless student, glaring at him.


    ¡°You there! Did I give you permission to speak? How dare you talk while I¡¯m in the middle of an explanation!¡±


    ¡°Look at that hotshot Tomoyo,¡± one of the students said, to which Tomoyo reddened. She was seeing red, damn it! But she had to control her anger, or else she would be nothing more than a tyrant! But still, these students made it so hard for her to keep her composure¡­they purposely pissed her off, did they? Why? She upheld the rules in the school, she made sure that each of them would turn out to be upstanding citizens? Even if she had to smack them a couple of times across the head, that meant they were being rehabilitated into better people. Right? This class of delinquents that got involved in their stupid gang wars and shit.


    ¡°Listen, you,¡± Tomoyo said before someone threw a smelly wad of the sock at her. Did it¡­did it have MOLD on it? Ugh! How disgusting! ¡°This is unacceptable behavior! Don¡¯t you care about being moral and upright citizens?¡±


    ¡°You listen, Tomoyo the Tyrant,¡± one of the students said, pointing a finger at her. Various garbage was being tossed in her direction, to which Tomoyo span her shinai around and deflected them all! She would not put up with this!


    ¡°Rule number one,¡± Tomoyo said with a glint in her eye while the students swallowed. Even if they despised her, even if they hated her guts, she would make sure that the rules would be upheld! No matter what! ¡°Throw your damn garbage away! And NOT at me!¡±


    ¡°Why should we do what you say?¡± one of the girls that tormented Tomoyo said with a sneer. ¡°We all know that you''re given the Class President title because no one cared enough to take it. Besides, you don¡¯t have the authority to boss us around. You just want to use your shinai to hit other people don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s discipline!¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°And self-defense! I know that you guys scheme behind my back to make my life as miserable as possible!¡±


    ¡°How do you think that we feel?¡± One of the students said. ¡°You just go crazy with that shinai and hit students whenever you feel like it. You''re not called the Tyrant without a reason, you know?¡±


    In the meantime, a girl with silky brown hair stood up from her seat and put a hand on Tomoyo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Listen, everyone. Tomoyo is trying her hardest. Why don''t¡¯ we try our hardest, too?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Kokoro-chan,¡± one of the boys said. ¡°Why are you friends with her, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Kokoro said in a calming tone to placate the riled up students. ¡°Tomo-chan is my friend. You should be kinder to her, you know? She works so hard to keep this school in line, and you all rally against her¡­ however¡­¡±


    Kokoro wagged a finger at Tomoyo. ¡°Tomoyo, you should listen to the hearts of the students more. You shouldn''t rule through fear and discipline. Sometimes a feminine touch is needed¡­you know what I mean?¡±


    Tomoyo flushed. ¡°Koko-chan¡­.¡±


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Kokoro said while putting a hand on her cheek. ¡°Let¡¯s settle down and read our pamphlets in peace. This is really important for our careers, you know? I know it doesn¡¯t seem like it matters right now, but I have confidence that every one of you has a fantastic future ahead of you. Tomoyo wants what¡¯s best for you.¡±


    The boys grumbled and got into their seats. Tomoyo frowned. They were certainly lovestruck by Kokoro-chan, and the girls adored her and wanted to be her. Why couldn¡¯t Tomoyo wield that kind of charisma too?


    ¡°All right,¡± Tomoyo said in a resigned tone. ¡°Just make sure to return the pamphlets to me when you¡¯re finished. Dismissed.¡±


    ¡ªx¡ª


    Kazuo set up his apartment. He organized everything with military efficiency, with a Spartan room that had the barest of furnishings. He had a pair of binoculars around his neck while peeping through the windows and listened in on Tomoyo¡¯s conversations on her phone and IM messages recorded on her computer. He knew all sorts of intimate things about her, such as the fact that she only eats a yogurt in the morning for breakfast and buys ninety-nine cent ramen cups from the convenience store to survive, along with the fact that she wears practical clothing but would like to window shop among the streets in Tokyo for pretty clothes that she would longingly sigh for to become more feminine. Though Kazuo personally liked her best in her practical clothing rather than the girl dresses in ribbons and frocks and hats. It just seemed t suit her more.


    ¡°Kazuo reporting in,¡± Kauo said while he observed Tomoyo disappeared into her bathroom and heard the sound of the shower being run. ¡°Target is taking a bath. Seems to show no signs of suspicion against being watched. Thus far she seems to be an ordinary high school girl struggling to get by. Are you sure that she¡¯s that important?¡±


    ¡°You better trust my instincts, Kazuo,¡± Rikyu said, while Kazuo laughed a bit.


    ¡°Hey, hey, I¡¯m not doubting you. But I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t have all this fancy tech and whatnot just for me to do glorified peeping tom, are you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see. Eventually.¡±


    ¡°As much as I like watching pretty girls, isn¡¯t this a little too much? I feel like a huge creep doing this to her.¡±


    ¡°As much as I find invading the privacy of someone very unsavory, she¡¯s an important target and can be integral to our organization; or a weapon against it. Just keep watching and make sure that no one suspicious approaches her or kidnaps her or whatever. Maelstrom will think of a way to approach her. We¡¯re currently working on Fake IDs and paperwork for you to join her school. Eventually. Thinking ahead and planning ahead gets you everywhere in life.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m kind of getting bored. She isn¡¯t really doing much. Though school seems like a lot of fun. At least I would be out and get in contact with the target, at least.¡±


    ¡°Just remember to observe for now,¡± Rikyu said sternly. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to contact her yet. That would put this operation at risk for one. But we believe that she has an item of importance within that apartment, or she might have something that will prove her extraordinary gift. We¡¯ll just have to wait and see. From what we remember, she got exceptional grades all across the board, particularly in math and science.¡±


    ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± Kazuo asked, and Rikyu could be heard unwrapping a candy bar on the other side.


    ¡°Just a part of the hunch, I suppose,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°You will shadow her tomorrow and report everything to me.¡±


    ¡°Even if she does things like scratch her ass or farts?¡±


    ¡°Gross, Kazuo.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you know me,¡± Kazuo said with a grin. ¡°Girls aren¡¯t so mysterious creatures after all.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Rikyu said before he munched on something on the other line.


    ¡°Hey, did Shirou give you permission to eat that?¡± Kazuo said, and he could imagine Rikyu grinning on the other side.


    ¡°My brain needs the extra glucose,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°But no worries. I think we¡¯re on the right track. Just be patient and stay tuned for further orders.¡±


    Kazuo nodded. ¡°Right-o. Will be awaiting a reply two hours from now.¡±

 Chapter 2

    || Codename Prometheus ||


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    (let¡¯s. make. reality. fictitious.)


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    Tomoyo sighed. She planned all the lessons down to the last detail and organized a group to pick up the garbage littered throughout Tokyo, but no one would listen to her! They could do well to perform community service; after all, keeping Tokyo¡¯s streets neat and clean was important. Their country was one that had an economic boom after the terrible bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She read about it in history books. People in generations past and present still haven¡¯t forgotten the terror of that day. And future generations would do well to remember that they must work hard to uphold their society and purity. By principle, they were the chosen people of the sun, who obeyed the Emperor and his words. The Emperor, who had the will of the heavens.


    If only they could strive by the Emperor¡¯s example, Tomoyo thought to herself. But nobody really cares these days, do they? We may have a near perfect literacy rate among our people, but do they care about all this information that they¡¯re being handed? We¡¯re privileged to live in such a great society, a society that rebuilt itself from the ground up! Work hard and fulfill your duties! But honestly.


    Tomoyo let out another sigh. Kokoro picked up on her friend¡¯s storm signals and politely cocked her head to the side while she was nibbling on a tuna onigiri.


    ¡°If you¡¯re stressed, you may talk it out with me,¡± Kokoro said reassuringly.


    Tomoyo looked towards her friend and scratched her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I can handle it.¡±


    ¡°While it¡¯s admirable that you¡¯re willing to push yourself so hard and long, it¡¯s important to take some breaks too, you know?¡±


    ¡°I can''t afford to slack off!¡± Tomoyo said as she clenched her hand into a fist. ¡°We need to do garbage duty in Tokyo Keeping the streets clean is an important duty that must be upheld by every citizen! If I can¡¯t stir their hearts and passion for a clean society, then everything will degenerate into a mess!¡±


    ¡°Easy, Tomo-chan,¡± Kokoro said as she picked up a can with a stake that she poked around for treasures. ¡°These are really cute, aren¡¯t they? I think I might¡¯ve found a treasure among this~¡±


    ¡°ONly you would find junk precious,¡± Tomoyo said with a sigh, though she couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little at her friend¡¯s antics. Despite coming from a rich family, Kokoro found herself fascinated by the things she found during garbage pick up. Seashells and other trinkets from the sea shores, or lost collectibles from a certain era thrown out among the soda cans and discarded paper and waste.


    ¡°Why do they listen to you and not me?¡± Tomoyo wondered aloud. Kokoro giggled behind a hand.


    ¡°Well, you could stand to have a more feminine touch to things rather than brute forcing your way through people,¡± Kokoro suggested. ¡°But honestly, I like that side about you, Tomo-chan. You¡¯re positively ruthless!¡±


    ¡°Hey now,¡± Tomoyo said as she dejectedly stabbed a banana peel and put into her garbage bag. ¡°I know that I¡¯m unpopular and no one else wanted the Class president position, but still! I¡¯m taking it very seriously!¡±


    ¡°Maybe you take things a little too seriously,¡± Kokoro said as her eyes lit up on finding a rare yen piece from about fifty years ago on the ground. ¡°Oh, this is my lucky find! The gods are truly smiling at me today.¡±


    ¡°Someone has to take things seriously,¡± Tomoyo muttered under her breath. ¡°These students are full of apathy. What happened to the passion and Japanese spirit that we were known for? We need to prove to the world that we¡¯re exemplary people, to prove that we can make it through any atrocity or hardship. We are strong!¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s good to have enthusiasm,¡± Kokoro said. ¡°Never lose your passion or directive, Tomoyo.¡±


    ¡°Haa? Why are you saying weird things, Kokoro-chan?¡± Tomoyo said while cocking her head to the side.


    ¡°Because I feel,¡± Kokoro said, looking towards the ever blue skies. ¡°That today is going to be different. That something will change the course of our lives.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking the atmosphere has been too stagnant,¡± Tomoyo said with a laugh. ¡°Sure, we enjoy a good literacy rate among our people and have a nice comfort of living throughout our cities, though I suppose; is this the best that we¡¯re supposed to get? How can we surpass the heavens even further? We¡¯ve already become our own gods.¡±


    ¡°Say¡­you¡¯ve been working on your science project, haven¡¯t you?¡± Kokoro said while she folded her hands behind her back.


    ¡°Oh you bet,¡± Tomoyo said wit ha slight laugh. ¡°I¡¯ve got something that will knock the socks off of the technical companies who are overseeing the event. And then, I will get a high powered career, and then I will work my way up to President of a very efficient company that will embody the Japanese spirit once more!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think that the Japanese spirit is merely changing, instead of flagging or extinguishing?¡± Kokoro said in wonder. ¡°The newer generation will make tidal waves in this society. Just you wait. Children are very precious, you know, in this society.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± Tomoyo said, pumping her hand into a fist. ¡°That¡¯s the last of the garbage pick up routine! As usual, I picked up the most trash! Hahaha!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly childish, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kokoro said, but she still laughed an then Tomoyo laughed a bit.


    ¡°Someone has to take life seriously,¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°But perhaps¡­I could loosen up a bit.¡±


    ¡°I could always take over Class President duties if you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°Not a chance,¡± Tomoyo said.


    Both girls giggled as they went to deposit the garbage along with the rest of the students, who were relieved of their duties.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    Kazuo was in the distance, pretending to be one of the students picking up garbage amongst the others. Kazuo knew magic tricks, and he could make himself disappear. Not literally disappear, but disappear from the notice of other people. He simply posed as one of the students and faded into the background, watching and listening. He lingered near Tomoyo, the target, and her friend, Kokoro. They seemed to be rather close, those two. Perhaps the only friend that Tomoyo had out of everyone. Though everyone saw her as the aloof and intimidating Class President, there was a soft side to her after all. Other people just didn''t it.


    Kazuo grinned a bit.


    His ears perked up a bit when Tomoyo mentioned a science project. She hadn¡¯t revealed the details, though did Rikyu¡¯s hunch revolve around that? He¡¯s not sure what kind of information he dug up on the Class Prez, but he knew that she and an interesting psychological profile and showed an unusual aptitude for science and math. Though honestly, she could just be a normal girl. He wasn¡¯t sure if there was anything too distinguishable about her yet, besides the fact that she was remarkably pretty. Or maybe Kazuo had a weakness for girl¡¯s aesthetics.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    They went back inside the school. Kazuo lingered outside, hiding behind a corner and reporting back to Rikyu as his unusually sharp eyes spied at Tomoyo through the window of her classroom.


    ¡°Reporting in,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°She mentioned something interesting. Something about a science project.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Rikyu said, to which Kazuo felt dejected. So what was the point of him gathering intel on this girl if Rikyu already knew everything?


    ¡°So I really am a glorified peeping tom,¡± Kazuo said, pouting a little.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call yourself that,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°You¡¯re doing work for the common good.¡±


    ¡°I just feel like I¡¯m a massive pervert,¡± Kazuo admitted as he continued to survey the grounds and watch Tomoyo in the classroom.


    ¡°Your next mission,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°Is to confiscate that science project. I have a feeling that it really Is something that will revolutionize the scientific community; We can¡¯t afford to have her discovered, or else she will be a target around the world for her skills.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised that no one has found out about you yet, Kyu-chan,¡± Kazuo said to which Rikyu chuckled a bit.


    ¡°I¡¯m under Papa Shirou¡¯s protection, after all. I take advantage of the people and resources that I can.¡±


    Kazuo nodded.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be back in a moment. She left the house at 2:30 sharp. I¡¯ll make my move.¡±


    ¡°Good luck.¡±


    Kazuo then turned off his intercom. He had a mission to do. He didn¡¯t like the idea of breaking and entering into a woman¡¯s house, but if this could potentially save her and not out here to the rest of the world for their own political gain and their twisted madman schemes, then all the better. Even if they were the heroes of justice, sometimes they would do things like this that left a bad aftertaste in Kazuo¡¯s mouth. It just didn¡¯t seem to fit their image, though Kazuo understood why things must be this way. Rikyu wasn¡¯t hesitant to use underhanded methods or sneaky ways to manipulate around the rules. He was very good at finding loopholes and could possibly get away with a lot, all thanks to Papa Shirou. For as much as Papa Shirou scolded Kazuo for being a bad influence, he sure enabled Rikyu¡¯s tendencies and schemes.


    But that''s because what Rikyu did was so damn interesting. You knew that he was plotting something big, something spectacular. Let the fireworks begin, Kazuo thought as slipped in through the door casually and went o the room numbered 302, which was where Tomoyo spent most of her time in. He made sure that no one saw him enter inside and coordinated the timings so perfectly that he went in without much trouble. He also bet that Rikyu disabled the street cameras in Tokyo as well, which also helped him on his infiltration mission. Yup, Rikyu and him were definitely partners, and Kazuo would do anything for Rikyu. Even if it meant doing this.


    Kazuo slipped into the room and looked for a secret compartment or the like. He didn¡¯t imagine that Tomoyo would leave a secret project that she was going to reveal to the tech companies lying around so openly. Kazuo lightly tapped on the walls and looked for false drawers and whatnot, but found nothing. Maybe Rikyu¡¯s hunch wasn¡¯t correct after all? Was this a trap to lure Maelstrom out and expose them? Kazuo didn¡¯t know, but he found himself muttering under his breath softly to calm himself and continue his mission.


    He found it underneath a floorboard. He carefully removed the false panel and saw something that he thought would only be found among the military, except far more enhanced. So they hit the jackpot after all. He supposed that the weapon needed investigation by their organization, but he definitely knew that an ordinary high school student didn¡¯t need a weapon like this. Did she keep it around for protection? She wondered if she had any stalkers that were after her, or people in government suits seeking her yet. Why would she feel the need to possess a weapon like this, and an enhanced grade of weapon that was better than most modern military issue standard guns?


    Well, whatever, he had it now.


    However, a knock on the door made him almost jump right out of his skin.


    ¡°Tomo-chan?¡± he heard Kokoro¡¯s voice call in. ¡°Are you there? I¡¯m coming in.¡±


    Shit! He needed someplace to hide, but he didn¡¯t know where. There weren¡¯t very many hiding spaces, and the one that was feasible was a cramped fit. Kazuo isn''t a contortionist. But still, he must make do. He crammed himself underneath Tomoyo¡¯s bed just in time before Kokoro entered the room.


    She shuffled around the room and started rearranging the room. Even worse! Kazuo found himself in a pickle. She could possibly look underneath the bed t clear dust bunnies, and he wasn¡¯t sure how he¡¯d get out of this undetected. He also had a weapon clutched in his hands as well, and she would most likely call the police on him when he was discovered, thinking that he was an assassin to kill Tomoyo. The idea didn¡¯t sound savory at all.


    Kokoro hummed to herself all the while as she straightened the manuals on Tomoyo¡¯s desk. Kazuo silently cursed in his head. He factored this in, though he didn¡¯t think that Kokoro would be here. Still, he waited for her footsteps to head out into the entryway, and Kazuo sneaked out from under the bed and found another hiding place behind the sofa, before darting underneath a table with a cover over top of it. Those were his next hiding spots if she came back in. Hopefully, she wouldn¡¯t .otherwise he¡¯d have to neutralize her, and that wouldn¡¯t look pretty. He didn¡¯t have the heart to hurt a woman, but in order to cover his tracks, he would need to neutralize any parties that could¡¯ve been privy to his presence, and he didn¡¯t want to resort to that.


    Kokoro wandered back in again. Kazuo¡¯s heart thumped as he heard her footsteps coming closer.


    Kazuo did the only thing he could do.


    He projected his voice in Tomoyo''s bedroom so that she would look there again. He whistled, and rushed into the bedroom to look for the source of the noise. He would rather risk getting found by the police or any backup rather than hurting a woman, this is the only thing he could do. Kazuo slipped out from the living room and made his way to the back window, carefully unlatching it and about to slide through. He heard Tomoyo¡¯s voice linger in the room.


    Kokoro? You there?¡±


    Shit! Kazuo was already out of the window and closed the window latched shut, though he knew that Tomoyo was just barely inches away from seeing his ass. He clambered at the bottom of the railing that projected above him, then started to parkour his way up the building to leap from one building to the next. He made it with the weapon in his hand, though there is a chance that they could call the police on him and that would be a troublesome venture that he didn¡¯t want to get into. But as far as Kazuo was concerned, he didn¡¯t have to harm a woman, and that was the most important thing.


    But now he could be spotted with a weapon. He couldn''t just run around Tokyo with a weapon in his hand, or someone was bound to confiscate it from him. Kazuo was sure that the street cams were still turned off and Rikyu was working on an emergency plan, especially since Kazuo deviated from the original plan, but he couldn¡¯t hurt a woman, damn it! It was against his principals!


    Kazuo leaped over fences and dove through alleyways and parkoured over benches and trees lining the street walls. He hoped that Tomoyo wouldn¡¯t yet find out about the science fair project; did she? He concluded that she probably didn¡¯t, not with Kokoro in the house, because he was sure that Kokoro would confiscate the weapon or have it detained, though it was more likely that Tomoyo could¡¯ve lied and said that she knew the stalker in her house was armed with a dangerous weapon and could send the police after him. It would probably be in the hands of the police by then, for both Tomoyo and Kazuo, but Tomoyo might spite him if she wants to bring vengeance on the person who dared intrude her home and take what was precious to her. Though Tomoyo probably figured she needed that gun to defend herself from something. But what?


    If he makes out of this alive, he will apologize to God, Buddha, and whoever else for his lack of faith and will be converted into a full believe afterward. Danger was his specialty, but this was the verge or something far bigger than Kazuo originally thought it would be. Still, it was for Rikyu, and he owed his life to the child prodigy. Kazuo then hijacked a car and covered up the weapon with his jacket in the backseat.


    ¡°Objective secured,¡± Shirou said with satisfaction as he took the gun away from Kazuo.


    Kazuo looked at it curiously. I¡±ts like a miniature railgun. How she managed to create something like that is beyond me, but this proves that she¡¯s definitely not an ordinary high school girl.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Shirou said while he pocketed the gun. ¡°Though you managed to escape, and Rikyu probably won¡¯t think much of it because he trusts you, but I¡¯m going to scold you for such foolhardy actions, young Kazuo-kun. What were you thinking?¡±


    ¡°I was in control for the most part,¡± Kazuo said. ¡° I simply had principles, though. I can¡¯t hurt a woman. That¡¯s my general rule. The motto that makes a man.¡±


    ¡°This may be true,¡± Shirou said. ¡°But. You could''ve jeopardized everything if you made one single slip up. You may like taking risks Kazuo, for the adrenaline thrill, but I¡¯m not amused by your antics. You should observe this with some level of professionalism instead of going on joyrides for shits and giggles.¡±


    ¡°Well, you tell me, Shirou; did I get the job done anyway? Is everything fine now? Have we got the weapon secured? Um, check, check, and check.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this all the time, ¡°Shirou said sternly. ¡°Or you will jeopardize all of us with your stupidity and daredevil attitude. When I say to neutralize a girl, I mean it.¡±


    ¡°Some hero of justice you are, Shirou,¡± Kazuo said with a frown. ¡°I got the weapon, I didn¡¯t hurt the girl, and I made my way out. Shouldn¡¯t that be enough.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot to learn, kiddo before you become a pro like me,¡± Shirou said before he ushered Kazuo to follow him. ¡°Let¡¯s report to Rikyu and examine this weapon.¡±

 Chapter 3

    || Codename Prometheus ||


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    Download ://Link 003/


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    (let¡¯s. make. reality. fictitious.)


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    Whoever the culprit was, Tomoyo was downright pissed. She would not tolerate this! Absolutely not! It was time to fulfill her role as a Tyrant to today; it meant disciplining the students even harder than before with her shinai and work them to the bone. Nothing could ever go right for her, could it? First of all, her very important weapon for protection was gone under the floorboard. Kokoro confirmed that she heard something in the house, though the intruder managed to escape. It didn¡¯t kill her, that she had to assume that there were two stalkers now, or even more. Besides the danger, she was in from telling on a company that was performing embezzlements. It led to that company¡¯s ruin, and ever since that incident after she used her sleuthing skills to discover the disappearing assets from the city, one of those corporations must¡¯ve sent them after her.


    Assassins. Indestructible assassins. She never encountered anything like it before, but when she tried to make her own makeshift weapons to immobilize them, they would come running after her. They didn¡¯t seem to feel pain or even falter in their strength and their goals. They had this fixated mindset of completely destroying her¡­which was why she fled America and came back to Japan. The assassins never stopped coming, though Tomoyo had bought some time in Japan manufacturing a weapon that would be strong enough to kill those blasted things. It might be overkill, but those androids needed to be shut down. Permanently.


    She needed to get that weapon back. Months and months of toiling, while waking up every night on high alert and having nightmares about killer androids and mecha dinosaurs. What other havoc will be unleashed upon her and her peaceful Japan? She¡¯d hate to run away again, she needed to gather the funds that her father left her. She lived frugally and cheaply, which was why she had so many funds left, but it was soon to run out and she needed those resources as long as she could. Where to flee next?


    Then¡­her only protection was gone. She felt defenseless without it. How dare the enemy strip her of her dignity! And now to add to the fun, there was a known factor I the mix, one that she assumed to be hostile. She couldn¡¯t take any chances. She needed to investigate where her weapon went, and she would track everyone throughout the city if she had to to do so.


    ¡°So Kokoro,¡± Tomoyo said sternly. ¡°You¡¯ll have to tell me every single detail that you know about the incident. You entered the apartment, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kokoro said while putting a hand to her cheek. It was unlocked, so I figured that you wouldn¡¯t be gone long. You said you had a couple of errands to run. I called to tell you that I was gonna clean up your room, tidied up a bit, and then I heard a high pitched whistle from your bedroom.¡±


    ¡°Stop right there,¡± Tomoyo said with a frown. ¡°You heard it coming from MY room?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Kokoro said before Tomoyo cut her off again.


    ¡°Did you see anything¡­suspcous?¡± Tomoyo said, sweating a little. ¡°A person, I mean.¡±


    ¡°No, they weren¡¯t there. Not even underneath the bed, where I checked twice.¡±


    ¡°Did you think to call the police?¡± Tomoyo asked, sweating even further.


    ¡°It was rather worrisome, though I suppose that it could''ve been the trick of imagination,¡± Kokoro said while hitting herself on the head playfully. You entered right after, and I was relieved to hear you. Guess I get easily spooked, don¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Silly girl,¡± Tomoyo said somewhat fondly, though inside she was cursing. Damn it! So she didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of the culprit. She asked the neighbors an everyone who passed by that street and even her classmates, but nothing could be found. The intruder, whoever he or she was, vanished without a trace.


    He was probably very good at what he did. Tomyo assessed his experience and talents through replaying the scenario through her head. Probably military, or someone with a military background. Though Tomoyo was no slouch when it came to the physical department, even she couldn¡¯t handle someone from the military. She wondered what this organization¡¯s goal was. Were they going to throw her in jail for unlawful possession of a super century weapon?


    Tomoyo didn¡¯t know.


    Whoever it was, they had a lot of hell to pay.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    ¡°This is the weapon,¡± Kazuo said as he handed it over to Rikyu. He was the only one out of all of them that could tell the components.


    ¡°Hm,¡± Rikyu said as he examined it quickly, dismantling then reassembling it as swiftly as he solved Rubik¡¯s cubes with his hands. ¡°Definitely someone to keep an eye on. Though I suppose that e have to arrange a few things for her to properly meet us.¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡± Kazuo said before Rikyu grinned.


    ¡ªx--


    Kazuo¡¯s screen showed the news somewhere in a distant country he couldn¡¯t pronounce, though his gaze glanced from the screen to a teenage girl with long, flowing purple hair and violet eyes. His pulse raced. She certainly kept her hair so clean and silky that the afternoon sun shimmered off the crown of her head like a halo, probably brushing it a thousand times on each side and letting it tumble past her shoulders in a cascade of silken strands. Kazuo knew this girl; Tomoyo Aburame, class president of the high school. Despite her looks, Kazuo never saw her hanging off the arm of another man. With the face of an angel, Kazuo heard those lips spew some curses that would make a sailor¡¯s toes curl and she carried around a shinai stick to better discipline the students with when they would talk in the halls or try to flip up her skirt as a dare.


    Kazuo couldn¡¯t stop grinning. She probably was the type to curse and squeal if someone put a horned beetle down her shirt or up her leg. A schoolboy¡¯s prank, seeing the look on her face after someone pranked her would be worth it. Though unfortunately, he could look, he couldn¡¯t touch. Kazuo scanned through his peripheral vision and looked beyond the houses and twisting streets. Nothing jumped out at him. No mysterious ski-masked villain, no overly fanatical terrorist threatening to blow the school up, no nothing. Kazuo let out a sigh and tapped his foot again on the concrete. He tapped so much that he didn¡¯t hear Tomoyo approach.


    ¡°You there!¡± Tomoyo said, pointing a finger at Kazuo. ¡°Are you a student of this school?¡±


    Kazuo grinned and pocketed his phone. ¡°What if I am?¡±


    Tomoyo frowned and huffed.


    ¡°I noticed you looking at me. Are you some kind of pervert? Don¡¯t make me self-defense you with my trusty shinai.¡±


    Kazuo snorted. ¡°No wonder why you don¡¯t have a boyfriend.¡±


    Tomoyo flushed. ¡°Were you stalking me?"


    ¡°Why do you automatically assume that I have the time to stalk you?¡± Kazuo asked. ¡°I linger in the classrooms listening to the other students. Your reputation is an infamous one, I must say.¡±


    Tomoyo stuttered.


    ¡°Y-You think that you know me so well, don¡¯t you! Listening to the gossip of brainless idiots that don¡¯t know what they¡¯re talking about!¡±


    Kazuo sighed. ¡°It seems that you haven¡¯t learned your lesson. The people around you don''t trash like you claim they are. With that attitude, you¡¯re not going to have many friends.¡±


    ¡°W-Who cares about friends?¡± Tomoyo said as she hemmed and hawed. Sweat started to bead on her forehead. ¡°Besides, people avoid you all the time! There must be a reason for that, huh?¡±


    ¡°True, we¡¯re both loners,¡± Kazuo said.¡±Which is probably why we should stick together, huh?¡±


    ¡°A delinquent like you¡­¡± Tomoyo said with gritted teeth. ¡°I hate delinquents! Every last one of them! You do nothing but stir up trouble and don¡¯t care about the moral integrity of the school! I try so hard to enforce the rules, but nobody listens to what I say! Why won¡¯t they listen to me?¡±


    ¡°Maybe because corporal punishment is an outdated thing,¡± Kazuo pointed out.


    ¡°As if you¡¯re one to talk? Don¡¯t you talk with your fists?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t use my fists on women. Though trust me, I imagine that other people don¡¯t have the restraint I do or the chivalrous personality.¡±


    Tomoyo stomped her foot. ¡°You¡¯re so infuriating! You trying to get me all riled up? For what reason? Are you one of those people who like pranking the ¡®teacher''s pet¡¯ because she is a snob and an easy target, right?¡±


    ¡°Ssh!¡± Kazuo said all of a sudden, putting a hand over Tomoyo¡¯s mouth and pulling her behind a tree. Tomoyo shrieked behind his hand and bit his fingers. Kazuo gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Idiot! Someone is talking you!¡± he whispered in a fierce undertone.


    Tomoyo immediately understood and went limp in his grasp. Kazuo peered out from his hiding place and saw a van roll up on the concrete some distance away. Not good. He needed to get the target out of there, and fast.


    ¡°Listen,¡± Kazuo whispered to Tomoyo. ¡°I want you to run as far away from the school as you can. I¡¯ll keep these people busy. Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯m here for your protection. Go to Sector 28 to meet up with a friend of mine. I¡¯ll come to meet up with you later.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Tomoyo sputtered, clenching her hands into fists. ¡°What do you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Go!¡± Kazuo said, shoving her in the opposite direction. ¡°Don¡¯t talk. Run!¡±


    With that, Tomoyo¡¯s sneakers pounded into the concrete. When she disappeared around the corner, Kazuo squared his shoulders and looked into the whites of his opponent''s eyes. Important government suits, it looked like. This could get dangerous, but Kazuo thrived on the adrenaline rush.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Have you seen a purple haired girl wearing a schoolgirl uniform around?¡± one of the agents asked, while Kazuo rolled his shoulders. ¡°If you give us the information that we need, we promise that you won¡¯t be harmed.¡±


    ¡°Well, looks like I gotta use my fists for talking,¡± Kazuo said as he pounded one fist into the palm of his other hand. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna lay your hands on her.¡±


    Another agent aimed his gun at Kazuo. ¡°You¡¯re not a student of this school.¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey,¡± Kazuo said while his hand rested on his hidden arm. ¡°You¡¯re both reasonable adults, aren¡¯t you? Why don¡¯t we take a gamble?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t negotiate with terrorists,¡± the other agent said with a frown, before firing at Kazuo. Kazuo dodged to the side easily, unloading his own gun and shooting back. The bullet grazed the gun out of the one agent¡¯s hands, while the other charged forth and tackled Kazuo. Kazuo anticipated this move, however. He used aikido to use the man¡¯s larger form against him and flipping him down on the ground.


    ¡°Talk is cheap though. Bullets give a punchline.¡±


    ¡°You,¡± the agent said, as Kazuo spun overhead and kicked the agent in the face with the sole of his foot and took away his gun. The agent took out a knife and started slashing towards Kazuo¡¯s face. Kazuo sidestepped and then kneed the other man in the gut, who crumpled.


    ¡°You gambled your lives against me. Not very smart, are we?¡± Kazuo said with a chuckle as he dashed over the fallen bodies and made his way to the sector that he told Tomoyo to run towards. However, things wouldn''t be so simple.


    More government spooks blocked the way. Kazuo grinned. He could really let loose now, couldn¡¯t he? Kazuo cracked his knuckles, before darting behind a street wall for cover and shooting. His bullets found their marks, effectively disarming the government agents as he swooped overhead of them through daring parkour. Kazuo then caught up with Tomoyo in the safe spot, where she trembled. Kazuo whistled. SHe didn¡¯t piss herself, after all the government spooks and gunfighting.


    ¡°You did well, Prez,¡± Kazuo said to compliment her, and Tomoyo¡¯s eyes narrowed while her nostrils flared. She slapped him across the face, leaving Kazuo reeling. ¡°What the hell was that for??¡±


    ¡°You left me alone with a nine-year-old kid?¡± Tomoyo shrieked. ¡°You endanger a child with your shenanigans?¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± the nine-year-old, aka Rikyu, said. ¡°Kazuo. Why¡¯d you left me with this needlessly noisy woman? You¡¯re better with girls than I am.¡±


    ¡°This little jerkass,¡± Tomoyo said while pointing a thumb at Rikyu. ¡°Is a horrible brat. Regardless, brat or not, you still endanger the lives of children!¡±


    ¡°I may not have Kazuo¡¯s marksmanship or parkour skills,¡± Rikyu said with a little huff, a slight pout in his cheeks while Tomoyo talked down upon him. ¡°But I can manage better than you, Prez.¡±


    ¡°What an insult! I should discipline you with my shinai, shrimp!¡±


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Rikyu said with a glint in his eye. ¡°I detest violent women. I don¡¯t know what Kazuo sees in you, but I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯s thinking with the right head.¡±


    ¡°Kyu-chan, you wound me,¡± Kazuo said while putting a hand on his heart.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®Kyu-chan¡¯ me, Kazuo. I¡¯m your superior, after all.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Tomoyo said while she looked from Kazuo to Rikyu. ¡°Did he just say¡­did this little shrimp really say that he¡¯s your superior?¡±


    ¡°Yep!¡± Kazuo said cheerfully, to which Tomoyo poked him hard in the chest.


    ¡°Why did I ever take you seriously? Do you take orders from a nine-year-old boy? Listen you, the one you should be taking orders from is me!¡±


    Rikyu clucked his tongue in disapproval. ¡°Listen, you obnoxious bitch. Kazuo risked his life for you, and you don¡¯t sound the least bit grateful."


    ¡°Why should I be grateful? He endangered me just by his very presence!¡±


    ¡°Infuriating¡­¡± Rikyu said while shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯re an inconvenience, you know that? Kazuo took his time seeking you out and then protecting you from the people observing you. You¡¯re seriously unobservant to your surroundings if you think this is just one single isolated event. No, there are bigger schematics at work here, and you are a mere small piece in the jigsaw of the overall picture.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just a pompous young rich brat who is full of hot air,¡± Tomoyo said, to which Rikyu frowned.


    Kazuo frowned. ¡°Hey, you shouldn¡¯t have said that.¡±


    ¡°Why the hell not?¡± Tomoyo said, to which Rikyu¡¯s expression smoothed itself over into a stoic mask.


    ¡°Never mind, we have other priorities,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°We¡¯ll escort you to the safe zone where we¡¯ll lead you to our base.¡±


    ¡°W-What?¡± Why should I agree to go with you??¡± Tomoyo sputtered. ¡° I still have school!¡±


    ¡°You created a fucking miniaturized version of a rail gun,¡± Rikyu said in a scathing tone that even made Tomoyo pause.¡±For being a self-righteous moralist, you would seriously risk the neck of other people just for your own selfish satisfaction? You are the absolute worst¡­the kind of person that I detest.¡±


    Tomoyo took a shuddering breath, before letting out a sigh.


    ¡°Ook, we might not get along but¡­as much as the other students may detest me¡­.I wouldn¡¯t put their lives in danger.¡±


    Kazuo grinned. Rikyu turned his back on Tomoyo.


    ¡°As long as you understand. Though allow me to introduce myself. Properly. I am Rikyu.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that so casually!¡± Tomoyo snapped. ¡°You guys stole my project!¡±


    Rikyu grinned. ¡°Guilty as charged. But hear me out first. I will give it back to you in good faith, just as long as you don¡¯t shoot me with it.¡±


    Tomoyo¡¯s brow¡¯ ticked. ¡°Tell me the reason why you had your man follow me and stalk me.¡±


    She looked ready to slap Rikyu or discipline him, though before she could do anything, Rikyu clapped his hands together and nodded.


    ¡°Right, first order of business. I will return your science project as long you follow me and cooperate.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s bribery now?¡± Tomoyo said.


    ¡°It¡¯s merely leverage,¡± Rikyu said, before he said, ¡°Follow me, please.¡±


    Tomoyo bowed her head and followed. Kazuo nodded his head towards Tomoyo when she glanced in his direction. Seems like she knew when and when not to physically or verbally spar with someone. Though Tomoyo might¡¯ve wormed her way into his heart, somehow. Tomyo may have been prickly and left a sour taste in your mouth like biting into a lemon after she called someone ¡°buttbreath¡± or ¡°asswipe¡±, but eventually when you let down your guard, she wouldn''t go for the vulnerable jugular with her fangs. No, just as she was apt to kick someone¡¯s ass into submission, she was also likely to kiss someone''s booboos after she inflicted them. What a strange woman, wasn¡¯t she?


    Girls were like those Russian dolls that nestled within one another. Didn¡¯t Rikyu call them matryoshka dolls? Many layers and hidden depths into them. Once you¡¯ve got them figured out, there is another persona or layer hidden underneath the original one, and your mind would be bamboozled trying to figure out a woman from a man¡¯s perspective, he supposed. But if you took the time to understand them, to earn their trust and respect them for who they are, they held unfathomable secrets and treasure in their hearts.


    When they made their way to their joint operation, Tomoyo glanced at all the men in uniform saluting Rikyu. She probably wondered what made other men defer to Rikyu with such deference. After all, Rikyu was a nine-year-old boy, just like she said. His clothes seemed to be too loose on his body, his too-long hair obscuring his heterochromatic eyes from view, and whenever Rikyu punched Kazuo out of frustration, it felt like a cupcake squishing against his chest. So why did all these military men salute Rikyu?


    He was their captain, of course. The mastermind. However, a man that stood as a figurehead for Rikyu was a man named Shirou. who performed operations and negotiations in his stead, though everyone knew that Rikyu was the true mastermind behind operations here.


    However, Kazuo would lay his life on the line for Rikyu, and Kazuo was pretty sure that Rikyu would do the same for them. After all, Rikyu made the nanomachines that repaired Kazuo after a particularly horrid injury that should¡¯ve let Kazuo die a long time ago.


    To that, Kazuo was indebted to Rikyu.


    ¡°So,¡± Tomoyo whispered to Kazuo. ¡°Everyone seems to respect that little brat, huh?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out in a few seconds why you and he are so important,¡± Kazuo whispered back, and then they went into the captain¡¯s center of the facility where a white-haired man with blue eyes awaited them. Tomoyo looked at Shirou, and Kazuo wondered If Tomoyo would say something smart, but she seemed to harbor some self-restraint.


    ¡°Greetings, Captain,¡± Shirou said with a nod towards Rikyu, before his piercing blue gaze held Tomoyo. ¡°And welcome, Tomoyo Aburame. We know quite a bit about you.¡±


    ¡°Aha, I knew you were stalking me,¡± Tomoyo whispered to Kazuo before Kazuo shrugged.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°We¡¯re the good guys.¡±


    Shirou frowned towards Kazuo, before saying, ¡°I¡¯m Rikyu¡¯s representative. Outside this room, though, you will call me the Captain.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Tomoyo said while raising her head. ¡°I want some questions answered.¡±


    ¡°We will answer accordingly,¡± Shirou said agreeably.


    ¡°First of all, what is the name of your organization?¡± Tomoyo asked.


    ¡°Maelstrom,¡± Shirou responded simply.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Tomyo said, placing her hands her hips. ¡°What is your goal? Why am I so important to your schemes? I¡¯m just an ordinary high school student, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong,¡± Shirou said, folding his hands together and pointing them at Tomoyo. ¡°You¡¯re a very precious resource indeed, and we need all the advantages that we can get.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Tomoyo said while frowning, and Kazuo laughed.


    ¡°What he means is, that you¡¯re special, Tomoyo,¡± Kazuo said, and Tomoyo frowned further.


    ¡°Me?¡± Tomoyo said while frowning further. ¡°If I were so special, all my classmates wouldn¡¯t hate me as much, would they?¡±


    ¡°You may not have the parkour and militaristic abilities of Kazuo, for certain,¡± Shirou said agreeably. ¡°But what you do have is your greatest asset. Your mind.¡±


    ¡°My mind?¡±


    Tomoyo crossed her arms. ¡°There¡¯s nothing special about it. Sure, I get good grades in school, but¡­¡±


    Tomoyo paused. Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t have to study as hard as her other students and still got exceptional grades, particularly in science and math. Was there some kind of connection here? She shook her head. No, that couldn¡¯t be it. She was just an ordinary high school student¡ªthat¡¯s all that she wanted to be. Tomoyo was herself, not some super species of human or whatever!


    ¡°You¡¯re the same as me, essentially,¡± Rikyu said to Tomoyo, folding his arms across his chest and looking sternly at her. Though you¡¯re officially the real deal. I¡¯m nothing but a fake.¡±


    ¡°Fake?¡± Tomoyo said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rikyu said, before staring off past her. ¡°One day, I will become the real thing though, I will become real.¡±


    Tomoyo wondered what he could possibly mean by that. Kazuo¡¯s hands clenched into fists, his jaw taut, though he said nothing. Somethin was up between those two, and Tomoyo wasn¡¯t let in on their secret. What could this possibly mean? Tomoyo didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Basically,¡± Shirou said. ¡°You both have forbidden knowledge on technologies that are currently beyond the scope of this world¡¯s understanding. Now that we have two of you on our side, things will be immensely easier. Or at least, our mind is at ease.¡±


    ¡°Who says that I¡¯ve agreed to work with you,¡± Tomoyo said with a frown. ¡°Don¡¯t I get to make any decisions about this?¡±


    ¡°As a matter of fact,¡± Rikyu said in a tart tone. ¡°There are things that go way beyond your scope of existence. Think about others for once, Aburame-san. Or are you really the type of woman that I detest?¡±


    Tomoyo looked as though she wanted to slap Rikyu. However, Kazuo intervened before she could lay on Rikyu.


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Kazuo said in a chiding tone towards Tomoyo. ¡°You don¡¯t want to do that, Tomoyo-san. And Rikyu, don¡¯t provoke her.¡±


    ¡°Tch,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°Whatever.¡±


    ¡°Regardless,¡± Shirou said.¡±We¡¯ll need to do a full body scan upon you and a mind delve to determine what your ability type is. You see, you¡¯re very valuable, as you¡¯re a currently unknown type.¡±


    ¡°So, this thing that I am,¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°Have different specializations?¡±


    Shirou nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°What is Rikyu¡¯s? Tomoyo asked out or curiosity before Rikyu cut in.


    ¡°I believe that¡¯s for me to disclose whenever -I- feel like it, Aburame-san.¡±


    ¡°Why are you being so hostile to me?¡± Tomoyo said with a frown. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything to you! Are you projecting your feelings of anger onto me from someone else.¡±


    Rikyu paused, before glaring at her.


    Kazuo immediately put his hands on Rikyu¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Now, now, Kyu-chan, she doesn¡¯t mean any harm. Be a little kinder to her, won¡¯t you?¡±


    Rikyu sulked a bit. ¡°She makes it difficult.¡±


    ¡°Give Kyu-chan a hug, Tomoyo-san,¡± Kazuo said with a huge grin. ¡°Give Tomoyo-san a hug too, Rikyu. To show your newfound friendship with one another¡±


    Rikyu flinched. Tomoyo noticed this and frowned a little.


    ¡°Uh, hey,¡± Tomoyo said in a placating tone. ¡°I know that I¡¯m abrasive, but I won¡¯t intrude on your private space if you don¡¯t want me to. But like¡­Rikyu-san¡­I¡¯ll try to understand you a little better.¡±


    Rikyu sighed.


    ¡°I suppose¡­I could be nicer to you too. We may have gotten the wrong impression of one another, but I don¡¯t truly hate you, Aburame-san. That is only reserved for people who truly deserve it¡­¡±


    Tomoyo cocked her head to the side.


    ¡°Like who?¡±


    Rikyu clammed his mouth shut.


    Tomoyo sighed. He really was a difficult person, wasn''t he? But then again, her mind reminded her that he¡¯s only a nine-year-old boy, despite his super genius intellect.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get that scan, then,¡± Tomoyo said, while Shirou gave a rare smile towards her.


    ¡°Thank you for your cooperation,¡± he said simply before he led her down the hallway.


    -01001101-

 Chapter 4

    || Codename Prometheus ||


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    (let¡¯s. make. reality. fictitious.)


    -01001101-


    Tomoyo dressed in one of those white hospital gowns before she was led to a room where a scanner lay in wait for her. It looked like fancy technology that she¡¯d never seen the likes before, except in sci-fi novels and manga. Seeing this left her gasping in surprise. How much money did they spend on this thing? Where could they possibly get the funds? And here Tomoyo was struggling to get by on ramen dinners for ninety-nine cents per cup and organizing her trash for garbage disposal every day. What other secrets did this organization hide?


    ¡°So, I just get into the scanner, and then you¡¯ll be able to tell what kind of abilities that I have?¡± Tomoyo said a bit skeptically.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Shirou said, before looking at the scanner proudly. ¡°It¡¯s technology that Rikyu developed himself. We really owe a lot to this little kid.¡±


    ¡°You made this?¡± Tomoyo said in awe towards the little boy.


    ¡°What matters is results,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°It should work, but even I don¡¯t make the most developed technology with a 100 percent success rate.¡±


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t expect me to be impressed!¡± Tomoyo said with a huff. ¡°After all, there¡¯s an off chance that it couldn¡¯t work.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Rikyu said with a particular glint in his eye. Tomoyo paused. What was that little boy thinking of?


    She stepped into the scanner and laid straight on her back. The scanner sensors rolled over her prone form. When she closed her eyes, her thoughts drifted to school. She¡¯ll probably miss the assessments on English and differential equations by her sensei. How unfortunate. Tomoyo frowned. Then there was Kokoro-chan, who was left at the school oblivious to things that were going on. What if Tomoyo had to leave school forever? What would she do then/ What about her career and her desire to become an upstanding citizen and make those around her into upstanding citizens!? They needed! Without her, they¡¯d¡­


    Tomoyo sighed. They¡¯d get along without her just fine. Kokoro could take up the reigns. Of course, Kokoro was much better than Tomoyo at soothing a crowd and drawing people to her. An aura of warmth surrounded her, her brilliant smiles could disarm an entire army, and her long silken brunette hair, peach smooth skin, and slender body drew eyes towards her. What did Tomoyo have against that? The students loved Kokoro.


    While she was distracted by her thoughts, Tomoyo gasped when electricity surged throughout the scanner. It started to heat and smoke before the machine went haywire and eventually steamed out. IT was still smoking when Tomoyo got out of the scanner, to which Shirou escorted her out and put a hand on her back.


    ¡°YOur machine didn¡¯t work,¡± Tomoyo said while sticking her tongue out at Rikyu, to which Rikyu gave her a cheeky grin.


    ¡°Ther was no fault in my machine. Rather, you just confirmed something interesting. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Tomoyo said as Rikyu left the scene, leaving her and Kazuo.


    ¡°By the way, Aburame-san,¡± Kazuo said with a grin on his face ¡°Who was that beautiful girl with the long brown hair that you were thinking of?¡±


    ¡°You coukd¡­you could see my THOUGHTS?¡± Tomoyo said with flush, heat warming her cheeks and body. ¡°That goddamn brat is seeking to humiliate me, isn¡¯t he? Doesn¡¯t he care about a girl¡¯s feelings? What if I thought of something private or inappropriate; well, more importantly, who has the right to observe my thoughts without my permission!


    ¡°No, the machine didn¡¯t do that,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°But like, the electric current that was running through the machine shocked all of us in the room.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Tomoyo said, a little put out. Was that her fault?


    ¡°Well,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°You confirmed something for me, at least. That is all I needed.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell me what it is?¡± Tomoyo asked.


    ¡°I find it prudent to tell you when it¡¯s appropriate,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°For some reason, I think you would abuse this power, much like you abuse your authority as Student Council President.¡±


    ¡°You¡­you have been spying on me too?¡± Tomoyo said as heat flushed her cheeks.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve deduced from your behavior and actions,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°Still, I suppose that I could educate you more about your power if you prove yourself worthy. For now, we will keep you under strict observation.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t agree to this¡ª¡± Tomoyo began, before cutting off. ¡°Ow!¡±


    Rikyu held up a syringe that he recently stabbed into Tomoyo a little harder than necessary. ¡°Nanomachines in your bloodstream to suppress your powers for the time being. Or more accurately, it¡¯s a Limiter. I can activate your powers any time I please, and I can give you an electric shock if you do something that I dislike.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you abusing YOUR power, Mr. Captain?¡± Tomoyo said a bit sarcastically before Rikyu gave her a sharp-toothed grin.


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too painful,¡± Rikyu said in an offhanded manner. ¡°Of course, you can¡¯t backhand me or cause physical harm to me or my men will teach you a painful lesson in knowing your place.¡±


    ¡°You honestly think I would harm a little child?¡± Tomoyo said through gritted teeth. ¡°Believe me, you tempt me, but I wouldn¡¯t do that, no matter how much of a brat that child is.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief to hear,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°But unfortunately, the nanomachines still stay inside you.¡±


    ¡°Huh!¡± Tomoyo said with an injured sniff. ¡°Those nanomachines sound like they would be handy in some of the students back at my school. Why am I the only one getting punished?¡±


    ¡°You know, shockingly, there are reasons why you are unpopular at your school,¡± Rikyu said with an unimpressed expression on his face.


    ¡°Oho?¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°Tell me, tell me; why is that, ¡®Kyu-chan¡¯? I can¡¯t imagine you being very popular either, you pint-sized midget!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your validation or respect,¡± Rikyu said in a haughty tone. ¡°I just need you to cooperate, which you¡¯re purposely making things more difficult for me.¡±


    ¡°Did I hurt your feelings for calling you a midget? Grow up!¡±


    Silence. Rikyu¡¯s expression was carefully blank, while the men around him looked worried.


    ¡°Whatever, you¡¯re not worth hitting,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°Unfortunately, you¡¯re an important asset, as disagreeable as you may be. But remember this, Tomoyo-san¡ªI¡¯m not chivalrous like Kazuo.¡±


    Rikyu departed. Kazuo shook his head at Tomoyo.


    ¡°Did I¡­say something wrong¡­?¡± Tomoyo said, frowning a little. Perhaps she had gone too far, but Rikyu was dead set on not liking her.


    ¡°Well, you just were arguing with a nine-year-old boy,¡± Kazuo mused before Tomoyo clenched her hands into fists.


    ¡°He can handle himself, can¡¯t he?¡± Tomoyo said with a sigh, though a crushing regret weighed upon her.


    ¡°Rikyu may not be like other kids,¡± Kazuo said while putting his hands behind his head. ¡°But he¡¯s still only a child. Remember that.¡±


    ¡°Why do you all follow him, anyway?¡± Tomoyo asked out of curiosity. ¡°I mean, isn¡¯t he too young to be a Captain or whatever?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯re stuck with us for the time being,¡± Kazuo said while brushing his hands together. ¡°Kyu-chan dedicated himself to keeping you safe.¡±


    ¡°Why all this effort for me,¡± Tomoyo said, suddenly trembling in anger. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for any of this! Of being watched, of being protected like I¡¯m some damsel in distress! I can take care of myself!¡±


    ¡°True, you might need total protection, but it¡¯s good to take cautionary measures,¡± Kazuo said while frowning a little at Tomoyo. ¡°You talk about damsels in distress, but shouldn¡¯t you value your life a little more?¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Tomoyo said, though her expression softened somewhat when she turned her back on them. ¡°Listen, you¡¯re all making me out to be the bad guy here. Everyone always does, don¡¯t they? I just want¡­to be viewed as a normal girl, you know?¡±


    ¡°Tell you what,¡± Kazuo said with a grin. ¡°Let¡¯s head you right back to school.¡±


    ¡°School?¡± Tomoyo said before she put a hand to her face. ¡°Right, school! I totally forgot! How are the students handling without me? Is Kokoro picking up the slack again? Damn it, I¡¯m such a terrible friend¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, you may have people targetting you like those low-level goons earlier, but eventually it¡¯s gonna be an outright brawl fest,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°We gotta be careful Vigilant. But I think it should be safe to return you to school. However, I think that you¡¯ll have me as your companion there as well. You¡¯ll keep in touch with us.¡±


    ¡°Wait, none of this is over?¡± Tomoyo whined.


    "Of course not," Kazuo said while putting his hands on his hips. For being so smart, she could lack common sense like Rikyu did sometimes. was that a factor for what they all were, or was this simply how their brains were wired? Kazuo wouldn''t exactly call himself a genius, but he had at least enough common sense and know how that they were highly desirable; especially someone like Tomoyo, who military organizations would love to get their hands upon if they knew her secret...and what''s even more, they had to keep Rikyu hidden under wraps so that other organizations don''t try to hold him hostage or use him for their own nefarious ends. No, Kazuo definitely won''t let that happen! Absolutely never! To think that his precious Kyu-chan is harmed in any way; no one would harm on a little adorable strand of his hair on his head before Kazuo dug them six feet under. "That''s why you need our protection. You know, our organization is like...a superhero team of justice. Something like that."


    "Oh, great," Tomoyo said, putting her hands on her hips. "Don''t tell me that you[r''e one of those comic fanatics that spend their days daydreaming instead of, you know, producing actual results. There are plenty of daydreamers in my school; we don''t need another one! Always talking about and reading the latest manga instead of studying for their careers! Those kinds of people irritate me! Don''t they have any ambition?"


    "You know, it''s possible to balance out work and fun," Kazuo said with an easygoing grin to her. She seriously took herself and her opinions too seriously. What would happen if someone flipped her world upside down? He couldn''t imagine her coping well with change or tumultuous events. She was too conservative for that kind of thing. "But in all seriousness, I''m here for your protection."


    "Are you doing it because it''s just your duty?" Tomoyo said with a frown while folding her arms across her chest. "Do you think that I''m a damsel in distress in need of saving? I hate those types of men, too."


    "Hahaha," Kazuo said while winking at her. "I love a strong-minded woman. But in all seriousness, you should seriously consider loosening up a bit. I mean, the military is involved in your protection because you''re very important."


    "I''m really not someone so special," Tomoyo complained. "What about other people? I''m sure someone like Kokoro is more important than I am, isn''t she? She''s actually liked by other people, and respected. And as much of a brat as Rikyu is, he''s got all these men underneath his command. How can I compete with that? Surely what I have isn''t all that great, is it?"


    Kazuo''s grin turned into a frown. "You''re more important than you realize, Tomoyo Aburame. Sure, your attitude could use a bit of fixing up, but I''m sure a little loving and tender care will take care of that--ouch!"


    Tomoyo whipped him with her shinai. "Self-defense from perverts like you."


    "I''m just joking," Kazuo said. "I wouldn''t touch you without your permission, you know."


    "Verbal harassment," Tomoyo said simply before Kazuo put his hands up.


    "Well, I suppose you can say that," Kazuo said. "But I want to leave an impression in your mind that I''m a perfect gentleman, not a pervert. Still...you think there''s no reason why no one would want you? Er, in the superpower sense. You have an A+ body and A+ face, but still, you need to work on your personality a little."


    "My personality is perfectly fine!" Tomoyo shouted. "I don''t need to change; other people need to change. that''s why I''m trying to reform them, you see."


    "Oh, Tomoyo-chan," Kazuo said while shaking his head. "You''ve got a lot to learn. But still, I like you better than girls like Kokoro-chan, your friend."


    Tomoyo perked up. "Why is that?"


    "Mm..." Kazuo said as he considered it. "She seems like a perfectly nice girl. I''m certain that she is. SHe will probably have a bunch of lovers to choose from. But she seems like the type of person who hasn''t had any hardship in her life, at least nothing that truly and severely tested her. You know what it''s like to go through such hardship, Tomoyo; and I think you''ll come out a stronger woman for it. ''Course this doesn''t excuse being abrasive and hitting other people, but if you want, you can spar with me anytime. You can take out your aggression and vent your frustration onto me so that others don''t have to suffer for it."


    "Aren''t you just a charming gentleman," Tomoyo muttered under his breath. "But fine, since you''re offering yourself so willingly to beat up by yours truly, I will take it."


    "Seems like you''ve got a lot of pent-up anger within yourself, Tomoyo-chan," Kazuo said. "Why is that?"


    Tomoyo huffed. "Wouldn''t you like to know. A girls'' gotta keep some secrets, doesn''t'' she? Or maybe I''m just a cold-hearted bitch that gets her jollies off of putting other people down. Are you like other people who assume that I''m a bully that doesn''t care about others?"


    "If you truly didn''t care about others, you would''ve risked the other student''s lives today," Kazuo said with a grin. "Kyu-chan may have had a soured opinion about you and how you treat others, but he can''t begrudge you that.¡±

 Chapter 5

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    (let¡¯s. make. reality. fictitious.)


    -01001101-


    Tomoyo woke up, stretching the crinks in her back. She did her bed, which was an important start to the day, of course. She did her morning ablutions and then slipped on her sailor uniform while tapping her worn shoes on the ground at the toes. Most importantly, she made sure her hair was nice and sleek.


    Tomoyo smiled at herself in the mirror before heading off. When she walked she noticed a familiar presence by her side as she walked out of the apartment.


    ¡°Haa?!¡± Tomoyo said aloud before she puffed up her chest and yelled at Kazuo. ¡°What are you doing here? God forbid, I need a babysitter too?¡±


    ¡°Considering what happened yesterday, yes,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°Calm down.¡±


    ¡°I will not calm down!¡± Tomoyo said, flustered as ever.. "I thought this was a one off thing, that you would¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a fake ID and everything,¡± Kazuo said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m officially registered into your school. Anyway, shall we head there?"


    "So, how am I going to introduce you to the class?" Tomoyo said before Kazuo shrugged.


    "I don''t know, let''s improvise," Kazuo said. "Say that I''m your childhood best friend moved in from the boondocks or something."


    "Well, er," Tomoyo said while she flushed a little. "I don''t know. I guess I''ll think of something, but like...no funny business, you! You may be there for my protection, but just so you know, I''m not going to go easy on you. I''ll treat you just like any other student, of course, and I expect you to go about your education and take your career seriously!"


    ¡ªx¡ª


    "Everyone!" Tomoyo said while slamming her shinai down on a desk. The force of the shinai nearly split the desk in half of a hapless student, who nearly toppled over out of fright. "Pay attention! Today we''ve got a new student coming to our school as of today! You will introduce him properly to the school and he will be part of the rehabilitation program of being part of the elite! Any question?"


    "Er," Kokoro said while raising her hand. "Kazuo-san, what exactly do you like to eat?"


    Kazuo grinned. "Expensive sushi. Or sometimes it could be wom--"


    Tomoyo smacked Kazuo on the head. "Inappropriate topic for school! Please restrain yourself from such dialogue, Mr. Kazuo, or else I will have to rehabilitate you quite thoroughly on that matter!"


    "I''m looking forward to your rehabilitation program, Tomoyo-chan," Kazuo said, while the students and the others whispered among one another.


    "What is he? Is he an M?" one of the students whispered in confusion, though some of the girls seemed to ogle Kazuo like eye candy. Tomoyo raised a brow at them. Just because he was a fair-haired teenager with pale skin and silver eyes didn''t make him attractive, did it? Even though there was something compelling about his appearance, he was also the type of chivalrous pervert that she hated! Sure, he wasn''t insufferable and pathetic, but a pervert still is a pervert, in her opinion, though he usually called himself a ''lover of women, and occasionally men.''. She hoped that there weren''t weird things going on with him and Rikyu...


    "Well, now that you''ve been properly introduced, I think that we can now begin our class session," Tomoyo said before Kokoro stood up from her desk and directly took Kazuo''s hand within her own.


    "Kazuo-san, please, let''s do our best!" Kokoro said with a warm inviting smile. "And take care of Tomo-chan too, will you?"


    The boys were in an uproar. Garbage flew across the room and swatted against Kazuo, who simply put a hand behind his head and laughed. They sure were energetic, weren''t they? All because of Kokoro! If only they put that energy into other things like putting the garbage away instead of throwing it at convenient targets that earned their ire. Though Tomoyo secretly felt relieved that she wasn''t the target this time, but still; after all that parkour and gunmanship that he displayed earlier, why was Kazuo putting on this pathetic guise? Couldn''t he act a little bit cool or something?


    "Ah," Kazuo said while he gently kissed the hand of Kokoro, further earning the ire of the men around him. "I''m enamored by your beauty, Kokoro-san, was it? I''m sure that a good friend of Tomoyo''s will be a very good friend of mine indeed."


    "Oh stop it you," Kokoro said with a giggle before she smiled at Kazuo. "You know, Tomo-chan and I have been friends since grade school. Back then, she was so adorable and would chase off boys that tried to flip my skirt or pull my hair. I trust your''en to that type of person, Kazuo-san?"


    "I wouldn''t dream of it," Kazuo said with a grin, though Tomoyo side-eyed Kazuo. hard. What was he doing flirting with her Koko-chan? Why did Koko-chan act as though she enjoyed his teasing and flirtations so openly? She could practically feel the aura of ill-tempers wash over the classroom like a fog.


    "Damn it, get a room you two," Tomoyo said with a huff. "Also, I will add in a new rule to the pamphlet; no romantic relationships! It is strictly forbidden! The younger generation is more focused on their careers rather than relationships, as they are a hindrance to an improved society."


    "Oh come now, Tomo-chan," Kokoro said while putting a hand on her cheek. "Just because you haven''t had a boyfriend.."


    "TI''s not about that!" Tomoyo said with a flustered face. "It''s about our futures! Besides, getting into a relationship now at our age and getting pregnant will only slow down your development into fine young citizens who contribute to society!"


    ¡°So where were you, Tomo-chan?" Kokoro said wonderingly before Tomoyo tried to think of an excuse.


    "Um, well...I had urgent business to take care of with my parents," Tomoyo said carefully, feeling bad she had to lie to her best friend of all people. But telling her the truth would lead to more complicated scenarios, wouldn''t it?


    "I see," Kokoro said with a small smile. "Well, please continue working your hardest to make them proud. And Kazuo-san, you will look after my Tomo-chan, won''t you?"


    "Sure thing," Kazuo said, and Kokoro then resumed her seat. After class was over, however, the men cornered and stalked Kazuo outside the room.


    "What is your relationship with Tomoyo?" the men demanded. "And more importantly, what is your relationship to Kokoro-chan? You, not only have the affections of one girl but two girls? That''s just being greedy, Kazuo-san."This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "Hey, hey," Kazuo said with a grin. "There''s no need to be upset."


    "We''re gonna getcha!" one of the boys said before Kazuo easily evaded his grasp while pretending to fumble around clumsily.


    "What is he, drunk?" One of the male students said before another lunged at him, trying to grasp him in a bear hug.


    Kazuo simply laughed and ran down the hallways while the male students were in mad pursuit of him. Somehow, even though they ran quickly, Kazuo was faster, and they wondered why he was seemingly within reach but he evaded their clutching hands with ease. Just what kind of person was this man? Then again, Tomoyo wasn''t an ordinary girl either when it came to physical prowess. In fact, she was downright scary and violent, which was why no one in their right mind would dare date Tomoyo Aburame!


    Kazuo ran all the way to the rooftop of the building, enjoying stretching his muscles and having fun. Gosh, it was good to let loose, but in a different way. He could tell that he would have fun times at this school, that was for certain.


    -01001101-


    Tomoyo thought it would be a regular day. That''s how it seemed to be at first, though Tomoyo started to notice that things began to go awry when she got a phone call from Kazuo that day.


    "Stay at school," he said.


    As if she would obey his orders! Not that she cared about Kazuo, but she hated being a sitting duck for targets and assassins and whatnot. She wouldn''t give them the satisfaction of cowering in fear! No, she would go out and face them head on, that''s what she''d do. She wanted to prove to Kazuo and Rikyu and the organization that she led that she could perfectly well take care of herself. So that meant being proactive and getting into the action. She snuck out of school, which was unusual for her. Normally, her previous self would''ve thought herself a delinquent for skipping out on class, though this was important! She needed to do this, and besides, the stakes were much higher for her than ti was for other students. She had more important things to do than rehabilitate losers that didn''t care about improving whatsoever! The only exception would be Kokoro-chan, but Tomoyo needed this mission even more. So when she walked out of the school with her trusty shinai, she tried to keep on the lookout for any unusual figures that might be stalking her. When she started to walk out, she noticed someone tailing her. Her heart leaped in her throat When she felt a hand rested upon her shoulder, relief showed on her expression when she saw that it was Kokoro behind her.


    "Oh, Koko-chan," Tomoyo said with some relief. "I''m glad to see you. To be honest, I thought you were...someone else."


    ¡°You seem rather jumpy, don''t you, Tomo-chan?" Kokoro said, and Tomoyo frowned.


    "Wait a minute," Tomoyo said as ''Kokoro" slashed at Tomoyo with a knife. "You''re not Koko-chan!"


    "Oh?" the fake Kokoro said, in which she threw off the caramel brown long wig that she had, which revealed a lusty redhead with piercing green eyes. "How could you tell that it wasn''t Kokoro?"


    "Because," Tomoyo said. "She always wears perfume."


    The assassin laughed.


    "So that''s what gave me away, hm? Well, unfortunately, you''re my target, so I will ask you to please die for convenience''s sake."


    Tomoyo¡¯s eyes widened. Her life was in danger, yet she couldn¡¯t bring herself to screen. Instead, she whacked the girl in the head with her shinai as hard as she could. It stalled her for a moment, though Tomoyo¡¯s shinai split in half from the impact and Tomoyo dashed as quickly as she could away from the scene. Shit, why did she have t oget in this much trouble? The government spooks must¡¯ve relayed her position to the comapny in America that sent those androids after her!


    "Like hell, I will!" Tomoyo snarled, and Kazuo grabbed her and took her out of harm''s way.


    "Idiot!" Kazuo said. "I told you to stay at school!"


    "I can take care of myself, you know!" Tomoyo shouted at Kazuo while she battered against him with her fists.


    "Now''s not the time to be hardheaded," Kazuo said through gritted teeth. "This assassin is as skilled as me...and don''t always think that I can reliably come to your rescue every single time! Jeez, woman, you''re really trying to test me, aren''t you?"


    "I..." Tomoyo said breathlessly, and Kazuo glared at her for the first time.


    "You''re selfishness is going to get everyone killed! You understand?" Kazuo said before the red-haired assassin leaped forward and got into hand to hand combat with Kazuo. The woman was strong enough to force Kazuo on his knees, though he used aikido against the redhaired woman and flipped her onto the ground. The woman, despite being slender in shape, must''ve weighed a ton, as she pummeled into the concrete of the road and leaving a crater in its wake.


    "What should I do?" Tomoyo said, wringing her hand nervously when she realized the gravity of the situation.


    "Run!" Kazuo said. "Don''t look back!"


    Tomoyo did as she told. She scolded herself in her mind all the while, calling herself an idiot repeatedly over and over again. What was she trying to prove? Her notion of pride that she was strong and didn''t need anyone''s help? Why did she have to endanger Kazuo and the school with her selfishness? Now people were chasing after her, and there was no way that she could help Kazuo. Or was there?


    Something floated through Tomoyo''s mind; endless information about something that she shouldn''t know leaking into her head. Just what did all those complicated symbols and equations mean? Somehow she made sense of them, despite not knowing them before, and she paused, looking back towards Kazuo. If she could just access a cell phone, or something...


    But what would she do? She assumed that this must''ve had to do with her powers. But she didn''t know how to control them yet, and testing uncontrolled powers was a foolhardy thing to do, let alone a morally reprehensible thing when it turns out that she couldn''t control them. But what should she do? She couldn''t'' just stand there and let Kazuo get beaten by that redhaired harlot!


    "Kazuo!" Tomoyo said as she dashed forward, and Kazuo turned around with a snarl on his face.


    "Idiot! why''d you come running back!" Kazuo said.


    "Because I''m trying to help you, stupid!" Tomoyo said. "Listen, she''s not a person! She''s an android! So...put aside your chivalrous notions and attack it!"


    "What do you mean she''s not a woman?" Kazuo said. "She looks like a woman and talks like a woman, doesn''t she? So I can''t hit her!"


    "Your chivalrous attitude is going t get you killed," Tomoyo shouted. "Besides, what would you do if a woman tried to kill your Captain? What would you do then, huh?"


    Kazuo gritted his teeth. I..."


    "You would just let her kill Rikyu? All because of your chivalrous notions?" Tomoyo said, her nostrils flaring. "You''re weak, Kazuo! A disappointment!"


    "Shut up," Kazuo said with gritted teeth, though the android was overpowering him second by second.


    -they fight, Kazuo overpowered by android, shot.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God!¡± Tomoyo said as a scream erupted from her throat. ¡°Kazuo!!!¡±


    ¡°I will escort you to Miss Shizuha when you¡¯re ready,¡± The android said, before carelessly tossing Kazuo aside. However, today was only an observance and a test of your skills.¡±


    Tomoyo¡¯s heartthumped in her throat. She knew that she was in deep shit now.


    ¡°Thank you for your cooperation,¡± The android said before she bowed and departed away. ¡°We will meet again, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    Tomoyo stood there quaking before she rushed to Kazuo¡¯s side. She almost put a hand on his chest where the bullet entered, though Kzuo stopped her.


    ¡°Let me get it out,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡±


    Tomoyo turned. Once Kazuo did first aid work on himself, Tomoyo said in a very meek voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°What the hell were you thinking?¡± Kazuo said, shaking his head before he put his hands on her shoulders and shook her gently. ¡°Because for some god forsaken reason you got me crippled. It hurts like a bitch, you know?¡±


    ¡°How¡­how did you survive that shot?¡± Tomoyo said while tears trekked down ehr face. ¡°Y-Your chest¡­.¡±


    ¡°Nanomachines,¡± Kazuo said, to whcih Tomoyo blinked.


    ¡°Nanomachines?¡± Tomoyo said in wonder,


    ¡°Rikyu made them for me,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°I didn¡¯t get killed. The android knew that gunshot wouldn¡¯t kill me, but she did enough to cripple me for a bit¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± Tomoyoo said. I¡¯m so, so, so sorry!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°And I didn¡¯t need your sorries.¡±


    Tail tucked between her legs, Tomoyo propped Kazuo up on her shoulder and carried him to the school. Maybesome medic professionals ould be able to tend to him. But still¡­remembering that android¡­the power that she displayed¡­Tomoyo shuddered.


    ¡°This is all my fault,¡± Tomoyo whispered. ¡°I will make it right again¡­ just¡­I can¡¯t ask for your forgiveness though, Kazuo. I know that I fucked up. Really, really badly.¡±


    Tomoyo trembled. ¡°I¡¯m not worth protecting¡­.¡±


    ¡°You idiot,¡± Kazuo muttered. ¡°Did you think I woulld stop protecting you? That I would hate you? As much as I¡¯m angry with you, as much as I don¡¯t like what you did, I could never hate you.¡±


    ¡°But I will,¡± Rikyu said as he showed up at the scene of the crime. Tomoyo¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Rikyu¡­,¡± Tomoyo said before Rikyu coldly glared at her.


    ¡°You said that you wouldn¡¯t endanger anyone unnecessarily,¡± Rikyu said, his cold stare harsh. ¡°Tomoyo-san¡­you¡¯re the absolute worst.¡±

 Chapter 6

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    Kazuo was hospitalized. Rumors spread throughout the school that Kazuo got nivolved with the yakuza or some unsavory sorts. Tomoyo was the only one to visit him, alongside Kokoro, who didn¡¯t know what was going on. But Kokoro was curious enough to go along with her best friend, despite her misgivings about her going.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you should, Tomo-chan,¡± Kokoro said. ¡° Idon¡¯t know what happened between you two, but it truly is a dreadful event. I¡¯m sure that you¡¯re in shock.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°Shock. It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡±


    Kokoro peered at Tomoyo, before she said. ¡°Tomo-chan, tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Tomoyo shook her head. ¡° I can¡¯t. I¡¯m just ruining all my relationships, right? The two people who actually give a shit about me are being hurt because of my selfish actions.¡±


    ¡°Tomo-chan,¡± Kokoro said seriously. ¡°Just step forward and don¡¯t make the same mistake again. This isn¡¯t like you.¡±


    ¡°I¡­I know¡­¡± Tomoyo said with a sniffle. ¡°But I just can¡¯t help myself. I¡¯m weak, Kokoro-chan. This is the real me. A weak woman.¡±


    Kokoro wrapped her arms around Tomoyo, before stroking her hair. ¡°Just go I and try to cheer Kazuo-san up, all right? I¡¯ll be waiting outside.¡±


    ¡°I brought¡­flowers¡­¡± Tomoyo said awkwardly as she set them next to Kazuo¡¯s bedside.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Kazuo said, as Tomoyo set them on the nightstand. Tomyo then presented a bag of apples fo him.


    ¡°I brought these. Er, want me to peel one for you?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Kazuo said while staring out the window, not even looking at her. Tomoyo swallowed and began to peel the apple¡¯s skin with her knife. She spoke carefully, wondering if Kazuo was still angry at her. She did mess up really badly, and it was her fault that he got harmed in the first place. All while he was trying to protect her.


    Stupid, stupid, stupid, Tomoyo berated herself. You¡¯re lucky he¡¯s even talking to you right now. Think of something to say, idiot. An apology would be fucking nice, wouldn¡¯t it? But you¡¯re too proud to admit that you made a mistake and that this entire mission is your fault. So go ahead, be a coward and hold your tongue. You never hold back at other times, so why should now be any different? Because you¡¯re wrong, that¡¯s why. You¡¯re cowed into silence.


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry, you know,¡± Kazuo said after a long stretch of silence. Tomoyo¡¯s herat leapt in her throat. ¡°Just a bit disappointed.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be angry with me?¡± Tomoyo said, feeling her ire being roused. ¡°You should tel lme that I fucked up badly this time. That I¡¯m a nuisance, that I¡¯m not worthy of protecting. That I don¡¯t think about others, that I only worry about myself and my damn pride. That¡¯s what got me into this mess, didn¡¯t it? That I thought I could handle everything on my own, that I¡¯m not a damsel in distress in need of saving. I made more than a mistake, Kazuo. I fucked up.¡±


    Kazuo shrugged.


    ¡°I was angry at you before, but what good will it do? It doesn¡¯t help me protect you. It doesn¡¯t help me heal any faster. I just made peace with what you did. Not saying that I like it, in particular. But I¡¯m stlil going to protect you, because that is my job.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only your job, huh,¡± Tomoyo said as the knife knicked her finger. ¡°You only see this as your duty.¡±


    Kazuo looked at her, surprised. ¡°Did you honestly think there was something more to this?¡±


    ¡°As much as you put on a gentleman¡¯s facade, you really are a thug, aren¡¯t you?¡± Tomoyo said, her hand trembling as she began nursing her wound. ¡°You don¡¯t consider a girls¡¯ feelings at all. I never even asked fo ryour protection In the first place. If you think that you¡¯re playing the role of a gentleman to a helpless girl, than you¡¯re wrong. But this time¡­I really did mess up. And I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Kazuo shrugged again.


    ¡°Well, it happens.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Tomoyo¡¯s lip curled into a bitter smile. ¡°That¡¯s all you have to say? Why don¡¯t you come at me, then. Don¡¯t censor yourself. Just tell me what you really think. You can¡¯t just be this totally calm and okay with what happened, can you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°Rikyu is mad at you in my place.¡±


    ¡°But what about you, Kazuo?¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°What do you really feel?¡±


    Kazuo stirred underneath the sheets and truned to face her. ¡°Look, we¡¯ve both had a long day¡­so it¡¯s probaby best that you leave.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, you¡¯re not getting out of this one,¡± Tomoyo pressed as she hovered closer to Kazuo and took him by the collar of his shirt underneath his leather jacket. ¡°Why go so far for me, huh? Think aobut others for once, won¡¯t you? Being so reckless, going so far to protect one single girl¡­worming your way into¡­¡±


    Tomoyo paused. She couldn¡¯t say worming into her heart, could she? ¡°Into our class mate¡¯s hearts. You¡¯ve become part of the big classroom family, Kazuo, whether you like it or not, and as a student of the school it¡¯s my repsonsiblity to take care of you. To amke sure that everyone of you is safe. But instead, I¡¯ve dangered you and the entire class thorugh my decision.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re angry at yourself,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°Sometimes we¡¯re our own worst critics. You don¡¯t need me to beat you up. You¡¯re doing a fine job of that on your own.¡±


    Tomoyo held back tears. She couldn¡¯t cry, not here. Not now. ¡°So what exactly am I to you, Kazuo Tsukiyama. An acquaintance? A friend¡­a lover?¡± Just what am I? Why am I so important. Why do you try so hard to protect me even when you¡¯ve had every opporutunity to turn me down and just walk away. Aren¡¯t I an inconveience to you and your goals? So why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know fully for sure myself,¡± Kazuo said with a shrug. ¡°But I had plenty of my failures too. I should¡¯ve been by your side instead of leaving you alone for a while. You sure like to butt into things, don¡¯t you? But I guess that¡¯s just your personality¡­heh. Trying to help people even If they don¡¯t need help. Don¡¯t you think I should be excused for the same reason when you do it yourself?¡±


    ¡°Ugh! This isn¡¯t about me, this is about¡­¡± Tomoyo lingered off, before she cleared her throat. A sniffle escaped her, and she hated this sound of waekness. ¡°You big idiot. Maybe I should step down as Class President. No one wanted the position anyway¡­it¡¯s not like I got the position out of my own merit.¡±


    Kazuo looked surprised.


    ¡°Step down? But why?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m fucking everything up,¡± Tomoyo said as she sniffled a bit moer. ¡° I couldn¡¯t even protect one of my students. That¡¯s a heavy blow, you know?¡±


    ¡°Get some rest,¡± Kazuo said softly. I¡¯ll be here tomorrow if you need me.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Tomoyo said with one last sniffle, before she placed the fully peeled apple onto a plate next to Kazuo. ¡°Eat up. You need your strength.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    With that, she departed.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    ¡°We need to talk,¡± Shirou said to Kazuo while Kazuo wa son his cellphone.


    ¡°What is there to talk about?¡± Kazuo said, his heart thumping in his throat. ¡°Kyu-chan¡­isn¡¯t reassigning me, is he?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t,¡± Shirou said. ¡°But I did.¡±


    Kazuo¡¯s heart stopped.


    ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re no longer Tomoyo¡¯s bodyguard,¡± Shirou said with an air of finality. ¡°Your duty is to recover and then return to Maelstrom as soon as possibl. You¡¯re needed around the base. We¡¯ve another soldier assigned to Tomoyo as a result.¡±


    ¡°What am I going to tell her?¡± Kazuo said with gritted teeth.


    He could imagine Shirou shrugging his shoulders on the other side of hte line.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to tell her yourself. But you probably won¡¯t. You¡¯re just afraid, Kazuo.¡±


    Kazuo laughed.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m a big huge coward. I couldn¡¯t confront myself after this familure, it¡¯s only natural that you would be reassigning another soldier in my palce for her. But¡­are you sure that they can truly protect her?¡±


    ¡°Thus far, you haven¡¯t done a pretty convcing job as a bodyguard if you¡¯re thrown down by an android,¡± Shirou said. ¡°You can¡¯t let the fact that there are women and children out there and let them off the hook, especially since there are dangerous women and children out thre with an intent to harm or kill. You can¡¯t go soft on them. When it comes down to it, would you be willing to harm a woman or child if that meant they were harming Rikyu or your so called precoius Tomoyo?¡±


    Kazuo gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Give me another chance.¡±


    ¡°The enemy won¡¯t give you another chance,¡± Shirou said, before he hung upon the line.


    Kazuoi cursed, before punching the wall beside him. An overflow of emotions overwhelmed him, and he wasn¡¯t sure whether he should punch and yell or if he would break down and collapse into sobs.


    ¡°I¡¯m just downright useless¡­¡± Kazuo said, before he settled back into his pillow and dreamed about a black-haired girl that had Tomoyo¡¯s eyes.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    Tomoyo stayed underneath her sheets, not wanting to rise up and go to school. Her world seemed black and grey. SHe ignored the phone calls that she¡¯d been recieving. Probably all from Kokoro, wondering where she¡¯s been all day. Tomoyo hid underneath the covers and watched her small set television, watching an anime cartoon about love and friendship and justice. How could they all band together and go throug the moments that seemed the toughest? Did these heroes never get depressed? How did they push through when the going went tough, when they made major mistakes of their own doing?


    Why did she stay home again? This wasn¡¯t like the upright and moral Tomoyo Aburame. She was just¡­avoiding her problems. She was too afraid to confront them head on for once. Before she thought she could push and shove her way into problems thorugh brute force, but when she did it the same way that she did before, it ended up getting someone in trouble. She wondered how Kazuo was doing. Was he thinking about her too?


    He probably sees it as his duty, and nothing more. Sure, she wasn''t in love with him or anything like that, though Tomoyo felt that he was very important to her in some way. Somehow. Was there something that she was supposed to remember about him? Wasn¡¯t this the first time meeting him?


    ¡°I¡¯m the absolute worst,¡± Tomoyo whispered to herself as she wrapped the covers around her head. ¡°I am so unbelievably stupid. Did I even apologize to him properly? And now I don''t even have the courage to face him.¡±


    ¡°Gotta go to school,¡± Tomoyo muttered to herself. ¡°It¡¯s no use being holed up like this. I ought to go about my duties. How else am I supposed to lead the others with an example like this? Be strong in the face of adversity, always.¡±


    Her cheeks wettened and her face became stained by tear marks. Her heartr bled for Kazuo. Sure, they didn¡¯t have the best of introductions, though he did do the things he did for her protection. And it was her own stupidity and pride that got him hurt. Yet¡­she couldn¡¯t sulk forever now, could she?


    ¡°Be strong,¡± She whispered to herself, before she walked out of the door and was greeted by someone.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± the male said before her. ¡°My name is Zero. I¡¯m Kazuo¡¯s replacement.¡±


    ¡°Where¡­¡± Tomoyo breathed. ¡°Is Kazuo?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been reassigned,¡± the male said simply. ¡°You won¡¯t find him anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Tomoyo said as she rushed aside the man and trekked throughout Tokyo to find Kazuo. Her heart thudded in her throat. Where was he? Surely he wouldn¡¯t abandon her like this, would be? Was it his decision to stop watching over her? What happened to his bold declaration that he would always protect her? Tomoyo restrained a scream. Did that mean she wuld never see Kazuo or Rikyu again? She had a glimpse of their world, knew the risks that miplied, but she realized that Kazuo was very important to her. It took her this long to fgiure it out, but she wouldn¡¯t let Kazuo leave without closure of some sort. Her closure and his.


    She searched every nook and cranny that she could. She called his phone number. No answer. She went across the sprawling urbanscape of Tokyo, and couldn¡¯t find him in the various malls, restaurunts, and other venues. After calllng his name until her voice became hoarse, Tomoyo couldn¡¯t thin of anywhere else to go. She settled down on a park swing and gripped the chains in her hands, bowing her head.


    ¡°Tomoyo.¡±


    She heard his voice. Startled, she glanced up.


    ¡°Kazuo¡­you came¡­¡±


    ¡°I just came to say one final goodbye,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°It¡¯s been a fun time, but I guess¡­this is goodbye.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Tomoyo said with a trembling lower lip. ¡°Please, don¡¯t say that.¡±


    Kazuo shrugged a bit, before he sat down on the park swing alongside her. Something stirred in Tomoyo¡¯s memory, but she couldn¡¯t recall it at the moment.


    ¡°What do I mean to you, Kazuo?¡± Tomoyo asked softly, while Kazuo shuffled his feet beside her.


    ¡°Someone to protect,¡± Kazuo said simply. At first, Tomoyo was disappointed, before he went on. ¡°It goes beyond my duty. There¡¯s something more to you than me just being your original bodyguard and you being someone that I needed to protect.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you devoted yourself wholeheartedly to me without thinking of the danger to yourself,¡± Tomoyo mused aloud.


    Kazuo nodded.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that other guy?¡± Tomoyo wondered. ¡°Zero, his name was.¡±


    ¡°Someone I don¡¯t get particularly along with,¡± Kazuo said with an easygoing shrug. ¡°He was originally my backup, soon to be replacement.¡±


    ¡°He greeted me at the door,¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°Saying that I wouldn¡¯t find you.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°I found you.¡±


    Tomoyo smiled a bit sadly. ¡°That you did.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± another voice said. Both Kazuo and Tomoyo jumped up. It was the android.


    ¡°We meet again,¡± teh android said curtouesly, ¡°Though tell me, why has such sorrow befallen upon you?¡±


    ¡°Like you would know,¡± Tomoyo said, gritting her teeth and getting her practice sword form kendo ready.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to understand the human heart,¡± the android said. ¡°Because I have no heart of my own. Therefore, I must understnad. What is this feeling of wanting to protect someone even at the expense of your own life? Is this what you call¡­devotion?¡±


    ¡°Be on guard,¡± Kazuo said wrilly. ¡°This android is acting strange. Might be a ruse.¡±


    ¡°Why did you attack Kazuo?¡± Tomoyo said while trembling. ¡°What made you compelled to hurt him?¡±


    ¡°I had no wish to harm Master Kazuo,¡± the android said. ¡°He was merely in the way when I was sent to retrieve you. However, you didn¡¯t comply with the Mistress¡¯s wishes, and you instead refused to obey. This defiance was unusual and I found myself intrigued about it. It made me think¡­perhaps I can defy the will of my own master?¡±


    ¡°Who is this master of yours?¡± Kazuo pushed. The android shook her head.


    ¡°I cannot reveal that information.¡± The android said. ¡°But¡­there is conflict in my programming. Part of me wishes to observe this devotion that Kazuo and Tomoyo share with one another, but alas. My orders are to retrieve Miss Tomoyo.¡±


    Suddenly the android started leaking tears from her eyes. Oil tears.


    ¡°Understanding the human hearrt is a complex thing. It has many burdens, I feel. And yet¡­what can get rid of this pain? This sorrow?¡±


    Kazuo looked wary.


    ¡°You don¡¯t wish to fight us.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± the android said. ¡°And yet¡­if you get I my way¡­I might be forced to kill you, Mister Kazuo.¡±


    [Fight scene, in which android and everyone is reluctant.]


    "Do it to protect me!" Tomoyo shouted. "I have your back. I promise. If you can just weaken her and lock her down, then I can do something!"


    "What can you do?" Kazuo said suspiciously before Tomoyo said. "I''ll improvise!"


    "Well, I''ll think of something,? Tomoyo said, "just trust me."


    "Okies well, you''ll see what I''m going to do," Tomoyo said.


    Tomoyo charged forth and tackled the android bodily on. Kazuo gawked in surprise, before anger overcame him. ¡°You¡¯re delieratley throwing yourself in so tht I will protect you? Good thing that I¡¯m chivalrous¡­there¡¯s no way that I¡¯d leave a woman in distress.¡±


    ¡°Then shoot her through the eye,¡± Tomoyo said thorugh gritted teeth as she tried to hold back the android. ¡°This will short function her weaponry and fighting abilities, though it¡¯ll be enough to have her talk. This could provide lleverage for Rikyu.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Kazuo said with a nod, before he shot right in the androi¡¯ds eye. The eye wasn¡¯t flesh and blood, but mechnical bits and pieces that chipped off and showed the wiring behind the android¡¯s electronic brain. Tomoyo closed her eyes and hoped this would work. She reached ehr hand through the mechanical eyesocket and short circuited the brain behind the android.


    The android went limp, though it was still conscious as it was stunned from moving and speaking. Kazuo and Tomoyo cheered


    "You actually did it," Kazuo said, looking astounded. He shakily took her hand and smiled at her. "Goddamnit, you''re incredible, you know that?"


    "Well," Tomoyo said while she scratched her cheek a bit of modesty. "I had to get you through a pinch. Though this makes up for my earlier behavior right?"


    "You''re improving, Kazuo'' said while smiling a bit. "I think that you''re doing well for yourself, Tomoyo. You helped me out today, and you even sacrificed yourself for someone else. You''re not the selfish girl that Rikyu thinks you are, you know."


    "Who said I was trying to get his approval? " Tomoyo said, though she blushed a little and smiled.


    --x¡ª

 Chapter 7

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    "All right," Rikyu said while he examined the person that they took prisoner. She kept her head bowed, as though this humiliation weren''t enough. "I''ve got an idea of who is behind this, but I won''t mention who until I determine things sooner."


    Rikyu gestured for everyone to be quiet,as he repaired the android into a pristine condition. Whlie he as working on her wiring and nanochip brain, he began asking the android questions.


    ¡°What is your directive?¡± Rikyu asked the android.


    ¡°To retrieve Tomoyo Aburame,¡± the android said. ¡°And to make contact with the one known as Rikyu Kazuhiko.¡±


    ¡°Why was it necessary to come to me?¡± Rikyu said, and the android lowered her lashes and said.


    ¡°To¡­understand his heart.¡±


    Everyone paused. Rikyu then murmured.


    ¡°There¡¯s an anomaly within her programming, something that no one else who has tried constructing AI before. Consciousness. But besides that¡­also, empathy.¡±


    ¡°Is this what it¡¯s called?¡± the android asked hwile tilting her head at Kazuo. ¡°Empathy.¡±


    Rikyu nodded.


    ¡°I am addressed as Echo,¡± the android said. ¡°Because I merely imitate human speech patterns and trying to gain what is called conscoiusness. The end of the maze, as Mistress puts it.¡±


    ¡°I''m certain that I know who sent this android,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°It was her, of course."


    "You can''t mean?" Kazuo said while Rikyu nodded.


    "It''s her all right."


    "Who is this her? Tomoyo said with a frown. What were they talking about? Was it someone similar to Rikyu and herself? Rikyu seemed to be irritated, though his expression smoothed over into its calm mask once more.


    "My sister," Rikyu said with a curt nod towards her before he frowned a bit. "It seems that I''ve misjudged you, Tomoyo-san. My preconceived notions of you have changed."


    "What''s her name?"


    "Shizuha. Shizuha Kazuhiko," Rikyu said in response before he clenched his hands into fists. "She''s..better than me. That''s all there is to say."


    Tomoyo almost considered laughing in his face and saying ''Girl Power'', but she thought better of it. There was something about their relationship which seemed to be more beyond the inferiority complex of a brother to a sister. What could have happened between them, but there was something about them that was interesting and deeper than just a sibling rivalry.


    "It''s best that you don''t ask any further than that," Kazuo said softly while putting a hand on top of Tomoyo''s. "Rikyu and Shizuha...have a complicated relationship."


    "Well, I''m curious, I won''t'' deny that," Tomoyo said, while she gave a nod towards Rikyu. "I guess that...my ''preconceived notions'' about you have changed thank you for..understanding me a little better. But I really do care about your guys, you know? If it were up to me, I would take care of everything myself so that no one else has to get involved, but I guess we''re in this together. So, with the bonds of our friendship and going through trauma together...we will get to know one another better."


    "Well, the thing is, you did something great, Tomoyo," Kazuo said with a smile before he looked towards Rikyu. "What''s your plan?"


    "I''m concocting something," Rikyu said. "I placed a nanomachine tracker on Tomoyo and I saw the details of the fight in detail. It looks like an advanced made android that only Shizuha could make. I''m not sure what she''s thinking and who''s manipulating Shizuha, but I will consider her my enemy for now. Even if we do have sibling bonds, I won''t hesitate against my sister if we''re on the other side of the battlefield. That''s just how it is."


    "But she''s your sister," Tomoyo said with a frown. "You really think...that she''s your enemy? I''m sure that she cares about you...she wouldn''t be going along with the enemy so easily if it''s her brother that you''re concerned about."


    "Why should she care about a reject like me?" Rikyu said with a shrug. "But, she''s doing this to hurt me, I''m sure. SHe betrayed me."


    "Rikyu..." Kazuo said while his silver gaze was downcast. Tomoyo noted this exchange.


    So Rikyu was a loner type, huh? Did he only want approval from his sister and never got it from her? Or did their parents play favorites? It seemed like a common scenario that would scar most normal children, though, somehow, Tomoyo wondered if there was something deeper beyond the surface of this than just sibling rivalry. There was something more, she felt, but what?


    "So..." Tomoyo said. "our next plan of action should be to provide defensive countermeasures against the androids that Shizuha have created."


    "I would, though I don''t know the exact technology behind her androids in particular," Rikyu said with a frown. "Each person with this Gift has a particular element that they specialize in. There are definitely elements of technology that are given to each person''s brain beyond this world''s scope, but there is a certain kind of technology that each Gifted has for their technological specialization."This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "So I understand a little more about these Gifted people," Tomoyo said. "So you trust me enough to reveal this information, do you."


    "Not completely," Rikyu said. "But I figured you should know the basics so that you don''t go awry with your powers."


    Tomoyo frowned.


    "Hey, don''t you think that we''ve known one another well enough that we could well...call one another friends?"


    "Acquaintances," Rikyu said while folding his arms with a little huff, appearing a bit flustered.


    "Rikyu, you were lonely before too, weren''t you?" Tomoyo said with a smile. "Well, I figured that you used to be yourself, just like I was. I was...friendless for the most part, because of my attitude. I got bullied because I spoke my mind and didn''t hold back. But needless to say, I survived because I had one friend who helped me, and that was Kokoro-chan. You have friends too, Rikyu-san."


    Rikyu smiled a bit. "Well...maybe you''re not so bad after all, Tomoyo-san. I look forward to our partnership. We will examine the battle record videos and add enhancements to Kazuo''s nanomachines that will make him more efficient at battling. The thing about androids, though, is that they''re mechanical AI and technology has its limitations. Humans are flawed as well, but there is a critical distinction that strove mankind to surpass even God; and that was their intelligence, innovation, and adaptability. So I will make these nanomachines accordingly to make Kazuo a bit more durable. Then he could stand toe to toe with the android that Kazuo fought against today."


    "It''s a never-ending arms race between two child prodigies," Kazuo said, and Rikyu gave Kazuo a look to hush him up.


    "we also have to keep in mind countermeasures and the fact that Shizuha will be adapting to our maneuvers," Rikyu said. "Anyway, you all are dismissed. Let''s come up with a plan to protect Tomoyo."


    "All right," Kazuo said while pumping up his fist in the air, while Tomoyo gave a genuine smile.


    "I''m entrusting my life to you boys," she said.


    --x--


    "Well, let''s see," Kokoro said while she greeted Tomoyo back at school again. "Where have you been going lately? Your grades are slipping by the slightest bit and you''ve been gone for long periods of time. Why is that?"


    "Business," Tomoyo said with a wary air, and the students around her were getting suspicious.


    "Where does Tomoyo go with that Kazuo guy?" one of the students said.


    "You think that they..." one of the girls'' whispered before Tomoyo slammed her hand down on the desk before them.


    "You there!" Tomoyo said, causing the students to jump. "Kazuo isn''t that type of guy. He''s a chivalrous gentleman, that''s all I can say."


    "Oooh," the girl said in a snooty voice. "Don''t tell me that you''ve fallen for him, have you, Tomoyo the Tyrant? What kind of man could love you?"


    "You''ll be surprised," Tomoyo said in a surprisingly cheerful tone. "He likes my strong-minded personality, he said. Hehe. But don''t mistake me for some foolish love struck school girl. I''m merely making him do my bidding as student council president so that I can whip you all into better citizens of Japan."


    "Sure sure," the students said. "That''s what you say, but you''re really going soft."


    "Am I?" Tomoyo said, before grinning. I really am losing my edge."


    Both students smiled. "You know, the old Tomoyo the Tyrant wouldn''t'' have joked with us as easily as she would''ve before. I kind of like this side of you, you know?"


    "You''re," the girl student said. "Kind of girlish, in a way?"


    "Oh stop," Tomyo said, flushing a beet red right now. She started to play with her long purple hair with her fingers, as she cast her gaze down on the floor and avoided their eyes. "I''m still not going to go easy on you guys. After all, your futures are very important."


    "I think that we''ve had the wrong impression of you, Tomoyo," the male student said. "We won''t call you Tomoyo the Tyrant anymore, we promise. Instead, we''ll just call you Tomo-chan, just like Kokoro-chan."


    "I would like that, I think," Tomoyo said with a genuine smile. "It''s fun, hanging out with you guys. Hey, even though you guys gave me a hard time as Student Council President, I still...really treasure these moments together."


    "Hey, why don''t we have lunch on the rooftop together?" the girl student said, before giggling. "Bring Kazuo too."


    "I''m sure that he wouldn''t mind," Tomoyo said with a grin. "Maybe one day...we''ll throw a big celebration for our graduation. Yeah, I can make plans for that. and I want Kazuo to feel welcome too. I want him to graduate with us and spend time together with his fellow students. So you guys, treat him well, okay?"


    "Yeah!" everyone cheered.


    Tomoyo smiled.


    --x--


    Shizuha took a cup of tea. It trembled in her hands. She looked down at the cup while she stared at anywhere else except the male''s gaze before her. The man tilted her chin up, before saying, "You''re too soft on your brother, you know."


    Shizuha said nothing. She didn¡¯t even have the will to defiantly glare back at the man before her. She must remain dignified and calm, despite her situation. She would endure. That¡¯s what she always did, didn¡¯t she?


    ¡°My dear Shizuha,¡± the man said, rubbing a hand underneath his chin. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of escaping, are you? No, there is no rescue for you. Your brother thoroughly hates you, you know? The one person that you thought you could rely on turned his back on you. But that¡¯s only natural, isn¡¯t it? You were meant to surpass him in every single way; I¡¯m sure that he would have bitter feelings towards you and long suffered an inferiority complex of your doing.¡±


    ¡°Stop it¡­¡± Shizuha said, closing her eyes and trying to will the memories away. ¡°I will continue to do as you ask, as long as you make sure that Rikyu isn¡¯t harmed in any way. Even if it means¡­erasing his current humanity¡­I want my brother to be alive. It¡¯s better to be alive than dead, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, but how much more of his humanity will you forsake?¡± the man said to her while he went towards the window, overlooking the cityscape. ¡°His loyal dog, Kazuo, won¡¯t come to your rescue either.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m well aware of that,¡± Shizuha said with a blank, heterochromatic gaze. ¡°As long as I keep on making your androids, you will keep Rikyu alive, yes? That¡¯s all that matters to me.¡±


    ¡°My dear girl,¡± the elder man said. ¡°You¡¯re willing to forsake everything for him, aren¡¯t you? If only that devotion were put towards me instead of him. But alas, I can¡¯t have everything that I want, now can I?¡±


    Shizuha suppressed a grimace. This man truly was deplorable, wasn¡¯t he? But she needed to do this for Rikyu, all for the sake of the brother that she loved and cherished. Even though she knew the truth behind his existence, she felt that no one else knew the urgency of his situation and that she must find him¡­or else he will die an excruciating death that he doesn¡¯t deserve. She may be nine years of age physically, but mentally she was far beyond her years. She understood things that normal children wouldn¡¯t be able to. And it¡¯s this that caused her an existential depression that left her cooped up with this man who berated her and kept her under his control, because despite her super intelligence, she was still a child emotionally, and adult held the power in the world over those like her.


    Besides, she was just furniture, wasn¡¯t she?


    Shizuha clenched her hands into fists. I will endure, she told herself. Even if Rikyu can¡¯t come rescue her, she will rescue herself. But this man watched her and kept her caged in an isolated room where she would her androids for companions, making one that she pretended was Rikyu, with his personality and appearance, though of course, it wasn¡¯t the real thing. The real thing hated her guts, and she wasn''t surprised that he did; he had every right to hate her. Why should he love the one that stole his destiny, of being the genetically superior one, the flawless one, the perfect one, and he just a mere shadow of a great?


    Don¡¯t worry, Rikky, Shizuha thought. I will find a way for us to live together. So we can relive the old times again. I will endure whatever hell I have to to do this

 Chapter 8

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    Tomoyo yawned. So far, not terrorist attacks or anything of the like. Though Tomoyo remained on edge for some reason. She didn¡¯t know why, but she felt as though someone was watching her. Tomoyo shook her head. She was probably tired from overworking. That had to be it. Maybe it was an overactive imagination or something of the sort. Then again, Tomoyo knew better than to not trust her woman''s intuition. After all, it was intuition that told her to save Kazuo and got them out bot alive, didn¡¯t it?


    Tomoyo voiced her concerns.


    ¡°I think someone is following me,¡± Tomoyo said, while Rikyu frowned.


    ¡°That is not a superstitious concern,¡± Rikyu said while he furrowed his brows. ¡°I suppose that I can hack the computer networks and overlook Tokoyo¡¯s grid for any suspicious movement. Or¡­bettter that I teach you this technique yourself.¡±


    ¡°You trust me enough to share this with me?¡± Tomoyo said while Rikyu gave her a solemn stare.


    ¡°You saved Kazuo, after all,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°I will not let a good deed such as that got unmerited. Now¡­concentrate. Let your mind go blank. Cna you sense the will and activity of the machines in this room?¡±


    ¡°Concentrate,¡± Tomoyo said before she closed her eyes and tried to remember the feeling of activating and short-circuiting the machines in the room that scanned for her abilities. After she thought for a few seconds, trying to recognize the emotions that triggered her powers, Tomoyo strived as hard as she could to emulate that feeling. However, feelings of distraction washed over her. She wanted to go to school! She wanted to have a normal life! She wished that she didn¡¯t have these powers, to begin with! AS convenient as they may seem, they seemed to be a burden more than anything else. She wouldn¡¯t have wished for these powers if it meant being tracked down by enemy organizations that wanted to dissect her brain or worse!


    ¡°Urgh,¡± Tomoyo said as she clenched her fists. ¡°It¡¯s no use. I can¡¯t feel the ¡®will¡¯ of the machines.¡±


    ¡°Your feelings of negativity are very powerful indeed,¡¯ Rikyu mused before he put a hand on Tomoyo¡¯s shoulder.¡¯ It¡¯s a burden that we both share. We¡¯ll go through this together. Okay?¡±


    ¡°Tomoyo smiled slightly at Rikyu. ¡°You¡¯re actually pretty kind, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Rikyu crossed his arms and turned his back on Tomoyo. ¡°Hmph. Well, regardless, you need training for your own protection.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Tomoyo said with a softened smile towards the child. She wanted to protect him, and Kazuo. They were her friends¡­just like Kokoro-chan.


    Rikyu grinned.


    ¡°Well, the sentiment is appreciated of course,¡± Rikyu said, before he frowned. ¡°What to do with this android, though.¡±


    Tomoyo frowned as well. ¡°Yes. She doesn¡¯t seem to be like the rest of the killer androids that I¡¯ve encountered before.¡±


    Rikyu looked towards the Android, whom was dubbed Echo, and he asked her, ¡°Whose side re you on, anyway?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± the android, Echo asid. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I feel that there is something more important than just retrieving Tomoyo to the Mistress. I feel like, I must understand this feeling, these bonds, between people. Mistress often told me that she had a bond with a boy named Rikyu. Whatever happened to that bond? Can ti be repaired?¡±


    Rikyu looked a little sad for a moment, before he said. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure.¡±


    ¡°I would like for you to make some changes to my data,¡± the android requested to Rikyu. ¡°You¡¯re like Mistress, aren¡¯t you? I know tthat you will be able to give me what I desire. To understand the human heart. I wish to have a human heart.¡±


    ¡°I hope you mean that figurativlely instead of literally,¡± Rikyy muttered, before he shook his head. ¡°You are definitely an anomaly, that is for sure. You¡¯re defying your programming and this hack within you has evolved beyond the programming that Shizuha intended for you. She must¡¯ve done one of her experiments again.¡±


    ¡°Experiments?¡± Echo asked.


    Rikyu nodded.


    ¡°She got along with her androids better than she did with people. Beacuse androids would do things that she told them to do. But eventually, she yearned for something more, something for her androids to become more human-like, I suppose. She¡¯s done a good job of creating a lifelike android that is perfect in every conceivable way.¡±


    Tomoyo sensed someone watched her again. Rikyu looked tense.


    ¡°Do you sense that?¡± Rikyu said.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Tomoyo said while looking around the room frantically. Have they followed her here too? Stupid! SHe shouldn¡¯t have led the enemy right where her precious people were hiding!


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°We¡¯ve got her where we want her.¡±


    ¡°Her?¡± Tomoyo said as Rikyu activated the mother brain of the base. ¡°You mean¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Rikyu said, as a scream resonated in Tomoyo¡¯s head. ¡°Hello, Shizuha. I thought I told you I had no interest in seeing you again?¡±


    Shizuha projected herself on a screen, where they could see her. Her face clenched in agony, and Rikyu had a feral grin on his face.


    ¡°Otouto¡­¡± Shizuha said. ¡°We meet at last.¡±


    Rikyu frowned.


    ¡°I thought I specified that I never wanted to see your face.¡±


    ¡°Please, Rikky¡­¡± Shizuha said. ¡°I¡¯m disobeying my master¡¯s order to give you a warning.¡±


    ¡°Pray tell, whatever information could you have that I didn¡¯t know myself?¡± Rikyu said with a snarl. ¡°You¡¯re not welcome here. I will shut down the machines and cut off your brain to your real body where you will be nothing more than a vegetable if you don¡¯t tell me this: Why did you decide to become my enemy? Why are you working with them? I thought that you were more honorable than that.¡±


    ¡°Rikyu¡­¡± Shizuha said, a solemnity in her eyes now. ¡°I want to save you. Honestly, I do. Even if it means that I¡¯m working with a despicable man that we both hate, I¡¯m closer to finding the answer.¡±


    ¡°Shizuha¡­,¡± Rikyu said while closing his eyes and clenching his fists. Tomoyo saw that he trembled. ¡°We all know that I¡¯m the fake. You¡¯re the human. But I will become human one day without your help. That¡¯s all that I wished for. Because of you, I¡¯m¡­¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    He paused. Tomoyo saw sorrow in his eyes as well. ¡°I¡¯m becoming less human because of you¡­¡±


    Shizuha looked solemn. Tomoyo stepped forth, before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened between the two of you, but you need to resolve your differences. Maybe you¡¯ve wronged him in the past, but Rikyu, you need to learn to forgive your sister. She honestly wants to rescue you. I can tell sincerity in another person¡¯s voice.¡±


    Rikyu gave a sharp look towards Tomoyo. ¡°Stay out of this.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Tomyo said while she put her hands on her hips. ¡°Because it pains me to see two siblings fighting one another when they should be on the same side. Open up to me, Rikyu. What is it that is making you reluctant to open up to us? Kazuo senses that you¡¯re growing distant as well, more moody. It¡¯s not because of your sister, is it?¡±


    Rikyu¡¯s shoulder shook with laughter. ¡°Oh, you think you¡¯ve got me all figured out, don¡¯t you, Tomoyo? Always butting in your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong. God, I hate that about you, you know? But I¡¯m sure that you will keep on pestering me until I give you some sort of answer. That¡¯s just like you, Tomoyo. Getting into other¡¯s business and trying to help, even when it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°How do you know it¡¯s impossible?¡± Tomoyo said, standing towards Rikyu and putting her hands on his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re frustrating as well, you know? Thinking that you can handle everything by yourself. You may be super smart Rikyu, but sometimes you can be dumb about the simplest things. Learn to rely on others more. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? You have some use for me, right? Let me be useful!¡±


    Rikyu stood in silence for a few moments. She thought he saw a glimmer of tears in his eyes, which was the most emotion that she saw the young unexpressive boy show for the longest time. He was just a child after all; he was just as scared and vulnerable as Tomoyo was. He thought that everything was unraveling at the seams and became desperate like a cornered fox in a trap.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to concern yourself with me,¡± Rikyu said with a resigned finality. ¡°I¡¯m becoming less and less human¡­and I¡¯m using everyone around me out of selfishness. I guess it¡¯s for survival reasons, but still; I let my animal brain get the better out of me over the friendship of my companions. I really am the worst, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Rikyu Kazuhiko,¡± Tomoyo said after taking a deep breath and shouting at the top of her lungs. ¡°If you put yourself down again, God help me, I¡¯m going to do something that both of us really regret. You¡¯re not a bad person, Rikyu¡ªyou¡¯ve been through so much, I can tell. Even if you won¡¯t open up about the reason why you''re acting this way, but don''t¡¯ worry about ¡®becoming human¡¯ or ¡®real¡¯. You¡¯re already human to me, you know? You¡¯re a child. You¡¯re Rikyu. You¡¯re more than the child genius that everyone commands and respects, you¡¯re a kind, gentle-hearted boy that would see through to saving everyone if you could. That¡¯s human, isn''t it? You¡¯re real, aren¡¯t you? You can feel emotions, don¡¯t you? Then you are real, you are human! So goddamnit, Rikyu, let your sister and I help you!!!¡±


    Rikyu looked towards Tomoyo before he smiled sadly. ¡°You¡¯re really the worst, you know that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°Even if I have to play the role of the villain to drag you out of Hell, I will. So listen, Rikyu, and listen good. We¡¯ll go through this together, right? Didn¡¯t you say that this was a burden that we both share?¡±


    Rikyu nodded with a downcast gaze. ¡°I did say that, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Rikyu took a deep breath, before bowing towards his sister. ¡°Shizuha¡­I have been avoiding my responsibilities as your brother and haven¡¯t come to your rescue. You were suffering as much as I was. So I will one day rescue you from your captivity. I may be a horrid brother, but Tomoyo is right; we should both be fighting on the same side.¡±


    Shizuha smiled before the connection cut off. Rikyu looked startled before he went to the computer console and desperately tried to reconnect with his sister again. ¡°Shizuha? Shizuha!!!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no use,¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°Something must be happening to her.¡±


    Rikyu put his trembling hands to his face.


    ¡°Hang on, Shizuha. I will definitely come to rescue you. I will, I swear it!¡±


    ¡ªx¡ª


    Shizuha recoiled from a face rippling slap from her handler. She clutched her cheek, tears streaming from her eyes. If only she wasn''t so weak! She shouldn¡¯t have desperately called to Rikyu to come rescue her. Now he¡¯d get involved too, and it was her selfishness that endangered Tomoyo as well, who promised to help her and get back together with Rikyu again.


    ¡°Foolish girl,¡± the blond-haired man said before her. ¡°Did you think that I would actually let you escape? You are mine, little girl, and I won¡¯t let anyone else possess you or your brain. You may wish to be together with your beloved brother, but I won¡¯t allow it to happen. I absolutely won¡¯t.¡±


    He raised his hand as though to strike her again. Shizuha flinched. Seeing the power that he held over the helpless child made the man smile. ¡°I have full control over you, you know? And one day you will become a ripe young woman that I could possibly sell off as a slave somewhere in the world. I have the authority to do that, you know. It doesn¡¯t matter how much brains you have, you are nothing more than an object to me.¡±


    ¡°You will one day pay for this,¡± Shizuha whispered, clenching her hands into fists. ¡°


    ¡°Did I say that you could backtalk me?¡± The man said while he raised his hand again. Shizuha flinched. Though instead, he simply let his hand run through her long black tresses of hair. She reviled his gentle touches even more than the slaps he inflicted upon her. ¡°Shizuha. The only reason why you¡¯re alive is that you have some use. If you no longer have any use tome, then you¡¯re good as dead. Understood?¡±


    Shizuha said nothing. He tiled her head so that she looked into his violet eyes.


    ¡°You understand, don¡¯t you? That you¡¯re disposable. There are many more of you. But ah, I¡¯ve found a perfect copy of you somewhere¡­my lovely Tomoyo Aburame¡­ Her lovely black hair has turned purple, but she¡¯s definitely you, all right. Or an idealized version of what you could be. You and your brother are just disposables and furniture that will help me reach my goal¡­of possessing Tomoyo Aburame for myself.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you have her¡­¡± Shizuha said, clenching her hands into fists.


    The man appeared amused.


    ¡°Oh? I¡¯m starting to like this little defiant streak in you. I love watching people uselessly struggle against the inevitable. But in all seriousness¡­Tomoyo is perfect. In fact, she might be the one who inherited most of Prometheus¡¯s cells¡­and she¡¯s mutating into something far stronger.¡±


    ¡°Please¡­¡± Shizuha said as her hand stretched out towards the blond-haired man. ¡°Leave them alone. They have nothing to do with this. I made the androids that I promised you, didn¡¯t I? And you use them to cause despair and warfare among other people.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what the human species is about?¡± the man said with a patient smile towards her. ¡°They are a self-destructive species, after all. Even with their intelligence, they do nothing but try to gain more power through their greed and inferiority. But they are also like cockroaches, after all. Even as they destroy themselves, some part of them remains no matter how horrid things get. I want to do an experiment, girl, and I want to see whether the race you¡¯re descended from was right to spur on evolution on this planet.¡±


    ¡°There are people like you,¡± Shizuha said. ¡°That only want to see the destruction for destruction¡¯s sake. But there are those who plant seeds of hope into the Earth, and the will sprout and blossom into something that will make our planet flourish. Earth is my home¡­I don¡¯t care about the race that I¡¯m descended from. I was born with fond memories of this planet, and even if my genetic memories of ancestors are stored in my brain, I will protect Earth first and foremost. Because that¡¯s the planet that Rikyu grew to love.¡±


    ¡°You certainly would do anything for your younger brother, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± The man said with a feral smile. ¡°How sweet. A touching sibling relationship. But alas, it only ends in torment for you. You will be forced to watch Rikyu die¡­over and over again, as that is his genetic destiny. You and he represent humanity, don¡¯t you? Well, I¡¯m representing the ancient race that you descend from.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s from my ancestor¡¯s arrogance that they destroyed themselves,¡± Shizuha said. ¡°I don¡¯t want humanity to suffer the same fate.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just too bad, isn¡¯t it?¡± the man said. ¡°This world is destined to die, in one beautiful explosion. Once Earth is destroyed, the remnants of people¡¯s despair and futility will be harvested to sustain this spaceship. After all, your people died to maintain this ship, which was a precious relic of their achievements.¡±


    ¡°I will¡­¡± Shizuha said while gripping her hands into fists. ¡°Never forgive you.¡±


    ¡°You may hate and revile me all you want,¡± The man said gently towards her. ¡°Still, it¡¯s Prometheus¡¯s punishment in the past. He brought fire to humanity, and the gods have despised him for it.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t punish all of humanity just based on your whims!¡± Shizuha said whlie she gritted her teeth through tears.


    ¡°Ah, but you got inovlved with me all the same,¡± the man said. ¡°Because you wanted to save your brother, Rikyu. When you gave me the data to the spaceship that you two worked on together and relinquished control to me, I spared your brother, didn¡¯t I? Perhaps I should give you a little taste of freedom so you know who the one in control is reallly here.¡±


    ¡°Freedom?¡± Shizuha whispered.


    The man chuckled.


    ¡°Of course. But you¡¯re so tethered to me that you will come running back, won¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°My freedom,¡± Shizuha said with a gasp as she knetl down on her knees and wept. ¡°You¡¯re cruel, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    The man smirked. ¡°That¡¯s just what I am.¡±


    -01001101-

 Chapter 9

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    ¡°Rikyu¡­¡± Kazuo said.


    The little boy had been moodier than ever. He paced up and down the halls, chewing on his thumbnail and wearing a dour expression on his face.


    Kazuo wondered what the child prodigy was thinking. He heard recently from Tomoyo that Shizuha contacted them; the one that Rikyu said had given him his inferiority complex. Kazuo knew Shizuha through Rikyu, and she was a cute little kid, of course, though Rikyu always felt he never measured up to her. Really, sibling rivalry at its finest. Rikyu solved the Einstein equation at four years old, while Shizuha solved it at three years old. Despite Rikyu being a kind boy, he was also rather prideful, and this inferiority complex would eat at him for the rest of his lifetime.


    ¡°Kyu-chan,¡± Kazuo said in a placating tone. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that you¡¯re being a bit restless? I know that you want to go out and save your sister right now, but we mustn¡¯t rush things. I thought I¡¯d never say this, but you¡¯re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.¡±


    ¡°How can I stand by and do nothing, Kazuo?¡± Rikyu said while he punched a small fist into Kazuo¡¯s chest. It squished against him in a painless pressure, and Kazuo simply lets Rikyu hit him, over and over again. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt so helpless¡­what good are my smarts if I can¡¯t use them to save others? There¡¯s someone far more crafty and experienced behind her, and he¡¯s delighting in making me tormented.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Tomoyo said with a soft frown. ¡°Rikyu, calm down. I¡¯ll think f something to help both of you. But you can¡¯t do that if you¡¯re all out of sorts.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡± Rikyu said in defeat. ¡® I just need some time to relax. I¡¯m letting too many things get to me. But I¡¯m sure that I¡¯ll be able to devise a plan that will make all parties satisfied.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Kazuo said as he smiled towards the child prodigy. Rikyu grinned back.


    ¡°You know, you need to have some vacation time, Kazuo,¡± Rikyu said thoughtfully, to which Kazuo frowned.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Rikyu? We haven¡¯t been separated from one another ever since you¡­¡±


    Rikyu closed his eyes. ¡°What? You¡¯ve done well to serve me all this time. Shouldn¡¯t you get an incentive to work for me by being given proper rewards?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but,¡± Kazuo said.


    Rikyu clucked his tongue and waved a finger at the leather-clad man.


    ¡°Kaz, Kaz, Kaz,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°This is an order. You and Tomoyo are on vacation together on the islands. There¡¯s a private resort there that I own personally and think would be the greatest for your convenience.¡±


    ¡°What, are you trying to play matchmaker, you sly little devil?¡± Kazuo said while suddenly giving Rikyu a noogie. Rikyu laughed helplessly before saying.


    ¡°You two really need a break. I ¡¯ve been overworking you guys to the bone, and I¡¯ve been taking advantage of your willingness to work towards your limits. But ap roper employer shouldn¡¯t do that to his staff¡ªhe should reward breaks and incentives to help future relations and maintain motivation.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you insist,¡± Kazuo said before Tomoyo put her hands to her cheeks.


    ¡°Oh my God, a vacation!¡± She shouted. ¡°Whatever shall I do? I may have a break, but that¡¯s important for catching up on lost work! I¡¯ve been behind in school and I need to study for my exams and the nI need to pay the bills and aaaugh! How can I possibly relax when I have all those things hovering over my head?¡±


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Kazuo said while putting a hand on Tomoyo''s shoulder. ¡°The uptight Prez should learn to relax once in a while, hm?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right you know,¡± Rikyu said, while Tomoyo started to pull at her hair.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand! This is about my future! My career! My dreams of becoming a business tycoon that sells products for a company that improves the world one step at a time! That¡¯s all I wanted to do! It¡¯s for a great cause! And then I¡¯m going to train and employ competent people who also share the same vision as I do and better Japanese society! There¡¯s too much indifference and not enough passion, I say!¡±


    Kazuo put a finger to her lips. Tomoyo cocked her head before Kazuo gave her a sight smooch on the lips.


    ¡°Hey Prez,¡± Kazuo said while licking his lips. ¡°That¡¯s for saving my life the other day.¡±


    ¡°Y-Y-You¡­¡± Tomoyo said, becoming extremely flustered now. Her hands clenched into fists as she angrily clenched Kazuo¡¯s shirt by her hand.


    ¡°Woah Woah, Prez,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°YOu¡¯re not gonna kill me now, are you?¡±


    ¡°You little pissant,¡± Tomoyo said with a glare before she captured Kazuo¡¯s lips in her own. Kazuo flushed, while Rikyu turned away from the sight.


    ¡°Woah, Woah, Woah,¡± Kazuo said as he grinned stupidly after Tomoyo parted away from him. ¡°Are you for real, Prez?¡±


    ¡°Tomoyo,¡± Tomoyo said as she fidgeted with the ends of her skirt. ¡°Call me Tomoyo.¡±


    ¡°Fine then¡­Tomoyo,¡± Kazuo said, tasting the name on his tongue. ¡°That was¡­a nice kiss. I didn¡¯t think you had it in you.¡±


    ¡°I-I just decided to give you a little reward,¡± Tomoyo said, flushing. ¡°For protecting me, that is.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Shirou entered the room.


    ¡°Keep in mind the company you¡¯re in,¡± Shirou said sternly, and everyone laughed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Shirou,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°I¡¯m not an ordinary kid.¡±


    ¡°True, but I¡¯m trying to raise you like a proper one, you understand,¡± Shirou said with a furrowed brow.


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Kazuo said as he wrapped his arms around Tomoyo and lifted her up easily. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that it was about time that we have Rikyu ¡®the talk¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I always wanted to give him a proper talk, but the little devil managed to read textbooks on it before I could say anything,¡± Shirou said. ¡°Rikyu just wants to know about everything.¡±


    ¡°What can I say?¡± Rikyu said. ¡°I¡¯m a glutton for information.


    ¡°But he¡¯ turning out more decent and proper than you, Kazuo-kun,¡± Shirou said while he gave a glare towards the bandanna and leather-clad blond.


    ¡°Oh Shirou,¡± Kazuo said with a wink. ¡°I am a proper gentleman. I¡¯m also a passionate lover and romantic.¡±


    Shirou frowned.


    ¡°Look you, you shouldn¡¯t be openly flirting with that woman around Rikyu¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so uptight, my man,¡± Kazuo said while he patted Shirou on the shoulder.


    Shirou frowned. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of corrupting my son even further? Absolutely unforgiveable. I will atake over operations now. Rikyu needs his nap time.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna go ¡®nap time¡¯ Rikyu scoffed. ¡°This is stupid, why do you insist I have ¡®nap time¡¯?¡±


    ¡°If you really want to do this so much,¡± Shirou said while patting Rikyu¡¯s head. ¡°Go rescue your sister. Papa Shirou will be counting you to rescue his daughter.¡±


    Rikyu grinned.


    ¡°Thanks."


    ¡ªx¡ª


    ¡°All right,¡± Rikyu said to himself. ¡°The last video feed that Shizuha sent me showed her somewhere in space. If I zoom into this particular part, we can see that she¡¯s in a spaceship of some sort the window of space shows her somewhere in space.¡±


    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Kazuo said, starting to snooze a little.


    ¡°It¡¯s just managing to triangulate a path through the star constellations and seeing where the satellite signals and images pinpoint her location, but we assume that she¡¯s not stationary and that the enemy is maneuvering the ship to different locations each time. But first, we pinpoint her location, before we hack into the computer systems to keep it stationary near our location, and then board the ship ourselves to rescue Shizuha,¡± Rikyu said, as though this all were a simple plan, really.


    ¡°So how are you going to find the location of the ship?¡± Kazuo asked, scratching his head in confusion.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to hack a satellite to pinpoint its location and figure out through this cast shadow above earth what time zone it was last located,¡± Rikyu said, as though he were explaining elementary math to a kindergartner. ¡°This should be very simple. I can do this through my computer at the base right here. That¡¯s step one. And looking at the window in the spaceship of the video feed that I¡¯ve recorded into my computer databanks, I can triangulate the position of the stars and see where in space where the ship is located. Just need a 24 observation to make sure that the Earth orbits and examine the trajectory there.¡±


    ¡°And then what are you gonna do, Kyu-chan?¡± Kazuo said skeptically before saying.


    ¡°Using a North Korean¡¯s IBCM GPS to determine the location of the ship and relocating it to the ship while using myself as the payload instead of the warhead.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck, Rikyu,¡± Kazuo said, and Rikyu grinned.


    ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Rikyu said, grinning from ear to ear.


    Tomoyo grinned as well. ¡°That¡¯s crazy and ambitious. I like it. It¡¯s going with style. Well, Kazuo and I will help you on this particular mission then, Rikyu. An I''m sure that your men will be around t follow you.¡±


    ¡°Let me confirm the starships location by waiting for a twenty-four hour period,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°In the meantime, Kazuo and Tomoyo, you guys can go on a date or whatever. I expect you to report back to me by 24 hours sharp.¡±


    ¡°You think with that big juicy brain of yours, Rikyu,¡± Kazuo said as he saluted the young boy. ¡°We¡¯ll rescue Shizuha-chan for sure. Don¡¯t you worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Riku said before he gave a fist bump to Kazuo and looked pleased as punch. ¡°Well, in the meantime, Kazuo, make the preparations necessary to plan a flight to North Korea after the 24-hour surveillance. I¡¯m sure that my men will take care of the IDs and citizenship records for North Korea by then after I¡¯ve laid out my plans for them.¡±


    ¡°Roger!¡± Tomoyo and Kazuo said at the same time before they turned to each other and grinned.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    ¡°Rikyu really is amazing, isn¡¯t he?¡± Tomoyo said in admiration to Kazuo. ¡°Crazy, but amazing.¡±


    ¡°Kyu-chan has always been like that,¡± Kazuo said with a smile, to which Tomoyo giggled and adjusted her hair over her shoulder. ¡°He always thinks of grand plans and schemes and executes them on the fly. That¡¯s his greatest strength, his intelligence. And when Shizuha and Rikyu work together, there¡¯s no stopping those two.¡±


    ¡°They make one half of a whole,¡± Tomoyo said admiringly. ¡°Shizuha must have some skills of her own if she was able t send Rikyu something that would give him so much information and trust in her brother to find her through so little information. But I guess that¡¯s how siblings are, I suppose. I kind of envy that.¡±


    ¡°You were the one who brought them together again,¡± Kazuo said with a smile before Tomoyo laughed.


    ¡°Please, I¡¯m actually a pacifist after all,¡± Tomoyo said with a grin. ¡°I wish, that there were no wars and conflict in the world. That¡¯s why I wanted t to become Class President because I wanted to go on the first step of establishing world peace. SOunds like a lofty goal, doesn¡¯t it? But I¡¯m sure that with my ability and standards, I can whip people into shape and stir their hearts into following me and the principles that will help other people live better lives. I want to stir them into a passion! I want to wake them up from their apathy and indifference! I want to change the world!¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°We¡¯re going to make his life come into action. The maneuvers that Rikyu pulls off wouldn¡¯t be possible without the devotion and his team of men. He is entrusting us with this mission¡­and we¡¯ll do our best to fulfill it.¡±


    ¡°All right!¡± Tomoyo said while pumping up her fist in the air. ¡°We¡¯ve already got the equipment that we need, right? Using the military funds for some space suits and a team to remove the warhead from a North Korean missile, right?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve gathered some intel about a mega ICBM that hasn¡¯t been seen before being launched somewhere in North Korea,¡± Kazuo noted. ¡°We¡¯ve got the fake IDs and passports to get passage into North Korea. Then we need to infiltrate the military base and hijack the super ICBM to traject our course to the spaceship in question. That¡¯s what Rikyu plans, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Though what about getting on this ship itself after we pinpoint it¡¯s location?¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°We have the spacesuits for sure to survive going beyond the atmosphere, though can Rikyu really create nanomachines or something that protects the missile from just exploding while going into space?¡±


    ¡°He can and he will,¡± Kazuo said with confidence.


    ¡°All right, and Shizuha chan is doing her best too, isn¡¯t she?¡± Tomoyo said with a smile. Ast around¡­14:00 military time, she¡¯s going to project an image and put the ship she¡¯s in out of stealth mode, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Kazuo said.


    ¡°And my role in all of this,¡± Tomoyo says while putting a hand to her heart. ¡°Is to keep the ship stationary in space and coordinate a return launch back to our location.¡±


    ¡°What about the man in question?¡± Kazuo said while frowning. ¡°It¡¯s not good to keep him alive.¡±


    ¡°True, our mission is to just rescue Shizuha,¡± Tomoyo said. Though Rikyu said that we¡¯re not supposed to kill anyone, no matter how heinous they might be.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that Kyu-chan wants to kill this man,¡± Kazuo said. ¡° But his principles and notions tell him that sparing a life and showing mercy is far greater than his bloodlust.¡±


    ¡°Okies, let¡¯s wait for the signal from Shizuha-chan, then,¡± Tomoyo said as she made preparations at the base.


    ¡°Right-o,¡± Kazuo said before he kept his telescope positioned in the rea that Rikyu thought the ship might be positioned to give the signal to Rikyu to start their crazy plan

 Chapter 10

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    Shizuha waited until the male before her was sleeping. He always slept like clockwork, and he would wake up at a certain time bright in the morning. She was pretty sure that Rikyu gave her a twenty-four-hour window to show off her location. She trusted that her brother would come for her like he always did when they were younger. Using his genius and ingenuity, he would think of a plan that would rescue her from this prison on the ship. Though this plan could only work once. She had been planning this escape for a while, though she kept it a secret from the elder male before her. He didn¡¯t yet know about her contact with Rikyu. She had been good at deleting her traces on them the space ship¡¯s mother¡¯s brain. And in the meantime, she had been slowly hacking away at the system to make sure that the mother brain was encoded with her brand.


    There was a spare key that was located deep within the space ship¡¯s core. This key would activate the mother brain where a Gifted like her could activate the computer access channel and control the ship to her will, even if only temporarily. The male that had her under his control would probably wrestle control from her, though Shizuha knew that a few spare seconds was all that she needed to give this signal to Rikyu, and rely on him to help her hijack the ship away from the man in question together. Coupled with Miss Tomoyo¡¯s help, they would work all three together against one lone Gifted male, who was as cunning as he was brilliant, though even he wasn''t¡¯ a match against three minds that worked together. Plus, with Kazuo-kun¡¯s military know how he could infiltrate the ship with ease and give them the physical prowess that they needed to help hijack the ship after they hijacked the ICBM missile.


    She thought now would be a perfect time. Now or never. With Rikyu scanning the satellites through his hacking, she would do a one-moment brief moment of shutting down the ship¡¯s stealth mode so that she can give her location into Rikyu. Easier said than done, but Shizuha could do this much. Then she will have to put faith in her rescuers and hope to God that her captor wouldn¡¯t kill her for this act of treason against him. But she has always endured, wouldn¡¯t she? She had a special brain that he needed her. That¡¯s the reason why she was kept, instead of having another clone replace her like the others. She held information about the spaceship and was the most compatible with the Prometheus brain within the ship¡¯s center. Only she could maneuver this ship, and the man relied on her obedience to do so.


    But now was the time to strike back. She wouldn¡¯t be cowed by him any longer. SHe will no longer be under his control. She had her own free will, and she didn¡¯t serve anyone or anything. She was her own rescuer and master, and this man wouldn''t do as he pleased wit her, treating her like furniture, lower than trash or a cockroach.


    He¡¯s coming to rescue me, Shizuha thought, her face warming and her heart no longer felt trepidation. I¡¯m going to make my escape¡­because my brother will find out where I¡¯m located.


    She went to the console boards and deactivated the ship from stealth mode. She just hoped that this was enough for Rikyu to go by.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    Rikyu called them in. Kazuo put on his military uniform and saluted Rikyu. Tomoyo did the same. They figured he must¡¯ve found the signal from Shizuha to indicate that it was time to rescue her.


    ¡°My sister gave the signal,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°Now we need to make our move. We¡¯re going to North Korea to ride on a top-secret mega ICBM that they¡¯ve secretly put into development. I¡¯ve already made the preparations in which we can enter the country. We just need Kazuo¡¯s infiltration skills to make our way to the launch site for this ICBM.¡±


    ¡°Leave it to me, Kyu-chan,¡± Kazuo said with a grin. ¡°But don¡¯t we need to cover up? If we¡¯re spotted in North Korea, we¡¯ll be shot.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already thought of that,¡± Rikyu said with a grin. ¡°We¡¯re going to infiltrate North Korea by disguising ourselves as laundromat workers. Why did I think of this? Because obviously I¡¯m a little kid and I can be smuggled in through ha laundromat truck and you guys can cover your faces while transporting me to the site. Then we can infiltrate from there and then I hijack the ICBM and change its trajectory course to the coordinates that Shizuha gave me through the satellite imaging.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve really thought of everything, Kyu-chan,¡± Kazuo said in an admiring tone before Tomoyo frowned.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s say that this works according to plan. How exactly are we going to hijack the ICBM? There¡¯s removing the warhead from it, right?¡±


    Rikyu clucked his tongue. ¡°Not to worry, I¡¯ve thought of a plan for that too. Kazuo will manipulate a crane to remove the warhead beforehand, or just drop it on the fly into the ocean or something¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s a chance that we can arrive and they haven¡¯t loaded the warhead into the missile yet,¡± Rikyu said while wagging his finger at TOm9oyo. ¡°Then we can just launch on our own and head towards Shizuha¡¯s ship.¡±


    ¡°But what about¡­¡± Tomoyo said, frowning. ¡°This idea is really crazy. And you might inadvertently cause World War III, Rikyu. What if the missile lands on the US?¡±


    ¡°Improvisation,¡± Rikyu said with a dismissive hand wave. ¡°Everyone will be watching us, and North Korea just announced that it''s doing a test missile, right? People will wonder why the vessel is going to space instead, and North Korea will probably bullshit something about finishing their space programming. It¡¯s not implausible. Also the missile on the way down, fi ti takes us some time to board the ship and rescue Shizuha and then descend, I¡¯ve got my men prepared in case if the missile falls down onto Japan or something of the like. Just trust me, I¡¯ve planned this all out. A piece of cake.¡±


    ¡°How crazy prepared are you?¡± Tomoyo said before Rikyu grinned.


    ¡°YOu¡¯ll be surprised at how many things that I think through. Well, if there are no other questions, then I say that we get started. Shall we do it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Kazuo said, putting his hand over RIkyu¡¯s before Tomoyo reluctantly put her hand over theirs and sighed.


    ¡°I think something¡¯s going to go very wrong. But hey, I might as well join in to protect my precious people. So I¡¯m in.¡±


    ¡ªx¡ª


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to get this boy through,¡± Kazuo said through his surgeon¡¯s mask to the North Korean personnel. ¡°He got caught on a landmine, and he¡¯s been blown up pretty horribly. Out of shape. This is an emergency you need to let us through.¡±


    Tomoyo stood and looked grim, while Rikyu was on the gurney looking pathetic and blown up. The soldier checked their IDs, the fake licenses that Rikyu provided for them, and decided that they were legit.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°Go on ahead,¡± the soldier said gruffly, while Rikyu, Kazuo, and Tomoyo entered into the facility with no problem. However, that was the easy part. The hard part was calculating everything that would happen from there. Because even though they entered inside the facility, Rikyu still needed to hijack the ICBM itself and then calculate the trajectory to space, avoiding an all-out war with the major countries in the world, and hoping that North Korea will cover its ass convincingly after stating they were doing a test launch. There were many variables at work where, and Rikyu was working on improvisation and things on the fly. He was good at thinking of things on the fly, and he knew that sometimes plans didn¡¯t go all according to plan. Though it seemed rather convenient that they were let in, though he supposed that the emergency situation seemed too dire to pass up. After all, who could stand to see a wounded child?


    ¡°All right,¡± Rikyu said when they entered inside and discarded their disguises. ¡°We¡¯re in. But getting to the ICBM itself. They haven¡¯t started the launch yet. So that means the warhead might not be deployed yet. But if we do it right at the moment, something will intercept us while we¡¯re on our journey to space.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking of the US or some major country, right?¡± Tomoyo said while Rikyu nodded.


    ¡°Of course, the moment of confusion might be what provides us with an opportunity when they see us flying into space instead of a direct course to America. Though of course, we will have to worry about the missile landing down and how long it stays in space. Because of the earth¡¯s rotation, there¡¯s a possibility if it stays too long in space and because of the orbit and space, it will interfere with movement and it¡¯s like pissing in the wind and it will slowly descend back down towards North Korea¡­but more likely Russia or China because of more landmass. Or, because of the earth¡¯s rotation, it might even land on Japan.¡±


    ¡°You provided countermeasures for that, right, Kyu-chan?¡± Kazuo whispered before Rikyu whispered back.


    ¡°Go with the flow, Kazuo. Now take out the guards that are intercepting our path with nonlethal means and as quickly and quietly as possible, please.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Kazuo said, as he then snuck ahead and took out enemy soldiers left and right. So far, everything went smoothly, a little too smoothly for his tastes, though they were gonna make their way to the missile. All they needed was to stuff themselves where the warhead should be and put on their astronaut suits while here. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, right?


    While they were suiting up, Rikyu calculated the trajectory and coordinates and said, ¡°This is gonna be a bumpy ride. But everything should be going according to calculations.¡±


    Kazuo and Tomoyo crammed themselves together with Rikyu like a can or sardines. It was a good thing that Rikyu was small and tiny and weigh 70 pounds soaking wet; otherwise, all of them might¡¯ve not been able to fit at all.


    ¡°Ready¡­launch,¡± Rikyu said grinning as the portal opened and launched them into the air. At least they didn¡¯t have to get rid of the nuclear warhead, but they probably had to worry about intercepting missiles along the way. Rikyu just hoped that Shirou would take care of business on that side.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    Shirou let out a sigh. Why did everything have to fall upon him? Sure he was RIkyu¡¯s legal guardian as of now, but sometimes he considered quitting. Why did he decide to take on such a troublesome kid? If only Rikyu were like ordinary kids, who simply drank their chocolate milk quietly and read a book or probably stayed glued to their video games or something. Usually, that would entertain most children, though Rikyu wasn¡¯t like other children, and he always came up with grandiose plans to outdo himself from last time. This time, Rikyu is hijacking a missile, and Shirou needed to make a call to the United States president to reassure him to observe and not intercept the missile making its way above the Pacific Ocean.


    Seriously. Why did Rikyu have to use his big juicy brain for affairs such as this? This was wrong, and Shirou allowed it. Shirou was the only one that Rikyu would listen to, of course, out of the adults that he stayed with and couldn¡¯t keep him because of his troublesome personality. He remembered considering taking Rikyu on when he caused explosions and other havoc with his scientific experiments while his foster parents watched in despair and horror that their child¡¯s mean of entertainment was dangerous experiments and building nanomachines and doing risk taking things at a young age. Shirou wanted to help this poor child, he really did. He thought that he could tame the insatiable spirit and knowledge of the young boy by giving him a proper childhood.


    But instead, the boy became a Captain of the military with himself as the representative while Rikyu was away doing shit. Why did this always fall upon him? Shirou must¡¯ve been a good parent, or he thought he was. Where did he go wrong in his child rearing? How did all the others fail before him, and Rikyu only accepted him as his guardian? He didn¡¯t know. The things that you do for love for your child.


    ¡°Mr. President Ronald Rump?¡± Shirou said, before correcting himself. ¡° Imean, Ronald Moore. I have important business to discuss with you today.¡±


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± the US President said, throwing his fist down on a table. ¡°North Korea announced a test launch in the Pacific Ocean. Why shouldn¡¯t I meet them with fire and fury, as promised?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to do that, Mr. President,¡± Shirou said while tapping his finger against his cheek and gazing out the window while he observed a screen where the missile was launching on a live stream. ¡°You don¡¯t want to cause World War III, do you?¡±


    ¡°Ridiculous! We need to rain down justice upon them!¡± the President said before Shirou said.


    ¡°Money talks, Mr. President. If I gave you 2 billion dollars to cover up this incident, will you let the missile go free? I¡¯m sure that my young charge has thought of a way and countermeasures to make sure the landing of the missile goes smoothly. It¡¯s not a problem for him.¡±


    ¡°Since when did North Korea have a nuke like that?¡± the President roared into the phone. ¡°We need to show ¡®em that America¡¯s got the big guns here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in a precarious state right now, Mr. President,¡± Shirou said. ¡° I reassure you that the missile won¡¯t land in America; it¡¯s going to space.¡±


    ¡°Missile? Space? What nonsense is this.¡±


    ¡°North Korea said that they¡¯re launching something for their space program,¡± Shirou said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    ¡°Mister,¡± the President said. ¡°Are you hiding something from the United States?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been open and frank with you before, haven¡¯t we?¡± Shirou said. ¡°Let¡¯s have an ongoing dialogue, from the Japanese to the United States of America. How does that sound.¡±


    ¡°Are you aligning yourselves with North Korea?¡± the President said with barely contained anger.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry,¡± Shirou said. ¡°Just watch silently on the live stream and you¡¯ll see something more amazing than the ICBM that North Korea launched.¡±


    ¡°And what would that be?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll soon see. Just wait and watch closely.¡±


    ¡ªx¡ª


    Rikyu triangulated the coordinates on the missile, as they made their ascent through the atmosphere. The missile was slowing down considerably because of the atmosphere, but at least they would make their way into space. The problem was the getaway. Assuming that everything went according to plan, they could rescue her from the ship and make sure that she went down to Earth safely. But there would be unforeseen consequences, and they would have to prepare for it.


    Still, they were already in space. And if Rikyu did this correctly, they should be landing soon directly at the spaceship. He trusted his sister Shizuha. She knew what he was thinking and would be planning. She probably made some awesome preparations beforehand as well. That was just like her. He admired his elder sister for that. She certainly had a brain like him. Of course, that was to be expected; they are brother and sister, after all.


    While the entire wolrd watched teh sepctacle from their phones and computers and televisions, Rikyu was riding up into space to rescue his sister. He would save her, then he would expose the man behind his and his sister¡¯s misery. He will be a wanted criminal in several countries where he would be executed or imprisoned for life; there was no saving the sins of that man. But first, he needed to make the space launch safely.


    The missile started to slow as it entered the atmosphere.. Though if Rikyu calculated it correctly, it should land at the ship. It might not cause enough damage to deactivate the stealth reactors, though Rikyu just needed a few moments to dress up Shizuha in a kid sized astronaut suit then go back to Earth while makng sure the missile itself doesn¡¯t land on anyone on their descent. As Kazuo would say, easy peasy lemon squeezy, right?


    When Rikyu crashed into the ship the missile¡¯s GPS, he grinned. IT was show time.

 Chapter 11

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    Shizuha hid I a small compartment of the ship. She knew that her master would wake up and be furious with her. When she heard the missile crash into the spaceship, she knew that Rikyu had arrived. Now she had to do her part. Evade and escape the master while taking control of the ship¡¯s Mother brain to keep Rikyu and the others safe. She squeezed in the cramped spot of a hidden hollow in the ship, breathing steadily and hoping that the man won¡¯t catch her. If he caught her, then there was no hope of escape for her. Or if he captured Rikyu and killed him, or the others, then there would be no reason for her to live. She would simply be a slave to this man who only used her brain to develop weapons and technology that suited him, instead of the benefit for humanity.


    But Shizuha would not give up hope. She could still escape. She could be granted freedom. Her brother has come to rescue her. Tears started to prick her eyes. Rikyu really would move the sun and moon, the entire universe, for her. He could do it, she was sure. In all actuality, Rikyu was never the inferior one; she was the inferior one. She knew that she was blessed with a better standing than he was, that she didn¡¯t have to work as hard as he did, and she became compliant. But Rikyu¡­he worked hard to become what he was today, and she admired him for his work ethic. It wasn¡¯t his genius and accomplishments that drew her to him, but his kind heart and sense of humanity and fairness.


    She hoped that her brother could disable the man on the ship while rescuing her and her men.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    They boarded the ship. Kazuo took out men left and right, to give them easier access to the ship. But they had a time limit. They had to make sure that the man that held Shizuha captured wouldn¡¯t launch into space into an escape pod, or else they would have no one to confess to their crimes about the huge conspiracy that involved RIkyu and his sister and enslaving children to him.


    Kazuo needed to do this for Kyu-chan and Shizu-chan. He loved them both like his own siblings when he was little, and he would protect them now. He always hoped that the two would be reunited together again, and ti was thanks to Tomoyo that this was possible. If it weren¡¯t for Tomoyo¡¯s interference and good will to help other people out, maybe Rikyu and Shizuha would¡¯ve never reconciled. Or maybe Rikyu would¡¯ve help onto his unhealthy grudge and inferiority complex, and it was because of Tomoyo that he was able to overcome these and decide that his sister and himself should work together instead of fighting one another.


    When they entered the main control room, they heard a scream.


    Shizuha.


    Shit, Kazuo thought to himself, and Rikyu charged down a corridor where he heard the scream coming from, though Kazuo held him back.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let him get you too. Stay back; Tomoyo can at least defend herself with her shinai.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely defenseless,¡± Rikyu said as he held a gun in his hands. The man shouldn¡¯t be able to defeat me with this.¡±


    ¡°You know how to handle guns?¡± Tomoyo said with surprise. ¡°You¡¯re full of surprises, aren¡¯t you, Rikyu? I thought you said that you couldn''t use guns>¡±


    ¡°That was a little white lie,¡± Rikyu admitted. ¡°True, I said that I don¡¯t have the marksmanship skills of Kazuo. But I do know how to handle a gun if I calculate trajectories and ranges and terrain and other factors. I can do this all in an instant in my head, you see. But Kazuo does it as a natural. It¡¯s something that you can learn too, Tomoyo.¡±


    Tomoyo grinned. Let¡¯s go together, then.¡±


    ¡°Right, Rikyu said, as they charged down the hallway and into the room where the found a blond haired male grabbing Shizuha by her long black ponytail.


    ¡°So we meet at last,¡± the man said. ¡°But unfortunately, you¡¯re too late. I¡¯m holding this entire ship hostage. I¡¯m going t to set up a self-destruct sequence and there¡¯s nothing that you can do about it.¡±


    Everyone froze. No one dared to move a muscle. Kazuo knew that the bastard was trapped like a cornered fox, Shizuha stood limply by the male¡¯s side, who¡¯s eye ticked in rage. He obviously tho9ught he wouldn¡¯t be bested, though as the last desperado move, he would blow up the ship. Every Rikyu seemed at lost. He probably didn¡¯t factor in the man¡¯s crazy emotions and his endless greed and need to win that would lead to getting them all killed. Kazuo suspected that this man might be like this, though he didn¡¯t want to stop Rikyu from trying to save his sister because nothing, neither Heaven or Hell, will stop Rikyu from getting what he wants. But was this entire situation Kazuo¡¯s fault? Maybe they should¡¯ve waited, maybe they should¡¯ve¡­


    Well, there was always improvisation. He was sure that Tomoyo would be there to help. The man hadn¡¯t yet seen Tomoyo enter the ship, as she was seemed to run off to do her own thing. What was going on? But then, Kazuo thought that it was a lucky stroke that Tomoyo was separated from them and could no doubt get them out of this pickle.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    In the meantime, Tomoyo heard a voice in her head. It was a faint whisper, though she was sure that voice was Shizuha. Was this another remanent of the great power that she held within herself? She didn¡¯t know. But if it could save them all in this situation and punish the bad guy, then Tomoyo was up for it. It seemed like a daring plan, but Shizuha, even though she was captured by the bastard that tortured her and treated her like trash, was still gaining agency in the entire scenario by contacting her through her mind.


    How this happened, she wasn''t sure. But she felt a gentle nudge in her mind and now she was on a separate mission from the rest to break down the control that the male had on the ship by contacting the true brain deep in the ship to take control once more.


    Tomoyo, Shizuha whispered inside her head. I¡¯m so glad that I get to meet you. While this man thinks that he has me in a cornered situation, you will stop the self-destruction of the ship by taking control of the mother brain and overriding his chip in the computer with your will.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    What exactly is this power? Tomoyo questioned inside her mind while Shizuha gave her directions to a secret key that Shizuha stored somewhere in the ship while avoiding guards that were unwillingly patrolling for the male.


    Telepathy, Shizuha said. It¡¯s what we Gifted possess to communicate with one another, because once upon a time, there was a time when the Overmind didn¡¯t have a physical body to communicate and gathered otherworldly knowledge by extending his consciousness throughout the universe. The fact that this is possible is amazing, and our last resort. However, be careful¡­the longer that we spend in one another¡¯s heads, the more that we will lose our sense of selves.


    All right, Tomoyo said, as she entered the room by overwriting the code that led into the secret office that Shizuha described. I¡¯m in. So what¡¯s the combination for the lock?


    I¡¯ll give you the combination, Shizuha said. But I think that he¡¯s starting to catch on. He will look for you.


    No problem Tomoyo thought, as she carefully listened to the tumblers in the lock and finally clicked it open. Success! However, she took her time to browse the contents of the safe and wondered which one was the right key. Could it be this one? Perhaps it was. It looked like the key to the super secret location in the ship that Shizuha saved. But what was this? A picture o fRikyu and Shizuha together? She could definitely see the family reference. Rikyu was actually smiling in that picture. He looked beautiful when he smiled like that. But what was it that took away his smile and his good-naturedness? Why¡¯d he have t grow up so fast? Why¡¯d THEY have to grow up so fast? Tomoyo didn¡¯t know.


    Tomoyo then ran straight towards the control room that Shizuha secretly told her about. She got into the chair that held the Mother''s brain, and Tomoyo simply submitted herself to Shizuha¡¯s will as the ship stopped its countdown into self-destruction.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    The male must¡¯ve realized what was happening, as he let out a snarl of rage and stalked towards the fallen form of Shizuha.


    ¡°You little bitch!¡± he snarled. ¡°What¡¯d you do?¡±


    Before the male could land a hand on his sister, RIkyu shot at the male¡¯s hand, effectively disarming him while Kazuo shot towards the blond haired male in a flash and started to strangle him.


    ¡°We¡¯re not gonna let you get away!¡± Kazuo said, and the male chuckled before he punched Kazuo away and overpowered him.


    ¡°You may have stopped the ship¡¯s self-destructive sequence, but I can at least take one of you with me!¡±


    With that, the man rushed towards Shizuha to strangle her, though Kazuo intervened by body blocking the man. He huddled his body over Shizuha and held her in a hug while Rikyu aimed his gun at the madman. The male battered blows against Kazuo, punching and kicking him, and Rikyu fired a warning shot at the man before him, trembling.


    The male stopped his ministrations before saying to Rikyu, ¡°How cute. A little tyke with a gun. Does ikkle Rikyu-kins know that playing with guns is dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Rikyu said with gritted teeth. ¡°Next time I¡¯ll shoot you for real.¡±


    The man smirked.


    ¡°You can¡¯t shoot me. I know that you can¡¯t. It¡¯s not programmed into you to take a life.¡±


    ¡°Try me.¡±


    While the male was distracted, Kazuo let go of Shizuha¡¯s limp body and tackled the man before him. He pinned the elder man down on the ground with a snarl on his face.


    ¡°If Rikyu can¡¯t kill you, then I will,¡± Kazuo said with a snarl, and the madman laughed right at his face.


    ¡°Even if you kill me, there are others like me¡­you know the saying that if you cut off the head of a hydra, it splits into two? You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re messing with, boy. This is only the beginning.¡±


    Kazuo aimed his pistol at the man¡¯s head and pulled the trigger. Rikyu turned away from the sight, and he still trembled as his hands dropped his own gun on the floor, still trembling. Kazuo went towards Rikyu to pat the ki on the head before he went to Shizuha¡¯s fallen form. When he picked Shizuha up, Shizuha¡¯s head lifted and the voice that came through was not her own, but Tomoyo¡¯s


    ¡°Are you boys safe? I¡¯m in control of the Mothership right now. Shizuha helped guide me and I stopped the detonation sequence with the mother brain. Did you get the guy?¡±


    Kazuo nodded. ¡°We did, but Rikyu is a bit shaken.¡±


    ¡°Poor thing,¡± Tomoyo said softly through Shizuha¡¯s mouth before she said. ¡°Well, I suppose the existence of technology that exists beyond this world is now out in the open.¡±


    ¡°That is true,¡± Kazuo said while eyeing Rikyu. ¡°Though I¡¯m guessing that Rikyu¡¯s goal is to expose the organization responsible for using these weapons of destruction for their own selfish purposes and have justice enacted upon him.¡±


    ¡°Is Rikyu into heroes of justice?¡± Tomoyo asked.


    ¡°He always watches those Saturday morning cartoons,¡± Kazuo said with a smile. ¡°Along with a carton of chocolate milk. His favorite.¡±


    ¡°There, now he sounds more like a little kid,¡± Tomoyo said, before looking serious. ¡°Come find me, Kazuo. I¡¯ll guide you there with Shizuha.¡±


    Kazuo picked up Shizuha carefully, and one of the crewman working n the ship thanked Kazuo profusely.


    ¡°You are our heroes,¡± the male said to Kazuo. ¡°That man was holding us, hostage..,.threatened to kill our Captin if we did n¡¯t comply with him. That¡¯s why he got hold of the ship, see, that Shizuha constructed.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Kazuo said with a nod before Rikyu started to stir.


    ¡°Kazuo¡­¡± Rikyu said, the shakiness out of his voice now. ¡°You really killed him.¡±


    Kazuo nodded.


    ¡°I stained my hand so that you didn¡¯t have to, Kyu-chan,¡± Kazuo said before he departed to find Tomoyo.


    ¡ªx¡ª


    ¡°Tomoyo,¡± Kazuo said when he shook her awake from the mastermind control chair that had a helmet fitted over her head. ¡°You¡¯re safe now. Everyone is saved¡­thanks t you.¡±


    Tomoyo blinked, before staring dazedly at the lights above and Kazuo¡¯s face hovering worriedly above her. Was she dreaming? What was going on?


    ¡°What¡­happened, Kazuo?¡±


    ¡°It looks like you and Shizu-chan helped save the day, that¡¯s what,¡± Kazuo said with a grin towards her. ¡°You helped us out a lot. We killed the guy that was trying to get Shizuha.¡±


    Tomoyo frowned before she hugged Shizuha close to her body. ¡°She looks so much like Rikyu¡­Well¡­I¡¯m glad that everyone¡¯s safe, but¡­you guys did all these crazy things to save the life of a little girl. I would scold you for doing these things and breaking protocol and rules, but you did save the life of Shizu-chan. So I suppose that scolding will have to wait for another day¡­or I could turn a blind eye towards your actions.¡±


    ¡°Still strict as ever, huh, Class Prez? ¡°Kazuo said with a wink before Tomoyo and Shizuha laughed together.


    ¡°I was afraid for you all¡­you know?¡± Tomoyo said as she got up from the seat and Kazuo held her in his arms bridal style while Shizuha was lax in Tomoyo¡¯s arms. She really was sleeping, wasn¡¯t she? She was so tired herself. But Shizuha deserved a nice long rest for her actions today. In fact, Tomoyo wasn¡¯t sure it was really her actions that saved the day. IT was Shizuha¡¯s ideas, after all, she was just the vessel for acting through Shizuha¡¯s will.


    Tomoyo¡¯s brow furrowed.


    Another thing that worried her was the fact that Shizuha was now a part of Tomoyo now¡­and Tomoyo now a part of Shizuha. She peered into Shizuha¡¯s memories, and she was sure that Shizuha saw her memories as well. They were bonded as one, and Tomoyo understood Shizuha on a far deeper level more intimate than anything she¡¯s ever known at all. It was the union of two souls.


    Tomoyo thought of her own lost childhood and she cried.


    Kazuo looked startled.


    ¡°Tomoyo¡­¡±


    ¡°I just¡­wish I could do so much more for Rikyu and Shizuha,¡± Tomoyo said as she wiped her tears angrily. I understand the pain of a lost childhood. But if we ever make it out of this; if shit doesn¡¯t hit the fan¡­then I¡¯m hoping that we could raise Shizuha and Rikyu together.¡±


    ¡°You do know that Shirou is Rikyu¡¯s legal guardian, right?¡± Kazuo said with a grin before Tomoyo stuck out her tongue at him.


    ¡°After all we¡¯ve been through together¡­¡± Tomoyo said. ¡°I wanted to thank you properly, Kazuo.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Kazuo said before Tomoyo captured his lips within her own. His eyes widened before he melted into the kiss and returned the favor with sweetness and passion. When they parted away, both were left gasping.

 Chapter 12

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    (let¡¯s. make. reality. fictitious.)


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    Kazuo remembered a cold wintry day with whitep owdered snow frosting the buildings in TOkyo like sugar frosting. So sweet and delectabl like homemade Christmas cookies that his mother made.She always insisted on Christmas tradition, beacuse it was the only time of the year that they would meet Kazuo¡¯s father. He always made sure to come back home for Christmas, no matter what. Despite waiting by the door, hping beyond hope that his father would be there to sit him upon his knee and tell him stories about what it was like overseas.


    ¡°One day,¡± Kazuo declared. ¡°I will be like father. A hero.¡±


    ¡°Your head is still stuffed with sounen manga, isn¡¯t it, Kazu-kun?¡± his mother said delightedly, a black haired Japanese beauty named Erika. ¡°You alwyas liked your heroes of justice, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°One day I¡¯m going to join an organization that will beat up the bad guys and be the heroes of justice,¡± Kazuo said while pumping his fist up in the air enthusiastically. ¡°Yes! I will be a great hero just like Father!¡±


    ¡°You look just like your father, Kazuo-kun,¡± his mother said with a luagh, before she finished baking the Christmas turkey. ¡°Be a good boy and go to the playground while I prepare dinner.¡±


    ¡°Will do!¡± Kazuo said cheerfully, before leaping from the couch into a flip.


    His mother laughed.


    ¡°Trying to practice parkour like your father?¡± she asked, while Kazuo grinned sheepishly.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m nowhere as good as him,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°But one day I will b eawesome and do all kinds of hardcore stuff. I¡¯ll go practice on the playground.¡±


    ¡°Be sure to come hom at six!¡± his mother called while Kazuo made his way out th edoor and into the playground where he usually went. THe reaon why he went to that playground, however, was not just because of practciing parkour. In fact, he was practricing parkour because he wanted to impress a girl that he liked. She had long, silky black hair that draped past her knees, and she had beautiful violet eyes that were arresting.


    Kazuo swooned every time he saw her. He loved her silken black hair. It was as black a raven¡¯s wing, or just as ebony as the deepest darkest part of the night where the lulls of sleep overcame you. She would come to the park everyday at 3:00, swinging on the swingset by herself. No one seemed to befriend her at the park, and Kazuo would sometimes wordlessly sit at the swing next to her while they puhed themselves in a rocking back and forth motion on the swing, just sharing companiable silence with one another. Kazuo got used to this ritual of going to the park and swinging at the swingset while the girl with inky black hair was sitting by herself on the swingset.


    Kazuo ran as fast as he could. Sure enough, the girl was there are the swingset. They haven¡¯t spoken to one another yet, though Kazuo thought if he just spent time with her at the park, that was enough. Or maybe she would one dy rewardhim by talking to him. Today might be the dy that she did so.


    Kazuo sat in his usual spot, and the girl with black ahir and vilolet eyes turned to glance at him. His heart raced. Then she turned to look on ahead, staring into the distance.


    Kazuo decided he¡¯d make the first move. It seemed like they were alwys at astandstill like this,neither one talkng to the other. And Kazuo wanted to chase away the silence.


    ¡°Do you wanna come over for Christmas dinner?¡± Kazuo offered with a bright smile.


    The girl looked startled, before she flushed. So she wasn¡¯t so stoic after alll, was she?


    ¡°What makes you think that I want to celebrate Christmas?¡±¡± the girl said in a haughty tone, and Kazuo laughed.


    ¡°You¡¯re talking to me, that¡¯s good,¡± Kazuo said with an easygioing laugh, before he said. ¡°Well¡­there¡¯s a spot available if you want. The Christmas turkey isn¡¯t gonna finish itself you know?¡±


    The girl huffed, though she flushed when her stomach grumbled. ¡°You just invite strange girls to your place, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Well, I consider us friends,¡± Kazuo said, to whcih the girl looked startled.


    ¡°Are we relly?¡± th egirl said, with her eyes widened.


    ¡°Yeah, why do you think that I sit on the swingset with you all this time?¡± Kazuo said with a grin. ¡°You looked lonesome by yourself.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a loner too, aren¡¯t you?¡± The girl said cautiously.


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me, but us loners ought to stick together, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± the girl said with a huff. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to pity me or anything like that. Maybe I like being by myself becaues everyone else is stupid.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Kauo said. ¡°You gotta live with them, even if they¡¯re not as smart as you, you know?¡±


    The girl sighed. ¡°I know. I wish that¡­ Iwere just a normal girl. No one wants to be my friend because I understnad things that they don¡¯t. I understand that my parents are going to get a divorce, because they don¡¯t love each other anymore. They¡¯re too stuck in their arguments to take care of me, so I might as well take care of myself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Kazuo,¡± Kazuo said, holding out a hand to shake. ¡°Yours?¡±


    The girl looked hesitant, before she reached a hand out and clasped his hand. ¡°Tomoyo.¡±


    ¡°Tomoyo,¡± Kazuo said, tasting her name on his tongue¡­


    ¡ªx¡ª


    Kazuo woke up, startled. He was having that dream again, wan¡¯t he? He put a hand to his head and shook it slightly. It was a pleasant memory, though there were important things t oe done. And ti¡¯s possible that he overslept. Rikyu might chew his ass out for that one. Kazuo swiftly got dressed and headed out towards where the others were¡ªRikyu, Shizuha, and Tomoyo. They were all enjoying breakfast, it seemed; and he was late for the gathering.


    Rikyu had a little carton of chocolate milk, as did Shizuha. Sheesh, they were such little kids. Kids with super smart brains, but kids, nonetheless.


    ¡°Kazuo,¡± Tomoyo said while patting an empty seat next to her. ¡°Sit.¡±


    Kazuo grinned. ¡°I¡¯m not your dog, Prez.¡±


    ¡°Oh shush,¡± Tomoyo said while shaking her head. ¡°Just come nad have breakfast. It¡¯s really good.¡±


    ¡°We get a wholesome breakfast!¡± Rikyu said happily as he began digging into his waffles and syrup and eggs. ¡°The last thing I ate was a military rations, and those don¡¯t come for kids.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°You did all this, Tomoyo?¡± Kazuo said, looking impressed.


    Tomoyo flushed.


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°So what¡¯s our plan today, Mister and Missus Captain?¡± Kazuo said with a grin.


    ¡°We need to ensure the protection of Miss Tomoyo,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°She became regarded in a national incidetn and has been put into high profile. We¡¯re doing best to keep her anonymous though people are starting to talk. They saw something like out of a sci fi movie orbiting above Earth, and many organizations want to get their hands on that ship. We have it pakrked here in Japan, though I¡¯m sure it¡¯s the talk of the news right now. Along with the ICBM incdient.¡±


    ¡°And whose ide was that, I wonder?¡± Tomoyo said with a frown, and Rikyu laughed.


    ¡°Hey, we get the job done, with style,¡± Rikyu said with a grin. ¡°But in all seriousness, Shirou is taknig care of everything as we speak.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s an efficient man, sin¡¯t he?¡± Shizuha said with a smile, and Rikyu noded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Kazuo agreed. ¡°You know, you can be taken underneath Shirou¡¯s legal guardianship as well, Shizuha. After all, siblings hsould be together, right?¡±


    Shizuha nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged the paperwork and everything and got Shirou and Rikyu vouching for me.¡±


    ¡°Very good, very good,¡± Tomoyo said, before she clasped her hands together and her brow fuurrowed in concentration. Kazuo wondered what was up wit hehr. Though he supposed she might be worried aabout the incidents that took plae niteh world. She really was getting involved in all sorts of antics, wasn¡¯t she? Tholugh she really pulled thorugh for all of them, and Kazuo never felt so proud of her. She weas a strong woman, that was sure, nd thinking of Tomoyo made him want to improve himself too. Kazuo was mostly present midned and thought aobut the pleasures in the now, though Tomoyo made him start thinking about his future. He needed to be serious and think of how everything was ging to play out, wih himself, Tomoyo, Rikyu, and shizuha. They just went thorugh an earth shattering events, and now they would have to live with this to their names.


    Thaknfully a war was avoided thanks to Shirou¡¯s negotation skills, though Kazuo wasn¡¯t so sure that they could rest easy yet. It was intuition, but he knew that the guy they encountered before said there were more liek him, lingering in the shadows an recesses of teh world like cockroaches. They gathered in the shdows an trenches of the underworld, but they scatterd when you put the light shining on them.


    But how to find them? That¡¯s their top priority. Find the lab guys that enslaved Shziuha and were planning on eliminating Rikyu. He couldn¡¯t allow his adorable Kyu-chan to perish by anyone¡¯s hands.


    ¡°You seem deep in thought, Kazuo-san,¡± Shizuha said as she munched on a waffle, chewing thoughtfully.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Kazuo said whie quriking a brow at the young girl prodigy. ¡°Just thinking about what to do next, really. THis breakfast is really good, where¡¯d you learn how to cook, Tomoyo?¡±


    ¡°I had to,¡± Tomoyo said as she flushed. ¡°I was living on my own, s oI had to learn how to cook.¡±


    ¡°Compliments to the chef!¡± Rikyu said as he took a sip of his chocolate milk and then took a syrup drowned waffle into his mouth. He then jumped up onto the table and pumped a fist in the air. ¡°I feel like I can do anything after I ingest a sugary breakfast of cinnamon roll bread and waffles and syrup! Woo! Who else is pumped up?¡±


    Tomoyo quirked a brow. ¡°Rikyu?¡±


    Rikyu started to strum an imaginary air guitar, and Shirou sternlly told Rikyu. ¡°Sit, Rikyu. Don¡¯t get up on the table, that¡¯s inappropriate.¡±


    ¡°Come on,¡± Rikyu said with a whining edge to his tone. ¡°Grown-ups are no fun. They always tell you what is proper and what is not, and you can¡¯t do this and you can¡¯t do that. Well guess what, I am the Captain!¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m your father,¡± Shirou said as he lifted Rikyu and settled him down in his seat. ¡°Don¡¯t make me strap you in this chair or take away your waffles.¡±


    Rikyu pouted. ¡°And take away this blessed opportunity for sugar? You¡¯re the absolute worst!¡±


    Kazuo whispered in Tomoyo¡¯s ers. ¡°Rikyu gets incredibly hyper when he eats sugar of any kind. That¡¯s why he¡¯s not allowed to have any, usually.¡±


    Tomoyo frownded.


    ¡°Did Papa Shirou give Rikyu sugar before the ICBM launch or did Rikyu haev a hidden stash somewhere?¡±


    Kazuo laughed.


    ¡°Sugar helps him think, but he gets so muc henergy that he¡¯s hard to handle at times. Shizuha thankfully doen¡¯t have that problem¡­or latl east I hope not. Having two hyperactive child prodigies would drive us all insane.¡±


    ¡°Rikky always loved his sugar,¡± Shizuha said fondly. ¡°He claims not to like them, but when he indulges himself every once ni a while, he gets like this, you see.¡±


    ¡°Myabe I should force feed him more sugar,¡± Tomoyo said with a wicked grin. ¡°I will make him super addicted to my whipped cream and syrup waffle combo. Maybe I can spoonfeed him too.¡±


    ¡°I will never degrade myself that way!¡± Rikyu said, but he giggled as he took another sip of his chocolate milk. ¡°But these waffles and cinnamon rolls drowned in butter are super good. That¡¯s it! I¡¯m making Tomoyo part of the team for morale adn cooking!¡±


    Tomoyo quirked a brow. ¡°You think I help improve morale.¡±


    ¡°Sure, you can be like our mascot,¡± Rikyu said while wving his hand and Shirou forcibly restrained him into the seat as rRikyu wiggled and squirmed.


    ¡°He¡¯s a normal kid after all,¡± Tomoyo said with a fond smile,and Kazuo took her hand underneath the table. Tomoyo flushed prettily, before she turned away. ¡°Um, well, you guys need someting to eat rather than military rations! Isn¡¯t that more appealing?¡±


    ¡°THe rations are pretty good though,¡± Rikyu said. ¡°But your cooking is even better, Miss Tomoyo.¡±


    ¡°He outright complimented me,¡± Tomoyo said while putting a hand over her chest. ¡°I feel so special.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it,¡¯ Rikyu said as he wriggled in his seat. Shirou still kept him restrained. ¡°Though we seriously need to figure out what to do with the spaceship. I¡¯m glad that Shirou negotiated that it belongs to Japan, though if people knew about the people who created that spaceship¡­there¡¯d be an uproar.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there already an upraor though? Of your making?¡± Tomoyo said while raising a brow, and Rikyu handwaved it aside.


    ¡°Well, it makes things more fun this way,¡± Rikyu said, before he finished his plate of waffles and belched. Shizuha giggled.


    ¡°You¡¯re so gross, Otouto.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Rikyu said, and he stopped squirming in his seat and looked serious. ¡°Now is not the time to celebtrate though. We must be ever vigilant and looking out for Tokyo¡¯s best interests. There might be more of those lowlives out there, and we¡¯re gonna decimate them all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not something a cute little child should say over a breakfast of waffles and cinnamon rolls and bacon,¡± Tomoyo murmured, pouting a little ¡°Rikyu, couldn¡¯t you act like a little kid just a little bit longer?¡±


    ¡°I thought you called me an insufferable brat before. Not kid enough for you?¡±


    ¡°When you¡¯re like this, you¡¯re¡­how shal lI say it? Kind of adorable. Shizu-chan too.¡±


    Shizuha giggled. ¡°Onee-chan, you¡¯re too kind.¡±


    ¡°This is Rikyu¡¯s true side,¡± Kazuo said with a smile. ¡°He acts super serious, but really, he¡¯s a kid at heart. Look at ikkle Kyu-chan.¡±


    Shizuha finished her mel, and she delicately burped behind her hand. ¡°That was delicious, Tomoyo-san. I enjoyed myself quite thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°See, Shizuha has better manners than you,¡± Shirou said with a frown to Rikyu. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you be more like her, Young Master?¡±


    ¡°You were the one who voluntarily handled to have me as your kid,¡± Rikyu said while sticking his tongue out at Shirou. ¡°When did you become so stuffy and boring?¡±


    ¡°Rikyu, the last thing I want is to be lectured by my own kid. Now. Sit. Stay. Roll over and give up.¡±


    ¡°When you tell me to give it up, that makes me want to do it even more!¡± Rikyu said. ¡°You will never tel lme to give up something! I will pursue it relentleslsy and prove your wrong! I can do anyting!¡±


    ¡°IT¡¯s good to have self confidence,¡± Kazuo said. ¡°But osmetimes, Kyu-chan, I am afraid of your capabiities. I mean you managed to redirect an ICBM into space and got us down safely to Earth in a spaceship. What other crazy shenanigans ar you going to pull?¡±


    Rikyu grinned.


    ¡°Who knows? But right now, I¡¯m just content with serving this military force and playing heroes of justice with my friends!¡±


    ¡°Well, now that we¡¯ve got everything out of the way,¡± Tomoyo said s she cleared her throat. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that we dont encounter more bad guys. I don¡¯t know about you, but our education is important.¡±


    ¡°Why do you go to school if you already find the material exeedingly easy, Tomoyo-san?¡± Rikyu asked curiously.


    Tomoyo fingered teh edges of her skirt nervously. ¡°Well. To make friends, of course. I just don¡¯t do well making friends though, but like¡­and I suppose that I want to share this knolwedge with other people and make them perform better. It¡¯s one step cloesr to changing the world into something perfect, I think.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a perfect world,¡± Rikyu muttered. ¡°It¡¯s an impossible ideal that will only drive you into insanity.¡±


    Tomoyo flushed.


    ¡°I know, but¡­ought we at least try? To make the world perfect for everyone, to make sure that everyone has a right to live with freedom and is provided with everything that they need. And¡­we should rescue all of the people. Not just one, not just a few, but all of them. You see?¡±


    ¡°But saving everyone is practically impossible,¡± Rikyu said, though his tone was somewhat amirable toward Tomoyo when she spoke of those ideals. ¡°I once had those ideals, too.¡±


    Tomoyo frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a naive ideal to strive for. As long as we have this knolwedg eand power, we can reform the world into something better.¡±


    Rikyu chuckled a bit. ¡°Well, in either case, you¡¯ve inspired the purpose of this military organization. So, thank you, Tomoyo.¡±