[Friday| August 31, 2012| 6:00 AM]
[Eyes of Zetsumu Tenha]
Early morning, the ringing of my alarm wakes me up from my undisturbed sleep. "So I finally managed to regain the hours of sleep I lost. But damn. I didn't think I have to go as far as taking sedatives to get me sleeping. Doesn't matter though. Time to get up and get breakfast ready." I stood up from my bed and folded the sheets before going on the lower floor of my house where I prepared my breakfast. "Peaceful times like these really should be valued~"
I looked at the sky through a small window near the kitchen sink as I washed my hands and prepared my breakfast along with some extra for lunch. Shrimp tempura and vegetables with fried rice and to finish with some leftovers I had, I put some steamed dumplings from the other day. "Itadakimasu~" I put my hands together and began to eat.
"Now then time to go- hmm?" As I was about to leave the house, my phone vibrated in my pocket. 'See me at the roof at lunch –Amagawa Rinko' so the message read. "So the princess is now inviting me for lunch, her fans and admirers would probably be kill me if they find out about this." I replied to her with a short 'Roger that. –Zetsumu Tenha' and slid my phone back into my pocket and left for school.
"Zetsumu-kun, I really hope that you do not get offended but… You're going to be a great wife someday with those skills of yours." Our class representative compliments me as she noticed a quite over the top lunch set I made. "I do not mind being the wife as long as the husband is a woman, though the thought hurts my pride as a man. Ah! By the way, my book landed on Amagawa Rinko-san's possession somehow." I said as I took my notebook for our first period.
"Yeah. She helped us with our request in behalf of the student council yesterday and she also seems to be quite an avid reader, though it does not really show. I'll text her to return the book to you once she's done." She opened her phone and started to write a message. As her cellphone continuously beeped our homeroom, the teacher entered and started roll call. Genhou was late and thus missed the first period class.
"It seems quite a rare occasion that you'd actually sleep in." "Yeah a relative from Italy called last night to check on me. Then our conversation went all over the place and thus I couldn't sleep." He explained the reason for his tardiness though that did not excuse him for being late. "Living on a different country away from your folks must be hard… by the way Fukuki-kun, how are you fitting in? I hope Zetsumu-kun here isn't giving you any problems."
"Now that's rude Inchou-san, you're making me sound like I'm a delinquent." As our third period in the morning became a study hall session, the three of us chat quietly. "I'm doing fine, Inchou-san, all thanks to Tenha over here for lending me a hand." He gestured towards me as our class rep followed with her eyes. "I see that is good then. However I suggest you not follow his example and get in a club soon." He tilted his head in curiosity.
"The student council president is quite a slave driver to the students uninvolved in clubs. I have been working my rear off since you transferred remember? Well it's not that bad though. He gives out decent compensations for completed requests." I explained to him how the current ruling system worked around our school.
"Then if he gives out bonus funds for clubs what do you get, Tenha?" "He gives me chances to skip a class or two as my credits fill up. I can stay absent longer without ruining my attendance record. It's unfair no matter how you look at it, but it's what he gave me. Though I do not intend on using them. It helps whenever I get sick and can't leave home."
He nodded as the school bell rang signifying the start of our lunch break. "I'll take my leave for now as I still have some business with the student council." I left the classroom and headed towards the council office but like earlier this morning, no one seems to be around. And with only three people, I gave up and headed towards the rooftop to fulfill Amagawa-san's summons.
"What might she want with me this time?" I asked myself while opening the door to the rooftop. As my eyes got used to the sudden change of light, I saw Amagawa-san sitting on one of the benches. [She really does look like a princess once you see her like this.]
The way she ate her lunch alone with refined movements would make anyone unable to think clearly in a moment like this. [It feels like time has stopped…] She still did not notice me as I slowly approached her trying not to not disturb this tranquil atmosphere as her long black hair was swayed by the soft breeze blowing by the rooftop.
[This feeling… could it be…] As my mind reached a bloody conclusion, I shook it off my thoughts and thus approached her normally. "I am sorry for calling you here, Zetsumu-kun. You may have other plans thus I'll make it quick." I sat down on the opposite side of the bench while she spoke. "Don't worry about it. I usually eat alone up here, and besides I can't find the student council members to tell them that our job is finished so… we have time to waste being up here. Want some?"
I opened my lunch and offered some to her. "Then I'll gladly take your offer. By the way, Zetsumu-kun, I tried researching about the dreams you're having but I cannot find anything about someone or something waking you up." She took one of the dumplings and dipped it in a special sauce I made. "I see… I was able to sleep well last night without any interruptions. So I'll be out again by tonight." "Then we'll be roaming around again tonight. Let me ask you something, Zetsumu-kun, do you make your own lunches?"
I nodded at her question as I placed food in my mouth. "If you keep this up you're going to end up doing the wife's role when you get married." "That's the same thing our class rep said this morning… but I do not mind staying at home and getting the wife-role at the family as long as the husband is a woman then there's nothing wrong about it right, Amagawa-san?" She shook her head and for the first time ever I saw the sides of her mouth move upwards.
[She's smiling! I am seeing Amagawa-san, the Princess of the Ice Fortress, smiling for the first time!] It was a tranquil and peaceful scenery. With the blue sky as her backdrop, a young lady called a princess by her schoolmates looked up the sky with a faint smile. [I pray to the gods that these peaceful days will go on.]
I closed my eyes and wished for the continuous tranquility, but the peaceful scenery was quickly broken by a scream of a female student in the distance. We walked towards the rooftop's fence and looked where the scream came from. At that time, I could not believe what we were seeing.
"A-Amagawa-san… didn't you say they only appear at night?! And we were the only ones who can see them?!" "I did but this has never happened before. More like it is not supposed to happen." The scene before our eyes was something that should only happen at night yet numerous beast-like monsters were crawling around the school's front entrance.
"We have to take them out-" "Wait! Zetsumu-kun." She stopped me as I was about to jump down the fence. "There is no time to hesitate Amagawa-san; if those students can see these things, then I am sure that they can get hurt as well." I drew my sword as a familiar black long coat overlaps my uniform.
"I am going, after all I was hardwired for some reason to help those in need." I said with a smile as she shook her head and suddenly pulled out a scythe from thin air. "Then let us do this. I'll follow your lead, Kishi-kun." "Right let's go, good luck to us, Hime-san."
As her school uniform changed into her gothic dress, we jumped down the four story building landing on our feet. I drove down my sword at one monster in front of the main entrance where two first year girls were frozen in panic. "Get inside and seal all entrances!" I pushed them inside the building and closed the door as the two of them along with other students barricaded the entrance.
"Hime, I can take care of the ones here. You handle the ones at the back." I called out joining Amagawa-san who was currently fighting at the front field of our school. "Got any way out of this, Zetsumu-kun?" "One, but you have to trust me as I send you airborne." Surrounded, we made a half circular clockwise slash, then with my momentum, I continued the circle and sent Amagawa-san vertically up in the air. "This is a home run for Yoka Academy!"
I swung my sword on the opposite direction of my slash as she landed on the broad side and sent her flying over the rooftop. "Now then… time for a cleanup." I charged at the mob surrounding me and continued to slash like there's no tomorrow…
[Eyes of Fukuki Genhou]
"Hey look over there! Someone's fighting those things." "Really? Whoa… she's really good." "Hey doesn't she look familiar? It's Amagawa Rinko-san isn't it?" As the class 2–C starts getting worked up with the fight at the back of our school, I quickly ran towards the storage room near the rooftop exit.
"What are you doing here? Get back to your classroom! It's not safe even around the hallways!" A strong voice called out to me from behind. Looking back, I saw the captain of the ken-do club Rougan Kenya carrying a sword, a real sword.
"Rougan-senpai! I can fight these things as well! I just have to get 'it' at the third floor." "No! You go back to your classroom now! Leave the fighting to us at the disciplinary committee!" He showed me a red armband attached to his keikogi that read 'Captain'. "Secure all exits, doors, windows, even the air vents! We don't want these things inside our school!"
His voice echoed across the hallway followed by a chorus of affirmation by the other members of the ken-do club. "A-a-a-attention everyone this is Fujimura Aya of the student council! P-p-please remain c-c-calm and stay in your classrooms for safety! The disciplinary committee is taking charge of the hallways to ensure those monsters are kept outside!"
"Hear that? Now go! We can handle the rest here!" After the announcement of the student council secretary over the public address (PA) system, Rougan-senpai sent me back down the stairs where other of his 'subordinates' brought me back to class 2–C. Looking for another chance to get 'it', I once again left the classroom after some disciplinary committee members passed by.
[I'll try this way then.] Taking a longer way around this time, I saw the student council president on the other side of the hallway facing a mob. "Fukuki Genhou-san! It's not safe here! Get back to the classroom!" A classmate who is a member of the ken-do club grabbed me by my shoulder. "The president is over there fighting…" He nodded as he signals his other club mates over and escorted me back to the classroom.
"Damn! It is Amagawa Rinko if class 2–B!" With the commotion at our classroom, I joined in and looked at the person said to be fighting the monsters. One girl, a known face at our school was fighting a mob singlehandedly and effortlessly. The monsters were split in two each time she swung her scythe.
[There's no end to them…] I scanned the area she's fighting at and more seemed to appear by the woodland behind the school. [Her movements are also getting slow… if she keeps this up, it's only a matter of time until she's overwhelmed.] My thoughts were true as she was now stopping in between her attacks to catch her breath.
"Behind you!" Shouted one of our classmates but she can't hear us as one of the monsters jumped at her from behind until a black shadow moves between them and cleaved the werewolf-like monster in two. "Isn't that…"
"Zetsumu-kun?!" "You're right it is him!" "Go get them Zetsumu!" Our classmates cheered for him as he assumed the stance he used during the practice session with the ken-do club and one by one, he slashed down the black monsters which dissipated like dust. [Both of them are in a tight spot but…]
With their backs together, Tenha performed a horizontal circular slash and launched the girl in the air which seemed to also bring some of their enemies up as well. On the ground, Tenha unleashed a barrage of attacks around him while Amagawa Rinko, now confirmed while in midair, slashed at the helpless enemies around her before landing back down. As she spun her scythe around, Tenha ran up the wall passing our classroom before jumping off. And at that instant, a pillar of fire appeared and disappeared before our eyes followed by Tenha falling down and landing safely behind Amagawa Rinko-san.
Loud cheers emerged from each classroom as the fight ended with the two of them stand at the center of the burn spot at recreational field behind the school. Everyone seemed happy or at least relived, but few people are… "Isn't that cosplay?"14 "Aren't they too old for that?" "Never mind that! Are they even human? I mean they fought those things as if it were normal"
[A criticism right off the bat. Can't they at least be thankful for being saved by these so-called 'cosplayers'?] I took a deep breath and calm myself down before settling down my chair and due to the events today, our fifth period.
[Eyes of Zetsumu Tenha]
"Is it over?" "Yes they are falling back to the forest. Let us rest for now." I looked around the area to confirm that the fight has indeed ended. Looking behind us, I saw some students waving at us from the classrooms while others are talking amongst themselves.
"It seems like we stirred up quite the attention, Hime-san." "It was your idea to jump in without any reserve. Now look at the mess we've gotten into." She talked facing away from the school building as I waved back to my classmates who seemed to be fine.
"Names of the following students are to report to the student council office immediately. Zetsumu Tenha, Amagawa Rinko, Fukuki Genhou. I repeat the following students are to report to the student council office immediately. Zetsumu Tenha, Amagawa Rinko, Fukuki Genhou. That is all."
As our names were called through the PA system by the broadcast committee, we 'sheathed' our weapons as they dissipated along with our unusual clothes, leaving behind our uniforms. All eyes were on us as we entered the school building. Students and teachers alike were staring at us. The only ones who did not mind us were the disciplinary committee members standing like guards along the hallway.
"Good afternoon everyone, we have confirmed that it is now safe outside. As the principal of the school I hereby suspend all afternoon classes. All students are to go to their homes immediately. Members of the disciplinary committee are allowed to go home once everyone besides those called earlier has left. That is all, stay safe everyone."
At 14:30 of August 31, 2012 afternoon classes has been suspended by the order of Yoka Academy's principal.
[Eyes of Jihyou Ensui]
"When I heard that a second year was running around while the entire school was in a mess, I really didn't think it would be you Fukuki Genhou-san. Tell me, what was your goal that you had to risk yourself by leaving your classroom, twice?" I had called three students to the student council office for questioning. As the three of them stood before my desk, I started with the foreign transfer student.
"I just feel like I could not stand still while everyone was fighting. I have no reasons for my reckless actions and I am willing to take any form of punishment for it." He bowed deeply, for a foreigner he seems well versed with our customs.
"I will find a suitable penalty for you after this. Now if you three are wondering as to why I am handling this, I asked the principal to leave this entire matter to me. Now then, Zetsumu Tenha-san and Amagawa Rinko-san."
Looking out the window, I saw most of the students are on their way home. As I called out their names, their expressions remain unchanged as they looked at me with eyes that pierce. "I have thoughts that you two are acting strange as of late. But, I never thought you two would be involved like this. Tell me… What is your reason for collecting souls?"
A strong sudden wind blew behind me as Tenha raised his arm holding his sword. "If you know something you better not be hiding it, president Ensui." "I am not hiding anything, Zetsumu Tenha-san. The only thing I know is that both you and Amagawa Rinko-san are involved in something far more dangerous than you can imagine. I advise you to stop whatever you are doing and return to your normal lives."
His eyes showed killing intent but I feel nothing behind his gaze as if he were wearing a mask, and besides I was not about to waver in front of a sword. "I do not know what you both had in your contracts. But let me tell you that miracles cannot happen in this world. And no matter what you wish for, something of equal value must be given in return."
I took a sidelong glance at them as their faces started to show different expressions. "That is all for now, but please take into consideration what would happen to you if you are to continue, Zetsumu-san, Amagawa-san. You may leave now, take care in going back home."
As the three left the student council office, I saw to it that they had indeed left the school before I acted any further. "Kensai, are you there?" My voice echoed as I call out in the empty room. Normally no one would reply but after what happened today, I am now forced to act. "I am here, oyakata-sama." (14)
He appeared kneeling on what once was thin air. "Are you hurt? I saw you earlier holding your ground before Amagawa-san arrived." "I am fine my lord. You need not worry about a simple ghost like me." A simple ghost that I had saved months ago who now served me like a ninja was quite helpful at times like these but…
"You may be a simple ghost but if I lose the only subordinate I have I would lose the war before I have a chance of fighting back." "As I have said, you need not to worry about me. Now, your orders." A fiercely loyal ally as this was hard to come by, however I could not sit idly any longer.
"Kensai, I want you to find out who those two are tied with. Also find out whatever you can about that foreign transfer student, he seems to be involved in this as well. And if things seem dangerous for you then retreat immediately. Losing little details is much better than losing a soldier like you."
"Understood, my lord." With that reply, the ghost vanished in thin air. And I was once again left alone. "I guess I have to go home as well. I have to explain this to the other students without raising suspicion." I packed my things, took out my phone, and sent Fujimura a text message regarding tomorrow.
[Eyes of Zetsumu Tenha]
I had been asleep ever since I got home but… "That dream again. Perhaps the president is right, maybe I should just return to my normal life." I stood up from the bed, looking out the window. The sun had already set and looking at my clock, I had a lot of time wasted already as it showed the time being 10:00 PM of August 31. 'Fight…' I heard a familiar voice similar to that in the dream I was having. 'Keep fighting…' The voice kept getting more and more clearer as I tried to ignore it.
'Look behind…' As I was about to leave my bedroom, I followed the voice and looked back. There, I saw a hooded figure standing near the window. "Who are you and what do you want from me?" I quickly drew my sword and raised it towards the enigmatic figure. "My name is Darokan; you can say that I am the one who gave you that power."
I narrowed my eyes as I approached the cloaked figure, removing his hood. I can see this face as the clouds moved away from the moon. He seemed old, like a corpse rotting, but it did not surprise me as I saw his face every time he appeared in my dreams. "Why must I fight? You say I must fight for my life yet nothing has been happening until now."
I asked him still pointing my sword at him as he laughed and vanishes in thin air. "You must fight for your life because…" He appeared to be behind me as he whispered something in my ear. After a few seconds, that felt like minutes has passed then when I finally realized that I had lost my strength to stand. As reality began to settle down, I now understood what the cloaked figure had said.
"I'm already dead…"
14. Oyakata In ancient times, it was also used by samurai to address the lord they serve, as he was Oyakata-sama, the clan's don