Chapter Text
SHIRO blinks rapidly hoping that in some way what he’s seeing is in fact a dream and all he needs is to awaken somehow and things will be okay.
TOTO:
Oh dude! Our new teacher is a robot!
AQUA:
Don’t be so loud!
TOTO is pointing at REGULUS’s helmet with a look of unbridled glee, which sends SHIRO down a deeper spiral of despair. There’s no way he’s having the same dream, so this is all reality and what a reality it is. He had seen it himself –REGULUS’s death at the hands of STERTOTH the demon so how on earth could he possibly be standing here…?! REGULUS peers in his direction and almost immediately SHIRO can feel it a sense of –REGULUS judging him for being caught up with “how” he’s here and not “why”.
SHIRO:
Thinking.
Shut up you. The why and how are equally as important in this situation! More like, did you pick up the ability to read minds?
REGULUS shrugs.
SHIRO:
Out loud.
I’M ONTO YOU.
EIN frowns and gives SHIRO a once-over, but he doesn’t seem to notice as he stares holes into REGULUS. The headmaster begins to ask if they know each other, but decides to prioritize the introduction over whatever’s going on with them.
EIN:
Ahem! So Regulus here will be your new homeroom teacher. He has a storied history as a brave warrior, so I believe his experience will be an asset to all of you.
KURO who has also noticed SHIRO glaring angrily at REGULUS, and in an attempt to get his friend’s attention asks a question…
KURO:
Sir! Are we to assume that there will be an ‘initiation’ with our new instructor?
EIN grins at this and nods in KURO’s direction.
EIN:
Yes, good intuition! I thought it might be interesting with a new student and teacher joining our ranks to have a little competition to see just how much you all have improved since the beginning of the semester, and to test our new recruit.
REGULUS casually steps in front of EIN and addresses the class.
REGULUS:
Yo brats. I’m just gonna put this out there so there’s no misunderstandings, but I don’t intend to be your friend or anything. I’m here to scope out my future competition.
The class murmurs about this –all except for SHIRO who narrows his eyes.
REGULUS:
That being said, if you do manage to entertain me, I might just have a thing or two to teach you. Oh, and for this initiation thing….
REGULUS’s voice drops an octave and takes on a tone of sinister delight.
REGULUS:
You’d best come at me prepared to kill.
The murmuring in the classroom stops leaving silence in its wake. EIN steps from behind REGULUS, his expression caught between confusion and concern.
EIN:
Um, I’d like you to remember this is a classroom so killing is a bit…
REGULUS:
No worries. They won’t be able to kill me, and I’ve no interest in killing them, so things will be completely fine.
EIN:
I can’t say I share your confidence in this…
REGULUS gives one more smirk to SHIRO and despite EIN’s protests saunters out of the room with the headmaster right behind him. SHIRO stares down at his desk unsure of what to make of this new development. In all honestly REGULUS being alive really doesn’t matter to him in the long run, aside from the not being dead part –or to be more specific the “how is he not dead anymore” part. Whether he had read his mind or not…
SHIRO:
Thinking.
….It is worth wondering why he came here of all places...
Opening theme: As long as I am me….
Is it because I am me, that I know powerlessness and loneliness?
If I were someone else, would I still have experienced misfortune?
Would shooting stars in the sky and the moon in the skies look different from another’s point of view?
The dreams and wishes I’ve embraced hard enough to break –would they still be as meaningful?
The little things; my height complex, stubbornness, and how I wear my heart on my sleeve,
Are all a part of me. Light at times, heavy at others, but never more than I can shoulder.
I know I face forward only because I don’t want others to see these tears of frustration,
And I run forward --I’m too stubborn and prideful to give up, because until the end I will be me.
Tripping and falling along the way only means I have a new starting point to begin.
The soil I kick up as I run is the only time I’ll stop and smell the flowers.
As long as I am me, even if others snicker under their breath, I won’t stop, and won’t be stopped.
Episode 5: Substitute strife.
SHIRO pensively leans against a wall in the hallway near where the “initiation” is going to take place with his hands behind his head –trying to strike a pose of nonchalance, though it’s clear the REGULUS matter still stands out in his mind. He’s dressed in a blue track suit with the base logo emblazoned on the arms and sleeves –outfitted for the more rigorous activity that is the “initiation”.
SHIRO:
Why come here after miraculously coming to life? Why not go…anywhere? He’s got no reason to come after me…
An unfamiliar voice shakes SHIRO out of his thoughts.
VOICE:
Well, well, we meet at last huh?
SHIRO turns his head and comes face to face with a yellow bomber with small black eyes which accentuate his annoyed expression. From the head to torso he looks like any other bomber, but rather than a belt buckle, he has what seems to be a medium sized orb in his stomach?
BOMBER:
Why not take a picture, bub? It’d last longer.
SHIRO:
Ah, um, I didn’t mean to stare sorry. Just never seen…that.
The Bomber frowns and shakes his head.
BOMBER:
You mightaa seen it yesterday if yer eyes hadn’t been on that girl.
SHIRO:
Huh? Wait, you saw me challenge her?
The yellow bomber folds his arms and tsk-tsk-tsk’s SHIRO.
BOMBER:
‘Course I did. I was right there durin’ the whole thing.
SHIRO:
….we’re in the same class….?
BOMBER:
Ding, ding, ding! Give the man a prize! Yer so self-absorbed that ya didn’t even notice that there are other people in tha class aside from Rei, Kuro and yerself didya?
SHIRO:
Self-absorbed!? Listen I might be a lot of things but (beat)….no, no I didn’t notice anyone else.
BOMBER:
It’s good as long as you notice, ya selfish so-and-so.
SHIRO:
Y’know you’re making apologizing really difficult.
BOMBER:
Don’t hafta be, just take a deep breath and say “I’m sorry for being such a massive a—“
A hand reaches out and pats the yellow bomber on the shoulder. Behind him (and attached to this hand) is a blue bomber wearing the same tracksuit as he, with blond hair poking from the top of his helmet and blue gloves on his hands. He is of slight build and taller than both SHIRO and the yellow bomber –and his eyes are a gentle brown he pats the yellow bomber on his shoulder.
???:
No need to be like that Kiiro. He seems sorry about not noticing you, so why not let it go?
KIIRO frowns and shakes his hand off his shoulder.
KIIRO:
I ain’t gonna be happy until this guy gets on his knees and begs for forgiveness. Who does he think he is waltzin’ into class and startin’ trouble?
The boy seems used to KIIRO’s unreasonableness, as he just grins and nods.
???:
His actions were a bit uncouth, but he seems like a nice enough –if not a little bit hasty guy. Why not let him off the hook? School’s more fun with friends after all.
SHIRO:
Hey, uh…could you not talk as if I’m not here…
???:
Ah sorry. You did miss us completely yesterday, though we, um, didn’t miss you. Rei really decked you out huh?
SHIRO fumes but manages to keep his temper in check…barely.
SHIRO:
Hahahah, go ahead and get it out of your systems. I got my ass handed to me by a girl, and I totally deserved it. Is that what you wanted?
KIIRO:
Stifling laughter.
That ain’t the apology I was hopin’ for, but it’ll do. Yo Nitros, you don’t got yerself a recorder do ya? I wanna make that my ringtone!
SHIRO is about to step to KIIRO, but NITROS subtly steps in front of him with a surprising amount of speed.
SHIRO:
Thinking.
Whoa, how’d he…
NITROS:
I know you’re new here, and stuff happened yesterday –that’s cool, but I’d advise you try to learn a bit more about your classmates, friend.
SHIRO:
In all fairness, I don’t even have a class ID yet so that’s a little difficult. Plus if you couldn’t tell, I’m the shy type.
NITROS snickers at this.
NITROS:
Fair enough. I’m Nitros, and this is Kiirobon. Though we usually just call him Kiiro for short. You already, um…met Rei, and you seem familiar with Kuro, so I guess no introduction there..ah, the three at the door when you came in were Crow –the bird guy, Bell –the girl in black, and the siblings Aqua and Toto. They’re actually from a family of eight, but only six of them are actively enrolled in the base as of now. Due to the way the classes were split up, the other four are in the secondary class. –As is my sister Dyna.
SHIRO counts them all down in his head and aloud.
SHIRO:
Rei, Kuro, Aqua, Toto, Crow, Bell, Kiiro, and you. Kuro was telling me that with my enrollment there are eleven people in the class, so including me that’s nine. Who are the other two classmates?
NITROS:
Ah, there’s Bomber Kidd, and the other I don’t know much about as they keep to themselves. We’ve taken to just calling them “mask” cause well…. You’ll see.
KIIRO:
It’s no biggie, sometimes people wanna keep things to ‘emselves.
SHIRO considers this and can appreciate wanting to be as far down as the down-low can allow.
SHIRO:
So about this initiation thing…
NITROS:
They call it that, but it’s more like a test of character and strength. It’s mostly just having a one on one fight with the instructor. They can happen at any time depending on who’s the one teaching, and they’re meant to keep the students on their toes.
SHIRO:
Ah, so that’s why Kuro was being so secretive, it’s just like him to do things by the book.
KURO:
Y—Yeah, sorry man. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging.
SHIRO looks up and frowns as KURO approaches him, a hand on his head rubbing it sheepishly. Though that is not what causes SHIRO’s sour reception –no, that goes to REI who is beside KURO with a smile.
SHIRO:
….You say that, but it doesn’t appear you’ve learned much of anything.
KURO:
Aww c’mon, it’s not like…I-I, she’s my friend too you know?
REI chides KURO by waving her finger.
REI:
I am more than a friend to you, Kuro. Why I’d go as far as saying that I’m like your protector from all that is indecent!
BELL pops in from behind the two.
BELL:
You know what they say Kuro, behind every man there is a better woman.
REI points at her and nods, her smile wide.
REI:
Exactly! But….hm.
She sizes up SHIRO again, and rubs her chin.
REI:
I’m not opposed to this ship. No, it’s actually rather cute….childhood friends is a clichéd prompt, but not at all without merit.
SHIRO:
What on earth is she….are you…are you trying to make us your OTP?!
BELL:
I think Kuro could do better honestly.
SHIRO:
WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?! I mean, I don’t---I have no idea anymore, dammit!
KURO:
I don’t get what she means either, but she seems to like you a little bit more now after I tried to explain a few things to her.
SHIRO:
Does she like me, or the idea of us?! Are you listening to what she’s saying?!
REI:
Now don’t be a tease, no one likes those. Why, even Kidd approves of your union.
They glance behind where a Bomber with a cowboy hat and snakeskin boots leans against a wall. After a moment of pregnant silence, he looks up at them –his helmet green and his eyes blue and gives a cursory shrug before tipping his hat over his eyes.
REI:
See? He’s totally into this ship.
BELL:
Whooa, I’ve never seen Kidd aggressively approve a ship like that.
She playfully elbows SHIRO.
BELL:
I’m jealous of you, brother.
KIIRO:
If Kidd says he’s down wit’ it, then I don’t see where any of us have a place to complain, honestly.
SHIRO:
…I have so many problems with this scenario that I’m not sure where to begin.
TOTO dashes over the group with his younger sister in tow, and stops short of the door leading to the initiation area.
TOTO:
What’s the deal guys?! We don’t get many chances to put a new teacher through their paces so let’s gooooo!!
AQUA:
Toto, please! We’ve barely even met him…! How do you know he’s even out there?
TOTO lowers his voice.
TOTO:
Because warriors have a sixth sense about these things!
BELL:
Crow’s out there and sent you a text didn’t he?
TOTO:
I KNEW BEFORE I GOT THE TEXT!
SHIRO:
Listen guys, I know coming from me this might sound a bit weird but you really shouldn’t underestimate him.
KURO:
You know our new teacher?
SHIRO’s eyes dart back and forth as he tries to avoid talking too much about he and REGULUS’s relationship.
SHIRO:
We’ve had a few run-ins, yeah.
KURO:
Where?
SHIRO:
More importantly, he’s not one you guys wanna trifle with, so be careful.
KURO steams a bit at being completely ignored as KIIRO sneers.
KIIRO:
Well lookie here. The guy who got his ass handed to him by Rei is tryin’ to give us tips? If you wanted ta’ make a more compellin’ argument, ya shoulda done that before runnin’ into class with no introduction!
REI:
He does make a cromulent point.
SHIRO:
To REI.
You’re the last person I want to hear that from! Hey wait!
TOTO has already opened the door leading outside with extreme amounts of gusto.
TOTO:
LESS TALKING, MORE JUSTICE!
AQUA:
Ahhh, what if Shiro is right and this is dangerous!?
The others follow TOTO’s lead leaving SHIRO to fume by himself.
SHIRO:
So then it’s up to me to keep those idiots from being killed by that idiot.
He marches outside after them crossing from the confines of the hallway to a grassy field sectioned off into quadrants by white lines on the grass. From behind SHIRO can still see the taller buildings of the campus, and hear other classes in progress around their area. Behind him is Crow and another person –probably the masked one NITROS mentioned, on the far side of the wall keeping their distance from what is ahead---REGULUS who stands with his arms crossed and his expression stern.
REGULUS:
So how long were you brats going to keep me waiting? If there’s one thing I hate more than undercooked pastries, it’s being made to wait.
CROW:
Hey teach, at the very least acknowledge that two of us were here front and center.
KIIRO glares at CROW.
KIIRO:
Tryin’ to save yer ass huh?
CROW smirks and shrugs nonchalantly.
CROW:
It’s not saving one’s ass when it’s the truth.
TOTO points aggressively at REGULUS.
TOTO:
Justice always comes late teach! No need to worry, now that I’m here the wait is over!
REGULUS:
I’ll give you an “A” for enthusiasm kid. Now if unlike parties that are present here right now you can back that bark with some bite, we might have something here.
SHIRO gives REGULUS a dirty look.
AQUA:
Um, Sir? Are there any rules to this initiation?
REGULUS tilts his head inquisitively and appears to give this some thought.
REGULUS:
Huh. I thought you just…well. Okay, yeah just everyone come at me at once.
Everyone gives him a surprised look.
NITROS:
We normally go one on one.
REGULUS:
There’s a first time for everything. Why not pop that cherry and walk on the wild side?
KIIRO:
Yer implyin’ some pretty twisted stuff there, teach.
TOTO:
What, are you guys scared? If teach wants us to come at him, I say we give him what he wants! Light me up, little sis!
AQUA seems hesitant, but nods and wills a bomb into existence which TOTO takes and to SHIRO’s surprise –(and just his) holds onto until it explodes! However, rather than charring the red bomber the flames dance around his hand as he clenches his fist, giving REGULUS an evil grin.
TOTO:
JUSTICE IS ON DUTY!
He rushes at REGULUS with his flaming hand outstretched –merely inches away from the former’s face before he suddenly disappears, reappearing in midair over TOTO, using him as a footstool to launch himself at the others.
REGULUS:
If you won’t come to me, I’ll come to you –and this is a delivery you don’t want. Trust me.
BELL:
Although the idea of understanding the undead by becoming one of them is fascinating, I’ve still got a lot of leveling up to do.
Her coffin backpack suddenly opens and SHIRO is surprised again when a flame billows out of it, the embers of which turn into bats and lunge at REGULUS.
BELL:
Bat bomb!!
REGULUS swiftly dodges this and makes a beeline toward her until he is warded off by a fire bomb landing in his path and exploding. KURO has another willed up already and tosses it up and down with a stern expression.
KURO:
Teacher or not, you shouldn’t be so rough with ladies.
REGULUS:
Quite the toss there. However, bombs take time to explode, and you have no time to spare, kid.
Just as REGULUS finishes his sentence, NITROS is behind him with a fire shuriken the size of a car hood at the ready, as is KIDD in front of REGULUS with his pointer finger extended like a pistol.
NITROS:
I still have mixed feelings about this, but if you’re going hard so are we!
REGULUS:
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
He leaps over NITROS as he tosses the shuriken, but KIDD wills a bomb that seems to hover right in front of his finger and launches it at REGULUS, the flames of the shuriken detonating it quickly with REGULUS in the middle of the blast. He defends the best he can, but still ends up flying a few feet backward when he hears the rush of a flame headed straight at him courtesy of the masked person, their face obscured by what seems to be a hazard gas mask leaving their intent completely unknown. REGULUS smirks and with a sweep of energy diverts the flame away from him, leaving himself open to a blast of blue-white energy that oddly has the properties of fire –and the splashy spray of water. REGULUS cranes his head to see what he has been hit by and KIIRO greets him with a evil grin –the marble in his chest glowing.
KIIRO:
Shame ya weren’t born with eyes in the back of yer head, huh teach?
REGULUS:
Not bad, not bad. You might actually make me work a little hard today, tykes.
He lands on his feet, tilting slightly as a bomb whizzes past his head. KURO snaps his fingers annoyed that he missed, but his expression is that of –delight?
REGULUS:
Thinking.
This kid not only has a mean throw but a highly accurate one. If I weren’t as awesome as I am, he’d have nailed me already. A shame for him that those bombs take time to explode and…
He turns around just as the same bomb clonks him in the head.
KURO:
Yes!
REGULUS rubs his head and notes a black feather fading from the bomb seconds before it explodes.
REGULUS:
Flatly.
…Dammit.
CROW swoops down from above and lands beside KURO, a pair of black wings that had sprouted from his back disappearing as if they were illusions, and the two trading high fives over their victory.
KURO:
It’s a good thing I noticed you hovering nearby! Shiro was talking about this guy being a tough customer, but it’s clear he severely underestimated us.
CROW:
It actually worked to our advantage that he wanted all of us to come at him at once. Otherwise I think we might have been in real trouble.
The two are suddenly silent.
KURO:
He’s behind us isn’t he?
CROW:
I would love to tell you a sweet little lie, but..
True enough REGULUS seemingly fades in out of nowhere and grasps their shoulders menacingly.
REGULUS:
Clearly you want me to pay you more attention, so here I am. Any last words?
CROW:
Might doesn’t make right?
KURO:
Justice always prevails?
REGULUS eyes them incredulously but then realizes he hears something that sounds very much like screaming? And as time goes by it grows in intensity until he turns around and sees the source of the cacophony –TOTO rushing towards him with his arms and hands on literal fire, while his eyes are engulfed in a metaphorical one. REGULUS knocks his two hostages aside, and grapples with TOTO who assaults him with a punch, kick, leg sweep combo. Even as seasoned as he is, REGULUS is surprised at the ferocity of the younger bomber’s attacks –the heat of which singes his visor.
REGULUS:
Thinking.
Welp, I guess I have to admit I might have bitten off more than I can chew here. Still, this is easy enough to take care of.
He grabs TOTO’s face, and sends him flailing into the air where he leaps and with a drop kick sends him crashing to the ground where his flames go out and he rolls over K.Oed.
AQUA:
Ah! Toto!
REGULUS:
And that’s three.
REGULUS then turns to the remaining students, regarding them and their abilities –something they’re all painfully aware of.
BELL:
Whispering.
Akki, we’re in big trouble. Makki can use fire, but only in pillars that are easy to avoid, and my attacks are fast but don’t have the strength to knock him out.
AQUA:
Whispering.
I can use my bombs, but by the time they go off he’d have already beaten us…and since he doesn’t use bombs, Rei can’t…
The girls glance back at REI who is hanging back with a serene –but despondent look on her face.
BELL:
Whispering.
She’s aware of it too….Kidd, Nitros and Kiiro are around still but…
REGULUS gives a cursory look behind himself and the three aforementioned students prepare to attack.
REGULUS:
I wouldn’t if I were you three.
KIIRO:
Whazzat?!
NITROS and KIDD exchange looks expectantly.
REGULUS:
You’re all ranged fighters, and I’m awesome. All I need to do is run at you and I can dispatch you three right now. Granted, the ones behind me will have free reign to do what they want, but I already know their limitations too.
NITROS:
You’re quite confident. Who’s to say we won’t be able to finish this in one attack?
REGULUS shrugs lazily.
REGULUS:
Hey, if you wanna pin your hopes on a hail mary, sure, go for it. Not that I'd recommend this, but it's your possible funeral.
The three glance at each other and then up at their classmates. Could they possibly get a coordinated attack going? It’s the only surefire way to beat him, but with REGULUS fast and strong enough to defeat them, they’d need a distraction.
KIIRO:
Dammit, if only we had somethin’ to divert his attention for a minute!
To his surprise REGULUS suddenly jerks his head to his left as if something suddenly got his attention. Despite themselves, KIDD, NITROS and KIIRO all do the same and notice what REGULUS is paying attention to.
SHIRO:
Everyone’s just running around forgetting that I’m friggin’ here. It’s enough to piss a guy off y’know?
The wind is whipping around him, growing stronger as the moments pass. In SHIRO’s hands seem to be the essence of the wind itself, concentrated, and REGULUS for the first time today seems shocked about something as SHIRO’s wind abilities grow more turbulent.
REGULUS:
Thinking.
He’s managed to retain those abilities…?!
SHIRO:
I just wanted to go to the base, learn a few things, ditch a few classes and blow up a dance –maybe accidentally, maybe on purpose. Thanks to you though, my whole life is spiraling out of my control, and I don’t like it. So why don’t you take your sky blue ass back to hell where it belongs?
As soon as SHIRO finishes his sentence, he launches toward REGULUS like a rocket powered by an angry wind God. Soon he’s only feet, then inches, then centimeters away from REGULUS who with no other choice cups his hands together, lifts them over his head, and just as SHIRO is about to make impact, he brings them down as hard as he can on the back of his noggin sending him into the ground hard enough to leave an indentation on the field. SHIRO coughs out in surprise from the hit and rolls on his side after impact, as REGULUS looms over him.
SHIRO:
Dammit…!! How did you…
REGULUS:
Are you serious? You might as well have yelled “I’M COMING RIGHT AT YA” with that whole spiel. You might have almost caught me off guard if you could have shut your non mouth and turned off that ridiculous amount of killing intent. Though I’ll admit you’re the only one who came at me with the intent of killing so I’m …not proud, ---not as disappointed as this morning? Yeah, let’s go with that. But let me tell you something…
REGULUS leans in close, his voice lowered to a snarl.
REGULUS:
If you think that I’ll ever forgive you for what you’ve done then you’d better think again. You killed most of the knights –my comrades in cold blood. I will make sure that you suffer for that.
SHIRO blinks, emotion overcoming him. He had managed to forget about that –or, if not forget about it, write it off as mere “incidents” that happened in the black hole. Since it’s not like anyone else knew the knights aside from RUKIFELLTH and LILITH who had forgiven him, he didn’t think too much of what he had done, but here in front of him is REGULUS who had always been seemingly detached from their whole struggle yet….no matter how he tries, SHIRO cannot find any falsehoods in his words. REGULUS did care for them dear—
His thoughts suddenly come to a halt as a proverbial record scratch somewhere in the distance.
SHIRO:
You killed one of them. Don’t make this sound like this is entirely my fault, dammit.
REGULUS:
I acknowledged that, you fool. I said you killed most of the knights. C’mon, keep up, it’s not like I said it a few pages ago. Besides who was the guy who was gonna die at Zo-zo’s hands unless I stepped in?
SHIRO:
Snarling.
You ass.
REGULUS:
I might be an ass, but you’re the one pushing up grass, sonny.
SHIRO:
Oh yeah? Have you forgotten you’re in the middle of a mine field?
REGULUS perks up and looks around quickly as all forms of attacks from the other students converge upon him, exploding upon impact.
SHIRO:
Muffled.
Worth. It.
***
SHIRO lies in the infirmary again; his body completely bandaged up from head to toe making him look similar to a mummy. KURO sits by his bed with a mournful expression as REI munches on what seems to be caramel popcorn. There are a few bouquets donated by the students by SHIRO’s bed, but they themselves aren’t present. REI stops munching long enough to pick up a card, on one of the bouquets and read it aloud…
REI:
Sorry for almost killing you. It seems you were born under some unlucky star and are fated to die early. If that does happen, would you mind eschewing science and donating your body to the black arts instead? –Bell.
SHIRO:
Muffled.
I admit her dedication to her shtick is impressive.
REI:
I’d say ending up in the infirmary twice when you’ve been in school all of two days is far more impressive.
KURO:
Shiro, bro, I’m really sorry this happened to you again….
REI:
Oh Kuro, you sweet, sweet dollop. You needn’t waste your concern on him, it’s not as if he’ll die since he’s the protagonist.
KURO:
Rei, wait you’re not breaking the---
REI:
Of this R18 comic I’ve decided to write chronicling a very illicit affair between childhood friends.
KURO:
I’d…really rather you don’t do that.
REI:
Oh? But our new teacher gave me his approval. In fact, I believe he’s going to start one of his own.
SHIRO:
Muffled.
Wait, he’s not in the hospital?
REI:
Munching.
Nope. He checked himself out maybe 20 minutes later, and then went for a jog, asked around about the night scene in the area, did a crossword puzzle, left you a message, and then made me the most delightful tasting strawberry scones.
SHIRO:
Wait, w-hat?
KURO:
Oh yeah, the scones were pretty good. More like, where do you know him—
SHIRO:
What about the message for me?!
KURO:
Why are you ignoring me so much lately…
SHIRO shakily takes the Band-Aids off his face and turns to REI who continues to munch on popcorn for several moments.
REI:
Oh, you were referring to me. Ah well, he said he’d be by later to talk to you, but if you really must know…
SHIRO stares at her expectantly as she munches more popcorn.
SHIRO:
……AND?!
REI:
Oh you didn’t say you really must know, so I assumed you didn’t care.
SHIRO starts to pour will into a bomb until KURO leaps up and chimes in.
KURO:
He said he’d be around to talk to you later Shiro!
SHIRO:
When later?!
REGULUS waits in the lobby, eating strawberry shortcake while reading a newspaper, all the while giving short glances at the clock above reception. After a moment he heaves a sigh and begins to leave when nosy clomping echoes down the hall and in a moment SHIRO has appeared still in a hospital gown, using an IV line as a crutch.
REGULUS:
Oh there you are. I was just about to leave.
SHIRO:
WHY ARE YOU OKAY!?
REGULUS:
A pleasure to see you too, boyo.
SHIRO:
SERIOUSLY WE BOTH TOOK THE SAME ATTACKS, WHY ARE YOU OKAY!?
REGULUS:
Why are you so fond of asking stupid questions? Does my awesomity really matter at this point? I didn’t sit here to explain how I’m better than you in every aspect. You can make that inference on your own or with empirical evidence via experience.
SHIRO:
Stop using big-ass words to say very little. Fine, fine, what the hell do you want?
REGULUS:
Flatly.
To kill you.
SHIRO tilts his head and makes a “wrap it up motion” with his free hand.
REGULUS:
Ugh, not much for dramatic tension are you? Fine. I really do wanna kill you, but the knights still living within you clearly feel differently, and as I’m alive and they’re not, I guess it falls to me to help you use those powers effectively and not be a huge embarrassment to them and me. As such, I guess I’ll teach you the ways of the elements….but don’t get it twisted. This isn’t going to be some training montage with upbeat vaporware or whatever you like to listen to, I intend to be as brutal as possible, oh and to throw in some good old fashioned assassination attempts. The killing you part and the training part are going to go together seamlessly here; --it’s a complete breakfast sort of deal. Now you could turn me down and we could move this from a hospital to a graveyard which would be really super convenient for me, but the choice is yours.
SHIRO stares at him for a moment before snickering and then outright laughing, --somehow this is what alerts others to their conversation and not REGULUS’s death threats. Still when he’s done with his laugh, SHIRO gives REGULUS a death stare and cocky grin.
SHIRO:
Bring it on you asshole. Maybe Satan forgot to close the lid on hell and you crawled out like the bottom feeder you are, or maybe this is some sort of bad dream but I don’t care. I came here to get stronger, which means I can’t be defeated or back down to anyone –especially not the likes of you. So give me your worst.
REGULUS and SHIRO regard each other –both with the same emotion although they’d never admit this out loud. Maybe nothing positive would come of this, but at least neither of them wants to admit defeat to the other.
And that is a vow that they can both bank on.
Ending Song: Passionate Orbit
Say, did you know, that heart beating in your chest…
Is a gift from the depths of this wide universe?
When we are born our guardian star breathes a silent prayer to the galaxy,
And in the break between dusk and morn, dyed silver-black hues it ends up in our hands.
As we experience our lives and are touched by the gentle but rusted hands of time,
Colors born from daily life drip from this gift from the galaxy yearning to be shared –to take orbit.
So when the time comes and your little universe yearns to orbit another’s –don’t be frightened.
Just clasp your hands together, and let those feelings bubble to the surface and become a star.
For each time two hearts intertwine and orbit one another,
A little more of the universe is filled with color.