It was a brilliant day. The burning sun was high in the sky, its beams of natural energy unhidden by the cloudless skies above. It was so unusual to see a sunny day in the throws of the early morning, very much a difference from normal cold dreary environment that Rinako had come to experience during her morning training. The amethyst-haired beauty was glad for this though. The brighter the sun was the more she felt uplifted. Maybe it was the convenience that gave her this feeling, or maybe that normal feeling of human perception, but this bright day really did make her feel happier. But then again, she really was not the focus at this point. It was Rei that Rinako was more concerned about. Rinako stood back on the unseasonably warm grass of Mizube Ai Park; her honey-brown eyes fixed on her girlfriend Ayane and their ‘disciple’ Reikibu Somenosuke Tsukuji. Like they had agreed, Ayane would help with Rei’s training, despite her misgivings on the situation. Not that Rinako could blame her. Rai shou en ken was not a joke by any standard. The people who had come to wield its power knew clearly of its dangers. All it would take would be one mistake, and the lives of all those around were in literal jeopardy. But, unlike Ayane, Rinako knew Rei well enough to know that she was not ignorant. Reikibu knew full well of the power she would come to understand, and the responsibilities that needed to be carried as a result of using it. Anyway, Ayane didn’t have much choice either way. And until the heat from the ruined talks blew over, there was not much for her to do. Teaching Rei would pass time, and, it would help Ayane to evaluate her own progress in Rai shou en ken. Ayane stood in front of Rei, cross-armed, her golden eyes monitoring the younger girl from simple confusion. Rei was so delicate and so petite. Why would such a girl want to learn a fighting art? “Okay, Reikibu.” Ayane began. “I’m sure Rinako had already told you this, but I will be assisting her in your training.” “You know Ikatsuji-sensei’s style too?” Rei asked. Ayane nodded. “Right. I do. She and I... both trained together in the Ikatsuji Fighting Institution. Although that was a while ago now. I will be honest with you. I have reservations about teaching you the Rai shou en ken art, and with just cause, but if this is Rinako’s wish then I can’t really refuse.” Rei lowered her head in thanks. “I’m really grateful, Yosukube-sensei.” The new teacher, Ayane blinked surprised, ignoring Rinako’s childish giggles from behind. Her love knew more than most that Ayane was never really used to being addressed as someone’s superior. Sort of an odd trait for a gang leader, but then again, Ayane was no ordinary girl. “Okay then, lets begin Reikibu. For starters, just tell me, what skills has Rinako taught to you? Maybe I should have asked this earlier, but I think I need to know now.” Rei thought for a second. Rinako really hadn’t taught her very much. “The majority of the time it was just strength training, stuff like laps around the school and daily drills with her. I haven’t really learned anything other than that.” For a brief second, Rinako entered the conversation. “I didn’t think Rei was ready for something heavy, like Chi-attacks. I decided to strengthen her up a bit. And from the looks of her, I did just that.” Though Ayane wasn’t completely convinced of that, Rei agreed with Rinako. Her power was growing. By small lengths, but all the same, it was still growing. Last night, Rei recalled pouring herself some water, then breaking the glass. Not by dropping it or knocking it, simply from grasping the glass. And even more astounding was that fact that Rei looked and seemed as she had always done, simple-mannered, frail and brittle. Ayane held a hand to her chin. “I see. I suppose I’ll have to start from the beginning then. Rinako and myself will instruct you. Her strength lies in her Chi-manipulation and body movement, while mine rests in contact fighting and throws. I suppose I’ll brief you on the basics, simple fighting techniques, beginning with kicking assaults and punches. I will cross over into more complicated things when I feel that you are ready for them. As soon as you are ready for it, Rinako will instruct you in the more advanced levels of Chi-control. But not before I teach you a little about what Chi-energy means to us as martial artists.” Rei tried to take this all in as fast as she could. “Uh... sure…” “Okay then.” Ayane said. “Lets begin.” ********** Kozue Takami (Note, if you can’t remember who Takami is, look back over at chapter 2 of RR2) studied the proud business building with bright eyes of wonder and delight. It had been quite a while since he had last seen the Hitsujiko Corp’s main building. Two years, eight months, three weeks and four days ago to be precise (not that he was counting or anything…). And after all that time, the place hadn’t changed a lick. The double-glazed glass, decorative plants, pearly white carpets, the odd thuggish security guard here and there. It was exactly the same as it had always been, at least in Takami’s opinion. It wasn’t like he had fond memories of the Hitsujiko building, so why on earth did he remember its design? Had to be some of that blasted Takami family memory. Still, it *was* the Takami family that was behind all the glitz and glimmer of this building. There was a proud dignity within the annuls of the Takami family history. Though it had been almost three years since they last saw each other, Takami could tell that this was not lost on his sister. His sister, Shizue Takami, better known by the alias ‘Ryuko Hitsujiko’. After all this time, Takami could still not believe that all this had been left to his sister. It seemed like so long ago when their father passed away, leaving behind all his assets and his business (the Takami Concern) to the elder child, the daughter, Shizue Takami. Now she had changed the name of the business from the Takami Concern to the Hitsujiko Corporation. Though Takami had been given a fair portion of his father’s wealth (enough to live off and enrol in Tengoku Aijin School) he could not help the feeling of being short-changed. Compared to what Shizue had, Takami had nothing. Still, if he looked at this with his head instead of his heart, he would have realized that his father made the right choice. Takami was in no way cut out to run a business. He was still a student after all, and what’s more, he was a fighter. The blood of fighting ran through his veins, faster and stronger than any river. There was no way he could cross himself by putting is urge to fight aside. Shizue was very much the opposite to Takami. Where he was hot headed and vengeful, she was cool, calm and careful. Like a wild cat stalking a wilder beast, Shizue planned for the attack with skill and cunning. This made her the ultimate choice to succeed her father as CEO of the company. Takami strode through the double glass revolving doors, into the polished, decorated and spacious innards of the Hitsujiko building. As he walked slowly to the front desk, eyeballing his sister’s HQ, a couple of the security guards took attention to the curious boy. The burly men wasted no time debating his presence, and marched up to Takami, cutting him off before he reached the front desk. “Hey, kid!” Takami stopped walking as he saw the two security guards standing around him. The former leader of the Tengoku Dream Rebels pulled his hand out of his pockets and clenched his fists in reflex. “You have some sort of problem with me?” Takami asked. The second guard piped up. “What the hell do you think this is, a playground or something? Beat it, kid, before I throw you out with my own two hands.” Takami crossed his arms. “What makes you think I have no business here?” “I dunno, the fact that you’re a child?” The second guard said sarcastically. “I’m here to see my sister.” Takami said with a sigh. “My name is Kozue Takami. I’m sure she’s told you all about me. But if she hasn’t well… I think you better go ask her.” While one of the guards froze up in shock (realizing that he had just yelled at the boss’s brother) the other showed his disbelief in the form of relaxed chuckle. “Oh yeah right!” He said mockingly. “You expect me to believe that you’re the boss’s-“ The second guard cut off the first, and whispered into his ear, while Takami remained silent through the altercation. Whatever was said seemed to calm the first security guard down, because he backed of in an instant. With regretful eyes, he waved his hands in defence. “Uh…” The guard began fragilely. “... I’m sorry about the misunderstanding, Mr. Takami. I had no idea… you see, Miss Hitsujiko doesn’t speak much of you and I had no idea that... well...” Takami unwound his arms “Forget about it. I didn’t exactly prepare for a red carpet welcome anyway. Just tell her that I’ve arrived.” “Can do, sir.” The second security guard said. However, there was a strange twinkle in Takami’s eyes as he added, “Oh... just one more thing...” “Yes?” A vicious hand snaked out from nowhere and latched onto the first guard’s neck. The second stood back in fear as Takami clutched down on the taller man, his fingernail gripping deeply into toned flesh. The guard wheezed and gasped from breath, as Takami’s vice-like grip held his neck with steadfast potency. Takami smiled innocently at the man, taking great joy in choking the bigger man. “Don’t call me a kid.” Takami said, staring into the older guy’s eyes. “If you call me a kid again, I’ll snap your jaw in two and make myself a necklace from your teeth.” Takami gave one final push and chucked the security guard to the ground. The man coughed and dragged in as much breath as he could, his cheeks turning a slightly pale blue. But while the guard writhed along the ground, Takami looked back at the second, now frightened security guard. “Take me to my sister.” He said calmly. ********** Deep below the Hitsujiko Corp’s main building, sixty metres below the busy streets of the Shibuya district, there was a huge underground laboratory complex. Dozens of eager scientists, all donning the trademark white coats and the badge symbol of company, the Kanji for ‘fire’, scurried through the halls of the lab, darting in and out of the white rooms and sub-laboratories. Though this area was fairly new in creation (built in 1993) from all the experiments taking place, you would have believed that it had been in business since the sixties. The huge multi-level laboratory was known as the Hitsujiko Research Department. In the lowest level of the HRD, in the largest testing room of the entire complex, stood two figures, marvelling at the most recent experiment to have taken place. One of them, was a young scientist, in his early twenties, known to the few as Dr. Tetsuya Shigeyuki. Though he had a brilliant and dark future ahead of him, he was not the most strident of the two onlookers. The second person, standing with a contemptuous smile pasted over her lips, was the woman known as Shizue Takami, or, better known to the masses as Ryuko Hitsujiko. The CEO of the Hitsujiko Corp and the leader of the vile gang of Tokyo Central, the Hotsuma Boys. Shizue laughed, pulling a stray lock of her long black hair behind her ear. She had been waiting so long for this moment, and now it was finally here. “Doctor…” She began. “You called me here so I could be briefed on your progress?” Dr. Shigeyuki smiled back. “That’s quite right. If you’ll just hazard a look in front of you... I can show you what I’ve done so far...” Shizue looked over at the floor in front of them, as she had been asked to do, but saw nothing. She was about to question Dr. Shigeyuki about that, until he withdrew a remote control from the pocket of his white coat. He clicked on one of its few buttons, in the direction of the space, and instantly, things began to happen. The two bolts on the floor swung to one side, and the circular door shifted around, rising while doing so. Shizue gasped as a huge cylinder rose up from the ground, filled with a watery blue liquid. Mist poured from the glass cylinder like dry ice, and as it stopped moving, Shizue was given a clear view of what was inside the transparent tube. A human being. Dr. Shigeyuki smiled. “Is it not magnificent?” “My word…” Shizue gasped. “Is that really… Seiya?” “I assure you it is. After three months of hibernation in the containment liquid, he has morphed into a whole new form! It took time, but I have finally managed to find a chemical which will allow his body to merge with the animal cells we refined all those years ago. It has made him into a stronger, faster, more capable soldier with which we can use to the benefit of the Hitsujiko Corporation! The muscle enhancements and brainwave control have also made him more subservient than our last test sample. Seiya Mochizuki is the perfect prototype for the AURA project!” Shizue could barely take in what Dr. Shigeyuki was saying. All she was aware of was Seiya. Seiya Mochizuki was the sub-leader of the Hotsuma Boys. When Shizue had told him of a secret test that would enhance strength, Seiya jumped at the chance. But now he looked completely different. His previous brown hair was now replaced with a sickly grey. His muscles had grown to such a state that his body looked like that of a 25-year-old, not a 17-year-old schoolboy. Even though he was asleep at the time so she couldn’t be sure, Shizue knew full well that Seiya’s eyes would be a different colour too. The prototype for the AURA Project had finally been created. If Shizue presented this body to the board members of the Eikuseiju Foundation, there was no way they could question her. It was perfect. “How will he act when he awakens?” Shizue asked. “He will pledge his allegiance to anyone who he has been programmed to serve.” “Programmed?” Dr. Shigeyuki nodded. “Correct. As I have told you, I have been working with his brainwaves for some time. His mind has been woven in such a way that he regards everything in a way that a computer would, by evaluating the best needs of a situation and following it to the latter. It is a little process I have devised, and I like to call it, Psycho-Programming.” “So...” Shizue mused. “He will see everything in black and white.” “Yes! Finally I have created a bio-tool that is free of the taint of human emotion! He is nothing less than a ruthless killing machine! The Eikuseiju Foundation will have no choice but to entrust us with the brunt of the work for the AURA-Project.” Shizue smiled at her subordinate. “You’re very ambitious, Doctor. Most people would run in fear from the likes of Drake Azureas and Genzo Kakyoku... not to mention that oaf, Nifrid. What makes you think that they will allow you express entrance into their prized project?” “Because they need my skills. And because I have developed the prototype for it, as they commanded you to do. As soon as I get my hands on that data from Genzo Kakyoku’s genetic manipulation experiments... I will be able to make you an even greater weapon than Seiya...” “Good.” Said the woman. “Because I’m getting tired of going back to those idiots again and again every time I want to make a decision in my own company. I suppose it serves me right for joining the Eikuseiju Foundation.” “You were right to do that. Their resources stretch across the entire world. Look at this boy. Normally, we would not have been able to use this boy for tests, because of the parents, but with the influence of the Eikuseiju Foundation... such trivial matters can be... swept away, like so much dirt.” “I suppose. So how long will it take before Seiya is ready for active use?.” “In four months. In just enough time for your plans for Tomeishuu High.” Shizue crossed her arms. “You needn’t concern yourself with that. The school is meaningless to me, I am only interested in one thing… the one thing that school has to offer me... once I obtain it, I want you to restart the ‘Psycho-Programming’ process.” “You have something up your sleeve, eh?” “Yes I do... once I secure the Tomeishuu sample and the ‘demon’, Tokyo as we know it, will be at my feet... in four months… it will begin...” “Have you named this... endeavour?” Dr. Shigeyuki asked. “I have,” Shizue replied. “I call it… Operation A.” Dr. Shigeyuki chuckled. “I don’t think I have ever met anyone like you.” “I assume that you haven’t!” Shizue joked. “My deviousness is my badge of distinction. They don’t call me the Queen of Aces for nothing. In four months, with the help of Seiya and the Hotsuma Boys, I will extract the greatest possible soldier for my impending war with the Eikuseiju Foundation. The perfect sentinel to serve me.” Just as the two of them got talking, Shizue and Dr. Shigeyuki silenced themselves as a secretary, donning a usual set of glasses and a pin board, walked through the automatic doors and bowed before Shizue. Shizue sighed. “What is the problem?” “I am sorry to disturb you and Dr. Shigeyuki, Miss Hitsujiko, but a man claiming to be your brother has appeared up on ground level. I believe his name is Kozue Takami?” Shizue blinked hard. “Kozue?! He is here? Blast it all! What does that street urchin want now?” “Should I have him removed, miss?” The secretary asked. “No. I shall speak with my brother now. Send him up to my office.”
Back to Rival Rage 2: The Hitsujiko Corporation Index - Back to Original Fiction Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction