2017/04/11 Aoyama-itchome Station, Tokyo - 08:25 AM
"Mr. Kamoshida, wait!" Turning at the desperate call, Shiho saw one of the most infamous second years at Shujin after the full-on delinquants, Asahi Suda, the school's most avid and lone journalist after Kamoshida shut down the school newspaper for "reasons unspecified to protect the school's image"
Pushing her glasses back up her nose, the black haired reporter groaned. "I'll catch you out one day Kamoshida, if not by your own confession then I'll just get one of your little minions to blow the whistle. Let's see…" Taking out a notebook and pencil, she started writing while muttering to herself. "New lead… Ann Takamaki… Willing girlfriend or Terrified victim?" Then she flipped the pencil over and started erasing what she just wrote.
Confused by this, Shiho decided to approach her. "Um… Excuse me? Why did you erase what you wrote? You didn't seem dissatisfied with it."
Looking up from erasing a line above her previous note, Asahi grinned. "Oh, you're Shiho Suzui, one of Mr. Kamoshida's two prodigies. You're interested in my note-taking techniques, are you? Tell you what, if you give me a 100% honest interview on what it's like to be
Kamoshida's Left Star, I'll give you a crash course in journalism, how's that sound? The same principles can be used in a wide variety of things."
At first, Shiho was going to refuse, but then she thought back to Ann's morose expression as Kamoshida drove off. "Ok, but on one condition; If this goes public
nobody can trace it back to me, I need to be absolutely anonymous. If Kamoshida finds out I blabbed, I'm dead, he'll have Mishima on information control and he's
really good at it."
Tapping her chin with her pencil, Asahi started thinking out loud. "Yeah, that'd make sense. He'd be livid that the one who sold him out was one of his Twin Stars," Nodding, she started walking. "Walk with me, we'll be taking the back alleys to prevent any nosy students from leaking your identity."
Once the pair had navigated to a more secure route, the Former Reporter explained. "To begin with, I'll tell you what I have so far and you simply confirm or deny it, that'll cast suspicion on the entire team, ok?" Getting a nod from the other girl, she continued. "Right, well, We know his name is
Suguru Kamoshida, and one of my other sources said he treats
Shujin Academy like
a Castle and the students like slaves, am I right so far?"
Nodding with a grim expression, Shiho didn't notice as the mysterious app on her phone opened up to a three-field form that filled itself out as Asahi spoke, once it was complete, the red eye icon flashed, casting the world in a purple hue for a microsecond.
Walking out of the alleyway, the pair didn't come to their school as they were expecting, but a grand european castle. Stumbling back, Shiho clutched her head as a strange voice spoke to her.
[Attendant of Distortion Invested: Beloved of Asmodeus]
Looking around in panic, Shiho slowly stood up, she knew this place somehow, despite never seeing it before. "What is this place… ? Shujin? No… The Castle of Lust… What? How did I know that? I've never been here before… Have I… ?"
Asahi, on the other hand, was busy examining the gate. "You sure about that Suzui? This Sign here says Shujin Academy."
Walking over, the disheveled Athlete looked at the indicated sign, which to her, looked as if two signs were superimposed over each other. "One of them does, I think? I assume the other is what I called it. So, this place… has two names?"
Looking sidelong at the other girl, Asahi voiced her confusion. "One of them… ? You ok Suzui? I only see one sign. Is this strange air getting to you? You look a bit woozy actually, if this
is Shuujin we can get Mr. Manaka to check you out, c'mon, let's get inside, lean on me." Throwing her companion's arm over her shoulders, Asahi guided Shiho into the Castle.
Finding a typical grand foyer, the bespectacled girl swore. "Fuck! HELLO! ANYONE HERE!? WE NEED HELP!"
At the sudden shout, beefy Knights in thick lead armour and plain blue masks came charging out of various corridors to encircle the pair, with one Knight standing closer than the others.
Stumbling back as much as she could without bumping into the Knights behind her, Asahi yelped. "Gah! Where'd you guys come from!? Anyway, it doesn't matter, can you show us where the nearest doctor or nurse is?"
Not saying a word, the lead knight stepped forward, lifted it's sword and clubbed both of the girls around the head with the pommel, knocking them both out.
Waking up with a groan, Shiho looked around in a daze, trying to discern where she was. Seeing a castle dungeon with chains and other…
Equipment lying about caused her to break out in a cold sweat, surely they were just for show,
right? Spotting Asahi wandering around the room doing her strange note-taking, Shiho shakily stood and walked over to her. "Did you notice something?"
Inclining her head in the other girl's direction, Asahi sighed. "Not as such, no, I did find a vent, but best as I can tell it just leads to another cell. Nothing useful to us I'm afraid. There's not even a guardsman around for us to try one of those cliché key-grabbing tricks."
Hearing quick and angry footsteps coming their way, the girls backed up towards the cots. As the figures came into sight, Shiho became as straight and rigid as if she was standing in front of a strict sergeant, for standing on the other side of the prison cell door, flanked by an entourage of the bulky guards from earlier, was Suguru Kamoshida, face morphed into a rictus of unquenchable fury and completely naked besides a light blue speedo, a red fur cape patterned with hearts and a tiny crown perched on his head.
Grabbing the cell door, Kamoshida wrenched it open and strode in, looming over the two second years, his oddly golden gaze seemed to burn down on Asahi in particular, even causing her to shrink in on herself. "Well!?" he barked out, "What do you have to say for yourself!? After I disbanded your little insurgency group and
graciously let you stay in
my castle when I drove out all your `friends,` you not only snuck out to find new aid, but wrapped up my Queen-to-be in your lies and slander!? I don't care what the Emperor says, I'll execute you myself, here and now! Guards! Bring me my sword! Protect the lady, she needs to see this." Backhanding Asahi towards the wall, he accepted a golden sword from one of the guards while the rest formed a defensive wall around Shiho, leaving enough room for her to see the olympian raise his sword.
"No! Stop!"
Looking around the suddenly silent cell, Shiho came to to the horrifying realization that the panicked shout came from her. She'd just directly defied her tyrannical coach to his face!
Turning around with a startled look on his face, Kamoshida walked over to the volleyball star. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you believe her lies, she's a serial saboteur, our castle's better off without her. Don't you agree, My Queen?... Wait… Those eyes…" Grabbing her chin, he angled her head to get a better look. He must've found something he hated, as his face devolved into a nightmarish snarl. "No… who… who… who are you… ? YOU ARE NOT MY QUEEN!" With that, he picked up Shiho by the neck and threw her into the wall.
As she lay there, pitifully sprawled where he threw her. Reality seemed to stop and fade. Leaving behind a beautifully shining blue butterfly and a young girl's voice.
"
This is truly an unjust game.
Your chances of winning…
...Are almost none.
But if my voice is reaching you.
There may yet be...
...A possibility open to you."
Having finished it's piece, the butterfly let off a bright flash before reality reasserted itself, Shiho wished it hadn't. Despite his goofy attire, Kamoshida cut an intimidating figure silhouetted against the dungeon's candlelight, sword pointed directly at her. "HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU PRETEND TO BE MY BELOVED SHIHO! I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THIS YOU FILTHY BITCH!"
Hearing him call her `his beloved` after everything he put her and the volleyball team through made Shiho's blood boil. Deciding that she'd already started defying him so there was no point in holding back anymore, she bolted up. "Your beloved!? I'm sorry, but
what about beating me and molesting my best friend insinuates that you love me!? Yes, I
know what you do to Ann. She never used to wear her sleeves down, even during winter." Panting slightly from the force of her emotions, Shiho suddenly cradled her head as pain blossomed behind her eyes.
"
Oh? Is it finally time to dance Madame?" Suddenly a melodious voice rang out causing Shiho to writhe in pain as she felt something grow on her face. "
Yes, I see you have finally retained enough of your fire's warmth to cast off your persecutor's chain and seek your own fortune heedless of their wishes. Oh, how long have I prayed for this day? Now, cast off the mask forced upon you and let thine flames of passion run free!" Grasping the bronze colombina etched with flame designs that suddenly appeared on her face, she struggled with it, but the more she managed to pry off, the more she felt her skin break, yet something told Shiho that the mask
needed to come off.
Shifting her stance up against the wall to provide more leverage, she pried away he new mask with a mighty scream. "Hrk!... Hrrrgh!... HRRRAAAGH!!!" with a horrible tearing sound, the mask came away, leaving Shiho's face covered in blood as if all the skin under the mask was ripped away to. Only a few seconds after the mask came off though, Shiho was doused in a deep blue inferno.
Once the fire died down, Shiho was still standing there, just not in her traditional attire. Wearing an ash grey leather jumpsuit with a bronze belt and pink gloves along with her readdorned mask made her seem more dangerous than the normally reserved girl of Shuujin academy. Adding to the sense of danger was the figure floating behind her; A seven foot woman with pitch black skin and golden eyes, garbed in a cocktail seemingly woven from ash and studded with glowing embers, gold jewellery clasped at her arms and neck, while her feet were clad in glass slippers, she looked refined yet capable. "
I am The Ash Fool- Cinderella! Your kind, yet Rebellious Soul called to me child. If it is your wish, I shall lend you my aid for the coming trials, but remember; all acts must come from yourself."
"Yes please, Cinderella… I need to stand up to this oaf." Hearing the girl's threat, the Guard standing directly behind Kamoshida rushed forward and burst into a black and red ink-like substance which instantly recondensed into a mini red devil with a rather prominent fifth appendage.
Feeling two items appear in her hands, both weapons.
In her left hand was a…
[] Tonfa.
[] Bo Staff.
[] Stiletto Knife.
[] Sabre.
In her right hand was a…
[] Sniper Rifle.
[] Pistol.
[] Shotgun.
[] Grenade.
GM Notes: IT'S ALIIIVE! Good god almighty! That's thirst time a story has spun so out of control, I had to delete half of my original draft, then my muse died for… 3 months. Really, it's thanks to
@Anya Homura for kicking me up the ass, otherwise this'd stay dead.
Now, I
do have more notes for this update, but I'm about to crash from writing overload. I'll fill you all in when I get up.
