Rose Arcane University: The Dragon King Arc

A Date With Destiny

The news to fight a dangerous creature for simply a new recruit had everyone frightened to even pair up with Raijin after this discovery. Raijin could only face his friends at this point. But even they were hesitant on it. "Tetsuo...?" Raijin would ask first to aid his quest. Tetsuo knew in this current state, he'd be rather useless against a creature this feared amongst the best their school had to offer. "Well...I have a personal mission of my own. But what the heck? I'm not letting you go through this alone. Count me in!" Tetsuo answered with false bravado clamping his vocal cords to speak in such a manner. Raijin could tell he was afraid but out of concern for his friend that he valued highly, was willing to throw that fear aside to help. "I'd go...if it wasn't for duties elsewhere. Violet reminded me of the amount of paperwork due to multiple women that signed up but weren't picked due to Zeroth halting the festivities." Raijin and Tetsuo nodded understanding her predicament but hope wasn't fully lost as Sun leapt onto Raijin's shoulders. "Don't worry, I'll go with them." Sun offered his services towards his new friends. Kusanagi lightly hugged herself out of sheer apprehension for what could be on the way.

Regardless, Kusanagi forced a smile across her lips to grant a sense of reassurance. "I'm sure they'll be fine under your protection." Kusanagi answered towards Sun's words which underneath this guise of hers was an underlying truth. A truth that Raijin could see all to well. She was afraid, an understandable emotion considering everything that transpired. Their initial reunion is already splitting them apart. She at least wanted some time with Raijin to herself. It's been forever and her facade amongst everyone else can be dropped while talking with him specifically. He makes a splash return into her life and immediately his life is thrown into peril on his first mission from this university she has come to know and love. The last thing that she wanted was to lose Raijin if things go south on this journey. His train of thought became lost upon her speaking again. "When will you be leaving?" She would query to Raijin. Because of how much he cares about her and the legitimate wanting of being near her, he was willing to postpone this adventure for a bit longer if need be. "Well I'm not going right away. If that's what your wondering. I have other things I feel like doing before that." Raijin says with a soft smile pursed on his lips giving a tiny hint thrown Kusanagi's way. A hint she caught onto and let a smile show letting him know she's got it.

"Well then. That should leave some time to enjoy yourselves. Don't you think?" Zeroth encouraged the two individuals and slightly pushed towards a spark since his conversation with Tetsuo made him ship the two in almost holy matrimony if he had his way in this. "I say I could perhaps take that load off your hands and enjoy your friend. After all, I did stop everything on account that everyone was petrified by his actions. Go. Have fun. I'll handle it. Make plans. Do whatever." Zeroth would motivate the duo to do anything that fits them.

This opportunity offered Raijin some time to enjoy some well needed relaxation. Something to cherish could motivate Raijin to come back safely. Kusanagi made a soft cough noise before she would shift herself to head back outside. Triggering Raijin to follow after her, Unbeknownst to them, that discrete moment only fueled the flames for their fellow comrades wanting to see them have a relationship at this point despite just meeting the former.

"You didn't have to do that, you know?" Kusanagi confronted Raijin on the subject prior while standing directly along the promenade leading to the training area. Her orbs gazing at the stars above her. Raijin ambled his way to her side with his hands in his pockets. "I know...but I wanted to." Raijin admitted while nudging her shoulder letting Kusanagi enjoy his playful mannerisms and join in by nudging his shoulder back. "I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Kusa." Raijin says charging his left hand up and slashing a gateway to his domain and left for the night. "Goodnight, Rai." Kusanagi whispered before watching the portal close in on itself. Kusanagi summoned a sword from out of nowhere and sliced open her dimension to retreat for the night. Raijin couldn't remove the light smirk along his lips the more his thoughts trailed to thinking about Kusanagi. Entering his new home helped have himself feel more accomplished and welcomed than he's ever been before. His creative mindset allowed him such power but tried to control himself from having visions of Kusanagi appear in his home. That would just be slightly weird in his book and held himself in check enough to lay in his bed. The bed he had in his possession gave Raijin the feeling of sleeping on a cloud due to its softness. With little to no issue at all, Raijin felt himself succumb to sleep for the night.

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Morning arose swiftly after a well needed resting for the likes of Raijin. His eyes slowly opened to the bedroom he forged for himself and couldn't help but feel he deserved this opportunity for once in his life. After prepping himself for the day, Raijin escaped his portal and decided to leave the grand halls of the estate and back towards the school. It was here that he learned that the entire function resided within the sky and separated through floating boulders that one could traverse if they have not acquired the ability to warp themselves.

There, he noticed Icarus there standing near the edge leading to the drop off into Elysium. "Didn't expect to see you here." Raijin spoke to start their communication exchanging issuing a light chuckle from the older man. "Heh. I could say the same for you. But alas, that would be a lie. Your here for Lady Kusanagi, aren't you?" He figured was the case considering what he's heard over the course of his duration here at the school. "How do you know that?" Raijin wondered given this was a special moment set to be shared between them. "Because she wouldn't stop talking about you. I am her father figure after all." Icarus would announce to the former. "Wait...what?" Raijin says as he flashed back to the days at the orphanage and remembered a man with a similar build choose Kusanagi over Raijin since Tetsuo was the first of the trio to go. "So that was you. Is that the real reason you brought me here?" Raijin confronted the man before his answer was answered rather straight away. "Partially. As I said, the option is there to help you learn and find out the truth about your family. But also because Zeroth requested for you." Icarus insisted was one of the reasons why he came for him that day. "But, Kusanagi never liked anyone we tried to set her up with. Nothing blossomed between those that have tried. But your name kept coming up and so...I jumped at the opportunity when I learned they wanted you. To kill two birds with one stone. They get their target, Kusanagi gets her friend back." Icarus explains as Raijin looks at him with a raised eyebrow when he spoke on this topic. "This ain't one of those 'you better not hurt my daughter' trope talks...is it?" Raijin figured was the case given the information that was relayed to him. Instinctively, Icarus's fatherly tendencies awakened making him attempt at striking fear in Raijin. "And what if it is?" He asked in a threatening manner of tone. Instead of being intimidating, Raijin stepped up to him to the point that their noses nearly touched while foreheads clashed amongst each other. "Cause that is the last thing on my mind when it comes to her." Raijin says as Icarus surprisingly backed off feeling that monstrous aura from the boy. "Hmph. You better." Icarus says trying to remain tough but his endeavor fell flat when Kusanagi came forward to the two of them. "Dad? What are you doing out here?" She asked only for Icarus to cover up his antics. "Nothing sweetie. Just wanted to see you and Raijin off. Isn't that right?" Icarus says wanting Raijin to play along but get a rather neutral answer from his lips. "Something like that. Believe what you will." Raijin would respond making Icarus slightly cough from this. Kusanagi chuckled at this before shaking her head. "Dad. I can take care of myself, you know? Besides, I got Raijin. He'll watch what I can't see and then some, right?" She asked in a rather cheerful disposition to which Raijin actually responded firmly to her unlike her adoptive father. "Yeah. You know it." Raijin would eagerly retort effortlessly to these words. "Now. Let's get going, Rai." Kusanagi says as she brushed her shoulder against Raijin. She walked past the two of them with Raijin ready to follow but overheard her father aiming for his attention yet again. "Pst! Hey! Remember. She needs her friend more than ever. You got that?" Icarus tried to issue as a hint but Raijin merely rolled his eyes while continuing his stride till he was next to Kusanagi. "Alright. What are we doing?" Raijin wanted to know given their current status left them on the very edge of the rocky platform. "We're jumping." Kusanagi would answer as she leapt off with no hesitation. Raijin watched for a second and given that's what they had to do, Raijin turned his back and fell backwards following Kusanagi's lead as the two friends dropped the massive height until both landed on their own circular platforms came zooming through the sky catching them and carrying them the rest of the way down. "Welcome to Elysium, Rai." Kusanagi started by showing the main plaza off to him. Raijin started noticing that Elysium looked like Tokyo, but was heavily more fantasy based with less normal technology in exchange for magitek. Even supernatural creatures from all walks of life were here. It fascinated Raijin incredibly as he ran in decorations designed as suns and most of the townsfolk could be seen praying within the center and kids playing about outside the circle. "What's this all about? Is this some kind of cult thing?" Raijin asked Kusanagi about their current actions going about that confused him at every opportunity. "Heh, no. The city is hosting their spectacular event known as the Solar Festival. Because of the existence of Polytheism, Elysium usually has events like this to celebrate all gods that control a certain aspect with offerings and prayers." Kusanagi explained while gracefully moving past civilians and children. "I figured since we had time to kill. We could spend time here. It's been ages since we've gotten to do anything. I missed these days. Like when we would sometimes sneak out of the orphanage so we could go to Ueno Park are look at the Sakura Blossom trees?" Kusanagi remembered distinctly of their shenanigans when they could with Raijin being the one to take the initiative and she followed him almost everywhere. "I remember. Good times." Raijin stoically replied by keeping his answers short and sweet to the point. "You never got out much after that, did you?" Kusanagi wondered given Raijin's lack of enthusiasm towards her opportunities to reminiscence the memories she held dear to her heart. "I wouldn't say that." Raijin spoke up towards her words. "Oh? Enlighten me. Tell me everything." She giggled knowing she now got him talking. Now entangled within this conversation, Raijin decided to describe his lifestyle to her since the last time they met. "I always had money...somehow...you already know about my parents. But my sisters? That was something I never really spoke about." Raijin started as the duo rested on a nearby bench in front of a fountain display in town. "I didn't know you had siblings." Kusanagi spoke directly towards her best friend on the topic. "Heh. Well...due to their careers we barely know each other anyway. So they wouldn't have picked me up or anything like that. After all, X-Kiss is on the rise." Raijin displayed levels of doubt to his closest friend but her eyes sparkled brightly upon this revelation and before she could scream what she was just told, Raijin placed a finger to her lips. "Don't...do what I think you were just about to do..." Raijin would interrupt this moment and remove his single digit away from her lips. "Your sisters are X-Kiss? They are forever rising the charts and hit the number one spot whenever they release which is quite frequent. Which ones?" She wanted to know with a light twinkle in her eyes that allowed Raijin to lightly huff out and gave in to her "All of them." Raijin would acknowledge as the actual answer to her question. Kusanagi was surprised that her best friend knew such abilities. "So was the ability to sing and dance passed on to you too?" Kusanagi figured she would question now knowing this. To this, Raijin turned his head towards her quickly. "Don't even think about it." He speedily answered to this bringing forth a hearty laugh from Kusanagi leading for Raijin to do the same and both ended up laughing in unison until it finally calmed down.

As the laughter died down in tone, Kusanagi focused towards the morning horizon. "You only bring that side of you out to people like me and Tetsuo. No one else gets to see that. Why is that?" She would inquire from him given this was a personal matter between the two friends. "Because you two were the only friends I had back then. I still see you as such." Raijin would explain himself as to why they received such a blissful experience when interacting with him specifically while others may receive minor versions or the cold shoulder treatment. "Your special to me. That's what matters." The simplistic genuine heartfelt manner gave Kusanagi chills as her current sensation shifted into a literal personification of said feeling when a breeze hit her hair, allowing it to flow freely in such a majestic way. The sudden silence between them from such distractions that the kids or other adults conversing amongst one another was all that was heard as the wind passed. Suddenly, Kusanagi would break that silence into a tension heavy moment.

"I want you to promise me something." Kusanagi spoke up making Raijin look in her general direction. "Two things...actually." She added to her statement before continuing. "I want you to promise that whenever I feel helpless or weak...you'll be the one to save me. As for the second... when you go to face Ragnar the Terrible...come back to me in one piece..." She says fearing the possibility that this mission may take his life. Leaving many words to be left unsaid if this one task takes him away. Raijin looked towards the clouds before looking down at her hand and placed his over hers. Catching her undivided attention, their eyes met to which Raijin would respond to those words with three of his own: "Count on it." Kusanagi fought tears from welling up but took a quick breather and blocked this emotional moment by offering a chance to blow off some steam and get some well needed exercise through available missions across the main town. Raijin couldn't help but enjoy this occasion amongst the one friend he never thought he'd get to see again. But gratefully so he was granted yet another opportunity at this chance that he wasn't going to let slip up. During their journey across town, Raijin noticed that Kusanagi was known across the city for her tough but loving personality that she put on display. She's stolen a large quantity of hearts from the men in town that knew her and would do everything in their power to earn some form of affection. It's become a rather hostile situation now that they are aware that the man she spoke of was now here and threatening their chances of a potential relationship happening. Raijin on the other hand grew slightly tired of various challenges and unnecessary bloodshed was thwarted from Kusanagi being his voice of reason. He was tired of the men in town seeing her as a subject of flirtatious desire. Therefore, his inner rage was luckily quelled with her interference and continued their time together that was being spent while they still had it.

Raijin and Kusanagi placed themselves on a hilltop cliff where the two of them sat against each others backs and could enjoy the pinkish hue of the sun beginning to set. "You know...I needed this. Thank you for deciding to do this with me, Raijin." She thanked him and took his ponytail into her hands softly weaving her hands through his hair. "I told you. I wanted this too. I needed this and loved almost every second of it." He clarified with her knowing what moments he didn't like thus allowing a laugh to escape her. "Heh. Yeah. But luckily you didn't have to kill any of them." She joked though she was well aware that he could of. "You really do care about me. Thank you, Raijin. At least you don't listen to his inadequate attempts of threatening people to be my friend." She says knowing he's been doing that as of late and tried to do the same to him. "How do you...?" Raijin would inquire but was cut off by Kusanagi gently tugging on his ponytail. A finger pressed against her lips before speaking again. "Father isn't right all of the time..." She says with a genuine beautiful smile that caused Raijin to return such a thing back in her direction. "Heh..." He chuckled as they remained like this until nighttime struck. The countdown to his fight only decreasing from that moment forward.

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"So...how did it go?" Icarus asked giving the assumption that he has either been awaiting their return or has been watching them ever since their departure. "It was fun, I really enjoyed myself. Thanks again, Rai. I'd like to walk with you back to my guild but...it's an all girls group. I doubt you'd want to be around that or rumors start going on about us." Kusanagi thought was the case when it came between them. Raijin going out of his way to keep her happy would issue a statement that shocked her. "Let them talk. I don't mind walking you there. Or if the rumors spread." Raijin would declare to her before both looked deeply into each others hues for a short notice. "Alright. That's enough you two. You! Domain. Now." Icarus ordered Raijin who seemed confused by his hostile manner of separating the two friends. Instead of rebelling against him, Raijin charged his energy into his left hand and slashed open a vortex to his dimension. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kusa." Raijin says before entering and letting the portal close behind him.

Meanwhile, far above this display in the high tower of the school resided the Chancellor who stood next to Zeroth watching this entire thing."You know we can't wait another day of fooling around between friends when we could use him in our future endeavor." He spoke as if there was a tremendously huge event set to occur that needed Raijin at his very best. "Are you really in that need of a rush? Sir, he just got here. Let him enjoy his friends while he still has them. I know he's a rarity and you wanted him here as much as I do. But-" Zeroth tried to convince his superior officer. But was immediately cut off. "He needs to hurry unless there won't be anymore friends and make a new villain out of himself. Alaric Grimshadow is coming...and he won't stop until he breaks the barrier that separates fantasy from reality. Tell him that tomorrow is the day he goes. That's final." He ordered Zeroth from the shadows before he bowed to him out of respect. "Yes sir..."