"...Acchan...Takamina..."
'Acchan? Takamina? Was it their name?' Rena thought, she just sat there dumbfounded, her wounds forgotten.
"Yaa, just in few days and you got close enough to a civilian that she helped to hide you?" the short haired girl chuckled loudly. "You're as awesome as always when it's come to get people's affinity. You live to your name, prince charming."
Jurina backed slowly until her back touched the wall, her arms touched the windowsill. Her eyes switched between Rena who was on the ground and Atsuko who was slowly marching on her.
Seeing Jurina's uncertainty, Takamina moved in front of Rena, blocking the younger girl view.
"Why don't you just go back with us, Jurina? And everything can go back to how it was." Takamina smiled, offering her hand. "All of us can chat and live happily."
Jurina slowly closed her eyes to calm herself, her hand won't stop trembling. Her breath became uneven. All her senses screamed to run away, that there's no way to win against the two.
"And you know, Jurina?" Takamina said loudly, taking Jurina's attention, her tone became not too cheerful anymore.. "If you surrender peacefully..."
Takamina glanced at Rena and smirked.
"No one would get hurt eventually."
That statement made Jurina's heart sank. How come it became like this? Even Rena was dragged into this mess.
While Jurina's fighting mentally to not let herself cower in fear against these two, her impending doom became even closer. Her saddistic smile even grow wider by each step she took.
"Actually I don't mind even if she's struggling a bit, Minami. A workout is nice once in a while."
That's it. She couldn't take it anymore. She already made it this far, and she won't let anything ruin her dream. Not even her ex-comrades. Not even...Rena.
Without any hesitation Jurina turned around and jumped out from the window. Seeing her prey tried to escape, Atsuko followed suit, she also ran and jumped out from the window.
"Jurina!!" Rena shouted, shocked. Her room was on the fifth floor, for crying outloud! Who's on their right mind would jumped down from that height?!
She quickly composed herself and ran to the window. Looking down she saw Jurina landed safely on the ground and ran away, while the other girl still hopping down from a veranda to another trying to follow Jurina.
"Aah, that's what you get for being too cocky, Acchan!"
Rena turned around to see the other girl. She was scratching her already messy hair, and whine. "Now we have to chase her all over again..."
Takamina sighed, and turned to Rena. She felt guilty for what happened to her. The girl's just a bystander who got dragged into this matter. She supposed to erase any evidence, including any witness but...she's not a person who's capable of killing random innocent people. "Sorry for disturbing your night. I'll send someone to repair your door tomorrow."
The shorter girl walked to the broken door, and stopped once she reached it.
"For your own sake...Remember this, you never met a girl called Jurina." Takamina said, before she left, trying to catch up with her partner.
Rena was left behind, alone and dumbfounded. What happened in the last few minutes was too much for her. Rena looked back to the window, Jurina and the girl who was called Acchan was already nowhere to be found. It seems they already ran quite a distance.
Rena felt a pang of worry in her guts and muttered her name unconsciously.
"Jurina...please be safe."
.
.
.
Pant. Pant. PANT.
Her breath become rougher and rougher as each seconds passed. Her lung burned, her muscles sore to the bone. But she kept forcing her leg to run. No matter what, she won't let herself be caught now.
Not now. Not after she tasted the sweetness of freedom.
Jurina kept running until finally her legs gave up and she stumbled down on the pavement. The fall bruised her skin on her arms and leg, but it didn't matter now.
As Jurina tried to get up, she felt a hard stomp on her back. It's strong enough to force her back on the pavement.
Jurina hissed in pain.
"Your agility is quite something. But you know that you won't be able to outrun me." Jurina whipped her head back and saw Atsuko standing tall before her, panting slightly. "At least not in your current state."
"Acchan! Please, let me go!" Jurina pleaded, but her plead didn't reach the other girl. Instead she increased the pressure which made the younger girl screamed.
Hearing the younger girl in agony didn't make Atsuko flinch at all. She knew it hurted a lot, but it wouldn't hurt the younger girl permanently. She just needed to inflict enough amount of pain so the younger girl can no longer oppsoe her, or better, she hoped Jurina will obediently followed her back out of fear.
But after years knowing her, Atsuko knew she wouldn't. She's quite a stubborn girl. Just like herself and most of the member.
"Why did you run, Jurina?" Their place was perfect, everyone was living together happily. But one after another they started to disappear. "I won't let you disappear too." Atsuko mumbled unconsciously, her eye downcast.
Feeling the pressure on her back lighten, Jurina took that opportunity to break free from her captor. The sudden movement made Atsuko stumbled few steps back.
Her back hurts. A lot. If Atsuko pressed a little more, she would have broken or at least fractured some of her bones. Jurina clenched her fists and brought it upwards, making a fighting stance.
That made the frown on Atsuko's face deepen. She removed her glasses and placed it on her breast pocket. Her fist raised in the similar stance.
"I'm going to make you regret this, Jurina."
"AAaAaaHhHH!!!" Jurina shouted her battle cry and lunged forward. The cry was more to pump her courage than to scare her opponent.
'I don't have to win. I just have to landed a blow or two and make her disoriented. I can still escape if she lower her guard a bit.' Jurina chanted in her head.
The younger girl unleashed a left hook which was avoided smoothly. It was followed by serial punches which was either dodged of blocked effortlessly. As two traded fists, Jurina managed to press Atsuko and made her move backwards step by step.
'I can do it!' As another punch was dodged, Jurina leaned in to deliver an uppercut but was met with a palm on her chin. It was not a hard blow, but the move made Jurina's lose her timing and was forced back to collect herself.
But Atsuko wouldnn't let her recover from the surprise attack. She closed in, grabbed Jurina's shoulder and kneed her in the stomach, hard. As Jurina staggered to keep herself up, Atsuko delivered an axe-kick that finally brought the younger girl on her knees.
"Did you learn your lesson yet?"
Acchan's voice and tone raged her. It sounded like she was on another whole level that couldn't be reached, no matter how hard she tried.
Jurin gritted her teeth and recklessly swung her fist forward, tried to at least land a blow on Atsuko. With a swift movement, Atsuko caught her punch and using the momentum, she threw the younger girl.
After Jurina landed painfully, she felt herself was caught in a hammerlock immediately.
"So? Will you go back obediently?"
"No! Argh!" Jurina screamed immediately as Atsuko applied more pressure on her shoulder joints.
"Do I have to dislocate your joint first or what?" Atsuko threatened.
'Darn it. Is the gap between us is that far?'
Witnessing the lack of reply from the younger girl, Atsuko did what she threatened.
At that moment, a loud, agonizing scream filled the nights.
Her vision almost whitened. Her body trembling, screamed in pain too much it went numb. Tears started to streaming down her beautiful face.
Luckily they're on a remote area, but if things were to continue, no doubt they'll attract people's attention.
Atsuko sighed and got up, she'll just have to drag the younger back. Maybe she'll have to make her faint first, thus refraining the younger girl from causing any trouble.
Even as her senses was on fire, the younger girl keep struggling to move away from her captor. Her determination showed in her tears-filled-eyes.
"Why...why are you struggling so hard to escape? It's useless! No matter how hard you tried, it's useless Jurina!" Atsuko shouted. "Even if you managed to escape, you won't be able to survive alone in this world! Humans are a filthy creature, they'll only use you and throw you away once you're no longer useful to them!"
"And yet you cling to those you called filthy creature!" Jurina shouted.
"What?" Atsuko's eyes widened at the sudden outburst.
"Takamina, she--"
"Don't you dare to finish your sentence, Jurina!" Atsuko silenced the younger girl. "Don't you dare to associate Minami with those filth! She--Minami is different!"
"So you DO understand that not all human is as bad as they taught us! I met with Rena-chan and her frienda, none of them are bad people!" Jurina tried to argue. Maybe, just maybe, she can convince Acchan to let her go. "You, of all people should know about our benefactors. They're not a kind-hearted people who supported us and the facilities out of kindness. They're using us as a guinea pig! With your strength, you can easily break free of their chain, but why did you stay as their lapdog instead?!"
It was true. Atsuko lowered her gaze. She knew everything the younger girl said was true. "I can't...Minami, she..."
"Then just bring Takamina with you, if you explain I'm sure she'll understand!"
"Shut up, Jurina."
Jurina clamped her mouth with the sudden coldness in Atsuko's voice. When their eyes met, Jurina felt another chill went down on her spine as she saw how hollow Atsuko's eyes looked.
"It's none of your business. My job is just to retrieve you back to the facility. No more, no less. Save your heart wrenching story for later, J." Atsuko walked towards the helpless girl and yanked her head up.
Atsuko took a small injection capsule from her pocket. It was filled with a bright blue substance. The fear shown on Jurina's face told that she knew what it was.
"You...that...no-NO!" Jurina's struggled as hard as she could with only one arm functioning.
"I never wanted to use this, but you're the one who asking with your stubborn attitude." Atsuko took the tip off and readied the needle.
"Brace yourself."
Atsuko slammed the needle on Jurina's left-side neck, and watched as the substance slowly disappear into the younger girl's bloodstream.
When all of the substance finally disappeared, Atsuko pulled the needle out and withdrawn her grip from the younger girl. Atsuko let Jurina crashed down on the pavement and watched as she spasmed. The younger girl pupils dilated, it started to change between shining bright blue and her normal color.
"A-aa---hh--aa--!" Incoherent sounds went out from her mouth as she struggled to keep awake. She tried to get up with her hand, but failed misearbly and came back down in an instant. Her shivering went down as her eyes blurred before finally she lost her conscious.
Atsuko sighed again as she saw the younger girl finally stopped moving. It'll be way easier to bring her back to the facility while she's unconscious.
As Atsuko walked to the unconscious girl lying on the pavement, she felt a ferocious aura from her back. She stopped her tracks and redirected her vision to see a familiar short brown haired girl with a jumper and hotpants smiling towards her.
The girl smile showed her infamous dimple and her prominent squirrel's tooth.
Acchan squinted her eyes. "Yuuko."
"Acchan." The short girl replied her without removing her smile.
"What were you doing here?" Acchan started coldly. Her trained eyes followed the other girl's movement, even the smallest twitch.
"Yaaa~ that's not the way you speak to an old comrades, Acchan. Especially one you haven't met in years." The girl called Yuuko smiled and walked towards Atsuko, but stopped midway as Atsuko raised her fist in a fighting stance.
"But...it seems the girls these days is lacking a rigorous training. To be defeated by you in your current state is..." Yuuko stopped her sentence, not knowing how she should finish the sentence without angering the other girl. "Anyway, they should've been able to put up a better fight." Yuuko finished, she tilted her head to take a better look on the unconscious girl.
"Soo, how is she? Acchan injected the drug on her after all. Should we prepare a chain leash?" Yuuko asked in a sing-song voice.
At first Atsuko's a bit confused with Yuuko's question. But then she realized the squirrel girl isn't talking to herself. Atsuko whipped her head and saw another girl, clad in a black hoodie and skirt was kneeling beside Jurina, examining the unconscious girl.
"Don't worry, the amount that was injected isn't enough to forcefully awakens her. But just in case, I think we still have to prepare the leash. She may undergo a semi-awakened state as a side effect when she regain her conscious." The hooded girl replied. The hood covered most of her face, but by the way she spoke and her knowledge about the drug, Atsuko has a good hunch on who's the hooded girl.
"Leave her. She's my prey." Atsuko mentioned the hooded girl to move away, but was ignored completely as the hooded girl tried to carry Jurina in bridal style.
"I said--" Atsuko stopped when she felt another tremendous aura emitted by Yuuko.
"The drug, while a small dose of it can be used as anesthesia...A larger dose can..." Atsuko faced her old friend once again, seeing her pupils dilated and her brown orbs change its color.
Years ago when she disappeared, she thought she'd never see those eyes again. Yet now, those brilliantly glowing golden eyes was staring at her.
"Awaken a beast." Yuuko finished her sentence and ran to Atsuko, giving her a side kick strong enough to throw her few feets back.
"Go. I'll handle her." Yuuko said to the hooded girl. The hooded girl nodded and took a few steps back before totally disappear, blending with the darkness surrounded the area.
Atsuko rubbed her arm that took the impact from Yuuko's kick. She eyed the squirrel girl and smirked. "You think you can defeat me?" Atsuko took another capsule containing the drug.
Eyeing the small injection, Yuuko knew this is going to be a rough fight. But she just smiled and shrugged, "What? I'm the current Ace. Your era already over, Acchan."
"You may be the Ace now, Yuuko. But I'm a legend!"
Atsuko stabbed her neck with the injection capsule. As the substance drained to her bloodstream, her pupils dilated and shone a brilliant blue brightly.
Two strong forces collided head first. Their hands were on death grip pushing the other away, testing each other's strength.
Knowing she'd definitely lose if she chose to compete on a raw power with Atsuko, Yuuko let her hand loosened suddenly and deliver a front snap kick which was blocked perfectly by Atsuko. Not going down, Yuuko pressed further with her consecutive kicks and finished her combo with a combination of low, middle, and high reverse roundhouse kick.
Atsuko took several step backs with her fists high guarding her face and body. By personal experience she knew if she let herself got caught by Yuuko combo. Her agility didn't decrease when compared to the last they fought in a mock battle, she even seemed to have more tricks up on her sleeve. She can't let her guard down even in a bit.
"It seemed when you ingested the drug you can go back to your prime time, Acchan. But I don't think it will stay in a long time. The efficiency of the drug you used will be decreased each time you used it." Yuuko said, examining the other girl. Her movement is a bit sluggish compared to when she was the first Ace.
"And not to mention the side effect..." Yuuko trailed off. "You should just step down and retire, Acchan. Find some place secluded and live happily with Takamina there."
"You know I can't do that, Yuuko." Acchan readied herself to continue with the battle, but Yuuko just laughed.
"Now, now Acchan. Don't be too aggresive. My job is just to lure you, not fighting you to death." Yuuko giggled. "And it seems that my job has finished. See you, Acchan." Yuuko slowly step back.
"You think I'll let you off that easily?!" Acchan ran towards Yuuko, but it was too late. The squirrel girl was already blended in the darkness and was nowhere to be seen.
"As much as I know that I can't match you in term of raw power. You too should know that you can't match me in term of agility." Yuuko voice echoed. "Oh and there's a hello from Nyan Nyan."
Atsuko stopped in her tracks, frowning. "Kojiharu too?"
.
.
.
Morning came quickly, not that she actually got a time to sleep peacefully. Her minds was in a haywire. Too much happened to her last night.
Squinting her eyes from the glaring sun, Matsui Rena finally rose from her futon.
Because of last night incident, she have to move to Akane's and Airi's room, adding one extra futon there. Not only that, she has to convince her friends that Jurina was back to Tokyo due to an urgent situation about her family and a robber went inside her room while she was escorting Jurina to the nearest station. A bruise on her arm was because she clumsily fall down on her way back to the inn.
It was a lame story. And she herself wondered how come her friends buy it nonetheless.
"Rena-san, breakfast is ready! Let's go down." It was Airi. Rena smiled and walked down with her friend.
In the dining room the others was already there, they even already started on their breakfast.
When the others enjoy their breakfast, Rena still felt a nagging feeling on her heart. Especially about what the ponytailed girl told her last night. What did it mean?
"Anoo, is Matsui Rena-sama here?" An employee went inside the dining room and wave her head, looking for the one who called Matsui Rena.
"Ah, hai?" Rena stood up and went to the employee.
"Um, I'm sorry to disturbed your breakfast, ma'am. There's young lady looking for you in the lobby." The employee said while bowing.
Rena immediately went to te lobby, ignoring the questioning look from her friends. She hoped it was her who's in the lobby. A certain short haired girl that was missing since last night.
A certain puppy...
When Rena arrived in the lobby, she felt a pang of disappointment when it was not her puppy. The person who waited for her was a refined beautiful young woman dressed in a simple cream-colored dress.
"Ah, ano..." Rena trailed off.
The woman in question turned to saw Rena. And when they faced each other, she remembered. "Ah, you're the one from the convenience store!"
The young woman just smiled and nodded.
"Good morning, my name's Kashiwagi Yuki. I'm sorry for disturbing your morning, Rena-san. But this is quite an urgent matter and require your assistance immediately." She bowed, before continuing. "This is about Jurina. Unfortunately we can't speak here, so if it's okay with you. Would you like to come to my place?" The young woman mentioned a black luxury car parked in front of the lobby with a chaffeur stood on its side.
Hearing Jurina's name, without any hesitation Rena nodded her head.
Project J - chapter 5. Flying squirrel to the rescue! Ace vs Legend.
======
Sorry for the late update, ugh it's hard to write a fighting scene. I'm sorry I had to cut it short >_<
How about this chapter? I hope I can buffed your curious level to the max!! （≧∇≦）
And the exciting-ness too! Lol, it's not even a proper word.
By the way, a little bit OOT...
Recently I have a weird dream about Wmatsui vampire story...but in that story the vampire is Rena, not Jurina. The setting was in a school, and I don't remember much other than Jurina kept
harassing getting friendly on Rena without knowing that she's quite special.
Um, just a random thoughts...Is there any fics with smiliar story like that out there? If not I'll be sure to write one someday!! （＾ω＾）
@Koneki, cisda83
It's up! Enjoy!
@POPCAT
Isn't most of the wirters do that? But I'm happy you like my reply, thanks!
@Archer1992
Ah gekikara ne...she'll get her screentime later
Topic: Project J - chapter 8 [WMatsui & others] / 28/8/16 updated (Read 27220 times)