Ichi Soumna's Story

"And now, gentlemen, it's the girl you all have been waiting for. Let's have a big round of applause for Ichi Soumna~"
Ichi could practically feel the deafening roar of the crowd of horny males. Staring at them from center stage, the girl held in a sigh. She was dressed in a black bra, black short shorts, a magenta long jacket that was completely unzipped to expose her chest and bra and magenta boots that went to her knees. Her dark pink eyes conveyed a sense of defeat as long black hair moved and swayed with her movements. Another day of being considered a piece of meat... It ended soon enough. Ichi stared at the mirror as she changed back into her school uniform. She sighed.
"One more shitty day... How many more must I go through?"
When the question left her lips, she felt bitter all over again.
"Oh, right... When I'm dead and have payed for my crimes, that's when all of this ends. At least half of the deal was made..."
She faintly grazed the scar on her chest from where she was shot. She started to walk out and turned to Yukina.
"Yukina, I'm on break. I'll be back in an hour."
She walked outside, entering a restaurant and sighed in defeat.
"Waiter. I need a hot chocolate over here. Now."

"Move your asses, men! One, two! One, two!"
Terao watched as the men and women underneath him continued to work on their training regimen. It had been four months since his father disappeared and he was growing more and more irksome with each passing day.
"Dammit... How am I to know if he died out there or not?"
He quickly shook the thought aside. No, his father was too strong to just die like that... He was just busy is all. He soon heard a knock on the door.
"Yasukawa, sir! I've brought Shiranui, Falcor and Vantrice as requested!"
"Send them in."
Terao turned to face the two Hunters.
"Shiranui. Vantrice. Falcor. I am Terao Yasukawa but you are to address me as Yasukawa. I'm calling you two over to give an important mission. You are to survey Otogibanashi Town with me to search and eliminate any and all Nightmares."

Sachi was still hiding her head in her arms as she fell asleep during class for the fifth time today. It wasn't like she could help it though... It's not her fault that the classroom was so boring...
"... Kunisada... Kunisada...! Wake up, Kunisada!!"
Sachi blinked awake and yawned.
"Huh...? Oh, sorry sensei... I just had the greatest dream is all..."
The teacher sighed heavily.
"Kunisada, need I remind you that you cannot be allowed to sleep during class? Especially since your grades are so terrible?"
"You insist on making lectures boring..."
"Boring- Kunisada! You are hardly in the position to criticize me over my lectures!!"
Unfortunately for the teacher, Sachi fell asleep again. What was the point of learning the lessons during the day when there were so many interesting things happening in the night? Nightmare, Hunters, so many other night owls. Yes... The daytime just wasn't the time for her. Her parents wouldn't care either way so she should try to be happy at least once. Sachi awoke to hear footsteps and found her classroom empty.
"Nn...? How long was I asleep...?"

Arashi leaned against the wall, always keeping his smile, while watching the customers. It was quite calm and peaceful at the moment, most people were probably at work. Upon the sound he quickly turned his gaze towards the door when a young, dark haired lady stepped in, asking for hot chocolate. She didn't seem very happy though.. He noticed that one of his coworkers were about to answer her, but Arashi did not feel like giving up suck a pretty chick as herself.
"Right away, miss." he answered as he shot her a smile before hurrying to get her order, sending his coworker a smirk. Since he himself didn't feel like making anything he was simply going to tell the chef to make a hot chocolate. Within a few seconds he laid eyes on the somewhat chubby, bald man standing in the kitchen, wearing his white clothes.
"Kenta-san, one hot chocolate for the chick." he said smiling as he stepped up to him. Kenta simply nodded before swiftly mixing together the drink.
"Don't go of flirting now." Kenta warned him in a serious tone. Arashi shrugged and grabbed the warm glass.
"Yeah yeah.." he mumbled as he turned around.
"One hot chocolate!" he then said while walking towards the chick, leaving a frowning Kenta behind him.

Ichi raised an eyebrow at the young man who gave her the hot chocolate.
"Chick? That's a new one..."
She took the hot chocolate. She sighed.
"Thanks. Work's been absolute hell so this comfort's nice."
She slowly drank it and sighed.
"So, what's your name anyway?"

Life within the confines of the clubhouse was a bell curve of sorts, at least according to Akazawa Yukina. It would all start out very slow in the late mornings up until the afternoon before reaching their peak in the evenings until late midnight before dying down again.
"And now, gentlemen, it's the girl you all have been waiting for. Let's have a big round of applause for Ichi Soumna~"
"It's beginning..." Akazawa paused for a bit as she glanced at the young girl performing on stage. Before long, their patrons started flocking to her. With the attention gone, she concentrated more on polishing the glasses their customers left, stacking them neatly in a small tower, the colorful lights reflecting off the clear glass.
"Yukina, I'm on break. I'll be back in an hour."
Yukina merely nodded as she went back to tending to the thirsty males, shooting a glance at the glasses as it would be quite a while until she sees them all stacked neatly again.

Amidst the crowd clamoring for a glass of beer or two, Akazawa could make out some of her regulars. Well, not really the same people but rather, the category in which she classified them into.
There were the college students; University people who some perceive as all play and no actual studying done. Akazawa wasn't too quick to think so though. They usually order from the more cheaper of the selection. "Maybe they're just kicking off after passing their exams?"
Then there were the people who belonged in the upper echelons of society. The first to flaunt their stuff, they all seemed like thugs dressed in suits and ties to Akazawa. Can't say that she complains though as these people are the ones who tend to be the loneliest. "Trying to drink away their loneliness?"
Sometimes, she would spot the old veteran who forgets what he orders a few seconds after he did. Times like these, Akazawa would just serve him some coffee lest he gets any more drunk and senile. "Were the horrors of war too great in that he forgets everything else?"

Occasionally, someone would come in that wasn't like the rest, at least as first impressions go. Akazawa wasn't sure what makes them seem so different. Maybe it's the way they walk, or the look in their eyes. They tend to have the best stories to tell, at least the ones who take time to chat with the woman who serves them their beverages, instead of just focusing on the dancing girls on stage all the time. Tonight was one of those nights.


In contrast to the lively activity at the clubhouse, the mood within the school grounds were as dreary as ever. A slight drizzle dampened the already fading enthusiasm of the students attending their classes which would sometimes extend until the wee hours of the night, depending on their chosen electives. It was in this classroom that Kanako Shiina yawned as she struggled to stay awake despite the boring lecture. Even her forced attention was fading though as she slowly drowsed off, her attention fading as talks of statistics, means and medians were being drowned by silence.

"Kunisada, need I remind you that you cannot be allowed to sleep during class? Especially since your grades are so terrible?"
"You insist on making lectures boring..."
"Boring- Kunisada! You are hardly in the position to criticize me over my lectures!!"
Snap! Kanako immediately woke up as their teacher scolded the usual, sleepy Sachi Kunisada for drowsing off. This habit had always struck her as odd as there were more than ten of them, her included, who were always falling asleep in this particular class. Yet, it seems that only Kunisada took actual fire from it.
"Well, sucks to be her. I wouldn't be noticed by anyone--even if I'm to fall asleep right here..." Kanako sighed and opted to just scribble on her notebook to amuse herself.

When dismissal came along, most have started packing up to head home. Unfortunately for Kanako, she still had her Arts elective to attend to, which extends up until the later hours of the evening. Realizing that they had a quiz on various materials for today, she fumbled for her pen inside her bag only to realize that it was gone. She got down to look all over the room, beneath the chairs, in the corners by the door etc, to no avail.
"Aww...It always seem to vanish into another dimension, never to be seen again when this happens." Out of luck, she decided to just borrow one from a schoolmate. There was only one inside the room as of now.

"Nn...? How long was I asleep...?"
"Just the entire duration of the lecture." Kanako answers her question. Extending a hand, she got straight to the point. "Can I borrow a pen? I'll return it tomorrow morning."

Sachi blinked at Kanako. She soon dug around a satchel and handed the girl a pen. It was light green with pink and orange flower designs and a pink rose charm at the end.
"The teacher makes the lectures such a bore so why should I try to pay attention? The ink is black, don't worry. You can keep it if you want. I'll find an interesting one tonight anyway."
She handed the pen to Kanako and stretched as she stood.
"Have fun in art, Shiina. I'm going home. The fun hour is about to start soon and I've gotten enough rest."
As Sachi walked out of Gingeki high, her sleepy expression soon grew into a mysterious smile as she pulled the cat like hood over her head. She soon jumped up on a building and surveyed the late night area, smile growing across her face.
"Well, Otogibanashi, what stories do you have for me today~?"

Terao looked over at Shiranui.
"You are correct, Shiranui. Forgive me. I'm merely being overly cautious. I'm glad you stated your opinion. I need at least one person around here to keep me in check. However, if she isn't a Nightmare, then Falcor should be able to persuade her to go home easily enough."
He pulled out two photographs of two women and gave them to Shiranui.
"Our primary targets are a bartender named Akazawa Yukina and a stripper named Ichi Soumna."

Sachi blinked and looked up from her game to see a Hunter talking to her.
"Who really knows why I'm here? Maybe I'm just bored and looking for attention. It may be a bloodless night if everyone manages to keep their cool."
The girl smiled at him.
"Who are you, Mr. Hunter? My name's Sachi."

Ichi finally finished her drink and sensed someone looking for her.
"Oh, for fuck's sake..."
Leaving the money on the counter, she hid the waiter farewell and found the person pursuing her.
"Oi! You! What the hell do you even want? Why the fuck are you searching for me?"
She got out her sledgehammer, ready to swing if he was a threat.

Gillion snapped his fingers once more and his lance vanished. He took a bow "The name is Gillion Falcor but please feel free to call me Gill." A smile grew on his face as he rose. "Well it is clear you're not a nightmare. So I take it you just enjoy watching the events that happen at night. Since I assume you watch a lot have you ever seen a lance like mine." The lance once again appeared in his hands.


James turned to see a girl wielding a sledgehammer. "So another nightmare....a very easily agitated one at that. Are you sure you want to start a fight here?" Motioned to other people around the street. "No need to involve others in a fight of darkness."

Ichi felt her eye twitch before she let the hammer drop.
"You have a point... So, what are you doing here anyway?"

Terao was about to answer when he soon pulled out his bayonet.
"There are two Nightmares in this area... Shiranui. Intercept Soumna while I try to intercept the unfamiliar one."

Sachi reached up and touched the lance, feeling the texture of it until she accidentally cut herself. Aside from sucking the blood a little, she made no move to treat herself.
"Ow... Well, it certainly is a powerful tool, Gill. You seem to care for it very much given how good its condition is."
Sachi smiled before her eyes caught onto something. Her eyes seemed to sparkle.
"It's going to start soon, Gill~"

"Now apparently." thought Mika as she nodded her head as she gripped the hilt of her sword and started moving at a fast pace to where she believed Ichi would end up if she ran her way. "This is the end of the line for you dreaded nightmare. I hope you find peace." she stated, slowly drawing her claymore before noting a silver feathered hawk flying around some of the area she was in.

"Shit, Majinn Wolf's prowling again? Doesn't that civilian ever learn?" she muttered to herself as she readied to fight Ichi if need be.

----

"Let's see, drug trade, drug trade, drug bust, and the usual hunter campaign against the nightmares in the town. When will those factions ever learn that both tend to do harm and not cast blame to each other? People just don't learn." The Majinn Wolf muttered as he looked around, making sure no one actually thought of following him.

Terao sliced at the unfamiliar Nightmare with his Bayonet.
"It's time you returned to hell, you monstrosity."
Ichi's eye twitched at the girl's statement.
"Was that a joke?! It's not a fucking funny one. I'll never get peace. Not until I find out what killed me."
Her grip tightened on the sledgehammer when she saw an unfamiliar bird fly across.
"That fucking Majinn again... Tch, if you're looking for a fight then bring it on. Come out of hiding, you fucking coward!"

Majinn Wolf only grinned under his helmet. "There's a fine line between Assassin and Vigilante and I am the latter of the subject, hunter." he stated as he took a small flourished bow, "Majinn Wolf, Avatar of Retribution and current Terror of the Yakuza and more Murderous Nightmares."

He took a step backwards. "And I do not wish to be crossed while I'm on patrol." he flicked a finger and caused a smokescreen to occur before he leapt off the building and used his boosters to make a more smaller landing before running towards where he heard that vocal challenge from the nightmare via his Hawk.

--------

"Why would I hide?" a voice from the Shadows occurred as Mika turned her Claymore to the Shadows as the Majinn wolf emerged from it.

"For the same reason you go about fighting Yakuza and killing nightmares without hunter sanctions." Mika stated in a stoic orderly reply as the Majinn laughed. "What's so damn funny? Even you cannot argue the charges I've gone over the last time we encountered each other."

"I hunt down the extremely murderous Nightmares instead of putting all the nightmares in a lump sum like your order does. Remember two years ago when that one hunter killed that nightmare that had the body of a nine year old? Bad press day for you folks. Yasukawa had to put a lot of hush money to shut them up." Mika held her sword threateningly at Majinn when those words were stated.

"I had to kill that man." Mika coldly replied trying to restrain her emotion,"He lost all faith in the hunters."

"And I wish I did not have to kill my brother....Oh Akira forgive me."

"Good for you. But that won't stop anyone from having their opinions about it. That's why I'm with humanity. So how about it girls? Are you going to fight me or each other? Don't mistake my observing and vigilantism for cowardice! Honestly I was getting a bit bored watching you throw words and I want to see where this cat fight leads!" Majinn stated almost casually as he had his right hand gripped to the side of his waist, where his own weapon was in compact form.

Ichi narrowed her eyes at the bastard who was talking. Terao was too preoccupied with fighting the other Nightmare. Eventually, Ichi slammed her sledgehammer right into the assassin's stomach.
"How's that for an answer? Fucking Majinn..."

Sachi sighed.
"Ichi always starts the battles... Are you going to help out, Gill? I can come with you. I feel like participating this time."

With a surpised yelp the hammer to the stomach sent the Majinn wolf flying, hitting the wall. "Ow. you're lucky that my armor is a few times stronger then Kevlar otherwise-"


"You monster!" Mika shouted as she began to charge at Ichi only to meet The Majinn once more in between them as he pushed a button on the object he held in his hand and a blade extended from the hilt and blocked Mika's swing and kicked her in the stomach sending her to the wall as well.

"A monster is a being who kills people and I'm still breathing. Maybe it's because I am the Avatar of Retribution."

"Bullshit." Mika stated firmly. Majinn sighed a long drawn out sigh.

"I'm sure that's ridiculous to believe but, huh?" the Hawk screeched as an image of several Yakuza men preparing to terrorize a known bar establishment appeared on his helmet. "Okay, look ladies, I have just been alerted by my eyes of a terror mission by the Yakuza. Don't kill each other, don't move, I'll be right back." Mika swung at Majiinn again but he jumped backwards and began running.

"See you guys in several minutes!"

Terao narrowed his eyes as he charged in for another attack. Ichi just sighed and stayed put.
"May as well be a good girl once in my life. What about you, Huntress? Willing to listen to the fucking Majinn?"

Sachi blinked as Gill vanished. Staying where she was, she shrugged and started to watch the events. She soon saw a mechanical owl fly past her.
"The Majinn Wolf really does cut no corners in his search..."

"The Majinn Wolf is a civilian trying to play the hero, by look of his Aura. But you are a nightmare, who's Aura is stained black. I doubt you will be good the more he delays. When you slip up is when I take you down." was Mika's only reply to the foul mouthed nightmare. The sounds of screams and heavy punches filled the air, cutting her off from saying more.

The Majinn Wolf came running back to the group. "Oh, good you didn't move, you two are ladies with manners. Now then, where were we on tonight's little discussion?" he asked as he scratched his helmet in thought.

"The fact that you are doing something you shouldn't. Playing middle man in a very very dangerous struggle. Once again, tell me why I shouldn't arrest you by my authority as a Hunter?" Mika asked gripping her blade tight as she prepared to get in a ready stance.

"Dunno, the fact I do good a little better in this town, the fact I keep Yakuza off your backs during your little raids in my town, the list is extensive and I would absolutely love to talk about it, but then you'd get bored and kill me and take your chances on me becoming a nightmare, although, since you killed one of your own, it's not an issue, is it? Nightmares coming back to haunt their murderers. Kind of like how Retribution was, trapped in a statue, yet when needed would make the statue come to life at his own will."

Mika only glowered at the Majinn and charged at him to slice at him for mentioning her brother. "Eat crap and die!!!!" Majinn moved to avoid the slice.

"Ooh, catty." Majinn said sarcastically.

"Shit, and Now I'm in trouble with her again. Oh well, Majinn is anyway. Masenai could might as well be a bumbling Billionare heir that many others think is either an idealist or a good man." thought Masenai as he got his sword out and prepared to fight.

Ichi stared blankly as the two continued to fight each other. Noticing that everyone seemed to be preoccupied with their fights, she got an idea.
"Alright, Ichi... You could get involved with these fights and possibly get killed again. Or, you could not be a fucking idiot and get out of here while people are still involved in fighting."
Taking the latter option, Ichi ran for her life. Terao noticed and charged after here.
"Get back here, foul Nightmare!!"
"Oh for fuck's sake. What's so fucking bad about us anyway?! You automatically assume we're going to fuck over you and everyone else when all we want is revenge for whoever the fuck killed us!!"
She was starting to get irritated all over again.

Mika glared at Ichi as she made her speech about it all. "It's not the revenge we condemn. It's the means by which you nightmares carry it out. It scares people, and makes them believed they're next. You should let good people solve your case for you." She blocked a swing from Majinn.

"What kind of men? Good upstanding hunters like you? That only works if the murderers are other nightmares. Who stops the Yakuza, and corrupt cops in their payroll? Nightmares who are especially evil hide there as well."

Within the Helmet Masenai kept his eyes on a clock, if three o clock struck, that'd be his cue to vanish and return home. Just as the Majinn always does. Mika began to charge at Ichi as well only when Gill gave his surprised shout.

"James.....!? No, not you! You were at peace! Why come back as one of them?! Sir, I leave it to you and Gill. Soumna is mine!"

Mika began to swing her claymore only to have the smoke of a smokescreen surprise her and temporarily blind her. Majinn looked at Ichi and just shrugged if asked for his reason for doing that. "You made your point. Maybe I'll look into your murder. Maybe not if it's connected to Yakuza I'll find it." with that, Majinn Wolf activated his boosters and flew to another building and looked at the time before heading back towards the penthouse.

"Coward!" Mika yelled out between coughs. "That's the seventh time this month!!!"

Gillion stood frozen at the sight of his brother and commander fighting. It is true that his body was never recovered but he could never assumed this is what became of him. A Nightmare, the one thing he was sworn to kill. Part of him wanted to rejoice in seeing his brother, while another was disgusted at what his brother was. "N-no..... I can't." Collapsing to his knees in an unknowing daze. "Brother you can't be here...you're dead...."Gill watched helplessly as the two fought. Never once had he ever questioned his job until this moment. His mind raced with ideas that lead him to no answer.

James pushed Terao aside and stared at Gillion, then at the others who were there. "At, peace you say. How could I ever be at peace with what I've done in the name of justice." He paused for a moment and took a fighting stance once again. "I've killed dozens of people we called Nightmares . It is true some had committed terrible acts of evil yet, some of them were innocent of any real crimes worthy of death." He ran towards Gillion with lance in hand. "And now I watch as my little brother walks down the same damning path. A path that only ends in regret."

Ichi looked over at James and raised an eyebrow.
"Nn... Seems like someone knows exactly what it's like. Someone knows what it's like to constantly be judged."
Terao winced at Falcor's actions. Sachi ran up to Gillion and knelt down.
"Gill...? You okay?"
"Obviously he isn't. What, are you stupid?"

"Gill! Snap out of it and defend yourself! He's a nightmare now and he's gonna keep fighting until one of you are on the ground!!" Mika shouted towards Gill to try and get him to defend against James's oncoming charge. She then turned to Terao. "Sir, this is not going according to plan, what should we do?"

-----

The Majinn Wolf returned to the Penthouse Balcony and pushed a button on his gauntlet, causing the armor and helmet to recede back into it. Masenai sighed almost incoherently and with disappointment. "Jeez, it's almost every night," the young Autoro muttered as he returned the gauntlet to its's secret compartment and closed it, "I go out on freaking patrol after doing my volunteer job at the sanctuary shrine, run into a skirmish between the hunters and nightmares and get into an argument of philosophy. What am I even saying? I'm talking to myself in a large empty house."

He sighed and walked to his bedroom and collapsed in it and gave one solid thought to why he talks to himself before drifting off to sleep. "I'm lonely."