Chapter 2: Chapter Dva
CHAPTER 2. WELCOME TO SURWICK
"Are you enjoy-ying your pizza, Ryoji?" Asked Akina happilyas Ryoji devoured a slice of the Sicilian Pizza from CPK. The mercenary wasn't quite sure on what the acronym meant, but nonetheless it didn't matter.
The taste of his food was quite heavenly, the spicyness of the spicy ham mixed very well with the zesty marianara sauce as well. "Hmmm! This is very good! I never had Pizza like this before!!" He responded, his mouth full of food.
Akina smiled and continued to eat her Barbeque Chick Pizza. She wondered on where Ryoji came from, so she asked kindly.
"I'm wo-ondering, you neve-er mention on where you came. Can-an you tell me?"
The sudden realization drilled in Ryoji's numbskull. He reached for his backpocket and put it on the table; it was an acceptance card.
"Oh, yea, I'm a transfer student from Raven River after attending there for two months. That's why I'm here in the N.U.S.N. I wanna become the first Heart-Bonded Protector; to show society—that I am no monster, and I can save lives, protect them and all that." He answered falsely with sheer pride, the bloodied girl's eyes widened with perplexment. He could not reveal his true motives to her: he had only just met her.
"That-t's cool. I think yo-ou get along with my friend-ds at school. They're kind-kinda quirky like you." She said, slurping her strawberry lemonade before continuing.
"Quirky? Girl, I save your life."
"So-o? To be a guy-y with long ha-hair, you're pretty different." She said, shrugging before she wince in pain. Her shoulder was somewhat dislocated, albeit she could still move it. She's still in a lot pain. You can hide it beneath the surface of your skin but your eyes show the agony you went through. You did good, Akina. Thought Ryoji, he grabbed the prism out of her pockets as well as gaining Akina's attention. "Akina, give me your hand." She listened without hesitation, Akina gave Ryoji her dirtied hand. He did not have pity for her, he just wanted to give her the Heartz Prism. All so Akina Willoby, an aspiring Kunoichi, could get all the credit.
"Here," He said while placing the prism in her hand and made her closed her own hand with a special nerve that make the hand close on itself. She brushed it off. "You know, when you-ou enter Surwick, alot of peop-people will look at you fun-unny." She addressed, which caused Ryoji to stop chewing his food.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, there is-s already a Heart-Bond in the sch-school, and she's one of the pop-popular girls." Upon finishing that statement, she looked down and then looked at the owner. She's a friendly, calm down, Ryoji. Ryoji thought, his expression was indifferent, no sparkle in his eyes when he heard he wasn't the only "Bond" in town. He knew what she was going with. The Heart-Bond is an asshole.
"Well," He affirmed while, "if there's one thing I hate the most; it's bullies."
"How-"
"Your tone," Ryoji begun his analyzation, "the way you shifted your body when you mention this girl, the way your pupils condensed themselves back to their original shape."
"Wow-ow, you're really are good." Akina marveled, she had just ate her last slice of pizza slowly.
Ryoji praised his fellow peer. "Thanks. You too, Akina. Not many people can survive beatings from the Mafia. You did really good." She blushed immensely, apparently Akina did not get that much praise from other people: Only her adopted family and close friends love her.
One of the waitresses came to give them their refills, she was a simple girl with a simple personality. A cookie-cutter or wallflower, to say the least.
As all waitresses do, they swoop in unannounced with a polite smile to get a big tip. "Hi there, can I get you-Oh god...."
Upon looking at the bloodied face of the kunoichi, she immediately got the owner of the restaurant and notified her about.
The owner of the restaurant was none other Juliet Botan, who was like an older sister to Akina. She had a fair complexion, along with black eyes and brown eyes. A basic girl, on the outside to say the least.
"What happen?" She asked, concerned while looking at Ryoji for answers. He cleared his throat and began to explain. "If you're thinking that I did it—then you're mistaken. She was assaulted by Don Sarbello's henchman, and I saved her."
"Aki," Juliet called her by her nickname, "is this true?"
She nodded normally to not raise any suspicion, all what Juliet could do is rub her head in frustration.
She couldn't afford anymore controversies to the restaurant she loved dearly. One was when she deliberately punched Blulin, the owner of Mad Pelican Coffee Shop who was also a pelagornis, for stealing one of her ideas. That idea involved some participation for the customers on what they wanted to have a new addition to the menu.
Another is when she was arrested for assaulting a police officer. As it turned out, she witnessed that he was groping one of her waitresses. A police officer, fortunately for Juliet, he had been ostracized from the police force. She always protected the weak.
She would've been a great Hero---if she wasn't expelled by Surwick. She is twenty-nine currently, so Juliet should have been there to see how Surwick failed the first time in a long time.
"Tell you what. Everything is on the house, but I want you two to leave through the kitchen. Don't let anyone other than me see your face, Akina. Okay, I will fix this..." She told the duo that they don't have to pay money for their meals. They followed her instructions then sneaked through the kitchenette, none noticed those two vanished. Juliet Botan went upstairs to see if they were safe, and they were.
Since the sun was still up in the sky, the two thought it was best that they should leave now while it was 3:58 p.m.
Their stomachs were full of delicious food, cravings were satisfied.
Their waitress, the wallflower one, came upstairs as well, concerned about the owner. "Miss Botan? What are you thinking about?"
After thinking long hard, she simply replied with a frown. She fixated on Akina, who looked pleasant with the boy. "I'm thinking---that Surwick needs to close down their doors. They're training them to be soldiers rather than heroes, they started to do that when I was there..."
"So, they need to be stopped? But how? We have some money, but not where we can sue the mighty academia of Surwick. They have an estimate worth of 103.6 billion dollars themselves, and the institute is priceless since Surwick was founded in the 1300's. It's suicide. The Avignoni Government will destroy everything you have built." The server stated, Juliet put her hands on her hips as she always did while thinking. Finally, she turned towards her and smiled faintly while revealing her newfound plan.
"Yea, but not if there's others who agree with me that those tyrants should close down."
While Ryoji and Akina trekked onwards to Surwick, Juliet has started her grand plot to overthrow the despot of a principal.
He still hasn't changed? After all what has happened? You went into great lengths covering the horrible mistakes you caused, and you still want to raise your students like soldiers? I will let that happen ever again.....Time for Surwick to fully close its doors. It's time for you to suffer the consequences: Lino Saon.
An decade-old vendetta has begun its resurgence.
--------FOUR HOURS LATER-------
After four hours of miscalculated coordinates from a ninja with a severe stutter and p*ssed off Heart-Bond became irater, they have finally made it to the location: Surwick. The schools in which Ryoji has been looking forward in attending. Earlier, the duo witnessed a young lady was about to get shanked by gangsters. Hood-rats, to be more precise, they scattered back into the sewers.
They saved the lady easily, and gave Akina some medicine afterwards as a token.
He had noticed she walked funny, with her head going from side to side. Maybe it was just himself or the after effects of that medicine she took.
Maybe, but he noticed that he lost the map his uncle gave him. Worse map he has ever received by him, but has traded it from someone better.
Akina said to him "Although we-e are Heroes-In-Train-ing, we don't have licenses for-or that. I'm not even-en sure if I get-t some credit for it." True, it sucks. Every organism has the instinct to save something or someone from imminent danger. Even if they are the prey or the predator, it is only natural to willfully defend a life.
As the twosome looked at the school from the crimson horizon, Akina asked Ryoji; "You never told me-e your Heart's name. What is his or-r her name?"
"Huh?" He asked. Holy crap, she has a good memory. Ryoji thought while he gulped down deeply as the girl's patience had run its course. Playing dumb, he blatantly opened his mouth and lit out a slow "Huh"?
Unfortunately for him, she seen right through him.
"Did I stutter? I asked you-u what's your Heart's name!" She yelled, which startled Ryoji as he fell on his behind. He did not expect that side coming from her. He guessed that phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover", was still relevant to today's world.
After he thought about the issue very clearly, Ryoji had forgotten the name of his Heart. They also bickered and insulted each other time and time again the Heart appeared in the Physical world rather than in the internal world. They could be considered the worst combo to be paired off with.
They were complete opposites when it came to fighting. While Ryoji is the calm, rational and collected one of the duo, his Heart was reckless, HIGHLY perverted and irrational. Ryoji plans, the other attacks as a priority.
They have never successfully bonded twice since the blood deal, though they almost did. Which occurred a year ago in Raven River, it proved ineffective due to the lack of cooperation for one other.
As with any Heart-Bond, when bonded together as one; their strength can rival the fabled gods of any pantheon that exists. Although they are almost extinct with a few specimens, even mumbling the word can strike people into fear. Recordings of the organisms date back as early as 14,000 years ago from archaeologists, in one of the pyramids in Egypt with art showing a Heart-Bond and a human exchanging handshakes. Other than that crucial amount of information, there are more than five-hundred scientists, anthropologists, and more been searching the answer for these rare and elusive species.
Ryoji clarified it to her. "See, I don't know my Heart's name because we're so different. I'm well behaved, while he is perverted and foul-mouthed. Despite my goal to become the first Hear-Bonded Protector, I don't get along with him: The other halve of me." Akina responded with a light "Hmm." and then she put her finger on her mouth.
"That kind-da ironic. You want to be-e the first Heart-Bonded Protector but can't eve-en stand the sight of your Heart." Akina said with a smile as she took off Ryoji's shirt without his permission.
"Hey, what are you doing!?!" He yelled while blushing wildly.
When his shirt was finally off, there was a cryptic heart like tattoo on the back of his left shoulder.
"When did you get-t this tattoo?"
"When the Blood Resonance was complete. You know when-"
"A Human being-g or Heart make a covenant with one other by using a bloodpen. I know-w what that is. I'm no dummy-y." She interrupted, Ryoji put his shirt back on and walked towards the large walls of the school. Surwick was large, having these golden and black gates in front of the school. It was on top of mountain, with Zanark Town and Ug Town being twenty minutes away respectively.
They reached the enormous gates of Surwick, and looked at it with sheer determination. As if they could conquer anything that was standing in their path to the future. Akina knocked on a small bar to her right, a monitor attached to a thin stick of metal popped out suddenly. Ryoji was somewhat surprised, but not too astounded.
He couldn't get scared as much he used to, all those wars he fought as an assassin alongside his uncle. He was only twelve years old, yet he endured so much turmoil and the death of his Mom's family. When it was still fresh in his head, he cried every night in his sleep until he was eight. His nerves harden and his mind stronger than ever. At first he believed that they perished like God planned them to die like that, but now he believes that something-or someone not from Earth killed them.
As he got older, memories have dug themselves from the reminiscence graveyard. He didn't remember much from his earlier years, but the memories that were most important to him. During the night of the massacre, he remembered that his parents had some "special time" together before it happened, because it was his dad's twenty-six birthday. The door in the master bedroom was locked, and there was screams of agony from there as well. Ryoji wishes that he could see them one last time; just to say one, final goodbye to them. Just ask them like "Why did you lock your door?" or "Did you or Dad ever thought you guys would be brutally murdered?"
He wanted to solve his parents' murders.
Ryoji's mind returned to reality, as his brown eyes saw a man in a cobalt blue suit made of sturdy metal; possibly Palladium or Cobalt-Alloy. A small homage to Iron Man, a superhero from Marvel comics. The center of the chestplate was a large star like shape. There were orange lines as appeal. The man in the suit hovered in the air before landing on the ground, where he made a quiet sound upon impacting the ground.
The design of the highly advanced suit was sleek yet powerful and the orange eyes gave it an intimidating look.
"Missus Willoby! You know the rules! No sexual intercourse on school grounds! Any violation of a rule in Surwick will result in immediate explusion!!" Yelled the armored man, the man had a thick, British accent. "Besides, you ARE way too young to do that!!!"
"We-were weren't-t having sex-ex!!!! Sorry-y-y Mr. Hens-shaw-w!!!" She answered very nervously, the man in the metal suit turned towards Ryoji now.
"D*** right you're sorry! And you, young man; what is a civilan like you doing on school property?!? You can take pictures from far away!!"
Ryoji realized that this cobalt armored Hero was none other than Cobalt Comet; one of the elite Heroes who resided in Surwick.
Idris Henshaw is a world renowned billionaire, philanthropist, and master inventor who runs Henshaw Originalities and the No.34 Hero of the N.U.S.N. Mr. Henshaw's estimate of worth is approximately, according to the laustest Forbes magazine, 36.2 Billion. He became one when he was captured by Mongolian soldiers and was tortured, he would have died if it wasn't for Solongo; who assisted him back to health. After two gruesome months, Idris escaped Mongolia with a suit made of lead and iron.
Since then, Idris "Cobalt Comet" Henshaw is running both a large business and a life of heroism. That and he makes it look easier than pouring milk into a bowl of cereal.
Upon realizing who the brash British man who, the young orphan beamed in excitement. "You're Cobalt Comet!! I'm a huge fan of yours!" Ryoji said in glee as he shook the man's hand, while Idris felt a strong current of Aether. The man wanted to jolt away, but it would be rude to do that to a fan. What is this energy he is excreting? Could it be..... And here I thought we already had one. I must inform the principal about this child, because H*ll is about to be unleashed. The No.34 Hero thought in fright while Ryoji continued on.
"See, I'm a major fan of yours because you fought against the odds! My name is Ryoji Kazama, and I'm a transfer student from Raven River! The reason why is that I heard that this school is the best of the best! I also want to become the first Heart-Bonded Protector in history!"
Oh dear.... But he's one of us now, I suppose.... Cobalt Comet thought as his helmet opened wide to reveal a black man in his late 30's, his face was somewhat reminiscent of the talented actor Idris Elba. His mustache was black and very stylish. The gates opened without a muscle moved and Cobalt Comet. "Sorry about that Mr. Kazama, it comes with the job. Villains in the past have tried to breach these gates, and failed massively. Welcome to Surwick, and follow me to Missus Willoby's dormroom." He acquiesced, Akina and the faithful protagonist followed the faculty member.
-------Fifteen Minutes Later------
"So, let me get this straight and thorough, you saved Akina from those gangsters?" Asked Cobalt Comet, his suit clattered a bit when he moved his legs.
"Yes sir, apparently they were looking for this Heartz prism. Akina has it so she can give the credit she deserves." Answered Ryoji, followed by Akina adding, "I was pro-rotecting it with my life on the li-ine!" Akina gave the Heartz Prism to Mr.Henshaw
Cobalt Comet said in an indifferent tone. "You think you're gonna get credit for retrieving a simple crystal? Please, Miss Willoby, once you get a Hero's License, which is prolly not in a while, then you get your credit. That's why you're bleeding: Your pride. It's only scabs and some bruises, maybe a dislocated shoulder but it comes with the job. Just clean yourself up because your bruises are only on your arms. All this just to miss dinner with my husband." Now his tone sounded like a drill sergeant, but Ryoji didn't care as he was bursting out with joy.
Ryoji asked while he tilted his head. "Husband? Are you by any chance-"
Idris chuckled and broke the ice. "Gay? I used to be straight before my wife died from one of your follow Heart-Bonds. After several years not seeing her,I met my Gnos and moved on from it. For your information, he is the head of security and defenses for the school. He is a man with power..."
I know that. Ryoji thought as he smiled. Gnost is half-daemon and half-man, making him a very feared individual. Gnost is also renowned for his unforgiving nature to those who threatened those he holds dear.
Remember the little "souvenir" Ryoji mentioned before chapter one? That's what he meant—Daemon.
Creatures of the Night. But more on that sometime.
Akina gave the No.34 Hero a sorrowful look, who looked at his gauntlet and closed it.
"You mustn't be loud or else you sod off the principle. Reason why is that he is in a meeting with the government."
"I'm sorry to ask," Ryoji asked, "why with the government?"
He looked at the supposed transferred student. "None of your business."
Magnificent braziers hanging from one side of each of the alabaster columns light up most the hall and blanket everything in a warm glow. The past paintings of Angels who protect mankind and heroes of the long past on the embowed ceiling while sculptures and statuettes look different.
The armored hero explained this was where lower rankers inhibit, while the high rankers lived upstairs. The entire hallway could fit more than 2,000 students at once, with doors that have numbers on them. A large golden rug was stuck on the floor and was matched by the thinner ones on either side of the hall while forked banners with burnished corners droop from the walls. Between each banner of the strongest hangs a small luster, many of them have been frequently lit and in turn illuminate the wall paintings of leaders and legends that stood tall in the past as well.
Ryoji went on to open a large room with a grand throne of rose gold sits beneath an impressively baldachin and was adjoined by many almost identical seats. The beautiful yet self-powerful covered throne had a small being sitting on it with elegant armrests.
The man pulled him away from the room with anger searing from the way he pulled him by the arm. "What on bloody earth are you doing?!? Everyone is in studying period today, so that meet what the faculty members are talking about is very urgent! Be on your best behavior, Heart-Bond. I'll be watching to see if you will be a thorn on my arse." Cobalt Comet simply commanded, the boy simply nodded as they finally made it to the dorm of Akina Willoby.
"Anyway, you blokes better not be stupid again. Rule #187: Never leave on a school night. Best live here than in Jupira, where even your best comrades betray because of greed. Understood?" The duel nodded in fear as Cobalt Comet saluted before leaving.
"To be honest, I thought he was gonna be a lot more laid-back rather than being so stoic." Added Ryoji, Akina simply giggled as they enter her dorm. "Yea.." She sounded sad, but I forgot about that law. Sorry, Akina: I'm sorry for giving you too much hope in first place... Ryoji grimaced.
But it wasn't her dorm exactly; there was a boy who was on his phone roaming around. He was a black boy who was their age, with a distinctive athetic body and his calves were very muscular for a preteen. His hair was styled in a combination of dreadlocks and mohawk, with the tips were dyed a cerulean tint. He took a selfie with a thumbs-up and then resumed texting obliviously. His posture was like ASMR to Ryoji, like the skies slowly beleaguering an area for example.
"Marcus! What are you doing in my room?" Akina asked, her stutter was completely gone when she asked him. It threw Ryoji off a bit, he was asking himself: Was the stuttering a ruse or is she being genuine?
The boy named Marcus took his eyes off his screen and checked her wounds.
"Aki! Why are you all bruised up?" He asked her sincerely, examining her wounds carefully. His attention shifted towards Ryoji, and frowned upon him. "Hey bro, did you do this to my sister? Cause if you did, you bout to catch these hands, ya-"Marcus walked towards him with his balled up to a fist, but Akina stopped him in his tracks and calmed him down until he was ready to hear an explanation. The shock factor for Ryoji was tremendously high, the whole thing felt like a soap opera with all plot twists and superfluous tropes in it. I didn't know it was gonna spiral outta control!
Unexpectedly for Ryoji, Akina held Marcus with one hand. "He didn't hurt me, Marcus, he saved me from Sarbello's men. He's a Heart-Bond, but not like the ones from the history books or Jordyn. He's nice and a real person. His name is Ryoji Kazama." As she introduced myself to Marcus, she begun to introduce Marcus. "This is Marcus Duncannon. He's my foster brother, and a fellow shinobi like me; except he is really good when it comes to it. I hope you guys can get along."
After she finished, Marcus looked at Ryoji sternly. "So can you back her story up?"
"I can—I rescued your sister from Don Sarbello's men. We don't have to be friends."
Marcus shook his head and threw away his anger in exchange to a complete grin on his face. "Anyone who saves my sister or anyone I love dearly—is an automatic friend of mine." Marcus bubbled, he and Ryoji fist bumped each other, an evidence that Marcus was the type of person to forgive easily. Akina's foster brother soon welcomed him into their dorm room by giving him some green tea.
As Akina took a shower and fell asleep on the couch, Marcus carried her into her bed. There he put a silky blanket on her and closed her door. "I'm sorry that I almost attacked you. I am more of a pacifist myself, but nobody messes with my family like that. It's just to see my sister all bloodied up." He expressed regret.
"Don't. I'm a complete stranger and came in with your sister whose all bloodied up. I understand. I would've done the same thing." Ryoji assured him that it was all right as they sat down.
The two had a long conversation about Akina and him. Akina is Japanese-American, born in Kurikami, Unebi. Her mother died when she was only a year old, her father was an astrophysicist who wanted to study more about the supernatural in our world. Yet, his superiors disagreed with him, claiming that he shouldn't stray from the path they chose for himself. Consumed with rage, the irate astrophysicist killed one of the board members and left Akina by herself. Horrified of what he did, Akina's father presumably left to the cosmos or died in the Mariana Trench. No one knows.
Luckily, Marcus' mother was also a fellow astrophysicist and were friends with another. So they adopted her and have been living her since. No knows about Akina's mother, Megumi, because she was a "nobody", as Marcus quote. Marcus Duncannon was born in Zanark Town, which was explicitly stated to be twenty minutes away from Surwick.
"She's been living with you guys a long time, hasn't she?"
"Yeah." Marcus agreed with him and continued. "But I never saw it that way: "living with us". She has been always like a sister to me; I gotta protect her at all costs. Her father was a coward to raise her on his own, so we're the ones who take her in. We're the ones that gave her a great childhood, made herself friends, provided for her. She has never knew the meaning of starvation. Not him. If she was with her father, she would've an isolated childhood; where the odds where she would become a villain or a dictator. I don't really like thinking like that—but thanks, man. I think I would have lost if she suffered worse than what she did....." Marcus took a short break before adding, "By the way, that stutter she has, you kinda were amazed on how quick she turned it off when she was around me. The reason why is that is about two things; her confidence is not very high at all and strangers tend to make her a bit shy. Despite Akina being the beautiful and kind she is; she's a victim of bullies galore. Trust me, they torment her a lot. This one girl, Jordyn Himsaki, has been her longest one to date. I can't anything much about it, due to her being a royal Shinobi from a notable family. It's the old Money vs new money scenario. You shouldn't worry about Aki, tho. She'll get comfortable with you as she knows you longer throughout time." Marcus clarified, he said a respectful good night and went to his bedroom, while our oblivious protagonist went to the guest bedroom.
Upon laying on his pillow, he looked at the window right next to him, feeling that accomplished something substantial. I feel great about today. I hope tomorrow will be an even better day. Ryoji exulted, and thus closed his eyes after a long day.
Meanwhile in the grand halls two beneath Akina's room, two girls who were F-Rankers, were gossiping about Akina.
"Oh my gosh, did you see how Willoby was all bloody and she didn't even care about it? OMG." One of them insulted Akina while the other one replied, "Yeah, she is such a cavewoman! And did you see that new man she got? He's even a Heart-Bond. A Heart-Bond, I'm telling you!" The two girls had a stereotypical Valley Girl accent, it was annoying for whoever who was around them.
A boy who had a long black hoodie on him, who overheard their conversation.
Akina was bloody, and has a new man? Who is a Heart-Bond? This, I gotta to see this for himself. The boy though as he vanished into thin air.
--Track 2 Ended--
CHARACTER PROFILE:
SURWICK STUDENT: MARCUS DUNCANNON (13)
OVERLY OPTIMISTIC NINJA
BIRTHDAY: 9-4
HEIGHT: 5'1
LIKES: Akina and his family, basketball, good vibes, Naruto
DISLIKES: Party crashers, getting serious, people who mess with his family
THE INSIDE STORY:
I made this character when creating the rough draft of Chapter Two and boy am I glad for doing so. When the times get tough, he'll be there to brighten up anyone's day. While he isn't really the tritagonist, he is going to be a major player in the REALM OF HEARTZ.
I based him off this person I went to school when I was a sophomore in High School, the first of the many characters to be designed like this. Despite him being a bit slow, Marcus has a heart of gold.
Marcus is proficient when it comes to ninjutsu. He has learned the Hono Sphere technique, a Justu in which takes a while before truly mastering it.
CHARACTER PROFILE:
SURWICK TEACHER: COBALT COMET (IDRIS HENSHAW) (31)
BIRTHDAY: 2-19
HEIGHT: 6'2
LIKES: His company, his husband Gnost, technology
DISLIKES: Losing his wife too early, people who don't follow the rules, his oldest daughter Kymbrea being rebellious
INSIDE STORY:
The second LGBTQ character in this book. He has two kids-Kymbrea, the oldest, and the youngest Sky. Despite having a rough and domineering exterior, he's a big softie.
He's the Homeroom Teacher for C-C2. Takes his job very serious.
Makes Gnost laugh each time.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone