Gaijin
Part 43
The X-factor.
OooOOooOO
Tony Stark was sitting in class with his fist on his cheek. He reached up and wiped a bit of drool off his face as he sat there and pretty much ignored the situation he'd found himself in. Onizuka had just announced his presence to the class, and had discovered that he couldn't erase his name from the board. It was now a faded gray. The man had managed to wipe some of it off before it dried and the board was still usable at least.
Onizuka smiled at them and looked over the room. ôAll right then. I guess I should start the lesson then.ö
The class settled down and little else of note happened in that period. Their new teacher had done little more than make them read the textbook, and wasn't really paying much attention to what they were saying. He called on Tony to read a section and the boy stood up looking a bit annoyed. ôThe social impact of the fall of the Moon Kingdom was far reaching and lead to the economic and social independence of the Earth colony. Following the death of the Prince of Earth and the loss of the Imperial powers, the planet was forced to fend for itself. This was a blessing in disguise on some levels as it lead to cultural diversity and an economic boom unusual for a single planet. Unfortunately, within a few generations, the singular government split and civil war broke out across the planet. This lead to the formation of several early Empires in Earth's history and the loss of a great deal of cultural history as each fledgling Empire sought an individual spirit and a separation from the old ways...ö He sat down, leaving his classmates snickering in his wake.
Onizuka didn't even notice and had his feet propped up on the desk. ôVery good, Kensuke, continue with the next paragraph.ö
Aya gave a small sigh. ôIt seems Sensei isn't paying attention.ö
Gun was chuckling. ôThat was interesting.ö
Tony shrugged at him. ôYeah. I guess. I haven't even opened my textbook, and I noticed he wasn't paying attention, so I just stood up and started talking.ö He patted the top of his closed textbook as he said it. ôWatch out for this guy though. I've got a funny feeling the class isn't getting rid of this one.ö
Gun seemed surprised. ôHuh? What do you mean?ö
Toshiro grinned back at him. ôThat was pretty good, new kid.ö
The boy glanced over at him. ôDon't get too excited. I've heard about him. Eikichi Onizuka, he specializes in classes like this one. Holy Forest, the place he came from, had a problem with a class like this one a while back. Then he showed up. He's a former member of the Onibaku, a big deal in Shounan. The guy is legendary in more than one way.ö
ôWow, sempai. You know a lot about this guy?ö Aya seemed impressed.
ôOf course. I was curious about who they would send to this class next, so I checked up on this guy before he got here. He's got a weakness for pretty girls, and porn, but he's also completely shameless and a reputation for being as tough as a cockroach.ö Tony was lying through his teeth about how he found out of course. ôYou guys aren't getting rid of him. Not that it will stop you from trying, but good luck with that.ö
Toshiro narrowed his eyes at him, and looked back to see that several of the other class members had taken note of what he'd said.
Tony felt a hand hit his shoulder and blinked as he looked up. Onizuka was smiling down at him. ôHey. That's pretty good! You're good at gathering information? That was a pretty good story you told by the way. Thinking of becoming a Mangaka?ö
The boy looked annoyed, but seemed to relax. ôNo.ö He blushed a little. ôI didn't think you were paying attention.ö
The man sat on his desk and put a cigarette in his mouth, but didn't light it. ôHuh. You in a gang or something? You seem like the tough type. You know who is in charge of the school?ö
The gaijin boy seemed to think on it. ôI'm new actually. I've heard something about the 'Black Serpents' or something, but I don't really know much about it. I don't have time to bother with schoolyard gangs anyway.ö
Eikichi nodded and looked up at the ceiling. ôI like you kid. You don't back down do you? Remind me of myself at that age a little, except I'm Japanese, and I was much cooler.ö
Tony narrowed his eyes at the man. ôNo you weren't. I get laid on a regular basis. As far as I know, you still don't get any.ö
The man got a little wide eyed and jumped off the desk. ôYou punk! Who told you that? I had tons of girls when I was your age! Eikichi 'the Love Machine' Onizuka was what they called me! I bet you don't have a cool nickname like that do you?ö
The boy looked rather clam and disinterested. ôI don't need a cool nickname. I'm rich and good looking. Not to mention, my shoe size is twice that of anyone in the class but Gun here, my hands are bigger than the rest of the guys in the room too.ö He poked the blond in front of him in the back. ôLook, what are you a size seven? I'm size eleven and a half .ö He put his foot next to the man's and his feet were a few inches larger easily.
ôH-hey now...ö stammered the English boy as he blushed.
Onizuka looked confused. ôEh? Shoe size?ö
Tony leaned towards him and put his hand up as if letting him in a secret. ôIt's a well known fact in Europe and America that the bigger a man's shoe size and hands, the bigger...you know what...is.ö
Aya put her hands over her mouth and blushed. ôR...really?ö
Tony crossed his arms and nodded. ôThat's right. It's just as true as it is that confessing under the Sakura Tree on the West lawn just as the first petals of the blossoms fall means that the couple will find true love and have a happy marriage for the rest of their lives.ö That wasn't technically a lie as both were just stupid superstitions as far as he was concerned.
Eri blushed and looked annoyed. ôI heard about that. It's really true!ö
ôHe's right! I heard about someone that happened to as well!ö said Umi with a gasp.
Onizuka's eye twitched. ôR...really?ö
Aya nodded and smiled. ôYes. It's completely true. I heard about that as well. My Uncle attended here and met my Aunt at this school. She told me the story about that tree when I started attending here.ö
The teacher rubbed at his chin. ôOh? Really?ö He grinned at the boy. ôYou're pretty lucky I guess.ö He turned away and sulked back to his desk.
ôIdiot,ö grumbled Tony under his breath.
Gun smiled at him. ôI heard about that back home myself. I guess we're pretty lucky. I'm a size thirteen.ö He put his foot up and showed the class.
All the girls nearby got wide eyed and the boys all flushed and looked away.
ôThere was a guy I used to know nicknamed 'Kingsnake' who wore a size fifteen shoe,ö commented Tony with a serious and less than interested looking nod. It was one of Spike's friends, he was dead now because of Michiru, but he had heard that the man had acquired the name at the local bathhouse.
The rest of the class went by pretty quietly.
OooOOooOO
Usagi looked up at the sky and shielded her face from the sun. She had a wistful smile on her face. She was dressed in her school uniform again. The past few days had been hectic, and she hadn't needed to spend a lot of time explaining things to the authorities. It had gone smoother than she expected. The police who had come to her home didn't ask much, and berated her lightly. She'd apologized and told them that she'd been foolish and learned her lesson and that had been the end of it.
Her uniform still fit, but it was a bit looser around her waist and tighter on her shoulders. She left her old brooch on her dresser. She didn't really need it anymore, and had the small unassuming backpack on her shoulders. There was enough room to put her things from school inside despite the fact that it also housed her armor.
She'd spent a few days adjusting and was now on her way to school. She hadn't been in so long and was a bit worried. She'd been placed back in her class.
ôUsagi! Usagi! Is that you!ö cried a familiar voice.
ôNaru!ö she gasped as she turned around and her smile grew wider. The girl rushed up to her.
ôIt is you! Where have you been?ö cried the girl as she grabbed her neck and squealed. ôYou've been gone for so long! I was worried!ö
Umino was at her side and grinned. ôHey! Long time no see!ö
ôIt's...complicated,ö said the blond as she hung her head a little.
The nerdy boy adjusted his glasses. ôHey. You can talk!ö
The girl gasped and put her hand over her mouth. ôWow! You got your voice back!ö
The boy looked excited. ôDoes this mean that you can...you know?ö He leaned in and put his hand up. ôYour powers and all?ö
The girl giggled at that and nodded. ôSort of. I'm not Sailor Moon anymore.ö
Naru hung her head. ôThat's too bad.ö She shifted her feet. ôHow are the others? We haven't seen them either. You all just disappeared.ö
The blond girl cocked her head and smiled. ôThey're fine. They don't stay around here anymore and they're all going to school somewhere else now. I still see them. I can't really talk about it though.ö
Umino nodded. ôThat's good to know. Everyone knows about them now.ö
The brunette girl smiled and took her arm. ôIt's good to have you back. Umino's been keeping me company, but it's not the same without you here.ö
The former Senshi flushed a bit. ôSorry. It's been a bit of a mess.ö
The boy puffed his chest out. ôDon't worry. Even if you don't have powers anymore, we're still friends right?ö
The blond got an unusual smirk that neither had seen from her before. ôWho said I don't have powers? I'm just not Sailor Moon anymore.ö
The pair both looked confused at that. Naru spoke up. ôWhat do you mean?ö
Usagi looked up at the sky. ôI'm still a superhero, you've got to keep it a secret, but since you know about it all anyway I guess it's all right. It''s different now though.ö
Umino looked confused. ôDifferent?ö
Naru looked a bit worried. ôYou seem different. There's been all sorts of monsters and horrible things happening. We were worried.ö
The blond seemed to think about it and put her finger up to the corner of her mouth. ôI guess. I've been pretty busy since I left.ö
The nerdy boy got excited as they walked together. ôSo, you know the other superheros? Like Uranus, she's the strongest of them all I heard. What about The Fearless Oni. He seems pretty mysterious and cool.ö
Naru frowned. ôThat guy has been in the papers. It's awful. It says he's Spiderman.ö
Umino scowled at that. ôThat jerk. I thought Spiderman was a good guy, but then he turned out to be that guy. He's really powerful, probably some kind of Yakuza or something. He's really a supervillain isn't he? The enemy!ö
Usagi burst into laughter. After a moment of her two friends giving her odd looks she managed to control herself. She giggled a bit behind her hand as she spoke. ôNo. He's still a jerk, but we're not enemies anymore. We...made up I guess. He's an asshole, but he's not really a bad guy.ö
The brunette girl flushed. ôUsagi! It's not like you to talk like that!ö She seemed a bit scandalized.
The blond looked a bit embarrassed. ôHuh? Oh, sorry. Don't worry about it.ö She looked at them. ôHow is Motoki doing? I was thinking about going by the arcade later.ö
Naru smiled at her. ôHe's good friends with us now. Umino and I hang out there a lot. We play Sailor V and talk to him. He's always asking if we've heard anything about you guys.ö
Umino nodded. ôYeah. There's been a bit in the newspapers about the Senshi and the Fantastic Four. Those are all friends of yours right?ö
Usagi shook her head. ôI don't really know them, but we've met. I haven't been with the others. I'd rather not talk about it really. I was on my own. The Fearless Oni is a friend though. I've hung around him the most. He's really cool.ö
Naru gasped. ôOh no! We're going to be late! It's your first day back, and we can't be late!ö
OooOOooOO
Usagi was a little bored in class. Naru and Umino had both been left pretty winded when they ended up sprinting to school, but she hadn't even broken a sweat. Her time as Venom had gotten her in really good shape, and she'd not gotten any less active.
ôHuh?ö she looked up.
Her teacher had a small scowl on her face. ôUsagi, are you paying attention? Come up here and do this problem on the board.ö She tapped her foot and slapped her hand next to an unfinished math problem.
The blond stood up and took the chalk. She finished the problem after a moment and returned to her seat without a word.
ôOh! Usagi...that's...ö The woman seemed confused. Usagi had gotten quiet since her injury before she disappeared. She'd done better, but she'd shown improvement in her Japanese, English, and now Math skills. It was only her fist day back, but she'd not missed an answer yet.
ôWhat is it Sakurada sensei?ö the girl looked up.
The woman smiled. ôVery good. I'm glad to see you've been keeping up with your studies while you've been gone.ö
The girl cocked her head and smiled. Having an advanced computer that interacted directly with her brain had it's advantages.
Naru looked at her with wide eyes. ôWow. Did you join a cram school while you were gone? You're friends with that Mizuno girl right? Have you been working with her? I heard she's a famous genius and her mom is a doctor.ö
Usagi blushed. ôSomething like that.ö She sank into her seat a bit. ôIt's no big deal.ö
OooOOooOO
Umino, Naru, Usagi, Motoki, and Artemis were sitting in a quiet corner of the Crown Arcade at a table.
The blond boy smiled. ôI'm glad to hear they're all right. It's a relief.ö
Umino nodded. ôRight. We were all worried.ö
The arcade employee leaned forward a little. ôThe city has been a real mess lately. All sorts of monsters and superheros are popping up all over. It's pretty exciting but a little scary too.ö
ôI'll say,ö agreed Naru.
Usagi nodded. ôThere's a lot going on. I'm glad I've got you guys to talk to here. The Senshi are all living somewhere else because of their identities being revealed. It's kind of a pain to go see them.ö
Umino seemed to remember something. ôYou said you had some sort of powers still right, but you're not Sailor Moon anymore?ö He slapped his fist into his palm.
The blond girl nodded. ôWell, I can't show you. It's kind of hard to hide if I do it. I'm not like I was when I left anymore. I can fight again.ö
Motoki seemed serious. ôWell, be careful. We'll all worry about you.ö
Artemis spoke up. ôThey're right. You should still be careful. The enemy is still out there, and I haven't been able to find out much about what they're doing. The Senshi still fight Youma all the time. We've not gotten any closer to discovering where they're coming from or how to defeat them for good.ö
ôWe'll be all right,ö said Usagi. ôWe've got lots of friends now. I'm sure we'll win.ö
The moon cat seemed to consider that. ôStill, we can't let our guard down.ö
ôWhat happened to that other cat? Luna was it?ö asked Naru.
Usagi looked a bit annoyed. ôShe's fine. She's with the Senshi and helping them out. Artemis is helping me now.ö
The white cat nodded. ôThat's right. It's...complicated.ö
Umino crossed his arms. ôYou've been saying that a lot.ö
Usagi flinched a little. ôI know. I'm sorry. I can't tell you everything though. It would take a long time to explain anyway. Even though we're friends and you know about me, it's best if you don't know too much.ö
Artemis agreed. ôShe's right. It might be dangerous if you learn too much. I guess there's no helping that you've found out, and I'm glad you're all friends, but even then...ö
Usagi stood up. ôAll right. I'm sorry, but I've got to run. I'll see you at school tomorrow. I'm up for most of the night, so I've got to get home and get some sleep before this evening.ö
Naru gave a small sigh. ôAll right. You'll have to take some time off so we can hang out one of these days.ö
The girl turned and smiled at her. ôSure thing. It's a promise!ö She jogged out of the arcade and ran towards her home.
The brunette girl put her cheek in her palm. ôShe's changed. It's not bad or anything, but she seems so different.ö
Umino agreed. ôShe's right. She's not really acting weird, but she doesn't seem the same.ö
Motoki crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling. ôI think she's been through a lot. Those monsters are dangerous and she says she's been fighting them. People have died, and there's been a lot of damage caused by them. I guess it's good she's all right, but...ö
Naru looked over at him. ôRight. I guess we really couldn't understand. I'll always be friends with her, but it's like she's in a whole different world now.ö
OooOOooOO
Mamoru was sitting against a tree and smirked. ôHey. How's it going?ö He was wearing sunglasses and had a cane propped up against the bark. It was lunchtime and he was sitting on the grounds of KO University and enjoying the weather in the shade. A light breeze blew by carrying a couple of familiar scents.
ôChiba, where the hell have you been?ö asked the dark haired boy who slapped his shoulder and grinned. His name was Naruno and he was a classmate of Mamoru's. They were friends, but the blind student didn't trust him much. He was a bit of a prankster and a rowdy sort of friend. He was a fast talker and thought of himself as pretty smooth.
Motoki Futahara walked up to the scene as well and smiled. ôChiba sempai. How have you been? We've not seen you in a few days.ö
Unlike Usagi, Mamoru had been attending school intermittently. He often used his blind condition as an excuse for his absence. ôJust the usual.ö
ôIt must be difficult to grow used to it,ö said Motoki. He was cheerful and obviously trying to put on a good face. He looked up to Mamoru and had offered to help him adjust to his condition while at school. He led him around and helped him get his bearings.
The blind boy appreciated Motoki and had been hanging around with him a lot more since he'd lost his sight. It was harder faking having difficulty than it was to get around. ôIt's not so bad. I'm used to it now. Almost forgot what it was like before.ö
Naruno nodded and took a large lump of wasabi out of his bento and put it onto the top of one of the rice balls the blind boy's bento. ôI see, I see. Well, I miss having you on the soccer field. It's no fun without someone to challenge me on the field. We win every game without you there. I guess you can kiss that baseball scholarship goodbye. A shame.ö
Motoki scowled at him for a moment and almost spoke up, but stopped talking when he noticed Mamoru switch the tainted rice ball out of his bento with one of Naruno's.
ôI'm sure. I don't recall saying anything about going for a sports scholarship to begin with,ö replied the blind boy with a smirk as he ate one of the rice balls and took a drink out of a can of tea.
Motoki puffed his chest out. ôChiba senpai is at the top of the class. I think he could get into Todai if he wanted.ö
Naruno nodded and shoved the tainted rice ball into his mouth. His eyes went wide a moment later and he chugged down half of the canned drink in his hand. After that he gasped and coughed while beating on his chest with the back of his fist.
Mamoru smirked and turned his head towards the sound. ôAre you all right?ö
ôJust..swallowed down the wrong tube,ö grumbled the boy. His face was red and his voice was a little harsh.
The blond boy grinned and didn't seem surprised. ôHow does he do that?ö It wasn't the first time he'd seen something like that happen. Mamoru had a way of getting Naruno's pranks to backfire on him. He had gotten caught a couple of times but it hadn't happened in a while.
ôDo what?ö asked the blind boy in an amused tone.
Motoki flushed and waved his hands in front of him. ôNothing, nothing. I'm glad you're back. Let me know if you need anything. You're doing very well though. You don't seem to have any trouble finding your way around.ö
Naruno narrowed his eyes and grumbled under his breath. ôSometimes I wonder if he's really blind.ö He'd deliberately tried to get him turned around or confuse his direction a few times. Mamoru always corrected his direction and found his way with no trouble. He was his friend, and he wasn't intending to get him hurt or cause too much trouble. He'd look out for him in the end of course. Though, it didn't seem like he needed it.
OooOOooOO
Tony had his hands behind his head and his feet kicked up on the principal's desk. He looked unconcerned and a bit bored.
The old man was standing and looking out the window behind his desk. ôI'm guessing this was your doing?ö There was construction going on outside. Not right outside, but what had once been a large unused field was now filled with bulldozers and being prepped for construction.
ôI ain't asked for nuthin. Relax. I don't want any special treatment or anything. Just forget about it.ö The boy yawned.
ôA new gym, and a stadium?ö said the old man as he gave him a small frown.
ôHey. I pulled in a few favors, and it's a tax write off. Like I said, don't worry about it. It's not like its a pro ballpark or anything. Just nicer seats than those old aluminum bleachers you had. They were getting pretty rusty.ö He shrugged and scratched at his nose. ôI told ya already. You grade me fair and treat me like normal or I'll get upset. I ain't lookin for a free ride ya know.ö
The principal grunted and seemed dissatisfied. ôI see. I'll hold you to that.ö The kid sounded more like a punk than usual that day. He was being very informal and a bit rude, but not so much it couldn't be ignored.
ôThe school is in good condition though. I own the construction company, and I admit I'm making a bit on this. They're renovating the lunch area as well. You're not getting a new cafeteria or anything, but the kitchen is top of the line. Nothing fancy. Just called in a few favors, and this isn't the only school getting a few touch ups by my companies. It ain't like I singled ya out.ö He grinned. ôThough, I admit what you're getting is a bit nicer than the others. Not by much though. Relax. It's not some special favor or anything. I was just able to get you in on a sweet government contract I managed to get my hands on for public schools. It's part of the Governor's 'education initiative'. Don't have much to do with me personally. It ain't a bribe or nuthin. I'm just 'lucky' enough to have gotten my hands on a few choice contracts for my construction businesses.ö
The old man knew what he was implying. He knew that the school wouldn't be getting what it was getting if he hadn't been attending. Still, he could look the other way with no trouble, and the boy wasn't asking for anything special in regard to it. ôVery well. I suppose there's nothing I can do. I told you before, I can't be bought. Don't expect any special treatment because of this.ö
The kid picked his nose and wiped it on the bottom of the chair he was leaning back on. ôNah. I told ya already. It's a business deal. I got in on the ground floor and it makes me money doing it. Besides, it makes the politicians with a hand in it look good. There's no down side, I don't need anything from you for it anyway.ö
The principal nodded and sat down. ôI see. Do you have any comment on your new Homeroom teacher?ö
The kid grinned at him and took his feet of the desk as the man took his seat. ôOnizuka? He's great. He'll be a bit of a headache I think, but honestly, he's the perfect man for the job. I suggest that you stick with him no matter what. I've heard about him, did a bit of a background check. He's a complete idiot and totally unorthodox, but the guy has a gift with dealing with problems like yours. Put up with his crap, and you'll have those punks straightened out by the end of the year no problem. I had some people investigate Holy Forest and the area of Shounan. He's got quite a reputation. You'd think he was a Yakuza hearing about his past, but he's a legend in education already. He's only been teaching two years. I'm surprised you got him away from Holy Forest, must be quite the favor the old woman owes you.ö
That gave the old man pause. ôReally now?ö He looked a bit mischievous. ôYou're quite well informed my boy. We've got him on loan for the rest of the year. He'll be returning to Holy Forest next year regardless of how it works out.ö
The kid nodded. ôGreat. Well, you done good then. I'll be seeing you around. You know how it is. The world awaits, and I don't really have time to be in this dump in the first place. Oh well, I guess I'm a bit of a sucker for an old fashioned school lunch.ö He stood up, put one of his hands in his pockets, and waved over his shoulder.
OooOOooOO
ôWow. This is so cool. So, you're into cars then? A real Porche 911? This is a top of the line deal here. A girl after my own heart, and a pretty sexy one at that.ö Onizuka chuckled as he put his hand on the pretty girl's shoulder he met outside of the school.
Kei smirked and looked a bit playful. She was wearing Daisy Duke shorts and a pink cutoff t-shirt. ôHmm? I don't really know much about cars really.ö
Onizuka looked surprised. ôOh, this belongs to your boyfriend then? Must be quite a guy.ö His mood soured a little as he imagined a boring older guy in a business suit.
ôHusband actually. Hey Kei, come to pick me up then?ö Tony walked up to the scene with his hand in one of his pockets. He caught the keys the girl tossed him with his free hand and looked at his teacher. ôHey, Onizuka sensei. Nice, isn't it?ö
The man looked confused. ôHuh? Tony. Um, I'm kind of busy...ö
The kid put on a pair of sunglasses and shoved the man's hand off the girl's shoulder. ôI ain't mad or nuthin, but quit hitting on my wife in front of me, or I'll get annoyed.ö
ôHey, muffin!ö squealed the girl as she grabbed his neck.
The man was clearly shocked. ôW...wife?ö
The boy sat on the hood and nodded. ôYeah. I'm married.ö The kunoichi was being clingy and was obviously flirting with his teacher. ôQuit teasing him would you?ö
ôHe's cute though,ö said the girl with a pout. ôYou know him?ö
The boy nodded. ôYeah. He's my new Homeroom teacher.ö
The man scratched his head and frowned as he tried to figure out what was happening. ôTh...this is your car?ö
Tony nodded. ôYeah. I told you I was a billionaire didn't I?ö
Onizuka was wide eyed. ôI..I didn't think you were serious.ö He looked over his shoulder. ôWhat are you doing in a dump like this then? I'd think any private school in the country would be climbing over each other for a kid like you.ö
The boy smiled. ôI'm not interested. We're a lot alike you know. I'm kind of a street thug myself.ö
The man frowned at that. ôYou sure? I mean, with parents like yours, you shouldn't...ö
Tony shook his head. ôI don't have parents. I was abandoned on the street when I was just a squirt. I don't even know what they looked like. Everything I've got I earned myself. I wasn't born into being rich you know. I started out living on the street and made my fortune on my own.ö
Kei giggled and kicked her feet up looking cute. ôIt's true. He didn't even have a home when I met him.ö
Onizuka was a bit stunned. ôAren't you a little young to be married?ö
The boy narrowed his eyes. ôAren't you a little old to be a virgin?ö
Kei chocked back a laugh. ôYer, kidding?ö
The teacher stomped his foot and pointed at him. ôHow would you know about that?ö
The kid smirked and tapped the side of his nose. ôI've got a sense for that sort of thing.ö Kei was chuckling still. ôHey. Don't tease him. I like him. The class wants to get rid of him, but I'm gonna help him out. He's a nice guy, just a bit of a perverted idiot, and a little rough.ö
The kunoichi blinked and gave a small sigh. ôSounds like your kind of guy.ö
Once again, the man was a bit confused. ôThanks, I guess.ö
The boy nodded. ôI checked up on you. Your in the same mess as you were when you started at Holy Forest. Watch out for the class, and don't trust any of them.ö
The man grinned. ôIncluding you?ö
Tony blushed and looked a bit uncertain. ôI'm not really one of them. I guess I wanted to see what it's like to be normal, but I've got no interest in their little war on adults. I'll help you out I guess, if you need it.ö He hopped off his car and opened the driver's side door. ôI'll see you in class, sensei.ö
ôYeah...hey.ö He frowned as the boy pulled out. ôOh well. I'll see him later.ö
OooOOooOO
A few hours later Tony Stark was in his office with his feet up on his desk. There were a few open folders and a stack of half signed papers spread out in front of him. It was growing late, and he was already tired of business matters for the day. The things on his desk needed a signature, but there was no hurry. He had a half glass of brandy on the rocks in front of him, and was signing them between sips and flipping through the channels on his television.
ôMr. Stark. There's someone here to see you.ö His secretary's voice piped up from the speaker on his desk.
ôHuh? Who?ö he muttered in confusion as he pressed the reply button. ôI don't have any appointments this evening do I?ö
The woman sounded a little surprised that he'd asked. ôNo, sir. He says he's a teacher...ö
The kid rolled his eyes. ôOh. Him. Send him in. I know who you mean.ö
Again, she was a little surprised. ôAll right.ö
The door opened and Onizuka walked in with his hands in his pockets. The man whistled as he looked around. ôWow. Nice place you've got here.ö
Tony nodded and stood up. ôYeah. It's not my house, but I'm pretty much staying here while I'm in school. It's closer.ö
The teacher nodded and grinned as he rushed up to the window like a twelve year old. ôWow! Look at that view! It's something!ö
The boy watched this and walked up next to the man. ôYup. What brings you?ö
ôJust a visit. Checking up on my students, getting to know them, you know.ö He smiled at the boy and looked rather warm.
Tony nodded and walked over to the bar. ôYou want a drink? I've got a bar.ö
The man arched his eyebrow. ôYou're a little young aren't you?ö
The kid shrugged at him. ôYou'd be surprised what people will ignore if you've got money. It's good stuff too.ö
ôYou got any Sapporo?ö asked the man. He didn't seem to care.
His student opened a small refrigerator under the bar and pulled out a can. ôI never cared much for beer. Kei likes it sometimes, but I mostly keep it for guests.ö He handed the man the can and sat down on the edge of his desk. The sun had just vanished over the horizon, leaving the sky a dulling gray with specks of white flickering into view.
Onizuka opened it and took a few chugs. ôAh. That hits the spot. You mind if I smoke?ö He took out a pack.
Tony looked over his shoulder and pulled an ashtray to the edge of his desk. ôGo ahead.ö There were a few stubs of cigars in the tray already.
The man arched his eyebrow. ôYou smoke cigars?ö He lit his own and puffed on it to get it started.
ôNah. I spend a lot of time talking to old men in suits with money. Those types have a liking for them.ö The boy ignored the smoke and was clearly used to it.
Onizuka offered his pack. ôCigarette?ö
The kid looked at it. ôYes. I know.ö He stood up and put his hands in his pockets. ôWhat is it you wanted to know?ö
ôNot much really. Like I said, just getting a feel for the class. Your wife isn't here?ö He looked around.
ôNot at the moment,ö replied the boy. ôShe left on an errand. I think she's staying here tonight, but she might just head back home as well. I'm not sure. I don't keep her on a leash or anything. She does as she likes.ö
The man chuckled at that. ôYou're one of those types huh? Not much bothers you?ö
The kid got a half cocked grin on his face. ôNot really. I get annoyed pretty easy. You're just my kind of guy. Like I said, I'm a bit of a thug myself. I've got a soft spot for delinquent types.ö
ôHey, what's that flashing red thing outside the window?ö Onizuka turned his head and looked towards the corner.
ôHuh?ö muttered the boy. His senses flared to life. ôOh crap.ö He dove into the man and pushed him to the floor on the other side of the desk. There was a resounding boom that filled the room, and glass rained down all around them. A moment later, the sound of an engine roared as violent winds ripped through the office.
ôWhat's going on?ö gasped Onizuka in confusion. He had beer all over his shirt, and Tony had it all over his head.
ôI dunno,ö grumbled the boy. ôWhat the?ö
The pair froze as a disturbingly familiar click sounded. ôHiya. Just though I'd drop in and offer you a ride in my really cool new jet. Figure a kid like you would really go for something like that.ö
Tony was wide eyed and tensed up as he stood. He looked over his shoulder and frowned. Onizuka was behind him and rubbing at his head looking confused.
ôWhat the hell is this?ö grumbled the teacher angrily. ôWho is this guy?ö
Tony growled. He was less surprised than he should have been by what he saw. ôDon't move. He'll kill you without blinking.ö
The man before them was dressed in a tight fitting bodysuit. It was red and black, with two black spots over his eyes. In his hands was a pair of unfamiliar looking handguns. ôRight you are. Look, sorry to just bust in like this, but I've got the strangest feeling you're not that surprised. I mean, an easy score like you, kid billionaire, Ritchie Rich and all. How about we go for a ride in my really cool jet. A kid like you can appreciate something as awesome as that.ö
Tony relaxed as he realized he couldn't move. Onizuka was still a bit stunned and he was all that was between the man and the newcomer. ôI hate those cartoons.ö
ôThis guy...ö grumbled the teacher.
ôDon't even think about it, Onizuka. This guy is out of your league. I know all about you and the Onibaku, but this guy is world class, not some street punk. He'll kill you, and I'll be fine. If he was hired to kill me, we'd already be dodging bullets.ö
The red clad man cocked his head. ôWell, I think that part would be over by now. You'd be full of holes. That's beside the point. You coming along quietly? Someone wants to meet you. Well, not really. I get the impression they just want to use you as a bargaining chip to score some cash. Not my problem though.ö
The boy nodded. ôSure thing. Deadpool, right? Nice to meet you. This a kidnapping gig?ö
The mercenary narrowed his eyes. ôYou seem pretty well informed. I'll warn you now, I don't like kids, and I like company even less. Hey, toots, you mind?ö The man turned and trained one of his firearms towards the door.
Several kunai sailed across the room and the man fired. Tony moved in a blur of motion. Onizuka was laid out across the floor on his back with a bruise on his jaw, Deadpool's arm was moved up forcing him to miss the shot, and the kunai clattered across the ground without hitting anyone.
Tony was standing in the middle of the mess. ôEveryone stand down. Well, except for you merc. Tell you what, you let these two alone, and I'll come along quiet like.ö He turned to the desk and picked up a pen. A moment later there was a click and the handgun was pressed against the back of his skull. The boy ignored it and scratched out a note. ôThere. Let's go.ö He turned to look at his captor.
The white eyes in middle of the black spots on the mask narrowed. ôYou got something in your eyes kid? I mean, you don't look nervous or anything. I'm kind of impressed, but it's weird.ö
The boy frowned at him. ôNot really. Like I said, this is a kidnapping gig right? You already would have shot me otherwise. What's the deal, a ransom? Someone mad at me? It's a ransom thing right? You said something about me being some sort of bargaining chip right?ö
Deadpool jerked his gun towards the plane. It was hovering outside the window and had backed up revealing a ramp. ôI didn't ask, but it seems that way. Let's just go so I can get paid.ö
Tony put his hands behind his head and looked back at his secretary and teacher. ôHey. You two back off, I'll be fine. Don't try to stop this, I don't want to mess up the office anymore than it already is.ö He walked onto the back of the jet and narrowed his eyes at the secretary. ôThat's an order, don't interfere. Something about this has my attention, and I don't want anyone getting in my way. I'll be angry if anyone tries to save me.ö He climbed into the back of the jet.
The mercenary scratched the side of his face with the barrel of his weapon. ôHuh? You're weirding me out kid. This is the part where you scream for help and ask for mommy to save you. You know, crying and stuff.ö
The boy put his hands in his pockets as he sat down inside the plane. ôYou want to deal with some screaming brat? I'll pretend if it makes you feel better. Can we go?ö
ôWhatever,ö said the man as he hopped after him.
ôWait!ö called Onizuka. The man jumped into the air and into the back of the plane as it pulled away from the building.
Deadpool leveled his weapon, but pulled it up and looked surprised as Tony hooked his fist across the man's jaw and sent him sprawling on his back on the floor of the jet.
The mercenary pointed his weapon down at the man. ôSorry, I'm only paid to deliver you.ö
Tony scowled at that and grabbed a pair of handcuffs off the man's belt. He put Onizuka's hands behind his back and locked him up. ôLook, he's an idiot I know, but I'll be less cooperative if you kill him.ö
ôAnd that matters because?ö asked the red and black clad man.
Tony balled up his fist and hit the interior of the jet. A very large dent was pounded into the metal wall. ôLet me put this simply. I've figured out I'm worth more to you alive, I'm tough enough threatening me with pain is useless, and I'm strong and fast enough to be a lot of trouble for you. Keeping him alive keeps me cooperative. He's just an idiot middle school teacher with a reputation for being a bit of a cockroach. He's one of those heroic types, but I bet you'd like him if you got to know him.ö
Deadpool narrowed his eyes at that. ôAnd I care because?ö
Tony scowled at him. ôBecause a cooperative me means an easier paycheck for you. Just let him tag along for the ride. It'll be more fun that way.ö
The mercenary seemed to consider it. ôNah.ö
Tony hung his head. ôI'll pay you to let him live.ö
It was obvious he wanted to shoot the knocked out teacher but raised his weapon away again. ôMy finger's itching. How much?ö
The boy was clearly annoyed. ôA half million.ö He didn't want to have to save Onizuka and get out of his situation. Deadpool leveled his firearm again. ôA half million U.S.ö
The merc put his gun away and sat down. ôFair enough. We'll see how this plays out.ö
Tony seemed to relax and sat down across from him. The pilot looked back. ôWhat makes you so sure you'll live to pay him?ö He was a skinny man with glasses.
Tony put his hands behind his head and leaned back. ôAre you kidding? This sort of thing happens all the time. I'm pretty sure I'll meet whoever it is that hired you, get into a few fights, say some witty lines, and end up back home with a few bandages with the status quo back to normal.ö
Deadpool smirked under his mask. ôI like this kid. Like a manga or something right?ö
ôWell, I hope so. It could be worse. It might be...fanfiction.ö Tony shuddered at the thought of it.
The merc drew his weapon and pointed it at him. ôYou take that back. Take it back right now.ö
The boy shrugged. ôDoesn't really matter. If I ever meet the guy who writes this crap, I'm gonna show him his own spleen either way.ö
The mercenary growled and stood up. ôI really mean it. That shit is not funny. Take it back.ö
Tony shrank back a little. ôAll right fine. It's a manga, or maybe an Anime? I dunno. I think there's been some stuff that might be filler episodes. Whoever the mangaka is, he's a sick and twisted bastard.ö
Deadpool nodded. ôYeah. I'll say. I'm sure the kids reading will learn a valuable life lesson from all of this. Not sure what it is though.ö
The boy seemed to think on it. ôExplosions are awesome and girls look best wearing as little as possible? Hey, do you think we'll end up teaming up against some monster guy, or maybe a dude in spandex? I hope it's not some Bishonen loser. That annoys me. I dunno, a hot evil babe wouldn't be too bad I guess.ö
The merc considered that. ôI dunno. We haven't fought yet. We'll have to do that later maybe. I'm really only interested in getting paid though. I'm not planning on hanging out after I deliver you.ö
Tony looked at Onizuka. ôYeah. I guess. Hey, he's waking up.ö
The teacher groaned. ôOuch. What hit me?ö He pulled at his hands. ôHey, what gives?ö
His student slapped his shoulder to get his attention. ôSit there and behave would you? I'm being kidnapped by this merc here. His name's Deadpool. We'll be all right, but you gotta behave.ö His eye twitched a little. He'd talked a bit too much and ended up promising more than he'd have liked for Onizuka's life.
Onizuka got wide eyed and looked around. ôHuh?ö
Tony gave him a fake looking grin. ôIt's one of those epic adventure things. I'm a superhero and all I guess. He's sort of an anti-hero type I guess.ö
Deadpool frowned. ôI'm not a hero.ö
The boy nodded. ôYeah. I know. That's not what I said. I said anti-hero. I mean, you're not a supervillain or anything. I mean, no plans to take over the world or anything right?ö
The merc narrowed his eyes. ôIf I was?ö
The kid chuckled. ôYeah. Good luck with that. I don't give a shit if you are. You don't seem like the type for it though. My guess is you're in it for the money. Working class guy with questionable morals and all?ö
The man flying the plane gave a snorting laugh. ôYou got that right. You and Pool are getting along pretty well kid. Usually someone like you'd be pissing your pants about now. You're worth quite a bit kid, not going to try and buy your way out of it? Normally he'd have broken your jaw by now.ö
ôI'm still thinking about it,ö commented Deadpool. ôGotta admit, he's less annoying than I thought he'd be.ö
ôWhat the hell is this?ö snapped Onizuka. ôWhy am I handcuffed?ö
ôTo keep you from getting yourself killed by being an idiot. This is a bit over your head, sensei. They're all right guys, but they're working for someone else. We'll go see what this is about, and I'll do some heroic crap to get us out of it later. I hate that shit, but it can't be helped and I want to beat the shit out of the guy who did this.ö Plus, he was out a considerable sum of money. He wasn't planning on stiffing the mercenary if Onizuka survived the trip. It was annoying, and his mouth had moved faster than his brain had, but it was too late to take it back. He hadn't even known the guy for a whole day yet and it was grating on his nerves that he'd offered so much without thinking.
ôOh. So, um. How do we escape?ö asked the confused teacher.
ôYou don't,ö replied Deadpool. ôJust shut up. If you cause any trouble, there's no reason to keep you alive.ö
Tony nodded. ôYeah. Sorry. Just behave all right? I'm good at this sort of thing. I kind of wish you'd stayed at the office though. It's kind of inconvenient having you here, so don't cause any trouble all right?ö
ôWhatever.ö He bowed up and pulled at the handcuffs. ôHey. Let us go. This is my student, and I won't let you hurt him.ö He made a very mean face and the boy had to grab the back of his shirt and pull him back into his seat.
ôStop taunting the heavily armed mercenary,ö grumbled the kid. ôSeriously man, shut up.ö
Onizuka glared at the boy. ôWhat? I can't sit here and stand for this! It's my duty as a teacher!ö
Tony looked at his captor. ôDo you have any duct tape?ö
Deadpool immediately produced a roll of it and handed it over. Tony smiled and put as strip over Onizuka's mouth. ôThanks.ö
The man looked annoyed at this and struggled a bit.
The merc looked at his pilot. ôHey, Weasel, are we there yet?ö
ôYeah, how long of a trip is this?ö asked Tony. He was taking his kidnapping surprisingly well. ôDo you think I'll make it home in time for dinner when I escape, or should I plan for a few days?ö
ôMy god, there's two of them,ö muttered the pilot in horror.
OooOOooOO
ôHe what?ö cried Kei as a plastic bag hit the ground. The boxed take out food inside didn't spill out, but messed up the insides of the bag a bit.
The secretary blushed. ôHe ordered me not to rescue him and went along with them.ö
ôLook at this mess!ö snapped the boy's wife as she looked at the office. She walked up to the window and ran her fingers through her hair. ôSomeone blew up the office window and flew off with him in some sort of hover jet?ö
The woman blushed. ôYes. I've never seen him before. Some guy in red and black tights. He had a sword on his back and a couple of guns. Mr. Stark seemed pretty calm though. He said his name was Dead-something. I couldn't hear it over the jet noise. He seemed to know him though. He took off with him and his teacher.ö
Kei was confused. ôHis...teacher?ö
The secretary nodded and flinched back a little. ôYes. Mr. Stark's teacher from school came to see him. They were talking and I heard the explosion. The guy took both of them, well, sort of. The teacher jumped in to help Mr. Stark, and got knocked out.ö
Kei had her palms on the desk and looked frustrated. ôDamn it. What the hell?ö She froze and cocked her head. There was a note on the desk.
ôHey. Gonna be gone for a bit. Don't come after me, don't pay any ransom, and don't worry. I can handle this guy. Not sure how long I'll be, maybe a couple of days. See you when I get back. Tony.ö
She gave a heavy sigh and dropped the note before looking out the window. ôGreat. Just great. I was hoping to get laid tonight, and now I'm just going to be worried about him until he pops back up.ö She growled and clenched her fist. ôHe probably won't be any fun when he gets back either. I'll end up bandaging up his wounds and listening to him complain for a week.ö
The secretary hung her head. ôWell. I suppose I'll have to reschedule his calendar again. This job wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.ö
Kei snarled and looked back at her. ôScrew this. I'm going after him.ö Her body became covered in black and she ran out the broken window and dove out of the building. ôNo way is he leaving me behind that bastard! I'm not going another month without sex!ö
The kunoichi that remained behind gave a small sigh. ôWhat a mess. It's too late to do anything about it now. I'll have to call someone to repair all this in the morning.ö
OooOOooOO
cont...
Part 43
The X-factor.
OooOOooOO
Tony Stark was sitting in class with his fist on his cheek. He reached up and wiped a bit of drool off his face as he sat there and pretty much ignored the situation he'd found himself in. Onizuka had just announced his presence to the class, and had discovered that he couldn't erase his name from the board. It was now a faded gray. The man had managed to wipe some of it off before it dried and the board was still usable at least.
Onizuka smiled at them and looked over the room. ôAll right then. I guess I should start the lesson then.ö
The class settled down and little else of note happened in that period. Their new teacher had done little more than make them read the textbook, and wasn't really paying much attention to what they were saying. He called on Tony to read a section and the boy stood up looking a bit annoyed. ôThe social impact of the fall of the Moon Kingdom was far reaching and lead to the economic and social independence of the Earth colony. Following the death of the Prince of Earth and the loss of the Imperial powers, the planet was forced to fend for itself. This was a blessing in disguise on some levels as it lead to cultural diversity and an economic boom unusual for a single planet. Unfortunately, within a few generations, the singular government split and civil war broke out across the planet. This lead to the formation of several early Empires in Earth's history and the loss of a great deal of cultural history as each fledgling Empire sought an individual spirit and a separation from the old ways...ö He sat down, leaving his classmates snickering in his wake.
Onizuka didn't even notice and had his feet propped up on the desk. ôVery good, Kensuke, continue with the next paragraph.ö
Aya gave a small sigh. ôIt seems Sensei isn't paying attention.ö
Gun was chuckling. ôThat was interesting.ö
Tony shrugged at him. ôYeah. I guess. I haven't even opened my textbook, and I noticed he wasn't paying attention, so I just stood up and started talking.ö He patted the top of his closed textbook as he said it. ôWatch out for this guy though. I've got a funny feeling the class isn't getting rid of this one.ö
Gun seemed surprised. ôHuh? What do you mean?ö
Toshiro grinned back at him. ôThat was pretty good, new kid.ö
The boy glanced over at him. ôDon't get too excited. I've heard about him. Eikichi Onizuka, he specializes in classes like this one. Holy Forest, the place he came from, had a problem with a class like this one a while back. Then he showed up. He's a former member of the Onibaku, a big deal in Shounan. The guy is legendary in more than one way.ö
ôWow, sempai. You know a lot about this guy?ö Aya seemed impressed.
ôOf course. I was curious about who they would send to this class next, so I checked up on this guy before he got here. He's got a weakness for pretty girls, and porn, but he's also completely shameless and a reputation for being as tough as a cockroach.ö Tony was lying through his teeth about how he found out of course. ôYou guys aren't getting rid of him. Not that it will stop you from trying, but good luck with that.ö
Toshiro narrowed his eyes at him, and looked back to see that several of the other class members had taken note of what he'd said.
Tony felt a hand hit his shoulder and blinked as he looked up. Onizuka was smiling down at him. ôHey. That's pretty good! You're good at gathering information? That was a pretty good story you told by the way. Thinking of becoming a Mangaka?ö
The boy looked annoyed, but seemed to relax. ôNo.ö He blushed a little. ôI didn't think you were paying attention.ö
The man sat on his desk and put a cigarette in his mouth, but didn't light it. ôHuh. You in a gang or something? You seem like the tough type. You know who is in charge of the school?ö
The gaijin boy seemed to think on it. ôI'm new actually. I've heard something about the 'Black Serpents' or something, but I don't really know much about it. I don't have time to bother with schoolyard gangs anyway.ö
Eikichi nodded and looked up at the ceiling. ôI like you kid. You don't back down do you? Remind me of myself at that age a little, except I'm Japanese, and I was much cooler.ö
Tony narrowed his eyes at the man. ôNo you weren't. I get laid on a regular basis. As far as I know, you still don't get any.ö
The man got a little wide eyed and jumped off the desk. ôYou punk! Who told you that? I had tons of girls when I was your age! Eikichi 'the Love Machine' Onizuka was what they called me! I bet you don't have a cool nickname like that do you?ö
The boy looked rather clam and disinterested. ôI don't need a cool nickname. I'm rich and good looking. Not to mention, my shoe size is twice that of anyone in the class but Gun here, my hands are bigger than the rest of the guys in the room too.ö He poked the blond in front of him in the back. ôLook, what are you a size seven? I'm size eleven and a half .ö He put his foot next to the man's and his feet were a few inches larger easily.
ôH-hey now...ö stammered the English boy as he blushed.
Onizuka looked confused. ôEh? Shoe size?ö
Tony leaned towards him and put his hand up as if letting him in a secret. ôIt's a well known fact in Europe and America that the bigger a man's shoe size and hands, the bigger...you know what...is.ö
Aya put her hands over her mouth and blushed. ôR...really?ö
Tony crossed his arms and nodded. ôThat's right. It's just as true as it is that confessing under the Sakura Tree on the West lawn just as the first petals of the blossoms fall means that the couple will find true love and have a happy marriage for the rest of their lives.ö That wasn't technically a lie as both were just stupid superstitions as far as he was concerned.
Eri blushed and looked annoyed. ôI heard about that. It's really true!ö
ôHe's right! I heard about someone that happened to as well!ö said Umi with a gasp.
Onizuka's eye twitched. ôR...really?ö
Aya nodded and smiled. ôYes. It's completely true. I heard about that as well. My Uncle attended here and met my Aunt at this school. She told me the story about that tree when I started attending here.ö
The teacher rubbed at his chin. ôOh? Really?ö He grinned at the boy. ôYou're pretty lucky I guess.ö He turned away and sulked back to his desk.
ôIdiot,ö grumbled Tony under his breath.
Gun smiled at him. ôI heard about that back home myself. I guess we're pretty lucky. I'm a size thirteen.ö He put his foot up and showed the class.
All the girls nearby got wide eyed and the boys all flushed and looked away.
ôThere was a guy I used to know nicknamed 'Kingsnake' who wore a size fifteen shoe,ö commented Tony with a serious and less than interested looking nod. It was one of Spike's friends, he was dead now because of Michiru, but he had heard that the man had acquired the name at the local bathhouse.
The rest of the class went by pretty quietly.
OooOOooOO
Usagi looked up at the sky and shielded her face from the sun. She had a wistful smile on her face. She was dressed in her school uniform again. The past few days had been hectic, and she hadn't needed to spend a lot of time explaining things to the authorities. It had gone smoother than she expected. The police who had come to her home didn't ask much, and berated her lightly. She'd apologized and told them that she'd been foolish and learned her lesson and that had been the end of it.
Her uniform still fit, but it was a bit looser around her waist and tighter on her shoulders. She left her old brooch on her dresser. She didn't really need it anymore, and had the small unassuming backpack on her shoulders. There was enough room to put her things from school inside despite the fact that it also housed her armor.
She'd spent a few days adjusting and was now on her way to school. She hadn't been in so long and was a bit worried. She'd been placed back in her class.
ôUsagi! Usagi! Is that you!ö cried a familiar voice.
ôNaru!ö she gasped as she turned around and her smile grew wider. The girl rushed up to her.
ôIt is you! Where have you been?ö cried the girl as she grabbed her neck and squealed. ôYou've been gone for so long! I was worried!ö
Umino was at her side and grinned. ôHey! Long time no see!ö
ôIt's...complicated,ö said the blond as she hung her head a little.
The nerdy boy adjusted his glasses. ôHey. You can talk!ö
The girl gasped and put her hand over her mouth. ôWow! You got your voice back!ö
The boy looked excited. ôDoes this mean that you can...you know?ö He leaned in and put his hand up. ôYour powers and all?ö
The girl giggled at that and nodded. ôSort of. I'm not Sailor Moon anymore.ö
Naru hung her head. ôThat's too bad.ö She shifted her feet. ôHow are the others? We haven't seen them either. You all just disappeared.ö
The blond girl cocked her head and smiled. ôThey're fine. They don't stay around here anymore and they're all going to school somewhere else now. I still see them. I can't really talk about it though.ö
Umino nodded. ôThat's good to know. Everyone knows about them now.ö
The brunette girl smiled and took her arm. ôIt's good to have you back. Umino's been keeping me company, but it's not the same without you here.ö
The former Senshi flushed a bit. ôSorry. It's been a bit of a mess.ö
The boy puffed his chest out. ôDon't worry. Even if you don't have powers anymore, we're still friends right?ö
The blond got an unusual smirk that neither had seen from her before. ôWho said I don't have powers? I'm just not Sailor Moon anymore.ö
The pair both looked confused at that. Naru spoke up. ôWhat do you mean?ö
Usagi looked up at the sky. ôI'm still a superhero, you've got to keep it a secret, but since you know about it all anyway I guess it's all right. It''s different now though.ö
Umino looked confused. ôDifferent?ö
Naru looked a bit worried. ôYou seem different. There's been all sorts of monsters and horrible things happening. We were worried.ö
The blond seemed to think about it and put her finger up to the corner of her mouth. ôI guess. I've been pretty busy since I left.ö
The nerdy boy got excited as they walked together. ôSo, you know the other superheros? Like Uranus, she's the strongest of them all I heard. What about The Fearless Oni. He seems pretty mysterious and cool.ö
Naru frowned. ôThat guy has been in the papers. It's awful. It says he's Spiderman.ö
Umino scowled at that. ôThat jerk. I thought Spiderman was a good guy, but then he turned out to be that guy. He's really powerful, probably some kind of Yakuza or something. He's really a supervillain isn't he? The enemy!ö
Usagi burst into laughter. After a moment of her two friends giving her odd looks she managed to control herself. She giggled a bit behind her hand as she spoke. ôNo. He's still a jerk, but we're not enemies anymore. We...made up I guess. He's an asshole, but he's not really a bad guy.ö
The brunette girl flushed. ôUsagi! It's not like you to talk like that!ö She seemed a bit scandalized.
The blond looked a bit embarrassed. ôHuh? Oh, sorry. Don't worry about it.ö She looked at them. ôHow is Motoki doing? I was thinking about going by the arcade later.ö
Naru smiled at her. ôHe's good friends with us now. Umino and I hang out there a lot. We play Sailor V and talk to him. He's always asking if we've heard anything about you guys.ö
Umino nodded. ôYeah. There's been a bit in the newspapers about the Senshi and the Fantastic Four. Those are all friends of yours right?ö
Usagi shook her head. ôI don't really know them, but we've met. I haven't been with the others. I'd rather not talk about it really. I was on my own. The Fearless Oni is a friend though. I've hung around him the most. He's really cool.ö
Naru gasped. ôOh no! We're going to be late! It's your first day back, and we can't be late!ö
OooOOooOO
Usagi was a little bored in class. Naru and Umino had both been left pretty winded when they ended up sprinting to school, but she hadn't even broken a sweat. Her time as Venom had gotten her in really good shape, and she'd not gotten any less active.
ôHuh?ö she looked up.
Her teacher had a small scowl on her face. ôUsagi, are you paying attention? Come up here and do this problem on the board.ö She tapped her foot and slapped her hand next to an unfinished math problem.
The blond stood up and took the chalk. She finished the problem after a moment and returned to her seat without a word.
ôOh! Usagi...that's...ö The woman seemed confused. Usagi had gotten quiet since her injury before she disappeared. She'd done better, but she'd shown improvement in her Japanese, English, and now Math skills. It was only her fist day back, but she'd not missed an answer yet.
ôWhat is it Sakurada sensei?ö the girl looked up.
The woman smiled. ôVery good. I'm glad to see you've been keeping up with your studies while you've been gone.ö
The girl cocked her head and smiled. Having an advanced computer that interacted directly with her brain had it's advantages.
Naru looked at her with wide eyes. ôWow. Did you join a cram school while you were gone? You're friends with that Mizuno girl right? Have you been working with her? I heard she's a famous genius and her mom is a doctor.ö
Usagi blushed. ôSomething like that.ö She sank into her seat a bit. ôIt's no big deal.ö
OooOOooOO
Umino, Naru, Usagi, Motoki, and Artemis were sitting in a quiet corner of the Crown Arcade at a table.
The blond boy smiled. ôI'm glad to hear they're all right. It's a relief.ö
Umino nodded. ôRight. We were all worried.ö
The arcade employee leaned forward a little. ôThe city has been a real mess lately. All sorts of monsters and superheros are popping up all over. It's pretty exciting but a little scary too.ö
ôI'll say,ö agreed Naru.
Usagi nodded. ôThere's a lot going on. I'm glad I've got you guys to talk to here. The Senshi are all living somewhere else because of their identities being revealed. It's kind of a pain to go see them.ö
Umino seemed to remember something. ôYou said you had some sort of powers still right, but you're not Sailor Moon anymore?ö He slapped his fist into his palm.
The blond girl nodded. ôWell, I can't show you. It's kind of hard to hide if I do it. I'm not like I was when I left anymore. I can fight again.ö
Motoki seemed serious. ôWell, be careful. We'll all worry about you.ö
Artemis spoke up. ôThey're right. You should still be careful. The enemy is still out there, and I haven't been able to find out much about what they're doing. The Senshi still fight Youma all the time. We've not gotten any closer to discovering where they're coming from or how to defeat them for good.ö
ôWe'll be all right,ö said Usagi. ôWe've got lots of friends now. I'm sure we'll win.ö
The moon cat seemed to consider that. ôStill, we can't let our guard down.ö
ôWhat happened to that other cat? Luna was it?ö asked Naru.
Usagi looked a bit annoyed. ôShe's fine. She's with the Senshi and helping them out. Artemis is helping me now.ö
The white cat nodded. ôThat's right. It's...complicated.ö
Umino crossed his arms. ôYou've been saying that a lot.ö
Usagi flinched a little. ôI know. I'm sorry. I can't tell you everything though. It would take a long time to explain anyway. Even though we're friends and you know about me, it's best if you don't know too much.ö
Artemis agreed. ôShe's right. It might be dangerous if you learn too much. I guess there's no helping that you've found out, and I'm glad you're all friends, but even then...ö
Usagi stood up. ôAll right. I'm sorry, but I've got to run. I'll see you at school tomorrow. I'm up for most of the night, so I've got to get home and get some sleep before this evening.ö
Naru gave a small sigh. ôAll right. You'll have to take some time off so we can hang out one of these days.ö
The girl turned and smiled at her. ôSure thing. It's a promise!ö She jogged out of the arcade and ran towards her home.
The brunette girl put her cheek in her palm. ôShe's changed. It's not bad or anything, but she seems so different.ö
Umino agreed. ôShe's right. She's not really acting weird, but she doesn't seem the same.ö
Motoki crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling. ôI think she's been through a lot. Those monsters are dangerous and she says she's been fighting them. People have died, and there's been a lot of damage caused by them. I guess it's good she's all right, but...ö
Naru looked over at him. ôRight. I guess we really couldn't understand. I'll always be friends with her, but it's like she's in a whole different world now.ö
OooOOooOO
Mamoru was sitting against a tree and smirked. ôHey. How's it going?ö He was wearing sunglasses and had a cane propped up against the bark. It was lunchtime and he was sitting on the grounds of KO University and enjoying the weather in the shade. A light breeze blew by carrying a couple of familiar scents.
ôChiba, where the hell have you been?ö asked the dark haired boy who slapped his shoulder and grinned. His name was Naruno and he was a classmate of Mamoru's. They were friends, but the blind student didn't trust him much. He was a bit of a prankster and a rowdy sort of friend. He was a fast talker and thought of himself as pretty smooth.
Motoki Futahara walked up to the scene as well and smiled. ôChiba sempai. How have you been? We've not seen you in a few days.ö
Unlike Usagi, Mamoru had been attending school intermittently. He often used his blind condition as an excuse for his absence. ôJust the usual.ö
ôIt must be difficult to grow used to it,ö said Motoki. He was cheerful and obviously trying to put on a good face. He looked up to Mamoru and had offered to help him adjust to his condition while at school. He led him around and helped him get his bearings.
The blind boy appreciated Motoki and had been hanging around with him a lot more since he'd lost his sight. It was harder faking having difficulty than it was to get around. ôIt's not so bad. I'm used to it now. Almost forgot what it was like before.ö
Naruno nodded and took a large lump of wasabi out of his bento and put it onto the top of one of the rice balls the blind boy's bento. ôI see, I see. Well, I miss having you on the soccer field. It's no fun without someone to challenge me on the field. We win every game without you there. I guess you can kiss that baseball scholarship goodbye. A shame.ö
Motoki scowled at him for a moment and almost spoke up, but stopped talking when he noticed Mamoru switch the tainted rice ball out of his bento with one of Naruno's.
ôI'm sure. I don't recall saying anything about going for a sports scholarship to begin with,ö replied the blind boy with a smirk as he ate one of the rice balls and took a drink out of a can of tea.
Motoki puffed his chest out. ôChiba senpai is at the top of the class. I think he could get into Todai if he wanted.ö
Naruno nodded and shoved the tainted rice ball into his mouth. His eyes went wide a moment later and he chugged down half of the canned drink in his hand. After that he gasped and coughed while beating on his chest with the back of his fist.
Mamoru smirked and turned his head towards the sound. ôAre you all right?ö
ôJust..swallowed down the wrong tube,ö grumbled the boy. His face was red and his voice was a little harsh.
The blond boy grinned and didn't seem surprised. ôHow does he do that?ö It wasn't the first time he'd seen something like that happen. Mamoru had a way of getting Naruno's pranks to backfire on him. He had gotten caught a couple of times but it hadn't happened in a while.
ôDo what?ö asked the blind boy in an amused tone.
Motoki flushed and waved his hands in front of him. ôNothing, nothing. I'm glad you're back. Let me know if you need anything. You're doing very well though. You don't seem to have any trouble finding your way around.ö
Naruno narrowed his eyes and grumbled under his breath. ôSometimes I wonder if he's really blind.ö He'd deliberately tried to get him turned around or confuse his direction a few times. Mamoru always corrected his direction and found his way with no trouble. He was his friend, and he wasn't intending to get him hurt or cause too much trouble. He'd look out for him in the end of course. Though, it didn't seem like he needed it.
OooOOooOO
Tony had his hands behind his head and his feet kicked up on the principal's desk. He looked unconcerned and a bit bored.
The old man was standing and looking out the window behind his desk. ôI'm guessing this was your doing?ö There was construction going on outside. Not right outside, but what had once been a large unused field was now filled with bulldozers and being prepped for construction.
ôI ain't asked for nuthin. Relax. I don't want any special treatment or anything. Just forget about it.ö The boy yawned.
ôA new gym, and a stadium?ö said the old man as he gave him a small frown.
ôHey. I pulled in a few favors, and it's a tax write off. Like I said, don't worry about it. It's not like its a pro ballpark or anything. Just nicer seats than those old aluminum bleachers you had. They were getting pretty rusty.ö He shrugged and scratched at his nose. ôI told ya already. You grade me fair and treat me like normal or I'll get upset. I ain't lookin for a free ride ya know.ö
The principal grunted and seemed dissatisfied. ôI see. I'll hold you to that.ö The kid sounded more like a punk than usual that day. He was being very informal and a bit rude, but not so much it couldn't be ignored.
ôThe school is in good condition though. I own the construction company, and I admit I'm making a bit on this. They're renovating the lunch area as well. You're not getting a new cafeteria or anything, but the kitchen is top of the line. Nothing fancy. Just called in a few favors, and this isn't the only school getting a few touch ups by my companies. It ain't like I singled ya out.ö He grinned. ôThough, I admit what you're getting is a bit nicer than the others. Not by much though. Relax. It's not some special favor or anything. I was just able to get you in on a sweet government contract I managed to get my hands on for public schools. It's part of the Governor's 'education initiative'. Don't have much to do with me personally. It ain't a bribe or nuthin. I'm just 'lucky' enough to have gotten my hands on a few choice contracts for my construction businesses.ö
The old man knew what he was implying. He knew that the school wouldn't be getting what it was getting if he hadn't been attending. Still, he could look the other way with no trouble, and the boy wasn't asking for anything special in regard to it. ôVery well. I suppose there's nothing I can do. I told you before, I can't be bought. Don't expect any special treatment because of this.ö
The kid picked his nose and wiped it on the bottom of the chair he was leaning back on. ôNah. I told ya already. It's a business deal. I got in on the ground floor and it makes me money doing it. Besides, it makes the politicians with a hand in it look good. There's no down side, I don't need anything from you for it anyway.ö
The principal nodded and sat down. ôI see. Do you have any comment on your new Homeroom teacher?ö
The kid grinned at him and took his feet of the desk as the man took his seat. ôOnizuka? He's great. He'll be a bit of a headache I think, but honestly, he's the perfect man for the job. I suggest that you stick with him no matter what. I've heard about him, did a bit of a background check. He's a complete idiot and totally unorthodox, but the guy has a gift with dealing with problems like yours. Put up with his crap, and you'll have those punks straightened out by the end of the year no problem. I had some people investigate Holy Forest and the area of Shounan. He's got quite a reputation. You'd think he was a Yakuza hearing about his past, but he's a legend in education already. He's only been teaching two years. I'm surprised you got him away from Holy Forest, must be quite the favor the old woman owes you.ö
That gave the old man pause. ôReally now?ö He looked a bit mischievous. ôYou're quite well informed my boy. We've got him on loan for the rest of the year. He'll be returning to Holy Forest next year regardless of how it works out.ö
The kid nodded. ôGreat. Well, you done good then. I'll be seeing you around. You know how it is. The world awaits, and I don't really have time to be in this dump in the first place. Oh well, I guess I'm a bit of a sucker for an old fashioned school lunch.ö He stood up, put one of his hands in his pockets, and waved over his shoulder.
OooOOooOO
ôWow. This is so cool. So, you're into cars then? A real Porche 911? This is a top of the line deal here. A girl after my own heart, and a pretty sexy one at that.ö Onizuka chuckled as he put his hand on the pretty girl's shoulder he met outside of the school.
Kei smirked and looked a bit playful. She was wearing Daisy Duke shorts and a pink cutoff t-shirt. ôHmm? I don't really know much about cars really.ö
Onizuka looked surprised. ôOh, this belongs to your boyfriend then? Must be quite a guy.ö His mood soured a little as he imagined a boring older guy in a business suit.
ôHusband actually. Hey Kei, come to pick me up then?ö Tony walked up to the scene with his hand in one of his pockets. He caught the keys the girl tossed him with his free hand and looked at his teacher. ôHey, Onizuka sensei. Nice, isn't it?ö
The man looked confused. ôHuh? Tony. Um, I'm kind of busy...ö
The kid put on a pair of sunglasses and shoved the man's hand off the girl's shoulder. ôI ain't mad or nuthin, but quit hitting on my wife in front of me, or I'll get annoyed.ö
ôHey, muffin!ö squealed the girl as she grabbed his neck.
The man was clearly shocked. ôW...wife?ö
The boy sat on the hood and nodded. ôYeah. I'm married.ö The kunoichi was being clingy and was obviously flirting with his teacher. ôQuit teasing him would you?ö
ôHe's cute though,ö said the girl with a pout. ôYou know him?ö
The boy nodded. ôYeah. He's my new Homeroom teacher.ö
The man scratched his head and frowned as he tried to figure out what was happening. ôTh...this is your car?ö
Tony nodded. ôYeah. I told you I was a billionaire didn't I?ö
Onizuka was wide eyed. ôI..I didn't think you were serious.ö He looked over his shoulder. ôWhat are you doing in a dump like this then? I'd think any private school in the country would be climbing over each other for a kid like you.ö
The boy smiled. ôI'm not interested. We're a lot alike you know. I'm kind of a street thug myself.ö
The man frowned at that. ôYou sure? I mean, with parents like yours, you shouldn't...ö
Tony shook his head. ôI don't have parents. I was abandoned on the street when I was just a squirt. I don't even know what they looked like. Everything I've got I earned myself. I wasn't born into being rich you know. I started out living on the street and made my fortune on my own.ö
Kei giggled and kicked her feet up looking cute. ôIt's true. He didn't even have a home when I met him.ö
Onizuka was a bit stunned. ôAren't you a little young to be married?ö
The boy narrowed his eyes. ôAren't you a little old to be a virgin?ö
Kei chocked back a laugh. ôYer, kidding?ö
The teacher stomped his foot and pointed at him. ôHow would you know about that?ö
The kid smirked and tapped the side of his nose. ôI've got a sense for that sort of thing.ö Kei was chuckling still. ôHey. Don't tease him. I like him. The class wants to get rid of him, but I'm gonna help him out. He's a nice guy, just a bit of a perverted idiot, and a little rough.ö
The kunoichi blinked and gave a small sigh. ôSounds like your kind of guy.ö
Once again, the man was a bit confused. ôThanks, I guess.ö
The boy nodded. ôI checked up on you. Your in the same mess as you were when you started at Holy Forest. Watch out for the class, and don't trust any of them.ö
The man grinned. ôIncluding you?ö
Tony blushed and looked a bit uncertain. ôI'm not really one of them. I guess I wanted to see what it's like to be normal, but I've got no interest in their little war on adults. I'll help you out I guess, if you need it.ö He hopped off his car and opened the driver's side door. ôI'll see you in class, sensei.ö
ôYeah...hey.ö He frowned as the boy pulled out. ôOh well. I'll see him later.ö
OooOOooOO
A few hours later Tony Stark was in his office with his feet up on his desk. There were a few open folders and a stack of half signed papers spread out in front of him. It was growing late, and he was already tired of business matters for the day. The things on his desk needed a signature, but there was no hurry. He had a half glass of brandy on the rocks in front of him, and was signing them between sips and flipping through the channels on his television.
ôMr. Stark. There's someone here to see you.ö His secretary's voice piped up from the speaker on his desk.
ôHuh? Who?ö he muttered in confusion as he pressed the reply button. ôI don't have any appointments this evening do I?ö
The woman sounded a little surprised that he'd asked. ôNo, sir. He says he's a teacher...ö
The kid rolled his eyes. ôOh. Him. Send him in. I know who you mean.ö
Again, she was a little surprised. ôAll right.ö
The door opened and Onizuka walked in with his hands in his pockets. The man whistled as he looked around. ôWow. Nice place you've got here.ö
Tony nodded and stood up. ôYeah. It's not my house, but I'm pretty much staying here while I'm in school. It's closer.ö
The teacher nodded and grinned as he rushed up to the window like a twelve year old. ôWow! Look at that view! It's something!ö
The boy watched this and walked up next to the man. ôYup. What brings you?ö
ôJust a visit. Checking up on my students, getting to know them, you know.ö He smiled at the boy and looked rather warm.
Tony nodded and walked over to the bar. ôYou want a drink? I've got a bar.ö
The man arched his eyebrow. ôYou're a little young aren't you?ö
The kid shrugged at him. ôYou'd be surprised what people will ignore if you've got money. It's good stuff too.ö
ôYou got any Sapporo?ö asked the man. He didn't seem to care.
His student opened a small refrigerator under the bar and pulled out a can. ôI never cared much for beer. Kei likes it sometimes, but I mostly keep it for guests.ö He handed the man the can and sat down on the edge of his desk. The sun had just vanished over the horizon, leaving the sky a dulling gray with specks of white flickering into view.
Onizuka opened it and took a few chugs. ôAh. That hits the spot. You mind if I smoke?ö He took out a pack.
Tony looked over his shoulder and pulled an ashtray to the edge of his desk. ôGo ahead.ö There were a few stubs of cigars in the tray already.
The man arched his eyebrow. ôYou smoke cigars?ö He lit his own and puffed on it to get it started.
ôNah. I spend a lot of time talking to old men in suits with money. Those types have a liking for them.ö The boy ignored the smoke and was clearly used to it.
Onizuka offered his pack. ôCigarette?ö
The kid looked at it. ôYes. I know.ö He stood up and put his hands in his pockets. ôWhat is it you wanted to know?ö
ôNot much really. Like I said, just getting a feel for the class. Your wife isn't here?ö He looked around.
ôNot at the moment,ö replied the boy. ôShe left on an errand. I think she's staying here tonight, but she might just head back home as well. I'm not sure. I don't keep her on a leash or anything. She does as she likes.ö
The man chuckled at that. ôYou're one of those types huh? Not much bothers you?ö
The kid got a half cocked grin on his face. ôNot really. I get annoyed pretty easy. You're just my kind of guy. Like I said, I'm a bit of a thug myself. I've got a soft spot for delinquent types.ö
ôHey, what's that flashing red thing outside the window?ö Onizuka turned his head and looked towards the corner.
ôHuh?ö muttered the boy. His senses flared to life. ôOh crap.ö He dove into the man and pushed him to the floor on the other side of the desk. There was a resounding boom that filled the room, and glass rained down all around them. A moment later, the sound of an engine roared as violent winds ripped through the office.
ôWhat's going on?ö gasped Onizuka in confusion. He had beer all over his shirt, and Tony had it all over his head.
ôI dunno,ö grumbled the boy. ôWhat the?ö
The pair froze as a disturbingly familiar click sounded. ôHiya. Just though I'd drop in and offer you a ride in my really cool new jet. Figure a kid like you would really go for something like that.ö
Tony was wide eyed and tensed up as he stood. He looked over his shoulder and frowned. Onizuka was behind him and rubbing at his head looking confused.
ôWhat the hell is this?ö grumbled the teacher angrily. ôWho is this guy?ö
Tony growled. He was less surprised than he should have been by what he saw. ôDon't move. He'll kill you without blinking.ö
The man before them was dressed in a tight fitting bodysuit. It was red and black, with two black spots over his eyes. In his hands was a pair of unfamiliar looking handguns. ôRight you are. Look, sorry to just bust in like this, but I've got the strangest feeling you're not that surprised. I mean, an easy score like you, kid billionaire, Ritchie Rich and all. How about we go for a ride in my really cool jet. A kid like you can appreciate something as awesome as that.ö
Tony relaxed as he realized he couldn't move. Onizuka was still a bit stunned and he was all that was between the man and the newcomer. ôI hate those cartoons.ö
ôThis guy...ö grumbled the teacher.
ôDon't even think about it, Onizuka. This guy is out of your league. I know all about you and the Onibaku, but this guy is world class, not some street punk. He'll kill you, and I'll be fine. If he was hired to kill me, we'd already be dodging bullets.ö
The red clad man cocked his head. ôWell, I think that part would be over by now. You'd be full of holes. That's beside the point. You coming along quietly? Someone wants to meet you. Well, not really. I get the impression they just want to use you as a bargaining chip to score some cash. Not my problem though.ö
The boy nodded. ôSure thing. Deadpool, right? Nice to meet you. This a kidnapping gig?ö
The mercenary narrowed his eyes. ôYou seem pretty well informed. I'll warn you now, I don't like kids, and I like company even less. Hey, toots, you mind?ö The man turned and trained one of his firearms towards the door.
Several kunai sailed across the room and the man fired. Tony moved in a blur of motion. Onizuka was laid out across the floor on his back with a bruise on his jaw, Deadpool's arm was moved up forcing him to miss the shot, and the kunai clattered across the ground without hitting anyone.
Tony was standing in the middle of the mess. ôEveryone stand down. Well, except for you merc. Tell you what, you let these two alone, and I'll come along quiet like.ö He turned to the desk and picked up a pen. A moment later there was a click and the handgun was pressed against the back of his skull. The boy ignored it and scratched out a note. ôThere. Let's go.ö He turned to look at his captor.
The white eyes in middle of the black spots on the mask narrowed. ôYou got something in your eyes kid? I mean, you don't look nervous or anything. I'm kind of impressed, but it's weird.ö
The boy frowned at him. ôNot really. Like I said, this is a kidnapping gig right? You already would have shot me otherwise. What's the deal, a ransom? Someone mad at me? It's a ransom thing right? You said something about me being some sort of bargaining chip right?ö
Deadpool jerked his gun towards the plane. It was hovering outside the window and had backed up revealing a ramp. ôI didn't ask, but it seems that way. Let's just go so I can get paid.ö
Tony put his hands behind his head and looked back at his secretary and teacher. ôHey. You two back off, I'll be fine. Don't try to stop this, I don't want to mess up the office anymore than it already is.ö He walked onto the back of the jet and narrowed his eyes at the secretary. ôThat's an order, don't interfere. Something about this has my attention, and I don't want anyone getting in my way. I'll be angry if anyone tries to save me.ö He climbed into the back of the jet.
The mercenary scratched the side of his face with the barrel of his weapon. ôHuh? You're weirding me out kid. This is the part where you scream for help and ask for mommy to save you. You know, crying and stuff.ö
The boy put his hands in his pockets as he sat down inside the plane. ôYou want to deal with some screaming brat? I'll pretend if it makes you feel better. Can we go?ö
ôWhatever,ö said the man as he hopped after him.
ôWait!ö called Onizuka. The man jumped into the air and into the back of the plane as it pulled away from the building.
Deadpool leveled his weapon, but pulled it up and looked surprised as Tony hooked his fist across the man's jaw and sent him sprawling on his back on the floor of the jet.
The mercenary pointed his weapon down at the man. ôSorry, I'm only paid to deliver you.ö
Tony scowled at that and grabbed a pair of handcuffs off the man's belt. He put Onizuka's hands behind his back and locked him up. ôLook, he's an idiot I know, but I'll be less cooperative if you kill him.ö
ôAnd that matters because?ö asked the red and black clad man.
Tony balled up his fist and hit the interior of the jet. A very large dent was pounded into the metal wall. ôLet me put this simply. I've figured out I'm worth more to you alive, I'm tough enough threatening me with pain is useless, and I'm strong and fast enough to be a lot of trouble for you. Keeping him alive keeps me cooperative. He's just an idiot middle school teacher with a reputation for being a bit of a cockroach. He's one of those heroic types, but I bet you'd like him if you got to know him.ö
Deadpool narrowed his eyes at that. ôAnd I care because?ö
Tony scowled at him. ôBecause a cooperative me means an easier paycheck for you. Just let him tag along for the ride. It'll be more fun that way.ö
The mercenary seemed to consider it. ôNah.ö
Tony hung his head. ôI'll pay you to let him live.ö
It was obvious he wanted to shoot the knocked out teacher but raised his weapon away again. ôMy finger's itching. How much?ö
The boy was clearly annoyed. ôA half million.ö He didn't want to have to save Onizuka and get out of his situation. Deadpool leveled his firearm again. ôA half million U.S.ö
The merc put his gun away and sat down. ôFair enough. We'll see how this plays out.ö
Tony seemed to relax and sat down across from him. The pilot looked back. ôWhat makes you so sure you'll live to pay him?ö He was a skinny man with glasses.
Tony put his hands behind his head and leaned back. ôAre you kidding? This sort of thing happens all the time. I'm pretty sure I'll meet whoever it is that hired you, get into a few fights, say some witty lines, and end up back home with a few bandages with the status quo back to normal.ö
Deadpool smirked under his mask. ôI like this kid. Like a manga or something right?ö
ôWell, I hope so. It could be worse. It might be...fanfiction.ö Tony shuddered at the thought of it.
The merc drew his weapon and pointed it at him. ôYou take that back. Take it back right now.ö
The boy shrugged. ôDoesn't really matter. If I ever meet the guy who writes this crap, I'm gonna show him his own spleen either way.ö
The mercenary growled and stood up. ôI really mean it. That shit is not funny. Take it back.ö
Tony shrank back a little. ôAll right fine. It's a manga, or maybe an Anime? I dunno. I think there's been some stuff that might be filler episodes. Whoever the mangaka is, he's a sick and twisted bastard.ö
Deadpool nodded. ôYeah. I'll say. I'm sure the kids reading will learn a valuable life lesson from all of this. Not sure what it is though.ö
The boy seemed to think on it. ôExplosions are awesome and girls look best wearing as little as possible? Hey, do you think we'll end up teaming up against some monster guy, or maybe a dude in spandex? I hope it's not some Bishonen loser. That annoys me. I dunno, a hot evil babe wouldn't be too bad I guess.ö
The merc considered that. ôI dunno. We haven't fought yet. We'll have to do that later maybe. I'm really only interested in getting paid though. I'm not planning on hanging out after I deliver you.ö
Tony looked at Onizuka. ôYeah. I guess. Hey, he's waking up.ö
The teacher groaned. ôOuch. What hit me?ö He pulled at his hands. ôHey, what gives?ö
His student slapped his shoulder to get his attention. ôSit there and behave would you? I'm being kidnapped by this merc here. His name's Deadpool. We'll be all right, but you gotta behave.ö His eye twitched a little. He'd talked a bit too much and ended up promising more than he'd have liked for Onizuka's life.
Onizuka got wide eyed and looked around. ôHuh?ö
Tony gave him a fake looking grin. ôIt's one of those epic adventure things. I'm a superhero and all I guess. He's sort of an anti-hero type I guess.ö
Deadpool frowned. ôI'm not a hero.ö
The boy nodded. ôYeah. I know. That's not what I said. I said anti-hero. I mean, you're not a supervillain or anything. I mean, no plans to take over the world or anything right?ö
The merc narrowed his eyes. ôIf I was?ö
The kid chuckled. ôYeah. Good luck with that. I don't give a shit if you are. You don't seem like the type for it though. My guess is you're in it for the money. Working class guy with questionable morals and all?ö
The man flying the plane gave a snorting laugh. ôYou got that right. You and Pool are getting along pretty well kid. Usually someone like you'd be pissing your pants about now. You're worth quite a bit kid, not going to try and buy your way out of it? Normally he'd have broken your jaw by now.ö
ôI'm still thinking about it,ö commented Deadpool. ôGotta admit, he's less annoying than I thought he'd be.ö
ôWhat the hell is this?ö snapped Onizuka. ôWhy am I handcuffed?ö
ôTo keep you from getting yourself killed by being an idiot. This is a bit over your head, sensei. They're all right guys, but they're working for someone else. We'll go see what this is about, and I'll do some heroic crap to get us out of it later. I hate that shit, but it can't be helped and I want to beat the shit out of the guy who did this.ö Plus, he was out a considerable sum of money. He wasn't planning on stiffing the mercenary if Onizuka survived the trip. It was annoying, and his mouth had moved faster than his brain had, but it was too late to take it back. He hadn't even known the guy for a whole day yet and it was grating on his nerves that he'd offered so much without thinking.
ôOh. So, um. How do we escape?ö asked the confused teacher.
ôYou don't,ö replied Deadpool. ôJust shut up. If you cause any trouble, there's no reason to keep you alive.ö
Tony nodded. ôYeah. Sorry. Just behave all right? I'm good at this sort of thing. I kind of wish you'd stayed at the office though. It's kind of inconvenient having you here, so don't cause any trouble all right?ö
ôWhatever.ö He bowed up and pulled at the handcuffs. ôHey. Let us go. This is my student, and I won't let you hurt him.ö He made a very mean face and the boy had to grab the back of his shirt and pull him back into his seat.
ôStop taunting the heavily armed mercenary,ö grumbled the kid. ôSeriously man, shut up.ö
Onizuka glared at the boy. ôWhat? I can't sit here and stand for this! It's my duty as a teacher!ö
Tony looked at his captor. ôDo you have any duct tape?ö
Deadpool immediately produced a roll of it and handed it over. Tony smiled and put as strip over Onizuka's mouth. ôThanks.ö
The man looked annoyed at this and struggled a bit.
The merc looked at his pilot. ôHey, Weasel, are we there yet?ö
ôYeah, how long of a trip is this?ö asked Tony. He was taking his kidnapping surprisingly well. ôDo you think I'll make it home in time for dinner when I escape, or should I plan for a few days?ö
ôMy god, there's two of them,ö muttered the pilot in horror.
OooOOooOO
ôHe what?ö cried Kei as a plastic bag hit the ground. The boxed take out food inside didn't spill out, but messed up the insides of the bag a bit.
The secretary blushed. ôHe ordered me not to rescue him and went along with them.ö
ôLook at this mess!ö snapped the boy's wife as she looked at the office. She walked up to the window and ran her fingers through her hair. ôSomeone blew up the office window and flew off with him in some sort of hover jet?ö
The woman blushed. ôYes. I've never seen him before. Some guy in red and black tights. He had a sword on his back and a couple of guns. Mr. Stark seemed pretty calm though. He said his name was Dead-something. I couldn't hear it over the jet noise. He seemed to know him though. He took off with him and his teacher.ö
Kei was confused. ôHis...teacher?ö
The secretary nodded and flinched back a little. ôYes. Mr. Stark's teacher from school came to see him. They were talking and I heard the explosion. The guy took both of them, well, sort of. The teacher jumped in to help Mr. Stark, and got knocked out.ö
Kei had her palms on the desk and looked frustrated. ôDamn it. What the hell?ö She froze and cocked her head. There was a note on the desk.
ôHey. Gonna be gone for a bit. Don't come after me, don't pay any ransom, and don't worry. I can handle this guy. Not sure how long I'll be, maybe a couple of days. See you when I get back. Tony.ö
She gave a heavy sigh and dropped the note before looking out the window. ôGreat. Just great. I was hoping to get laid tonight, and now I'm just going to be worried about him until he pops back up.ö She growled and clenched her fist. ôHe probably won't be any fun when he gets back either. I'll end up bandaging up his wounds and listening to him complain for a week.ö
The secretary hung her head. ôWell. I suppose I'll have to reschedule his calendar again. This job wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.ö
Kei snarled and looked back at her. ôScrew this. I'm going after him.ö Her body became covered in black and she ran out the broken window and dove out of the building. ôNo way is he leaving me behind that bastard! I'm not going another month without sex!ö
The kunoichi that remained behind gave a small sigh. ôWhat a mess. It's too late to do anything about it now. I'll have to call someone to repair all this in the morning.ö
OooOOooOO
cont...