Akamatsuverse Irresistible Force, Chapter 2 WIP

[GenocideHeart]

As promised, I'm posting what little I have. I'm actually frustrated, as I'm not entirely sure which direction to go in first with this one. I have three main choices, the way I see it - some slice-of-Juggerlife scenes, Tsuruko arriving posthaste, or a Kaolla/Molmol angle. The third would be a bit hard to do this early, while Tsuruko arriving in a hurry is wholly believable, given the circumstances.

In the meanwhile, I'm feeding the hungry mouths. :lol:

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(A/N: Yeah, yeah, it's been six damn years, I suck, you've seen grannies faster than I am. I get it. Sorry about that, really. But at least the wait was worth it.

Anyway, here's the long-awaited - long enough that Duke Nukem Forever was released in the meantime! - second chapter of Irresistible Force. Hopefully it will be worth the long wait.

As always, criticism is greatly appreciated - as long as it isn't the 'get faster, you lazy bum' kind of criticism, I'm well aware of my slow writing speed without someone pointing it out to me...

Now,on with the story!)

DISCLAIMER:

Love Hina and all its characters are property of Akamatsu Ken, and I don't claim ownership of them, though I sure as hell would LIKE to. The Juggernaut and Cyttorak are property of Marvel Comics inc., and major props go to them for creating such a popular villain in the first place.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Many thanks to:

Lord Raa from The Fanfiction Forum for mucho encouraging and feedback - actually, more like death threats and Mafia-style 'suggestions', but nevermind;

Moshulel from The Fanfiction Forum for feedback and random ideas - although he has since gone inactive, his suggestions were kept in mind by me;

EagleCeres from The Fanfiction Forum for suggesting several deliciously warped twists;

Everybody else from The Fanfiction Forum for general proofreading and making sure this fic doesn't suck... hopefully;

And thanks to you, reader, for reading this fic, of course!

("This" is speech. Italics indicate thought. 1234567890 is a scene break.)

Chapter 2: Know Who I Am

Hinata Girls Dormitory, Early morning

Keitaro awoke to the sound of gentle knocking on his door. Groaning, he rolled over - and promptly fell off the far-too-small bed he'd been given with a thud.

With a frustrated growl, the young giant picked himself up, just as a familiar voice came from outside the door. He recognized it as the voice of the swordswoman he'd met the previous day - Aoyama Motoko, if his memory served him well.

"Urashima? Did something happen? I just heard a loud thud. Do you need help?", she asked through the room's door. Keitaro blinked - she was sounding genuinely concerned, something he wasn't quite expecting after the... unfortunate way they had met the previous day.

Then again, she did vote in my favor when the time came to decide whether I could stay or not, he thought. I should not assume that she would be still cross at me after my situation became clear - unlike that other girl...

"I'm fine, Aoyama-san. I just kind of, uh, rolled off the bed..." he answered. For a few seconds, there was silence on the other side of the door, then he picked up the distinct sound of someone straining to contain their laughter. Raising an eyebrow, he continued: "Yes, I am aware of how ridiculous it sounds, but it's not like they make Avatar-Of-An Obscure-Eldritch-Deity-sized beds in Japan or anything... Oh, and I can hear you struggling not to laugh. Be careful not to pull a muscle there, will you? That'd be an embarrassing story on its own..."

The bout of laughter that followed made him smirk as he got dressed. Got you. I knew I could make you laugh if I tried.

1234567890

A few minutes later, Keitaro and Motoko walked downstairs for breakfast. The young man had initially been surprised to discover the sun hadn't come up yet, but quickly shrugged it off - it made sense for a martial artist to be an early riser, and he'd found out almost right away that his new condition meant he didn't really NEED to sleep - he merely did it as a habit, or to relax.

As Keitaro entered the kitchen, he picked up a delicious scent of freshly baked plumcakes, and paused for a second. "Plumcakes...? I'm surprised someone would cook Western food in a Japanese dormitory," he commented. Motoko nodded.

"That's because Shinobu has recently taken an interest in Western cuisine," she explained. "She is our cook, in a way, and she has been looking to expand her repertoire of dishes."

"I see... Not that I mind. I myself grew quite fond of them recently," Keitaro answered as his mouth started to water. Much like sleeping, eating and drinking were actually meaningless activities to him - but he still found the taste of food pleasant, so he didn't mind eating good food when it was available. Similarly, he'd developed a taste for strong alcoholics, in large part due to his being physically unable to get drunk.

At that point, Shinobu, who had been busy trafficking around the oven, turned around and spotted them. Upon seeing him, she instinctively drew back, intimidated by his looming frame. Noticing her discomfort, Keitaro quickly grabbed the sturdiest seat he could find and sat down, hunching over slightly to look as small and non-threatening as someone with his imposing frame could. He smiled gently at Shinobu in an attempt to set her at ease.

"Say, something smells good. If it's not too much of a bother, could I ask for a quick taste?" he asked amiably. Shinobu instantly perked up, pleased by the praise towards her food's aroma.

"Ah, they aren't ready yet. If you could wait a couple more minutes, they should be cooked at just the right point for the best taste," she quickly explained, grabbing two mugs and a coffee pot. "I did prepare some cappuccino to go with them, though... would you like some? You too, Motoko?"

Keitaro and Motoko both nodded at that, and Shinobu nodded, preparing the hot beverages in a flash. Through it all, she hummed an upbeat tune, her mood clearly improved from earlier. Keitaro couldn't help but be impressed inwardly - the young cook was mentally tougher than he initially gave her credit for, given her ability to chat with him in spite of the... 'incident' he involved her in the previous day...

("Shinobu doesn't remember you flashing her, Urashima, in case you are wondering,") Motoko's hushed whisper interrupted his thoughts. ("We thought it best to just forget that has ever happened. I ask that you please refrain from bringing that memory back... it's best for all if what was forgotten remains forgotten.")

...or there's that, Keitaro grimaced upon hearing that. But she's right, best let sleeping dogs lie. He quickly nodded at her, just before Shinobu set the mugs down before them.

--------

That's it for now. I was intending for some sort of interruption to come up right after that scene, but can't decide which order I want events in. Thoughts?

 

[zeebee1]

I'm interested in Motoko's optimistic view on this.

Also, I'm still waiting for that epic Super Robot Taisen fic you promised.

 

[Lord Raa]

About time, you slacker

At this rate, England will win another major tournament before you finish it

But on to the story. What jumps out at me is that cakes seem like an odd choice for breakfast.

Is it an Italian recipe/habit?

I suppose that if I was to find a suitable recipe, I could find out for myself how well they work compared to the cakes that I made with fruits, seeds and nuts.

 

[nick012000]

Firstly, I'll point out that the Gem of Cytorrak grants more than just size, strength, nigh-invulnerability, and unstoppable momentum. IIRC, it grants nigh-omnipotence; if someone who actually used it competently got their hands on it, they could probably hang with Dr. Strange in raw mystical power. Seriously, Juggernaught was given a power source limited only by his own imagination, and he uses even more poorly than most Green Lanterns do; at least they throw generic energy bolts with their Rings.

Secondly, the name reminds me of FUS RO DAH, though I know that's a total coincidence due to the fact that the fic started long before Skyrim came out and FUS RO DAH became a meme. It seems like a natural way to explore him developing his skill at weilding the power of the Gem, though.

Finally, while I haven't read either manga (because of the age of one and the fact that the other involves adult women being sexually attracted to a prepubescant boy and I find that incredibly creepy), isn't Love Hina set in the same universe as Negima? Will Jack Rakan turn up at some point? IIRC Motoko's family has links with the Magical World, so if she sends out word to them, and they ask him to help...

 

[Zanfib]

Nice to see this continuing.

 

[kitsuneb]

Whoa...how long has it been GH? What almost a decade or so?

 

[ragnarok1337]

Finally, while I haven't read either manga (because of the age of one and the fact that the other involves adult women being sexually attracted to a prepubescant boy and I find that incredibly creepy), isn't Love Hina set in the same universe as Negima? Will Jack Rakan turn up at some point? IIRC Motoko's family has links with the Magical World, so if she sends out word to them, and they ask him to help...

Juggernaut!Keitaro meeting Jack Rakan would be HILARIOUS.

Whoa...how long has it been GH? What almost a decade or so?

Duke Nukem came out in the meantime, in case you're wondering. Talk about your schedule slip. Now I don't feel as bad about mine. Thanks, GH.

As for the chapter...a bit short for six years. But out of the options you've been given I'd suggest slice-of-juggerlife, then Tsuruko arrives.

 

[GenocideHeart]

Firstly, I'll point out that the Gem of Cytorrak grants more than just size, strength, nigh-invulnerability, and unstoppable momentum. IIRC, it grants nigh-omnipotence; if someone who actually used it competently got their hands on it, they could probably hang with Dr. Strange in raw mystical power. Seriously, Juggernaught was given a power source limited only by his own imagination, and he uses even more poorly than most Green Lanterns do; at least they throw generic energy bolts with their Rings.

Secondly, the name reminds me of FUS RO DAH, though I know that's a total coincidence due to the fact that the fic started long before Skyrim came out and FUS RO DAH became a meme. It seems like a natural way to explore him developing his skill at weilding the power of the Gem, though.

Finally, while I haven't read either manga (because of the age of one and the fact that the other involves adult women being sexually attracted to a prepubescant boy and I find that incredibly creepy), isn't Love Hina set in the same universe as Negima? Will Jack Rakan turn up at some point? IIRC Motoko's family has links with the Magical World, so if she sends out word to them, and they ask him to help...

Keep in mind that Keitaro has no idea just what the extent of the Gem's power actually IS. He is only aware of what is readily apparent, ie his size increase (which by the way seems to be permanent even if the gem's owner is later stripped of its power), near invulnerability and immense strength, as well as the fact he can't be stopped once he starts moving.

Both the Molmol royal family and Tsuruko know more about the Gem's power than Keitaro does at the moment, which is ironic. But that's why they will be brought in.

As for the chapter...a bit short for six years. But out of the options you've been given I'd suggest slice-of-juggerlife, then Tsuruko arrives.

This is actually less than a third of the planned chapter - it was longer in the draft I had up until friday, but I was so annoyed with what I wrote that I deleted roughly half the stuff I wrote down and decided to ask for advice.

Please note, all 3 of the available events WILL happen within 3 chapters at most, along with Naru beginning to mellow out somewhat after seeing Keitaro foil a robbery/kidnapping attempt that was turning sour and deciding that even a pervert may have some redeeming qualities. I just need to decide WHAT order to make them happen in, is all.

 

[nick012000]

Firstly, I'll point out that the Gem of Cytorrak grants more than just size, strength, nigh-invulnerability, and unstoppable momentum. IIRC, it grants nigh-omnipotence; if someone who actually used it competently got their hands on it, they could probably hang with Dr. Strange in raw mystical power. Seriously, Juggernaught was given a power source limited only by his own imagination, and he uses even more poorly than most Green Lanterns do; at least they throw generic energy bolts with their Rings.

Secondly, the name reminds me of FUS RO DAH, though I know that's a total coincidence due to the fact that the fic started long before Skyrim came out and FUS RO DAH became a meme. It seems like a natural way to explore him developing his skill at weilding the power of the Gem, though.

Finally, while I haven't read either manga (because of the age of one and the fact that the other involves adult women being sexually attracted to a prepubescant boy and I find that incredibly creepy), isn't Love Hina set in the same universe as Negima? Will Jack Rakan turn up at some point? IIRC Motoko's family has links with the Magical World, so if she sends out word to them, and they ask him to help...

Keep in mind that Keitaro has no idea just what the extent of the Gem's power actually IS. He is only aware of what is readily apparent, ie his size increase (which by the way seems to be permanent even if the gem's owner is later stripped of its power), near invulnerability and immense strength, as well as the fact he can't be stopped once he starts moving.

Both the Molmol royal family and Tsuruko know more about the Gem's power than Keitaro does at the moment, which is ironic. But that's why they will be brought in.

Fair enough. I was just hoping that he wouldn't be stuck there like the Marvel 616 Juggernaut did, and so many Green Lanterns do.

Also, on a side note: how much of Marvel has been crossed over? Just the Gem, just the supernatural stuff, or the whole hog of Marvel weirdness? If the latter, I sort of wonder if Keitaro or Rakan are going to participate in that competition for the position of Sorcerer Supreme.

 

[ragnarok1337]

Probably just the Gem. Negima probably won't even show except for maybe a cameo or two. I'd kind of like it that way, actually.

 

[Zanfib]

I'd suggest doing slice-of-Juggerlife for this chapter. Let the characters get used to each other before you introduce more variables.

 

[zeebee1]

Negima takes place in the future anyways.

 

[GenocideHeart]

Sunfire and other Japan-based superheroes may pop up every now and then, but the appearance of overseas heroes is unlikely, aside from Dr. Strange should the Gem of Cyttorak be overused.

And no, Psylocke and Wolverine will NOT appear. That's non-negotiable. Both are overexposed fantard bait, and have enough people using them already. If I absolutely MUST use some other heroes, lower profile ones like Xian of New Mutants fame are more likely.

Supervillains, now... those may show up simply to stir trouble/conquer the world. I'm considering a few villains at the moment, including Titania and the Absorbing Man.

 

[GenocideHeart]

Just a heads up, I might have something for you tomorrow.

Smell y'all later.

 

[JTibbs89]

odd thought... Where did Shinobu get the rum to make plum cakes? Kitsune?

And did she take a little sip or two?

Tipsy Shinobu FTW

 

[nuclear death frog]

Whoa, this is alive. Color me surprised. ^_^

 

[GenocideHeart]

As promised, some more. Would have done more of it, but had to go buy food because tomorrow there's a strike and all markets here will be closed.

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As Keitaro and Motoko ate breakfast, the rest of the girls came downstairs, attracted by the smell of food. Predictably, Naru seated herself as far away from Keitaro as possible, while Kaolla, to Keitaro's surprise, perched herself on the chair right next to his and slowly ate breakfast, occasionally looking at him with an unreadable expression.

The exotic girl's odd behavior did not go unnoticed - both Kitsune and Motoko took note of it. Motoko cast Keitaro an interrogative glance, to which he replied with a puzzled expression that made it obvious to the kendoka that he had no idea why Kaolla seemed to have taken an interest in him.

Kitsune, on the other hand, dismissed it, being too busy herself casting surreptitious glances to the young man's massive frame. She hadn't gotten a good chance to actually look at Keitaro the previous day, due to all the excitement, and now that she had some peace and quiet to examine him, she realized he was, in fact, even larger and more intimidating-looking than he appeared at first, his arms looking like tree trunks and muscular enough to look perfectly capable of grinding granite into a fine dust with just index and thumb without effort.

In spite of the menacing size he displayed, Keitaro's face was a stark contrast to his physique - looking at just his face alone, one wouldn't have thought him capable of harming a fly, and while he could be scary when annoyed - like the previous day - he came across more as a good-natured doormat than as the badass his body suggested he was.

Kitsune and Kaolla's musings, as well as the breakfast, were interrupted by Haruka coming in, dressed in fatigue coveralls. She waved her hand at Keitaro.

"Hey, do you have a minute? I need your help with moving some heavy stuff," she said, tilting her head towards the outside. "The old annex's first floor's balcony partially collapsed a few weeks ago, and so far I was unable to have the debris moved away. With you here, it should now be possible. If you don't mind...?"

"Sure, Haruka," Keitaro replied with a smile, to which she raised an eyebrow. "Moving huge weights is no problem at all in my current condition, just lead the way... what? Is something wrong?" he added, noticing her raised eyebrow.

"No, just... this is a first for you, not calling me 'aunt' without me having to smack you into it," she pointed out in mild surprise. Keitaro shrugged as he got up.

"Well, you don't like it, and chances are if you smack me in my current state without using an object you'll break your hand or something, so it's better not to provoke you into it," he pointed out. "I had to learn to not only keep my own temper in check - and believe me, it's been tough lately, probably a side effect of this cursed gem - but also to not provoke others into attacking me without meaning to. This body of mine's just as hard as it looks - having a twelve-ton crate dropped on my head by accident didn't even cause me mild discomfort. So... yeah, it's kind of like smacking a tank with your fist. Doesn't end well."

"...Had experience, huh?" Haruka inquired. Keitaro nodded.

"Bunch of drunk or drugged yakuza, one of the two. Tried to simulate getting hurt by bumping into me, one of them had the bad idea of trying to punch me. I let him do it. Let's just say it hurt just watching the result."

"Yakuza...? Who in their right mind would attack a giant like you, criminal or not?" Haruka asked incredulously.

"What can I say?" Keitaro shrugged again. "Must've been on drugs or something. Or maybe thought I was just a big softy."

"Or maybe you are the one who mugged them," Naru suggested, a hint of venom in her voice. Keitaro's left eye twitched, and before Haruka could answer Naru, he spoke up.

"First off, I hate violence", he started, with more than just a bit of annoyance creeping in his voice. " I won't attack anyone, and will only defend myself if they start first and actually do warrant fighting back. Just so you know, a bunch of druggies with swords and guns don't count - that crap can't even give me a paper cut. Try a superdude like that Japanese superhero who's always in the news - Sunfire, was it? Secondly, if I did want to steal money, I'd just charge headfirst into a bank, plow through the walls and get the money in the safe. You've seen me run through Kaolla's room's wall - which reminds me, I promised her I'd help fix it - so you know I can do that if I want to.

"And third, and most important, if you really think I'm a mugger who picks fights with yakuza for the hell of it, do you think it's wise to piss me off?" he finished, his voice raising an octave and causing the mugs on the table to rattle.

"Urashima makes good points there, Narusegawa," Motoko interjected, realizing the situation was getting rather dangerous - her sister had warned her of the volatile temper of a Cyttorak gem's user, and while Keitaro seemed sincere about hating violence, his will wasn't all that mattered anymore in his new state. "He's especially right on the second count. If he wanted to, yes, he could simply walk in a bank, rob it and walk out - not even tank fire can dent the Avatar of Cyttorak, if memory serves, and one of the many powers the gem bestows - perhaps the one it is most well known for - is that once its bearer starts moving, no earthly force can stop their advance. Steel, titanium, granite, diamond - they might all as well have the consistency of wet paper once an Avatar of Cyttorak gains any momentum at all."

"Huh, really?" Keitaro asked, interested. "I had noticed that once I started moving, nothing seemed able to stop my advance, but I always assumed it just means it'd take something thicker than a wooden or concrete wall to stop me. So once I pick up speed, unless you get something like divine intervention, I'm unstoppable?"

"That is essentially it, yes," Motoko confirmed. "Why do you think the gem's inscription refers to making you a 'Juggernaut'? The term comes from western literature - it was used to describe a creature that would advance inexorably, no matter how many efforts were made to stop it. Also, the previous owner of Cyttorak's power called himself that."

"Previous owner?" Kitsune interrupted, suddenly interested. Motoko nodded.

"You didn't think Keitaro was the first wielder of Cyttorak's power, did you? There was another who held that power a few years back - a Westerner named Cain Marko, if memory serves. Unfortunately..." she grimaced. "He wasn't a good man, unlike Urashima. Instead of keeping the power under control and coexisting with it like Urashima seems to have been doing, he let it overwhelm and corrupt him... He became infamous and feared as an unstoppable villain - destroying, pillaging, wounding and murdering all that got in his way."

"...Seriously? So the gem makes you evil?" Shinobu asked, a tinge of fear creeping in her voice. Motoko shook her head negatively.

"No... Cyttorak itself isn't evil per se, and neither is the power it bestows" she explained. "It may do things that come across as evil to us - but you must understand, Cyttorak is a God. Human morality has no meaning when applied to beings like it, so classifying it as just 'good' or 'evil' is a terrible mistake. And, much like any other powers bestowed by the Gods, the blessing of Cyttorak isn't evil per se..." she shook her head sadly, "...Humans make it that way."

"I see..." Keitaro murmured, deep in thought.

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Lemme know how it is. :evil2:

 

[Lord Raa]

Moar.

 

[ragnarok1337]

Too bad about the strike. What are the stores striking over?

 

[GenocideHeart]

Too bad about the strike. What are the stores striking over?

Italy's government flooding citizens in taxes while our politicians refuse to cough up a single penny, basically.

 

[Lord Raa]

Too bad about the strike. What are the stores striking over?

Italy's government flooding citizens in taxes while our politicians refuse to cough up a single penny, basically.

You mean hypocrisy is a common trait amongst politicians?

Well I never.

Edit: Write more, you slacker.

 

[ragnarok1337]

Too bad about the strike. What are the stores striking over?

Italy's government flooding citizens in taxes while our politicians refuse to cough up a single penny, basically.

Looks like it's happening everywhere.

 

[TerraBull]

Best Wishes in Italy.

With the mention of Cain, how was he separated from the Gem?

Does this mean Keitaro has met up against Hero's? 'Calling him out'?

 

[kitsuneb]

You guys are surprised that politictians are refusing to cough up their government checks for us. poli-"tics" people, many bloodsucking parasites. I won't deny that they are those who wish to do good, but they are overwhelmed by those who write the loopholes so they can get out of doing almost nothing.

 

[GenocideHeart]

Best Wishes in Italy.

With the mention of Cain, how was he separated from the Gem?

Does this mean Keitaro has met up against Hero's? 'Calling him out'?

He's been Juggernaut only for a few months, and save for Strange (because he's Strange), no one knows he has the Gem.

This is a bit of an AU diverging from when Onslaught ripped Cain's gem off him and backhanded him across the Atlantic. In normal continuity, the gem returned to Cain. In this one, it didn't - Cyttorak was disappointed with Cain losing and sought a new champion.