**Trigger warning. This chapter contains mentions of violence towards the main character and a flashback scene briefly I am correct. This has an important reveal at the end of the chapter so you can just skip to the later half of the chapter if you want. Thank you**
-Chapter 17: Fire Up
Aruto and Izu push the crate towards the mansion, which is probably going to look amazing. I used to live in a big house that was kind of like a mansion, but it wasn't one. I was going to help them push it, but I am unable to due to reasons.
"Your favorite manga artist is Choichiro Ishizumi, correct?" I ask as they stop pushing. I stop and look around. "This is one nice big gate."
"Yes, he's my favorite one. Perfuman Tsurugi is a great manga that you should check out!" Aruto answers, laughing a little. "I think you would like it a lot, Mari. You seem like the type who appreciates the fine things in life." Oh, I so do.
I hold in a giggle, not wanting my chest to ache any more than it already is. "That sounds like perfume to me," I tell him. I would laugh if I could.
"It kind of does now that you mention it," he replies, laughing a bit more. "The artist wants a new HumaGear to help him with illustrations."
"Oh?" HumaGears are capable of a lot of things. "HumaGears are so amazing aren't they? They're able to do a lot of things."
I wonder what Jin and Horobi are able to do if. Well, if they are HumaGears. I'm leaning towards that Jin is one for sure and Horobi is just trying to keep me guessing. He doesn't want me to enter his personal bubble.
"HumaGears are capable of a lot of things since they're meant to work alongside humans. You know, compliment us? Kind of like how Kairi is meant to assist you with your job."
I look at Aruto and nod. "She's good at a lot of things, honestly." She is mostly there to be like a sister to me so I don't feel so alone.
"I've learned a lot of things about you lately, Mari. It makes me happy to get to know someone like you very well." Aruto grins. "How about we get inside?"
"Oh, really?" He has? Like what? "Yeah, let's get inside before we end up standing out here all day long."
~.~
I look around the room as a few HumaGears work at the speed of light, drawing for this manga artist guy. Is it okay to work them like this? HumaGears have limits like humans. I know that because Kairi has her limits.
"Is it okay to work them this hard, Aruto?" I look over at Izu. I should have asked her, but Aruto will do.
"I'm not so sure that one is supposed to make them work this hard. It feels wrong," Aruto answers. "They might run out of their battery if they keep going on like this. I'm curious about why they're working this hard in the first place. It is like they're meant to do all the work!"
"Yeah, it does seem like that." I don't get how someone could work them like this. It is pretty much like making them into a slave.
This is the most horrible thing I've seen in a bit. Well, besides Allen. HumaGears should be allowed to do what they want to do in life as long as it isn't harming others. They have rights. Well, limited rights.
"How can someone do that?" I would cover my mouth right now, but it hurts to move too much. I'm hardly getting by.
"I'm not so sure right now. It makes no sense to me." Aruto seems upset. "This is cruel. Only someone with no heart could do this to them."
"I'm guessing that person would have to be plain cruel," I mutter out. Kind of like Horobi. He's plain cruel for wanting to destroy all of humanity. I'm not so sure if I think he is pure evil yet.
"Yeah."
I look away, sighing heavily. "I hope he's not evil. Honestly, we have enough evil people in this world."
"I'm going to go and talk to him about this."
I look at Aruto and he turns, heading over to the artist. Mr. Ishizumi seems like a huge jerk to me. He doesn't look like he's one who can create anything. He seems lazy and passionless to me.
"Don't you draw anything?" Aruto asks him, probably sounding annoying to this guy. "You're an artist, Mr. Ishizumi."
"You're still here after giving me my new HumaGear?" He doesn't look at Aruto. He looks really annoyed right now, but he deserves to be annoyed. How dare he do this to HumaGears! "You so go now."
"I smell the scent of evil...wolf!" Aurto exclaims, doing an impression of an werewolf or something. I honestly don't know because I haven't read this manga. "Mr. Ishizumi, I am a huge fan of your work. Honestly, I am." I would laugh at what he says, but I can't really move without feeling a ton of pain.
The man leans back, sighing heavily. "I'm not going to draw anymore, President of Hiden Intelligence. Why should I do it when they're way better than me at drawing? Besides, they can move at the speed of light."
"What the heck?" I gasp. I can't believe him!
"They're accurate with the line art and they hardly get tired!" Mr. Ishizumi tells Aruto, leaning forward. This man is really a piece of work.
He turns and grabs something, getting up from his chair. He turns to Aruto and holds it out, pretending to attack him with a fake blade. It seems to be a sword or something. I'm not good with all that mumbo jumbo. That's for someone else to worry about.
"You're quite logical, sir," Izu states.
"So, that is why the art seemed a bit off lately, huh?" Aruto turns, recovering from his little scare from that attack. He picks up one of the volumes of the manga series he likes. "It was better before they touched it. Sure, the line art wasn't the best, but it hard fire to it. Passion."
"It sucked before?" Mr. Ishizumi asks.
"Let me word that a bit better, sir." He flips through the manga. "I meant to say that the artwork was full of life before. But it wasn't absolutely perfect. All that mattered to me was how full of passion it was." I get what he means. It is like how my artwork is full of my passion, so it ends up being good even if it is rough looking.
BANG!
I turn, gasping. One of the HumaGears has passed out! How come he had to work the poor HumaGear so hard?
"Again?" Mr. Ishizumi sighs heavily, like some disappointed child. "This one has been acting quite strange lately." HumaGears need a break like humans do, huh?
Mr. Ishizumi goes up to the HumaGear and smacks it on the back. Hey, that isn't cool! How can he just go up to it and do that?
"Don't you know how much effort and time I put into teaching these things?" Mr. Ishizumi shakes the HumaGear. He lets go, letting it fall to the side.
"..." That is wrong. This is wrong.
I drop to the ground, shaking. This is my life now. I deserve this like he says, right?
"What did I tell you about going near other guys in front of me? How could you go around with that scummy doctor behind my back? I only turned away for five seconds!" Allen shouts, grabbing my shirt. He pulls me up and slams me back against the wall.
"Ah!" I gasp, pain shooting through me.
He releases my shirt and places his hands on my arms and shakes me. "Don't you love me? Didn't you say that you did on our wedding night? You said your vows to me and they were full of love and passion. How can you turn your back on your word?"
I turn, stomach turning. "Aruto, I need to get some fresh air real quick. Please excuse me." I can't stay in here right now.
"Okay, Mari!" Aruto exclaims, sounding confused.
I rush over to the door and open it, letting myself out of the place. I shut the door and sigh heavily. This is some heavy stuff to deal with right now.
How can he do that to them? He's just as bad as Allen right now! They're abusing the things they shouldn't be abusing. If anything, abuse a pack of smokes.
I look up, staring ahead as G-Pen heads away. He's going somewhere, right? Yes, that is what he was told to do. He should get away from this place and never come back. He doesn't deserve to be abused.
"Oh, it is you, Mari!"
I jump up and look. "Jin?"
What is Jin doing around here? Shouldn't he be busy listening to something Horobi has to say to him? Wait...is that why he is here? Did Horobi send him to hack some poor HumaGear? And I am not allowed to even stop it.
He looks around, eyes scanning the area. "How's it going?"
"How can you be so casual about this? Just leave me be!" I do not want to be caught anywhere near him.
"He-he! It is okay, Mari! We won't be caught together at all."
"Did Horobi send you here to do some dirty work? You can answer it because you know I can't even do anything to stop you." My hands are tied.
"Yeah, I am here for something he sent me to do. I'm going to go and make friends with G-Pen over there when he comes back!" Jin laughs, looking crazy.
I sigh a bit. "Of course you are. Why would you be doing that? Anyways, you should go and leave me alone. Aruto should be coming out of there any moment and we do not want to be caught together at all." If we end up being caught together, life will get complicated for me and not him.
"Alright! Be right back!" He turns away, skipping away from my view. He'll be back. He always somehow comes back.
The door opens and I turn, looking at Aruto as he steps outside with Izu. I hope they didn't go crazy. Honestly, I can't imagine how Aruto feels right now. He loves and trusts HumaGears.
"Is he working them too hard in there?" I ask.
"He's doing what he likes to do despite my pleas," Aruto answers, looking me in the eyes. "Oh, G-Pen! Hey, is he writing the story still?"
"No, that is done by the editors." G-Pen pops up next to me and I look him over, staring at his nice clothes. He looks pretty fancy. "I am involved in writing the story as well."
"I see." Aruto sounds so hurt right now. He really does love this manga and the story of it. It has to hurt to see someone else handling it all.
I need to make sure that I stay in check once Jin hacks G-Pen. After all, I am not allowed to interfere or else I'll do and so will Kairi. I know Horobi will keep his word on that. He's somewhat scary.
"We should go," I state. I do not wish to be up close and personal with Jin when he hacks G-Pen. I am not able to fight right now even though I want to.
"Right. See you around, G-Pen."
"When another HumaGear gains his wings to fly to Naptime Land," I mutter out.
"What was that?"
I shake my head. "Nothing. I was just saying how it sucks to see the HumaGears work in such terrible conditions."
"Yeah, it does suck to see that." Aruto agrees as usual. It does suck seeing the HumaGears get mistreated like that.
I turn and move forward, heading towards the exit of the mansion. It is time for us to go home and never look back. I do not wish to be here when trouble begins.
I move around the side of the gate and turn, my eyes landing on Jin as he approaches G-Pen. He pops something on his waist and turns, facing us. Oh, no! Why now Jin?
"Oh, Zero-one and lady!" Jin calls out, sounding happy with himself.
"No..."
I turn to Aruto as he rushes back through the gate. I am going to have to follow him to not seem out of the ordinary. He's going to have to do all the fighting though. I'm not able to do that yet.
I move around the gate, reentering the property of the artist. Jin pulls out his gun, pointing it towards us. He's holding us back isn't he?
"What are you after?" Aruto asks him, being brave. Like he's going to get an answer from Jin.
Jin slides his finger on the back of the gun, keeping it pointed it at us. "We're after the annihilation of the human race," he answers. Actually, he did give Aruto an answer. Good job, Aruto! Gold stars for all.
"He's stalling..." And it is working out for him. Two Kamen Riders are here and he can stall us with a gun. Lovely. "Aruto, he's stalling us out! He's making sure the hacking protocol gets installed all the way without interruptions!"
G-Pen shouts, sounding insane. The belt closes around his waist and he triggers it. I think he's becoming a full on Magia now. He's graduated from MetsubouJinrai hacking school. Neat.
"Aruto, you're going to have to fight this for me. I'm still hurt," I tell Aruto, giving him a head's up.
"Fine. Just be careful, Mari."
Aruto pulls out his driver and puts it on his waist. He scans his key and pops it in, transforming. He is going to be fine. I know he will.
I move over to the side as Aruto hits the Magia, beginning the fight. I hope this doesn't go on for too long. I don't want to be stuck here all day long. It won't be fun for me if I am.
The Magia hits Aruto as he tries to scan a key, making it fall to the ground. Well, that isn't good. Should I pick it up? Nah, I should just stand back like I was told to do.
"Oh, it is mine now!" Jin exclaims, rushing towards the key. I think that is Aruto's shark key.
Aruto charges forward, quickly picking up the key as Jin hits the ground. Oof! Jin...I wonder if he is okay or not.
I move a bit forward and bend over, looking him over. "I got you." I grab his arm, holding onto it tightly.
He looks up, eyes going to my shoulder. I step back, removing my hands from his arm, and adjust my jacket. I hope he didn't see too much of it. If he did, it won't be pretty for me. He'll go and talk to Horobi about it.
He steps a bit closer and I stumble backwards, falling into something. I turn my head, looking at short black hair with highlights that look green. Izu?
"Izu!" I can't believe she just caught me.
"It will be fine now that you're away from him, Mari. However, you shouldn't try to apprehend someone who is dangerous while you're injured and in civilian form," Izu tells me, giving me advice.
"I should get going, Izu. It isn't safe for me in my current condition to be here. I thought it would be an easy day."
"I'll let Aruto know that you had to go. Please get checked out by a doctor, Mari."
She lets me go and I turn to her, nodding. "I will do so," I tell her. Not.
I need to get to Daybreak now.
~.~
I lean in towards the wall of the room Horobi stays in all day. I'm a bit late here, but I had some stuff to do on the way here. I see that Jin has officially returned.
"Don't go after the Progrise Keys on your on from now on," Horobi's voice says calmly, scolding Jin.
"Why not? Horobi, why can't I do that?" Jin asks, sounding upset. He also sounds confused. He wants to join in on the fun and I don't blame him. "Oh, I get it now, Horobi!"
Does he really get what Horobi is saying right now? I don't even get what Horobi is wanting Jin to understand. What is going on with these two?
"I'm your assistant, right? Is that it?" Jin asks, sounding cheerful. He's happy about that kind of thing? I wouldn't want to be Horobi's assistant.
"No, Jin, you're not my assistant. You're way more precious to me than an assistant ever will be," Horobi states, shooting down Jin's view on their relationship. "No, Jin, you're my son."
I gasp, covering my mouth with my hands as pain shoots through me. He's Horobi's son? For real? But aren't they both too young to be related to each other in that way?
"Mari?"
I look over. Shoot!