Concept by Megane 6.7
Story by Komodo.
C&C welcome.
-Agreeable Komodo
Just Say Yes To Polka Dot Elves Who Carry Carving Knives
"When choosing between two evils,
I always like to take the one I've
never tried before."
- Mae West, "Klondike Annie
**********
The Senshi spent the rest of the week licking their wounds and otherwise
recuperating. When they returned to school, they found that an exchange
student would be attending Crossroads beginning next week. And not just any
exchange student, but an American.
"I don't like it," Amy said flatly. "You could start an international
incident if you try anything. Americans are prickly people." Serena, Amy, and
Lita were standing just inside the gate on the day when the new student was
to arrive.
"Ask me if I care," Serena half-snarled. "No dumb American is setting foot on
my school without understanding who's the boss around here."
"Yeah, well he better get here soon," Lita said, glancing at her watch.
"School will start in about a minute."
"Look!" someone, shouted. Everyone looked. Coming up the street was someone
walking. As the person got closer, they could see it was a young man, wearing
a school uniform under a long black coat. The strap of a satchel was visible
across his chest and they could see it when the wind moved his coat.
When he stepped through the gate, he paused for just a moment, his eyes
unreadable behind round-rimmed mirrored sunglasses. Then he started walking
again. As he passed by Serena and her two cohorts, his head turned ever so
slightly towards them. Then he smirked, pushed his glasses up, and
disappeared into the school.
For some reason she could not name, Lita suddenly had a funny feeling, as
though someone had placed a target between her shoulder blades and was taking
aim with a very large gun.
**********
"Class, I'd like you all to meet our new student. This is Jackson Quincy
Eddings of Exodus, Massachusetts, in America."
"Greetings," he said in flawless, accentless, Japanese, giving the class a
short half bow. "And please, call me Jack." His eyes narrowed dangerously, "I
insist." There were a few half-audible swallows, including one from behind
him.
"Yes, well," the teacher said, clearing his throat. "Take your seat Mister
Eddings."
Humming softly to himself, Jack strolled down the aisle and dropped into the
first empty seat he came to, which was right next to Amy. Catching her eye,
he tapped his pencil once against his temple in a mocking salute before
focusing his full attention on the teacher.
***********
"Hey Jackson! You got the time?" No sooner had the words left the football
player's mouth then he found himself seeing stars as the American grabbed the
front of his shirt and slammed him face first into the tile wall of the
locker room.
"Never call me Jackson," he said casually as the other boy slid to the floor
and lay there twitching. He looked up at the others. "Anybody else want to
know the time?"
There was a chorus of shaking heads as they backed away. Chuckling to
himself, Jack finished changing into his gym outfit and exited the room.
***********
"You shouldn't have done that."
"Hm?" Jack turned to look at the nerdy looking youth beside him.
"Beat up on Hiro like that. Now she'll be gunning for you."
"Who's will?"
"See her? The one with her hair up in that funny hairstyle?" Following the
pointed finger to the girl's side of the field, Jack saw a girl, her hair up
in twin odangos, talking with a lean brown haired girl.
"The blond with the meatballs on her head?"
"Yeah. Her name's Serena Tusiniko and she runs this school," said the boy.
Jack looked at him and the boy swallowed hard, remembering what he had seen
in the locker room. "I'm not trying to threaten you or anything, just
speaking from experience. I've seen . . .stuff . . .happen to students who
don't do what she says." He gave the American a pleading look. "If you're
smart, you'll do what she says."
"Really? What a shame I'm not very smart then." Jack gave the other boy a
predatory smile. "In fact, you might say I'm a complete idiot." At that
point, his name was called and Jack strolled out onto the field, whistling a
tune.
"Americans," the boy muttered. "They're all insane."
***********
As thugs go, Jack had to admit that they had some brains. They were staying
out of sight and not talking.
Returning his attention to the wall painting which dominated the North wall
of the cafeteria/auditorium, Jack studied it for a moment longer and then
turned, dropped his satchel on the floor next the stage and faced the
direction where they were hiding.
"Come on out boys!" he called. "There's nobody around but us!" There was a
snickering noise from all sides and young men, many of them were dressed in
various athletic costumes emerged from nooks and crannies all around the
room. Fencers, hockey players, archers, and baseball. The rest were wearing
school uniforms and carrying bokkens, lengths of chain, various blunt
objects, and one or two were sporting brass knuckles.
"Let me guess," Jack said as he leaned against the stage. "You guys are from
the school paper and want my opinion for your 'man on the street feature.'"
"Cute," said a new voice and a tall, dark-haired youth pushed his way through
the group. "The gaijn has a sense of humor."
"I also have fifty cents in my pocket," Jack quipped. "You know, for phone
calls." The newcomer chuckled, causing the rest to follow suit.
"Well they're well trained," Jack observed sardonically. "Have you taught
them to play dead yet?"
"Heh. Amusing. I'm Darien Shields."
"And I'm pretending to be impressed. Whaddya want?"
"Ah, a man of bisnuess. Refreshing. Very well. Earlier today, you grievously
injured one of the high school world's rising football players for a very
minor reason."
"He offended me," Jack said as a way of explaining.
"All he did was use your full name."
"I don't like people using my full name. Only mommy can use it."
Darien's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. The gajin's words were flippant, but
there was a veiled threat there. "Regardless, the student safety club,"
"That would be this band of rabid vigilante wanna-bees," Jack interrupted.
"The student safety club," Darien started again. "Recognizing that your
brutal act of violence-"
"What brutal act of violence?" Jack interrupted again. "All I did was crack
his skull and probably make him unable to remember anything except the name
of the lead gaffer in any B movie he's ever seen."
"Recognizing that your brutal act of violence cannot go unpunished, has
convened to administer appropriate punishment."
"You're gonna make me listen to John Denver songs?"
"Get him," Darien said from between clenched teeth.
***********
When Darien woke up, he found himself still in the auditorium. The sun had
probably set for the only light came through the windows. It was then that he
realized he was suspended, upside down, about a foot or so off the floor. He
could smell blood and sweat.
"Well, welcome back," said a voice from about half a meter from his face. "I
was starting to think you didn't like me anymore." As his eyes began to
adjust to the dim light, Darien could make out the gajin seated on a riser
near him, doing something with his hands. "Your friends are good athletes,
but they've never been in the middle of a free for all brawl. 'Bout half of
'em clobbered each other."
"Just what are you?" Darien demanded angrily. "No one human could have
survived that, free for all experience or no."
"I'm Bat-" The gaijin started to say and then stopped. "Nah, that's been
overdone. To tell you the truth pal, I'm just an ordinary joe getting ready
to go to war." Darien winced as he felt the rough surface of a match being
struck against his cheek. The light from the flame was just enough that he
could see the gaijin, cigar clamped between his teeth, grinning broadly.
"Geronimo."