Chapter 12

“N-no, but thank you anyway” said Raiden as he walked over to his close

Carmen frowned softly but shook her head as she turned around going to her closet on her side of the room. She gathered her clothes then went to take a shower as she turned on the water waiting for it to get warm. Once it did she stepped inside but she felt weak as she showered, but outside of the shower Raiden was gripping his arm he had a pained expression on his face. He lifted up his sleeve revealing the badges that covered his wrist; he lifted them up to reveal that the scabs that were once his blood had reopened. Crap crap crap...he thought as he went to his chest drawers opening the top and getting out his bandages he replaced the current ones that he was wearing. He sighed as he looked at the floor noticing he had made a small trail of blood, thankfully it wasn’t completely noticeable. After sometime Carmen came out of the Shower fully clothed; Her outfit consisted of a black jacket that was short at the front, but had coat tails at the back, a white button up with a red collar, a red short skirt, and thigh high socks. She had her hands on her hips “Hey Pervert you ready?” she asked.

“Huh? Oh yeah let’s go see what the principle wants” he said pulling his sleeve back down.

The two walked to the principal's office together; it was quiet aside from Carmen’s soft humming. In an attempt to break the silence Carmen attempted to break the silence “Hey Rai...do you think we’ll be able to stop him?” she asked.

“Yes, without a doubt...he may have corruption but there is always a way to crack something like that” said Raiden.

“Rai… are you sure you’re okay?” Carmen asked.

“Yes Carmen I said I’m fine” Raiden said with a hint of irritation.

“It’s just you don’t seem okay...you’re mind seems to be focused on something else while you're here” said Carmen.

“If you knew what was going on inside my head would you still consider me your friend?” Raiden asked .

“Of course I will, what kind of question is that?” Carmen asked.

“She’s lying to you...none of these people care, they’re not your friends” said a voice in Raiden’s head.

“N-nothing it was just a dumb one” said Raiden.

“You know if there is something wrong you can tell me?” asked Carmen.

“S-sometimes when I’m alone...I have these weird thoughts…” said Raiden.

“What kind of weird thoughts?” Carmen asked.

“They make me feel like I’m no one...like I'm just a burden…” said Raiden.

“Raiden, you're not a burden....why would you think that?” Carmen asked

“N-nevermind...forget I said anything” said Raiden.

“What? No we need to talk about how you feel” said Carmen.

“Please Carmen just drop it...I don’t wanna talk about it anymore” Raiden said with an attitude shift.

Carmen didn’t try to change his mind mostly because she wasn’t sure if it would turn into an argument, or not so she let the topic be. The two arrived outside the principal’s office, before entering Raiden knocked awaiting a response.

“Come in,” said the Principle from the otherside of the door.

Raiden opened the door and gestured for Carmen to walk in before himself, “Someone’s a gentleman” said Carmen as she walked into the room. Raiden rolled his eyes playfully and followed behind her into the small room which had a large desk, computer, two chairs, and a cat poster on the wall that read ‘Hang in there’.

“Raiden, you’re finally awake..do you remember any of the events from last month?” asked the Principle

“I recall some of what happened..some parts are still fuzzy...I just remember the final then Mrs. Yuki…” Raiden clenched his fist “I remember Karma killing Mrs. Yuki” he said.

“So you do remember?” asked the Principle

“Yeah… I do” Raiden answered nodding his head.

“That’s good, I’m sure Carmen informed you as to why I wanted to see you?” asked the Principle

“She just told me that you wanted to see us,” said Raiden.

“Yeah you were a little short on the details” said Carmen.

“So, it would seem,” said the Principle.

“So what exactly was it that you wanted?” Raiden asked.

“Mr.Murasame, Ms. Igarashi, are you aware of Cure?” asked the Principle countering with another question.

“Yes, it's only the rarest type of magic; only about 10% of the earth’s population is ever born with it” said Raiden and Carmen at the same time.

“We have a Scientist that currently researches cure, she thinks she has developed a way for those born without it to use it” said the Principle.

“Oh, cool where can we find her?” asked Raiden

“Someone’s eager to get his hands on the stuff,” said Carmen.

“Karma, killed Akaze and Mrs. Yuki..I owe it to them to stop him” said Raiden.

“Raiden..” Carmen said but was cut off by the Principle.

“She is located in Room 4546” said the Principle.

“4546? But I thought we didn’t have a 4th floor?” asked Carmen.

“I can’t give you any more information aside from that, anyone could be listening” said the Principle.

Raiden nodded then turned walking towards the door, before walking out the door he heard the Principle call his name.

“Mr. Murasame, their deaths are not your fault” said the Principle.

“Yeah! Raiden you can’t push yourself so hard you just woke up from being in a coma” said Carmen.

“I’ll be fine Carmen, and I could’ve stopped both deaths if I acted fast enough” said Raiden as he walked out of the door. Carmen looked at the Principle as he nodded, she started walking to the door following after Raiden. The two started to walk around the school looking for Room 4546, they searched all three floors. However, they came up just short of finding the room that the Principle had mentioned for them to go. Some of the rooms they searched had Corruption traps left behind by Karma, the two took a small break to find the room.

“Maybe we should try splitting up?” Carmen asked.

“We could try doing that,” said Raiden.

After the two had their little lunch break they began to search again for room 4546. Carmen was on the third floor when she noticed that a staircase was going up to another floor, coincidentally Raiden being on that staircase also noticed it went up an extra floor. Is that the room? Raiden thought to himself as he walked up the staircase. I hope this is it Carmen thought as she walked up the Staircase. Raiden arrived at the top of the staircase only to be met with a pair of orange eyes; Carmen turned around hearing footsteps echo behind her she turned to be met with a pair of blue eyes. “Oh Raiden it’s you, you gave me a scare for a second I thought you were someone else” said Carmen.

“Who else would it be?” Raiden asked.

From the shadows someone watched

“Karma, I found the location of your little playmates...especially the one you mentioned Raiden, you didn’t mention him to be so cute” said a Woman with black hair and red eyes.

“Why did you say it with that tone?” Karma asked.

“Because it’s going to be so much more fun when I break him; take the little bitch he’s so head over heels when she’s alone...use her as leverage so he gives us the cure” said the Woman.

“Yukari won’t like this Yami,” said Karma.

“It doesn’t matter what Yukari thinks I'm in charge of the current operation at hand now do as I say Karma, or I will do it myself and trust me when I do it myself she’ll be in a wheelchair” said the woman known as Yami.

“No! Don’t! Fine, I'll do it” said Karma.

Back at the Corruption hideout…

Yukari had walked through a big door she walked to a man sitting atop of a throne and kneeled before him. “Master, we are now ready to begin the next phase of the operation,” said Yukari.

“Phase two of the operation is currently in motion Yukari, we sent Yami out with Karma to spy on the two” said the man.

“You what?!?!” Yukari snapped.

“I sent Yami, and Karma to spy on the boy known as Raiden” said the man.

“Why would you send Yami! I’m obviously stronger!” Yukari yelled.

The male said not a word as he suddenly pulled Yukari to him mere inches from his face as she floated. He looked her in the eyes an evil smirk plastered on his face as her facial expression shifted from anger to freight. “Remember who gave you your power Yukari” said the man as he placed her down.

“S-sorry Master” Yukari said as she gasped for air with a hand at her throat.

“Yukari, you are powerful but you’re also valuable to me which is why I sent Yami with Karma...you’ll be needed for Phase three” said the Man.

“What is Phase 3?” Yukari asked.

“Infiltration...you’ll be posing as a teacher” said the Man.