The Fynding
Shizuru idly flipped through one of her business textbooks as she sat on
a couch in a foreign home, going over the material that she would be
tested on for an exam. Aya sat on opposite her, for now preferring the
floor and the easy access to the table there. The brunette pre-med major
was going over her own coursework, the two having teamed up to study
that afternoon. Shizuru wasn't paying much attention, in all honesty.
Aya, every now and again, drifted her eyes up at the Kyoto woman, mildly
worried.
It had happened again. They had originally agreed to meet in downtown
Kyoto to help each other go over the chapter reviews of their respective
books while having tea at a place Shizuru was familiar with. Not half
way through their session, Shizuru noticed eyes on her. She didn't
recognize the face, but the look was pure malice. It was not a longing
stare from an admirer or even a mildly irritated gaze that may have
resulted from the two girls talking loudly. It was pure and
unadulterated hate. It didn't take Shizuru long to leave.
She had offered a simple, "Ah, it's more difficult to review these
things in public than I thought. Why don't we go to your apartment?"
Aya had given her a mildly surprised look before relenting. Her
apartment was in Kyoto itself – close and convenient. Shizuru was
looking around for one there as well, before the next semester began.
Every time she went into public, she became paranoid that that would
happen. It was not as rare as she would have hoped. Her breathing
slightly increased in speed as stress set in. That man had been older
and far more bitter than the child who had spotted her in Fuuka. He was
going to alert the authorities.
"Shizuru?" Aya asked, leaning in with that same look of concern she'd
been trying to hide since they returned to her place.
"Yes?" She pretended to be absorbed in her rather boring studies.
Aya set her book down on the table and stared directly at the other
woman. "Is everything all right? You had an awfully sudden change in
mood."
Shizuru looked up at her for the first time in a while and offered her a
gentle smile, very glad that Aya did not know her well enough to see
through her mask and her closely guarded emotions. "Yes, I'm perfectly
fine. Just a bit stressed from the pressure of final exams. That's all."
Aya rose an eyebrow up, and a smirk formed on her face. She spoke in
kyoto-ben, just like Shizuru. "Well, you clearly aren't concentrating on
your book. Are we going to have to find some way to release all that
tension of yours so that you can get to work? This scholastic
delinquency isn't going to earn you a suitable grade."
Shizuru chuckled dryly. She'd been quite skittish whenever they were
being intimate thanks to Natsuki's interruption the first time they'd
tried anything. Every time they started while they were at Shizuru's,
she was afraid the Kuga zombie would stumble through the door hissing in
protest ('Rah, get off of her, you slut, or you will please die
horribly!'). "No, I think I can manage without the aid. That would just
take an hour away from studying, if you were to do it somewhat
properly."
"You break my heart so," Aya replied, and though she didn't show a
frown, it did not please Shizuru. Perhaps she would do just that. She
worried too much, perhaps. The relationship was still far too young for
her to even be concerned about such emotions. She was good company
either way.
Shizuru's cellphone began to ring, and she fumbled through her purse to
claim it. When she had, she recognized Tanya's name on the display and
pressed the proper button to receive the call. "Hello?"
"Can you be in Kyoto by tonight?" Tanya asked without so much as a
greeting. Shizuru's breath caught at the seriousness of that tone. The
police? No, not so soon. That could not be it.
"I'm already in town. What's the matter?" Shizuru replied, and Aya
looked up with confusion and worry, not particularly pleased with
Shizuru's tone with how things had been going so far.
"The deadlock is over. Your father's will is finally being divided up
now that all the Fujinos have given up with all their lawyer battles. I
need you to sit in on the meetings soon. Stay at my place for the night
and we'll head in tomorrow morning. Your exam isn't until Monday,
right?"
Shizuru stared blankly ahead, her reply almost automatic, too shocked by
the news to give it much thought. "Yes, that's right. I can stay at your
house tonight, then."
"You're entitled to a great deal of money, you know," Tanya pointed out.
"More than most of his relatives. You're going to have a war with Kaori
and her siblings, though. Be prepared for more of the same bullshit you
had when you were little. I'm sorry."
"And if I do not want it?"
Tanya was quiet on the other end of the line, not expecting such a
statement. Shizuru thought it was too much of a hassle, then? "There
isn't enough money to pay for a second year of the university for you.
I'd rather you not be placed into endless debt from student loans. It's
worth fighting for. You can lock everything else away in an account and
leave it to rot for all I care, but your education comes first and this
is free funding."
Shizuru sighed. "Very well, then. I'll head over now, then. See you in a
few minutes."
She and Tanya exchanged good-byes and hung up, leaving Shizuru in the
presence of a very intrigued Aya, who had been gazing at her for the
duration of the phone call. Shizuru began to pile her books back into
her bag, clearing her side of the table off. "What was that about?"
"That was my aunt. I have minor family thing to go to," Shizuru began to
explain, standing up. "Thank you for letting me come over to study. I'll
see you soon."
"Ah, well, all right. Take care, Shizuru," Aya said as she stood up to
properly bid the other woman farewell. She moved forward and the pair
went through the obligatory kiss goodbye. Shizuru withdrew after just a
moment, giving the other woman a parting and warm smile before she
stepped out the door and headed down to her car.
The relatives had finally given up with all the lawyer warring, had
they? Her father had been one of the most prominent members of the
Fujino family. Despite having written a will, everyone had wanted a
larger piece of his fortune, and set to gain as much as possible by
trying to proof their enemies were not worth of it all. Oh, the prospect
of meeting them again just made her want to skip. She could do without
her hundred million yen. But Tanya was right. Education came first.
Shizuru marched forward as if on a mission. Then again, that money could
be equally spent on education and the one escape she could think of to
prevent the law of man from catching up to her sins.
- - -
But you've fantasized about making love to her even before the Carnival,
haven't you?
Yes.
Then you want her. Even if you didn't ever want to admit it, and even if
you never ever wanted anyone – even yourself – to find out the truth?
It wasn't like that. I can't control my dreams. I once had a dream I was
a pretzel because I'd encountered them that day. Am I a pretzel now?
She's beautiful and I was around her all day. That's just how dreams
work.
I said you 'fantasized about her,' not 'dreamt about her.' It's not a
dream if you're awake when you're picturing it. Besides, what kind of
logic is that? Just give up already. This is embarrassing. When did you
start being such a pussy?
I'm not interested in wom--
Yeah, you are. They aren't as stupid and they're hotter. You secretly
think that everything about her body is perfect. I have access to these
confidential files, remember? Stop being so stubborn. Maybe you're so
twitchy because you just need to get laid. Have you ever thought of
that? For that matter, can you imagine doing that with anyone other than
Shizuru? There's always Takeda.
Or not. God, I never realized what a bitch I was.
Ta-da.
I don't want to deal with being a dyke. It's too hard.
Oh, please. Get over it. Since when did we care what anyone thought?
Screw you, I'm going to go play Call of Duty. I don't want to talk about
this anymore.
I'll be waiting here when you get back, love.
She'd had the dialogue over and over again since their fight, and had
never reached any kind of conclusion. She'd pictured it before. So
fucking what? It didn't mean anything. She was not a robot, but that
didn't mean that she was going to go start dating women because of one
tiny (but quite amazing none the less) fantasy she'd had when she was in
junior high. And then that one time in senior high, but that one was an
accident.
Just buy some black eyeliner already. Your emo is giving me a goddamn
headache. Either that or you can get off your ass and go get her before
you lose her forever. You haven't even talked to her since then as it
is.
...Shut up and keep your legs crossed, you.
The kiss did feel good, despite you standing there like a moron, didn't
it?
When the rebellious voice had been unwillingly drafted into the British
army, it grew silent, too occupied with avoiding German fire to do
anything else. It always did the trick. Natsuki had won the Second World
War about five times so far in the last month. The denial card still
held the top position in her deck, and she was still more than willing
to use it. The inner dialogue just repeated over and over since the
argument. The same words, but unfortunately, the same action. Nothing.
- - -
"As the Fujino family represents high Japanese culture in every aspect,
I simply must protest this particular part of the will," Kaori began to
speak, using that prim and proper kyoto-ben did not convey her true
hatred. "Now, my niece clearly deserves something, but to present so
much to someone of mixed blood... it will set a negative precedence for
future generations. Our goal is to keep our bloodline pure. This will
encourage my nephews to marry westerners."
Shizuru held a hand over her mouth to silent her laughter. In all
honesty, she'd stopped listening to their ranting a while ago. Now the
only thing she could stand to pay attention to was Tanya, who was so
distraught and pissed off that her hand was balled into a tight fist and
she was occasionally fidgeting in her seat. It wasn't supposed to be
funny, but Shizuru could help but find such aggravation amusing. They
were so opposite from each other sometimes.
"She's his only heir. She gets the money," Tanya finally said.
Kaori looked at her for a moment before turning back to the single
official presiding over the meeting between the Fujino kin.
"Furthermore, I feel that this woman is only pressuring the young girl
to accept the inheritance purely so that she can have it for herself. As
this woman has no blood relation to our family, I ask she be removed
from the building."
"Why, you little..." Shizuru heard Tanya say just barely under her
breath, using her willpower to prevent herself from doing anything rash.
"Dragunova-sama represents Fujino Shin's in-laws. A few items have been
left to them. She has every right to stay," the official stated. "As for
young mistress Shizuru, she is still entitled to what was left to her.
Unless you can prove she is not a blood relation?"
"Her mother was rumored to run around," Kaori nearly hissed, trying one
last desperate attempt to halt progress. Oh, that got Shizuru to pay
attention. She had always heard Kaori call her mother a whore and a gold
digger, and it was nothing further from the truth. Milena would never
have put up with such shit for anything less than love.
"If you would like to give me a paternity test, you are more than
welcome to take a DNA sample," Shizuru stated calmly.
That seemed to shut Kaori up for now, knowing it was going to prove her
argument wrong. "She is young and reckless, then. She will waste such
money if it is given to her on unnecessary wants that accompany youth."
"It is her inheritance, ma'am," the official said. "It is hers to do
with as she pleases. You and your siblings have each been entitled to
eighty million yen. Shizuru-sama is, without any further debate, awarded
the hundred and twenty million yen as issued by her father. Tanya is to
return to Moscow with fifty million yen and Milena Dragunova's remaining
possessions. With that, I would like to conclude this meeting."
Kaori seethed from where she stood while Tanya and Shizuru stood and
made their way towards the door. Tanya leaned in toward her rival aunt
and said, "Thanks, Kaori. It's been great fun seeing you again."
"Take your sister's spawn and get out of my sight. This is the closest
either of you will ever get to my family ever again," Kaori, as head of
the Fujino family, ordered.
"Ara, goodbye, Auntie," Shizuru said. She leaned forward. "May I have a
kiss goodbye?"
"I've heard that you kiss enough girls at it is, you disgusting little
whore," Kaori hissed.
Shizuru bowed in false kindness, easing her way out the door and
following Tanya to her car. "Well, too bad, then. It was pleasure doing
business with you. If you're ever strapped for cash, you'll know how to
get in touch with me!"
When both Tanya and her niece had returned to the vehicle parked
outside, they fastened themselves in. Tanya started the sedan and
reached for the radio, but paused. "So, what do you intend to do with
your money, then?"
Shizuru shrugged. She had a slight plan. "School, as you suggested. The
remainder? I would like to buy property north of Kyoto for myself, if
you think that can be arranged without too much hassle. I would prefer
it done under a different name, however."
"You running from the mafia, Shizuru?" Tanya joked.
"No. There are, never the less, people who would like to see me done
away with. I would prefer to change my name and live in solitude. It can
be arranged, can it not?" The look she was getting said it all.
Confusion, shock, and a message of 'what the fuck' all in one glance.
Tanya returned her hand to her leg, not going to turn on the radio with
that kind of discussion.
"What the hell happened to you if you have to change your damn name?"
Tanya questioned.
Shizuru stared her aunt directly in the face, her gaze never wavering,
putting her faith in Tanya's love for her. "I killed fifty-seven people
in one night."
- - -
The usual crew was having dinner in Mai's dorm, as they sometimes did
when they had a free night. Mikoto was gobbling down whatever it was
that had been offered as an appetizer, not letting anyone else even see
what it was. Natsuki tapped her chopsticks against the plate absently,
listening to the others rant about nothing. She'd been in a funk ever
since the fight. That damn voice still wasn't shutting up. Maybe if she
shoved the chopsticks in her ear and up towards her brain.
Yukino was late that evening, and Natsuki had assumed that it was due to
her new duties as the kaichou. What was really keeping her, however,
would be the start of the end of the lives they had lived so far. She
entered the room holding her laptop, a grave and sullen expression on
her mousy face. Haruka was behind her, showing up from law school to say
hello to the group, with an equally pleased disposition.
"What's the matter with you?" Nao asked. "Haruka get too rough and
sprain something?"
"Watch your mouth, delinquent, or I'll punch you square in the jaw,"
Haruka countered, crossing her arms to display her authority. What an
attitude that young punk had!
"No, um, look, this is going to sound very strange, but stay with me,"
Yukino started. She sat down at the table and pulled up her laptop, a
variety of windows open that all looked like code and processes or
whatever the hell. Natsuki gave it a stray glance, but wasn't paying
much attention yet. "I've been noticing some issues with my computer and
I narrowed it down. Someone installed a program on here that's been
monitoring my emails and clickstream. I have it quarantined and copied
to a disc so I can analyze it further, but..."
Mai gave her a wink. "Yukino-san, you should know better than to go to
questionable sites. That's what ends up happening."
The hacker shot her a glare. "Give me a little credit, will you? I don't
sit in front of the computer all day for nothing. This isn't your
average spyware. This is a program made with special care and fairly
complex coding. Midori emailed me from Iraq about a similar problem. I
called the former kaichou earlier this evening, and she said she was
having a similar issue. Have you all noticed anything odd on your
computers?"
Natsuki's eyes perked up a bit at the mention of Shizuru. "No, I only
use mine for gaming, really. Perhaps the occasional assignment if I
can't use the lab at school."
"I'll keep a lookout, I guess. Why, do you think it's something in the
Fuuka network being spread around?" Mai asked, still in the process of
cooking a grand dinner for them all.
"If kaichou and Midori have been subject to it, then it isn't an issue
with just the network. Especially since it's just me that's got it so
far within the Fuuka network," Yukino said, tapping once on her laptop.
"So far it's just us. Just the HiME."
That got Natsuki's attention, and she sat up, her inner misery
temporarily moved aside to make way for tactical thinking and concern
for Shizuru's well being. "If it's just the HiME who are being targeted,
and if it's monitoring us, then... Searrs?"
"But the crazy bitch took out First District," Nao said, earning a very
heated look from an already testy Kuga.
"First District, delinquent," Haruka said. "As in there's more than one
district. If they can mass the kind of army they did around Fuuka and
have it not be a big deal, then they're obviously deep rooted somewhere.
They probably have scores of guys left to harass the lot of us."
"Rooms could be bugged," Natsuki interrupted, ushering in paranoia from
just about everyone. Well, what? It was likely. No sense in letting them
live a naïve life if their well being was potentially on the line.
"So, what do we do?" Akane asked, already looking worried. She hadn't
fared well in the Carnival, after all. She didn't know if she could do
all that again any time soon.
There was silence for a moment, with everyone fixing their gazes on each
other. Mai stopped cooking. Mikoto stopped shoveling food into her
mouth. And, in the absence of any kind of plan, Natsuki spoke up. "It's
hard to track something you can't see. Keep a look out for any
suspicious people or activity and report it to the group. We don't have
Elements, so maybe get a weapon if you can afford one. Mace or something
would work. Yukino, maybe you can find where the source of that program
came from? The computer it was sent from, I mean?"
"I can try, but I wouldn't get my hopes up for anything," Yukino said.
"Get a weapon? Are you mad?" Yukariko said, looking almost appalled at
Natsuki. She sat in a chair, her pregnant belly not making it easy to
move around too much. Never the less, she waved an arm to accentuate her
displeasure. "You make it sound like we need to prepare for a war. I
don't want to have a knife up my sleeve for the rest of my life."
Her hesitance would be her undoing, of course. Natsuki shrugged. "If
they're back to watching us, the choice isn't really ours to make, is
it? I'm going to go call some of my contacts and see if I can't dig up
anything else. I'll talk to you all later."
She left them behind, heading out into the street, shivering in the cold
while she dialed a number she had memorized. She wouldn't have risked
putting it on her phone's memory. "Hey. It's Kuga."
"What do you want?"
"Searrs up to trouble again, is it?"
"Don't know anything this time. Sorry." He hung up without further word.
It was not unexpected. He ran a high risk of being caught by those he
worked for. So he'd survived Shizuru's slaughter? How wonderful. But,
still restless, she dialed another number, this one trapped in the
phone's memory.
Shizuru...
"Sakomizu, I need a gun."
- - -
Shizuru explained it all. The slaughter, the HiME, the Obsidian Lord...
she told Tanya everything. It was for the intent purpose of receiving
aid and letting her aunt know what she had in store for the future.
Yukino's new warning had only served to further push her into seclusion.
Tanya sat there with wide eyes, a hand over her mouth, as Shizuru
detailed every event of the Carnival – from her awakening, to Kiyohime,
to she and Natsuki dying and resurrecting. If it didn't sound so off the
wall, Tanya would have been convinced that Shizuru was making it up.
That week you didn't hear from anyone at Fuuka? Yes, that was because we
were invaded by a secret army and held hostage for a while. That bridge
wasn't wiped out by a random earthquake. A ten year old did it. That
scar on the mountain? Giant dragon. Don't look at me like that, Tanya.
You go ask Natsuki the same thing.
She felt very much like a superhero telling one of their closer friends
or relative their secret. She supposed that's what it essentially was.
Tanya didn't faint once. Shizuru was very proud. But there was still the
matter of new business to attend to. With both Searrs and her victims
sure to close in and hunt her down, Shizuru would be the first to fling
herself into the wild, running like a hart through the woods. Her
actions would begin the chase.
"I want to buy property in the mountains north of Kyoto. A clear lot in
the woods. I want to build a house there, separate from society. I no
longer feel comfortable there, and it would put my life at risk,"
Shizuru explained. "I want the records to list that it was purchased by
someone other than me. A distant cousin, perhaps. Something that won't
tip anyone off."
"I'll... see if I can't get one of your second cousins on our side to
agree. Someone with a different surname," Tanya stammered. All the
Dragunovs were fanatically devoted to each other. It was the Cossack
way. National boundaries didn't stop that. All that mattered was blood.
Not quite like the mafia, but still its own separate identity.
Shizuru nodded, very glad she was calm and following along. "I will
change my name. The government will keep my old one on record if I go in
an alter it. Fujino Shizuru needs to die."
At that, however, Tanya shook her head. "This is like something out of a
movie. Just how do you intend to do that? I swear to god if you hurt
yourself..."
"Oh, don't jump to any conclusions," Shizuru said. She had been tossing
ideas around all night. "I'll go to a bar so that people will recognize
me and can vouch for me being there. I'll get tanked. I'll get back in
my car. I will then drive down the street – I can manage it – and meet
you or someone else, who will dump said car into a river or the sea. A
car accident."
Let's just traumatize Natsuki with a car wreck again, shall we? She
hated the vehicles enough as it was. Shizuru would have to take care to
inform the biker about this little plan. Perhaps just after it happened,
so that she could not protest. Natsuki. Her HiME urge to protect was
kicking in. Natsuki was no doubt going to be hunted down by Searrs as
well. She would have to think up something for that too.
Tanya put her head in her hands, sighing. "God, this is too much."
"I know. I'm sorry. I don't want to burden anyone with these troubles,
but I don't have the connections yet to do this all on my own. You are
one of the only people I trust," Shizuru said. Her businesslike
composure began to crack a bit as she started down that line. "I know it
will be hard to look at me the same again after what I've told you, Aunt
Tanya. I still don't know what happened during that time, but I... it
was not really me who did such things. Please just don't look at me like
I'm a monster. I didn't mean to do it, I just..."
She found herself trapped in a hug. Despite Tanya not knowing just
how... clouded and lost she had felt during the Carnival, or any of the
more technical HiME details, she was there. "I know. I love you,
Shizuru. We'll get you somewhere safe."
It was a true testament of devotion to defend those you loved without
question. Tanya smiled at her, hoping to reassure her. Within a month, a
lot had been selected, and a traditional Japanese home was under
construction, all under the name of a distant cousin of Shizuru's. Aya
called repeatedly, but for Shizuru, it had to be the end.
"I'm sorry," Shizuru had told her. "I'm very glad we were able to spend
such time together, but a family emergency has surfaced and it requires
immediate attention. I need to be alone and I need to devote my time to
that goal. Forgive me. I will no longer be attending classes."
- - -
Natsuki had felt very naked without her Elements. She felt even more
vulnerable knowing that she was being tracked down. A few weeks passed.
Yukino had tracked the program to the computer devices belonging to Mai,
Natsuki and Akane. More followed. Land line phones had been tapped, she
had discovered. Black SUVs were found hovering around Linden Baum,
Fuuka, and Kyoto U. This was not good. She needed firepower.
Sakomizu pulled out a recently acquired case, Natsuki laying money down
on the table next to him. She had paid for most of it. The rest, he was
willing to provide. Because he cared about her. If Tanya was a mother
figure, Sakomizu was the closest thing she had to a real father. The
real one wanted nothing to do with her. He unlatched the case and opened
it.
"I wasn't able to get those short barreled Pythons you wanted just yet.
Besides, they probably aren't as easy to fire on short notice." The
afro-haired teacher pulled a single black pistol out of the case and
held it up. "They're old and second hand, but I'm sure you'll find a way
to perfect them. The Desert Eagles are heavy, and the revolvers would
suit you better, but they'll have to do."
Heavy, huh? Yeah, well, she was HiME. It was nothing. She peered into
the case. Two of them, plus a few extra magazines. She took the one from
Sakomizu, testing its weight. She'd never really used a handgun quite
the size. Her Elements were small little featherweights, and she'd only
ever really held a Glock before that. It was an adjustment she could
easily make. A few trips to the firing range would get her in top
condition.
"Thank you, Afro-san."
He watched her silently place the guns back in the case, latching it
again. She went through all her old patterns of battle preparation, like
she was off to prevent a HiME from entering Fuuka or off to slay an
Orphan. She just sit there with those Elements for hours, firing them
into logs or other targets in the middle of nowhere, training herself to
have perfect aim. She'd no doubt be going through far too many magazines
in a short time to grow used to the new weapons.
He frowned. "I wish I knew something. Because I really don't. This
monitoring must come from above first district, straight from the Searrs
suits. I'd hoped you wouldn't have to fight again after the Carnival."
"Well," Natsuki said, locking the final latch, "it's a bit difficult to
destroy an entire organization, isn't it? I'll manage."
"Don't stay a stranger. I'll dig into the Searrs database as far as I
can. Maybe I'll find something. I'll see if I can't get your friend
Yukino access as well," he offered.
She picked up the case and headed to the door, smiling softly. "Thank
you. I mean it."
The door was opened and shut hastily, Natsuki heading back out onto the
street, already on her cellphone in an attempt to contact someone else.
She had to reestablish all her old links, after all. It was back to the
beginning of all things, though she now felt she had something much more
vital to protect. Dance the dance of death once again, fair princesses.
- - -
November 2009
A message had been left on Tanya's machine that prompted both women into
further action. The switching of identities had to happen right then and
there. There was no time left to give to preparing. It was Kaori. That
in itself was bad enough, but the very first thing she said froze both
Tanya and Shizuru in their tracks as they moved about the elder woman's
home.
"Tanya, this is Kaori. As I am still Shizuru's legal guardian, I have
received a most interesting phone call from the Fuuka City Police
Department." Her voice was restrained. Shizuru could sense that Kaori
was livid. Her breath caught. "It seems that your niece is wanted for
questioning regarding the disappearance of several people from Fuuka.
They're saying she may actually be responsible."
Even as Kaori continued to rant, bags were being frantically packed.
"What a fine job you did, raising a sociopath, Tanya. I knew something
was wrong with that damn mix right from the start. All the fighting and
the rage. Violent blood mixed into a line that was never to have such
tendencies..."
Shizuru ripped the phone cord right out of the socket.
- - -
Natsuki was in a new apartment. She was watching the news, which she had
now taken to doing to see if anything looked at all odd, as if a story
was nothing more than a lie to cover up something else. School books sat
on her table. She was still attending, still going to class. No need to
fuck that up when there wasn't a present threat yet.
A new report. "A high speed car wreck in Kobe occurred tonight,
resulting in a potentially fatal crash. The car of Fujino Shizuru,
daughter of the late Fujino Shin, lost control and plowed into Kobe
Harbor. The harbor is being dredged for any sign of the car or
passengers. No traces of survivors have been found. The car was being
pursued by members of the Kobe Police Department, the young woman wanted
for questioning regarding a yet to be disclosed manner..."
Natsuki bolted up and scrambled for her cellphone. That was not how
Shizuru's plan was supposed to go. Not in Kobe Harbor. Not in a fucking
cop chase. She fumbled with the phone as she searched for Shizuru's name
in the memory. Oh, god. She hit send and paced about her house like a
caged tiger while the phone rang. If it had been submerged, would it
even work? She sighed shakily, ready to grab her helmet and storm out.
God damn cops were probably bought off by Searrs.
Pick up, pick up, pick up.
At long last, the phone clicked on and the ringing was replaced by a
breathless Kyoto woman, another voice in the background. "Natsuki?"
"Shizuru! Where are you? Are you all right? I just caught the news."
"Fujino Shizuru is not here, you remember. She's somewhere in Kobe
Harbor, remember? Ara, I made it on the news? Oh, my." The voice was
rapidly gaining breath, but remained, for some reason, lighthearted
despite all that had happened. Natsuki wanted to tackle her to the
ground and beat her senseless. "I'm fine, don't worry. I'm in Kyoto now.
Soaking wet and near freezing, as is Tanya, but we're Russian. Cold is
fine."
"The both of you owe me greatly for all of this. No more adventures!"
Tanya said in the background, lamenting over a ruined sweater and
complaining of icicles on her nose.
"Shizuru," Natsuki addressed, her heart finally recovering, "go to your
new house and stay there. Call me the second you need help or see
anything odd. What name are you going to go by now?"
"Kashima Sayo. I will call on you if I need help." The response was
genuine and soft. "Do the same if you are in trouble. Please take care.
I'll let you know when I'm settled in."
Natsuki was still mad at her for all those accusations. But that
fleeting moment when she had genuinely thought she had died, and the
threat of Searrs around them, had pushed her back her mask once again.
She'd said the words before. Sometimes as a friend. Once as a slight bit
more than that, perhaps. "Call me as soon as possible, then. Goodbye. I
love you."
Silence. It was still said as if it were platonic love, but it was
emotional and touching none the less, perhaps simply because those words
were seldom said. Replying in a similar manner, going only off of her
sisterly and friendly love, she said, "I love you too, Natsuki."
Natsuki, at that moment, wanted to hold her. Just to make sure she
really was alive.
- - -
She sat in a room that greatly felt like a solitary confinement jail
cell. Her body, toned but not yet properly conditioned as a soldier
(they would fix that), was cold and uncomfortable. She had no place else
to go, however. She had no home, and no family. She'd been working for
them off and on to make a little cash. Funny. She hadn't even been out
of high school long and she was already involved with something so
underhanded and filthy. This was her only chance to live like something
other than an abandoned dog on the street.
"State your name, please." English, as opposed to the native Japanese
tongue.
"Allison Knight."
"How... lovely," a blonde man said with a slight laugh. "Yes, you're
lovely. Your background checks out perfectly. You're just what we're
looking for."
By that he meant: unknown, unwanted, and athletic enough to be hardened
into a super soldier. She managed a small smile. "Thank you, sir."
"Before we go too far ahead with the Otome project, we'd like for you to
run several small operations here and there to help acquire potential
targets of opportunity before the first robe is completed. You're
willing to help us with that, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir."
- - -
AN: A quick line in the first chapter of Kyoto Hunt indicated Shizuru
faked her death six months before Natsuki did. Ha, okay, maybe you do
kind of need to be a little familiar with that first chapter of KH to
get the entire events that are unfolding. Ah, well, after this it's just
them. Alone. In the woods. Grr, baby.
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