Kokoro no Fushigi - Mysterious Hearts
Chapter One
Many wonder what makes us who we are, Journal. Me, I'm probably the one who wonders that the most. Sometimes...I get the feeling that my life's a lie. That I'm ain't who I think I am. But then again, if I ain't who I have been these past seventeen years, then who am I? I'm pretty dumb, eh? A classmate of mine--I told you about her before, rememeber?--she said sometimes she feels the same way. That she's ain't who she thinks. It's strange, Journal. We both think the same things...and yet...I can't help but feel nervous when I'm around her. It's weird....the first time I heard her surname, I felt like she was out to get me, not when I first saw her. A-chan--my 'Net buddy, remember--said I must have known her at some other point in time. Still...it's not like I knew her, more like she was...my....my...oh, I don't know, Journal, *somethin'* or other. Ah, well. Maybe I'll find out about it later. I gotta go, A-chan asked to chat earlier and I can't keep 'em waiting long. Ja ni, Journal!
___
"Are you sure?" Suzumi asked into the receiver of her cellphone.
"Positive. Why else would I be calling you on this line?" the one on the other end replied.
"So, they've begun, eh?" Suzumi said through a grimace. "The Mikage don't know their own boundaries."
"I agree. So far there have been only two in the program that I know of. I hid one somewhere where they don't know of and blocked the memories of it; the other disappeared completely. I'm doing my best to make sure other candidates are not found but there's no telling if they'll find out about either one."
"I understand. If it comes to that, you're welcome here, ya know."
The other chuckled with a hint of dark humor. "Yes, I do know. And if I do need shelter, I'll bring the other as well."
"Of course. Until next time, then." Suzumi closed the phone, her fist tightening around it. Her eyes narrowed on a vase a few feet in front of her. Suddenly the vase blew and shattered. "Curse those Mikage!" she hissed through gritted teeth as she threw her cellphone into the wall, smashing it.
"Ah! Didn't mean to do that!" she gasped, a large sweatdrop appearing on the back of her head.
___
"Yeah, then he just wouldn't shut up about it," Aya said, rolling her eyes. "You have no idea how much that annoyed me!"
"Oh, I have a fair idea," Rei replied, winking.
"That'll be the day!" Aya stated, laughing with her friend.
Aya was still amazed at how swiftly time flew. Here she was, a year after becoming known as a 'tennyo', and she was still leading a fairly normal life. Okay, dodging the Mikage's stubborn schemes at capturing her weren't what one would consider a normal life. The schemes were still annoying and she was becoming ticked off at them as of late because they had suddenly stopped (though for some reason she felt that ment that they'd appear soon), but still, she was amazed that Ceres didn't just up and find them herself.
A lot of things had changed in a year's time. Chidori still boarded with them, which added to the hijynks around the house. Tooya was slowly getting closer and closer to finding out where Aki had been taken or hidden since they don't know what really happened to him. Aya's expression saddened for a brief second at the thought of her brother. As far as they knew, he was still overtaken by Shiso and no one knew of his whereabouts.
But, most surprising of all, Yuuhi was beginning to back off Aya. Aya herself was shocked when Yuuhi told her so.
"I shouldn't be trying to force you to love me the same way," he had told her about three months ago. "I still care for you greatly, Aya. But...if you're happy with Tooya, then I'm happy for you. Both of you. Whatever you decide, I'll be all for it, Aya."
Then, just a few weeks ago, something both wonderful and shocking happened to Aya. Aya smiled as she stole a glance at her left hand. The band of her ring caught the sunlight. It wasn't diamond as a traditional engagment ring was, it was like a thick gold band twisted together with silver. An engraved image of the tennyo symbol on the top. She couldn't wait until school was out for the day so she could see Tooya again!
"Oh! By the way!" Rei said, pulling Aya out of her daydreaming. "I got the strangest e-mail yesterday, Aya-chan! I think it said somethin' about you in it!"
"Hounto ne?" Aya asked as Rei began to dig in her bag, perplexed at the thought of her friend receiving an e-mail concerning her.
"Hai. Here. This is a print out of it," Rei said, handing her a sheet of paper.
Aya took the paper and began to read it. It said:
To Rei Tsukino-sama;
How are you? You may not know me, but I know you. Before you
become scared or frightened by this e-mail, let me explain myself.
I am head of an orginazation that is looking for young people such as
yourself in a survey we are conducting. If you would like to
participate in this, please come to the address at the bottom of the
e-mail at your convenience. Your friend, Aya Migake, is also welcomed
to acompany you if she so desires.
Sincerly,
Kay M.
Aya looked up at her friend. "When did you get this, Rei-chan?" she asked.
"Last night, before I went to bed. I was so worked up over it, I hardly got any sleep. Forgot to practice too," she added with a sigh.
"You forgot your practice?!?" Aya shrieked, shocked at the news. "You've *never* forgotten to practice, Rei-chan!"
"I know, I know," Rei groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I just hope I don't lose my edge or anythin'."
"Yeah, me too." Aya looked over the sheet of paper again. "So, you going? This does sound strange."
"Yeah," Rei said, removing her hands. "I wanna make sure that this Kay guy sent it to the right person and not to me by mistake. Wanna come?"
"Hm, okay," Aya said. "When're you going?"
"How 'bout later today, 'round five or so?"
"All right, how about I meet you at your house. That should give you enough time to practice and everything."
"Yoshi!" Rei said, grinning.
As they started another conversation, Aya tried with all her will to block out the stares and voices the other students were giving them. Anger boiled inside her and she tried not to show it on her face. Why couldn't those stuck-up, bratty punks just forget what happened already and let bygones be bygones?! Maybe she should just let Ceres straighten them out...
___
Q-chan opened the sliding door and walked in with a tea tray. "Suzumi-san? Your tea's ready," she said.
Suzumi did not even notice she was there.
"Suzumi-san?" Q-chan said. "Is everything all right?"
"Eh?" Suzumi said, jerking towards her. "Oh! Uh--fine! Everything's fine, Q-chan! Fine!" she insisted a little to hastily.
Q-chan watched as Suzumi began to pick up one of the tea cups. She wasn't surprised when the cup began to shake before cracking and falling to pieces.
"Ah!" Suzumi gasped, embarrased at her loss of control.
"Suzumi-san," Q-chan sighed, shaking her head slightly. "What's really wrong? You only lose control of your telekenesis when extremely upset. It's been an especially long time since the last time this happened."
Suzumi kept her gaze on the remains of the tea cup before sighing. "What I'm about to tell you will not leave this room, Q-chan. Understood?"
"Hai!"
"Well," Suzumi began carefully, "I got a call a few hours or so ago from....a friend. They said that the Mikage are starting a new program at their headquarters."
"Are they out to capture Aya-chan again?!" Q-chan gasped.
"Not that I know of," Suzumi said quickly. "But it might lead to it."
"What is the program?"
Suzumi closed her eyes. Q-chan noticed that Suzumi's hands closed into tight fists. "I don't know the details yet," Suzumi said, a hard hint in her voice, "and all I can tell you is that....Migake Kagami is screwing with innocent people's lives with no thought or consideration to the consequences it could lead to!!" she ended with a shout. A picture frame's glass in the room broke.
___
Yuuhi looked up upon hearing a loud crash for the second time in five minutes. He rolled his eyes, thinking, Onee-chan's mad again. He turned his attention back to the food he was preparing.
In the back of his mind, his thoughts turned to...the Dream. For the last month and a half or so, he had been haunted by a strange and creepy dream.
In it, he was surrounded by darkness. A voice came from one direction, then another, and another, all saying the same thing: 'Where are you , Yuuhi-san? Where are you?' A pair of hands reached out from the shadows towards him, searching for him. The arms that the hands were attached onto were battered and bruised, cuts placed here and there. The voices grew urgent and panicky. The hands streached out for him, hoping to find him. An image of a girl appeared out of the shadows, her hands still looking for him, her face was blurred so he couldn't see her face clearly. A sword or something slashed donwards, striking the girl. She crumpled to the ground before Yuuhi, unmoving. The voices ceased.
'Leave her, and this will happen, Guardian,' a completely different voice came. A sythe appeared in front of Yuuhi...
Yuuhi shook his head roughly, trying to pull himself out of the scene. Movement caught his eyes. He turned to the kichten window just in time to see someone pass by, their long blonde hair trailing behind them.
___
The Traveler dropped to his knees. Behind him as the Gate swung shut. He looked around, finding he was in an alley.
"Good, no one here," he said to himself. He look at his watch. 4:47 P.M. Thriteen minutes left. The Traveler adjusted his jacket against the chilly air as he thought, So this is where it begins...
___
Aya knocked on the door to Rei's house. No one answered, no surprise there. Aya stepped back and listened. She opened the door and began to make her way to Rei's room. The closer she came, the more she could hear. She reached Rei's room. Turning the knob, she opened it enough to peek in and listen to Rei.
"Baby, set me free,
From this misery.
I can take it no more.
Since you ran away,
Nothin's been the same.
Don't know what I'm livin' for."
Rei sat at the egde of her bed, eyes closed in concentratation. She cointinued to sing and strum on her guitar. Aya had heard the song before. It was one of the many Western songs Rei knew by heart. Rei had such a love for music of any kind of culture or region, it was slightly scary in a way.
"Here I am,
So alone.
And there's nothin' in this world I can do."
Rei opened her eyes and looked up at Aya. She smiled and motioned for Aya to join in. Which she did.
"Until you're back here, baby.
Miss you,
Want you,
Need you so.
Until you're back here, baby. Yeah.
There's a feeling inside
I want you to know.
You are the one and I can't
Let you go."
Aya smiled. "What group is that again?" she asked.
"BBMak," Rei replied, playing a quick tune on the guitar; it sounded like folk of some kind. "Got the song off the 'Net."
"What else is new?" Aya said, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever, Aya-chan. Ya ready?" she asked as she put the guitar on its stand.
"Ready when you are, Rei-chan!"
___
The room was still empty, as it all ways was when Tooya checked it. Aki, or Shiso as Kagami called him, was still no where to be found. Tooya resisted the urge to pound his fist into the nearby wall. He had promised Aya he would find her brother. He just didn't know what to do when he had just vanished without a trace.
Yet, even though Kagami seemed preoccupied with something, Tooya could see that the man was planning something. Something he knew they wouldn't like....
___
"Is this the place?" Aya asked Rei.
Rei looked down at the paper in her hand. "Yeah. This's the correct address. Let's go."
They walked through the doors to the receptionist. The lady took one look at Rei before she pressed a nearby intercom, saying, "Kay-sama, she's here."
"Send her in," the other replied, their voice somewhat distorted through the speaker.
Rei and Aya exchanged glances as the woman motioned for them to go through the door that had just opened. They did so. As soon as they were in, the door slid back into place. They felt the small room they were in begin to climb.
"An elevator," Aya mummered to herself.
*Aya!* Ceres spoke in her mind.
Aya jerked slightly. "Ceres? What's wrong?!" she hissed, not wanting Rei to hear her talking to herself.
*Aya, I sense danger! You must get away! You and your friend are in great danger here!* the tennyo replied hastily.
"I don't understand you, Ceres! Explain!" Aya hissed.
*When the doors open, run for your life!* was all Ceres said.
"Ceres! What do you mean?!.....Ceres?! CERES?!" she said loudly, not careing if Rei heard or not since she too felt that something was wrong.
"Who're you talking to, Aya-chan?" Rei asked, puzzled by Aya's expression.
"Rei-chan, when the door opens, run for all your worth. Understand?" Aya spoke.
"Uh--okay. Whatever ya say."
"I'm serious. Something's wrong. I can feel it. It's like...like--" Aya struggled to find the right words.
"Like a heavy fog of evil is just an inch away from you and you have no way to escape it. It's closing in on you the further you go, swallowing you into its shallow, poisonous depths."
Aya stared at Rei as she spoke. Rei stood, looking straight ahead at the metal doors. Her long hair caught the light and made her look as if she were wearing something....like a halo?
"Yeah. Just like that," Aya whispered.
The door opened. They met a large number of armed guards. Aya's hopes of retreat sank when she saw the symbol around their necks. Stupid, Aya, she thought. 'Kay M.'.....that's *Kagami Mikage*....baka yarou, Aya...
___
Crap! Crap! Crap! the Traveler thought angrily. One second behind! One freakin'*second*!! Man! At least now I'll know what to do in the future...
___
"Hello, Aya," Kagami said. "So good to see you again."
"Likewise, cousin," Aya said through a grimace. Rei hardly moved from her spot in the chair beside Aya in her own. Aya figured Rei was as confused and scared, as she was. What did Kagami want with Rei? What?
Kagami turned his gaze to Rei, who met it equally. "And you're Rei Tsukino, I believe?"
Rei just looked at him.
"I take it you received my e-mail asking you to come here?"
Nothing.
"Do you have any questions as to what I wanted you for?"
Aya never knew silence could speak in such volumes.
"Are you deaf, girl?" Kagami said, a slight steel tint in his voice.
Aya nearly smiled. Rei knew just how to get to Kagami, and it seemed to be working just fine. But Aya was still perplexed by the fact that Kagami wanted Rei for something. And why was Rei suddenly acting so calmly? Aya knew her well enough to know that she was scared. Aya recalled once when Rei said something like 'if you're never scared, you're either crazy, or dead.'
"Can you speak? Even one sound?" Kagami demanded.
Rei stuck out her tounge. "THHHHPPPPPHHHHH!!!"
Aya tried unsucessfully to hide her laughter as Kagami calmly removed his glasses and proceeded to clean them.
"I see that you have some humor," Kagami said, replacing his glasses. "But formalities are over," he declared, his eyes narrowing on Rei evily. "Dr. Howell?" Kagami addressed the blonde doctor behind him. "Proceed."
"Hai," Alec said, removing a syrigne and needle from his coat pocket. "Please cooperate, lassy," he said to Rei as he approached her. "Hold out your arm, if you will."
Without looking away from Kagami, Rei slapped the syrigne out of Alec's hand. "I am no animal for which you will use in your abomitible expiraments, Mikage," Rei said in a flat tone, her eyes narrowing.
Kagami slammed his hands on his desk and stood. He swiftly walked around to Rei. He stopped right beside her. "I will get what I want from you one way or the other, girl, and you know it!" he exclaimed, reaching to grab Rei's throat.
Rei's eyes widened in shock and what Aya perceived as horror. As soon as Kagami had touched her, Rei screamed, "NO!!" before shoving him in the chest. The force of her hands threw him back, crashing into Alec and sending them both back a few feet.
"Aya! Now!" Rei shouted, jumping over her chair and running towards the elevator. Aya, pushing her surprise back, followed. The guards moved to block them. Rei ducked, jumped over, or ran through them all, clearing a path for Aya. Ahead, the elevator door began to open. Tooya stood in the elevator, an atoumatic gun in his hand.
"Tooya!" Aya shouted, releif in her voice.
"Come on!" he yelled, moving aside for Rei to enter. Aya dove in just before the doors began to close. Tooya fired the gun, stopping the guards that had started to advance on them.
"How'd you know we were here?" Aya said.
"I was looking for clues and got a haunch," was all Tooya said.
"Oh," Aya replied. She stopped and looked around. "Rei-chan? Where are you?" She was nowhere to be seen.
"Up here!" Rei's hand appeared waving out of the ceiling. "Climb through the escape hatch! Hurry! They're coming!"
"What are you--" Aya started.
"Just do it! More guards are on the way! They'll break the door down!" Rei called quickly. She reached down and grabbed Aya's coat sleeves to help pull her up. Tooya followed close behind. "We need to get to the roof! It'll take them longer if we're there!" Rei said, looking up the shaft.
Tooya looked at her out of the corner of his eye. How did she know all this? An unnerving feeling coming from her sent his senses on alert, telling him that she was not what she seemed.
"How do we get up there?" Aya asked Rei.
"How else?" Rei said, grabbing the thick cable. "We climb."
"Say WHAT?!?" Aya yelled.
"Either that or Kagami can let ya out after doing whatever his demented, perveted, screwed up, drugged up, and otherwise useless mind can think of doing with ya!" Rei stated.
Aya was taken aback by the force of her words. What did she mean by that? How did she know Kagami's brain was actually like that?
Rei grabbed the cable and began to pull herself up. Tooya gripped the cable, looking at Aya and saying, "Do you need help?"
"Nah. It's just like in P.E. class," Aya insited, quickly going after Rei.
___
*RRRRRRRRR*
Suzumi looked up from her dinner, breifly wondering what was keeping Aya so long, and picked up the phone. "Moshi moshi?" she said.
"Aya and Tooya are at the Migake building. I'm sure you know the way," the voice came through.
"Nani?" Suzumi said, snapping all of her attention to the caller's words.
"They need you to give them a ride. Be there in--" a pause came. Suzumi could bearly hear the rustling of clothes. "In four minutes and 34 seconds or else you will never see them again."
"Wait a second! Who are you?!" Suzumi said.
"Call me 'Aki', if you will."
Suzumi froze. "Shiso! Where are you this time?! What have you done with Aya and Tooya?!" she demanded.
"I am not the same one as with your ancestor, Tennyo Suzumi. I am another. Now you've got four minutes and 20 seconds. You'd better hurry. We'll meet again, soon."
"When?! Where will I see you?!" Suzumi said hurriedly.
"Some time soon enough, Tennyo Suzumi. Sayanara."
*CLICK*
Suzumi stared at the phone on her hand. Coming to her senses, she stood and shouted, "Q-chan! Get the car ready! We're leaving for the Migake building! NOW!"
___
"Aw, crud!" Rei exclaimed.
"What? What's wrong?" Aya called up.
"I'm at the top, but the hatch is locked!" she replied. "I can't open it!"
"Now what do we do?!" Aya huffed.
A scratching sound and thumping reached their ears. Tooya cocked his gun, ready to shoot.
The afternoon sunlight poured in from above them. The hatch was now opened.
"How in the--" Rei started.
A shadow moved in front of the sunlight above them. It was in the shape of a human, but they could not see who it was because of the glare. "Hurry! Get out! You only got two minutes until she gets here! Now move your tails!" the person ordered. Instantly, they vanished, leaving the three on their own.
___
Kagami sat up, his eyes staring at the opened door to the elevator, which had been forced open so many armed guards could go up to follow them. He did not even reached up to straighten his glasses, which were dangling off one ear, he just stared.
"Cheif!" Alec exclaimed, sitting up as well. "You all right?!"
A smile appeared on Kagami's lips, turning into a grin. "Am I all right, Dr. Howell?" he said softly, still looking at the elevator. "Am I all right? I'm better than that!" he said.
Alec stepped back in surprise.
"You were correct, Dr. Howell," Kagami said, turning to the blonde man. His eyes narrowed yet still shone with what appeared to be borderlined between happiness and insanity. "That girl will be a fine asset to the C project! Whether or not she is a C-genome! I don't care! I want her, no matter what!"
To Be Continued...