Notes

See? I told you I liked this story. ;)

Several things about Mastermind inspired this, really. First and foremost was Blue Mary's death - not just because it was sad, but because the author didn't even want it. That alone might've gotten this written...but the fantastic Chizuru that came with it sealed the deal. I wanted to give her her comeuppance. I wanted to explore her perspective. And I really wanted to explore her psychic abilities, which I didn't even know she had until that fic.

This followup starts at the end of Chapter 14, when Iori and "Mary" reach Mary. It shouldn't change the events of Chapter 15 at all. I tried to keep the characters true to their Mastermind selves, but I think they turned out a bit serious (as mine often do). I don't think it'll spoil the fic for you, though; this is some pretty serious shit to begin with, lol.

This one's for you, Nano. (next time ill ask first kek)

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1 - The Line

"That's her."

The red-haired man shifted the car into park with a clack. He stared forward listlessly. A cigarette hung from between his lips. He'd been like this ever since Madame Kagura told him to dispose of the imposter. Mary initially feared he'd refuse outright, but he succumbed after a bit of coaxing.

...but things aren't always exactly as they appear.

Iori had serious misgivings about this assignment. "Destroy the clone," Kagura had said...but how many times had he done that now? Wave after wave of pale copies of his nemesis, beaten to death or ripped to shreds by his bare hands. None of them had deserved it; most of them barely even fought. But they were in his way, and so they had to be destroyed.

This one was not in his way.

A clone that can shapeshift, he'd mused, as they drove to its location. Apparently NESTS was getting more dangerous, despite his and Kyo's best efforts. But this clone had already turned into someone. It had found a target, copied her DNA, stolen her memories and ran. Would it really shapeshift again, after all that? Could it, even?

Of course that'd be dangerous enough, if it had chosen someone with power.

But it had chosen Blue Mary.

It was ridiculous, really. Absolutely idiotic. He and Kyo could set things on fire by blinking. Bogard could channel a gigaton blast through the ground; Sakazaki - all three of them! - could throw megatons through the air. Even that Asamiya girl could make herself invincible for a second. But Mary? What could she do? Choke people to death, thirty seconds at a time?

This thing just wasn't a threat right now. And if it couldn't shapeshift again, it never would be. So there weren't many reasons to destroy it, really. There was Vengeance, of course, since it had hurt Mary badly; then there was Justice, since its death would give her her life back.

And...he really didn't give a shit?

Iori didn't care about Blue Mary. He barely knew her, could barely pick her out of a lineup. He mostly remembered her as Bogard's girl - and he didn't give a shit about him, either. Give the real Mary her life back? Sure, why not; no harm done. But take the imposter's? Kill another goddamn clone, who'd never asked to be born and never hurt anyone he cared about? He'd rather just give it a stern talking to.

...but there was another reason to do it. Another reason for him to kill - or to die, or just about anything else. That reason was that Chizuru Kagura had told him to. And he would follow her to the ends of the Earth.

"Alright. I'll take it out. Stay in the car. Don't want it to turn into Godzilla or some shit," he grumbled (though he seriously doubted it could). "If it does, call the fire department and get the hell out." He waved his hand at the keys and threw open the door; she nodded and took his seat as he left it.

Chizuru had suggested he just blow up the car and be done with it. But Mary had wanted it done discreetly, and Iori had agreed. He'd picked out an outfit for the occasion, a green hoodie with the hood pulled up and some baggy gray sweatpants. He was hoping the clone wouldn't recognize him, or at least not as a threat. If it didn't, he could get it in his sights and burn it to ashes right there; then Mary could just brush them off the seat and take its place.

Of course, if the clone did recognize him, things would get messy. But he knew he could take it, Godzilla or no Godzilla. ...and if it ran instead? Then he would start blowing things up.

He stalked toward the clone's - Mary's - patrol car, death in his eyes...

...and then it opened the door.

Shit. He backed up quickly, ducking down behind the trunk of the car. Seconds later, "Mary" got out of it, looking like a woman forcing herself to relax. She stretched her arms over her head, then walked out of the street and into a parking lot, heading in the direction of a nearby bar.

Iori growled to himself. So much for his perfect plan; now if he burned the imposter, everybody on the block would notice. (Of course, everybody on this block at this time of night was a drunk...but somebody might believe them.) He had no choice but to hang back, let it enter the bar, and see what it did, watching it through the window.

Luckily, it made a beeline for the restrooms.

Perfect, he thought grimly. He turned to Mary and motioned for her to stay in the car, then followed "Mary" inside, quickly but casually. A sign near the restrooms said Customers Only, so he tossed the bartender some cash and ordered a beer without stopping. He then walked right past him and into the back of the bar, ready to end this irritating job...

Mary took longer in the restroom than she normally would've, enjoying her moment of peace. The last two weeks had been a living hell; she needed every moment of peace she could get. Bad enough that one of the monsters hated her now, and that she could rarely convince herself she wasn't about to be killed. But thanks to Chizuru's mental time bomb, she couldn't even trust her own thoughts - and probably wouldn't for the rest of her life.

Would she reveal Chizuru's terrible secret someday? In a rage, or just on accident? Maybe she'd intend to accidentally, and kill herself that way. ...maybe she'd just snap and kill herself on purpose. Hell, maybe the whole "contract" was total crap. Chizuru had broken her mind; she could've made her believe anything.

But those thoughts weren't hurting her right now. She'd chased them away a moment ago, and they'd actually stayed hidden for once. As she stood and flushed the toilet, she smiled again, looking forward to a nice, thoughtless evening at home.

Then she opened the stall door, and came face-to-face with Iori Yagami.

"...oh, fuck," she breathed, her face draining of all color.

The man didn't seem angry. More like annoyed, really. But nevertheless he asked her, "Any last words, imposter?"

Mary blinked. "Imposter...?"

"Cut the crap," Iori barked. "I know what you are. The runaway NESTS clone, trying to steal Blue Mary's life now that you think you've caused her death. ...you fucked up by the way, she's sitting right outside."

Like a true detective, Mary put the pieces together fast. Chizuru must've made a copy of her, either with NESTS technology or just that damn mirror of hers. That's why she'd waited two weeks - so she could get the thing ready. Now she'd sent Iori here with kill orders, just as Mary had feared...and worse, she'd be replaced afterwards, and no one would ever be the wiser.

But the worst part was, it didn't even mean the "contract" was crap.

She didn't know what really happened. She couldn't trust her thoughts. Chizuru could've made her think she'd bound herself too, just to stall for time. And even if she was bound, there could still be loopholes. What if she'd told the fake Mary the "story" and let her get pissed off on her own? And then said, "Oh, by the way, I just happen to know a guy that's good at getting rid of people you're pissed off at"?

Mary figured all this out in the space of two seconds. The only thing she couldn't figure out was what to do about it.

"...this isn't what it looks like, Iori," she began lamely. "You've got the wrong woman."

He just looked at her, deadpan.

"I'm serious!" Mary exclaimed, wanting to scream but knowing it wouldn't help. "I'm not the imposter. She is!"

"Why the hell should I believe that...?" Iori sighed, looking tired.

"I...I can't tell you," she said, wincing and shaking her head. "There's something wrong with my mind. ...I think. And if I - "

"Actually, lemme rephrase that," he interrupted. "I should've said 'Why should I care."

"...huh?"

"Blue Mary, not Blue Mary...whatever. Not my problem," he shrugged. "Frankly I think you two should fight it out yourselves. But the thing is, if you are a clone...I've got a different problem."

"But I'm not - "

And that was all Mary got out before a wall of purple flames appeared in front of her.

She yelped sharply. She couldn't help it. "Scream and you're dead," it prompted Iori to growl...but she doubted she could help that, either. She tried to escape, turning around to hop on the toilet and over the stall - but he cut her off, putting up another wall of fire before she could get there. She couldn't jump over the stall from the floor; she couldn't fit into the gaps beneath it, either. She tried grabbing the top of one side and pulling herself up - but her hands were too shaky to do it.

Then the "walls" started closing in on her.

"Iori, it's not what you think!"

"Time's almost up, 'Mary'."

"I'm telling you, I'm NOT the clone!"

"Either shapeshift or die. Your call."

"What the - !? I can't shapeshift!"

"You'd better learn how pretty quick, then."

The flames were very close, now. She could feel them on her arms, on her face...in her throat. "Don't do this!" she pleaded. "Stop! ...I'm begging you...!"

"The real Mary wouldn't beg!" Iori snapped. He knew that much.

"You don't know what I've been through‼" she screamed, her head shaking back and forth. "You don't know my last two weeks‼ What they've done to me‼ ...oh, please don't kill me, Iori! And please...don't kill Terry...!" She was crying now, convulsing in sobs, only standing because she would've burned to death otherwise.

It didn't bother Iori, of course. Calmly, remorselessly, he brought the flames closer. Half a foot from her, now. Two inches. One inch. A half.

...then he snapped his fingers, and the flames died immediately.

"Guess you can't shapeshift, then," he decided, as she stared in disbelief.

She fell to the ground a few seconds later, sobbing in relief this time. Meanwhile Iori walked towards her, a bitter scowl on his face. He'd nearly killed this stupid clone, this harmless lab experiment...this person. Just like he'd killed more people than he could count. More lab experiments. More clones.

...and he just couldn't do it this time. Not for Blue Mary. Not even for her.

Once he reached his former target, he reached out his hand to help her up. Sniffling, she took it, getting unsteadily to her feet. "So what's your story...?" he asked.

"I already told you. I can't tell you," she answered miserably. "My head is completely fucked up right now. I don't know what would happen if I did."

"Well, whatever," he dismissed, rolling his eyes. "The point is, it's over now. You're done. You can't be Mary anymore."

She blinked again. "...what...?"

"That woman out there?" he said, pointing. "That's Mary now. ...or Mary again, I dunno. Either way, there can't be two of you. And that one's got Kagura to vouch for her, so she wins."

Mary cringed. "Iori..."

"No," he cut her off, shaking his head. "She wants me to get rid of you. But if you step aside, it's pointless. So don't be Mary anymore. Be somebody else from now on."

"...but - "

"No."

"But I'm - !"

"No."

She sighed, looked down for a moment...and closed her eyes.

"...will you take care of Terry?" she whispered. "And Anton? ...and Mai and Yuri and Céc and - "

"What am I, your babysitter?" he cut off again, scowling.

"Okay, okay," she yielded, holding up her hands. "Just...Terry. ...make sure she treats him alright. Alright?"

Iori stared at her for a second, then gave a terse nod.

"Thank you," she gushed, breathing a sigh of relief. After a moment she looked back up at him, frowning. "So you two are leaving, then? In separate cars?" Since she'll be taking my patrol car.

"That's the plan." Since I didn't have to scrap hers.

"...guess you should go first, huh."

"Yep. Give it ten minutes or so."

"Okay," she said, nodding. "And Iori? ...thanks again. Thank you for...for everything."

"Not doing it for you," the mass murderer grunted.

With that Iori walked off, as Mary watched from her stall. When he reached the restroom door, a purple light flashed near the middle of the frame; apparently he'd gotten them privacy by welding the lock into it. Now melted completely, it let him pass right through, dribbling dabs of molten metal as he opened the door. And then he was gone...and Mary backed into the stall, sitting on the toilet and putting her head in her hands.

...it was the better option, she supposed. She'd rather her life be ruined than over. And she'd gone undercover before, lots of times. ...this would just be a lifelong assignment, that's all (she choked back a sob). Her "replacement" probably wouldn't cause much trouble, either. Chizuru didn't have grudges against her friends; the clone would probably just try to fit in as much as possible.

Fit in with her boyfriend, for example.

...while he fit in with her.

"Hey."

Mary yelped again, startled out of her misery. She looked up to find Iori standing at the stall door, looking down at her with pity and disgust in his eyes.

"I know someone who might help. If your mind's screwed up, I mean. She's a...business associate. You might know her too, though. Here's her number; give her a call when you can."

He threw a business card in her general direction. She scrambled to catch it, but missed, and it fell to the floor. By the time she picked it up, he was already gone.

"That one's for you," he called from the exit. "...don't ask me why, I don't know either."

He shut the door, and she actually managed to smile a bit. Then she looked down at the card - and her smile faded, as her eyes widened.

She knew her, alright.

She took a taxi straight home, and packed up her most treasured possessions. (Along with her passport, and all her IDs. ...no reason to make things easy on her successor.) She then walked to a nearby ATM, withdrawing all the funds she could from a secret savings account. From there she cut up her cards - if she used them again she'd blow her cover - and hopped on a bus, not knowing where it was going...or where to go from there.

As she rode, she called her only lead - the last call she would ever make with that phone. For ten tense seconds, no one answered; then a curious voice came through.

"Hello...?"

"Is this Athena? ...Asamiya, I mean."

"Yeees...and who's this?"

"It's Blue Mary. ...for now. And I need your help."

End Notes

...oh, come on, did you really think I wouldn't shoehorn her into this!? She's a psychic too, damnit! (Though apparently not as good a one...)

This fic is already done, but it's long enough that I won't post it all at once. Expect updates every few days, once a week at the most. It should be three to five chapters, depending on whether they look long enough when I'm about to post :P And yes, it will have a happy ending; sorry for those I'm disappointing, but it's just who I am.

If this fits into your canon, Nano, feel free to use it. If not, I hope you can enjoy anyway ^_^

See you next update!