REDUX by me and Jamesbondkid2001! (prays)
A wise woman once said, "A peaceful life is bound by chains of glass. It is only a matter of time and grace before they shatter". Many hold this to be true, but to what extent? Because of the Universe being governed by fate, one can assume that this bit of wisdom will deem true at some point in the comic matrix of time. Now, let the Great Eye of the Universe refer you to the events portrayed in the chapter of The Cosmic Codex titled 'Helix'. There can be seen the first portion of this tale. The events leading up to eventual peace. At the moment Dagon returned the girls involved back to Japan the glass chains had already begun to encompass their lives. As for Dagon, the effects were far different.
Here the chains begin to shatter, thus the Great Eye of the Universe presents to you:
The Glasschains
Dagon felt a sense of solace returning from Japan. He had gone forth with a measure that defied all his predecessors. He had fought for peace and destroyed a part of himself in order for that to be fulfilled. Yet, was he the lesser man? Was his choice best or his race? He pondered this and nodded; yes, indeed it was. No fear, for the evolution towards a benevolent coexistence with the human race took far more effort and willfulness than driving towards war. He knew his methods would be questioned by the others; but in time they would come to realize as well.
The pilotless ship slowed to a slightly rough halt in the hanger high upon Mount Shasta in northern California. It was a mountain known for its resident paranormal phenomena. Lights, odd UFOs, etcetera. In fact, each and every phenomena was produced in some way by the Dagon who had been living there since the advent of man's existence upon the Earth. It was their home away from home, so to say.
Dagon rose from his chair and retrieved his note-slate before stepping towards the door. He never made it more than three steps.
A small hiss was heard moments before Dagon felt a prick in his left tricep and his face contorted with immense pain. It was rare for a Dagon to scream, but at this moment the pain was simply too intense for him to handle without vocalization. He gripped at where the prick first began, not knowing exactly what was going on. He had a fear, and that fear was assuaged when as he ripped through the arm of his jacket, his flesh came along with it in horrible bloody chunks.
He grit his teeth moments before they fell out. He blinked back tears moments before they were reduced to jellied blobs that ran like black oil. In moments the valourous Dagon was reduced to an unrecognizable pile of bloody gristle and sinew that lay atop a skeleton; picked clean.
It was only then that the three men emerged from the rear of the ship where they had been stowing away; three men that looked like carbon copies of the man that just died. Indeed, they were Dagon and since Dagon do not have names as many mortals do; the Great Eye of the Universe will do the reader a favour and refer to them as X, Y and Z.
X was the tallest of the group by a head. He emitted author; a born leader in a sense. He was also the one whose hands were directly stained with blood, for he had fired the Class C Vorpal Lysis Demodulator moments before.
Y was the middle-man; known for his skill in genetic manipulation. He was an expert at the ins-and-outs of every machine in the Dagon base. He was also famous for his shark-toothed grin that he prided himself on by filing his teeth into such a shape.
Z was a former pilot who had been demoted to the more 'humble' position of servitor ever since he had been accused to insubordination many years ago. Needless to say, he was an unhappy man.
"Easier than had been though.", Y said, flashing his grin.
"Indeed.", responded X, picking up Dagon's note-slate.
"Is that it?", Z asked, leaning over to get a look.
"I believe so.", X said, using Dagon's now-bloody stylus to scroll through the slate.
He pushed the scroll bar through the stored information and hit upon what was called in Dagon terms a 'Trial Experiment' in which electronically stored DNA codes are combined to give a possible outcome.
Y grinned as he read over X's shoulder.
"Perfect.", he hissed.
X nodded. The information fit their plan. No need to go about combining codes. Thus a large chunk of time was cut from the eventual outcome.
"Could she kill?", Z asked, referring to the child formed in the Trial Experiment.
"With time.", Y noted. "We need not strike immediately."
X stepped past Dagon's bones and melted flesh and down the now-extended exit ramp. The others followed.
"We begin immediately. Oh..", X said.
"Yes?", Z asked.
"Burn the ship."
We now advance time five years and return our attention to the girls in Japan. For the moment, the Great Eye of the Universe shall turn towards Tomo Takino and Koyomi Mizuhara. Events change people, that is well known. Due to the inclusion of Koyomiko in their life, Tomo and Yomi learned to love one another. It was six months after the events portrayed in 'Helix' that they first shared an intimate moment. The event was more than just intimate, it was a soul-bonding journey to the center of their being. From the moment they smiled at each other after the event, they knew that fate had chosen them to not leave the side of the other. Indeed, they found an apartment to live in. They even went to the same collage. Tomo pursued her dream of becoming a police officer and Yomi obtained a degree in literature which she used to write a column in the local paper on family life. Raising Koyomiko was indeed a challenge though. Being born at the age of seven, she was long overdue for lessons in society and academics. Initially it was difficult for Koyomiko to adapt to having to go to school. She simply did not understand why she couldn't learn at home. Albeit, this made it difficult for her to gain friends. After many years of stressful ins and outs, Koyomiko changed when the hormones of adolescence hit her. She seemed to comprehend faster, understand better, and in general be a better, more well-rounded person. As this is written they are planning for a party with all their old friends, who have recently returned to visit.
"I can't wait!!", Koyomiko cheered as Tomo, Yomi and her bustled about in preparation for the party they were throwing that day.
All the old friends of the family were back in town and had the time to come to the apartment for a get-together. Osaka, Chiyo-chan, Sakaki, Kagura, Chihiro and Kaorin; all of them were going to see one another for the first time in years.
"They should be getting here soon, right?', Tomo asked, setting out a basket of snacks.
Yomi nodded. Being a normally unexcitable person, she repressed all her anticipation for that day. Even if it was not outwardly shown, she truly wished to see all her friends again. It had been years, after all.
As Koyomiko shifted the couch around to make more room, a knock came at the door.
Everyone's heart flew into their throat. Someone had arrived. Koyomiko was the first one to open the door; and on the doorstep stood Kaorin and Chihiro.
"Kaori-san! Chihiro-san!", Koyomiko cried, throwing her arms around each of them in turn.
"Hello there, Koyomiko-chan!", Kaorin said. "Wow, you've grown a lot!"
Koyomiko giggled and stepped back. Tomo and Yomi then gave their 'hello's'; Yomi with a hug and Tomo with a rather violent pat on the back.
"Great to see you too, Tomo….", Kaorin grinned through the obvious pain.
"So what the heck you guys been up to?", Tomo asked.
"Oh, you know….", Kaorin began. "I have a Master's degree in Astronomy."
"Teacher, eh? Pfft! Lame!", Tomo said.
"Shh, Tomo! That's quite the accomplishment, you know!", Yomi chastised.
"What about you, Chihiro?", Tomo questioned.
"I just work for a bank downtown.", she laughed nervously.
Tomo grinned and whipped out her service revolver, pointing it at Chihiro's head. Short screams came from the all assembled.
"Better not think about robbing that bank or I'll have to arrest ya!", Tomo laughed, holstering her gun.
"Why the heck do you carry that in the house!?", Yomi screamed.
"It's fun?", Tomo shrugged.
Sighs emitted all around, but they were all soon engrossed in small talk as they waited for others to arrive. Twenty minutes later another knock came from the door.
"I'll get it!", Koyomiko cried and jumped to her feet, snatching for the door which she managed to scramble open.
Standing on the other side was Kagura.
"Kagura-san!", Koyomiko yelled, gripping her arms around the woman's waist tightly.
Kagura didn't respond. She just glared angrily at the child wrapped around her waist.
Koyomiko pulled back, and noticed that Kagura still angrily glared at her.
"K-Kagura-san?" Koyomiko asked.
Kagura pushed herself past Koyomiko without a word.
"Oi, Kagura-san!" Tomo came in, filled with energy.
"Hey, Tomo" Kagura said grumpily, as she sat down in a chair.
"Eh? Something wrong?" Tomo asked.
"Nah…it's nothing." Kagura said. In all truth, it was something. Kagura had lost her job a few days ago. It was another in a line of jobs she had already lost.
"Kagura, seriously, what's wrong?" Kaorin asked.
"It's nothing, now just back off!!" Kagura yelled.
A moment of silence followed. Then another knock on the door came.
"I-I'll get it…" Koyomiko replied. She couldn't help but feel like Kagura was now watching her like a hawk that watches its prey.
Koyomiko opened the door, and found Osaka standing there, a ghostly look on her face.
"Th-that's the l-last time I ask Y-Yukari-chan for a ride…" Osaka replied.
"Ouch. Shoulda known better, Osaka." Tomo said, giving her a wildcat grin.
"I couldn' help it. I was runnin' late, and she jus' happened to be passin' by." Osaka replied as she walked in.
"Well, you could have called me; I would have given you a ride." Kagura said.
"Well, I tried, bu' the phone kept sayin' yer line was disconnected, or somethin'" Osaka replied.
At this, Kagura flinched. That's right, she had forgotten. Thanks to her job loss, she couldn't even pay the phone bill.
"Kagura-san, are you sure nothing's wrong?" Chihiro asked.
"I'm fine! I can take care of myself!!" Kagura yelled.
"So, Osaka…" Yomi said, hoping to change the subject to something better "What have you been up to?"
"Ah, well…I got some paper…that says I'm good at Philosophy or summin'..", Osaka droned.
"You mean a degree?', Chihiro asked.
Osaka held her hand to her own forehead, shaking her head.
"Nope, I dun got a temperature."
Yomi groaned. "She means a college degree."
"Oh, yeah…one of those…", Osaka responded.
More small talk ensued, with Tomo leading the conversation as always. Osaka interjected every once in awhile and Kagura grumpily sat and listened, glad that her own life was off of the conversation list.
Then a third knock came at the door. Thusly, Koyomiko vaulted for the handle and opened it. Standing outside was Chiyo and Sakaki; each with a smile plastered on their face.
Koyomiko gasped in astonishment and hugged Chiyo first, for she had grown quite a bit herself since Koyomiko had last seen her.
Indeed, Chiyo was now nearly as tall as Yomi and had begun to fill out in her chest. Her figure was also quite spectacular to behold. It was definitely a shock to all those assembled.
As Koyomiko turned to hug Sakaki, Tomo approached.
"Dammit!", she cursed. "Chiyo-chan! How the heck did your boobs get bigger than mine already!?"
Chiyo blushed profusely upon being targeted.
"Umm…uhh….I don't know…", she mumbled.
"Come on in, you two." Yomi said with a smile.
Chiyo and Sakaki silently sauntered in and took their seats beside Osaka. Osaka perked up form whatever world she dwelled in and asked them how they had been recently.
"You been goin' to those crazy American schools, Chiyo-chan?", she asked.
Chiyo shook her head.
"No. I was accepted into a few though, but I'm not sure where I wish to go yet."
Osaka nodded swiftly.
"Good, cuz yer gonna get shot."
Silence abounded with a disturbed face plastered on Chiyo-chan.
"Anyhow…speaking of school, how is Koyomiko doing?" Chiyo asked, flipping the subject away from potential murder.
"I'm doing ok." Koyomiko said.
"Okay!?", Tomo interjected. "You have all A's this semester!"
Koyomiko blushed, showing her natural modesty at praise.
"Oh! That's great!", Chiyo chirped.
Sakaki gazed at this scene in wonderment. Tomo and Yomi were hugging their blushing daughter in effect of praise. She could feel the contentment and pride flowing from them like a levee had just burst. A tear came to her eye that she quickly wiped away. Although Sakaki was happy that she had made it through veterinary school, she still longed for that purveying bond that family created. Even when Tomo put Koyomiko in a playful headlock, she nearly broke down seeing as it was an endearing gesture of love from mother to daughter, even if it was Tomo's own special brand of love.
"How old is Koyomiko now anyway?" Kaorin asked.
"I'm almost thirteen!" she said.
"Yep! In three months!", Tomo said.
This information struck Sakaki right where it hurt; the heart. Her eyes welled up and her chest felt compressed. As steely as she normally was, those walls were shaken and immediately shattered. She stood and headed for the door.
"Excuse me.." she mumbled as she exited.
The rest sat in stunned silence. Koyomiko was the first to speak in a stuttered voice.
"W-was it something I said?"
"No.", Chiyo informed the saddened girl. "I'll go see what is going on…"
Thusly, she stood and followed after Sakaki.
Chiyo walked outside the Takino-Mizuhara household to find Sakaki, sitting on the curb, crying into her hands.
"Sakaki-san?"
"Oh, Chiyo-chan" Sakaki said. She quickly wiped away her tears.
"Maybe you could have hidden your sadness away from me five years ago, Sakaki-san, but today, I'm much more grown up" Chiyo said.
"I'm…sorry." Sakaki replied, handing her head. "I just don't want to bring down the mood of the party in there."
Chiyo knelt down behind Sakaki, and wrapped her arms around Sakaki's neck, placing her chin on Sakaki's shoulder
"Sakaki-san, please tell me what's wrong. We're friends."
"I…can't ever forget her." Sakaki said. "It would have been five years ago today that she died so horribly."
Then it all came flooding back to Chiyo. Kaede, her body falling apart, and the two of them witnessing something that neither of them ever should have…
"And…I keep wondering to myself…would things have been different if she would have been alive today?" Sakaki said, the tears welling up in her eyes.
"You can't ask yourself that, Sakaki-san." Chiyo said. "What happened that night happened for a reason."
"What reason did she have to die like that? Even though she looked sixteen, her mind was like that of a child's, Chiyo-chan; a child's!" Sakaki said, her voice deathly serious. Then suddenly, she just calmed down. "No child should ever have to die."
Chiyo could feel the sadness well up inside herself as well. Sakaki was telling the absolute truth. Chiyo herself had just been using excuse after excuse to cover up the pain she felt all these years.
"I…still have nightmares…of that night." Sakaki said.
"So do I, Sakaki-san. I…can always see her body…just…just…"
Sakaki felt her pants get wet a bit. She realized that Chiyo was crying. Sakaki reached up and grabbed hold of Chiyo's hand as a sign of comfort.
"Did you ever wonder…if she had lived, if we would have ever come to love each other?" Sakaki said.
Chiyo blushed slightly. "What?"
Sakaki suddenly got a deep dark blush on her face. "Uh…n-nothing."
A moment of awkward silence passed. Chiyo, now 18, and Sakaki, now 22, sat quiet.
"You know…" Chiyo said. "I…always wondered how I would explain to my parents how we suddenly had a child that was older than I was"
Sakaki smiled a bit.
Another moment of awkward silence passed.
"But…what was this about…loving?" Chiyo asked.
Sakaki blushed. "Um…i-it's…nothing…"
"C'mon, Sakaki-san, tell me." Chiyo pleaded. "I need to know, please."
-Chiyo, despite being 18, still had something planted inside of Sakaki that made it so Sakaki felt an insistent urge to tell her things when she asked about them
Well…" Sakaki began. "…with you being 13 at the time, I don't know…i-if…you know…" Sakaki's blush became darker. "If the two of us really could have come to love each other as more than just friends"
"You mean…like lovers?" Chiyo asked.
Sakaki nodded slowly.
-Chiyo's mind became an absolute jumble. She never really thought about even having a relationship, much less one with Sakaki. Yet, she had also never seen herself falling for another female either. What made it worse was the fact that Sakaki's almost hurt face made it impossible for these feelings to come out of Chiyo, for fear of sending her friend's soul deeper into a desperate spiral for solace.
"B-but…Sakaki-san…I…"
"It's ok, Chiyo-chan. It was…just a thought." Sakaki replied.
It's not that…it's just…" Chiyo took a deep breath. "I…like you as a friend…but…as a lover…well…I guess…I've never really thought about love at all. And…would it really work out between us?"
At this point, Sakaki let go of Chiyo's hand, unwrapped Chiyo's arms from around her neck, and turned herself around, so that she was now facing Chiyo.
"It could." Sakaki said. "We've both been through the same thing. Nobody ever knew about Kaede except for you and me. It would work out."
"How can you be so sure? How?" Chiyo asked. She looked downwards and closed her eyes. The tears began to fall from her own eyes once again.
Sakaki put her left hand on Chiyo's face, causing Chiyo to open her eyes. Sakaki slowly lifted Chiyo's head, so now they were making eye contact again.
"Because…" Sakaki said with a smile. "…if we do it for Kaede, things will work out."
The tears in Chiyo's eyes began to fall faster. With the hand on Chiyo's face, Sakaki moved her thumb over, and wiped away a tear that fell down Chiyo's face.
The two locked eyes. That last little movement had finally gotten to Chiyo. The mood was set.
"Chiyo…I…love you." Sakaki said, as she moved her lips closer to Chiyo. Her hand dropped from Chiyo's face, and grabbed hold of Chiyo's right hand. Once again, Chiyo felt that comfort she had felt when Sakaki had hold of her hand to begin with.
Slowly, she watched Sakaki's lips move closer to hers. A blush came on Chiyo's face, but she dare not move, frozen solid by a sudden want for the comfort of passion and friendship.
Sakaki's lips still came closer…
Chiyo closed her eyes, and Sakaki's lips met hers.
She let out a sigh of contentment, and continued on with the kiss. It was a splendid kiss; one drenched with passion and the purity of untainted affection.
Neither of them noticed a sudden light glowing on the road behind Sakaki, glowing brighter and brighter…
Chiyo wrapped her left arm around the back of Sakaki's neck, while her right hand continued to remain locked with Sakaki's left…
Sakaki wrapped her arm around Chiyo's back, and pulled her in closer. Now with the shared bodily warmth the two felt was making this all the better…
THUMP!!
The two instantly stopped kissing at the noise behind Sakaki, and looked to see what had made the noise.
At first, Sakaki and Chiyo thought they were just dreaming; the effects of the kiss still lingering.
But as they stared longer, they realized that this was not a dream.
Lying in the middle of the road on her stomach was a naked girl with long orange hair…
Sakaki and Chiyo let go of each other, stood up, and slowly walked towards the body, curiosity and adrenaline running throughout their bodies.
As they approached the body, the both of them knelt down next to it. Sakaki reached towards the body curiously, but retreated her hand.
"She…wasn't there before…was she?" Chiyo asked.
"And…I don't think anyone threw her out of a vehicle…" Sakaki said, noticing the lack of any sort of scratches or bruises.
"Well, we may as well turn her over…" Chiyo said.
Sakaki nodded. She grabbed hold of the girl's far shoulder, and pulled so that the woman turned over.
As she did, both Sakaki and Chiyo froze, their eyes wide, in complete and total shock.
No…it couldn't be…it can't be…but…it is…
"K-Kaede…" They both said in unison.
Chiyo's eyes filled immediately with tears. This just couldn't be true. Kaede was dead after all, she had watched her die; she had buried her. Sakaki also fell into the realm of speechlessness. Her mind could not siphon the facts from the falsehoods.
"Kaede…", Chiyo said again.
"Is it…", Sakaki droned, her own eyes not able to hold back the tears.
"Kaede….", Chiyo said again, jostling the girl's shoulder.
There was no response; she just lay there on the asphalt. Chiyo wised with every ounce of her being that the gods were not paying another cruel trick and sending her back to them as a corpse.
Sakaki looked down, making sure the girl was breathing. She was.
"She's breathing.", Sakaki said, as if she had read Chiyo's mind.
"She is!?", Chiyo yelled in relief, looking for herself and having her curiosity confirmed. "She is!"
At this point she began to laugh as tears streamed down her face. Her relief was complete. Yet, no matter how many times they called her name and shook her, Kaede would not wake up. At that point the fear set in. Maybe she was in a coma?
"S-should we take her to the hospital?", Chiyo worried.
Sakaki nodded. More than anything she wanted her daughter to be back with them. Some could say she was jealous of Tomo and Yomi for having Koyomiko with them at all times, even through the horror she had been told about. Yet even that, in her eyes, was not as terrible as what she and Chiyo had gone through.
"Ok….we should..oh, no…neither of us has a car…", her eyes began to tear up once more. "A-and we can't just…carry her…
Sakaki grabbed Chiyo around the shoulders for comfort.
"We could just…tell everyone. Tomo has a car…Kagura too.", Sakaki said.
"B-but won't everyone…think it is strange?", Chiyo asked.
Sakaki shook her head.
"Tomo and Yomi have Koyomiko remem-"
She was cut off by a voice from behind her.
"Hey, what's going on out here? You guys have been gone for awhile."
It was Kagura, come to check up on them.
Chiyo and Sakaki turned to see her walking towards them and feared for what may happen next.
"What are you guys doing?", she asked, peering over the two kneeling girls.
"N-nothing!", Chiyo stammered, trying her damndest to hide Kaede's fallen body.
"Well- Oh my god!", Kagura cried out upon seeing Kaede's sprawled form. "Who the hell is that!? Is she ok!?"
"We found here here.", Sakaki said. "We were just about to take her to the hospital."
"I'll take you in my car! I know a shortcut.", Kagura said, pulling Chiyo into an upright position as Sakaki carried Kaede in her arms.
"B-but won't the others notice you're gone?", Chiyo inquired as they piled into Kagura's car.
"Nah, they won't miss me.", she responded as she started the engine and pulled away from the curb.
"Hmm?" Chiyo questioned.
"Just hold on." Kagura said, dropping the pedal and screeching away towards the nearest hospital.
It's ok, Kaede…..you'll be just fine… Chiyo thought, her hand passing through her daughter's hair.