art of life
chapter two

"You look just like him."

Tsuchiya Kirie really doesn't mince words, after all. I've only met her once before now, and she is the same as I remember her: pink-haired and blue-eyed, a little on the short side, addicted to cigarettes, and hilariously witty. She stands in the doorway of the Rutherford loft, a cigarette burning low between her lips as she peels off her tall boots, and this remark to Ayumu is met with a raised eyebrow and a slight frown. "Like my brother?" he asks, and the question is so stupid that I want to slap him. Who does he think she means?!

"Of course," Kirie replies, rolling her eyes dramatically. She tosses her shoes aside and proceeds into the hallway where we've all crowded, eager to catch a glimpse of this Watcher, to press her for answers, to maybe even ask her for help. She examines Ayumu critically for a moment before plucking the cigarette from her mouth and turning to look at the rest of us. Her eyes move from Ayumu to Hiyono, then to Eyes, then Rio, and finally Ryouko and I, standing together behind the others. After she surveys us she heaves a loud sigh, casting a sideways glance at Eyes. "Well, let's get this over with."

We proceed into Eyes' massive dining room and settle down at the table mostly in silence, save Hiyono quietly murmuring a question to Ayumu that is replied to with a grunt. Kirie disappears for a moment, presumably to throw away her cigarette, and when she arrives at the end of the table she's looking at Eyes again. "You told him, right?"

"Three days ago."

"The girl, too?"

Hiyono laughs softly, bowing her head slightly as Kirie looks down the table at her. "I've been with Ayumu since the beginning, Tsuchiya-san. It would have been impossible to exclude me."

"Hmph. I guess so." One side of the older woman's mouth jerks up in a smile. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Oh - " Hiyono blushes, absently touching her ring. "Thank you..."

"Let's get down to business." Kirie folds her hands together, leaning back in her chair, and all attention is immediately on her. "I'm not here as a Watcher," she says, with a slight frown, "or a Saver, or a Hunter, or anything. I'm here because some things have come to light that all of you need to know." She pauses, swallowing, and I can see that speaking this way - openly, that is - is difficult for her. "Before, I would have been perfectly content to sit back and watch things play out according to Kiyotaka's will, or allowed the Hunters to have their way with you. But the few of you who are left deserve more than an untimely death."

"Kiyotaka-san's will?" Rio asks quietly. "What does that mean?"

"I wrote in my note to Raza-kun," Kirie begins, and thankfully doesn't notice me smirking at this nickname, "that Kiyotaka has turned from you all. That's primarily why I'm here. The last time I spoke to him - last week - he told me that he had learned the truth, and had no plans to support the Blade Children any longer."

"So Kiyotaka knows - " Ryouko looks from Kirie to me, then to Kirie again, eyes wide. "He knows what we are - ?"

"As far as I am aware, yes, he does now."

"Did he tell you...?"

"No. But he did give me some hints." She closes her eyes, exhaling. "My memory's not what it used to be, and he was rambling on pretty fast, but I'll do my best to repeat what he said. First of all, it's important to note that the last time I spoke to Kiyotaka before our phone call was nearly two years ago. At that time, he indicated that he had two Blade Children in his care - or at least under some sort of surveillance - and that he was working with them in an attempt to learn the truth, and find a way to "save" them, and the rest of you, from the "curse" you've been told about."

"Two Blade Children...?" Rio blinks. "Who?"

"Did you know that the number eighty was actually unplanned?" Kirie opens one eye. "Yaiba originally had well over a hundred couples in support of his plan, willing to give up the children they bore for his perfect society. But some of the pregnancies failed, of course... some of the women changed their minds... and so on, and so forth. But what contributed to that final, perfect number was the fact that there were two sets of twins." She sees us exchange glances - this information is new, to us - and opens her other eye, nodding. "I don't know which set Kiyotaka had in his custody, but he said he had a pair of them. That's what I gathered, anyway."

"But you say "had," now, as in..." I raise an eyebrow. "Past tense?"

"I'm getting to that. Patience." She nods at me. "Alright, so back to my phone call. I have no idea where Kiyotaka called me from, but it sounded busy, like some sort of city. And it wasn't from a number I could trace, although I'm sure if I give it to you - " She points to Hiyono. " - you'll be able to do more with it than I could."

The blonde smiles ever-so-slightly. "Do I have a reputation that I am unaware of, Tsuchiya-san?"

"Something like that, "White Rabbit.""

"White Rab..." Ayumu begins, then sees the grin that has appeared on his fiancee's mouth and groans, rubbing his forehead with one head. "Hiyono..."

"I'm going to assume this is all a reference to some crazy hacker shit I have no interest in." I wave a hand at this scene, pretending not to feel Ryouko kicking me under the table. "What exactly did Kiyotaka say?"

"He said, first of all, that the time had come for us to choose sides... whatever that is supposed to mean." Kirie looks to Ayumu. "As I think you already know, your brother disappeared in order to pursue the mystery of the Blade Children. When he initially showed up - a long time ago, probably when you were still a kid - and killed Yaiba, it was because he sought to protect society from Yaiba's influence. Eventually, his intent became to protect the Blade Children, and to save them from the Hunters. You might assume that this would make him a Saver, but he never fully declared himself as such." She pauses, licking her lips. "So when he said it was time to choose sides, I knew it wasn't good."

"Then what?"

"I started to ask him what the hell he was talking about, but then he asked me if I remembered Amanae Fusai." She glances around the table, as if looking for signs of recognition on our faces, but we all give her what I'm sure are blank stares. "Amanae was a surgeon. He was one of Yaiba's supporters, and was involved very early on in the Blade Children project - though I don't know exactly how. Some time before Kiyotaka appeared, Amanae, his wife, and two children were killed in a house fire. One of the children was his, but the other was a Blade Child that he had taken in, a little girl named Charlotte." Kirie frowns. "Foul play had been suspected, but nothing was ever proven."

Ryouko leans forward, resting her chin in her hands. "What does this have to do - "

"Kiyotaka said that Charlotte started the fire."

"A child?" Rio lifts a hand to her mouth. "I know that some of us were capable of such a thing, as children, but to murder a family - "

"Furthermore," Kirie continues, interrupting, "he said that Charlotte used her powers - actually, lost control of her powers - and that is what started the fire."

"Powers?" Somehow we all manage to speak in unison - even Eyes - and I turn my head to look at Ryouko, bewildered. She stares back at me with a confused expression, and I'm certain that neither of us have any idea what Kirie is talking about. Everyone else seems to feel the same way we do, but it's a while before anyone regains the ability to talk normally. "Tsuchiya-san," Hiyono pipes up, softly, "please go on."

"Sure. I'm afraid I can't elaborate any more on the powers thing. That was all Kiyotaka said." The pink-haired woman folds her hands together in her lap, still frowning. "I was still trying to make sense of everything at this point in the call. When I began to ask about Charlotte, he told me that the two Blade Children he'd been watching had escaped, and that they were out of control. That was when he said he'd learned the truth about them - I guess he meant the Blade Children as a whole - and that he could no longer allow them to live. He then said that the Hunters would have no choice but to resume their activities." She pauses, glancing at Ayumu, then shifts her gaze to her hands. "That was when he said that he would be among them."

"Aniki really said that..."

"I didn't think I was hearing him correctly." Kirie's voice is hard now. "But he then went on to say that he - well, to elaborate, I guess his assumption had been that he would be killed at some point, in exchange for his murder of Yaiba. He mentioned that to me before. And that was why he kept saying that you - " She glances at Ayumu again. " - would be the hope of the Blade Children. You would be able to continue where he left off. But he told me that he no longer wants you to save the Blade Children. He no longer wants them to live."

Ayumu sighs loudly, shaking his head from side to side and leaning back in his seat. "What exactly is he thinking? Leaving neesan behind to get involved in this..."

Hiyono reaches out to rest a hand on his shoulder. "Regardless of what Kiyotaka-san might say, I know Ayumu won't abandon the Blade Children, especially if the Hunters are supposed to come again. We've all grown too close - haven't we?" She looks to Rio with a smile, then to Ryouko and I, and finally Eyes. We're all too dumbfounded to nod, but she doesn't seem to need our agreement, anyway. "So even if the world turns against them, Ayumu and I will fight to protect the Blade Children."

"That's touching." Kirie laughs. "But it's also what I expected from the two of you. I'm kind of glad to hear it."

"Did Kiyotaka say anything else?" Eyes speaks for the first time in what feels like a long while, his words coming slowly, carefully. "About the Blade Children who escaped, or what the Hunters were planning?"

"Not really. Well - actually, he may have said something about the twins coming to find the rest of you. He was talking so fast that it was hard to follow him, and you know how he likes to use riddles and crap..." She rolls her eyes. "But he said one more thing that I want to tell you, because I think it could be important." At that she stops for a moment, looking around the table at each of us individually, and I don't realize I'm holding my breath until she speaks again. "I heard him say, very clearly, that the remaining Blade Children must not be allowed to awaken."

"... what the hell does that mean?"

"My thoughts exactly," I mutter, with a nod at Ayumu. "First he talks about powers, then awakening - did he sound like he was drugged or something?"

Ryouko kicks me under the table again. "Kousuke, come on - "

"No, I'm serious! Maybe somebody got to him and injected him with some kind of weird drug." I turn to her. "It's possible, isn't it?"

"Theoretically, but..." She seems conflicted, and I know how hard it is for her to admit when I'm right. I don't really blame her for that, though, because I'm wrong most of the time. "Anyway," she remarks, turning her attention back to Kirie, "was that everything he said?"

"That's all. Well, other than telling me again that it was time for me to choose sides, and that he'd know what side I chose based on what I did next." She chuckles softly, straightening in her seat, and for just a few seconds the smile on her face seems genuine. "I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to come after me now. I have a feeling he'll be pretty pissed when he finds out I'm no longer operating as a Watcher."

"You'll... be in danger, Kirie-chan?" Rio leans forward, concerned. "Can we - help, somehow?"

"I'll be fine. I can take care of myself." Kirie glances at Eyes. "And Raza-kun thinks I still haven't noticed, but I have guards outside of my apartment now. They've been there for the last few nights. Kiyotaka may be resourceful, but unless he's sending the Blade Children themselves after me, nobody's getting inside."

Eyes clears his throat, looking away uncomfortably. "I had planned on informing you of the protection."

"You're so sweet," Kirie says, smirking, and Eyes actually blushes. It takes every ounce of my strength not to howl with laughter, but the pre-emptive kick Ryouko gives my shin helps. She's getting good at knowing when to do that, but I'm not fond of the bruises that follow. "So, listen," she continues, turning her attention to Ayumu, "I don't know what your brother's next move will be, but I would highly suggest getting the hell out of Tokyo. Go somewhere far away, unannounced, and take your sister-in-law with you."

Hiyono raises both eyebrows. "But what about the Blade Children - ?"

I wave a hand at her. "I'm not scared of Kiyotaka. We'll be alright here."

"I wasn't done." Kirie makes a face at me. "I'm going to do as much digging as I can to learn about the truth behind Kiyotaka's words - what he said about Charlotte's powers, and not allowing all of you to "awaken." But in the meantime, you should start to prepare. I don't know exactly how many Hunters are left, and how they plan to come after you, but when they do - not if, when - it will be at full force." She seems to hesitate, as if what she's about to tell us is disagreeable. "I know the four of you have been trying to live normal lives, and that won't be easy to give up. But for the sake of your own existences, I think you should make plans to leave as well."

"It's..." Ryouko's voice is weak. "... that serious?"

"It worries me, honestly." Kirie's attention has shifted back to Eyes. "I know you have more than enough money, and good connections. Can you arrange to ship the whole lot of you off somewhere safe?"

"That may be possible." He seems pensive. "I can make arrangements. However, I question the urgency - "

"It's not so easy for us to just drop everything and leave." Ryouko interrupts him, and she's speaking louder this time. "Kousuke and I are in our second year of classes, and Rio - " She gestures to Rio, who's nodding along. " - has a job with the government. We can't simply leave that all behind, or suddenly vanish."

I expect Kirie to be mad, but she just laughs. "You've forgotten what it's like to be hunted, haven't you? This life you've been living has made you soft. I never thought I'd hear a Blade Child respond to the threat of a Hunter like you just did."

"I - I haven't forgotten, it's just - "

"Save it. I get what you're trying to say." One corner of her mouth turns up in a smile. "It's up to you. If you think you can take on the Hunters, go for it. I'm certainly not going to stop you. But you should be fully prepared for the inevitable."

"Meaning..." I swallow. "... you think the Hunters are definitely going to come after us?"

Her smile has turned strangely wry. "Kiyotaka didn't sound like he was going to sit on his ass and weigh his options, if that's what you're asking me. He knows where you are, or he can find out. Whatever this awakening nonsense is, I'm guessing it's serious, because he sounded..." She pauses, probably for effect. "... scared."

"Tsuchiya-san?" It's Hiyono speaking now, quietly, and I see she's placed one hand on top of both of Ayumu's. "I understand your concern. But if we could just talk to Kiyotaka-san... is it possible that we could change his mind?"

"You could try. But I wouldn't count on it."

"Once aniki makes up his mind, there's usually no changing it. At least, that's how I remember it." Ayumu's voice is strangely dull. "He didn't say anything about nee - about my sister-in-law...?"

"Nothing. Sorry." Kirie sighs. "And if I remember her right, she probably isn't going to want to leave, once you tell her that her husband is alive and kicking, is she?"

"I doubt it."

"If Rutherford-san could do such a thing..." Hiyono leans forward, keeping her hand on Ayumu's, looking up the table at Eyes. "Might we be able to ask for someone to watch over us for any signs of trouble? If we were to be kept safe, somehow, would it be necessary for us to flee so quickly...?"

"I can arrange for additional protection on your homes." Eyes is all too willing to please - and who wouldn't be, when it comes to Hiyono? The girl is nothing but sweet when she wants to be. "Please provide me with the addresses, and I will have guards sent immediately."

"Only one address." Ayumu looks up, ignoring Hiyono's surprised reaction. "She'll be staying with me, starting tonight."

"A - Ayumu! That really isn't - "

"We're engaged, aren't we? It's time you moved in with me anyway." He glances at her, and I see something in his expression soften. "Consider it a temporary arrangement. Neesan won't mind."

She fidgets in her chair. "If you say so..."

"I can try to pull some strings within the police department, too. Seeing as I'm still employed as a hostage negotiator from time to time, I could request protection of those two - " Kirie jerks a thumb in my direction, and I realize she's talking about Ryouko and I. " - while they're going to and from campus or at home. As long as I can take my pick of the cop, I can find someone suitable for the task. I can probably come up with some kind of story about their lives being threatened. That would buy us some time for me to continue my research, and the rest of you to try to keep on living at least sort of normally."

"Huh. That's convenient." I nod. "Works for me."

"Yeah," Ryouko agrees with me, smiling slightly. "I would appreciate that."

"It's very hard for an unauthorized person to get onto the military base where I've been living..." Rio places a finger against her lips. "So, hmm... unless a Hunter has already infiltrated the government, I should be relatively safe."

"There are Hunters all over - at least, there used to be - but you'd probably have the upper hand, seeing as you're working with explosives all the time." Kirie laughs. "So keep your wits about you, at the very least."

"So assuming Rutherford gets his own set of guards, I think that settles that." I cross my arms. "But what the hell are we supposed to do now? Even with the protection, it's possible the Hunters will get through, especially if they already know where we've been living and what we're doing. Do we just sit around and either wait to die or wait to see what Kiyotaka meant by allowing us to "awaken," or whatever?"

"What else can we do?" Ryouko sighs. "If he really did say that the two Blade Children that had been with him were coming to find us... I would like to hear what they have to say."

"They might be dangerous, Ryouko-chan..." Rio bites down on her bottom lip. "But... the worst that could happen is that they have turned to the side of the Hunters, like Kanone-kun - "

"Well," I interrupt her, seeing Eyes' whole body immediately tense - and reminding myself to tell Rio again later not to use that name in the presence of either Eyes or Ayumu, who is also looking quite irritated, I notice - "Hunters or not, I'd like to meet them. I've only known a few Blade Children in my lifetime, after all. It might be nice to chat with a couple more - compare notes, or something."

"For the record, that is one of the weirdest things I have ever heard one of your kind say." There's a scraping sound as Kirie pushes her chair back from the table and stands, and we all watch as she places her hands on her hips, surveying the scene of the rest of us sitting at the table. It's quiet until she speaks, and when she does, it's with a smile. "Listen, kids... I hate to be rude, but I have to run. I've already chosen sides by meeting with you, and for all I know, Narumi Kiyotaka could be sitting outside of the building with a rifle waiting to kill me in cold blood the second I open the door. The sooner I get moving again, the better."

Eyes rises, abruptly, clearing his throat. "I will walk you to your car."

Kirie grins, reaching up to pat his shoulder. "You are such a gentleman, Raza-kun. No wonder girls are so crazy about you. If I was ten years younger, I might have already made a move on you."

Eyes blushes again, turning his nose up at those remarks, and this time no amount of kicking under the table from either Ryouko or Rio can keep me from laughing.