DISCLAIMER:Rival Schools/Project Justice & it's characters are owned by CAPCOM and possibly UDON.
Chapter III: Back From The Dead
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Hyo bolted upright. His eyes darted around wildly in an attempt to process his unfamiliar settings. Warm arms embraced him, causing Hyo to jump.
"There, there." A gentle voice soothed. "It's alright."
His panic eased. The voice sounded friendly, familiar. He looked over his shoulder to see who the arms were attached to.
She was a willowy woman with piercing violet eyes and her bleached hair was tied up in a messy bun. She was clad in a light, summer kimono that hung off her slender form. She gave him a sweet smile.
"Welcome back, Hyo-dono." She greeted.
All of Hyo's energy quickly drained and he flopped back into the woman's body. Abruptly, he slipped into a deep sleep...
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The young man woke up alone. The sheets clung to him from perspiration. He pulled them off and got up from the futon. The woman from before walked past the door. He peeked out. She was dressed in a different kimono this time. Her gait was slow and practiced. Hyo continued to watch her until she disappeared around a corner. Unsure of what to say, he decided to follow her around until he could think of a way to word his questions.
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The days rolled by and little by little, Hyo began to remember the place he had woke up in. From what he could piece together, this was his old home and the original Imawano-ryu complex. The place had deteriorated over the years. It surprised Hyo that anyone could live her, let alone a person like Michiko. She looked like she took good care of herself despite the state of the place. Half the time, Hyo wondered if she was some sort of ghost—he quickly dismissed such thoughts. Eventually, he accepted following the woman around as a way to pass time.
"You have questions." Michiko had stopped at the end of the hallway.
"Who are you?" Hyo asked. "I feel like I know you but I can't remember your name at all."
"My name is Sagawa Michiko. I am a loyal servant to the Imawano-ryu." She looked back at him. "After your mother passed, your father assigned me to look after you until you were sent away."
"I see." He searched for words. "Michiko, did I die?"
"Yes." She said flatly.
"Am I in...heaven?" He was hesitant to ask. Michiko gave a slow shake of her head. Fear crept up in him. "Am I in hell?"
"No. You're alive." The confused look on Hyo's face caused the woman to continue. "I collected your body right after the fire in the Justice Library. I immediately administered the technique to revive you and took you back to the compound."
"Technique?" Now he was curious.
"Ki no Kokoro to Fukkoku. I gave a chunk of my aura to revive you. It was a technique that the High Master taught me."
"My father." He said bitterly.
"Yes." Michiko lowered her head slightly. "But I failed with him. You were my first success."
"How long have I been gone?" What he really wanted to ask was how long he had been dead but things were complicated enough as it was.
"Six months and three days." Michiko turned around. "I collected your body as soon as the others had left and started the procedure immediately."
Hyo marched past her, proceeding down the hall. Alarmed, Michiko sprang after him.
"Where-"
"I have to go back." Hyo peered into rooms that he passed, searching for his sword. "It's not fair to Kyosuke."
"You shouldn't throw yourself back into the same settings that killed you!" Michiko snapped. "It's suicide."
"I'm not going back for Project Justice." He picked up his sword and pulled it out of it's sheath. "I'm going back for my brother."
Michiko fell silent. She lingered in the doorway for a moment before turning to leave.
"Michiko," Hyo put the sword back in it's casing. "Why don't you come with me? I'm sure my uncle will find a place for you."
"I...I don't know how..." She averted her gaze.
"Don't know how to what?" Hyo frowned.
"I don't know how to leave this place." She sighed. "I've grown up here. I promised that I would take care of the compound..."
They both stood there with a strange tension pulling on the air.
"I'm going and you are coming with me." Hyo approached her. "This place is unfit for anyone to stay. It wouldn't be fair if I just left you here..."
"What are you..."
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"No! No! No! Put me down!" Michiko pounded on Hyo's back. He had slung her over his shoulder and tucked his sword under his other arm. Michiko's half-hearted struggle was ignored. When they passed through the main gate, she calmed down.
"Put me down." She ordered. Without a word, Hyo did so. She looked up at the compound with a longing expression. "There is a bus stop up the road from here. That should get us started."
"Good." Hyo took her hand. "Let's go."
Hesitant, she nodded.
"Alright..." He pulled her along, making his way to the main road. "I'm coming, Kyosuke..."
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Author's Note(s): If you haven't noticed, Michiko calls him "Hyo-dono". "-dono" is a Japanese honorific that means "lord" or "master". So she's calling him "Master Hyo". This is something lower ninjas called their superiors in the olden days of the Imawano clan. Guess she's old school, huh? ~_^
