The Boundary of Emptiness II: A New Generation

-Chiba Hiro

(I do not own any of Kara no Kyoukai references, and I don't intend to use it for ill purposes, I am just writing this for pure enjoyment.)

A/N: The setting for this part of the story takes place nearly 2 years before the events of 'Murder Speculation III'. So, this chapter is basically telling you how Touko met Satsuki, and why she is with her now. In order not to make it seem unbearably long like the first part, I split it up into four parts. Please enjoy!

… … …

Case 2: A Dream of Darkness (Part 1 of 4)

January 1st- 6:00 PM

The scene opens up to where we see Touko strolling around the block on a snowy New Years' Day. She just went for a smoke and a stroll because she just wanted to visit the local shrine for some good luck; instead she stopped dead in her tracks as she spots a young fourteen-year-old girl walking with her talkative friends as they walk in the same direction as she is.

This could be what they call a meeting of fate, but Touko did not take fate seriously and chose to brush it off, but every time she laid eyes on the quiet girl, she got a feeling of sympathy or something like it. She had not felt like this since Shiki, but she knew that Shiki grew out of the business, and left with Mikiya sometime ago, but now, this girl emitted vibes similar to Shiki's. Could she be…? No, it can't be.

They stop at the corner when the light signals changed from go to stop. The two girls kept on talking, but the girl that gave off 'Shiki-like' vibes was utterly silent, and had a melancholy look to her that reminded Touko all too much of Shiki before she and Mikiya got married.

Could they possibly be related? No, it's much too soon for those two to have had a child. Though, I have to admit that the two look so much alike, even the haircut and faces are similar. They both had narrow, grey eyes, shoulder-length, jet-black hair, slender, tall for their ages, and pale complexions.

Suddenly, one of the girls addressed her.

"Hey, miss, are you going to the shrine tonight as well?"

Her thoughts snapped back to reality. "Why, yes, I am." Touko replied. "Are you going as well? And, may I know your name? Mine is Touko Aozaki." She said and smiled.

"My name is Sakura Ogura." The girl with shoulder-length brown hair tied back with a red ribbon introduced herself, and said it with the warmest smile you will ever see.

"And my name is Akari Ichimura." The third girl with waist-length blue-black hair done in a braid introduced herself in the same manner as Sakura.

"Satsuki Hirai." She replied with not even the slightest smile on her expressionless face, not that anyone could blame her, you're normally not expected to introduce yourself to strangers and smile at the same time, but since Touko introduced herself first, she expected a smile, or a faint one, at least.

"Are you girls, by any chance, students attending Tokyo Private Junior High for girls?" Touko asked, noticing that they all wore the sailor-styled uniform.

"Oh, you noticed? Yes, we are!" The girl whose name was Sakura answered cheerfully while doing a 360 pirouette.

"That's interesting." Touko said. "But, I didn't think they had classes on New Years' Day."

"We're all council members, that's why!" Sakura vouched for them all.

"I'm the eighth grade vice-president." Akari said.

"I'm eighth grade secretary." Sakura said.

When Satsuki didn't respond, Touko had to ask.

"What position are you, miss Hirai?" Touko asked.

"I'm...not on the council, but they insisted I follow them anyway."

"Why do you always wait to be asked when someone expects an immediate answer? I swear, Satsuki, you've always been so distant! You'll never get any respect that way!"

"I don't care for relationships right now." Satsuki responded.

"Oh, I guess we'll go on ahead, then." Sakura said, and she and Akari left Satsuki when the light signaled 'go.'

Touko started to walk a couple paces before turning to look back at Satsuki, she did not move an inch.

"What's wrong?" Touko asked, completely missing the chance to cross the street.

"I…didn't want to go with them. They dragged me with them without even asking first." Satsuki said more too herself than to Touko, but she didn't notice.

"I see." She said. "Are they really your friends? It didn't look like you wanted to be with them in the first place?"

"I hate being with people." Satsuki said detachedly.

"Why"

"Those types of people never understand how I feel."

"In what way do they not understand? From the impression I get from you, I take it you're anti-social."

"Call it whatever you like, but I never liked being with people. Especially nosy people like them."

"Huh?"

"I just want to be left alone." Satsuki said finally, but before Touko could ask anymore questions, the girl vanished from sight. It was as if she disappeared with magic, or turned invisible. But, in this day and age, almost no one was able to perform vanishing or teleportation techniques, but this girl seemed to disappear like mist.

"That girl reminds me so much of Shiki."

… … …

Three months later- 4:50 PM

Touko sits in her office writing papers while smoking lazily on her cigarette. She tries contemplating the encounter with Satsuki three months earlier, but try as she might, she could not stop thinking her chance encounter with Satsuki. Somehow, her expressions and attitudes toward everyone were surprisingly similar to her former employee.

"Maybe I should go and meet her personally. I am a part-time counselor." Touko said to herself and leaned back in her chair to think about it. "But, she may think I'm a stalker if I do. Though, I have information on all the citizens of Tokyo, since it's my duty to know these things, but I am not running a psychiatric agency here. No matter what I do, I cannot stop thinking about her."

"Maybe I'll take a stroll to clear my thoughts." Touko stood up, and left the office.

… … …

At the train station- 5:30 PM

Touko put out her cigarette and entered the train bound for Shinjuku. When the train got to the next stop, the train picked up the one person she had been thinking about for months.

Satsuki Hirai boarded the train with her parents and brother. Touko sat too far away to hear what they were saying, so she used a spell, one she hadn't used in several years, to eavesdrop on their conversation. It seemed like they were talking about Satsuki.

… … …

"Satsuki, why must we always have these conferences with the headmaster?" her mother asked Satsuki, but the girl remained silent and grim-faced like always.

"Will you please answer your mother?" her father said.

Still, she remained silent.

Her brother waited a while before sitting closer to her, and placing his hand on top of hers.

Touko hadn't expected Satsuki to stiffen as her brother did that.

"Satsuki, everything will be alright. I know it will." Her brother said comfortingly.

For what seemed like the first time, Satsuki paid attention to what her brother said, and yet she deliberately ignored her parents.

"Why do you always ignore what we ask, young lady?" her father shouted, which caused him to be the butt of everyone's sudden stare in his direction.

"Sorry!" her father shouted.

"Anyway, Satsuki, will you please answer us?" her mother asked in a gentler tone, trying to get her to talk to her slowly.

Satsuki kept looking down at her lap, and shook her head slowly.

"Will you please answer to us in words?"

Satsuki shook her head again.

"Please answer." Her brother stepped in, and that got her.

"Why do we have to go to these conferences constantly?"

When she finally spoke, thanks to the prompting from her twelve-year-old brother, her voice sounded shrill and full of frustration, but it remained a little above a fierce whisper.

"I…don't…know!" she answered.

After she spoke, they all grew silent.

The train stopped and the Hirais stood up to get off at Shinjuku.

"I have heard all I needed to." Touko said, and got off to follow them.

These turn of events got her interested in Satsuki's case. It seemed like Satsuki was getting in trouble constantly with her school's disciplinary committee. She seemed to be a problem, but she doesn't look like a delinquent.

Touko remained a few meters behind the Hirai family, with Satsuki following behind her parents, and brother.

"Um, excuse me?" she asked the Hirais, which they stopped and turned around to face her. "Is there a problem? I couldn't help but overhear your conversation earlier."

"Are you a stalker?" the brother asked innocently.

"Yuki, that's rude!" Hiroki's mother scolded.

"Excuse me, but why…" their father started to ask, but Touko was already ahead of them.

"If there is a problem, I do happen to be a counselor, and I can help." Touko answered. "By the way, my name is Touko Aozaki."

"Are you a legitimate counselor, miss Aozaki?" their father asked.

"I have a degree and I am certified for it, so yes I am."

"Well, can you help us?" their mother asked suddenly.

"No, don't just ask strangers, she could possibly be lying to us." Their father asked their mother in a tone a little above a whisper.

"Hiroaki, we wouldn't normally take a stranger's word realistically, but if she claims she is who we think she is, we might be able to help Satsuki." Their mother said.

"Fine then, Sakurako. If you can help us, we'd appreciate it, miss Aozaki." Hiroaki was convinced.

"Yes, what is it? You can have my card, and we can have a session after this, um, problem." Touko said, and presented her card for psychology, which she had worked hard for in the last few years, because some of her duties required her to do some counseling in between solving supernatural cases in the secret organization.

"Okay, but first we have to meet with the headmaster. It seems like our daughter Satsuki, has gotten into another predicament in school." Sakurako started to explain, but stopped herself, since they might be late in meeting with the headmaster.

"So, from what I can tell, she gets in trouble often?" Touko asked.

"No, she's really such a sweet girl, but she's far too distant from the rest of her classmates, and she hasn't made a single friend since she started junior high."

"…It's because everyone hates me." Satsuki cut in, and walked on.

"Oh, well, if you'll excuse us, we have to go, or else we run the risk of being late." Hiroaki said, and they all walked on.

"Wait!" Touko called for Sakurako. "Take my card so we can have a session, if you want. I'm free of charge after three o'clock, and you can come to my office, or give me a call anytime during the week."

"Thank you, miss Aozaki."

"Call me Touko."

"Oh, thank you then, Touko."

The two shook hands. In that moment, the two grew a connection and quickly became close acquaintances. Then, they left for Satsuki's junior high.

… … …

Inside the headmaster's office of Fuji Junior High- 5:45PM

The Hirai family sat waiting patiently for the headmaster to speak, since the headmaster was nearly a senior, and took an extremely long time to talk. The headmaster looked to be in his early seventies, or late 6os. He was also writing on some documents, which he took a while.

"Ahem!" Hiroaki coughed out in order to get the headmaster's attention.

The headmaster was startled by the noise, and looked up from his documents, and

his attention went back to the Hirais, and he noticed just now.

"Oh, Mr. Kira, was there a reason why we were called in today? Is there a problem with our daughter?" Hiroaki asked suddenly, then realization dawned in the headmaster's eyes.

"Oh, sorry, but I do have a reason!" Kira, the headmaster exclaimed. "I do believe that young miss Satsuki is in need of counsel."

"What counsel?" Hiroaki asked.

"Is there a problem or not?" Sakurako snapped.

"Of course." Kira said. "A student in need of counsel will always have a problem."

"Is this a disciplinary problem?" Hiroaki asked, anger present in his voice.

"No." Kira concluded.

"What do you mean no?" Hiroaki shouted.

"I mean Satsuki is showing more and more signs of anti-socialism." Kira said. "From the start, she was always by herself, and she never once spoke in her classes, which led me to have many appointments with you, and this time, it will become a serious problem to her health."

"Are you okay?" Satsuki's brother, Yuki asked quietly, he could see her shaking.

"I…wish...they wouldn't talk about me…as if I wasn't here." Satsuki whispered back.

"What was that, miss Satsuki? Do you have any input as to why you do not participate in class, and are continuing to remain anti-social?" Kira asked her directly.

"I wish you wouldn't talk about me as if I wasn't here." Satsuki said, but not loud enough for all of them to hear. Only Yuki seemed to be able to hear it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't catch that."

"I wish you wouldn't talk about me as if I wasn't here." Satsuki said, but still they could not hear what she was trying to say.

"Miss Satsuki, I am afraid you'll have to speak a little louder."

"I am not comfortable with talking." Satsuki said, this time they heard her.

"Well, you have to get over your shyness in class, because you will not become a dependable person in the morning."

"I'm scared…" Satsuki said.

"Why are you scared?" Kira asked.

"Yes, why?" Hiroaki and Sakurako asked at the same time.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to headmaster myself." She said quietly.

"But, we want to hear also." Sakurako said reassuringly. "We are very worried about you, Satsuki."

"Well, I am a parent myself, miss Hirai." Kira cut in. "I will hear her out, and if she's more comfortable with talking to me, then maybe we will all get to know her better."

"But, ever since junior high started for her, everything changed dramatically." Sakurako choked on her words as she tried to speak with a straight voice. "You have no idea how much she's changed since then."

Sakurako's eyes filled with tears, and she cried into Hiroaki's comforting shoulders.

"Yes, we want to"

"Mom? Dad?" Yuki cut in.

"Not now, Yuki. Mom and dad are busy talking." Hiroaki said, while stroking his wife's shoulders to calm her down slowly.

"But, dad…" Yuki said.

"What is it?" Sakurako asked, and wiped the last tear out of the corner of her eye.

"Um, Satsuki wants to talk to me." Yuki said.

"But, this does not concern you, Yuki. This is Satsuki's problem." Sakurako said.

"Please, may he listen?" Satsuki asked suddenly.

"Huh?"

"I want Yuki to listen to me." Satsuki said slowly.

"Oh, Satsuki." Yuki said, and placed his hand on top of hers to comfort her.

"Okay, if you wish." Sakurako agreed reluctantly, and left the three in the office alone.

… … …

"Can you please explain why you continuously try to remain silent?" Kira asked.

"I do it because…I hate…myself…" Satsuki said, and buried her face in her hands to hide her face, apparently she was in tears. Luckily, Yuki was there to comfort her.

"When did this all start? Your mother said it all began changing since junior high started."

"It's gonna be okay." Yuki reassured her, and Satsuki calmed down amazingly.

"Well…I started to have really terrible nightmares every night since I graduated elementary school."

"Nightmares? Can you tell me what these nightmares were about, and do these nightmares have anything to do with your anti-social disposition?"

"I dreamt…every night…about everyone around me dying right before my eyes. I dreamt that my future junior high school would rise in flames, and everyone would die…except me.

"It always starts out with me walking to school on an ominous day. I found myself walking the streets and the train alone, no one is on board, when I reach the school, the students and teachers are gathered in the square, and the whole place is engulfed in flames in the blink of an eye. I was powerless to stop it, and I can't move away. It still scares me."

"What does it have to do with you today? Did this dream occur often?"

"Yes."

"How often?"

"Everyday since I started junior high school."

"Do you try to avoid sleep?"

"I can't because it changes periodically. I can't have a normal dream without having to end up at the burning school."

"So, that's why you remain distant from your other classmates?"

"Yes. I am afraid that the cause of my dreams is because disaster will follow."

"Surely you don't believe in superstitions?"

"No, I believe everything happens for a reason, and I believe that the reason I'm dreaming up nightmares is because there is a reason. I can only imagine what tonight's dream is going to be."

"Is that all you wanted to speak about?"

"No, but I remember a recent dream. It was the newest addition by far."

"Is it worse than the other ones?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I dreamt that I go to school, and the school is engulfed in flames, of course, but I can make out a human figure inside the flames, still alive. I go closer, and the flames open a path to reveal another me, or a double. I see that I have a sword covered in blood in my hands, and the very ground around me is covered with pools of blood, bones, and flames."

"This is strange, but I am afraid that I cannot help you decipher the meaning of your dream, but you cannot run away forever. You have to make friends."

"Does the vice-president and secretary forcibly taking me to the shrine count?"

"I'm sorry to say that it was my idea in the first place to have you go with them to the shrine."

"Oh, I see."

"But, if this is the cause of your troubles, I know of a companion of mine that is an expert in dreams and premonitions."

"Who?"

"Her name is…Touko Aozaki."

-End of Part 1-