Chapter 7

The Sanctuary

Suko Arakawa stared at her computer screen at 2:15 AM, searching the Institute's files intensely. A deep frown decorated her face. "Where are you?" she hissed at her computer. "There's got to be something here…something." Several minutes later, she groaned and pushed back from her desk, swiveling the chair around so she could get up. Looking around at her quarters, her mind drifted back to a few hours before…to the incident in the Director's office.

Tears began to spill out of her eyes as she remembered the Director's icy gaze and terrible laughter as he pressed his body to hers while raping her on the couch. "Oh come on…it can't be that bad," he cackled. "You can't tell me that you're not enjoying this at least a little. After all, who gets to make love to the most powerful man in Kamakura?" He suddenly kissed her and she bit him on the lip, drawing an amused look from him. "Come now, is that any way to treat your lover?"

"You're no lover of mine! Let me go!" she shrieked, pushing against him. "Let me go, damn it!"

"Ah, such fire…you truly are worthy of salvation," Kakuzawa crowed as he abruptly got off her. "You've the will to survive the annihilation. Now I'll have to find out whether you have the strength to do so. Go…return to your duties. I'll call when I require your services again."

Suko stared as he walked back to the desk. "You'll pay for this!" she shouted, shaking with fear and fury.

"I think not, my dear," he countered with his back to her. "You haven't a clue as to what I have in store for you. Now go before I change my mind and want another round with you." The door locks clicked and Suko bolted for the doors.

She crashed through them, nearly knocking down a passerby. I'm going to get him if it's the last thing I do! she screamed in her mind.

Suko drifted back to the present, rubbing her face with her hands as a groan escaped her lips. The hate she felt for him burned deep, making her nauseous. Rising from her chair, she muttered, "There's got to be something here I can bring him down with. There has to be. I know it's here. I just have to find it." A few moments later, she returned to her chair with a cup of coffee from the coffee maker in her tiny kitchen. A chill ran down her frame and she clenched her pajama top with her arms, careful not to spill the hot coffee. She sipped the coffee and felt her core warm slightly as it ran down her throat. Turning back to the computer screen, she began tapping at the keys again, resuming her search. File after file flashed across the screen…many having to do with the diclonius test subjects they experimented on. What she saw revolted her, making her nausea even worse.

At three in the morning, fatigue weighed heavily on her…her eyelids fluttering as sleep refused to be denied any longer. Dark circles under her eyes demonstrated her exhaustion. She stared at the file on number Sixty-six, reading it intently. However, drowsiness kept interfering with her read. The screen kept blurring. "Got to keep trying…got to keep searching," she mumbled as she snapped awake for a moment, and then started the slide back into slumber.

After four times of snapping awake while reading the file, she could no longer fight it. A mysterious voice echoed softly in her ears, "Sleep, Suko Arakawa…sleep." The velvety smooth voice penetrating deep into her mind, soothing it. She couldn't resist the lullaby the voice created. Her heavy eyes drooped and closed as she slumped on the desk, head lying on the papers scattered there. Instantly, Suko found herself dreaming.

She stood in the lab where they experimented on their diclonius subjects. The lights were off, with the only light coming from the control room high above the floor. The light was shining down on her and the wall where the subjects were chained while the cannon shot at them. All was in a tomblike silence. She looked at the bloodstained wall, floor, and chains and saw ghostly forms flitting around. Fear turned her blood to ice as she began backing toward the control room. "What am I doing here?" she asked with a gasp, trembling in fear. A ghostly diclonius girl appeared chained to the wall with a pleading look on her face. She opened her mouth and no sound came out. Suko froze as she heard the cannon move, and then fire repeatedly. She dropped to her knees, holding her ears as time slowed to a crawl, allowing her to see ghostly bullets flying through the air toward the chained girl.

Suko's mouth fell open when she saw the girl's vectors emerge and begin blocking the bullets. The cannon continued to fire with increasing power and rapidity until it sounded like a machine gun. The girl looked at Suko as she blocked the bullets, mouthing the words, "Avenge us." Moments later, a bullet breeched her vectors and her head exploded, splattering on the wall behind her leaving nothing but her lower jaw. The other bullets blew her limbs off and ripped her torso to pieces. Tears gushed from Suko's eyes as she witnessed the carnage. Seconds later, she puked. When the wave of vomiting subsided, she wiped her mouth and cried bitterly.

"Suko Arakawa," a voice called from the darkness as she watched the ghostly girl vanish. Suko looked around wildly to find the source of the voice.

"Suko Arakawa," the voice called again. This time, she identified the voice's source. A nude man with a bandaged head covering all his facial features except his eyes slowly walked toward her from the shadows.

Suko's blood froze solid, paralyzing her. The man walked forward and squatted in front of her in a non-threatening manner. "Wh…wh…" she stammered, unable to finish the question or even move.

A sinister chuckle rose from the man as he looked deep into her eyes. "What am I?" he asked, finishing her question. "I'm the King of all Diclonius, Suko Arakawa. I'm glad I'm able to finally meet you and show you what we've suffered at the hands of your kind." Suko heard the hate in his voice and her fear quadrupled.

"Wh…what do want with me?" she stammered. "Aren't you going to kill me?"

Again, the King chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not going to kill you…not as long as you can be of use to me."

Suko's anger suddenly flared over her fear and she snapped, "Oh great…someone else who wants to use me against my will. What're you going to do…rape me as well? If that's what you have in mind, then just go on and kill me now!"

An uncomfortable silence followed her comment as the King stared at her. "Well…?" she asked.

"I'd never stoop to that level, Miss Arakawa," he growled. "I do not mate outside of my species, unlike the Director. I have something much better in mind that I know you'll like if you'll hear me out."

"Seems I don't have much choice, do I?" she retorted.

"No…you don't," the King answered coldly. "Now listen very carefully to what I say. I'm imprisoned in this very facility. I've seen and felt what the Director and your kind have done to us. I saw him rape you this morning. What a revolting display! He's not worthy of being called a diclonius. I also know you want revenge against him for what he's done to you and justice for the wrongs he's inflicted on us." Suko's face fell and fear began rising again. He moved in nose to nose with her and stated, "As a human, you're nothing but a pest to be exterminated with the rest of your kind. However, you've shown something I have not seen before in other humans…mercy toward our kind and a willingness to avenge yourself and us. This makes you useful to me and not subject to immediate extermination. I know you're looking for something to take down the Director with for what he's done. I know where you may find that information. I just need you to do something for me in exchange for the information."

Suko hesitated, feeling that she was dealing with the devil himself. However, her desire for revenge pushed her to ask, "What do you want me to do?"

"I've something special planned for the Director," the King stated menacingly. "I mean to avenge myself and all diclonius on him and everyone here for what they've done to us. What I need you to do is to get me released me from my restraints. If you can get me released, I will let you watch as I punish the Director for what he did to you and us."

"I like the way you think," Suko answered softly. "I've never approved of how they've dealt with your kind since I came here. It's inhuman. There's just one problem. I may not be able to get him to let you go. I'm just not that clever. But I'll try."

"I know you're not very clever," he said. "That's why I have a plan and if you're willing to help me with it, we both can get satisfaction. But it'll require a sacrifice on your part."

"What kind of sacrifice?" she asked pointedly.

"I've seen his lust for you," the King replied. "He sees you as a surrogate for his lineage. He'll undoubtedly want to rape you again. You must gain his trust so when he wants you again, don't resist him." Suko cringed at the thought of Kakuzawa violating her again. "I know it's a bitter pill," the King stated. "However, just think of where it will place you in your revenge. When he's satisfied with your loyalty, especially after you don't resist his sexual advances, you'll have access to his darkest, most secure files. It's there where you'll find the information you need to destroy him and the Institute. All you have to do is submit to him for a little while longer to gather your intelligence and get me released. I have urgent business that I need to attend to besides destroying the Institute and I can't do it while I'm still imprisoned. Do you see where I'm going with this?"

"Yes," Suko stated glumly. "I've become a pawn here but, I'll do it…anything to make him pay for what he did to us. One question…who was the girl I saw killed before you showed up?"

"My sister," the King stated in an icy tone. "That bastard made me watch while they killed her. I made a vow to take everything he had and then to kill him because of that. I saw how you reacted to the execution. This is why I haven't killed you and if you're able to keep up your end of the bargain, it may just save your life. Now, do we have a pact?"

The King offered his hand to Suko, who grasped it firmly, saying, "We do. Now where do I start?"

A sinister gleam sparkled in the King's eye as he stated, "You're already where you need to be. Study number Sixty-six's file closely for he's the one I need to do this. Then find the Lazarus file. Lazarus is the top-secret project the Director has been doing personally and only he has the key code and password for. When you find it, enter the key code 6966 and the password 'Domamu rex'. That'll get you into the file and from there, I'm sure you can decide what to do. Now don't disappoint me, Suko Arakawa. I'm counting on you."

"How do you know the password and code key?" Suko asked suspiciously.

"I plucked it from his mind," the King replied smoothly. "Like I said, I see everything that happens here…even the things that aren't supposed to be seen. I've given you what you need for now. I trust you'll keep up your end of the bargain. Don't disappoint me." With that, he disappeared and Suko awoke with a start, remembering the dream in vivid detail.

"Ugh…what a terrible nightmare," she moaned, looking at the clock on her computer desk. It stated '4:30 AM.' Virtual fish swam around the bubbling aquarium screensaver on her computer. She touched the mouse and the file of Sixty-six came up. "I'm going to get you now, you shit," she cursed, reading the file closely. "You're going to pay for what you did to me and those kids."

* * *

At 7:00 AM, a knock came to the Director Kakuzawa's door. He sat in his chair brooding while examining the reports on the fire at Kaeda House on his computer. "Enter," he called out venomously, not looking up.

The door opened and three soldiers entered with a body bag laying on a gurney. They pushed the gurney to the front of Kakuzawa's desk. "Sir," the captain reported. "We found Bandoh…or rather what's left of him."

Kakuzawa looked up, hissing, "Did you bring his head?"

"Yes sir…along with what's left of him," the captain stated. "Looks like someone got the best of him."

Kakuzawa stood and walked around the desk to the gurney. "Open it," he demanded. The captain motioned to his men and one of them unzipped the body bag, revealing Bandoh's remains. The left side of his head and face was crushed with his cybernetic eyes hanging out of his eye sockets; his neck was snapped with a compound fracture, exposing the spine; the left arm was missing along with a large portion of his midsection. His right hand was demolished with a huge hole in it and the right arm was almost twisted off at the elbow. Both his legs had multiple compound fractures and his lower spine lay exposed in the gaping hole in his abdomen. A sadistic grin crossed Kakuzawa's face. "This wasn't done by a diclonius," he stated. "Looks like someone shot him with that hand cannon he was carrying. Where did you find him?"

"On the road directly below the Kaeda House," the captain stated as Kakuzawa plucked one of the eyes out and crushed it in his fist. "From what it looks like, he mined the house before entering it so he could burn the place after the attack. However, it looks like someone got him before he could finish the job."

"Did you find any bodies?" the Director asked coldly, tossing the crushed eye back onto Bandoh's demolished chest.

"No sir," the captain answered carefully. "We didn't. However, we did find a large hole in the basement's south wall. It looks like someone smashed it in with a wrecking ball from the outside. However, we found no bodies. The only thing we found was the charred remains of a puppy in the courtyard."

"Hmmm…is the damage to that wall consistent with what a diclonius could do?" Kakuzawa asked pointedly.

"I would say it's a high probability," the captain stated.

"Something's happening here. Lucy is still alive somewhere," Kakuzawa stated. "…and someone may be assisting her. That's all for now, captain. Take this piece of shit to the lab and put it in the freezer. I've plans for this carcass."

"Yes sir," the captain answered, motioning for the body bag to be zipped back up. "What do you want us to do next?"

"Continue your search, captain. Lucy's obviously being helped," Kakuzawa growled. "Find them, exterminate them, and bring Lucy back."

"Yes sir," the captain barked with a salute. He and his men then wheeled Bandoh's remains to the lab.

Kakuzawa looked at the blood on his hand and grinned, saying, "You'll make a fine experiment for Lazarus, you bastard. Death won't hold you if I have anything to say about it. I'll finally have a soldier who will obey orders and can bring Lucy in."

* * *

The darkness surrounding Lucy began to lighten as she felt a hand on her forehead. A soft moan escaped her lips. Slowly, her eyes opened, seeing a blurry figure sponging her forehead with a damp washcloth. "Wh…what happened?" she moaned. "Where am I?"

"You're in a secure location," the figure said calmly. "You're safe, as are your friends, milady."

Lucy's eyes grew wide and she abruptly sat up, crying, "Kohta…where's Kohta?"

Her chest flamed in pain and she collapsed with a cry.

The figure gently laid her down, saying, "Relax, milady. He's right here with you in this very room."

Lucy's eyesight cleared as the pain subsided. She found herself in a non-descript room, laying on a simple bed with a middle-aged diclonius male hovering over her. He had a relieved look on his face. His maroon eyes stared into hers as he gestured to her right, saying, "Your friend is right there, resting comfortably. It's a good thing I showed up when I did or all of you would have burned to death."

Lucy followed the man's arm and saw Kohta laying on another bed sitting next to hers. She saw his chest moving with each breath and relief flooded her face. Looking back to the man, she said, "Thank you, whoever you are. Did you pull the others out?"

He nodded, saying, "I sure did. I couldn't very well let them burn to death…even though they are humans. They're here being tended to by some very skilled people."

"Who are you?" Lucy asked. "I can see you're like me, but I can't sense you at all."

The man chuckled softly, saying, "That's because I hid myself. It's something all of us can do. Here…let me show you who I am."

Lucy gasped as the diclonius revealed his essence to her telepathically. "You…you're the one who saved Kohta and I in the dream from the King," she whispered.

The man smiled, saying, "I am Jin Ryu, my Queen. You may call me Jin. I'm here to serve you as your guard."

"You're what?" Lucy asked, flabbergasted.

"Lucy…" Jin said softly. "I know who you are. I'm here to help you understand what's happening and to protect you from the King. There's much I need to explain to you but you're still not strong enough to take it. Until that time, I'll be here as your bodyguard to protect you and those you have feelings for. This human whom you love is the key to your salvation. I will protect him as I do you."

"His name is Kohta," Lucy answered sharply.

"Of course, milady," Jin stated. "I meant no offense. I find it refreshing when I see the kind of love he has for you. It demonstrates there's still hope for humanity."

"That's what Kaeda says," Lucy murmured, looking at Kohta. "But is it really true? Can we truly live together without killing each other?"

Jin sat on the floor next to her bed, saying, "That's the question you must answer for yourself. There are many of us, including the King, who believe humanity is past redemption and should be purged from this planet. However, some of us don't believe that. But for now, don't worry about it. It's time for you to heal." He paused a moment, and then said, "You should know that while you were unconscious, we gave you a transfusion. Myra insisted on it."

A worried look came across Lucy's face. "Whose blood did I get?" she asked.

"Your blood is very rare," he answered. "There were only two people at this facility who matched your type." Jin pointed to Kohta, saying, "Your friend has it. Unfortunately, because of the blood loss from his wounds, we weren't able to use his."

"Whose blood is it?" Lucy insisted.

"You were given my blood," Jin stated. "I am a pure-blood diclonius as are you. Our blood types matched so I freely gave. I'm just a little weak from it, but that'll pass shortly."

Lucy felt violated when she heard that and she hissed, "Who decided to give me your blood?"

"I did," Kohta called out weakly, looking over at Lucy. "I couldn't let you die when we had a willing donor. I'd have given you mine except Myra said I'd already lost too much blood to be a donor."

Kohta's voice quelled her rising anger. However, she did turn a sour look to him and said, "Next time, ask me before doing something like that, Kohta."

"I'm sorry," he replied, rolling on his side with a groan. "It won't happen again. Besides, we couldn't ask you because you were unconscious. Anyway, I'm still fuzzy on how I got here and where here is. The last thing I remember is the basement wall exploding."

"Yea…that's a good point," Lucy agreed. "How did we get out of there? I don't remember anything after passing out either. Would you care to explain this, Jin?"

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Everyone looked, seeing Myra, Mayu, Nana, and a man dressed as a monk standing there. "They insisted on coming to see Miss Lucy and the young man," the monk called out.

Jin waved them in, saying, "It's okay. You can come in now. They're awake. Thank you, Shen." The monk nodded and walked away as Myra, Mayu, and Nana walked in.

"Oh thank heavens you're all right!" Mayu cried, seeing Lucy and Kohta awake. Mayu rushed to Kohta and hugged him.

"Are you all right, Lucy?" Nana asked softly, kneeling down next to Lucy's bed. "I'm glad you're all right."

Lucy saw Nana's trembling lips and nodded, saying, "I think so, Nana. We were just asking this guy how we escaped that fire."

"Yea…how did we?" Nana chimed.

"How's Yuka?" Kohta interrupted.

"Yuka's condition is stable now. However, she's in a deep coma," Myra stated. "I don't know when or if she'll come out of it. But we'll do everything we can to help her."

Kohta felt a knife of grief turn in his heart. "Why does everyone I care about end up hurt or dead?" he moaned. "It's just not fair."

"Life is seldom fair to anyone," Jin stated. "But never fear…your cousin won't die in a coma."

Myra sat next to Mayu and Kohta, touching Kohta on the shoulder, saying, "I think he's right. Yuka's brain is still functioning. As long as she has brain activity, she will live. We just need to give it time."

"Okay," Kohta answered solemnly. "Where is she?"

"She's in the infirmary being cared for. It's just down the hall from here," Jin stated.

"Yuka's going to be all right, Kohta. You'll see," Mayu cooed, touching him on the hand.

"Can someone tell me how we got out of that fire and where the hell we are now?" Lucy insisted.

"Absolutely," Jin replied. He looked at Lucy, saying, "You're in an abandoned monastery near the shrine of Mitsumine. My friends and I have used this monastery as a safe haven because it's off the beaten path. I'll tell you the story of how I found this place another time. Just understand that it's the only place we could find that kept us off the Institute's radar. I've sensed you since your escape from the Institute, Lucy…you too, Nana. I watched from a distance at what's happened to all of you. However, with the ambush on the 787 and subsequent distress signal from you, Lucy, I moved into action and have been tracking you ever since. I would've been here sooner except I was delayed at the bridge by some idiot soldiers who didn't know who they were messing with."

"You killed them?" Lucy asked.

"Of course," Jin answered coldly. "They left me with no choice. Finding you before the King did was my top priority. After I eluded capture at the bridge, I followed your telepathic signature to your house." He remembered what he saw vividly, expounding the scene exactly as he experienced it.

Jin flitted through the shadows on the hill above the Kaeda House. Gunfire came from the direction of the house and he hurried through the trees, stumbling upon the bodies of the two soldiers Bandoh had dispatched. A growl escaped his lips as he looked at the soldiers, and then down on the house. More gunfire echoed from the house, followed by a crash, spurring Jin down the hill to the road. As he jumped out on the road, a fireball rose from the parking lot next to the house, engulfing the courtyard and the side of the house closest to the fire. "Oh no," he moaned, breaking into a run. Moments later, another explosion rocked the opposite end of the house. The fireball rose high into the night sky. The fire from the two blasts engulfed the entire front section of the house and upper floors by time he reached the parking lot. As he turned the corner, the far end of the house where the kitchen was exploded, shattering and collapsing the upper floors in that area. The concussion from the blast threw Jin across the road. He crashed against the wall with a cry. For a few moments, he lay motionless, and then a groan rose from him as he rolled on his knees. "Lucy..." he moaned as he sensed her in the basement. "Hold on, milady. I'm coming."

Staggering to his feet, he looked at the fire while it roared in the ground floor of the Kaeda house. The roof began sagging as he rushed forward, heading toward the lower parking lot, staying to the far side of the lot. When the basement door came into view, he saw an explosives charge set there. "Oh shit!" he cursed as it went off. Jin dropped to the ground, dodging the concussion and debris from the detonation. "Lucy!" he shouted, seeing a wall of fire where the basement wall and door had once stood.

Scrambling to his feet, he dashed toward the fire, sensing Lucy slipping away. Running around the lower side of the house, Jin found a portion of the cinderblock basement wall away from the corner not engulfed in fire. His vectors sprang from his back, knocking a huge hole in the wall. Fire spewed out of the hole for a moment, and then subsided enough for him to see bodies lying motionless on the floor. His face fell with great concern and he sent twelve of his vectors flooding through the hole, clearing a path to Lucy. The vectors wrapped around each of the unconscious forms in the inferno and pulled them to safety as the ceiling collapsed in the basement. He carried them to the far side of the lower parking lot. After laying them down, he noticed Lucy stirring and knelt over, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Lucy…Lucy. Wake up, Lucy, wake up. Come on, wake up, Lucy. We can't stay here for long. It's not safe," Jin pleaded.

Lucy stirred and suddenly broke into a fit of coughing as her eyes opened. A burning house greeted her eyes, with her seeing it from outside. "Kohta…Kohta," she moaned as Jin knelt, touching her on the shoulder.

"It's all right," he cooed. "He's safe as are the rest of your friends. They're right here. Just relax, Lucy. I'm going to take care of you and your friends." He leaned down, looking her in the eye as she again slipped into unconsciousness. He felt her pulse, finding it weak, but steady. A relieved smile crossed his lips as he laid his hand gently on her head. "Never fear, milady…you're safe with me." With that, he checked the others, starting with Kohta, finding them alive. Upon examining Yuka, his face fell with concern and four vectors sprouted from his back, penetrating into her chest. "Don't die, little lady," he whispered as he examined her with his vectors. "Hmmm…it looks like someone has already done some repairs on you, little lady. However, it was a bit of a rough job though. Let me see if I can do a little better." A few moments later, his vectors retracted and a sigh rose from Yuka. A smile rose on his face as he patted her on the head, saying, "That should do until I can get you away from this place, little lady." He stood up and looked over the five unconscious forms lying around him. The house groaned and the roof caved in with a roar. Sweat beaded on Jin's face because of the intense heat. The wail of sirens approaching caused his face to fall. Then the drone of helicopter blades added to the cacophony of noise surrounding him.

Reaching into his pocket, Jin pulled out a small device and placed it in his ear. "Zephyrus, this is the Golden Dragon. We need immediate extraction for five casualties at the cemetery on the hill above the target."

"Roger, Golden Dragon," the voice echoed in his ear from the device. "We'll be there in three minutes."

"Golden Dragon out," Jin stated as the sirens and helicopters grew louder. "Okay…time to get out of here, my friends." With that, he carefully lifted Lucy, Kohta, Myra, Nana, and Mayu with his vectors, and then spun ten more vectors that cocooned around all of them. They vanished from sight as the first of the fire trucks arrived. Two-and-a-half minutes later at the cemetery, a blue van drove up and a man with red hair and maroon eyes stepped out of the van. "Hello…Jin, where are you?" he called out as he walked into the cemetery.

"Right behind you, Doug," Jin whispered, appearing out of thin air with five unconscious forms floating around him.

"Geeze…don't do that, Jin!" Doug snapped with fright, wheeling around.

"Sorry…I couldn't help myself, Doug," Jin cackled. "We need to get them away from here right now."

Doug nodded and opened the sliding door on the van, saying, "Then let's go. I don't relish being caught here by the Institute."

Jin carefully laid them down on the carpeted floor of the van, and then closed the door. He jumped in the passenger seat as Doug got behind the wheel. "Let's go," Jin ordered. With that, they drove away with their precious cargo.

"And that's how you escaped that inferno," Jin declared upon finishing the account. "Had I not arrived when I did, all of you would have burned to death. I thank the gods I arrived when I did."

Lucy pushed herself into a sitting position with a groan. She looked around and sighed. "So…how long have I been here?" she asked bluntly.

"Two days," Jin replied. "Most of your friends woke yesterday. Only the young lady they call Yuka is still unconscious. But she will live. Did you help her, Lucy?"

"Yes," Lucy replied. "I don't know why, but I did. I suppose I didn't want Kohta to see her die. He's a special attachment to her that I don't entirely understand."

"Yuka and I are cousins," Kohta stated as he sat up. "We're family…something I truly didn't grasp until you left me on the stone stairs. When that happened, I realized how important family is and I swore from that moment forward that I'd do everything in my power to keep my family safe. I killed to keep them and you safe. I still don't know how you cope with killing people."

"You must let it go," Jin stated. "From what Myra, Mayu, and Nana told me about the incident, you're a hero. You were right to kill that maniac. You should feel no remorse over ridding the world of him. No one's going to mourn his passing."

"But I took a life," Kohta insisted while holding the cast on his broken right arm. "I wasn't brought up like that. Killing is never an option."

"Sometimes it's the only option, Kohta," Myra stated, again putting a caring hand on his shoulder. "You acted in the only sane manner in that insane situation. You confronted the bastard and protected us with lethal force. Had you not, all of us would've been killed. That asshole was on a search and destroy mission with the objective being the extermination of everyone in the house at his hand. As far as I'm concerned, what you did was a perfect example of killing being the only option."

"She's right, Kohta," Lucy said. "He was after me and you knew it. You did something there I've never seen anyone do…you killed to protect those you loved. That's something that baffles me still. Why would you do that?"

"Because he loves you, Lucy," Jin said plainly. "He loves you and all your friends. Love is a very powerful emotion that can cause people to do the craziest of things. Don't try to understand why. You'll just drive yourself nuts trying to figure out why. There's no why. There's just his love for you. I can sense it, even though he's not one of us."

Lucy stared at Jin, her mouth hanging open. "He's right, Lucy," Kohta stated, tears slowly dripping down his cheeks. "I don't know why I did it. I just did. I was in a position to finally make a difference and protect those I loved, instead of watching them die in front of me like before."

"What are you talking about?" Mayu asked.

"When I was ten, I saw Kanae and my dad ripped apart in front of me by someone in this very room," he stated grimly.

Mayu's eyes grew wide as she stared at Lucy. "You don't mean?" she whispered.

"Yes, I killed them," Lucy admitted, her head sagging with a frown and trembling lips as a knife of grief turned in her heart. "I was young and stupid then. I found Kohta with Yuka at the festival earlier that evening and snapped. I believed everything he told me was a lie and I killed his family in front of him in retribution. I've been haunted by what I did ever since. I loved him. Yet, I killed his family in front of him. All I've ever endured was torment and pain at the hands of others because of what I am. He treated me like a normal girl and I repaid his kindness with murder. There was no excuse for it. I still don't know why he forgave me, but he did."

"You forgave her?" Mayu and Myra asked in unison, both of them astonished.

"I did," Kohta said softly. "Don't ask me why, but I did. I love her and always have. She needs me. I promised I'd never betray her again."

"But she killed your sister and dad, Kohta," Mayu insisted. "How can you forgive that?"

"I had to," Kohta replied. "Lucy's not an evil person at heart. I believe that with every ounce of my being. I remember one time after we first met where she asked me to kill her if she ever got where she couldn't stop killing. I didn't understand why she would say such a thing. But now I do. Does that sound like something a raving homicidal maniac would say? I know she gets no pleasure in killing. All she's ever wanted was to be accepted and loved. She came to me, begging for forgiveness. I forgave her and decided to do everything I could to help her. She's not the same person now that she was eight years ago. I mean, look how she helped Yuka. Would someone who was a cold-blooded killer save her rival? No…I think not and I truly believe she wants to leave her past behind and start over. Do you really think Lucy will kill any of us at this point?"

Tears dripped off Lucy's chin as she began to grasp Kohta's reasoning. Mayu looked down and sighed, shaking her head. "No Kohta…I don't. I know better than most what a rotten past can do to you. I'm sorry I doubted you, Lucy, and I still love you."

"Do you?" Lucy asked coolly. "Aren't you afraid I'll do something to you?"

"No," Mayu replied confidently. "You won't do anything because I'm your friend. You won't hurt me on purpose. I just know it. Nyu's not going to allow it." Lucy's eyes grew wide as Mayu walked over to Lucy and hugged her gently, adding, "I know Nyu's a part of you and she loves all of us. I suspect you do too. It's okay to be kind and have fun like Nyu. If you don't have some fun once in a while, what's the point in living?"

"That a profound statement, little lady," Jin stated. "You're absolutely right. You should listen to her, Lucy."

Lucy gasped and suddenly grabbed her head, crying out. Mayu backed away with concern as Lucy's eyes clenched shut. "No…you can't!" Lucy shrieked. "Not now!"

Kohta jumped up and flew to Lucy. He grabbed her, pulling her into a tight embrace, asking, "What's wrong?"

"Another one of her fractured personalities is coming out," Jin stated, sensing the transition.

Before he could say anything more, Lucy calmed down and her eyes opened. Kohta looked into her eyes and smiled. "Nyu?" Nyu chimed, looking into Kohta's eyes. A broad smile crossed her lips and she kissed him on the lips while wrapping her arms around him. "Nyu love Kohta! Nyu love Kohta!" she beamed.

"Nyu…" Kohta breathed softly as he stroked her back. "I love you too, Nyu." Everyone smiled and Mayu knew her declaration was the truth.

"I not let Bad Lucy hurt anyone," Nyu declared, holding Kohta. "Kaeda not let Bad Lucy hurt anyone either." Gasps escaped their lips.

Kohta pushed Nyu back to look her in the eye, asking, "Where's Lucy, Nyu?"

She pouted, saying, "You like Lucy better than Nyu."

"Not at all," Kohta replied. "I love both of you very much. Do you know what happened, Nyu? What happened to Lucy?"

"Nyu not know," Nyu stated. "Nyu talking to Kaeda about Bad Lucy. Now I here. Kohta not mad?"

"Of course not," he answered with a smile.

"Nyu," Jin called out.

Nyu looked at him and said, "Nyu remember you. You save us and Kohta from bad man."

"That I did," Jin said with a smile. "Nyu…can you tell me who are with you?"

"Lucy, Kaeda, and Bad Lucy," Nyu answered. "Bad Lucy is mad at Nyu, Lucy, and Kaeda. She want to kill Kohta. But Nyu not let her…neither do Kaeda or Lucy."

"Who's Kaeda?" Jin asked.

"Kaeda Lucy's momma," Nyu stated. "She know things Nyu don't and helped Nyu and Lucy beat Bad Lucy."

"I see," Jin replied. "Do you know when Lucy's coming back?"

"No," Nyu said.

"Okay, little one," Jin chimed. "Thank you." Nyu smiled broadly and cuddled with Kohta. He looked at Kohta, saying, "I think I understand what just happened. Lucy must be the dominant personality. Nyu is one she created when she escaped from the Institute. This Bad Lucy Nyu's talking about I'm sure is the diclonius part of her that wishes to destroy all humans. All diclonius have that and unfortunately, most succumb to it. This Kaeda, on the other hand, is something I didn't expect. I can sense she may be the true power behind Lucy. I'm going to have to lure her out so I can speak with her at some point. What I believed just happened is that Lucy is still having trouble accepting love and kindness from other people. When she is confronted with something like that, she involuntarily retreats and Nyu comes out. On the other hand, I suspect that when Nyu is mistreated or sees Kohta in danger, Lucy resumes control in order to protect herself and Kohta…depending on the situation."

Kohta stared at Jin for a moment, astounded with the diagnosis. "That explains a lot," Kohta murmured. "But I still don't know how she came to have four personalities. Another thing I don't understand is how I shared that dream where this King attacked us and you saved our asses. You are that guy, aren't you?"

Jin nodded. "I am. As for the reason you shared that dream with her, I'm not sure. It may have to do with her blossoming power as the Queen. As the Queen, she has the capability to link telepathically to the person she chooses has her King. Apparently, she has chosen you, Kohta, which would explain why the King is so enraged. You must understand something, Kohta. The being who attacked you is a King of the diclonius, but not The King. He's deluded himself into thinking he's the King of all Diclonii worldwide because he has not sensed any others outside of Japan."

"Then what is Lucy?" Mayu asked.

"Lucy is the Queen of all Diclonii," Jin stated. "This I'm certain of. However, she doesn't understand it yet and will not grasp her full potential until she heals her mind. Her fractured personalities must merge to create one coherent being. As long as she remains the way she is, she's in danger from the King."

"So who chooses the King of all Diclonii that you're talking about?" Myra asked.

"Lucy does," Jin answered. "She alone chooses and she will be the one who determines the fate of both our species. This is why I've come…to make sure she has the opportunity to see both sides of the coin and choose our destiny…life or death."

"That's just not fair," Kohta retorted. "Why is Lucy the one who has to make this decision? Hasn't she suffered enough without having the weight of determining whether the entire world should live or die?"

"You don't understand us," Jin answered.

"Then enlighten us," Kohta insisted. "I'm all ears."

"So am I," Myra stated. "I've been watching what the Institute has been doing, trying to find out what is going on. Seems to me you might have some answers I've been looking for."

"Are you sure you want to know?" Jin asked. "For when you cross that threshold, you can never go back. The diclonius species has the capability to raise humanity to hitherto unknown heights or it can be the plague that will eradicate all life from this planet. Do you really want to know? By knowing, you'll become directly involved in what's happening."

"We're already involved," Kohta snapped. "I've had this sense that Lucy has always been the center of this madness. We have to know what's going on in order to survive this insanity."

Jin sighed and said, "Very well. Since Lucy chose you as her king, then I will explain everything. But I warn you, it won't be pleasant."

"And what we've already been through isn't?" Nana chided.

Jin smiled, saying, "Touché, Nana. You got me there. First, let me bring in a couple of my friends. They have pieces of this puzzle I do not. I'll just be a moment." Kohta nodded and Jin rose, leaving the room.

"What do you think, Myra?" Kohta asked.

"I think we've landed in the middle of some really deep shit that isn't going to get better any time soon," Myra stated bluntly. "Something major is happening here and I believe your thoughts that Lucy's the center of this may be right. However, in order for us to make an accurate determination as to what to do, we need information. I say let's pick this guy's brain for everything he'll give. Then we can decide what to do next."

"You're not just a doctor, are you, Myra?" Mayu asked pointedly. "You talk like someone who knows how to fight. I saw you shoot the knife out of Bandoh's hand while it was moving. Not just anyone can shoot like that."

"That's very observant of you, Mayu," Myra stated with a smile. "Before I became a doctor, I was special forces in the American military. They taught me how to kill, just like that maniac who attacked us. However, I didn't have the stomach for what they were doing at the time and they discharged me for refusing to follow orders. The government blacklisted me and I couldn't even get a job so I came to Japan. Here, they accepted me, especially when they learned about my past in special operations. I took what I learned about medicine in the military and went back to school, eventually coming to Kamakura to teach at the University."

"I thought so," Kohta said softly. "When I saw how you took charge during the attack, I knew you had to be ex-military. The only reason I trusted you is because Lucy trusted you."

Just then, Jin returned with a tray filled with glasses of water. Behind him, a man with red hair and maroon eyes entered, carrying a tray of snacks. Then the monk that brought Myra, Mayu, and Nana to the room entered. "I brought some water and snacks for everyone," Jin stated, offering the glasses of water to those present. As he passed around the glasses of water, he said, "The red-head is Doug. He's one of us."

Doug sat his tray down in the midst of them, saying, "Hi ya. Welcome to the Sanctuary. Please, help yourselves to the snacks." He plopped down on the floor next to Kohta's bed with a smile. Nana cast a suspicious eye at him.

"And the monk is called Shen," Jin declared. "He's a gifted doctor and friend. He and his colleagues keep this place hidden from the Institute. Now that the introductions are done, let's get down to business. But first, before I can begin, we need Lucy to come back." He looked deep into Nyu's face, saying, "Nyu…can you get Lucy for us, please? We need to talk to her."

"Nyu don't know how," she replied.

"I think I know how, that is if Kohta will permit it." Jin stated.

"What're you going to do?" Kohta asked suspiciously. "It won't hurt her, will it?"

"No Kohta," Jin answered. "It's going to require that I attack you. But I promise I'll not damage you."

"You're nuts!" Mayu cried. "You can't hurt him, not after saving him!"

"I'm not going let you!" Nana shouted.

"I don't have time to argue," Jin hissed, releasing a single vector that plunged into Kohta's chest without warning. "Don't move Kohta, or something bad may happen." A gasp escaped Kohta's lips as his eyes grew wide. A shriek of pain followed as Jin's vector gently pushed on the nerves around his heart. "Lucy…come out and save him or I'll rip him apart," Jin said coldly. Myra's face twisted with anger while Mayu and Nana stared in shock at the brazen aggression toward Kohta.

"You bastard!" Myra shouted, jumping toward Jin. She suddenly found herself immobilized by an invisible force.

"Don't interfere," Doug warned. "Jin isn't going to kill or injure the boy. Trust him."

"What the hell is this?" Myra roared as Mayu moved against Jin.

Mayu stopped short of him, floating in the air with eyes wide. "What's happening?" she cried.

"Don't struggle, Mayu," Jin warned. "I'm not going to hurt you or Kohta."

"But you are!" Mayu retorted. Jin ignored her as she pleaded, "Leave Kohta alone…please!"

Nana stood frozen in place…her vectors unable to emerge. "I can't use my hands," she moaned. "What've you done to me?"

Shen looked at Nana, stating, "Nothing…Doug has restrained you with his vectors, same as he has for Myra. You mustn't interfere. Jin knows what he's doing and will not injure Kohta."

"God damned you!" Myra cursed. "Let him alone!"

"Kohta!" Nyu cried as Kohta moaned, glaring at Jin. Nyu's face suddenly went blank and Lucy reappeared. Six vectors sprang from her back, striking at Jin. He immediately subdued her vectors and ceased his attack on Kohta.

"Bastard! I'll kill you for attacking Kohta like that!" Lucy snarled as Kohta groaned in relief, grasping his chest.

"Just as I thought…my attack on Kohta brought your dominant personality back out," Jin stated, gently letting Mayu down, who rushed to Kohta.

"Are you all right?" Mayu asked as Kohta wheezed.

Lucy glared at Jin as he pushed her vectors back. "Just relax Lucy…he's not hurt. I just tweaked a few nerves around his heart to cause him some phantom pain in order to draw you out. I'm going to let go of your vectors now." The moment he did, Lucy attacked with all her vectors. Again, Jin restrained her, saying, "Please, milady, don't do that. I'm not going to allow you to harm me. I'm much more powerful than you are and you know it. I don't want to hurt you. Now let's try this again." He released one of her vectors and she slapped him brutally with it, drawing blood from the corner of Jin's mouth. He smiled and wiped the blood from his mouth saying, "I suppose I deserved that, milady."

"You're damned right you did. Attack Kohta again and I'll rip you apart," she hissed.

Jin sighed, saying, "I've no intention of ever attacking him again, or you for that matter. Please…just calm down. Kohta's all right."

"Says you," Lucy growled viciously. Turning to Kohta, she asked, "Are you all right?"

"Yea…I think so," Kohta panted, sweat beading on his forehead. "I felt like someone was squeezing my heart. But now I think I'm okay now. Just give me a few minutes."

Lucy cast her burning glare at Jin, hissing, "If something happens to Kohta, I'm going to personally rip your head off."

"Nothing is going to happen to him. You have my word," Jin swore. "Can I let go of your vectors now so we can talk like civilized people?"

Lucy glanced at Kohta, who nodded yes. "All right," she answered coldly, retracting her vectors as Jin released them. "But no tricks."

"No tricks, milady," he agreed, raising his left hand while placing his right hand over his heart.

"Hey…what about us?" Myra shouted, face red with anger.

"Let them go, Doug," Jin ordered. He nodded and released Myra, and then Nana.

Myra turned to Doug and lashed out, only to find her fist stop just an inch from his nose. "Please don't do that again, miss. Your friend isn't injured, just like I promised," he warned softly as Myra's eyes grew wide. Nana turned to him and launched one of her vectors. Doug blocked it effortlessly, saying over his shoulder, "That goes for you too, little lady. Don't make me hurt you because I really don't want to. I kind of like you."

"But he hurt Kohta!" Nana retorted. "And you kept us from helping him!"

"It was for your own good that I subdued you," Doug returned.

"How do you think that?" Myra rebutted.

"Because what I did was an experiment," Jin stated. "I took a chance on my hypothesis about Kohta being the trigger for bringing Lucy out."

"An experiment…what if I hadn't come out, you shit?" Lucy snarled, anger rising again. "Would you have killed Kohta?"

"Absolutely not," Jin stated. "I was five seconds away from ceasing the experiment when you came out, Lucy. I didn't injure him in any way. You can look for yourself the same way you helped Yuka if you don't believe me. Please don't be angry with me, milady."

Kohta glared at Jin, hissing, "Don't you ever do that again. I don't like being a guinea pig, period!"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Jin stated. "Please forgive me for causing you such pain. You're milady's choice and I live to serve you as I do her."

"So you say," Lucy growled. "At this point, I'm not sure if we can trust you or not."

"That's understandable," Jin stated with a long face. "Please allow me to make it up to you. Your friends have insisted on me telling them what happening. What I have to say directly affects you, milady. That's why I took such a risk to get you to reveal yourself again. I know you're having trouble accepting love and kindness from others. What I have to tell you may help you in that area plus it will also help you get ready to deal with the King. He's not going to stop until he has you and merges with you. If he succeeds, the whole world will be doomed to extinction…not just humanity, but our kind as well."

Lucy continued to glare at Jin, saying, "Okay…I'm all ears and this better be good."

"Oh, it will be," Jin stated. "I promise."

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A/N: The mystery man is finally revealed! I hope his perspective on the fire at Kaeda House cleared up any questions about it for everyone. You know, bombs do have a tendency to spread fire pretty quick. But who is this Jin Ryu anyway? Will what he has to say to Lucy and Kohta really answer their questions as to what's happening or will it further drag them into the quagmire of the situation they find themselves in? We shall see. Also, the King is on the move, seducing Suko with promises of revenge on Kakuzawa. Will she see his true motivations before it's too late? Only time will tell. Finally, interesting twist with Bandoh, don't you think? What do you suppose Kakuzawa is going to do with Bandoh's body? Keep reading to find out. I hope everyone liked the latest installment of Requiem and I always welcome reviews. Have a happy New Year! There's much more to come!