Chapter 9: Karma

Synopsis: No matter how fast you run or how far you get no one can truly outrun their fate. For even in a new world the echoes of the past will find a way to ripple towards the present. So on this night who is it that Kaede is going to meet? And why is that person here?

Reminder: I do not own Elfen Lied or any characters associated with it

"talking"

thoughts


Only half an hour had passed since the train had left to the urban city of Hokkaido. But it was during the first few minutes that Kaede and her sister had managed to stow away on the moving train. Now Nyu in the flare of the moment didn't understand what her sister was talking about. But she did know it had to have been important to be doing something as ludicrous as this.

"Oneesan, what is going on?" whispered Nyu as she and her twin were hiding in the baggage cart of the train.

"Shh, not now Nyu. I'll explain later" answered Kaede back as she peered around the corner for any type of security that may have been patrolling.

Nyu whimpered because not only was her sister acting coldly towards her, but she didn't seem to want to let her know what was going on. But she did know that she wouldn't act this way without good reason. Even though they didn't know each other that well Nyu could sense that her sister was not doing anything with ill intent, but rather something self-less.

After a close examination of her form Nyu could also tell that something really rattled her twin to the core. Besides the desperation in her voice she also appeared to be sweating profoundly which was followed by a bit of hyperventilation. At this time Nyu could only speculate on what could have spooked her perceivably strong sister into what she is now.

Now during Nyu's muse Kaede was looking around trying to make sure the coast was clear for them to ascend further down the train carts. However during this time hundreds of thoughts were racing in her mind about this sudden delusional episode.

"Why am I thinking like a crazy person!" as she looked back and forth for any security officers. "This is just crazy; nothing is going to happen tonight . . . . but why do I have this ache in my heart that something bad is going to happen to Kohta?"

She then clutched her hand over her chest in order to calm herself. "Alright, I'll just check on him for now and afterwards we'll just head back", but at that thought a bit of a sour look came onto her face. "God! I sound like some sort of deranged stalker".

"Stalker?" asked Nyu.

Kaede just realizing she had said her last thought out load became embarrassed about it. "Nothing, but anyways the path is clear now. The patrol guys are heading back towards the front cart. So let's get going now" she whispered.

Nyu nodded as the twins then began their approach towards the forward areas. But unusually enough the train itself seemed pretty empty with each cart they passed having no occupants aboard them. However it was pretty late and it shouldn't be expected that there would be really any passengers. Furthermore, there was still a big festival going on in Yokohama in addition to the fact it was still summer break. So it was most likely that most of the passengers were in the middle to front carts where the twins would expect Kohta to be.

Meanwhile somewhere in the middle carts, Kohta was chasing after his little sister who was playing around the back carts simply for the reason of being bored. Now as little Kanae was wondering in the back section of the train a familiar face caught her eye to who she eagerly wanted to greet. As she ran up to this particular person a warm smile could be seen plastered on her face.

"Oneesan! It's nice to see you again. But why are you here?" asked the small child.

"Oi! Kanae, Where did you go?" called out the girl's older brother.

"Oniichan, look oneesan is here" answered Kanae as she grabbed Kohta hand to pull him over to the said girl.

Kohta who was now in front of Kaede displayed his usual smile to her. "Kaede-san it is nice to see you again so soon, but how did you get on this train?" The boy then took notice to the appearance of his friend. For she was wearing the same white blouse and red skirt she had on the first day they met although minus the beanie which covered her horns. "Wow, you must have changed pretty fast, how did you do that?"

"Hmm, are those horns?" Kanae noticed as she once again approached Kaede wanting to have a feel of the two extra appendages to see if they were real.

But before the child could get into reaching distance of the horns a huge force was emitted which launched Kanae to the other side of the cart. Upon impact Kanae gasped out coughing up a mixture of saliva and blood. As her body slid to the ground she could only look up in shock at what her idol oneesan just did. At this point the child could only look up in terror as Kaede slowly crept towards her big brother.

Kohta seeing the display before him he was at a loss for words. Not only was his sister somehow flung ten feet across the floor, but what really got him was the person who was doing it. Kohta tried denying what was in front of him. But the fact was the person who just hurt his sister was the same person he called his friend. Kohta could only express both shock and disbelief as he looked back at Kaede.

"What was that? Why did you do that?" screamed Kohta.

Kaede simply stood there not uttering a word back while giving the poor boy a cold stare of indifference. However Kohta was not satisfied about his friend's mute behavior and so began to be more active about getting his response.

"Answer me! What did you do? Why did you do that to Kanae?"

The silent girl then turned her head towards him giving him a smile, but it wasn't the kind of friendly or warm smile that Kohta had seen on her before. No, it was the kind of smile that sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest of people. But then without a second thought Kohta could feel himself being lifted up into the air. The terrified boy then began to struggle at whatever was holding him, but obviously it was a futile attempt. Soon enough he felt his body being launched back at incredible speed and then pinned to the door leading into the next cart.

"Why . . . . why are you doing this?" Kohta choked out in both fear and sadness.

The horned girl then approached the scared boy in a painfully slow fashion. For each step the girl took he could sense that death was that much closer to him now. Finally after what seemed like an eternity of torment she was now finally in front of the boy and only had one thing to say. "Because you're an eyesore".

At that moment Kohta could feel an intense pain coursing on his shoulder. For Kaede had just slashed his right side area causing much blood to pour out. However the cut itself wasn't as bad as it seemed for it was shallow but severe enough to cause death if left untreated for too long. Kohta screamed out in pain, but he was soon going to realize what he felt now was just the appetizer for what his friend had in store for him. Soon enough he could feel intense pressure being built up on his arms and legs.

"Why is this happening?" was all Kohta could think as he continued to cry out in pain.

As if to answer his question, "You're someone I definitely wanted to kill. But I'm not going to kill you as gracefully as I have done to others. No, I'm going to make sure you relish every moment we spend together until you die" maniacally smiled his friend. At that ending statement he could feel his arms and legs being pulled off and all the while Kohta could only think one final kind thought, "good-bye my friend" as he thought about the girl who during their time together showed him a lonely yet beautiful smile.

"Kohta!"

With that call his pain immediately ceased as he found himself free from whatever was pinning him to the door. As he regained the feel for his limbs Kohta could not help but slide down onto the floor at what was before his eyes now. For his assailant was now pinned to the ceiling of the cart by . . . . Kaede!

"Kaede-san and . . . . Kaede-san" as he pointed from the girl on the ceiling to the girl who was now standing at the doorway from the last cart.

"Nyu! Get them out of here!" Kaede called as she maintained her focus on the doppelganger

"Hai!" and soon enough Nyu was by Kohta and Kanae side trying to get them to the next cart but was having difficulty since Kanae was both half in and out of consciousness while Kohta was still recovering from the shock.

"How are you doing that?" said Kohta as he managed to pick himself off the ground while still looking wide eyed at the phenomenon before him.

Kaede flinched at that question but still maintained her focus on her look alike. "That's . . . . That's not important right now! Just take Kanae and get out of here!"

With that outbreak Kohta snapped back into attention by assisting Nyu with moving his sister to a safer location. As they exited into the next cart Nyu looked back to her sister.

"I'll look after Kohta-kun and Kanae-san. So be careful oneesan" said Nyu both worriedly as well as reassuringly

Kaede nodded in response as the non-combatants exited the area. She then turned her full attention on the person she had pinned to the ceiling. For with all the commotion she didn't really take notice to who the attacker was for her only concern was protecting Kohta and getting the assailant away from him. But after realigning her focus back on target she came to a startling fact. The person looked exactly like her in every way right down to the details of her face to her particular style choice. However there was a key difference between them that anyone with decent perception could feel. That girl had the coldness of death surrounding her.

"Are you going to look at me till we die of boredom or are you going to do something?" asked the doppelganger.

Anger then began to twist Kaede face as she had the resist the temptation of ripping the attackers head off. "Who are you?"

The doppelganger then began to mockingly laugh at this question which only fueled Kaede in her already burning rage. But then the doppelganger instantly stopped laughing while looking dead eyed at Kaede before giving her any response.

"Who am I? I don't have a name, but the people at the facility for the longest time had chosen a name for me. For I am known to them as I will be known to you. My name is Lucy".

With that response an overwhelming force was generated throwing Kaede to the floor thus loosening her hold on Lucy to which she gently landed herself onto the ground. The rattled combatant immediately picked herself up to begin her counterattack as she sent her vectors towards Lucy. But the counter was too soft as Lucy had swatted all the vectors away and countered back with several vector attacks of her own.

Kaede unable to defend herself at that moment braced for impact. Soon several hard punches were felt. After a short beating, Kaede crumpled to the floor as blood began to seep out from different areas of her body. As she wavered between consciousness and unconsciousness she did manage to pick herself up slightly by her elbows while keeping one of her eyes open. Blood was beginning to seep from her head which forced her to keep her other eye closed to avoid damage.

Lucy smirked at the awful state her opponet was in. "Just wait there like a good girl; I want to have plenty of fun time with you later. But for now I really want to go and take care of that nuisance". Soon enough she turned around to make her way towards the next cart in order to find and kill the 'nuisance'. But before she could get any further she felt a hand stop her from progressing any further. Lucy then turned her head to look at her victim once again.

"And what do you think you're doing?" asked Lucy with cold indifference with a slight hint of annoyance.

Kaede who was using her vector powers to support her body slowly got up. But at this point in time her body was far to beaten to maintain a proper composure. It was also easy to see how hurt she was by the way her body trembled with each breath.

"I won't let you hurt Kohta" said Kaede as one eye gleamed with determination while the other remained shadowed under her bangs.

Lucy scoffed at this statement, for without a second moment of hesitation she threw Kaede to the other side of the cart which led to the front areas. Kaede who was using her vectors as body support managed to absorb most of the shock damage without too much difficulty. However the impact did put a strain on her mind which forced her to dissipate her powers thus leaving herself defenseless within the face of death.

"If you want me to play with you now I don't mind" evilly grinned Lucy as she started to advance forward.

Now at this point Kaede realized that she is no match for her opponent. Although they may have the same powers Lucy definitely had something she didn't. For that was the intent to kill her opponent without restraint or mercy. At this point all her beat up body could do was slide itself in front of the doorway to attempt to bar her path. Although such a thing seemed pointless as Lucy could easily rip her apart or throw her aside like a rag doll. But at this point all she could do now was wait for the end to come.

As she closed her eyes images of everyone she has ever cared for popped into her head. For what popped into her head was her dog, Nyu, Mikomi, Kanae, and even Yuka strangely enough. But the last image that came to mind was the person she would come to love for the rest of her life even though she didn't know it yet. For with Kohta in mind, Kaede could feel one last push to use her vector powers. For at this critical moment, she knew this would be the final decisive move of either living or dying now. But for the safety of her sister, Kanae, and Kohta she would not fail.

After a moment of watching Lucy finally reached the center of the cart that is when Kaede decided to begin her final stand. At this pivotal moment for her plan to work she launched all her vectors with the aim to cut everything in its path. However Lucy did not see much of a threat to this attack as she easily dodged them as they came for some of them didn't even seem to come right at her. But what surprised her then was the hard hit aimed for her center. For as the blow landed it knocked Lucy back five feet. But that is when Lucy realized what her opponent was really up too. The initial attack was a decoy for the vectors that missed were not meant for her and the vectors that were was just to make her think so. She then saw the vectors begin cutting and within the matter of a few seconds the cart they were in was completely severed in half.

As her side of the cart began to lose speed, Lucy stood up while crossing her arms. She could have made a vector enhanced jump, but in mid air she would have easily been swatted down without too much trouble. Lucy then displayed a grin as her cart began to go further and further away from the main train.

"I guess our fun time has been cut short, but we'll meet again eventually. You can count on that!"

Soon enough the cart Lucy was on disappeared from sight as Kaede kept her guard up to make sure she was definitely gone. As soon as she was completely out of sight without any possible trace of coming back she allowed herself to feel the fatigue wash over her as she felt her conscious leave.

"I did it" was the last thought she had before passing out, but before her mind completely lit off she heard her name being called by the people she cared for.


"Where am I?" thought Kaede as all she could see was darkness.

"What happened to me?" then thought the girl as she heard rhythmic beeps in the background.

"Am I . . . . Am I dead?" as she felt some pressure on her arm.

Slowly she opened her eyes as light began to fill them. She then looked to her left to see a young boy in a chair sleeping next to her and next to him a girl who looked just like her sleeping on him with a smaller girl on her. Finally there was a chestnut haired girl sleeping on the boy's other side.

Kaede smiled at the display of affection that her friends and family had shown her. But then that is when Mikomi and Kohta's father entered the room. The two of them had a short chat before Kohta's father left to get something with Mikomi staying behind to watch over them.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"I feel OK" Kaede responded. She then took notice of the ruined yukata from last night's battle. "I'm sorry for ruining it".

Mikomi then walked up to her daughter and gave her a gentle hug. "It doesn't matter; cloths can always be replaced but never lives". After the hug the grown women looked to her daughter for an explanation. "Do you know who that was last night?"

With that question, the hospitalized diclonius averted her eyes as a show that she didn't wish to answer. Mikomi who saw this action decided not to push the matter until Kaede was ready to speak about it.

At this trade the four sleeping children were awakened from their slumber. Kanae was the first to speak.

"I knew that fake wasn't the real oneesan. Oneesan is a kind person" Kanae said as two watery saucers took the place of her eyes.

"I'm glad everything turned out alright" then said Yuka.

Kaede then remembered the incident in which she could not recall what had happened after she passed out. So the most obvious question was asked.

"What happened after the fi . . . . I mean after the incident?"Kaede corrected

Kohta decided to fill in this gap. "After a huge shrieking sound me and Nyu-san went back to look for you, and when we found you, you were in a horrible state. I thought you were going to die".

"Kohta-kun cried also" added in Nyu.

"No I didn't" said Kohta in embarrassment and at that everyone shared a calming laugh.

"But anyways the police arrived rather quickly and took us all to the hospital in Hokkaido. They seem to say it was some sort of terrorist act at why the train was split in half" and with that comment Kaede gave off a comedic sweat drop since she could sense her mother wanting to give her a lecture on not destroying public property. But that is when she felt a deafening seriousness come from Kohta as if he wanted to get something off his shoulders.

"Kaede-san, there is something I really want to ask you".

Kaede definitely knew where this was heading and Mikomi could sense it as well simply from deducing the events of last night followed by what the boy was currently feeling.

"Kohta-kun, I don't think this is a proper time for questions as Kaede is still recovering" said Mikomi.

But before Kohta could pursue the matter Kaede had already interjected. "It's OK mother, he can ask if he wants".

Kohta hesitated for a moment before asking. "Do you have powers?"

The horned girl wasn't too sure how to answer because whatever she said now could either make or break the bond she had with Kohta. But something like this had to come out eventually. So doing so now would be better than any time later.

"Yes" she answered while looking down. "I'm a freak like that and I know these powers really scared you last night". Kaede then looked towards Kohta on the verge to tears "and if you don't want to be friends anymore I'll understand".

Mikomi could feel the pain of her daughter welling up inside as well as her own at watching her suffer. However she knew that if she were to interfere then nothing was going to be resolved. For a long lasting friendship must be based on truth and honesty. So if she were to intervene now she would effectively destroy any chance her daughter had at making friends let alone reaching out into this world.

Now in Kohta's case, he was scared of the mysterious power that his horned friend had. But what made him different from other people was his heart. For the fact was he was not the kind of person to judge things on face value alone. It was also a fact he knew Kaede personally. The girl was a good person and a normal girl underneath it all. So with all this in mind he gave the diclonius his answer.

"I might not understand everything, but I won't stop being your friend over something like that. Besides you did save my life as well as Kanae so I do owe you big time" Kohta smiled.

After listening to such words Kaede felt an overwhelming happiness swell in her as she jumped out to hug him. But she immediately had to stop as Kohta shoulder was still in the process of healing. At that everyone gave a warm laugh lifting the mood in toast to the more solid friendship that was formed.


After a few days of recovery everyone had to head back to their respected homes. Yuka was first to leave with her parents back home in Yokohama. Mikomi had made arrangements for their belongings to be transferred to Kamakura as soon as they eventually got a transit there. But once again Kaede and Nyu had to have another teary good-bye with a friend they considered to be close to them.

"I guess this is good-bye again" said Kaede.

"Yeah" replied Kohta.

But then like a surprise attack Nyu glomped Kohta from behind. "I'm going to miss you the most Kohta-kun".

Kohta who was recovering from the attack sat up with the pink haired girl still attached to him. "Yes, I'm going to miss you too Nyu-san".

Kaede feeling slightly annoyed tried to pry her sister off her male friend. In order to do so she had to force Nyu into a full nelson hold. But interestingly enough Nyu was a lot stronger then she looked because Kaede had to even use her vectors as muscle support to hold her sister back. Eventually Nyu did calm down enough to give Kohta a proper good-bye which still ended with a pincer like hug.

But eventually she did release Kohta in which he then gave a nice pat on Kaede shoulder.

"Well until next year" smiled Kohta.

"Until then" smiled Kaede.

At that the two families made their departure as the Hikaru family boarded a train to take them back to their busy lives in Kamakura.


Within the passing of a week back in Kamakura, Kaede was enjoying her new family life. For the building she lived in was a nice two story family house within a nice residential district. The house had a cozy atmosphere to it with all the possible necessities a family could need. Although she had the option to have her own room she didn't mind sharing a room with Nyu as they were both twins and that Nyu did add some spunk into her life. Now during the course of that week Mikomi did as much as she could to integrate Kaede into her new life. One of the few things was to purchase a new attire of cloths for her daughter to wear. Though Kaede was fine with her current style she didn't mind the new change as a show to her new chapter in life.

But then there was something that Mikomi had in mind that she definitely wanted to ask her daughters. However she was still hesitant about it.

"Kaede, Nyu, what do you think about public school?"

To be continued . . . .


Author's notes: Yep Lucy is back as well, but why she is back won't be revealed until later. But anyways I hope this chapter was entertaining to read. As for Kohta's father he was given the police report rather than the actual fact of the matter. So he is still in the dark about how his son really got hurt. As for Yuka she did receive the whole story, but just like Kohta she is also a very understanding person.

So I thank you for your time in reading this fic and further extend my gratitude if you can review it as well.