Shikon Asylum, Chapter 10: Awakenings
Living, but not being alive, had to be a damned existence. In everything that he did, Seventeen figured that he had been making his own decisions, yet if what Kagome said was true, then every event he experienced had been predetermined. He didn't have control over anything. It was how he was programmed. He didn't know the extent of his humanity. As far as he knew, he could have been one-hundred percent mechanical, or ten percent machine and ninety percent human. He could only focus on how he felt for Kagome. Regardless of what he was, his feelings for her remained the same. He'd choose his own fate and be the determiner of what he'd do next, and whatever else he did for the rest of his life. Gero wouldn't win.
With his hands in the pockets of his jacket, he proceeded into the prison. Gero hadn't transferred to Tokyo's Correctional Facility just yet. Seventeen figured all of his information had to be processed before the old man would be shipped off. Somewhat thankful, he made his way over to one of the many women behind the glass screens.
"Who are you here to see?" She asked, scribbling something down on a sheet of paper.
"Alexander Gero." He muttered, casting his azure eyes away. He knew Kagome nor Eighteen would have approved of him visiting the doctor, but it had to be done. So many questions needed to be answered.
Writing something else down, she nodded, "Relationship to the inmate?"
"His son…" He had to force the words to leave his lips.
"Alright, got a form of identification?"
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and settled for a sigh as he reached for his wallet. "Yeah…"
After he handed it to her, she lifted from her seat and walked off, perhaps to scan it.. A half an hour later, she returned, just when he was getting wrapped up in his thoughts.
"Here you go. Proceed to exit C." Pointing to the left, she slid the small card back into his grasp.
Xx
'…You get rid of the fool, and now you pursue him. Why?' The voice spoke, utilizing its silver-tongue.
"Mind your business…" He spoke bluntly, approaching one of the many small rooms that lined the halls. It felt strange to not be the one restrained by security guards, and as he walked towards the small enclosure, two police officers stood to move outside of the room. He was permitted in, and once he faced the elderly and frail form of Gero, he felt rage swell in his veins. Immediately, his eyes hardened over in a glare, his brows narrowed.
"…Ah. You've finally come, have you?" Gero's lips stretched into a malevolent grin, "It took you a while."
"Save it." He spat, snatching a chair out and turning it backwards. He sat, his arms folded over the top of the chair's back, "…What the hell did you do to me?"
"What did I do?" Breaking into a fit of laughter, the doctor tilted his head, his white brow lifting, "My boy, I saved you from death, restored your life! Any other son would be grateful." It hadn't taken Seventeen long to realize the abnormality of his existence. It was obvious that the doctor enjoyed his confusion and relished in his frustration.
"What am I?" He bit out, his voice forceful with an underlining crude intent. If it came down to it, he was willing to kill the old bastard, regardless of the security personnel present.
"You are a remarkable work of my hands, a rebellious android that ignores the wishes of his master. You were a child when you died in the accident. Your body was practically destroyed." Sweeping his hand across the table between them, the doctor paused. To Seventeen, Gero looked as though he had aged ten years, "I merely gathered the pieces I needed to create your new form, Seventeen, my ultimate android."
"Accident…?" He murmured, his brows furrowing as he looked aside, "What accident?"
"Your memories have always been…scrambled." The old man sneered, "Have you ever wondered why?"
Without answering, Seventeen's eyes slowly roamed back to him.
"I made it my business to delete some of those nasty memories. You needn't be concerned with anything from your past life. You merely have a bad habit of holding on to painful memories. Half of your therapy sessions revolved around making sure you didn't remember any events that occurred before your rebirth. Worry not, when your abilities all reveal themselves, you will be under my control once mor-" Before he could complete the sentence, Seventeen lounged over the table, grasping the old man about the throat. His lips were tugged back into a snarl, abnormal veins constricting along the base of his throat.
""I might be an android, but I'm not yours to control, old man…"
Gero's eyes bucked, his lips sputtering as she struggled for breath. "Android 17, release me!"
'Kill him…' The voice whispered.
The urge to end the doctor's life was overwhelming. The need flooded his veins, so similar to his lust for Kagome. He had to have her, and had to kill Gero.
His heart beat quickened, becoming so loud that it smothered the doctor's gurgled gasps for strained breaths.
'Kill him…' The voice repeated.
He desired to see the life slip from the doctor's eyes.
His grip tightened.
Gero's neck crumbled with a stomach churning snap.
The old man's body went limp.
He was dead.
For minutes, the doctor's carcass remained lifted by Seventeen's grip around his slumping neck.
It was now over. No longer could Gero torment him. He had his revenge. "…Too bad." He muttered, his jaw clenching as he tossed Gero's form to the ground. He hadn't meant to kill the old fool. It had merely happened. Still, nothing could be done of it now. If only he could have tortured the mad doctor just as he had tortured him for those long years of his childhood. He had gotten off easy.
'That woman won't be pleased.'
"Quiet." Seventeen murmured, his azure gaze still focused on the doctor's lifeless form. He'd worry about Kagome when the time came, yet as of currently, he was relishing in the feeling of mere superiority. He was able to kill without breaking a sweat. Gero had cursed him, yet had also given him so much more in return. It was the only thing he could thank the doctor for. He felt the corner of his mouth lift in a small smirk. "…Android 17." He tested the title on his lips as he hovered his heel above the doctor's face. In a swift stomp, the doctor was effectively decapitated, brain matter spewing about.
Xx
"Yeah, left without a word." Sighing, Kagome folded a leg over the other, adjusting the phone to her ear. "Do you think I shouldn't have told him?"
"It's for the best. He would have found out on his own regardless." Eighteen murmured on the other end in her usual husky tone, "I merely hope that he does not do anything incredibly…stupid."
"I don't think so…He was more hurt than anything." She gnawed onto her lower lip, "How'd you take it Eighteen? Weren't you upset?"
"I've had time to deal with it." She admitted flatly, much like her brother would have done, "He doesn't remember being changed. Unlike me, Gero worked harder on Seventeen. He wanted my brother to be his ultimate android…"
"I still regret telling him-" Cut off by a knock at the door, Kagome's brows knitted as she rotated in her chair, "I'll call you back Eighteen. This might be him now."
"Alright. Tell me how things turn out."
"Right." There was no telling how Seventeen was feeling, but she was sure to found out. "Its open." She spoke after setting the phone aside.
"Were you asleep or something?" Seventeen asked, stepping in and firmly closing the door behind him.
"Nah." She forced a smile before furrowing her brows. He appeared to be...happy, strangely happy, she took note. "…You left in a hurry earlier. How are you feeling?"
"Feeling?" He felt free, liberated. He couldn't express accurately in words how unhindered he was now, "Better than ever. Why'd you ask?"
He was going to brush off being sad, she knew. Her lips tugged into a frown, and as he came forward to press a kiss to her cheek, she leaned away, eyeing him, "You know what I mean, the android ordeal."
"What ordeal?" He managed to say after leaning in further to press lingering and firm trails of kisses along the girl's jawline.
"Seventeen!" She squeaked, immediately flushing over scarlet. He'd always been bold, but not overly so, to say the least, not that she minded. Inuyasha was always too afraid to show his affection for her, but tended to always kiss Kikyo when the two were together. She mentally tolled her eyes.
Despite that, now wasn't the time. Cupping his face in her hands, she peered into his azure gaze fully, "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"You're really worried, aren't you?" He killed the bad guy, and he got the girl. That was how it was supposed to be. No one could change that.
"Of course I am. " Something was…off about him, yet she couldn't place it. He pulled away from her, only to take a seat on her bed.
"I thought about what you told me." Nodding, he rested his chin on his bent knuckles. Kagome wanted to know, and he was willing to do anything to satisfy her.
"Went for a walk, hm?" Asking hopefully, she grinned while toying with the hem of her skirt.
"You could say that." 'If walks could kill.' "The past doesn't matter. I'm already at the pinnacle of understanding my abilities. That revelation came to me. If it wasn't for Gero, I wouldn't have my power." He'd be sure to thank him once he reached the afterlife.
"What…power?"" She managed to say hesitantly. So far, he could only regenerate quickly and had some form of inhuman strength, but that was all, as far as she knew. "Seventeen, you never mentioned the voice again. Are you sure its gone?"
He hated lying to her. So far, he was managing well, but eventually, she'd sense the demon inside of him. She had come clean with him about him being an android. He owed her the truth, but couldn't risk getting the voice purified until it unlocked more of his Ki. It was a lose lose situation, "I'm sure."
Xx
"School?"
"Yeah. We start in a few weeks. I won't be around as much…" Sheepishly, she granted him a weak smile. What he'd do while she was gone, she couldn't fathom, but trying to enroll him in school wasn't too much of a bad idea. In fact, she'd be able to keep an eye on him that way. Regardless, she knew that he'd not sit idle in a classroom. She'd have to deal with suspensions, skipping class, and worst of all, fights.
"Sounds boring." Lifting his brow barely, his upper lip twitched. "Why do you go?"
After a blink, Kagome's eyes fixated on him, "Because. I have to."
"You don't 'have' to do anything." He reminded her, lazily dragging his fingers through his dark hair. It was late, and they were sitting on the bench outside of her family's shrine. Dinner was being cooked, and for once, he was going to stick around to eat.
"Speaking of not being around. I have to go to the other world tomorrow, to see my friends." It was already bad enough that she had been neglecting her duties, but neglecting Sango, Shippo, and Miroku was inexcusable.
"Heh, with Inuyasha?" He hadn't met the guy, but he had a natural hate for him. It was almost like breathing for him, like a routine. He got up the morning, hated Inuyasha, and went to sleep.
"Yes, but." With an exaggerated nod, she began to rummage around in her bag, "I'll give you something to remember me by until I'm back."
"You'll only be gone a few days. I promise not to turn into a love sick puppy." He was going to miss her, but he'd be able to manage for a little while without her. He at least hoped.
"Still, I've been meaning to give this to you. Spice up your wardrobe a little bit." Fanning out the red kimono sleeve, she immediately began to tie its ends around his neck. "I got it in the Feudal Era during one of our adventures. Its part of the Robe of the Fire Rat. Its supposed to be practically indestructible." It was a part of Inuyasha's kimono, but it didn't matter. He had long discarded the piece and opted for Kaede to sew another sleeve on.
"Spicing up?" He asked dully, lowering his eyes to view the handkerchief like cloth now adorning him.
Admiring her handy work, Kagome nodded, propping her hands onto her hips, "Looks good on you. Promise to never take it off."
Hell, it was a gift. Why not take it? Besides, it suited him, as she said. "I'll try not to." He spoke sarcastically. Deep down, he knew that he'd never take it off, not if it could be helped.
""Kagome! Dinner's almost ready. Come help me set the table!"
"I'll call you when it's ready." Giving his shoulder the softest of squeezes, she headed out.
A week without Kagome meant sheer boredom. He'd have nothing to do, no one to hang with. It would be an opportune moment for training, but that was the only upside to it. Missing Kagome meant absolute misery, period.
'You should have waited to kill the old fool. We would have had something to do then.' The softest of chuckles echoed within the walls of his mind. 'We will work on flight while you wait for her.'
"Heh. Thought you didn't want me killing myse-" Kagome's window snapped open, causing Seventeen's head to jerk in its direction.
Climbing in, Inuyasha spat, his eyes closed and his arms folded within his kimono sleeves, "So Kagome." He began with a sneer,"What's the big idea? You haven't been around for a month." Peering open one of his golden hues, Inuyasha froze over stiff before both his brows lifted. "…Who the hell are you?"