Frozen Butterfly Arc 3 Chapter 3 a story of Bubblegum Crisis
I returned home with the rising sun. The timing wasn't great for riding the subway but I'd waved away Sylvie's offer of a ride anyway. Despite our connection I just didn't feel comfortable enough to show her where I lived. Although she was nothing but friendly and honest with me I just couldn't reciprocate. Hell she even offered to go out and help top me up! Thankfully she also accepted my reasoning on why not. Maybe it's time to teach them some advanced golden rule theory…
Letting out a huff I tried, and failed to ignore the pheromones that came with my next few breaths. The only good thing was it kept me too keyed up to fall asleep amid the crowd. My eyes shifted from one to the next, each glance evaluating. Would they be a good choice of companion, or maybe victim? Could I stand back and let them be next on Sylvie's list, and how immoral had I become to even think about it?
Of course the odds that anyone on this train would die just because I didn't do, or say anything were vanishingly small. But, someone would. Like the punk with his wild flyaway hair pestering the girls near the door or the office lady radiating disdain. Her dainty hands covered in gloves to keep from having to touch the grime about her.
Pulling into Todai-mae station I gratefully stumbled into the relatively fresh air outside of the subway car. Pressing my forehead against a vending machine I let the cool plastic help calm my flushed cheeks as I slowly worked my way through each element on the periodic table. Sure it might be cheating to call up a perfect picture of it in your mind but the exercise was still complex and boring enough to calm myself down enough and really think.
My problem was Nene. Just considering her that way made an uncomfortable lump form in my stomach. Making my way past the seemingly endless line of bicycles and a rare surviving bush I sighed. Getting past her would be nearly impossible but I would have to try. Even if she caught me I had to at least make an effort to keep Sylvie from continuing down the path she was on.
Slipping back into my room unbothered wasn't an issue. Most of the dorm was still asleep from a late night out, even if theirs wasn't quite as late as mine. So like the normal students around me I piled into bed and let myself crash for the rest of the morning.
Waking up I let out a scream and struggled momentarily with the sheets. My body trapped as though the weight of the world held me in place. Panting, in a cold sweat, my resting heart rate began to increase until it could support full body functionality. The lingering remnants of a nightmare dissipated quickly as I forced myself to sit up.
I let myself fall back into the reassuring routine of standardized system checks, Fluidics at 71.6% Ocular systems 81.2%. The news wasn't good, but the solidity of the numbers helped ground me. It washed away a lingering sense of betrayal and blood, all I could recall now of whatever nightmare had haunted my sleep.
Getting up I gathered my toiletries and made my way to the showers. It might be in Japan, but a dorm is still a dorm, and with forty girls to a floor showers really were the only reasonable way to go. Though busy on class day mornings they were all but abandoned at this hour. The rest of my dorm mates off to lunch, or hanging out in common areas enjoying the last day before the new school year started.
Unfortunately I didn't have the luxury of relaxing with them. I had something to do that couldn't wait that long. Showering quickly I was pulling on my robe when my solitude was broken.
"Good Morning Alice-chan." Her voice was soft as a fuzzy Nanami eased the door shut behind her and stopped. Standing there, blocking the door she wasn't exactly imposing. Subject projecting false confidence 83% probable.
Still she was almost half a foot taller than me and fully dressed. False front or not I would have to actually talk with her to get past. Something I doubted either of us was really ready for. Visibly screwing up her courage as I stepped closer, bringing her into focus, I estimated to the tenth of a second when she would speak.
"I just want you to know that I'm not like that but I like you and that I had a good time at the club and it was fun and I would really like to do that again but I didn't want you to think it's because I'm like that just that I had a really good time and that if you don't mind we could maybe go out again sometime without the others just in case we like each other and I hope that you don't think I'm creepy or strange but I just wanted to make sure to ask you before I," noticeably slouching she paused changing what she was going to say. "Well anyway I just thought that it was a lot of fun and we could go out again sometime and maybe give it another try and so will you? Go out with me again I mean?"
It was like a flood. I was fairly certain just from looking that she had been up at least as late last night as I was. Though, she had probably spent it lying in bed wondering instead of gallivanting around MegaTokyo. Certainly her state of nervous exhaustion wasn't doing her any favors in either the comprehensibility or orderly hair departments.
Still, her underlying meaning seemed clear enough with 1.36 seconds of reflection on her words. Subject deluding herself by disclaiming attraction to females, is afraid to be considered promiscuous and discarded for that fact, is attracted to females generally and self specifically. Oh, and I was pretty sure she also just asked me out on a date.
I felt my own self-awareness spike as I caught a blurred glimpse of my reflection in the mirrors. Tugging the robe a little tighter, and the knotted belt a bit more secure I stepped forward again offering her a smile.
"Nanami, it's okay. I had fun last night too. Going out with you, and the rest, was a blast. Even the club wasn't too bad. Just, don't you think it's a little too quick? You're very pretty, and I am attracted to you." Thank god for housekeeping systems or I would have been sweating bullets by now. "However I'm not sure that I'm ready to date yet. Could you just, wait and ask me again in a month?"
"I, well um, are you upset with me?" Nanami stuttered, It was cute. Letting my instincts take over was becoming more natural and the way her cheeks started to color as I slipped into her personal space gave me a profound sense of satisfaction, of power.
"Not at all Na-chan." I reached up to smooth a lock of her bobbed brown hair back into its proper place. "I'm flattered, still. I just, need a bit more time to figure things out for myself." And then, to make sure she wouldn't forget me went up on tiptoes to place a soft kiss on her lips. I was planning to go for the cheek but my instincts insisted and the idea was thrilling enough that I went with it.
"Now I really do need to get dressed." With a wink I left her behind, now both our pulses racing as the door to the hall fell shut between us.
I was almost giddy all the way back to my room. Teasing Nanami was fun! Like I told her, I wasn't actually sure if I could or would want to actually date, but flirting, that was enjoyable. It was like a piece of my life, missing until now had finally slotted into place.
Buoyed up by what could have been an awkward meeting I quickly dressed and headed out for the heart of MegaTokyo. Anonymous in jeans and a band t-shirt, or as anonymous as I could be without intentionally marring my beauty, I picked a stop at random and started looking for a web café.
While I could technically have done this from the computer lab, I didn't want anything leading back to my new home. It was dangerous enough taking the tiger by the tail without that kind of added risk. Paying for several hours in advance I sat down in the back of the store with a small plate of pickled vegetables and cup of green tea to help blend in. Plus I liked vinegar. It was refreshing like spearmint.
As I slipped through the local network I pondered just how natural doing this had become. The limitations set on the system that would once have held me back and followed my every move bypassed with a thought.
Plunging into the system the synesthesia required to navigate it now felt as natural as breathing. A short peek at the AD Police scheduling master system showed that Nene was on shift right now. Good, at least she would be preoccupied until I was done.
Withdrawing from the management system I had to giggle a little at something I noticed in passing. I wasn't the only one who snuck in from time to time. I had a feeling this is how Nene played hooky. It must be nice being able to edit your own work hours at need.
Shaking my self mentally as a wet dog might to discard the idle thought I refocused on the reason I was here, Blood. From my earlier investigations I knew that hospitals and blood banks were out. A delivery of the kind I needed would be too obvious to miss even if it didn't raise flags with the people actually delivering it. What I needed was a way to blend in rather than stick out. Thankfully there was a market that catered to my needs.
Some people, through either poor judgment or unfortunate accident had enough cyberware that their bodies no longer naturally supplied enough blood to replenish themselves. Intentional dual or quad amputees, and those lucky or unfortunate enough to survive major accidents.
As the paramedics had recognized my specialized needs so did capitalism and a small group of companies focused on that market niche, providing regular or 'enriched' blood to clients at need for prices designed to gouge insurance companies for everything they could.
I chose Kamiya Biomedical, the second largest provider. The last time I looked it was obvious Nene had gotten here first and had programs designed to alert her if any new orders were placed. This time however I had an idea. Carefully I checked her work, and as I expected there was some kind of trigger if I tried to alter or disable it.
However I had to smile to myself. That wasn't what I planned to do. A sense of triumph came over me as I examined the selection criteria and found a loophole. It was only looking for new orders, a simple oversight. All I needed to do was make sure that every date of entry was prior to her virus and it wouldn't flag a thing, even for deliveries after that date.
Instead of trying to fake an entirely new entry I chose an older inactive account. It only took a little bit of fiddling to change the status of the last delivery to unfulfilled, update the destination to a post box, and update the date. Taking careful note of the insurance information I started to slip out of the system when I felt the brush of an access request and froze.
No, No NO NO! How! I couldn't understand it, she was busy, at work, and I had been careful and a quick look showed her monitoring program hadn't noticed a thing out of place! But despite that, she was here and I could feel the ache of immaterial bones as the spearmint scent of her presence seemed to fill my mind.
Pinku Neko: Galatea, Kari, I know you're here. Please
Jerking back from the computer before me, my wireless transmitter cut off the connection abruptly. It left me feeling unbalanced, ill. Stomach roiling and mind unsettled, somehow incomplete. I wanted to curse but it would be impolite… okay maybe living here was affecting me a little more than I first thought.
Carefully getting up I made my way out of the store, the rest of my scheduled time forfeit. If Nene could find me in the web she could definitely track down my access point. I spent a tense few minutes waiting for a bus. The subway might have been quicker but I hoped this would make trailing me just a little more difficult.
Flustered I pressed my forehead to the cool glass of the window I let my mind wander. I had a little more time to find an answer. Sylvie had agreed before I left to give me two days to work something out. Now it didn't feel like it would be enough. Hell, with Nene watching the only remaining source I could think of for blood that didn't require robbery or assault it wasn't enough.
Watching my reflection in the glass felt almost Zen as the bus pulled up to Ueno park. Cherry Blossoms filled the air. It was beautiful, more so because of the transition from the bare concrete and glass just a block prior. The bus stopped and I got off and like countless others took a moment to take in the row upon row of Sakura trees that lined the wandering paths.
The sun was bright, but not too hot in the spotted shade beneath the pink petals. Only a few had yet fallen, the majority still fresh and bursting with life. I would like to say that I had a perfect Zazen moment, realizing the totality and unity of all things, and how every single blossom was perfect. Of course that wasn't really true. Some were discolored or showed signs of rot, little spots of ugliness in a canvas of beauty.
Nothing is perfect, and trying to find that kind of solution wasn't going to help. It might not even exist. Letting the path lead me out I made a decision.
I wasn't nervous, exactly, sitting there with ankles crossed, hands in my lap and counting the seconds down until eight o'clock. I mean, the area was open to the public, even if I was somewhat conspicuous for being the only one there. But it wasn't against the law to wait in the lobby, and the officer at the desk would make a good witness if I kept my voice down when the time came.
Besides, even if an illegal boomer sitting in the AD Police headquarters lobby seems out of place, the Knight Sabers breaking in to disappear me would be even more unlikely. I don't think even they would be quite that bold.
Then, all of a sudden there she was. Nene. Taking a deep breath I felt my heart rate increase, the augmented flow bringing a blush to my cheeks. Along with that came a sharper awareness, as if someone had turned up the color saturation of the world. Nene's hair going from an attractive but otherwise monochrome red, to a shimmering spectrum as each hair caught the light differently revealing colors from blond as pale as my own to a rich ruby red.
I realized on seeing her just how much I had missed it, the chance to talk, her smile, just being in her presence. Her emerald eyes widened with surprise as she spotted me. The friendly if shy smile I gave her only increasing her confusion. She glanced around as if looking for a trap. Subject exhibiting signs of shock.
After a dumbfounded pause her footsteps quickened as she headed over to join me. Glancing over her shoulder to make sure we were out of earshot from the desk I couldn't help noticing the delicate curve of her neck. Or when she looked back, the guilty way her eyes refused to meet my own. "Kari…" she started, but then ran out of words, instead biting her lower lip.
It took all my courage not to cringe before her and beg forgiveness. But, I reminded myself I had something I had to do. "Hi Ne-chan." Steeling my will I forced myself to plough onwards. "I'm sorry about stalking you at work but we really need to talk." I put as much sternness and subtle disappointment into my tone as I could manage.
Shifting in my seat I nodded toward another set kitty-corner to mine, a small table covered with out of date magazines like you might find in a dentist's office between them. "I know you are, were, looking for me, and that's fine. But, I need you to let me at least do this. I don't have a lot of options, and I don't want to take the only one left without Kamiya."
She still looked a bit dazed as she took the offered seat, subject full recovery from surprise estimated at 33.2 seconds. I needed to get my point across now, before m-she had a time to argue or rationalize things away. "I'm not going back, I can't do that again, just can't but I don't want to hurt anyone either. I won't breathe a word about secrets, I promise. Just, please don't use this to find me, to stop me from living free."
Now it was my turn for breath to catch in my throat, my heart beating like a hummingbird as I leaned forward and caught her hands in mine, soft, smooth… warm… and I was being distracted. Her eyes were losing that gleam, narrowing in thought even as her fingers closed on mine, subconscious indication subject reluctant to allow escape.
With her scent filling my nose she shook her head. "Kari, you know I can't do that. If it were just up to me I could, but it isn't. Please I promise you won't get hurt." Her eyes were sincere emerald pools as they met mine, as if willing me to accept.
Gritting my teeth tightly I vacillated for a moment. The urge to just cast aside my concerns and go with her was almost overpowering. But no, I couldn't do that. Even if it meant spending time with her again it would also mean people would be hurt, killed, and I would be responsible. "No, I'm sorry, but, I can't. I'm not alone in this anymore Nene. I found others… and I don't want them going rogue." My own eyes broke contact as I glanced away feeling ashamed.
The pleading look on her face first grew appalled, and then a burning anger appeared in her eyes. It was frightening to watch her expression change as she made the connections. She really was smarter than her bubbly exterior lead one to think. Her voice was soft, dangerously so when combined with how she narrowed her eyes. "The vampire murders, more 33-S models." Subject suspects complicity in killings 68.4% probable.
"NO!" My shout drew a curious gaze from the front desk. Again, but more softly I said, "No, Nene, I'm not a part of that, But I did meet them and want it to stop. This is the only way to do that. I need you to let me help so they stop hurting people." 'Hurting', if I were more honest with myself I would have said murdering, but admitting that much when you don't want to confront an ugly truth is hard.
Nene opened her mouth, as if to say something then stopped. Watching her think was almost painful as I could see the moment she decided against it. "Kari, they're criminals," her tone soft, like you would use when explaining to a child the realities of the world. "I can't just let them go free." Probability of being able to change subject opinion 12.4%.
Before she could go on I stood, body vibrating with tension, emotion, with I don't know what other than the need to escape. I couldn't feel it but I could see the way my steps were shaky in the reflection on the lobby's glass doors as I approached, each step faster than the last, so that I was almost to a run by the time I reached them.
"STOP!" And I froze. Heart caught in my throat as I heard the first actual command from my master since I had arrived.