Dreams in the Darkness

In which something you wish to obtain
Disappears forever in the light of the day.

Miharu was looking through a list of names her father had given her for the next blood testing. It was so to make sure that all the investigators were in perfect shape for the next battle, a procedure recently implemented after finding out that illness was more likely to affect freshly promoted investigators due to fatigue and pressure. Also, it was to narrow down the possible candidates that could handle kakuja armour. The prototype was close to completion, and ready to be tested on. Disposable subjects were necessary for to project to go on, and this batch was Kiji's choice of sacrifice. She read off the names one by one, before checking on the actual people that had nervously lined up at the doorway.

"...Ryuzaki Natsume." Looking up, a man with hazel hair and eyes smiled gently, waving at her. Miharu nodded, before going on to confirm the presence of the others once more. Kiji stood waiting inside, as he reassured those who had entered. One went in at a time, and not everyone came out. The last in line was Ryuzaki, for his name was the last according to alphabetical order. He leaned down to Miharu's height and whispered.

"Your father... he's testing for the armour right? You know, the kakuja one." Miharu gave him a blank, wide-eyed stare. "Surprised you? Hehe. Kanou told me the other day when I went to visit him"

"You..." Miharu frowned and muttered. "Ryuzaki Natsume, correct?"

"Yes, that's me." He smiled once more. This time, a hint of mischief clouded his eyes. "Don't look so bothered. Hey, I'll shut up about it if you just go in with me. How about it?"

"I need to enter with the last person anyway." She deadpanned. "I want you to explain yourself to us."

"To you, you mean. Kiji-san already knows me." He shook his head with an exaggerated sigh. As he did so, the previous investigator came out with a slight skip to his steps. "Looks like he's happy to know that he's healthy. I wonder why no one has questioned the disappearance of some others, but oh well! It's our turn now!"

"Yeah."

"You want some candy? It'll make you smile, like this!" He grinned brightly. Miharu put a hand over her eyes as she took one from him. "So young yet so emotionless... it's bad for a researcher to not understand emotions you know?"

"I don't have to go to the extend of a smile that blinding, right?" She pushed the door open. Kiji was slightly surprised to see his daughter talking with a stranger. "Well. You're interesting."

"You too, young miss." He patted her head, before sitting down beside Kiji. Miharu returned to her post, she took up the name list and cancelled those who had left the room. As for those who stayed... they remained in an unconscious heap, slowly dragged away by Misane into another room. For some reason, she hoped that she could cancel Ryuzaki's name off the list.

After a while, Misane had cleared up all the people and called for Miharu to come over. Although curious about Ryuzaki's fate, she had to follow what her mother was saying and slid to the back.

Kiji held his daughter's hand as they walked down the hallway, his wife silently following behind. He smiled lightly whenever the young girl would ask him questions- smart questions in his opinion, answering them enthusiastically. Admittedly he was a little disappointed that Misane had given birth to a female, but now he saw how Miharu was the best child he could as for. Never ending curiosity, just like himself. On the other hand, Misane was quiet. Her footsteps were as silent as a ghost's, as if she were gliding. Reflected in her eyes were a pair of beings cloaked in a shroud of darkness.

"How have you been, Miharu-chan?"

"Pretty fine. I was looking forward to see your lab."

"Haha, how formal. Hey Kiji-kun, teach her how to relax a bit."

Kanou smiled at the young man as he led Miharu further into the room. Unlike their own, this laboratory was well lit, spacious and clean. The walls were white, and it seemed like a never ending maze as the repeated pattern of container glass passed them by, the only difference being its contents. They came to a point where the room got wider and several researchers were seen moving about at a steady pace at their stations. Kanou let Miharu use his card key to open the steel door to the left. He looked forward to her reaction when she saw his biggest plans at work...

The girl fell still. Grotesquely piled on the ground were corpses and half-dead bodies of investigators from the Ibaraki Raid that concluded a few hours ago. A few of them were on the operating table, their eyes open and screaming as their backs were cut open and an inhuman organ was placed within. Her eyes travelled around curiously, noting to herself it wasn't too much different from her place. In fact it was much cleaner and had fresher, constant supply of test subjects to work on.

"What do you think, Miharu?" Kanou leaned down closer to her. She gave him a wide, unexpected smile.

"You're disgusting." She bluntly stated, a blank look in her eyes. The old scientist chuckled and turned towards her slightly appalled father.

"Wow, she is honest. I like that. Where did you teach her to be like that, Kiji-kun?"

"Hm... she must've gotten that habit of smiling and insulting from Ryuzaki..." Kiji tapped his chin, a light frown on his face. "... I thought he'd be useful in helping her to become more colourful."

"Ah yes, Ryuzaki." Kanou folded his arms, strutting over to the side with a grin. "Do you want your daughter to be like him?"

"As long as she doesn't end up like Misane, it's fine."

"I see. How cold of you to say that of your wife, but it's fine isn't it?" He glanced over his shoulder. Misane was still silent, observing them talk as she occassionally spoke with passing researchers. "Miharu has a lot of potential. A constant, undeveloped experiment is a failure after all."

"Ah, I like this one." She went over to pull her father's hand, pointing at a container glass. A woman floated unconscious, her back weakly producing another rinkaku. "She looks like someone. Who is she?"

"Yes, I'm glad you noticed! That is..." Kanou put a hand on her shoulder. "Ryuzaki's mother."

"... he's a one-eyed."

"Not exactly! You see, he's from the Garden."

"Ryuzaki..."

"You're good friends with him right? But remember, being too attached to anything is not good. After all... those from the Garden don't last too long either way. Understand, Miharu?" Kiji patted her head as she nodded silently. Little did they know that she had slid in a document into her coat, sliding over to her mother's side. A small smile curved up her face. After all, once she was interested in something it would be a long time before she would let it go.

"Be careful Miharu-chan." A soothing, mellow voice came from behind. It became softer as it approached her. "You don't want those old men to find out about our stash, right?"

"Yeah!" An oddly cheerful response came from her. Kiji frowned as he noted that her smile was almost exactly like the man's. He was also curious to what he was saying to his daughter, but left it as a thought for next time.

"You just wanted to see some stuff here right? Yet Kanou's bugging you about so much stuff, like helping out with his own business." He had a seemingly calming and cheerful smile on his face. "Always tell annoying people to fuck off with a good smile okay?"

"But Ryuzaki... how long do you have left?"

"Hm, around 3 years maybe? I guess that means I won't get to see you grow up."

"What should I do then?"

"You can think of that on your own. Your life, your choice." With that, he held Miharu's hand and led her away from the laboratory. "So, does this make the last document we need to start our research?"

"Yeah." Miharu pulled out a piece of paper. It was a diagram on extracting kagune. "We need to be able to do the same things they do in order to make this a success..."

"Sorry Miharu-chan, but it's such a good idea!" Ryuzaki exaggerated. "I...no, we will make it happen. A living, self-aware quinqe. That, is a step to weapon evolution. It's going to take time and I'll probably die even before its into the prototype stages, but please Miharu-chan. I believe... it'll impact your life."

"What do you mean...?"

"Talk about me dreaming big, but if it could become a weapon and a companion, you wouldn't be so lonely anymore would you?"

"..."

"Ah, our surroundings are full of danger and we have to keep such an upscale project a secret. What can I say, fuck it all!" After his cheerful cursing, they had returned to the lobby where the sight of white sanitised walls were gone and people were not in lab coats, moving around at their varied paces. Miharu held Ryuzaki's hand as she observed each and every action of the investigators. Injuries covered a man all over the body. A female investigator had a despair-filled expression. A stereotypical snobbish higher-up that spoke to his subordinates haughtily. That was the world Ryuzaki lived in... and one day, she wished to experience it herself. No matter how tough it will be.

As the laboratory went up in flames, Miharu could only stare into Kiji's eyes as she felt a sharp pain going through her chest. A crazed smile lit on his face when she pushed him away almost immediately and sliced him with her sword without hesitation. He held his bloodied dagger shakily as he slowly moved backwards, chuckling as he finally fell onto the ground. Without looking back she had dragged her way out, the only one left alive in the chaos. Kiji was delighted. His daughter, the very image of himself had killed him...and was rather disappointed that she didn't pass on as well. He always wanted to know...just how it would look like to watch yourself writhe in pain and die. But, it also meant that he had made a durable product. Holding onto the dagger more tightly, he let the flames engulf him. Kiji couldn't move an inch either way. Miharu staggered towards the exit, holding tightly onto her quinqe. That thing, it could move. It could shape shift. It seemed to have a mind of its own.

In her hands was Ryuzaki's dream, made out of the darkness within her.

Authors Notes: I am so sorry for not uploading this earlier! Another short chapter, but I thought it fit the content. New information on Miharu and the man that influenced her greatly, Ryuzaki. If you are confused, she is around 12 to 13 during this period of time. This chapter does contain answers for some of the questions you might have, so pay great attention! Also, I have been working on the remake for awhile already. I will only start releasing it if I have a clear idea of my update schedule and have my story pre-planned (yes. I am a lazy ass and do not plan at all); also includes if you people actually want to see it. Either way, I'd like to see your opinions on the characters that have been introduced here!

Thanks for reading! R&R appreciated!