Hey guys, a super long chapter here. My longest yet.
Enjoy
Round 51
Mother
Asuka was staring at the woman seating on the chair. She couldn`t believe what she was hearing. There is no way that anything she had heard was true. How could any of it be true? She can feel her own hands shaking.
"You`re lying," she said, "There is no way all of this is true."
Her mother look-a-like glanced at her, her own blue eyes narrowing slightly.
"It`s all true," she said, her voice carrying through the empty room, "Everything I am telling you is what GEHIRN had wanted to hide from you…what none of them wanted you to know. But my story isn`t over yet…"
The look-a-like looked down toward the ground.
"That night, I have felt Mother`s presence," she said, "I could feel her power…and her anger toward the peoples that has taken me from her. In my mind, I could feel her coming toward where I was and I could hear the destruction as her red Ki tore the place apart…In then, at the end…she found me…"
Flashback
The young child glanced up as she heard the door open. Then a dark shadow was standing there, a red glow around their form and the two green eyes that were staring straight toward hers. But instead of feeling fear, the child can feel tears falling from her eyes.
"M…Mother," she whispered as she stood up.
The woman in front of her walked forward and kneeled to her level, taking her into a hug. The woman`s body was warm with life and the child found herself clinging to her mother, never wanting to let go.
"You have come for me Mother," she whispered.
"I`m sorry for making you wait so long my child," Mother whispered back to her, "I hope you can forgive me."
The child simply buried herself into her Mother`s embrace.
"I was so lost," Mother continued, "and resisted your call to me. But I am lost no longer, for I have come and found you. I will always protect you from now on."
The child nodded.
"I know you will Mother," she said.
Mother stepped out from the hug and gave her a smile, one which the child returned. Then Mother picked her up in her arms and ran out of the room they were in. The child kept her head hidden inside the woman`s clothes, unable to stop the tears from coming. She was finally reunited with her Mother again, and she can`t help but feel glad about it. There was nothing that could separate her from her again.
Then Mother stopped running.
"Kyoko Soryu," a voice yelled, "What exactly do you think you`re doing?"
The child can feel Mother`s anger.
"Keel," she said spitting out the world like a curse.
The child removed her head from the Mother`s shoulder and glanced toward the man that stood across them. He was dressed entirely in black, his darkish gray hair illuminated by the artificial lights above them. His gray eyes stared emotionlessly at them.
"That child is not yours," he said.
Mother growled with anger.
"She is my child Keel," she said, "You have dared to come between a mother and their child. For five months I thought I was going insane…but you…you have stolen my child during birth and experiment on her."
"That child is no more yours than mine," Keel answered her, "That accident during the Ki test with Genesis. I have figured it ever since we found you passed out in that bathroom. Genesis had imprinted upon you and your Ki, somehow merging with you resulting into that child that you now carry."
Mother`s hands tightened upon the child`s body.
"Genesis used you as a way to survive," Keel told her, "and the result of that is that child in your hands. She is not a Human being Kyoko, be reasonable."
Mother`s anger suddenly grew as her red Ki caused the very area around them to tremble and even the lights were started to flickers above them.
"She is our child," she said, "No longer bound in that reality that we call normal. My child and I no longer fit in your world Keel. No longer will you use it as a way to control the world."
She raised her hand toward her and launched a blast of Ki toward the man who stepped out of the way at a surprising agility.
"If you won`t go quietly, then I will have to use force," Keel yelled.
The child was moved to her back as she also moved at full speed, the two charged at each other. Keel`s hand was glowing as he aimed it straight toward Kyoko, just as the woman`s arm let out a large Ki whipped like things coming from behind her.
Then Keel`s hand tore through Kyoko`s side, as blood falls out of the wound causing the woman to yell out in pain in the child`s eyes widened, seeing that Mother was hurt.
"Mother," she yelled.
Mother jumped back as she threw her hand in a S like motion as the whip made of Ki flashed past Keel`s face causing the man to dodge sideway. Then Keel`s eyes widened in surprise as the whip suddenly split into many as one of them slashed him across his face causing him to yell out in pain.
"No one will touch my child," Mother yelled as a Ki Wave ball appeared around her hand, "ANGEL EXPLOSION."
The blast tore through the buildings all the way toward the opening. Then Kyoko quickly started to run toward the exits as the alarms continued to blare around them and she flew outside of the building…
And falling into the snow covered grounds outside.
"Damn, the snow had already started to fall," Mother whispered as her breaths come out in short gasp.
"Mother…it`s cold," the child said from her back.
"Don`t worry my child," she whispered, "I`ll get you out of this place…don`t worry."
She walked through the snow, huffing as she went, her side bleeding from the hit that Keel had given her. The cold wind continued to blow in her face, so the young child hid her face into her Mother`s back.
"My name is Kyoko by the way," she said drawing the child`s attention back toward her, "Kyoko Soryu and I am your mother as you already know."
The child nodded.
"I don't have a name," she said softly.
Kyoko gave her a backward glance as she continued to walk in the snow.
"They never gave you one," she asked.
The child shook her head. Kyoko frown a little as she glanced forward again.
"Well I guess as your mother, I will have to give you a name eh?" she said, a smile appearing on her face.
"A name Mother?"
"Yeah," Kyoko said, "It`s how the world works. Everything has a name you see. Those white things that are falling around us it`s called snow."
The child looked up toward the sky, seeing the white snow falling out of the darkened above.
"Snow," she whispered.
"Yep," Kyoko said, panting slightly, "It`s beautiful isn`t it?"
"Yes," the child said softly.
Kyoko chuckled.
"Yeah," she said, "Well, since you`re my child…it`s my responsibility to see that you have a name for yourself."
"What will you call me Mother?" the child whispered to her as she put her head down again.
"It`s hard," Kyoko said chuckling, "I mean, I never thought I`ll have a child. My best friend, Yui was always the one I can see with a family…but, before I can give you a name…we have to find a place to seat this storm out, otherwise, we are going to freeze to death…I can hardly feel my legs anymore."
Mother seemed to glance through the darkness around them, her breath coming in short gasps.
"Damn I wish I learned the Flight ability like Yui," she murmured underneath her breath.
"Mother, look," the child said pointing toward something, a shed with snow all around it that stood in the darkness.
"Wow, I almost missed that," Kyoko chuckled, "Good eye."
The child chuckled as Mother makes her way toward the shed…arriving right in front of it and she turned the handle finding it locked.
"Fine, I`ll do it the hard way," she murmured.
She slammed her Ki enhanced punch into the door, hearing some splitters as it was thrown open. Then the two walked inside the shed and Mother let the child down. She glanced around herself curiously since she had never been outside of that gray room that she had spend the past five months in…
A noise drew out her attention and she glanced toward Mother who was now lighting a fire into a hole in the wall.
"Found some matches in one of the drawers," Mother told her smiling at her, then her eyes trailed upon the child`s body at the clothes she was wearing.
She then approached her and knelled down to her level as she draped a large cover around her body.
"You`re not still cold are you?" she whispered to her.
The child shook her head.
"It`s warm…now that Mother is here with me," she said with a bright grin.
Some tears appeared in Kyoko`s eye as she took the child in a hug again.
"You`ll never be alone again," she whispered.
"I know," the child said.
Kyoko removed the hug as she stared toward her then a smile grew on her face.
"Shikinami," she said, "That will be your name. Shikinami Soryu, my daughter."
The child, no Shikinami stared straight at her then a bright smile grew on her face.
"I like it Mother."
That caused Kyoko to gently smile back at her. She gave Shikinami a small pat on the back before standing straight up again.
"Get some sleep," she said, "I will have to go make a call."
Shikinami nodded and walked toward one of the corner before seating down. She watched her Mother dialing a number before putting the phone against her head.
"Takatsuki," she said, "It`s Kyoko…no listen to me…There is something that I have to tell you about GEHIRN."
Shikinami`s heavy eye lids slipped to a close as sleep overtake her.
She didn`t seem to sleep long before she was awake once more. Blinking, Shikinami wanted to know what awoken her when she felt someone beside her move. She glanced toward Kyoko who was seating up, and making way toward the window.
Shikinami wondered what was wrong. She can see sunlight streaming through the windows, and that the snow had stopped falling.
"Mother…," she said.
"Shuuu," Kyoko said.
Then a sound overcame them, low at first put soon it started to come louder and louder, a rhythmic bounding like powerful blades wiping against the wind…
"Helicopters," she said, "They`ve found us."
She quickly ran toward Shikinami and took her and carrying her unto her back.
"We`re going to have to run," she said, "GEHIRN must have called for reinforcements…"
She threw open the door and started to run through the snow, using her Ki to go faster…
"Target in Sights, I repeat, we have target in sight," a voice said over a loud speaker.
Then bullets started to tear through the snow around them as Kyoko continued to run, her breath coming in short gasps. Shikinami hung on her mother`s form, her eyes closed in fear hearing the grounds tearing up from the shots that were exploding the snow around them.
"They must have Ki Sensors," Kyoko said, her breaths coming in gasp, "Or they wouldn`t have found us this quickly…"
Then Kyoko reached a cave hiding into it and she can hear the helicopters noise thundering above. She then glanced toward the North, frowning slightly.
"We`re still too far away," she murmured, "We won't make it with those helicopters flying above us…I might be the only thing that will work…"
She removed the young girl from her place from her back and kneeled in front of her.
"Shiki, you`re going to have to run while I drew their attentions," she said.
Shikinami feel fear hearing this.
"Mother, I don't want to be parted with you again," she said.
Kyoko jabbed her on the forehead with her index and her middle finger joined together. Shikinami touched the place with her small hands blinking at her.
"Don`t worry," she said, "I will find you again, that I can promise you."
Shikinami stared at her, feeling tears falling from her eyes.
"Mother…," she whispered.
"Run through here," Mother said, "Beyond this there should be someone waiting for me to arrive but they have been a change of plan."
A red glow had started to appear around Kyoko`s form as her hair seemingly turn to flames. Shikinami started at her as Mother`s eyes shifted from blue to a glowing green. Mother then looked down toward her, a soft smile toward her.
"Now go," she said firmly, "and don't look back."
Shikinami nodded at her and started to run through the snow. It was hard at first but she got the hang of it as she continued to run.
"Run child," she heard her mother whisper, "But do not cry for I will find you once more, that`s a promise."
That didn`t stop the tears from falling…Shikinami did what she was asked of and just run…run without a backward glance. Not even turning around as the world shook from the attacks Mother was throwing toward the people…she just kept running and running until all the noises of the fights become distant and her breath was labored…
She came to a stop seeing a car standing in the road and leaning against it was a man. He looked up at her approach.
"You`re the child Kyoko spoke about, my name is Takatsuki," he said looking at her, "Where is Kyoko?"
"Mother is fighting," Shikinami said, "Go help her."
Takatsuki sighed and shook his head.
"I`m sorry but I am no fighter," he said, "I`m only a Healer."
Shikinami stared at him, her tears unable to stop. She had hoped that she`ll find someone to help Mother but she didn`t find anyone…She left mother all alone….
"We have to get out of here," Takatsuki said, taking hold of her hand.
"No," Shikinami said, furious tears continuing to fall, "I`m not leaving Mother all alone."
"Listen to me," Takatsuki told her, "It`s too dangerous to stay here now…Any longer and GEHIRN will pick up your Ki. Kyoko is distracting them so they don`t find you."
Shikinami tighten her little fists.
"I`m so useless," she said softly.
Takatsuki put a hand on her shoulder.
"You`re still a child," he said, "There is nothing you can do here."
She walked with him into the car as they start to drive away from the locations. Shikinami stayed seated on the passenger seat as Takatsuki handed something toward her.
"Here, put this in your ear," he said.
Shikinami took it and did so. Then she can hear loud noises and a familiar voice heavy breathing and a groan in pain.
"Mother," she whispered.
"Shiki?" Kyoko`s voice answered her, sounding surprised, "That means Takatsuki had found you…good that`s…aagh…good."
"Are you hurt Mother?" Shikinami asked her.
"It`s only a little scratch," Kyoko chuckled thought her voice sound pained, "Don`t worry, I will be there soon…"
Shikinami can feel her tears falling again. She was lying, she knew her Mother was lying and that the little scratch was a fatal one, but she wasn`t going say that.
"I kn…know," she sobbed, "You`ll teach me about snow…and other things right?"
"Yes I will," Kyoko answered her, "I will tell you about our family, and I`m sure Granny Asuka will love to meet you…she is quite a strong woman…and I will help you control your Ki after all, you`re going to be at NGA just like I did in the past…"
Her mother coughed.
"Also…you will make a lot of friends there…and become an ANGEL just like I did," she said.
Shikinami`s tears continued to fall. She had no idea of what her mother was talking about but she believed those words…she wanted to believe them…
"Then…we will live together…forever," Kyoko continued her voice barely a whisper, "My beautiful daughter…"
Then there was a loud bang sound causing Shikinami to jump in her seat. Then she can hear sounds of footsteps in the snow.
"Target eliminated," a male voice said.
At the same time, Shikinami felt her Mother`s Ki disappear. She lowered her head down, her tears continuing to fall.
"Mother…you liar," she whispered through her sobs.
Takatsuki had stayed silent during the entire exchange, as his grips only tightened upon the wheels of the car he was driving.
"They will pay," she whispered.
The man glanced toward her.
"They will pay for what they have done to Mother and to me," Shikinami said her eyes shifting from blue to green in the rage that grew in her heart, "GEHIRN will pay."
End of Flashback
Asuka stared at the woman, at the silence in the room once more. She knew now the truth of what happened to Kyoko.
"Since that day," Shikinami continued, opening her blue eyes, "I have sworn revenge upon what GEHIRN had done and I trained for it. Takatsuki took me in and trained me into using Ki and learning to fight with it. Years go by and I grew strong in both body and mental power. I felt confident in myself, I knew I could take on GEHIRN and destroy their organization…but one day, I have felt something…something I haven`t felt in many years."
She smiled softly.
"I have felt Mother`s Ki," she said softly, "I didn`t want to believe it at first but as the years continued to past…it grew hard to ignore so I returned to Japan, to find out for myself and then I saw you."
Asuka blinked.
"A small child, no older than five years old seating alone in a park," she said, "I watched you…unable to believe my eyes…and then you stared right back at me. When I saw those blue eyes of yours, I knew then who you were and what you were."
Asuka was shocked. She remembered that day when Kaji took her to the park and she was suppose to be playing with the other kids but she had seated down waiting for Kaji to finish buying some ice cream for her…
"You were that strange lady with the glasses," Asuka said softly, "Even back then, I wondered why you felt so familiar to me…It was around then I started to ask Kaji about her, Kyoko."
Shikinami looked at her.
"From what you told me," Asuka said, "You…you are born of Kyoko because of that Genesis thing…then what the hell am I?"
The older woman`s gaze seems to filter straight into her soul.
"Haven`t you realized it yet?" she asked her, "Your Ki exactly similar to how Kyoko`s Ki was. You even look too much like her as you grew up…everything you are is an exact copy of what Mother was back when she was a child…"
Asuka stared up at her.
"Are you saying that I am….?"
Shikinami nodded.
"Yes Asuka," she said, "You are a clone of Kyoko Soryu. The woman you call mother never was your real mother…you are a copy of her, a weapon GEHIRN created so that they could control the Genesis life form that created me. We are simply flawed pieces of Genesis."
The entire truth is now out...the dark secret that GEHIRN wanted to kept hidden from her had seen light...Now what will be Asuka`s decision?
AN: Well don`t expect to see anymore flashback at least...not for a while, i hope. I also hope you have enjoyed the full revelations...
Jacques0 out.
R&R.
