XII.
"Why would Homura want to murder Shizuru?" Midori asked, "I mean, when I spoke with him, he didn't seem all that broken up about the engagement being cancelled. Granted that was ten years ago, but still…"
Shizuru shook her head, "Nagi would not have cared that I cancelled our engagement. He was singularly indifferent to the whole affair."
"And it's not like he profited from it, financially," Natsuki said, "None of the money went to her, and as near as I can tell, any interactions between him and Fujino Heavy Industries after Shizuru's death were incidental at best. Minor stock trades and such."
Nao frowned, "Hold up, Midori. You said that when you spoke to Nagi, awhile back, that he had immediately asked how Kuga was doing."
"Yeah."
"What if Nagi Homura is keeping tabs on the Pup?"
"Why would he, though?" Natsuki said, "He's nothing to do with me. I was ten when Shizuru died. Why would he…"
She went silent.
"Natsuki?" Shizuru looked at her with concern.
"Where's that paperwork that Alyssa gave us?" Natsuki asked.
"Still in the study, as far as I know," Nao said."
Natsuki ran to the study, and came back carrying the thick manila folder. She pulled out documents and divvied them up, "Divide and conquer. Nao, Midori, help me look through these. I have a very bad feeling…."
They sorted through the papers, reading page after page.
"Oh," Natsuki blinked, looking concerned, "Several of these reports were signed off by…Genichiro Kuga. By my Dad."
"And your instincts were right on the money, Kuga," Midori held out a paper, "Nagi Homura is a high ranking official at the First District."
"He knew," Natsuki seethed, "He knew about me this whole time. He's probably been watching me!"
"Then, that might explain why he killed Shizuru," Nao said, "Think about it. Her second cousin, Genichiro, has lost his wife, and suddenly won't take in his daughter. Nagi even suggested adopting Natsuki to Shizuru. Pity. I wouldn't have the competition now, if that plan had worked out."
"Don't be petty," Shizuru remarked, "But I see your point. Nagi would have adopted Natsuki to keep an eye on her development as a potential weapon. But with the engagement cancelled, I might have still moved forward with the adoption."
"And then you might have asked Dad why he wouldn't take care of me," Natsuki concluded, "Or he might have volunteered the information."
"But why bump off Fujino?" Midori mused, "Genichiro Kuga was the one who had the damaging information."
"Dad was Nagi's superior," Natsuki said, "He was funding Mom's research. It's all here in these documents. But with Shizuru dead, no outside person has access to the information. It's also why Dad barred the Searrs family from adopting me."
"Keep the secrets under their own house," Shizuru concluded, "I was murdered to keep a girl an orphan?"
"Well, Dad was still alive, but effectively, yeah," Natsuki growled.
"Did Genichiro Kuga know that you were murdered?" Nao asked.
"There's nothing about that here," Midori concluded after a bit more searching.
"No," Natsuki agreed, "But I know where there might be."
Natsuki called for a cab.
"You're not taking your bike?" Nao blinked.
"My bike won't hold the boxes I need," Natsuki said, "Wait here for me."
She was gone for an hour and a half, during which time, the others said very little. She came back reeking of sweat and dust, and carrying a huge cardboard box.
"What's that?" Nao asked.
"Dad's personal papers and journals," Natsuki exhaled, setting the box down and wiping her brow, "It was all in storage. I thought about having a bonfire with it, but I'm glad I didn't, now."
Natsuki pulled papers and books out of the box. She found her father's journal, and started flipping pages, until she came to one from eleven years ago.
"Listen to this, 'August 15, XXXX. Today would have been my daughter's birthday. And while the people at First District and the Searrs Foundation tell me that this new creation is my daughter…I do not know. Is it fair to her to stay away? I don't know. But I've managed to destroy everything I've ever touched. If she is Natsuki…and even if she isn't, maybe she'll fare better if I stay out of her life.'"
She shuffled pages again, "Here's one from after you and I met, Nao, 'The inhuman strength demonstrated by this new Natsuki would make me doubt that it is truly my daughter, except that the report says the juvenile boys she fought with were torturing a puppy and beating on another girl. Her headstrong sense of justice, and her undeniable love of dogs, if she is not Natsuki, she certainly carries her memories well. I'm pleased.'"
She flipped pages again, "Shizuru, here's from the day after you died, 'The police say that it was a suicide. But people who cross Nagi Homura have a tendency to end up dead. In the past, I'd turned a blind eye to his actions, but this is not something I can ignore. That said, I can't be certain that it was Nagi's hand. The police officer told me that she was found in her bedroom, hanging from a rope. She had only just caught me in bed with Ahn Lu a couple of weeks ago. It was at Ahn Lu's apartment, and I didn't know there was a connection between them until Fujino showed up. Did the betrayal of her lover drive her over the deep end? Or is it just another case of something I touched turning to shit?'"
"So, your Dad has suspicions about Nagi Homura, but couldn't prove anything?" Midori said, "Or, he was conflicted, because he had reason to believe the suicide story, too."
Natsuki was flipping pages, when an envelope fell from the back of the book.
"Kuga," Nao looked at it, "This is addressed to you. But it was never sent."
Natsuki opened it, "It's from the week before he died. 'Dear Natsuki, I was never a very good father to you. Anything I could say to that would sound to you as a mere excuse. But I must tell you something important. Natsuki, on the night of the accident that claimed your mother, you died, as well. Your spirit was saved using techniques developed by Miyu Greer, and scientists who worked with your mother were able to create a new body for…' He was going to tell me about the program!"
Natsuki read silently for a few pages, then paused, and read aloud, " 'I realize now that I should have always considered you my daughter, from beginning to end, and that perhaps if I had been more willing to accept that, I could have provided a happier life for you. I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I will ask anyway. Natsuki, please forgive your foolish father, who spent most of his life trying to figure out what love was, only to learn now, as this disease overtakes me. I know you have made many good friends, and I hope that you continue to be successful in your writing career, and that you aren't unduly troubled by the revelations I've made in this letter. You are you, no matter what doubts may arise. If only I'd accepted that sooner, for myself.'"
Nao sighed, "Come on, ghost girl."
Shizuru blinked, "Ara?"
"This is another occasion where the Pup is gonna need a hug, and you don't have the ability to do that on your own, right?"
"Nao, arigato," Shizuru passed into her, and they embraced Natsuki. Midori joined in the hug.
"I'm sorry my cousin was such an ass," Shizuru sighed to Natsuki.
"You gonna be okay, Kuga?" Midori asked.
Natsuki nodded, "Yeah. Listen, I just need to clear my head. I'll be back."
She went out and jumped on her bike. The engine roared as she took off.
Later that night, they got a text:
I'M HAMMERING OUT MY NOVEL. CHECKED INTO A HOTEL. WILL RETURN WHEN FINISHED. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF DURAN UNTIL I RETURN. 3 NATSUKI.
Three weeks passed without Natsuki returning to the estate. Initially, there was concern that she had done something rash, until Mai checked in and said that she was getting daily orders from Natsuki, which the biker girl then picked up, for her favorite meals, over laden as usual with mayonnaise.
"My opinion," Mai told them, "She's doing what she said, hammering out her novel. It's how she broods. She'll finish up and come home. Just be patient. And if you have messages for her, leave them with me and I'll make sure she gets them."
And so Nao took to leaving handwritten notes for Mai to put in Natsuki's lunches. And then she'd allow Shizuru to possess her to do the same.
"I can't believe I ever offered to let you share my body to use for this that and the other thing," Nao remarked after a bit, "Having you in here is a real chore."
"In retrospect," Shizuru smirked glibly, "I believe that both of us were motivated more by lust than love at that point. Perhaps even amplified due to a shared object of desire."
Nao grinned, "It would have been…unique."
"Be that as it may…I do not begrudge you your affections. Indeed, it would be hypocritical of me to do so."
"Bet you're glad you didn't adopt her, now," Nao shot.
"How obscene. I would not have been interested in her were she my surrogate daughter. However, I met her when she was close my age when I died, and at which I have been currently arrested."
Nao smirked harder, "I've seen some of the ideas in YOUR head, specter girl. You SHOULD be arrested."
Shizuru laughed, a genuine laugh this time, then said, "Pot, this is kettle."
Nao laughed as well, then sighed, "Do you think she's okay?"
"She has a bit to work out," Shizuru replied, "But, we let her know daily that we love her. I hope she returns soon, though. Not only because I miss her, but because Duran has been moping since her…"
The puppy in question, now considerably larger than when he first joined the household, sprang to his feet and began to run to the front door, which opened to a surprised, but delighted yelp.
"Down, boy! Down! You're gonna drown me in slobber before I can properly set foot in the house!"
"Kuga!"
"Dearest!"
Natsuki sighed, then bowed to social convention, "Tadaima!"
"Okaeri!" Shizuru and Nao replied at once.
"Natsuki, you're home!" Nao motioned for Shizuru to join her, as the two went to embrace the girl as she returned. Though both had given considerable thought to wringing her neck for making them worry so much.
"Yeah. Sorry to take so long. The draft is off to the publisher, and they were glad to get it. So now I'm home, and I'm feeling…I don't know if 'better' is the right word for it, but I think I've made peace with my feelings for my Dad. He was flawed, but he was my Dad."
"I'm glad you reached a resolution on that issue," Shizuru said, emerging from Nao.
"Well, tomorrow will be a big day, and I wanted to be here in time for it," Natsuki said, still trying to calm the ever eager Duran.
"Ara?"
"Don't you remember, Shizuru? Tomorrow is the day that you get to have a body again."
~~*~~
It was the next day, and Alyssa and Miyu had transported a box that looked like a high-tech coffin to the estate.
"So," Alyssa said, "This chamber is basically keeping the body alive on life support. There's no brain activity at the moment. Once Fujino enters the body, it will take a moment to establish neural links. Once she does, her body will be able to breathe, move, and do everything on her own. We'll know when the brainwaves begin to register on this monitor. So…if you're ready, Miss Fujino?"
Shizuru nodded, and would have taken a deep breath if she'd had lungs to do so. She entered the chamber, and the copy of her own body.
She became aware of intense cold. And then stabbing pains from the I.V. tubes. Then there was a steady beeping noise. The hatch to the chamber opened, and Shizuru attempted to take a few steps, only to find her legs were somewhat unsteady.
"Easy," Natsuki caught her, "I've got you!"
"I was afraid of that," Alyssa said, "Still, it's not a horrible situation. She hasn't had control of a body in over a decade. She will have to reacquaint herself with her limbs. We'll need therapy sessions to work on her gross motor skills, as well as her fine motor skills."
"That's fine," Shizuru laughed, though the words were a bit slurred, having to relearn to use a mouth, "I'm alive! ALIVE! I just tried to exit this body, and I can't. It's mine. I'm alive, once again!"