The Trip Chapter Two: The Touch

The Trip Chapter Two: The Touch

By: Flyby Stardancer

"Can I help you?" asked a pale-skinned woman in a baggy, sea-green outfit. Her hair, an almost-black dark chocolate, was pulled back into a slick, shiny ponytail. Her eyes were a midnight blue, friendly ice. The smile on her face looked like it had been cut from a magazine and then pasted on her face. The perfectly shaped, full lips were the bright red of blood. The small, even teeth peeking out at the world were the same color as the spotless white walls of the hospital.

"Uh… Yeah… I guess so… I'm trying to find my birth records," answered Kenji.

"Okay." She went up to an empty computer terminal behind the neatly arranged counter and began typing. "What's your name?"

"Um… That's one of the problems," replied the zoanthrope, "I don't know my birth name."

Suddenly, the ninja sensed another zoanthrope enter the room. Out of the corner of his eye, the teenager spotted a tan-skinned young woman in a white lab coat. Her fire-orange hair was in a long, spiky mane that almost reached her knees (like Washu's from the show "Tenchi Muyo"). There was a baby blue headband in her hair that matched her short, tight-fitting skirt. Her button-up shirt was only a shade lighter than her outrageously-colored hair. Long, well shaped legs ended in feet that were covered in white, two-inch high-heeled shoes. Wide, sky blue eyes blinked once, and full lips painted wine red parted slightly. Kenji turned his attention back to the nurse who was helping him.

"I'm sorry. I can't find a birth record without a name," said the nurse.

"That you anyways," said the mole and he turned away from the counter. A disappointed silence hung around the ninja's strong, yet slight form. As he neared the door the female doctor stopped him.

"You're looking for your birth record," said the doctor, a statement wit a hint of a question. At Kenji's affirmative nod, she asked, "You're one of us, aren't you?"

He looked at her quizzically, not quite understanding what she meant by 'us'. Before he could ask her though the doctor continues, "Follow me." She turned, and walked briskly into another hallway, identical to the one she had come from. The blue-haired teenage shrugged, and followed her.

"Here we are," said the doctor.

"Where are we?" asked Kenji.

"This is where we store all the zoanthrope birth records. The government doesn't want these records stored with the ones for humans. We list everyone in alphabetical order by their beast forms. You may search here and photocopy the papers you need." She indicated a photocopier hidden in a dark corner. Then she left the room.

Well, that was strange… Oh, well. I wonder how often they update these? The teenage mole walked over to the pale tan-colored file cabinets, then looked at the labels on the cabinets. Soon, he found the "M-P" drawer and opened it. Let's see… Some guy, some girl, that old Bakaryu… What's this? Bakaryu/Bryan Takiyo?

Kenji tugged at the file, accidentally dropping it on the carefully polished floor. A small, white square separated itself from the rest of the papers. His curiosity perked, the mole frowned inquisitively and picked the square up, turning it over. The ninja's mind whirled in shock at what he saw.

It was a photograph of a small boy, he couldn't have been more than nine years old. The boy's expression was solemn, neither frowning nor smiling. The dark eyes were deep, empty oceans, void of any life what-so-ever. The photograph was a key to the dam holding back the young adult's childhood. Memories flooded his mind, all in a tumble, like water rushing though the dam gate. One stuck out among the rest, a raft on top of the tempest waters.

A young, auburn-haired girl was shoved into a poorly-kept cage. She stumbled, but quickly regained her balance, as if she had done this many times before. The girl wore a white pajama-like outfit, and her eyes still held youthful innocence, despite the grueling surroundings she was in.

"You alright?" asked the other occupant of the "room". His cobalt bangs were styled in a way that they almost resembled a claw, reaching out to slice at his opponents.

"Oh, it's the middle of the night

And I'm reaching out for you"

"I'm fine! They just had me fight more of those robot-thingies! I'm glad, 'cause I didn't have to really hurt anyone!" said a younger version of Uriko Nonomura. "Ooo! Do you hear that? Alica and Stephen must be playing music again!" The young cat giggled. Suddenly, she asked, "Wanna dance?"

"In the darkness

I can feel your touch break through"

"Uh…sure, alright… Um… How do you dance?"

"That's easy!" the girl giggled some more. "I saw Alica and Stephen dancing once! All you do is wrap your arms around me, and I'll wrap my arms around you, and we move the music!" With that said, Uriko placed her arms around the blue-haired boy's shoulders. His arms carefully encircled her back. The two began to sway, looking extremely cute.

"When I look into your eyes

And your skin's against my skin

I will hold you 'till the sun comes crashing in

Where would I be now

Without the tenderness that you possess

"The touch

The touch that makes me strong

That keeps me holdin' on

I come to you when times are tough

Your love is just enough

To lift me up so high

There's nothing I won't give

To be with you

To reach for you

I love…for the touch

"Oh, I wanna be the one you need

I need to be the one you see

I gotta justify the faith you have in me

You're the beauty in my life

You're the sun that lights my soul

You're the other half I need to make me whole

Who would I be now

Without the warmth you bring to everything

"The touch

The touch that makes me strong

That keeps me holdin' on

I come to you when times are tough

Your love is just enough

To life me up so high

There's nothin' I won't give

To be with you

To reach for you

I live…for the touch

"All my life has been a journey

Here to you

Every road and river

Brought me closer to

"The touch

The touch that makes me strong

That keeps me holdin' on

I come to you when times are tough

Your love is just enough

To lift me up so high

There's nothin' I won't do

To be with you

To reach for you

I live…for the touch"

That is…was me… Kenji's jaw dropped in shock. I must be Bryan Takiyo…

Hajime Busuzima, Shenlong, Stephen Goldberg (Stun), as well as several other anonymous people were standing, clustered in front of the silver-haired man (remember him?). Their expressions were blank and their eyes were devoid of the spark of life. Clearly they were under either hypnotism or brainwashing.

"I have sent Rane ahead to track our victim. Soon he will be one of us!" cried the man in a Swedish accent.