Sayaka stirred awake from her deep sleep. She felt a little bit more refreshed than she was the day before, but the weak feeling still lingers in her limbs.
Oniichan! She remembered suddenly as her consciousness started to sink in. She turned around, only to find an empty spot beside her on her bed. Then she remembered Mikage Shiso's words… One night. One night was all she had with her brother. Her fingers slowly descend to touch the bedsheet on where her brother had been lying. Then she pulled on the sheets and wrapped it around her naked body and she walked out of her room to find him.
Maybe… just maybe… Her mind was filled with hope as she descended the staircase. "Oniichan!" she called out.
"Oniichan!!!"
She sunk down on the floor amidst the echoing of her own voice, realizing that her beautiful dream had passed, taking away her brother along with its passing. Suddenly, she felt a little strange. Looking up, she almost couldn't believe her eyes as she saw the walls of her home suddenly faded for a split second, and then came back to normal. Shocked, she turned around to look at another direction. Her eyes went straight towards a picture frame of her family. A pretty picture of her father, mother, Akira, and herself. To her horror, the image of her parents started to fade in that picture, but then it emerged into visibility again.
"What's going on…?" Sayaka stammered in shock. "What's happening to me…?"
* * *
"Yuuhi…" Aya's voice called out to a daydreaming Yuuhi. Receiving no response, she paused for a moment, staring at Yuuhi, who is sitting on the breakfast table holding his chin on his palm and staring dreamily into thin air. "YUUHI NO BAKA!" Aya suddenly screamed right at his ears that caused Yuuhi to fall off his chair.
"Aya!!!" Yuuhi barked back as he emerged back from under the chair. "Are you trying to kill me?" As he looked up, he was greeted by Aya's mischievous face bearing a wide grin.
"Yuu-uu-hi?" Aya said, narrowing her eyes. "Your head seem to be out in space this morning." Aya said as she playfully knocked on the side of his skull. "Earth to Yuuhi, come back please?"
Yuuhi pushed Aya's hand away gently, his face blushing red. "Uh… I will be late for school…" he said as he picked up his schoolbag, changing the unsaid but obvious subject at hand. Avoiding Aya's eyes, he walked hurriedly out of the dining room, almost knocking down Tooya, who happened to be walking in. "Aa… gomen, Tooya. Ja ne." He said as he disappeared into the hallway.
Yuuhi… Aya thought to herself as she watched him walk away. The look in his eyes were so familiar. He's in love again… finally… She exhaled, and then she closed her eyes and smiled. Yokatta ne… Yuuhi…
* * *
"Alec…" Kagami's calm voice echoed in the containment chamber. Despite having the containment chamber furnished to a full basic human needs, Alexander O'Howell was found sitting on the cold floor at the empty left corner of the chamber, hugging his knees like a frightened child.
Alec looked up at Kagami. "Kagami-san…"
"What are the test results of subject 0001-A?" Kagami asked grimly.
"Is that all she is to you? A subject? She is a human being, just like the rest of us." Alec exclaimed as he stood up.
"No, Alec. She's better than the rest of us." Kagami said. "You're completely misinterpreting me. You, of all people, should know how I treasure tennyos."
"By treating them like animals?" The young scientist snapped at the cold-staring Kagami.
Kagami smiled. "Don't you remember, Alec? A long time ago, a tennyo descended to Earth and taught man all her celestial knowledge. And man planted their seed in them to bear perfect offsprings. It was then that man became civilized. It is their purpose, and destiny, to serve and make this world a better place. The Mikage tennyo legend was the first one ever existed. We are destined to lead the world."
Alec clenched his fists as he trembled in anger. "You're insane…"
"Your resistance will bring you nothing but victims. At each hint of uncooperation from you I will terminate a replacable C-Genoma. You will bring yourself no closer to the termination of this sacred project." Kagami reminded him again. "As I was saying, what were the test results of Miyashita Sayaka?"
Alec slumped back on the floor and leaned back on the cold wall. "99… 99.79 percent…" Alec said finally. "Surprisingly better than expected. Her life force… is virtually immaculate… to get that high of a result at an initial test…"
"It's not good enough." Kagami replied coldly.
"Kagami-san…" Suddenly Wei Fei Li's grim voice interrupted them as he walked into the chamber. "The first batch of the Eurasiatic C-Genoma subjects have arrived. They are being escorted to their test labs."
Kagami didn't move, nor did he answer.
"Your next orders, sir?"
"Prepare them for cloning tests immediately." Kagami finally answered simply.
"Hai." Wei turned around abruptly at his superior's orders and he walked out of the containment chamber.
"Wait." Kagami's voice halted Wei's steps. "Bring Miyashita Sayaka in for further testing."
Alec's eyes widened in shock. "Kagami-san! No! It's too early for a second test! She could die!" Alec yelled in utter protest.
Kagami ignored Alec's comment and motioned for Wei to execute his orders. Turning back to Alec, he smiled. "Shall we, Doctor O'Howell?" he asked politely as he motioned at the door.
* * *
Yuuhi walked the school hallways hurriedly, almost running. His heart was beating fast. He had been waiting all day for school hours to end, and he had cursed his teacher for dismissing his class a little later than the others for a useless extra explanation over a math theorem. He stopped in front of class 2-B and found it completely vacated empty. He exhaled deeply, and turned around to run down the stairs. Suddenly, as he was turning to descend another flight of stairs, his eye caught a glimpse of Sayaka at the backyard of the school grounds, speaking to someone whom he thought looked familiar. Then, as he suddenly grasped on Sayaka's arm, Yuuhi suddenly realized who it is.
That Mikage bodyguard! And without further thinking, he dropped his bag and leaped over one full floor, landing steadily on his feet, on a stance ready to attack. "Let her go!" He yelled out as he flipped out his trusted weapon, the lucky chopsticks.
Wei turned around at the sound of Yuuhi's voice, and flipped out his chain whip around his back. Sayaka's eyes widened in shock when she saw Yuuhi.
"Yuuhi! No!" Sayaka screamed. "Please! Just… go!"
"Still playing hero I see, Aogiri." Mikage Shiso suddenly emerged from behind the trees. He walked towards Wei, who was holding Sayaka's hand, and took her from him. Coiling his one arm around her waist, he ran his tongue on the curve of her neck lustfully.
"Don't touch her, you bastard!!!" Yuuhi roared in anger as he charged forward towards Mikage Shiso, only to be met halfway by the swing of Wei's weapon. Yuuhi countered fast enough, holding its deadly blow away with his chopsticks. "Mikage, snap out of it! You're completely possessed!" Yuuhi yelled. Suddenly, Wei's strong kick landed point blank on his belly, sending him a couple of yards back.
In a split second, Wei charged forward to where Yuuhi was standing. "And who planted that ridiculous notion in your head? Ceres, I presume?" Mikage replied calmly. Yuuhi was now overwhelmed by the almost god-like speed his opponent possesses, as he is now almost surrounded by numerous powerful blows swinging at him from every direction. Avoiding Wei's attacks seemed like they were only slim chances.
"Actually, I don't feel like making a big scene today." Mikage Shiso suddenly said as he lifted up his one hand in the air, then slowly, a violet glow in the form of a sphere appeared on his palm. Then it shot out at full speed right at Yuuhi.
Wei leaped out of the line of fire, and Yuuhi, right on the path of the powerful attack, could only cross his arms in defense, in hope that his tennyo crested bands would do their job once again. A violet force field suddenly enclosed around Yuuhi, and as Mikage's chi ball hit Yuuhi's barrier, it created an enormous blast that almost shook the ground.
"[We'll be seeing you some other time, little sister. Don't ignore your obligations to us.]" He whispered it softly only for Sayaka to hear, and then released her. In a flash, he motioned to Wei, and the two of them disappeared amidst the dust and smoke.
"Yuuhi!" Sayaka yelled as she got up on her feet and rushed towards where she had last seen Yuuhi. She couldn't see anything amidst the cloud of smoke. But then, as the debris settled and the air cleared. She saw Yuuhi. He had minor scratches and wounds, but aside that, he was fine.
Stunned for a while upon seeing her, Yuuhi then hurriedly got up on his feet and went to Sayaka. "Are you all right?"
She looked at Yuuhi for a moment, then to Yuuhi's surprise, a stinging slap came across his face from her hand. "Baka! Yuuhi no baka!!!" she yelled suddenly.
"Sayaka…" Stunned, Yuuhi touched his cheek, where it's now red from the hard slap that had landed there. He was confused.
"Yuuhi no baka!!!" She yelled again as she started pounding on his chest. "You could've been killed! If he had not chosen to leave, you would have been killed! If you were killed, I… I…"
Yuuhi suddenly grasped on both her pounding wrists, holding them back. "If I were killed, you would… what?"
Sayaka gasped into silence, stunned over the words that had almost slipped out of her mouth. Then, her hands that had been tense in resisting Yuuhi's grip, slowly loosened, and she let Yuuhi take her into his warm embrace.
* * *
Kagami stood in the middle of an enormous hall that was still undergoing heavy construction. Hundreds of men were constructing the walls, the poles, and carving the floor into what looked like an unfinished tennyo crest. Freya stood next to him, liking what she's seeing.
"Mikage will finally have its destiny." Kagami said, turning to Freya. "You made it happen, Freya."
"Our perfect world is at hand…" Freya murmured softly, intoxicated by the idea. "When the clock strikes twelve at the turn of the year… heaven and earth will finally become one…"
Then, they were interrupted by footsteps coming up behind them. Turning around, they saw Mikage Shiso walking towards them, escorted by a faithful Wei.
"Where's Sayaka?" asked Kagami.
"Aogiri landed in the scene to play hero." Mikage Shiso chuckled. "I was so amused I decided to let them off the hook for once. Just smoothening the path for her job." He said as he walked towards Freya.
"We don't have much time left." Kagami exclaimed. "None of the C-Genoma subjects gathered showed test results close to hers! She might be our best chance in accomplishing this project. We need her!"
"I wouldn't worry about her." Freya said as she clung onto Mikage. "As long as we possess this so-called 'vessel'…" she paused as she touched Mikage's chest, "That little puppet of ours will come running back to us anytime we bellowed."
"I wonder if that tennyo Aogiri Suzumi… is as 'good' as our little girl…?"
* * *
Sayaka took the can of drink from Yuuhi's hand that he had opened for her. She silently sipped it slowly, then set it beside her on the bench she was sitting on. The sun was slowly setting. They have been sitting in that park for hours now.
"I'm sorry I slapped you…" She finally said.
Yuuhi sat up on the railings in front of the bench, facing her. He just shook his head slowly. "Don't worry about it…" he said. "How is your body? Are you feeling all right?"
She nodded and smiled to Yuuhi. There was another long stretch of silence for a moment. "Why are you protecting me?" she asked him finally.
Yuuhi took a deep breath. "I guess… it's my destiny."
"To protect strangers you barely knew?" Sayaka asked. "Have you always been like this your whole life?"
Yuuhi looked away towards the sun. "Somehow I always find myself drawn into the path of tennyos." He said as he closed his eyes. "Suzumi nee-sama… then Aya… and then… Chidori…" he paused for a moment.
Sayaka could almost hear the pain in his voice as he said Chidori's name. "What happened to Chidori?"
Chidori… Her name fleeted in Yuuhi's head. All the memories streamed back inside his head. Breaking into the Mikage International Building with Tooya to rescue Chidori… then, holding Chidori's lifeless body in his arms. "Chidori wa…" he started to speak. "She's a girl who never shows any signs of sadness. Always happy, and full of life. In my eyes she was always just like a little sister to me…"
"I was an idiot. I was blinded by the pain of not being able to have Aya… and I had ignored the feelings of the one person who was always right next to me. Until it was all too late… and she died in my arms." Yuuhi said again. After a pause, he then opened his eyes. But his eyes didn't reflect a hint of sadness. There was sheer clarity reflected in his gaze. "Demo… what she did… taking that bullet to save me… is what gives me strength to go on. She showed me that there will always be hope, as long as you can love someone. And even if your love is unrequited, knowing that you have loved and can love another is what makes you feel more alive…"
Sayaka looked at Yuuhi with astonishment in her eyes. His words came out of his mouth so fervently yet calmly. Loving another person… is what makes you feel more alive… loving oniichan…
Loving…
Yuuhi…
Yuuhi leaped down onto the ground from where he was sitting. "Sayaka…" he said hesitantly. "When I'm with you… I… uh… ever since Chidori died I haven't…" But suddenly, his words were interrupted by the sound of his ringing cellphone. Startled into silence, it took Yuuhi almost half a minute to finally answer it. "Hai… oo… onee-sama! … Nani? You're going to see otoo-san now? … Hai… Wakatta… ja." He flipped his phone close and slipped it in his pocket.
The breeze was getting colder, and they were just there in silence again. Yuuhi suddenly felt at loss over the words he's been meaning to say this whole time.
Sayaka… I'm in love with you…
"It's getting late… we should go…" Sayaka suddenly said, as she got up from her seat and turned to walk away.
Yuuhi knew that it was now or never, and with that thought, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, crashing her soft figure onto his body. His palm took her face and guided it towards his. Taken by surprise, Sayaka's first instinct was to pull away, but the feel of his warm lips on hers felt as if it was about to devour her last drop of sanity, and she melted. She could feel all of his feelings rushing into her like a intense ocean current.
A moment of bliss… Sayaka slowly closed her eyes as she coiled her arms around Yuuhi's back and savored his impulsive affection. Yuuhi… why do you have to make it all so hard…
* * *
Aya hummed softly as she sat in front of the mirror, brushing her silky hair. She looked out the window and saw Tooya sitting across the parlor, cradling his baby daughter to sleep in his arms. Aya smiled at the sight. As she turned around and set her hairbrush on the table, suddenly her reflection in the mirror morphed into Ceres.
"Ceres!" Aya exclaimed in surprise at her appearance before her.
"Aya…" she said softly. "I'm sorry for always bringing my affairs into your peaceful life…"
"Don't say that, Ceres…" Aya said, touching the mirror. "You and I are one and the same. We will fight this together. Mikage will return to your side… because he loves you, he truly loves you…"
Ceres smiled at Aya's reply. "Demo, Aya…" she said again. "When this is all over… I will have to take my mana back from Tooya. Are you ready to face the inevitable? That Tooya will die…?"
Ceres' words struck Aya like a sharp knife right into her heart. She sat there silently, her fingers trembling. Then she looked up at Ceres. "No matter how hard I prepare myself for it… I know it will never be enough because I love him so much… but…" Aya closed her eyes as she paused. "When the time comes… we will all be together again… with Aki… and also Chidori… Even if Tooya will be gone, but he will always be in my heart…" she said as she touched her chest. "Giving me strength… for the sake of our daughter, Aki…"
"You've matured much… Aya…" Ceres said again, then she disappeared.
Aya was silent for a moment, staring blankly. Then the door opened and Tooya walked in. "Aya…" he said.
"Aa… Tooya…" Aya replied, always glad to see Tooya. She looked at his sad, mysterious eyes as he walked towards her and put Aki in her arms, and saw that there was something on his mind. "Is something wrong, Tooya?"
"Iie… betsuni." Tooya said softly, then he kissed Aya's forehead. "I'll be going out for walk…"
Aya nodded silently, and watched Tooya walk out of the room. Tooya… what's in your mind?
"TOOYA-SAN! TOOYA-SAN!!!" Kyuu-chan's voice broke the serenity of the Aogiri house as she suddenly scampered across the hallway towards where Tooya was standing.
"What is it, Kyuu-chan?"
She stopped in front of Tooya, catching her breath, waving the telephone in front of his face. "Tomonori-sama just called…! Ojoo-sama… ojoo-sama… has been kidnapped!!!"
* * *
Suzumi stirred into consciousness, feeling extremely weak. The last thing she remembered was seeing suited men rushing towards her from the corner of her eye as she was walking out of her father-in-law's house with Tomonori, after one of her frequent visits. She found herself being strapped to a chair, and surrounded by numerous beeping machinery. Where am I? She looked around with her still hazy vision, and could only see numerous white-clad men and women going about around her.
"Aogiri Suzumi." She heard an echoing voice say her name that projected around the room. "How are you feeling?"
Suzumi looked up, and from the glass window in the control room, she saw a familiar figure standing there, staring down at her. As her vision cleared, she recognized the sinister look on the man's face. Mikage Kagami…! How can this be…? "What have you done to me!?" she asked austerely to Kagami.
"You have an impressive tennyo blood in you, Suzumi-san." Kagami said again, smiling.
She clenched her fists and focused her energy to release the straps that were binding her down. But she found that she had no more strength within her, as if they had been sapped away. The violet glow that emerged around her as she focused her strength faded into thin air. "Is this what you have done to Sayaka? You monster!"
Kagami laughed at Suzumi's comment. "Of course… she's very cooperative." He said again. Then to Suzumi's horror, Sayaka's figure emerged behind him. Kagami guided her to the glass window, putting his one arm around his most precious C-Genoma subject.
"Suzumi…-san…" Sayaka murmured softly as she touched the glass, looking at Suzumi.
* * *
The walls were white. There were no windows in the room. It was occupied with a bed and a sidetable, and that was it. Suzumi had heard the door locked by a digital system lock from the outside, and she could find no controls that she could possibly tamper with from the inside. She realized that she is now imprisoned.
She sprung into alert when she heard the digital lock beeped, and the door opened. But to her surprise, it was Sayaka who walked in, bringing a tray of food and drink for her.
Sayaka walked in and set the tray next to Suzumi on the table. She remained silent, as does Suzumi as Sayaka walked past her.
"Suzumi-san…" Sayaka turned around, finally having the courage to look into the eyes of Yuuhi's sister, but only to be greeted by a hard slap across her face from Suzumi's hand. Sayaka stepped back as she saw Suzumi's angry face glaring right at her.
"How could you do this to Yuuhi!?" Suzumi exclaimed angrily. "When I saw you up there, I keep telling myself that you were only their victim, but it seems that I was just naïve to believe that you were only a helpless girl taken advantage by Mikage's evil!" Suzumi's breathing became irregular as she felt her rage almost exploding in her chest. "How could you do this to my brother!?"
Slowly, Suzumi's angry voice faded into a faint whisper. "Yuuhi… that boy…" she said. "He's all I have in the world… He doesn't need anymore pain…"
Sayaka slumped down onto the floor on her knees. "Gomen nasai… Suzumi-san…" she said softly, looking down on the floor. "Suzumi-san… you know what it feels like having a brother that you love so much… having him as the only one you have in the world…" she looked into Suzumi's eyes with tear-filled eyes. "Akira… Akira… he's been possessed… and I don't know if I'll ever get him back…"
Suzumi's anger suddenly died down. She was now in conflict whether to trust the words that are coming out of Sayaka's mouth… or… "Possessed?" Suzumi asked. "By who?"
"By me." Mikage Shiso suddenly appeared at the door. "Naturally."
Shocked at what she's seeing, Suzumi fell into paralyzing silence. Then, another figure emerged at his side. A beautiful woman, just as beautiful as Ceres, with an evil gleam in her eyes. "Tell me… Aogiri Suzumi…" Freya said. "How is my friend, Ceres, doing?"
* * *
Sitting in front of his brother, Tomonori, and his father, Yuuhi remained silent as Tomonori explained to him what had happened earlier. Tooya stood quietly by the window, listening to the story. The air in the Aogiri house is now grim and silent.
"Did you see who took her away?" Yuuhi finally asked his elder brother.
Tomonori shook his head. "I was escorting her out into the car when someone hit my head from the back. The next thing I knew she was gone." He said as he adjusted the bandage that was around his skull.
Yuuhi clenched his fists and he started trembling. "But why onee-sama…? What do they want from her?"
Master Aogiri, Yuuhi's father, frowned as he was deep in thought. "When Suzumi-san came to tell me everything that has happened… it did struck both of us as odd on how they haven't made any direct moves on Ceres, nor Tooya…" he said, pausing. "Why are they capturing other tennyo descendants?"
Aya gasped softly, as she stood quietly outside the door, listening to their conversation. "Tooya!" she exclaimed, rushing into the room. "Tennyo descendants… are C-Genomas… aren't they?"
Tooya's eyes widened. "Masaka!? The C-Project?!"
"Nani!?" Yuuhi exclaimed. "But Mikage Kagami is dead!"
"Iia. That is merely our human speculation." Yuuhi's father responded. "I've managed to get a full investigation report from the head of authorities who investigated the remains of the ship underwater. Mikage Kagami was pronounced dead, although his body, or any trace of his remains were never found." He concluded.
Tomonori's face suddenly lit up as if he just had an epiphany. "Ano…" he started. "The Mikage International building… has been rebuilt this year… maybe that's a starting point for us."
"Mikage… International…" Yuuhi muttered the words. He could feel the anger boiling up in his chest. The memories he had when he had to break into that building to rescue Chidori was not a pleasant nor beautiful memory. And now, he's faced with the possibility of having to return into that accursed building. "What are we waiting for then?!" Yuuhi exclaimed as he stood up, his fighting spirit ignited. But then, he felt a hand touch his shoulder.
"Let me go alone." Tooya said calmly.
"Tooya!" Aya exclaimed in protest, standing up.
"What are you talking about, Tooya! There's no way in hell I'm going to let you go in there alone!" Yuuhi objected, grabbing Tooya's wrist.
Tooya looked at Yuuhi, and then at Aya, then he turned back to Yuuhi and pulled his hand away from Yuuhi's grip. "We're dealing with a different enemy this time. They're stronger, and they're more cunning." Tooya said. "I need you to guard Aya for me… you're the only one I can trust, Aogiri." Then he lifted his hand, and produced the red-glowing dagger in his palm. "I am immortal, just as Mikage Shiso is. I'm the only one who can fight him."
* * *
The wind was howling hard, as if a storm was coming to sweep over Tokyo. Tooya stood in front of the new Mikage International building. Tightening his grip on his dagger, he stepped forward and walked into the building.
"Hey you!" A security guard yelled as Tooya walked past him. "Where do you think you're going!?" As he received no response from Tooya, he pulled out his gun. "Stop, or I will shoot!"
Tooya glanced at him, but then he resumed walking. As he heard several gunshots, he swung around as quick as lightning and dodged all three bullets coming right at him. The security guard ran towards him in attack, but with a single kick on his face, Tooya brought him down unconscious.
More security guards came running inside the lobby as Tooya proceeded towards the elevator. As they surround him, he calmly lifted his dagger, and suddenly a bright light flashed from it, blinding the vision of the guards temporarily. When they regained their vision, Tooya was gone.
Waiting in the elevator as it brought him up to the top floor, Tooya examined his surrounding. This building… was built identical… almost as if the old building was never destroyed… He thought as he recalled the same feeling he had when he had numerously walked in and out of the Mikage International building, back when he was their hired henchmen.
Bing. The elevator sounded, and as the door opened, suddenly a wave of blow from Wei's powerful chain whip shot into the elevator interior. Dodging them swiftly, Tooya shot out of the door and found himself standing face to face with an old opponent.
"Tooya." Wei smirked as he gripped on his weapon.
Tooya replied with his silence, and took an attack stance, his dagger appeared in his hand.
"Stop." A familiar voice called out. Mikage Shiso was standing at the other end of the hallway behind Tooya. "Tooya's head is mine." He said, with a smile on his face.
"Mikage!" Tooya exclaimed.
Mikage's eyes gleamed, and the tennyo crest glowed on his chest. Suddenly, his hand produced a dagger that was identical to Tooya's. Then, without further waiting, he charged forward towards Tooya. Shocked, Tooya was overwhelmed by his speed. He realized that Mikage had gained more power than the last time they encountered. The two daggers clashed, and its electrifying impact sent a gust of force, shattering all the windows around them into millions of pieces. In another split second, Mikage blasted a powerful force blast point blank on Tooya's chest, sending Tooya crashing into the wall at the end of the hallway.
Kuso… Tooya cursed, wiping the blood off his mouth as he struggled to get up. But Mikage didn't give him any chance. The moment he got up on his feet, he was pounded again and again with numerous blasts, only managing to avoid one or two. Finally seeing an open path, Tooya charged towards Mikage. But Mikage was too fast. No matter how fast Tooya attacked, Mikage dodged it gracefully and even managed to retaliate successfully.
And soon after enduring a losing battle, Tooya was worn out. He fell on his knees, and was coughing out blood.
"Getting rusty, eh Tooya?" And to Tooya's horror, Mikage's feet was suddenly standing in front of his face. When he looked up, Mikage had his palm extended right towards him, and the next thing he knew, he saw a blinding bright light.
Tooya's body crashed out from the glass window, and he fell… and fell… and fell… It felt endless. And then it was all dark.
Mikage stood in front of the shattered window where Tooya had fell off from. He looked down and saw Tooya's body lying lifeless on the concrete, in a pool of blood. He smiled victoriously.
"Sweet dreams, Tooya."
====================================================================================
to be continued…
