Title: I know why the cages bird sings
Author: Chiaki Nozomi
Rating: R for language and violence.
Genre: Drama/Action/Adventure/Romance
A gift, or a curse? Or maybe both?
Alice slowly walked home, enjoying the sound her sneakers made as they scraped against the gravel. Zoanthrope. The word sounded like a horrible, cruel being that was bread for destruction. It would fit perfectly into the plot of a video game. Otaku would have fun slaving hours upon hours trying to master the meaning behind the word, all while killing those in their way. Eventually they would reach the end, and if they lost, well, there was always the reset button.
Life had no reset button, nights at the hospital taught her that. If a person died then they were forever erased from existence, their memory nothing more than a name and data engraved in stone. Death. The city reeked of it, a nauseating stench she could not escape. The hospital had the smell embedded in the walls, no cleaner or perfume could hide it. The streets had been littered with blood at one time or another, and everyone knows humans don't clean their streets. Of all these, however, home was the worst.
Home was a rundown apartment building that was also filled with crack addicts and other druggies. It wasn't uncommon to find them in the halls, steely eyes staring up, dead from an overdose. She didn't hate them for dying - death seemed like the only way to escape the cruel world nowadays. Alice kicked a stone and watched it roll away, then become lost amiss all the other rocks. If only hiding were as easy as blending in with the stable people.
Zoanthrope. Sounded like a killer high. She could tell the idiots about it, and they would leave, scouring the city for the heroin called zoanthrope. Maybe the malodor of death would leave with them. It was wishful thinking. As long as the Tylon Corporation was here, death would never leave the city.
Tylon. The people who cursed her with the gift of being a zoanthrope. Zoanthrope was a word with many meanings and stories. In truth, a zoanthrope was a human who could consciously change into an animal. Because of this, she could never have a true home.
Maybe the druggies had the right idea. Death would bring peace and take her to a true home. What kept her in this world?
Uriko. For about a year or so, she did have a home, with 'aunt' Mitsuko and 'sister' Uriko. That year was the only year of normality she had in her life. Tylon had to destroy that too. They abducted Uriko, leaving a note saying that they 'needed' her.
They didn't need her. They'd use her to get some fat dick in a suit's money. Then the fat dick in a suit would program her to be the ultimate killing machine. Uriko was young, they'd probably turn her training into a game. "Kill a man, thirty points! Kill and man and woman in one blow, fifty points! Get one thousand and receive a prize," Alice yelled to no one in particular, holding back tears of sorrow and self-pity.
Jeers and cheers diverted her attention to the parking lot of her apartment building, where men and women were standing in a circle, most holding a bottle of beer in hand. "Great. Just fucking great. Now I've got crack- heads and drunken fighters living with me." She grinned, and cracked her knuckles while stretching her neck. "Might as well have some fun while they're at it," Alice said as she approached the ring. When she first catch sight of the fight, however, she began to second-guess the thought of breaking it up.
Two men were fighting -one with golden hair wearing army pants, gloves, and combat boots, the other with chocolate hair wearing a red shirt under a black vest with matching jeans and sneakers. Both were strong, equally talented fighters. As she watched them fight, she concluded that the golden man was stronger, but the brown head's speed more than made up for it. "Excuse me," she said, tapping a man on the shoulder, "Can you tell me who's fighting?"
"Gado and Yugo. Gado's older than Yugo, but Yugo's youth is an advantage also. Two of the best fighter's I've seen in my life," he replied, voice slurred by the effects of the drink. Alice nodded and cautiously took a step away from the drunk, who was eyeing her body with lust.
Yugo had grabbed Gado and threw him toward the crowd, who backed away, cheering. Gado flipped upright and landed on his feet, smirking. "Is that all you've got, boy," he taunted, spitting to the side, "You're not even half the fighter your father was!" Yugo growled, half human, half animal it seemed, and dashed to the man, unleashing combo after combo of attacks. Some connected, some didn't, but the moves appeared to be wearing Yugo down more than Gado. In a quick, abrupt move, Gado kicked Yugo away and morphed into a lion hybrid, much to the amusement of the crowd.
"A zoanthrope," Alice whispered in horror. There was no way Yugo could survive against him without the help of another zoanthrope. But that meant calling upon a power that could make her berserk . . . "Gado," Yugo yelled, and morphed into a wolf hybrid. Alice shook her head in disbelief. Years go by without seeing or meeting another like her and on a Wednesday night she see two! "Where is my father," he asked in a half growl. The crowd's fear had set in, and they moved far away from the fighters, watching in awed silence.
Gado gave no reply, instead dashed and attempted to stab Yugo through his stomach. He jumped back, and in the process got his chest slashed. His red shirt was slowly being dyed crimson with his own blood. Howling, Yugo pounced on Gado and bit into his shoulder. Gado roared in pain and kicked Yugo off of him, then ran and stomped on his body after it hit the gravel. Yugo tried to trip him, with no avail. Gado then grabbed the wolf by his neck and held him up like a prize. Yugo kicked and snarled but Gado seemed to tighten his hold, slowly cutting off his supply of oxygen.
The wolf was no more, and the lion held up his human dinner. Alice felt her heart surge with emotion and she dashed and began to attack the lion with jab after jab, punches so fast her movements seemed blurred.
Gado blindly swiped at her, dropping Yugo in the process. He crashed to the ground, unconscious. "Stay out of this," he growled, lunging for Alice's head. She dodged, but his claw caught her ribbon she used to pull up her head in pigtails. The left side of her hair crashed down, and she looked half mature, half child. They stared at each other for a moment, then Gado scoffed and walked away, along with the crowd.
"Yugo," Alice whispered as she dashed to the boy, who lay face up, eyes wide with horror. She checked his pulse while eyeing his chest wounds. Barely alive and fading fast. She'd have to get him to the hospital soon if he were to survive. Picking him up gently, she used her energy to morph into a rabbit and dashed to the hospital, praying that he would survive and she wouldn't go berserk.
~o~
So close, yet so far. Gado. He knew his father, he could tell him where he was. But only if he could beat him in battle . . . Gado was strong and experienced. He was a teenager with a power he couldn't control. Yugo opened his eyes slowly, to find them enveloped in a white light. "Heaven," he questioned, blinking several times.
A feminine voice giggled softly and replied no. Yugo responded by asking if this was hell. The girl giggled again and told him he was in the hospital. "How'd I get here," he questioned, searching for the voice. He tried to sit up but failed, pain attacking his chest with unreal force. He moaned softly and sank back into the hard mattress.
"You're lucky you're alive, you know," Alice said as she entered the room, wearing a white nurse's outfit and her shoulder length hair pulled back with a headband. A coy smile decorated her face, accented by stiking red eyes.
The nurse was beautiful, no denying that. "How'd I get here," he repeated, and the nurse winked and grinned.
"I brought you here. You happened to be fighting near my apartment-"
"You live in that hell house," Yugo exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes. I know it's not much but . . . it's the only place I can hide."
"Who are you," he asked, out of curiosity and the desire to learn the girl's name. She looked about his age, although her eyes made her seem maturer. She looked as if she had been through as much as he had, but he had the added burden of being a zoanthrope.
"Alice. I'm sorry, I have no last name."
"No need to apologize. I'm Yugo."
"Hello . . . Yugo," she replied in quiet shyness, complete opposite of her confident demeanor that she had when she entered the room. "Are you okay? You were near death by time I got you here. I was woried you'd die."
Yugo arched an eyebrow, "Caring for a stranger?"
"Not just any stranger, a stranger who is like me."
"You're a zoanthrope too," he exclaimed in shock. Alice smiled sadly and nodded. "Then . . . have you heard of a man named Yuji Ohagami?" Alice shook her head again, suddenly afraid to speak. "What's wrong," he asked, concerned for the girl.
"When . .. you turn into a wolf, do you go beserk?"
"No. Why?"
"Just wondering, that's all. . . ."
"I lose memory of all that's happened when I transform." Alice looked up, eyes wide with wonder. "I don't remember anything after I turned into a wolf last night. Maybe it's for the best, you know, if I kill someone then I won't remember."
I wish I had your problem," she confessed, sitting down on the edge of his hospital bed, "Tylon kidnapped me as a child. They programmed me to kill with no remorse. It's . . . hard to stay out of that consciousness sometimes. They made it a game, you know? Kill him and you get thirty points. One thousand means a prize," voice becoming thick with sorrow and remorse, "I thought it was fun, killing all them . .."
Yugo watched Alice with concern and pity. No words came immediately to his mind, but seeing her break down tugged at his heart, even though he had just met her minutes ago. Finally, after an awkward silence, the words came, "It wasn't you who killed them," he started, and Alice looked up, eyes shimmering with unshed tears, "Tylon, no, the programmed mind you had killed. The real you was hidden, overshadowed by what you were supposed to be. You didn't think then, you just acted. Don't cry over lost life, use that energy to preserve the life that's left."
Alice smiled slightly, a sad, nostalgic curve of her mouth that softened even the coldest of hearts. "That's why I became a nurse, Mitsuko always told me that. Mitsuko was my aunt. Not blood, of coarse, but she offered me a home, a place where I could live a normal life, even if my blood isn't. For a year, I was in bliss. Then Tylon kidnapped Uriko, and Mitsuko left. Anyway, why are you after Gado?"
"Do you know him," he asked, voice exerting hatred and eyes narrowing.
"No, You and him are the first zoanthropes I've seen in almost a year. I thought Tylon had them all."
"Gado knew my father. I want to know why he left myself and Ambrosia if he knew that Tylon would come after us."
"Your childhood wasn't easy either, eh?"
Yugo nodded, then continued, voice serious, yet verging on anger, "Soon after he left, Tylon stalked us. We were always on the run. They took Ambrosia and performed freak experiments on her. She died of coarse, and her name became lost, without a stone or funeral to commend her life."
Alice nodded, understanding. Herself and Yugo had much in common, maybe fate had brought them together? "Where are you going after this?"
"Wherever Gado takes me. He says he'll tell me about my father if I can beat him in a fight. As you can see, that hasn't happened yet. But I can't give up, I will find the truth."
"What if . . . The truth isn't what you think it'll be? What if the truth hurts more than the lie?"
"How old are you," Yugo asked, changing the subject.
"Seventeen."
"Me too. You seem older."
"So do you."
"Circumstances have a way of making you grow up faster, I guess." Alice nodded, knowing that his words were the truth. Silence followed, and the only sounds heard were the steady beeping of Yugo's heart monitor, the whir of machinery, and the steady breathing made by both teens. Suddenly Yugo spoke, quiet urgency in his voice, "They didn't take my blood, did they?"
"Yes, wh-"
"Shit," he cursed, and jumped up, ripping the tubes from his arms and chest. "They know I'm a zoanthrope! Tylon's probably sent some agents on their way now!" Alice gasped and frowned, feeling guilty.
"I'm sorry Yugo. . ." He eyed her then shook his head.
"You saved my ass back there. Don't worry about it."
"Let me help you escape. If you go running out like that, hospital employees will sedate you and tie you up." Yugo nodded and changed out of the hospital gown and into his jeans and shirt. "I'll take you back to my place. You can decide where you want to go from there."
"Thanks Alice," he replied, and Alice felt a bolt of electricity flow through her body as Yugo glanced over his shoulder and grinned while saying his thanks. She nodded, feeling her cheeks grow slightly red. "Ready," he asked, slipping on his shoe. Alice turned serious and nodded, left the room, and seeing that no one was around, motioned for Yugo to follow her.
"As long as you stay beside me, everything will be okay. I'll take you out using a side exit."
"I'm afraid that won't be necessary Alice 01. Yugo Ohgami will come with me," a snide, cruel voice said, and both teens turned to see a man. He had yellow eyes, black hair, tanned skin, dressed in a black suit and carried a gun.
"Shit," Yugo muttered. "Listen, on the count of three, we transform and run." Alice's eyes protested, she could go berserk and kill them both and everyone in the hospital. "Don't worry," he whispered, "If you kill me I wouldn't mind."
"Don't even think of running," the man continued, approaching the zoanthropes.
"Run," Yugo cried," and both burst into beast form, knocking down the man with the force of the tranformation's energy. The wolf and rabbit hybrid began to dash away, Alice taking the lead and guiding Yugo to the exit.
The man groaned and pulled out a phone, then dialed his comrade's extensions. "Bakuryu, Jenny. We got a code red on our hands. Block all the exits and exterminate upon contact."
Author: Chiaki Nozomi
Rating: R for language and violence.
Genre: Drama/Action/Adventure/Romance
A gift, or a curse? Or maybe both?
Alice slowly walked home, enjoying the sound her sneakers made as they scraped against the gravel. Zoanthrope. The word sounded like a horrible, cruel being that was bread for destruction. It would fit perfectly into the plot of a video game. Otaku would have fun slaving hours upon hours trying to master the meaning behind the word, all while killing those in their way. Eventually they would reach the end, and if they lost, well, there was always the reset button.
Life had no reset button, nights at the hospital taught her that. If a person died then they were forever erased from existence, their memory nothing more than a name and data engraved in stone. Death. The city reeked of it, a nauseating stench she could not escape. The hospital had the smell embedded in the walls, no cleaner or perfume could hide it. The streets had been littered with blood at one time or another, and everyone knows humans don't clean their streets. Of all these, however, home was the worst.
Home was a rundown apartment building that was also filled with crack addicts and other druggies. It wasn't uncommon to find them in the halls, steely eyes staring up, dead from an overdose. She didn't hate them for dying - death seemed like the only way to escape the cruel world nowadays. Alice kicked a stone and watched it roll away, then become lost amiss all the other rocks. If only hiding were as easy as blending in with the stable people.
Zoanthrope. Sounded like a killer high. She could tell the idiots about it, and they would leave, scouring the city for the heroin called zoanthrope. Maybe the malodor of death would leave with them. It was wishful thinking. As long as the Tylon Corporation was here, death would never leave the city.
Tylon. The people who cursed her with the gift of being a zoanthrope. Zoanthrope was a word with many meanings and stories. In truth, a zoanthrope was a human who could consciously change into an animal. Because of this, she could never have a true home.
Maybe the druggies had the right idea. Death would bring peace and take her to a true home. What kept her in this world?
Uriko. For about a year or so, she did have a home, with 'aunt' Mitsuko and 'sister' Uriko. That year was the only year of normality she had in her life. Tylon had to destroy that too. They abducted Uriko, leaving a note saying that they 'needed' her.
They didn't need her. They'd use her to get some fat dick in a suit's money. Then the fat dick in a suit would program her to be the ultimate killing machine. Uriko was young, they'd probably turn her training into a game. "Kill a man, thirty points! Kill and man and woman in one blow, fifty points! Get one thousand and receive a prize," Alice yelled to no one in particular, holding back tears of sorrow and self-pity.
Jeers and cheers diverted her attention to the parking lot of her apartment building, where men and women were standing in a circle, most holding a bottle of beer in hand. "Great. Just fucking great. Now I've got crack- heads and drunken fighters living with me." She grinned, and cracked her knuckles while stretching her neck. "Might as well have some fun while they're at it," Alice said as she approached the ring. When she first catch sight of the fight, however, she began to second-guess the thought of breaking it up.
Two men were fighting -one with golden hair wearing army pants, gloves, and combat boots, the other with chocolate hair wearing a red shirt under a black vest with matching jeans and sneakers. Both were strong, equally talented fighters. As she watched them fight, she concluded that the golden man was stronger, but the brown head's speed more than made up for it. "Excuse me," she said, tapping a man on the shoulder, "Can you tell me who's fighting?"
"Gado and Yugo. Gado's older than Yugo, but Yugo's youth is an advantage also. Two of the best fighter's I've seen in my life," he replied, voice slurred by the effects of the drink. Alice nodded and cautiously took a step away from the drunk, who was eyeing her body with lust.
Yugo had grabbed Gado and threw him toward the crowd, who backed away, cheering. Gado flipped upright and landed on his feet, smirking. "Is that all you've got, boy," he taunted, spitting to the side, "You're not even half the fighter your father was!" Yugo growled, half human, half animal it seemed, and dashed to the man, unleashing combo after combo of attacks. Some connected, some didn't, but the moves appeared to be wearing Yugo down more than Gado. In a quick, abrupt move, Gado kicked Yugo away and morphed into a lion hybrid, much to the amusement of the crowd.
"A zoanthrope," Alice whispered in horror. There was no way Yugo could survive against him without the help of another zoanthrope. But that meant calling upon a power that could make her berserk . . . "Gado," Yugo yelled, and morphed into a wolf hybrid. Alice shook her head in disbelief. Years go by without seeing or meeting another like her and on a Wednesday night she see two! "Where is my father," he asked in a half growl. The crowd's fear had set in, and they moved far away from the fighters, watching in awed silence.
Gado gave no reply, instead dashed and attempted to stab Yugo through his stomach. He jumped back, and in the process got his chest slashed. His red shirt was slowly being dyed crimson with his own blood. Howling, Yugo pounced on Gado and bit into his shoulder. Gado roared in pain and kicked Yugo off of him, then ran and stomped on his body after it hit the gravel. Yugo tried to trip him, with no avail. Gado then grabbed the wolf by his neck and held him up like a prize. Yugo kicked and snarled but Gado seemed to tighten his hold, slowly cutting off his supply of oxygen.
The wolf was no more, and the lion held up his human dinner. Alice felt her heart surge with emotion and she dashed and began to attack the lion with jab after jab, punches so fast her movements seemed blurred.
Gado blindly swiped at her, dropping Yugo in the process. He crashed to the ground, unconscious. "Stay out of this," he growled, lunging for Alice's head. She dodged, but his claw caught her ribbon she used to pull up her head in pigtails. The left side of her hair crashed down, and she looked half mature, half child. They stared at each other for a moment, then Gado scoffed and walked away, along with the crowd.
"Yugo," Alice whispered as she dashed to the boy, who lay face up, eyes wide with horror. She checked his pulse while eyeing his chest wounds. Barely alive and fading fast. She'd have to get him to the hospital soon if he were to survive. Picking him up gently, she used her energy to morph into a rabbit and dashed to the hospital, praying that he would survive and she wouldn't go berserk.
~o~
So close, yet so far. Gado. He knew his father, he could tell him where he was. But only if he could beat him in battle . . . Gado was strong and experienced. He was a teenager with a power he couldn't control. Yugo opened his eyes slowly, to find them enveloped in a white light. "Heaven," he questioned, blinking several times.
A feminine voice giggled softly and replied no. Yugo responded by asking if this was hell. The girl giggled again and told him he was in the hospital. "How'd I get here," he questioned, searching for the voice. He tried to sit up but failed, pain attacking his chest with unreal force. He moaned softly and sank back into the hard mattress.
"You're lucky you're alive, you know," Alice said as she entered the room, wearing a white nurse's outfit and her shoulder length hair pulled back with a headband. A coy smile decorated her face, accented by stiking red eyes.
The nurse was beautiful, no denying that. "How'd I get here," he repeated, and the nurse winked and grinned.
"I brought you here. You happened to be fighting near my apartment-"
"You live in that hell house," Yugo exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes. I know it's not much but . . . it's the only place I can hide."
"Who are you," he asked, out of curiosity and the desire to learn the girl's name. She looked about his age, although her eyes made her seem maturer. She looked as if she had been through as much as he had, but he had the added burden of being a zoanthrope.
"Alice. I'm sorry, I have no last name."
"No need to apologize. I'm Yugo."
"Hello . . . Yugo," she replied in quiet shyness, complete opposite of her confident demeanor that she had when she entered the room. "Are you okay? You were near death by time I got you here. I was woried you'd die."
Yugo arched an eyebrow, "Caring for a stranger?"
"Not just any stranger, a stranger who is like me."
"You're a zoanthrope too," he exclaimed in shock. Alice smiled sadly and nodded. "Then . . . have you heard of a man named Yuji Ohagami?" Alice shook her head again, suddenly afraid to speak. "What's wrong," he asked, concerned for the girl.
"When . .. you turn into a wolf, do you go beserk?"
"No. Why?"
"Just wondering, that's all. . . ."
"I lose memory of all that's happened when I transform." Alice looked up, eyes wide with wonder. "I don't remember anything after I turned into a wolf last night. Maybe it's for the best, you know, if I kill someone then I won't remember."
I wish I had your problem," she confessed, sitting down on the edge of his hospital bed, "Tylon kidnapped me as a child. They programmed me to kill with no remorse. It's . . . hard to stay out of that consciousness sometimes. They made it a game, you know? Kill him and you get thirty points. One thousand means a prize," voice becoming thick with sorrow and remorse, "I thought it was fun, killing all them . .."
Yugo watched Alice with concern and pity. No words came immediately to his mind, but seeing her break down tugged at his heart, even though he had just met her minutes ago. Finally, after an awkward silence, the words came, "It wasn't you who killed them," he started, and Alice looked up, eyes shimmering with unshed tears, "Tylon, no, the programmed mind you had killed. The real you was hidden, overshadowed by what you were supposed to be. You didn't think then, you just acted. Don't cry over lost life, use that energy to preserve the life that's left."
Alice smiled slightly, a sad, nostalgic curve of her mouth that softened even the coldest of hearts. "That's why I became a nurse, Mitsuko always told me that. Mitsuko was my aunt. Not blood, of coarse, but she offered me a home, a place where I could live a normal life, even if my blood isn't. For a year, I was in bliss. Then Tylon kidnapped Uriko, and Mitsuko left. Anyway, why are you after Gado?"
"Do you know him," he asked, voice exerting hatred and eyes narrowing.
"No, You and him are the first zoanthropes I've seen in almost a year. I thought Tylon had them all."
"Gado knew my father. I want to know why he left myself and Ambrosia if he knew that Tylon would come after us."
"Your childhood wasn't easy either, eh?"
Yugo nodded, then continued, voice serious, yet verging on anger, "Soon after he left, Tylon stalked us. We were always on the run. They took Ambrosia and performed freak experiments on her. She died of coarse, and her name became lost, without a stone or funeral to commend her life."
Alice nodded, understanding. Herself and Yugo had much in common, maybe fate had brought them together? "Where are you going after this?"
"Wherever Gado takes me. He says he'll tell me about my father if I can beat him in a fight. As you can see, that hasn't happened yet. But I can't give up, I will find the truth."
"What if . . . The truth isn't what you think it'll be? What if the truth hurts more than the lie?"
"How old are you," Yugo asked, changing the subject.
"Seventeen."
"Me too. You seem older."
"So do you."
"Circumstances have a way of making you grow up faster, I guess." Alice nodded, knowing that his words were the truth. Silence followed, and the only sounds heard were the steady beeping of Yugo's heart monitor, the whir of machinery, and the steady breathing made by both teens. Suddenly Yugo spoke, quiet urgency in his voice, "They didn't take my blood, did they?"
"Yes, wh-"
"Shit," he cursed, and jumped up, ripping the tubes from his arms and chest. "They know I'm a zoanthrope! Tylon's probably sent some agents on their way now!" Alice gasped and frowned, feeling guilty.
"I'm sorry Yugo. . ." He eyed her then shook his head.
"You saved my ass back there. Don't worry about it."
"Let me help you escape. If you go running out like that, hospital employees will sedate you and tie you up." Yugo nodded and changed out of the hospital gown and into his jeans and shirt. "I'll take you back to my place. You can decide where you want to go from there."
"Thanks Alice," he replied, and Alice felt a bolt of electricity flow through her body as Yugo glanced over his shoulder and grinned while saying his thanks. She nodded, feeling her cheeks grow slightly red. "Ready," he asked, slipping on his shoe. Alice turned serious and nodded, left the room, and seeing that no one was around, motioned for Yugo to follow her.
"As long as you stay beside me, everything will be okay. I'll take you out using a side exit."
"I'm afraid that won't be necessary Alice 01. Yugo Ohgami will come with me," a snide, cruel voice said, and both teens turned to see a man. He had yellow eyes, black hair, tanned skin, dressed in a black suit and carried a gun.
"Shit," Yugo muttered. "Listen, on the count of three, we transform and run." Alice's eyes protested, she could go berserk and kill them both and everyone in the hospital. "Don't worry," he whispered, "If you kill me I wouldn't mind."
"Don't even think of running," the man continued, approaching the zoanthropes.
"Run," Yugo cried," and both burst into beast form, knocking down the man with the force of the tranformation's energy. The wolf and rabbit hybrid began to dash away, Alice taking the lead and guiding Yugo to the exit.
The man groaned and pulled out a phone, then dialed his comrade's extensions. "Bakuryu, Jenny. We got a code red on our hands. Block all the exits and exterminate upon contact."