DISCLAIMER: All Rurouni Kenshin characters belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro, Jump
Comics, and all concerned parties. No infringement intended! Please don't sue me,
a poor person. Any other characters created belong to me.
Timeline: Sometime in the distant future
Type of fic: Alternate Universe
Other notes: There may be some expletives here so I'm apologizing ahead of time
^^; Also, I will be changing the personalities of the characters we have in some
aspects. Furthermore, I will also change some of the ages and who's older than
whom 'k? ^^;
The Rants:
-Once again, thank you for the reviews! ^^ It's highly encouraging! ^^
-Oh, so sorry if the translations come in the middle ^^;;; I write this way now
'coz I remembered that some people commented before in the ml I'm in that it's a
little hard reading back and forth between the start/end of the fic for
translations… I don't mind though ^^ Don't worry, I'm shifting everything to the
end from this chapter ^^
-Nope, not Kiyosato Akira ^^;; Nice idea though! ^^ What happened was this. When
I make char names, I either have a list of common names Japanese people have
(d/l from the net) or I have a dictionary with me ^^x I felt soooo lazy I
decided to use the former ^^v Akira was the first name to pop up… But, here, I'm
deciding to stick with him being an original character ^^
-Yes, you'll see that I've screwed up the characters' personalities big time ^^;
hey, it's time for a change, don't you think? ne? *ducks thrown objects* hehehe
Once again, thank you for your reviews! ^^
Advance notes:
-Sekihara Tai – Sekihara Tae in the present age
-Ok, I'm guessing how they actually do funerals there in Japan ^^x Please assume
that the Hishikawas are Catholics… I'll be using some of their procedures here
^^v (or some of what happens here in my country ^^x)
Rebirth
Chapter Two: Hints of Pain
--------------------
Six Years Later…
It was a gloomy day with the stormy clouds gathered up in the heavens. Although
the rain had threatened to fall over a considerable amount of time, nature
seemed to be playing a joke and the rain never did fall. Instead, the cold winds
swept across the earth as the dark gray clouds continued to roll about, casting
ominous shadows over the land and the silence being punctuated every now and
then by the crash of thunder and lightning.
'Such foreboding weather.' Sekihara Tai, a thin woman with a good disposition,
thought quietly. 'Sure does reflect the mood of this occasion.' she added as she
surveyed the scene before her.
The lush green field in front of her was dotted by quite a number of people
aside from her, all waiting for the same thing. Some of them were smiling,
swapping stories with people they had caught up with while others mingled about,
pointing here and their to their companions about so and so. Others still had
taken to the seats arranged in neat rows near a freshly dug hole in the ground,
staring at it as if the hole itself will suck them into the infinite rest that
it represents. However, what cannot be denied at the peculiarity of the scene
was the tension that hung in the air. The tension was so thick that you could
probably taste it if you tried really hard.
Tai sat down on a nearby bench and sighed, checking her watch with mild
impatience. 'Should have been here earlier…' she thought as she glanced
mournfully towards the front where people were literally saving seats for their
companions. 'That way, I could have gotten better seats for this…'
Just then, she heard the sound of engines approaching. Glancing back, her
suspicions were confirmed when she saw the quiet entrance of a nondescript car
followed by a long parade of people and other vehicles. The other people around
also took notice and started to get to their feet.
The car pulled up in front of them and the driver plus some assistants came out
of the vehicle and opened the back door. Almost roughly, they reached inside and
pulled on the coffin that lay within. It was not that big and Tai could just
make out her longtime friend hanging near the fringes of the newly arrived
crowed. If not for the solemn occasion, Tai would have waved to her friend and
they would have talked the night away. However, this wasn't the time for that
and Tai merely looked at the coffin being brought near the dug out grave at the
front.
Tai watched as Hishikawa Michi led her young son of six years to the front where
the other family members were gathered, one hand gripping her son's lightly
while the other clutched a handkerchief to her face.
'Poor Michi… And to think that they were such a good couple…' Tai said quietly
as she resumed her position at the bench. She suddenly found herself reminiscing
the long gone times, when she would tease Michi to the man who would become her
husband, Hishikawa Genjo.
Tai remembered when Genjo would come to her, seeking her advice on how to please
Michi who was then a high-profiled person at their school as well as her best
friend. Genjo, being one of the good looking yet shy people, would come to her
often to learn more of his 'beloved'.
'And to think that Michi thought that Genjo was cheating on her!' Tai remembered
quite ruefully, thinking of the time when Michi thought Genjo was courting Tai.
'The trouble we had just to get that straightened out!'
The priest arrived then and started the ceremony for the final blessing of the
dead. Tai forced her thoughts back to the present as she half-tuned out the
priest to glance at her best friend who was absently stroking her son's head.
Tai glanced at Shinta, a little puzzled just then. For a six-year-old who had
just lost his father, young Shinta didn't seem at all fazed by what was
happening around him. 'Such an odd kid, if you could call one odd.' Tai thought
as she remembered some incidents where Shinta acted really mature for a boy less
than ten years of age. 'I remember that time when Michi got pissed off at the
poor boy for muddying the floors in the kitchen one rainy day. Shinta just bowed
and said he was sorry before mopping up the place! Then there was that time when
Michi found his room in a mess and got mad at Shinta. Less than an hour later, I
saw that you could practically lick the floor in his room. Really odd.'
Tai was about to tune back to the priest when she saw Michi say something to
Shinta. The boy seemed to interrupt his mother and Tai saw shock register on her
best friend's face before Michi composed herself and focused distractedly at the
sermon. Tai's eyes narrowed a notch. 'Wonder what that was about.'
Shrugging and knowing that she will get her answers later, Tai just sighed and
tuned herself back to the ceremony.
*****
Michi had somehow gotten herself composed for the inevitable. How she was able
to hold it together after the love of her life had died, she does not know. She
glanced briefly at Shinta and wondered, not for the first time, how her son, a
boy of six years, could just watch the ceremony with a calm as if he was just
watching television.
Michi found herself stroking her son's feather-soft hair tenderly and, before
she could control herself, leaned over and whispered to her son. "Daijoubu,
Shinta-chan? 'Touchan just went away for a little while and…"
But, to her surprise, Shinta turned around to face her, sincerity etched onto
his features. "You need not explain it, Mama, I know what had happened to
'Touchan." And, before Michi could reply to that, Shinta turned around once
again and listened to the priest.
Michi leaned back and thought hard. It wasn't the first time Shinta had replied
to her like that and every time he did, it freaked her out. One minute, her
child is like any ordinary boy of six years, laughing, talking, and playing
joyfully, filled with curiosity about the world he lives in. Then, when
something out of the ordinary occurs, Michi finds herself facing a six year old
who had the bearing of someone more than three times his age. And he looked like
it, down to the somber look a child shouldn't be wearing on his face.
'Snap out of it, Michi!' she scolded herself as she wiped the tears rolling off
her eyes and down her cheeks. 'You have to be strong… You have to be strong…'
*****
After the last person had left, muttering his condolences to the family Genjo
had left behind, Tai approached Michi and enfolded the younger woman in a tight
hug. Peering down at young Shinta, Tai reached into her pocket and produced a
small bag of sweets and presented it to the redhead.
"All for me?!" the childish tone rang out, violet eyes big at the number of
treats presented before him.
Tai nodded. "Hai!" she said as she handed the small bag to a positively brimming
child before he quickly disappeared in a rush of clothing. Tai sweatdropped when
she felt her friend's burning gaze on her back. Caught red-handed, Tai slowly
turned around, hands in a placating gesture, towards her friend. She almost
laughed out loud had she not come from a funeral. Her friend was red-eyed and
sniffing, torn between her anguish at losing her husband and getting furious at
her best friend for handing her child sweets.
"Mou…!" was all Michi could come up with before blowing her nose on the hanky
she was carrying.
Tai chuckled. "Gomen. It's been some time since I've seen the little one and I
thought that a present would be appropriate."
Michi managed a small smile. "I know. Thank you. It's just that… I don't know
what to do now, between us," she said pointing to the redhead sitting under a
sakura tree, enjoying his treats, and at herself, "and everything else." she
finished, leaning slightly on Tai after the latter offered her another hug and
cried another fresh wave of despair.
"Shh… Shh… It's all right." Tai said soothingly, rubbing Michi's back in small
circles. Eventually, the younger woman calmed down.
"And to think that we still don't know what happened…" Michi continued in a
small voice, prompting Tai to hold the younger woman at arms length.
"Nani?! I… We… heard that it was…"
"…a heart attack, I know." Michi gestured towards a nearby bench and they both
sat on it. The younger woman seemed to take her time, suddenly finding the
handkerchief she was holding very fascinating. After a long and agonizing pause,
she decided to continue. "I'm going to be honest with you… We told everyone that
it was a heart attack because that was what they told us at the hospital, but
was it really? I mean, I don't doubt what they told us but… I don't know…
somehow, something didn't feel right in the hospital then when the doctors came
to tell us what happened." At the disbelieving look Tai was giving her, Michi
continued, "I don't know… They had this *look* when I was asking questions… Then,
there was Shinta…" she said, indicating the young child who was now attracting
and playing with some birds who had flown to perch near him.
"Come to think of it… Shinta… Isn't there something… different… about him?" Tai
said suddenly that when she realized that she had said it, her hands flew to her
mouth. She suddenly started to sputter, "Michi… Oh dear… I'm so sorry… I didn't
mean…"
But Michi interrupted her outburst with a helpless sigh. "Stop it. I know… I
mean, I don't know…" She looked confused for a trifle before her face fell into
a mask again. "I really don't know…"
*****
"Sensei?" a woman with long dark hair said hesitantly.
"Hai?" Kaori looked up from the computer's display to take in the arrival of one
of her partners in the lab.
"Matsuoka-san told me to give this to you earlier but I couldn't seem to find
you." the young woman said in a quiet voice while holding out a nondescript
folder for the doctor to view.
Kaori's eyes widened a little before getting up and taking the folder. "Sakura,
have you read it already?"
The woman in front of her nodded slightly, eyes showing a little regret. "It's
all right, you were supposed to know anyway." Kaori said with a small grin.
Sakura grinned back. "Dai-nijuuichi wa dou desu ka?" [1]
Kaori felt her eyes harden a little. "I thought you read the report?" she said,
indicating the unopened folder in her hands.
Sakura blushed faintly and looked down. "I did but I'm slightly confused. How is
this," she pointed slightly at the folder, "supposed to help us recreate…"
Kaori felt herself move out of reflex as she found one of her hands over
Sakura's mouth, quieting her. "Shh…!" she said as she glanced hurriedly around
the office as well as at the hallway exposed by her open door. Kaori lightly
jogged to the door and closed it after making sure nobody was in the hallway.
Sighing, she turned back to Sakura with some hint of anger in her eyes. "Mou!
What were you trying to do?! Expose this to the world?!" she half-whispered,
half-shouted as she waved the folder around madly before crossing her arms in
front of her chest and pouting.
The other woman choked and started to giggle. Sakura couldn't help it, Kaori
looked quite adorable when angered and when she pouted!
Kaori cracked open an eyelid when she heard the chortle and mocked her anger
once more. However, Sakura was quite a contagious person and Kaori couldn't stop
but smile and relax a tad. "Mou…!" was the last thing she could say in her
defeat before she sat on the couch in her office, indicating to Sakura that she
should sit too.
After they were settled, Kaori looked at Sakura who was just getting her control
back. "Mou… You're very contagious, you know that?"
Sakura regarded her with amused eyes. "You keep saying that, Kamiya-sensei… er,
Kahori." Sakura corrected herself when she saw Kaori shoot her another glare.
"Geez, lighten up, will you?"
Kahori, who had just been reading the report handed to her, froze and Sakura
could have sworn she saw something… sadness perhaps?... flash in Kahori's eyes
before it disappeared so much so that she thought it was just her imagination.
"I wish I could…" Kahori said so softly that Sakura almost didn't catch it. She
decided to try something.
"What was that, Kahori?" she asked, a little hesitant.
Kahori put down the folder momentarily on the low glass table in front of her
before burying her head in her hands. "I wish I could…" she said again, loud
enough for Sakura to hear this time. "Demo…" a note of exasperation was now
audible. "Demo…"
Sakura jerked back and realized what was happening. She then scooted over the
couch and embraced Kaori as she felt the slight shuddering of the thin frame
beneath her arms. However, Kaori pulled back just then, dabbing her eyes
hurriedly.
"No, I said no more tears…"
Sakura regarded Kahori again and saw the determination emanating from her. "Kahori,
sumimasen…"
Kahori turned to her and flashed a quick smile. "No need for apologies." she
looked down again and whispered, "Thank you."
A short silence followed before being punctuated by Kahori drawing in a long
breath. "Hmph! Enough of this." she said, a little over-enthusiastically and
reached for the folder which lay momentarily forgotten on the table.
Flipping quickly to the page she was reading, Kahori reread the surveillance
report appended with the other readings. "Hmm... So, this is what he's been up
to… Interesting…"
"What's interesting?" Sakura said as she edged closer to Kahori to peer at the
reports.
"You asked how the subject is?" At Sakura's assent, Kahori continued. "According
to this report, Subject A… er, Dai-nijuuichi… is, in fact, doing more than I had
basically predicted around six years ago. He's maturing fast although he is
still manifesting the basic qualities of a child." Kahori scratched her head.
"However, if he will manifest the qualities we had burned into his memory, that
still remains to be seen… Damn! I told Matsuoka that there are too many
variables in this…!"
Kahori stood up and threw down the folder and sensed Sakura's question coming.
Kahori looked a little flustered as she resumed her seat again, a little
embarrassed at her outburst. "Ano," she continued in a more controlled but meek
voice, "I was just thinking… This so-called 'recreation', as you termed it, will
we be able to control it?" Kahori said as she nervously played with her fingers.
At Sakura's silence, Kahori rambled on. "I mean, so far, it's been great and all
but there are so many things we don't know. What if something happens and pushes
him to the advanced stage early? What if it doesn't go as we predicted? What
if…? What if…? What if…?"
"Kahori," Sakura said quietly, catching the doctor's attention instantly, "Let's
handle one problem at a time, ne? Whatever happens, we'll cope with it in the
way we know and are proficient in… Don't let that damn Matsuoka run you down
like… Don't you see? Let's be optimistic here." Sakura said, ignoring the
knowing look the younger doctor threw to her on her verbal stumble.
Kahori sighed again. "I hope it's that easy. If I know him as well as I think I
do, I would bet anything that he was planning something to speed everything up…
again."
*****
Matsuoka sneezed violently. Sniffing cautiously, he lifted the phone's handset
again to his ear, grabbing the small handkerchief on his jacket pocket and
hurriedly wiped his nose.
"So sorry, sir, just a cold nuisance… Yes, yes… I know it's been that long…
There is progress, as I had indicated in the reports… No, no, sir! We're not…!"
He nodded his head several times, as if he was talking with someone across the
room.
"Yes, sir, immediately… I'll see to it personally that it's done soon… I mean
now, sir… Yes, yes… Good night, sir."
Matsuoka put down the phone and leaned back on his chair, drained. With a quick
movement, he removed his glasses and started to massage his temple with one hand
while another grabbed his seat's armrest.
"Damn. This hastens things up… I hope everything's ready." Opening his eyes and
replacing his spectacles, Matsuoka reached for the intercom.
"Yes, Matsuoka-sensei?" a voice answered patiently.
"Please call Kaori, Sakura, and the rest of the lab team in here, please." he
said, a little awkwardly.
"Yes, sir." and the intercom went out.
Matsuoka sat in silence as he pondered whom to call next. Staring at his
telephone didn't help as it will not dial by itself.
'Might as well get through with this… The boss is getting impatient.' he thought,
a little fearful. Nevertheless, Matsuoka picked up the phone and dialed a number
across the keypad. After three rings, he hung up and dialed again. On the second
ring, he hung up and dialed one last time. On the first ring, someone picked up
from the other end but said nothing.
"It's me." Matsuoka said quietly. "Dai-nijuuichi." was all he said before he
heard the other party disconnect. Matsuoka replaced the receiver back in its
cradle and fell slack against his chair, waiting patiently for the staff to
gather.
'They won't like this one bit but it's not like I have a choice in the matter.'
He smirked without humor. 'This is going to be interesting…'
End of chapter two.
[1]Dai-nijuuichi wa dou desu ka? – How is number 21?
other notes/rants/etc :)
-Sorry it took long ^^x I suddenly became *very* obsessed with working with my
website for RK ^^v You'll see what I mean in the upcoming update there! ^^
hehehe
-Where'd the concept of "Dai-nijuuichi" come from? Honestly, I don't know. ^^;
The idea came to me when I woke up so I decided to call the project "Number 21"
~.^ Sample A, from the previous chapter(s) is of that project.
-I'll be speeding some of the upcoming events so that the story will become
clearer ^^v It's still vague at this stage ne? It will be much more clearer when
I write the flashback of the events that happened *before* the story that's been
written plus some of the events tied to it in the present… I'm still trying to
read up on it (and I don't have much time to read background material) so I'm
going to improvise --v hehehe
-Sakura is based from one of the three sisters who protected Shinta from the
bandits (and got killed in the process). She is also a doctor and a friend of
Kaori's. When I was working on my site, I was doing profiles and they just found
their way into my brain, begging me to include them in the story I had
hatched ;p Stay in tune for other appearances of other characters in the future!
^^
Comics, and all concerned parties. No infringement intended! Please don't sue me,
a poor person. Any other characters created belong to me.
Timeline: Sometime in the distant future
Type of fic: Alternate Universe
Other notes: There may be some expletives here so I'm apologizing ahead of time
^^; Also, I will be changing the personalities of the characters we have in some
aspects. Furthermore, I will also change some of the ages and who's older than
whom 'k? ^^;
The Rants:
-Once again, thank you for the reviews! ^^ It's highly encouraging! ^^
-Oh, so sorry if the translations come in the middle ^^;;; I write this way now
'coz I remembered that some people commented before in the ml I'm in that it's a
little hard reading back and forth between the start/end of the fic for
translations… I don't mind though ^^ Don't worry, I'm shifting everything to the
end from this chapter ^^
-Nope, not Kiyosato Akira ^^;; Nice idea though! ^^ What happened was this. When
I make char names, I either have a list of common names Japanese people have
(d/l from the net) or I have a dictionary with me ^^x I felt soooo lazy I
decided to use the former ^^v Akira was the first name to pop up… But, here, I'm
deciding to stick with him being an original character ^^
-Yes, you'll see that I've screwed up the characters' personalities big time ^^;
hey, it's time for a change, don't you think? ne? *ducks thrown objects* hehehe
Once again, thank you for your reviews! ^^
Advance notes:
-Sekihara Tai – Sekihara Tae in the present age
-Ok, I'm guessing how they actually do funerals there in Japan ^^x Please assume
that the Hishikawas are Catholics… I'll be using some of their procedures here
^^v (or some of what happens here in my country ^^x)
Rebirth
Chapter Two: Hints of Pain
--------------------
Six Years Later…
It was a gloomy day with the stormy clouds gathered up in the heavens. Although
the rain had threatened to fall over a considerable amount of time, nature
seemed to be playing a joke and the rain never did fall. Instead, the cold winds
swept across the earth as the dark gray clouds continued to roll about, casting
ominous shadows over the land and the silence being punctuated every now and
then by the crash of thunder and lightning.
'Such foreboding weather.' Sekihara Tai, a thin woman with a good disposition,
thought quietly. 'Sure does reflect the mood of this occasion.' she added as she
surveyed the scene before her.
The lush green field in front of her was dotted by quite a number of people
aside from her, all waiting for the same thing. Some of them were smiling,
swapping stories with people they had caught up with while others mingled about,
pointing here and their to their companions about so and so. Others still had
taken to the seats arranged in neat rows near a freshly dug hole in the ground,
staring at it as if the hole itself will suck them into the infinite rest that
it represents. However, what cannot be denied at the peculiarity of the scene
was the tension that hung in the air. The tension was so thick that you could
probably taste it if you tried really hard.
Tai sat down on a nearby bench and sighed, checking her watch with mild
impatience. 'Should have been here earlier…' she thought as she glanced
mournfully towards the front where people were literally saving seats for their
companions. 'That way, I could have gotten better seats for this…'
Just then, she heard the sound of engines approaching. Glancing back, her
suspicions were confirmed when she saw the quiet entrance of a nondescript car
followed by a long parade of people and other vehicles. The other people around
also took notice and started to get to their feet.
The car pulled up in front of them and the driver plus some assistants came out
of the vehicle and opened the back door. Almost roughly, they reached inside and
pulled on the coffin that lay within. It was not that big and Tai could just
make out her longtime friend hanging near the fringes of the newly arrived
crowed. If not for the solemn occasion, Tai would have waved to her friend and
they would have talked the night away. However, this wasn't the time for that
and Tai merely looked at the coffin being brought near the dug out grave at the
front.
Tai watched as Hishikawa Michi led her young son of six years to the front where
the other family members were gathered, one hand gripping her son's lightly
while the other clutched a handkerchief to her face.
'Poor Michi… And to think that they were such a good couple…' Tai said quietly
as she resumed her position at the bench. She suddenly found herself reminiscing
the long gone times, when she would tease Michi to the man who would become her
husband, Hishikawa Genjo.
Tai remembered when Genjo would come to her, seeking her advice on how to please
Michi who was then a high-profiled person at their school as well as her best
friend. Genjo, being one of the good looking yet shy people, would come to her
often to learn more of his 'beloved'.
'And to think that Michi thought that Genjo was cheating on her!' Tai remembered
quite ruefully, thinking of the time when Michi thought Genjo was courting Tai.
'The trouble we had just to get that straightened out!'
The priest arrived then and started the ceremony for the final blessing of the
dead. Tai forced her thoughts back to the present as she half-tuned out the
priest to glance at her best friend who was absently stroking her son's head.
Tai glanced at Shinta, a little puzzled just then. For a six-year-old who had
just lost his father, young Shinta didn't seem at all fazed by what was
happening around him. 'Such an odd kid, if you could call one odd.' Tai thought
as she remembered some incidents where Shinta acted really mature for a boy less
than ten years of age. 'I remember that time when Michi got pissed off at the
poor boy for muddying the floors in the kitchen one rainy day. Shinta just bowed
and said he was sorry before mopping up the place! Then there was that time when
Michi found his room in a mess and got mad at Shinta. Less than an hour later, I
saw that you could practically lick the floor in his room. Really odd.'
Tai was about to tune back to the priest when she saw Michi say something to
Shinta. The boy seemed to interrupt his mother and Tai saw shock register on her
best friend's face before Michi composed herself and focused distractedly at the
sermon. Tai's eyes narrowed a notch. 'Wonder what that was about.'
Shrugging and knowing that she will get her answers later, Tai just sighed and
tuned herself back to the ceremony.
*****
Michi had somehow gotten herself composed for the inevitable. How she was able
to hold it together after the love of her life had died, she does not know. She
glanced briefly at Shinta and wondered, not for the first time, how her son, a
boy of six years, could just watch the ceremony with a calm as if he was just
watching television.
Michi found herself stroking her son's feather-soft hair tenderly and, before
she could control herself, leaned over and whispered to her son. "Daijoubu,
Shinta-chan? 'Touchan just went away for a little while and…"
But, to her surprise, Shinta turned around to face her, sincerity etched onto
his features. "You need not explain it, Mama, I know what had happened to
'Touchan." And, before Michi could reply to that, Shinta turned around once
again and listened to the priest.
Michi leaned back and thought hard. It wasn't the first time Shinta had replied
to her like that and every time he did, it freaked her out. One minute, her
child is like any ordinary boy of six years, laughing, talking, and playing
joyfully, filled with curiosity about the world he lives in. Then, when
something out of the ordinary occurs, Michi finds herself facing a six year old
who had the bearing of someone more than three times his age. And he looked like
it, down to the somber look a child shouldn't be wearing on his face.
'Snap out of it, Michi!' she scolded herself as she wiped the tears rolling off
her eyes and down her cheeks. 'You have to be strong… You have to be strong…'
*****
After the last person had left, muttering his condolences to the family Genjo
had left behind, Tai approached Michi and enfolded the younger woman in a tight
hug. Peering down at young Shinta, Tai reached into her pocket and produced a
small bag of sweets and presented it to the redhead.
"All for me?!" the childish tone rang out, violet eyes big at the number of
treats presented before him.
Tai nodded. "Hai!" she said as she handed the small bag to a positively brimming
child before he quickly disappeared in a rush of clothing. Tai sweatdropped when
she felt her friend's burning gaze on her back. Caught red-handed, Tai slowly
turned around, hands in a placating gesture, towards her friend. She almost
laughed out loud had she not come from a funeral. Her friend was red-eyed and
sniffing, torn between her anguish at losing her husband and getting furious at
her best friend for handing her child sweets.
"Mou…!" was all Michi could come up with before blowing her nose on the hanky
she was carrying.
Tai chuckled. "Gomen. It's been some time since I've seen the little one and I
thought that a present would be appropriate."
Michi managed a small smile. "I know. Thank you. It's just that… I don't know
what to do now, between us," she said pointing to the redhead sitting under a
sakura tree, enjoying his treats, and at herself, "and everything else." she
finished, leaning slightly on Tai after the latter offered her another hug and
cried another fresh wave of despair.
"Shh… Shh… It's all right." Tai said soothingly, rubbing Michi's back in small
circles. Eventually, the younger woman calmed down.
"And to think that we still don't know what happened…" Michi continued in a
small voice, prompting Tai to hold the younger woman at arms length.
"Nani?! I… We… heard that it was…"
"…a heart attack, I know." Michi gestured towards a nearby bench and they both
sat on it. The younger woman seemed to take her time, suddenly finding the
handkerchief she was holding very fascinating. After a long and agonizing pause,
she decided to continue. "I'm going to be honest with you… We told everyone that
it was a heart attack because that was what they told us at the hospital, but
was it really? I mean, I don't doubt what they told us but… I don't know…
somehow, something didn't feel right in the hospital then when the doctors came
to tell us what happened." At the disbelieving look Tai was giving her, Michi
continued, "I don't know… They had this *look* when I was asking questions… Then,
there was Shinta…" she said, indicating the young child who was now attracting
and playing with some birds who had flown to perch near him.
"Come to think of it… Shinta… Isn't there something… different… about him?" Tai
said suddenly that when she realized that she had said it, her hands flew to her
mouth. She suddenly started to sputter, "Michi… Oh dear… I'm so sorry… I didn't
mean…"
But Michi interrupted her outburst with a helpless sigh. "Stop it. I know… I
mean, I don't know…" She looked confused for a trifle before her face fell into
a mask again. "I really don't know…"
*****
"Sensei?" a woman with long dark hair said hesitantly.
"Hai?" Kaori looked up from the computer's display to take in the arrival of one
of her partners in the lab.
"Matsuoka-san told me to give this to you earlier but I couldn't seem to find
you." the young woman said in a quiet voice while holding out a nondescript
folder for the doctor to view.
Kaori's eyes widened a little before getting up and taking the folder. "Sakura,
have you read it already?"
The woman in front of her nodded slightly, eyes showing a little regret. "It's
all right, you were supposed to know anyway." Kaori said with a small grin.
Sakura grinned back. "Dai-nijuuichi wa dou desu ka?" [1]
Kaori felt her eyes harden a little. "I thought you read the report?" she said,
indicating the unopened folder in her hands.
Sakura blushed faintly and looked down. "I did but I'm slightly confused. How is
this," she pointed slightly at the folder, "supposed to help us recreate…"
Kaori felt herself move out of reflex as she found one of her hands over
Sakura's mouth, quieting her. "Shh…!" she said as she glanced hurriedly around
the office as well as at the hallway exposed by her open door. Kaori lightly
jogged to the door and closed it after making sure nobody was in the hallway.
Sighing, she turned back to Sakura with some hint of anger in her eyes. "Mou!
What were you trying to do?! Expose this to the world?!" she half-whispered,
half-shouted as she waved the folder around madly before crossing her arms in
front of her chest and pouting.
The other woman choked and started to giggle. Sakura couldn't help it, Kaori
looked quite adorable when angered and when she pouted!
Kaori cracked open an eyelid when she heard the chortle and mocked her anger
once more. However, Sakura was quite a contagious person and Kaori couldn't stop
but smile and relax a tad. "Mou…!" was the last thing she could say in her
defeat before she sat on the couch in her office, indicating to Sakura that she
should sit too.
After they were settled, Kaori looked at Sakura who was just getting her control
back. "Mou… You're very contagious, you know that?"
Sakura regarded her with amused eyes. "You keep saying that, Kamiya-sensei… er,
Kahori." Sakura corrected herself when she saw Kaori shoot her another glare.
"Geez, lighten up, will you?"
Kahori, who had just been reading the report handed to her, froze and Sakura
could have sworn she saw something… sadness perhaps?... flash in Kahori's eyes
before it disappeared so much so that she thought it was just her imagination.
"I wish I could…" Kahori said so softly that Sakura almost didn't catch it. She
decided to try something.
"What was that, Kahori?" she asked, a little hesitant.
Kahori put down the folder momentarily on the low glass table in front of her
before burying her head in her hands. "I wish I could…" she said again, loud
enough for Sakura to hear this time. "Demo…" a note of exasperation was now
audible. "Demo…"
Sakura jerked back and realized what was happening. She then scooted over the
couch and embraced Kaori as she felt the slight shuddering of the thin frame
beneath her arms. However, Kaori pulled back just then, dabbing her eyes
hurriedly.
"No, I said no more tears…"
Sakura regarded Kahori again and saw the determination emanating from her. "Kahori,
sumimasen…"
Kahori turned to her and flashed a quick smile. "No need for apologies." she
looked down again and whispered, "Thank you."
A short silence followed before being punctuated by Kahori drawing in a long
breath. "Hmph! Enough of this." she said, a little over-enthusiastically and
reached for the folder which lay momentarily forgotten on the table.
Flipping quickly to the page she was reading, Kahori reread the surveillance
report appended with the other readings. "Hmm... So, this is what he's been up
to… Interesting…"
"What's interesting?" Sakura said as she edged closer to Kahori to peer at the
reports.
"You asked how the subject is?" At Sakura's assent, Kahori continued. "According
to this report, Subject A… er, Dai-nijuuichi… is, in fact, doing more than I had
basically predicted around six years ago. He's maturing fast although he is
still manifesting the basic qualities of a child." Kahori scratched her head.
"However, if he will manifest the qualities we had burned into his memory, that
still remains to be seen… Damn! I told Matsuoka that there are too many
variables in this…!"
Kahori stood up and threw down the folder and sensed Sakura's question coming.
Kahori looked a little flustered as she resumed her seat again, a little
embarrassed at her outburst. "Ano," she continued in a more controlled but meek
voice, "I was just thinking… This so-called 'recreation', as you termed it, will
we be able to control it?" Kahori said as she nervously played with her fingers.
At Sakura's silence, Kahori rambled on. "I mean, so far, it's been great and all
but there are so many things we don't know. What if something happens and pushes
him to the advanced stage early? What if it doesn't go as we predicted? What
if…? What if…? What if…?"
"Kahori," Sakura said quietly, catching the doctor's attention instantly, "Let's
handle one problem at a time, ne? Whatever happens, we'll cope with it in the
way we know and are proficient in… Don't let that damn Matsuoka run you down
like… Don't you see? Let's be optimistic here." Sakura said, ignoring the
knowing look the younger doctor threw to her on her verbal stumble.
Kahori sighed again. "I hope it's that easy. If I know him as well as I think I
do, I would bet anything that he was planning something to speed everything up…
again."
*****
Matsuoka sneezed violently. Sniffing cautiously, he lifted the phone's handset
again to his ear, grabbing the small handkerchief on his jacket pocket and
hurriedly wiped his nose.
"So sorry, sir, just a cold nuisance… Yes, yes… I know it's been that long…
There is progress, as I had indicated in the reports… No, no, sir! We're not…!"
He nodded his head several times, as if he was talking with someone across the
room.
"Yes, sir, immediately… I'll see to it personally that it's done soon… I mean
now, sir… Yes, yes… Good night, sir."
Matsuoka put down the phone and leaned back on his chair, drained. With a quick
movement, he removed his glasses and started to massage his temple with one hand
while another grabbed his seat's armrest.
"Damn. This hastens things up… I hope everything's ready." Opening his eyes and
replacing his spectacles, Matsuoka reached for the intercom.
"Yes, Matsuoka-sensei?" a voice answered patiently.
"Please call Kaori, Sakura, and the rest of the lab team in here, please." he
said, a little awkwardly.
"Yes, sir." and the intercom went out.
Matsuoka sat in silence as he pondered whom to call next. Staring at his
telephone didn't help as it will not dial by itself.
'Might as well get through with this… The boss is getting impatient.' he thought,
a little fearful. Nevertheless, Matsuoka picked up the phone and dialed a number
across the keypad. After three rings, he hung up and dialed again. On the second
ring, he hung up and dialed one last time. On the first ring, someone picked up
from the other end but said nothing.
"It's me." Matsuoka said quietly. "Dai-nijuuichi." was all he said before he
heard the other party disconnect. Matsuoka replaced the receiver back in its
cradle and fell slack against his chair, waiting patiently for the staff to
gather.
'They won't like this one bit but it's not like I have a choice in the matter.'
He smirked without humor. 'This is going to be interesting…'
End of chapter two.
[1]Dai-nijuuichi wa dou desu ka? – How is number 21?
other notes/rants/etc :)
-Sorry it took long ^^x I suddenly became *very* obsessed with working with my
website for RK ^^v You'll see what I mean in the upcoming update there! ^^
hehehe
-Where'd the concept of "Dai-nijuuichi" come from? Honestly, I don't know. ^^;
The idea came to me when I woke up so I decided to call the project "Number 21"
~.^ Sample A, from the previous chapter(s) is of that project.
-I'll be speeding some of the upcoming events so that the story will become
clearer ^^v It's still vague at this stage ne? It will be much more clearer when
I write the flashback of the events that happened *before* the story that's been
written plus some of the events tied to it in the present… I'm still trying to
read up on it (and I don't have much time to read background material) so I'm
going to improvise --v hehehe
-Sakura is based from one of the three sisters who protected Shinta from the
bandits (and got killed in the process). She is also a doctor and a friend of
Kaori's. When I was working on my site, I was doing profiles and they just found
their way into my brain, begging me to include them in the story I had
hatched ;p Stay in tune for other appearances of other characters in the future!
^^