Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho and all the subjects connected to it are properties of Yoshihiro Togashi and all the other companies.
Identity
Chapter 6
"You left the children in Shura's cell?"
Lakashka snappily twisted his head to his subordinate's direction. His keen eyes continued to placidly watch the nervous man shift uneasily from one foot to the other. The question seemed to hang in the tense air of the room, embodied by a lone eyebrow frozen above level ponderously.
Finally, Krishnal replied, "Y-yes, sir."
The eyebrow slid in place. "I see," said Lakashka. "And how many times have you fed the young man since he first stayed here?"
"Thrice, sire."
"The last being?"
"A month and a half ago, sir."
"Starvation does work wonders. It managed to force some cooperation on that bellicose child, stopping even those temper tantrums of his. But the sight of a feast also does wonders on a starving man."
Krishnal gulped, but swallowed nothing from his dry mouth. "S-sir… There are r-restraints… It's is merely psychological torture for them that I-"
"You know that I am a subtle man, Krishnal. I prefer to work by my own terms. I am stifled by meddlers. Especially those that make hasty decisions, decisions borne by emotions. Brashness… When the emotions override the thinking brain."
"Preposterous! It shall not happen, sire. The boy was trained to abhor human flesh. It is among the policies of the deposed government to wean the youkai from such expensive meat, thus cutting off the dependency on Ningenkai. A preliminary measure for their "closed-door" policy, sir. Isolation of Makai…"
"The child was raised by a youkai, as a youkai. The hypocrite would not have encumbered his clone's growth to power by such idealistic nonsense."
"There are restraints, sir," the servant repeated feebly. "And even if that thing is energized it will never be a threat to your Lordship at all.
"My, my… How easily you judge people's strengths these days. Like that small band of warriors from the north…"
The man blanched. "I underestimated them, sir."
"You also underestimate frequently these days." Serene pools of green gazed steadily at the almost bloodless visage of the frightened man. "I almost wonder whether or not you miscalculate my strength as well."
"My apologies, sire. It will never happen again."
"Perhaps… Perhaps not."
~~~~~~~
"Oneechan!"
Khryseis frantically tried to follow her brother's voice.
"Where are you?"
"Over here," she answered.
"I can't see anything."
"Wait…" She could see a little. She could make out the movement of her hands groping on the floor before her. She abruptly swung her head to one side but just as quickly was thrown back, forehead smarting.
"Ouch."
"Oh, it's you," she grumbled, rubbing her face.
"Let's get out of here."
Khryseis didn't answer. That sudden silence left much space for the growling to become audible. She really couldn't see anything beyond a few feet but suddenly two glistening saucers caught her eyes. Instinctively, she caught at some part of her brother.
"Yutaro, what are those?" she queried shakily.
Yutaro stared at the yellow-green globes as well. "They're eyes. I think…"
"It's moving."
"I know! I know!"
"Towards here."
"I'm not blind! I told you we should get out of here."
"AHHH!"
Both screamed as the circular lights zoomed towards them, punctuated by a loud thud and a slight tremor.
"It's a monster!" yelled Khryseis.
Yutaro on the other hand, dragged her along as he reflexively hurled himself backward, away from the source of the horrible snarling. Both were shocked as their bodies hit cold stone -as seemingly did their minds. They were trapped in a corner!
The boy started to bolt but his sister caught him by a handful of hair.
"Don't move," she whispered tersely.
"Are you nuts?!"
"Shut up!"
They both tried their best to do so. Their breathing was deafening to their ears. Or was it truly theirs?
Air was beating on their face, foul putrid air. Khryseis fought the urge to vomit as Yutaro made gagging noises unwillingly, oblivious even to the unsettlingly deliberate sweeping of the creature's dilated irises. He gasped into silence when the eyes settled directly on him, paired with the snarling that soon turned to roaring…
Then the creature leapt for them. For one split second, Khryseis was able to see his moving shadow. White glowed in the dark –luridly, she made out the shape of fangs, sharp deadly and aiming for them!
"AAAAAAAAAHH!!!!!"
As suddenly, it was gone. The fetid breath, the heat, the animal sounds… But a furious roar suddenly tore that silence, as if that beast had just recovered from whatever shock hit him. Another thud followed as some heavy bulk was flung to the floor, followed by an angry but pained caterwaul.
The two children remained glued to their corner, watching closely though not seeing anything. They could only listen as the brute struggled with another creature.
Finally, the monster uttered a last groan and collapsed on the stone floor. It's scraggly breathing remained but the frightful sounds of struggle had ceased.
"Whew!" a voice suddenly spoke from the creature's direction. "Shit. At least, I have some strength left. Hey, you two? You alive? Too ex…hausted to… make sure."
For a while nobody answered the voice. It was disarming enough, apparently belonging to a young man barely past boyhood. Yutaro was first to recover his tongue.
"We're cool, mister. What was that, anyway?"
The other person continued his panting for some time before he answered. "X7B85. One of Mr. Krishnal's messed up science projects."
"An experiment," said Khryseis, almost intrigued. "That was a cat, wasn't it, mister? A mutant cat."
"Sort of. A very big mutant cat."
"We're you kidnapped, too?"
The man gave an uncomfortable cough-like laugh. "I really prefer not to put it that way," he replied ruefully.
"Are you a criminal then?" said Yutaro. "That's cool! What did you do?"
"Not much. I disobeyed papa and I lost the fight. For the time being, at least."
"Mr. Lakashka is your father?" asked Khryseis.
"No way, kid! I'm not related to that piece of shit."
"Ooh… you said the s-word."
"So we're all in trouble," summed up Yutaro.
"Erm…" the voice said uncertainly. "Yeah. Sort of. You two are Ningen kids. What are you doing here? You were kidnapped by that bastard? What for? Doesn't make any sense…" The voice died away as the question became more and more directed to himself and not the children.
"We don't know why either," answered Yutaro. "That pale guy said he's doing otousan a favor."
"I don't believe that," declared Khryseis. "He's waiting for otousan to come and get us."
"I see," the boy said a little sarcastically. "I guess I'm not that different then from you guys. I'm trapped here, helpless as a child, waiting for my daddy to come and pick me up. Sucks big time."
"We are not helpless," stated Yutaro plainly. "You beat up that cat creature. So that means you can see, right? Can you see us?"
"Pretty much. When my eyes are open of course." He sighed. "I'm too tired… And hungry. Really hungry."
"Wait," said Khryseis, fumbling with her pockets. "I still have some grub left over from breakfast… I have a bagel."
"I have omoochi," supplied Yutaro. "And some crackers."
"It's better than nothing. And my stomach could really use some contents."
"Um," started Khryseis. "Since you can see better than us, maybe you should come here. I really can't see you."
"Me neither," seconded Yutaro.
"Can't, sorry," replied the boy amidst the clinking and clanging of chains.
"You're chained?" exclaimed Yutaro. "But how-"
"Never mind how," interrupted Shura. "I think you guys should be the ones to come here. Don't worry about it. I'll guide you."
Khryseis shrank back against the wall, positioning herself. Yutaro hesitated at first, then took an exploratory step.
"Good, kid. Take about five steps forward."
Yutaro did as he was told but on the fourth step was ordered to stop.
"Stop, boy. You, girl, turn a bit to your left. Good."
"I'm not going straight?"
"No, trust me on this. Now stop. Good. Turn a little bit to your right. No, no, too much. Okay, that's fine. Hold out your left hand to your side."
"Ouch."
"You feel the wall. Perfect. Try walking parallel to it. Start walking straight from there. Good. Now, stop. Kid, stop!"
Khryseis did so abruptly, mildly startled. "Sorry. Ground's a bit unsteady."
"Right. Turn a little to your right again. Yup, you're slanted again."
"It's a little… Shaky."
"It's okay. Walk quickly. Don't rush."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
"Khryseis kept on walking, this time with her arms spread out before her. "There. I hit the wall."
"Okay, turn right."
She let go of the cold stone and did as she was told. Soon, her foot struck something soft.
"Ouch."
"Oops, sorry."
She began groping in the dark. Her hand enclosed upon something smooth and conical. Puzzled, she continued her exploration. Upon reaching the base of the mystery thing, she felt what appeared to be a forehead. Soon, she found her hand back to that mystery item. And now she realized what it felt like…
Bone.
"Eeek!!"
"Oneechan!" yelled Yutaro and was about to run to her blindly.
"STOP!" the man ordered. "Don't move."
Yutaro froze, restrained by the steely sternness of the voice. "What's going on?" he managed to say.
"Nothing."
"I was just surprised," said Khryseis at the same time.
"Okay," said Yutaro. "Can I move now?"
"No! Take five steps to your right. Walk straight, kid. Okay, now you may move."
"What was that?" asked Khryseis, involuntarily shirking away all the same.
"You'll find out soon enough," muttered the boy.
As if on cue, the door swung open. Light flooded the room, thereby stunning all its occupants. Still, that momentary blindness did not prevent Yutaro from seeing what lay before him forthwith.
"AAAAAHH!!!" He fell back on his butt in his shock, immediately clawing his way backwards as soon as he hit the stone.
Khryseis couldn't help but gasp as well - separating her from her brother was a dark chasm. It seemed like a crack more than anything, past through which nothing could be seen, even with the stale-looking light seeping through the dungeon. Soft but ominous sounds of breathing told of where the monster that terrorized them earlier had come from and returned. She couldn't imagine how she managed to cross that gaping slit and for a moment felt like fainting.
"I see," spoke up a new but now familiar voice. "So you kids managed to keep out of trouble for a change. You three have been very naughty."
"Usurper," said a cold haughty voice. "Do not address us as would you a child. Our person resents such condescension."
"Ah, but you are a child, Shura-kun. Your single score of years is but a second in my hour of lifetime."
"What trickery is this usurper?" growled Shura. "What happened to you so-called purity of unarmed combat between two noble warriors? Have you completely succumbed to cowardice that you attempt my assassination with such petty methods?"
"It would do well for you to hold your tongue, princeling. Every letter of your insolence may cost the destruction of one Makai town."
"My father will crush you. He will come and make you pay for this."
"Then I strongly suggest keeping your incensed expletives till then, Shura-kun. You need not bluff. I wouldn't think any less of you for your silence."
"I learn my lessons well. I know prudence and I know my honor will not be dangerously slighted by consorting with a weasel like you. Withdraw your troops from the eastern farmlands. I will desist resistance."
At that point, Khryseis managed to tear her eyes away from the dark unmoving shadow marring the light from outside. Wonderingly, she turned to her companion, disbelieving the sudden change of speech patterns. There couldn't be anybody else who spoke except the one beside him. But she did hope it was indeed a different person, not their rescuer. Beside her was a horned hideous monster that…
"Eeeeeeeeeek!"
Her surprise flung her back, sending her crashing to a pile of bones. She screamed again as the dry pieces of broken skeletons showered her.
"Will you stop that, kid?" the young man/monster Shura said, irksome. "That bad habit of yours is irritating."
"Now, now, Shura," said Lakashka. "Don't go scaring the little ones."
"Little ones," repeated Yutaro, insulted. "Little ones!?"
Shura's dark eyes met the green ones levelly. "That won't work," he said quietly. "I do not eat such impure meat. I do not eat meat at all."
"Ah, yes," said the so-called usurper. "The wonders of technology." He turned his towards the girl and her brother. "Well, you two, have you decided to behave like your Shura-niisan?"
Khryseis couldn't answer and it was Yutaro who spoke.
"Sure, mister," he said. "Just get us out of here."
"Please," added Khryseis, prompted by her brother's bossiness. "We're sorry for the mess."
"Not to worry, child," replied Lakashka. "Krishnal-sensei has a few pleats to iron out in his last experiment. Very impressive, son of Yomi. We did not expect such result." He motioned for his soldiers to bring the children out. Shura was released from his bonds but refused support.
"I can walk," he growled at the wary lieutenant gripping his arm.
"Go on, Krishnal," said Lakashka mildly, his iron-grip pushing the aged warrior inside the cell. "Clean up. I think the effects of the blow Shura-kun dealt our kitten with would wear off soon enough."
"N-no, my Lord," the man pleaded, the hysteria half-visible in his wide eyes. "I will make it up to you, sire. I will not make another error."
"Don't fuss like a child," said his master, placating. But something about that coo halted the man's whimpers.
"Your Majesty! Your Highness! Master…" The soldiers withdrew.
"You can do it. Good luck."
The moment he stepped out, the door shut with a clang that reverberated throughout the hall.
"You're a merciless monster," said Shura.
"So is your sire," replied Lakashka.
"You've never 'forgiven' them. You just bought time for yourself. Then one by one you'll eliminate them all."
"Perhaps." Lakashka smiled slightly. "My young friends, as I have explained to each of you before, you are honored guests."
"Why?" asked Yutaro.
"It's all too complicated, Yutaro-kun. Perhaps, I'll tell you a little about how it all began."
"I have no wish to hear you speak of falsehoods about my father," said Shura darkly.
"Very well." Lakashka shrugged. "Your loss, not mine." He motioned to a servant. "Take the prince to his apartments. Have him bathed and dressed as befits his rank."
"Yes, sir."
"While we wait for tonight's feast, I shall tell you a story. Meanwhile, remain silent as I gather my memories from across an ocean of years."
Khryseis and Yutaro did as they were told, trying their best to ignore the blood-curdling scream from beyond the corridor they were passing through.
~~~~~~~
Khryseis flicked back a black strand that strayed across her face. She took another look around the cozy room – a part of Shura-nii's quarters, they were told. Indeed, there was a very boyish touch about that room appealed a little to Yutaro. The furniture was steely and lithe, the upholstery and curtains as if charmed with a youth's tough cheerfulness. Still, the sofa they sat on was heavenly soft. She sunk on a corner of the huge divan, her dangling feet rather far from the floor. He on the other hand occupied more than half the seat, reclined against the opposite armrest, gazing around nonchalantly. Lakashka sat beside him on a straight-back chair of dark heavy wood, the only one in the room. His legs were crossed in the picture of absolute patience.
He straightened up suddenly.
"Shura is here," he said simply.
Yutaro sat up properly, shifting his legs in front of him and allowing them to dangle like his sister's. Both of them stared at the young well-dressed man coming in from a connected chamber. They couldn't find the disfigured monster that helped them earlier in him. He seemed like an ordinary human at first glance, a rich human that is, cloaked in subtle finery. But then they caught sight of the little horn protruding from his forehead, and his two prominent ears. It didn't bring them much surprise for they have become accustomed to seeing odd or even grotesque things in their short stay there.
Shura walked towards them almost pompously. He seemed to exude a certain confidence that left no doubt in the beholder that he was indeed of noble blood. The rich clothes he carried with unexpected grace, seemingly at home in his loose-fitting silk trousers and the stiff starched tunic.
"We just wish you to know that our person came not willingly to this conference." He leveled a glare on their host.
"As his Highness say," replied Lakashka formally, slightly inclining his head.
" Our person is merely compelled, as obdurately as we resisted, by our duties as the representative of the kingdom of Gandara and the rightful government of Makai."
"The representatives of the official Makai government salutes your Highness." Lakashka returned his death glare with a level empty stare. "Please." He gestured towards the empty space between the two children.
The lordly young man took his seat briskly, never once losing his finesse or sight of his enemy. "On a personal note," he added. "We are here to set to right any inaccuracies that may slip your esteemed Lordship's tongue."
"As his Imperial Highness wishes," replied Lakashka magnanimously. "But if it pleases his Lordship, may I be excused of the gall I dare render by reminding that this is also merely for entertainment? Any of what his Highness may interpret as falsehoods may just be the result of artistic freedom."
"Whatever, just to get on with it, dammit!" snapped Shura, finally getting tired of his own game.
"Ah, but the good sir is impatient-"
"Just get it on, please," said Yutaro meekly, stifling a yawn.
"Very well. Once upon a time, there was a group of foxes-"
"Skulk," said Khryseis rather pertly.
"Skulk?"
"The appropriate collective noun is skulk. For foxes, I mean."
"Skulk, yes," continued Lakashka. "A skulk of foxes roamed the countryside. The scoured it for food and booty, scavenging whatever there was for their taking, stealing whatever wasn't. They were quite notorious bounty hunters."
"Thieves," clarified Shura.
"Thieves, if you would have to be so indelicate, Lord Shura."
"Cold calculating cutthroats. Is that any better, my Lord?"
"Cutthroats did apply to everybody. But cold and calculating your father was not as he is now."
"Apparently, even until now you still best him in those respects."
"Perhaps. Now, their leader was shrewd, cunning, with no conscience whatsoever to curb the prowess of his thinking mind.
"This was what probably set him apart from the rest of the teeming masses of fauna seeking dominion of one another. This was what made his ascent to power swift and inexorable. His name rang clear across the land, striking surely through the thick throng of the beasts of the jungle, as did the pack."
"I'm pretty sure there are no foxes in jungles," Khryseis whispered to her brother.
"Never mind, oneechan."
Lakashka continued, "But as expected, there were those not capable of reaching his height of reason. There were also others who cannot quench the fire in their blood and can only work on impulse, on the pull of emotion. The leader, the five-tailed fox, guarded well their hard-earned power and saw immediately the danger posed by the strife among his ranks. To prevent the utter destruction of the skulk, it was necessary to destroy the troublesome dogs - as does the gardener who breaks off the sickened bough to resuscitate the dying tree, as does the viner who casts aside the rotten fruit for sake of salvaging a basket of healthy plums."
Shura was making faces. "Yadda, yadda, yadda," he said, rolling his eyes. "I just knew Kurama was incompetent enough to leave you behind in his spring cleaning."
"Ah, but you are again outpacing the story. Still, he of the five tails doted upon two of his most promising protégés. One was as cold, beautiful, cunning and as levelheaded as he was. The other was as ambitious and powerful, swept by an undeniable thirst for more power and more wealth, and crowned by the same charisma that attracted followers as a flower would a bee. But as ill fortune would have it, the latter was a fruit of that sick branch that need chastisement, or mayhap, extermination. And the leader rightly chose responsibility over his right-hand, and thus abandoned the student and betrayed his own men. In a mission of thievery hatched the perilous plan. Again, the wayward group disobeyed orders as the five-tailed foresaw. As arranged earlier, a chimera set upon the obstinate foxes."
"A chimera?" groaned Shura. "Honestly, they're not that young. What is this really a fable? A myth? Bull crap?"
"So perished the young fool's followers. The gifted student himself was doomed to spend the rest of his days in utter darkness.
"The other student, the one so aptly labeled 'perfect', was heartbroken, his very soul rived by the sheer cruelty of his adored teacher's act. Still, he followed as before, and outwardly remained loyal to the group. He, too, was swept by his master's cold ambition but was forever torn by his desire to seek retribution for his friend. But slowly, surely, he plotted for his master's demise, weaving together a plan of pure ingenuity.
Shura's face was dark. His fists and jaws were clenched tight in his rage but he held his tongue, painfully keeping his temper leashed.
"He succeeded, you know," added Lakshka quietly. "On both counts."
A cold smile lingered on his lips. Khryseis shuddered with no apparent reason. Yutaro's protest died in his throat. Shura scowled ferociously.
"You lie," he snarled. "It's still that same old overused story. You still use my father as a pretense for your insanity. How dare you! And in front of me, too, you motherless bas-"
"Motherless?" Lakashka repeated, without even a hint of a challenge in his voice.
Shura merely glared back, practically shaking in chargin.
"Would you wish to hear the tale to completion?"
"No thanks," said Yutaro, uncharacteristically quiet.
"We are hungry," said Khryseis by way of explanation.
"Very well," said Lakashka.
"Very well, indeed," said Shura.
~~~~~~~
It was a matter of perspective, Kurama decided.
There he was in a portion of a more or less level land straddled by two gigantic rock formation. Now there wasn't anything wrong with that, right? After all, the mountains at its sides, or even all around it, also shadowed the land to form a valley. But imagine two enormous hands with the powers of the strange beings inhabiting this land, squashing, crumpling and dimpling it, while the earth resisted with its inexhaustible might. Now that was how the gorge was like - a tunnel through this massive chunk of solid rock, a crude digging of a mere animal mocking the strength and timelessness of the mountain.
But animals cannot make canyons, cannot carve the flesh of rock, cannot delve into the bowels of the earth. It was water - patient, persistent, inexorable water.
it was frightening to stand in the shadows of those monsters, to feel traces of the tremendous tension now long gone, to glimpse the eons passed that saw their slow making. One would be but a speck in a space off of mountains.
How do they keep themselves together anyway? How can they support their own weight, those chunks of rocks, piles of dirt, compacted into a solid mass? To be so small... To be so weak...
Up there might be different. To climb that huge an obstacle... That might conquer them, no?
But then up there this space would be a ravine, a crack, a scar on the earth's ageless face. Its shadows would yield no secrets but would voraciously want to swallow more... swallow you. The gates of hell, the portal carved by divine hands to breach the innards of the earth, the netherworld of the netherworld. And again comes the overwhelming sense of diminution, of irrelevance.
Both formidable. Up there, down here. The same, after all.
Kurama looked up. There wasn't any other place to look at. Around him, his friends slumbered, effectively concealed by the darkness. They couldn't have fire - fire would light up the whole canyon and announce their presence for miles around. But it wasn't cold anyway. A little of coldness would signal their departure.
So up he did look. It was like being in a tent of black. And up there, a portion of the canvas was torn, allowing a glimpse of the night sky.
The stars were beautiful, he thought. Always has been.
Yes, they were beautiful and cold. How could they look down this earth with that same distant glibness? They know better than anybody what's happening in Makai, what may happen in Ningenkai. After all, they were present when that evil was just starting. They were there. They knew what that seed would sprout into, and yet they did nothing. He did nothing.
He was there, too. He nurtured that seed of evil, taught him all he needed to know, to grow. He too knew the potentials of that dark seed, even back then. Despite his inkling, he did nothing. He too was a seed of evil, after all. Yes... And now? Had he sprouted into the evil that seed intended back then? What is evil anyway?
Back then, he didn't give a cent for Ningenkai or Makai. For him, they were just lands to conquer, harvest grounds for booty and blood.
Lakashka dreamed of dominating the three worlds - yes, even Reikai- and he, Kurama, instilled that ambition in him.
No. Every youkai was born with such desire; it was a mere necessity for survival. Nonetheless, the guilt was his. He groomed Lakashka, that man who just destroyed the tiny step of progress in this wasted land, he who was on the verge of plunging Makai into absolute chaos.
They were sitting under the very same sky, on the very same earth.
"How very small we are, Kurama-sama," he had said then, something he would never admit now.
"Yes," he agreed. "We are tiny in this vast world." Kurama looked at his follower almost in amusement. "Do you know what the largest animal is?"
"The thunder lizard of the old days," Lakashka replied confidently. "They are as mountains; they span as do ranges and tower as do peaks."
"Ants," corrected Kurama simply. There are millions of tiny insects in one anthill but they work with such efficiency that they seem like a single gigantic creature. Yes, in the jungle everything yields to it. When it passes, thw whole forest floor is blackened, as if darkness swallowed the earth. Imagine... imagine if one is to unite all Makai into such a creature.
"This world has such potential. People like us see this potential. We know how to harness the teeming masses. Others are so low, so base, that they only struggle to scrape their meals from the dung-covered ground, could only see themselves and their petty struggles. This is our destiny. We will lead this world. We will make it efficient and specialized. Think of it! We'll be above them all and they will bow to our wills. Can you see?"
"Yes, yes," Lakashka seconded ardently. "But why specialization? Why efficiency? Why a society like the Ningens'? We have no need of this so-called order."
"Order is a human delusion. And we shall shatter that illusion. They too will carry us on their shoulders."
"These creatures are as evil, twisted and stupid as our kind. And they are even weaker... Still they intrigue me."
"They can be so inconsistent is why," observed Kurama, almost in bemusement. "I want to know why."
"Knowledge is power," agreed Lakashka, ever the eager student. "You taught me."
"Yes. Perhaps, one day I will go there and see for myself."
"How? To bypass Reikai security is no joke."
Kurama smiled mysteriously. "Humans are weak because they cannot let go of there material manifestations. We demons are spirits, also with bodies, but we do not cling to it and restrict ourselves. We simply discard our physical manifestations here in Makai and assume new ones in the human world.
"How?" repeated Lakashka, his green eyes glinting ravenously. "I want to know."
"You will know."
And he did know.
From him, Kurama, came the knowledge Lakashka utilized to enter Ningenkai under guise of a human as he himself did later. Because of him, Lakashka was able to trail Yusuke, and before that, his friend's father.
But why? They entered Ningenkai for the same reasons. However, Kurama was gradually changed, beginning in that instant he was born. While Lakashka...
Kurama had a loving mother...
had faithful friends...
had a warm home...
had the care of a family...
Him, Lakashka...
What did he have?
~~~~~~~~~~
"Atsuko."
Atsuko...
It was a name being called. But whose? Who was Atsuko? Where was she anyway? There was darkness there. But that darkness didn't remain for long. It took its time as it opened up, as it spewed out its insides, as if lacerated by the tentative touch of small light. So darkness slowly retreated to the edges and gradually disappeared, leaving behind ugly black worms.
They were worms, weren't they? Those fuzzy creatures hastily swimming about that white screen randomly.
"Atsuko…" the name was called out again. This time, the seemed to be more solid, firmer.
Atsuko. That's right. She was Atsuko. Urameshi Atsuko. And that white screen before her – the blear and the figments of her mind were gone now – was nothing but a plain whitewashed wall. Where? Now that question she had no answer. Indeed, where was she?
A window on her left. That was where the faint light slipped through. Outside was an overcast sky and somewhere there was the cloud-veiled eternal sun. A steel tray, laden with a glass and a pitcher of water, lay on top of the table beside her. A dingy lifeless bunch of puny things on cracked porcelain resembled ordinary field flowers, the type easily mistaken for weeds. Her hands were resting on her lap, like fingers of land on an ocean of white swirling about her lower body, waves frozen in motion. But it flowed not to plunge down abyss; the steel railing kept the spotless linen bunched up at her sides.
Her brain took its time in collecting these observations and so correspondingly pieced them together at the same easy pace. She was in a hospital for sure. But why in a hospital, she thought, unattached and incurious.
Finally, she looked towards the speaker.
Alnilam, her mind immediately whispered, but she ignored that tiny part that instantly recognized him.
"You were drunk last night," he said by way of explanation, though she didn't ask for any.
"That's nothing new."
"So it seemed from what I saw last night."
"Where am I?"
"Saint Anthony's Medical Center."
"What am I doing here?"
"You went into alcohol shock."
"They gave me something?"
The man just nodded.
"I see," she replied quietly. "It happens once in a while. Did I win?"
"Yes. But I don't think it was worth drinking to death for, Miss Belligerence."
"Miss Belligerence…" There. Another touch from familiarity. Another touch from beyond the grave.
Tentatively, she looked again at the silent man standing at her bedside, dressed in that understated elegance, similar to clothing he wore almost eighteen years ago. He didn't dye that limpid-looking pale-blond hair after all; pomade glossed those light waves and light rippled on their surface to stir life through them.
There was no doubt about it now. She could no longer bring up alibis to counter the facts her rational mind presented her. A shuddering sigh escaped her lips. Slowly she bowed her head, eyes closed seemingly in sheer agony.
"Why keep sending your ghosts to haunt me?" she murmured, questioning a person not there, will never again be there.
"Why asked someone who is not here?" he countered in that clear firm voice.
But her eyed blazed with contemptuous defiance. "You, Alnilam! Al Mintaka! Both of you just go away! I don't care. I don't care why. He asked me to forget. I will forget. Just leave me in peace!"
"Atsuko, you are not in peace."
"And you expect me to be?!" she said incredulously. "Alnilam, whatever Taka pleaded before he died I can't accept it. I can't forget that he was murdered in cold blood even though I told him I'd try. I can't forget that he was never given justice for that crime… I can't…. But I can't go gallivanting on a quest of truth like you two! I promised. I'll fulfill that promise no matter what."
"And I. I was there, remember? I was bound by that pledge, too. Mintaka was not there. He doesn't consider himself included in that agreement. He's out to find the truth."
"After all these years…. He blames you for not being there to help Taka. Maybe he blames me, too... He accused me of being a coward. Yes… I guess, I am."
"Mintaka blames himself for Alnitak's death – forgive me, he's Taka to you. Habits die hard, you know. He cannot let go the possibility that Taka could still be alive had he been here. He never wanted to leave to study overseas in the first place. He's regretting he never fought hard enough for what he wanted. He can never forgive himself for his weakness and the only thing he can do is avenge Taka."
"He's not the only one who wants that," hissed Atsuko. "I'd like to look into the eyes of his killer. I'd like to put a face on the person I've hated for years." She leveled an accusatory glare at Alnilam. "Don't you?"
"Of course," came his soft reply, his eyes drifting towards the window. "You have no idea… I was there, Atsuko. I was there. I could have saved him had I arrived earlier. I was late for the first time in my entire life and it cost me my friend. Of course, I want justice."
"It never was Al Mintaka's nature to be so obsessive about something. Such an adverse change… If you truly want justice as much as he does… If Taka meant as much…"
"No. You cannot measure our friendship by such a meaningless gauge. Despite his wisdom and smart talking, Mintaka was influenced much by Taka. He managed to rub off his passion and brashness on our levelheaded friend. That's how close they were. And I…. I never hesitated to extract justice for the sake of prudence, Atsuko. Never. And I wanted…. I want… blood…. But Taka asked…"
Silence.
"I see," said Atsuko phlegmatically. "What are you doing here then? Al Mintaka came to ask my help for more data. But you. Why are you here?"
"I came here to put a stop to your folly."
Atsuko stared at him with an unreadable expression.
"This stops here, Atsuko." His steel blue eyes glinted. "I don't know which of you is worse, you or Mintaka. Both of you've been living in a fanciful world of whodunit. Face it. Taka is dead. He died saving a busload of people from gang members. That's it. It was not some elaborately planned assassination. Those human-scum responsible are probably either behind bars or lying facedown on a gutter somewhere. All my riches can never uncover that murder plot you're both imagining."
"What the hell are you saying?" Atsuko gasped, shaking in shock. "Dammit what the hell are you doing?"
"Stop living in the past! Do you know why Taka made you promise to forget about the incident? Huh? So that you'll be able to live normally. So you'll be able to give your child a life! Have you done that, Atsuko? Have you really lived up to your promise to Taka?"
"Stop it!" she screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks in torrents. "Leave me alone!"
"Where is your son now, Atsuko? Where is he?! He's gone, right? He can't stand you anymore, right?!"
"No, no, no!" she twisted away, putting her hands on her ears. "Shut up. Go away!"
"I thought you wanted the truth? Well, listen!" He jerked her hands from her ears and pinned her arms to her side, giving her a couple of vehement shakes. "You've been very selfish all these years, nursing your wounded heart, that you've forgotten about Taka and all those plans you dreamed up so long ago. Well, guess what? It's wake-up call."
Atsuko continued to sob as he relinquished her shoulders.
"And would you do me favor, please?" Alnilam's voice was back to its earlier softness and low register. "Mintaka needs his wake up call, too. He's not gonna listen to me. I think he'll be more inclined to listen to you."
"Just take me home…."
To be continued….
072902 22:14:03
AN: Ooh… The last chapter was three (?) months ago. Sorry. ^^; I'm warning anybody who's reading this, though. I'll be taking my time to write this. Comments, complaints, suggestions all welcome. ^.^ Thanks for reading minna! And thanks for commenting too. =)