Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. This fic is entirely fictional and Japan did not have a Project Messiah nor a Mission Messiah as far as I know. I did not write the haiku below. Harold G. Henderson did the translation. The makers of Weiss Kreuz own the song 'Other Side of the Moon'. I'm just borrowing it as the fic's title.
Other Side of the Moon
The Village Without Bells
A Prologue
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Mayoi-go-no
Naku naku tsukamu
Hotaru kana
---Ryusui (1691-1758)
The lost child cries,
And as he cries, he clutches
At the fireflies.
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January 20, 1997
Good morning! Welcome back to the Morning Show. It is now time for our 'History Minutes.' Let us see what important events have happened on 20th of January years ago.
January 20, 1994 -- The explosion of Building 3 of a local research laboratory.
A government laboratory was caught on fire at 3:00 am in the morning. It has been reported that an explosion in one of the chemical storage room inside the facilities caused the fire. According to the police, the accident was caused by a negative chemical reaction between a number of chemicals stored. Luckily, fatalities were confirmed to be zero, and injuries were reported to be less than 20 people.
January 20, 1987 – Famous actress….
*Shuts down TV*
So, it has been three years since the incident. The public still knows nothing about it. That's good, the fewer people involved, the better it is for all of us. Three whole years, I wonder if they're still working on the codes.
*Begin Flashback* -- Year 1986
"Yumiko! Kaoru! Where are you? Yumiko!!!"
"What is the matter Shiro? Is something wrong?"
"I got it! I got it!" Shiro said with extreme happiness while shaking his wife uncontrollably.
"What Shiro? Stop shaking me, I'm carrying Kao-chan here."
"I'm sorry Yumi, but I can't help myself! I got the job! I got it! I was promoted as the head scientist of the research lab!"
"Ah, really, koishii? That is great! I am so proud of you!"
"Yes, it is, isn't it? And guess what, they've asked me to form a team of experts to work on the new military defense project."
"We are so proud of you."
*End of flashback*
'Yes, I was very happy then. My own project, and not just any project, but Project Messiah. Project Messiah was supposed to be a shield strong enough to resist neither any form of object nor any kind of energy. There was no threat of war against Japan, but the military insisted to continue to develop the best line of defense for future use. I was very honored to be head of the project, a project to protect the people. My team, especially me, worked on the project for years. My daughter even grew up in the laboratory already. She insisted on tagging along to watch her otou-chan work. Of course, she won't just stay inside my lab, nor even in my building. She'll go wandering over the nearby buildings as well. That was all right. All the other buildings in the compound were either another research facility or the police station. Before long, everybody knew the little raven-haired girl that pops out of nowhere and giggles like there's no tomorrow. I was very happy then. My family was happy.
Five years passed, the project was almost finished. It was time to set the trigger for the shield, the password, the code. This project took years of my life, and it wouldn't have been possible if not for my family, especially my little Kaoru. Her smile that brightens my day and gives an unlimited amount of hope whenever I feel that this project was impossible to complete. And so, I taught Kaoru the key. Later, I will find out that, it will be the greatest mistake I'll ever do in my life.
Like any other studies, the project must be proven valid through several repetitions. The repetition took less time than the first attempt; and so on the seventh year of the project, I have repeated the study thrice and the fourth repetition was supposed to be the last one, the most anticipated project was nearly finished. However, that was when I noticed my error. My single numerical error that affected everything that followed afterwards.
As expected, the results changed. What we've been working for seven years did not turn out to be a shield at all. It was a formula to create a weapon of destruction, so strong it could wipe out not only every single matter on earth, but the nearest planet as well. I reported the unexpected change to the military officials that same day. The committee decided to close the project immediately. We could not afford any one, not even ourselves, to get hold of such power. Such power will only create greed and hunger for world domination. We cannot allow that; not in the time of peace.
I felt devastated that day. My seven years of work has been a mistake. Yes, I made a revolutionary result, but not the one that protect and save lives, but the one that could result to genocide. The committee deleted all the files in the main frame that very same day. It took almost a whole day to clean up the computer files. It was decided to burn all the papers the next day, January 20, 1994.
The police never informed the public of the real reason for the fire. It was not a simple accident. Somebody actually burned down the building, to conceal evidence. Cameras monitored the entire research lab. According to the video shots, a group of unidentified people searched the lab and took everything inside the filing cabinets. Everything includes Project Messiah. Until now everything is still a mystery. Who did it? What was the motive? The answer is still unknown. No other similar incident followed the fire in the lab.
It has been three years since the incident. It seems like the thieves or whoever they are, haven't figured out the codes of the Messiah or it is possible that they have given up. Nevertheless, the government did not feel it appropriate to be wishfully thinking. Saito-san, one of the few people who knew about the project was assigned with my family's safety ever since.
Three magical years, it has been a miracle for all of us. Kaoru is twelve now, constantly followed by Saito-san. I owe him a lot. Maybe I should relax a bit. It is possible that the Project Messiah has been forgotten. Yet, one thing still strikes me and gives chill to my spine, what if they break the code for the key? What if they find out what the trigger is?'
"Otou-chan! Otou-chan! Earth to Otou-chan!"
"No need to turn me deaf Kao-chan," Kaoru's father said, after finally snapping out from his thoughts.
"Well, I've been trying to talk to you for a while now," the little girl said impatiently.
"Ano, I apologize hime-chan. Your otou-chan was just thinking. Is there something you want?"
"Ah well, I asked oka-chan already, but she asked me to ask you too before I go."
"Go where?"
"Aunt Tokio made me promise to go to their house today to have cheesecake with her. Please otou-san I promise to be back before dinner."
"Oh alright, but promise to be a good girl. I do not want you to cause any trouble with Tokio-san."
"I promise Otou-chan and I promise to be careful too!"
"All right. Be back before the sun sets. I love you Kao-chan," Shiro said while giving Kaoru a small hug.
"I love you too otou-chan and oka-chan too. Be back later. See ya!"
"So how are Shiro-san and Yumiko-chan doing?" Tokio asked.
"They are doing very fine Auntie. Oka-chan is preparing sushi tonight would you and Saito-san like to have dinner at the house?" Kaoru asked.
"No need Kaoru-chan. I am sure my husband would like to spend the rest of his evening at home. Thank you for inviting, maybe this weekend ok?"
"That would be great! I'll tell oka-chan right away!"
"I'm home."
"Welcome home Saito-san!" Kaoru greeted politely.
"Great timing koishii. Please walk Kaoru home. I would feel extremely worried if we let her walk home all by herself." Tokio asked, well actually more of commanded.
Saito gave out a sigh and gave a small nod, "Let's go kiddy."
Kaoru stood up then thanked Tokio, "The cheesecake was great. Thank you very much for inviting me. See you soon!"
Tokio acknowledged with a small smile while Kaoru gave her an enthusiastic wave.
The sky was darker than it usually was for that time. Saito felt better to know he walked the little girl home himself. Over the years, he has developed a soft spot for the kid. Though, he will never admit that to anyone.
"Here we are!" Kaoru spoke cheerfully when they reached the front door. "Thanks for the walk Saito-san," Kaoru said as she rang the doorbell.
"It's nothing. I'll go now. Give my regards to your parents," Saito motioned to walk towards the gate but froze when he heard Kaoru speak.
"That's strange. No one's answering and the door's unlocked," a clueless Kaoru thought aloud.
Saito walked past Kaoru, and stepped inside the house. He was defensively holding Kaoru close to him.
"Oka-chan? Otou-san? Where are you?" Kaoru inquired softly.
"Be quiet Kaoru," Saito spoke sternly.
Kaoru's questions were answered by deafening silence. The two walked quietly towards the kitchen and that was where they both froze. Kaoru broke into tears and rushed towards her mother's side.
"Oka-chan! Oka-chan! What happened? Why are you and Otou-chan covered with blood? Who did this to you? Oka-chan! Oka-chan!"
Silence. Again, Kaoru's questions were rewarded with nothing but silence, neither a heartbeat nor a breath.
"Shiro!" Saito shook the guy, though hope was slowly fading away.
Saito looked at Kaoru who was now weeping her hearts out with the sight that shocked not only her, but him as well. Then, when hope was almost unknown, Saito heard a faint whisper.
"Take Kaoru," Shiro spoke softly yet as clear as crystal.
"Otou-chan!" Kaoru ran and wept on his father's chest and allowed her tears to mix with his blood.
Shiro tried to gather his last ounce of strength. Broken syllables came from his bleeding mouth that clearly formed the words, "The project. They know the password. Never let them find the key."
And that was his last words. Kaoru was still crying. Saito frozen. Anger and worry started to fill his mind. The next second he grabbed a hesitating Kaoru, carried her away and ran back to his house as fast as his feet can carry them.
"No, I don't want to leave them alone! They're hurt! They're dying, how could we just leave them?" Kaoru said while unable to move from Saito's arms.
Saito remained silent until they reached Tokio.
January 20, 2002
'Five years since my parents' death and five long years of running and pretending. Saito-san ordered me never to use the name Kamiya Kaoru ever again. Kamiya Kaoru was missing ever since an escaped convict murdered her parents. Well, that was what the police reports indicate.
That awful day, after we reached Aunt Tokio, Saito-san brought us to a remote cottage in the outskirts of the city. We stayed there until he has cleaned up all the mess. He filed the reports about me and my parents, formed a secret group to work with the new mission, and started to create my new identity. The mission was called Mission Messiah, which obviously came from the project my father did. Only a handful of people knows about the mission, specifically the same people who knew about the project that shared the same name.
Mission Messiah wasn't intended to last for years. It was expected that after I start a new life, the danger would soon be over. However, they were proven wrong. Shortly after being Hanayama Maemi. There were reports that the people after me which have been labeled as the Shadows, have already found out that I was staying at Tokyo Middle School. Though my identity was still concealed, Saito-san did not risk any time, I was transferred to another location and in no time started to live as Shima Yuriko, then Ichiyusai Rika, then Kajiyama Aya, Miyazaki Hiroko, and the latest was Ogata Ume, but not for long. An envelop arrived today, stamped confidential and delivered by an officer.'
"This could only mean one thing," Kaoru said to herself. "Identity # 7."
A/n: Unfortunately, I do not know the names of Kaoru's parents, so I just picked out some names. If anyone is bothered about the names I used and/or if you happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya's real first names, then I'd be happy to change their names for you.
