Road of Confusion: Ghosts
Chapter Two
A Cyborg 009 Fanfiction by Yami Shizuka
Disclaimer: Like many things, I do not own the series Cyborg 009.
Author's Note: Two chapters in one night? I'm on a roll! I know this deviates from the original chapters, but that plot is incredibly two dimensional in comparison to what I have in store for you all. My apologies for the short chapters, but I'm trying to sort of catch up to where I was originally and lay out a new plot at the same time! Enjoy and, as always, please review!
"I'm afraid his temperature has affected his memory. We can only hope that it will return in time. Until then, he seems to trust you the most, guide him as you can."
Dr. Gilmore's diagnosis weighed heavily upon 004's mind as he stared down at his now sleeping team mate. He had switched with 008 and the now went to his new bed across from the sleeping boy. It was now deep into the night and the stars twinkled down at him through the window. Gazing aimlessly, he began to think of Hilda again and he stopped trying to push back the ghosts of his past. He could almost hear her laughter again, if he closed his eyes, he could almost picture her face. Almost.
"You look like you're in more pain than I am."
The small voice brought the German crashing back to the Hilda-less present and he had to turn his back on memories in order to open his eyes. He hoped her ghost would understand.
"What's…my name?" The question was like a whisper and if 004 hadn't been watching him speak, he would've sworn it so.
"009."
There was a look of confusion before, "no, my name."
004 shook his head, he was hoping Dr. Gilmore would be the one to play 21 Questions. "Your name is 009, you are a cyborg," he said firmly. "We all are."
His team mate blinked for a moment and 004 almost wondered if such a bizarre truth wouldn't be questioned until he spoke again, "regardless of what I am, I want to know who I am."
004 paused, the question had struck him hard and he felt the ghosts of his past pounding on the door to be let in and consume him. After a moment of silence, he finally said, "your name was Joe Shimamura."
"Is."
Joe looked at him, his mouth set firmly and his eyes ablaze, "my name is Joe Shimamura."
"Cyborg's don't have names," 004 said calmly, though he felt bitterness rise like bile at the back of his throat.
Joe grunted as he sat up and as the other man went to push him back down, he grabbed the front of 004's shirt and looked at him almost savagely, "who says we're just numbers?"
He sank back down to the bed and 004 closed his eyes, thinking again of Hilda and her eyes once so full of life, glazed over by death, "we lost our humanity a long time ago. We really aren't anything but numbers now."
End Chapter
