Chapter Five: Facial Masks and the Puppeteer
-A single spotlight turns on over a darkened stage and Ryo walks up into the light- Hello everyone. Today I'm going to be taking over the author's notes. –Off in the background, Dee can be heard screaming at Bikky. - Certain things have come up and the author couldn't make it to present the new chapter, mostly because Destiny's backed up with tons of work. Right now Destiny is trying to make up for lost time writing on this as well as writing on a one shot called 'Lost Hope'. –Ryo pulls out a small piece of paper from his pocket and puts on his reading glasses. - I was given this to read. Destiny wants to thank all of the reader's for their reviews as well as apologize for taking an almost three week break. Also, if anyone wishes to express ideas for the story or find out the progress of the chapters, Destiny suggests using e-mail. –Ryo puts the paper away and bows while Bikky dashes behind him followed closely by Dee- And now, on with the chapter. –Ryo smiles brightly while he pulls on a nearby rope; a ten pound weight falls from the rafters and smashes into Dee's head as he passes by. -
Berkley sat behind his desk studying the resume of the person currently sitting in front of him. This week had been a terrible one for him so far. Not only was he recovering from injuries, he had lost a least a dozen employees to injuries or death from the failed drug raid. It seemed like everyday there would be some problem that would hold them back from the goal of catching the criminals that killed those policemen. He was glad that at least now he was out of that damned wheelchair.
"So Miss Saganaki, your resume is quite impressive." Berkley had laid the said paper down on his desk while addressing the woman with bright pink hair.
"Thank you sir, I hope that it will be enough for me to fill in temporarily for the detectives currently away." Her voice was soft with a sick sweetness to it.
"Of course, your resume makes you more than qualified for a detective. Hell, you could fill in for me if I ever decided to take a sick day." Berkley let a soft chuckle loose while the Saganaki woman laughed softly.
"That's quite all right; I don't plan on staying too long anyway." Her deep golden eyes gleamed, giving Berkley an uneasy feeling.
"By the way Miss Saganaki, what is that tattoo on your forehead?" The symbol etched on her forehead seemed familiar to him; he was just unable to place it.
"Oh, that's a tattoo of the family I come from. Our traditions require that we wear it so that we could easily recognize our true family." She rose from the seat and extended her hand in a friendly gesture to him. Berkley took her hand and shook it lightly, his attention still drawn to the character on her forehead. "By the way, please call me Kerya, formalities is not something I'm quite use to." She smiled brightly, her expression showing that of kindness, but her eyes showing an even more beguiling emotion behind them.
Back at the corporate office Rain, Bardiel, and Dart were still gathered outside of the conference room, waiting for any signal to allow them into the room. Dart having finally tired of waiting, pushed the glass doors open and strolled inside. Both Rain and Bardiel just stared at him, Rain saying a silent prayer for his safe return. Suddenly Dart came out, his face full of mirth and his mouth contorted as if he were holding back laughter. Rain and Bardiel looked at each other, worry both showed in their faces as Dart fell to the floor and laughed.
"Dart, what do you find so funny? If father were to hear you, he'd have your head on the Manor's fireplace mantle." Bardiel was the first to find his voice, as well as the first to chaste Dart.
"The old fool can't." Dart managed to choke out after somewhat calming down from the laughter. "He finally pissed Kerya off enough to where she became a bit violent... right now he's imbedded about a foot into the granite wall." Dart fell down into laughter and soon Bardiel and Rain joined him. After dragging their companion to his feet, all three walked away from the conference room, glad that they had this day off.
At a downtown hospital Dee sat in a chair next to a hospital bed, both of his shoulders were bandaged from bullet wounds. He was really worried about Ryo. It had been a little over twenty four hours since Ryo had been out and he showed no signs of coming out of his comatose like state. The doctors currently treating them both were dumbfounded by Ryo's condition, finding nothing wrong with him physically or mentally. Dee sighed heavily and reached his hand out to grasp Ryo's.
"I hope you wake up soon." Dee said softly, his voice filled with despair and dread. "God damn it, I told you not to go on that stupid drug raid. If you would have just listened to me or if I hadn't have given in to you, we wouldn't be here."
Anger was evident in his voice now, a deep-set rage that threatened to consume his rational thoughts. "I swear I'll find who did this to us and kill them. I'll make them feel the pain they forced us to inflict on each other."
The curtain was drawn on the bed next door to Dee and Ryo, shielding the occupant from view. There, sitting on the other medical bed was Morrigan, a small clay doll in her hand. She had overheard what Dee had said and a small smile appeared on her face.
"Maybe, if I work hard enough at it, I can split the two detectives up. I'm sure that would keep them off of our backs for a while."
The smile grew wider, a smile which did not belong on the normally solemn girl's face. She hopped off of the bed and placed the small clay doll down on the floor. Listening closely, she waited for Dee to get up and leave the room. Knowing she didn't have much time she set her plan into motion. Chanting softly, she took out a small needle and pierced her index finger, allowing a drop of her blood to touch the clay figure. Then she carved a small symbol into it. She stopped her chanting as the clay figure twisted and grew, taking on the shape of a well-muscled man with long dark hair. After she admired her work for a while, she stepped out of the curtain and went to a nearby closet. There she took out a doctor's uniform and tossed it into the golem's face.
"Put this on and crawl into bed over there with that man." The golem obeyed its master and placed the garment around its naked body. Morrigan nodded and then stopped the golem as it approached the bed. She tugged at the uniform so that the golem's chest was shown and then allowed it to take its place beside Ryo. She then retreated to the other bed, the curtain still shielding her from view. Once there, she concentrated on Ryo, delving deep into his mind and pushing him into conscious. Usually his mind would fight for dominance but since his comatose state prevented that she had an easy time of taking control. Chuckling silently she overcame him and then proceeded with her plan.
Dee walked down the halls of the sterile smelling hospital. He always hated the stench of hospitals but still he put up with it just so he could spend time with Ryo. As he opened the door to Ryo's hospital room, the glass of water, he had gone to obtain for himself, slipped from his hand and crashed onto the floor; shattering into several shards. There before him was Ryo, awake, with his arms around some doctor, literally playing the game. Just from the few seconds of what Dee saw it looked like the doctor was doing a thorough job of inspecting Ryo's mouth. It was then that Ryo broke the kiss to the man and turned to look at Dee, a large grin on his face.
"Ryo, what the hell are you doing?" Dee's voice came out soft with little confidence.
"Why Dee, of all people I thought you would be the first to recognize that what I'm doing is my doctor." Ryo chuckled and returned the doctor's inspection. In the doorway, Dee had gone into shock. For the first few seconds after this answer he couldn't think. Now, a powerful anger over took him.
"I guess that punch last night wasn't enough to knock you to your senses huh?"
Dee continued to silently fume as the possessed Ryo returned to making out with the doctor. With a speed Dee didn't realize he head he lunged forward and grabbed the doctor's coat; pulling his fist back he planted it deep within his skull. Dee would have continued with another punch, if he wasn't so shocked when the face caved in. Dee was momentarily rendered speechless as the supposed doctor shrunk into a small clay figurine. At the same time Ryo collapsed back onto the bed, once again back in his deep sleep. Dee sighed in frustration as he tossed the destroyed golem aside. He went back to the chair by Ryo's bed, this time intent on keeping a close eye over him, wondering when the strange enemies of theirs would strike again. As Dee pondered over his thoughts, Morrigan cursed silently. Her first plan failed but, this next was sure to work, even if it meant killing one of those damned detectives. Another awkward smile spread across her face as the shadows pooled up over her and she simply melted away.
End of Chapter 5.
AN: Ryo stands silently on the stage with Dee fuming off in a corner.
"Hey umm... you're not still mad at me for that scene with the golem are you?" Ryo said while Dee just shrugged it off.
"No, but I'm pissed at the author now. Sick minded freak" Dee grumbled more to himself about kicking a certain Kitsune's butt.
"Well anyway, Destiny can't make it again because of more circumstances (Laziness) although it has been promised that more chapters will come out at a faster pace than this one did." Ryo bows while Dee just fumes more. "We thank you for reading and putting up with the slow progress of the story. We also apologize for the sudden change in the chapter's end, Destiny was unhappy with how it turned out and it made for a very upset kitsune in the end." Dee poses with the victory sign, the smoldering anger vanishing. I sorta liked it, I got to punch the damned thing's face in" Ryo just shook his head and sighed as lights dimmed and the curtains closed on the stage. A sign floats down from the rafters to read. Chapter 6: The Coming of the Storm.