The Inner Child
A Tenchi Muyo! Fanfiction by HelloSir
Summary: All of us begin as a child, even the most callous and brutal criminal the universe has ever known....
Disclaimer: The anime Tenchi Muyo is copyrighted by Pioneer LD and AIC. Therefore, I do not own any characters/references, and this is in no way sponsored or produced by the owners of the trademark anime from which this fanfiction is based on. That being said, get off my case.
Author's Note: All right dears, I'm sorry I took to long to update. I was stuck for ideas, and some people wanted me to "clarify" the origin of the demon. All I have to say to this is...WAIT!! That's what the point of the story is, my little ones! Anyway, I appreciate all your comments and I promise that the story will move on a bit faster. This chapter is the last one where he is an infant. The next chapter, I warn, will just be a bit of explaining. However, once I get my priorities straight, we'll be straight on. Sounds good? Good.
Thank you for reading.
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Chapter Six: Elixir of Life, Omen of Death
She really needed to stop daydreaming so much.
Her nimble fingers rubbed the tension away from her sore shoulders as she collapsed back into her plush chair. That memory had carried her so far away, and yet her legs still managed to carry her to her dorm and seat her in a perfectly comfortable cushion. It wasn't a pleasant remembrance, but sinking into the pillows of her furniture made it a little easier to relax. She knew she would never forget that episode, and she knew Clay would never forgive her.
Good. She didn't expect him to.
Crimson eyes darted in the direction of her bedroom. The door was still closed, and she could hear the soft breathing of her son's slumber. She sighed in relief. If anything had happened to Kagato during her moment of oblivion, she would never have forgiven herself. She would definitely need to stop spacing out, if she were to care for her son incessantly. Love had no tolerance for absentmindedness.
How she managed to get to her dorm without remembering was insignificant compared to her past and present. She had done so much then, and she had so much to do now. Every other event seemed trite and bland; it was now that demanded her attention. She buried her face in her pale hands and urged herself to forget all the abnormalities of the past, all the enigmas she had yet to uncover. Clay, Yume, Washu, demons...she needed to focus on NOW.
And yet, she couldn't. How could her philosophical mind simply dismiss something just because it didn't agree with the current situation? Absolutely absurd.
She was eternally grateful when a soft rapping sounded at her door. If the distraction had not awoken her from her thoughts, she could have just as well drifted off into an oblivious abyss again. She couldn't afford another episode like that again.
Green robes sweeping behind her, she walked towards the door and opened it gently, peeking through the slight crack. A curious silver eye stared back at her. She smiled benignly and opened the door, allowing the owner of the eye to step in.
A jittery nineteen-year old boy cautiously shuffled into her room, gripping his new black knapsack with a death grip. He looked as though he were in a torture chamber; sweat glistened on his tan forehead, which was partially obscured by a large amount of cobalt hair that seemed to shoot out of his head in mangled spikes.
"Ushio Kamiki," she mused, sitting back down and motioning for the boy to take a seat as well. "What brings you to my humble dwelling?"
Ushio stared at the numerous artifacts that adorned the walls and the rich carpet that seemed to sprout out of the floor. It was anything but humble, he thought. He still could not manage to say anything; when he was around Professor Akara he would tend to freeze up and turn stark white. How he managed to survive in her class he didn't know. He even doubted why he had visited her. Come to think of it, he had forgotten the reason. A tiny voice screamed in his head to answer, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Professor Akara had that type of effect on people.
Naja raised an eyebrow and adjusted her pince-nez, intensifying her stare. "Ushio, I asked you a question. Surely there must be a reason explaining your presence here." When she got no reply, she waved her hand tiredly and pointed to the door. "Well, if you have nothing to say, I suggest you leave before I lose my temper. I have more pressing matters to attend to."
He rubbed his head anxiously and stood up, as though beginning to leave. However, he surprised both him and her when he spoke. "Professor, why did you cancel your classes?"
She smiled a little, pleased that the shy student had finally mustered up the guts to talk to her. She was shocked that he had even confronted her outside of class, and mentally praised him for doing so. Even though she didn't want to admit it, Ushio could quite possibly be the next Yakage. "Now, why does that concern you?"
"I...I don't know," he stammered, fidgeting under her stoic glare. "I just...I..."
"Stammering is not an attractive skill, young Ushio," she lectured, adding to his obvious discomfort. "You are the heir to the head of Jurai's Kamiki clan, are you not? I hear that Kamiki is one of the more influential clans of the four, and I suggest you take the throne of your father with a straight posture and a sharp tongue."
Ushio winced. He didn't want to be head of the Kamiki clan. He didn't want to be head of anything. He didn't know what he wanted to be at all, now that he thought about it.
"Ushio?" Naja's cutting voice pierced through his muddled thoughts and he snapped up to attention. He had already experienced the unpleasant consequences of drifting off in Professor Akara's class. Not firsthand, of course, since he for one thought Philosophy was an intriguing subject. However, he knew that whoever fell asleep in her class didn't attend the next seminar, or the one after that.
"I'm very sorry, Professor," he mumbled, bowing his head. "I just...like your class, that's all. I really wanted to go to your tutorial session and evening class, but I suppose it's canceled, isn't it?" He cringed inwardly, hoping that he wasn't too much on the sycophantic side. Flattery didn't work on everyone, and he assumed that Professor Akara was one of those few where compliments fell short.
However, if he weren't looking at the ground, he would have noticed a bit of a blush in Naja's pallid cheeks. "That's all very nice, Ushio, but why I canceled my classes is not yours to know. You should get your rest; the moon has almost risen."
He looked up and indeed; thin beams of orange evening light peeked through Naja's heavy curtains. However, he wasn't ready to leave just yet. There were many things he needed to say to his mysterious professor, and he felt that this was the only time he would be able to do it. Tsunami help him if he ever gained the courage to talk to her again.
He brushed off his student robes and spoke in a clear voice that seemed to shoot out of nowhere. "Professor, I just want to let you know that I'll help you with whatever you need and that I really respect your work and I believe although most people don't and that even though the Kamiki clan doesn't especially like myths and theories I do and I want to be your apprentice please!"
She closed her eyes thoughtfully, immensely satisfied with Ushio's confession, even though it was a bit winded and rushed. "That's very nice to know, Ushio. Tell me, how long are you planning to stay here?"
"I want to work here."
She clicked her tongue softly. "You know you can't. You must ascend the Kamiki throne."
"I can convince Father to let one of his advisors take over."
"Not going to happen. He wants his blood to be at the head of the clan. That means you."
He stomped his feet angrily, his hair falling in front of his face. "So? Please, let me stay just for a decade, and then I'll leave."
"That seems reasonable." She contemplated his suggestion for a while, and then spoke again. "I will take you as my apprentice only if your father agrees to the extra decade. You are an exceptional student, and I would like to see you go farther. If you think progress will be achieved through intense one-on-one studying with me, so be it."
"You mean it?" His silver eyes glowed with suppressed happiness, an innocent grin gracing his boyish features.
She nodded. "I mean it."
"Woooo hoooo!" Ushio jumped almost three feet in the air and clicked his heels together in a giddy jig that sent the usually emotionless Naja into quiet fits of laughter. His hands grabbed hers in a violent shake of thanks. "Thank you so much! I don't know how I can repay you for allowing me to work in your presence! This is awesome! This is more than awesome! This is --- "
"I think it's time for someone to go to bed," she interrupted sternly, a pale finger pointing unyieldingly towards the door. "I will see you tomorrow, I hope."
He bowed hastily and ran out of the room with another rushed outburst of thanks. Naja smiled at the boy's glee. How he could feel such a strong emotion over so little a thing baffled her. There were some things that science could not answer.
She rose out of the chair and headed towards her bedroom, anxious to check on Kagato. For something that was such a miracle, she had not spent much time with him, and Tsunami be damned if she was going to neglect him. That was not why she brought him into this world. Too many people lived their lives alone, and she would not let her son become one of the mindless, pitiful, lonesome, masses. He was the ladder that would lead her away from despair and high into the envious standings of her fellow colleagues.
He was her life incarnate. He would bring life, she told herself. He will bring happiness and joy, companionship and compassion. At least, that's what she wanted.
A scowl marred her finely chiseled face as another knock pounded at her door. She crossed her arms in frustration. It was unlikely that Ushio would have the courage to approach her again once he got what he wanted, and she knew that Yume and Washu would certainly leave her alone. She had a feeling that for once Clay would not disturb her. The chances of it being a student were slim; no one liked talking to the philosophy professor if they could avoid it.
"This is the residence of Naja Akara, Professor of Ancient Artifacts, Mythology, and Philosophy," she droned languidly. "Is there anything I can help you with?" She growled under her breath. Such an annoyance. Those who knew her knew that if she didn't open her door when you knocked, it was probably not a good time to visit. If you got that response, it was wise to turn around and go back from whence you came, lest you face Naja's irritated wrath.
It seemed that the person on the other side of the door knew this, since the knocking ceased and a meek male voice could be heard. "I'm very sorry to disturb you, Professor. Is now a bad time?"
Naja's eyes lit up in recognition as her hand fumbled with the doorknob, opening the door. "Forgive me, Yakage. I had almost forgot our appointment."
Yakage stepped in and admired the décor as he talked with his former teacher. "Don't worry. No harm done."
"Good." She closed the door and walked into the kitchen, the sound of clinking tea cups piercing the air. She soon came out with a tray of rice crackers and two steaming cups of green tea. "Care for refreshments?"
He nodded and took the tray from her, setting it on the nearby desk. He grabbed his cup as Naja grabbed hers and took a small taste, smiling. "Delicious tea, as always, Professor," he sighed, taking another sip. "Absolutely delicious."
A scrutinizing eyebrow rose. "I wasn't hired for my savory tea-brewing skills."
Yakage faltered and bowed hastily, brown locks falling in front of his face. "Of course, Professor, I didn't mean to imply---"
She cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Do not fret over it. I know you meant no offense." Placing her teacup back on the desk, she rummaged through her robes and pulled out a small vial filled with a watery purple liquid. "This is the elixir I was talking about, the one that will give you extended life. Before you take it, however, I want you to see something."
Naja walked over to the bedroom door and opened it slowly, making sure the hinges didn't creak. She put a finger to her lips and crept in softly, making good use of her inbred stealth. Yakage did the same, leaving his drink and nearly crawling into the room. Naja almost laughed at Yakage's stance: there was no need to be absolutely silent; it wasn't as though they were on a secret sniping mission or the like. She simply didn't want to wake Kagato, but if he hadn't woken up during Ushio's outburst, then he certainly wouldn't wake up at the mere sound of footsteps.
His violet eyes widened as he spotted the small bundle wrapped up in Naja's emerald sheets, the hanging bed lowered for safety precautions and easy access. Only a shock of gray hair could be seen emerging from the blankets, the rest of the infant's body sunken into the mattress. He crept closer and removed the covers gently, revealing a sleeping Kagato, pale fists tucked into a dark green coat.
"Who is that?" Yakage turned to look at Naja, who was wearing a warm smile he had never seen before.
"My son," she replied tenderly, a pale hand reaching to stroke her child's hair. "His name is Kagato Akara."
He nodded. "Kagato," he repeated. "A strong name."
She nodded in turn. "That was the intention I had in mind. I'm not raising a weak-minded individual. He will be as unbreakable as the old tree in the rainstorm, as immovable as a block of stone, and as cold as a river of ice." She grinned, and then added, "Of course, I will make sure he is also as warm as homemade biscuits, as charming as the sunset, and as innocent as the first day of spring."
"Good luck," he chuckled.
Instead of answering his laugh with one of her own, her face fell into a grave expression. "Yes...good luck. I will need it. I believe I already told you about the omens I receive. I can feel that I will not live for much longer, for reasons unknown. It troubles me, but...I believe it, even if there is no logical proof." She shook the vial in front of his face. "That is why I have asked you to take this elixir. I want you to take care of Kagato when I am gone."
When he didn't answer, she continued. "I don't want to burden Washu with my offspring: who knows, she may have another one of her own later on. Therefore, the only person I trust is you. This is a rather important task. Look at him...are you willing to give your life to this child?"
A few seconds passed in hesitation. Finally, Yakage answered. "Y...yes, Professor. I will spend my extended lifespan watching over him. It is the least I can do for you."
The silence was broken by Naja's choked sob of gratitude as she fell into Yakage's arms. "Thank you. Thank you so very much, Yakage."
He held her tightly against his muscular chest, stroking her hair with the utmost tenderness. "It was my pleasure, Professor." He stared into her eyes. Funny...he had never noticed how beautiful those eyes actually were, rubies set into moon-colored skin.
"Please, Yakage..." she whispered. "Cease with the titles. When we're alone, you can call me Naja."
"Fine...Naja." The name rolled off his tongue, unfamiliar yet amazingly smooth at the same time.
"Good boy." She rubbed his cheek with hers, nuzzling closer and burying her face into his chest. She popped open the vial and slowly poured it into his open mouth, being careful not to spill a drop. The purple liquid slid effortlessly down his throat, and he had consumed it in a few seconds. Before he had time to thank her, however, her mouth jumped upon his own, her lips covering his.
Normally, he would have turned any other girl away, but Naja.... her lips were so soft, her body so supple...it was a nice slice of heaven.
Naja herself was overcome with glee. It had been so long since she had kissed a man, much less a handsome one such as the well-built Yakage. True, she was much older than him, but like Washu always told her: love has no boundaries.
Love? Did she love Yakage?
"Naja," he gasped, breaking the kiss. "That was...wonderful."
"Then why did you stop?" she teased, batting her eyelashes coyly. He laughed gently.
"I just wanted to say.... I don't know if this is right, but..." He paused, and then pecked her on the cheek. "I love you."
She grinned and put a long finger to his lips. "Of course it's right." She took a long look at her son, who was thankfully still asleep. The last thing she wanted was a pair of amber and crimson eyes staring at her make-out session. Grabbing Yakage's hand, she led him out of the bedroom, giggling. "Go now. You need to rest for you classes."
He stared at her oddly. "That's all I get?"
"That's all," she answered.
Instead of getting mad, he smiled. "I should have expected that from you."
"Expect much more. You're going to live much longer now, and you've spent the first part of your new life declaring your love for me."
"That's a good start."
"Yes it is, my dear."
He opened the door and began to leave, but turned to look at her again. "Naja, your son is still asleep...would you like to take a walk with me?"
A fleeting pang of doubt sunk in her chest, but the thought of long forgotten and neglected romance dismissed it quickly. "I'd be happy to."
All her doubts disappeared when he kissed her passionately and led her out of her dorm, an arm wrapped around her waist. She didn't want to leave her son alone, but he would be fine. She hoped. Love waits for no man (or in this case, woman). Kagato would be fine, and she would make an effort to come back soon.
She repeated this to herself as she closed the door behind her, unconsciously flicking the light switch. The last sliver of illumination disappeared as the door clicked shut.
In the bedroom, an infant stirred, large amber-crimson eyes staring into the darkness.
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Mama? Mama? Mama?
Mama is gone. No, Mama wouldn't leave me. Mama said she wouldn't leave me, and I believe her. I would try the link, but I don't want to bother her. I want to be a good boy now.
It's so dark. I don't like the dark. It makes me think of bad things and evil thoughts and the demon inside and I don't like it very much. I wonder if this is how the rest of my life will be like. Will Mama be there always?
Like hell she will.
Be quiet! I don't like you.
Oh, that hurts my feelings. Now what did I do to deserve that, hmmm?
You tried to hurt Mama's friend. That wasn't very nice.
Well, I'm not very nice. It's dark, isn't it, Kagato? You don't like the dark very much, right? Your mother knows that. Why did she leave you alone in the dark then? Someone who loves you wouldn't do such a thing, am I correct?
Mama will come back. I know she will.
And what if she doesn't?
I'll wait for her.
And how long will that take? A few minutes? A day? Forever?
Not that long. I can wait for a while.
It's time to realize, little one, that she loves that man more than she loves you. She only created you because SHE was lonely, and SHE wanted someone to talk to, and SHE is a bitch that must be eliminated.
Not true. You're a bad demon. Get out of my head. I don't know how you got in, but I know I don't want you there.
Hahaha...I've caused a bit of trouble, haven't I? Because of me, everyone thinks you're a possessed psychopath out to kill them all. And it's not you, little Kagato. It's all me. But of course, I AM you, so it does make it your fault.
Why do you do these mean things?
Because you need to fulfill a purpose that you don't seem able to complete. Your childish delusions disgust me, and it hinders progress. Life is not about happiness and love and companionship; it is about sacrifice, ambition, and doing anything you can to get what you want and best others. That is life. I will show you how to live. For now, you'll just have to listen to what I say. I will never let you go.
But what if I don't want to do those things?
Oh, you will. You were MEANT to do those things. That's why I'm here. Now succumb to your future of perfection, for I tire of talking to someone who doesn't understand.
NO!
Fine. Stay in darkness. Sooner or later, you'll have to listen to me. I'll always be watching...
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Naja could kill herself right now, and she would have, if she didn't have something more pressing to address.
It wasn't Yakage's kisses or his embrace or his words: it was the fact that Naja had found herself so lost in them that she had forgotten time, therefore forgetting her son. She would never be able to forgive herself for that.
She had lost track of the number of times she had rushed down the hallway to her dorm today, and she frankly didn't give a damn. All she knew was that she had left her helpless son alone because she wanted to fulfill a romantic fantasy with one of her students.
That was carnal sin. That was parental neglect. That was everything she didn't want to be. And yet, in those few hours, she was. She had left her son alone for three godforsaken hours in the darkness of her room with no food and no company. First impressions on a child were always the most important, and she knew she had already screwed up big time. She would have to make it up considerably during his childhood.
If he ever forgave her.
The door to her dorm burst open and Naja rushed in, slamming the bedroom door open as well. The bed was empty, the covers in bundled messes. Frantic crimson eyes scanned the room, but to no avail. She closed the bedroom door and moved back to the entrance to close the other door.
"Kagato?" Her voice shook with concern and a fear she had never felt before. It felt like her heart had been glued to her ribcage and was slowly making its way up to her throat. "Kagato, Mama is home!"
When she received no answer, she flipped on the light switch, hoping to catch a glimpse of her hiding child. No Kagato. Worried to the point of hysterics, she pressed her fingers up to her temples and tried to concentrate, opening the mental link between them. She had closed it when she went with Yakage, lest her son see everything she did.
"Kagato, where are you?" She sincerely hoped he hadn't learned to shut off the link on his side. "Mama is sorry that she left you."
When she received no answer, she tried again, her hands falling to her sides in angry fists. Rage at her incompetence built up inside of her, and she slumped to the floor, back pressed up against the front door. "Kagato, please come out."
"Would you like to die?"
"What?" she gasped aloud, her head turning abruptly as if to chase the voice out. She jumped up to her feet, fingers crackling with energy. Getting into a fighting stance, she looked around the main living room with narrowed eyes, waiting for something to strike.
"I said, would you like to die?" The voice inside her head was not the childish squeal of Kagato, but the deep sinister tone of an older man. "I thought you were a genius, Naja Akara. Must I repeat myself?"
Naja was thoroughly frustrated, since the mental voice did not allow her to pinpoint the intruder's location, and her sensitive ears could pick up no sound of movement. She simply flicked the light switch off so that they were enveloped in darkness once again. It would be a disadvantage to her opponent, unless they had sharper eyes than Naja did. Flicking her left wrist, a large green spirit flame burst in her hand, illuminating the area around her with a faint glow.
"Who is it?" This time she addressed the intruder mentally. If the latter could access the link, there was no need to speak.
A chilling laugh pierced through her being as it reverberated through her skull. "Poor, poor, Naja....so many things are happening to you. I would feel pity, but I cannot spare such trivial emotions to mourn over someone who I must dispose of."
"Why? Why do you want to kill me?" A fleeting panic shot through her mind. "And where is my son?"
"Your son?" The man chortled again. "Your son is with me."
Through maternal rage, she abandoned the link and cried out. "If you hurt him, I'll---"
"I won't hurt him," the voice interrupted. "If anyone is going to be hurt, it'll be you. You are very important, but you must be eliminated, nevertheless. You are an obstacle in my way. You are the missing key, my dear...but you are a nuisance."
"And you make no sense."
Another laugh shook Naja's mental foundations. "It doesn't need to make sense, Naja. Isn't that your profession? Accepting what doesn't make sense? Philosophy is dangerous, Naja..."
A sudden noise from the kitchen alerted Naja, and she spun around so that she was facing the source of the sound. Through the dim glow of her spirit flame, a small silhouette walked slowly towards her, clutching what appeared to be a butcher knife in its hand. She extinguished the flame and summoned her green energy sword, pointing the tip at the intruder's nose. The light given off by her weapon cast shadows across the intruder's face, and she gasped.
"Kagato?" Her son stared blankly back at her, no emotion on his face. He stopped, looking at the sword pointed at him nonchalantly, as though it were a harmless barrier that he could simply move through.
"Die." His voice was a mixture of a baby's high-pitched tone and the evil tenor that had taken refuge in her head. Crimson-amber eyes continued to glare at her green blade in annoyance.
She refused to deactivate her sword just yet, trying not to falter at the sight of her murderous child. "Why?"
Kagato looked up at her, his pale face strangely gaunt and stoic. "It must be so."
Naja's head spun with possibilities and reasons behind this act of violence, but she could find no explanation. This was her child, yet it was not. She could kill him right now, and no one persecute her. However, she had just given Yakage the elixir because her son would live, and she had convinced Washu not to destroy him...would their efforts be in vain if she killed him now?
Suddenly, the knife slid out of Kagato's hand, and a ball of green energy replaced it. She got into a defensive stance, lest he tried to shoot her with a projectile, but nothing happened. Instead, he dropped to the ground, clutching his head in agony. The energy ball faded away as he began to move.
"Mama..." he groaned, crawling up to her feet. "Mama..."
Cautiously, she knelt down so that she could easily scoop him up. He continued to struggle towards her, his eyes flashing an eerie green. When the flash dissipated, his eyes showed fear, but when the flash returned, ambition shone clear. Finally, his tiny hands rested on hers.
"Mama...tell him to go away..."
Without thinking, Naja swept her child into her arms and wailed pitifully, squeezing him tightly to her bosom. She didn't know why she wept exactly...his loss of innocence, her confusion, her actions, the others...
All she knew was that she would never let anyone hurt him. Ever.
No one would ever know of this. She would control it.
Or else.
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Miserable wretch. Why do you insist on fighting me?
Leave Mama and me alone. I don't want to do what you want to do, and I don't agree with what you say.
I don't care if you do or not. It has to happen.
Then let it happen later. Not now. Not now.
...fine. It will happen later.
Thank you, thank you! I want to live with Mama. I want to live.
You will. But I will always be there. Things can wait. We have all the time in the universe. We'll wait...you'll grow more powerful with age. Yes...let's wait. You'll make much more progress if we allow you to grow.
What...?
Our plans can be put on the backburners for now. Things will be explained with time. You'll gradually learn to understand. I promise.
Don't fret. It won't happen yet.
But it WILL happen.
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Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.
I've done a bit of research, and it's conflicting with my data, so this thing isn't going to be the most accurate fic in the box, all right? However, I am doing a substantial amount of info gathering, for the devout fans.
Another thing: I did not watch GXP or the third OVA. Therefore, if some data conflicts, that's to be expected.
I'd like to thank my most devoted fan (he knows who he is) for always E-mailing me with ideas and what not. If it weren't for him, this chapter would have come out much later than it already has.
I know this is shameless of me, but please review if you like it at all. Too many good fics have gone down (not saying mine is, but for an example) because people were too lazy to write "Good job!".
Always writing for you,
HelloSir