Chapter 2: What Must Be Done

Uzuki Residence, Second Militia

chaos:

Jin crossed his arms and sighed.

"What's with you? What happened to 'It's good to be back home, big brother?'"

I doubt you're getting that now, Jin.

"Sure, if this were a normal home! What happened here? Don't tell me you got bored and changed professions again. Honestly, you've never kept a job for more than six months!" Shion snapped.

"In this day and age, doctors are mostly just conversation partners for the elderly. In other words, counselors. I mean, aside from mental illness, everything can be cured with medicine or nanotechnology. There's nothing left for me to do. So, why go to all the trouble of running an expensive medical practice just to chat with people? I can do that in any business and if I could sell some stuff, that'd be just a bonus."

It made a lot of sense, Shion.

"Oh, please. You just wanted to use your hobby to cut yourself a tax break. As if you actually invested much in your medical practice, anyway. And what's up with these mountains of books? There's no way these were any less expensive! Where in the world did you get them all anyway?"

It's as if they both exist to argue.

"Half of them had been resting in Grandfather's storage for years. I'm sure you at least looked through them when you were a child. The rest are from customers. There are a lot of people with obscure tastes around here, you know. Building a collection is easier than you'd think. Now, shouldn't we attend to our guests?"

A little too late, don't you think? Jr. and I were already inside the bookstore, browsing. Jr. walked up beside me with a stack of books in his arms. One of which, I noted, had the title 'The History of the Zohar'.

"What are you doing, Jr.?" Shion asked.

"I thought I'd go ahead and get these," Jr. answered.

"Uh…Jr., let's go inside," I suggested softly.

"Come on, what about these?"

"You can buy all the books you want later. Come on!"

Yes, because I want to buy that Zohar book.

Fifteen Minutes Later:

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

Poor Shion. It was sad how her parents died, but it was even sadder how she took it out on Jin. Yet, I made no comment, for it was not in my place to do so. Shion got up and walked toward the screen door.

"Either way. I'm still not going to their graves," She stated before exiting the room.

Jin got up and started back into the bookstore. Jr. and I followed after him silently.

"Well, I'd better get going. They're probably waiting for me, so I…" Jr. said softly.

Jin turned to face Jr. with a solemn look on his face.

"I'm very sorry you had to see that. It's a little embarrassing."

"Oh, don't worry. Are you guys ok?"

I would like to hope so after that.

"Oh, yes. We're still brother and sister, after all."

Well, I had a lot of business to take are of. It would be a lot more convenient if I stayed with the Uzuki's. I could keep an eye on brother and sister, Margulis and the Second Militian Government.

"I'm sorry, but would you mind if I stayed here tonight, Jin? Of course, I don't want to intrude."

"You're not intruding at all, chaos. Please, you are welcome. Shion will be delighted you're staying."

Jr. nodded in agreement.

"Well, it's all right with me. MOMO isn't getting analyzed 'til tomorrow. Just come by then and we should be ok."

"I will. Thanks."

I watched Jr. exit the house with a soft smile. Good, Little Master's out of my hair.

"Jin, I will be out for a little while, ok? I have much needed business to take care of."

"As do I, dear friend."

I exited the house and walked back on the path to the city. The sound of many people talking all at once filled my sensitive ears. It was back into the sea of people in order to reach the government offices. Representative Helmer was long overdue for a visit from me. It didn't take me long to find the offices…after all, it was the only needle shaped building in Second Militia. I could go through all of his secretaries, but that would take forever.

I'm the calm, insightful chaos who is always there to talk. I had the feeling that Jin would want to have a chat. (And I can never be late for a talk.) I focused my energies up the surface and formed a mental picture of Helmer's office. Within seconds, I was standing on the plush blue carpet of Helmer's large scale office.

"Welcome back, Yeshua."

I winced and ground my teeth together. I hate that name.

"Wilhelm, where is Helmer? And why are you here?"

The chair that normally sat behind Helmer's deck turned around, revealing the pale, thin figure of Wilhelm, CEO of Vector.

"He had to step out for a moment. And as for me being here, I wanted to get a little fresh air."

You leave the safety of the Dämmerung for fresh air…

"I have to admit, you are the last person I wanted to see today."

"Yeshua."

There was that name again.

"Stop calling me that, Wilhelm. I prefer the name chaos."

Wilhelm closed his eyes thoughtfully.

"Why not, Yeshua? Anyways, I have some information for you."

Information?

"Spit it out, Wilhelm. I'm not going to hang around all day. I have things to do."

"But of course. Albedo is going to make contact with MOMO somehow tomorrow."

That shut my mouth completely. I knew Albedo wasn't totally out of the picture in this twisted play…but so soon…

"Do you know exactly when he'll attempt it?"

I doubt the Compass of Fate would tell him that much. Wilhelm shook his head lightly, causing his blonde hair to fall across his face.

"Sadly, I do not Yeshua…I don't like the feeling I get about this situation."

I don't like the feeling you get from telling me about this either. MOMO had the coordinates for the transfer column to Old Militia. Old Militia…where the original Zohar rested.

"Can't we cancel it? We're going to put a lot of people in danger if we let this continue."

I wanted nothing more than to call it off, despite the fact that it would make the U-TI Organization very suspicious.

"chaos, you know that we can't manipulate the hands of fate. What goes on must go on, despite how painful it is."

"That's what you said when the gnosis attacked the Kukai Foundation. I could have saved all of those people and yet, you wouldn't let me."

"They were destined to die."

"I hate death!" I shrieked.

Wow…an emotional outburst. That's so not like…me.

"I know you don't," Wilhelm stated calmly.

"These people befriended me. I can't let anything happen to them."

"Even you can't prevent that, Yeshua."

I will damn well try, Wilhelm.

7:58 P.M. Sunset

Uzuki Residence, Second Militia

chaos:

I set out for Jin once I walked back onto his property. I needed someone to talk to after all the information I absorbed from Wilhelm and Helmer. I hate knowing what will happen in the future. Either way, I would continue to survive thanks to my unnatural powers. I stumbled upon Jin's location on the outer perimeters of the house and paused. He was deep in thought.

"Are you all right?"

"Sounds peaceful, doesn't it?"

Time for a thought provoking conversation. Good. I needed to have one. I carefully sat down next to him and glanced up at the night sky.

"On nights when I can't sleep, I find it easier to relax here," Jin commented.

"It's Shion, isn't it?" I asked.

"Well…yes. It's been two years since we've seen each other. I've always thought of her as a child, but she won't…"

He laughed softly.

"So, what is it you want to ask me? You've got something on your mind."

I had a lot on my mind really. More than half of which I couldn't discuss. But there was something…

"Um, Jin. About U-TIC, are you still…"

"It's like so long ago, but it feels like it was only yesterday. It seems that fate won't allow me to escape that curse. Or, perhaps I brought it upon myself."

There was a small pause before he continued.

"The human race began its existence as a simple flock of hunters and gatherers. Eventually, we learned to control fire, and from fire, we obtained the powers of the blade. Our consciousness constantly changes from its unending search for the future. When a man finds a guiding light, he runs to it, sometimes forgetting its true nature in the process. Perhaps we humans are like moths. Aimlessly flitting around the inviting candlelight, unaware of the outcome that awaits us."

That was so deep…and somehow comforting. I watched silently as he placed his hand near the candle in front of him.

"Jin…" I uttered softly.

He stood up.

"I'm sure she's caused you all kinds of problems. I know she's a problem, but please, take care of her for me."

You act like you're never going to see her again.

"It's not like that," I protested.

"I…I wasn't able to be with her when she needed me most. And now, thanks to that, I still can't let myself get close to her again. I think perhaps…I'm afraid that if I try to get any closer, she might turn me away, shut me out…and cut me off as her brother."

I would probably act the same way if I had siblings.

"Don't worry. Shion talks about you all the time. If you ask me, she doesn't seem like the type of person who'd cut off her family," I said, trying to reassure him.

"She probably adds the phrase 'No Good' when she talks about me, doesn't she?"

Being honest…

"Well, sometimes."

Jin laughed.

At least I got a laugh out of him.

"You know, it's strange. I feel like I can talk to you about anything, chaos. It's like you're much older than you look, as if you'd been alive for hundreds of years."

I am much older than I look! I have been around for hundreds of years!

"Oh, no. I just like to take things easy. Jr. makes fun of me for it. He always says, 'chaos, you are so slow!'"

I burst out into a fit of laughter. Jin joined in for a moment or two and turned to go back inside.

"Goodnight, chaos."

I waved.

"Goodnight, Jin."

Author's Note: My plot is actually changing a little bit. I couldn't bear to have chaos be evil…it's just not in his nature. So…I would do the next best thing: test his compassionate and caring nature. So..that's what is going to happen from now on. Any feedback on this change would be nice.