a/n: Ha! This one I just had to put in! It was too tempting not to!
Disclaimer: blah blah, you know these things by now.
Simple Beginnings
By: Jun-kei
Chapter 22: The silver watch
Motoko sighed as she walked out of the hospital wing. Getting used to another body size was tricky, but after being though so many, one tends to grasp the basic concepts of it. She smiled faintly. This was the final re-sizing though.
But what plagued her mind was the fact that Mayuka wasn't there. She hadn't seen Mayuka in three years. And the way they went about separate ways wasn't the best either.
Them. The two that got along so well fought, all because of one flaw Motoko was never able to see through. She never saw that Mayuka hid her thoughts about what she thought of everything. It was the unseen crack, which eventually grew to monstrous proportions. Mayuka bottled her emotions the whole time, hiding them from view.
And it was the rift that created that caused it all. The dragons of water and flame once again became enemies.
Motoko sighed. She needed to get home, rather than worrying about such matters. Home, not with the Yamoto's, but she was on her own. She left the house shortly after Mayuka did. Though only sixteen she met someone who gladly helped her out.
Daisuke Aramaki.
Through countless hours of training, he decided to make her second in command of 'Section Nine' which he had only begun to place together, so far there were only two members. A man with cybernetic eyes called 'Batou' and herself. But preparations for Section Nine were far from done and most likely wouldn't be for another few years or so.
She unlocked her door stepping inside, and looked around. There she saw it. On the table, was a brown cardboard box.
"Cebot?"
"Yes Motoko-san?"
"Who is this from?"
"There is no name. But all scans show that whatever is in this box is harmless."
Motoko smiled. She could always open it, and curse the hell out of the stupid A.I later. She placed her hands on the box, slowly tearing it open. Inside was a smaller box, a jewelry box. Motoko opened it slowly, revealing a piece of cloth over something else, and a piece of paper that tumbled out of the box. Motoko picked up the paper and read it.
'Happy birthday Motoko. And happy final cyborg resizing. You did say you were going to get the A20 model, right? To hell with it. It's customized, but even if it doesn't fit, I hope you like it just the same.
Heh…damn it…I'll say it:
I miss you.
There, you happy now?'
Motoko shook her head. The letter was unsigned, but she already knew whom it was from. There was only one person she knew who knew her so well to make sure the delivery got there right on time.
Mayuka.
Motoko took the cloth off, revealing a silver watch. It was simple, yet delicate. She picked it up gently, looking at the beautiful ornament for what seemed like moments un-end. Then, she placed it around her wrist, and clipped it on.
A perfect fit.
"Cebot…is there a return address?"
"No, Ms. Kusanagi. All information is blanked out."
Motoko smiled.
"So she left no way to contact her, just this present."
Motoko shook her head in disbelief.
"What the hell are you trying to infer here Mayuka? There's no sign of you for three years, and now this. Well, I hope your ok at least. Knowing you, you probably are."
"Ms. Kusanagi, if it is such an ordeal, we can look back to referrals and track this person down."
"No…that's isn't necessary. If Mayuka doesn't which to be contacted, then I won't force it on her."
"As you wish." The cebot responded. Motoko noted as the tiny A.I headed off, leaving her alone in the room.
A/n: Aw! Sad to say it, but that's the end of my little ficcy:D
Read and review, and now my friends, I must return to updating Inner Universe.
Ja-ne!
Jun-kei