AN: Took a long time, but it's done...enjoy.
Inner Universe
Chapter three: Betrayed
Mayuka sat in the vast courtyard, it wasn't very often she got to be out in the open. After all, the Yakuza preferred to be underground. Ayame soon joined her, with a concerned expression.
"So…how you feeling?"
"About…oh, I'm fine."
Mayuka turned around to face her friend, her long purple hair covering the left side of her face.
"Like the idea? You can't really see it now."
"You know, you should rest-"
"No! In the army I received worse than this. I had my arm broken and I still managed to get on with the day!"
Ayame's expression turned to one of disgust.
"With that nasty habit of setting your own bone?"
"How else would I?"
Mayuka retaliated with a wink. Ayame, smiled.
"I don't know, maybe: seeing the medic!"
"Oh, how cruel and cold you are woman!"
Ayame smiled.
"I remember when they first brought you here. You always wore that Army Uniform of yours. Which was funny, cause I always wondered: How the hell does an eleven year old manage to finish training with a top grade in 6 months, be promoted to Sergeant in the special ops, then nearly shot down, then retired all by the time she was thirteen?"
"Those days were bullshit. Up at sun-up, and continued well after sundown. They were looking for a tactician, and my papers were in order so, I was chosen."
"And just how did you manage to get all legal papers to say you were legally an adult?"
"Hacked into the Federal system. Only way to do it."
Ayame sighed.
"Speaking of the Uniform, it was all ways too big for you-"
"They never had my size…"
"Well, it's gotta fit you now. I actually kept it and patched it up. Both of them, the one for formals, and the one for the battlefield. I'll go get them now."
Mayuka smiled, as she watched Ayame run off.
'My old militant wear, eh?'
Soon, Ayame returned with a bunch of clothes in a dusty camo colour. Mayuka took a look at them and smiled.
"Ayame, I'll be right back."
Ayame nodded as Yukimura approached her.
"O-nii-sama, how are you?"
"Fine really. Where's Kusanagi-san?"
"Oh, I gave Mayuka her old military uniforms…"
"Oh geez…she loves those doesn't she?"
"Yep!"
Yukimura sighed.
"Please don't tell me we have to call her by rank now…I'll die…"
"Fine then, I won't."
"Ha-ha, very funny Ayame. Kusanagi-san, where are you?"
"Do you really think she'll answer?"
A few moments later, Mayuka walked back to them, and smiled.
"Kusanagi-san? Sorry, but that is no longer valid, you can call me "Sergeant" Kusanagi.Hey, Ayame, you're right, perfet fit."
Yukimura turned around to see Mayuka, dressed in the sandy color of the uniform. However, it wasn't dressy: It was the one they wore off duty. But it still had three red stripes to signify she was a special forces Sergeant, on each shoulder. The jacket part of the uniform was unzipped, and underneath was a red shirt. Her pants were the same colour as the jacket. She had also tied her hair in a ponytail, except for the long bangs that were covering the right side of her face. Mayuka smiled.
"Well?"
"Um…. nice…?"
Yukimura said in a baffeled voice.
"Aww, poor Yuki-chan…"
Ayame smiled.
"You look very professional…in a casual manner…"
"Whatever that means, I'm hoping it's good."
Ayame laughed.
"Oh, I found your dog tags in the jacket's breast pocket. I put them back in there."
Mayuka's face brightened up as she took out the silver dog tags, reading them.
On the first tag:
Division: Special Forces
Rank: Sergeant
Name: Kusanagi, Mayuka
And on the second:
Birth date: unknown
Registry #: 6/22/2126
Specialty: Weapons and tactics"Well…so long ago. I think I'll change back now…"
"Err…Sergeant, you haven't told us a story…"
Yukimura suddenly coughed up. Mayuka turned around, her expression crossed.
"What are you Yukimura, a two year old? Do I need to tell you a bed time story?"
"But you've never told us why you left the army?"
Mayuka's expression turned solum.
"That…"
She muttered, her voice suddenly quiet.
"I was betrayed, by one of the men in the squad I was leading, during an operation…"
"Sergeant!"
"Report, Smith!"
"We've got a problem sir! Several C4 explosives went off near the Yeshiva plate."
Said one of the men, as Mayuka loaded her gun.
"Shit. C4's may be a weapon of the 21st Century boys but don't underestimate it's power!"
"Your orders are?"
"Roberts and Jonathon! Work on getting civilians out of this wreck!"
"Yes m'am!"
Soon two of the squad members left.
"Smith, is there anything else?"
"Our detector found several bombs."
"What's the outage, and how much time?"
Smith shook his head.
"I don't know Sir."
"Oh, for the love of-"
"Sir?"
"Damn it! Red one and two, follow me. Smith, you're also with me. The rest of you give us back up!"
"Sir, Yes Sir!"
Mayuka nodded, before running in the direction of a building, being followed by her subordinates. The entered inside quickly.
"Ok, I want everyone to spread out! Keep your guard up, but remember, we need those bombs defused ASAP!"
"Found one Sergeant!"
"Same here Sir!"
"And there's another here!"
"Even I found one…so soon…something's not right…"
Mayuka muttered.
"Defuse them now…"
Corporal!>
Corporal: Yes sir?>
Is there anymore bombs in here?>
Negative sir. I have a bad feeling about this…>
Mayuka froze as she heard the click of a gun behind her.
"Shit…ambush…"
"You've got that right Sergeant!"
Red one! Red two!>
Sergeant, Red two and Smith are traitors!>
"Damn…tell me something I don't know…"
Smith smiled.
"Well, I'm already assuming Sergeant that you already know you're going to die."
Mayuka cursed under her breath as she tried to point the gun, only to have it blasted out of her hands.
"Die!"
Smith yelled, shooting her in the heart, Mayuka fell over just a mere inch from her own gun, she grabbed it quickly, and fired it off four times, as Smith fell over dead.
"Unluckily for you Smith, even though you shot two times, I happen to have an armored vest on. So while that did hurt like hell, I'm still living, if not, with a punctured lung. And your second shot hit me in the side, missing every vital around there that's possible. I win again."
She said, gasping for air as she struggled to stand, and leaned heavily on the wall.
Red one: Red one to Sergeant! Come in Sergeant!>
May: I'm here…I'm here.>
Red one: Red two is dead sir. And judging from the vital status of Smith, he is as well. Our back up took care of all enemies outside. What should write in the report, sir? I'm coming to your location now.>
"Ugh…the report…"
"Sir?"
"Just put that we were able to hold them off so we could defuse the bombs. Red two and Smith betrayed us. And thus they are both DIA"
"But-"
"That's an order!"
"Sir…"
Red One rushed to her side as she suddenly collapsed.
"Sir, wake up sir! Sergeant Kusanagi!"
"That must of sucked…"
"Could have been worse Yukimura…I could have died right then and there instead. It was the dawning of this fact that caused me to quit. I was nothing but an inexperienced child trying to play soldier."
Yukimura smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.
"Well, to me, you're no mere child."
"That was the lamest, badly planed advance I'd ever seen…"
Mayuka glared icily at Yukimura who backed off.
"Am I jumping in too soon?"
"Yes, yes you are, now piss-off and leave me alone."
Yukimura frowned as Mayuka began to walk away.
"Um…what about a movie?"
"Any movie I want to see, I usuallysee alone."
"What about the ones you don't want to see?"
"I don't watch them."
Mayuka shook her head and left as Yukimura sighed in defeat.
'What an idiot…'
Mayuka thought as she faintly smiled. Yukimura stood there in utter shock.
"What did I do wrong?"
"You're the worse Yukimura. Ever thought the quickest way isn't the best?"
"No fair…"
"All in time, o-nii-sama, all in time."
An hour had past since Motoko and Batou returned from their information hunt, Motoko was sure though that Aramaki must of sent more people there thinking they didn't have the hearts to unearth memories Motoko was sure she'd rather forget. It was six o'clock though, before Daisuke Aramaki finally called the duo into his office, then telling Batou to "wait outside".
"So, I heard about your findings on the report you sent me earlier Major…"
Aramaki started.
"I was considering keeping you off this case incase you think it hits too close to-"
"No. It's fine. So what did they find out about the bodies?"
Aramaki looked solemn.
"It appears they've been there for about six years now. About the time when Mayuka would have returned there. It appears the murder weapon was a switchblade, a very old fashioned one. However no evidence complies to the idea that it was Mayuka who did it. But it appears there was a struggle. There's evidence that points to the idea that a third person was tied up. Going by the letter, it would have been Mayuka. Evidence seems to show that too. Two other switchblades were found. One had Mayuka's fingerprints on it. However, only blood from her was found. The other one had fingerprints from a man named "Takemura Mehiji" We have yet to figure out if he's related to Hikaru Mehiji, a businessman who is known to have ties to the Yakuza. That knife also had Mayuka's blood on it."
Motoko thought carefully before saying a word. She finally decided on one question.
"So what you're saying is that she was beaten?"
"It appears to be a possibility, Major. Considering the edges of her letter was also bloodstained."
Aramaki sighed.
"Are you still sure you want to work on this case Kusanagi?"
Motoko glared.
"It's a simple case is it not? We shut down Archangel-"
"And that is where you're wrong Kusanagi!"
Motoko flinched as she heard the sudden change in Aramaki's tone of voice.
"Kusanagi Mayuka is a civilian by all rights. The possiblility that she may have been kidnapped is why we cannot simply "Shut down" Archangel! Being forced to commit crimes is what technically might be her gateway out of the mess. To simply kill her wouldn't be an option."
"What?"
"Mayuka Kusanagi, is INNOCENT, until proven guilty. The Yakuza hides in the shadows of businessmen who own some of the most powerful companies in Japan. Therefore, this case is what Japan needs to shut down its crime circle. Mayuka might get jail time, but she'd only get a slap on the wrist, after all, she was forced to do so. As long as we don't detect that it was her willful intention to join Yakuza, then as far as the justice system is concerned, she doesn't need to suffer anymore than she had. But she poses a possibility to point fingers at all who are involved in the crime circle, and to knock them all out of power. Thus eliminating more than half of the Yakuza for good."
Aramaki sighed. He looked out to Motoko, who in turn sat in silence.
"From what I know about you two, Whatever Mayuka did leave you both with rather…bitter feelings toward each other. Now, I have no intention of asking you what happened. That's not the point. The point is that weather you like it or not, this is what we have to deal with."
Aramaki said, choosing his words carefully.
"If they need her for an investigation into the Yakuza, even if she doesn't know everything, her familiarly with their databases, and her unique skill of being able to hack into practically everything would pose useful. The businessmen might hire assassins to kill her before she gets a chance to tell us everything. Thus she'd have to be placed in the witness protection. In Mayuka's case, they'd expect her to lay low. Thus the best way to hide her is in plain sight. So our government thinks her hacking and tactical skills would be a benefit to Section Nine."
"You mean, I have to work with her?"
"That's if we are able to recover her alive. "
Motoko suddenly stood up, and turned to leave.
"Believe it or not Motoko,"
Aramaki said, suddenly calling her by her first name.
"I know you care for Mayuka. Despite what might be the bad blood that's between the two of you. This is why I'll ask you again: Are you sure you want to work on this case? There's no pressure Motoko. If it's too much to handle, then you're off the case. You don't have to answer right away, but I would like an answer soon, so keep it in mind."
Looking up towards the door, Aramaki soon beckoned Batou in.
"I'm assuming you heard about the case, Batou?"
"Yes sir."
Aramaki nodded, and cleared his throat.
"The DNA test identified the bodies: Takuya and Hikari Yamoto."
Batou raised an eyebrow in question before turning towards Motoko.
"Yamoto…isn't your name Kusanagi? I thought you said they were your parents?"
The young woman nodded slowly.
"It was a very long time ago. But about a year and a half after I went cyborg, we lost our parents. The Yamoto's adopted us. So Takuya and Hikari are our adopted parents…though I've never really consider them as such…Mayuka on the other hand…"
"Well, you did say she was considerably younger than you were, Major…"
"Are you suggesting I'm old?"
Motoko glared daggers at Batou, who became uneasy.
"Of course that's what I meant! I mean! Crap! No, that's not what I was suggesting, it's just that…aww geeze!"
Aramaki shook his head.
"Let's look at it realistically: Genius or not, the human memory can remember only so far back. Major, how old were you when your parents died?"
Motoko stared off into a ceiling for a moment before answering.
"I'd guess it was about when I was nine, about a year and a half after I got my prostectic body."
"Then because Mayuka is seven years younger, she would have been about two to three years old. Considering that you can't really blame her for calling Tayuka and Hikari "Mother" and "Father" can you?"
"…No, not really…"
Aramaki Daisuke stood up and walked out from behind his desk, his eyes were cold as he looked from Batou to Motoko.
"I'll warn you now for future reference. Mayuka has even hacked into our databases before, something like ten years ago. Shortly after she left, you must of joined us here major, as I recall, you were quite young when you started…about sixteen years old to be correct. She may or may not know you're here, but that piece of information is alarming."
"Alarming?"
"She may be a neutral force in this case, but she still has a lot of power. If things between you two is as bad as you suggest, then all she'd need is one little push over the edge. And the worse enemy to have is someone who knew you personally. Because they know both your strengths and weaknesses, and how to use that knowledge effectively."
Aramaki Daisuke then faced his door, his expression serious.
"We will continue looking more into this. But for now you are dismissed."
Motoko and Batou both shared a glance before getting up and leaving.
Mayuka sat down in the dull confined room. It reminded her too hauntingly of a time where she swore the walls of a tiny room she was in were collapsing in on her. But maybe that was just her. She hated confined spaces; something about them always made her feel uneasy…scared…alone… Mayuka snapped out of her reverie. Now wasn't the time to be thinking of little things like that.
There was more than the simple reason of standing out there with Yukimura and Ayame that felt suffocating. She felt uncomfortable in her old uniform, which she loved so dearly. It made her stand out. Not like it mattered, she was in a run-downed part of the city. But still, over the past few days, she felt as though someone or something was watching them, closely. And a few times she could swear that for a moment she saw either a man with short, dark-brown hair, and a black prosthetic eyepiece, or some sort of strange blue vehicle running past at a high speed.
Then again, maybe the sight of blood, and this confined room was getting to her. Maybe she was just hallucinating. Her mind making up stories for fear that if she doesn't she'll loose all her sanity in this hellhole. She was a cluster phobic, and a slight hemato phobic after all. But it's not like any of the Yazuka knew. She kept that information privy to herself, for fear that if they found out they might use harsher tortures, playing on her fears to get her to crack and do their will. A little electric shock she could manage. But being tied up and forced to stay in a small, dark, stuffy room? She'd rather hang herself.
In fact, she was beginning to think that Takemura was starting to pick up on the fact that she was a cluster phobic. It was on her old health record by what she remembered. The Yamoto's…her adopted parents had found this out one time, and took her to the doctor. Now what the hell did she prescribe her again? She couldn't remember.
There she went…dawdling, instead of getting out of the damned room after looking at the bloody thing she came in here to look at. Mayuka cursed under her breath, as she reached back into the breast pocket of her uniform taking out a wad of pictures. The edges were worn and torn, and many had begun to fade, but pictures were pictures…no, these were her pictures.
Mayuka began flipping through the pictures. Many were of her and her older sister, smiling and having a good time. The one time they were actually children, without a care in the world, when O-kaa-san and O-tou-san were still alive. A tear fell onto the pictures as one strayed word escaped her lips.
"Motoko…"
These pictures, they were something she treasured and held onto. Or she thought she did. Back then they were relics of the past, one she wanted to forget, with all the pain that accompanied it. But the more she tried to let go, the harder she would grasp onto it. After all, if she and Motoko had never had that stupid argument, if they had never said those hurtful words to each other. Maybe things would have been different. Mayuka dried her eyes and got up. There was no use in getting riled up about it. The past was the past.
"I'm sick and tired of this! I'm sick and tired that every time those idiots have a problem with you, they take it out on me!"
Yelled a young Mayuka, as she and Motoko glared daggers at each other.
"Well, I never asked you to look out for me! I've already told you! I can take care of myself! I don't need you to baby me! I'm the older sister! It should be the other way around!"
Motoko yelled back. She and Mayuka remained silent for quite some time. Their voices were hoarse…they had been yelling at each other for over an hour now, and their supposed parents just stood their watching, almost anticipating who would throw the first punch. But the anger they communicated though their angered-filled icy glares was more than their words could say.
"So that's what you think of me, huh?"Mayuka suddenly blurted out.
"Just some baby who should be wearing diapers and waiting hand and foot for "Mommy Motoko" to come to her aide?"
"No! I didn't mean it like that!"
"Liar! That's what you've always thought wasn't it? Well I'm tired of it! You may have not said it in those words, but the meaning is generally the same!"
"May, please, I'm begging you, just listen to me and hear me o-"
"I'm tired of listening to you! It seems like it's the only thing I ever do is listen and put up with your crap! All you do is complain, or lecture me, or bug me about that stupid prosthetic body of yours!"
"Stupid? I risked my life to save you when you were a baby!"
"Tell me? Did I ever asked you to risk your life for me? Huh?"
Motoko remained silent for a while before answering.
"No, but were-"
"You just said it! I didn't ask for your help! I never do, because I always devoted my time to making sure you were ok!"
"Did I ever ask you to look out for me? No! You did that on your own!"
"If that's how you really feel, then how bout I be your maid, so you can take your anger out on anything that bugs you, huh robot?"
"W-wh-what did you call me?"
"You heard me Motoko. So then, hello robot, how are you today? Still not complaining about the feeling you don't have, are you?"
Motoko's face went pale as it filled with rage. Before Mayuka knew what was happening, she was knocked down to the ground, nearly unconscious from several other hits she received. Mayuka, rolled onto her stomach and was on her hands and knees, coughing up lung-fulls of her own blood. Motoko stood there, her face cold as she looked down at her sister.
"Well then, human, how are you today? By any chance, did that happen to hurt a lot? I can't tell, I'm a 'robot' after all."
Motoko stood there silently waiting an answer, but Mayuka just stayed there shivering.
"Mayuka?"
Motoko asked a little softly, for a brief second she was able to get a glance: tears. Mayuka was crying. Realizing the error of her mistake, Motoko quickly wrapped an arm around her, and bent down so they could be level with each other.
"Mayuka, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I didn't mean to make you cry, are you ok?"
"Get away from me!"
Mayuka said coldly as she pushed Motoko away from her, and stood up.
"And I'm not crying, I just got blood in my eyes, that's all!"
"Mayuka, I'm sorry!"
"Shut up! You're not sorry! I know you aren't!"
Mayuka replied, her back turned to Motoko, as she held her injured arm.
"Mayuka…I didn't know-"
"I HATE YOU! I hate this place! I hate the damned Yamoto's! I hate this damned life! But most of all, I HATE YOU!"
Mayuka turned around quickly, tears blurred her vision, but she knew where she was going. She walked passed Motoko, nearly knocking her sister over, but she didn't care.
"Mayuka, where are you-"
"I'm leaving here for good, now leave me alone and go to hell!"
And with that, Mayuka Kusanagi left the house, banging the door harshly as she left. Never again to be seen by her family.
Motoko Kusanagi woke up in front of her desk, filled with surprised. Of all things she had to do, she fell asleep…again…at her desk, but this time in a cold sweat. She turned to see the bespectacled man who sat in front of her, smiling. Batou.
"I never knew you had bad dreams."
"Bad dreams?"
"You were muttering this like "No!" And "Wait!" and "Don't leave!" Surprised me a little when I walked by your office. It looked like you were awake by the way you were sitting, but obviously you were sleeping. So, what was the dream about?"
"Nothing really, just an old memory."
Batou frowned.
"You've been acting strange ever since this case with your sister appeared. It's been two days and we still haven't found more information, and you've let yourself be drawn even more into this case. You're making us worry you know. I'm beginning to think that there is actually something in this world that actually gets under your skin. And this "Mayuka" girl whose your sister…she seems to be that something."
Batou laughed.
"Then again, this could be me thinking the impossible…who knows…maybe hell will freeze over too!"
Motoko smiled at Batou's vague attempt to cheer her up, but she soon became solemn again.
"Motoko?"
Batou asked after a few minutes of impending silence. But Motoko didn't answer.
"Major…"
"Batou…you might be right this time."
Motoko finally replied, her voice worn and tired.
"What do you mean?"
"I understand what Aramaki was saying…this is too much. It's way too much this time. So as of now, I am withdrawing myself from the case."
"Major…are you sure?"
Motoko smiled as she looked at Batou.
"If lightning strikes, and I gain a second wind, I might change my mind."
'I Change my mind damn it!'
Mayuka thought angrily as she tore the pictures to shreds, only half aware that Takemura was just behind her.
"What are you doing, Kusanagi?"
"Just getting rid of some worthless memories…Have a lighter?"
Takemura shrugged, and passed her the lighter, and watched as she lit the torn fragments of pictures on fire.
"Why'd you do that?"
"You know…when that bastard father of yours and his men dragged me here, I thought I was condemned to hell, that's why…And I always thought, when you put the Archangel's symbol…tattooed to my arm, I thought it was God's way of saying "I'm sending you into the deepest pits of Hell to burn in." It's funny how opinions can change."
Takemura blinked at the revelation as Mayuka took off her Sergeant's jacket to reveal the red shirt underneath was a dark red sleeveless tank top, and the golden-ivory coloured skin of her arms. On her left shoulder, was a heart with a double-edged sword through it, and black wings. The symbol was surrounded in fire and in the fire was the word "Archangel" in anagram: written so that it can be read both right side up and upside down. Takemura watched, almost in awe, as Mayuka turned back to watch the dying embers of the burning pictures.
"I've been sitting on the fence with all my feelings, I was never sure how to act. I've grown tired of it. Like a little child I held onto the past, the very thing that's held me back.'When I was a child, I talked, acted and understood like a child.' But I'm no longer a child...Now that I am an adult, I strive so longingly to put away my childish ways and manners"
"Quoting the 'good book'? So what are you trying to say?"
"Ashes to ashes…dust to dust. But no longer shall the ashes become dust, for I shall rise again from the ashes."
"In other words, you are like a phoenix?"
Mayuka nodded.
"However, Mayuka Kusanagi is dead. She died when she decided that living in a world of lies is better than the truth…nativity…Mayuka Yamoto is also dead…that identity was all a sham…so then, who the hell am I?"
Takemura smiled.
"You are one of us, an Archangel. But your more than that…Archangel…we plan on exploiting the world, showing it just how corrupted it is. But then, we are not individuals acting. I like to think of us as a higher cause. And you just happen to be the perfect one…Tenchu."
"Tenchu?"
Mayuka asked, a dark smile appeared on her face.
"How fitting. So I am the 'judgment from the heavens', eh?"
Takemura nodded.
"How bout we take out one of the most powerful forces of the government…so, "Tenchu", how do you feel about ghost-hacking someone from police Section Nine and causing havoc?"
"It sounds like fun."
Daisuke Aramaki looked over the files of the Mayuka Kusanagi case. Saito, had been doing recon work and watching her from afar. From what his report gave, it appeared Mayuka had been tortured…for reasons unknown. One could only assume it was for one reason: She didn't want to commit cyber crimes.
Sighing the "Monkey man" sat down in his desk, planning, plotting. Sooner or later, they'd have to act, this was rather apparent: An S-class super hacker in the hands of the Yakuza? That is practically yelling, "Kill us all!" It was only a matter of time until there were more bodies, more food for the hungry media to get their grubby little fingers on, and to point those fingers accusingly at the government, who would in turn, bring out the chopping block to collect his head. After all, Kusanagi Mayuka is human. It was only a matter of how much she could endure, how much pain and fear she could suffer until they broke the soul, and have the shattered remains of her former self so she would do their bidding.
Aramaki stopped reading when he heard a faint knock on the door, closing the file book again, he looked up toward the door.
"Come in,"
He said, folding his hands. There was a silent pause before Motoko stepped into the office.
"Major Kusanagi, I must say, I'm surprised to see you here. What Can I help you with?"
Motoko seemed to spot it right away: Even Aramaki was deep in thought about this case. But unfortunately, there was nothing she could do. She made her decision. It was final; there was no turning back now. Aramaki seemed to have sensed the unease as he sat their, calmly looking at Motoko, waiting for her to say something.
"I was here to tell you Chief that I'm withdrawing from this case."
Mayuka walked over to the consol, with Takemura close behind. She really admired the underworld for one thing: They got the best highly developed technology. Even if the technology was in the development stages. She sat down at the seat, putting a ruby-coloured visor over her eyes as a screen appeared on it, and she leaned over and began typing. In the background of her impending work, she heard Yukimura and Ayame walk into the room to join them.
"Mayuka? I thought you said you weren't going to do anymore cyber-hacking…"
Mayuka frowned to Ayame's comment, as she brushed her hair out of her face, revealing her right eye, which somehow was opened. Though blue like the other, its pupil resembled that of a cat's and seemed to be in line with the middle scar. For only a few days, the scars had managed healed to three faint lines, but anyone could tell that the eye was probably badly damaged.
"Well, I never thought I would either…but plans have changed."
"You had plans?"
"Computer, increase the visual aid of the right eye to from zero over twenty to eleven over twenty."
"Mayuka!"
Mayuka frowned at Yukimura but still kept her head in her work, typing furiously.
"You could say that…but they were naive…"
"But…"
"You're interrupting her Yukimura."
Takemura growled.
"Don't you want the Tenchu to be carried ou-"
"Don't chew him out. It's quite alright,"
Mayuka muttered as she stopped typing for one split moment to put the mike of the headset closer to her mouth. Then resumed typing.
"The amount of firewalls and barriers they put up in the Japanese Government Police force website is outstanding…poor fools, it's quality, not quantity!"
"So…how long do you think it will take…"
Mayuka's hands darted at lighting speed, as she appeared to be reading to herself, her voice a faint whisper before she answered Takemura's question
"Damn…guess they did have some elite people make these things…none of the less, the most I could see it taking me is twenty minutes."
Takemura nodded then turned to Ayame and Yukimura.
"I have a meeting with our fathers. I'll be back in a few minutes."
He said, before leaving the room.
"Well, hello Tak,"
Takemura nodded as he stepped into a darkened room in a warehouse not too far from the archangel's base.
"Good to see you, Chichiue, Takeda-san."
Takemura greeted to two men who stood in the darkness.
"Ah, it's so good to see you my Son."
Said the shorter of the figures. The taller one stepped forward and shook Takemura's hand.
"Good to see you Teddy. How is Yuki and Ayame-chan?"
"They're fine."
"Now that we're done with formalities…"
The shorter man interrupted.
"Ah yes, what we came here for this little meeting, and we don't even talk about the subject."
"It's Kusanagi, am I correct father?"
The shorter man nodded.
"Just a word of warning Takemura."
"And that would be?"
"She's our tool. So stop the humanitarian act and treat her like it."
Takemura blinked.
"Treat her like it?"
"Like an animal on a leash, she'll run if the leash is too loose. If you allow her to get far too emotional, she'll become attached to such feelings. A Tool has no need for feelings. It only gets in the way of Tenchu."
'Takeda-san' replied, a smile on his face.
"But what if she refuses to do what I say?"
"You force her. Torture her until the breaking point, even if that includes abusing her, physically, mentally, and sexually. No human can truly say they fear nothing. So, you'll just have to find out what."
Takeda-san smirked, as he handed sheets to Takemura's father.
"From Kusanagi's previous medical record though, some of her weakness were found: Blood, and dark, confined places."
"I'll keep that in mind when she doesn't co-operate next time."
"Next time?"
"She's hacking into the government's police section now. Our target: Section Nine."
"Nine? Why not Six?"
Takemura smiled.
"Because one time they over threw Section Six. Meaning that they're more of a threat to us than Section Six is. So, you take out the strongest, and all others shall follow."
The two men looked at each other, each flashing a smile.
"Smart boy you've got there, Hikaru."
The shorter man bowed respectively.
"So then, I guess everything shall be in order. We'll see you later, Teddy."
Takemura nodded and left the building, heading back to the Archangel base.
Batou eyed Motoko carefully as he drove his car. He was dropping her off at home. Nothing more than that, after all, she did get a ride from her friend Kurutan. But yet, common sense seemed to have slowly slipped away as his mouth spoke the words of the question on his mind.
"Major…are you sure about this?"
Motoko sighed. Batou had already asked this three times prior to now. Obviously, he just couldn't grasp the concept.
"Yes Batou…I'm sure, or at least, I think I am…"
"Kusanagi, how's the hacking going on?"
Mayuka smiled passively.
"All that was needed was to disable them, then rewrite the damned firewalls to not make it overtly obvious that I got in."
"And?"
"I can only target one person at a time…so whoever logs onto the net first is my target."
Mayuka's expression turned serious when she saw Motoko's Name light up.
"Who did you"
"Motoko Kusanagi…I'm working on that now."
Yukimura gritted his teeth.
"Isn't Motoko your sister's name? Is it the same one?"
Mayuka frowned.
"I…I don't know."
She said solemnly, pausing a brief moment before typing on. She noted Takemura's entrance as she continued typing.
"She has a strong dummy barrier…not to mention one hell of a firewall. After the ghost hacking I think our best approach to this is to create a hostage situation, and have Section Nine try to retrieve her."
Takemura nodded as Mayuka stopped typing, her eyes contrasting with her visor.
"Damn it…"
"What…?"
"This…barrier…this other barrier…it's like her GHOST is protecting her cyber brain…!"
"You can't be serious…what the hell?"
"What does it mean?"
Mayuka took out the connection cable from the portable device on the back of her neck. She then plugged it in to the computer.
"This is probably risky, but I'm gonna try to use my ghost to hack hers…so in the unlikely case of events, Ayame, watch my back, ok?"
Ayame nodded as she watched Mayuka become silent…almost as if she was sitting at the terminal in a trance.
"Major…."
Batou called softly. Motoko had moments ago went online when Togusa received an unusual piece of information. She was relaying the message to him, when she suddenly became silent.
"MOTOKO!"
Motoko suddenly looked up, a perplexed expression, soon laced by fear appeared on her face. And expression Batou had never seen before.
"Are you alright?"
"It's like there was an encrypted virus in Togusa's message…in fact, I don't think that was Togusa."
"What?"
"Perhaps some sort of delayed reaction virus code attached to the mess-Argh!"
"Major!"
Motoko slouched forward in her seat, covering her right eye with her right hand…her ruby-red eyes flashed blue, and then changed to purple. Her lipstick changed from pink to blue as she sat up and looked over to a confused Batou.
"Motoko…say something…"
"Sorry, big guy."
Motoko replied in a voice that was eerily similar to her own…but it wasn't her voice. Motoko reached over to the steering wheel, pulling the car sharply to the right as she punched Batou hard in the gut.
"Why don't you rest for a little while? …You're in my way. But when you wake up…we'll be around friends."
Motoko said to Batou as he passed out. She pulled the car over, roughly putting Batou in the back seat, as she slid over to the driver's seat, steering back onto the road, and heading west.
"Togusa…what is it?"
Togusa frowned at Ishikawa's question.
"We've got a problem…the major and Batou just dropped off our tracker."
"You should know those two…maybe they wanted some 'privacy' if you know what I mean."
Suggested Pazu. Both Ishikawa and Togusa made a face to this…and Pazu became silent.
"What's even more worrying, Togusa is that I found eveidence that there was a hacker in our data base."
"So you're saying they took them off the radar…possibly their in danger."
Ishikawa shook his head.
"I don't know. They messed the database up pretty bad. But they left no traces…no way to track them."
"Mayuka?"
"Speculation. We can't know for sure. And the Tachikoma I sent to their last location returned and said it saw absolutely nothing. But its speech seemed unnatural for it…"
"Unnatural?"
Ishikawa nodded.
"Usually it would speak like a excited little child who just received their Christmas present…but it's voice sounded somewhat ... tamer…"
"Tamer…eh. So…what do we do next?"
Pazu seemed to be in deep thought.
"The problem is, there's nothing we can do…except wait, and hope the Major calls us or something."
"Where's the mirror?"
Motoko said as she walked right into the Archangel base despite hundreds of men who stood guard, their guns ready.
"And what business do you have copper?"
Motoko frowned.
"I forgot…"
"Hmm?"
"Takemura, get out here."
Takemura soon came outside, surprised as Motoko walked to him.
"And you are?"
"It's me you idiot!"
She said angrily.
"I hacked into her cyber brain and I'm controlling her damn it! It's me, Mayuka!"
Takemura nodded, and turned, motioning her to follow him. Motoko hesitantly followed. They soon reached into the base where Mayuka's physical body was. Yukimura and Ayame looked over, in surprise.
'I have a bad feeling about all this…and her ghost trying to boot me out doesn't help'
Motoko thought as she looked at the siblings, Ayame frowned, her features grave.
'She doesn't realize it yet, but that's the same Motoko…has to be, she looks like she does in the pictures…'
Ayame thought as Takemura ordered her brother to frisk Motoko, then tie her up.
"You sure she won't break out?"
"We'll only know when she had control again. Mayuka…"
Motoko's eyes returned back to normal as did her lipstick, she seemed almost in a trance causing Takemura to look over to Mayuka who rubbed the back of her neck in pain while using her other hand to rip off the headset.
"Kusanagi…"
"I didn't do anything, it's like a bullet hit the machinery and the connection cable. If I didn't disconnect manually my brain would have been fried."
Ayame frowned.
"We've got a silencer!"
She yelled, as she took out her gun, aiming it at Motoko's head. Motoko smiled.
"Hey, you at the P.C…for an S-level hacker, you could have done better, or was something holding you back?"
"Quiet you!"
Mayuka yelled as she quickly turned around, pulling out a vintage C-Z 75…but then stopped cold in her tracks, her eyes widening in fear. Motoko's expression was of one of mild surprise.
"M-m-Motoko…o-nee-san…"
Mayuka managed to stutter out despite her mind angrily yelling out: 'What have I done?'
Major Motoko Kusanagi growled; it was Mayuka after all. Of all things she expected her sister to ever do, she never thought to this level. The thought of it enraged her…if only she could get loose…show her a lesson.
"Motoko…"
Mayuka said again as she rose to her feet, her gun aimed.
"I read your mind back there…Batou's behind me isn't he?"
Motoko frowned as Ayame turned to reach a standoff with Batou, whom was stopped by Yukimura.
"Bad little lackey…pointing a dangerous gun like that at my sister."
Yukimura mocked as Takemura walked up to Motoko, taser in hand.
"So you know this woman Kusanagi?"
"This is a family thing Teddy, stay out of it."
Motoko smiled.
"So, are you Takemura Mehiji?"
"How did...?"
Mayuka laughed.
"You never cease to amaze me Motoko…looks like we were both hacking each other for information."
"Yes, but you always did have a way to make Firewalls that were too strong to completely bypass."
'She's acting all chummy…this is weird'
They both thought as they glared. Takemura frowned as he called in a bunch of guys.
"Well, Miss Section Nine, tell us all you know then or else we'll beat it out of you and your buddy."
Mayuka's eyes flashed.
"What? I never agreed to that Mehiji!"
"Shut up woman!"
Takemura yelled as he knocked Mayuka to the ground. Hard.
"So, Motoko…Kusanagi."
He stepped towards her, shocking her watching as Motoko tried not to scream. Several minutes later he stopped and watched her gasp for air, he grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to make eye contact, when several gunshots sounded off, and Batou broke free from Yukimura, who held an injured arm. Soon after, the ropes were shot off as the assailant reloaded what sounded to be a Semi-automatic handgun. The C-Z 75.
"Hey, you who came with Motoko, harm Yukimura and you're dead, got that? You're lucky I even rescued your sorry ass!"
"Mayuka! Why did you do that?"
Mayuka smiled as she pulled back the hammer of her gun.
"Cause, I don't wanna see anyone die, Yukimura."
"KUSANAGI YOU TRAITOR!"
Mayuka frowned as she looked at the bleeding Takemura: one of her shots missed and hit his left hand.
"You'll live Takemura."
"Major! Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine Batou."
Motoko replied as she watched a group of men surround them. Suddenly half were knocked out as Mayuka cleared a path for her to walk to Motoko, handing her the gun as Batou finished of the rest of their men.
"So, you're returning my gun?"
"You'll need it."
"For what…got something planned there traitor?"
Motoko asked bitterly. The comment felt like a hard slap in the face to Mayuka, who didn't reply.
"You're a criminal, Mayuka. And as the police I have the right to bring you in."
"Well, when you put things that way Motoko, then you can add resisting arrest to my list of charges!"
Mayuka yelled as she made a punch for Motoko, who easily deflected it, dropping their guns, they both jumped a few feet apart before charging…their power equal.
"Give it up!"
"Tell me that after you kick my ass, like last time, robot!"
Motoko's eyes narrowed as she made a swiping hit towards Mayuka's neck, who blocked it last second with her right forearm, and countered with a high kick, which Motoko deflected with her left arm, and for the split second Mayuka's defense was down struck her hard in the solar plexus. Mayuka fell backwards, coughing up blood, before getting to her feet again.
"You're not going to win, Mayuka!"
She scissor-locked Motoko's legs, bringing her down for the fall, before she used her elbow and elbowed her in the neck. As she coughed from the blow, Mayuka took advantage of it, kicking her in the side.
"That the best you can do?"
"Grr…Damn you…."
Motoko jumped to her feet, kicking Mayuka down in one fluid movement, Mayuka stretched her hand out behind her to stop the fall, placing the other hand down she made a roundhouse kick, Jumping to her feet. When she got up the sight amazed her. Motoko stood a few feet away, her gun in her hands.
"You wouldn't!"
She winced as Motoko shot off a round, millimeters from her head. Getting to her feet, she grabbed her gun, which was shot out of her grasp almost as quickly as she got it. Mayuka charged, watching the gun carefully and Motoko's line of sight as she fired off. She dodged most shots getting hit by two in her arm before she reached to Motoko, kicking the gun out of her hand. Before Motoko could make a grab for it, she grabbed Motoko's hands, attempting to flip her over her back. Motoko smiled as instead of being thrown behind Mayuka, she offset her balance, almost causing her sister to fall as she grabbed the chance to plant her feet on the ground. Motoko smirked.
"That was fun, don't you think?"
"Damn!"
Placing one foot in front Motoko reversed the flip, sending Mayuka flying into the wall. Mayuka hit the wall hard, sliding to the ground as she coughed up blood. When she looked Up, Motoko stood over her, gun placed by her head.
"Motoko-o-nee-sama…"
"Don't give me that crap, Mayuka."
Motoko warned sternly. Mayuka smiled.
"I wasn't. I was just saying I give up. So, are you gonna kill me now or what?"
Motoko stiffened as Mayuka grabbed the gun, and pointed it to her chest. She closed her eyes
"Go ahead, pull the trigger."
"Mayuka…"
Mayuka laughed weakly.
"Do it, okay? I know we haven't been the best of terms but it's all I'm asking."
"You're crazy kid!"
Batou yelled out. Mayuka shrugged.
"Actually the idea of a dark abyss seems better than this living hell."
Motoko frowned as she pulled the trigger. Mayuka opened her eyes when she noticed nothing happened.
"Huh…what…"
"I ran out of ammo…you're out of luck."
"Motoko…you're a horrible liar, you know that. There's no way there's no ammo left."
Motoko scowled.
"You know…you have a lot of nerve."
She muttered, turning her back and walking away.
"So…this is how things are gonna be, Motoko?"
"You of all people…I never thought you'd pull something like this…"
She stopped walking away, just for a moment as Batou walked up to her side.
"Yeah, you guys should get going, before Takemura decides not to wait…"
Mayuka muttered, her voice becoming weak as she watched Motoko play with something on her wrist, Motoko then turned around, holding up her silver watch.
"Here…I don't want it anymore…"
She said as she threw the watch to Mayuka. It hit the ground, cracking the quartz face, as it skidded to Mayuka's feet. Mayuka picked up the broken watch regarding it solemnly.
"A-are you sure about this, Motoko-o-nee-sam-"
"Don't call me that. I'm not even sure who you are anymore."
Motoko replied coldly.
"And yes, I am sure. Let's go Batou!"
Mayuka sat there as she dangled the broken watch like a pendulum, not daring to look up as Motoko and Batou left.
"What the hell were you thinking Kusanagi?"
Mayuka didn't respond. It wasn't like it would do her any good anyways. And no one could help her now. Yukimura was injured…and possibly hater her now. And Ayame? Well, she did shoot Ayame's older brother…and they were close. So it was only reasonable that Ayame was too furious to care.
Takemura had tied up her hands…an obvious motion…but she felt unease this time, as she screamed in pain as he shocked her with his taser.
"You know…I don't take being betrayed lightly."
He muttered as he grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to stand as he brought her to his eyelevel.
"Well, this time, let's have some fun?"
Takemura grabbed her chin as he forcefully kissed her, an animal like fire seemed to burn in his eyes. Mayuka quickly pulled back, ignoring the slight pain of some of her hair being pulled out because of his tight grip. She began backing up, until less than four feet later her back was against the wall. The room was just too small. She hated small confined spaces like this. And she didn't like the look in Takemura's eyes when he forcibly kissed her. It was all too obvious what he planned on doing.
"Takemura…don't…I'm begging you…"
"What, we're just gonna have a little fun, Mayuka. And if you have a problem with that, I'm just going to have to teach you the hard way."
But she wasn't intressted in this fun. Takemura slowly closed in on her. There was no way out. Not in this place.
"You will fear me by time I'm done with you."
A young Mayuka and Motoko looked out of the window. It was raining out, and the two sat their silently…until Mayuka broke the silence.
"O-nee-san?"
"Hmm…what's up?"
"O-kaa-san…and O-tou-san…they're not coming back…right…"
Motoko shuddered…it wasn't exactly something she wanted to talk about, but she nodded sollumly.
"So, that means they're gone forever…so if they're gone…that means it's just the two of us left…"
Mayuka turned to Motoko and smiled.
"We're orphans now. But we're the only family we've got now Motoko. We're family…we're sisters. The only ones we have to rely on is each other."
Mayuka held up her pinky to Motoko.
"So let's make a promise, ok?"
"Yeah."
Motoko said as she crossed her pinky with Mayuka's and shook gently.
"As sister's we'll always be together. And we'll always be there for each other. Promise?"
"I promise May."
Takemura smiled darkly as he buttoned up his shirt, he looked down in the room as he wiped blood from his hands as he put away a switchblade.
"Looks like you might need prosthetics for that arm of yours…"
He muttered darkly as he watched Mayuka lying down on her side, a pool of blood circling her. Mayuka groaned in pain as a bright light from the door of the small, cramped room shined through, accenting Takemura's figure.
"Remember you're our tool. A tool has no need for attachments or emotions."
With that, Takemura left her closing the door behind him.
She hated small rooms. It reminded her of a time when she was little and trapped. She kept screaming for help, but no one ever came…not even Motoko came to help her…
"O-nee-san…" She barely whispered.
She always hated small rooms…it made her feel nervous…at death's door… uneasy, so scared…so alone. And now because of Takemura, she also felt violated.
"I'm a…a 'tool'…"
Mayuka, barely able to move gave in to the dark world of unconsciousness.
I'm probably not going to go back on this case. That decision is final. Personal feelings shouldn't get in the way…but they did. I could have killed her. But the moment I pulled the trigger I felt guilty about it. I was lucky though: the magazine for the gun ran out. Mayuka saw right through me though. She knew I had more ammo, which is why she probably said, "You know you're a horrible liar." Mayuka…she always saw right though me, even if I tried to lie. And every time, that was exactly what she would say: "You know you're a horrible liar." These words continue to echo in my head. It brings up many memories we had when we were little…all bittersweet now…especially after that. Of all people I knew…despite our differences, Mayuka and I loved each other as sisters. We even promised to be there for each other. Even though we had our little fall out, I would have never imagined that of anyone who could possibly ghost-hack me, it would be my own sister. Betrayed. That's how I feel. There's no other way to put it. I should probably tell Kurutan about all this, she'd probably give me some use full insight…but this problem is just too much. Its cause I always avoid my problems…isn't it now? Just stashing the feelings away, and let myself be absorbed into work…work that half the time didn't even exist before a personal dilemma occurred. I've never been able to deal with it…just ignore it, and hope it would go away. But this time, that is one of the problems. I can't simply ignore this. This case involves her, and thus this case is nothing but a reminder of the past I put behind me. I can't surround myself with work to keep my mind occupied, cause she is the work. Now it's my work that's the problem…and this leaves me stuck. Togusa was right though, I can't continue to pretend that nothing gets to me…especially this…I am human after all. And now I can no longer say "Emotions get in the way of the job" Because…I'm a hypocrite…I'd just continue to lie. Heh. Damn, she's right, I am a horrible liar. Cause even after everything that's happened, I still love and care for Mayuka.
Motoko
A/N: This is probably the longest chapter for the story, if chapter four doesn't end up being longer. But a few things I wanna point out
1) Mayuka's quote of Motoko "Any movie I want to see, I usually see alone" In the first part was done on purpose. I see it as away to show that despite being so different, Motoko and Mayuka do have some simiarities.
2) The quote that Ghost in the Shell the movie got from the Bible is what I refenced to. Personally I think it shows that in many ways, Mayuka can be a child who wishes to thing that she's an adult. But she's too niieve.
3) Tenchu, or "Judgement from the heavens" was originally what some hitokiris of Fudal Japan claimed they were doing during the warring eras. Archangel, Takemura claimes that's what their doing. This insight's rather vain: their motive is closer to Jinchu, "Judgement from man" or "If the heavens will not cast judgement, then we will."
And that wraps it up for this chapter.
Next Chapter: Motoko's still off the case, when more bodies for section Nine shows up. And the worriedArchangel member Ayame decides she'll co-operate with police if Motoko comes back to the case, and if Section Nine decide to save the broken spirited Mayuka, whom seems all but suicidal at this point.
Read and Review!
Ja ne!
Jun-kei