An: And then there were 5 chapters. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gits:SAc, but the character "MAYUKA YUKIKO KUSANAGI" is mine! All mine! (Evil laugh)
Inner Universe
Chapter 5: bitter reunion
"Mo-Motoko… Is that you?"
A confused Kurutan asked as Mayuka walked in. Mayuka shook her head.
"How do you know my sister anyways?"
"Mayuka! Oh my god!"
Kurutan quickly looked over her shoulder.
"We need a bed, she needs to get to the I.C.U. Now!"
"Nonsense, I'll be fine!"
Mayuka blurted out. She seemed to have been short of breath. Kurutan looked troubled.
"No, you're bleeding, badly."
Mayuka looked at Kurutan, studying her for a moment before looking down at the floor. A pool of blood at her feet, forming beneath her. Her own blood. She looked up at Kurutan, dazed.
"I….I…never knew...I didn't realize…that I….was bleeding…that much."
Mayuka stated weakly, before fainting. Kurutan caught her before she hit the ground, and checked her pulse.
"Erratic heartbeat…She just went into shock!"
Kurutan yelled as a pair of paramedics came up to her.
"Get her to the emergency room! Now!"
They nodded and rushed off, as Kurutan sighed. She knew it wasn't over yet.
It had been nearly half an hour since they brought Mayuka into the emergency room. Kurutan knew she had to leave them to their job, but managed to get a few words from the nurses that helped.
"Kurutan? Why do you want to know? Do you know that woman?"
"Well…yes, so I was wondering…"
"That's unfortunate. The doctors said she was messed up pretty badly. The bruises and scrapes are one thing…but the doctor thinks abuse might be involved with her case."
"…Involved?"
"Well yes, they just took her into the surgery room a few moments ago. Three bullets, two in her arm, the other in her side. And as if that wasn't enough, it appears that from the middle of her forearm, and down was sliced off with a switchblade, and one badly injured eye. I wouldn't be too surprised if she couldn't see though it…"
"D…did I hear you correctly…her arm was, cut off…"
"Yes, and had no treatment either…"
"Which would explain why she was short of breath, and was sweating…her arm got infected, and as a result, it made her sick."
The nurse nodded.
"But I doubt she got sick recently…her fever's too high. Only time could do that."
"Too high?"
"Yes…any higher, and if those wounds don't kill her, her fever will. She already has a body temperature of forty six point six degrees Celsius…"
Kurutan stiffened…Mayuka could very well die…why else would they bring her into surgery? But then, if it was her infected arm that was making her sick, and those wounds didn't help, it would only be logical to remove the bullets, give her a prosthetic eye, and cut away some of the forearm until you reached a part that wasn't as badly infected. From there all she'd really need was a replacement prosthetic arm, and antibodies to get rid of the remaining virus. But if that fever got any higher before hand, it would be game over.
"Thanks for the information."
"No problem. So what are you going to do now?"
"Firstly, I'll wait…secondly, I need to tell Motoko."
The nurse smiled.
"Oh, that lady friend of yours that came by to the hospital when we had that little girl with the heart transplant here?"
Kurutan nodded.
"Yeah that's her."
"And why do you have to tell Motoko?"
"Because Mayuka is Motoko's sister."
The lady stood in shock.
It had been hours since she came here. And Kurutan's patience wore thin when the nurse from before came back to her.
"Well, Lira?"
Lira, shifted uneasy under Kurutan's gaze. The woman was rarely angry, or upset, which is one of the reasons why people decided it was best not to see that side of Kurutan…it'd just be too much trouble…too much hassle. Which is why Lira stood ridged.
"Well…the operation is complete, and we stopped the internal bleeding, and even find a donor…good news…"
"And the bad news is?"
Lira hesitated.
"Well, her fever didn't go down, and we don't know if her body will be able to use that arm, until she wakes up and gives it a try…the problem with that is that all vital signs point to the fact that sometime during mid-operation…she fell into a coma. Though what cause it is unknown…"
Lira began to back up. She didn't like the expression on Kurutan's face: a mixture of anger, frustration, and curiosity gave her gentle eyes a cold and steely look. One she wasn't accustomed to seeing…and quite frankly didn't like seeing. She felt as though she was going to burn under Kurutan's glare.
"Arigatou, Lira, sorry for causing you any trouble."
"I…um…no problem at all!"
Lira turned on her heel.
"Well I better get going, I have a few patience under my charge that I need to check up on now. I'll talk to you later, ok Kurutan?"
Kurutan nodded and watched as Lira left her there, before walking down the hall to attended to business of her own.
(Hello?)
"Hey, Moto-chan, it's me."
(Hey Kurutan…hey if you need anything I'll come when I can, I'm at work right now…)
Kurutan frowned. Motoko…she was ALWAYS at work. Sometimes she swore that the reason Motoko never pays attention to having a real relationship was because she felt at though she was practically married to her job. Kurutan sighed over the phone.
(What's wrong?)
"You're always at work, you know that?"
(Heh…true, true…)
Motoko sounded bemused. Kurutan had a feeling that Motoko knew that she knew that Motoko knew from the very beginning exactly how Kurutan felt about the whole work ethic of hers…It drove her nuts.
(Seriously Kurutan…what's wrong?)
Motoko asked again after several moments of silence. Her voice made her sound gravely worried.
"It's Mayuka…"
(That's my own personal dilemma don't let it distract you too.)
Kurutan frowned…this wasn't exactly turning out how she wanted it to…
"Well, I hate to break it to you, but your 'personal dilemma' is now also my liability…"
(Liability? Why do you say that?)
"Mayuka…came to the hospital…"
(She did…and?)
"Motoko…she was badly injured…she, she collapsed shortly after she came…"
(How is she now…?)
"Not good. They took her in for operation to give her a prosthetic arm from the forearm down…it was slashed, and infected. Also, they stopped all internal bleeding…"
(How's that not good?)
"She…fell into a coma, and that doesn't help the fact that she also happens to have a fever of forty-six point six degrees Celsius… Motoko, if that fever reaches forty-nine…"
Kurutan knew she didn't have to explain it. Motoko knew her own share of medical sciences… and she knew that the human body couldn't handle too much heat… it'll over heat, almost reminding her eerily of a computer.
(Kurutan…I'll be there soon.)
And before she could even reply Motoko hung up the phone.
Thirty minutes after that call Kurutan remembered watching as Motoko found the room number and rushed there.
"Motoko, I personally requested for them to leave her in my charge and my request has been granted…"
"Thanks Kurutan…"
Motoko muttered just before entering the room. Kurutan waited outside for a few moments before returning to her duties.
Motoko silently watched over Mayuka. She seemed kind of peaceful, radiant. What Ayame told her early was still beating up the back of her mind, but it was better dealt with when Mayuka was able to respond.
Motoko frowned. Mayuka even during their childhood always had this eminent presence about her, at all times. A presence that was always noticeable, a sense of darkened truths always seemed to accompany her. Even when she realized she hacked her own sister, Mayuka still seemed to wear a mask. That time it was a mask to hide her fear, and anxiety. But now, it didn't seem as though she had to peer through the eyeholes of a mask to see Mayuka underneath.
Now Mayuka was Mayuka. And that's all she saw: Mayuka…pure, innocent. The little girl she remembered from long ago. It just didn't seem right. Yet it did seem right, all at the same time.
Motoko looked up when she heard Mayuka moan slightly in pain. Checking the vitals monitor to see if she was awakening, Motoko frowned. No change at all, in any of her vitals. Motoko sighed as she walked over to Mayuka's bedside, wiping the hair out of her face, out of her eyes, pausing for a moment when seeing her eye.
"She…I see…"
Motoko smiled sadly, when she felt her forehead, it was unusually hot. A fever, just as Kurutan said. Motoko wiped Mayuka's brow with her hand, before sitting in the seat bedside the bed, slowly nodding off to sleep.
"Two weeks…two very long weeks have passed since she came here Kurutan…"
Muttered an annoyed Lira, as she watched Kurutan sit across from her.
"You look like crap. You've been pulling of sixteen-hour shifts since you got Mayuka into your care, and on top of that, you've slept here on several occasions. And as if that wasn't enough, that purple haired woman has been dropping by everyday, and occasionally with a friend, that woman with long black hair, blue eyes, and the thick-rimmed glasses. What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"A favour for a friend."
Kurutan answered between a yawn
"The kid's probably won't make it. You do realize that."
Lira stopped her rant and paused to rub her now sore cheek. Kurutan had just slapped her. Kurutan looked at her, an icy glare in her eyes.
"That…hurt…"
"It better have."
Kurutan growled before getting up. Yet even as she left, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was right.
Kurutan peaked into the room again, Motoko was once again sitting in the chair, sleeping. But someone had laid his or her coat on her to keep her warm. Suddenly she heard someone approach her from behind.
Kurutan turned around quickly, almost head-butting a young woman in her late teens. She had long dark hair, blue eyes, and thick-rimmed glasses. The same young woman she had often seen with Motoko during her visits here over the past two weeks.
"So you're Kurutan."
The woman stated simply. She adjusted the glasses on her face by pushing them back up the ridge of her nose with both hands on either side of the glasses. She then looked back to Kurutan and smiled.
"Yes, I'm Kurutan…is there…"
"Its concerning Kusanagi, Mayuka. In fact, I'm one of Mayu's friends."
Mayu…now there was a nickname she hadn't heard for years. Moto-chan and Mayu-chan, her pet names for the two of them. But Kurutan then snapped out of her reverie.
"And you are?"
"Ayame. Ayame Takeda."
Kurutan didn't like the sound of that…
"Ayame Takeda…Of the Takeda clan…?"
She asked nervously. The woman nodded.
"Don't get that idea now. You can't account all of us for the actions of few."
Kurutan nodded simply.
"And is there something wrong…?"
Kurutan asked. Ayame sighed.
"That's what's been bugging me…"
Ayame sat down in a near-by chair; her eyes were distant, unease by many thoughts that came to mind.
"You know, before Mayuka was in this condition…physically…I was able to see her, and mentally she was a wreck…"
Kurutan raised an eyebrow.
"Wreck?"
"Yes…like there were two of her. I studied psychology, so from what I know she happened to show signs of a split personality disorder. Then again, when Takemura Mehiji locked her up in such a cramped dark room, she must have created this other side of herself to keep her sanity."
Kurutan nodded. Though a simple theory, it did make sense.
"So then, what do you think it has to do with her coma…"
" What if she doesn't want to come back…she has a lot of guilt for many things."
"That makes no sense, you have no proof that-"
"You guys check the vital signs of a comatose person every twenty minutes. Then you take the average of the day, and compare it to the average of the other days. Meaning, you notice when her vital signs start slipping. I know it has been, I've kept track. Her heart rate when she first got her was a standard sixty-five per minute. That went down to fifty-five now. Her vitals are slipping, slowly, but surely."
Kurutan frowned. Could Mayuka have done it? Could she have found a way to purposely never wake up from her coma? That was impossible….
"I know…it seems impossible, doesn't it Kurutan…"
"I agree,"
Ayame paused to adjust her glasses again.
"And her fever still didn't ware off."
"So what you're saying-"
"You didn't hear anything from me, got it?"
Kurutan blinked. Just what was Ayame up to?
"I understand…but what-"
"We'd have to pay Mayuka a little visit. And for that to work…Motoko would probably be the best candidate."
"A little visit…?"
Ayame smiled. Something about that smile was mischievous, and Kurutan didn't like that 'little visit' part, especially with how she said it.
"Yes…we ghost hack her."
"You're ki-"
"Nope. And the sooner, the better for May."
"What! You want me to-"
"Yes Motoko. I said it once, I'm sure you understand."
Ayame and Kurutan both winced when they heard Motoko growl.
"I won't do it!"
"Motoko…please, if Ayame's theory's right then it's the only way t-"
"No!"
Ayame frowned.
"I understand how you feel-"
"Understand?"
Motoko asked coldly. It was a hard slap in Ayame's face. The worse words she could have used. How the hell would she understand? She was never asked to do what she just asked of Motoko. The pair watched intently as Motoko paced back and forth, Aramaki came in silently, watching. Ayame had filled him in earlier of her thoughts.
"Well Motoko, you don't have to do it. But it's a delicate procedure, and if you ask me, you're probably the best candidate."
Motoko scowled.
"There are plenty of things I'd do, but hacking into her mind is taking it a step too far. There must be another way. I'll only do that if it's a last resort."
Ayame folded her hands and remained quiet, as well as Kurutan, who exchanged glances with Aramaki. Daisuke Aramaki took it as his queue to step in.
"I think that's what they're getting at, Major. We've already reached our last resort."
"You're kidding…"
"Well, Motoko, you could always let May di-"
"I suggest you keep you're mouth shut Ayame!"
Motoko growled. Ayame shrugged, and made no protest. She yelped slightly when an annoyed Kurutan started elbowing her in the ribs.
"Well, Major?"
Motoko turned back to Aramaki.
"I'll do it, but Ishikawa's my backup, ok?"
"Understood."
"Major, we're all set up."
Ishikawa said, his laptop set up in the hospital room. Several wires and equipment was by the bedside, and beside the bed was a long chair. Motoko walked to the long chair, picking up the link wire.
"Are you sure Major?"
"Yes, I am. Which is why I want you here just in case something goes wrong."
"Incase? Last time you saw that kid, she hacked your mind."
"A simple misunderstanding at that point. Nothing could be done."
Motoko replied, plugging in the link, and laying back. Ayame and Kurutan walked into the room to watch.
"Hey, I've told you before, it's creepy when you sleep with your eyes open."
Motoko laughed. One of the only things that got to Ishikawa was missions, or situations like this. He didn't like them one bit. And Batou was even worse. He'd become like some sort of guard dog whenever she was placed in danger.
"This isn't right…there's no dummy barrier…and no signs of a firewall either…"
Motoko said. Her voice curious yet worried. Ishikawa squinted.
"No dummy barrier? That's impossible! Why the hell would she leave the pathway to her own mind completely unprotected?"
Ayame stood behind Ishikawa, also looking at the screen.
"Her not having any sort of mind hack protection is unlikely of her…not good."
Ayame muttered. Ishikawa frowned.
"Any ideas?"
"Two really, it's either A: Something happened to her ghost…or B: she purposely did that…a trap…?"
Ishikawa turned to her, his eyes narrowed.
"You're kidding…"
"No, I'm dead serious."
Ayame looked back to Motoko.
"Did you get all that Motoko?"
"Yeah, I heard you…"
"Keep your guard up. It's her mind, and you never know what could happen."
Ayame warned, Ishikawa also turned back to her.
"Major, do you see anything?"
"…I don't see anything in here. It's all black…a void."
Ayame closed her eyes.
"A void… 'the abyss of the mind'…something seems familiar with that quote…it's from a book."
"What does a book have to do with anything?"
Kurutan suddenly snapped. Ayame shrugged.
"It was the first connection I could come up with…the whole situation seems all too familiar with a certain book I know…and I know Mayuka read it as well…suspicious…too suspicious…"
Ishkawa couldn't believe his ears.
"Are you telling me that you think-! Forget it…I have a job to do…so stop being a distraction, got it?"
Ishikawa muttered a curse word under his breath before turning back to Motoko.
"Do you hear anything Major?"
"Crying…in the distance…"
"Major?"
"Hmm…I don't like this at all…"
Ishikawa looked over.
"What is it?"
"Something doesn't seem right, I'm heading towards the sound right now."
Ishikawa nodded as both Ayame and Kurutan looked over to the monitors.
"Ishikawa…this is odd…but there's a nine year old child here…to be specific…a nine year old Mayuka…she was crying."
"Did she say anything?"
"She just said 'You're a fool to have come here' But why I don't know."
Ishikawa's puzzled expression turned to one of concern. Motoko became quiet too quiet.
"Damn it! Ishikawa! Pull me out n-"
Silence.
It was all they heard.
Ayame noted that behind them Motoko's body went through a very brief convulsion before becoming perfectly still.
"Major! Major!"
Ishikawa yelled desperately.
"Damn it!"
"What happened Ishikawa?"
Ayame asked, staying as level headed as possible.
"We lost her ghost…"
He stated, before growling:
"Hacked, again…"
Motoko opened her eyes. Here she was, looking through the empty void again. She was right back where she started.
"What the…"
Her eyes narrowed…she was cut off. She couldn't get out. Something wouldn't let her leave. And she assumed being in its domain put her in an environmental disadvantage.
Then she heard it. Crying. Someone was crying. Motoko ran to the sound, to find a young girl, with long purple tresses, and sapphire eyes. Mayuka…a young Mayuka at that. The child looked up at Motoko shivering.
"It's you…you're trapped in here too, O-nee-sama. You shouldn't have come here. You're making a mistake…"
"Trapped…what do you mean by I'm trapped in here too, Mayuka?"
Mayuka shook her head.
"You're stuck here, same as I am, and it's all May's fault. She wants you dead… And you're wrong…I'm not exactly Mayuka."
"What?"
The young girl shook her head again.
"May is distracted by Mayuka. With that her attention's divided. Get out while you still can."
"I'm not leaving until I'm sure you're getting out of that coma."
"Then you are even more ignorant than I thought."
Motoko stopped. For a moment, the girl sounded just like the Mayuka she knew.
"You said you weren't exactly Mayuka…then who are you?"
"Three entities. I am the pure one. Yukiko. Snow child."
Motoko scowled. That means that it was Mayuka. Mayuaka's name after all was "Mayuka Yukiko Kusanagi".
"Oh, I wouldn't move if I were you Motoko."
Came another voice. It was colder, harsher than the young girl's tones. Motoko felt a blade being put to her neck.
"If you die in here, you're dead. Period."
"Explain who you are."
She heard the figure snicker at this comment.
"So, Yuki, you traitorous bitch, you couldn't stop being pure hearted long enough to keep that damned mouth of yours closed?"
"Leave the child out of this."
"That's where you're wrong Motoko. I can't leave her out. This is all apart of the grand scheme. This is my mind. My domain, and I'm going to enjoy killing you."
"And why would you want that?"
The figure behind her sighed in frustration. Motoko caught a glimpse of her. But only managed to see a part of her shoulder length purple hair.
"If you want to know, have the child explain everything."
Motoko turned her gaze to Yukiko, who began shivering in fear.
"S…She's 'May'. The evil one."
"What?"
"Yuushi narabini za booi."
'May' said.
"What do you mean, 'Solider and the boy'?"
"It… It was a story, written a long time ago…"
Yukiko murmured. Motoko noticed 'May's shift in grip but did nothing.
"It was about a brave young warrior. When a war broke out in his country, he became worried. Then 'Yukiko' appeared to him, telling that if he joined his county's army, she would protect him. So he lied about his age and joined the army. Years later, when the solider came back, he was different. He became colder, harsher. He grew older, much beyond his true years time.
That's when he met a young boy…the "Otokonoko" was known in his village to be pure of heart. He was kind, generous. The people wanted it to stay that way, and thus they refused to let the boy see the solider. What they didn't know was that the village children constantly picked on the boy. He soon became tired of it.
So the boy defied their rules and went to see the solider anyways. From spending time with the solider, the boy learned of war. However what surprised the warrior was how incredibly naive the boy was, so much so that he didn't believe that there were horrors in war."
Yukiko paused, but before she could continue, May took over.
"Thus, a few years later, he too lied about his age to get into the army. After serving for five years, the boy came back. He was hardened by war: he was cold to people, was afraid that if they got too close they would die. The warrior, who had told him about war was so ashamed that in the end, he killed himself!"
May ended her summary, her voice ended off on a rather high, sadistic note. Yukiko curled up into the corner, shivering. Motoko noticed that she was looking at May behind her.
"What does that story have to do with anything?"
"It explains why I want you dead. All this time, everything was your fault."
"How is it-"
But Motoko was cut off when May put her arm firmly across her throat.
"Yukiko is a damned child, far too kind for a world like this! And the one who dare call herself "Mayuka" isn't much better than Yukiko! If it weren't for those weaker parts of me, then that bastard would have never rapped me and get away like that! But it's your fault! Everything!"
Motoko watched her pause before she continued.
"All I ever wanted, Motoko,"
May leaned over so that her mouth was by her ear.
"Was to be like you."
"What? Why me?"
May began to seductively play with Motoko's hair, her eyes focused on something distant.
"Strong…confidant…such a capable leader…it was everything I ever wanted."
May whispered, a smile playing on her lips, before her forearm's grip tightened, and she began chocking Motoko.
"But then, right when I'm about to achieve what I want, Yukiko, and Mayuka's emotional attachment to you gets in the bloody way!"
May yelled, the anger rising in her voice as her grip constantly tightened.
"And the only way I'll rid myself of it, and them, is if I kill you!"
"You really think…that killing me… will do anything?"
Motoko muttered, struggling with the grip. She tried to gasp for air, but the forearm over her throat made that impossible.
"No, I know it will."
Motoko suddenly kicked her in the side. May's grip slacked for a second, which Motoko used to release herself from the grip.
"Damn you!"
Motoko stopped her counter when she looked at May. May was five-foot seven, with shoulder length purple hair and red eyes. Ruby eyes she knew too well, her ruby eyes.
"I…what the hell are you?"
"I told you Motoko, I always wanted to be like you. So I thought the best way was to be you."
May replied.
"Don't you get it Motoko? I'm you. Just the way it should be. And there can't be two Motokos, so that's why you'll have to die."
May grinned, wiping blood away from the corner of her mouth.
"Are you serious Ishikawa!"
Batou yelled. He had got them to explain everything, every little detail with proof. He just couldn't believe what his ears were telling him.
"I'm quite serious. It's the situation were in Batou…we lost all contact with the Major, a little over an hour ago."
"SHIT!"
Batou growled, banging his fist on the table.
"I told you we couldn't trust that little brat!"
"Hey, don't assume she's one of the baddies just because-"
"Shut up Takeda! For all I know, you're probably in cahoots with the conniving little bi-"
"I don't appreciate you talking about my patients like that Batou."
Kurutan interrupted, her expression flared.
"Mayuka Kusanagi is under my charge. And thus it is my duty to look out for her well being. If you keep this up, or try anything, I WILL call security, and have you kicked out of here."
Batou fell silent. Kurutan patted him on the shoulder.
"I know Mayuka from since her childhood days. She didn't have the easiest of times growing up, but she was always kind. And she cares for her sister…she won't kill Motoko. That I know."
"Yeah, well what if one of her other 'personalities' wants the Major dead?"
Kurutan smiled.
"Good question. Well, knowing Mayuka, she wouldn't let that happen. Her emotional attachment is too strong."
"I still don't see the reason behind it."
Motoko muttered, watching her double stagger to her feet.
"Like I said, it's like the story."
"Yes, but what you didn't tell Motoko about the story, other self, is that there was a neutral party to that story."
Motoko looked over her shoulder. Her heart leaped for a second. But she saw no one. It was just a disembodied voice.
"A neutral party?"
"Yes. Later on, the boy-turned-solider meets a fellow. But unlike him, this other warrior, did loose his innocence…but never became cold hearted."
May growled.
"Still, in order for it to work, the forth party must die!"
"I won't allow that."
"Who says I'll let you stop me "Mayuka" you vain bitch!"
Motoko looked around, it all pieced together.
"In other words, going by the story, I'm the solider who met the boy."
"Now you understand."
The voice replied. Motoko nodded.
"Then to go by this, Yukiko,"
"Yes, I am the pure one. The 'boy' in the story before he became tainted with the horrors of war."
Yukiko stated, Motoko turned to May.
"You expect me to tell you my role? You should have figure it out by now."
"You're the boy after he came back from war."
May smirked.
"That's right. And like the story, I became just as cold. Just like you."
"Then the third one…"
Suddenly a bright light shone, and a young woman in her early twenties appeared, dressed in a loose fitting dress that ended mid thigh. She had stockings that started mid thigh and ended at her feet. Her appearance was obvious. Mayuka. The Mayuka she knew, looking all twenty of her years.
"Yes. Though the second solider lost their innocence, they still insisted on being just and kind."
"Damn you, Mayuka! Why did you have to come out here!"
May growled, as she turned to Yukiko, who jumped to her feet and ran into Mayuka.
"Mommy!"
Yukiko said as she latched onto Mayuka.
"It's good to see you too, Yuki-chan! Are you ok?"
Mayuka replied hugging the girl.
"It was so dark and cold here. Not like it used to be. But I'm glad you're back mommy! Now everything will be back to normal!"
"Uh-huh, Yuki, that's right, Mommy's gonna make sure everything's alright."
Mayuka tussled the child's hair with her hand, making young Yukiko giggle. Motoko smiled, then her smile faded.
"Did she just call you…"Mommy"?"
Mayuka smiled.
"That's right."
"But she's half your age."
Mayuka shrugged.
"The inner child thinks nothing about age. Considering she was born from my consciousness, that technically would make her my 'daughter' of sorts."
Mayuka replied, while picking up Yukiko with one arm, facing Motoko.
"She's just a damned child if you asked me. If you never had such a soft spot-"
"From what I remembered, I'm only in this situation because of you."
Mayuka said bitterly as she turned towards May.
"No, it's Motoko's fault, if you didn't have such a-"
"If you didn't try to be an idiot and try doing things with my help, none of this would have happened."
May frowned.
"But it was what you wanted, to be stronger. To be just like your dear sister."
"Yes, she may have wanted that, but truth is, I am who I am, and she is who she is."
Motoko interrupted. Mayuka held up her arm as a warning gesture, as if to say 'I'll handle this'. Motoko shrugged.
"If you insist."
Mayuka smiled and mouthed a thank you to Motoko before facing May.
"It was what I wanted. But how I tried to achieve it was wrong. And in the end I came to despise you."
"That's cause you're weak. You let your emotions do the thinking. Emotions are useless. They only get in the way. So you separated from me. Then again, if I was as weak as you, I would be scared of me."
Mayuka smiled.
"Always vain. Yet, we're two sides of the same coin, Yin, and Yang."
"Are you suggesting…? No! I won't allow that!"
May screamed as she charged at Mayuka, Mayuka turned to face Motoko.
"Now, care to lend a hand?"
"Mommy, I'm scared…"
Mayuka looked at Yukiko, placing her down.
"Don't worry now, it'll all be over soon. Now stay behind me, ok?"
"Fool, you let your guard down!"
Mayuka gasped when she looked up, May's drop kick nearly hit her until Motoko blocked it, looking over her shoulder.
"I've got your back."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
May growled, as she got to her feet.
"Damn you Motoko… Damn you all to hell!"
"She's lost it…we're going to have to bind her…"
Mayuka muttered. May laughed.
"You couldn't touch me,"
Suddenly she disappeared, Mayuka turned around, swiftly, grabbing her arm.
"Even if- damn!"
"You were saying?"
"No, let go!"
Mayuka ignored May's struggles, pinning her to the ground.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
Motoko watched as she struggled to no avail, as Yukiko stood back in fear. Suddenly, they started to sink into the darkness.
"I don't want to! I don't want to go back!"
May screamed, her usually cold voice laced with fear.
"You have no choice!"
"No! NO!"
The pair disappeared into the darkness. Motoko watched Yukiko jump back in surprise, latching onto Motoko's arm, she began shivering.
"Is…mommy going to be ok?"
She whimpered. She sounded like a hurt puppy.
As if her question was being answered, the void changed from pure black, to a sunny field with an endless horizon. Yukiko looked up to the sun and smiled.
"She's ok!"
"Did I scare you back there?"
Yukiko turned around, Motoko followed suite. Sitting on a rather large boulder was Mayuka. She smiled at Motoko. Yukiko ran up and hugged her again.
"I guess, I can take that as a yes."
Motoko walked over to Mayuka.
"So…your little mental drama there…what was that about?"
"Many feelings, and questions I left unanswered."
Mayuka answered simply.
"I see."
"Motoko…what you did was incredibly brash…"
"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. What happened to your dummy barrier?"
Mayuka frowned.
"It was disabled…by what, I'm not sure. But I'll be working on it as soon as I'm conscious again."
Motoko shrugged. Mayuka smiled, and got up from the rock, and hugged Motoko.
"Thank you though sister. I owe you one."
"You owe me nothing."
Mayuka shrugged.
"If you insist."
Motoko smiled.
"I do. Just promise me this won't happen again."
"It won't Motoko-san!"
Yukiko said with a smile. Mayuka chuckled.
"Yeah, what she said."
Suddenly, a light appeared behind them.
"Well Motoko…We've kept you here long enough. I bet you they're ready to kill me by now. But this is the way out."
Motoko nodded and began walking through but stopped mid-way.
"Oh, and Mayuka,"
"What is it?"
"A few things. You're in the hospital right now. But as soon as Kurutan says you can be discharged, you can stay at my place."
Mayuka smiled.
"Thanks."
"And one more thing, see you on the other side."
With that Motoko walked through.
"I'll see you too sister."
"Mommy, can I go play now?"
Mayuka nodded.
"Go ahead."
Yukiko nodded and ran off, as Mayuka began walking.
"I have a world to return to."
And with that she disappeared.
"Major!"
Motoko opened her eyes, to see Batou's panicked face. Sitting up, she rubbed her sore head.
"What happened?"
"We lost you back there, and we got a bit worried. You ok?"
Ishikawa asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"She didn't do anything, did she?"
Motoko shook her head.
"But to be ghost hacked and taken into someone else's brain where their ghost resides was a bitch."
"Please don't tell me you did that on purpose."
Motoko shook her head.
"No, she hacked me alright."
"So, what was that all about…"
Motoko smiled.
"Remember that book called: Yuushi narabini za Booi."
Ishikawa nodded.
"Yeah, though it's quite old."
"The Brave warrior and the Boy? I read it too."
Batou imputed.
"Well think that she had a little mind game there, based on that book."
Batou looked confused.
"Don't ask…by the way, how is she?"
Kurutan looked over.
"Her vitals are getting stronger…but she hasn't waken up yet."
"She will soon though."
"Ugh…my bloody head…"
Mayuka muttered. Bemused, Ayame giggled.
"I think she already woke up."
Kurutan imputed, as she watched Ayame look over her friend.
"Ugh…Ayame, what's today?"
"It's Thursday, December 20th 2031…"
Ayame jumped back as Mayuka nearly hopped out of bed, quickly in a sitting position.
"What?"
She screamed.
"It's the 20th."
"I know that dumb ass! But you mean to tell me I've been in the hospital for eleven friggin days?"
"That would be correct."
"In a bloody coma!"
Ayame nodded. She heard Mayuka growl.
"All this time wasted in the stupid hospital!"
Batou blinked.
"I wouldn't consider it stupid considering you'd be dead otherwise."
"Hmm? And you guys are?"
Kurutan, Batou, Ishikawa, Motoko and Ayame all stopped what they were doing and started laughing.
"You get all worked up, then don't even know who we are?"
Mayuka blushed.
"I uh…"
Motoko took over.
"Well, I'm sure you know me and Kurutan, and Ayame."
"No shit Sherlock."
Mayuka said rolling her eyes.
"The guy with the long white hair, that's Batou."
Motoko continued despite Mayuka's smartass remark. Batou waved when Motoko said his name.
"And the guy on the laptop is Ishikawa. They're both from Section Nine…I'm sure you know all about that…"
Motoko smiled when she saw Mayuka blushed. Yes, everyone had a weakness.
"I…well…don't arrest me…"
She muttered almost pathetically. Motoko shook her head.
"Don't worry we don't plan to."
"Now, everyone out before you start explaining everything."
Kurutan suddenly said.
"If you want her out of here Motoko, then I'm going to have to do a medical check, so if you don't mind,"
Kurutan had practically shoved them out of the door now, and slammed it shut, leaving the foursome bewildered.
Half and hour later, Kurutan walked out of the room, in an instant Motoko was at her side.
"Well?"
"Everything's in the norm, though she still has a bit of a fever. She can leave tonight. However, she is not to do anything physically straining before one week has passed. She can do small things then build up. But she shouldn't push herself too hard yet."
"I see."
Kurutan nodded.
"She's changing right now, she said she'll come out when she's ready. I'm assuming Aramaki's coming over here."
"Yes, he is. He'll be here any moment."
"Alright then. I better look to get going, I have other patients to look after and-"
Kurutan stopped mid-sentence when she looked up. Mayuka came out wearing a pair of blue jeans and a pink T-shirt, her hair gathered into one, very long ponytail.
"Well, that's that. Kurutan, are you sure it's ok if I borrow these?"
Kurutan nodded.
"Your clothes are torn and blood-stained anyways. Any problems with your prosthetics?"
Mayuka frowned.
"They feel completely awkward if you ask me…but anything else…no."
"Awe, little May's growing up, I'm surprise you haven't rushed to the bathroom yet."
Kurutan teased. Batou looked over to see her turn five shades of red.
"Why, what use to happen…"
"When she was little, she had a very low tolerance to the sight of blood."
Kurutan started, Motoko glanced at her smiling at the memory.
"Every time she and I came here so I could swap bodies, and someone was being rushed to the I.C.U., if they passed us, an instant later Mayuka would be in the bathroom throwing up."
Mayuka was still red.
"So sue me for being a hematophobic…"
She muttered.
"I just want to get out of here…"
Kurutan nodded, but stopped mid way when they saw Aramaki approaching. Aramaki stopped right in front of Mayuka and shook her hand.
"Mayuka Yukiko Kusanagi I presume."
"Yes, and you are?"
"Daisuke Aramaki, head of Section Nine."
"I see."
Mayuka turned to face Motoko. Motoko smiled, pointing back to Aramaki.
"Uh…?"
"We have an offer for you Mayuka. Your hacking skills are quite developed. And you were a Sergeant in the Special Forces unit back when you were in the army. We think that makes you Section Nine material."
"So, you want me to join?"
Aramaki nodded.
"Yes, in fact it was both my idea and your sister's. However, you will still need to take an three week long training course."
Mayuka blinked.
"I see…but-"
"Yes, I know you have one week before you're allowed to do anything of the sort. So I've already had it scheduled. If you accept, you will leave on the twenty-seventh and return on the seventeenth."
"What field?"
"The same as the Major's."
Mayuka smiled.
"The same as Motoko, huh?"
Motoko nodded.
"So…?"
Mayuka smiled.
"Yeah, I'll join Section Nine."
"Three weeks, huh Mayuka?"
Ayame asked.
"We took a different course but it only took a week for the training, and that was bloody hard!"
"You're not helping my out look, Ayame…"
"Why did you except then?"
Mayuka shrugged.
"Why not…maybe I can undo some of the damage I did."
"So where's Motoko?"
"She's getting all the papers in order. She said she'll be back soon."
Mayuka said as she sat down. A moment later Motoko walked in.
"Well, other than a few precautions, they said you could leave now. Are you ready?"
Mayuka nodded.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later, Ayame."
Ayame nodded.
"Yeah, See you."
Both sisters waved goodbye and walked out of the hospital.
"We're here."
Motoko said as she walked into the room.
"I know It's not much but-"
"No, it's ok…"
Mayuka said with a smile as she looked around. There was a hallway with three doors at the end. Two were bedrooms. One had a bed the other was an office. The third door led to the bathroom. But now they stood in the living room. Motoko turned and smiled.
"Well, I guess you're tired now, aren't you."
Mayuka nodded and walked over to the couch.
"If you just give me one minute…"
Motoko looked over. Mayuka was already asleep, Motoko went to her room and came back with a blanket in hand and placed it on her to keep her warm.
"Sleep tight May."
She whispered before walking towards her bedroom.
It amazes me how much younger these hackers are getting. So much so that they're giving us older generation a run for our money. First we had the Laughing Man. He turned out to be a Nineteen-year-old boy by the name of Aoi. Now Mayuka Kusanagi. She's much different than Aoi. To say her methods are more tamed would be a lie, but her experience goes beyond her years, yet still lack maturity. There's much evidence of that in the corpses we found. She eliminated all traces that it was she, who was behind it, yet she still used a calling card: if the corpse was seen killing someone else, there was evidence that they used the murder weapon in his or her left hand. It's Mayuka's calling card, considering she's left-handed. Meaning she used her ghost to hack theirs, and subconsciously picked up the weapon in the left hand. All this is irrelevant now. It's the situation I've cause here. Mayuka joining Section Nine? The question comes to the fact if she can be truly trusted. The Major seems to think so…after all, I always trusted my brother, didn't I? But then, I see that perhaps her joining can serve as a double duty. Prime Minister Kayabuki actually approved to this idea. And I see why: If Mayuka is still a vigilante; we can keep a closer eye on her with her being surrounded by us all the time. It forces her to be cautious…and less likely to try anything that would make herself conspicuous. If she's not, then her specialty will be a great aide to us all. But then, I must believe she's on our side or she'll get suspicious and figure it out. Mayuka Kusanagi, you've got your chance, I handed it to you, but I have my eye on you.
Aramaki
A/N: Yes...I know I'm cruel to tell you this after the chapter, but Inner universe is ending in a few chapters...AHH! (Runs and ducks for cover from on coming tomatoes thrown her way)
Hey! Stop! I have good news too. I plan on ending this, though if you don't like cliff-hangers, don't worry, as there are several sequels to come that I'm working on (I'm a busy gal) By christmas part two of my little saga will hopefully be posted "I do" is the title, and it serves as an epilogue to "Inner Universe" From there I plan on spanding it, and hopefully this whole idea of mine will be all typed out by June 2006...or at least, that's My goal...I have no intention of moving on before hand.
Oh, and now the little speal about the chapter. The book they mention called "the soilder and the boy". The title would in fact litlilarily mean "Brave warrior and the Boy" And for all who were wondering...no, it's not a real novel, just one I made to serve my purposeses. Yes, I got the inspiration from The laughing man and is quoting from "The Catcher and the Rye" Naturally, I had too, being a bilibhophile myself... and now, the preview.
Chapter six: Christmas
Mayuka wasn't expecting Motoko to give her desk work before her training date! And where the hell was Yukimura all this time? Mayuka slowly counts down the days to Chrismas, and to her training that starts on the twenty-seventh.It becomes apparent something else is on her mind. But who would have thought it would turn out to be a game of"Matchmaker"?
Cookies to who guesses who's playing matchmaker, and whom they'll try to pair up. You never know what goes on in my mind :D
And now, the quote of the day:
"I thought that what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was, One of those deaf-mutes" (Laughing Man logo)
Just cause we all know I could not resist.
Read and review.
Ja-ne!
Jun-kei