Chapter VII – Evil In Its Pure State
"R-Rena?" Jin stood in utter disbelief.
The girl bowed and smiled before the young hero. She still had the innocent look on her face but Jin felt an evil aura surrounding her. It was deception at its best and Jin was speechless.
"But why?" The words just came out of his mouth. "You were nearly a victim and… how? Why?" Jin repeated.
Nothing made sense to him, and he fell to his knees, wondering what was going on. He pounded the ground and closed his eyes. He thought it was just a bad dream but Rena's presence proved that idea wrong. He didn't know what to say and Rena finally snapped the silence.
"Jin-sama, I can imagine how you must feel. But understand that…"
"Understand what!" he interrupted. "Killing innocent people? What for!"
"You wouldn't understand, Jin-sama. Although we are both the same, you have something I don't."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Make some sense here or else…"
"Or else what, sir?" Rena answered nearly mockingly. "Will you draw your sword?"
Not knowing what to do, Jin stood frozen, which allowed Rena to take a step forward. Her gentle steps previously concealed her great powers and now Jin felt them come out ready to kill. In no time, Rena was standing before Jin. She placed her hand on Jin's sweaty face and leaned in to kiss him. Jin flinched and leapt back to put some distance between them.
"Oh, you didn't want one?" Rena complained.
"I… I can't trust you," Jin stuttered.
"But that was just an innocent kiss. Really, it was," she said playfully. "You know, I really like you. I thought I would tell you that before you die."
"What makes you think I'm going to die?" Jin snapped. "Who and what are you to decide my fate? Huh? Answer me!"
It was obvious Jin was driven by fear. His feet refused to move as he willed and his words came out rather clumsily. Rena giggled and removed the cloak completely, and proceeded to answer.
"Because you saw what I did to those frail humans. Such easy prey they were…"
"They were defenseless! How could you be so cold-hearted?"
Rena let out a shrill laughter that freaked Jin. She was becoming scarier and scarier in Jin's eyes. At the same time dark, heavy clouds covered the sun but showed no signs of oncoming rain. Then came an unexpected reply.
"Because, Jin-sama, I have no heart."
The way she said it was cold, like that of a killer. Jin realized what she meant by what he had that she didn't. But what they had in common, he wondered. Before he was able to ask, Rena continued in her ecstatic explanation.
"That's right, no heart. I was modified to have no heart, no feelings. I've played this game of charades for too long, Jin-sama. I wanted to know what it felt to have feelings and love and so on, but no matter how hard I tried I am nothing but a mere vessel: a result of an ugly but ingenious experiment. And like you…"
"What a minute, Rena! What do you mean experiment?"
"You mean, you don't know? You reeeeally don't know?" she chided.
This angered Jin quite a bit. He was sure he knew himself more than anyone, but to hear that someone may know his true identity allowed Jin to put on a battle face. He set himself ready and drew out the Rainbow over his right shoulder. Upon its arrival, the katana's blade let out a blinding rainbow-colored ray that caught Rena off guard. She responded with much fascination, and awaited his attack.
"Like hell, I don't know!" Jin positioned for a charge. "And if I must, I will force it out of you!"
In a blink of an eye, Jin glided towards his former friend and helper, and attempted a lethal slash. But to his dismay, Rena evaded the attack and cartwheel away from Jin, exchanging their original standing locations. Rena stood tall and wiped off the dust on her clothes. Then she spoke again.
"How rude of you, Jin-sama. I was in the middle of explaining things to you, but then you attacked me!"
"Then tell me, what experiment are you talking about? What about us are the same?" Jin demanded, sticking his sword on the ground to ensure that he will not strike.
"Hehe…" she giggled. Then with a wink and a feminine gesture, she cutely remarked, "I won't tell you until you beat me."
