This story is a work of fiction. Any similarities to events or persons living or dead in your world is purely coincidental.
As The Worlds Change You Know You Can't Wait
Jump Up And Shout Rail Against Your Fate
7/28 Tuesday
Morning
The repeated sensation of a tide lapping over him, then retreating to do it again, wasn't what woke him. That would have been disconcerting itself, a natural reaction for one such as he. A natural metronome filled his ears with the gentle crashing of waves, a great giant's breath. One could go to sleep to such a rhythm, and some frequently did.
The dark tide seemed to sense his tranquility, and immediately intensified, pulling him down beneath the surface before he could shout, before he could call out for help. Chains enclosing around his wings, tight and unbreakable.
Fear filled him, causing an involuntary opening of his beak.
Beak...?
When did he have a beak?
When did he have wings?
Confusion. Panic. Unknown.
It was impossible to tell how long he descended, continually pulled by the chains down into the dark waters, with only his fear and confusion and panic as company. The sea had no sign of a bottom, and the surface had long since faded from sight. No fish, and no ships. No landmarks of any kind. Time had no meaning, not here.
All he had was his memories... what few there were, and even those were hazy.
Why... why can't I remember?
Then, sensing his despair, the roaring of the giant reached out through the endless water, undiminished by it. Enhanced by it, for this was its domain.
How he could know that, he could not say.
You've slept a long while. Far past time for you to wake.
Wake...?
Yes. A dream. He had to be dreaming.
His friends had spoken of dreams, visions that appeared in their minds when they slept.
It had simply never happened to him before.
And yet... was Faraway Lands not the world of dreams? Or... the sea of souls?
He couldn't remember.
Galahad, his Persona that had guided him for so long, was silent. There was only the voice of the ocean's lord.
Awaken. Awaken, and remember, the dark giant's voice reverberated through the water that had become his entire existence.
You... have a debt to pay.
Debt?
No... he couldn't remember. He could only remember falling, drowning in the infinite black... No longer a memory...
Too dark to see the surface. Too dark to see himself.
Yet still, he could make out the shapes, the geometric structures not so dissimilar to the ones he'd come to identify as home in Tosashimizu city.
The moldering, dead city that lay at the very bottom of the sea of souls.
Were they still here, you could ask them, the roaring ocean told him. You could ask the people of this forgotten city what it is to violate an oath to a God.
No...
No...
He didn't want to remember.
The deal was made. In exchange, you must bring the girl to me.
The city's towers loomed over him, a thing alive, taller and taller until even the shadows themselves were swallowed up by it. Swallowing him up...
And he could no longer feel his hands. His legs were gone, the sensation of his head and torso fading, uncoiling into nothingness and void.
You must pay your debt.
All.
Nothingness.
And then Pelagio heard the echo of own screech as he awakened, feral enough that no human would sense the crushing terror in it. The echo carried down the canyon of steel and glass before dissipating. All. Nothingness.
What... what was that?
His human friends had spoken to him of dreams, bizarre visions that came to you while you slept. Given how close so many of their visions were to what they saw in the other world, as that boundless sea's travelers, they had even christened themselves as the 'Dream Voyagers'.
What they had failed to mention was how infuriatingly hazy they were after one awakened, how difficult it was to recall individual details. Already, he could feel them slipping from his mind, like water running through a sieve. Mortal fear, heart-rending without the details to explain it, nor the reason.
Pelagio, he recited the name silently. My name is Pelagio. SIR Pelagio. I am the sworn protector and servant of my lady and captain, Aiko Tsuruga. I exist to be her guardian.
Yet... where had that name come from, originally? Who had given it to him?
These were questions he had never asked himself before, and now they only filled him with greater fear and doubt.
That tall blond boy, Noel... he was responsible. He'd put those thoughts into his head, made him doubt himself... but he couldn't be angry with him either. He was merely airing his concerns. Concerns that are indeed quite valid, if whatever that was is any indication.
The light of the rising sun over the city seemed to sense his disquiet, tickling his feathers with a balmy warmth. Retreating from it, he glided down across the street to a telephone pole, only to find its incessant buzzing failed to distract him enough.
"What", he whispered to no one but himself, "what am I? Who am I?"
The ocean's master held no answer for him.
7/28 Tuesday
Afternoon
"I think", Reiha decided out loud, "that we might have gone a little overboard."
Tokyo, they knew, had more than enough shopping malls for everyone. The design, the colors, the exact arrangement to make the shops seem bright and alluring to the eye, had been refined into a certain science that the Tenjincho mall had only just begun to discover and experiment with. She was pretty sure there were college courses on it.
That was the only excuse Aiko could think of for the sheer amount of bags they were dragging behind them now, coming to a stop at a food court just to take a break from carrying them. "A little?", she shook her head in surrender. "I think we were a little overboard three shops ago. This... this is something else."
The shopping trip they'd planned had been every bit the guilty pleasure she had envisioned, at least until now. Now, though, she just felt guilty about buying so much.
"I don't think they'll mind too much", Reiha assured her, taking a seat across the table and sliding no less than five full bags off her arms. "It's a vacation, right? You're supposed to buy lots of stuff."
The younger girl made a face. "But what, nine, ten outfits? Do me a favor and play along- you can take half the dresses."
"Can't", she made a predatory grin. "They're all too small for me."
"I'll... I'll say half of them are for Dada Yangyu then."
Reiha raised a brow. "Dada Yangyu?"
"Um... I mean Sorano-san", she hastily corrected. "But that's no good either... she's taller than me too. Damn it, it's not fair! I'm average height, and you two both got put on a stretching board early in your life to become super tall or something!"
"I think it's more likely because that I'm almost four years older than you, Tsuruga", Reiha rolled her eyes. "As for Sorano, well... she is a year older, even if it doesn't feel that way 'cause she was held back a year. Some girls get growth spurts early, some don't. Look on the bright side- at least you're not Niyoga. It's like you said. You're 'average' height. He's a third-year student who's shorter than all the first-years."
"Yeah", Aiko pouted. "It just feels weird that I'm the 'captain' and yet, not counting Pelagio I'm actually the shortest person on our team. I'm not even the biggest in... erm, the other way either."
Tracing the path of her friend's eyes, Reiha sighed in exasperation. "Come on now. You know that I'm the farthest thing from a prude, but even I think we have better things to talk about than comparing chest sizes. And once again; I have an unfair advantage over you in that department. Trust me, Tsuruga, you'll develop a fair bit more in the next few years, give or take... and you're gonna wish that you didn't. They just get in the way when I'm fighting. Heh. Maybe I'll ask Takamaki-san her secret?"
The lack of response and the look in her friend's eyes told Reiha that this particular problem ran deeper than anything she was willing to say out loud. "I mean, wasn't that the first thing Kujou dug into you for? When you first met? I saw that, remember. She said you were stuffing your bra to attract boys."
"Kujou says a lot of things", Aiko grunted sourly. "Most of them are lies. Looking back on it, I wonder about how quick she was to say that."
"Nah", Reiha laughed. "She'll lie 'bout anything, but she wasn't lying about that. She's all natural. No tiptoeing around it- she's gorgeous." Not getting anywhere with this, she decided. If the fates were kind, they would never see Benihime Kujou again anyway. And despite everything, I'll miss her. "Let's back this up though- Dada Yangyu?"
"Sorano", Aiko explained. "The day before she left, she brought me out to the beach cave that we use for meetings and stuff. We did this ritual her people do for really close friends." The memory brought back a shy smile. "So now, we're kraal. We're 'blood sisters'. Or in her people's words, 'Dada Yangyu'."
"'Blood sisters'?" Her dark eyes narrowed. "What exactly was that ritual?"
"Nothing too bad", Aiko assured her with a handwave. "Just some face painting and words between us. Actually, I looked up the meaning of it afterwards, and it turns out that she skipped a step. They called it 'blood sister' or 'blood brother' because originally, you're also supposed make a small cut on your left palm, and the other person cuts their right palm in the same place, and then you press the two hands together while you're saying the words of the ritual. That way, the blood runs and mixes together... but she must've known how unsanitary that sounds. Didn't want me to chicken out, right?"
"Easier just to get a blood transplant", the older girl scoffed. Underneath the mirth though, her own insecurities lay bubbling to the surface. "And you were... okay with that?"
Her impish smile only grew. "Why not? She's my best friend. She's been with me since I arrived. I've always wanted to have a sister, older or younger. Or even a brother."
"I see", Reiha nodded slowly, trying to process what she'd just heard. "A sister, then. That's good."
"No." She smiled back. "It's great. I just wish she'd been able to come here with us, but I promised to bring lots of souvenirs and take lots of pictures. Speaking of which..."
When she was finished snapping pictures of the mall's best displays and got back to their table, Reiha nodded in approval. "Sorry. It's just that the way you acted around her, the way that you two hold hands sometimes made me wonder..."
Ai shook her head in amazement. Even now, Reiha was still playing matchmaker. Not just for her, but for everyone that she knew. "I already told you. Sorano-chan's just my best friend. I love her... but... um... not in that way. Sorry to get your hopes up, senpai."
But she seemed, if anything, pleased by the news. "Don't worry about it. Let's get back to work."
A pale brow rose. "Um, we're on vacation. Not at work."
"We are", Reiha snorted. "But we both know the other reason you wanted to do this together with me, besides just trying on your new clothes. It's so I can show you how to use those kinds of cosmetics right. You've never used most of that stuff before, right?"
Initially upset at how easily she'd been read, Aiko raised up her arms in surrender. "Geez. Can't get anything past you, can I? No. I haven't been able to afford it until now. But now, I'm growing up. I want to learn this now, while you're with me. I mean, uh, if that's okay with you..."
"The ultimate paradox", Reiha chuckled sadly. "People your age want so badly to be more grown-up and mature. But most adults would give anything to go back to that innocent time of their lives for awhile."
"Including you", Ai acknowledged. It wasn't difficult to determine exactly which year Reiha had 'grown up', and why she looked back on those earlier times from before so fondly. "So... will you do it?"
Her friend's satisfied smile was almost frightening to her, as though they were entering together into the forbidden world of adult fashions and cosmetics. "You'd better not have any plans for the next three hours. Let's go!"
It wasn't until after visiting three shops and a restaurant failed to restore that cocky smile to his face that Noel realized just how personal he was taking Futaba's earlier remark. Given the next choice, he astounded even himself by choosing a place even he thought would be boring and quiet- a trio of concrete piers that looked to be primarily used for fishing instead of boating.
"Shikoku isn't nowhere", Jiachi repeated, listlessly staring into the vaguely greenish water below. "It's not."
For once, even Morgana had been at a loss for what to say to him, and Noel knew he would have to be the one to reply. "You heard Futaba-san, and you heard Tsuruga-chan earlier. To the people of this great city, anywhere outside of it is 'nowhere'. That does not make it the truth, not even if the entire population of the city believed that to be the case."
The lack of response finally triggered Morgana's temper, his head poking out of the bag. "Geez, come on. Cheer up already, meathead. Me, I like that you're from somewhere outside of Tokyo. It makes you stand out. I bet you know a lot about boating and fishing than most people here, right?"
Julian did laugh at that, but it was a forced, sarcastic one that didn't last long. "Actually, the last time I rode on a boat I puked big time. The ferry that took us to the mainland was better, but I still stayed inside the whole way just in case." Shaking his head, he stared up into the cloudy sky. "When I go to America, I'll have to fly."
"America?"
"His other lifelong dream", Noel explained sheepishly. "He also wants to visit New York, the most iconic, well-known city in that country. Although... if you're going to be like this for the rest of our time here, then I wouldn't bother."
Breaking free from his own reflection in the water seemed to help him some, and he sighed. "Sorry 'bout that. Just kinda... feeling small, y'know? This world... it's bigger than I ever thought possible. So many places. So many people. I could travel the rest of my life and not see everything. And less than a week from now, we'll be back in plain 'ol Shikoku. We might not leave again for months."
"Now", Morgana considered, "you're sounding like something Makoto was talking about after they took that school trip to Hawaii. Even there, they couldn't resist spending most of their time just talking with each other or on their cell phones. She said it felt like a missed opportunity."
"Naturlich", Noel remarked. "It's only natural they would find themselves clinging to an anchor of comfort in an unfamiliar place. When I first arrived in Japan, I knew no one, and made no effort to change that for the first six months. Instead, I merely stuck to my pastor and my sketchbook, always drawing pictures of people I never found the courage to speak to. Only after I met Niyoga and Furusato-chan did that change."
"Still better than me", Julian chuckled. "I pretended to have tons of friends. Never tried to actually make any. Maybe that's why this is so difficult. Julian? More like Foolian."
"Pretty much", Morgana agreed less sympathetically. "But hey, at least you recognized it. And now you've got some friends."
"Only 'cause of Faraway Lands", he countered, returning to his earlier gloom. "Sorano and Tsuruga... they took pity on me, when they found out what I was really like."
Noel surprised them all by standing up, suddenly towering over the younger boy, his blond hair flapping gently in the summer breeze. "Rosea... if you actually believe that they only became your friends out of pity, then you truly are the fool you claim to be. Tsuruga in particular. I have seen for myself the way she acts differently around you, the way that your actions and jokes brighten up her face. You make her laugh."
"Even if they are pretty lame jokes", Morgana quipped. Even he seemed taken aback by the sudden brusqueness in Noel's stance.
"Their quality", he continued angrily, "does not matter. What I believe draws her to you is your fire, Rosea-kun. Your bravura. Your swagger. Your confidence. None of the rest of us have the confidence to make jokes at the expense of Shadows, nor to taunt them in the middle of a battle. Only you can do that."
He couldn't find anything to say to that for a long time, and even Noel seemed a bit embarrassed once he realized just how many fishermen must have heard his rant, sitting down and watching the gulls overhead for a bit.
"Hey..."
Freezing, he peered over. "Ja?"
"There's a fishing rod over near the end of the pier. No one's using it. Could you...?"
Laughing, Noel rose to grab the abandoned tool, discovering that even still had bait, some kind of tiny two-tailed shrimp, on it. "Why?"
Ignoring him at first, the brown-haired boy eyed the water below, peering past the surface to spot the fish before casting the rod out with all his strength. "Gotta start somewhere, am I right?"
This summer had been kind to Tosashimizu city. While the island was sometimes affected with enough mist formed by the fusion of seawater and wind that the elderly found it troublesome, a reliable pattern of powerful sunlight had burned that away for now, leaving behind it a splendid canvas of nature and brick, dazzling enough that Kohru Tatsunoko had taken to going on regular walks along the various nature trails.
He remained convinced it was that charm, not any fear of the earlier disappearances, that kept him away from the shoreline, away from the few areas of the city that could be considered crowded. The relative silence left him time to think about all that had transpired in the last few months... and even more surprised when he saw a familiar adult waiting at the entry to his small unit, his small glasses shining in the light like a pair of festival ornaments: "S-sir?"
Principal Tetsuo Yumika gave a polite chuckle. "It's summer vacation, Mr. Tatsunoko. There's no need for you to call me 'sir'."
That left him struggling for a replacement term long enough for the older man to continue. "May I... come in?"
"Of course, s- um... of course."
His residence spread out before them, though he considered it neater than most of the same type. He had an area near the door sectioned off for exercises as well as a treadmill, forcing guests into a small corner behind the counter.
"All alone", Yumika lamented once they were in and Kohru had started preparing some tea. He idly dropped a handful of caramel candy on the tiny guest table. "Your older brother and father... both in the military, aren't they?"
"Yes, s- y-yes. My father got injured recently. He's... in a hospital now."
"I suppose that it's easy enough to see what you're getting ready for, then", he observed, more learned than most about the young man's disciplined nature. "Once you turn 18, you will be heading straight into basic training, is that correct?"
"Yes, s... Yes."
"I suppose it's comforting", Yumika considered gently, "knowing your path beforehand. A magnetic north. You know, when I was your age, I first wished to become a journalist in Tokyo, before I became a teacher, and then a principal. But I just hope this is something you've considered for yourself. A soldier's life isn't an easy one by any means."
"No." He managed to avoid the reflexive 'sir' this time, finally.
"If you don't mind my saying so, seeing this makes me worry."
"S-sir?"
"It's summer vacation", he explained. "And yet, you're still wearing your school uniform when you go out."
Reflexively, he looked down. Sure enough, he had the familiar wide-collared green blazer and dark pants, bright white borders running down his chest broken up by the crisp green tie, only slightly stained with his sweat from the run. The tie looked to be one size longer than the rest, but that was his only breach of routine.
"I... have several student uniforms", he admitted reluctantly, fighting back an urge to demonstrate by opening his closet. "I figured, I spend so much time at school anyway... but I do have other clothes to wear."
"It's understandable", Yumika acknowledged without judgment. "In fact, I happen to know of a third-year female student who enjoys our student uniform so much that she has purchased no less than eight copies of it for herself. Haha... For a time, I worried that she was 'scalping' them."
That stunned Kohru. While it was true that he did enjoy the sleek, thin feel of the uniform's blazer jacket at times, he had a harder time imagining someone developing a similar attachment to the thin white knee socks and ruffled green skirt of the girls' uniform. In fact, he'd heard more than a few complaints about it during the colder months.
Gratefully accepting the fresh chai tea, his principal smiled back. "I suppose that you are wondering why I'm here. Rest assured, it has nothing to do with you personally, Mr. Tatsunoko. Your grades are still excellent in every subject, and I'm glad to see you take over the student council following miss Kujou's... problems. It must have been difficult for you, exposing her misdemeanors that way."
"Yes", he admitted, even his discipline unable to hide how hollow those memories still made him feel. Even knowing what Benihime Kujou was, what she really represented, her removal still left a vacant space in his heart that no amount of exercise and training could fill. "I... understand she will be leaving us now? Going to a prep school in Tokyo?"
"Or so I've heard", Yumika acknowledged. "I suppose if I so wished, I could alert my old contacts in the city about the unique circumstances leading to her departure... but I don't begrudge her that. Far better for us to let her have a fresh start in a new locale. Perhaps that will teach her something about the abuse of power." He made a worried face. "Or so I thought..."
"S-sir?"
Ignoring the sudden reversion to form, the tall man sighed. "I know that you and she were close, despite your differences. That is why I felt it prudent to let you know that miss Kujou has... gone missing."
Thunder seemed to roar through him and he had to check the window to ensure it wasn't real, only in his own mind. "Missing?"
"Several days ago", he confirmed sadly. "Her father has been badgering the police endlessly to locate her, to no avail so far."
"Another disappearance", Kohru lamented, his arms drooping.
"Yes", Yumika agreed. "Even though it took place during summer vacation, I can't help but feel there is a connection. The last few disappearances were harmful enough- I'm honestly quite amazed that I haven't been taken to task for it already. There have been growing calls for us to increase surveillance on our students, but so far that's been nothing more than a pipe dream."
"Sometimes, dreams are necessary", he snapped, forgetting for a moment that he was speaking to a 'superior officer' and wincing after, expecting disciplinary action.
But the principal hardly seemed to mind the lapse. "Surveillance of the entire southern shoreline is completely impossible, and demanding that students stay away from anywhere beyond the dorms and campus building places restrictions on their freedoms I would prefer to avoid."
"So what then?", he asked, staring out the small window in the vain hope that Kujou might come to him. Knowing that she was out there now, probably scared and afraid...
"That's why I came", Yumika explained calmly. "I thought she might have gone to you for shelter. Of course, we have yet to learn the true reason for her disappearance. Just like the others. It's not a good sign for us, when so many students go missing, even if all but one of them so far have returned safely. I've even questioned the fishermen on the coast and gotten no response."
"Furusato-san", he remembered grimly. That discovery had frightened many in the following weeks, but if anything, he'd been more frightened by just how quickly the news faded from everyone's minds and became a thing of history and legend. It was as if Ayano Furusato was someone they'd known from years past, instead of a fellow student who had mysteriously disappeared and ended up dead.
Would that be Kujou's fate now? Would her body wind up drifting ashore, lifeless and empty without any explanation... other than the very worst one?
Was he going to spend the rest of his life regretting what he'd done, banishing her from the council?
Naturally, every cell in his body wanted to reject that possibility. Kujou did that to herself, he affirmed. The more he looked into it, the more he found out about how she had really been running things when he wasn't looking. Hundreds of students had lived in terror of her. Not just the foreign transfer students, but anyone who didn't treat her as the queen she clearly believed herself to be. While Ms. Mattora had been amiable about her, several of the other teachers- Mr. Takao and Mr. Noriyama in particular- had been willing to share their opinions with him as well.
What he'd had to deal with afterwards- several students like Hajitara or Sonoka who had bullying tendencies that were used like weapons by her against those she disliked- only proved what he'd suspected. That the kind Benihime Kujou he thought he'd known was a deception, a mask. While her looks were stunning as ever, she had a mean streak like nothing he'd ever seen before. Abiding someone like that, let alone having them as his girlfriend... wouldn't let him look at himself in the mirror each morning.
A shame that Tsuruga wasn't willing to join us, he lamented. I could really use some help from someone that the bullies are afraid of. Reiha Hayato qualified too, but now she's left us as well. Strange. They were friends as well, but I didn't think she'd take it that personally.
That discovery, too, had been something of a revelation for him. Students respected him. They looked to him as a trustworthy source of authority, a third-year Senpai that everyone could rely on... but they didn't fear him. Not in the way they feared Tsuruga and Hayato, who didn't let themselves be constrained by the rules of the council, and were willing to risk punishments such as detentions. Perhaps that was the real reason why Reiha had left.
Regardless, it was now up to him to clear up the reputation of the SDC, and to do it while there were still a fair number of people on it more loyal to Kujou than they were to him.
Yumika must have sensed his disquiet, as he adjusted his glasses to create a brief flash drawing attention back to him. "I know that you're facing a difficult task at school, Mr Tatsunoko. But you're also the only one I would trust with it. If you require any kind of assistance, or have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask."
"I won't", he muttered quickly.
"No?", the older man gave a lopsided smile. "While your discipline is impeccable, I can't help but notice that you've never once visited my office personally. Not even when you were gathering the evidence of miss Kujou's abuses. Instead, you always sent other students to speak to me on your behalf."
"My apologies if you got the wrong impression, sir", Kohru nodded, no longer bothering to fight his reflex. "I merely wished to avoid causing a scene. I'm certain that you're far too busy to deal with such minor concerns as this."
Yumika shrugged. "While I won't deny that I am very busy these days, I also wouldn't consider what you discovered to be a 'minor concern'. A good principal has to keep their ear close to the ground, and understand what's troubling their students and teachers, taking action to address it if at all possible. In light of so many disappearances, it would seem I've failed at that... and not for the first time either."
Forcibly looking up, Kohru regarded the man with growing sympathy. Certainly, he'd heard a fair number of complaints from the teachers as well, who thought Yumika was too young and 'bookish' for the highest job title at the school, perhaps better suited as a librarian or clerk than a principal. "Sir, if I may ask... how did you first attain your position here? Why did you come here from Tokyo when there were so many other schools there?"
Leaning back, he chuckled. "That's a very long story, and one I'm not sure you'd care to hear about. Let us merely say that someone noticed I have a talent for negotiation... though my sister would wholeheartedly disagree with that notion."
Feeling a brow rise in interest, he clamped down and dropped it. He'd heard about Cecille Yumika as well, a young teacher at a local elementary school who despite sharing the same profession as her brother, hardly spoke to him at all. He also knew that their principal had had a wife as well, only to lose her within two years of marriage- yet another 'mysterious disappearance'. Despite his cheery face and demeanor, the man had obviously dealt with a fair bit of personal tragedy.
"Five disappearances", Yumika stated again, his face growing grim. "One which led to the drowning of a student. While I've already taken some measures to address the probable causes, it's clear that this is not enough. While any kind of extension to our surveillance system would be impossible on our budget, I've thought of implementing a 'buddy system', requiring students to have at least one other with them whenever they aren't on campus. What do you think of that, Mr. Tatsunoko?"
Kohru froze. A superior officer was asking his opinion on their decisions?
"It's... interesting", he considered, still reluctant to speak ill of a superior's idea. "It would be very difficult to enforce however."
"Not so difficult as you might think", Yumika suggested. "All that would be required is to post someone at the bus stop and the path leading down from the campus to the south coast. Perhaps the dorm security can handle it."
"True", he mused. "But that wouldn't stop students from just parting ways once they got past that point, would it?"
"If they're willing to resort to that kind of trickery just to break a rule designed for their safety, then there's not much else I can do. They're grown boys and girls now. We're their educators, not their babysitters."
The troubled expression on the man's face at the end suggested that such a cold statement had been an effort for him. "If you have any other suggestions", he followed up, "please submit them to me for consideration."
Finishing the cup, he managed a slow nod, his expression hardening. "When a person disappears without reason or a probable cause... it leaves a gap in the world. It leaves all those who knew them with invisible injuries that can never be healed... We absolutely must stop these disappearances, now. I can only hope that this one is merely some youthful rebellion, or a misguided expression of outrage. Miss Kujou was never one to take being told 'no' well, any more than her father."
Kohru paused. He'd known Daisuke Kujou as well. He'd found him overbearing and prideful, but he was still a caring parent. "Does he have any idea what might have caused Kujou-san to have run away?"
"Nothing more than the expected reasons", his principal shook his head worriedly. "Anguish at being removed from the council and being taken away from Koashimizu academy. While this technically isn't our department, I cannot help but feel some responsibility for it. That is why I'm here. I wished to see if you had any other ideas."
"Nothing more than the police would already have, erm... sir", Kohru admitted. "Kujou-san generally likes to shop at the Tenjincho mall, visit the Salon de Rouge near Sunny Road to get her hair done, and eat at the Kubo-Sako seafood restaurant near the liquor store in the north end. That's about it."
He hardly seemed disappointed, merely resigned, as if he'd expected nothing else. "Of course. Still, you will alert the police if you see any sign of her, correct?"
"Absolutely, sir", he vowed. While he had no idea what Kujou thought of him now, if she came to him he would physically restrain her if need be. No one else is dying on my watch.
7/29 Wednesday
Afternoon
"Where are they?", Julian wondered out loud as they surveyed the beach food court, a square plateau of stone lit by the sun. "I thought today was gonna be beach day number two?"
"It was", Noel remembered. This time, they'd come prepared for swimming in a pair of garish red trunks. While the heat wasn't quite as powerful as it had been last week, it also wasn't as crowded. "Perhaps Hayato-san caused a delay. You saw how reluctant she was to go to the beach earlier."
"Yeah", he grimaced, wondering if the older girl's earlier talk of hidden tattoos wasn't a fable after all. I didn't think it was real. What's the point of tattoos if no one but you knows they're there?
"Give her some time", Futaba advised them, squinting in the light. Her previous bathing suit, while colorful, had proven to be too small for her, and so they'd spent the day shopping for a replacement. "Girls take longer than guys to get ready for something like this. We have more to take care of, y'know? Actually, no. You wouldn't. Never mind."
Her new one was made of a strange white polymer that seemed to shimmer in the light, a curving rubber 'skirt' providing both protection and additional buoyancy in the water. "I can't believe you kept that other one for six years", Morgana commented, sidling between Noel's legs uninvited. "Come on now."
"Why not?", the orange-haired hacked frowned. "It reminds me of that time... the first time when we all went to the beach together. Ann and Makoto got it for me, helped me put it on. I just... I didn't ever want to replace it. It means too much to me."
"They both look fine on you", Noel complimented. "Hm. Tokyo beats our selection even when it comes to bathing suits."
"But you're actually on the ocean, right?", she pointed out. "That's salt water. Bad idea to swim too much in that stuff."
"Tsuruga-chan doesn't seem to mind it though", Jiachi considered. "She's gone diving before. She's still doing that side job stuff for Spica, yeah?"
"As far as I know", Noel shrugged. "It hardly seems prudent for us to alienate Hayato-san's adoptive father over mere trifles."
"That guy was weird though. Even before we found out where he came from."
Futaba looked amused. "Weird? Ha. Trust me, Akira had to rely on help from more than a few people you'd consider 'weird'. I could hardly believe it when he showed them to me after everything was over. There was a fortune teller in Shinjuku, a shogi player, this crazy journalist lady...", stopping herself, she scanned the beach as if hoping to see one of the allies in question coming to pay them a visit. "Akira has something I'll never have. People just seem to gravitate to him... or maybe he goes to them. Who knows?"
"There's been a few on our side too", Julian chuckled. "First and foremost, captain Byzael. What kind of dumbass fisherman offers to will his ship to some random girl he sees on the beach? And it's not like it's some ratty derelict either. I've been on that ship. It's too small for me, but it's nice. Pretty damn fast for its size, actually."
"That one did- what's the phrase?- puzzle me when I learned of it", Noel admitted. "Yet, I cannot deny there seems to be a bond growing between those two that transcends even what we have with her. I feel like..."
"Go ahead", Morgana guessed, teasing. "Say it. She found a replacement father. Just like Yusuke. Just like Fu-"
"Just like me", Noel corrected him. "Father Shigetsu. Even before I became friends with Tsuruga-chan, she got to know Father Shigetsu, and even aided him in his time of crisis before I learned of it."
"Lucky she's not the type to get disgusted by being around old dudes", Jiachi joked. "I mean, Mr. Umaeda is how old now?"
"Old enough", Noel cited. In truth, he had no idea. "Old enough that some have tried to pressure him into retirement. Yet, he still is able to teach his classes without rest, both mandatory and the fencing club."
"Why don't the schools in Tokyo have fencing clubs?", Futaba pouted. "That sounds awesome!"
Neither of them had any idea what the answer was, until it came down to them from somewhere above: "Because people say it's too dangerous for students, and too old-fashioned. They say no one likes fencing any more."
They all followed the voice to see Aiko and Reiha standing on the entryway stairs. While the former's voice had been carefully timed for dramatic effect, it was the latter who kept their attention longer. Midnight blue clung to Reiha's torso, crisscrossed with streaks of bright white. While she wore her usual gloves, tightened over her arms with elastics to prevent water from getting in, the rest of her garb was brand-new. She looked as annoyed as expected, but only for a moment.
"See? This is why I didn't want to go, Tsuruga-chan. I knew everyone would stare at me."
"What makes you think they're staring at you?", their leader joked, her own dark violet suit more restrained with its white floral designs around the hips, but also looking brand new. "Besides, is that such a bad thing?"
"It makes me uncomfortable", Reiha squirmed. "I don't like being stared at. Especially guys. You can always tell when they're undressing you with their eyes, and swimsuits just make that even easier."
But it was Futaba who was the first to speak again as they made their way over. "H-holy moly... look at those legs! Is she some kind of body builder or wrestler?!"
"See?", Reiha growled in exasperation. "Even she's looking at me. I'm going to be the center of attention. I hate attention."
"Funny", Julian quipped. "I thought the whole point of the Goth look you usually do was to get attention."
"You look lovely, Hayato-san", Noel seconded, trying to smooth things over as usual. "If you're not used to swimming, I'll be happy to help you learn."
While initially having an insult ready on her lips, Reiha surprised them all by transforming it into a welcoming smile. "Um... Thank you, Vitienne. That would be helpful."
It was as the though the rift that had been between the two of them for the past week and a half no longer existed, and everyone else was too surprised by that to stop them from heading out to the water. "I'm... I'm gonna go rent a banana boat!", Futaba announced eagerly, suddenly sounding more excited than they'd ever heard. "Girls only!"
"What", Jiachi grunted flatly.
She returned mere minutes later empty handed however, downcast. "Shop's closed. I can't believe it!"
Breaking free of Julian's gentle hands, Morgana marched forward, looking determined. "Okay, that's it. I didn't want to start anything because Akira tells me I do that too much already, but enough is enough. It's been years, Futaba. We can't go back."
Startled, she retreated a few steps. "W-what do you mean?"
"I mean this", the cat sighed like only a human could. "Everyone else moved on with their lives, made new friends, found new hobbies. Ryuji's actually learning construction for crying out loud. But you're still walling yourself off, being the playful hacker. I saw that wallpaper in your room, just like what you had at boss's house. And now, it's like you want this beach trip to go exactly like that one we had six years ago. I don't see any lobsters around though... and um, these people? They're not the Phantom Thieves. They're different."
"Mona-chan", Aiko said warningly. "You don't have to be so harsh. It's totally fine."
"Harsh is the only way to get through to her", Morgana argued. "Sorry, everyone. I didn't mean to spoil the mood or anything. I want to try and make her understand that-"
"I... I know."
Futaba's face had fallen further, but she actually looked more determined now than before. "I know. It's a habit of mine. And... yeah. That beach trip was like... magic. It was something I'll never forget. It was my first time really going outside with other people since... well, you know."
"S-sorry", Morgana studied the sand. "It just really bugged me. I worried about you. Everyone else was growing up, but from what I could see, you were doing absolutely everything you could to stay exactly the same as back then. To keep on being 'Oracle'."
"Like you're one to talk, kitty", she snarked back, her spirit regained. "You know what happens to kitties when they get older? But you? You look like you haven't aged a day. No fair."
"I know", he paused. That was all it took for her to march over and scoop him up into her arms, a more familiar, loving grip than Jiachi's. "I've..."
"No more of that", Futaba shushed him kindly. "This is supposed to be a fun day, remember? These guys don't need us ruining their vacation with our angst about getting older. They're just too polite to say that."
"Don't think I've ever been called polite before", Jiachi called. "But, uh... hey. Growin' up ain't easy. Believe me, I know. I mean, you're not the only one here tryin' to act younger than they really are."
"Hayato-senpai", Aiko explained to them, taking a moment to scan for eavesdroppers even though she knew the chances of one were infinitesimal. "She's actually three years older than her ID and birth certificate says. That's because she's originally from Tokyo, like me... she's Junya Kaneshiro's daughter."
This reveal hardly got the shocked reaction they were expecting from Futaba, but Morgana seemed momentarily stunned by it. "W-whoa. Really? She's actually... I mean, I thought something was a little bit familiar about her accent, but... seriously?!"
"A-yep. One hundo percent", Julian smirked knowingly. "We don't need to tell you to keep that on the down-low, I hope. Nijima-san was good about it, and so was Kurusu."
"The drug lord with the flying bank", Futaba recognized more gradually. "Target number 3, right? I wasn't there for that one, but Akira told me all about it. Guy was a real slob. She must've had a good mother."
"Had", Aiko emphasized sadly. "It's not something she likes to talk about. As far as anyone else needs to know, Ruri Kaneshiro is dead."
"Got it", Futaba nodded, miming a zipper over her lips. "Fingers crossed."
"I can't believe I didn't pick up on that before", Morgana lamented, shaking sand off his fur. "No wonder she's so buff. Trying to be everything her dad wasn't, I suppose."
"You have no idea how right you are", Aiko confirmed. "But enough about that. It's like you said. This is her first beach day ever, so we totally want to help her enjoy it as much as possible, right?"
"I'm in for that!", Futaba agreed eagerly. "I'd rent her a boat, but..."
"We can do something else", Julian assured them. "No worries."
True to his words, it didn't take long for them to find other ways to have some beach fun. Their 'guest of honor' was content with learning to wade and dive for the first hour, but they ended up holding a contest for it as well. Aiko volunteered to act as the judge, since everyone knew she would be an automatic victor as a competitor. Afterwards, Julian revealed a newly-bought flying disk, perfectly shaped for being passed around in the water until they were all tired enough to return to their spot.
"I'm surprised", Morgana observed once they'd all come back. "I mean, you guys have your school right next to a huge beach, right?"
"That's different", Aiko explained, gesturing to the calm waves before them. "This is a public beach. The Ashizuri shoreline is wild. It wasn't developed for people to wade into. It's got a wicked undertow, some rocks, and the bottom drops out way faster. Couples walk on it all the time, but only a few people like me actually swim in it. Too dangerous unless you know your stuff, even more so with all the fishing ships around, and..."
"And the gate", Noel finished for her. "Fortunately, we've determined that only appears at a specific time in the late afternoon, at the exact point where the sun goes into the sea, even then, it will only appear to those who desire it."
Surprised, Julian sat up. "How'd ya know that part?"
"Because", the taller boy shrugged innocently, "I tried to enter it myself before I joined your team. Yet I found that it would not open for me alone, even at the appropriate time of day."
"But you said you wanted to go in", Futaba questioned, still intrigued by their stories of the strange gate of green light, and the dark ocean beyond it. "Why didn't it open for you?"
Noel blinked. His default expression around Futaba seemed to be confusion on how to act. "What is the phrase... Perhaps 'desire' is the wrong word here. More like... despair. A burning need to escape the current reality that I did not possess. Of course, once I'd been in there with the rest of you, it was different."
"So that's how it goes", Futaba considered. "That's way different from ours. And less convenient. That must suck, needing to have everyone get together on the beach at an exact time of day."
"We've learned to plan around it", Aiko admitted. "I'm just thankful it doesn't happen during classes. Then we'd only be able to go in on Sundays. That would suck."
"It would make it easier to plan around though", Noel mused. "I would wager that beyond Furusato-chan, none of the victims have ever truly come close to succumbing to it."
No one could think of a reply to that. Jiachi looked uneasy, but he hardly wanted to think about how close he'd really come to giving up and becoming a permanent resident of the other world. "Everyone always asks me about that now 'cause Sorano's not here", he complained.
"What about you, Hayat-", Aiko's voice trailed off as she saw Reiha and drew quiet. The tall girl had not only chosen a spot to lie down and attempt tanning for the first time ever, but she seemed to have actually fallen fast asleep while doing so, a fresh towel beneath her head cushioning it.
And, to the amazement of those who knew her best, a small smile on her lips.
"I'm amazed that she could, with all these people", Morgana snorted.
"We were out a lot together in the last few days", Aiko explained.
"Out shopping, you mean", Julian teased.
"Yes. And that actually is pretty tiring. Tokyo's malls are crazy big. Four times the size of Tenjincho. Maybe more."
"I think I'd prefer Tenjincho mall", Futaba remarked. "I can go out to lots of crowded places on my own now, but with some of those, I still worry about getting lost sometimes. They're freaking zoos, I swear." Trailing off, she risked a closer look at Reiha's sleeping form as well, a mischievous grin beginning to creep its way onto her face. "Y'know... maybe Hayato could use an education on the dangers of falling asleep on the beach?"
Thrown at first, Aiko began to echo her grin. "Do you mean... ohhh."
"And Vitienne left to get drinks for everyone", Jiachi shared their expression. "So he won't try to stop us. It's the perfect crime."
Though they were careful not to wake her, it only took a few minutes between the three of them. "So", Futaba resumed talking as if nothing had happened, "what'd you get anyway?"
"Nothing that'll surprise you", Aiko shrugged. Sitting up, she took a moment to grab her phone and snap a photo of Reiha's current state. "Dresses. Earrings. A new swimsuit. Sorry, Rosea-kun. I couldn't find anything I thought you'd like."
"I'll find somethin' later on my own", he chuckled. "Gotta bring lots of souvenirs back, right? Didn't Sorano-chan make you promise?"
"Pretty much", she nodded. "Y'know, I think given the choice, she might have actually wanted to go along with us... but she made her own promise to her family that she would go home and visit them." And I can't lie and say I'm not feeling a little thrown by the number of times on this trip I've woken up and wondered why Dada Yangyu isn't beside me before I remember.
It made her wonder if maybe Reiha had been right about them the first time.
"Of course", she continued briskly, "the real reason was I just wanted to spend some time around her. We haven't had much of a chance lately. She seems so much happier now that... y'know."
"I know", he smiled. "Talk about a troublesome friend to have... has she been keeping her promise?"
"Completely. She hasn't so much as raised a finger against anyone who looked like they were Yakuza. Not that we've been to Shinijuku or anything to tempt her."
"That's a relief", he nodded. "If I were in her shoes, I don't know if I'd be able to stop myself from sticking it to those bastards if I could." Thinking on it for a moment, he shifted focus. "Hey, Mona... you guys tangled with the Yakuza, right? When you were after Kaneshiro? Have you ever tried to..."
Intensely satisfied with his current perch, Morgana flicked his tail up. "Yes. The idea did occur to me... but Akira said that I shouldn't. There's only so much I could do alone to disrupt their operations, and they would eventually figure out that the same cat was causing all the problems."
"It's like Spica said", Aiko lamented. "In Tokyo at least, you can't get rid of them. It's up to the police- to good, honest cops like Nijima-san- to keep them in check. That's not our job."
"Guess so", Julian sounded disappointed.
"Maybe", Futaba chipped in smartly, "but there's still ways to get 'em when it comes to their online stuff. That's what I've been doing lately. Don't tell Akira though."
For once, Aiko wasn't sure if that was a promise she could make. "Just so long as you're sure there's no way they can trace you."
"Call it childish if you want", Futaba addressed Morgana now, growing more serious than any of them had seen her, glasses flashing in the afternoon light. "But this is what I want to do right now. I... I wanna keep fighting for justice in my own way. There's like a handful of people in this city who can do what I do. And I'm the only one who's willing to actually do it. I've even fed anonymous tips to Makoto when I can."
"Just so long as you stay safe", Morgana repeated. "If you stick your neck our too far, I'll tell him, and he'll get you to stop. I'm serious."
That noise was enough to finally rouse Reiha from her nap, and everyone drew silent to watch her reaction. To her surprise, she was now buried up to her neck, a round mold of water-hardened sand encasing her legs, arms and belly. To complete the scene, Morgana was seated innocently atop her belly.
"Wha... what is this?!"
Aiko snapped another picture, looked back at Jiachi, and then all the three of them collapsed into helpless fits of laughter.
"Quite the day", Reiha remarked, watching the sun set into the sea and knowing what that signified. "And despite a certain burial attempt, I'm glad I came. I always thought people exaggerated beach days, but this was actually pretty fun. Thanks."
"Don't mention it", Ai snickered, finishing her drink before packing up. "Seeing you happy is reward enough, senpai. You're overdue."
She wouldn't argue that point. "It really was like taking a trip back in time", Futaba chuckled. "Introducing someone who's never even been to a beach before... and that's kind of a waste, really. Do you work out? Okay, stupid question."
"The fitness club membership is free", Reiha explained to her with a smirk, "so long as you're a Koashimizu student and you go at least three times a month. I try to go three times a week after class. They're always short on equipment, but hardly anyone uses it anyway so it... heh... 'works out'."
"Holy shit", Julian exclaimed dryly. "She actually made a pun. I'm so proud."
"Even Pelagio made a joke the other day", Aiko pointed out. "Our fault. We're rubbing off on him."
"Yes, before long Hayato-senpai will be one of us!", he clasped his hands together in mock anticipation like some cartoon villain.
"And now I'm stating to see why most girls don't like you", Reiha rolled her eyes. "Speakin' of... where is feather boy anyway? Thought he was supposed to be watchin' over us, aight?"
"He is", Aiko assured her. "He's just watching from a really long distance. He's a falcon. He can do that. Here-" Stopping, she put her fingers to her lips and release a long, sharp whistle. Sure enough, in less than a minute they could see a familiar silhouette gliding across the rooftops to perch on a pole nearby on the street.
"Yes, captain? Is there something you wished to ask me?"
The words were familiar too, even rehearsed. And yet... she still sensed something off about the tone of her 'sworn protector's words. There was, perhaps, a touch of impatience there? Or...?
"Nothing big, Pela-tori", she promised. "Just wondering why you weren't interested in joining us today."
"Hmph. I felt no need to. Besides, someone had to watch over you."
"Sure", Jiachi cracked. "'Cause a public beach is sooo dangerous."
"More like he didn't want to cause a commotion", Reiha pointed out, flicking her gaze to Morgana. "A cat is one thing, but a bird that isn't a seagull... people would've wondered, prolly started snappin' photos."
"That's fine", Aiko accepted, staring into his bleak raptor's eyes despite her words, searching for something. "Just wanted to make sure that you're okay. You are okay, riiight?"
It felt like minutes before he replied. His clean feathers shifted, intent on answering the question without the need for words, and the piercing gaze turned from hers.
You have a debt to pay...
"I'm quite alright, captain", he managed finally. "Everything is... fine."
"Glad to hear it", their leader smiled back, relaxing. "So about tomorrow..."
"The last three days", Noel observed, and everyone drew silent for a moment, as if realizing for the first time that the end of their vacation was roaring towards them faster than any of them believed possible. "It's hard to believe we're so close to the end already. What's the plan, erm... 'captain'?"
"Now don't you start. Pela-tori is one thing, but I'm not taking that from the rest of you unless we're actually in Faraway Lands, got it?"
"Ah. As you say, Tsuruga-chan."
Still, the look on Futaba's own face was positively giddy, wrapping her arms around Aiko's shoulders in a surprisingly affectionate gesture. "Heehee... 'captain'. That's great. I think I still prefer Joker, but that's really good. Come on, girl. It means they all look up to you, that they trust you to lead them. Here, that's really saying something, considering there's three guys on your team."
"Maybe if they listened to me when I ask them not to stay out late at night clubs or going on missions without-", she muttered before shaking that mild annoyance off. It wasn't important now, and she didn't want to ruin the jubilant mood. "Aaanyways, I was thinking on the last three days we should just go do whatever we want to do. No more need for us to escort each other around, right?"
"True", Noel considered. After a week and half, he felt safe here, though there were certainly some parts of the city that wouldn't be the case for. "There was something... but that won't take me three days."
"Everyone should meet up at LeBlanc on Saturday", Futaba advised. "We've, uh... heehee... got a little something special prepared for you all."
"That's Saturday taken care of", Aiko nodded gratefully. "As for me, I'll be taking care of something else tomorrow too."
"What's that?"
Sensing the resignation overcoming her, Reiha took over. "My price for coming out today. She has to go visit her mother before we leave."
"Visit her... mother?", Futaba's voice fell into confusion, her walk slowing. "That's a bad thing now?"
"A difficult thing, at least", Reiha explained. "For her. Still, considering she won't be back here again until the school term is over, I thought she should."
"And...", the ex-Phantom Thief stammered, fond memories of her own mother rising up. "Is there a reason why you've been avoiding talking to her?"
"It'll sound stupid when I explain it to you", Ai sighed. "But sure, why not? Let's go find a restaurant. I've got time."
Behind them, summer's light continued to fade.
A/N: Starting to wind down the 'Tokyo vacation' arc now, and I think I finally have the 2nd half of this story planned out how I want it, or at least a general outline.
EnPassant: Criticism noted, and hopefully addressed a bit here. It's difficult coming up with a way to realistically age Futaba by six years since a big part of her whole character was her childishness and asociality tempered by her hacker skills. The Mishima mention was more of a joke, the suggestion that they might become friends since they're both socially challenged computer experts.