Watamote: Strangeness in the Proportion

Chapter 4: Strangeness

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Don't own…you know.

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Chapter 4: Strangeness

Tomoko was still miserable the next day at school. What if she saw Daniel? What would she say? Somehow, she couldn't see herself as just saying, "hi," and going on with her day.

First period: there he sat, in his seat across the room from her. Not once did he look at her. She felt herself getting a little angry. Couldn't he just sneak a glance? Was he so thoroughly cowed by her father? Didn't he have any backbone whatsoever? But then she realized the stupidity of the thought. He was simply honoring her father's request. He didn't want to see her get in trouble, either, and maybe he was afraid she wouldn't return his glance.

Better not to make one.

It became harder during lunch. There he was, not joining her. She noticed he ate alone. He seemed used to it.

She just wished she was.

…..

That weekend: Tomoko was lazing around, listening to the Yandere Boys, when she got a most unexpected call.

Who? Nobody called her. That is, except for… For a brief moment, she thought it was Daniel, but then saw the caller ID. Whu?

"Mokkochi? Hey! It's me, Yu! How've you been?"

Yu? Yu Naruse? "Uhm, uh, hi!" She remembered Yu as being a rather plain, almost mousey girl from her previous school. An average student, she and Tomoko had hung out together a lot. "This is an, uh, unexpected surprise!"

"I haven't heard from you in a long time! How have you been?"

She's probably lonely, just like...somebody I once read about in a book. Or maybe it was a visual novel. Yeah, that's what it was. "Me? Oh, I'm doing good, good. You know. How've you been?"

"I'm doing great! Look, reason I was calling, I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go hang out some this weekend. Just like old times." She paused, then, "That is, if you're not, y'know, busy, I mean."

"Let me check my calendar." She made a rustling noise amongst the papers on her bed. "Nope, looks like I'm free." In truth, she welcomed seeing Yu again. They had been rather close, two outsiders alone against the world, both of them gazing enviously at their more popular classmates.

Perhaps it would get her mind off Daniel. "Sure. Where do you want to meet up?"

"The Cafe in front of the station. That be okay?"

"Sure."

…

The next day: Tomoko found herself standing at the cafe, when she heard, "Mokkochi! There you are!" She turned around...and her jaw dropped.

Coming towards her was a girl with honey-blond hair, wearing a fashionable blouse and miniskirt. She was a few inches taller than Tomoko, and bore no trace of the signature coke-bottle glasses Tomoko remembered Yu as wearing. "Y-Yu? Is that you?" She'd filled out remarkably. Tomoko had a hard time taking her gaze off her breasts.

"Yep! I traded the glasses for contacts, and lightened my hair. I figured, if I was gonna be a high school student, I may as well look the part. What do you think?" She twirled about, showing herself off.

I think the Yu Naruse I knew wouldn't be caught dead in a miniskirt. However, she privately had to acknowledge that this Yu certainly had the legs for it. Since when do I notice a girl's legs?

Since now, apparently.

Yu didn't notice her friend's mesmerization. "Well, c'mon! I'm dying for something sweet!" And she proceeded to lead a still-shocked Tomoko up to the ordering booth. "I'll have a mocha fellatio, please. Mokkochi? What would you like?"

I'd like to know why you smell so good. And...you just came to see me, but you're wearing a miniskirt? Is...is there supposed to be some meaning to that? "Uh, j-just an iced coffee. Th-that'll be enough." "Mocha fellatio"? What the hell kinda drink is that?

And am I ready for the answer?

While waiting in line to get their drinks, Tomoko, without really thinking about it, moved up to Yu and—purely by accident, of course—pressed her groin up against the taller girl's hips. Oooooooooh….

"Mokkochi? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get in your way…" and Yu moved forward, out of Tomoko's way.

"It's, it's alright. I, I should be watching where I'm going." Did I actually just get turned on by another girl's body?

I'm gonna have to think about this, long and hard.

They secured their respective drinks and moved to a table. "So. How do you like high school so far?" asked Yu.

"It's been good. Except that the boys are falling all over me." Tomoko lied. An odd, uncomfortable feeling coursed through her. Then she sighed, trying to play the role. "I've had to break a few hearts." Again that weird feeling went through her like a mild electric shock, and she winced. I'm just not used to lying, she thought. Guess I need more practice.

Yu was nodding sagely. "I know what you mean. Oh, god, here he comes again." Her gaze was on an approaching boy, wearing another high school's uniform. Tomoko didn't recognize him.

The strange boy came up to them and dropped to his knees. "Yu, won't you go out with me? It would mean the world to me." He'd actually clasped his hands together, in an almost worshipful gesture.

"I've told you and told you. The answer's no. I've got a full schedule and I just can't take the time to go out with you."

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeez?"

"En oh. Look, what part of that don't you understand? Just...forget about me. Surely there are other girls you could go out with."

"But none like you! Won't you? I love you." Tomoko's jaw dropped a second time. Evidently, the shy, mousey girl she'd know was no more.

"No, no, and more no. Now, please. Go away." The young man dropped his head in resignation, got up, and moved off down the walkway. "You see what I put up with?" Yu said to Tomoko. "You weren't kidding when you said the boys fall all over themselves." She sipped her drink. "What about you? How many hearts have you broken?"

"Er, I've lost count." Did I break Daniel's heart? It didn't appear so. "Well, one boy in particular. He...well, how to put it. I told him I considered him a friend, nothing more."

Yu gasped. "You 'Friend Zone'd' him? Tomoko! What was he like?"

"Oh, he was nice enough. I suspect he was entertaining all sorts of erotic fantasies about me. So I really had no choice."

"Yeah, I can see it. Guy comes on too strong like that, Friend Zoning is the way to go.

"What was his name?"

Oh, god, now what do I do? It wouldn't take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that she and Daniel had actually not been anything more than friends to begin with. And then what would she do?

Instead she just shook her head. "It doesn't matter. He's history. He, well, he had 'issues.' So I'm told, anyway." For some reason, she felt compelled to add that.

"Oooh, that's a bad one to be sure. You've got some pepper spray, right?"

"What? Why?" Oh, right. "Uh, yeah." I think I have some around somewhere.

My brother gave it to me years ago. Except it turned out to be Silly String.

Some joke, brother. Really funny. Ha, ha.

"Well, you can't be too careful, not around boys with 'issues." She fished around in her carrying bag, producing a small sprayer. "Here," she said, giving it to Tomoko, "I've got more."

More? Do you stockpile these things? Your social life must be...something else. "Uh….o...kay." Guess I have to play along. She pocketed the sprayer. "Don't think I really need it, though. I mean, yeah, he wasn't happy about it, but I don't think he, y'know, has those kinds of, of issues."

"You can't be too careful. Ounce of prevention an' all that. Now promise me you'll carry it!" Then her eyes lit up, focusing on something to her right. "Oh, hey!" She pointed to the arcade. "Let's go there! You used to be so good at this one! I bet you still are! C'mon, Mokkochi!" She practically dragged Tomoko into the arcade and dropped her own money into the machine, watched in rapture as it began to come to life.

"Ah, I, ah, it's been a long time for me, I, er, I'm pretty sure I'm a bit rusty…." But she nonetheless positioned herself in front of the controls….

Ten minutes later: "Yeah, well, I guess some things you never forget…" A perfect score: Tomoko had actually surprised herself.

Yu squealed, grabbed her and dragged her into a fierce hug. "Don't sell yourself short, Mokkochi! You're just good at this kind of thing! You've a knack for it." She sighed, and released a highly embarrassed Tomoko...but only a little. "Wish I did. Computers were always a problem for me. "Remember? You were always coming to my rescue." She hugged Tomoko even harder. "My knight in shining armor." Tomoko almost jumped; that was the exact phrase she'd used about Daniel, in regards to her dream.

But here it was in real life. What should I do?—wondered Tomoko. It felt pretty good, having Yu's breasts pressed up against her. Her very full breasts. Her very firm breasts. Yu still hadn't completely let her go. It was both kinda weird and kinda great at the same time. Should I grope her butt?

Or feel up her boobs?

I sorta would like to.

Wonder what it would feel like, rubbing my thumbs across her nipples….

With a shock, she realized that she was feeling a certain amount of moisture, down there.

She remembered her conversations with Daniel, about her sexual orientation—her possible sexual orientation, she amended to herself. What do you think?—he'd asked her.

What do I think?

I'm thinking I wish it was him, here with me now, holding me like this.

"You're wishing he were here, aren't you?"

Tomoko actually jumped. "N-no! I, I mean, w-what gave you that idea?"

Yu led her out of the arcade. "Oh, come on, Mokkochi! I always could read you like a book." They sat back down at one of the outdoor tables. "C'mon. You haven't even finished your coffee." She took another pull on her own beverage.

Tomoko looked at her cup. She'd barely touched it. "I, I'm not really thirsty."

Yu put her hands to her face. "Oh, Tomoko. You've got it bad, girl."

"Huh?"

"The Ell Oh Vee Eee bug. Why'd you 'Friend Zone' him, anyway? Did he hurt you, somehow?"

Tomoko sighed. "No." She was tired of lying, exaggerating. She was just tired, period. "No. In fact, he...he was...really nice. A, a perfect gentleman. He...he never even made a pass at me or anything."

"So...why? Was he cheating on you?"

Another sigh. "No. Actually…" If she couldn't come clean with Yu, she couldn't come clean with anybody. "Actually, my father kinda made me promise to keep away from him. Said he was dangerous."

"So it wasn't your idea? How was he supposed to be dangerous?"

"Father didn't say. Just said he knew some things about him. And that he was dangerous."

"Oh my God. And now you're pining away for him. No wonder you look like an Egyptian mummy. Say. When was the last time you ate, anyway?"

Tomoko waved it off. "Believe me, I'm not starving. I just had a McRib."

"Mokkochi! That special ended two days ago! Do you mean to say that was the last time you ate?"

"No, no! I, I've eaten since then! I mean…."

"Yeah? What? What'd you eat? C'mon. Talk to me."

"It...it...I mean, I just haven't been very hungry." She gathered her wits around her. "I'm trying to watch my weight. I was getting fat."

"Fat? Mokkochi, look at you. I could mail you home in an envelope. Look, this is too much. I'm gonna go have a talk with your dad."

"NO! No, don't do that, Yu! Just...just don't!" Yu dithered, clearly wanting to take care of her friend. "Promise me you won't! Besides," she hesitated, "He, he doesn't miss me."

"And just how do you know that?"

"Well, I mean…"

"You mean you don't." Yu was in her element. Two lovers, kept apart by family pressure...the sheer romance of it was exactly what thrilled her the most. She determined then that she would, somehow, see that they got back together. She didn't let any of this show in her face, of course. "Tell me about him."

…..

At that very moment, two things were happening. One, Mr. Kuroki was meeting with Adriel, and two, Daniel was being annoyed by the bane of his existence, Dante BenDarian.

Event number one: Kuroki had met with Adriel at his office, as was standard operating procedure. "You seem bothered by something," remarked Adriel.

"I'm concerned about Tomoko. She...seems troubled."

"Troubled how?"

"Well...she's not eating. She doesn't play her usual computer games. And I'm afraid her studies have fallen off."

Adriel raised an eyebrow. "And your take on this is?"

"Oh," he said dismissively, "It's probably nothing. I'm sure she misses the boy. But she'll get over it. She'll find someone else, I'm sure."

"That tells me what you really think. You know you did the right thing. His sort and...hers...don't mix very well."

Did I really do the right thing, though? How can I know?

"Sota," she said, as gently as he'd ever heard her say, "What else could you do? It's like you told her: lions and sheep just don't mix well. The lion may well lie down with the lamb, but only one of them will get up again, and it won't be the lamb. And, even assuming he had the best of intentions, he's still learning about being who and what he is. You know shadonai feast on emotions. Without his even intending to, their continued relationship could easily result in her becoming addicted to him. He might never intend for it to happen, but it could happen nonetheless." She paused. "Do you believe it may have already happened?"

"I...don't know. Her nature prevents me from reading her the way I...normally could."

"You looked out for your child. How could that be wrong? But…" she hesitated. He'd never heard her hesitate before. He hadn't believed it possible, not for one of her station. "Tell you what. Let me talk to her. Perhaps I can determine if any...damage...has been done, and what to do about it."

He breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Exalted One. That would be most welcome.

"Being a parent is...a bit more complicated than I thought."

….

"And what," Daniel's voice dripped anger, "are you doing up here?" The two were currently on a high clifftop, overlooking the city. It was a favorite haunt of Daniel's; he'd hoped to bring Tomoko here sometime.

Well, that wouldn't happen. Not now.

"Me? Just enjoying the view." Instead of his uniform, Dante was wearing a plain polo shirt and black jeans. Like Daniel, he blended in perfectly. He lay on his back, hands behind his head, gazing at the sky. "Why? What else would I be doing?"

"The number of things you would be doing far exceeds the number of things you wouldn't. And you didn't really answer my question." Daniel half rolled towards him. "That's somewhat discourteous, wouldn't you agree?"

Dante sighed. "You're right, it is. Very well. I came to check up on you."

"I really don't need someone to 'check up' on me. Least of all, you."

"That's debatable. But I suppose I wouldn't appreciate it either, were it me." He paused, watching the clouds. "I'm concerned about you, kinsman."

"You needn't be."

"Oh, but I do." He raised up and turned towards Daniel. "Haven't you noticed you seem angry like, all the time, lately? Do you think that's normal?"

"So? I've a good deal to be angry about."

"Do you? Do you really? Haven't you noticed how a great many people have been watching out for you?"

Now it was Daniel's turn to be shocked out of his seemingly perpetual funk. "Watching out for me? What do you mean?"

"What happened in America. That was...rather extreme, don't you think? Far more extreme than...what I did. The entirety of Hell knows about it. I have it on good authority that if certain people, certain powerful people, hadn't spoken up for you, you'd have undergone far more...extreme...disciplinary actions than I did.

"That's one reason it was...suggested...you pursue your education here, in Japan."

Daniel scowled. "Well, what of it? Not that I believe you, but so what?"

"You very nearly gave away our presence, our very existence, to the humans here. And now you're on the verge of giving it away again, all because you're in love with the little human girl."

Daniel scowled. "They already knew about us. My own experience proves that. Besides. I'm not in love with her."

Dante made a show of sniffing. "Hm. I smell something burning. Must be your pants." He sobered. "Lying to a fellow shadonai is very discourteous, you know."

Daniel sat up. "All right, so what if I am? I can't see her anymore; her father made sure of that. And I have to respect his wishes. Don't I?"

"Do you? Are you not even now trying to come up with some way around your promise? Tell the truth. You are, and you know you are." Daniel said nothing, but just continued to sit and scowl. "And you're broadcasting your anger. You're not keeping it to yourself. Haven't you noticed how many fights there've been at your school, lately?"

"No more so than usual. It's high school, after all."

"Now you're lying to yourself. You know there've been more than usual, your own empathic abilities tell you this. You just haven't wanted to admit it." They both stood up, and Dante poked him in the chest. "And all because you've been unable to see your little human whore—*"

Crack! went Daniel's fist against Dante's jaw. The latter felt his jaw, as though making sure it was still attached to his head. "Not bad, kinsman. You've improved."

The fight was brief but savage. Against a mortal, it would have been no contest, but against Dante….

Daniel came to consciousness shortly thereafter, with Dante standing over him. "You asswipe," spat Daniel. "Now the Black Throne will throw every book in Hell's library at both of us…"

Dante laughed, hands on his hips. "Who do you think told me to come up here and kick your ass? A good fistfight is cathartic. Come on. You know you needed it. And better me than some human whom you'd kill. Again." He offered Daniel his hand up.

Daniel sat up, feeling his own jaw. "You've a wicked left hook. And...much as I hate to admit it, you were right. I needed a good fight. Better you than...someone else."

"Kuroki, you mean. Do you really wanna break the treaty? Start a war of that magnitude? You've read your history. You know what happened the last time Heaven and Hell went at it. You know you don't want that. None of us do, on either side."

Dante knelt beside him. "Look. You obviously haven't thought this whole thing through. Suppose you two do get back together. Just suppose. Suppose everything works out. What happens in ten years? Twenty years? Fifty years? She'll age, grow old. Personal appearance, that sort of thing doesn't matter to us, of course, but it would to her. She'd come to resent you, even if she knows and accepts you for what you are. Humans are just that way. Believe me, I should know." He sat back, leaning on his hands, scowling himself. "You may not know it, but it was I who gave fire to humans, taught them how to make it, use it. It was during the last ice age, and...so many of them had already frozen to death. I felt like I had to protect my...flock, as I saw them. My herds. See to it they lived, became prosperous. Became as numerous as they are. It took me a long time to see that...I had no business doing so. Humans have to look out for themselves. To do otherwise stunts their souls.

"It was...well, let's just say a rather sad moment, for me, when I realized that.

"Like...a divorce, in a way."

Daniel was silent for a moment, seeing a side of Dante he previously hadn't suspected. His curiosity was piqued. The last ice age... "How...how long…"

"I was exiled to this Earth for thirty thousand years. That's how long it took me to realize that...humans...as a whole...just simply didn't belong to me." He paused, closing his eyes, remembering. Daniel imagined he must have painful memories of his own. Had there been anyone, in Dante's life, a human with whom he'd felt a deep connection? It wasn't impossible. "Guess I was more stubborn, or perhaps more stupid, than I realized." Another pause. "And, of course, you know it wasn't until recently the Black Throne decided I'd learned my lesson."

Daniel shook his head. "I can barely imagine that long."

Dante gave him a sideways look. "You will."

…...

Event number two: Tomoko was sitting at the bus stop, waiting for the bus, when she realized there was someone sitting beside her. The blond woman had seemingly just appeared, as if out of nowhere. Well, no problem of hers.

"So...Tomoko-chan." Tomoko started. Who was this person? "You've the look of someone who's lonely. Lonely for a certain person."

Instantly, Tomoko was on her guard. "My father put you up to this, whoever you are."

"Actually, I volunteered. My name's Adriel. I'm an...associate...of your father." Silence. "What do you know about young Daniel?"

"Enough to know," she said, "that it's my own business. Besides. I won't be seeing him anymore, so there's nothing to know."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. What if I could get your father to...rescind this promise of yours?"

"What if you could? It would mean nothing to me. I've...other friends now. I don't need him. And he certainly doesn't need me." This last said bitterly. Daniel hadn't even looked at her the whole time since the fiasco.

"Do you really believe that?" She turned and looked at Tomoko. "I see. It's easier to believe that, isn't it? Less painful."

"You know," she began, "I've been told I shouldn't talk to strangers. Especially about things that aren't any of their business."

"Happiness is my business. Especially human happiness."

Human happiness? What was that supposed to mean? But Tomoko remained silent. She had nothing to say. The blond woman sat beside her, saying nothing, a palpable air of mystery around her. It seemed to be taking the bus a long time to get here. "He told you about his parents."

"Apparently the entire world knows about them. Murdered, he said. Leaves its scars, my father said." She did wish the strange woman would go away and leave her alone. Leave her and her personal personal issues alone. She was struggling to remain respectful. It wasn't easy. Just who was this person, and why was she interfering with Tomoko's private pain? "I would think," she began, "that if you've anything to say, now might be a good time to say it. After all, the bus will be here soon."

Now the blond woman turned and looked at her. Really looked at her. The whole time she'd been sitting there, she'd barely glanced at Tomoko. "Buses can be rather late, sometimes." She quirked a smile. "So can busses." There was an odd inflection to the word. What did she mean by that? "But don't you think you've a question to ask him?"

Tomoko made a dismissive gesture, all the while remaining as respectful as she could. This interloper was no criminal or kidnapper; somehow she knew that. "If it's about why his parents were killed, he doesn't want to talk about it. He's said as much."

"Sometimes people mean the opposite of what they say."

"And sometimes they don't. Besides, I can't ask him now. If you know as much about...things, as you seem to, you know why."

Adriel looked at her again. She was definitely her father's daughter. "Curiosity killed the cat," she said, "but satisfaction brought it back."

Tomoko leaned back against the bench, closing her eyes. Would this weird woman never go away? "Speaking in riddles scarcely brings about satisfaction." For some reason, she found it easy to speak to Adriel.

Almost like...

"The answer to riddles often does, though. Well, I'll be taking my leave, now. Bear in mind what we talked about. It could be...more important than you know." And with that, she suddenly disappeared in what looked like a miniature electric tornado.

Tomoko jumped and stared. You don't see that every day.

Just who had she been talking to?

And...what?

….

The next day: Tomoko hadn't seen Daniel for several days, but his locker was right next to hers. But today, there he was. She felt the need to say something. "Uhm, Daniel…" I want to say I'm sorry.

I want to, but I made a promise.

He scowled, slamming his locker shut with more force than was necessary. The other students in the hallway, the ones that hadn't yet disappeared into their respective rooms, looked around at the sound, startled. "It's...alright, Tomoko." He sighed, leaning against the metal door of his locker. "It...much as I hate to admit it, your father is right. I am dangerous, and in ways you can't imagine. I'd never deliberately hurt you, but...look." He looked around, making sure they were alone, and suddenly fished something out of his pocket, took her hand, and placed it in it. "Here," he said, speaking rapidly. "I was going to give this to you days ago, but...I want you to have this. Wear it always." She gasped when she saw it: it looked to be a pendant made of gold on a silver chain. "Oh, Daniel, I, I couldn't…"

"Don't take it the wrong way. My friend Claire has one just like it. It's...it's not like it's valuable, I mean, it...such things are pretty commonplace where I come from. But it's important." She turned the pendant over and over. It was most odd; turned one way, it seemed to be a gold rectangle with a leaf pattern on it, but turned another, it looked like a five-pointed star. That was physically impossible, but there it was. But no matter how she turned it, in the exact center was a brilliant red gemstone, brighter than a polished ruby. It almost seemed to glow, as though lit from within, even there in the well-lit hallway. He looked around, to make sure they were still alone. "Now promise me you'll always wear it. It will never tarnish or fade, it won't need any cleaning or polishing, and that chain is just this side of unbreakable. Wear it always, bathing, swimming, sleeping, all the time. And…" he paused very briefly, "look, this is gonna sound really strange, but...if you should ever...be in danger, call me. Call my name. Subvocalize it, whisper it, speak it, shout it, scream it, it won't matter. Just call me. I, I can't tell you why, but it's important. Now promise me. Promise me! Please!" Something about the way he said it…

"O...kay, I...promise." He seemed so...intense. Like it was a matter of life and death. Surely, it wouldn't matter. If she was in danger? Like from what?

"Wear it underneath your blouse and no-one will ever know it's there." The bell rang. "Oops, gotta go. But promise me! Wear it always!" And he scooted off down the hallway, heading for his next class.

Well, that was strange.

It seems to be my week for strangeness…

"Strangeness in the proportion," she muttered to herself, then jumped as she realized if she didn't hurry, she'd be late for class. She hastily stuffed the necklace into a pocket and rushed off.

…..

That night, after her bath, she emerged from the bathroom, already dressed for bed, to find her father standing in the middle of her room...and the necklace in his hand. Oh, no! She'd forgotten, and absently taken it out of her pocket prior to bathing. "Tomoko?" He spoke in a stern voice, one she'd never heard him use before. He raised the hand the necklace was in. "Daniel gave you this, didn't he?"

There was no point in lying. Lately, it seemed like it hurt to lie anyway. "Yes, father, he did. He...well, he insisted."

"I can imagine. Who spoke first? You? Or him?"

"Why is that important?" She was having a hard time remaining respectful. After all, her father had come into her room, presumably rummaging through her personal belongings…

"It just is. Now…" he left the question open.

Tomoko sighed. "His locker is right next to mine. I...felt compelled to...say something. I mean, I couldn't just act like we'd never met."

"Why not?"

Now she looked her father in the eyes. "Because we have met. And...it was like, he was my first friend at my new school. That sort of thing...it was important to me."

He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "So he has adhered to his promise. You've no idea how important that is." She said nothing. Now her father would take the necklace, the only thing she had to remember her friend by, and...dispose of it, she guessed. Probably flush it down the toilet or something.

But instead, he held it out to her. "You may keep it." At her surprised look, he added. "I'm sure he told you to always wear it. I'm telling you the same: don't EVER take it off. For any reason. And I'm sure he told you to...what? Call for him, should you be in danger?" He moved forward, and, just like Daniel had done, placed the necklace in her hand. She was thunderstruck. Could her day get any stranger? 'Keep it on you at all times. Remember: NEVER take it off."

"Father? Why? I thought you didn't like him."

"I don't dislike him. I just know he's dangerous. But, daughter…" he moved towards the door. At the door, he paused and turned to her. Oddly, he didn't seem to want to look her in the eyes. "...the day may come when we need dangerous."

"Father...are you planning on making sense, one of these days?"

"Child, he has a secret, one I feel bound to keep. But one thing I will tell you. You can make of it what you will.

"He told you his parents were murdered. Do you know what happened to the men who killed them?" At her head-shake, he said, "They're dead.

"They were burned. Burned alive." And with that, he left, leaving a stunned Tomoko in his wake.

Burned alive?

To be continued…