Watamote: Strangeness in the Proportion

Chapter 5: Invasion

….

I don't own Watamote.

…

Chapter 5: Invasion

America: Twin Forks, Colorado. Daniel met with Claire at the small truck stop not far from town. It had become one of their favorite meeting places. One of several, chosen primarily because they were outside of town. After what had happened, townspeople were a bit nervous around Daniel. The details weren't public knowledge, of course, for a number of reasons, but most people had some idea he'd been involved in it.

After all, even if there was no public knowledge, still, there is such a thing as private knowledge.

As she sat, she glanced nervously at a nearby table, where sat two men, both attired in dark suits, coffee in front of them. They both wore glasses so dark they appeared black, and each had an earpiece in one ear. "They follow me everywhere," she said.

"Yes," he said. He'd ordered her favorite, and she sipped it gratefully. "They do."

"Considering what happened, I can only guess what you said to them. If you had to say anything at all, that is."

"Only a few words. But I understand Uncle Darian had a few more."

Another sip. Then a sigh. "I still have a hard time believing it. My best friend is—*"

"Ah, perhaps everybody would be happier if you didn't complete that sentence."

She blinked. "You're right. I...keep forgetting. I'm on the inside of a major secret. Maybe the biggest one in the entire history of the world." She rested her head in her hand. "I said you were my best friend. Actually, you're my only friend. They," she nodded towards the two men, "tend to scare everybody off."

"I'm sorry, Claire. I never intended to cause you problems." Now he sighed. "It—this whole thing—came as a surprise to me, too. After what happened to my parents, I...just wanted to make sure something similar didn't happen to you." Claire was a tall girl, topping his height by about three inches, with long, straight, strawberry-blond hair. They'd been friends since childhood. She was five years older than he was, and had filled out in ways any human boy would have found nearly irresistible. She normally wore tight blue jeans, and a tight plaid shirt, gathered and tied in the middle, exposing a small part of her midsection. You should be having to beat the boys off with a stick.

But you're not. Because of me.

She sensed his guilt. "I…I'm sorry, Danny. That remark about you being my 'only friend'…that was completely uncalled for. I didn't mean it…that way. I'm glad you're my friend. Don't ever think otherwise." She and Daniel had grown up together, and neither could remember a time when they hadn't been friends. "That was…it was wrong of me to say that. Forgive me?"

"You mean you actually have to ask?"

"What happened...happened. You weren't to blame for that. And, yeah, I get that they're protecting me. After all...what with...you know." She straightened up in her chair. "Well, anyway, you said you wanted to talk about something?"

"Yeah." He put his cup down and pressed his hands up against his forehead. "Claire, I think I'm in love."

"Oh, god. That's a big one. Who is she?"

He shot her an amused glance. "How do you know it's a she?"

"'Cause I know you. You're as hetero as they come. Now. Who is she?" And he told her all about Tomoko, how they'd met, and how her father had forbidden him from seeing her. "So, he's…"

"Yeah."

She sat, thoughtful, for a moment. She could tell he was hurting, and such was their relationship that, when one of them hurt, the other one hurt, too. "So...what did you want to ask me?"

"I don't know. Maybe nothing. Maybe I just wanted to...talk about it. After all, you're the only person who really knows me, knows about me, the only person I can really talk to. The others—" She didn't have to ask who he meant: the others of my kind—"don't really understand."

"Yeah. I know about you. I know that, for all the...unusual-ness...about you, you're still a boy, an adolescent teenager at heart. These are new feelings for you, and you don't know how to handle them."

"Too right, I don't."

"So her father is playing for the opposing team?"

"So it would seem."

"That," she said, after a moment, "could be bad. I feel for you. What are you going to do about it?"

He shrugged. "What can I do? He made me promise not to see her anymore. You know what promises mean to...us. Beings like me, I mean." He sipped his coffee. "I did give her a necklace, like what you wear." At her look, he said, "I noticed some strong K-sub one lines around her. You know what those mean."

She gasped. "Yeah, you told me. But, Daniel, you don't have that kind of power, not yet! You couldn't begin to protect her…"

"I could try. At the very least, I could get her away from ground zero. Get her to...a safe place."

"From what you've told me, the only safe place would be...you know where. And, Daniel, you couldn't protect her there! That environment… Only the Black Throne—*" she cast a nervous glance at the two secret service men, then decided, the hell with it, and continued on in a rapid whisper, "*—only the Black Throne could give her any kind of protection there. Yeah, you got it for me, but…"

He waved it away. "It wouldn't have to be...there. Some other universe, maybe. Another dimension, or, or something."

"Those things aren't limited to just one dimension, and you know it! Daniel, you could die, yourself! And I mean, like, really die, no going to He—* I mean, home, and, and what? Respawning? Like you've told me your people normally do. Definitely, totally, once-and-forever die die."

"Yeah, well…"

"Besides, couldn't this father of hers protect her just as well?"

"In a word, no. The environment of his home universe is even more lethal than mine. I've told you about that.

"And I sense he's not as strong as they normally are. I don't know why." Pause. "Oh, I'm sure he'd try. I'm also sure he'd fail. And that would deprive Tomoko of a father." He shifted nervously. "Better me than him."

"No, it's not! Look, Daniel," she'd completely forgotten her cappuccino. "Whether you like to hear it or not, you're acting from sheer emotion. Willing to risk your life for your lady fair. Who's not even your girlfriend, by the way.

"And let's be honest. She's not your responsibility. Her father's the one supposed to look out for her. He's made that clear. Not you."

"So what'd'you want me to do?" Without realizing it, he'd raised his voice slightly, and she looked around again, anxiously. "Just...do nothing? I, I...care about her. Same as I do you."

"What do I want you to do? Keep on living! I…" She paused, looking down at her hands, which she'd folded in her lap. Once again, he was struck by her sheer beauty. His best friend was drop-dead gorgeous.

And he was keeping her from finding the happiness she deserved. Guilt, much? "Even if you weren't my only friend—and I really shouldn't have put it that way—I still wouldn't wanna lose you, friend-boy."

He reached over to touch her wrist, but without siphoning off her emotions, as he'd done with Tomoko. She'd asked him not to do that, and he respected her wishes. "You won't. I'll...I'll get Morax to teach me. I'm sure he'd be willing to, and, if anybody knows a way to do that, to protect her, it's him. He's nearly as powerful as Uncle Darian. You know, he's starting up his own Great House, a House devoted to learning. I've already taken some classes there, and it's amazing what I've already learned…" He spoke rapidly, trying to do with his voice what he couldn't do with his powers. "It'll be okay, Claire! I won't do anything stupid."

She sniffled. Oh, no. Now he'd made her cry. He'd have done anything to prevent that. "But I...guess I've already done something stupid, haven't I?"

Another sniffle. She took a napkin from the table and dabbed her eyes. A Midwestern farm girl of the first water, Claire had never worn makeup, and, truthfully, he'd never seen that she needed any. "Yeah, well, about the base, I prob'ly would'a done the same…"

"I don't mean that." He said softly, reaching up and wiping away a tear she'd missed. "I meant this."

"Oh." They were both silent for a long moment. Then she turned back to her cappuccino, grimaced. "'S cold."

"Here. Let me." He placed a finger alongside her cup, and the liquid within started to boil almost immediately. She watched, eyes growing wide, as the heady aroma arose, enveloping her, then smiled. "I'll never get used to that."

He smiled, himself. "Maybe someday, I will."

….

Japan, later in the evening: Yu Naruse had just decided on her next hobby: getting her best friend together with the Boy of Her Dreams. She already knew who he was.

She'd asked Mokkochi out to dinner at the McDonald's across the street from her high school. She'd done her research: Tomoko's reluctance to go to that particular place told her everything she needed to know, at least about where they used to meet. It was just a question of finding the right time.

She lucked out. "So," she smirked, while Tomoko tried to eat her burger. "That's him, isn't it?" Nodding with her head at Daniel, just then placing his order at the register. "Not bad looking."

Tomoko started as though pricked with a pin. "W-what? What do you mean? Who?"

"Him. The boy you're trying so hard not to look at."

"I, I don't know who—*"

"Friends don't lie to each other, Mokkochi."

Tomoko blew out a sigh. "O-kay. Yes, that's him. Just ignore him."

"Like hell. You may've promised not to speak to him, but I haven't."

Tomoko spoke desperately. "Yu, don't do me this way! He, he's just a friend, and, and not even that, anymore…" But Yu wasn't listening. She'd researched him thoroughly, using a VPN lest she be accused of stalking, and knew who he was.

Daniel Simmons, name recently changed to Daniel BenDarian. American transfer student. Honor roll. One of the more popular boys in school; girls followed him around like ducklings following their mother. But he didn't seem interested in any of them.

And, hm. While Mokkochi was desperately trying to get her to cease and desist (and failing miserably), even though he was easily out of earshot, she noticed something strange: he turned and glanced their way. But what was strange about it was his expression. As though he were looking around them as much as at them.

"Soooo," she gloated, "Twin Forks, Colorado. Parents murdered. Bad news indeed."

Tomoko gave up and glared. "Okay. Just how much do you know?"

"Grew up on a farm. Honor roll, in middle school. Right near a military base. A base listed as abandoned. But Google Earth still fuses it out. What has he told you about it?"

"Nothing. Actually, father has told me more than he has."

"That being?"

"You don't wanna know."

"Of course I wanna know. Now, do you tell me, or do I find out on my own?"

Tomoko sighed. May as well…she knew her friend wouldn't give up on this. She fished out the necklace from beneath her blouse. "He gave me this. Said if I ever needed him, to call for him." She let Yu examine the necklace. "Said he gave his friend Claire one just like it, that it wasn't anything all that unusual or special where he came from."

Yu turned the necklace over and over, noting how it seemed to change with each turn. To her eyes, it looked like either an octagon with a strange-looking three-dimensional geometric pattern in the middle, or, turned another way, a Star of David, but with way too many points. And she took note of the brilliant red crystal in the center, how it seemed to glow like an LED, but with no battery. No visible battery, at least. Weird. "Mokkochi...this...can't be natural. I mean, there's, like, no way."

"I don't understand it either. But there's more." Yu's expression said, go on. Tell me.

"Father said the men who killed his parents were dead.

"He said they were burned.

"Burned alive."

For once, Yu Naruse was speechless.

…..

America: Twin Forks, earlier. "So I don't know what to do. I was hoping...you might have some...suggestions."

But Claire was shaking her head. "No. You were hoping I'd recommend the solution you've already decided on."

"Am I that obvious?"

"To me, yeah. C'mon, friend-boy. You know what you want to do. You just aren't free to do it. And it's driving you nutsoid."

He was silent for a moment. Then, "You're right. As usual. I'm sorry for involving you. I guess…"

Now she reached over and laid her hand on his. Of course, he'd given her tacit permission a long time ago. Otherwise, she'd have been thrown across the room. "You've no need to apologize, Danny," using the nickname she'd called him ever since they were kids, growing up together. The sister he'd never had… "You know, no matter what, I'm on your side. It's no sin to want...what you want. That's what 'wanting' means. It's natural." Pause. "Maybe...maybe I could speak to this father of hers…"

"No. This is my problem. I have to learn to solve these things on my own." He took a sip of his own drink. "Preferably in a non-'weapon of mass destruction' way."

…

Here and now: "B-burned? B-b-burned alive?" She thought, and thought hard. That took all the wind out of her sails. But then she rallied and came back full-force. "Do you really think he did that? Could he do that?"

"Father's never lied to me, at least, as far as I know. And I know he does have a temper. Daniel, I mean. Though Father does, too. As to whether or not he could..." she rubbed her eyes. "I don't know. There is something...strange...about him. I, I just don't know. Father seems to think he could."

But Yu wasn't willing to let go of her pet project. "Okay, next question: do you think he would do a thing like that?"

Tomoko rubbed her eyes again. She hadn't been getting much sleep lately, and this hadn't helped. Dreams... "I've asked myself that same question, and the truth is, I don't know. I know if someone killed my family, I'd want to do something like that, but…"

"But, Mokkochi, burning people alive? That's a little extreme, don't you think? I mean, guns are pretty easy to get in America, so I hear. They practically give 'em away in Cracker Jack boxes."

"Then why would Father mention it? I mean, what would be the point?"

"To scare you off, maybe? Tell me, do you really believe this guy, this really nice guy, who ran off those bullies, who stood up for you when nobody else would, who walked you home in the rain, who's listened to you—and believe me, that's rare, for a guy—would he really do something like that?"

"I don't know." Do we really have to be having this conversation? But she knew her friend. She'd keep on with this, like a dog playing with a rag doll, until...

"Okay," said Yu. "Only one thing to do. You can't, so I will." And, to Tomoko's horror, she slipped out of her seat, and, before Tomoko could react, marched over to the booth where Daniel was sitting, all alone. She slid down into the seat across from him, resolutely ignoring Tomoko's frantic no! no! hand gestures. Daniel looked at her, wide eyed. Who—*? He quickly consulted his future selves…

...and saw no trace of her. But that wasn't a guarantee of anything. After all, he was still learning about that aspect of himself, the ability to "remember" things that hadn't happened yet.

But who the home is this?

Yu stuck out her hand. "Hi. I'm Yu Naruse, and I'm a friend of Tomoko's." She expertly plucked a surprised Daniel's hamburger out of his hand, and slapped hers into it. He'd ordered extra mustard and some of it got on her hand. "Good to meet you, Daniel BenDarian." At his surprised expression, "I've got a question to ask you." She learned forward. "Did—*"

"Hiya, cuz!" Dante plopped down beside Yu. "Fancy meeting you here! Hey, is this the girl you were telling me about? Wow! She is Gor gee us!" Yu's jaw dropped. Across the room, Tomoko buried her face in her hands. Could this get any worse?

"Oh, god." Daniel closed his eyes. Yu still hadn't let go of his hand. Neither one of them noticed. {{What are you doing here?}} he 'pathed to Dante.

{{Looking out for you, "cuz." Looked like you could use it.}}

{{I do not!}} Yu still hadn't let go of his hand, still thunderstruck by Dante's sudden appearance...and his hotness. {{Go away!}}

{{You planning on letting go of her hand sometime this year?}}

"Oh! Oh, crap!" He pried his hand out of her grip. She didn't notice; Mr. Perfect was sitting right next to her.

Emergency measures, thought Tomoko. She got up and resolutely walked over to Daniel's booth. "Yu? Might I have a moment of your valuable time?" After all, as long as she didn't speak to Daniel, she guessed she was keeping to the letter of her promise, if not the spirit.

"Huh?" Yu was still staring at Dante, her voice dreamy. "What for?"

"Never mind what for. Uh? Whoever you are? Mind letting my friend out?"

"But of course." He slid out of the seat, to Yu's obvious disappointment, and Tomoko, with desperate energy, physically levered her friend out of the booth. Yu still had her hand out, as though still clasped around Daniel's.

Tomoko pulled her over to their table. Fortunately, nobody had nabbed it in the meantime. "You can put your hand down anytime," she whispered, pushing it down herself, "and quit staring at him."

Yu seemingly couldn't perform the physical act of turning her head away from Dante, and her hand rose back up into the "handshake" position. "What are you thinking? You're embarrassing me!" She pushed Yu's hand down again, only to have a semi-conscious Yu raise it right back up. Do I have to sit on that hand to keep it down? She noticed there was a bit of mustard on her hand, and absently rubbed it off.

"What? Why?" Then, "Oh...of course. Right. Uh, sorry." She glanced back at Dante. "Who...who is he?" Again she began to lapse back into that dreamy state. Again, her hand rose back up into position.

"I have no idea. C'mon, let's go."

Pout. "Do we have to?"

"Yes."

…

Daniel's table. "What...are you doing here?" Daniel didn't trust his telepathy. Sometimes that revealed a bit too much, and right then, he only wanted to convey a limited amount.

"Me?" Dante was all innocence. "Only looking out for my dear cousin. You looked like you could use it. Grief! If a girl who looked like that chased me…"

"That wasn't her and you know it. And has it ever occurred to you that maybe I need to solve my own problems?"

Dante made a show of thinking about it. "Yeah. Once. For about five seconds. Decided it was a bad idea." He reached over and plucked one of Daniel's french fries out of the basket, chowing down on it. "Hm. Needs salt." Without asking, he upended the contents of several packets of salt into the basket. "There. That's much better." Chomp, chomp. Daniel didn't trust himself to speak. "But actually, there's another reason I'm here. Our mutual uncle has just informed me of another mission we're being called on."

"Another one? So soon?"

"Yeah, and this one's worse than the last. Way worse. Faceless Ones." Daniel started like he'd just sat on a thumbtack. Faceless Ones...except for angels, they were about the worst. "So you and I are on call, at a moment's notice.

"And there's worse still. But I'll let him explain that to you."

"O...kay. So….what world are the Faceless Ones going to attack?"

"Word is, this one."

…

Outside: Tomoko turned to Yu with such ferocity that the taller girl backed away. "Okay, what was that all about?"

Yu found herself on the defensive. "I was trying to help you! I mean, what did your father actually say? And how would he know anything about Daniel? I mean, you said yourself you'd just met him this year!" Tomoko dithered. She wanted to believe Daniel was innocent...but…

"Well, he certainly implied Daniel was in on that."

Yu reached out and put a hand on Tomoko's arm, trying to Make Her See Reason. "Mokkochi...sometimes parents—especially fathers—go to extreme lengths to 'protect'"—she made air quotes—"their daughters. Sons, not so much, I guess they figure they can take care of themselves. But daughters? Yes much. I know my own father ran off my first three boyfriends…"

Three boyfriends? First three boyfriends? Just how many have you had?

What happened to that shy, mousey girl I knew in middle school?

Apparently, this happened.

And where did this mustard on my sleeve come from?

"...told me some bad things about them. He later admitted he'd made 'em up. Well, exaggerated. All boys have dark secrets, it's genetic. Testosterone. They can't help themselves. That's what they need us for. Too late by then, of course. But now I'm cautious. I fact-check him. I mean, he lied to me once, so what's to prevent him from doing so again? Not saying your father would, but…"

Tomoko was only half listening. Could her father have been...exaggerating? It was true, he hadn't actually said Daniel had done anything…

"...but I got the distinct impression, just from meeting him, that he wouldn't kill anyone. Not like murder, I mean. And you know I'm never wrong about these sorts of things."

"So...so what do you think I should do?"

"I think you should at least try to find out more about him."

"No, I, I made a promise to my father. I won't, I can't, break it."

Yu's expression firmed up. "Then I'll have to break it for you." She turned and marched back towards the restaurant.

Tomoko caught up with her, grabbing her arm. "Yu, don't you DARE! If you do, I sweartogod I'll—*" But just then, Daniel exploded out of the restaurant at a dead run, followed by Dante. Both had solemn, even grim, expressions on their faces.

He spied Tomoko and Yu. Quickly, he rushed over to them. "Look, you two. You both need to get home, like, right now. Dante? You take Yu, here, home. I'll see that Tomoko gets home." To their shocked expressions, he added, "Look, it's important. Like, really really important. Now, come on." And he grasped Tomoko's arm, and proceeded to literally drag her off towards her house.

"Wait, let go of me! I…just let go! What's going on? Why are you and What's-his-name acting like World War Three's about to start?"

"Actually, it's worse than that. Look, I know you promised. But I'm the one breaking the promise. The Black Throne will punish me, not you." He didn't notice her puzzled expression. "Look, it'll be okay. Just tell your father two words.

"Tell him I said, 'Faceless Ones.'"

….

At her door: He knocked, and her brother, Tomoki, answered. His eyes widened when he saw Daniel. Evidently, he knew about Tomoko's promise. "Here," said Daniel, pushing her in. "Go in, and stay in, until I let you know it's safe. Don't go to school; call in sick, or dead, or whatever you think will work best. If this lasts, I'll...I'll get, y'know, supplies for you. I'll give 'em to your dad, so he can't blame you. But do not leave this house." At her expression of shock and unbelief, "Look, believe whatever you want. But this is important, more important than I can explain right now. Now remember what I told you to tell your father: 'Faceless Ones.' Believe me, that'll make everything alright." And with that, he practically shoved her inside, pulling the door shut behind her, even as she turned to him to ask more questions.

"Boy," said Tomoki gleefully, "Father is really gonna come down hard on you."

"Tomoko?" She turned to see her Father coming in from the next room. "Did I just hear Daniel's voice?" He must've gotten off work early.

"Uh, y-yes, Father. He...something strange just happened."

He gave her a stern look. "I hope," he said, "you didn't break your promise."

"No, Father. It's...it's complicated. But he said to tell you two words.

"Father, what are 'Faceless Ones'?"

And that's when Tomoko Kuroki saw her father do something she'd previously thought he was physically incapable of:

He turned as pale as a sheet.

To be continued…