A/n: Uuupppddaaateee! And on the side note, a certain hacker is back in Nii-hama-shi. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own GitS, but I do own the OC's... yes a little leigon of OC's that face their own perils! (insert evil laughter)

The Lithium Flower

By: Jun-kei

Chapter 7: Rifted Thoughts

"Jun… are you just going to sit there moping?" Yukimura complained as Jun looked elsewhere.

"Are you against her now?" She asked simply.

"Well… how am I supposed to know? I'll follow whatever orders are given!"

Jun sighed. "Why?"

"I liked Mayuka –"

"From what I heard, there was more than like there. Especially seeing that before she left you two decided you'd –!"

"Yuri on the other hand was an egotistical bitch!"

"So you love her as one and hate her as the other?" Jun questioned. "How strange that you can both love and hate the same woman at the same time…. Then again, maybe not. After all, love and hate aren't so far apart."

Yukimura glared as he stepped into the dive room. "Why do you care? After all, according to the file, she's nothing but a petty juvenile criminal."

"Oh! So your little trysts with Takemura weren't petty juvenile criminal activities?" Jun countered.

"That was organized crime." Yukimura stated grimly. "I wasn't the one sent to Juvenile detention for trying to kill my step-father. I did more risky things –"

"You little bastard! If you knew just how much Kaimaru tormented her by holding her mother's death over her head, you'd see why she wanted to wring his little neck!"

"Oh, so your saying that it's Kaimaru's fault she has no self control?" He questioned in an icy manner.

"No! I'm saying that he's at fault for a lot of things!" Jun growled. "She's right, you punk – Akiharu would be around if it weren't for the likes of you and your little friend Takemura! You make me sick."

"I make you sick!" Yukimura rounded on her, grabbing her shoulder tightly. "What the hell about you – you make me sick! What gives you the right to come in here and tell me that everything I know is wrong?"

"I don't have to answer the likes of a fool like you!" Jun replied testily.

"Why you – I don't give a fuck if you're a woman, I suggest you take that back!" Yukimura grabbed her by the collar, raising her off of the ground. "You hear me!"

"We hear you loud and clear, Yukimura." Yukimura turned around to find Togusa and Batou standing there. Togusa looked livid – his gold eyes narrowed like an animal on the kill. "I suggest you put her down."

"Or else you'll have me to deal with." Batou scowled looking at Yukimura.

"And let's not forget about the Major when she catches wind of this."

"Four and a half billion Yen is in your account Yuri. Use it well."

"And the rest?" She looked at him as he handed her a group of notes.

"Thought it'd be best that you had some money on you. Take care and say hello to Haruka for me will you?"

"Whatever, Matsu. Consider it done." She stuffed the money away carefully with her right hand. The left was in fresh bandages in a sling.

"Do try not to get killed will ya? Haruka would be sad."

"Can't make any promises there. One day, sooner or later I'll die you know – everyone will."

He laughed humorlessly. "True, true. But plenty of the Yakuza want your head, so watch out…especially for Umeyda. Going back to him will give you the protection… but Kaimaru is Kaimaru, so he can never be trusted."

"Like I didn't know that by age eleven. Sayonara, Matsu."

"Yes, farewell, until the next time Yuri." He returned. 'If there is a next time.' His mind warned him.

Yuri opened her eyes, her mind retorting at just how bored it was as she listened to the ever-droning sound of the private jet's engine. 'Gimmie a break!' She sighed silently, looking to the other seat to find Shinyuu fast asleep. A small smile graced her lips before she turned to the window looking out.

"Nii-hama Shi." She breathed in wonder. Shinyuu stirred.

"Huh?"

"Don't worry. But don't forget to wake up. We're landing soon." With that, Yuri tilted her head back and closed her eyes.

"Come on, we've got to go." Came Akiharu's voice from behind. "It's pouring out here and 'Dad 'threatened to take Kasumi alone with him if we don't leave soon."

Sighing, he looked to the young figure holding the photo of a woman in her prime. The girl's hair was in pigtails. It was a magnificent colour, her hair. It started out black at the tips then faded into a honey-blond colour. It made her look like a younger version of the woman in the photo.

Her shoulders shook as she tensely walked up to the gravestone. She was about nine, but no one who didn't know her could know just by looking at her. Her magnificent hair clung to her face as the rain soaked it. He bent down to her level to glimpse her beautiful eyes.

Her eyes were a strange but beautiful colour. He had always thought that. They were like a faded sapphire with a hint of gray and a hue of green. They looked almost like his aquamarine eyes, but more intense. Black frames of glasses framed those eyes. He lost sight of them though when she closed them, allowing tears she didn't shed earlier to roll down her cheeks.

Then, to his surprise, she gave the grave marker a firm kick with all her might. He recoiled at the damage the hard white marble must have done to her small yet strong foot. She placed the foot back down gingerly.

"I'm not like you! I-I never was, I-I never will be, and I never want to be! S-so stop laughing and teasing me like that – y-you hear me!" Her voice shook, but he was sure it wasn't from rage. "S-so… w-we may look alike…. B-but don't watch things through my eyes – I can handle things myself – I never needed y-you!"

He sighed, deciding not to stop her rant. She seemed to lose steam eventually though, and began sobbing, sinking to her knees. He checked behind them, finding the car was gone. Akiharu shook his head, and when she finally quieted – her sobs now quiet whimpers, he approached her. The pounding rain muffled his steps.

The sixteen year old picked her up gently and slowly began his way home with his sister in his arms. He smiled when she managed to fall into dreamless slumber. It would be the first time in a while that she had managed to get some sleep.

"So this is Nii-hama Shi." Shinyuu commented, looking around. The bright lights that illuminated the night were hypnotizing. He watched the lady with him curiously. "So what am I suppose to call you?" He asked.

She tore her gaze away from the sky. He could have sworn there were tears in her eyes for a moment. But a moment later they were gone. "What…? I don't understand."

He laughed. Shinyuu thought it was impossible for someone like her to not understand something.

"I'm human too you know." She mused, as if reading his mind. "I think…" She whispered.

"What do you mean by that?" She shook her head, giving him a look to explain his other question. "Oh… that. I was wondering whether I call you Kage-san, Haruka-san, or Yuri-san."

"Don't." She replied.

"Then what do I call you?"

She averted his gaze, her eyes showing she was deep in thought. "Call me…" Her voice trailed off as if her surroundings made her uneasy. "Call me… call me Mayuka Kusanagi."

"Then… none of those are your real names, right?" Shinyuu looked at her. "I mean – well, I knew Kage wasn't your name, but Yuri or Haruka could easily –"

"Mayuka isn't my real name." She murmured.

"So what's your real name?"

"It doesn't matter weather my name is real or not." Mayuka replied. "I've long forsaken my real name. I'm just a dead woman's ghost."

"You mean you're not real then?"

"Reality, like truth, is what we make of it – what we want to believe."

Shinyuu's gray-green eyes narrowed. "I don't understand."

Mayuka began walking, with him close on her heels. She sighed. "It's like religion. Catholics believe in God. Atheists don't."

"O…kay…?"

"To the Catholics, God does exist. To them, he is reality and he is truth. To the Atheists, everything just happened. That is their reality and truth. So, who is right, and who is wrong?" Mayuka asked, her pace slowing as a bar came into view.

"I don't know." Shinyuu replied.

"If you believe that one is right, then to you the other is wrong. It's your belief that confirms to you weather it's truth or not. In my reality – which may not be the same as yours – I think neither of them are right, because I don't think they have enough proof to convince me that they are." Mayuka's hand reached for the gold handle of the chestnut door.

"So… to the people it is truth, because they have decided to believe in it?"

She nodded, pulling on the door. "And that, boy, is the power of the masses."

"Just what the hell were you thinking?" Motoko asked crossly as Batou held the younger man, pinning his arms. Togusa was at his side with a slightly shaken Jun rubbing absent-mindedly at her neck.

"I wasn't! You happy, dearest." Yukimura spat.

"The last thing we need is to be fighting – Section Nine is a team! If we spend more time fighting each other it reflects on how weak we are!" Motoko warned.

"No… you mean how weak some members are." Yurikmura glared as he said this, his eyes cold as he looked at Jun.

"Real mature, Takeda." She mumbled hoarsely, still rubbing her throat. "If I'm weak, what does that make you? I remember quite well that less then ten minutes ago, you were strangling me." She paused; air was blown through lightly closed lips. "Pfff. And Yuri's the one with no self control?"

"Quiet – the both of you. If I knew you were going to act like a bunch of children, I would have handed you over to Aramaki to deal with." Motoko glared. "Besides, any team is only as strong as their weakest member. But that doesn't give members the right to go beating on each other – whether with words or with fists."

Motoko shook her head. "You two can't be trusted on the field if you're at each other's throats here. Jun-kei, you have van duty for the next two months. Yukimura, you'll be staying behind as part of researching. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am." They replied bitterly.

Mayuka sat at the seat, Shinyuu beside her as she called for a drink.

"Well, I was expecting people, you weren't on the immediate list though, Yuri."

Her sapphire eyes narrowed. "Nice of you to say that to me, Uncle." She grimaced.

"Now, now, Mayuka, no need to be so bitter." Kaisuke replied, a grin stretching on his features. "So in your absence, did you sneak a visit to my dear little brother?"

"Kasumi, yes. Him – I couldn't be paid enough to willingly speak to Kaimaru again." Mayuka muttered bitterly as Kaisuke passed her a bottle of sake and a cup. He was his usual, very tall self. Still stood at seven feet, with his unruly black hair and brown eyes. He was the perfect look of a pure Japanese man – minus the height.

Mayuka poured sake into the cup herself with her right, delicately. She gulped it down, placing the cup back down with gentle care. "So is Yukimura still looking?"

"He is."

"Little fool."

"Until yesterday."

Mayuka smiled coyly as she drew circles on the dark wood with her index and middle fingers. "Is that so. Did he have an epiphany or something?"

"You really did love him, didn't you?"

"Just answer my question Kaisuke."

"He found out."

Shinyuu watched as she laughed, her whole body shaking with the hollow sound. Her eyes never moved from the meaningless circles she drew with her fingers. "Did he now?" Kaisuke nodded. "That's too bad. He was a nice guy when I got to know him. But when we were growing up, he always did think I was a bitch." She sighed, her chest heaving.

"You've got a place to stay?" Kaisuke asked. She shook her head. "Then –"

"No. After finding that out, I'd rather not. There are too many memories there. Shinyuu can stay if he wants though. He'll be safe." She turned to Shinyuu. "Well?"

"Sure… I guess Mayuka-san."

"Well then, I'll be back in the morning. I'll only bring trouble if I stay here." Mayuka poured another cup of sake as Kaisuke went into the back room. She sat there, drinking silently. Her eyes were unfocused, her mind in a different realm altogether. She returned to the world when Kaisuke came back.

Finishing her cup she picked up the two guns and set of magazines he had set for her. She placed them away, beneath the folds of her cloak. "Thanks." She murmured, standing up in a cautiously swift manner. "Farewell Kaisuke." She said coolly. "You too, kid."

"This won't be the last we speak, will it?"

"It won't be. I promise." With that she turned her back on him, heading to the door, her steps swift.

A moment later, she was outside. She smiled sadly as she looked up to the moon. "Four years, and only now he finds reason to hate me." Mayuka chuckled, her right hand rested gently on her chest before she pulled out a sapphire pendant on a black string that was around her neck. It rested in her hand, gleaming without a sense of remorse.

"I really did love you." She whispered. A single tear fell on the sapphire, and angrily, she tore it from her neck, leaving it to fall limply from her hand. Mayuka scowled, looked to the sky, and headed in the direction of where she was sure the warehouses were. Not once did she look back.

A/N: haha, Akiharu must be a cradle robber then, right? (Read last chappie's note) I mean, that's a seven year difference. Anywho, ignore the snifiling comment, for I did update. Let's just say I've started mapping out future events of this story intercately, and can safely tell you that at the end of this story, one of the OC's will die. (I'm not telling who) And Mayuka will bump into the others soon, but things won't be all peaches and creme.

Next Chapter: Ayame goes looking, and she does find. And Takemura loves a good round of cat and mouse, but a certain clone isn't at all impressed.