Author's Notes: Just wanted to start off by thanking some of my wonderful reviewers: Nozem-chan, PreyoftheDemons, Kuro-Hidama, Alcaringuatari, Captain applesauce, bluecornmoongirl, etc. And yes, I realize the story was a bit confusing before but hopefully this chapter clears a little bit up. Also don't worry, Hagi and Saya will meet up soon of course. Poor Hagi is just in suspended animation right now.
Chapter 3: Truth and Lies
In the quiet of a shaded garden, there sat three gentlemen conversing intimately around a glass table. Sprawled around the polished surface was evidence of a tea party recently concluded: cups, saucers, plates of delicate refreshments, and a large porcelain teapot still half full of imported Earl Grey.
"Well, well, you've actually gone and done it, Mr. Mahler," said a heavy-set man, "I am very ashamed of any former doubts towards you." He was apologizing but there was an entire lack of sincerity in his eyes and voice which the German took little pains to hide.
Whether Nathan noticed this or not, he had his own reasons for hiding his displeasure since a mirthless grin blossomed on his wide lips. "Oh my dear, dear Mr.Wechsler! Of course you had every right to doubt me! I myself didn't believe I could do it either till last week." He leaned back in his chair and from the depths of his trouser pocket, retrieved a gold pocket watch.
All three eyes watched the precious bauble as the blonde grasped the heavy chain between thumb and index finger and lazily dangled it back and forth. A strand of light like a trapped moth caught on its yellow surface and glimmered, transfixing them all momentarily.
"Ahem," coughed the third member nervously after a moment as an interruption. He was a short, shriveled bit of a creature with very brown leathered skin and a large black birthmark on the left side of his neck. "It isn't every day, you know, when we see a man brought to life again after many centuries. Not even with the technologies available today," said Mr. Diego, stating the obvious. "Will you tell us again how you managed to locate this creature?"
There was a look of respectful fear in Mr. Diego's face as he turned towards Nathan. A fear which the blonde found himself liking much more than Mr. Wechsler's insolence. He would not have to keep as close a watch on this one as the other.
"Well…" with the same exaggerated smile. He bent as if to whisper a secret and then abruptly rose to his feet. "Goodness, look at the time, gentlemen!" The watch was swallowed up by his pocket once more. "I'm afraid I need to be back in the office by two for a very important news brief!" He made to go but was suddenly stopped by a very gruff voice.
"Mr. Mahler! I have undergone many personal risks in obtaining funds for this operation of yours and by God I will have some answers today!" A fist came slamming down onto the table with a sharp bang. "Sit down!" he pointed to the chair.
Blue eyes narrowed and for a moment there was a glint of hellish red there in the pupils. Had one looked closely, one might have also observed the instinctive flexing of Nathan's hands. Powerful hands that could crush through steel.
But the moment lasted for only a second. It wasn't worth losing control.
He slumped back down onto the chair with a deep sigh. "My boss will have my head for this…"
"Since I was so kindly invited to stay, however…" Nathan paused and for those rare moments, a look of quiet intensity replaced his normally frivolous expression.
"I believe I have already told you about a pair of twin girls named Saya and Diva a while back, yes?" He waited for their nods although there was really no need. "Well gentlemen, what if I am to tell you that our very own mystery man is their dear father?"
"Kai?"
"Yes, Saya?" His head shot up immediately. It was truly amazing that her mere act of saying his name would so deeply move him.
"I want to go outside for a walk please."
"Can you wait for a little while until I finish up these accounts?" A mishmash of stacked papers and a large calculator was piled very haphazardly over one corner.
"It's alright, I can go alone if you're busy."
"Saya…" he sighed, "You know that you're not well enough to."
She opened her mouth to protest, an instinctive rebellion rising within but the gentle yet stubborn look in his eyes silenced her. Taking a deep breath, Saya nodded obediently. Kai was after all only acting in her best interests and she ought to take his advice. She really wasn't well enough to go out by herself just yet.
"Yes, Kai."
An hour passed in the silence of the sitting room as Kai worked away at his accounts, the steady grate of his pencil the only other sound in the room besides the ticking of the mahogany grandfather clock. Though Saya held a book in her hand, she was only pretending to be reading. Both Kyuui and her sister Ashita lived in their own apartments close to town and although she had met her nieces, Saya nevertheless felt distanced from the two as well as her brother Kai.
It was almost as if everyone walked on eggshells in her presence.
The same looks of worry, of pity. The hasty whispers when they felt she had turned her back and could not hear. It was in the restrictions imposed: her not being able to leave the house without an escort, of only being able to gaze out longingly against the window sill as she watched girls her age file back to class, and daily trips to the hospital for check-ups and blood transfusions.
Somewhere in the abyss, the clock chimed three o'clock in the afternoon and caused Kai to lower his pencil with a start.
Just three days ago, he had promised that she would be able to attend school again soon. "I have talked to the teachers and transferred you to Okinawa high school, Saya. Soon you will be able to start classes there."
Saya had nodded silently and turned her head away with an inscrutable expression upon her face. Really, there was much she ought to be happy and grateful for. So many people all around her who took such good care of her, who was kind beyond the call of duty. Therefore, so what if no one seemed entirely comfortable in her presence yet? If she could literally feel the tension suspended in the air even at their welcoming smiles everyday?
She had after all survived a terrible accident and lost all of her memories. This must be a great burden and tragedy for them all including herself. Memories painted a picture of the past and without one's past, there cannot exist a future. Saya knew this without any complicated explanations and secretly mourned her loss outside observant eyes. A sister who bore her nieces which Saya could not even attribute a face to, people like David and his wife Julia who cared so much for her but which she did not remember meeting, and Kai the stranger she shared the house with.
It was all so terribly frustrating. And futile. No one dared tell her much. Leave it to time and circumstances, people said. Time will heal all wounds, Saya. Trust in it and the memories will come again. She found herself often lying awake with the open windows oozing spring air into her room, wondering if somewhere out there she had forgotten about someone. Another strand of life formerly connected to hers and that now lay unraveled in some ditch.
Different, something marked her as being apart from the rest of the world. Deep inside, she knew this too and felt somehow that her memories were not the only precious aspects lost to her…
"Aren't you okay, Saya? You look kinda distant," remarked Kai good-naturedly at the blank look on her face at this bit of news.
Deep inside Saya hardly knew how to respond. Yes, she was happy in being able to go to school again and yet despondent and frustrated at the same time over her weaknesses. She just couldn't remember. No matter how much she desperately wished to, had prayed every night before bed in recalling those precious moments of life lost to her, it was all simply in vain…
"Saya? Are you ready to go?"
The current Kai was peering curiously down at her.
"Saya? Are you alright?" Always the same question spoken in the same tone of voice.
His hair, it has specks of grey mingled in among the reddish brown, she found herself musing rather lazily. Had it always been that way? Had he always had those crinkles in the corners of his eyes? At the bottom of his lips?
She mentally shook her head to clear her mind. What odd thoughts these were and so completely out of the blue too.
"I'm fine," she snapped rather irritably and got to her feet. Then at the anxious look that was so characteristic of Kai nowadays, she softened visibly. "Gomen Kai, I know that you're only worried about me."
Ever so hasty in temperament and equally quick in remorse afterwards. He found himself smiling at this spark of familiarity from the girl.
"There's no need for apologies, Saya." Kai walked over and gently rested his hands on both of her shoulders. "I know that it's irritating in not being able to go out by yourself right now but it will only be for a little while."
The expression on her face must have reflected her apprehension.
"I promise," Kai reaffirmed. "You'll get your memories back eventually and everything will be fine again."
"And what if I never do, Kai? What then?" She swallowed thickly. Her worst fear: to live life as if in a waking dream with no conception of who she ever was.
"Saya, you have to give it time. And know that all of us will do our best to help you along the way."
"You'll take me places that I've been before the accident? I've been thinking about it, Kai, and although the photos you showed me didn't work, maybe this will."
And how could he refuse those eyes when they gazed up so eagerly at him? "Of course, I will. We'll go to the park, the beach, the high school, and…" he paused with a repressed grimace. "…the museum as well. Everywhere and anything it takes for you to remember again."
He felt as if he was really consoling a small frightened child. Kiss the hurt and tell it that all will be okay again. Then send it on its way with a white lie quietly told to preserve the innocent.
Saya….Saya…what has become of our vow once to keep no secrets from each other?
"Thank-you, Kai."
They would do everything and anything to bring back her memories, to keep her happy. But along the way, something must be sacrificed. Something must bend and break into a million irreparable pieces, left to lie lost and forgotten in the dark caves.
Yes, they would do everything in their powers indeed. Except tell Saya the truth.
"Beautiful specimen, is he not? Absolutely magnificent!"
"Good God, Mr. Mahler! What on earth have you uncovered?"
Two other pairs of eyes gazed wonderingly at the most bizarre image of a full-grown man suspended in a crystal case filled with whitish fluid. A mixture of winding tubes snaked their way into his skin and made tortuous routes back to a great black box located nearby.
"Not another step closer, gentlemen. The chamber must be kept absolutely sterile." Gloved hands made some vague gesture to sweep the trio back.
"He was near death when I found him," explained Nathan to his companions. "And so I took him here to recover. See those funny little tubes?" He pointed at them. "They are circulating fresh plasma into his body."
Mr. Diego squinted his short-sighted eyes to get a better look for he had left his glasses back at the office. From his perspective, the creature in the case had long black hair speckled with hints of grey at the sides, fine features, and a prominent brow which bespoke of great passions and was of slim build. He was stripped to the waist and one could clearly observe his bare chest rise and fall in slow even breaths.
"Another week and he should be fully recovered."
There was a moment of silence from Mr. Diego and Mr. Wechsler until the latter broke the tension with his surly voice. "And what then?"
"Why anything at all. The world will be at our fingertips, my dear friends," said Nathan simply and he offered them his smile.