It is shorter than I imagined, but I've been working on a HUGE project. I write what I can. I'll keep going on Be Ready and finish it up. Unfortunately, Rutilus is going to wait on updates for juuuuuuust a bit. Enjoy Be Ready updates and hooligan updates! I promise Rutilus will be back shortly.
Again sorry for the little chapter. There is a TON of information in this one, so I didn't want it to be crazy overload. Sometimes you just gotta put a dramatic pause on stuff.
As always, Kerapal Bubbles is the one to thank for the lack of errors! You're the best!
"Please… please don't put me on hold again." Megumi's voice was hoarse and flat as she spoke into the phone. "I know I called yesterday evening, but I was just wondering if there was any more information on my daughter. My daughter's name is Hitomi Kanzaki-"
The man on the other line sighed tiredly. "No, ma'am, there haven't been any new reports."
The small flame of hope that had dared to ignite within Megumi's breast instantly blew out. "A-are you sure? Could you please check your computer or email? Maybe something's happened and she's been spotted. I just want to make sure. Please check again."
The man was quiet for a moment. "I repeat: there haven't been any new reports. I understand you're worried, but I assure you we are doing everything in our power to bring your daughter safely back."
"She's been missing for almost two weeks…"
"I know, ma'am."
"And there's nothing to be done?"
"Ma'am…" the man stopped to formulate his words. "Sometimes… sometimes people just disappear. It's the world we live in. The last known whereabouts we have of your daughter is the check list for the Winged Palace's extended tour in Fanelia. She could still be in Fanelia. She could be in Joko or Guitoma. We don't know for sure. I am sorry for your loss, ma'am. I truly am. I assure we are doing everything in our power to find your daughter, but there comes a time when you must accept that she could be gone."
Megumi closed her brown eyes and the phone slowly dropped on the receiver with a clang. Her trembling hands covered her face and she tried to cry. Oh, how she longed to cry for her little Hitomi, but Megumi felt as if she had no more tears left. The rush of sadness couldn't be quenched.
"Oh, my Hitomi… my sweet, sweet child. Where did you go?"
Standing behind his mother, Hitomi's brother put his arms around her thin shoulders. He held his mother close as she trembled terribly.
"Your father… Your father is the one to blame. He's the one who mailed that poisonous journal to us. He's the one who infected my little girl with all those lies. Conspiracy theories and wild tales of ridiculousness. And now she's disappeared just like he did. Getting herself killed while the rest of us sit here worried sick."
"Mom?" the young man murmured. "Don't… don't worry too much about Hitomi. She can handle herself."
"Bite your tongue!" Megumi cursed pulling herself out of her son's embrace. "I will never stop worrying about her. About both of you! As long as I have air in my lungs and blood in my veins, I will call and cry for you two. You are my babies."
The son lowered his green gaze and let out a long breath. "Mom… there's… there's something you should see…"
His mother stopped short and her eyes narrowed.
"What is it?"
The wolfish woman was hardly big enough to fit inside the lopsided tent. She flicked on the small gas lamp that swung squeakily from the center of the ceiling where the bending metal poles connected. This tiny light made Grammy look even more ferocious as she sat at the back of the tent and reached over with a clawed hand to pick up a stained leather bag resting in the corner. Dried herbs, skinned animals, and snarled roots of all sizes hung like ominous decorations from the walls.
Bakura, his brown tail wagging, was the first to sit. Panting with excitement, he plopped down on Grammy's right side. Van joined him not soon after. His sharp mahogany eyes flicked over the tent with curiosity, but his tan hand continued to rest on his sword's hilt. Chordata clung to Hitomi as they sat together in the tight circle around the lamp. The cat's fingers shook, but the hairs on her white neck had begun to lower slightly.
Grammy's large snout sniffed audibly inside the sack. "I know they are here somewhere… Ah!" Withdrawing a red silk pouch from the leather sack, she set it gently on her lap and her wild eyes flipped over the group sitting before her. Her furry eyebrows crinkled as she scowled at Bakura.
"Still eating that processed meat?" she growled. "You smell like poodle shit."
"It's just jerky, Grammy. One meal of it won't kill me."
"It has made you fat!" She reached over and poked a sharp, jagged claw at her grandson's stomach. "How will you hunt with so much fat on your body? The prey will hear you coming from miles away."
Bakura's ears lowered, but his tail continued its steady sway. Grammy's large head turned to Van and they met eyes. He stared hard into her face and Hitomi instantly felt an electric current run between the beast and king. He didn't blink and neither did she. It was a standoff. A standoff of what, Hitomi didn't know. She hardly dared to breathe as Grammy and Van continued their mute battle. It was a full minute of silence. The only sound was the swishing of Bakura's long tail and the whistling wind singing through the dark trees outside.
Suddenly, Grammy let out a sharp laugh and a small grin lifted on Van's lips.
"I like you," she confessed and his hand left the sword's hilt as his smile grew wider. "I see now. I respect your fang, king. You have used it well. You have the wild spirit inside. The Dragon is your mark, but you also possess the howl of the wolf. More so than this fat fool," her tone growled on the words and Bakura's tail stopped wagging. "Draconian, I accept you into my pack."
"I run beside you to The Mystic Moon's song and sing it to the gods," Van answered with a short bow of his head. His long black locks fell forward into his face. If he didn't have on the bright lime green MYSTESS t-shirt he'd have looked just as wild as the wolf sitting in front of them.
"You know the ancient pledge!" Grammy blinked in surprise. "Oh, of course you do. Ignore this old fool." Her sharp eyes glimmered as they slid from Van to Hitomi and back again. "This little one is your mate, I assume?"
Hitomi mouth dropped open and Van's back immediately stiffened. Closing her lips quickly, Hitomi's face burned terribly, but she kept her eyes on Grammy just as Van had.
She would not be intimidated.
"I-I have no mate," Van stuttered uncharacteristically. "I run alone."
"You run alone? Your scent is all over her, pup!" Grammy gave a wolfish grin. "Quite the pair, you are. The Dragon and the daughter of the Paper Man. He would be pleased to know you have found each other."
"Paper Man? You mean my father?" Hitomi spoke up and she felt Van tense beside her. Grammy's eyes flicked hard onto her face and she instantly felt the same intense pressure from before. Chordata's hands left her and the cat shied away to the corner. Raw emotions spilled into her from those hypnotic eyes: fear, cowardice, weakness. Every nerve in her body screamed to run away from the tent - and she might have if not for the reminding throb of her injured leg. Grammy drowned her senses with animal ferocity. Her eyes spoke of hunts, impatient and lethal. Spontaneous slaughtering of prey. Ripping apart flesh from bone. It was an ambush. She fought to keep her eyes on Grammy, but the urge to get away was penetrating her mind. The dangerous animal within Grammy roared.
Clenching her fists to keep from visibly trembling, she forced herself to sit still and think of her father. Memories and history. She possessed no physical weapon, but was strengthened in wisdom and intelligence. She pushed down the cold fear that laced her and produced a shaky picture of the bravery she felt at the Fanelian Train Station posing as a Stratego. Using her words instead of sword to protect herself. How quickly her brain produced the accurate information she required to trick the soldiers. Hitomi gained a bit of ground as she tapped into the intellectual part of Grammy's mind. She gave the old woman references of the historic wolf clans. Their hunting patterns, their nomadic lifestyle, and various adaptations of their ritual to The Moon's Dance.
Grammy's hostility backed away further and further as a scholarly depiction of her heritage was brought forth.
And then, she released Hitomi by giving Van a smirk. "Not bad for an unseasoned bitch."
Van showed his teeth with displeasure and Grammy's eyes widened.
"What's that for, king?"
"Grammy…" Bakura winced with a whine. "The word 'bitch' is an insult to humans…"
"That's what she is, isn't she, fool? She's a female. I'm a bitch, too, but most would say I'm the bad side of it." Grammy ruffed at Hitomi, who was still recovering from the standoff. She had stood her ground against the old wolf – barely. She felt a sense of relief mixed with extreme fatigue. Beside her, Van's elbow nudged her side and she glanced up at him. Though he wasn't smiling, his mahogany eyes held a bright gleam of satisfaction and he nodded his head tightly in approval.
Grammy sniffed the air. "Yes, you've got a good one there, king. Be honored to have her. I can smell she's ready for a litter of her own. You better hurry your game and nail her. A bitch will wait, but patience is not our strong suit. We are creatures of intolerance. If you cannot provide, we will find want we want with whatever and whomever can satisfy us." The wolf rumbled a laugh. "Of course, from what I saw you'll have to keep a muzzle on her. If you wish for this one to have your young, she'll talk you out of it before you can get the job done."
"I assure you, I run alone," Van said edgily. "She's not my mate."
"Cerberus' Three Heads, what's your problem then!?" Grammy snapped angrily and everyone sat back with alarm. Chordata yowled quietly. "Rubbing your scent all over her and then telling her she's not your mate!? That's how you cause family feuds, pup! Don't make me dispel your pledge! I don't harbor cowards in my pack!"
Hitomi took a deep breath. "It really isn't what you think-"
Bad idea.
Grammy rounded on her now. "You hold his scent as well, little bitch! Don't think he's the only one to blame! I saw the obsession in your mind as you researched! You know more about him that anyone! You know of his past! You know the power of his fang he carries by his side! He has protected you as a mate should. Cerberus, think of the fire and say that one more time! Either of you! I dare you!"
Van fell silent and Hitomi wondered if she had any more blood left to run through her body. All of it seemed to have gone to her face and ears. Van's arm next to her twitched and she refused to look at him. If the world decided to swallow her up right now, Hitomi would gladly accept the painful death.
Thankfully, Grammy apparently thought that verbal spanking was enough for now.
"Come out of the shadows, cat. I said before that I won't hurt you."
Chordata was backed into the farthest corner of the tent, her arms and legs visibly quaking.
"You feel my howl, don't you? Well, I feel your yowl." The old woman let out a barking laugh at her joke. Her long hairy arm reached over Bakura's head and gently plucked two dried leaves hanging on the side of the tent with her claws.
"Come, cat. Take this." She held the leaves out for Chordata and the white cat stiffened further. Her amber eyes shifted to the dirty ground. "You call yourself a feline? What is this cowardice? Or… do you wish for me not to contest you?" the wolf grumbled. Hitomi watched as Chordata's eyes finally rose to the wolf's face and they had a different type of standoff. Grammy's head tilted and then she blinked away with a deep sigh. "Unburden when you can. The time hasn't come yet."
Chordata nodded several times and took the leaves from her furry palm. Holding them, her amber eyes slowly began to dilate as she brought the leaves up to her nose.
"Ohhhhh woooooow…" she said softly as her eyes began to close lazily. Relaxing from her corner, she came back to Hitomi's side and took another long inhale of the leaves. "This is… nip?"
"The good stuff," the wolf grinned. "Go easy on it. You'll get used to the smell too soon."
"I…. like it…" The white cat lady leaned against Hitomi's shoulder and she could smell a hint of something like mint.
"Most cats do," Grammy snorted. Chordata snuggled further into Hitomi's side and began rubbing her soft head against her arm. "She'll be like that for a little while longer. Just let her cuddle."
"Chordata?" Hitomi looked to Van who shrugged unhelpfully. Lifting her right arm, Chordata's upper body flopped right into Hitomi's lap and she purred affectionately. Smiling, Hitomi began to pet the usually dignified lady's ears and her purr increased to a solid hum.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, let's begin with what you guys are really here for." Grammy rubbed her hands together and her claws clinked. She looked at Van and her yellow eyes gleamed happily. "You need to know about Sel. I usually don't get to tell stories. This will be fun."
"Sel?" Van frowned through his hair. "Who is Sel?"
"Jump right in, shall we? Very well. Beautifully wild as I am, I do have my fair share of tame canine in my lineage," she glanced pointedly at Bakura, whose ears lowered. "My family line doesn't originate in any specific city as most of the canine tribes. Our origins are unknown, but the oldest documented ancestor and father of the canine side of the family was named Jajuka. I'm going to go ahead and get this out of the way: He was from Zaibach."
"Zaibach?!" they exclaimed together. Catching eyes, Hitomi sat forward with excitement while Van touched his chin thoughtfully.
"The name is unknown to me," the king murmured.
"Me, too," Hitomi piped in with her green eyes alight. "My father wrote nothing of him in his journal."
Grammy laughed. "Of course, you wouldn't know, fools! It's been hushed. As is everything else when it comes from Zaibach – filthy bastards. Paper Man obeyed my orders. I told him not to tell of Jajuka and Sel! Think if someone got their hands on his journal and it held that much. He was smart enough to realize it is foolish to write everything down. History can be altered with written word. But when the lessons are passed down orally, that is a different story. Especially if those who pass it are true to the tale."
Hitomi's mouth was open. "You stopped my father from writing down information?"
"For his own good. Foolish Paper Man could hardly contain himself, but it is necessary."
Van spoke up. "What do you know?"
"I allowed your father to sign BE READY at the end of his notes to you and nothing more. Putting what I'm about to tell you in that Cerberus-Forsaken journal of his would have destroyed the world before you could even begin this journey. If Zaibach knew of what Sel had done… of what the Stratego…" she shook her head like a dog and her locks flapped on her neck. "Bah! I'm getting ahead of myself. My storytelling talents are rusty.
"Jajuka was one of the primary caretakers of the BE READY soldiers. The BE READY or Bio-Generated Experimenter yaddy-yaddas were groups of kidnapped children injected with the various forms of what they called 'serum'. The First Generation to receive the serum died off within the first month. The Second Generation didn't last too much longer. The Third Generation, which was the one Sel was a part of, became unstable after they reached puberty. Jajuka cared for Sel though. He loved her like his own pup. He felt sorry for the little girl as she cried alone. He spoke of how she underwent another experiment on top of the serum. She was transformed from one gender to two genders. Another personality was impressed into her body."
"Female to male? Transgendered surgery?" Bakura asked.
"Not quite. The process wasn't permanent. It was as if Sel had two people living in her body instead of one. She had another persona that would take control of her mind. Jajuka spoke of even her eyes changing. 'From blue to scarlet'… creepy-ass Zaibach…"
"How-How horrible…" Hitomi gasped. Her mind was reeling from trying to soak in all the information she could. The pieces were coming together like half-glued clues.
"The surgery saved her life. Sel was strong. Strong enough to spread the serum's mental decapitation to her lesser stable self and keep her real mind from going insane. Sharing a body, she was able to tame the monster within for a time. Eventually, she was controlling him. Able to use him in order to learn of Zaibach's plan and warn others of impending danger."
"She was the spy!" Hitomi gasped as the realization hit her. "Sel was the spy that tipped off Allen Schezar the Brave about the assassins on Dryden Fassa's convoy! She also convinced him to escape Palas with Princess Millerna! She was working against Zaibach! Van!" She turned to the king. "She's Dilandau! In my vision, he was unhinged. He kept saying 'she' was breaking free. 'She' was using him! Dilandau was the second personality!"
"She did her best to hide her sanity. Purposefully, she allowed the monster to take hold to keep suspicions at bay, but he was too insane at times. She would awaken to a sea of fire, bodies and Guymelefs destroyed all around her. Jajuka saw her switch. He was her primary caretaker, after all. That's when he knew what was happening. For a long time, Jajuka had been demoralized by the twisted scientific arts of Zaibach's Magicians. They cast spells over stolen children, destroyed their minds and threw them aside once the serum had taken over their rationality. Once he knew Sel was different, that she had survived the serum's poison and was fighting back, he begged her to let him help. To bring an end to the BE READY. Eventually, she trusted him. It was too late however. They learned of Zaibach's ultimate plan too late. If only she had learned of the device sooner."
Hitomi's green eyes spiked at the word and she whispered, "What device?"
Grammy's yellow orbs focused on her. "You know of the Bloody Battle, right? Neighbor against neighbor, friend and foe alike?"
"They all turned on each other at the Four Rivers. It was almost immediate," Hitomi nodded. "Like a switch had been flipped."
"For the glory of their king and country and the individual grandeur - all that nonsense."
"What does The Battle of Four Rivers have to do with anything?" Bakura asked.
"Everything!" Grammy barked at him. "Through Dilandau, Sel learned of a device in Emperor Dornkirk's hands that could change the fate of the universe. One that could bend reality to the wishes of the world. He called it 'The Atlantis Machine'. He believed in true happiness for the people. That the device would grant everyone's wish no matter how small."
Hitomi's mouth had fallen open. "Y-You're telling me Zaibach used this device and it caused the Betrayal of Blood? That it granted everyone's wish and they began to kill each other?"
"That and so much more," Grammy shook her head and her long locks swayed. "I'm saying the device that caused the Betrayal Battle was never shut off. The amount of power was reduced, but it has had centuries to slowly infect this world."
The tent was silent. Everyone was still. Chordata twitched in her sleep in Hitomi's lap.
"No…"
"Oh, yes," Grammy's eyes gained their hunting gleam. "You know that I'm right. You've heard it yourself, little bitch. A Fate Alteration Device that has poisoned this world. And now the poison spreads further. It's had centuries to extend its reach." The old wolf's head tilted as she glanced over Hitomi's face. "You have seen its reach even without Magic's touch. I can see it within you. I see you standing at the window…"
"What… what is to be done then? Destroy this Fate Alteration Device?" Hitomi spoke up quickly to avoid Grammy talking about that vision.
She realized it would make that reality too real if she did.
"Fools!" Grammy snorted. "Let me finish. Sel woke from her alternate self after her sword ran through Allen Schezar the Brave. She'd allowed Dilandau control not knowing that the monster wished to kill Allen Schezar more than anything. Sel tried to stop him, but she was powerless in the face of that accursed machine. Jajuka… spoke of her anguish. The power of wishes killed many that day. For six hours, they continued – until suddenly, the machine stopped working. Those still alive were left in a blood soaked land that spanned for miles."
"I thought you said the machine was continuing to grant wishes to this day?"
"Only one wish, little bitch. Let me finish. Sel swore on her life that she would put an end to it. But by the time the battle had run its course, the Emperor had escaped with a part of the Fate Alteration Engine to the outer coast. It is the reason the power of the device has been cut. At the palace, she found a majority of the machine obliterated. And she found an unexpected ally: The Emperor's Strategos."
"Lamenting memoirs of the Strategos…" Hitomi turned to Van. "Magic spoke of him, remember? What was he lamenting about?"
"His wish had been granted and it opened his eyes to the truth that had been dangling right in front of his fat head." Grammy's crooked smile was frightening in the lantern light. "Strategos had tried to kill the Emperor as he had fled, but the old man escaped him. The fool was wounded in the attempt. He told Sel what the Emperor had been planning. Then he allowed himself to get taken by the guards as Sel and Jajuka escaped. The memoirs you speak of are his last thoughts before he was executed for treason. It was at this time Sel demanded Jajuka to leave her services. He settled in Guitoma and thus our family line was established. The peace negotiations between the warring countries was coming to a close and the fragile Emperor – though heavily guarded – was nearing his last days."
"What became of Sel? Of the Fate Alteration Device? Of the Emperor?" Van's mahogany eyes glistened with curiosity.
"Good question, pup," Grammy's smile widened and she reached into her lap for the red pouch. Tugging the velvet open, she gently slipped two claws in and pulled out a large pack of light blue cards. A round orange star was branded on the back of them and each was underlined with strange symbols. Hitomi felt a chill run down her. Slowly, she lifted her hand for them.
"Can I have my tarot cards?"
Grammy's yellow eyes slid to Hitomi.
"You may have them now."
Megumi watched the video of the woman dressed in a green provocative two piece emerge from the left side of the stage and move closer to the young, drowning pirate. Her hand grazed his chest and her enchanting red lips smiled sweetly. It was a crude recording, the drunk cameraman jiggling the screen and even pointing it at the ceiling from time to time. Many voices cheered as the 'mermaid' gave the 'pirate' a long deep kiss and covered what the announcer was saying.
"This went viral yesterday. I saw it on the newsfeed of a friend of mine. This was taken at Mystess, the most popular bar in Joko. Mom…" he looked at Megumi's face with those familiar green eyes. The same green eyes that were shining on the computer screen from the mermaid. "Mystess was closed down thirty minutes after this play was done. They say it was because of a fire, but reports haven't been able to find Tristian, the owner of the bar. Mom?"
Trailing down her cheek and off her chin, the quiet tear landed on the table the computer was resting on. More followed as the screen showed her beautiful daughter being carried off by the dark-haired pirate. She looked happy.
So incredibly happy.
"How is it possible? That's her…"
Her son nodded and paused the video on the exiting couple.
"It's her."
We are moving right along to the ending! Wow! I never thought I'd get this far in the story! We are on the *checks plotline* third dot on the second to last plotline... whooooa...
To all of you who have joined in recently, thank you for clicking on and checking out my stories. For all of you who have been long readers of mine, you are the bestest in the world. And of course, to those of you who secretly wish I'd stop writing... I WILL NEVER STOP. MUHAHAHAHA!
But seriously. I won't. SO don't even bother, hun. *snaps fingers in a 'Z'*
Predictions, liked it, hated it? Won't know unless you tell me!
Love to each and every one of you,
blue...