"Mr. Aishi, can we speak to you for a moment?" A police officer asked me. I had been sitting at the police station with Ayano for a while, getting the whole situation cleared up. I looked up to the man in front of me and nodded.
"Yes, Sir. What do you need to talk to me about?" I asked.
"We'd like to ask you some questions regarding some… Disturbing things we found in your home."
"Ask away."
"Upon searching the home further, we found corpses under the floorboards of the basement and other places in the home. When we investigated, some of them were buried with weapons that had your wife's finger prints on them. Most bodies were of teenage females who disappeared from Akademi high thirty years ago, as well as a few males and females who were more recent. We also found several tapes, both audio recordings, and video recordings depicting some rather grotesque behavior on your wife's part," The officer explained. "Do you know a Soto Akiyama?"
I felt as though my heart, fuck, the whole world stopped for a moment. That name… I hadn't heard it since I was in high school. I hadn't heard it since… I was saying goodbye to my mother when I was letting her know when I'd be home that night… The last time I ever spoke to her. I felt my hands tremble a bit as I stared at the officers before me. I nodded slowly, "I am Soto Akiyama."
"It says here that your name is Hisato Aishi," The officer stated.
"That's what Ryoba renamed me. When she kidnapped me, changed my face, made it so they couldn't find me. Did you watch and listen to the tapes?" I asked.
"We did, however we want to take some DNA samples to confirm that you are Akiyama-san."
"Of course, whatever you need." I nodded.
"Dad, your name isn't Hisato?" Ayano asked, looking rather confused. I shook my head. "Oh… Why didn't you tell me?"
"Soto died."
"But you're here."
"Your mother ended Soto's life twenty nine years ago. She changed my name, my face, and made me marry her. Soto's life ended prematurely and was replaced with mine."
"But Mom's gone now… Will you go back to your real name?"
I paused for a moment. I hadn't heard my real name in years. It had been so long that I forgot what it was, who I was. I remembered things from my past like my parents' and siblings' faces, and a little cat I loved so much as kid, but most of my life prior to Ryoba faded into obscurity when I was focusing on surviving with Ayano. Remembering who I was and all the people who loved me… It was painful. It was so painful to know I would never see my family and friends again if they were even still alive. But now… I was free. I didn't have to be Ryoba's toy anymore. I could find them… Maybe I could find the people I once loved again. I looked to Ayano and I nodded, feeling a few tears swell up in my eyes, "Yes, I want to be Soto Akiyama again."
"Can I be Ayano Akiyama?" she asked.
"If that is what you want, then yes."
"I want that."
"Alright." I nodded in agreement before following the officers away to do as they requested. They got some DNA samples and took my thumb prints, then told me Ayano and I could go home for now. We headed back to the hotel where we were staying while the house was under investigation. Ayano watched some tv with Bunny and I looked through an old year book that had been retrieved from the house. This one had been in my bag the day Ryoba took me prisoner, so it didn't have her psychotic doodles in it. I smiled as I looked at the signatures in the back from some of my close friends and the pictures of them in their respective clubs. I wondered how many of them were still alive, or if they were if they remembered me. I looked at the time and decided I out to make us some food then get ready for bed. I prepared some spicy microwave noodles I bought from the convenience store across the street and gave Ayano her bowl, as well as a soda and some candy she liked.
"Thanks, Dad." Ayano nodded and took the food.
"You're welcome, Sweetie. Tomorrow, I'm going to pick you up from school, because I don't know if they police will want to talk to you again or not. I was planning on telling them everything that happened with Ryoba when they confirm my identity. They will probably want your story too to write a proper statement."
"I understand. Should I tell my friends about the situation if they ask about the bruises and cuts?"
"I don't think it will be a problem."
"Ok."
I quietly ate my noodles while watching the tv with Ayano. She had some anime on, but soon switched it to something else. I didn't bother asking why, I honestly wasn't invested in it. She switched the channel to the news, which was discussing what had happened and had interviews of our neighbors. They all said what I expected them to say. They couldn't believe this happened, that Ryoba was so nice to them, that they had no idea she would have made enemies with such people. Gullible. I would tell the world the truth about Ryoba Aishi. I would make sure every publisher was sent my story. I want people to know who that monster, that Ryoba Aishi, really was. I want them all to know who they let go all those years ago, and the people who suffered at her hands.
"Dad, where are we going to go after this?" Ayano asked worriedly. "I don't want to go home."
"I don't know, Baby Girl. We'll figure something out, ok?"
"Ok, Dad." Ayano finished eating and lied down on her side, hugging Bunny tightly. "Mom's really gone, right?"
"Yes."
"And those men?"
"Also dead. And if they weren't, I still wouldn't let them hurt you."
"Ok… I'm just scared. Everything changed so fast, this year has been really difficult for me. I finally feel like I can feel the full range of emotions, but that's made everything that only made me a little sad and angry before feel so overbearing. I've always felt some, but now the numbness is gone and I feel so overwhelmed by all the emotions. Anger, sadness, regret, envy… They're so strong, Dad."
"You could always feel those things, Sweetie, you're just now starting to break free of the atmosphere that has surrounded you for so long. You were showing signs of severe depression ever since you were a little girl. Our home exacerbated your condition, especially with how Ryoba abused you."
"Did something happen to make me so numb when I was little?"
"My theory is it was exacerbated by having been suffocated and beaten as a toddler. You had a deep gash on your head, I managed to fix it, but after that you were a lot difference in temperance. I think physical and emotional trauma from living with Ryoba took its toll on you and I, but you the worst since you were so little."
"Did Mom love me, Dad?" Ayano asked, starting to cry a little bit as she hugged her stuffed bunny. I sat down next to her and caressed her hair to try to comfort her.
"I wish I knew, Sweetie," I sighed. "Your mother was a very messed up person. I don't think she knew how to truly love, or what it was. She claimed to love me, but she destroyed my life unapologetically. She claimed to love you, but she's treated you horribly."
"I never knew what would happen. Sometimes she was so sadistic, and other times she treated me like a princess. It was confusing and I was scared to leave my room because I never knew what I was going to get… But the more I hid the less I felt."
"I don't know exactly how she saw you. She claimed you were the physical manifestation of our love and that you were precious to her, but she also saw you as a rival."
"She might be right about the first part," Ayano said nonchalantly.
"I never loved Ryoba…"
"I know. A broken fucking mess that should have never happened."
I sighed and hugged her, "No… You're the only good thing that ever came from the horrible situation… I don't like how my life went, but I am happy that I got the chance to be your dad. I'm happy that you're here, Ayano. I can't imagine life without my little girl."
"But I wouldn't exist if Mom never took you."
"Yes but… That's ok. It was going to happen either way, so at least I got the opportunity to have you in my life. I wouldn't trade you for the life I wanted before all this, I'd deny it in a heartbeat if it meant you would still be here."
"That's crazy, Dad."
"Dads are crazy," I chuckled. "You're the only good thing from that mess, so never discredit yourself. You're a strong young lady and I'm very proud of you, Ayano."
"Thank you, Dad."
"Get some rest, Sweetie. You have school tomorrow and we will have to go back to the station."
"ok… Goodnight, Dad."
"Goodnight, Baby Girl."