Notes:
I still only own Michiko, Kishi, Akira, and the Yankees. :)
~Tali
Chapter 21 - Aftermath
Shigure looked up when something whooshed past him and landed on Ha'ri. His friend glowed softly and the inu leapt to his feet with a growl. Kishi skidded to a stop a few feet away. "Who are you?"
"You're in our house. Who are you?"
"Kishi. What happened to him?"
"Haru's wife happened to him. Can you fix it?"
"Why do you think I can fix it?"
He shrugged, "You made him glow so maybe you can make him walk."
She moved to his side and looked him over, "Can he speak?"
"No."
"Eat?"
"No."
"How long has he been like this?"
"Just over a day."
"Good thing I came looking for him." she replied before stepping back. He watched her concentrate for long moments before muttering something and flicking her . . . wand? . . . at him. It rebounded and the flash nearly hit Shigure as he ducked out of the way. "Sorry."
She tried another and had to dart out of the way of her own spell. "Damn. What the hell did she hit him with?" she tapped a foot and tried a few more. Each one rebounded and they had to duck or get hit. "This is absurd. What did she do to you? I didn't know Michiko even knew any spells like this."
"It wasn't her."
"You said it was Haru's wife. Who else could it have been?" she asked as she tried another. A vase exploded behind them.
"Her evil twin."
"Her what?"
"Evil. Twin." Shigure looked at Hatori, "You sure you should be seeing a woman this flighty? She's a knockout but intelligence is important, too, or so you always say." Hatori's irritation was clear in his eyes as he looked at them. "Maybe you should let me pick for you. You're not doing so well, you know. Girlfriend's nearly killed us half a dozen times and your beloved child silenced you and glued you to the floor."
Kishi's eyes narrowed, "Beloved child?"
"Hatori here has a soft spot for our dark blossom."
"Dark blossom?"
He shrugged, "You'll understand when you see her."
"Don't you have wards to oversee?" she snapped.
He raised a brow at her huffiness, completely unimpressed. "They ran away."
"They what?"
"Ran. Away. Are you going to make me repeat everything? I've had a rough day and I'm not really in the mood for games."
She glared at him before trying another spell on Ha'ri. "I haven't seen Michiko for a couple weeks. She told me she was taking an extended vacation. At least two weeks but possibly a month or more. She has the time on the books so I told her to have fun. I wish she'd told me it was for her honeymoon, I thought we were closer than that. What's been going on?"
"Well, our blossom secretly married Haru, had some hand in helping Kyou, Yuki and Tohru disappear and get put on home schooling under my and Ha'ri's names – I'm dying to know how they passed for us – discovered her dark side, glued Ha'ri here and helped Haru do something to Akito that's left her weeping and weak."
Kishi's eyes darkened with concern, "I don't believe it."
"I'm not making this up." Though it would make excellent material for a novel . . .
"Why would she help hide your cousins and Tohru? Or hurt Hatori? Or Akito? And what dark side? Forget the dark side, that's not actually important right now."
"How is that not important? She hurt them!"
"But why? Michiko is not prone to random acts of violence." Shigure glanced into Akito's room, "Did he do something to Michiko or Haru?"
He drew himself up, "That is none of your business."
"Oh, really?" she asked with a dangerous glint. "I am not required to help any of you."
"You can't leave him like this."
Her chin took a stubborn angle that he'd bet his house drove Ha'ri insane. "I will if you tell me it's none of my business again."
"Fine. I apologize."
"What happened?"
"He can tell you."
"Fine." She continued spelling Hatori until she finally hit upon the right one to free him. He collapsed and took both her and Shigure with him. She wiggled out from under them, "Next time I'm just going to transform you. At least then I'll know what you are."
"You haven't let her see? Ha'ri, I am ashamed of you. You can hug me instead."
She gave him a dark look, "Definitely not."
Hatori moved into Akito's room, "Can you help her?"
Kishi gave him an assessing look, "The better question might be do I want to help?"
"Please. She's suffering."
"Fine." She moved into the room, "What on earth happened in here? This place reeks of magic."
"Evil, black magic?"
She paused, "Actually, no. Old magic, the kind that doesn't understand the difference between evil and good, just does as it's told."
"Magic understands intentions?" Hatori asked.
"Good spells go better when you have good intentions and vice versa. If you heal someone so you can harm them further, it doesn't work as well because it's not meant for that. Does that makes sense?"
"I suppose. What of Akito?"
She circled the shivering girl and flicked a few spells at her. "If she was an object I'd take her to the lab, as she's not I'll have to send a team here instead. You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not."
She picked up the phone and dialed, tapping her foot while she waited for an answer. Shigure stared at her, "You have magic and you call people on the phone?"
"How do you call them? I don't want to leave so this is the most efficient method."
He huffed and sat next to Akito. She allowed him to twine his fingers with hers for a moment before curling away from him. He looked helplessly at Hatori who turned his attention to Kishi, who'd finally gotten an answer. "I need a team sent to me immediately. We have a high priority client that requires assistance. The spell is on her person and the family wishes her to remain with them. She's not a danger to anyone so it will not be a problem." She gave them the address, "Please send Team Two. Thank you." She turned to Hatori, "They'll be here shortly and she should be fine soon. Let's get you something to eat."
"I'll meet you in the kitchen."
"Where are you going?" He gave her a pointed look. "Oh. Never mind. Shigure, would you please show me where the kitchen is?"
"Of course." He led the way and they took seats while the cook made them some quick sandwiches. Hatori arrived half an hour later, freshly showered and changed.
"Feel better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Good. I'll even let you eat before I start asking questions." she offered.
"Blossom, can't you go easy on our Ha'ri? He hasn't done anything wrong."
"Then why does he look so guilty?"
"Ha'ri? Guilty? You must be thinking of someone else."
She gave him a disbelieving look before returning to her chips. As soon as Hatori finished with his tea and sandwiches, he lit a cigarette, ignoring the cook's raised brow, and began to speak. Kishi listened intently until he finished his tale then looked to Shigure for any details that Hatori might not have. After a bit of prodding he told what he knew as well. Once they'd taken her through the events of the previous day she put her elbows on the counter and her chin in her hand. They watched as she considered all they'd told her and Hatori knew nothing good would come from the silent contemplation. If there were two things Kishi never indulged in, they were silence and stillness.
After several minutes she leaned back, "Well, you've made a fine mess of things. I can only imagine your beloved child would agree, were she able to voice her opinion. She must feel horribly betrayed right now."
Hatori felt like she'd slapped him. Nothing she said could have been worse, which shocked him to the core. So much for being sufficiently self aware as Michiko had once said. He let her continue her ruminations without comment. There really wasn't anything to say.
"Do you think it's possible she's still in there?"
"I don't know. I have never wiped a schizophrenic's memories before."
"Well be sure you don't again."
"I will not be using my curse on anyone ever again. I am done with it."
"That's a nice sentiment. What about the next time Akito tells you use it?"
"I will say no."
"I wonder how long that'll last." she muttered. Shigure moved to speak but Hatori silenced him with a look. He whined a bit but subsided.
"I would like to assist in any way I can."
"I do not believe your presence would be at all beneficial to the situation."
"But you do not know that for certain."
She shrugged, "Fine. Enjoy getting your nose rubbed in your mistake. Let's go see Kai."
"Why?"
"He knew her when she was young; perhaps he saw glimpses of this Khristalle and knows how to repress her."
He pulled his blazer on, "I'll follow you."
"Like I'm going to take my eyes off of you." She grabbed his wrist and took him to the docks. He nearly fell on his face before righting himself.
"A little warning, if you would?"
"Sorry." she said, not looking it in the least. She flicked a spell and dragged him along until the sounds of a commotion reached their ears.
"Get it off!"
"We're trying. Someone call Mi, maybe she knows what it is."
"Stop!" Kishi yelled as they rounded the corner. Half a dozen startled faces turned towards them. "Don't call her. We have a situation."
"Yeah, we do! I'm covered in sparkles! Get them the hell off me!" Kai shouted. Kishi flicked her wand and the spell shine disappeared. "What was that for?"
"I want to know what you know about Michiko."
"That's kind of a broad request." He glanced at Hatori, "And I'm not sure what I should say in front of him anyway."
"Really? Why?"
"She doesn't trust him."
At Kishi's expression, Kai pushed Hatori against the wall, "What did you do?" Hatori just looked at him. He was certainly not going to stoop to the level of physical violence.
"Yeah, what did you do, Doc?" Nate's low rumble sounded from next to them.
"Let me go." Hatori ordered.
"What if I don't want to?" Hatori continued to merely look at them. "Not scared, Doc?"
"Are you quite finished?"
"Not even close. What did you do to Mi? Once I know that, I'll know how finished I am."
Hatori responded in a completely inflectionless voice, "I wiped her memories and destroyed her in the process."
Kishi stopped talking to Joey mid-sentence and turned her attention to the men. Kai released him in shock but the other two were there to take up the slack. "You-What? Why? She loves you."
Hatori tightened his hold on his emotions, "I was ordered to."
"And you just did it? No questions?"
"No questions."
"Did you know it was going to happen?"
"I should have realized the possibility."
Hatori watched as Kai's face paled with rage and he pushed the other two away to wrap his hand around his throat. "So, you murdered Mi?"
"You could say that."
He flinched when the hand tightened but made no move to defend himself. "Do you have anything to say to defend your actions?"
"Not to you."
"To whom?"
"Haru." he replied as his world started to fade around the edges.
"Then you better make your peace with him by phone because there's no way you're leaving here breathing."
Kishi's voice sounded from far away, "She is not yet gone."
"What do you mean? He said he destroyed her."
"He wiped her memories but her body still lives. It is under the control of her dark half. If he didn't wipe everything out, she should be in there somewhere. We just have to find a way to get to her."
Kai gave Hatori's throat one last squeeze before releasing him. He crumpled to the ground and took several shallow breaths while Kishi quickly explained what happened. Kai shook his head, "She's scary."
The guys laughed, "You're scared of little Mi?"
"That woman isn't little Mi. Is she sporting that ridiculously long black ponytail?"
"It was long, but loose." Hatori wheezed. "You've met her?"
"Briefly."
"Be grateful." he muttered.
"I am. She started to turn on me one night when I was stitching her up, hence the liquor."
"I see."
"I doubt it. Did you know she was the only one that could get to Kyou and the others?" Kai asked.
Hatori looked up at him in horror. "We don't know where they are?"
"Nope. Can you undo it?"
He dragged himself off the ground and leaned against the wall. "No."
"You sure about that? Think real hard. That's two members of your family and an innocent girl that have no way to communicate with the outside world. Mi was checking on them every other day and taking them supplies. Who's going to do it now? The papers will have a field day when their bodies turn up, don't you think?" he pressed.
"None of you know how to contact them?"
"Sure, through Mi."
"She is gone!" Hatori snapped, the consequences of his actions sinking in fully. He had not one but four deaths on his conscious if they didn't find a way to the teens in Michiko's keeping.
"Guess her instincts were right." Kai snapped before walking away.
Nate got in his space, "You will be dealt with once we fix this."
The gang followed Kai and left Kishi and Hatori alone. The look she gave him made clear things between them were over and he mourned the loss even as he accepted its inevitability.
----------
Haru glanced up as a knock sounded on the door. Khristalle gave it a dark look before returning her attention to him. When it continued, he sighed. "I need to answer it."
"No."
"They're obviously not going to give up."
"I do not care."
The knocking turned to pounding. "Doesn't the noise bother you?"
"Yes."
"Then let me answer it. I'm not going to leave you."
She gave him an assessing look and Haru returned it tiredly. Learning to live with his wife's dark half was exhausting. He hoped he wasn't this single minded as Black Haru. Thoughts of the positions he had found himself in upon returning said he probably was. The instance where he found himself in this very apartment with his pants unzipped came vividly to mind. "Very well."
Haru nodded and answered the door to find a frantic Kai on the other side. Fantastic.
"You okay, man?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Where's Mi?"
"She's not here right now." Go away. Let me handle this without anyone else getting involved. Please.
"Then who were you talking to?"
"I was on the phone."
"I heard them talking back."
The teen's eyes narrowed, "Your point?"
"I want to see Mi."
"She's gone." a familiar voice said as Michiko came up behind Haru.
Kai sucked in a sharp breath as he recognized the look in her eyes. "It's you."
"I remember you."
Haru looked between them curiously. "You've met?"
"Not exactly. This is how she was when we first met. More of this and a lot less of the girl she is now."
"The girl is gone now and it's all me."
"I don't believe that." he retorted acidly. Haru closed his eyes, he'd been careful to not incite her temper, uncertain how bad it was and here Kai was, just looking for trouble.
"Why not?"
"Because she was there first. You came later."
"I have always been here."
"Maybe, but she is the one in charge."
"She rules us no longer."
"But she might be in there somewhere."
"No. I am in control now." She looked at Haru, "I wish to bed you again. Get rid of him before I do."
Kai leaned closer as she walked away, "Sorry, it pisses me off to see her running things. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. She hasn't hurt me. I don't think she will. She's curious about why her other half liked me so much. She really likes my other side and keeps aggravating me. No one's ever died of aggravation so I'm fine. Just tired." he explained.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure. She's still my wife. This is her Black Haru and right now, she's running the show. Michiko will be back."
"What about the others?"
"Have Kishi help them. You know where to find them. Keep everyone away until I say it's safe. Just because she likes me doesn't mean she'll like anyone else."
"Be if you need us."
"I'm fine." Haru replied before shutting the door in his face. He allowed her to pull him back down the hall.
-----
Hatori grimaced as they arrived in an alleyway. Travelling like this was utterly unacceptable and had he any choice they'd be in a cab right now. His mental rant was cut short as he was again shoved into a brick wall. He looked into Nate's eyes without expression. "Yes?"
"Why're you here?"
He glanced at Kishi and she waved them off. "We need to check on Haru and I wanted to speak with him about Kyou and the others. He should know where they are."
Kai moved forward, "I just spoke with them."
"Is he safe?" Hatori demanded.
"Well, at least you care about someone. He's fine. No one died of aggravation or sex as far as I know." Kai snapped before returning his attention to Kishi. "They're in the mountains. A hundred miles from a town but I couldn't find it on a map. Michiko took me there from right here."
She relaxed, "You know where they are? Show me."
"How?"
"Concentrate on it. See the details." He did as she asked and she stared into his eyes for a long moment, like she could really see it. "I'll be back."
Kai grabbed her arm, "I'm going with you."
"Fine." She took his arm and they disappeared.
----------
Kyou was the first one across the clearing when they heard the tell-tale sound of someone arriving. "What the hell is going on?"
Kishi explained and Kai related the conversation at the apartment. When they finished the teens were staring in shock. Kyou shook his head, "I don't believe it."
"Believe it."
"How do we fix it?"
She growled in frustration, "I don't know."
"It just took time, before." Kai offered.
"But you said she believes Michiko is gone."
"She wants to be in control so she would prefer to believe that."
"So she might come back?"
"Yeah. I don't see any reason for her not to. It could be that whatever Doc did to her stunned the real Michiko and she's in there not aware she's supposed to be in charge. If that's the case, time is the best medicine."
"But if she's violent we can't leave him alone with her." Yuki argued.
"I agree. I don't like the idea of him alone with her, but I don't know how to get them apart without angering them both." she said.
"Isn't there some kind of spell you can do to make sure she can't hurt him?" Kyou asked.
"Actually, yes. As soon as I get you home I'll see about casting it."
"I don't want to go back. We don't know how Akito will react and I don't want to risk Tohru getting hurt." Kyou said flatly.
"What? You want to stay in the mountains?"
"I like it here. And we're safe." Yuki nodded his agreement.
"Tohru-chan?"
"I'll stay with them."
"Very well. I'll take over bringing supplies as long as I can while we figure out what to do."
"She said there's a town a hundred miles from here. If we can find it, the road, and some form of transportation we can take care of ourselves."
Kishi pondered that for a long moment before her face cleared, "I have an idea. I'll be right back." She stepped away and disappeared, leaving Kai behind.
----------
Hatori snapped the door open when someone started pounding on it and stared at Kishi in surprise. Once she'd left the alley, he hadn't expected to see her again, ever. Unless it was to hand him over to the Yankees to finish him off. "Yes?"
"I need four off road vehicles, four of those GPS things with a lead box to transport them and cash." He lifted a brow and she brushed past him, "It's for the kids."
"There's only three of them."
"And there are four compass points for them to use to find the nearest town."
"Where are they?"
"I have no idea, hence the need of vehicles and GPS things."
"And the money?"
"Food and other supplies."
He crossed his arms, "Not unless I see them first."
She smirked, "Fine."
She grabbed his arm and he felt that awful squeezing sensation again then they were next to a cabin in the middle of the woods. The teens stared at him with varying degrees of disgust and apprehension. Except Tohru, who just looked worried. "See? They're fine. Can I have what I asked for now?"
"I'd like to speak with them."
"I don't think that would be very productive."
Kyou and Kai were staring daggers at him and he nodded, "Very well. If you'll take me back I'll get what you need."
"Thank you."
He grimaced when they landed back in his living room, "Nothing you need is here."
"Fine." she snapped and they were behind the mall. "Better?"
He lifted one brow and entered the building. After checking the directory, they headed to the far side and into the sports supply store. They found four devices that would work for their purposes but the lead box gave them more trouble. "Can't you transport them in a backpack?"
"Sure but they'll be worthless when I'm done."
"Why?"
"I don't mix with electronics."
"Excuse me; do you have any lead-lined boxes?" Hatori asked the clerk stationed behind the counter.
"You might want to try a medical supply store for those."
He sighed. "Fine. Will you please hold these until we come back?"
The clerk shrugged, "Sure."
Kishi led him out of the mall and they took a cab to the nearest medical supplier. He gave her a dark look when they quoted him almost ninety thousand yen for the box but handed over his card and signed without comment. They Apparated back to the mall and paid for the GPS devices. They stopped by the mall bank branch on the way out and he didn't say a word when she demanded several thousand yen, to start with.
"Why won't you just bring them home?"
"They don't want to be there and I'm certainly not putting them in harm's way just to make you happy."
Hatori let out a breath, "Very well."
"Where do we buy cars?"
"We have several suitable vehicles at the compound."
"Fine." She grabbed his arm and landed them on his porch, "Lead on."
He led her to the garage, noting there wasn't a single person outside. They must all be gathered around Akito and waiting for news. She glanced around the garage and flicked her wand again. Four jeeps shrunk and flew over to land on the palm of her hand. When, exactly, had his life become a work of fiction? There was no such thing as magic, and even if there was, he didn't want anything to do with it.
"This is where we part ways. Stay away from Michiko and Haru."
"Are you really going to threaten me?"
She leaned into his space, "I don't need to. Stay. Away."
Kishi disappeared and he refused to acknowledge the hole it left in his life. He wanted nothing more than peace and quiet. The head of the family was going insane – he made a note to check on the team Kishi sent over; the kids didn't want to come back – probably the best thing right now but that didn't make it grate any less; Haru was living with a vicious version of his wife – and that really needed to be taken care of, they couldn't have an outsider harming a member of the Jyuunishi; and he had once again lost the woman he loved because of Akito. Days like these made him wonder what life would be like if he just packed up and left everything and everyone behind. He pinched the bridge of his nose and allowed himself a single moment before squaring his shoulders and beginning the long list of things that needed doing.
----------
Haru looked over at Khristalle's sleeping form as something sparkled blue around her. Red shined around her next and he propped himself on an elbow to try to brush it away. Hands came out of the darkness to cover his mouth and halt his hand.
"Don't touch her."
"Kishi! What are you doing?"
"Making sure she can't hurt you and ensuring she sleeps while we talk."
He glared at her, "She hasn't hurt me."
"And I want to be sure that continues."
"She is my wife. She's not going to hurt me."
The remaining spell shine illuminated the horror in her expression. "That is not your wife."
He pushed her away, "Yes, she is. It's just another part of her."
"She's not like your other half."
"Yes, she is. You don't know her as well as I do."
"Haru, I only want to help."
"We don't need help."
"What about your cousins and Tohru? Who's watching out for them while she's like this?"
"I know you won't let them starve. Kai knows where they are."
"And what about what she helped you do to Akito?"
"What?"
"She gave you a spell to make him suffer."
"Why?"
"Your other side asked for it. Be careful not to let him rule you with her around. No good can come of that."
"I understand." Damn. He'd thought it might be a bad practice, but hearing it from her confirmed it. Well, he'd just have to come up with another plan. Just as soon as Michiko was back in charge, everything would be all right.
"Good. I'll check on you in a few days."
"That's not necessary."
"Of course it is."
"It's not." he replied before lying back down. Khristalle curled into him and he gave Kishi a look.
"Kai said it's likely all she needs is time."
"I know. You can leave now." he said pointedly. Kishi took the hint and let herself out silently. He settled back down and brushed a long strand of hair away from Khristalle's face before running his fingertips down her cheek. He missed Michiko. It was hard to know she was this close but unreachable. Well, he'd just have to be patient. She'd be back soon. He traced her side with his hand as a thought occurred to him. When they'd gotten married, she'd changed her body shape to something almost or exactly like this. Did she realize that? Had it been Khristalle whispering in her ear? Or her just assuming another familiar form? Or just a coincidence? He'd bet everything he had on Khristalle guiding her. Tired beyond words, he gave into sleep with that thought in mind.
He woke to find her studying him and dangerously close to his chest. Haru gently pushed her away, "You don't want to do that here."
She pouted. It was almost funny to see that expression on her face. "Why not?"
He climbed out of bed and held out his hands when she didn't follow, "C'mere."
She watched him warily as she complied and when she was within touching distance, he pulled her flush against him. She looks startled at the hug but it turned to almost comical surprise when he poofed and an ox was standing in front of her. "What did you do?"
"This is my curse."
"You turn into a cow?"
"An ox."
"Well turn back. Hugging you made me want to bed you again."
"It takes a few minutes."
"You can't control it?"
"No."
She studied him thoughtfully, "Are there others like you?"
"Some members of my family."
"Why?"
"I don't know. We've always been this way."
"Interesting." She tapped her foot while she waited for him to change back and as soon as he did she pulled him back to bed.