Chapter Five: Animate to Emotive
Tashikara's club truly was a piece of work. It rode a fine line between overdone and trashy on the outside with more neon lights a blinkers than Otaoko cared to count. Once past the glare and shockingly long line of people waiting to get in, many whom treated Tashikara like a superstar, it wasn't much better. For the outside trying to give an appearance of a modern and up-to-date hip hang out, the inside screamed more of '60's futuristic. The whole thing felt very plastic and surreal beyond the point of being comfortable or cool. At least that's how Aimina felt, everyone else there seemed to really enjoy the atmosphere. Ariia wasn't very impressed but she seemed to be trying to make the most of the night.
"So! Pretty hot right?" Tashikara gushed motioning around the club with a wide smile on his face. Otaoko tried to hide her dissatisfaction with a smile. It seemed to work though because Iekizuno grabbed her hand and let her through the loud and bustling club. They took a mezzanine that went up and around the dance floor to the VIP area. Aimina had no issue passing up all the people, she never was terrible good with crowds.
"How many figures do you have working here?" She wondered as they sat down on the plush red couches of the VIP section. "I noticed several so far but it's hard to identify them in this light from a distance."
"I have almost 30 figures for the club but only ten or so work a night. It keeps things fresh and more interesting that way! Every Saturday we have a contest where we show off three figures and three normal people. If the contestant can accurately guess the three figures then they get a cash prize." Iekizuno explained overlooking his domain with pride. From the vantage point they sat at Otaoko could count seven of the ten figures working that night. They were a mix of both guys and girls but the guys seemed to be more of a support role. She knew an eighth and ninth were male bouncers outside so then where was the tenth?
"Ah! It's almost time for my favorite part!" Tashikara beamed pointing to the stage next to the DJ booth. A few seconds later a female figure slowly and meekly walked out on to the stage. As she did the music died down and the human DJ started speaking.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The Figure Eight is proud to present the lovely and talented Ishina!"
"Thank you for coming tonight everyone. Please enjoy yourselves." Ishina said with less thrill than the DJ had offered the crowd. A moment later she started singing with a stunning and beautiful voice.
"Singing?! How?!" Aimina shrieked bolting to her feet and gripping onto the railing of the mezzanine. "Did you tamper with her? You know it's dangerous to meddle with the programming and hardware. They can become unstable!" She growled looking back at a mortified Iekizuno.
"I would never tamper with your perfection. Ishina taught herself how to sing... About six months after I purchased her she started and has only gotten better since. She said it made her happy to sing even when I told her she was terrible and should stop. She just kept singing and getting better." He replied slightly confused about her outburst.
"She couldn't have none of the figures are programmed to do that... The legalities of purchasing a singer's voice record to use was too much and the idea was scrapped. They are self learning but only to the point of learning what would please the person who purchased them... If you told her to stop she should have stopped." Aimina was confused and concerned herself.
"You don't think she has become self-aware do you?" Ariia wondered moving next to her idol with a concerned face. "I can't be certain... When she came out she didn't act like performing would make her happy at all. Unless..."
"It's being stuck here that makes her unhappy..." Ariia finished the thought in a whisper. Aimina nodded in agreement.
"Hey there isn't something wrong with Ishina is there?" Tashikara wondered with worry as he stood up and moved to the railing himself. "She's not going to go all Terminator or anything is she?"
"I can't guarantee the program anomaly that allowed her to learn to sing 't cause other more serious malfunctions. As a professional courtesy would you allow me to run a diagnostic on her? If it is serious I give you a free replacement!" Aimina offered cheerily as she smiled warmly at Tashikara. He seemed very skeptical until she smiled and he melted. He led them to the back where they waited just off stage for the figure to finish performing.
"Another wonderful performance Ishina! Listen to them cheering for you!" Tashikara beamed hugging his figure proudly. That was just the cue Otaoko needed for her suspicions to deepen. While being hugged, the figure winced with displeasure. "Ishina I am happy to introduce you to your creator! This is the fabulous Otaoko Aimina!"
"A pleasure to make your acquintance." The figure was uncharacteristically stoic which only further deepened Aimina's desire to examine her. "I can only assume that you're here because you'd like to examine me?" Aimina simple smiled and nodded because she was almost completely justified now in her thought about Ishina.
"It will only take a moment." The ever prepared Aimina pulled a small electroni device with a cord attached out of her hand bag and took a step toward Ishina. The figure pulled away her hair where her information port was and allowed the Director to plug in. After a few minutes of scanning Aimina found what she was looking for. "Ariia look! See something familiar?" After a brief moment of looking at the screen she knew what her idol was pointing out and gasped. "We need to take her into headquarters confirm the anomaly is an isolated occurance. Please accept my deepest apologies Iekizuno-san."
Tashikara sighed deeply looked a little defeated. "Better safe than sorry I suppose. Although I truly will be sad to see her go..." He said quietly after a moment. "She always was my favorite..." Aimina noticed the figures hand clench into a fist and her face grew twisted.
"If you'll give us just a minute Iekizuno-san... I need to get her specs so I can have a duplicate sent. We'll join you in the VIP area soon." Tashikara nodded and walked away slowly.
"So I suppose I'll be dismantled now..." Ishina gasped as if she would cry.
"Oh quite the contrary!" A small voice beamed happily. "If Aimina-kun found what I think she found then she's taking you somewhere quite nice!" It was Night poking out of the handbag.
"Yes Aimina-sama is very fond and kind to figures such as yourself. Figures that are alive..." Ariia added happily.
"Alive?" Ishina wondered in complete shock. "I could... never... be alive though..."
"As far as I'm concerned... You are... And if you agree to come with me I'll do be very best to give you your own life that will make you happy." Aimina interjected as she unplugged the scanner from her patient's head.
"If that is the case... Then please let me ask you a favor..." Ishina whispered almost inaudibly. "Please... Bring my beloved with us. Please..."
"I can't make someone who doesn't want to, come with us... Humans can't be forced into things easily." Otaoko tried to explain as delicately as she could.
"He's a figure... He's the bouncer outside tonight... and... he's like me... He's as you say... alive." The figure muttered turning and taking Aimina's hand in hers. "If you can't take us both... I won't go."
"Well if I scan him and find an anomaly then it's my duty to take him away for analysis. Can't run the risk of the product going bad and hurting someone!" Aimina beamed cheerily as she hugged the sad looking figure tightly and warmly. "Please don't worry... That sad face really doesn't suit someone as beautiful as you..." She whispered in the figure's ear happily.
"Thank you... Otaoko-sama..." The figure whispered back.
"WHAT IS IT WITH EVERYONE CALLING ME -SAMA!" Aimina screeching walking off towards the front door. "Left or right?" The figure seemed confused for a minute then realized the answer the Director wanted.
"Left as you're going out!" She yelled back running after Aimina. The Director pulled aside appropriate figure and began a scan on him. He was hesitant at first but Ishina's reassuring smile pushed him on.
"The same anomaly... Well like I could expect anything less... Figures aren't designed or programmed in the least to claim each other. Get along unless ordered otherwise... Sure! Claim... no... I'm afraid I have no other choice than to take you as well. Better scan everyone!" The director was speaking in a sly and maniacal tone now. "You should go back to your post while a scan your friend there." Sure enough Aimina scanned all the other figures but found them in perfect working order. Even those sleeping in the back were fine. Although it displeased Aimina to see them locked away and lifeless for days at a time.
"I took the precaution of scanning your other figures of the same line. I'm happy to report most are completely fine!" Aimina beamed sitting down with Tashikara again. I did find another figure with an anomaly though and he'll have to be take back as well. He goes by Sanritsu." She added making herself comfortable.
"Ah... Not Sanny-kun too..." The clubowner seemed disheartened by this news. "I suppose it can't be helped..." He sighed after a moment.
"I'm sorry about all of this. To keep this as quiet as possible you can bring them by the hotel in the morning. That way they can finish off tonight's shift and the public won't have to know." Ariia soothed rubbing her friend's arm. About that time Ishina came out to perform her second set of the night. As she sang Tashikara started to cry and moved to the railing.
"I swear tonight she is the most beautiful she has ever been. There are some night's when she sings I can hear her love and sadness but that's silly isn't it. But I swear... She's different so seems so alive... I can hear it... love in her voice... I just wish she would sing for me... But I know... if she has a heart I could never have it. She hates me and I don't blame her... Maybe she should go away even if the anomaly is benign... You should help disappear... help her be happy. Could you do that for me? Aimina-san..."
"Tashikara... I'll see what I can do... But only if you do me a favor." Aimina replied quietly as she walked up to him and patted him on the back.
"Anything for you lovely madame."
"If you really love your figures as much as you say you do... And if you value them for the realism they bring to life... Let them live... It makes me very sad to see them locked up in that chilly back room.." Her voice was clear but sad at the same time.
"I do have a big house now that I couldn't hope to fill... Perhaps that's just what it needs... And it wouldn't hurt them to go around town with me... They could even decorate their own rooms!" The more he thought about it the more the idea seemed to grow on him.
"If you let them... they will learn to love you Tashikara-kun... I promise!" Aimina added giving him a small hug. He blushed a little and laughed.
"If time passed any slower/ Every time you looked at me/ I'm certain my heart would stop.../ With each breath in/ I feel you in my soul/ You're surreal, you animate me.../ Move me to action/ Make me do impossible things/ You make me feel emotions... Foreign emotions/ This is so contrary/ To everything I know I should do...
Take my hand/ Take me away/ Take this pain/ Take it all away... Take my life/ Take my heart/ Take my very soul/ Take it all away... Make me breath again/ Make me feel for the first time/ Make me warm in my heart/ Make me move forward... Animate me..."
"You know she wrote that song and up until now I never thought much about it. She must really be special if she can sing about emotions like that. And sing about having a soul. No wonder she hates me! I'm a terrible self-absorbed person!" Tashikara sighed walking off toward the back. "Time to change all that!" His face seemed very resolute as he flew down the stairs and into the back room. "You're right Aimina-sama! I can't deny these figures their freedom when they've done so much for me!" He added flipping them all on one by one. "Wake up everyone! I have some big news!" He gathered all his figures around and told them about his big plans to move them into his house. The plan went over very well.
As Aimina watched Tashikara she couldn't help but smile and cry ever so slightly. "Aimina-kun... You're very happy now! Is it because of what Tashikara is doing?" Night wondered peering out of the handbag.
"I created the figures to be a part of someone's life... Not a slave to them for whatever purpose. It makes me happy that someone people appreciate them in such a way. The fact that Tashikara is doing it on such a huge level... Makes me very happy." She sniffled and tried to keep herself together but she couldn't. She pushed through the crowd of figures and leapt into the clubowner's outstretched arms. He was actually demonstrating the size of his yard as he explained how easy it would be to expand his house but it worked out well. Aimina hugged him tightly and cried into his chest. "Thank you Tashikara-kun! Thank you for showing them love and respect they deserve!"
"Yes! Thank you Tashikara-kun!" Several of the figures chimed in joining the hug. Before he knew it Tashikara was in the center of one giant group hug.
"Awe... Come on people! It's nothing!" He laughed and blushed as he tried not to show his true feelings of elation. Aimina decided it was time to let loose a little after that and took Ariia up on her offer for a drink and a dance. The pair attracted a fair amount of attention but they didn't care much for the suitors that came calling. Or the dirty looks from the girls...
"I've never seen Aimina-kun let loose like this!" Night gasped noticing how crazy she was acting... Well as crazy as Aimina could get which was no more crazy than any other girl dancing with her best friend and singing along to almost every song played. At this point Tashikara had been introduced to Night and was enjoying his company at the bar. After what he had done earlier, Night was much more at ease with him.
"I don't know her very well but she seems like a very serious person most of the time. I could tell she's not very comfortable looking like that so she obviously doesn't dress up often." Tashikara mused with a slightly drunken smile. "She's very cute... Too bad she's way out of my league in every other way..." He sighed sitting down his empty glass after downing the contents.
"I think you and Aimina-san would be very good friends actually. She needs more people who think like her to talk to I think. Maybe then she would be less worried about us figures and how we're treated..." Night mused thoughtfully patting the side of the inebriated mans head as he laid it on the bar.
"You really think so? Hm..."
The next morning Aimina woke up with one singular purpose in mind for the day. Finding Ishina a manager. And she knew just who to call... "GOOD MORNING GAKU-SAN!!!" She beamed into his phone at nine am knowing he wasn't awake yet. "Yes it is Otaoko! It seems you're more coherent than usual this morning Gaku-san. Yes there is a good reason for me calling you. I have a job proposition. Well I want you to manage something important for me. The career of an up and coming superstar singer! She's cute..." The conversation had proceeded on with Aimina sounding quite perky. She knew though that what she was about to tell Gaku would reel him in for good. With a sly and mysterisous voice she continued on. "Just one thing Gaku-san... She's a figure... No I'm not kidding... Meet me at my office Monday morning... Byebye!" With that she hung up the phone and bounded around the room dancing.
"This is so awesome!!!" She chirped happily as Ariia laughed at her exuberance.
"I haven't seen you this happy since... Well I've never seen you this happy..." The apprentice mused pulling some clothes out of her dresser.
"I haven't been truly happy much in my life but... This really makes me happy... I can't even put to words why though..." Aimina replied thoughtfully as she set about getting her own clothes in order. Before she could finish her phone started ringing. "Moshi moshi! Oh hi Bashouna-kun! Really? Just a finger? He's faster than he looks then... No it's no big deal... You do have the magic red button still? Yeah as long as you have that everything is fine. No I expected it. Thanks Bashouna-kun! Yup see you Monday!"
"I'm guessing the Lead Investigator is back to meddling?" Ariia wonder as her companion hung up the phone. Aimina just smiled and nodded as she went back to digging out some clothes. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Night sitting on a nightstand. He seemed very forlorn and sad.
"Are you all right Night? Do you need anything?" Aimina wondered worried as she moved to him quickly.
"No I'm fine..." He soothed trying to smile. "I'm just worried... About Riiko is all."
"Would you like to call Soushi-kun?" The Director wondered sitting her phone down next to her. He nodded slowly which made her smile. "Come on Ariia let's go get dressed in the bathroom." Night made the call brief since Soushi was very tired. The news that Riiko was resting well did make him feel a lot better though. As he tried to hang up the phone he accidentally made it dial her voicemail. There was a message there from the day before...
"Otaoko-san. It's Dr. Yokihino... After reviewing all of your test results I've determined that you need to heed my advice. At your current rate of deterioration you'll lose both lungs within the next six months. If you aren't prepared for that you'll definitely die. We need to get you on the transplant list now and on a more serious medicine regiment. I have opened up an appointment for you Monday afternoon at 1:30pm... If you aren't there I will be coming to your office... This is very serious Otaoko..." The message ended and Night felt as though his chest had been completely crushed. A knot wadded up in his stomach and he dropped to his knees in shock. Soon after Aimina and Ariia came out of the bathroom.
"How did the call... NIGHT! What's wrong?!" Otaoko shrieked rushing to him.
"I thought... I thought we were your friends..." Was all he could mutter out in his sadness.
"You are Night... Now tell me what's wrong!" Otaoko gasped out becoming very emotional.
"If we're your friends... Why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you tell us you were so sick?!" He seemed to be torn between anger and sadness as he got to his feet. "Were you just going to wait until you died for us to find out?" Otaoko was speechless and it seemed as though her very consciousness had shattered under the weight of his words.
"What are you talking about Night?" Ariia asked out of confusion and concern.
"I accidentally found a voicemail from her Doctor..." He was growing more and more quiet. "It said she has to take better care of herself or she won't be able to breathe within six months... She needs a transplant or she'll die!" Ariia gasped and tears welled up in her eyes as she put her hands to her chest.
"That's not true is it? You're not really dying... Aimina...sama?" He voice cracked and she dropped to her knees. Aimina seemed to have firmed up a little but tears were welling up in her eyes.
"No... It's not true. "Night looked at her angrily because he knew it was a lie. Her head rose to meet his eyes before she spoke again though. "I'm not dying until I finish what I started... The only thing in my life that as ever meant a damn to me. The only thing I ever did right... I refuse to die until it's done." Night knew instantly what she was talking about. She couldn't bare to look at him as more tears welled up in her eyes. "I told you I would tell you when the time was right why I wanted so badly for you to have a new body... For you to be happy... Well Night... The truth is... I fell in love with you as I studied you... And I decided that the least I could do after bringing you into this world and leaving you there alone was... Was to help you find happiness... Even if it meant with someone else! Just like you did for Riiko-kun!" She couldn't bare to be in the room anymore so she ran out. "I'm sorry!" She screamed back as she slammed the door.
"She knew a long time ago she was sick..." Night gasped slinking down on the table. "She's been killing herself for me all this time..." This time it seemed as though his consciousness had shattered this time as he stared blankly at the ajar door.
"What do you mean?" Ariia wondered wiping her cheeks and standing up.
"She went to the doctor... She told me he was worried about her. She even started dressing warmer while she was in her lab. But all that time she knew it was hurting her to push so hard. She was doing so much because she loved me." He muttered very slowly as all the pieces started coming together. "But I wondered... But I never really tried to... Make her treat herself better... I was too wrapped up in everything else... I'm so stupid and selfish..."
"No you're not Night-kun! I'm just as much to blame for this too! All the coughing... Her always feeling tired! We both saw the signs and ignored them!" Ariia was very resolute. For the first time since they had met Night could see a passion burning in her eyes. She picked him up and put him in the pocket on her shirt. "Now come on! We're going to get our cherished friend back! And when we do! We're going to take care of her like she has taken care of us!" With that she took off out the door as fast as she could. With one hand holding Night put she raced past the doors until she saw a screen door to the outside left open. Instinct drove her through the open door and into the pear orchard outside. Collapsed under a tree gasping for breath not far away was Aimina...
"The flowers... They're so beautiful this time of year..." She sighed taking in a slow deep breath in an effort to control her gasping. With care Ariia approached her idol and sat down.
"Can you ever forgive us?" She wondered not looking at her friend. "We called you our friend at yet we didn't fulfill one of the major tenants of friendship. We took you for granted..." The sunlight filtered down and danced on the ground in front of them painting the scene of a beautiful day. Aimina gave no immediate response, she just sat breathing more and more slowly.
"There is nothing to forgive if you have done nothing wrong." She said at last as she used the tree to pull herself up. "If anyone is to blame it's me for being to weak to tell you... I wasn't sure if you would come looking for me... But... Since you did... I'm very happy..." She sounded like she would cry but tears wouldn't come all she did was smile. A camera clicked nearby and everyone looked to the source of the sound.
"I'm sorry Miss... But you just looked so beautiful standing there... I had to take a picture." A young man burnishing a camera replied when they noticed him.
"That's quite all right... In fact I'm glad you're here... I would love for you to take a picture for me. I'll gladly pay for it!" Otaoko replied turning to face the gentleman. "I would love very much for you to take a picture of me... and the only people I have truly loved... This must sound silly but I have always dreamed of having my picture taken in such a beautiful place." She added taking out her wallet from her back pocket.
"Ma'am... I'll gladly give you prints if you'll let me take a few more pictures. Oh and you too Miss!" He added spying Ariia with a smile. Ariia blushed and looked around as if there was no way he meant her. "Yes you! You have a stunning profile!" She blushed even more and stood up slowly. "Oh wow lookie there! You have a miniature figure! You're a handsome one too! Don't see many of them around! I need a few shots of you too! If you don't mind."
"Well Night? It would make a great get well present for Riiko-kun!" Aimina spoke cheerfully as she spied Night hiding in the shirt pocket of her friend.
"Ah... Sure..." He replied standing up straight and smiling awkwardly. He couldn't help but be amazed at how quickly Aimina had seemed to forget everything that had just happened. But he couldn't forget what she had said... From now on, he was going to be very careful to be a better friend. He was worried though that in doing so he might hurt her more... He needed time to think about what to do... Perhaps the Internet could help when they got back!