A teenage witch, Jade's headache was subsiding when she got home, but her mind was still a bit fuzzy. Ever since she learned how, she kept pushing those weird looking bony points on her head flat again with a spell her mother taught her, and every time she did it screwed her magic up for the day and even made walking a chore. It wasn't that she hated her sister Mariko and ones like her. They all had light hair of some kind, so the triangular horns didn't look that bad on them. Besides, she was a dark haired witch just like her mother, wasn't she? She shouldn't have horns.
Thinking about this, she tripped going up the porch steps. Luckily, it was the top one so she only fell on the flat floor of the porch, and not on the steps. It really hurt when she did that. Growling in frustration at herself, she got up to see the door open.
In the doorway, her sister, the blond haired college student, Mariko asked, "Are you OK?"
Irritated, Jade grumbled, "You're home?"
"Hello to you too. Mom asked me to come home while she's off doing something," Mariko told her. "Can I ask you something? Why didn't you use your mind arms to stop yourself from falling?"
Jade frowned at her. "I don't have any," he replied.
"You should," Mariko said cautiously. "Did you break your horns off?"
"I'm not suppose to have any," Jade said with a frown.
"You were born with them, I was there," Mariko told her.
"That was a mistake," Jade stated. She slipped by her older sister and went in the house.
Mariko watched Jade go in and drop her books on the table, then plop herself down and plant her head in her hands. Going over to Jade, Mariko sat beside her. "We're born how we are born," Mariko said. "What you are, is what you are. You know that, right?"
"I'm a witch just like my mother," Jade stated.
Shifting to face her, Mariko said, "Yes, you are part witch. You also have diclonius in you." In a softer tone, she said, "Jade, everyone is different. I know you think highly of mom, I do too, but you are not her clone. The more you deny the part of yourself that is diclonius, the more you are hurting yourself."
"I'm not hurting myself," Jade grumbled.
Mariko shook her head sadly. "OK," she asked, "So why did you fall on the steps you go up and down every day?"
"I've got a headache," Jade stated.
Mariko slipped out an invisible arm and felt her head. Sensing magic, she spoke a dispelling incantation Ruby had taught her. The sides of Jade's head popped out as Jade's eyes went wide. On both sides of her head, bone peeked out of her hair. "Headache gone?" Mariko asked.
Jade gasped and felt the sides of her head. "Why did you do that?" she asked angrily.
"You were compressing your skull with magic, that's why your head hurt and most likely why your spells misfire," Mariko explained.
"You have magic?" Jade asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Mariko said with a crooked grin. "I went to the witch college too. Mom also taught me at home. I just don't flaunt it like some people."
"But ... I'm the witch!" Jade cried.
Rolling her eyes at Jade, Mariko said, "Oh come on! Stop and think! Is there anyone else you know that had dual-yokai parentage? Come on, think hard," she said in a sarcastic taunt.
"Don't pick on me!" Jade snapped.
Frowning at her, Mariko said, "I'm not picking on you, you little twerp! Moka Junior is part snow fairy, part vampire, isn't she? So are her siblings. The Matsumoto boy, I forget his first name, is a dragon / fairy mix, you're not the only one, but you ARE a witch / Diclonius mix. If anything you should be thankful you have so many powers at your disposal. Or would, if you weren't busy squashing your head together."
Jade scrunched her face up, looking like she was ready to cry. "I already get picked on! When other kids see these," she said, pointing to her horns, "They are going to laugh at me!"
Mariko let out a snort and said, "At least you'll be able to do a pan spell without screwing it up, and whack them one if they do. And yes, I've heard all about you being a terrible witch. You've been doing it to yourself, Jade."
Jade got up and stomped off for her room.
"If you squash your horns in, I'll just undo the magic again!" Mariko called after her.
Jade spun, pulled her wand and conjured a pan. A perfect brass pan immediately appeared over Mariko, who caught it with her mind arms as it fell. Inspecting the pan, Mariko gave Jade a thumbs up.
"Nice one! Quick and it came out right!" Mariko praised, then asked, "Why do you think that is?"
Jade turned and stomped to her room.
.
Mariko had dinner started by the time Ruby came down. She was setting the table when Hosoi got home. Mariko hugged her father who she hadn't seen since she started college.
"It's good to see you, Mariko," Hosoi said as he hugged her.
"You too, Papa! I went over to the Aono's, but Kurumu wasn't home. I hope she gets back before I have to leave."
"How long can you stay?" Ruby asked.
"Only a few weeks," Mariko said sadly. "I have to go study some old stone tablets in Switzerland, then go on a dig in Southern Africa to complete my Masters. I already have credits towards my PHD, but I can't do any more until I finish my Master's Degree."
Gazing proudly at his daughter, Hosoi said, "Be sure you tell us when you graduate. I want to be in the front row to see that."
"Sure thing, Papa," Mariko replied, smiling at him. Her face then fell a bit as she said, "Papa, once I do have my PHD, I want to go back to our home world."
Hosoi frowned at her and asked, "Why would you do that?"
"Mariko, dear, aren't diclonius hunted there?" Ruby asked with a worried look.
"We are," Mariko agreed. "But I want to find out where we came from." Shifting her gaze between her Papa and stepmother, she said, "We just didn't pop up out of nowhere. I know, Papa, you thought Lucy was the 'Queen', but where did she come from? Every species has origins, yes, but going from completely human to full diclonius does not happen overnight, or with a single misfire of DNA. From what I have studied about genetics, it should have taken twenty five to thirty generations of constant change for that to happen IF we diclonius did originate from modern humans. We could have been developing along very similar parallel lines for hundreds of thousands of years. I believe there are more diclonius that have learned to hide what they are from humans very well, just as many yokai here have been doing."
Pushing his glasses up his nose, Hosio said in a serious tone, "Mariko, I know you are very powerful. The most powerful diclonius known, and you have magic. If you go back, you will also be alone. That will make you vulnerable. Please, reconsider."
Mariko offered him a gentle smile. "That you for your concern, Papa. I feel I have to do this. Mr. Aono has been working hard to have all yokai accepted here in this world. If there is any chance that other diclonius are in our home world and live in fear of being discovered, I have to do something about it."
"That is very noble of you, dear," Ruby said sincerely. "But like your Papa said, you could well be in great danger there and will be no one to help you."
Mariko nodded. "I know that. I also remember you saved me and Papa, and I am very grateful for that. I believe it is my turn to try and save some people if I can," Mariko explained.
Hosoi remembered well the murderous little girl she had been. All the hate she had absorbed back in that hell hole of a facility. It amazed him how much she had changed, how much his daughter had grown up and turned into a fine woman. "My Mariko, you make me so proud," he said with a sniffle.
.
Mariko's step-mother, Ruby, convinced Mariko to go back to her home world now while Ruby was watching, just in case there was trouble. Now 23 years old, Mariko could handle herself, but the worry on Ruby's face made her agree. Ruby had saved Mariko and her papa from being blown up by those bombs put inside her. Since then, Ruby married Papa and had helped bring Mariko up right. Yes, Mariko was a Diclonius, but Ruby was a real Witch and could perform real magic. Ruby had done wonders for Mariko and her Papa. Mariko also knew Ruby would do her best to keep Mariko safe. She'd go back now to 'scope things out', and find out if it was safe to live there for any length of time. Ruby made a portal back to the world where Hosoi and Mariko came from and Mariko walked through it wearing a wide brimmed hat over her curly long blonde hair.
Mariko walked down the street to where the Maple Inn used to be. Going up the stairs, she saw the privacy walls were still there. Through the hole where the gate had been removed, she saw the new apartment building that looked nothing like the classic construction of the Inn she'd seen pictures of. For how much Kouta, Lucy and their family talked about this place, they would be heartbroken to see their old beloved home was gone.
"Excuse me, Miss?" a man in work clothes asked from behind her.
Mariko jumped to the side as she spun to face him, wondering if she had been caught already. The middle aged man only bowed with an 'arigato' and went inside. He hadn't tried to hurt or grab her. He only wanted to get by, having no clue who she was.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Mariko went on her way. Her disguise was working. With a fashionable wide brimmed hat on her blond head, it appeared no one realized she was a diclonius. Apparently, the people her father had worked for when she was a small child locked away in a steel vault were no longer around. She considered that a good thing. It was also good her father was protected from the people here. He was no longer 'Director Kurama', he was Mr. Kurama, student counselor and financial planner for the Witch Hill school system. A man Mariko was proud to call Father.
After visiting the site of the Maple Inn, there was another place she had to see. Walking on, she found the bridge to the island where she had fought, or rather played with Nana during what seemed like a lifetime ago. It looked the same except for the obviously repainted street. Going over to the temple, she climbed the stairs up to the top observation deck where she had fought Lucy. Again, there was no sign of the battle after all this time. The pavilion cover was back up, and there were no SAT men with guns hiding in the corners. It was like this place had forgotten what had happened here.
Walking slowly past the crystal shaped art in the center of the observation platform, Mariko couldn't help but wonder at how much smaller this place looked now. Maybe it was because it was daytime, or maybe it was just that she had grown up now. She did find the spot where she had seen her father for the very first time. For no other reason, this site was sacred to her. If it was possible, she would have a granite stone placed on the spot her wheelchair had landed reading : This marks the place where Kurama Mariko began to live.
Following the flow of tourists back down, she caught a bus ride back over to the mainland. Near the bus stop was a small cafe with outdoor seating. Mariko went in and got tea and a bento. She took a seat outside that had a view of the ocean, with that fateful island in view. She stared off at nothing as she concentrated on the feel of any other diclonius. Nothing, she was alone here.
"Excuse me, Miss? May I sit here?" a nervous voice asked.
Mariko looked to see a typical Japanese man with neatly cut dark hair and dark eyes looking at her with a hopeful smile. She nodded and motioned to the chair across the small table from her. "Please do," she said pleasantly.
The man bowed and thanked her. He set his bag down on the ground and put his camera on the table. He then looked at her in surprise and said, "I ... must go order, I will return shortly." He got up, bowed again and quickly strode back into the cafe.
Mariko grinned at his nervous behavior. One thing she had learned is when to tell when a man was attracted to her. She guessed he was in his mid to late twenties, and he was fairly handsome. He was completely human, but she wouldn't hold that against him.
He returned with his own drink, bento, and a small basket of sweet rolls. He put the sweet rolls in the middle of the table and said, "Please share these with me."
Mariko tried hard to hide her smirk and failed. "And who am I sharing with?" she asked.
The man gapped at her and blushed back to his ears. "Forgive me!" he cried and bowed. "I am Isobe Hedeki, so sorry for not saying so sooner!"
Mariko chuckled at him. "I am Kurama Mariko. Pleased to meet you, Hedeki-san."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mariko-San," Hedeki replied. "Do you live near here?"
"Not in a long time," Mariko said with a sigh. "My parents got me out of here when I was young."
Hedeki raised an eyebrow. "Ahhh, was that about seventeen, eighteen years ago? My uncle died here around that time. I understand there was trouble in the area."
Indeed there was, Mariko thought, but said, "So my Papa tells me. I don't remember much, I was only five years old then."
"I was young also," Hedeki agreed. "I know uncle died, but no one has any details. Since I am a reporter now, I decided to see what I could find out so my family can finally have closure."
"I wish you luck. Have you found anything?" Mariko asked. She did vaguely remember an Isobe, he was a helper of that bitch Shirikawa. She knew he probably died being sliced up by vectors. He probably deserved it too.
Hedeki nodded and slipped over to the chair next to her, speaking as if he was telling a secret. "I have. You see, officially my uncle died from contracting a deadly virus, that was why his body was cremated. The thing is, there is no information about this supposedly deadly virus. If there is a virus that is very contagious and causes death, don't you think people should be warned about it?"
"I do," Mariko agreed.
Hedeki went on. "I have searched, but there is no mention of what this virus is. Not in the national health archives, not in any hospital, not even on any Internet site I can find. Here is another odd thing. I talked to the widow of a man who worked at the same island research center as my uncle did. Her baby died at birth from this virus, or so the doctors claimed. Her husband died of the same infection, but years after their baby did. Why was the woman not affected when she was carrying the child?" Hedeki asked in an impassioned voice. "Things are not adding up here. The government is covering something up, and I feel it is very important I find out what."
Mariko noted he was shoulder to shoulder with her now, and seemed not to notice. In the same conspiratorial tone, Mariko asked, "I do have a question only you can answer."
"Yes, please ask," Hedeki offered.
All but close enough touch the brim of her hat to his head, Mariko asked, "Do you always get so close to someone you just met?"
Hedeki's eyes glazed over as he gapped at her. He then shot up, bowing and apologizing profusely as he stumbled back to his seat. Mariko couldn't help but laugh as he returned to his own seat, nearly spilling himself on the ground.
"It's OK, really," Mariko offered. "I can tell this is very important to you."
"Thank you for not being offended," Hedeki said. "You are right, I started out trying to find out how uncle died, but I feel I have stumbled upon something important to everyone."
"You may have," Mariko agreed. "If you would like my help, I am willing. I came here for a very similar purpose."
"Really?" Hedeki asked with a hopeful smile. "Perhaps we can work together?"
"Perhaps. Have you heard the name Kakuzawa before?" Mariko asked.
The boy shook his head.
"How about Kurama?"
The boy paused, then snapped his fingers. "Yes, from my research at the hospital. Kurama is the name of another woman who supposedly had this deadly virus. It wasn't a virus that killed her, she had to have surgery right after her baby was born, and she died from blood loss. The strange thing about that, is supposedly her baby had the virus and died, but there is no record of the baby's death. Her husband also worked at this island facility. Every odd thing I found leads back to this island facility, and the unknown virus." Hedeki said, then asked, "Have you found anything?"
Mariko shrugged. "No evidence yet. I have an idea this virus was not really a virus but an alteration in DNA, though at the moment I have found no solid proof here."
Hedeki frowned in thought then nodded. "That would make sense," he said slowly. "But there is nothing contagious about DNA. Possibly this DNA alteration was something the government didn't want to get into the general population. During this period of time, the was a very high infant mortality rate. It may all be connected." With a wince, he added, "But that would mean the government was killing babies."
Mariko nodded and said, "There may be other survivors from this purge that are still alive and hiding from the government."
"You mean, we may be able to find out ..." Hedeki paused and asked, "You said 'other' survivors?"
Mariko noticed he picked up on her poorly worded statement. "The one they called 'Lucy' is alive and well. She escaped that facility," Mariko said, not wanting to tell him too much.
"I've heard wild tales about a Lucy in this area. Supposedly, she was a monster with pink hair and horns on her head," Hedeki agreed bearing a smirk like he didn't believe it.
"And Lucy does have the power to infect other people with her DNA, so their children will become like her," Mariko explained.
Hedeki's eyes widened. "Are you serious? How can you possibly know that?"
Mariko glanced around to be sure no one was within earshot, then said, "We went to the same school. Her daughters go there now."
"Really? Where is this?"
Mariko shook her head. In a serious tone, she said, "I won't tell you. You seem to be a nice man, but I can't trust you with that information. We should go. There is someplace I want to visit that may give us a clue."
.
Hedeki paid for their meal, then went with Mariko down to the beach. In a way, he was very happy strolling slowly along with this pretty girl. With her blond hair, slim but curvy figure and her pretty face, Mariko was very attractive. Her reddish pupils were a bit odd, but went well with her light hair. He did have to wonder why they were walking along the beach. "Anything that was here during that time, is probably gone by now," he offered.
"Things, yes," Mariko agreed. Motioning to a covered storage area where some crates were, she added, "Homeless people do inhabit places like this. Unless it's summer, not many people come to the beach. I know of a couple people who used to stay here. If you're trying to hide, this is one of the better places."
"OK," Hedeki said slowly. "Are we going to search through the storage areas and boats to find them?"
"No need, I'll know if who I'm looking for is here," Mariko replied. She then stopped and stared at Hedeki. "I need to trust you," she stated.
Hedeki shied back from her stern gaze. "Ahh, Mariko? I am just searching for the truth, same as you. I have no reason to lie to you or misguide you. I just want to know how my uncle died."
Mariko took a deep breath. She had to know if many humans hated her kind here, or if it was just those people in that facility. This kind young man would be the test. Looking off to the island with the shrine, she pointed to it and said. "Your uncle most likely died on that island. That is the place where I fought Lucy and found my father. We ... got away. I am sure it was either Nana, or most likely Lucy that killed your uncle. He didn't die of some disease, he was cut in half and bled to death almost instantly."
Hedeki choked. Weakly, he asked, "You were there?"
"Yes. My mother died right after I was born. The man in charge of the island facility kept me alive to make sure my father would do his bidding," Mariko said in a monotone voice. "I am Kurama Mariko, the baby you could not find a death certificate for."
"You said you were five years old," Hedeki said, not quite believing her.
"I was." Mariko looked around, they were alone. she brought out her invisible arms and picked up boats to either side of them. Hedeki's eyes grew round.
Mariko took her hat off and continued explaining. "I, like Lucy, was born with invisible appendages that are very powerful. If I wanted to, I could cut these boats in half, or crush them completely." She set the boats down and put her hat back on. "That I know of, there are only three of us who survived that place. Myself, Lucy, and Nana. Every other baby who'd been born like us was held for experimentation and died in a lab in front of men who were watching, or were killed outright not long after they took their first breaths. My father was convinced I was a monster. It took Ku-mama and Ruby to make him understand that even if I am a monster, I am still his daughter. We've been living ... far from here."
"Holy God," Hedeki whispered as he stared at her.
"God has nothing to do with this," Mariko said flatly. "I came back here, to the place that has given me nightmares, the place that I would gladly see destroyed forever, to find out how and why. How did we come to be, and why were the people here so dead set on killing every last one of us." Mariko then shook her head sadly. "Why, even though they knew their guns would not hurt us, did they keep sending armed men after Lucy. All it did was enrage her further. She slaughtered everyone they sent after her."
"All this happened when you were five? How did those guys keep you prisoner?" Hedeki asked, now watching her intently.
"I was locked in a large steel vault and held isolated in darkness. I did not even know what I was, let alone who I was. The only reason they let me out was to go fight Lucy. It wasn't until then I discovered who my father was."
Hedeki scrunched up his face. "That is ... a horror story! Absolutely terrible. No one should have to endure the things you have! I am so sorry, Mariko."
Seeing Hedeki was all but crying from hearing what happened, Mariko cast him a tiny grin and said, "Hey, it's all in the past. We have a safe home now, and a good family."
Hedeki nodded vacantly, then said, "You know everything."
"Not everything, though I intend to find out. If there are any more like me, I will offer them a safe place to be, where those who are different are not hated, killed or used for sick experiments. I also want to find out where we came from," Mariko explained.
"I do too," Hedeki agreed. "It sickens me to think my uncle was involved with such barbaric treatment of children. Mariko, let's work together to find out everything we can," he said firmly.
Mariko eyed him and asked, "You are not afraid of me? I am a monster after all."
"No, that is wrong," Hedeki said firmly as he clenched his fists at his side. "You're not a monster, you're just a woman that has amazing abilities. It is ones like those men who held you, who put you in a dark steel vault and forced your father to do their bidding, now THOSE were monsters." Holding his hand out to her, he asked, "Mariko, after we search the beach today, there's some areas up in the mountains we should probably visit. And tonight, I would feel honored to take you to a nice place for dinner."
Mariko breathed an internal sigh of relief. She took his hand. "Thank you," she said softly. They continued their slow walk down the beach.
.
The walk along the length of the beach turned up nothing. The sun low in the sky, Hedeki offered to pay for a bus ride back to the other end of town where they had started from. Mariko accepted his generosity, providing they travel more inland in the city to cover new ground instead of backtracking. Neither of them having a hotel room for the night yet, he agreed to find them lodging for the night.
The restaurant they went to had a talented chef who flipped and spun his knives as he cooked, receiving applause from the customers. The food was good, Mariko had a nice time. She and Hedeki stayed for a few more drinks before they had to leave and get a place to stay before it got too late. As luck would have it, the closest hotel was already filled up. They found another and managed to get rooms on the same floor.
The next day as they walked through Yokohama, Hedeki talked about his family. He was the oldest of four siblings, his father was a salary man, his mother ran a day care center. Everything in his life was normal - average. Even the girl he had been seeing for a month was as Miss Average as one could get.
Listening to the frustration in his voice as he told about himself, Mariko noted, "It sounds like you crave excitement."
Hedeki shrugged and said, "It's not like I want to do extreme sports or fly fighter jets every day. It's just wish my life was a little more exciting," he said with a huff.
"Be careful what you wish for," Mariko chided in a musical tone.
Hedeki laughed, then said, "Thank you, Mariko. You did show me something extraordinary. When you lifted those boats, that was like, WOW! I'm very glad I met you."
"You mean just because..." Mariko stopped mid sentence and halted in place. Turning, she looked up at an office building they were passing.
"Mariko?" Hedeki asked. He looked the same place she was looking. It was an office building, nothing unusual.
"Someone's in that building," Mariko said as she looked up at the glass walled skyscraper.
"Name above the main doors says 'Honda'. Doesn't say which branch, Honda is a huge corporation," Hedeki told her.
Mariko stepped back to the edge of the curb. Hedeki got behind her to keep her from stepping off.
"Careful!" he warned.
Mariko wasn't listening, she was staring up at the glass fronted building. Slowly, her gaze lowered. she then walked back towards the double set of doors at the main entrance.
Walking into the lobby, Mariko eyed a stairway over in the corner. The stairway door opened and a young girl, Hedeki guessed was maybe five or six, came hurrying out. Wearing a cute dress and a headband with elaborate ties that went over her head, the girl grew a big smile and ran up to Mariko as Mariko squatted down to meet her.
"Are you my sister?" the girl asked as she gazed at Mariko in wonder.
"I'm sorry, dear. No, I'm not. Is your Papa here?" Mariko asked.
The girl nodded. "Papa goes up to his office every day. I go to Mrs. Osawa's room, that's my work for the day," The little girl said firmly.
The receptionist came over to them, looking worried. "Kichida Asuza! Mrs. Osawa is looking for you. Why are you down here?"
The girl blushed and said, "I'm sorry, I thought this lady might be my sister," she said meekly.
The receptionist ignored Mariko's presence and took the girl by the hand. "Come over here until security can take you back up to your room."
Hedeki watched as the receptionist led the girl behind the desk before casting Mariko a cool gaze.
"May I help you?" the woman asked, sounding displeased.
"Not really, I just wanted to meet Asuza-chan," Mariko explained.
"Who are you?" the woman asked.
"Kurama Mariko. Is there a problem?" Mariko asked as she approached the desk.
The receptionists eyes flared. Hedeki could feel tension rising in the air. This was not good. "Ahh, Mariko, maybe we should come back later?"
"Miss Kurama," the receptionist said in an icy tone, "Security has been called. It is best if you leave the building."
"Good idea," Hedeki echoed as he clasped Mariko's hand. He wanted to pull her out of there, but after seeing her lift those boats like it was nothing, he didn't want her angry at him.
Mariko cast a smirk at Hedeki. Going to the desk, she asked, "May I borrow your pen and notepad?" Before the receptionist could reply, Mariko reached over and grabbed the items.
"You are like me, right?" little Asuza asked.
"Yes, dear," Mariko told her with a smile. She wrote down her hotel and room number and held it out to the girl. The receptionist pulled the girl back. Feeling a mind hand coming from the girl, Mariko stopped the girl's hand and floated the note over to her. "Please give this to your father. I need to speak with him."
"I will! We can come see you?" Asuza asked excitedly.
"If your father wishes it. I must be going now. Bye bye," Mariko said and waved her fingers at the Asuza. Asuza waved back heartily. She turned and left with Hedeki.
.
"She what?" Mr. Kichida Masato asked as he looked up at the security officer from his desk.
"Miss Asuza ran out of the day care and down the stairs to the lobby, Sir. She talked to a woman who'd come in off the street. The situation was controlled, the receptionist got Miss Asuza away from the woman. The woman gave Miss Asuza a note. I confiscated it, Sir," the officer explained.
Masato took the note the man offered. "This is a hotel and room number."
"I take it that is where the woman who came in was staying. The receptionist said Miss Asuza thought this woman was her sister."
"That's impossible," Masato stated.
"Then this woman, Kurama Mariko, cannot be her sister."
Masato gapped at the man. He couldn't have heard right. "What was her name?" he asked as his face paled.
"Kurama Mariko, Sir. Should we inform the police?"
"NO! no," Masato said quickly. "Tell me, how old is this Kurama Mariko?"
"Young woman, early or mid twenties."
"It could be her," Masato whispered. He'd been a guard when the vault for number 35 was opened and body parts flew. Director Kurumu's daughter Mariko had vectors so strong, they could feel the wind caused by them before the the doors had even opened. He and the remaining guards had been told that little monster had died, there were no more diclonius. Had she returned to kill the ones she wasn't able to before? Maybe she was here to instill her ultra-violent intentions onto his daughter, who he'd been working so hard with to keep her from developing the true diclonius trait of homicidal behavior. Even right after his wife was chopped in half, he'd held himself together and explained to Asuza why she couldn't hit people with her invisible hands like that. Asuza had cried and promised never to do it again.
"Sir?"
"That is all, thank you," Masato said vacantly. Whether number 35 had come here for him, or to take Asuza away and make her into a monster didn't matter. Either way, he didn't dare meet with her or let Asuza near her again. Asuza was a good girl and had no killing impulse all the other diclonius were known for.
Masato keyed his intercom and called his secretary. "Miss Goto, please arrange train tickets for myself and Asuza. We will be leaving tonight for my property west of Aomori."
.
Mariko had a nice dinner with Hedeki in the hotel dinning room. Expecting Asuza and her father, she retired to her room, and invited Hedeki in with her to keep her company until they arrived. Watching the news as they sat on her bed, Mariko was surprised at some of the headline items of tension between countries. "Where's Tsukune Aono when you need him," she mussed.
"Who?" Hedeki asked.
"Wrong world," Mariko said with a crooked grin. "Tsukune Aono lives on Witch Hill, and pretty much keeps the peace. You need someone like him here."
"Yeah, we do. I swear people today are going nuts, and the government is leading the pack." Hedeki agreed.
They laughed together.
Hedeki bumped her shoulder and asked, "What's your home like?"
Mariko opened her purse and pulled out her picture wallet. "Time to bore you with family photos," she said with a grin.
"Ohhh can't wait!" Hedeki cried in false excitement, and received a playful elbow in his side.
"Remember, you asked for it," Mariko warned as she scrunched up her nose. Opening the small album, she showed him the first picture. "This was taken not long after we got to Witch Hill. The woman who's shoulders I am on is Aono Kurumu. I call her 'Ku-Mama'. She's not really my mother, but she was my first friend there. She is really special to me."
Hedeki stared at the photo of a small Mariko bearing horns sitting on the shoulders of a very busty blue haired woman who bore large bat wings and a long tail. "This was Halloween?" he guessed.
Mariko chuckled and said, "No, the middle of summer. Those are Ku-mama's wings. She took me for flights when I was little. We'd go plant monster smashing. That was great fun."
Flipping to the next two photos, Mariko pointed to the one of an aerial view. "This is a picture of Witch Hill from above. I took the camera with me one time when Ku-Mama took me for a fly. See those green plants with the yellow flowers? That's the sunflower fields. The plant monsters hide in there. We don't go in there, they are in the sunflowers to keep people away. Every now and then, they get too close to a road or the path down the hill, so we thinned them out. Now, I think it's Kumiko and Kaiyo, Ku-mama's kids, that take care of that."
Hedeki nodded absently. Winged people were real?
"And this is dinner time when the Aono's still lived with us and before Akemi and Kumiko were born," Mariko explained. In this photo, Hedeki noted Mariko still bore her horns as did a couple other girls. Pointing, Mariko went around the table and explained who everyone was. "This is Mizore, Ku-Mama, Tsukune, Moka, the little witch is Yukari, Papa, my mother Ruby, Nana, Mayu, Kouta, and Lucy."
"Wow," Hedeki said absently. "That is quite a family."
Mariko showed him the masses at her parents wedding, and got a photo of the gaggle around Moka when she had Akemi. "That was one busy day," Mariko said with a chuckle. "Two babies, one wedding, and one ass-kicking," she said with a grin.
"There was a fight at the wedding?" he asked.
"Yeah, This guy, Apollo, tried to get past Lucy. He talked big, but Lucy knocked him outside, then pounded him into the ground. Akasha, Moka's mother, stopped them before things got worse."
Raising his eyebrows, Hedeki said, "You really live a life of excitement, don't you?"
"I try not to, but sometimes it can't be helped," Mariko said with a sigh.
.
Before Masato got on the train, he called his friend who'd also been a guard at the island facility.
"Masato! Good to hear from you. How have you been doing?"
"Number 35 is alive!" Masato stated heavily. "She came by my building today. I'm getting out of town, I suggest you do the same!"
"Masato, calm down, that was almost twenty years ago. Besides, 35 was killed..."
"Her name is Kurama Mariko. The Director was her father. Somehow, they survived. She's back, and I don't know about you, but I was terrified of her when she was a little kid. I do not want to face her when she's fully grown up and there's no one to control her! I called to warn you. For your own sake, get out of town!"
"You're serious!"
"I am. Please, pack up your family and leave. The train is boarding, I have to go. Good luck."
.
Watching TV and waiting for Asuza and her father, Hedeki and Mariko had fallen asleep on her bed.
Upon waking, Hedeki let out a yelp, realizing what he did. Between the yelp of surprise to find himself on the bed with her, and his tumble to the floor as he backpedaled, Mariko woke up.
"So sorry, so sorry!" Hedeki cried as he got up, apologizing.
Mariko grinned as she stretched. "Not your fault, I did invite you to wait with me," she said in a sleepy voice.
The way she laid with her arms over her head looked incredibly sexy. Hedeki blushed. "I ahhh, better go to my room and clean up. Can I treat you to breakfast?" he offered.
Mariko cast him a smile. "Sounds good. Let me pay this time, you paid all day yesterday, OK?" she asked.
"Yes, I'll be back in ..."
"An hour?" Mariko suggested.
"Yes, an hour," Hedeki agreed, and fled the room.
.
Mariko took a shower and got dressed for the day. Part of her question had been answered, there were still diclonius here, that little girl was proof. She was also living what seemed to be a normal life, which Mariko was glad of. Since that girl was born long after they had all left, that meant there were others around also. She was hoping they were living normal lives too.
There was still the question of where diclonius originally came from. She only had a week, Ruby had given her a time limit on her stay. Mariko didn't think she was going to solve her puzzle on this short stay, but she had made some progress.
A knock at the door announced Hedeki was ready to go. During breakfast, they talked about where to go next. Deciding on traveling inland, they packed up their things and caught a train towards Mount Fuji, theorizing that if there were any dicloni settlements, they may be hidden in the mountains.
.
The first stop clear of the coastal cities was a picturesque town tucked into the foothills. Mariko and Hedeki looked like your average tourists, Hedeki taking pictures here and there as they walked along. Interested in the sights and the local shrine, they forgot all about lunch as they moved from place to place. Not sensing any diclonius around, Mariko figured they had time for a walk out of town before diner, then they could catch the train to the next stop in the morning.
The restaurant they picked was a classic Inn with several small dinning rooms. One room had a story teller who told of local legends during the meal. Sitting down at the long 'U' shaped table, Hedeki seated Mariko before he took his place beside her. They ordered as other couples and families came in, many of them foreigners.
A man came in dressed in a classic yukata that bore dragons on the arms and down the back. He took his place on a mat in the center of the tables. He scanned the customers and said,
"Greetings, honored guests. I am Kuroda Ken. The tale I have this evening is of a little known legend. I am sure many of you have been to our shrine. If you noticed, there is a Samurai helmet on a pedestal near the alter. Behind it is a katana hanging on the wall. That helmet and that sword belonged to our greatest warrior, Fuji Akira. Back when Japan was not yet a single country, our ancestors lived near here in a place than has been forgotten over time. Wars came to our peaceful people, so the village was moved up here on the side of the hill, where it is now. Fuji, who served our Lord as one of his Samurai, was known to be the best anyone had ever seen. He had an oddity to him. On his head, he bore two small, hard protrusions that looked like bone. Because he was a good man and a fine warrior, everyone in the village suspected his oddity was a gift from the gods.
Fuji Akira was a very strong man. It is said he placed the large stones of the village defense wall in place by himself. Since the crops were all grown in the valley, he posted himself near the valley entrance to guard the farmers working the fields. One day, soldiers arrived and demanded to see our Lord. Not trusting these strange soldiers, Fuji told them to wait and had word sent to his Lordship. His Lordship came down and talked to the soldiers. Their Lord demanded allegiance and offerings of food and men to prove our loyalty. Our lord refused. The soldiers promised war if he did not comply. Their leader told our Lord they would return in two days with more men. On that day, our Lord would show proper loyalty, or the entire village would be burned, the men killed, and the women taken as pleasure slaves.
Fuji Akira swore he would not let that happen. As the other Samurai and the villagers gathered all the crops they could and built up defenses, Fuji stood at the valley entrance, his weapons at hand. He refused to get behind the safety of the walls and stood alone. When asked why he would not come defend the walls, he stated he would stand in place and stop the enemy and save all his fellow villagers.
The soldiers came, hundreds of them! Marching in long columns, they came up to the place where Fuji Akira stood alone. Again, they demanded to see our Lord and hear his decision whether he would show loyalty and patronage, or see our village destroyed. Fuji Akira drew his sword and told them, go back the way you came, or die here.
The enemy soldiers attacked, and with great strokes of his sword that cut apart bodies far away from the tip of his blade, Fuji Akira slew them not one at a time, but entire rows fell to his magic sword! He waded into them, cutting them down before they even got close enough to fight back. The survivors fled, and no one even tried to take our village from us again. That is why the shrine stands, and why Fuji's helmet rests in it's honored place beside our god. And if bad trouble ever comes again, he will send another as great as he to defend us."
A decent applause sounded as Mr. Kuroda bowed from his seated position. Mariko's eyes were lit with excitement.
"Hedeki, did you hear that story?" she asked breathlessly.
Quietly, Hedeki said, "I did. Think that was one of your ancestors?"
"It has to be! I'm going to talk with Mr. Kuroda about it," Mariko said firmly. She watched as Mr. Kuroda rose and bade the patrons good evening before he strode out. Mariko got up and followed him.
Catching up to him as he stopped to accept tea from a waitress, Mariko asked, "Mr. Kuroda? Is there anything else you know can tell me about Fuji Akira?"
The man smiled at Mariko and said, "I'm sorry, all I know is what is written in the texts. I take it you were impressed with the story?"
Mariko nodded. "Would anyone know about the family history of Fuji Akira?" she asked.
Casting her a gentle smile, he said, "That tale has been told by mouth many years before it was ever written down. Tales tend to become taller when they are spoken from generation to generation. I have no doubt Fuji Akira was a great warrior, but I doubt he slew men fifteen meters away with his sword, nor did he face the great numbers that the tale describes. It is a tale, nothing more. Now, if you will excuse me." he said, finishing with a bow and left.
"But, I believe it," Mariko said to the departing man. He kept going into the kitchen.
.
After diner, Mariko hauled Hedeki back to the shrine. Standing as close to the helmet as she respectfully could, she studied it and noticed the helmet was raised in two places, exactly where diclonius horns would be.
Mariko took pictures of the helmet. The keeper of the shrine, an old man, hovered nearby glancing at them as If he was afraid they might deface the shrine. Mariko asked him if he had a history of Fuji Akira. Happy someone was interested, he took her to the library and showed her an old manuscript that read pretty much exactly as the story she'd heard. No mention of any family details, or any descendants.
Damn! Her first real lead, and it went nowhere.
"Miss, may I ask why you are so interested in our history?" the old man asked.
"Fuji Akira may be one of my ancestors," she told him.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" the old man asked.
Mariko took her hat off and said, "Because horns are very rare."
The old man's eyes widened. "So this tale is true as written!" he said with conviction. "Many refuse to believe, but as keepers, we have always known the truth. Welcome, descendant of Fuji Akira!" he said and got down to bow deeply to her.
"Umm, you don't have to do that," Mariko said as she blushed.
Springing back up, the old man waved to the side and said, "Please, stay the night here at the shrine. We have an extra room, we'd be honored. Your young man also."
Seeing he was so eager to have them stay, Mariko looked at Hedeki and asked, "Do you mind?"
"Not at all. Besides, if we refuse he may take it personally."
.
The spare room was not very large, but there was plenty of room for two futons and their packs. Since they were inside the shrine building, Mariko left her hat in their room. It felt good not to have to wear it for a while. They spent the night with the younger apprentice keeper listening to the old man complain about how hard it was to keep up the shrine as Mariko studied every manuscript in the library. Even the town council was thinking about stopping funding due to the difficult economic times. The apprentice, a young woman, spent most of the night gazing at Mariko as she and Hedeki read the manuscripts of that era. Mariko found things of interest in the village history, but no other mention of Fuji Akira or anyone related to him.
The tale did prove that diclonius have been around for a long time. Unfortunately, the tale of a single man didn't tell Mariko anything else.
.
The next morning, Mariko decided to go exploring the area. If one diclonius was here, maybe there were others who still lived nearby. Before they left, Mariko cooked breakfast for the shrine keepers to repay them for their hospitality. Promising to return, Mariko and Hedeki set off to see what they could find.
The first thing Mariko noted was that once they hiked out of the immediate area, the houses and farms dropped off to nothing. They did come across a newer abandoned house that looked like it was built in the Sixties, and a couple old houses that had degraded enough to be much older. It took all day to wander around and find nothing. If diclonius had been living here, they had long since moved away.
Either that, or Mariko just wasn't going far enough into the hills to find them. With only a few days left, she doubted she was going to do much more than wear herself and Hedeki out.
.
Returning to town from the uphill side, Mariko noted below in the town, red lights were flashing. Police cars were grouped around the restaurant not far from the railroad tracks. A train sat back away from the town.
"Great, just what we need," Mariko grumbled.
Hedeki made sure his camera was ready. Seeing Mariko eye him, he said, "I am a reporter. I'm going to go find out what's happening."
.
Returning to town, Mariko followed Hedeki to the police blockade down the street from the restaurant. A crowd of people were at the barriers here, and on the the side of the restaurant near the tracks. Hedeki took a couple pictures then 'excused' himself through the crowd and up to the barrier.
"Officer, I'm a reporter. Can you tell me what is happening?" Hedeki asked loudly.
The nearest officer came over to him. "Stay back, we have a hostage crisis. That's all I can say at the moment."
Back in the rear of the crowd, Mariko felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see the old shrine keeper. He was holding the ancient katana out to her. Bowing his head, he said, "Please, help us! Those men went in shooting, I fear for those people's lives."
A man nearby turned to scoff at the old man. "Hey, this is serious! Go back to your shine. Besides, who in the hell would fight gunmen with a rusty old knife?"
Something about the way the man spoke got Mariko angry. How dare he treat that kind old man like that, even if he didn't believe in the story? Mariko took the sword from the old man. "Please, hold my hat for me," she said, and gave it to the shrine keeper.
Mariko jumped up, clearing the crowd and the blockade to land on the roof of the building beside the restaurant. Walking to the edge, she saw a few more police watching the back. No one was on this side, and there was a door. She jumped down and went inside.
Right inside the door was a man in a wrapped cloth mask holding a semiautomatic gun. He turned to her as she strode in.
SPLAT
The only noise the man made was light thumps as his halves hit the floor. Mariko lifted herself over the gore that used to be a terrorist and walked down the hallway, looking in rooms for armed men.
Killing them wasn't hard. The hard part would be making sure the path was clear of innocents and the gunmen didn't shoot anyone before she killed them. In one room, the man standing over the people face down on the floor. She sliced his head off and walked on. Another poked his head out from a room. She obliged him and sliced it off.
Room to room, all the way to the kitchen, she killed five men. Coming back towards the entryway, she head someone in a strange language yelling into a radio. Turning the corner, she saw him and he saw her. He pointed his gun at her and yelled, "On the floor or you die!"
Mario cast him a smirk. "It is you who will die," she replied.
The man opened fire, his gun chattering loudly away. Mariko stopped the bullets and walked towards him. Backing up, he kept firing until his gun was empty. He then threw it at her. Eyes wide in terror, he backed though the front doors and onto the landing outside.
SPLAT
The man flew outside and fell in half, split down the middle. His halves and gore spilled down the stairs. Mariko went to the doors to see if there were any more out here.
Standing outside, Mariko noticed two things right away. Every policeman had his gun trained on her. So was every camera in the crowd.
"Wonderful," she grumbled. She had to do something before the police started shooting at her. She really didn't want to kill any of them. Pointing her sword at the man now nothing but spread out gore on the stairs, she announced, "All the gunmen are dead. The people inside need help." She turned and went back inside.
Walking down the hallway, she stopped at each room to tell the shocked people within the gunmen were dead, it was safe for them to leave. Staying clear of the mess she'd made, Mariko walked back out the side door to face a policeman. He was gapping at her as he held his gun on her.
Showing him the sword, Mariko asked, "Could you move, please? I have to go put this back."
"That's the sword from the shrine," the officer said as he eyed it.
"Yes, I needed to borrow it," Mariko stated.
"Please return it," he said. He lowered his gun and moved to the side, not taking his eyes off her.
To avoid any confrontations, Mariko jumped back up onto the rooftops and ran across them, jumping from roof to roof back to the shrine.
On the ground, Hedeki ran as fast as he could go, trying to catch Mariko as she flew from roof to roof.
Coming to the Shrine, Mariko jumped down and walked the short distance to the shrine. As she got inside, another voice spoke.
"I think it's time for you to come home before trouble starts, don't you think?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah, Mom, that does sound like a good idea. I'll get my things," Mariko agreed. She put the sword back in it's place. She wasn't afraid of the police hurting her, but the irritation of having to deal with questions, and eventual fear from them, then of course the soldiers would come to attempt to get rid of her. She wouldn't get much research done.
Going back to the room she shared with Hedeki, Mariko picked up her things. She heard someone stumble and fall, panting loudly.
"Mariko?" Hedeki cried out.
"The portal is behind you, dear. Be quick, people are coming," Ruby prodded.
"One minute, please," Mariko said, then called out, "Here, Hedeki!"
Hedeki appeared in the doorway. Out of breath and leaning on the doorway, he gasped in a couple breaths and asked, "Are you OK? I heard gunshots."
Mariko grinned at his worry for her. "Guns can't hurt me. It has been fun, but I must be going now," she told him.
"Were are we going?" Hedeki asked.
Mariko shook her head. "I'm going home before the circus begins. I have your cell phone number. When I return, I'll call you. Thank you for helping me." She told him. She then turned and walked though the portal.
Hedeki stared at the empty room where Mariko had been standing an eye blink ago. "WAIT!" he cried to the empty room. He dropped to his knees and let out a frustrated huff. Catching his breath, his mouth turned up into a grin as he said, "Thank you, Kurama Mariko."
.
In a week's time, news of the terrorist attack, and their slaughter by a katana wielding woman in a remote village was spread throughout Japan. The official news downplayed some facts, like the sword was clean of any traces of blood even though it was used to cleave apart six men. Another fact withheld was the spent bullets that were found lying on the floor but no bullet holes were found, as was the eyewitness accounts of this 'ninja woman' flying across rooftops. For 'security' reasons, pictures of the event were seized by the government.
In the town where the events had happened, a new item was added to the shrine, right beside the helmet next to the alter. It was a womans hat. On the brim of the hat was a picture that showed a blond woman bearing horns on her head and wearing a crooked smile. A new manuscript was added to the library, and Kuroda Ken had a new tale to tell, one he had bore eye witness to, about the descendant of Fuji Akira returning to defend their town just like Fuji himself had promised so long ago.
The offerings to the shrine increased dramatically, as did the number of visitors.