Chapter 3: A Revelation and Dinner with the Fujimoto's (with a side of cliffhanger)
"You didn't know?" Uncle Josuke turned to Murasaki for a second to look at her in confusion.
"No. Dad never told me…" Mura's face morphed into a frown. As she did this, she looked towards Killer Queen, who was still having a staring contest with the man across from him. She looked then at Uncle Josuke, who she realized also bore the same expression as Killer Queen; a look of grim emotionlessness. Mura, realizing that these two did not like each other, and may even try to fight each other (she had heard from her father stories of Uncle Josuke's sometimes impulsive behavior), she stepped in between the both of them, breaking their eye contact.
"It's alright, Uncle Josuke!" Mura said, "He's my friend; he isn't going to hurt anyone. Well, unless I ask him to…" She ended her sentence awkwardly, a silence permeating the room as she finished.
Uncle Josuke looked at Mura once again, then sighed. "Mura, can you please explain why he's here in the first place?" he asked patiently.
"Well, you see," Mura began, "Me and Noriko went to Ghost Girl's Alley, and when she left, I brought out S-" S blinked her circuit lights, "-and then she did something with her crystal ball, and then Killer Queen appeared." Mura noticed that Uncle Josuke's eyes had widened slightly as she had explained what had happened earlier.
"That means S finally found the perfect opportunity to show her abilities," some one said from behind Uncle Josuke. Mura looked to see it was her father, whose face had a knowing smile on it.
"It seems she has the ability to resurrect Stands, and even give them sentience," Mura's father continued, walking over to S and holding up his hand, to which S raised her hand to give him a high five. An idea popped into Mura's head, but she tucked it away in her mind for the time being.
"You mean Killer Queen didn't just have it?" Mura inquired. "And what do you mean, resurrect?"
Kenshin Fujimoto looked at Josuke, who had called off his Stand, and was now standing there, still keeping his eyes on Killer Queen. He looked to Mura's father and nodded, stepping forward.
"You see," Josuke began with slight hesitation, "Before, you came to Morioh, there was a killer around named Yoshikage Kira."
Mura nodded. "I've heard about the Morioh killer. I've never heard his name though."
Josuke smiled a small smile. "It's old news these days. But when he was around, my friends and I fought against him." At this, Mura's eyes widened in shock.
"You fought against a killer?! Why have you never told me this before?! I thought we were friends!" Mura gave a half-hearted punch to her uncle-figure's arm, who chuckled at her antics, replying simply with, "like I said, it's old news."
"However, he wasn't alone," Josuke continued, this time a much more serious tone accompanying his voice. "Kira had a Stand."
"Really? What was its name?" Mura asked, waiting for an answer. She didn't get one at first and looked in confusion as both Uncle Josuke and her father looked at the pink Stand next to her. She looked at him as well, and he just stared back. Then, finally, it clicked in her mind. Uncle Josuke got to it first.
"Its name was Killer Queen."
…
Mura was sitting in her living room, on one of the big comfy couches, pondering the information that had been given to her. S sat on one side of her, and Killer Queen sat on the other, looked down at the carpet much like how Mura was.
After the revelation, the conversation had moved downstairs, since dinner would be ready soon. Uncle Josuke had explained to her about how the killer, Yoshikage Kira, had used Killer Queen to kill many innocent people in Morioh, including a former foe turned late friend of his named Shigechi, as well as making multiple failed attempts on the lives of the rest of the people he knew, and even himself. When they had asked Killer Queen if he remembered his past life, he had said he had no recollection of it. In fact, the only things he remembered were his name and the wish of his former master; Yoshikage Kira had wished to live a peaceful life. After that, Uncle Josuke had left the house briefly to deal with something, and Mura's dad had gone to the kitchen to help his wife.
Mura finally lifted her head to look at Killer Queen, who had done the same so that they were now looking the other straight in the eyes. His face held an unreadable expression.
"Are you sure you don't remember anything from your past life? At all?" Mura asked, even though she knew the answer.
"Forgive me, Miss Fujimoto, but I truly do not know," Killer Queen said. "I only remember my name and my previous master's wish. Even when I saw Mr. Higashikata, I only had the feeling of not liking him; I do not remember who he is."
Murasaki sighed. "Its alright, it isn't your fault."
There was a pause in the conversation, and without Mura noticing, S got up and quietly left the room. Then Killer Queen spoke up again.
"Do you hate me know?"
Mura looked over at him in surprise and let out a small chuckle at how matter-of-fact Killer Queen sounded. He tilted his head at her chuckle, and Mura let out another, lighter sigh.
"No, I do not hate you, Killer Queen," Mura said in a firm voice. "That was back then, this is now. You're on the side of the good guys," Mura added humorously, before returning to serious mode. "You have this new life to do good and help others. You're no longer the bad guy. You may have done bad things before, but this is your chance at redemption." Mura finished her little speech off there. All was silent for a few long seconds, then Killer Queen nodded, bowing his head.
"Thank you, Miss Fujimoto. I will do my best to keep you and your family members safe from harm, and aide you whenever you need me. Thank you." Killer Queen lifted up his head.
"I must also thank Miss S," Instead of looking past Murasaki, he looked to the entrance of the living room, and there hovered S, holding a small, black creature in her hands. Mura's face brightened as she recognized the little thing.
"Imelda! Thanks, S!" Murasaki leapt from the couch, quickly walked over to S, who's circuit lights glowed, and gently took the Tarantula from her hands. The Tarantula, Imelda, tilted her head up to look the human now holding it.
"I'm so happy to see you after how hectic this day has been," Mura began eagerly chatting with her pet spider. "I'm sorry for not going to you immediately, but you could probably see why. I hope I didn't wake you up."
The Tarantula's pincers moved slightly (she swore she saw Imelda roll her eyes), and then she merely tapped one of her many legs against Mura's palm, as if to reassure her. Mura smiled wider.
"Thanks for forgiving me, Imelda. I love you~" Mura stroked the Tarantula's back, and in response her Imelda's pincers started making a quick clattering sound, to show that she was pleased.
Mura saw Killer Queen step up, and S turned to look at him.
"Thank you, Miss S, for bringing me back to life," he said, bowing his head. S's circuit lights glowed in response, and she placed her hand on Killer Queen's shoulder for a few moments, as if to say, "don't mention it".
Just then, the idea that Mura had stowed away floated back to top of Mura's mind, and she grinned giddily at S.
"Hey, guess what S?" S turned to her and tilted her head. "I think I know what I'm going to name you!" At this, S jumped to attention, her circuit lights blinking a few times to show she was excited.
"From now on, your official name will be Bring Me to Life, after that one song that I like! I think it really captures what your abilities can do. I hope you like it…" Mura added the last part quietly, a little afraid that S wouldn't like it. Quite the contrary, as S - or rather, now Bring Me to Life – scooped Mura up into a hug, careful not to crush Imelda between them, her lights glowing softly to reassure Mura of her decision. Mura smiled at this, hugging Bring Me to Life back. Killer Queen silently watched on, a look of contemplation passing over his face at the loving friendship between Stand user and Stand.
At that moment, a woman's voice came from the kitchen: "Everyone! Dinner's ready!"
Mura quickly put Imelda back down onto the couch, where the Tarantula immediately made herself comfortable on the plush pillow she had been placed onto. Mura looked to Killer Queen, saying "You should meet my Mom as well! You can even have some food, if you want."
Killer Queen simply nodded and followed Murasaki and Bring Me to Life into the savory-smelling kitchen.
…
Mura walked into the brightly lit kitchen with cream colored walls and saw her mother first, as she placed down a large bowl of Yakisoba with vegetables and meat, the rest of the table already set.
Mura's mother, Atsuko Fujimoto, was a woman with long black hair that was greying in the front and top, with said hair in a bun to keep it away from the food. She looked to Mura, seeing Bring Me to Life and Killer Queen, and smiled as she turned back to get two more pairs of chopsticks and plates.
"I tried something new today: Yakisoba! I'm confidant it'll taste amazing~" Mura's mother exclaimed, a proud look on her face as everyone sat down, including the Stands since Mura's dad had brought three extra chairs. The third was for Uncle Josuke, whenever he came back from outside.
Killer Queen sat down as Mura and Bring Me to Life did, a barely noticeable look of discomfort in his eyes; he felt he was not used to this. After she said, "thanks for the food," Mura grabbed herself some Yakisoba, her parents also doing so, before letting Bring Me to Life grab some, who grabbed a small portion as usual whenever she ate. When she finished getting the amount she wanted, Killer Queen paused for a second, looking to Mura for confirmation that he was allowed. Mura grinned, and nodded. It was enough confirmation for him, so Killer Queen hesitantly, almost gently, grabbed a portion about the same as Bring Me to Life's own.
Mura watched, intrigued as she ate a bit of hers and trying to be a little discreet, as Killer Queen picked up a little with his chopsticks and brought it to his mouth. He bit down delicately, and began to chew, eventually swallowing the Yakisoba. His face held no change to it, but Mura smiled anyway as he went for the rest on his plate. Next to Mura, Bring Me to Life blinked her circuit lights after her bite, with her crystal ball bobbing up and down in the air, and Mura's mother grinned.
"Happy you like it, S," Mura's mother said.
"Yeah, Mom, it's really good~!" Mura exclaimed, happily chewing her food. She looked to Uncle Josuke's empty seat, pondering when he was going to be back, when she heard the door open and close. A few moments later, and he walked into the kitchen, hands in his pockets. Mura saw his face, and immediately grew worried; Josuke's expression was a troubled, worried one.
Her father and mother also picked up on this, with Kenshin even getting up from his seat. "What's the matter, Josuke? What happened?"
Uncle Josuke met Mura's father's eyes, and said, "Okuyasu is missing."
Bring Me to Life
Reference: Bring Me to Life, by Evanescence
Abilities: Stand Resurrection and Sentience Giver
Parameters:
Destructive Power: D Speed: B Range: D
Durability/Staying: B Precision: B Developmental Learning/Potential: A
And that is the end of this chapter! Next chapter, things will hopefully be picking themselves up in terms of pace, and I hope to have some action in a few chapters! ^_^
Now onto the Reviews! :D
Clarify: Well, now that I have fully introduced Mura's Stand, I can give you and everyone else who is curious about Bring Me to Life's abilities.
Bring Me to Life (or BML for short) is able to resurrect Stands and bind them to herself, or more specifically, her crystal ball, where she can summon them. Anything they do or anything that happens to them will affect BML depending on what it is, thus Mura is also affected. BML can only resurrect Stands from the place where they died, and she has to be pretty close in order to resurrect a Stand.
Her second ability gives a Stand that she has resurrected sentience, so a personality, the ability to speak in some way, shape, or form, and the ability to think for themselves. If a Stand that BML has resurrected already had sentience, then depending on the level, they will gain full sentience, or the ability just won't work on them for those that may have full sentience.
UsagiAngelRabbit: Thank you so much! ^_^ I'm happy to know that you love it, and I hope you continue to enjoy it ^_^
And that is all of the reviews! Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day! ^_^ Criticism is welcome, but flames will be sliced up by Silver Chariot. Peace! (:-)
-LunaRose2468