Chapter 33
Rin knew she was dreaming, she just had to be. Yet, her dreams had a consistency to be so vivid, so abnormally real that if she hadn't already known her condition, she'd really believe this was a reality she was walking around in. She currently was walking forward, a phantom to what was either a dream or her own memories. Rin pushed past a few branches and out into an open plain. A grassy plane that was freshly cut and upon glancing around she deemed it to be one of the many gardens of the agency.
Just the sheer clean cut of the entire yard told her so and erased any hope that somehow she might've been in a different place. That at some point back then she'd been outside the agency and relatively free. Even if Rin knew this wasn't true she wanted it to be, even if the agency gardens left nothing to be desired from the outside. The way the flowers swayed in the breeze from their beds was like a trance and the mixture of modern and rare insects that fluttered around removed any further doubts. She heard the crisp tinkling of a stream not too far off in the distance and guessed that the stream was off into the forest, far enough to miss but not too distant to hear. The gardens really did look fantastical and neither lost their beauty or glam in either day or night.
A small child sat by herself among the grass, she was weaving together a helm made of assorted flowers. She wore a pale blue sundress and wore a ribboned floppy hat. Though the child was so small her fingers were thin, nimble and shockingly quick. They effortlessly wove the crown with seemingly no effort or strain. The small child was so focused on her task however that she didn't see what was coming but Rin did. A man dressed in shady black clothing was approaching the little girl at a rapid rate, something silver gleaned in his hand: a small knife. Rin screamed out at the little girl even knowing it had no effect. She sprinted full speed towards the little girl. Rin's hands didn't touch her of course, so she backed off. She could only sit and watch, could only be a victim at the hands of her own memories. She was forced to watch helplessly as if she were staring at nothing but a video camera.
So Rin watched in absolute distress as the man lunged at the little girl once he was in range. He plunged the knife towards her puny chest and it excelled towards her with guttural speed: Rin was frozen. She watched the horror unfold in seemingly slow motion. Her stomach dropped when instead of hitting the girl the dagger jerked fiercely to the side as if it had been purposely yanked away by an invisible hand.
Effortlessly, the man raised into the air like a puppet on strings. His shirt ripped open down the front, like it'd been slashed by some large weapon as the edges were jagged and torn. Huge wounds were cut cleanly into the man's torso: he screamed the whole while. It was a scream that made Rin's blood turn cold in her veins. It was a bloodcurdling scream of agony that went on for hours and would linger in her mind even after the episode finished. After several cuts the wounds combusted and blood sprayed, splattering everything in the strangers radius. Rin cringed as she watched the thick liquid spill from his mouth and leak from even the spaces of his eyes: none of which splattered the child.
It were as if the stranger was being involuntarily squeezed as his eyes bulged outward as a response. He jerked wildly, once, twice-then abruptly fell silent. His body dropped with a thick and sickening thud to the ground and shattered into millions of dust-sized pieces. They blew away in the wind like autumn leaves and were easily lost in the breeze.
The little girl sat there and Rin gaped. The girl didn't seem bothered at all, she was neither stunned nor effected emotionally in the slightest. She hadn't paid any noticeable attention to the entire event either, at least none Rin had noticed herself. She continued to play carelessly until a small boy similar to the age of the small child seemed to glide towards her. His hair was a blinding color of pink, one Rin personally knew. The little girl stood up then and momentarily looked to see what was once the man shimmering in the air further off in the distance. It lost her attention as easily as it had attracted it. Small pieces clicked into place as Rin realized that small girl...was indeed herself.
"Play now?" The little girl asked the boy. He smiled briefly before taking her hand. It was a genuine smile too and he pulled her tightly against him in a hug they both shared and enjoyed. So much did they enjoy it that neither noticed the people in lab coats rushing towards them. Or maybe they had and in those moments they hadn't cared to notice. The second the scientists reached them they pried the girl from the hands of the boy and he had a face as if something essential had been taken from him, but he didn't cry out and neither did the girl. They accepted their partings as it was and before long some women came for the boy.
"I thought I told you to keep an eye on her!" One of the men screamed at another. "She isn't supposed to be near him! His skills are still too powerful."
"We adjusted his phase shift code just last morning and placed several more runes..." the second man seemed to hesitate. His voice sounded like gravel compared to the last man whom had spoken. He glanced at the boy in what was a mixture of sheer horror and anxiety. "He shouldn't even be allowed to do that..."
"I guess it just needs to be adjusted again," another of the men spat bitterly. "At this rate, he'll kill us all."
"Yuma wouldn't allow that," one woman who seemed dressed like a nurse said bluntly. She said the words with confidence but her face went pale, and when the small boy looked at her, she relented. She looked a little bleak and a little forlorn. Weariness was apparent in all of their faces.
"Come now Luki," one of the women ordered as she gripped the boys hand and began tugging him in the other direction: away from Rin. The boy named Luki resisted at first but since his efforts would be futile, gave up the pitiful struggle. He followed next to the woman silently, but not without first glancing back at Rin's younger self. His eyes then trailed over to Rin herself, as if he could see her...as if he knew that she could see him as well. And he smiled. A smile that rocked Rin at her core and caused her to stumble backwards. She failed to catch herself and hit the ground.
But she fell through the grass, a sudden turnout that shocked her as much as the fall did. She sank and thrashed to grip something for stability that wasn't there. The air she'd breathed moments ago was non existent and she disappeared below that purgatory. Then Rin hit something hard and fell up on the other side in another plain of grass. It was as if the world had flipped and gravity had merely righted her. Rin glanced around as she got slowly to her feet. Her head throbbed violently and she stumbled, almost falling again.
Looking around, she realized she wasn't at the agency for once, instead she was standing in the main yard of an even larger mansion. It was stunning how the building resembled the agency, except it wasn't closed off. It was more of a villa as well than a closed off building and instead of all the gardens and wildlife there was only grass. Rin spotted a few odd looking headstone and a few prayer statues off in the distance. The large mansion was a sleek brown color and really did have that rustic look which proved that it had been here for a while and wasn't a new home. In fact, the place seemed as if it had been standing for decades. The villa went on for miles and even crops were growing in the distance. Other than that difference, no wildlife surrounded this place, it was quite barren which left no places to hide.
"What kind of living being doesn't have a pulse!" A servant shrieked off in the distance. Rin whipped her head around to see the source of the commotion and she heard the violent crashing sounds of things being thrown before she saw a young man sprint from around a corner with his ears covered. He darted vigorously away from the chaos but the servant came after him. However it was only for a few seconds as she stopped the chase as if the young man had disappeared. She even looked around as such.
"I'm sorry," he called firmly over his shoulder. "I'm so sorry!"
The second he'd spoken Rin knew the voice: Yuma's. Her head throbbed and she was thrown against the ground, her head in her hands as it was suddenly too heavy. His thoughts screamed and blistered in her mind. His fear, his guilt, and most of all difference. They were deafening blades that sliced at her temples without mercy. Even if his voice hadn't yet developed that commanding tone, it was still one you'd do anything for.
The thoughts shrieked and their volume was shrill. It ripped and tore at Rin the same as it tore at him. She could feel the pain and anger at his identity and who he could ever be as a whole. I'm different, he couldn't help but think. And so he ran, as fast and as far as his legs could take him. He covered miles of the seemingly endless manor land and Rin was involuntarily pulled along for the ride. It dragged on for decibels, ages, and then Yuma's head collided heavily with that of another and he faltered and he fell. His thoughts halted and the surge of pain in Rin's mind stopped. The ground seemed to surge up behind him as Yuma crashed to the ground.
"I don't think you're so different though," A gentle voice spoke and Rin heard it as well, a rhythm that was melodic. It was angelic and fragile, yet also possessed a firm stability: a tone of nobleness. Rin looked up and saw the two: Yuma who was sprawled on the ground stunned and a girl about his age hanging upside down from the branches of a thick maple tree. The only tree that happened to be in the yard. Their eyes met and from where Rin was standing she could see just how affected he was by her words. Even when his sense returned to him, he didn't speak. Her own heart seemed to all but jolt into motion.
"So? Going to indulge me in idle chatter anytime soon?" The girl asked politely, another set of words that caused Yuma to blush further.
"I-" he stuttered.
"You are right! 'I' is a wonderful letter! However...it's also a very lonely letter, so how about we start with 'U'?" She righted herself then, disappearing from both Rin and Yuma's sight for a second. He got up immediately and glanced around for her but she leaped down from the tree with perfect grace and turned to him. Even with those slight movements, she was gorgeous. She moved like a dancer, her every action lithe and smoother than silk.
The grey and white lolita style dress she wore was stunning. It was laced lightly at the shoulders, exposing the fairest bits of skin. Expensive embroidery was tethered just below her chest. The ends of the dress fell to the ground in languid folds as she straightened. The dress twirled with her every motion as a response to her cheery attitude and lively personality. "You needn't look for me, I won't go far after all. This is a place I always have to stay."
The minute Rin got a full view of the girl, she was amazed: her mouth open and gaping. The girls hair was unbound and fluttered lightly on the evening breeze. Her hair was a fragile and light blonde, almost white. She was an ethereal beauty, so delicate Rin was astounded such a girl could exist. She had high cheekbones, a finely sculpted nose and her skin was fair, as if the sun had not touched her for centuries. She smiled brightly at Yuma and he swallowed hard before attempting to speak.
"Always have to stay?" Yuma finally spoke. "Why's that?"
"Well," the girl frowned and gazed off into the distance. "I wonder..." There was noticeable sadness in her words and that fact startled and troubled Yuma as much as it did Rin. What did such a stunning girl have to be sad about?
"You know, beautiful girls shouldn't frown," Yuma said hesitantly and the girl glanced back at him, a slight blush on her face.
"Maybe you should make that your mission then, to keep me from doing so. I don't smile as often as one may think."
"How can that be? You're obviously of importance even if you are human," Yuma said.
"Yuma, being human...it isn't as much of a curse as you believe. It's having power and not being able to use it the way you want that's truly a tragedy. Especially if you have to pay for it..." the girl said solemnly. Now that Rin looked closely at her face she realized, the girl had a young face. Yet, despite that...her eyes seemed as if they'd seen more than a millennium of events and lived just as much. Such wise and kind eyes...Rin wondered how she could possess them.
"How...how did you know my name?" Yuma asked nervously. "I never even told you who I was..." But she only glanced at him with a smile that was equally sad and soft.
"Because you and I were destined to meet this way. There are many futures Yuma...but in all of them we meet this way, it's unavoidable."
"But how?" Yuma asked again and even Rin stepped forward.
"Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to," the girl warned. Even if the words were harsh, the ideals of a realist, she spoke them softly.
"I'd like to know though," Yuma declared. "Else I wouldn't have asked."
It was then that the young girl stepped forward and suddenly she was in Yuma's arms. He blushed deeply and even if she was a stranger he hugged her closer. Maybe it was because of the air of mystery around her or because she'd struck him profoundly. He didn't know her and yet...felt as if they'd known each other for thousands of years before. Rin felt it too, deep in her chest. The young girl was a stranger and yet Rin valued her profoundly. She felt her heart pacing in her chest and she knew that Yuma already loved her. He treasured her more than he'd ever been capable of loving himself.
"We've always been destined to be here in this moment..." The girl went on to say. Yuma held her tighter for a few seconds. His heart had never resonated with anyone before and he knew, with people like him, his race, such a thing only happened once in their entire lifetime. So he knew this was it, he had to promise her this and everything he was, else he'd never be complete again, the same...again. She was already bleeding into his veins.
"Then I promise," he began. "I will protect that smile of yours forever." He gazed into her eyes then and despair filled him. The place she had to stay, how she knew...he knew it all right then in that moment and the pain that teared through his heart was merciless. He couldn't believe it. He was holding both his world and end in his hands. He understood why she was so solemn, why such a fragile girl was both joyful and dolor.
"You...you're the-"
"Yes," the girl confessed sadly. "I am this ages Arcane Seer." Rin felt Yuma's pain, his agony. It was indescribable, indisputable sheer torment. She was confused and yet, gripped her chest from the anguish and felt her own heart suffering. While any other man would've cried out, would have screamed a shriek of pure torment. Yuma pulled the young girl closer and she continued."Futures can't be reborn Yuma...even if you go back a million times in the past, this fact, this meeting will not change. I've chased so many beautiful and awful visions, there is no better outcome."
"I'll protect you," Yuma swore and it was sincere.
"This can't be Yuma...for more reasons than one."
"You're not going anywhere," he affirmed fiercely. "I will not let anything happen to you so please...tell me your name."
Soft tears spilled down the young girls cheeks. They were white pearls that rolled down an angels cheeks and did not stain. They were beautiful. As beautiful as the fragile and lovely lifelike doll she resembled. Rin still felt their pain though, their love that was strong and yet couldn't be. She couldn't fathom how or why, so she tapped into Yuma's knowledge of an Arcane Seer. When she truly understood the definition she cried as she watched the scene.
Those who were Arcane Seer's, possessed arcane eyes. They had the ability to see many futures and predict. They saw endless futures and had the power to glimpse into eternity itself but with a horrible price. They involuntarily had an important piece of their humanity stripped from them. Some of them were born blind despite their sight, some could never speak, some felt nothing for anyone ever and couldn't love, others were denied children, hopes, wishes and dreams, some were stripped of their ability to sleep, others couldn't eat, others were separated from their sanity, their very humanity, their health, and others couldn't walk and were born to sit upon a throne like a broken doll until their time of passing: just like most.
The one thing Arcane Seer's all had as a similarity was that they were insanely beautiful in terms of fragility. Just like china or porcelain dolls. They could break easily.
Of course those of the Seer's that were fortunate, lost something else precious to them as a price. Lives were shortened, energy was devoured, time was lost, the price of never seeing ones first born, a loved ones death or the death of all people loved, intense injury to close ones, or even silent killing of others in a dream walk, the ruining of all perfect happiness. And other quirks like the need to cause pain or similar hurtful emotions to keep living. Rin found the prices a Seer had to pay to be worse than the earlier humanity stripping. This was because prices were carried out involuntarily and a Seer could not change that. It was futile and impossible to resist because they were doomed to this fate. Unlike earlier Seer's they were doomed to more than just one price alone.
She cried hard then knowing that this fragile girl in Yuma's arms was already horribly corrupted by the world. He'd been cursed in a way to this fate with an Arcane Seer. To know and always know that the girl he loved was horribly tainted and condemned by the very world itself. To know that once every Seer dies another takes its place was another form of torture for Rin's mind. She still didn't know what her father was but she actually felt sympathy for him. Whatever he really was, whatever power he possessed couldn't and wouldn't save her. Couldn't save the person who she could only assume was her mother.
That sort of realization...Rin couldn't fathom truly how much of an effect it was still having on him to this day. She felt empathy and sympathy for her father for once. Emotions that were rare and if anything nonexistent for someone like him. Even with that reason, Rin knew there had to be more. The young girl had mentioned that there was another reason they couldn't be together so what exactly...was her father? And who and what was she? To know that they would part in possibly the most agonizing way possible and yet he still held her close and they'd still eloped...Rin wiped tears from her eyes. She couldn't understand...if something were to have such an awful turn out why would they still chase it? Even if the effort was futile.
She wished her mother could've been there, that her mother could tell her exactly what the reason was. But then Rin remembered, her mother had said the situation was inevitable. Meaning she'd tried to avoid it before and to no avail.
"You have to understand Yuma...where there is death...there will always be death. Do not blame yourself...else my name wouldn't be-"
It was then that Rin was awake again and sitting in her room. Waking up from the dream was awful. Her head was heavy and thick as she held it up and she felt the remnants of fresh tears on her cheeks. Dropping, Rin toppled to the bed she curled herself into the sheets and more tears slipped down her cheeks. She lay there for a while, tears and all. She cried, and she cried hard.
It wasn't till later that morning she got out of bed and used the bathroom that was alien to her to clean up. It was a lovely bathroom with lights that could dim. There was a large elevated tub in the center. She could shower too as a walk in shower was installed in-between two walls to her immediate left for maximum privacy. Of course all the tinted glass walls of her shower were high except for the door which only rose about a fifth of the other walls. Rin assumed this was for allowing steam out of the shower instead of it all building up. Her other alternative thought was that the slight lowering of the wall was for protective measures too: lest someone try to attack her while in the shower.
Rin let the door fall closed as she entered the bathroom. She walked forward directly towards the sleek sink with a white maze marble top. With a flick of her wrist Rin turned the tap on, she stood there for a minute and listened to the water as it drained down the sink before she splashed her face with cold water. She watched intently at the mirror for a minute as droplets of water rolled down her face in the dim lighting of her bathroom. She grabbed the towel next to her off the rack and dabbed at her face, drying it softly.
With a glance around she realized there were no windows in her bathroom but that, besides the overhead lights, another source of light was the enormous fish tank built into the wall on her right. As Rin approached it she realized that none of the fish were real: not a single one. All the fish were indeed digital but the water was real and so was her agony for fish that could never realize what a gift it was to be truly alive.
Other than that, the rest of the bathroom walls were large floor to ceiling mirrors and honestly caused Rin some discomfort along with minor anxiety. She grabbed her tooth brush out of its holder next to the sink and vigorously brushed her teeth. The minty suds were another wake up call much like the cold water she had splashed on her face before. Rin also stripped down and jumped into the shower for a quick wash.
It wasn't too long before she was ready and she exited her bathroom in a towel only to be surprised by a silent red haired maid holding out a change of clothes for her. Rin yelped in surprise. It was a little later than dawn outside. It would be quite a while before others woke up, rubbing the sleep from their eyes to attend school, work, and other such activities. Rin fixed her eyes on the maid in noticeable question.
"Um," Rin began. "Your business here is?"
"Lady Rin, my apologies for the intrusion but Master Yuma has requested your early audience to breakfast and the results of yesterday's test." Rin's breath caught at the mention of the results. She knew already what they would be, and this was the concrete proof of something she now already knew.
"Anything else?" Rin asked, only slightly troubled by the commanding tone in her own voice.
"No, nothing else except that you wear this outfit to breakfast until you must attend classes."
"Classes?" Rin repeated quizzically.
"Yes Lady Rin, classes, or rather more of a check up for both your mental and physical health."
"How often do you enter this room?" Rin asked.
"Never Lady Rin. Not without special orders and permissions from either Ted, Lily, or Master Yuma."
"I see...leave the outfit on the bed and step outside, I'll change into it shortly."
"Understood Lady Rin, I will be patiently awaiting outside as your escort."
When the maid exited the room Rin stretched. Her hands and face were slick with dew from the bathroom and water droplets that still clung to her skin. Rin's eyes scanned over the outfit her father had sent for her. It was another Lolita style outfit but simple. It was a dress that had thick yellow ruffles at the base while the dress itself was pure white and ribboned a couple inches above the base. The ribbon was a thin line around the entire base: the top was sleeveless. They came with tights that alternated a straight line pattern of black and white. As an accessory, there was a yellow bow and it was the perfect size to be a choker or a similar neck accessory.
Her shoes were a pale primrose color that had small bows at the ankles where she could tighten and adjust the shoe. They were elevated wedges that would guarantee her height as well as stability. Rin had to give her old man one thing, he wasn't horrible at matching outfits.
Rin easily changed into the outfit and stepped outside. As the maid had promised she had patiently waited and bowed upon Rin's exit out. Rin spotted her name tag then and read, "Cul" on the small metallic plaque. She looked like quite the fearsome girl and for a moment Rin wondered why she was working here anyway. Then she remembered, Yuma had personally chosen all who were going to work in this agency. You came here to work for him, whether you wanted to or not.
As Rin followed Cul down to her father she thought of Teto and Ted. Ted who was probably not in the brightest condition thanks to yesterdays events and her return. Teto was another topic. How was Teto? Rin hadn't received any news on her since the incident. For all she knew Teto could be dead. Her mind however counteracted her on that thought. Teto was the leverage Yuma had on Ted and that was a fact that wouldn't change unless one of them died. So she couldn't be dead, just severely injured. An injury that most likely only Yuma could heal.
Rin resented him for doing that. She had meant to be more confrontative about the matter and yet somehow the importance of it all had somehow slipped her mind. She had went in for answers and Yuma hadn't exactly given her any. She still didn't really know who she was, she still hadn't gotten all the answers she wanted. But she'd get them, she'd get them at breakfast and then she would find a way to release Ted and Teto both so she could return to Len. The thought caused her to smile, she wondered how Len was doing. She imagined Len casting a warm smile her way when she returned and a hot blush rose to her face.
"Here we are Lady Rin, just behind this door," Cul said suddenly and again Rin jolted. Not because she was afraid but because she hadn't been expecting to arrive so quickly. They'd walked fast. Or maybe she'd just been really lost in thought.
"Thank you for your services Cul, will I see you again?"
"Lady Rin, your comment humbles me," the girl smiled as she placed a hand over her chest. "I am the new caretaker assigned to you so you will see me again."
"Then you are um..." Rin let her voice trail, she wasn't sure what sort of order to give.
"I will dismiss myself Lady Rin, see you at your classes." Then Cul was gone, each step loud and prominent down the hallway. It wasn't long before she disappeared behind a corner. Rin was curious as to where staff of that kind went and stayed, however knowing she couldn't exactly follow she took a deep breath. Then when she felt ready she reached for the door handle but it moved away from her grasp and the door flew open causing Rin to stumble forward grabbing something that wasn't there.
"Come and join us won't you Rin?" Yuma ordered. "There's no need to dally and wait outside." Rin rose straight quickly thanks to Yuma's voice. She glanced around the room and was surprised at the faces she saw.
Yuma of course sat at the very end of the table like the head of the organization he was. Ted sat in the seat to Yuma's right: his face was blank, as if yesterday hadn't even happen, as if it hadn't shaken him. Teto however, did not occupy the seat next to him. On Yuma's left side like a ghost out of a nightmare, a woman who Rin had assumed was dead, had seen with her own eyes die: was Lily. The same menace of a woman who had tried to kill Len not too long ago at the grocery store. She was the same woman and Rin involuntarily shot her a glare. A glare that she returned with a bright, almost threatening smile. The staff finished placing all kinds of breakfast foods on the table then and swiftly dismissed themselves from the room.
"Come now Rin, take a seat," Yuma said beckoning her to the table. Rin walked forward cautiously and mindfully. She took note of the smile Lily had for her and the fact that Ted didn't bother glancing at her. That fact pained Rin's heart for a second. Was Ted mad at her? Did Ted hate her? He had every reason too, but yesterday he'd said otherwise hadn't he? So why now all of a sudden?
"How did you know I was at the door?" Rin asked as she set a hand on the back of her chair. She pulled it out and sat down, Yuma cast a warm smile her way.
"I know everything that goes on in my agency Rin," he declared. The words themselves were said so kindly that they were harsh. Rin noticed Lily wiggle and shift for a brief second in the seat next to Yuma, discomfort was clear on her face. Rin felt a tinge of suspicion arise in her where Lily was concerned and warned herself not to trust such a shady woman: Ted didn't move and still didn't look at her.
"Is that dress to your fancy?" Yuma asked, his casual tone bothered Rin and instead of giving him her complete and utter attention she unwrapped her utensils.
"I would've fancied selecting my own clothes," Rin pointed out before a plate of mini pancakes was set before her. They were quite the delicacy as not only did they have syrup but also a half of a fresh strawberry with whipped cream topping. Rin almost didn't notice the thin flakes of chocolate sprinkled about them. "However, the dress is rather lovely," she finished.
"That's good," Yuma replied. Rin heard the light tapping of his fork and knife as he cut through his larger set of pancakes. "So why don't we just get to business then Rin? Ted."
Rin looked up as Yuma called Ted's name but Ted didn't look her way. Ted only glanced up long enough to hand an envelope over to a butler that stepped up to receive it. The butler walked across the room and offered the envelope to Rin. However Rin only stared at the envelope. She knew what was in there, she already knew Yuma really was her father. Her memories told her so, her very heart told her so as well.
When she'd seen his memories earlier she'd felt something inside of her connected to him. She'd been so connected in fact that she'd felt his unbearable pain. If she wasn't connected to him she would've never seen his memories in the first place. The fact that she could see his memories baffled her now that she really thought about it. How was it possible? They hadn't been fabricated, she knew that much. But then...how?
"There's no need," Rin finally spoke. "I don't need to see the results nor do I want to see them unless they explain everything about who I am." It was then that Lily rose from her seat and slammed her hands down firmly on the table.
"You brat! You always do this! You ask for something and then you-" Yuma cut her off.
"No need to get rowdy Lily, Rin already understands. Honestly there was no use to this test at all," Yuma said, his voice firm and silky. He nodded to the butler who backed away from Rin and returned to Ted's side, handing the envelope back to Ted.
"But...," Lily whined. Yuma shook his head.
"Let it be."
"Yuma!"
"Let it be Lily, your anger is pointless," Yuma said calmly.
"So you're just going to let her disrespect you this way? She has no manners!"
"Lily, it seems you need time to cool down...please see yourself out."
Rin bit down on her tongue at the fowl look Lily shot her. Her eyes were the very definition of poison and Rin felt her insides catch fire. She resisted the urge to shrink back from Lily's gaze. Lily still strode past Rin and right out of the room, which left just Yuma, Ted and Rin.
"So answers...yes, Rin? Those are what you desire?" Yuma asked. Rin looked straight at him then.
"That's one of the only things I've ever wanted since I walked through that gate."
"You will get your answers," Yuma said as he finished the last of what was on his plate. "But first I need answers from you."
"That won't happen," Rin stated. "I have no answers nor the means to give you any if I possessed such a thing."
"You have a voice do you not?"
"Even so, I asked you first...father." Rin's confidence got a chuckle out of Yuma.
"That you did, however a father must ask about his daughter's wellbeing before indulging her in his own affairs."
"I went out," Rin replied bitterly. "Now you know." If the reply infuriated Yuma, he was exceptionally talented at hiding it. As he smiled and the tone he replied in was casual.
"I see, well I hope you enjoyed it." He rose from the table then to reveal he was wearing another suit, in a lovely shade of blue. "When you feel like really talking however, visit me in my study. For now, please do promptly attend classes." Rin rose so quickly from the table that her chair flew back.
"Is this a joke to you!" She shouted. "I have no idea who I am! How can I possibly give you any answers?"
"There's no need for you to raise your voice Rin," Yuma said in another casual tone. "Why get angry with me? I've done nothing, you're the one who chose to forget." Rin gritted her teeth.
"Then give me a little reminder as family."
"All right," Yuma smiled. He walked slowly over to Rin, each step the pinnacle of dread and loudness. The short distance he had to walk was like an entire age in itself. Seconds were hours and minutes passed like days. When he'd traversed the distance he didn't lean or lower himself to her. Instead the chair she had knocked over rose back into position, the edge of it bumping against her lightly.
Rin stood her place but her legs tensed, her whole body gripped tightly and she felt that she'd fall. Felt that her body would fail her and she'd collapse to the ground in front of him. She'd cry then, and quiver at his feet like many before her.
"Rin..., you know exactly who you are. You already have all the answers you need. It's just...a matter of seeing them being presented to you."
"If I don't know who I am how can I know what I'm seeing are my answers!" Rin shouted.
"Rin sweetie, please lower your voice and calm down," Yuma cooed.
"Calm down?" Rin repeated in an exasperated gasp.
Her blood boiled as she felt the surge of power. She could attack him, she could take him. Yuma was nothing and Rin was already sick of him. Sick of the evasion of her questions, sick of the way he treated a good man like Ted, sick of how she felt the need to respond to him. She felt the change happening before she could stop it. Her other self was beckoning to her, calling her, urging her on. To release, to explode, to destroy. It would be so easy, and she could do it. All she had to do was let her other self take control, give in, only temporary. So Rin let the power flow and simmer and rise and burn and flame.
Yuma was a fool, his doom was coming, his end was standing before him again. But when Rin glanced into her fathers eyes she saw a sliver of a smile. A smile that knew of the internal battle, a smile that was ready to welcome and embrace whatever was going to unleash. She forced her hands into fists then and stabbed into her own skin. She curled her fists so tightly she could feel the blood sliding over her palms. He was trying to make her angry. Her father had made it his mission for her to snap. Rin wouldn't give in, if it was the last thing she ever did...she wouldn't give in. When she was calm, when the power had died out she spoke.
"I am calm dad. My request isn't hard, nor is it exceptionally difficult to complete. I only ask for answers."
"Even if I told you how could you possibly hope to understand if you do not know who you are? You'd feel a stranger in your skin."
"I don't care!" Rin shrieked. "I just want to know who I am! Who I was! I'm not asking anything difficult!"
It was then that Rin's mouth slammed shut. She tried to speak, tried to scream but she couldn't: she'd been muted. And when she looked into her fathers eyes, her blood froze and so did her surroundings. His eyes were solid, so glacially cold and infuriated that Rin dropped back into her seat. She couldn't cry, couldn't produce any kind of sound. Yuma's glare ate at her, it chilled her flesh and she was cold. A shiver racked her entire body and as much as she wanted to suddenly cry. As much as she wanted to scream out for Yuma to stop looking at her: she couldn't. She couldn't tear her gaze away from his either, her entire body had been paralyzed.
"I told you..., to stop, raising your voice did I not?" Yuma said, his voice cutting holes into her very sanity. Rin's entire barrier of confidence was being tested, it threatened to collapse: to break and shatter in a thousand irreparable pieces. "When I speak, you listen...do you understand that?" Yuma ordered her. "Do not disobey my orders again. Do you understand that? I don't care who you were with or who you think you are now, but my orders are absolute."
"Stop...," came another voice. A voice that Rin barely heard, she was too frozen. Too fear stricken. The horror was consuming her and she wished she could reach out, wished she could scream. But not a single tear would dare be something of a trifle and roll down her cheek. She wanted someone to save her, thought of Len. Wished she hadn't made such a foolish move as to return. Len...Len could save her, Len would save her and only Len could.
"Len?" her other self cackled. "I warned you didn't I? I told you Rin," her other self continued to laugh. "This is a place of nightmares! A place where all hopes, wishes and dreams go to die! Ha, hahahahaha Len can't save you here! Nobody can save you here! Everybody here is a pawn! I warned you...and now...you only have yourself to blame..."
Nobody could save her here...when had she forgotten that? Everyone was a pawn, and nobody disobeyed Yuma's orders. He saw all and knew all, nothing escaped his eyes, nothing evaded his knowledge. This was Vocal Corp...a literal hell on earth. Rin couldn't move, she'd been reduced to nothing but a lifeless doll. Yuma spoke again and in perfect harmony, her other self spoke the words with him.
"Nobody . ., nobody..., disobeys my orders here without paying a price. My orders are absolute. . ., ABSOLUTE! You are mine and always will be! Nobody is gonna help you here! But I will send that boy you were with a LOVELY thank you if they haven't arrived already!" And Yuma laughed madly then. He laughed hard and straight into dementia. His insanity echoed throughout the room, all the glass on the table burst. Shards of glass flew in all sorts of directions along with everything else in the room. Staff ducked and quivered, cries were heard, wails of pain too. Under the noise of all the chaos was Ted shouting frantically as bodies fell around him. Screaming at the boss to stop. "What a lovely family reunion!"
Rin's entire body fell limp and she sagged in the chair. Millions of golden plaques flew off the walls and one by one swirled in front of her. Each holding the same dreaded structure. A name had been terrifyingly etched into the gold with the same blood red letters "TERMINATED" and under every last one...Rin's name. She felt herself numbed then...oblivious to her surroundings.
"See all of these darling?" Yuma smiled as he laughed softly. "All of it is your lovely work...isn't it gorgeous?" Yuma stroked Rin's hair lovingly. "Welcome home, Rin."