Author's note: I apologize for the lack of update, I'm finally unstuck on this fanfiction! Also, please check on Rehabilitation, an AU on Breathe where Nagisa lives. I'm also looking for a beta reader.
I also tried to correct my grammar and changed some like Nagisa's job.
Also, guys, can you do me a favor? Go on my list of stories and see if the story I posted last night is there, I think there's a bug for me, I don't see it on Pretty Cure list of stories.
Episode 9: Saki's powers revealed! A familiar feeling!
Nagisa stared at herself in the mirror but her eyes were fixated on the diagonal scar above her breast. She wore her Lacrosse shorts and hadn't put her shirt on yet. She was about to when she saw and reminiscent the scar she had. Twenty-two years…twenty-two years when she had to go through hell of so called chemotherapy. But…she was happy to be alive. But her worry extended to her daughters; Fuji-P had told her today that the sisters went to the doctor and were still waiting for a result. Nagisa closed her eyes, her head lowering as she whispered to herself.
"Please…don't let them go through the same thing I did…spare them from this pain and death. Please…O, great Kami (1)"
Her eyes glances back at the mirror as memories began to flow before her. An image of Dr. Hiyamori appeared on her mind. She was young again, eighteen years old, laying on the medical bed and bald with an IV attached to her fore arm.
"Nagisa-san, to ensure you can continue your lacrosse practice and physical activates, you can get a pacemaker."
Nagisa sighed, it was more like an annoyed and sorrowful one, picking up her shirt. "What about the other issue, dammit." Nagisa muttered angrily to herself. She jolted when she heard her daughter yell her presence inside the house. Kazumi's voice echoed through the house as only Nagisa and now Kazumi were at home. Fuji-P's been so busy with work lately, it had worried her. Coming late home from work exhausted and snapped at the family sometimes.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Nagisa heard Kazumi's voice approach closely as doors were heard closing and opening.
"I'm in my bedroom, Kazumi." Nagisa announced.
Her footsteps were louder this time, Nagisa turned around when she heard the door opened ajar with Kazumi's head poking out before opening it completely. Kazumi froze and widened her eyes when her eyes caught on Nagisa's scar above her breast when she turned around to greet her daughter. Nagisa was calm though; she hadn't told her daughters about the disease or shown them or told them about the pacemaker so for fourteen years she had been hiding it.
"W-w-what's with that scar, mom? W-when did it happen, how did it happen?!" Kazumi was frantic, worried, and confused at same time. Like mother like daughter. Nagisa nonchalantly dressed her shirt uniform, her number being ten, and tied her hair into a ponytail before picking up her lacrosse stick.
"More importantly, what are the Pretty Cure, Kazumi?" Nagisa asked, approached, and looked at her daughter. As expected, Kazumi flailed her arms as her body stiffened.
"A-aren't you sure she was dreaming?" Kazumi had her eyes closed; she knew she was a bad liar and was trying to hide it. Nagisa sighed, passing by her daughter as Kazumi followed her from behind.
"I was thinking of contacting my boss after practice." Kazumi stopped in her tracks but picked up the pace to try and tug into Nagisa's shirt. She stopped, looking back at Kazumi confused.
"W-we don't need to involve your co-workers into this. Atleast they didn't hurt Saki or…worse?" Kazumi paused. Nagisa looked around as if looking for something while they talked. It was a luck that the doorbell rang. Lucky for Kazumi. They all turned their heads towards the door as Nagisa pointed at it.
"Can you get that while I look for my water bottle?"
"You'd force me anyhow to do it, you dictator…" Kazumi whispered.
"What was that?" Nagisa replied threateningly.
"N-nothing!" Kazumi had heard from her uncle that the Cobra Twist her mother used on him were painful as hell. She didn't want to find out if he was correct or not. She hurriedly skipped towards the door when the doorbell rang for the second time. Kazumi opened the door as another surprise hit her face; infront of her stood a familiar face with longer ponytail then her mother's.
"R-R-Rina-sensei!?" Kazumi half-yelled, stepped back surprised.
"Evening, Rina." Nagisa greeted as she approached the two of them. Rina patted Nagisa's shoulders in a friendly manner, confusing Kazumi. Rina wore the same Lacrosse uniform as Nagisa but without gloves.
"H-how do you know Rina-sensei?" Kazumi asked straight forward.
"Rina's an old friend from Junior High. Her and Shiho - have you heard anything from her?" Nagisa asked, looking at Rina.
"I just got an email from her; she'll be here before the reunion begins." Rina replied excited. Nagisa joined in the excitement.
"But you know. I never expected your -own- daughter to surpass academics. I guess she got it mostly from Shougo-san." Rina leaned against Nagisa with a smirk, causing Nagisa to give her a glare.
"Oi, you want a smack on your head, Rina? Besides, she's only good at English and math."
"Point still stands." Rina winked. Nagisa just sighed and changed the topic.
"Kazumi, I won't be home until eight, Saki will cook dinner tonight." Kazumi replied yes dis-enthusiastically as Saki appeared at the front of the door, carrying a bag of groceries. Both sisters froze when their eyes met causing Nagisa to look at both confused. Within few seconds, they took their eyes off each other. Rina looked at Nagisa, hoping she'd know what was going on, but she just shrugged. She leaned onto the sisters to give them kisses on the cheeks, not much reaction came from them but Nagisa had no time to deal with it now.
"Right, girls. Be good." They nodded as Nagisa exited with Rina. The two of them looked at each other before Saki didn't even look back at her and headed towards the kitchen table, taking out the groceries out of the bag. Kazumi looked at Mepple as he popped his head out worried.
"W-what do we do-mepo?" Mepple asked lowly. Kazumi sighed defeated before she replied.
"She saw us, we need to tell her…there's no other way." Mepple popped back into his cellphone bag when he saw Saki approaching Kazumi. Kazumi gave Saki an awkward smile, trying to act as if nothing had happened.
"So…when did you become a 'Pretty Cure?'." Saki broke the silence. Now Kazumi was stuck; she couldn't lie her way out of this time. Before she replied, Saki pointed at Mepple.
"I saw this 'Cure Black' carry a cellphone like that." Mepple popped his head out again, widening his eyes as he looked at Saki then went into his normal form. Saki blinked confused but she was also trying to stifle herself by biting her lower lip of how cute Mepple was. Yet, within few seconds, that was feeling was over and she ended by kneeling near Mepple and staring intensely back at him.
"S-Saki, don't freak out, this is Mepple. We…me and Shizuka are defending Earth or…as they call it Garden of Rainbows, from Dark Zone." Kazumi explained as Saki started to play with his ear. To Kazumi's surprise, Mepple didn't react and kept staring at her.
"So…those who kidnapped me were from that place?" Kazumi nodded but worried that Mepple would eventually yell at Saki. "Why did you keep this a secret from us?" Mepple snapped out of it and explained instead.
"Because-mepo, it'll be a disaster if everyone knows-mepo!"
"And mass panic…" Kazumi added. "Please don't tell any soul! Especially mom or dad!" Kazumi pleaded, clasping her hands together.
"C-can I atleast help?" Saki asked, Kazumi flailed her arms.
"No, no, no, no, it's too dangerous! You can't de-" Kazumi cut herself off. She had an idea; since they were going to the alternative universe to train, Saki could also. But…can there be three Pretty Cures?
"F-fine." Kazumi hesitated for a moment. Saki jumped cheerfully as Mepple questions her. "I-It'll be fine." Kazumi said reassuring.
"L-let's just eat quickly, Shizuka is coming soon." Mepple looked at Saki again. "What's wrong, Mepple?"
"Somehow...she feels familiar-mepo."
Saki was in charge to cut the pound beef while she heated the pan. Mepple observed them curiously and drooled at the cooking ground beef. Saki had to push him off the counter like a naughty pet. Kazumi had to slice the onion and carrot for the stew. Saki turned her head towards her older sister whenever she winced painfully each time, she had cut her finger with the knife. Saki sighed as the doorbell rang. Kazumi laid down her knife to answer the door. Shizuka greeted her with a big smile as Saki lowered her shoulder in relieved. Just like her mother, Kazumi was a klutz when it came to cutting vegetables. Saki always had to help her while she was busy with whatever was in the pan.
Shizuka blinked when she saw Mepple was in the open and looked at Kazumi while Mipple popped out of her bag to join Mepple in love-love talk. Saki beckoned Shizuka over to take over Kazumi's duty with her eyes almost with a plead. Shizuka slapped an extra apron on herself and started to help with Saki while Kazumi explained the situation. Saki had enough ingredients, fortunately, for three people. She had to buy extra just in case if her gluttonous sister would eat everything. Shizuka insisted she was full, and she already had a dinner, but she couldn't resist a Japanese cuisine, so she asked for a little taste.
Just as Shizuka took the last bite, savoring every bite thus she was the last one to finish dinner, the doorbell rang again. Of course, Kazumi was first as usual, almost inhaling her food. The girls looked at each other, as Mepple and Mipple turned into cellphone, before Saki stood up to answer the doorbell. She sighed, hoping her mother didn't forget her keys again. But when she looked at the clock, her practice would be over in five minutes. Saki opened the door, a man in long brown coat with a scarf and almost shoulder length slicked back hair smiled at her. Behind him were two women, one muscular and other thin and tall, both wearing a traditional Japanese strawhat.
"Oh, you're the little sister of Kazumi, right? Saki was it?" Saki nodded as Kazumi turned her head, almost falling off her chair. "M-Marcus-sensei?! Why are all my teachers coming to my home?!"
Marcus only replied with a smirk, his eyes glancing over at Kazumi as he approached her. "Cure Black, I assume?"
"W-w-what are you talking about, Marc-" Kazumi was cut off by Marcus immediately.
"We need the Cures' help." Kazumi and Shizuka looked at each other. "Please, can we talk somewhere private?"
"Tako Café!" Kazumi yelled, throwing her hand in the air.
"You're -still- hungry?!" Saki asked surprised. Despite knowing her for so long, she always surprises her. Marcus nodded and looked behind him to give the women signal to leave. The girls picked up their coats and exited the house; Saki looked back at the mess after dinner and sighed.
"Mom's gonna kill me."
The whistle echoed throughout the gymnastic hall as the coach huddled them all together to give them criticism. The coach woman gave them all a pat on the back while the team walked towards the locker room. Nagisa took off her 'Captain' armband and stuffed it into the locker. Just as she closed the locker, Rina came back from a quick shower, drying her wet long hair. Nagisa didn't pay attention to Rina approaching her to talk. Knowing Nagisa, there was something going on. As Nagisa took her uniform off, Rina looked at the scar with pained expression.
"That always gets me everytime." Rina said, Nagisa turned her head to her friend.
"It just reminds me that I cheated Death!" Nagisa replied joyfully, flexing her arms causing the other women to giggle her enthusiasm. But she didn't mind it, she got used to it in Middle School. "What deadly doesn't kill me, right?"
"You mean 'What doesn't kill me gets me stronger'…" Rina corrected with her eyes half closed. Nagisa just giggled and scratched behind her hair, embarrassed, as she took her gloves off. At that moment, she remembered something.
"Hey, Rina. Do you know a 'Pretty Cure'?" Rina looked up at the ceiling with her finger on her chin while she muttered the word over and over to herself lowly.
"Didn't Natsuko and Kyoko play as them when we were in Junior High?" Nagisa looked at Rina, completely blanked on that.
"What's with you lately, you haven't remembered much from Middle school." Rina added when she read Nagisa's expression. Nagisa shock her head, trying to convince her she was alright, but it would take more than that to convince Rina. Last time it happened, Nagisa almost died.
"Maybe there are magical girls protecting the Earth." Rina sat down on the bench. Nagisa looked and sneered at her.
"We're not kids anymore, Rina. It's just a childish fantasy."
"Then how come you and Honoka-san got so close within eight days of our second year? You two hadn't even met each other until me and Shiho explained to you who she was." Nagisa opened the locker to put her gloves in as well as her lacrosse stick. She wasn't in mood to drag it back home.
"It was just a school project we had to do, Honoka misinterpreted it that we're friends, we fought and realized our feelings."
"Oh…right…BUT! What about that accident in aquarium, the disappearance of Kiriya-kun, the dying trees during our first trip to camp, the green and white stuffed animal running around and the Christmas dance where everyone just suddenly passed out at same time." Nagisa froze, trying to find a logical explanation to all that. She honestly didn't remember those memories, but she just pretended she did.
"If Honoka were here, she'd be able to tell us."
"Maybe, just maybe! There were 'Pretty Cures' in our class!" Rina suggested. Nagisa didn't deny it. Things had weirdly happened to her youngest daughter and Kazumi befriending Shizuka was all too familiar. Rina stood up, sighing as she dressed herself up.
"Oh, did you tell Saki yet?" Rina switched topic. Nagisa froze again and frowned.
"No…"
"Nagisa, she's old enough to know. You and Shougo-san are making this worse!"
"I know….I'm just afraid that she'll hate us once she knows." Nagisa stared at the ceiling once again in deep thought while Rina had finished dressing herself.
"She has right to know." Rina said before she took her leave.
The three girls kept on looking back at the two individual who they assumed are Marcus's friends. It still freaked them out because they had their faces concealed. Kazumi kept imaging that they might be too ugly so they had to cover their faces while Shizuka thought they might be aliens. Saki wasn't speculating; she was still creeped out by unknown people who had their faces covered ever since she was kidnapped. Saki eventually went closer and seized Kazumi's arm. Marcus was talking to them during their walk and their personalities showed little by little. The muscular was calm and collected but reacted whenever the tall thin one kept teasing it.
The park clock chimed when it hit eight o'clock and the group arrived at Tako Café's location. Takezo was all alone putting the upside-down chairs on the tables and unfold the umbrellas. He stopped when the group approached, greeting them cheerfully but stopped when he saw the two unfamiliar people behind the girls.
"W-where are your aunt and mom?" Kazumi broke the ice. She still couldn't look Takezo in the eyes. Takezo tried to focus his glances on Shizuka and Kazumi but found himself glancing at the two-unknown people.
"A-auntie went to Kyoto to expand the business while mom went to buy dinner." Takezo explained.
"Y-you're eating dinner -now-?" Kazumi broke the shy personality and returned to normal. Takezo nodded as he looked at the park clock.
"We just closed. Anyways, what's going on? What is Marcus-sensei doing here?" Once inside Takezo's room, Mepple, Mipple, Porun and Roran all got out in the open. Luckily for Mepple and Mipple could have a private moment while Porun whined at Roran to play.
The tall thin one sat crossed legged while the muscular one sat down on its knees. Both looked at each other before taking off their strawhats, causing everyone except Marcus to gasp. The tall thin one was a human form fox; her hair was golden, representing her fur and her ears had some black on the tip. She waved her hands and nine tails appeared behind her. Shizuka's eyes shone while Kazumi looked at her befuddled.
The muscular one was a tiger; her hair was orange with black stripped as a singular tail appeared behind her. Her eye was closed with a scar running diagonal with chipped ear.
"I am Teoki and this is my sister Lan." The tiger introduced themselves as Lan bowed respectfully to the group. Shizuka excitedly stood up as Lan jolted at the sudden movement and Shizuka approached the two of them, bowing repeatedly.
"I'm Yukishiro Shizuka! It's an honor to meet you two yokai!"
"Y-yokai?" Kazumi asked. Lan just smiled gently and giggled at Shizuka's behavior.
"I'm flattered, Miss Shizuka."
"W-w-what are you?" Saki managed to ask. She withdrew, feeling embarrassed and rude.
"I'm a kitsune mixed with Huli Jing, Japanese and Chinese fox spirit (2)" Shizuka looked at Teoki.
"What's she?"
"I'm a tiger spirit, alright? (3) Can we move to more important matters?" Marcus stood up and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"Did you two see a bear yokai (4) along with the Dusk Zone?" he turned his attention to Shizuka and Kazumi.
"Yes, we saw her when Saki was kidnapped." Kazumi said. Saki nodded, confirming it.
"That bear yokai is our sister, we do not know why she turned to the evil side. Whether it be possession or willingly." Teoki explained calmly but there was a hint of sorrow and betrayal in her voice.
"You girls can use Rainbow Therapy on her if she's possessed-mipo." Mipple suggested. Roran tried to focus on the conversation with Porun still dangling on him. Takezo picked Roran up away from the annoying little green mascot. Porun pouted and managed to take the groups' advantage and snuck out.
"It is out of character for Roja to join the Evil side since our job is to protect Humans." Lan said. The group's attention turned to door when they heard a scratch. The girls freaked out, trying to hide their mascots but stopped and sighed in relieved when Tomyo opened the door in her Human form. She had her head hung but it jerked back up when she saw Lan, a smile appeared on her lips.
"Ran-sama~!"(5) She threw herself at Lan while turning into a cat form in mid air and into Lan's laps. Lan smiled, scratching behind the cat's ears as it purred.
"Good job, Tomyo." Lan said causing the girl to be confused.
"We sent Tomyo to 'join' the Dark Zone to confirm Roja's alliance with them." Marcus explained when he saw the girls confused. The girls let out 'aah' after the explanation. Marcus looked at Tomyo with a smile.
"Someone deserves a tuna." Tomyo meowed happily. Even thought Marcus couldn't understand cat language, it was obvious what she was saying.
"Oh, Marcus-san-mipo. Do you think Saori-san can train Kazumi and Shizuka-mipo?" Mepple asked.
"I need to ask for if she can. Did you find the princess?" Mepple and Mipple hung their heads dejectedly. Marcus closed his eyes sighing worried.
"I should've hold the basket tighter-mepo…" Mepple said lowly, turning around ashamed.
"Mepple…no you shouldn't blame yourself. She's been living a safe life for thirteen years with the Humans." Marcus reassured him, putting a finger on his shoulder to comfort the little mascot.
"To find a teenage girl within nine point two million people in this city…" Shizuka bit her lower lips. "She might remember you all, right?" Mepple and Mipple shock their heads.
"She was few months old when we escaped our world-mepo."
"Then, there must be something that can distinguish the princess from the rest of the teens?" Takezo added as Roran jumped onto his lap.
"She had a heart-shaped necklace, given by her mother-mipo."
Mipple tried to make a heart shaped gesture with her tiny hands.
"Then, we need to find a thirteen-year-old girl wearing that. I can check my class." Saki suggested, standing up off the bed determined.
"Wait, Mipple." Shizuka interjected. "Didn't you say that Hikari-san was the life of Queen? Won't she have her memories?" Mipple shock her head again.
"No, they got separated somehow years ago-mipo. Before we escaped from Dark Zone thirteen years ago, the Queen died few months prior-mipo." Mipple explained.
"No wonder mom is weak…" Takezo hung his head, sadness and worry in his voice. As if on cue, Hikari barged into the bedroom with Porun in her arms. Porun stared at the group as he muttered emotionless.
"Crimson red pole-popo." The group blinked at him.
The ground suddenly shock. Saki, who was standing was knocked onto the table while Kazumi and Shizuka grabbed the door to keep themselves balanced along with Hikari. Lan, Tomyo, Marcus and Teoki were in their same position but calmed. The mascots turned into their forms and returned to their respective owners.
"It's evil presence- mepo!" Shizuka and Kazumi looked at each other as the ground ceased to shake. The girls nodded at each other and ran towards the exit with Takezo and Roran tailing them.
"Wait, onee-chan!" Saki yelled after them.
"Stay here with the others, Saki!"
Teoki looked at Lan, expressionless. "You think they need our help?"
"Nah, they need the experience." Lan replied calmly.
As Kazumi and Shizuka exited the house, the clouds were black as usual, and an oversized old van stood on two feet with eyes on the roof of the van.
The girls transformed along with Roran and Takezo.
"Soldier of Light, Knight Roran-rora!"
"Soldier of Light, Knight Blue!" Takezo yelled.
Takezo's body was replaced from his normal routine clothes to mail armor for his kneecaps, right shoulder and gloves while Roran was covered in full plate, head to toe. Two swords appeared at Takezo's hips, while Roran had a shield and sword.
Nagisa had her eyes glued on the streets but occasionally glanced around to see if she was going the right way. Rina had to go home early to grade papers, leaving Nagisa alone on her way to one of her favorite dinner; takoyaki. But what Rina said before she left, Nagisa was aware she had to one day tell her youngest daughter. But how. She sighed, looking up. Ahead of her was the semi big takoyaki restaurant. Nagisa raised an eyebrow when she saw two girls infront of the restaurant, facing something. She was too far away, so she approached closer until she was in middle of the restaurant. Nagisa's eyes diverted from the girls to the standing van, her eyes widened.
"Zakenna!"
Nagisa felt her eyes getting heavier and her body numb.
"What…is this familiar…feeli-" Nagisa muttered to herself before everything went to black.
Cure Black landed a foot into Zakenna's eyes while White went for its stomach. The Zakenna recoiled back from their attacks and exclaimed at its own name as it hit the ground. It stood back up more pissed as the Cures landed softly on the street. Takezo was frozen and hesitant as he observed. The Cures went in for another attack while Roran tried to slice the door off Zakenna.
"Takezo, you can do it-rora!" Roran yelled towards Takezo when he landed softly. Roran charged again, jumped and sliced the Zakenna's arm off. Takezo gasped impressed and felt the confident flowing through him as he tightened his grip on his swords. He charged towards the Zakenna while it was distracted by Roran and the Cures and went for its stomach; he slashed weakly at the Zakenna, causing the door to eventually fall off from the abuse from the teens. Takezo clenched his teeth worried when he was away from the Zakenna after the slash.
"Mom is gonna ground me…" He muttered lowly to himself. The Zakenna, now more pissed than ever, slammed White and Black away. Black fell on her stomach, facing away from it. The Zakenna yelled again its name as it picked up an umbrella off one of the outdoor tables and threw it towards the Cures. White quickly recovered and dodged the umbrella but Black, who just stood up to hold it together, felt a sudden force entering her upper abdomen. She looked down, her eyes widened, to see red liquid dripping down out of her stomach as it slid down on her leg from the point where the umbrella went through her.
"KAZUMI!" White screamed on top of her lungs. Black fell to her knees and eventually to the ground but White managed to catch her and positioned Black in her arms. The yell drew Roran and Takezo's attention.
"Blue! Combine our powers together-rora!" Roran yelled across the street, Blue nodded. Both males jumped above the Zakenna and side to side of each other with their swords clashed together, exclaiming some words. (6) Their swords emerged into a big one and the two gripped onto it before slashing the Zakenna in half. The Zakenna yelled in pain before popping and burst into mini stars. Takezo and Roran then ran towards the Cures with White shaking and looking over at Black's body, trying to figure out how to help her.
"C-Crimson red pole…" Takezo muttered.
"K-Kazumi…d-don't panic, y-you're going to be okay…I j-just need to…" White said panicking and desperate.
"Shi...zuka...n-no...need to sugar...coat it...I-I've lost...a-alot of blood...I can feel...life slipping-" Kazumi smiled weakly as the girls transformed back into normal outfits. Mipple popped out but Mepple stayed in the pouch. Mipple could hear him whimpering and sniffing.
"S-save your breath, K-Kazumi…" Shizuka teared up.
"One-chan!" Saki yelled running towards them and knelt besides Shizuka. She wasn't in much panic as Shizuka was or sorrowful.
"S-Saki…I told…y-you to stay…p-put…" Saki ignored her sister and placed her hands onto the wound. She turned towards Shizuka.
"Shizuka-san, everyone, I need you to pull the pole out while I close the wound!"
"W-what? T-that will kill her faster! And with what, med pack?!" Shizuka almost yelled replied at her.
"P-please…just trust me." Shizuka looked down at Kazumi whose breath was getting weaker and weaker. She hesitated but nodded, stood up and rolled Kazumi on her side while Saki started to force herself to cry. Takezo started to pull the umbrella out as Kazumi clenched her teeth with painful expression. Saki started to tear up, as if she had lost Kazumi already, as the wound started to slowly close, but the crimson blood still flooded out. Takezo, still in his transformation form, took out his sword and sliced the umbrella in half at the end of it. With that, it was easier to pull the pole but Takezo hoped they wouldn't pull out any organs.
With all four pulling the pole, though Roran and Mipple wouldn't make much difference, the pole was pulled out of Kazumi's stomach, the end of it covered in blood while everyone was thrown onto the ground. Shizuka stood up quickly but widened her eyes shocked when she saw Saki's tear closed the wound. She snapped out of it and pressed her hands together to keep the blood from flowing. Kazumi's face started to turn back to its regular color and her breath slowly turned to normal.
With the final tear dropping and closing the wound completely, Kazumi blinked and gasped for air. She sat up and looked at where the wound was, befuddled, while Shizuka threw herself at Kazumi to hug her tightly as tears poured down.
"H-h-how did you do that?" Kazumi looked at Saki, asking her.
"When I was little, I scraped my knee and cried. It dripped onto the wound and healed." Kazumi hung her head; she had remembered Saki coming back home excitedly and told them what had just happened. Though, Kazumi was just seven, she knew now that her mother who took Saki's words literally, was just humoring her. Kazumi, meanwhile, was skeptical.
"I-I'm so sorry for not believing you…"
"I-it's okay…I-I'm just glad you're alive." Saki smiled but no more tear appeared.
"T-this is amazing…S-Saki-san can be beneficial to our team." Shizuka said, finally letting Kazumi go as the two of them stood up. Mepple came out of the pouch and gave Kazumi a tight hug too.
"But…how strong is her power-mipo. Her tears can bring back dead, and she'll be targeted again-mipo."
"That's not how it works." Everyone turned around Marcus who approached calmly to them.
"Thanks for helping, by the way." Kazumi said sarcastically.
"You girls need the experience to be better. Anyways, in our world there was an extinct race called Homo Magus. They were more evolved than Homo Sapiens, so their technologies and medicine were more advanced. They also possessed some magic." Everyone was hung on Marcus's words while he explained. "Few hundred thousand years ago, they created the legendary elixir called 'Rát Snixinöf' (7) or Phoenix's Tears. It can resurrect the dead, but their personalities changes and they gain the ability to heal a wound, fatal or not." Marcus looked at Saki, frowning but tried to keep a straight face.
"I'll talk to Saori about training you two. Maybe Saki here can learn how to heal with her hands. But, Saki, I need to talk to you. Privately." Saki nodded as Marcus guided her inside the restaurant with Hikari standing at the door frame. She sighed and went to the kitchen. Kazumi followed her gaze to the two before they vanished inside, worried.
"K-Kazumi, isn't that…your mother?" Shizuka asked and pointed at the unconscious woman ahead of them. Kazumi didn't waste a time and ran towards her with Shizuka, Mepple and Mipple following her, though the mascots had trouble with their tiny legs.
"Oh, crap…do you think she saw us?" Kazumi asked as she knelt near her mother and shock her shoulder with no avail. Mepple and Mipple were just in time to hear her question, panting.
"U-usually when there are witnesses, when they wake up, they think it was a dream-mepo." Kazumi and Shizuka sighed in relieved. Kazumi sat down Indian style, waiting for her mother to wake up while Mepple stayed near Nagisa's head.
"I wonder when the pumpkin head will remember-mepo." Mepple whispered to himself, smiling to himself nostalgic.
Marcus closed Hikari's bedroom door when Saki got comfy on her bed. His face expression was heavy and sorrowful which made Saki worried. He sighed and sat next to her.
"Whenever you use your ability, do you feel like some of your life essence is slipping away?" He straight out asked. Saki was caught off guard but mostly of how he knew.
"Y-yes, exactly!" Marcus sighed again, face planting as he closed his eyes. "Yeah…that can happen…" Within few seconds, he looked straight into Saki's eyes.
"Everytime you use your powers…your life shortens…"
1) Since Japanese people believe in Shintoism and Buddhism I wasn't sure which one to choose so I went to Shintoism.
2) Huli Jing and Kitsune are both nine tailed fox, the first one is from China and other from Japan. Also, I kind of screw this up; in my novel, Lan was born in 408 A.D and I read that a kitsune becomes 'immortal' after 1000 years but they lose their physical form and ascend to the Heavens. So she should technically be dead so I might add a time machine here.
3) Teoki is a made up yokai.
4) Another made up yokai but is based on a deity from India
5) Lan is from China but Tomyo pronounces her name as 'Ran'. There's a simple reason why Japanese people can't pronounce R and L correctly. They don't exist in Japanese. The Japanese version of the 'rrr' type of sound, the ra ri ru re ro ( ろ) row in the phonetic hiragana alphabet, is somewhere between R and L. So, 'rice' gets pronounced 'lice', 'balloon' as 'baroon', etc.
6) I'm so sorry about skipping when they yell out their attack, I tried to find one but I couldn't.
7) A "new" language I decided for the Homo Magus, it's not a language I invented, it's actually backwards Icelandic. "Tár fönixins" is the translation to English. Yeah, I'm adding characters and the alternative universe from my novel into this fanfiction if that's alright.
8) The sisters are based of the brothers from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as I used to watch the 80's and '03 series as a kid.
9) The sisters are named after colors in their respective language; Teoki Go means Turquoise in Korean, Roja means rose (red) in Hindi and Lan means orchid (Orchid is a bright rich purple color) in Chinese. There's one more sister but I won't explain her name and meaning until she's revealed.
Note: I changed Saki's hairstyle back in chapter one to be like Ellie from Last of Us Part 2. I apologize for the lack of alot of descriptions.
Hope you're ready for next chapter! That was alot of expedition and please leave a review!