CH 15

Yani Ishiguru watched the Diclonius walk by. Even when the woman danced on stage she was sure the woman was a diclonius by the way she seemed to 'float on air' in her moves, her pink hair, and pale skin. Just like that monster Lucy had been. When that woman walked by, Yani saw her red eyes, and there was no doubt now, she had horns under those ribbons on her head. Her father had had been killed by the Diclonius, Lucy. Her mother told her that. By the description her mother gave of that monster, the one calling herself Kanae Kikumura was indeed this Lucy.

Yani had never expected to ever see Lucy. Coming to the US for college and hopefully a job, encountering Lucy was the last thing she expected. What was she doing here anyway? And what was that wave for? Yani's first thought as she watched the pink haired devil walking away was to kill her for killing her father.

Then again, how do you kill a devil? What if you fail? Yani shuddered.

Yani called her mother.

"Hello?"

"Mom, I saw her! The one who killed Father!"

There was a pause, then "Where?"

"Here, at the ballet recital! She just walked right past me! It was Lucy!"

"You must be mistaken, Lucy was in Japan…"

"No, she's here, she fit the description perfectly!" Yani insisted. "She was dancing ballet."

A huff sounded. "Yani, I highly doubt a homicidal killer like Lucy would be dancing ballet! It HAD to be someone else, possibly made up so it looked like her. Your father died years ago in Japan. Did that woman look that old?"

"No, but if she's a devil, then maybe she doesn't age."

"Even if she didn't age, she wouldn't be performing ballet. That woman was a maniac killer. She probably got shot and killed by someone. Don't bother that woman you saw, it can't be Lucy that you saw. That's impossible."

"Mom, she had red eyes, the pink hair, pale skin, and she had ribbons tied up to hide her horns, I'm sure it was her."

"Dear, calm down. Want me to pick you up?"

Yani checked the isles. "She's gone. I'll be OK. Should I call the police?"

"Yani," her mother said with a sigh. "Look, you managed to get into the college you want, don't start any trouble. Just go to your classes and forget about her. You want to be a doctor, right? Focus on that. Don't do anything to make trouble and possibly get kicked out."

"Yes, mother," Yani said. "But if that is Lucy?"

"It can't be her. Some women dress up in costume to perform, right?"

"How did she make her eyes red then?"

"Contact lenses can change eye color. Trust me, whoever you saw was NOT Lucy. Go relax and forget about it."

"I'll try. Bye Mom."

"Bye dear."

Yani did try to forget about it and went back to her dorm. This was her first year in Medical School. Her mother was right, she had to focus on her studies. She couldn't afford to start messing with a monster.

.

On the way home, Kanae got a call.

"Kanae … Yes… where? … Yes, I'm on my way!"

Randy saw Kanae's face go stricken as he glanced at her. She turned to him. "There had been an accident between a bus and a tractor-trailer, South on the highway. It's a bad one, I have to go."

Randy noted where he was, "OK, we got a highway ramp up here two blocks up, point me the way."

"Hon, it's already a mess from what I was told. I'll get there," Kanae said. She rolled the window down, climbed out and shouted, " Meet me at Mercy General!" She then jumped out to fly away.

Randy frowned and headed for the hospital.

Using long mind hand jumps, Kanae saw the flashing lights of police cars and jumped over to them to see a horrible scene. On an elevated section of highway, a truck had crossed over the median, breaking through the guard rails and hit a bus to send it tumbling down the bank. Six cop cars were on the road above the mess, more ambulances and rescue vehicles were coming.

Kanae landed on the crumpled bus beside that was on it's side near a cop who had a saw and was cutting into the roof to gain entry into the bus. She called to him, "HEY! I can get us in!" she then pulled a window out and carefully got down inside. Moans and cries of pain filled the bus.

Being very careful to not step on anyone, Kanae ripped the roof off and slowly pushed it out. "I'll pass them out to you!" she told the cop.

"Get the rear open too!" he said.

Kanae nodded. She cut the back wall off the bus and laid it on the ground.

Inside the bus was chaos. There were people laying on people, many screaming and calling for help. Many were also silent, not a good sign. More police came with stretchers, Kanae lifted people out and onto stretchers. They started working in the back to lift people out of the bus. In a pile of people, Kanae cut another large section of roof out so they could get people out easier.

One policeman called to her. "Miss, MISS! Take the whole roof off!"

Kanae nodded and went down the length of the bus, cutting the roof away. By now, EMT's were arriving. Two were doing triage as fast as they could. Other people arrived to help also.

The worse were the ones who's gotten piled on by others when the bus finally came to a stop. Once the roof was cut away, Kanae tended to a boy who was under three others and had stopped breathing. He had broken bones, but getting him breathing and his heart going again was first. She made his lungs work and pumped his heart. "Come on," she coaxed as she worked his body. Finally, his heart kept going by itself. He stayed passed out, but he was still alive.

There had to be thirty or so people in this bus. Even with the now ten rescue vehicles present, there wasn't enough of anything to help everyone all at once. Ones who were awake enough to moan or cry out, were loaded onto ambulances double and triple to race them to the hospital.

It seemed hours that Kanae helped get people out of the bus and stable enough to move. A small girl was brought out, crushed and limp. Kanae cried, the girl's neck was broken, she was dead.

An EMT got her attention, "Kanae, we're loosing this one!" he cried.

Kanae went over to where the man lay on the ground limp. A pair of EMT's were doing CPR on the man. "Let me!" she said and quickly worked his heart and made him breathe. She also felt in his head. "He has a subdural blood clot on his brain. "Breathe for him," she said. It was a strain working his heart and concentrating to break up that blood clot. It took her a while, but she got the clot cleared. Now, his heart kept going on it's own.

"He's alive, I cleared the blood clot on his brain," she said. The EMT's got him on a stretcher and took him to a pickup truck that had two others in it. The truck left for the hospital.

Slowly, the bus was cleared and people were on their way to the hospital. Focused on getting people out and helped, Kanae stood exhausted as she searched for anyone else. Other than the ruined bus and blood splotches here and there, she didn't see anyone.

"Miss, You're Kanae Kikumura, right?" A woman asked.

Kanae nodded. "Who else is there?" she then noticed this woman was police.

"We got everyone out," the woman said, eyeing her. "Thank you so much for your help. Come, you need to sit and relax for a moment."

Kanae let the woman take her hand and guide her back up the bank. Taking Kanae to a squad car, The woman opened the passenger door and helped Kanae in.

Kanae looked up at the woman and weakly said, "There was a girl, she died, I couldn't save her."

Putting a gentle hand on her shoulder, the woman told her, "You did save many. That was a horrible accident, we save who we can, dear. Rest a moment. When we're done here, I'll take you home."

"The hospital please, Randy was going to meet me at Mercy General."

"OK, we'll be going there anyway."

Kanae nodded and passed out.

.

Kanae woke up being carried. Snapping awake, she saw Randy was carrying her. "What?" she asked in a gasp. It was dark, they were in a parking lot.

"Morning my hero," he beamed at her.

"Where are we?"

Randy nodded ahead. "Truck's right up here. The police told me to let you know by getting fast entry into that bus, you most likely saved a few lives doing that. There are also four others you saved the lives of directly. They want to see you at the station after school tomorrow."

Kanae frowned. "I can walk."

"Nope. Just relax. You've had a tough night. I'll take care of you," he replied. "The hospital called you in a vain attempt to get help at a scene they were sure was going to be many dead bodies. All they ended up with was three. That's due to you getting there so fast."

"At least I did some good," Kanae noted. Seeing the truck, she opened the passenger door for Randy. He got her in, then kissed her.

Kanae thought she was up now, but as Randy drove them home, she fell asleep again. Randy woke her up to get her in the house. He helped her get ready for bed, then once in bed, he laid down with her and rubbed her back. She passed out almost immediately.

.

When Kanae woke up, she was alone. A glance at the clock showed it was one in the afternoon. Her eyes widened. She was late! Shooting up, she got dressed as fast as possible. Seeing a note Randy left, she read it.

Relax, Kanae. I'll bring you all the things we covered in classes today. When I get home, I'll take you to the police station. Consider this a day off from school.

Kanae smiled. Leave it to Randy to cover for her. She needed a shower anyway, so she did as he wanted and took the day off. He was in for some play time tonight.

Having a few hours with nowhere to go, Kanae did some house cleaning until she hear a crash from below, and Bill cursed, "Damn it!"

Going down in the cellar, Bill Was frowning at what looked like partially built shelving that had fallen down. "Need a hand, Lad?" she asked.

He looked up at her. "Yeah, I tried to put the whole assembly up, but it fell down on me."

"Let's get it in place, I'll hold it up so ya kin fix it in place."

"Thanks."

A couple boards had broken free. Getting it standing against the wall, Kanae held it as he re nailed the shelves up where they were supposed to be, then used wall anchors to fix it in place.

.

Yani had joined an all female sorority with other medical students. Of course initiation was a silly thing, first being blindfolded and 'examined' by other members, then they said they had to cut into her belly to check her intestines and womb to see if she was healthy. She heard them talking about making sure the knife was hot enough, then one woman said since it was glowing, that was good. Thinking it was all in fun, she got a shock when she felt a pain slide down her belly. With a scream she sat up, wide eyed.

Everyone around her laughed. The one who 'cut' her showed her the butter knife. "Felt real didn't it," the blonde giggled. "We froze it just for you."

Looking down, Yani verified the red mark. Thinking about it, it had felt cold, not hot. They had convinced her the knife was hot, so she'd believed it was. They got her a 'ceremonial' robe and went though the induction ceremony. She was now a sister of the Medical Arts Student Sorority, MASS.

They had the TV on after the ceremony. The news was playing and one of the local news items was giving a lifesaver award to a Kanae Kikumura.

Yani focused on the woman. It was the pink haired ballet dancer she'd seen. Staring at the young woman, she listened how Kanae had assisted the police and medical teams by tearing holes in the bus so they could get people out, and saving the lives of several of the passengers who'd been in danger of dying. She also saw Kanae had the red eyes and pale skin. The wool cap she wore on her head had to be covering up her horns. Kanae did look exactly like Lucy, but this was no maniac killer.

She wanted to know more about this Kanae. She was sure she knew something about that Lucy. "Excuse me, she asked, "Do any of you know about Kanae Kikumura?"

"Ah, the witch," a second year woman said. "She's high profile, and pulled the tumor out of a man's head in the classroom. Saw that myself."

"Yeah it just kinda poured out his ear. She even has a job at the hospital being an on-call no surgical surgeon." Another woman said.

"Just don't mess with her!" A third second year said. "Some guy tried to shoot her. She chopped his hand off and when she slammed him to the ground, he died."

"Yeah, your best bet is to be nice or stay away from her." Another agreed.

A woman snorted and said, "She's also a fish herder."

That brought a few chuckles.

"No, really!" the woman said. "I went on that trip to Scotland, we were taking a boat tour, this guy pops up in the water from nowhere. He knew her. She jumped in and they were under water and gone. She didn't come back up until we came by that area, and she just jumps back up into the boat! I think she was under water the whole time. She said her friend was a Selkie. She also said she was an Elf."

"She is the fastest swimmer this college has ever seen," Another noted.

"Great ballet dancer too."

"Yes, I saw her performance," Yani agreed. "Kanae knows people in Scotland?"

"Yup, that's where she's from. She gave us a tour on foot up around where she lives. Showed us bogs and the Pagan holy site. That was kinda strange, but neat. They got their own Stone Henge."

"A real Scottish Lass from the Highlands! She even is in her own Clan."

"The Clan McLeod. We got to see her Grandfather's sword hanging on the post at that Inn."

Yani never heard of someone with a Japanese name that lived in Scotland. "She as born there?"

"Aye Lass!" A woman said with a grin.

"She certainly talks like a Scot. She even wears tartans."

"Wonder if she plays bagpipes."

"Maybe her boyfriend's."

That caused a round of laughter.

Yani felt like Kanae couldn't be that Lucy by what she was hearing. She still wondered if Kanae knew her.

.

School the next day was mostly normal until it got to lunchtime. Kanae and Randy went through the line. While they were in line, one of Nancy's friends, Anne, came up to Kanae. Looking stricken, she said, "Kanae, you have to do something!"

Seeing she was upset, Kanae asked, "About what?"

"The swim meet Saturday! We are swimming against a Catholic school and we were told Nancy can't swim, or else they'd walk out!" she said with fire in her eyes.

Kanae raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Those bigots don't believe in people changing their genders! Nancy is upset because the coach is taking her off the roster. She's our fastest swimmer. There's also a good chance we'll lose!"

Kanae let out a sigh. "Not much I kin do bout that," she said with a shrug.

"But … you have to help us!" Anne cried.

"I doan make the rules or git involved wit things like that." Kanae told her.

"Can you at least talk to Nancy?"

Kanae looked around the cafeteria. "I doan see'er."

"She's outside, in the back at a table."

Kanae looked at Randy. He shrugged. "Sure, we can eat outside."

"Thanks hon," To Anne, she said, "We'll be out soon, have Nancy wait fer us if ya would."

Getting their food, Kanae followed Randy out back to the tables. Nancy was there with her head in her hands, a couple of her friends to either side. Kanae sat down across from her.

"Nancy, heard some religious people got a problem wit ya," Kanae offered.

Nancy lifted her head to show she'd been crying. "It's not fair!" she spat.

Kanae shrugged. "Nay everythin in life is fair. Nay much ya kin do bout it."

"But the coach took me off the roster! He agrees with them!" Nancy complained.

"Doan think that's the case, Lass." Kanae offered. "I'm think he's appeased'em so the meet kin be done. College sports are partly professional. If he didn agree to do the meet, I'm sure the college would be losin money. He probably got pressured inta it. Did ya ask'im?"

Nancy shook her head. "When he told us, I was so angry I walked out."

"It's a sad truth, but there's some people that ain't gonna like ya. Why do ya think I keep me horns covered up?" Kanae asked.

"Yeah, I know." Nancy agreed with a sigh. "Still ain't fair."

"Nay, it ain't. I had a woman die on me cause steada letting me treat'er an sav'er, she kicked me outta'er room. Felt real bad bout that, but I'twas up ta her," Kanae explained. "Felt like yellin at'er fer it. Some people just doan like anyone who's different. Even if it means their life."

"She's right," Anne coaxed.

Nancy thought for a moment, then asked, "Can you swim for me? I know the coach would let you."

"Yeah!" Anne and the other woman said brightly.

Kanae chuckled. "OK trade a transgender for someone with horns and red eyes? They'd probably think I was a devil er somethin."

"You're not a devil, Kanae," Nancy said firmly.

Kanae snorted, "An yer one of the most girly-girls I've ever met. That doan help ya though, does it?"

Nancy cracked a grimace of a smile. "Nay lass," she replied. She then frowned. "The worst part, is I still have to be there, even if I'm not swimming. I feel like I'm letting my team down."

"Nay, yer supportin'em." Kanae said firmly.

Randy cut in. "Does anyone know if the press will be there? Maybe if a reporter is there to ask why Nancy can't swim, it won't happen again." Seeing them look at him, he shrugged and added, "A little bad press does wonders for attitudes."

"YES!" Anne cried and ran around the table to hug him.

Kanae didn't know it at the time, but Randy had opened a can of worms by suggesting that.

.

After their last class, Kanae was headed to the parking lot with Randy and saw a couple groups of students talking. Well mostly talking, a few arms flailed as the made points. A guy with a note pad came over to intercept her and Randy.

"Excuse me!" he asked eagerly. "Can you tell me if you are conservative or liberal?"

Randy eyed him and held up a hand. "I keep my opinions to myself."

"How about you?" he asked Kanae.

By the shine in his eyes and the note pad, Kanae winced. "Aye, I agree with Randy. My opinion is mine."

He went on. "On campus here, there's a debate going on. Should transgendered women, women who used to be men, be allowed to participate in women's sports? Some say yes, because they are women now. Others say no, because they were born men and are naturally physically stronger than real women."

"Doan wanna git inta that, lad," Kanae replied.

"But it is a real question that's been brought up." he pleaded. "Surely you must have an opinion one way or the other."

"I doan play sports. Ain't my business," Kanae said flatly.

"What if you did?" he pressed.

Kanae hooked Randy's arm and towed him away from this guy. Up ahead, a couple girls were arguing, then one slapped the other hard and they fell punching and kicking at each other. Running up to them as others began yelling and routing them on, Kanae picked them up and held them apart.

"ENOUGH!" Kanae screamed. She glared at one then the other. "Yer supposed'ta be grown up, ACT LIKE IT!"

Upon seeing both women hanging in the air and an angry Kanae between them, the scene got very quiet. Another women, again with a note pad, meekly asked, "You're Kanae, the witch, right?"

Kanae cast her glare at her, which made her shrink back. "I ain't no witch!" Kanae stated, "An their ain't no call fer fighting!" she set the women down and told them, "Be on yer way, GIT!"

The two that were fighting ran off in different directions. The woman with her pad asked, "Miss Kikumura, you must have a position on this important topic."

Kanae glared at her. "I kin tell ya lest ya quit botherin me, YER position is gonna be on that roof over there! I'll give me opinion ta the school paper when I'm ready."

The woman attempted a strained smile and backed away, "Yes, thank you."

Randy grinned and clasped Kanae's hand. "We should go."

"Aye," she agreed. People stayed out of their way as they left.

Although Kanae wanted to avoid it, she knew the paper now was looking to print her 'opinion'. After their studying and dinner was done, Kanae sat down and thought as she wrote out her 'opinion'.

I was asked to give me opinion on a certain item. First I gotta say opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one and some really stink. I witnessed a fight due to difference of opinions. Whatever your opinion is, you're never gonna convince anyone you're right by punching or kicking them. That's beein a bully, and does nothing but harm. It also makes the one doing it look like they're wrong whether they are or not. Adults discuss things, not resort to violence.

Now the item in question was about transgenders. I'll admit, before I came to college, I'd never seen one. Never even thought about it. Here, I got a friend who's a transgender on the swim team. She truly is a girly-girl in attitude and actions. What she is don't bother me in the slightest, she's a good person. The thing that does bother me is though even the fact she is on the swim team, she got benched due to who the college was playing. The rival college wouldn't do the meet if our college had a transgender swimming against them. To me, that wasn't fair. If she's on the team, then there should be no restrictions of when she can participate and when she can't. In this case, I think the college needs to grow a backbone. I've already seen a case here where the college just gave in to something that wasn't right. They need to stop doing that.

I will also say everyone, we're all supposed to be adults here. Students AND teachers/coaches. If there are differences of opinion, don't scream it out on the street, but discuss it with your ears and mind open and listen to the other side. Your opinion may not be correct. By discussion and debate is how everyone can gravitate to the correct opinion.

Kanae Kikumura

After she got it finished, Kanae showed it to Randy and Tracy. They both thought she did well on it. In the morning before class, Kanae took it to the paper and submitted it. She thought that was going to be the end of it.

It was parasite week in class so they learned all about the bugs/worms and Viruses that could infect a body and the damage they could do to disable someone, or kill them if left untreated. More yucky stuff, and some a bit frightening. They hadn't even touched on poisonous snakes and aquatic life yet.

Coming out of their last class, a student Kanae had seen yesterday with his note pad was there. Today he had a tape machine. He called to her as they were leaving.

"Kin a help ya?" Kanae asked.

"Yes! I'm Brian Fredrick with the school newspaper. We have the paper you wrote up on the transgender matter, I'd like to speak to you about it." he said happily and walked with her and Randy.

Kanae frowned slightly. "I thought I was clear on me opinion."

"You never said of you support transgender participating in college sports."

"Ain't my call. I only want them ta make a solid call and stick with it. Either they are, or their not. Pick one an be consistent." Kanae stated.

"But by the college rules, transgenders are allowed on sports teams." he said.

"Not when they're benched and can't participate!" Kanae snapped. "Nancy's on the swim team and a good swimmer, but when they played in this last meet, she couldn't participate. What good's bein on the team if she can't swim in a meet?"

"From what I understand, you were instrumental in banning transgender hopefuls from women's only areas…"

"Ya answer my question first. What good is being on the team if they can't participate in meets?" Kanae replied.

"I'm asking the questions," Brian said.

"Ya'll git nay answers unless ya answer mine," Kanae retorted.

"Will it hurt to answer my questions?" he asked.

"Answer mine first or walk away," she stated.

Around them a crowd was gathering. One woman called, "Brian, answer her question, I want to hear what you have to say."

He didn't even glance at her, but kept his focus on Kanae. "You didn't like transgender hopefuls in women's areas, it that true?"

"Nay answer til ya answer my question, or ya ferget it?" Kanae replied.

"It's not my place to answer any questions," he said.

"Then we're done," Kanae stated and towed Randy away.

"So you refuse to say whether or not you hate transgenders?" Brian called.

"Ignore him," Randy told her.

Brian grinned a she walked away. He had some bad press on her. He was then tapped on the shoulder and a guy punched him. He staggered and dropped his recorder. The guy picked it up and took the tape out then tossed it back to him. "Get lost," the guy stated.

Brian went back to add his 'interview' with Kanae onto the article. The editor read it then shook his head. "In her piece, Kanae stated that she has a transgender friend, so your interview piece will not be part of it. You also imply she attacked you."

"No, someone else did," Brian stated.

"Nothing is going to be printed except what she wrote. If you can't be honest, then you're done reporting."

.