A Mother's Love - Part 2
Osaka High School
*Ring* - As the bell indicating the classes are over is heard, Kyo and his group are seeing coming out of the school
"That was tiresome." - Yuki
"Yes, what is with these surprise exams from Mr. Yoshitora and Ms. Hinata." - Kyo
"That was so sudden, I'm so nervous after it." - Athena
"Yes, what is with these exams. We need a rest." - Shingo
"Huh!" - Kensou reacts seeing a familiar car parking in the entrance of the school
"Hey, Athena! Isn't that-" - Kyo
"Mom? But what is she doing here." - Athena and the rest approach to Kyoko's black car
"Hello, dear. Hello, guys. You all look tired, want me to take you all back home?" - Asked Kyoko pulling down the window of her car
"Well, mom. We were actually on the way to visit someone... Chizuru Kagura." - Athena
"Ah, yes. You mentioned someone with that name." - Said Kyoko acting a bit clueless putting her finger in her chin
"Mom." - Athena frowns again
"I'm kidding. I'm kidding. She is... The owner of Kagura Enterprises, isn't it?" - Kyoko
"You remember it! Yes, is her." - Athena
"I did. Tell you what, guys. Enter, and I'll take you to where she is without needing to walk." - Kyoko offers to take Athena and her friends with Chizuru
"Mom, I don't think-" - Athena
"Sure! Why not." - Yuki
Athena is baffled seeing Yuki, Kyo and the rest entering in her mother's car. Not having other option, Athena enter too sitting in the seat next to Kyoko's
"So, how it was your day, guys?" - Asked Kyoko
"It was fine, mom. Apart from the surprise exams of Mr. Yoshitora and Ms. Hinata." - Athena
"Oh, I remember when I was your age, my teachers also tended to come with these type of surprise exams." - Kyoko
"Yes, it was annoying." - Kyo
"And tiresome." - Yuki
"It must had been, but how about we forget about that with some music?" - Kyoko
In that moment Kyoko turns on the radio
"And now returning back to the greatest hits of the season, we have "I can't live without you" From the popular group CYS!" - Says the DJ of the station as a new track begins calming the mood of everyone as the travel continues
Tokyo - Kagura's State
Kyoko's car arrives at Kagura Mansion with her and the rest starting to come out of the place
"Wow, this woman Chizuru sure lives in a wealthy place." - Kyoko looks at the surrounds, noticing how this was one of the wealthies neighborhoods of Tokyo
The group enters through the main gate being recieved by Kagura's butler Haru
"Omm. Omm." - Inside of Kagura's temple, Chizuru is seen meditating until Haru appears
"Haru." - Chizuru opens her eyes
"I'm sorry to disturb your meditation, Ms. Kagura but you have visits. Is Mr. Kusanagi and his friends apart of a woman who I don't recognize, the mother of Ms. Asamiya... A woman named Kyoko." - Haru
"Kyoko? Athena's mother?" - Kagura turns her head in disbelief after hearing this
"But I thought Athena was-" - Chizuru
"An orphan? I thought so too." - Haru
"Hmm. I-I'll go in a moment, attend them in the meantime, Haru. I won't take long." - Says Kagura bringing this pile of scrolls she was reading to a chest, starting to put them one by one inside
"Sure, Ms. Kagura." - Haru leaves with him going on his way to offer him something to eat to Kyo and co
Some moments later
"You need something else, Ms. Kyoko?" - Haru
"No, this is alright, Haru. Thanks." - Says Kyoko taking this ramen soup
"Sorry, I was kinda busy. I forgot for a moment I had called you all to continue with the meditating session from the last time." - Chizuru
"I see Yuki even was able to come with you today, Kyo." - Says Chizuru looking at Yuki also having decided to come with the rest to participate in Kagura's exercises
"And you must be Ms. Kyoko, I must admit I'm surprised to finally meet Athena's mother." - Chizuru offers to shake hands with Kyoko
"We don't even look alike that much, isn't it?" - Ask Kyoko in a sarcastic playful tone to Kagura by shaking hands
"Eh no, apart from basically everything. Hehehe, if I didn't know I would assume you were Athena's sister." - Chizuru
"Is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Kagura. Athena has talked me alot about you." - Said Kyoko shaking Kagura's hand
"Really?" - Chizuru reacted with a smile
"I'll tell you later what happened." - Whispered Athena to Chizuru
"Yes, she always tells me about you. Is one of the reasons I was looking foward to meet you." - Kyoko
"Want to join us?" - Asked Chizuru to Kyoko
"Oh you flatter me, but I'm too old to be playing as the sister of my dear daughter or even participate in this exercises." - Kyoko
"Are you sure about that, I think is never too late to learn something new." - Chizuru
"Oh I'm sure of it. I'll be sitting here, watching you all." - Kyoko sits bringing her bag pulling a bottle of water
Some moments later
As the group follows Kagura's instructions, Kyoko stares at the entire place from her seat, she can't help but be marveled at the place where she is, the mansion was huge.
"Move your leg a little to the right, Athena." - Chizuru guides Athena in order for her to take a better position imiting hers
"Like this, Chizuru?" - Athena
"Almost, just a bit more to the right, let me help you." - Kagura stands behind Athena with her grabing the idol from the waist and trying to move her leg a little with her other leg, she and Athena end up in a awkward pose together
"This is awkward." - Commented Athena with a slight smile to the blushing Chizuru who realized she and Athena were now a little entangled
"..." - Kyoko however can't help but pay attention to both the Kagura woman and her daughter raising an eyebrow
"There, now is better." - Chizuru
"Thanks, Chizuru. I can feel the chi flowing better through my veins with this pose." - Athena
"Hold that pose for some seconds, then exhale and expire." - Chizuru
In that moment the silent Kyoko turns to see Kyo and Yuki struggling with the movements unlike his daughter, Kensou and Shingo
Kyoko plays with her hair watching the young couple trying to do Kagura's moves but Yuki in a kinda clumsy movement almost falls, Kyo manages to grab her by her waist with both laughing but then looking at each other in the eyes
"..." - Kyoko doesn't remove her eyes from the couple certainly having her attention called by them
The session goes normal for the rest of the day as Kyoko, Athena and co finally walk out of Kagura mansion
"That Chizuru is certainly a interesting woman." - Kyoko
"She is a great person, mom. I think you and her would be great friends." - Athena
"It seems she gets way too good with you, dear." - Kyoko looks at her daughter with a sly smile
"Huh? Well we do get along." - Athena just reacted normally
"Is already late, maybe I should take you all back to your homes?" - Kyoko
"You don't need to, Ms. Asamiya, we can return on our own." - Yuki
"Oh Yuki, don't be so modest. I insist." - Kyoko
"Well if isn't problem." - Kyo
"Not at all." - Kyoko
After leaving everyone else back home, Athena and Kyoko now alone drive back home.
"What a fun day, isn't dear?" - Kyoko
"Yes, it sure it was, mom." - Athena
"You look more calm now." - Kyoko
"Well Chizuru's exercises did help me to relax my body. By the way how it was your day, mom?" - Athena
"Normal. The house is very empty without you there, dear." - Kyoko
"Really?" - Athena
"Yes, is not the same without you, Athena." - Kyoko
As silence dominates the roadtrip back home
"Mom?" - Athena
"Yes?" - Kyoko
"How it was dad?" - Athena
"Well, he was very kind. A very kind man. A bit arrogant sometimes but with a heart of gold." - Kyoko
"You miss him.." - Athena
"I miss him certainly. But I guess not everyone can come back from the dead." - Athena
"Are you sure you were dead?" - Athena
"Oh I feel like I was. I mean, who could survive being stabbed in the stomach by a sharp and cold hook?" - Kyoko
"But truth to be told, dear. I don't know how I managed to get out of there. Of the awful place where I was." - Kyoko
"Do you remember how it was?" - Athena
"Only this strange river, the strange grey sky and of course this one tree where I remember stopping after walking for so long, it felt like if I was trapped into an endless abyss." - Kyoko
"I see. I'm sorry that incident happened, mom. I had no idea." - Athena
"Is alright, dear. But now I'll give you my word that there's nothing in this world that can separate us." - Kyoko
"So about those two girls you mentioned the other day..." - Kyoko
"Mignon and Ninon Beart... Do you think they could be related to Linon?" - Athena
"Oh I don't think it, I'm sure of it! The things you have told me about them, it is clear they are the daughters of Linon." - Kyoko then stopped to think for a moment
"Though is kinda strange." - Kyoko puts a finger in her chin
"What is it, mom?" - Athena
"Linon was a very introvert woman, I never saw her with a boyfriend or a male companion. People even used to think there was something between me and she." - Kyoko
"They used to say "Look, here comes the girlfriend of the witch. Don't provoke her because Linon is going to turn you into a frog if you touch her dear." Oh the irony of them calling Linon a witch." - Kyoko
"I get that, there's this girl Arina who sometimes bothers Yuki, when I stop her. She annoys us calling me Yuki's girlfriend." - Athena
"See that type of people will always exist no matter the times. Ignore that Arina girl, you know you care about your friends deeply and that's alright." - Kyoko
"Back to Linon, it is a surprise to me that she had apparently a daughter and two to be precise, I never got to see her with a boyfriend, so I wonder..." - Kyoko
"Mom, don't tell me you're thinking that?" - Athena
"I mean, Linon was a crazy witch, so the idea of her having a relation with a demon doesn't sound too far out of the realm of possibilities." - Kyoko
"Oh mom, if Ninon and Mignon were half demons, that would certainly make them more dangerous of what they are. I doubt it." - Athena
"Just saying, one never knows. Maybe I'm not even your mother." - Kyoko started to talk in a serious tone of voice
"Huh? What are you saying mom?" - Athena
"But what if, I'm a demon coming from the purgatory to take your soul! Buu!" - Kyoko puts a terrific face trying to scare her daughter and touching her shoulder pretending to be a demon
"..." - Athena just stares at her mom with a blank face
"Hehehehe.." - Athena starts chuckling
"Hehehe-HAHAHAHA!" - Athena fully gives up to her laughter
"Oh come on, dear. Don't tell me I didn't scare you? You never know, maybe I'm truly a demon." - Kyoko
"Mom." - Athena
"What demon would take her daughter and her group of friends to visit another person, watch them perform this exercises and stay with them until the end?" - Athena
"When you put it that way, yeah, you're right." - Kyoko
"Well we're back home." - Kyoko and Athena arrive back home with both entering back home as the far view of their house is seen
The Next Day - Kagura Enterprises
Chizuru Kagura is seem walking among the corridors of her offices
"Miriam." - Chizuru stops one of her workers, a woman of blonde hair wearing a blue shirt and dark skirt
"Yes, boss?" - Miriam
"Have your heard anything about Nadeshiko? I have tried to contact her all morning since I arrived. But she doesn't answer her phone." - Chizuru
"Maybe she is sick?" - Miriam
"If she was, she would at least answer her phone. *Sigh*" - Chizuru
"I'll see if she is alright." - Chizuru puts on a coat leaving the office
"Miriam. You're in charge until I return." - Chizuru
"Alright, whatever you say, boss." - Says Miriam as she sees Kagura leave the area
Asamiya State - Osaka
"Yes, I'm calling for the job offer." - The voice of Kyoko is heard
"Past experience? Oh I have some, yes, yes! I'll be there. Thanks!" - Kyoko ends her call
*Ring* - The sound of the phone making another call is heard again
"Yes, I'm calling for your annoucement looking for some help?" - Kyoko
"Already taken? Oh, I see... Sorry." - Kyoko ends the call
In that moment two shadows enter in the house
"Hi, mom. I'm back." - Athena enters in the home accompanied by Kyo
"Hi, Ms. Asamiya." - Kyo
"Dear, you returned earlier? And with Kyo..." - Kyoko was a bit surprised
"Yes, they left us go earlier today." - Athena
"Mr. Yoshitora suggested me to help Kyo in order to improve his notes, so I'll be studying with him today." - Athena
"I still think he hates me." - Kyo
"I don't think so, trust me. I'm going to help you so your notes can improve... At least enough for him to leave alone." - Athena
"That works for me." - Kyo
"And what were you doing, mom?" - Athena
"The same that I was doing the other night, calling some job offers from various sites that I saw in the newspapers." - Says Kyoko with a not so happy tone
"By the sound of it, it looks like it hasn't been going good, mom." - Athena
"It hasn't, but hey! At least I got five work interviews in some days from the few calls that had been a success." - Kyoko
"Calm, mom. Things are going to be alright, don't worry." - Athena
"You're right. I need to be calm, I'll go to re-arrange my papers up there in my room, I'll leave two alone." - Says Kyoko with a sly smile as she leaves her daughter and Kyo in the table of the main room
Meanwhile - Amagasaki
*Ding Dong* - The sound of a ringbell is heard as a female shadow stands in front of certain white house in a wealthy neighboorhood of Amagasaki
"..." - The shadow tries to get a glimpse inside but she doesn't get anything
"(I wonder what happened to Nadeshiko? This is strange...)" - Chizuru
After knocking and ringing the bell seven more times, Kagura starts getting desperated
"(I should leave... But what if something happened to her?)" - Chizuru looks at one of the walls of the house and notices a nearby tree she could use to crawl
After using the tree to crawl and getting inside of the house, Kagura starts looking for the missing Nadeshiko
"(Why I am doing this? Calm, just see if she is alright and leave. Nothing more.)" - Chizuru checks on the entire house for any trail of Nadeshiko but she doesn't find anything inside
"My only alternative is to use it." - Chizuru whispers as not having other alternatives pulls out her mirror of Yata
Chizuru starts reciting some words in front of her mirror, making the treasure of the Yata family bright with a powerful blue light covering the entire garden of the house
Opening her eyes after reciting these words, Kagura sees two shadows of blue outline appear
"(Someone was here, someone from the outside entered in Nadeshiko's house. This happened recently..)" - Chizuru stares at the female shadow of the blue outline approaching the medium size famale shadow of the blue outline
"(That must be Nadeshiko, but who is the invader?)" - Says Kagura in her thoughts recognizing the medium size shadow as Nadeshiko matching with her height, but not the stranger who entered in her house and who Nadeshiko was apparently afraid
For Chizuru's surprise, at one point of the recreation, she sees the intruder bringing a shovel to her hand without needing to walk to it and with telekinesis
"(Telekinesis? Someone with abilities beyond humans was here. But why?)" - Kagura looks at the shadow carrying the shovel approaching the shadow representing Nadeshiko
*Gasp* - At one point Kagura is surprised to see the big female shadow rising the shovel and giving Nadeshiko a brutal beatdown with it, until it stops moving
"(No, could it be... Nadeshiko. She can't be dead!)" - Chizuru sees the shadow looking over Nadeshiko, bringing the shovel with her, the shadow starts dragging Nadeshiko's body out of the house for Kagura's surprise.
"(This is where the repetition ends.)" - Kagura opens the door to the outside from the back garden and she starts calculating to where could this big female shadow taken Nadeshiko
Kagura crouches looking trying to find any trail that could lead to wherever Nadeshiko was taken
"Hey, what are you doing there? Are you one of Nadeshiko's friends?" - Ask a woman walking at the other side of the street seeing Kagura in front of Nadeshiko's house
"Actually, I'm her boss. She didn't reported herself to work today, so I was wondering if you knew anything about her whereabouts?" - Asked Chizuru approaching the woman
"Mhmm.. No, I don't know where she is, however. Some of the neighbors saw someone parking a black van in front of her house yesterday. I think someone saw it leaving some moments later." - Said the woman
"A black van? Do you happen to know how it looked? And where it went?" - Chizuru
"Yes, it was big and the young man who saw it said that it went towards the north." - Says the woman giving Chizuru a clue
Some moments later
Kagura arrives at a nearby hills, the place looks desolated at this hour. Kagura doesn't lose time and activates her technique again
"Nothing!" - But unlike the trail inside Nadeshiko's home, on the outside, Kagura only gets the shadows of some birds
"..." - Until she gets another clue, seeing a female shadow carrying something in her arms but losing itself after walking behind a tree and entering in the small river nearby
"(This is where the trail ended.)" - Chizuru
"What is a girl like you doing in this place?" - Said a old man carrying some fish in a net, having returned from a fishing trip
"I'm looking for someone." - Chizuru approached the man
"What do you need, young lady?" - The man puts his red on the ground
"I don't know if you saw it but did you saw a black van coming towards this site yesterday?" - Kagura described the black van that was last seen in Nadeshiko's house
"Black Van? Actually yes, I remember seeing it and seeing someone walking carrying some kind of bag and losing herself behind those trees." - Says the fisherman
"Really? By any casualty, do you remember how this person looks?" - Chizuru
"Yes, it was a woman, around her 20s, dark purple hair and sporting this black jeans and grey jacket." - Says the man starting to remember seeing this female bringing a strange bag in her shoulders
"..." - Hearing that description, Kagura can't help but being surprised as the description of this person's face matches with not other than Kyoko Asamiya
"(We don't even look alike that much, isn't it?)" - Ask Kyoko in a sarcastic playful tone to Kagura by shaking hands
"(Is a pleaasure to meet you, Ms. Kagura. Athena has talked me alot about you.)" - Said Kyoko shaking Kagura's hand
"That description..." - Without saying more, Kagura runs inside the part where Kyoko was seen entering the small forest of this zone
"Wait!" - The fisherman also goes behind her
As Chizuru runs in the forest, she manages to spot something in the distance very far, a shovel. The memory of said shovel being what the female shadow who attacked Nadeshiko comes to her mind
Chizuru grabs the shovel and notices the placement of the earth some meters left from where she was standing to look different, as if someone had moved it
"Did you found something?" - The fisherman arrives seeing Kagura with this shovel
"Yes, that place... We need to dig there." - Chizuru starts digging
With the help of the fisherman, Chizuru manages to dig where her suspicion called her
"..." - Chizuru and the fisherman are shocked as they find this bag in the hole, from the size of a person
Bringing the bag to the surface, both opened it only to get the worse surprise... Nadeshiko's corpse was inside it, already starting to roting as Kagura feels shocked to see her worker in this state
"(Nadeshiko is dead... NO! It can't be! But who could had-)" - In that moment, the face of Kyoko appears again making Chizuru feel shivers
"I'll call the cops!" - Says the fisherman going to the nearest phone boot as Kagura can't help but feel shivers
"Alright, Ms. Kagura. So the only clues we have of who could had killed her is a black van and the description gave by the fisherman who was with you, do you happen to know someone with these characteristics?" - Says the police asking Chizuru as they are now seeing outside the forest
"Well..." - Chizuru stays frozen for a moment
"(The description matches with her... Athena's mom. But why? No, she couldn't had done this... What kind of person would I be to blame her for this, sure while the description matches with her, I have no prove it was her.)" - Chizuru
"(At least not yet.)" - Thought Chizuru having a complicated feeling
"No I actually don't know anyone with such characteristics or why this person would had killed my worker." - Chizuru
"Fine, we will be in contact with you, do you if Ms. Nadeshiko had any family?" - Police Officer
"Yes, she was married to man named Josuke until they separated and took her kids with himself, he lives in Shibuya." - Chizuru
"Alright, we will call you again if we have any clues." - The police leaves as Kagura walks back to her bike covering her mouth with her hand
"(Why would she kill her?)" - Was the question Chizuru had as she got on her bike and prepared to leave
Meanwhile
"So you finally understood?" - Athena asked to Kyo
"Yes, I don't know why it was so hard, the explanation is more simple than I thought." - Says Kyo finishing writing
"That's the spirit! I'm sure with this exercises, we can raise your notes." - Athena
"Hopefully. I mean, I'm not aiming for a perfect note just one that pleases both Mr. Yoshitora and my parents. And makes them leave me alone for awhile." - Kyo starts to put his stuff on his backpack again
"Do you want mom to take you back home?" - Asked Athena
"No, thank you Athena. But I think I'll be fine just walking." - Kyo leaves saying goodbye to Athena
".." - In that moment Kyoko appears walking out from where she was spying on both
"And you say there's nothing between you two." - Kyoko
"Mom? You were spying on us!" - Athena
"Just a bit, I just managed to catch a glimpse of your conversation. And I admit you're pretty strong, dear." - Kyoko
"What do you mean?" - Athena was confused
"You know exactly what I mean." - Kyoko throwed at sly smile at her daughter
"No, isn't what you think. We are just." - Athena
"Good friends? Athena, I recognize when a person is lying to itself. And sadly you, my dear daughter, you're lying to yourself." - Kyoko
"..." - Athena
"You don't need to be shy with me, I can tell you like him... More as a man than just a simple friend. Kensou and Shingo are your friends, I got that. But with Kyo is different." - Kyoko
"You want him, isn't it?" - Kyoko
"..." - Athena just looked down
"Don't say nothing, your stare has made it clear for me. That's why you offered yourself to help him with his notes, you wanted to spend some more time with him. Is alright, I'm not going to force you to scream it or tell me. But I can see it easily." - Kyoko puts her hands on her daughter's shoulders
"Why you don't make a move?" - Kyoko
"Mom, I already told you about-" - Athena
"Yeah, yeah I know about Yuki. What I wanted to say, is have you thought about using your powers maybe?" - Kyoko
"What?" - Athena
"Maybe you could use your psychic powers to get in his mind, rearrange his brain and then." - Kyoko
"Mom! No, I'm not going to do that... I couldn't live with myself if I did that." - Says Athena with a sincere tone
"..." - Kyoko stays silent
"I'm sorry, dear. It wasn't my intention to make you feel uncomfortable and I shouldn't had say that." - Kyoko feels regret in her comments
"I don't know what I was thinking, is just that. I see how you melt yourself over him and I wanted-" - Kyoko stopped, looking at the sad face of her daughter
"I better shut up." - Kyoko
"Do you want anything for dinner?" - Kyoko
"How about I order some pizza for us?" - Says Kyoko trying to repair the situation
"That sounds good.." - Athena tries to forget about what they were talking about
Daughter and mother had a calm dinner that night
As Kyoko sleeps in her room, she can't help but look at her empty left side
"(Oh Taro, I wish you were here. Your insight with our daughter would be totally appreciated, she got that honest side from you.)" - Thought Kyoko looking at the cieling of her room
The next day - Saturday
"When no one else can understand me! When everything I do is wrong! You give me loving consolation!" - Kyoko sings while preparing some food
"You give me hope to carry on! And you are always there to lend a hand in everything I do!" - Kyoko
"That's the wonder... The wonder of you!" - Kyoko
*Knock* - Suddenly Kyoko hears someone knocking on the door
"Enter! It is open!" - Turning off her music, Kyoko takes a look at who had come
"Hello, is Athena in home?" - Kyo
"Kyo! Is so nice to see you, she is not here right now, what do you need?" - Kyoko
"Hello, Ms. Asamiya. Well, we agreed that we were going to study today." - Kyo
"But is saturday." - Kyoko was surprised
"I know, but to be honest. I have nothing better to do right now, might as well speed up some of the annoying homework just to get rid of it." - Kyo
"Ah homework, nothing but an annoyance isn't it." - Kyoko smiles seeing Kyo nod
"Where's Athena by the way?" - Kyo
"Well, I send Athena to buy me some stuff to the supermarket, why don't you take a seat and wait for her meanwhile?" - Kyoko
As Kyo sits down, Kyoko can't help but look at him from the kitchen, she approaches with a cup of coffe for him
"Coffe?" - Kyoko
"Thanks, Ms. Asamiya." - Kyo
"So the champion of the KOF tournament, my dear daughter sure has some friends." - Kyoko
"Oh don't say that. You flatter me, but isn't needed to call me like that." - Kyo
"Hehehe but it is true. I mean, I'm sure you must be popular with the girls having this reputation." - Kyoko
"Kinda... I'm not what alot of girls would want as a couple, sometimes I feel even Yuki deserved something better than me." - Kyo talked in a sincere way to Kyoko entering in confidence with her
"Why? Oh sure, you're a bit headstrong, but believe me, Kyo... In this world, there's people way worse!" - Kyoko
"You are like a saint compared to the type of guys I meet in my years in high school." - Kyoko
"Really?" - Kyo was curious
"Yes, I confess I was guilty of feeling attracted to that type of boys... But I learned my lesson after I scared my mom one day ending up caught by the police. My date ended up turning into a chase after robbing a store." - Kyoko
"Wow, I don't see myself doing something like that." - Confessed Kyo
"See, there's a difference. So don't feel like you're the worse of the worse because some people want to make you feel troubled about yourself. Is mostly jealousy, us... People with powers are always seen as freaks." - Kyoko
"Tell me about it, Yuki's father has called me and Athena like that in the past. He really must think the worse of me." - Kyo
"What a foolish man, he should be grateful his daughter has someone like you to protect her. You're no different from other people only because of this powers, Kyo." - Kyoko
"You think that?" - Kyo
"Yes, sometimes, the people from high society. Those who see themselves high and mightier than the average citizen, they have stuff than turns them into real freaks. Your talent doesn't make you a freak." - Kyoko said with a serious tone of voice
"And you should never reject of who you are. If you were born with those powers, there must had been a good reason, or I'm wrong?" - Kyoko
"No, there's-" - Kyo
"The whole conflict with Orochi, don't worry. Athena explained it to me. I'm well aware of it." - Kyoko
"Yes." - Kyo
In that moment Kyoko sits next to Kyo with the big cup of coffe
"More coffe?" - Kyoko
"Sure." - Kyo accepts Kyoko's offer
"You know-" - Kyoko stops after she was going to say something
"What?" - Kyo
"No, you would laugh of me. Hehehe." - Kyoko returns to move her coffe with a spoon
"What is it?" - Kyo
"You remind me alot of my dear husband, he was exactly like you when we meet each other. Arrogant, headstrong, childish and lazy." - Kyoko
"Hey, thanks for the compliments, Ms. Asamiya." - Said Kyo in a sarcastic way
"But also kind, cute, strong, a good friend and with a heart of gold." - Kyoko smiles blushing looking at Kyo
"Thanks..." - Kyo was confused staring at Kyoko's eyes
"For me the good qualities of a person always surpass the bad ones, Kyo. And sometimes is only needed to get a better glimpse at one person from a different point of view to learn something from him or her." - Taking advantage of Kyo feeling distracted Kyoko grabs both sides of Kyo's head with a gentle touch
Opening her eyes, Kyoko finds herself standing in the middle of a street from Osaka with her seeing what appears a group of boys chasing after someone
"(Hit him! Hit him!)" - Exclaims the voices of some kids running tossing rocks at someone or something
"(Hit that monster! There's fire coming out of his hands, I bet he is from mars!)" - Exclaim the kids with malicious laughs as they keep chasing after someone
Kyoko horrorised finally sees who was the target of this band of kids. A young boy of brown hair, blue shirt and shorts... She becomes shocked realizing who this boy was
"(NO I'M NOT! I'M NOT FROM MARS!)" - Exclaims the boy with tears in his eyes running as some of the rocks manage to hit him in the back and his head
"(Impossible! Is that... Kyo?)" - Kyoko exclaims
"(GO TO HELL, KUSANAGI! YOU STUPID ALIEN!)" - Exclaims one of the kids hitting Kyo making him fall to the ground
"(WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE, FREAK! RETURN TO YOUR PLANET!)" - Said another kid
"(RETURN TO MARS! FREAK!)" - Said some girls also coming with the group
"(FREAK! FREAK!)" - Another couple of kids said as they approach Kyo
"(NO! IT HURTS! PLEASE STOP! STOP HITTING ME!)" - Screams Kyo being hit by more rocks as he can barely stand up
"(GO BACK TO MARS!)" - Says a kid about to throw another rock to Kyo as he is face to face with him
"(I'M NOT FROM MARS!)" - Exclaims Kyo gritting his teeth feeling nothing but rage in his heart
"(GRRR!)" - A brief flame appears in Kyo's eyes.
"(MARTIAN!)" - Exclaims the kids now closer to Kyo and ready to hit him with more rocks
"(AHHHH!)" - With his rage, Kyo gets up creating a circle of fire sending the band of kids to the ground with some injuries
"(Ah!)" - Kyo breaths seeing the terror of the kids' faces as they look at him almost as if they were seeing the devil
Kyo becomes shocked seeing the marks he caused of some of the kids. The kids scream getting up and running away from him as the flames covering Kyo's arms vanish
Kyo stands alone in the street, he looks at his hands shaken in fear
"(I can't control this power... )" - Kyo's tears keep running out of his eyes with said tears falling on his palms
"(Maybe one day... I'll kill someone by mistake!)" - Kyo keeps shaking in fear as he opens wide his eyes
Kyo breaks falling to his knees in the street
"(Kyo!)" - Shizuka appears runing towards her son a few minutes later totally concerned
Shizuka hugs Kyo as Kyo can't help but cry in silence as behind she and her son, a paralyzed Kyoko is seen with shadows on her eyes
"..." - Both Kyo and Kyoko open their eyes as Kyoko sees Kyo grabing her head after remembering such event
"You're like me and Athena." - Whispered Kyoko
"I'm sorry you had to see that, Ms. Asamiya." - Kyo puts down his cup
"No, I understand. You don't have to feel ashamed." - For Kyo's surprise Kyoko puts her finger in front of his lips
Kyo and Kyoko stare at each other's eyes for some moments, Kyo can't help but feel calm when looking at Kyoko's eyes, she grabs his hands firmly
*Smooch* - For Kyo's shock, Kyoko starts kissing on the cheek, with her moving her lips through his face towards his neck
"Wait!" - Kyo reacts shocked managing to come out of the trance where he was
"Don't be shy." - Kyoko keeps kissing Kyo's neck as she hugs him attaching her arms and legs to him for Kyo's shock who feels static and nervous
"Don't worry, I promise I'll treat you well, Yuki doesn't need to know about our friendship." - Kyoko tries take Kyo's school jacket out and remove his belt, but Kyo struggles trying to move away from her
"..." - Kyo
"Ms. Asamiya. Stop!" - Says Kyo trying to push Kyoko who is almost on top of him away, the struggle continues with Kyoko touching Kyo's legs and arms with such strength that makes Kyo be surprised as Kyoko refuses to let him go
"Ms. Asamiya! Stop! What do you want?" - Kyo
"Haven't I made my intentions clear? Do I need to spell it for you?" - Kyoko
"I-W-A-N-T-Y-O-U!" - Kyoko kisses Kyo in the cheek again, she grabs his head trying to get now a kiss in the mouth of the confused and annoyed Kusanagi
Starting to become angry, Kyo tries to defend himself turning on his flames, but for his surprise only a small flame appears
"(What?)" - Kyo is shocked beyond belief to see his hand now looking like the one from an old man. He tries to push Kyoko but he is starting to feel weak and unable to move now being fully in Kyoko's arms who stares at him with this devilish smile filled with desire and forbidden thoughts
"Hehehehehe!" - Kyoko starts to laugh
"Oh my poor little boy! Don't worry, you will get used to our dance." - Kyoko
"Just close your eyes and embrace my love, for I promise you that nobody will know." - Kyoko now with Kyo fully at her mercy approaches to give him a passionate kiss as Kyo can't help but be frozen staring at how Kyoko is approaching with her lips open, unable to reaction and trying to free himself
*Crack* - But in the moment the sound of the door opening itself is heard
"Sorry for arriving late, mom. I must had keep you worried, but the supermarket didn't had the mustard you wanted, I have to visit other three stores to get two bottles." - Said Athena being seeing carrying this two bags with alot of objects
"Ah!" - Kyo was surprised as in a blink he saw himself resting on the couch, while Kyoko now was sitting at the other extreme of the couch, very far from him looking at Athena with a frustated smile
"Oh, Athena. You returned. Don't worry, you shouldn't had bothered to go to three stores to get it." - Kyoko
"(What?)" - Kyo shakens looking at his hands now being normal again, he stares at Athena entering with the bags and Kyoko now drinking from her cup acting as if nothing happen
"Kyo? What are you doing here?" - Asked Athena
"Oh, your friend had the wonderful idea of coming to work on the homework with you today, seems the help you gave him the last days has been working. I was talking with him while we waited for you." - Kyoko acts with mocking smile looking at Kyo as she says that
"Is that right, Kyo? Oh I'm sorry for taking so long, if I had knew you were waiting to study together, I would had come earlier." - Athena
"..." - The confused Kyo doesn't know what to say to Athena, he wants to tell her what Kyoko wanted to do with him
"(What was that? Was that real? Athena's mom...)" - Kyo looks at Kyoko who licks her lips looking back at him with a seductive smile unbuttoning her blouse a little and winking at him
In that moment, Kyo stands up
"I just remember that I forgot to do something. I'm sorry, Athena but we will study another time." - Without doubting it anymore and in an awkward way, Kyo takes his backpack and his stuff walking away out of the house as fast as he can
"I understand Kyo." - Athena
"But." - Says Athena making Kyo stop at the door
"Are you sure you don't want mom to take back home in her car?" - Athena
"..." - Hearing this makes a smile draw on Kyoko's face as she stands up but also makes Kyo hold his fist in anger
"No, thank you Athena. But I think is fine if I walk back... I don't want to trouble you... And your mother." - Says Kyo holding back his anger
"That's a shame." - Kyoko
After that and not being able to look at Kyoko anymore, Kyo leaves the Asamiya house
"Did you notice Kyo was acting a bit nervous, mom?" - Athena
"Oh, he probably has to do something else. Don't worry, dear. He is a good boy. A really good, good boy. Under that appearence of a rebellious kid, there's a little teddy bear wanting to come out. Hehehehe!" - Kyoko
"I don't know if I would call Kyo like that, but he is a good friend." - Athena smiles
"Hmph!" - Kyoko
Monday
A bike is seem driving through the suburbs where Athena and her mother Kyoko live. The driver isn't other than Chizuru Kagura who parks in the outside of the house
*Sigh* - Chizuru sighs as she approaches the house, she knocks on the door
"Oh, hello Ms. Kagura, right? What brings a woman of such class like you to my humble place?" - Kyoko
"Ms. Asamiya. I'm sorry for interrupting your day. But I have some questions that I want to ask you." - Chizuru
"Questions? About what?" - Kyoko played with her hair as she let Kagura enter
"Enter." - Kyoko
"Ms. Asamiya. I-" - Chizuru
"How has been life for you, Ms. Kagura. Must be tiresome." - Kyoko
"Having to be behind a big enterprise, the whole seal thing and I suppose is a miracle when you even have some free time for yourself. And I see you're a pretty extreme girl, you enjoy driving isn't it?" - Kyoko
"I remember when me and Taro used to drive in his bike, those were the days." - Kyoko
"..." - Kagura stares silently as Kyoko offers her some tea
"Listen, Ms. Asamiya. Don't take this as a offense, I'm flatter by your hospitality and because of my friendship with your daughter. I have decided to make this quick and simple." - Chizuru
"Quick and simple? Oh I like things quick and simple... And what is it?" - Kyoko
"Do you know someone by the name Nadeshiko Akatsuchi?" - Chizuru
"Nadeshiko Akatsuchi? No, that name doesn't sound to me at all." - Kyoko
"Why do you ask?" - Kyoko
"She was a worker of mine. She was in charge of monitoring some of the funds from Kagura Enterprises, but this last thursday she disappeared." - Chizuru
"I visited her home and try to get answers from her, only for her neighbors to comment to me of how they saw a black van around the neighborhood, and said black van made his way to the north of amagasaki." - Chizuru
"I eventually came to this part of the forest in the northem region of Amagasaki, where I found a bag buried close to two trees." - Chizuru
"And let me guess, someone killed her." - Kyoko
"Yes, but here's the strange thing. A fisherman around the area told me that they saw a woman of dark purple hair bringing the bag where Nadeshiko's corpse was in." - Chizuru
"A woman whose characteristics matched those of yours, Ms. Asamiya!" - Chizuru gets up
"..." - Kyoko looks at Kagura with two serious eyes not being intimidated by Chizuru's serious eyes
"Hehehehe. Oh Ms. Kagura, please don't tell you're suspecting of poor me, that's some defamation. I can safely say I didn't had anything to do with the disappearence of this Nadeshiko." - Kyoko
"If that's true, you wouldn't mind coming with me to the station to prove the fingerprints on that shovel that was found weren't yours." - Chizuru
"..." - Kyoko becomes silent
"Sure! Heheheh! Ms. Kagura, you really think I would do such act as murder another human? Please, it is clear there must be some missunderstand going on." - Nadeshiko
"Then you will be willing to come out with me?" - Chizuru
"Sure, I'll... Just let met get something from my bag and I'll go..." - Kyoko puts her hand inside her bag that was holded on one of the walls of the house
"..." - Looking at Chizuru, Kyoko slowly pulls something out of the bag
"But first. Why don't you take a seat!" - Kyoko pulls out a gun out of the bag, aiming quickly at Kagura and shooting at her
"WHAT?" - Chizuru barely able to dodge the bullet jumps seeing said bullet impacting to the glass of the window
"Ms. Asamiya! What is the meaning-" - But Kagura is interrupted as before she could get up, some objects start moving towards her impacting on her and hitting her
Chizuru manages to dodge the other objects jumping, with her seeing Kyoko firing other two bullets towards her, bullets that also miss.
*Shrom* - But for Kagura's surprise the last bullet starts to chase her, almost as if it was being controlled, she manages to make the bullet impact on the cieling with her landing on her knees seeing Kyoko standing with her gun and shadows covering her eyes
"You!" - Chizuru
"I knew it!" - Chizuru
"You're the killer! You killed Nadeshiko!" - Chizuru
"Yes, you're right Ms. Kagura. I am." - Kyoko
"I gave Nadeshiko what she deserved." - Kyoko
"What she deserved?" - Chizuru becomes indignant hearing this
"Of course isn't like I expect a rich girl like you to understand." - Kyoko
In that moment for Kagura's surprise, she sees another Kyoko appearing behind her and another Kyoko in the background closing the door
"What?" - Chizuru turns only to see seven Kyokos standing behind her making her way towards her
"But please, don't think you're the one who has surrounded me. By the contrary, you have made a big mistake entering in my house!" - Kyoko launches to attack Chizuru
Both women clash fists with Chizuru hurting Kyoko while she dodges her other copies
"AH!" - Kyoko grabs her cheek spitting blood after recieving Kagura's strike, however her face of anger disappears becoming laughter
"Hehehehehe!" - Kyoko laughs like a maniac as Chizuru starts to feel strange
"Huh?" - Kagura looks at her own right hand she used to strike Kyoko, realizing her hand now is starting to look like the one of an old woman
"WHAT?" - Kagura rises her hand looking at how is aging in front of her eyes, her hand is becoming frail and old
*Gasp* - Looking at the mirror of the main room, Chizuru is shocked to see how not only her hand but even her is starting to age up with such speed as her hair becomes grey and her face starts to become old too with wrinkles appearing
"What is this?" - Screams Chizuru trying to run, only to realize her movement has become more frail
"Oh Ms. Kagura, now I get who you really are." - Kyoko
"Behind that appearence of a tough woman, the only thing that exist is just a scaredy girl crying for big sister Maki!" - Kyoko rises her head looking at Chizuru with a sinister smile
Chizuru's blood starts boiling hearing Kyoko mention her dear sister
"Such troublesome family story... The guilt you carry withing yourself everyday, you blame yourself for not having save Maki, isn't it?" - Kyoko
"Grrr." - Kagura's anger starts increasing
"What did you do to me?!" - Screams Chizuru shocked
"Simple, your body is aging, starting by your brain!" - Kyoko
"This feeling you have of becoming old and losing your youth is a natural process that happens to every living being, mind being the central station of the human body reacts differently when the body loses some of its functions." - Kyoko
"Every being has energy within their bodies, they use for all their everyday activities and goes hand to hand with the brain and mind." - Kyoko
"As you know, the brain is the most important orgam in the human body, the one who controls almost everything. As a psychic to come realize the brain is important for the use of our powers." - Kyoko
"And with a mere command, you come to realize true strength comes from the brain. From the will and mental of the individual and even spiritual energies like chi flow through the brain." - As Kyoko and her clones surround Chizuru, Kagura falls on her knees seeing her hands becoming the ones of a skeleton
"That was what allowed me to create this technique, this power that I only could obtain thanks to my will to live again, what keeps me youth and powerful... Psycho Extasis!" - Kyoko snaps her fingers as her copies proceed to beat the hell out of Chizuru, kicking and punching her
"ARGH!" - Kagura is sended to crash nearby the wall in the entrance as she tries to roll herself and escape but she has no forces in her body to do so
"Now what should I do with you, Ms. Kagura? I really never thought I would be needing to kill one of my daughter's friends." - Kyoko grabs a piece of the broken glass of the windows from the ground
"But you left me no choice." - Kyoko approaches Chizuru putting the sharp of glass in Chizuru's mouth threatening to kill her
"I can't allow you to live now that you know my secret." - Kyoko threatens the weakened old Kagura by pushing the glass some more towards her throat threatening to slice it up
To Be Continued...