Family Obligations

Part 1

The Night Stalks the Son of Ikari

By Nick Maro

::Writer's Note: [ ] Indicates speaking in Japanese::

It was a hot and humid summer night in the city of Osaka, Japan. The blonde Japanese woman sat next to her old friend and former Pulsar band mate. "David-kun, I think I speak for the rest of us when I say, welcome back!" She flashed him her crooked smile. "I can't believe that our little David-kun is actually the twin brother of Pizzazz. It's mindboggling."

"Hitomi," interrupted the young man sitting next her, "just calm down. You're so hyper-active. I still say mom dropped you as a child." He teased his younger sister.

"Kenshiro, you're a bald headed dork." Hitomi stuck her tongue out at her older brother. She looked across the table to a young man with red hair streaked with blonde. "Eiji, what do you think?"

Eiji turned from his conversation with Jetta, sax player for the Misfits. "What about? Ken's stupid bald head or David's little secret?"

"Will you leave my bald head alone?" Kenshiro covered his head from both Eiji and Hitomi.

Hitomi giggled at her brother's outburst. "David-kun's little secret of course, Eiji."

"I just wish he had said something when the band was still together." He glanced at the woman with the raven hair next to him. "Then I could've met the lovely Jetta here sooner." He smiled at her.

"And there he goes, Eiji the Lady Killer, swooping in on yet another helpless victim of his charms." David Gabor teased his old friend. "I'd be careful Jetta. Eiji is a smooth one."

"I can handle meself." Jetta said with her English accent standing out from the others.

David could only smile as he looked around the table where they sat. On his left sat Kimber Benton, his girlfriend and keyboardist for Jem and the Holograms. She was currently on leave from her band so she could travel with David and the Misfits on their tour of Japan.

Next to Kimber was Stormer of the Misfits. Like Kimber, she was a keyboardist but also played the guitar when needed. Stormer had her face in a notebook writing another song for the band. Lately she'd started writing a lot more. It was a little over two weeks ago that she had learned David and Phyllis Gabor were her half siblings. She was happy and was expressing it through her music. She had told everyone that after she learned the truth, it felt like a fog had lifted from her mind. She had ideas that she didn't think were possible.

Roxy sat next to Stormer. She played with her left over fries while listening to Hitomi and Kenshiro squabble. Roxy played bass for the Misfits. She'd found a lot of inner peace after she came to terms about her childhood. She still had some problems expressing herself though. But she had the support of the friends around her.

Pizzazz was going over some stage ideas with Techrat and Clash. Pizzazz, the twin sister of David, was the lead singer and guitarist of the group The Misfits. Out of all the Misfits she had the most changes happen recently. First her brother came back after fifteen years, then it was revealed that her childhood friend was her half-sister. She felt terrible about the way she had treated Stormer for all those years. She often joked to herself that she was going soft. But it was the fight with her brother that had changed her. He wasn't afraid to say what everyone was thinking.

Techrat pointed to spot on the sheet that David couldn't see. Techrat spent his whole life as an outsider looking in. He was a true misfit in every sense of the word. He had a brilliant mind that not many people could appreciate. David had taken the risk and offered Techrat the position of technical advisor. That was a fancy word for stage designer as David told him. Techrat had some ideas that were very unique.

Clash leaned further around Techrat's left arm trying to see where he was pointing. Clash constantly had tried in vain to join the Misfits. All she wanted was a chance and she never got it while Eric Raymond was around. Once David was named senior VP of Misfits Music, he gave her a different kind of chance. She was their new sound engineer and if needed their spy.

Taking a deep drink of her beer, Jetta sat back. Jetta had gained the one thing every member of the Misfits looked for: Acceptance. She was now accepted fully by all of the Misfits. Jetta added an uncommon quality to the band. She was a saxophonist.

Next to her was Eiji, the keyboard player for the band Pulsar. David was right about him being a lady killer. Eiji just had a natural charm. It was Eiji who got Pulsar together in the first place. He had heard about David through Kenshiro. Eiji asked David to be the lead singer for the band.

Ken went back to reading his manga, Gaijin Samurai. It was written and illustrated by his favorite manga creator; Kaori Umezawa. Ken was the bassist for Pulsar. His full name was Kenshiro, but he answered to Ken. His younger sister was Hitomi. He looked out for her but vowed to never be overprotective.

Hitomi was talking excitedly about one of their gigs. David narrowly avoided her flailing arms. It was little wonder why she was the drummer. When Eiji asked David to join to be lead singer David had been dating her. Even after they had broken up, the band stayed together and they remained close friends.

The tapping on his shoulder startled David. He turned to find that it was the club owner. "[Excuse me, sir,]" he began very politely. "[I couldn't help but notice that you were the band Pulsar. I have been asked if you could perform one song tonight.]"

David replied in perfect Japanese. "[I must ask the others first, sir,]" he said equally as polite. He turned back to the rest of the table. The Misfits all looked confused at David. The other members of his old band just nodded their heads in agreement.

Kimber nudged him. "Please translate for the Japanese impaired."

"He wants to know if Pulsar can play one song and from the nodding of heads I'm getting, I'd say it's a yes." Turning back to the owner, he smiled. "[We'd be honored to play for your patrons, sir. Thank you for this opportunity.]"

"[Thank you, Gabor-san, I will announce you right away.]" The owner bowed and began to walk away.

"[Sir, just one request,]" David said stopping the owner in his tracks. "[Let it be a surprise.]"

"[Yes, sir!]"

David and the other members of Pulsar stood from their seats. "Wish us luck."

Kimber kissed David. "Good luck and have fun."

Pulsar made their way backstage through a side passage to the stage. They tested and tuned the instruments given to them. "So what shall it be?" Ken asked.

David thought for a minute. "What we always opened with."

They took their positions, the stage lights came on and the curtains opened. Ken started with his guitar riff, Hitomi joined in a few seconds later, and then Eiji and David joined in. Kimber and the Misfits knew the song instantly.

David began singing in English to the pleasantly surprised club.

Pulsar finished the song and the audience burst into applause. David felt an adrenaline surge that he hadn't felt in a longtime. He saw, in the back, a man in a black trench coat walk out of the door. The hairs on the back of his neck began to tingle. Kimber jumped on stage and hugged him. After putting their instruments down, Pulsar jumped down the front of the stage. The Misfits greeted David and the members of the band. "That was outrageous!" Kimber yelled.

David smiled and turned to the Misfits. "I actually wanted you to hear Pulsar before I asked you guys this." He knew that he had their attention. "How would you like Pulsar to tour with you? Be your opening act."

"You didn't have to ask, y'know." Pizzazz smiled clearly proud of her brother. "But in any case, sure, we'd be happy to have you as our opening act."

"Perhaps we should be getting back now," Jetta suggested while stretching. "It's getting late and I'm tired."

"I'm getting sleepy, too," Roxy said after hiding her yawn.

David and Kimber went arm in arm to pay for their food. The owner said it was on the house since David and Pulsar played for the restaurant. David gave the owner money for the staff as a thank you. The group headed out into the warm night where Ken stopped at the end of the walkway. "Guess this is where we part for now." He hugged his old friend. "Felt great being up there on the stage again, David."

"You talk like we're old men, Ken," David chuckled. "It's only been a year since we last played, but it did feel good. Talk to you later about the tour."

"See-ya, David-kun." Hitomi hugged and kissed David on the cheek. She gave Kimber a big hug. "Take good care of him. Remember to always give him fresh water."

Kimber laughed. "I always do. It was great meeting you."

They each said their respective farewells and parted company. The members of Pulsar hopped into Eiji's car and drove off. The Misfits climbed into their rental van. "Coming with you two?" Stormer asked poking her head out of the open passenger side sliding door.

David thought about the tight squeeze in the van on the way there. "No, I think we'll walk. It's not that far back to my mother's house," he said taking a deep breath of the Osaka air. "Pizzazz, do you remember how to get back?"

"No need." Pizzazz rolled her eyes in annoyance. "This van is state of the art. It has the GPS feature. You programmed it, remember?"

"Oh yeah," he said sheepishly. "I forgot, it's been a long night. Drive safely!"

"Bye!" the occupants of the van yelled in unison. Stormer slammed the sliding door shut and Pizzazz pulled the van away.

Kimber and David began walking back to the home where he grew up. It was about two blocks when Kimber broke the comfortable silence. "Why did Hitomi call you David-kun?"

"It's just a nickname she gave me years ago. It means David cute. That's what kun means." He explained. "Now if I were to call you Kimber-chan, I'd be saying Kimber cute. Chan is for girls while kun is for boys. Not jealous are you?"

"Nope, just curious." She smiled.

They were almost back to the house where David had lived for most of his life, when he stopped walking. Kimber hugged him around the waist. "Something bothering you, David-kun?" She gave him her best flirty smirk.

David smiled at the sign of affection and put his hand in his pants pocket. There he rolled the ring case in his pocket over and over in his fingers. He was nervous and didn't quite know how to ask this. It was something he didn't even ask Hitomi. Tensing up, he froze in place. He felt a prickling on his neck again. Then he felt something he never thought he would feel. The air in front of him felt like it was ripping apart. He grabbed Kimber by the upper arms and yelled. "Get down!" He twisted her out of the way and pushed her to the ground to cover her. David landed hard on Kimber forcing the wind from her lungs. He lay on top of her for a few extra seconds as cover, making sure it was safe.

Kimber shook under him not knowing what was going on. She struggled to get air back into her lungs. Once she finally did so, she whispered to her boyfriend. "david what's wrong?" she asked with unmistakable fear in her voice.

David got off of her and looked at the wooden fence that was behind them. There it was; an arrow. It looked like it had something wrapped around it. He walked over to the arrow. A note was wrapped around the shaft. Yanking the arrow out of the fence he unraveled the paper. It was written in an old code. One he learned while he learned kendo. David finished reading the note and jammed it in his pocket. He then snapped the arrow in two. "….said, are you listening, David!" Kimber yelled at him.

David spun around to find Kimber standing there with tears in her eyes. "kimber, I'm sorry," he said very quietly. "We're in a lot of danger. All of us are."

"David, you idiot! Don't you realize you're bleeding?!" she yelled. David looked around for what she was talking about. "Your left arm! You're bleeding."

He tore off a strip of his shirt and made a makeshift bandage stopping the blood. He glanced at the arrow head and the tip had his blood on it. He stood where he was before the arrow was aimed from the back of Kimber where her heart was located. "We have to get the hell out of here. We'll be safe once we reach Mariko's place," he said calmly but obviously very frightened.

Kimber hugged him tightly. "I'm scared, David. I saw what you did by standing there. That arrow was meant to kill me. What did that note say? What the fuck is going on?!"

David kissed her forehead. "Once we get to Mariko's I'll tell you. It's not safe here." He grabbed her hand and they both ran as fast as they could down the remaining four blocks to his adoptive mother's house. He led her through short cuts in alleyways and backyards that he used as a kid.

David led Kimber around to the back of the traditional Japanese house. There was a light on in the kitchen, so he knew someone was awake. David slid the door open. "Shoes." He reminded Kimber. He explained to her and the Misfits on the plane ride over that it was tradition to remove your shoes upon entering the house. That way you don't track dirt into the place you live. She kicked her shoes off and slid her feet into the house shoes that were placed there. David did the same. He walked down the hall with Kimber closely following him. He slowed his pace and went into the living room. Roxy and Clash were talking about the concert. "Where's Mariko," David asked catching his breath. Kimber collapsed on the couch exhausted.

Roxy stood up. "What's the matter?" There was genuine concern in her voice. "I'll get you guys some orange juice."

David looked at Clash. "She's upstairs. She just went up there maybe five minutes ago. Is everything okay? You guys looked like someone tried to kill you." She laughed trying to lighten the mood a little.

Kimber had her face in a pillow. "Someone did, dammit!" Kimber yelled pulling her face out of the pillow. She was crying again.

David sat on the edge of the couch by her head. He kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear. "stay here, hon. I'm going to talk to Mariko. we're safe now, we're safe." He ran his fingers through her hair feeling Kimber nod. He kissed her again and stood up. Roxy came back with two glasses of orange juice. He stopped her before he went up the stairs. "Roxy, I have something I have to discuss with Mariko. Keep an eye on Kimber. She's shaken up but calm, I think. I'll be down soon."

He started up the stairs. "Don't you want your juice?" she asked.

"I'll be down soon, Roxy," David said not stopping.

Roxy shrugged and took a gulp of the glass meant for him. "Your loss then," she mumbled quietly. She went back into the living room. She set the two glasses down on coasters on the coffee table and sat down by Kimber's head. "Hey, sit up." She nudged Kimber. "Got some orange juice for you, might be some vodka around here. You look like you could use it."

Kimber sat up and took the full glass and drained it. "Thanks, Roxy." She then put the pillow in Roxy's lap and flopped her head down. She lay on her side staring at the wall. As an afterthought she looked over her shoulder. "Hope you don't mind. Just makes me feel better. I do this all the time with the Holograms when I'm scared or depressed or both."

Roxy slowly put her arm on Kimber's upper body and pulled close, comforting her. "It's okay, Kimber. Clash and I are here. Everything's going to be okay," Roxy said softly. She wasn't used to comforting someone, but it felt good. She figured that she must be doing it right. "You can tell us what happened if you want."

Clash moved closer to the couch and sat on the floor by Roxy's legs and Kimber's head. She smiled warmly and mouthed the word sorry. Kimber smiled back letting her know it was okay. Kimber took a deep breath and started retelling what had happened to the two women she once had an intense rivalry with.

Mariko was just getting into bed when there was a knock at the door. "Just a moment, please," she said politely in perfect English. She opened the door to find the young man she raised as her own. "[David, what's wrong?]" She asked switching to Japanese while letting him in. He gave her a worried look as he sat in her desk chair.

David reached into his pocket and pulled out the note he had read earlier. "[Does the name Hiroki Bayushi mean anything to you?]" he asked quietly. Upon hearing the name Mariko Ikari took a step back and gasped. "[I'll take that as a yes, Kasa. This was attached to an arrow that would have struck Kimber in the back.]" He swiveled his head up and looked at her. Tears had formed in his eyes that he had denied before. He stood and pointed to a place on his back, "[It would've hit her right here. The arrow had enough pull on it to pierce her back and go through her heart. Instant death. Yet I would remain unharmed. This was a message meant for you and me, Kasa.]" Never once did he raise his voice. He wasn't angry at her. He just wanted to know why.

Mariko walked over and took the note from David's hand. She turned the desk light on and read the message:

David Ikari. I want what your father has left to you. The name and the martial art style of the Ikari Kendo Dojo. He had me dishonored and thrown out many years ago. Seeing how you are not of Japanese blood, you cannot rightfully take over the school. I hereby challenge you to a duel of honor. Win and you get the school. Lose and you must marry my daughter Kyoko and teach the Ikari style for me. I hope you understand that I am serious. The dead body in your arms should be evidence. I will be in contact with you in three days time.

-Hiroki Bayushi

Mariko looked at the young man. "[Is she still-.]"

"[Alive? Yes, Kimber is all right, but very scared. I should be down there now comforting her, but I must know who this man Hiroki Bayushi is. I have this souvenir of his attack on me and Kimber.]" David pointed to his left arm. The bandage was soaked with blood.

Mariko sat on the floor and sighed. A lock of hair fell in front of her face. She stared at the black hair. It was started to become streaked with strands of silver. A sign of wisdom, her grandmother always told her. "[Hiroki Bayushi is the man who murdered Hiroshi Ikari,]" she said finally and quietly. She watched David tense up in the chair in shock.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "THE CODE OF BUSHIDO"

PART 2 OF FAMILY OBLIGATIONS