Chapter 9: Memories

Warning: The following chapter covers some pretty disturbing subject matter, so if you're in any way uncomfortable with anything in this chapter, stop reading immediately.

[May 10th, 2010]

(FY POV)

Espresso's been quiet ever since the battle. He just locked himself in his garage and won't let anyone see him. I hope he's okay…

(E POV)

(Espresso's Garage)

"No… not again… please, no…"

The memories are back. I've had to deal with them for years, but something about Kidd's death made them worse than ever.

"What's the matter?" The sound of Dad's voice echoed through my mind again. "In this house, everyone should be smiling! You know what I sacrifice each and every day for you three, so the least you can do is put on a good ol' fashioned grin!"

I registered the fear on both my mother's face and my sister's as he brandished the serrated knife in front of them before I lunged at him. "Get away from them!"

"You ungrateful piece of shit!" He bellowed as he kicked me into the wall, before pinning me against it. We stayed there for a moment, looking into each other's eyes with anger, before he began to slowly drag his knife across my mouth to form the shape of a smile. As I kicked, fought, and screamed trying to get away from him, he didn't stop. Finally, after what felt like hours, he pulled away.

As blood dripped from the crooked scar, he stared at me with a sadistic grin. "See? People look so much better with a smile."

"Go to hell," I growled.

He responded by slamming his fist straight into my gut. "I should've known someone like you wouldn't get it."

I snapped my eyes open, back in the garage. After running my hand over the grin-like scar, I reaffirmed my truth: My old self was helpless. The new me, Espresso, isn't. What happened to them won't happen to me.

"Espresso? Are you okay?" Fuuka asked from outside. "Could you please let me in?"

As much as I wanted to, with these flashbacks still happening I'd just hurt her. I won't take that risk.

"Espresso?" I stayed quiet.

"Seriously, you're starting to scare me."

"Well, I don't want to scare you worse!" I yelled back. "Now go away!"

"No!"

"I SAID GO AWAY!" I screamed.

(FY POV)

For a moment, his voice seemed to increase in pitch.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

His voice changed back to its usual tone when he responded. "Because I don't want you to get hurt. Now please, just go."

"Can you at least open the door? I just want to see you."

"Huh?"

"…"

"…"

"Please, just open the door."

I heard him groan. "…Fine. Just give me a sec."

After a moment, he pulled it open. He looked absolutely terrible. The bags under his eyes showed that he hadn't slept in days, and his mouth was barely able to stay closed. He started to say something, but I cut him off by throwing my arms around him and tightening as hard as I could.

"F-Fuuka… are you… are you alright?" His voice was very soft, yet still gentle. My response?

CRACK*

He stumbled back, rubbing the place where I slapped him. "Alright?!" I yelled incredulously. "ALRIGHT?! YOU SHUT YOURSELF AWAY FOR WEEKS FROM US! FROM ME! DID YOU EVER EVEN CONSIDER HOW WORRIED WE WERE?!" I paused, before continuing, with a much quieter voice than before. "Did you consider how worried I was?"

He was taken aback at the question. "W-what?"

"Did you have any consideration for how worried about you I was?"

"Well..."

"Well, what?"

"..."

"Okay… I just wanted to ask because… I… Ah, you know what? Just forget I said anything, okay? I have to get going, but you should talk to the others."

Once I made it to the condo, which had become a sort of community space for the group, the appearance of that… speech finally registered in my brain.

"You IDIOT!" I mentally berated myself. "Why would you say it like THAT? You know your chances with him are next to nothing, and now that you said all that, he probably thinks you're too shy to be able to communicate the SIMPLEST feelings!"

I kneeled on the ground, and cried. Maybe it was childish, but I didn't care. "Why did I have to fall in love with him?"

(WK POV)

"Huh." So this is what death looks like. To be honest, I was expecting somewhere a little less… blue.

"Hello?!" I yelled. "Is anyone here?!" No answer. Go figure. I just hope that the others managed to destroy the Endo-

"I'm not gone, Kidd VIII."

Crap. Crap, crap, crap. I thought I felt something make contact with my body before I blacked out. "You're…"

"Yes. The perfect revenge. I can't kill you, but I can keep you alive. Forever. You'll watch as everyone you know and love lives and dies, all while you stay alive until the end of time. I'm part of you now."

Suddenly, the creature disappeared. I looked down at my right arm as the energy it burst into travelled into it, and turned it jet black.

"Stuck living forever, huh?" I thought to myself. "Alright, you're on. One day, I'll get rid of you. Just you wait."

"Excuse me."

Startled, I turned towards the sound, only to see three young women, all wearing blue clothing and staring straight at me with their golden eyes. "Can I help you?"

The tallest of the three spoke first. "It's been a while since then, but we would like to give you a big thanks for your act of kindness towards Arisato."

"It was nothing-"

"It wasn't 'nothing'. Not for the people who care about him. No matter how much you may try to deny it, you are a good person, William Kidd VIII."

"And how exactly do you know me? I don't recall ever meeting you guys."

She laughed sheepishly. "Right. We did forget to introduce ourselves, didn't we? We are the ones who rule over power. My name is Margaret."

The middle of the three spoke next. "Elizabeth. Pleased to meet you."

"And I'm Lavenza," the third and seemingly youngest of the three said as she bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you in person."

I stepped back slightly. "'In person'?" This didn't look good. There was something in Margaret's voice that sounded like she knew about my past, so how did she-

"I know you're likely confused. We've heard quite a lot about you. Now, as for why we called you here. Summon your persona, if you please."

I concentrated hard, and Hood appeared behind me.

"Excellent. Now, imagine it shifting and changing. Imagine that power coursing through your body, and into your arm."

I did so, only to feel a burning sensation in my infected arm, as a simple mark in the shape of a tarot card, the Tower to be precise, etched itself onto the back of my hand.

Lavenza smiled excitedly. "The Tower. Interesting. You can now harness the power of your worst enemy, and use it to rain chaos and destruction on your foes. You will of course require training to use these abilities properly, but I personally can't wait to get started."

I smiled back. "Then what are we waiting for?"