http://clampfix.fanworks.net/kenichi/essen08.txt </head><body><pre> Well, here goes everything, as I have just finished Chapter Eight... People who haven't read Fourth Magi yet may be a bit confused by some parts in this fic; please inform me if so... "That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die." - Abdul Alhazred, Necronomicon (from H. P. Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu", 1926) Chapter Eight Even all the way here, there were Military personnel. Watching me. Watching us all. With a suspicion and icy stare. Richmond was nowhere to be found, oddly. Julie suggested he may have been asleep, and didn't bother to wake him, knowing of his bitter attitude. Richmond I did not care for right now. I had other problems. Rio, it turns out, was a Gunnery Sergeant in the U.S. Marines. And from what the MPs at the door said, I wasn't allowed anywhere near Ken. Stubborn. Rio himself was unavailable for comment. The doctors confirmed my worst fears: Linda had indeed died of a massive heart attack. "Subject died of a Heart failure, most probably due to shock." The way these men of science talk, they make death seem so matter-of- fact that it desensitizes people. I left Julie and Charles to the Doctor's droning analysis. As I walked in the hallways, I wondered about Doctors and their cold, almost unfeeling professionalism. I used to think they really cared. But now, it seems they merely use patients like they do lab rats. As if it didn't matter to them whether the person in their care was ever alive. Was ever human. Of course it dosen't matter to them. Just look at Seishirou. He's a doctor, isn't he? My teeth gnashed in hatred. The coldblooded bastard. It was at that point I began to relate to Ken's feelings. {Do you know that when you imagine someone or something as your worst enemy... You don't feel a thing?} Kenichi Kaeda... Was it your "enemy" who attacked you tonight? I paced outside the door of Kenichi's wardroom. The lone Military Policeman outside made the door look almost official in his presence. In truth, They were there to keep ME out. Not just because of "Military Affairs", I assume. The door opened to reveal Rio, tall and imposing. I walked toward him. Somehow I was not as threatened by his size this time as I before. But the anger on his face was all too apparent. The young MP got ready to block my way once again, but the burly black man nodded him away. I was suspicious when he gestured for me to enter. I stepped in, wary. I looked to see Ken, his arms and neck in plastercast, lying on the bed unconscious, and wondered how a healthy young boy like him could end up like that. Whatever did this to him must have truly been monstrous. No sooner did the door close when the Sergeant grabbed me by the collar in rage. Rio's fury wasted no time on petty words. "What the hell did you have to do with this, huh?!?!?" I looked into his eyes. For some reason, I did not feel fear. Anger...? No. Just an incredible frustration. My face twisted in spasms as I fought to control my temper. Unsuccessfully. It's just that I've about had more than enough of being manhandled by a military goon every few minutes or so for absolutely no possible intelligent reason. A hand, mine... I felt the knuckles in my right hand tighten as I threw my closed fist at his face. I heard a small explosion bursting in my fist as it connected with the burly Sergeant's chin. I instantly regretted the action, as he let me go, stepping back, only slightly jolted... While my right hand was suddenly singing in agony. It was all I could do to keep from crying out in sheer pain as I grabbed my right hand with my left, nursing it with a light massage. It's true, then. The United States Marines' heads are made of concrete. Rio rubbed his chin slightly. Apparently, my punch at least had the effect of calming him down somewhat, as he seemed far more decent now. "Oh-kay... I think I deserved that one..." I slumped to a nearby seat. Muttering under my breath. Through the pain. "...I...think...I broke my hand..." "They never do in the movies, do they...?" He sat in the opposite chair and crossed his arms. We both looked at each other for what seemed like forever. There were questions I wanted to ask him, and it wasn't hard to see that he had like ideas pertaining to me. It was just that... "How did this happen...?" My voice felt dry and cracked as I cradled my aching right hand along my shoulder. Rio grunted. "Hell if I'd know. We just got informed that someone heard a noise on the premises, and there we saw them." He shut his eyes. "Ken... He's been like a little brother to me, mister..." "Sumeragi. Subaru Sumeragi." It was temtping to add a snide remark to that one, but I was far too tired to even bother. Besides, another enemy was the last thing I needed at present. Rio sighed in exasperation. "Subaru. Sounds like a car." He smirked slightly. "Gunnery Sergeant Robert J. Maxwell. Everybody calls me Rio." "I kind of noticed that." The big man dropped his smile. "What kind of sonofabitch would do this..." He gestured to the sleeping Ken. "...To a kid like Ken...?" Although he kept his gruff exterior, I could somehow feel that Rio was torn inside. "...And his mom, Linda... She..." "The doctor said that whoever or whatever, Linda died of a heart attack. She was scared to death, literally." I felt cold inside as I recalled it all. Cold as my sister's own body, heart torn out... Cooling in the shade of the Sakura tree. "Subaru... Can I trust you...?" It was such an odd question that I was totally unprepared for. I looked at the Marine's face. Rio was deathly serious. "...I...need to report back to base and file a report... I just want to know that... well, if I'm leaving Ken in good hands..." The dark skin on his face seemed to pale. "Subaru...?" I nodded. "I'll take care of him." As an afterthought... "...Just as I promised his mother." Rio's face softened with a sad frown as he stood from his chair. "...So she asked you, too..." My eyes followed him as he walked out the door. She asked you, too... I looked at Ken's sleeping figure. Could it be Linda knew what was going to happen...? Julie agreed to my request to stay with Ken. It was only wise; after all, if Ken did see who raided their home, there was a large chance that whoever did this to him would come to finish the job. I was hardly fit to be a bodyguard, but there was very little choice. I had already begun to suspect the military. At three in the morning, I was still awake, unable at all to sleep. Ken's condition had not changed at all. Two hours earlier, the doctors expressed doubt that he would ever snap out of this coma. I sat through it all silently as they made references to obscure latin-named medicines and such which they administered to Ken's injuries. As far as I was concerned, it wasn't so much the physical as the psychological wounds Ken experienced and might possibly yet experience. Did he know that his mother died? I tried not to think about how the loss of a second parent would affect Kenichi Kaeda. I sat next to the bed and wondered. Onmyouji. The ability to reach into Ken's mind was within my grasp. I sat, silently contemplating my action. Then that would make me just like Seishirou, wouldn't it? Reaching into that part of people that would be best left buried... I quashed the thought like a bug. No. It's not the same. Seishirou ses his powers to kill and to toy with people. I want to help save Kenichi Kaeda's sanity. I laid my hands over Ken's head and began a chant. This promised to be difficult. My forehead met with his as I continued. Fading... Fading.. Fade. What in the...? I looked down from space at a planet. A beautiful blue planet. Not unlike the earth. Yet something within told me it was not earth. Blink. I had closed my eyes but a mere second and the scenery changed. A room. No, a chapel. At least what seemed to be a chapel... The doors of the chapel-like alcove slid open for me. I walked in, caution screaming in my mind. There was a little girl, lying alone on a bed. She was conscious, but the reddish stain along the mattress cover betrayed the truth. A pretty, innocent soul, hurt fatally... At her side was a young boy. Ken. It had to be. I could feel the death in the air. And Ken's remorse. I felt the room go cold, and realized the feeling was Ken's, as well. Ken sat next to the bed, gently brushing an arm over her forehead. "...Ken...?..." I heard a light voice, like that of a little sparrow. "Mira..." I approached the bed cautiously. It seems like a dream... Yet this was real... To Kenichi, at least. I saw the girl smile, childish and beguiling, in spite of the obvious pain she experienced. She held his hand tightly, the dying making a last request to the living. "...I...believe in...the Magic Knights..." I was boggled by her words, and they seemed senseless to me. The pained hands reached for the pendant around her neck. Clasping the jewel tight, she offered it to Ken. "...I believe...in hope..." The girl yanked the chain away. And relented it into Ken's trembling hands. Is this a memory of sorts...? "...I..believe..in all of you...." The smile shone hope in the jaws of death. "...But...most especially...in You....Ken..." The girl rested her head upon Ken's chest. "...don't cry..." She had stopped breathing. Ken remained silent. Bitter. Somehow, I knew his heart had broken. Irreperable. Ken put the girl's silent body to rest on the bed. A memory. One of pain. Yet it seemed so unreal. Unlike anywhere I had seen before... "Is that what you wanted to see, Subaru...?" I gasped as Ken turned to me. His eyes brimmed with hate. "Do you REALLY want to see it all...?" I sputtered. "Ken... You..." "===THEN YOU'LL SEE ALL OF IT!!!" I was blown backward into the wall... No... I passed throught the wall as though it were not there. As if it never was. I shuddered as I realized that Ken's anger was driven against me. But...Why...? Ken's scream answered my thoughts. "BECAUSE YOUR'E JUST LIKE HIM!!!" Visions peppered my mind... Not visions... Blasts of sight... Sound... Everything in one shot... Can't comprehend... Falling off Tokyo Tower... Into a new world... Save this world... What world...why...? Magic... Magic of a different kind... Destiny of another... Killing... Deaths, senselessness... Innocents... Killing... A princess asking to die... Death visiting... Killing... A child taking the arrow meant for another... Without reason Without provocation Because... Screaming... "NONONOMAKEITSTOPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!" The screamer was me... Ken...? Make it stop... I picked myself up. We were standing in the middle of a red sky and dark clouds. Or at least Ken was standing. I felt like retching... the insane pace of the information force-fed into my brain felt almost like a physical blow. "Mom's dead, isn't she...?" I staggered as I looked into his eyes. "Ken, I..." "He was there... And he didn't lift a finger to save her..." I was still groggy from the mental assault. "Ken... Who was there...?" He turned on me in rage. I froze as his hands clutched my throat. "YOU KNOW WHO HE IS!!! HE'S YOUR BEST FRIEND, DAMN YOU!!!" Fighting to keep my breath... He's strong for a young boy... Can't... Concentrate... I felt the fingers release their clasp. Dropping to the floor. Weary. Catching my breath. If I ever get out of this, I swear I'll never do this trick ever again... Sobbing... Ken was crying... His voice... Was he still just a child, after all...? "Why...Why am I always too late to protect everyone...?" I picked him up by the shoulders. "Ken... I have to know what happened. Tell me..." Ken nodded mutely. The scenery changed to that of the house. Linda's house. Ken motioned for me to follow as we walked in. We saw. A figure, huddled in the darkness. Smell of rotting fish about him. About it. It turned. Glowing reptilian eyes. Glistening scales. My very soul froze in horror as I saw the creature within my dream. "It was looking for something..." Ken looked at the thing with cold spite. "...I ran after it, but it beat me." Soft regret watered down the bitterness. "...I saw mother faint... But I was too late..." I held a hand to his shoulder, but he brushed it away. He then pointed to the window. "I saw him watching while the thing was strangling me." I was still confused. "Who did you see, Ken...?" Ken looked to me coldly once more. "You, of all people should know who he is..." There was venom in his voice as he added his last statement. "...But you know, I'll kill him first." I wanted to ask more. But strength was seeping away from my body, and I couldn't keep up the spell for much longer. I grew weary... And I fell... I awoke the next morning, tired and hungry. The Hospital room seemed ethereal in the early dawn. I felt the pain in my fist come back to haunt me, somehow reassuring me that this was no longer Kenichi Kaeda's mind. The last night's attempt... I rubbed my hand through my hair as I tried to get up.] And blinked. Ken's bed was empty. His Hospital clothing and casts were strewn all over the floor. Oh, no... He didn't... Not in his condition, no... It'd be insane... I slowly opened the door of the ward, looking outside. The guard was gone. But where...? I heard a knocking from the closet inside. He didn't... I opened the door to see the young MP guard, albeit without his clothes, trussed up and gagged inside the closet. I would have found the entire thing funny had the situation not been so serious. The MP was mouthing off in english as I untied him. It was obvious that he was on the verge of panicking, as he mentioned Rio's name often, in great fear, as well. I went to the nurse and asked her to call the Sergeant. I was definitely going to have a lot of explaining to do... </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>