CAUGHT BETWEEN WORLDS:
First Symptom: Hakkyo

A Magic Knight Rayearth story by Rob Barba

As the bright light surrounded Hikaru, she knew it was time to return home to Earth, to leave Cephiro behind and follow her own destiny.  She looked at Fuu and Umi, and knew that they, like she, would probably return here again someday, to their friends and loves, to this world that she was the last Pillar of, the Goddess of.  Although she’d given that power to the people, she was still the deity of this world, and it would be her that made the world ebb and flow, move to a happier tune.

As she got closer to the light, however, it did not fade into the vibrant tapestry of colors that was Tokyo Tower.  The light instead got harsher, the expected colors changing into more sterile, harsh endless white.  Her arms, long accustomed to the rising, flying feeling of returning to the Earth dimension, were beginning to bind to her side, immobile, paraplegic.  The flying sensation that she felt suddenly and without warning cut off, dropping her to a floor that was just as white as the walls, as the ceiling.

Clarity came as the harsh, intense light faded to normal lighting and the walls came into view.  As her senses finally adjusted to her location, she was thoroughly stunned to see that she had not returned to any room in the tower that looked even remotely familiar.  Indeed, there was nothing familiar about this bizarre turn of events whatsoever.

She looked around.  The harsh light above was nothing more than fluorescent lighting.  The walls, ceilings, floor were padded.  The reason she couldn’t move her arms was due to the straitjacket that held them firmly in place, showing her to be a potential threat to anyone.  She was bewildered.  How did she get here?  Where was she?  This was obviously not the tower.  Where, for that matter, were Umi and Fuu?  They had left at the same time as she had!  What was going on?

Well, she wasn’t going to sit here and find out.  Focusing, she called inward for the powers of fire magic, to bring them forth.  She called…but nothing came.  No raging inferno to burn through the straitjacket.  No flame, not a spark.  Concerned that the jacket could be ensorcelled against fire magic, she then refocused, trying to apply the Goddess powers of the Pillar against the bonds.  However, those failed as well.  Worse, both times she used them, it didn’t seem so much that the magic was being countered, as it just wasn’t there.

That thought filled her mind with dread.  If that were the case, then she was helpless, unable to defend herself.  She hated that feeling, having endured it through the war against Debonair, and the invasion by the other nations.  But Debonair was gone now, defeated, and peace was restored to Cephiro.  With that, she should have returned to Earth, specifically the Tokyo tower.  But this wasn’t Tokyo; in truth it was steadily becoming a nightmare.  Some sick, twisted experience that she didn’t want to be in for one second longer yet was enduring with a pained fear.

She didn’t know how long she sat there, in the soft, padded corner, until a well-hidden door opened, and someone walked in.  That someone she recognized in a heartbeat.  His hair was shorter, he was wearing glasses, and he seemed to be dressed like a Tokyo doctor, and carried a writing tablet. To anyone else, he would have been just another person, but she knew that face, those dark eyes.  It was – it had to be….  She didn’t know whether she willed the words, or he’d called them from her mouth, like a command from the beyond.  “Zagato….”

Zagato stared at her, with a look of pity and distress.  “Hello, Hikaru.  I was hoping to see you again, though not under these conditions.”

Hikaru tried to rein in her emotions.  Zagato, the priest who committed foul deeds, all in the name of love for Princess Emeraude.  Who had nearly destroyed the world of Cephiro for their love.  He wasn’t evil, just misunderstood.  But that wasn’t the problem.  The fact was, he should be dead.  She should know – she was the one who killed him in battle.  Yet here he was, looking straight at her.  So if he was dead…

…what did that say about her?

She looked at him for a long time before saying something.  “Am…am I dead?”

The look in his eyes was one of kindness, and warmth, directed at her, even.  “No, you’re not, or everyone would be worse now than they already are.”

She nodded at that then said calmly, “Why am I in these restraints, then?”

They’re for your safety.  When we feel the time…is right, I will have them removed.  Until then, I’m afraid they have to stay on.”  Zagato actually sounded pained to see her like this.  “Believe me, I wish I would have never had to see you like this, ‘Karu.”

‘Karu?  “Why are you doing this to me, Zagato?  You know that Umi and Fuu will find and rescue me,” she challenged.  “I’m sorry that I had to do what I had to, but you left me no choice.”

“Zagato?” the man said, as though he was questioning his very identity, testing out the name.  “Is that who you think I am?”

Hikaru’s eyes narrowed.  “You were always an honorable enemy, Zagato.  You have the upper hand right now, so I would appreciate no games, please.”

The oddly dressed villainous ghost of a rogue priest stared intently at her.  “Don’t you…remember me?”

The redhead’s voice was oddly calm as she said, “Yes, Zagato, I remember you.  You’re the misguided priest who nearly killed the millions of people on Cephiro.  You’re the one who tried to come up with a solution, but did it at a price that was not acceptable.  You’re the man I had to kill to save Cephiro.  I’m not proud of what I did, but I had to.  And now you’re back.”

“Zagato” looked perplexed.  “But I’m—”

“—going to kill me, or at least you’ll try,” she countered, turning her eyes away from him for a second.  “There was once a time when that would have bothered me.  But I’ve seen too much in the past of years, far more than anyone should.”  She then refocused on him, and there was a steely determination in those brown eyes.  “But I’m not afraid.  Not anymore.”

The man sighed then looked at her with a sort of resignation.  “You win.  You found me out.  Now, what next?”

“I want you to release me.  Then, return me to Cephiro, or send me back to Tokyo.  My work on Cephiro’s done, and I have to get on with my life, now.”  She softened her look as she said, “The world’s at peace now, just as you wanted, though not through your methods.  You can rest in peace, knowing that, Zagato.  You and Emeraude.  The world is being cared for by its people.”

Zagato nodded.  “I…thank you for that.  But before I can let you go…back to Earth, I must….”  The man paused for a second, as to gather his thoughts, “I have to record your deeds.  Who you are, who you feel you must be.”

“Why?” she asked, a bit bluntly, then apologized and stepped a bit back from her stance.  “I will tell you, but why do you need to know?”

Zagato sat there in thought for a minute, before replying enigmatically, “All will be revealed in good time.  But I want to know all, ‘Karu.  Everything.”

“Don’t call me ‘Karu.  That’s not my name.”

“But….”  There was a pained tone in Zagato’s words, as though a door had been slammed in his face.  “Very well, Hikaru.  Nonetheless, I still wish to know about your actions of recent.”

There was something disquieting in his words.  “You know why I was here, what I came to do.”

“Do I?” the man asked questioningly.  “Are you so sure that I do?  Could I be that person who knows, or a person who you only think knows?  That is a question that you must be willing to ask yourself, lest you fail in what it is you are looking for.”  He moved his heel slightly, ready to turn and leave.

“I’ll…tell you.”  Her tone sounded like she was giving up something, but that it might have been a sacrifice of sorts, not so much a sacrifice on her part as for someone’s behalf.  “What do you want to know – from where you left off, when I returned to Tokyo, the first time, or the current war on Cephiro and the defeat of Debonair and her minions?”

“I want to know…everything.  From when you were born, until now.  Everything.”

“Everything?” she asked, her hackles rising.  Something felt very wrong about this, extremely wrong on an elemental level.  “Why?”

“I promise I will tell you why at the end of it all.  Just be patient,” he asked, in the smoothest possible tones.  “Just have faith and believe me when I say it’s important.”

Just have faith.  She’d said those words once, to Nova.  Nova, a part of her now that made her braver, stronger and more adept at facing challenges, a dark aggressive side that she didn’t ever know she had.  She’d said those words when they’d been split and fighting each other for dominance, and if she had the bravery to say them she must live by them as well.  “Okay.”

With that, she related her life.  She started off covering what she knew of her younger years, as a little girl born in Taura, Japan, the youngest of the Shidou children, the only daughter of Shidou Noboru and Kyoko.  Soon after her birth, her family moved to the Meguro ward of Tokyo, settling down in a nice little place with a dojo.  Initially trying gymnastics for a couple of years, she eventually settled upon kendo, like the rest of the Shidous.  Her father wanted to be the best there was, and after Satoru was old enough to watch the younger ones, the elder Shidous went off on frequent training trips, learning to be the best in their skills.

Life was relatively quiet for the young redhead as she was growing up.  With nothing but a pet wolf named Hikari as a real friend, she enjoyed life as much as she could, just wanting to grow up and do something more with her life, maybe become a vet or train Seeing Eye dogs.  She certainly had a way with animals, and was considered bright and cheerful enough to do it.

The world changed for her, though when she went on a field trip to Tokyo Tower.  What had turned out to be the chance meeting of two other girls turned out to be the adventure of her life and then some.  To Fuu and Umi, who became her best friends, a trio of girls called from beyond time and space to fulfill the ancient prophecy of another world, one that called for “Magic Knights” to come and defeat a series of trials that would destroy the world itself.  Though they neither prepared nor trained for such a situation, the three Knights managed to fight on, defeating Zagato, only to find out that he was not the evil that they expected.  Worse, to save the world, they had to kill the very person they’d come to save, Princess Emeraude.  However, though, they managed to save the world, and return to Tokyo, safe and sound, thinking it was the end, and nothing more.

However, soon after, they were called back to save the land from both invasion by four different armies and the planet’s own self-destruction.  Worse, Hikaru faced a challenge as she was initially kidnapped, then lost her powers, and finally had to hide as an evil doppelganger of herself hunted her down for no clear reason.  However, the Knights’ greatest strength was not their powers but their compassion, and in the end they managed to win over two of the invading armies, who not only ceased their assault but also joined as allies.  With the forces of Autozam on the march, determined to become the next Pillar (a position that had, sadly, been neglected with the death of Princess Emeraude), and Debonair’s forces still oncoming, it was the darkest hour indeed.

All of that changed when an unpowered Hikaru found her strength and determination again to defeat Nova, who she found to be a twin created out of magic, a part of her that was dark and screaming for the light.  Hikaru subsumed that part of her becoming whole once more, and raced into battle, the strongest of the Magic Knights once more.  With the other two Knights, she first defeated Debonair then entered a duel to become God, the only way to save Cephiro from itself.

Defeating an opponent that she had other feelings for, she subsumed the power of the Pillar, doing what she felt she had to save Cephiro from a fate far worse than anything she could have ever imagined or saw.  In the end, God had returned his archangel to another dimension, taking the Mashins with it, and she had to return back to her world, lest she start the cycle anew.  But in the care of the people of Cephiro, she placed the power of the Pillar, effectively doing what she thought to be breaking the cycle.  However, it was proving not to be true.  If it was, she wouldn’t be here, in front of Zagato, in a strange, sterile room, as though she were a danger.  She would be at home in Tokyo with her two best friends, waiting for the day when they would be reunited with their loves for once and forever.

Zagato stood for a while, silent and contemplative, as though fully digesting the tale that she had placed before him.  Finally, he spoke.  “What I’m about to say may not make you feel comfortable.”  He thought for a second more, then said, “Your name is Hikaru Shidou.”

She looked at him blankly.  This was not exactly earth-shattering news, and certainly the mention of her own name was not going to cause her eternal distress.

“Your name is Hikaru Marie Shidou.  You were born on March 8, 1983 in Oak Harbor, Washington.  You were born to Clefton and Priscilla Shidou, the second oldest child of the family.  You have an older brother, Lance; a twin sister, Hikari; and a younger sister, Emily.”

The redhead stared at Zagato as though he were babbling nonsense.  Which he was.  What the hell was he talking about?  Then she realized.  He was talking about her.  Her, as though everything that she’d ever known about her life was a lie, as though she were someone entirely different.  “Wha-what are you saying?!?!?!?”

Unperturbed, Zagato continued with his mad diatribe.  “You’ve never been to Japan, much less Tokyo.  If anything, most of your trips have been to my home in Boston, or to your aunt’s home in France.  Although you are half-Japanese, to my knowledge, you’ve never learned any, though you’ve learned Spanish in school.  Despite what you’ve said, you aren’t even speaking it now.”

And then, he lowered the boom.  “And I am not a man named Zagato.  I’m Thomas Zagard, your uncle.  I came here all the way from Boston to help you, ‘Karu.”

Sienna-colored eyes filled with a sick fear.  Whatever was going on, her was twisting her reality to his convenience.  “You’re lying!  Get away from me!”

Zagato – or whomever he was calling himself – was on some kind of sick stride.  “Sweetheart, please, try to remember who you are.  I’m torn between being professional and being personal.  You’re in the Everett Grove Mental Health Center.  You’re suffering from a delusion that’s taken over who you really are.  We’re worried about you.”  He spoke softly, as though his heart would break.  “Your mother and father, sisters, and brother are here, in the visitor’s lounge, hoping that you’ll come back to them – to us.  Back in Boston, your Aunt Rachel, and cousins Lisa and Lily are just as worried.  Everyone on both sides of your family is worried.  I’m worried.  Please, try to remember who you are – who you really are.”  If it were possible for the madman to look sane and sober, it was now etched deep into his face.

Hikaru looked at the man as though he’d turned into a demon before her very eyes.  He’d just told her that she was not who she believed herself to be, not who she knew herself to be.  As he approached her, she began to skitter backwards, saying “Don’t step near me one more inch, madman!  I don’t know what your sick game is, Zagato, but I assure you when Umi and Fuu arrive to rescue me, you and I will have it out once more!”

In a quiet voice, Zagato said, “Umi can’t help you.  God, I wish she could.”

“Umi and Fuu will come,” she said, her temper under restraint.  “I don’t know how you’ve come back from the dead, or what your plans are for me, Zagato, but they’ll fail.  They.  Will.  Fail!”

“‘Karu, you don’t even remember why you’re here, in this—” he paused mournfully, as though he were loath to say the words, as though merely uttering them was a sign of defeat, “—mental health clinic.  You were in an accident three days ago, on the way home from Olympia.  The car you were in got hit head on by a diesel truck.  You survived, physically unharmed, because of the airbags in the backseat of the car, but there was a price.  That price was watching your best friend, Umi Ryuzaki, crushed and pulped to death, right before your very eyes, no more than mere inches from where you were.  And now, you’re here, because you’ve withdrawn from reality, into a fantasy world.”  He leaned down on his haunches, and said, “‘Karu, I’ve come here all the way from Boston, to help you…because watching your best friend die has driven you insane.”

She was about to yell something at him, when she stopped.  As his words sank into her mind, she closed her eyes, shutting them tightly as to defend herself in the only way she could.  Shaking her head as though trying to rattle his worlds from her mind, she yelled, “LIAR!  GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU MONSTER!  UMI!  FUU!  HELP!”  As much as possible, she didn’t attack him; instead, she stumbled to the other side of the room, in a desperate effort to get away from this creature hell-bent on driving her out of her mind.  “STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU HELLSPAWN!”

Zagato closed the distance between them.  But to his surprise, the redhead moved like a rocket, defending herself in the only way she could: she launched her foot out, landing a vicious blow straight to his midsection, causing him to double over.  As he crumpled halfway to the floor, she began to wrench herself viciously, making desperate efforts to get out of the straitjacket she was in.

Moving away from her, Zagato gasped, “I know you didn’t mean that.  I’ll…be back tomorrow to see you again.  I promise we’ll get you back to normal, sweetheart.  I promise.”  With a voice that sounded genuinely hurt, he said, “Rest easily, sweetheart.  I’ll be back tomorrow.”  Getting up, he headed for the door, and said, “Open the door, Lazlo.  I’m alone.”  With as much dignity as he could muster, despite the fact that he looked like he’d failed, Zagato walked out the door.

In the interim, a frantic Hikaru screamed, “And don’t come back, Zagato!  Umi and Fuu will be here soon!  Liar!  You’ll pay for your crimes!”  Struggling against her bonds, she snarled, “UMI!  FUU!  HELP!”  She continued screaming, into a silent, empty room, with no one to hear her pleas or cries.

Dr. Thomas Zagard stepped into the observation room, where a young man fitting Hikaru’s description of “Lantis” held onto a weeping woman that was a twin of the redhead.  Standing a little bit away from them, an older couple stood, the woman with reddish brown eyes (the red mainly from crying) and blonde hair, the man’s hair already gray, but with impressively lively blue eyes.  At the side of this couple was a little girl with long blonde hair and piercing green eyes, set in an angelic face.  This was Clefton and Priscilla Shidou and their family, a family currently in turmoil over what was occurring to one of them.

Dr. Zagard sighed loudly.  “I’m sorry, Clef, Priss.  She’s in a world of her own, and I can’t get through to her.  She thinks I’m some madman named Zagato, that she….”  He held a look of defeat on his face.  “I feel so helpless.”

Sobbing and holding onto her husband’s hand for comfort, Priscilla Shidou said, “You did your best, Tom.  You didn’t have to come out here from Boston, though you know we appreciate it – what about your family?”

Tom gave Priss a resigned look.  “Sis, that’s my niece in here, in a mental institution.  You’re my sister and Clef’s been my best buddy since our Harvard days – I’m not going to abandon you in your time of need.  Besides, Rachel and the kids are fine; in fact, they’re worried about you all.”

Clef smiled as best he could.  “Still, Tom, we appreciate it.  The doctors here are completely stumped, and your workload must be full already.”

Thomas gave an encouraging smile, “Again, you’re family.  That’s far more important.”  To change the subject away from its maudlin tone – for their sakes and his – he commented, “Since I’m taking over the case full-time, I was wondering if you could fill me in with a few details that the doctors weren’t able to fill me in on.”  Taking a look at his clipboard, he started, “Now, as I understand it, when the accident happened, she was coming home from a fencing tournament, right?”

“Yes, she was, Uncle Tom,” Hikari Shidou spoke through her tears as she held onto her older brother.  “She and Umi were coming home from the State Swordsmanship Tournament.  Hikaru picked up kendo from Grandpa, and she joined the school fencing team just for practice, even though there was no other kendo artist.  Umi had talked her into it, and then over in Tacoma…Oh God, Umi….”  Hikari’s words dissolved into tears as she began to cry again, practically glomping onto her brother for support.

“What about ‘Ascot’?”

“A Scott?” Lance asked before Hikari could, his tone somewhere between protective of his younger sister, and worry of the other. “Could be Scott Le Fevre – the captain of the fencing team.  He was the driver of the car, and was also killed.” 

Thomas jotted something onto a pad that he carried.  “I’m sorry, ‘Kari.  I understand that she was a friend of yours, too, and that it’s painful to recall anything.  But I need answers to these questions if we’re going to help ‘Karu come back to normal.  She mentioned a few other names that I’d appreciate some answers on.”  He began to list off a few names. “Let’s start off with a ‘La Farga’.”

“Her ex-boyfriend, David La Farga – he’s the star running back on the varsity team,” Lance answered.  “They were a couple for a while, until the bastard dumped her for a cheerleader named Danielle Caldina.  Danielle and ‘Karu never got along, and have come close to fighting a few times, but ‘Karu won’t fight someone who can’t defend themselves.”

“Okay, that also answers the Caldina question, thanks.  What about a girl named Fuu Hououji?”

“I don’t recall anyone by that name,” Hikari sobbingly answered.

“Are you sure?  Someone that she could have met separately from you?  An old friend from elementary school?”

The melancholy redhead wracked her brain for a second before clarity set in.  “Well, when we were kids, she named her Barbie doll ‘Foo’…in fact, I think it was from the matching set that you and Aunt Rachel got us for our eighth birthday.  But I gave mine to Emily years ago, and ‘Karu gave hers to a toy collection drive a couple of years ago.   I wouldn’t know where she got that last name, or anyone with the actual name of Fuu.”

“Ferio and Alcyione?”  The names didn’t ring bells, at all.  When that didn’t work, he gave descriptions on them.  Both of them turned out to be parts of Lance’s life; Ferio fit the description of Rick Ferios, his best friend and Hikari’s boyfriend; while Alcyione was a perfect match for Lance’s girlfriend Allison Danvers.

Thomas hmmmed and jotted down another note.  “What about Satoru, Kakeru, and Masaru?”  The psychiatrist was met with blank stares at that inquiry.  “Three boys, brothers, apparently very fond of her,” he clarified.

Priss spoke up.  “Hmmm…it could be the Sheridan boys next door – Sandy, Kyle, and Matt.  They’re all roughly around the twins’ age, and are absolutely wild about the twins and Umi.  I think it’s cute, actually,” she said.  Normally, Hikari would have given a look of disdain at that, but it wasn’t the same without her twin sister and their best friend to join her in the silent insult.  “In fact, Sandy and Matt took up kendo and fencing just to impress ‘Karu and Umi.”

Little Emily scrunched her brow in thought, then tugged on her mother’s dress.  “Mama,” she said, “Aren’t all those names Japanese?”

“Are you sure, Emily?” Priss asked.

The little girl nodded, happy to explain.  “I heard those names on a Japanese cartoon that Mutsumi an’ I were watchin’.  I di’n’t understand too much of it, but I ‘member that Mutsumi told me ‘bout them.”

“Now that you mention it,” Thomas replied, “she has a point.  How much Japanese have you been teaching them, Clef?”

“None,” he admitted.  “I barely know it myself.  I’m third generation Japanese-American, and though my mother was born in Tokyo, she hasn’t been back since she was 26.  Furthermore, while ‘Karu learned kendo from my dad and Lance is taking karate, none of them have really shown any interest in anything Japanese beyond cartoons and Nintendo.  Hell, the only reasons we gave the twins Japanese names was because my father wanted me to name a child after him, and Hikaru happens to be a gender-neutral name, with Hikari meaning just about the same thing.”  A thought came to him, and he asked, “’Kari, have you two learned any Japanese from the Ryuzakis?”

“No, Dad,” Hikari answered.  “Umi was so concerned about trying to fit in, she tried to get me and sis to teach her better English, if anything.  Maybe Emily picked up some Japanese from Mutsumi, but that’s about it.  Also, Mr. and Mrs. Ryuzaki don’t speak much Japanese when we’re around.”

Tom then commented, “Well, somewhere, she seemed to pick up a lot of information on—" he glanced at his pad for a reference, “—a place called the Tokyo Tower.”

“That’s easily enough explained,” Hikari ventured.  “We all watch a lot of anime – Japanese cartoons – and you always see the Tower in them.  Also, she likes to go to the Space Needle, and they have a small display on the world’s other towers, including the one in Tokyo.”

More scribbling on the notepad.  “Well, she also mentioned Cephiro and Mokona, but since I know those references are from your novels, Clef, I won’t ask further on that.”  The head of the Shidou family looked ready to ask a question, but the words died on his lips.  Seeing the look on everyone’s faces, Tom sighed and commented, “What I’m about to tell you all may not make you feel comfortable.  Please, everyone sit down.”

As the Shidou family sat down, Tom began.  “’Karu’s coping with Umi’s death in what I think is the worst way possible: she’s created a new life for herself in her mind, based on things of her past.  She feels that she was born and raised in Tokyo with three brothers, and had journeyed with Umi and Fuu to that another world, called Cephiro.”  From that point on, Tom continued to relate what Hikaru had told him about the world.  Some things, like a version of Clefton Shidou as the master mage of the land of Cephiro (his Adventures of Princess Cephiro novels, detailing her battles to free her native land of Mokona, made him a world-famous fantasy author), a version of Priscilla (where Presea was the master weapon-smith of Cephiro, Priss Shidou was merely the Seattle Assistant DA), and Emily as Princess Emeraude (they’d always called the girl ‘Little Princess’, and her eyes looked like emeralds sometimes), made perfect sense.

Others, like making Lance out to be Lantis, a swordsman she was in love with, and her ex-boyfriend as a more distant swordsman, were odd, but made some sort of sense.  Having Umi in a world where she would be still be alive and able to combat a threat made sense, as did the appearance of Fuu, the familiar childhood memory helping things along.  Rick, one of Lance’s closest friends, also made an appearance in Hikaru’s dreamworld as Prince Ferio, the adult younger brother of the child-princess Emeraude.

Still, there were some things that just didn’t mesh right.  The vicious sorceress Alycione turned out to fit the description of Allison, and the two girls were friends.  Likewise, someone that she was known to be at odds with, Danni Caldina, was an illusionist and a close friend of Hikaru, whereas in real life, both girls wished the other would disappear.

What was considered bad was the fact that Hikaru explained that she was made “the Pillar” – the goddess – of that world.  That would imply that she either had responsibilities to that world, or that she was wanted and needed by her followers.  In either case, that implied that she wouldn’t be coming home soon.  And if the Gospel According to Hikaru was any indicator, she would never return home – never regain her sanity.

But the worst part of all was what she had to say about Hikari, her twin sister.  She never existed in that world – not as Hikari Shidou, anyway.  The family dog, Flash, was there – as a pet wolf in Tokyo named Hikari.  As for the twin, she was recreated as a dark doppelganger named Nova, bent on destroying Hikaru.  It made no sense whatsoever.  The girls were more than sisters; they were the best of friends and like two people sharing one soul.  Only minor differences existed between Hikaru and Hikari Shidou, and for the elder twin to relegate the younger as a dark shadow, even if only in a delusion, was not a good sign; such a delusion could take as long as months or years for the older twin to recover from…if ever.

Tom looked at the Shidous, seeing the sorrow and pain on their faces, and knew just as well that it was on their own.  It wasn’t fair for life to take its toll on two young people like the pair that were killed in the car wreck.  But it was just as unfair to leave Hikaru alive and in such a mentally shattered state that she retreated to a world that was nothing more than her a mix of her father’s books and too much Japanese cartoons.  The world was cruel, and God was crueler, for having done this to his sister and her family.

I wish ‘Karu was a goddess, he thought grimly, for no deity could allow such pain and suffering in Her Presence.  Especially not one as sweet and kind as my niece.

Well, they’d been in this cold, morbid place long enough.  Though Hikaru would have to remain, Tom Zagard swore that as long as she suffered, he would be here, doing his damndest to help his niece.  Sighing, he said, “C’mon – time to get some dinner.  My treat.  There a decent seafood restaurant in town?”  As the others rose from their chairs on autopilot, with no real emotion, Tom added, “Let me run down to my office and grab my jacket, then tell Dr. Choi that I’m leaving for the day.

As Priss’ eyes grew wide at that, Tom clarified, “Joyce Choi will take care of ‘Karu like one of her own, Priss.  I knew her when we were both interns at Harvard Medical.  I trust her completely, and you know I wouldn’t leave ‘Karu with just anyone.”  That seemed to calm down the woman a bit, and that gave Tom just enough time to change the subject.  Turning to Emily, he said, “You want to help me find my office, Princess?  There might be a candy in it for you!”

At the mention of sweets, he had the little girl, hook, line and sinker.  “Okay, Unca Tom.”  Bouncing over to her uncle’s side with the infinite energy given only to the young, she took his hand and the pair went off in search of office he was using here at Everett Glenn hospital.  Slowly but surely, the rest of the family followed.

All except for Hikari.

As the family filed out of the door that was the visitor’s lounge, she stared, looking at the heavy door that led to the patient ward.  Somewhere behind there was her sister, her best friend.  Slowly, gently, Hikari went up to the door and touched it, as though that mere connection would bring them together.  Still touching the door, she gently whispered, “Come back to us soon, ‘Karu.  I’m not going to lose you too, sis.”

“‘Kari?”  Lance’s voice rang out in the silence.  She expected him to stay, knew he would.  He was their protector, the best older brother they – or anyone – could ever have been blessed with.  “’Karu wouldn’t want you to fall apart like that.  She’d want you to remain strong.”

The redhead’s lip quivered as she turned to face her older brother.  “But you heard what Uncle Tom said!  She doesn’t remember me as she does the rest of you – to her, I’m some parasite on her life!”  She dived into his arms, seeking comfort in her time of need.

Holding his sister, Lance said, “I know, but remember what he said – she thinks of Danni in that dream world as a close friend, and here in real life, they’re practically at each other’s throats.  Something’s happened to her, something bad enough to make her confused and frightened to the point where she had to retreat from real life.”  Letting go of her to an arm’s distance, he commented, “She loves you, sis – you two have been together all your lives, and you two are more than just sisters, more than just twins; you two have been the best of friends, as well.  Don’t give up on her.

“She’s just confused, but between our uncle and simply not giving up on her, she’ll make it.  ‘Karu’s tough, and you know that.  Remember the time in the Olympia Invitational Championship when she got into that Battle Royale?  She was the only girl there, and everyone, including Umi and the judges, told her to get out of the ring for her own safety, but she felt she had something to prove.  She took a lot of hits that day, but I have never seen swordsmanship like that, ever.  She beat them all, and proved that she is nothing to trifle with.

“Our sister’s the greatest, ‘Kari.  If it were you in there, you know she wouldn’t be here crying.  No, she’d be organizing a Get Well Soon party for you.”  He smiled at the redhead, hoping that his message sank into her mind.

“You’re right,” she said, finally.  “Let’s go – I have a party to plan.”  As they turned to leave, she gave one last stare at that foreboding door, as though she would will her words to her ill sister.  I’m here for you, ‘Karu.  Never forget that, sis.  No matter what, I’m here for you and I love you.  Nothing more to say, the pair stepped out of the lounge and headed towards their uncle’s office.

Hikaru wept uncontrollably.  Zagato, alive!  Alive and in control of this hell, this wherever she was.  Umi, Fuu, help me! she mentally screamed, trying prayers as well as voicing her pleas.  None of this made sense.  Nothing made sense.  Zagato wasn’t evil at his core; yet here he was, claiming to be some doctor in a mental facility in America.  She’d never been anywhere near America, much less been born and lived there!  She wasn’t American, she was Japanese!  She didn’t know any English, save for what little she gleaned from Umi-chan and Fuu-chan!  Sure, she wanted to visit America someday, but Hawaii or Guam, certainly not Seattle, and absolutely not live there!

Worse, he claimed to be her uncle, and her parents, sisters and brother – her whole family was worried about her, loved her, and wanted her to get well soon.  Well, that was nice and all that, except her parents were on an extended training trip, and she lived home with her brothers, three wonderful guys who dearly adored her – not two sisters and a brother!

The answer was obvious: somehow, he had come back from the dead, seeking revenge against her.  Whatever Zagato’s initial game was, he failed, and that meant that the next round, whether it be this psychological attack, a mystical, or even a physical one, would be forthcoming, and soon.  She was in danger, now; she was in deep, dark trouble, and there was not a soul that could help her, not a soul that could save her.  “Umi, Fuu, someone, anyone, please save me.…” she moaned, her tones a dirge of despair.

In English.

AUTHOR’S PSYCHOBABBLE:

Well, this one seemed to crawl out of nowhere.

For the record, although I have no proof, I’m pretty sure that the good doctor’s scene was way out of line. It was meant more to advance the plot than any attempt at perfection (okay, maybe I’m getting lazy in my old age ^_^;;). If anyone can knows something a little more accurate than that, that can be used herein, please let me know. I’d love to hear your opinion.