“From who?” the Creator asked.
“Who else?” The Baggins answered. “The embodiment of his anger.”
The Creator shifted his view to Adam, who was avoiding the Creator’s eyes. Something important like that had happened, but he didn’t immediately bring it up? There was more he had to explain.
“Iilil-ja, what happened?”
Adam sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Well then by all means, explain,” the Creator said. “We’re all here, and we’re all involved. We at least have the right to know what went on out there.”
Adam stood up, motioning for the Creator to follow him. The Creator tried to say something, but Adam had already left the room and moved down the hallway.
“Sir,” Dee called to him.
“It’s alright, Dee, I’ll speak with him.”
Reluctantly, the Creator got up and followed his alter ego. Adam entered what looked like a study, standing by the window. The Creator closed the door behind him.
“Iilil-ja,” he said. “What happened?”
Adam closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The once quiet street where The Baggins laid on the ground would soon be filled with curious onlookers drawn by the sounds of combat. In addition, the new powers he had learned to use would have their greatest effect on the first try, when the doppelganger was caught completely by surprise. That was what Adam determined, and he knew he would have to end things as quickly as possible. As he had done before, his angry side began making small talk. Whether to try to infuriate him or stall for time, he seemed to do it quite often.
“It’s good to see you, fledgling,” he said. “I hope you’ve been doing well out here. I haven’t seen you in a while, so I thought you may have listened to reason and run on home. I guess that wasn’t the case.”
Adam brought his right foot forward, taking an aggressive stance. He gripped the hilt of his sword and stood ready to attack. His other side smiled again, placing the fingertips of his left hand over his face.
“You’re all business, aren’t you?” he said. “Why the rush? I’m the one who’s short on time, after all. You must just be really eager to kill me. Is that it? Is your faith in your new beliefs so weak that my very existence is a threat to it? You just hate being wrong, don’t you? I know that much well enough.”
His banter was enough to drive Adam forward, closing the distance between the two in a flash and swinging his sword from the draw. The doppelganger was quick to parry with his own sword. Adam saw it for the first time, an authentic katana that was likely stolen from somewhere in the city. The beautiful single-edged blade was similar in style to his own from the Other Universe and made for a good match as the swords were locked against each other.
“That’s not very original, fledgling,” the doppelganger said. “I’m familiar with this opening attack. Don’t expect to win if you’re going to keep using the same old tricks on me.”
“I don’t expect to,” Adam said. The moonlight was caught in the silver edge of Adam’s blade and reflected at his double. In an instant, that same light grew intensely bright, causing the doppelganger to narrow his eyes with an annoyed grunt.
“What is this?” he shouted, covering his eyes with his arm. He was caught blind by the light as everything around him turned white. He felt his sword shift in his hands accompanied by the clang of metal. He moved his arm away but could see nothing through the light. Adam cried out in front of him and a sharp pain spread across his chest as Adam cut into him. The doppelganger screamed, falling back and landing hard on the cold ground.
The light faded, giving way to the darkness of night once again. Adam stood, ready to make his next move, with his opponent’s blood on the edge of his sword. The doppelganger lay bleeding and cursing on the ground, glaring up at his other half. The attack wasn’t lethal, but it was enough to do some damage. Added to what The Baggins had done, he was not faring well.
“Get up,” Adam commanded. The doppelganger growled at him, slowly getting back to his feet. Around him, lights were starting to come on in the apartments. People were taking notice of what was happening, and soon they would be in the street. The police would be involved. The doppelganger couldn’t have that.
“You’ve got a few new tricks up your sleeve, don’t you?” he said, breathing heavily. He brought his sword around to his front and sheathed it. Adam took note and brandished his sword.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Sheathe your sword, we’re done here,” his double said. “Unless you plan to be taken into custody tonight. I certainly don’t want to be.”
“So you’re going to run away?”
“I bet you’re relishing in that fact. It just wasn’t meant to be, I’m afraid. Conditions were not ideal. Things were not good tonight. You are not good tonight.”
“Excuse me?” Adam asked.
“You’re too different,” the doppelganger said. “Without me as a part of you, there’s no edge. You’re lacking that fundamental piece. It’s difficult to say, but in short, you don’t seem to be worth it any more.”
“So you think I’m not a worthy opponent without you? Is that a valid reason to end this fight?”
“Moscov would have thought so,” the doppelganger said. That name cut through Adam like a sword. “You believed in his brand of honor, didn’t you? So let’s live up to it, shall we?”
“How so?” Adam asked.
“As I said, continuing the fight here will only bring more unwanted attention. You don’t want to get innocents involved, and I don’t want to be found out. So let’s settle our little dispute in a better setting. My remaining men and I have stationed ourselves in the castle complex in the north part of the city. Seven days from now we will put our plan into motion. Therefore, if you want to end this you’ll go there on the sixth day, and not one day sooner. Use that time to make yourself a worthy opponent to me again.”
A door opened on the left side of the street, and voices could be heard behind the remains of the stone wall. Adam turned to their direction, and when he turned back his doppelganger was already gone. Deciding that it was the time to leave, he started to run out of the street. He passed by The Baggins, recognizing him, at least somewhat, as the man he had met earlier. Against his better judgment, Adam stopped to pick him up and with him on his shoulder began hobbling back to Ayumi’s home.
Adam was silent for a bit after he finished the story. The Creator had taken a seat at the desk in the room, thinking over the details carefully as he stared at the blank computer screen in front of him.
“This isn’t really bad news,” he said. “We know where he is now. All we have to do is go and get him.”
“Absolutely not,” Adam said sharply. The Creator turned back to Adam, still looking out the window. He could see it was starting to snow again.
“There isn’t a ‘we’ here,” said Adam. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s just he and I. I’m going to wait out the six days and deal with this myself, as I originally planned to. The rest of you should go home, so as not to use up all of this girl’s resources.”
The Creator stood up. Under rare circumstances, he had been known to lose patience and speak in a harsher tone. This was quickly becoming one of those times.
“That’s absolutely out of the question. This situation has gone far beyond your grudge with your other half. This country is in danger from whatever he and those working for him are planning.”
“Stop talking,” Adam demanded. “You have no right to order me around. I don’t follow you anymore.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve been on my own this entire time without any help from you. I didn’t need your help before and I certainly don’t need it now, so just let me deal with it!”
“And what about us?” the Creator asked. “Do you even care that we came all this way just to find you?”
“I didn’t want you to come at all. It was ridiculous for you to bring any
one else into this problem in the first place. It’s mine alone to deal with, and mine alone to suffer the consequences.”
“What about Dee? Did you even consider her feelings about all of this?” Adam turned away from the window, staring stone-faced at the Creator.
“She cried all night when you left, even though she tried to hide it. And even though she knew there were risks, she begged for me to take her here. Just so that she could make sure you were alright. If you were to go into this fight alone and die as a result, well I doubt she would ever stop crying. Could you accept that reality?”
“Dee’s a strong girl,” Adam said, his voice low. He looked away again. “Even if I were to die, it wouldn’t affect her that much.”
“Wake up, Iilil. You’re not a vagabond anymore. You’re the King of Magid. It’s about damn time you started acting like it.”
Adam never turned away from the window, but he heard the Creator open the door and leave the room. Now he had what he wanted: he was all alone.
He stared out the window once more, watching the snowstorm continue to get worse as wind blew the flurries around. Out there, the snow was covering the body of an assassin as police investigated a murder. It fell on the roof of an ancient castle where his antagonist waited impatiently for him. The whole city would soon be covered, and soon he as well.
Towards the whitewashed sky, Adam made a short prayer: “Commander Moscov, give me strength.”
Chapter Nineteen
The Dream
December 19th, 2004
The storm lasted through the night and by the early morning had run its course. About 7 inches of snow had accumulated during that time, but because of the diligent work of city employees the streets were clear and ready for travel that Sunday morning. Thankfully for many people, including students, it was another day off from daily responsibilities so they could stay in to sleep a little longer without worrying about the cold. Ayumi didn’t have that luxury this morning as she usually did, seeing as how she now had a house full of guests to attend to without many provisions to take care of them. This would mean a run to the grocery store, and since she was the only one familiar with the area she’d have to handle the task herself. She wasn’t looking forward to the trek out into the cold, but she had to be a good hostess for her friends.
She slipped on her cardigan and stepped out of her room. That morning she was able to wear warm, casual clothes, a welcome change to the school uniform she would have to don during the week. Even in the cold winter, her school uniform still consisted of no more than a blouse, her cardigan, and a mid-length skirt. She usually wore a pair of stockings to help against the cold. She would need them this week. It was going to be a cold one, she imagined.
As she made her way towards the kitchen, she planned out what to write on her note for the Creator and the others. They were free to help themselves to the food in the house but not to go crazy. Someone should shovel the walkway before she got back. Don’t let any fights get started inside of the house. That was simple enough to follow, she thought. The grocery store was only a few train stops away, so she wouldn’t be gone long enough for anything to go wrong. She hoped.
She walked into the kitchen to write the note. Her heart jumped into her throat. Someone was standing at the counter, making use of the kitchen. The shock faded when Ayumi realized that her house was not empty any more and she should expect to see someone if she turned the corner. Still, this was someone that she hadn’t expected to run into.
“Good morning, Ms. Hiwatari,” said New Baggins, turning to greet her. He was chopping something, most likely to prepare breakfast for the others.
“Good morning, Baggins-san,” Ayumi said cautiously. The night before, the Creator had warned her to be careful around him, but at the time he was acting much differently than when she first met him.
“Would you like anything to eat?” he asked. “Perhaps some tea?”
“I can’t,” she answered. “I’ve got to leave soon or I’ll miss the train. I’ve got to go run some errands.”
“Ah, of course. You have your own life after all. In that case I’ll prepare something for you when you get home, after taking care of whatever household duties there may be. It’s the least I can do in exchange for your hospitality.”
Ayumi smiled. “You don’t have to put forth so much effort. I told you, Daniel-kun and his friends are my guests. Besides, I’m sure you have more important things to worry about.”
“I suppose,” New Baggins said, returning to his preparation. Ayumi remained in the doorway. She knew she had to leave soon, but something was troubling her.
“Baggins-san?” she asked, prompting him too look back up. “The man that Adam brought home last night, the man all in black, was that really you?”
“It was, in a way,” New Baggins replied. “And I hope that no trouble was caused to you as a result.”
“I guess I don’t understand. You’re a respectable and caring person. But last night you were acting so mean to everyone, especially Daniel-kun.”
“It’s a part of me that I don’t have control over, I’m afraid,” New Baggins confessed. “It’s my curse, the burden I must carry with me always.”
“But why? What did you do to cause you to have to carry such a burden for so long?”
“It’s because I’m the reason that he exists. I created him, and it was with my hands that he committed so many terrible acts. It’s only fair I am punished.”
“But, that doesn’t make sense,” Ayumi said. “You’re being punished for someone else’s actions. Even if he exists because of you, it’s not fair that you have to suffer for what he did.”
“It’s more complicated than that, I’m afraid. You’re still young, you can’t really understand.”
“But it’s not right! You’re being punished for what he did.”
“If you had seen the devastation he caused—”
“Yes, that he caused! You shouldn’t suffer too! You should be trying to get this curse or whatever it is lifted. Find the demon or whoever put it on you and get them to remove it!”
“Ms. Hiwatari,” New Baggins said blankly. “You’re going to miss your train if you delay any longer.” Her eyes remained focused on him, dedicated to making him understand. But he was right, she couldn’t wait any longer. She frowned.
“Goodbye, Baggins-san,” she said. He heard her slip on her shoes and walk out of the house. From the living room, footsteps drew closer as someone else entered the kitchen.
“That girl is very persistent, isn’t she?” the Creator asked. “Idealistic as well.”
“She’s still young,” New Baggins answered. “I’ll have tea ready in a moment, my Lord.”
Dee crept two doors down the hallway to Ayumi’s brother’s room. She had woken up about twenty minutes before when Ayumi returned from the shower. Since they were sharing Ayumi’s room, Dee was subject to her schedule. It didn’t bother her, since she typically rose early anyway.
She decided to see if the Creator was awake yet. He and Adam were using Shuya Hiwatari’s bedroom while Mathias stayed in their father’s room. She had considered dressing first; she was currently wearing a long white nightgown with an open blue blouse. Since she was just taking a look, she figured there wouldn’t be any problem.
The door was already ajar. One of them must be up, she reasoned. She pushed the door open a little more to take a peek inside. The room was still dark due to the heavy curtains blocking the window. Only a small stream of light passed from between them, falling to the floor next to where Adam was still sleeping. Dee opened the door even more, enough that she could step through. The light from the hallway fell on Adam.
He was sleeping on a Japanese futon, a sort of bed roll that could be removed in the day. She had shared the experience in Ayumi’s room and found it surprisingly comfortable. Based on Adam’s current state, she thought he must have felt likewise.
Dee watched him for a few minutes as the covers rose and fell with each
breath. She was comforted by seeing him at peace for once. In the time she had worked with him before the incident, she had not once seen him in a relaxed state. He was always focused, uptight and tense. Even when she was reunited with him, that sense of urgency and anxiousness remained. All of that was washed away as he slept.
She wondered if he was dreaming. Someone who had lived as long as he had certainly would have a lot on his mind, so he should have a lot to dream about. Some people don’t dream at all though, falling asleep and waking up the next morning with nothing in between. Maybe his calm face was a reflection of that?
Curiosity overcame her. She hadn’t gotten to know many intimate details about Adam during their counseling time, and she felt entitled to at least know what could make him sleep peacefully. Quietly, she moved away from the door and went back to Ayumi’s room. She came back moments later with a thin piece of wood in her hands. She shut the door.
Silently, she moved across the floor and knelt down next to Adam. He shifted in the futon and turned his face towards her, causing her to stop in a panic. When he remained asleep, she realized that she wasn’t caught. She let out a sigh of relief, and held the piece of wood out in front of her.
“Eximo,” she whispered. The stick glowed and in a sparkling of light grew to its true form. She watched carefully to make sure Adam didn’t stir from the wand’s awakening and when he failed to stir she carefully placed the wand on his forehead.
“Inviso somnium, Adam Evans.” The tip of the wand began to glow with a hazy light. Dee closed her eyes and the world around her faded away as she fell into Adam’s mind.
It was dark when she opened her eyes again. The air around her was cold and dank. She looked around and saw that she was in some kind of basement. The walls were lined with stone bricks and the floor was covered with wooden boards. They were cold against her feet, so they must be lying directly over the ground. She looked around for Adam and found him immediately. He was standing in the center of the room looking down at the floor. Dee couldn’t interact with him, but she stepped closer to him. What she saw made her stop dead in her tracks.
The Kyoto Ordeal (Tales of the Other Universe Book 1) Page 17