by C. J. Anaya
“I think it very significant that you delivered Hope in childbirth and essentially saved her life when she struggled to take her first breath,” Tie said. “She did the same for you a thousand years before.”
“Man,” Angie said. “Talk about karma.”
The corner of my lip lifted. Angie knew just how to sum things up.
“I knew there was something special about you, Dr. Fairmont. I felt confident in leaving Hope in your care even though Victor and Ms. Mori wanted her to stay with us. I didn’t trust the inactivity of the demon god. Once he knew Hope was alive and well, his attacks would begin again. That’s why I seized the opportunity to get Hope completely out of Kagami.”
“In the end, I must admit, your decision was wise, Tie, though I hardly approved of your methods,” Ms. Mori said. She raised a placating hand when Tie opened his mouth to defend himself. “I know. I realize the less anyone knew about Hope’s whereabouts, the longer she remained safe. It’s just that…it was…unpleasant to wonder if she was being treated well.”
My eyebrows rose at the irony of that statement. She’d decided to worry about my well-being in my second life, but couldn’t be bothered about it in my first?
Ms. Mori’s eyes watered slightly and then she drew her shoulders back and took in a quick puff of air. “Well, I think perhaps we should all get some sleep before Hope attempts to help Sai…Kirby and Dr. Fairmont remember their Samurai training. It will be taxing for everyone involved and best experienced with a fresh mind.”
She stiffened her spine when our eyes met and quickly turned on her heel, exiting the room without a backward glance.
“Looks like that’s about as warm and fuzzy as Ms. Mori ever gets,” Angie said.
“Based on my memories of life with her in the palace, I think she was remarkably demonstrative,” I replied.
“So she used to be my mom, right?” Kirby asked.
I studied Kirby for a moment, trying to gauge his feelings on the subject, but his emotions were surprisingly static.
“Yes, Kirby. She used to be a mother to both of us.”
He pondered that for a moment and took a few steps toward the door. “Do you think she still loves us, Hope?”
I stared in wonder at Kirby. He’d asked a question about Ms. Mori that I hadn’t been willing to contemplate…until now.
“Perhaps, little warrior, you should go ask her,” Bishu said in a gentle voice.
Kirby looked at me as if asking for my permission. Probably because he knew how strongly I disliked her. His emotions broke through the strange static and formed into one clear impression: hope. He desperately longed for a mother to love him, and even though I doubted Ms. Mori truly capable of demonstrating any motherly affection she might feel, I wasn’t about to prevent Kirby from developing a relationship with a woman who might fill that void in his life.
Giving him a warm smile I said, “Bishu is right. I think that’s definitely a question you should ask her.”
His shoulders noticeably relaxed. His boyish grin broke my heart just a little.
“Yeah. I think I’ll go do that.”
My eyes followed his tiny frame out the door. He may have come in a smaller package, but he still had the biggest heart of anyone I’d ever met. Kirby’s capacity for love was boundless. Some things never change.
“Since Kirby is probably going to have a very important conversation with Ms. Mori, I’m going to go crash in your room, Bishu,” my father said.
The war god nodded his mangy head. “Of course, Dr. Fairmont. I will grab a roll-away bed for myself.”
“Are you going to fit on one of those?” I asked.
Bishu looked down at his massive bulk and shook his head in chagrin. “After all this time, I sometimes forget what I’ve really become. I doubt any of these beds will serve. I can sleep on the floor.”
“Come on, Bishu. Maybe we can jimmy-rig something up for you,” Tie said. He slapped him on the shoulder and exited the room.
Bishu followed, appearing extremely confused. “Jimmy-rig? Is that some sort of nocturnal ritual?”
My father reached for my hand and pulled me up with him. He remained silent for a few moments, working something out in his head. Based on his fragile emotions, I knew he fought to keep his tears in check.
“I’ve always known you were special, Hope, and I always wondered why someone as special as you had been born to someone as mediocre as me.” He let out a sigh filled with tender emotion. “Your mother…” he swallowed and started again. “She always said that we had a great responsibility to raise you to be the kind of person who could handle the struggles you would eventually encounter. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I think your mom had a better understanding of who you were than I did. Finding out that I’ve always been the one meant to raise and protect you makes me wonder if I’ve done a good enough job. How does any parent prepare their daughter for this?”
I opened my mouth to reassure him, hoping what I said would be enough when Angie surprised me with her own reassurances.
“It starts with teaching your kids to be half-way decent people, Dr. Fairmont,” Angie said in a quiet voice. “Some kids will take those lessons and do their best and some kids won’t. In my opinion, Hope’s more than ready to take on whatever obstacles stand in her way, and she’s ready because of you. I remember what Fukurokuju was like. I remember the damage he caused. Believe me when I say this, Dr. Fairmont. Nobody could have raised and prepared Hope better than you.”
I gave Angie a grateful look. My father’s tender emotions washed over me in a gentle wave of thanksgiving for her kind words.
“Well, that’s certainly the finest of praise coming from Hope’s best friend,” he said. “Thank you, Angie.”
She shrugged. “I’m not always such a pain in the bootie.”
My dad chuckled and grabbed us both, pulling us into a big group hug.
“Alright, girls. I’m going to go get some shut-eye. I suggest you do the same, but I’m sure you have all sorts of things you need to hash out, analyze, and go over in nauseating detail.”
“Such is the life of a teenage girl,” Angie said.
Yep. That pretty much summed us up.
After my dad left, I turned to Angie and pounced on the subject that had been eating at me ever since we landed in Japan.
“What’s your problem with Bishu? You seemed to get along with each other right from the beginning and now you’re avoiding him. I thought you guys were cool.”
She gave me a funny look, “You’re telling me it doesn’t bother you to have him walking around wearing someone else’s body? We don’t know who that guy was or how Bishu killed him.” She folded her hands across her chest and shook her head in disbelief. “After what that nekomata did to Betty, I’m surprised you’re being so calm about this.”
I slapped my palm against my forehead, feeling stupid that I hadn’t even considered she might jump to the same conclusions I had the first time Bishu transformed himself into a human.
“Angie, a nekomata doesn’t have to kill a human in order to mimic their identities.”
Angie’s accusatory glare softened a little. “You’re saying Bishu didn’t kill the blond guy he’s been pretending to be?”
“No. He told me that most nekomata are addicted to the power they receive when they kill and absorb a human’s ki. It makes it easier for them to sustain the identity without draining their own ki. Absorbing the energy from a human’s soul is a rush. Once you start, it is very difficult to stop.”
Angie bit her lip and looked at the floor as she contemplated this new information.
“Yeah, but we don’t know if he’s ever absorbed another person’s ki before.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she waved a hand to indicate she wasn’t finished.
“Hear me out, here. He used to be a good guy, but what if he’s done some terrible things that have changed him? What if he wants to be good, but he’s been a nekomata for too long to ever b
e good again.”
I tilted my head to the side and considered not just what she said, but what her emotions projected. After a moment I thought I had an idea of what was really going on here.
“You’re afraid,” I said.
She gave me an Angie snort, the kind that makes you feel stupid for stating the obvious.
“We’re being chased by mutant cats, and you’re linked to a demon god. If we don’t figure out how Tie fits in to the prophecy, you two will never heal the veil, and for some reason I’m an important part of this equation. I think I’m entitled to a little anxiety here, Hope.”
“No. I’m not talking about anxiety. I’m talking about fear, and it has nothing to do with what we’re up against. If anything, I think you thrive on the adventure and drama of it all.”
She gave me a coy look. “Things have been pretty exciting lately. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’ve acquired some rather impressive fighting skills. It’s really the only thing I’ve been lacking to be the complete package. Seriously, what guy could resist me now?”
I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help the smile that teased the corners of my mouth.
“Quit deflecting,” I scolded. “You know exactly what I’m talking about here. Even though your original concern about Bishu’s human identity was legit, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re ready to find another reason to write him off.”
“He’s a nekomata,” she argued.
“Lame. We both know he isn’t evil. He’s had every opportunity to hand me over to Amatsu.”
“He could be lulling us into a false sense of security.”
I raised a skeptical brow. “To what end? Why would he do that when all Amatsu wants is me? It’s a waste of time for him to worry about anyone else.”
“But—”
“You’re finding reasons to dislike him when it’s obvious you two have developed a connection with one another.” I held up my hand when she opened her mouth to sear me with one of her sarcastic Angie barbs. “I’m not saying I understand the connection. You’re either fond of him like one is fond of an overly large house pet…who talks…or you’re intrigued with him enough to see what might happen between you two. Not exactly your type, but he won’t be a furry feline forever.”
“He is my type,” she said in frustration. “Bad boys are my type. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my taste in guys sucks hard core. I have zero discernment when it comes to a guy’s character. If I care about him, doesn’t that signify that he’s just a bad dude all around?”
“Are you serious, Angie? Most of the guys you dated were marked for death. You only dated them to save them.”
“Yes, but my track record still stands. Ahh. I don’t know. Victor played me like a fiddle in my first life, and I was clueless then. I had no idea he had an ulterior motive, and even though his feelings may have been genuine he still screwed me over.”
My insides hollowed. I knew she’d been given too much to process during that memory transfer.
“Crap, Angie. Just how much of your first life did you remember?”
Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. She quickly blinked them back.
“Enough to know that I’m my own worst enemy. That I can’t be trusted when it comes to relationships. I feel sad and confused when I’m around Victor. He infuriates me and makes me feel like I still mean nothing to him, and in all honesty, I think that ship has sailed. There’s just too much water under the bridge. He can’t get over his guilt for what he did, and I’m not much for waiting around until a guy pulls his head out of his arse and makes a move.”
Ain’t that the truth.
I smirked and sat on the edge of the bed.
“And Bishu?”
She shrugged and picked a piece of non-existent lint off her light blue tank.
“When I’m with Bishu I feel relaxed and peaceful, even though he is basically a demon. He feels like a friend. Just a good, comfortable friend.”
“A friend you don’t want to lose?”
“Yeah.”
She was such a freaking liar. I almost called her out on it, but I didn’t want to have to explain to her that I could read her emotions like I was reading her thoughts. It was an invasion of privacy I honestly had no control over, and I didn’t want her to tense up around me.
She liked Bishu and it confused her. She didn’t understand it, and she didn’t want it to go any further, worried she might be disappointed as she’d always been. In many ways, her demons mirrored Tie’s. I felt like keeping things as friends was a great idea, but I knew this went deeper than just being buddies.
I had no idea how she was going to handle herself with him from this point on, but I hoped I might help her feel a little more assured and confident, because this insecure version of Angie simply would not do. It was like existing in an alternate reality that put the twilight zone to shame.
“Well, I think you need to go explain to Bishu why you’ve been giving him the silent treatment.”
Her lips turned down in confusion.
“Why would I do that? He probably hasn’t even noticed.”
“Um, yeah he has. He’s totally pouting right now. You two hit it off like Sleepless in Seattle, and now that crazy connection is being thwarted by this misunderstanding. It’s probably the first human connection he’s made in a thousand years and he senses you pulling away from him. It’s hurtful to him. Does that sound like a guy who hasn’t noticed?”
“How do you even know this?’
“We’ve…ah…talked,” I said. Lame. It sounded so lame, but she hardly noticed my bold-faced lie since her own worries took up all her attention. She pursed her lips and blew out a heavy breath.
“Geez. When you put it that way…this is crazy, Hope. I doubt he really cares.”
“Doubt who cares? About what?”
We both jumped and stared at Bishu as he moved from the doorway into the room.
“Uh…” Angie shifted from foot to foot, looking like she’d been caught doing something naughty. “We were just…uh…how long have you been standing there?”
I nearly let out a satisfied cackle. It was so weird to see Angie this unhinged.
Bishu felt just as uncomfortable. The uncertainty in his eyes stayed for a moment and then a determined glint took its place. He turned his eyes on me.
“Healer, I know this is your room, and terribly inconvenient for me to ask this of you, but I would like to have a word with Angie in private if that’s amenable to you.”
Angie’s look assured me that if I agreed, she would most likely punish me with endless torture later. Like talk me to death until three in the morning. Lately I’d been quite the adventurer, so I figured I’d take the risk.
“Sure, Bishu. I’ll just go take a shower while you guys talk.”
I avoided the small shards of glass shooting like poisoned darts from Angie’s eyes and skirted around them both before heading into the bathroom. And being the supportive, attentive best friend that I am, I turned the shower on, shut the glass doors to mute the sound, and promptly held my ear to the door.
No way in hell I was missing this conversation.
***
“Angie,” Bishu said. “I wondered if we might…discuss…something.”
Thank heavens his deep voice held such resonance. The shower noise was slightly distracting. Of course, Angie’s voice was barely discernible.
Frustration.
Okay, I needed a sneaky way to open the door a crack and eavesdrop without being noticed.
Ah, heck. Might as well just open it and see what happens.
I silently turned the handle on the door and eased it open a crack. I nearly danced in glee as the pair came into view a few feet away, completely absorbed in each other and totally ignorant of my shameless snooping.
“I think I know what it is you want to talk about, and Hope cleared everything up for me.” Angie said. Her voice came out confident, but her swirling emotions were a freaking mess.
Get a grip, Angie. He’s a panther for heaven’s sake. I didn’t understand the appeal, but to each his own, I guess.
“The Healer explained everything?” Bishu couldn’t have looked more confused if Amatsu had suddenly come out and declared himself completely satisfied with his accommodations in the Underworld.
“Yeah. It was a misunderstanding. I’m sorry.”
He continued to look confused and then said, “Then I assume you do not have an understanding with Victor?”
Angie’s face turned red and then she let out a nervous giggle.
“What are you talking about? Victor used to be engaged to Hope.”
“Yes, but it appeared that you two had some sort of…commitment…between one another earlier. I assumed he claimed you as his, and you felt it improper to continue our friendship.”
“Like any guy has the right to do something as archaic and chauvinistic as that,” Angie sneered. “For the record, nobody just claims me without my permission. I do not belong to Victor, and he does not belong to me.”
Bishu’s eyes brightened considerably at this news, but then his confusion returned.
“What misunderstanding were you referring to then?”
“Oh.” Angie stared at the ground for a moment and hugged her arms around herself.
These two were hopeless. As much as I wanted them to keep things uncomplicated, it was more annoying to watch them tiptoe around each other.
“I thought you killed…when you changed into a man…it’s just that we saw our friend Betty die right after a nekomata took on her form.”
Bishu’s aura lightened a bit as understanding dawned.
“You thought I killed the young man and it upset you.”
Angie cleared her throat. “Ah, yes. Yes, I did, and I’m sorry I jumped to that conclusion. When a nekomata took on the form of Hope’s dad, well, Dr. Fairmont wasn’t killed so I should have realized it was possible to transform into a human without killing someone. Of course, Tie killed that nekomata. Chopped off his head, and then it sat in Hope’s living room forever until we left. For all I know it might still be there. Kind of gross when you think about it.” She cringed and looked at the ground again.