by Billy Wong
"No?" Henry asked. "You use your arms as a pillow all the time, and you yourself are really soft."
She started. "What?"
"It's a joke. Your arms are far from soft."
"Oh. Ha ha... and I'll have you know, the mangaka said I was feminine."
He touched her hand. "Well, you are feminine—you have little girly hands, and little girly nails. By the way, what's the name of this mangaka anyway? You really seem to like him, but you never call him by name."
"It was something like Yoshi... Yushin... Yousuke... argh, I don't know how to pronounce it. But he was a really nice guy, and he knew how to draw me unclothed even though he never saw it. Kept having me lose my clothes for some reason, though. Anyway, I bet you couldn't pronounce his name either!"
"I'll take you up on that bet if we ever meet him."
When Henry and Andrew woke up the next morning, Blackbird had already disappeared from her bed. "Geez, an injured girl has more energy than us?" Henry said. "I still feel sleepy. Guess we're getting old."
"No, she's just Blackbird," Andrew replied, and they laughed.
Henry went downstairs to look for her in the restaurant, and found her sitting on one of the chandeliers high above. "Blackbird! What are you doing up there? Aren't you too hurt for that? You could fall off and break your neck." Or more likely, break the floor with her hard skull and get up like nothing happened, but saying that wouldn't make the point as well.
"Climbing stuff like this is easy for me as walking up stairs for you."
"Still, get down from there. Once the restaurant opens and guests begin coming in, it won't look normal and will draw undesirable attention to you sitting up there."
"All right." She hopped down, still landing easily on her feet despite the awful wounds he knew she bore. Then he noticed something else.
"You look exactly the same as you always do. Why aren't you wearing any of that 'girl stuff' you bought?"
She shrugged. "They smell weird, or look icky, or feel heavy. I decided I don't like them, and prefer my old look. So I'll just stay myself."
That was cute, and almost eloquent. "What will you do with all of that stuff, then? Are you going to return it?"
"I even don't remember where I got everywhere from. I guess I'll try to sell it. That way I can meet more people and see what they're like, too."
"You're going to go outside? Be careful to keep a low profile and not show off your strength or speed or..."
"I will. It hurts to make big movements, anyway. See you tonight." She got her humongous sack and dragged it out the door, and Henry smiled in amusement. He didn't expect her to get much of it sold, especially since all those fancy dresses had just been crumpled up in a ball and thrown into that bag.
#
One morning Kara ran into the guest room, waking Henry and Andrew early. "Come guys, something's wrong with Blackbird!"
They followed her downstairs. Without knowing anything, Henry feared Blackbird might be dying. She had seemed fine, but her wounds were extremely grievous and maybe even she reached her limits. Arriving before the kitchen, Kara gestured for the men to be quiet. Henry peeked inside and for an instant felt relief. Blackbird was quite obviously alive, standing up with her back turned to them. She seemed to be struggling with something...
He then recognized what she strove futilely to do was open a jar.
"She's lost all her strength," Kara said in a low voice. "Before I saw her failing to lift her sack, then she came here and tried to get some jelly... and she's still trying."
Henry again grew fearful for her life. If she was too weak to open a jar, then she'd weakened incredibly from her healthy self, and if she deteriorated any more she might soon be gone. He went to her and asked, "Blackbird, what's wrong? Is it your wounds?"
She looked up, her face seeming small and sad. "No, my wounds are fine. They're getting better. I've just realized that girls aren't as strong as boys. When I was younger I had the tomboy delusion I could be the strongest person and best fighter around, but now that I'm an adult I know it isn't true. So, I'm not strong anymore."
Everyone stared in utter shock. "What?!" Henry said. "But you were already an adult weeks ago when you stalemated one of the strongest men ever to live in strength. How can you suddenly 'realize' you shouldn't be strong and just like that, you're not?"
"I was talking to people and learned the truth. I've been living a lie. I'm just a weak girl, whether I like it or not, and I accept that."
"It's like she could do anything because she believed she could," Kara said softly, "and now that she no longer does..."
Henry waved his hands frantically. "But it doesn't make any sense! How can she not even open a jar, lots of girls can do that! Doesn't she still have the same muscles as before? Besides, not all women are weaker than all men." He got an idea and whispered to Kara, "Punch Andrew."
In the past, she had always knocked an unsuspecting Andrew down in one punch. But he'd apparently toughened up, because when she did it this time, he just said, "Ow!" Perhaps reacting automatically, he hit her back, and she covered her face with both hands and turned away.
Blackbird blinked in confusion. "What did she do that for? But see, there's another example. When we grow up, we tomboys have to let the past go. We can't be the fighters, the bullies or the protectors anymore." Tomboy? What was she even talking about, since when was a superhuman savage who had grown up slaying giant monsters classified as a "tomboy?"
Angry from unexpectedly getting hit back, Kara kneed Andrew in the balls, making him double over. "See," Henry started, "women can sometimes get the better of-" But then Andrew recovered and, red countenance irate, punched Kara again. She fell on her butt. To Henry's shock, he kicked her in the face, laying her out flat with arms stretched out above her head.
With a distraught expression, Blackbird ran. On her way out of the room, she tripped, got up slowly and limped away crying. "She lost her agility and speed too..." Andrew breathed incredulously.
Kara held her head in her hands and groaned. "You hurt me, Andrew. I wasn't expecting that kick."
"Yeah? Nor was I expecting that groin shot."
"It was cheap of me, I suppose. Fair play to you then. But I could still kick your butt."
"Really? You looked pretty beaten."
She pushed herself to a sitting position. "I'm perfectly ready to continue." She reached up, and after about a second of uncertainty Andrew helped her to her feet. "But I won't. I'm actually quite happy to see you stand up to me. I hardly want you to stay the weak little Andrew who's all bark and no bite." He smiled in recognition of the fact she was complimenting him, and they hugged.
"Great to see you're still friends," Henry said with a sigh. "Blackbird is still... the way she is."
Kara rubbed her jaw. "So she's become just an ordinary girl with none of the impossible physicality that made her the fearsome Blackbird, huh?"
"Maybe it's not so bad. Her journey might be over, but she's still alive and has the chance now for a normal life. After all she did for us, now I'll take care of her and make sure she's happy." He addressed Andrew. "You should do your part too."
He frowned. "But as much as I don't want to admit it, we need her help. How can this be happening, this is a crazy way to end the story!"
"Anyway, I'm going to take her shopping to cheer her up. You guys try to fix the table."
Henry enjoyed a pleasant morning checking out shops with Blackbird, just browsing the goods but not buying much. Then she stopped before a jewel-laden, four hundred durple dress and said delightedly, "I want that one!"
"That's for nobles, we can't afford it." When he began away and she didn't move, he grasped her arm and tried gently to tug her along.
She looked at him with moist eyes. "Henry stop, you're hurting me!" What on earth... an average girl wouldn't be hurt by that. It was so surreal, Henry's head spun and he himself almost committed the "womanly" act of swooning.
He eventually convinced her to
leave the store by stating over and over they simply didn't have enough. On the way back, he heard a man cry "Look out!" It wasn't directed towards him. A rope lifting a huge piano towards a third-story window started to fray, and the young boy playing catch with his friend underneath didn't seem to hear the warning. Henry made to run that way, wanting to save him, but knew in his heart he would be too late. No way could he humanly get there in time...
The piano fell. Just before the boy would've been crushed, a dark shape flew into the air and struck it. It went flying ten feet to hit the cobbles and shatter into so much broken wood. In front of the kid, Blackbird bent clutching her middle. With a pained smile, she said, "Sorry about letting it get that close. Big Sister's a bit slow today."
Henry walked over while the boy scampered off. "Glad you saved him, but... um."
"It's Prank Day in Nipan!" she explained. "I never got to celebrate Prank Day with people before, so... What did you think?"
Torn briefly between anger and amusement, Henry regarded her happy face and broke into a huge grin himself. "It was very nice. But I'll remember when Prank Day is and be less gullible next time."
#
The next few days were calm. They introduced Blackbird to Pete's wife Nicole and their eight year old son Georgie, the latter of whom gazed fearfully at her. "You look like a monster!"
She touched her face. "It's not that bad is it?" When he didn't respond, she asked, "Do you like legends of warriors and heroes?" He nodded meekly and she smiled. "Well, I may not be as handsome as most of them, but I'm kind of like a character from those stories. Watch this." She ran halfway up one wall of the restaurant then flipped backwards, tumbling over, and over... and over through the air. Upon nearing the opposite wall, she kicked off it, launching her into a dive. She had half crossed the room again when she realized there was a table in her path; she whipped out her sword and cut it apart. "Uh, I'll pay for that when I've sold enough stuff," she said after landing in a roll and bouncing up to her feet, though she momentarily held her stomach.
Georgie wore a big smile now. "Auntie Blackbird is awesome!" he gushed, and ran towards her with open arms. She snatched him up, spun him round and round at mind-boggling speed. "Wee! I want to be just like you when I grow up, strong and able to fight monsters and bad guys like a legendary heroine!" When she put him down though, he only managed to take two steps before dizziness hit him and he dropped like a rock. Nicole stared gaping, then tended to her son while Henry smacked his head.
#
Blackbird was sitting on the edge of the roof, curiously watching activity on the street below, when she heard a new arrival behind her. She looked to see Pete, the owner of the restaurant and guy who knew some stuff about artifacts. "Nice view," she said. "Wish it could be a hundred feet or so higher though, then you could see more of the city at once."
He chuckled. "That's exactly the kind of comment I'd expect from you."
She blinked, not sure what he was getting at. "You need help with something?"
"Nothing physical, no. I was just wondering about some things, and have a couple of questions for you."
She turned around to face him. "Go ahead."
"You live in the wilderness and sustain yourself without needing to work or have money. What's it like living like that?"
"I have some money from foes I killed and bodies I found. I don't normally use it, but I remember where it's hidden."
He took on an amused expression. "That... wasn't exactly the main question. What is it like living fully independent, instead of working and being codependent on others like most people?"
She cupped her chin. "It's hard to compare when I've never had a job. But from what I've heard of work, I guess surviving is sort of like it for me? I mean, I have to hunt and find food all the time. Since that's what I have to do to stay alive, I guess that counts as my job."
"That makes sense. I was curious about the nature of freedom, and wanted to hear the perspective of someone who I thought might be the most free person there could be. But I suppose if you've never experienced a different life, it would be hard to make a comparison. Would you agree, though, that you do as you please and act more on your own will than those who have grown up with societal constraints?"
"In some ways, I'd say so. But I don't feel like I've been as 'free' as you think. Ever since I wasn't even ten years old, I've put constraints on myself. So maybe I'm not as suited to answer your questions as you might have thought."
"I remember what the boys told me about you. And I suppose even if you've cast aside those chains, your friendship now binds you—not that that's a bad thing, of course." He nodded. "I see. Maybe it's just human nature not to ever be truly 'free.'"
She shrugged. "It's not a bad thing. If I had been completely free, with no boundaries even set by myself due to feelings towards others, would that really be better? Maybe the only way that could happen, is if you were the only single person in the world..."
"There is wisdom hidden behind that childlike exterior of yours," Pete said, voice pleased.
"Wisdom, nah. All I know how to do is fight, hunt, gather, sew, tan, fish, track, sneak, climb, swim, cook-"
"No need for false humility, your pride is well deserved. It's commendable you're still a good person who cares about her friends when many others, if they had your abilities, might easily use them to justify great arrogance."
"Well, even indestructible warriors need friends. It would be boring not to have anybody to do things with."
"Haha, you're right about that. Would you like me to help you find your family? I know you can't remember anything, but have heard of some techniques that might help with that, and maybe I could find someone who knows them."
Blackbird hesitated. She would be happy to learn they were alive and meet them again when she had the time, but feared unlocking her memories would reveal they had died gruesome deaths whose images would haunt her spirit. Yet, she shouldn't run away from that. "I'll gladly accept your help. Thank you for offering it when I haven't done anything for you."
"You saved my boys. That's plenty done for me." He patted her arm, making her feel warm. "By the way, they say you've met a mangaka? What was it like, and did he perhaps share any knowledge his culture might have that we don't?"
#
A week after they'd arrived, Pete reported the results so far. "I haven't been able to figure out how the spear works," he told Henry and Andrew. "It might be that one has to be chosen to use its power, or like Rodrick the electricity could have come from the wielder and not the weapon itself. What I would propose is that if you like, you could investigate the angels? I assumed you'd be interested in finding out their origins and if they really are chosen by God."
Henry looked at Andrew, and he nodded. It especially make them curious that Andrew's angelhood had been linked to an external weapon, yet Rodrick's powers seemed to come from within. "We would, but are you sure? This hardly has to do with the preservation of artifacts."
"If the angels help the church, they are our adversaries since they would stand against us preserving them. So knowing more about our enemies could be useful. Besides, we do have Ronald and Kara on call if an artifact suddenly needs retrieving."
Andrew seemed to tense at the mention of Kara's name when she hadn't been an active hunter before, but didn't say anything. Henry replied, "Blackbird's still hurt and we should give her more time to heal"—and sell her stuff, he thought—"so we'll probably be starting this without her. Can she keep staying here for now?"
"I don't see why not. It's just fair repayment for her watching over you two for so long, after all."
Henry flushed. "Thanks. So where would you suggest we first look?"
"There has been a gigantic monster making trouble in the western hills as of late. Knowing what they've been using their angels for, I suspect the church will send one or two to impressively quash it."
"Back to the hills?" Andrew said. "I guess we lucked out not meeting this monster last
time."
Henry smiled. "Blackbird might have cut it up even after you shot all that metal into her. Since we're not bringing her and won't want to confront the angels right now, though, we should probably just sit back and see what we can learn."
"Yeah, maybe we'll get some clue of where their powers come from by watching them."
Pete nodded, then put a hand on the shoulders of both. "You boys stay safe and sound, all right? Even though I have a son of my own, you two are the closest things I have to sons besides him. So I hope you'll continue to do well, and look forward to seeing you again."
"What was that about?" Henry wondered when they were out of earshot. "It's not usual for him to make such a heartfelt declaration of his love."
Andrew took on an anxious frown. "Maybe he's sick? It would be like him not to tell anyone, but I hope it's nothing too serious." But the worry Pete's words had implied made Henry uneasy.
Before setting out, Andrew approached Kara at the counter. "You're a hunter now? Why didn't you tell me?"
"It seemed like Pete would need extra help with you guys busy, and I didn't want to worry you. It's no big deal, artifacts aren't exactly found daily so I might not be even be called upon anytime soon."
"But if you are, aren't you scared to make yourself a target of the church?"
She hugged him reassuringly. "Your friend gave me a solution to that. If I wear a mask, they won't know who I am as long as it doesn't come off." So that was what Blackbird had told her. It was more practical than he'd thought it might be—still dangerous of course, but Kara had trained her skills enough to hazard testing them out.
"Oh, all right then. Good luck if you go on any missions."
"Thanks, and you take care too." She grinned. "I was a little nervous that you'd be more overprotective. Glad for your understanding."
"I was tempted, but thinking about it I remembered when I told you not to worry about me because of my arm. If I want you to trust that I can take of myself, I figured I should give you the same respect. After all, you're pretty good with your axes and those javelins."