[The Karawei Farm, Darrilyn, Piasu, Ryomania, May 6th, Tuesday, 5:10 PM]
Jack and I sat on the grass in front of the makeshift grave, silently.
The weight of everything that happened hanged between us like a shroud of unspoken understanding and cruelty.
Keito was definitely controlled by The Boss.
That's for sure. The question was why?
The wheat in the golden fields swayed in the evening breeze, shining beautifully under the sunset.
The rustling caused by the wind made everything feel calmer than it was.
James Karawei: "The Boss... That red oppressive mist. I think that's how The Boss was controlling Keito too... And I swear that even Cathy was controlled, I could've sworn she had red eyes."
My voice sounded hollow, I was both frustrated and exhausted after all that had happened.
Jack got up suddenly and kicked a pebble, sending it skittering into the field beyond the fence.
Jack Daniels: "That dude had more screws loose than a haunted dollhouse! Doesn't make what he did right... but yeah."
I gave him a quick nod and also stood up.
James Karawei: "Let's head back in."
Jack smirked, trailing behind as we trudged back inside.
Inside, Cathy hovered in my bedroom over the bed, her violet aura pulsing faintly like a heartbeat around her body.
She tensed when I entered, Jack glanced between us and made his way to the living room, sensing the tension.
Cathy hastily wiped her eyes with the pillow on the bed, trying to hide the fact she'd been crying.
Cathy Ariston: "What do you want, idiot? Weren't you going to touch grass or something? Did you finish your little... Bow-wow?"
Her voice cracked, betraying the fact she had been crying.
I sank onto the right side of the bed, my reflection in the standing mirror catching my eye.
I looked much different than five years ago, taller, stronger, prettier? And yet so done with everything. The stillness in my eyes made it that much clearer.
James Karawei: "I look... so different. And yet, the same."
Cathy scoffed, floating higher until her head nearly brushed the ceiling.
Cathy Ariston: "You're such a dummy... Yeah, a lot happened—don't make a big deal out of it or anything."
I looked up at her and gestured towards the door.
James Karawei: "Hey Cathy, can you like... leave for a bit?"
She floated back down, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at me.
Cathy Ariston: "Why?"
James Karawei: "I have to change, my shirt and pants are messed up."
I stood up and pointed to the damage Keito caused.
She turned away towards the window. Trying to hide her blush.
Cathy Ariston: "T-there... Now you can change. Stop being such a... a-a baby! You're so annoying..."
I didn't retort and just grabbed another blue t-shirt and black sweatpants from my wardrobe, I had five pairs of them for some reason. And quickly changed.
James Karawei: "Okay, done."
She turned back around, hiding her face behind her hands.
Cathy Ariston: "D-dumbass... Go bother Jack instead... I don't wanna talk right now."
She slowly started floating back towards the ceiling.
I sighed and left the room with a nod, making my way into the living room. Jack had found the cola cans again and had already finished three of them, lying on the couch, feet kicked up on the coffee table as he was watching TV.
His face lit up when he saw me and motioned for me to sit.
Jack Daniels: "Dude! Dude! We're on the news, come here!"
I walked over and sat down on the left-hand side of the couch, away from the annoying pile of coco-cola.
I grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.
News Anchor: "—The stranger's body was identified to be Keito Nakamura, a foreigner with seemingly no other forms of identification than a government record of arrival to Ryomania. Reports say that the survivors of the, what people are starting to call, 'Oakland Incident' have not yet been found. Local law enforcement have done background checks on the school's database and found three students out of the original 263 to not be among the dead. Police are actively searching for the three survivors, Jack Daniels, Cathy Ariston and James—"
I shut off the TV. Throwing the remote on the coffee table. And slumping down, burying my head in my palms.
James Karawei: "That's so annoying..."
Jack put his hand on my shoulder.
Jack Daniels: "We're gonna be fine! They have no warrant for our arrest, we're kids! Plus, it was never our fault. Was it?"
I looked up at him again with a reluctant smile.
James Karawei: "Uh huh. Not our fault. I really admire your golden attitude. You're pretty cool. Thank you Jack."
He chuckled and opened up a soda can, handing it to me.
Jack Daniels: "I act pretty dumb sometimes huh?"
I chugged the whole soda can right then and there, along with my frustration. Then crushed it in my hand, throwing it onto the floor.
James Karawei: "Ah... Yep, pretty dumb."
For the first time in a long time I felt a surge of happiness flow through me, and I laughed...
We both laughed.
We laughed so hard Cathy came out of her room and hovered towards us, a little confused and tense.
Before I could say anything, Jack opened another cola can.
Foam fizzed over his fingers, and chugged it in one gulp.
Jack Daniels: "Ah! It's like pure oxygen! Cathy, you want one? There's, like, twelve more in the fridge. But this pile is mine!"
He snickered and nudged my shoulder.
Cathy Ariston: "You're going to rot your teeth, you know."
She came closer, hovering just in front of the coffee table.
Jack Daniels: "Nah, my dentist says I've got 'immaculate enamel.' Genetic lottery, baby! That's a jack-pot!"
I chuckled, more weakly this time, but Cathy's glare silenced me.
She perched on the edge of the coffee table like a cat, watching us attentively.
James Karawei: "I've been meaning to ask but... Have we really hung out like this before? It feels too good to be true—"
A soda can rocketed toward my face. I caught it reflexively, the aluminum dented from Cathy's throw and my grip.
Cathy Ariston: "We were always friends! We played house with you and did everything together when we were younger! You didn't have to forget us like that! You ass..."
Her voice rose, the room humming with tension.
Cathy Ariston: "You vanished to Taured for five bloody years, but we waited! We cared! I cared! And then... you came back acting like a stranger—like none of this matters!"
The accusation hung in the air.
Memories flickered in my mind, the headache returning like a dagger in my head.
Glimpses of Jack and Cathy and Jasmine, the four of us when we were younger—
But they were only glimpses. Ghosts of memories.
I shook my head to dispel the thoughts and sensation.
James Karawei: "I... I didn't realize. I'm sorry, it's not like I could've called... I was frozen in ice."
She stood up, gesturing with her hands.
Cathy Ariston: "Of course you were! You were too busy MOPING and being muscle-brained! Amnesia my ass... Fuck you."
Jack lobbed a pillow at her. It caught in her forcefield and Cathy just threw it back at Jack with a flick of the wrist and a grunt.
Jack Daniels: "Chill, Cathy! He's here now, isn't he? Starting high school with property damage and homicide is so on-brand for us."
He grinned, but his eyes were serious. Casually handing me another soda can.
He clinked soda cans with me.
Cathy also snatched one from his hands with her powers. Her aura didn't let her drink it but the toast felt nostalgic as the three of us clinked cans together.
Jack Daniels: "Well, that's settled, then. We have to stick together if we're going to get to the bottom of this Syndicate thing. Cheers!"
James Karawei: "Uh... Cheers!"
Cathy Ariston: "Cheers I guess, whatever."
We all drank at the same time, except for Cathy of course who threw the can back onto the pile on the couch, which was making a wet spot due to condensation.
Jack nudged me again.
Jack Daniels: "So, uh... You're just gonna keep that tombstone? It's a nice gesture, but cops'll sniff us out faster than Cathy sniffs out free fries."
Cathy threw a can at his head, he narrowly ducked down with a mocking "Ah! Help!" and wide grin.
Cathy Ariston: "Shut it, Jack. You don't GET to tell me ANYTHING about my diet. You know I have a fast metabolism. Plus the tombstone is at least respectful. Unlike you, you ass hat."
She floated to the window next to the fireplace, on the right side of the living room by the entrance of the kitchen.
Her silhouette outlined by the ever-growing moonlight. I couldn't tell if she was angry, hurt... or both.
James Karawei: "So uh... do you two still have parents? Families? Anyone?"
Jack turned to me, still grinning.
Jack Daniels: "Wow. What a question... I mean yeah. My sister Erika has been taking care of me since as long as I can remember. I've never really met either of my parents, they're in America doing corporate stuff or something? I don't really care. Rich people problems."
He shrugged, his expression neutral, but I could tell he was uncomfortable. He took another big swig from a cola can.
James Karawei: "I'm sorry to hear that..."
Jack Daniels: "Nah, it's fine. Cathy's situation is worse."
Cathy turned back to us and made her way to the couch, perching down next to me.
Cathy Ariston: "My dad... Obadiah 'The House' Ariston... He's an enforcer for The Syndicate. A bully and a damn bastard. He's The Boss's right hand man. He's the one running Ariston Industries as a cover-up for The Syndicate, it's a fake global company."
Her tone darkened and she shut her eyes for a split-second.
Jack Daniels: "The House? What is he, a real estate agent?" Jack smirked, trying to lighten the mood.
Cathy didn't hesitate to hurl another soda can at his head.
Jack ducked. Barely.
Her fists clenched.
James Karawei: "Why didn't Keito mention him if he's so important? Or you. Or Jack."
She scoffed and rolled her eyes at me.
Cathy Ariston: "Because you already knew before who he was. Dad's a ghost, and because Keito probably wasn't allowed to tattle or he didn't know, just another cog in the machine. Dad vanished from my life when I needed him most. He took all the money, my brothers, and he ran, left me and my sick mother here in Havok... She didn't make it. I've always known about The Syndicate, the truth to his little messed up company! But I didn't think it was this bad... Fuck."
She brushed her hair with her right hand, trying to keep her nerves intact.
Cathy Ariston: "It's complicated... But I promised my mother, I'd find him one day and beat the deadbeat out of him."
Jack chuckled and chugged another soda can. He was probably on his eight one.
Jack Daniels: "Wow that's rough... You never told me about all that. You have brothers? Plural? How many Aristons are we talking?"
Cathy Ariston: "Two. Normand and Yoshio. Normand's... well since I last saw him he was a gentle frightened boy. And Yoshio? A carbon copy of Dad. But... worse. As far as I know he's a diagnosed psychopath."
The pain in her voice silenced us.
Outside, the wind howled louder, carrying the scent of nature into the living room.
Cathy Ariston: "I get the whole 'find The Boss' thing, but my dad ruined my family. I want to fix that. And now that I have this power—this Divinity—I'll find him alright..."
Her grip on her own arms tightened.
James Karawei: "I like that, your determination..."
She glanced up at me, her grip on her arms loosening and letting them sit in her lap. A smile crept on her face.
Cathy Ariston: "Thank you..."
Jack, purposefully dropped himself onto the floor, chuckling and let out a loud belch before standing up again.
Jack Daniels: "Excuse me... Woo! Yeah, Cathy's family is wild. My sister's in the Syndicate too! But neither me or Cathy knew much about them until today— My sister never really liked to talk about it to me... I only heard things about them on phone calls she got. Ariston Industries are a corporate giant. They've got buildings in every capital in the world. So if The Syndicate's puppeteering them that makes them super dangerous."
James Karawei: "So what does Ariston Industries even do?"
Jack Daniels: "Actually I'm not really sure what they do..."
Cathy Ariston: "They make anything from electronic appliances to medicine to... whatever they can use to spy and control the masses. Like security cameras, I don't bloody know!"
Cathy sighed, pulling Jack back onto the bed with a flick of her wrist.
Cathy Ariston: "Don't make a big deal out of it. That's the point, they DO everything. My psycho dad forced my brothers into this mess. I... I just want my family back."
James Karawei: "I don't remember anything about my parents... I do remember that my dad was kind and my mother was gentle, though that's all I remember unfortunately."
I hesitated. My throat felt dry.
James Karawei: "Before all this. I mean I had just gotten back from that hellscape Taured but... I'm empty. I don't feel like I used to. It's like... my emotions are there but they don't work too well? Like I'M there but I don't work... I don't know how to explain it. Sorry. I guess."
I sat up, my grip tightening on the soda can in my hand.
For some reason this banter warmed my heart, and I smiled again, genuinely.
James Karawei: "I'm fine now. I think the battle against Mr. Nakamura changed some things inside of me, plus it's not my fault I'm like this... Apparently a guy called Shujin Hakomaru stole my memories and emotions. And I also have a promise to keep, a vow."
I put my hand over my heart and set the soda can down on the coffee table.
Jack chuckled and pat my shoulder.
Cathy just hid her face in her arms and floated up from the couch, heading for my parent's old room.
Cathy Ariston: "The next time you say some stupid shit like that I'm beating your ass."
She slammed the door shut as she fled inside.
Jack Daniels: "Welp... I'm going to go raid the fridge, again. Maybe just chill for now..."
Jack hurried into the kitchen, presumably after food.
So, they both left me alone with my thoughts...
James Karawei: "If I hadn't met them..."
I shook my head to dispel the thoughts and stood up, going back to my room.
[The Karawei Farm, Darrilyn, Piasu, Ryomania, May 6th, Tuesday, 7:01 PM]
I was relaxing on my bed in my room, looking at my hands.
The memory of Keito's corpse flashed—his fading breath, the rose slipping from his grip.
The flood of memories.
I'd felt a pull in that moment. It felt like static coursing through my veins.
When he died, something transferred to me through direct contact.
I stood up from the bed and in front of the mirror.
James Karawei: "What if...?"
The question echoed in my mind. After all, finding out there's more to this world than meets the eye would get anyone excited.
I shut my eyes.
Focusing on my whole body, I felt the same energy as then flow through me, It started from my chest and went downwards into my right arm. I felt energy in my right palm, like a gentle bubbling stream, it was warm.
And then I opened my eyes—
A rainbow rose bloomed in my palm before I realized it.
A bubble came out of it, iridescent and fragile. It popped against the mirror, cracking it with air pressure.
I stared down at my hand, I blinked twice before prodding it gently with my pinky finger.
James Karawei: "No way... Mr. Nakamura's powers?"
The door swung open. Jack leaned against the frame, smirking. And once again drinking Coco-Cola.
Jack Daniels: "Huh? What the heck is that? Did you crack the mirror? That's, like, four years of bad luck bro."
He entered the room and glanced around before looking down at my palm, he was not the least bit surprised.
James Karawei: "I don't believe in that stuff... Um... I think when I touched Keito and he... gave up his life I absorbed that weird 'holiness' he talked about. I think so at least. Unless this is a me thing but it's so similar!"
Jack moved closer, inspecting my hand.
Jack Daniels: "That's really weird, so what... You stole his powers? How the heck does that work? What are you, some sort of copy ninja?" He chuckled, taking another swig from the cola can.
I focused again on my right palm, on the rosebud itself. I didn't shut my eyes this time. I smirked and aimed at his face.
He barely ducked, laughing. The bubble once again hit the mirror, cracking it further.
Jack Daniels: "Man! Not the mirror... That's 8 years of bad luck now... Seriously though, that's really cool! We're going to have to experiment with that more."
I crossed my arms and chuckled sheepishly.
James Karawei: "I think all experiments involving powers will lead to more bad luck."
Jack Daniels: "Meh, you're right. Still it's awesome! You can make roses and stuff, you basically stole his powers. Are you going to give it a name?"
I sat back down on the bed and rubbed my chin, looking down at the rose in my hand.
It clicked.
James Karawei: "Serene Garden?"
Jack laughed and plopped down onto the floor, clutching both of his knees, the now empty soda can lies forgotten on the floor.
Jack Daniels: "Hey, I'm not one to judge! But that's kind of cringe."
James Karawei: "You're probably right, but I think it fits."
I chuckled and propped my chin in my left hand, I glanced between him and the rose.
James Karawei: "Hey, I've been meaning to ask... How did you heal your right arm? In the schoolyard?"
Jack tilted his head and arched an eyebrow.
James Karawei: "You know... Earlier in the day when Keito blew everything up, I took you to the inner schoolyard—"
Jack Daniels: "Ah! Yeah that! Huh... Okay so basically, that was the basis of the first step."
James Karawei: "The first step? To what? Success? Sounds sketchy if you ask me."
He narrowed his eyebrows, almost looking serious.
Jack Daniels: "It's an ancient martial art! The Ten Steps, that's what It's called. My sister taught me Step 1: Apex. We saw Keito use it too. Don't you remember how fast he was moving? It's super legit."
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
James Karawei: "So that's how you healed your arm? Wow... That's cool. But how does it work?"
Jack stared at me in disbelief, he took a deep breath.
Jack Daniels: "Okay so... It's the greatest martial art in the world! It's the strongest! It's absolute! It utilizes The Flow to make the user truly strong! My sister taught me aaaaallll about it, she's a damn genius at this stuff you know!"
I narrowed my eyebrows In confusion at him.
James Karawei: "Okay... And what the heck is The Flow?"
Jack Daniels: "The Flow... I don't really know. Erika said I wouldn't need to know to actually learn the martial arts themselves, but I needed it to master them? I don't get it but it sounds pretty awesome if you ask me!"
He confidently said while he put his hands on his hips and grinned at me.
James Karawei: "But why is it called that...? Also I didn't take you for the kind of guy to believe In soul energy but after everything... I guess I'll believe you, bro."
I chuckled as I sat back on the bed.
Jack Daniels: "No clue why it's called Flow. Sounds like a venereal disease or something— Well... Technically each step is it's own martial art, it's really complex—"
I tapped his left thigh.
James Karawei: "Dude... Venereal means something completely different..."
Jack Daniels: "Yeah yeah, bad word choice..."
Suddenly we heard police sirens approaching from down the road and before we knew it a cop car had pulled into the small path leading to my house.
Police: "THIS IS THE HAPD, WE BELIEVE YOU ARE SUSPECTS IN THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURED TODAY AT OAKLAND HIGHSCHOOL ON 23RD STREET, INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, STEP OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE SO WE CAN CONFIRM YOUR IDENTITIES!"
They spoke through a megaphone, I looked at Jack unsure of what to do and stood up instinctively.
James Karawei: "Uh... you don't reckon my Serene Garden or your Ten Steps can get us out of jail time, do you?"
Jack Daniels: "Nope. We're cooked, what now bubble boy?"
Through the window, red and blue lights strobed. Cathy burst into the room.
Cathy Ariston: "You bloody morons! You said they wouldn't find us!"
Jack Daniels: "I... I didn't think—"
Before he could answer, a deafening thunderclap echoed outside. The car suddenly exploded.
The screams of the officers cut through the night, followed by silence.
The three of us exchanged a look before silently going outside.
We stepped outside on the porch cautiously, only to find the officers dead and their bodies being absorbed by one of the two figures standing near the now burning cop car, his hands absorbing the cops into himself, bones and all.
The one who absorbed them into himself was a sickly-looking boy draped in a tattered blanket. He had a brown hoodie underneath it and some black cargo shorts with a brown belt of sorts on him, a cracked and old looking toy crown sat on his head.
The other was older, with black and white messy hair split down the middle. He wore a simple white t-shirt with a blue jacket, jeans and some white running shoes with strange markings on them. Both wore the Syndicate badge on their chests.
???: "Pathetic."
The taller one spoke up first. His shoes were crackling with a strange white lightning.
The younger, one was hunched under the tattered blanket that flew behind him like a cape hopped off the car.
Cathy Ariston: "Normand?!"
Cathy hovered closer towards the younger one, her hands stretched out. She was visibly shaken, her eyes wide.
Normand's hollow eyes met hers. But the taller one struck before she could react, a lightning bolt hurled her through the house.
???: "Boss sends his regards."
Normand Ariston: "Sorry sis... You should have come with me when you had the chance."
The green and sickly looking kid stepped forward with a smirk on his face, lifting his hands as if he were grabbing the air.
Normand Ariston & Raijin Hogo (in unison): "We're the Twin Kings, Normand Ariston and Raijin Hogo. And you're to be brought back to HQ!"
The Twin Kings advanced towards the house.