6 - The Crimes of the Storm

After arriving at the clinic building, Zukafu's doctor friend, Yoko, examined the broken pendant that Charao had found with Zukafu in the same room as her while Mary and her friends, Yuno and Charao waited outside in the waiting room.

Inside the clinic room, it was very small with hues of navy blue bathing the atmosphere with the items appearing almost supernatural or interdimensional.

After couples minutes later, Yoko had concluded her examination of the item and asked Zukafu, "It is best that you'd bring in the others."

Zukafu nodded his head and signalled for the three to enter, unbeknownst to them that they were being watched from the same figure that continued to spy on them.

Seeing the others entering, Yoko immediately explains everything to them regarding the broken blue pendant, "Allow me to lay it out for you kids, this item that you found is something that contains as liquid-based gas called 'Mnemosyne's Fog'."

"Mnemo-what?" Asked Charao as he was baffled by the word.

"Mnemosyne..." answered Yuno, "It refers to the Greek Goddess, Mnemosyne, whom is associated with memories..." Charao and Mary were shocked at how Yuno knew that to which she stated, "What? I like mythology."

Yoko continues "Correct. Anyway, the substance that WAS inside effects any individual that comes into its radius, resulting in the ones infected to partially lose their memories... And whomever used it must have some strong connections..."

She then picks up what little remains on the pendant with her gloves on and presents it to the group, "For you see, the substance used for Mnemosyne's Fog is very rare and has been outlawed by the island itself... The only question is what purpose would someone have to use this substance."

Charao asked "So wait, you're saying that the whole island had their memories wiped?!"

Yoko answered "Everyone except for Zukafu and Mary as well as some individuals as even the events in my mind are difficult to recollect."

"But how is that possible?" Asked Yuno.

Mary looked at Zukafu, sweating as Zukafu may have to reveal who he really is. Then suddenly, Zukafu asked "You really want to know?" Causing Mary to push him to the side.

Worried, she whispers to him, asking "What are you doing? Aren't you trying to conceal your identity from everyone else?!"

But Zukafu answered "At a time like this, it seems I have to..." knowing full well that both Yuno and Charao are aware of him having some sort of supernatural abilities.

Zukafu gently pushed Mary to the side and stood in front of Charao and Yuno and said "I am Takehaya Kami, the third child of the spirit warrior Yu Kami and I am known as the Storm Warrior."

Mary was left with disbelief as Zukafu revealed his true self to her friends. Both Yuno and Charao were silent, with their faces appearing neutral while Yoko watched the scene unfold.

Quietly, Charao says "Then that explains it..." His voice begins to rise, "That explains how you saved my sister!" And with no warning, Charao jumped on Zukafu and hugged him. With praise, he says "Its thanks to you that we are able to have a bright future!

Yuno grabbed Charao and pulled him back, cringing at how he was acting all chubby towards Zukafu.

Mary couldn't comprehend what she was seeing in front of her eyes and she asked her friends, "You knew?!"

Both Yuno and Charao answered "No."

"But I did have suspicions as to how he saved me that the day before." Said Yuno.

Mary began to feel that her head was not functioning properly as she had no idea about what was going on. Zukafu was about to place his hand on her shoulder but she slaps it away before saying "I can't deal with this, I just- I just can't!"

Mary then grabbed her bag and left the clinic building.

Yuno and Charao call out for Mary to come back, saying "Mary!"

 And therefore, Zukafu grabbed his bag and went after Mary, leaving Charao and Yuno with Yoko.

"Hey you two..." Yoko said to Charao and Yuno and as they turned to face Yoko, she sprinkled what was left of the substance and they fell to the floor.

She sighed and said to herself, "Way to go Takehaya!"

Mary's was still trying to unscramble all the information that she had been given, showing immense stress. She then found herself at the riverbank where she chose to sit beside the river and watch as the sun set.

Zukafu finds her and walks up to her. Sensing Zukafu's presence, Mary says "Go away..."

Zukafu tries talking to her as he says "Mary I-" 

But then Mary interrupted him as she shouted at him, "I said go away!" Zukafu became quiet. Mary then said "I just want to be alone for a moment."

Zukafu let out a weak sigh and said "Very well." Before he dropped his bag and sat on the stairs, three distances away from Mary.

Mary turned her face slightly to see Zukafu and annoyed said, "That's not leaving me alone!"

Zukafu, wanting to play smart, says "But technically, I am in a few distances away from you and I am not focusing on you and therefore, I am minding my own business."

Mary sneers in frustration. Zukafu then kneels back and looks up at the sky, not wanting to bother Mary.

After a while of silence, Mary sighed and moved to the left, indicating that she was okay with him sitting beside her and seeing this, Zukafu got up and sat down beside Mary.

Together, the two didn't speak as they watched the sun continuing to set.

Mary then broke the silence, asking "Hey, can I ask you something?"

Zukafu answered "Sure..."

"Why don't you want to... You know... Help the city out like your brother and sister?" Said Mary.

Zukafu answered, "Because I'm a menace to the island."

Mary was left puzzled by Zukafu's answer and she asked "What do you mean?"