Fubuki and Serika

At the Tt hotel, Sayuri Benise scowled as she watched the nightly news with Rebelle. More and more of Ookuma's allies and party mates were being bombarded with scandals, jeopardizing their chances at re-election.

"Rebelle! What is the meaning of this!?" Benise fumed.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Rebelle fumed.

"Kabuki's even gone quit on the matter too, and hasn't said anything on the matter for days."

"We only need to win 5 more seats! Of the 10 we're contesting, only 5 of our candidates have been hit with scandals. The others are fine."

"But all 5 of those that are fine are in the hardest districts to flip! Not to mention, we may not even have a party to control the diet if everyone gets arrested!"

"We have control of the house of councilors, worst case scenario, we don't make any gains and maintain our current composition. We can then just try to appoint some rank and file members that haven't been damaged by the scandals, or worst case have them all win a special election."

"Hmm, That wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen.  Our party has never lost a seat it's won no matter how good the opponent is or how many more votes they receive. Very well. For now, I will assume the leadership position and claim Madam Ookuma is recovering from her injuries."

"Tch. I don't think you're suited to succeed Madam Ookuma, I should."

"You don't hold an elected office like I do."

"I'm her secretary."

"You have too many conflicts of interest."

"Says the woman who's trying to build the largest human trafficking ring in the world!"

Sayuri Benise was an ambitious woman that had first become enamored with Ookuma a few years prior. She was also trying to become a high-ranking member of I.L.U. which was why she had decided to create the largest human trafficking ring in the world. Of course, the public only knew her as an elected member of the house of councilors that also worked part-time at the roof-top bar of the Tt hotel.

As the two began arguing, Hilda arrived.

"Oi, this shit isn't so simple. We need Ruchi to come back asap. Otherwise, we're screwed not matter what."

"And just who are you supposed to be?" Rebelle glared.

"Oh right, we never met face-to-face. Hilda Hakkin. Ruchi's only friend and true ally."

"I've heard the name before, though what exactly do you mean by your statement?"

"Just as I said. That we need Ruchi herself to be here."

"Then why not say we know where she is and weave our own narrative?" Benise suggested.

Hilda thought for a moment before nodding and allowing it.

"I still don't trust you," Rebelle glared as she took a sip of her drink.

"And I don't trust you, you're clearly still hiding things," Hilda glared as the sleeping pill she had secretly slipped into Rebelle's drink took effect.

After confirming Rebelle was truly out cold and moving her to a new location, Hilda met with Benise to discus matters she didn't want Rebelle to overhear.

...

In the early hours of the morning, Reika approached the remains of Ookuma's house and flashed a signal with her flashlight. A woman then approached Reika holding a gun.

"It's risky for someone like you to be here, Fubuki," Reika nodded.

"Reika, do you happen to know something about Ookuma's disappearance? I haven't been able to find anything for these past 10 days," Fubuki stated.

"Let's talk someplace else that's more secure."

As the two got in Reika's car, Reika immediately turned to face Fubuki. "Tell me what I said to you when we first met, word for word until you said 'alright'."

"'Ara, are you perchance Fubuki Dakota, the underground journalist? A pleasure to meet you, my name is Reika Yuzume, and I am a junior detective that is very curious about learning more about I.L.U., the infamous shadow organization you say is controlling the world. Would you perhaps be willing to tell me? I can become a strong ally in the future. An ace detective in the light would be a strong ally to have in your fight against I.L.U., would it not?'"

"Phew! Good to see you again Fubuki," Reika smiled as Fubuki took her mask off.

"You're lucky the two of us have such great memory. Me especially considering all the torment I've been subjected to," Fubuki nodded.

"Now that I know you're the real deal, allow me to tell you something that will put your mind at ease. Ookuma's dead."

Fubuki stared with skepticism.

"Fear not, I'll show you the proof."

The two then drove to Reika's place causing Fubuki to let out a sigh as they arrived. "I still can't believe you moved into my old place."

"And you never tell me the reason why you always get so somber when we meet here."

"It was the fact that those bastards set fire to the place shortly after I caught Ookuma on camera attacking someone. I'm just glad nothing was lost, but it still haunts me."

Despite knowing Reika for years, Fubuki had not once told her about Yuni. This was not due to a lack of trust, but rather her desire to keep Yuni far away from her world. She had faith that Hitomi could at least do that, but if anything were to happen to her and Hitomi, Reika would be the one she'd entrust to look after Yuni.

Once Fubuki saw Ookuma's remains, she instantly knew they were real. A wave of emotions hit her as the woman that had caused her numerous suffering in life, was now dead before her. "She's finally dead. How did you manage to kill her without anyone finding out?"

"I didn't kill her, but I saved the one who did."

"Save? ...! You don't mean-"

"Yes. She's now living a new life. It's all thanks to you though. Had it not been for you hijacking that broadcast, she very well would have ended up as that piece of shit's puppet."

"I see. So then these recent exposes are your work no doubt?"

"Correct. I apologize for keeping you in the dark for so long, but I did it to protect her."

"You made the right judgement call. Now I understand why you had refrained from reaching out to me until now. Thank you for proving that Ookuma truly is dead. I'll handle things from my end."

"Thank you. I actually have the SD cards with all the footage on them. Naturally I've backed them up."

"Are you intending to pass them on to me?"

"If you want some of them. It might be for the better. Though before we discuss are plan, I thought I should mention something about the girl I saved; she claims to be the daughter of yours that was killed before she was born."

"Explain."

...

"I see. So she claims to have been reincarnated as Ookuma's child. The timing is uncanny, though her story seems more plausible than not. Hmm, could it be... What is her natural hair color?" Fubuki asked.

"Forest green, though there's also streaks of magenta as well, though they're hard to spot. They'll likely become more obvious as her hair grows out though." Reika nodded.

"And her eyes?"

"Magenta pink."

"Any other noteworthy traits?"

"She has a photographic memory."

Fubuki let out a sigh as she came to a realization. "So that's what happened. Reika, I believe that girl truly is my daughter."

"Are you sure?"

"I can easily confirm it too."

"I know I trust her, but even then, it is still risky."

"Then watch from a distance. Now let us discuss our plan..."

...

Serika yawned as she walked to school. She had really gotten into the festivities last night at Ryokoma, and had stayed till closing. As she passed by a wooden fence, she heard a voice.

"Serika, do you remember the lulaby I sang while you were in the womb?"

Serika turned and stared at the fence. "Was I hearing things? Must've been. I'm barely awake as is."

"Ara, what's going on?" Reika asked as she drove by.

"Ah, Sensei. I thought I heard Fubuki asking me to recite the lullaby she sang while I was in her womb, but I guess maybe I'm just sleep deprived."

"What's this about a lullaby? Do you remember it?"

"Yeah, word for word too."

"Could you sing it for me?"

"It won't be good, but here goes..."

Serika's face went flush red as she began singing. She clearly was not musically gifted, but the lullaby itself was sweet and heartwarming.

"Well, that performance won't be winning any awards, but it wa a very sweet lullaby," Reika laughed.

"Yeah, I gotta get to school though," Serika blushed as she walked away.

Once she was gone, Reika went behind the fence to find Fubuki. "I take it that lullaby's something only she could know?" Reika asked.

"Correct. I only sang that lullaby when I was in captivity." Fubuki nodded.

"Say, you mentioned what happened to you during your captivity. And if Serika truly is your biological daughter then-"

"Perhaps she was swapped at birth. I only assumed she had been murdered by Akuma, though I never saw the deed with my own eyes. All I remember was being blindfolded and gagged and feeling the pain of that monsters knife-like fingernails being shoved into my body. I briefly heard the cries of an infant before the cries were muffled and slowly died out. Then some time later, the blindfold was removed and I was staring at the mutilated remains of an infant."

"I'm sorry to make you recall painful memories, but it actually does line up with Serika's memories. The reason her cries were muffled was due to a sack likely being placed over her head. Though if Serika didn't die, then the question remains of whose child that was."

"Perhaps Ookuma's. One thing that mystified me was why the mutilated infant's head had been completely carved out. At first, I assumed it was just plain cruelty, but perhaps it was to prevent me from seeing the baby's hair color. If I had seen that, I would have naturally assumed the child wasn't mine."

"So you're implying that the mutilated infant was Ookuma's stillborn child?"

"Yes, that's the only probable explanation. Akuma was dead-set on making heirs which is why he even bothered raping me. Though I had sex just a few hours prior to being caught and raped, I assume Akuma ultimately impregnated me, or perhaps Suzuki's melded with his. That man never had much luck in sex after all."

"Then do you want to tell-"

"No, it's better like this; for both of us. Though feel free to give me updates on her developments."

"I see, in that case I'll tell you about what's she's been up to after she started her new life."

Fubuki listened intently as Reika told her all.

"Oh, and just the other day, she got in a small tusle with a girl at Ryokoma."

"What do you mean?"

"I guess the two got in a fight over their grades, and it escalated into them pulling each other's hair and slapping each other. They ended up angering Rika after knocking over a table and had to clean the bathrooms as punishment."

"I see. So the fight was started over academics?"

"Yes, apparently the girl first scoffed at Serika's appearance and assumed she was ignorant. Serika took offense to that, but the girl countered by claiming she scored perfects on all her tests, then I guess she taunted Serika to try and yank her hair off which Serika took literally."

Fubuki sighed but then smiled. "I heard from Hitomi what Yuni did. So they got in a fight with each other. I really should have been a better mother, but sadly life-circumstances prevented that. But at least, I can guide them in the right direction," she thought. "Reika, did those two make up?"

"Hmm, I don't think so. I've heard from Bianka that they continue to hurl insults at each other as they pass by. They also blame each other for the fight."

"And you told Serika to make up?"

"Yes, though sadly I can't see her apologizing to that girl."

"In that case, keep watch over them to make sure they get along."

Reika let out a chuckle. "A friend of mine claims I'm unreliable, yet here I am getting asked to watch over your daughter for you."

"My apologies, but when my job is done we'll happily live together as a family."

"Then until then, I'll do my part to ensure your job gets done quickly."

"Thank you, now we should part ways here. I believe you have a bust to take care of."

"No worries, she hasn't made her speech yet. We can't move until that happens."

"I see. Then best of luck."

As the two parted ways, Fubuki smiled as she thought about Serika and Yuni. "You two really bicker like siblings. I imagine that would be true even if I had escaped captivity sooner and managed to raise you both. Maybe Yuni would have been born a bit healthier and not have an athletic deficiency. I can see what could have been now. After giving birth to Serika, I'd have raised her with love and care despite her being the product of a rape. Then a few years later, I would have had Yuni. Perhaps Suzuki's sperm would work on the first try, or maybe it would take nearly all the containers of sperm he left behind. Either way, I have no doubt Yuni still would have been born. Serika likely would have been a bit jealous and greeted her new little sister by yanking on her cheek. I'd bonk her on the head before calming Yuni down and then embracing both her and Serika. I imagine the two would still bicker, but I'd be there to ensure they get along as sisters. Perhaps one day, we can all live together as a family. But for now, it's best they stay in the dark. I don't want my daughters to ever experience the hell I.L.U. is truly capable of. That's why I'll expose them and do all I can to ensure their influence erodes and my daughters and others can grow up in a free world."