Stories: Dreamer

Chapter 18

“Get up, you two,” Ari says.

Asha sleepily gets to her feet. “What is it, Ari-san?” she asks. She watches Ari yank Hikaru off of the sack he is sleeping on. “OUCH! What the heck was that for?!” he yells.

“You’d best be gettin’ outta here,” Ari says, looking serious.

“If this is some kinda joke–!” Hikaru says threateningly.

“It’s not,” she says. “My uncle’s comin’ up.”

“Your uncle?” Asha asks.

Hikaru gets up off the ground and dusts himself off. “Why’s that such a big deal?” he asks.

“He’s been way too nosy about your friend,” Ari says, “Asks about ‘im every time he calls over here. Now he says he’s comin’ over for the afternoon. I don’t think you want to be around when he shows up – he knows you two are close to Haru.”

Asha shoots a surprised glance at Hikaru, who frowns. That couldn’t be further from the truth right now, Hikaru thinks. “Do you know what he wants with Haru?” he asks. “Just who is your uncle, anyhow?”

Ari remains silent.

“Ari-san?” Asha presses.

“It don’t matter, just go!” Ari cries. “Go on!” She shoves Asha and Hikaru out of the shed and onto the road. “Warn Haru he’d best be watchin’ his back,” Ari tells them. “Go.”

Hikaru and Asha start down the road toward the industrial area. “I wonder what that was all about,” Asha muses.

“I don’t know,” Hikaru says, “but I don’t like it.”

“How long has it been since we’ve gone to see Haru-san, anyway?”

“That was a quick change of subject,” Hikaru comments. “The last few times – three times, I think, if not four – Haru turned us away. I’d count maybe a week.”

“Why do you think Haru-san isn’t talking to us anymore?” Asha asks.

Hikaru frowns. “I don’t know.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

When they get to Haru’s hideout, everything seems normal. The kitten isn’t outside, the way it had been the last time. It is quiet inside the building. Asha knocks on the door. “Haru-san, it’s us! Are you there?” Haru takes a second to come to the door. When he pulls it open, he doesn’t even greet them. He just holds the door open, looking grim. Hikaru and Asha walk in, and Haru closes the door behind them.

“What’s up?” Hikaru asks. “Didn’t have another nightmare, did you?”

“No,” Haru answers hollowly.

“Then what’s eating you?” Haru glances over at Asha, then looks down at his feet, as if he can’t bear to look her in the face. Some papers on the floor catch Hikaru’s eye. “Did you go back to the factory again, then?” he asks. “What are these papers?” Hikaru bends down to pick up one of the sheets when Haru hastily scoops up the papers and stuffs them away.

“Is there something you’re hiding from us?” Hikaru asks sharply.

“Haru-san, what’s wrong?” Asha inquires, her sad eyes wide with worry.

Haru glances at them over his shoulder. “I’m not ready to talk about it yet,” he murmurs.

“Then how are we supposed to help you, Haru?” Hikaru asks. “You have to quit shutting us out!”

“I’m not shutting you out!” Haru cries, finally turning to face them.

“You never want us around you anymore!” Hikaru explodes in frustration. “The last couple times we tried to come, you kicked us out! And now you won’t even talk to us! I feel like I don’t even know you anymore!”

Haru looks devastated. “That’s not–! I’ve just been busy–!”

“Busy doing what?!” Hikaru demands. “What are you doing that you feel you can’t include us?!”

“I– It’s...”

“You know – Just do what you want, Haru,” Hikaru says. “I don’t care anymore.” He angrily stalks toward the door.

“Hikaru-san, please–!”Hikaru walks out before Asha can finish. Asha turns toward Haru. “He doesn’t mean that, he’s just frustrated!” she cries. “Please go talk to him! I hate seeing you fight like this!” Haru sinks to the ground under the window. “Haru-san!” Asha pleads, walking toward him, “You have to talk to Hikaru-san!”

“I’ll talk to him after he cools off a bit,” Haru says quietly. “Right now...there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Something...you need to tell me?” Asha asks. Haru nods. Asha hesitantly sits down next to him. “What is it, Haru-san?”

Haru frowns. “I’m–I’m not trying to shut you guys out,” he says. “I’ve been... digging around for more information.”

“Information?”

“I did go back again. I found a lot of stuff...but I still wanted to know more, so I’ve been visiting the library...”

“Haru-san, you’ve been out in public?!” Asha exclaims.

“Unfortunately,” Haru murmurs. “But I did find out what I needed to know...and more.”

“Like what?” Haru hesitates to start talking again. “Haru-san..?”

Haru looks away from her, unable to meet her steady gaze. “Asha, I– I’m not sure...if I’ll be able to keep my promise to try to heal you.”

Asha’s eyes widen in fear. “Huh? Wh–What are you...?”

Haru still doesn’t look at her. “Do you really want to know why...I wound up unconscious on the floor... that time...?” he asks.

I don’t like where this is going, Asha thinks. “Haru-san...what are you trying to say?” she asks.

“The process that BIOTECH used to give me my powers is slowly draining my strength away. Using my healing abilities only drains it faster.”

Asha gasps. But that means...! His powers…are killing him?!

“I’m scared…that if I try to heal you, and I don’t get to finish...I don’t know what it would do to you...”

“Haru-san, don’t talk like that!” Asha cries. “Don’t....!”

“...I didn’t know how to tell you...I’m sorry,” Haru murmurs.

“But why?!” Asha cries. “How could they do something that would kill you?!!”

Haru grimaces. “All I am is a tool. They didn’t care about what it would do to me in the long run.”

“DON’T TELL ME YOU BELIEVE THAT!” Asha yells. “You’re NOT just a tool, Haru-san!!!”

“Asha...!”

“You’re not a tool! You have people who care about you and want you to be happy! You can’t just lay down and die!!!” Tears are streaming down Asha’s face. She tries to calm herself, but she can’t stop crying. “Mitsuye-san...Hikaru-san and I...We’re your family, remember?” she weeps. “Please…don’t leave us behind!”

Asha suddenly falls forward and Haru jumps up to catch her. “Asha!? Are you okay?!” Asha clings to his shirt, crying uncontrollably. Haru can’t stand to see her so upset. “Please… don’t cry anymore,” he pleads.

Hikaru comes back into the building, a frown on his face. “You heard all that...I take it?” Haru asks him, still holding Asha up.

Hikaru nods. “I thought you said it wasn’t that serious,” he murmurs, “when I asked you about what happened that day.”

“I only just found out the details,” Haru replies. “I wasn’t ready to tell you yet, but...” A heavy silence replaces their voices for a moment.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” Hikaru apologizes.

“It’s okay...” Haru murmurs.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, at Ari’s house in town, she, Ryo and her uncle are alone when her mother and father go out for a while. “Tell me again,” her uncle says. “Who did you invite over that night? And don’t bother trying to lie to me. I know he’s more than just the town’s mystery attraction.”

“I don’t know who you mean,” Ari says nervously.

“The light-blonde boy with the blue eyes and the headband with the sign for “tiger”! Where is he?” her uncle demands.

“Who is Haru to you–!” Ari cups her hands over her mouth, realizing that she just blurted out his name.

“So it is the Asahi boy,” her uncle muses.

Ryo walks into the room in the middle of the interrogation. “What’s goin’ on?” he asks sheepishly.

“You keep quiet!” his uncle yells. He turns back to Ari. “Now, Ariana, tell me where your little friend is hiding.”

“No! I don’t want to!” Ari cries.

“I made you!” her uncle says threateningly through clenched teeth. “You’re only a tool, remember? Tools have no right to defy their masters!”

“You and BIOTECH can’t do whatever you want!!!” Ari yells. “You have NO right!!!”

“Broken tools can easily be thrown away and replaced, Ariana!” her uncle threatens. Ari’s eyes widen with fear.

“LEAVE ARI ALONE!!!” Ryo yells, running in between his sister and his uncle. His uncle shoves Ryo into the wall and knocks him out.

“Don’t hurt Ryo!!” Ari cries.

“Do you and your brother need to be replaced...or will you tell me what I want to know?” Ari falls silent. “I’ll ask you one last time. Where is Haru Asahi?” her uncle demands.

Ari sorrowfully closes her eyes. I’m sorry, Haru... She reluctantly begins to speak. “He...Haru is hidin’ out in the industrial area...There’s an abandoned building past the old bridge...That’s where...”

“That’s a smart girl,” her uncle says, patting her on the head. He gets up and pulls out a cell phone, no doubt calling one of his colleagues. Ari picks her brother up and cradles him in her arms. “We found him. I’ll send you the location electronically.” Her uncle hangs up the phone.

“What are you gonna do to Haru?” Ari asks shakily.

“The Asahi boy belongs to us,” her uncle says coldly. “What we do with him is none of your concern.” As he begins to leave the room, her uncle stops and says, “Your parents will be home soon. I trust you’ll keep quiet about this, won’t you?”

Ari curls up in fright and holds her brother tightly. “Yes...”

“Good.” Her uncle leaves the room without so much as another glance back at the kids.