Among all researchers in the field of Immunology, Dr.Cheryl Jones was one of the most famous scientists of the century. Truly, you could say that her work was the foundation of a new age of human's understanding of health issues. She would bring out many breakthroughs, and a variety of solutions to the modern medical world. Her work was, to put it simply, worth of a Nobel Prize.
From the moment she wanted to study medicine, that was Cheryl's ambition. Or more accurately, her fantasy. For a while, she believed in it. 'Hope dies last', she loved to say. But the truth is, motivation alone does not make someone talented.
That motivation was enough for her to reach the status of a PhD student. Even though she braved failure after failure, she always managed to stand up. Most of the time, however, she didn't have time to stand up before falling down again. Her current position at the time was earned by not giving up, but no one except really satisfied. For the other professors, she was just 'there'. Her passion was outstanding, but that was the only thing outstanding about her. Needless to say, she was known to get on people's nerves quite easily.
Six years later. Cheryl still wasn't an accomplished researcher. As she realized how far she was from her fantasy, her only quality was withering. Unexpectedly, her coworkers were quite pleased by this change. Unfortunately, this peace was only the gateway to an aspect of Cheryl they didn't want to see.
Unlike on subjects she was passionate about, Cheryl wasn't exactly a calm and thoughtful person. Her true nature was more wild. As if the genes of a predator were encoded into her cells. When her alter ago awakens, everyone runs in terror. Metaphorically.
For six months, Cheryl isolated herself from her co-workers. She was never a very useful source of knowledge, methods or ideas, but she always played a role in her team. This time, she was determined to work alone. At first, she had no idea what she would be working on. But she worked on it. With time, 'it' turned into a clearer aim. And sometimes, 'it' changed. Because she was bored. Because she couldn't find anything. Because she couldn't move forward without the opinion of an expert. And that expert happened to be in the team she rejected. So every time, she found other ways to do it.
If it wasn't for the content of the monthly report of February, Cheryl would have been under fire. Her isolation brought up allegations of disruptive activities. But through her new results, she showed the other lab members something incredible. To be more accurate, she showed them a report that was garbage, except for one part. And it would have been sent into the trash where it belonged, if not for the intervention of a specific person.
The report was under peer reviewing by a fellow scientist. Dr.Yurich Wieczorek, an eminent researcher, stumbled upon her abnormal experiment results. Before the completion of the report, he insisted on having a discussion with Dr.Jones on that subject. Aware of her reputation among the research community, he tried to ask the right questions.
"You are the one who made all those experiments, right ?" asked Dr.Wieczorek.
"Of course it was me. Who else ?"
"In that case, don't you think there's something abnormal in this concentration level ?"
Cheryl looked at the data he was pointing at. In fact, she stared at it way too long to maintain credibility.
"Uuhh… not really, I mean. Well, it's… is there a problem with it ?"
"Oh, Lord." the reviewer sighed. "Do you still have the raw data ?"
Eventually, Cheryl managed to find the documents he was asking about. What she pulled out were unintelligible notes, written on paper that was crumpled before.
"Sorry, I thought this wouldn't be useful for later."
The reviewer explored through the raw data. He was hoping to find an inconsistency. The result she presented could have a grave underlying meaning, if true. However, he found no errors of any kind.
"There's something I don't understand. Why did you bother testing those two components together, instead of separately ?"
"Oh, well. Their structure is similar, so I thought they would unify well. Despite that fact, they have different behaviors when separate. So, I thought seeing them paired would do something… interesting ?"
Hearing this, Dr.Wieczorek was baffled. First, by the way she explained her idea. And second, because of the infantile, yet brilliant simplicity of the reasoning.
"So what you tested here is the concentration levels in the joined components ?"
"To put it simply, yes."
"And you still don't realize what those results mean ?"
Cheryl shook her head.
"It means you have created something new." he explained. "And this thing you made appears to hold a very large concentration of what we're trying to replicate."
"Oh ! So… that's a good thing, right ?"
"Well, yes ! YES, that's a good thing ! How can you not notice that ? You potentially created something amazing in your experiment ! Are you going to tell me that it was an accident ? That's bullshit !"
"I thought that it would be interesting. But usually, people tell me that my ideas are too stupid to explore, so… I never carried my ideas out, that's all. So, you're saying it's good ?"
"Listen. You need to stop worrying about what the others told you, okay ? You made… this. And I think that if you give them your report as if, they will reject it."
"Then, I'm condemned to fail ?"
"No. Because there will be my approval on it."
The discussion ended there. Cheryl didn't know how to act then. At once, she felt pride, a bit of anxiety, but mostly confusion.
"You will support my research ?"
"Yes. Now, I won't hold you any longer. You should go and prepare for your presentation."
At the end of the month, Cheryl's coworkers only had one question after her presentation. "Why did Dr.Wieczorek give you his approval ?". Unbeknownst to them, that was the exact question she wanted to be asked. Trying to hide her proud smile, Cheryl prepared to expose the true perspectives of her work. Carefully, she laid out all aspects of the experiment, following the advice she got.
That day, Cheryl became Dr.Jones.
This presentation sent a massive shock wave in the community. Her previous reputation completely shattered. Dr.Jones expanded on the subject with Dr.Wieczorek with a new project. After a few months of extra experiments, the conclusion was the one they expected. A new component with unfathomable features was discovered. In a matter of months, the paper released by 'Wieczorek & Jones' was a 'hit'. It even reached out to the curiosity of non-scientists. Supported by a wave of support in the community, the research was acclaimed. Big media started relaying it, announcing potential for breakthroughs in the medical world.
Her cunning and aggressive nature was what brought her there, so she kept up her hard work. What she was laughed at for previously, turned into one of her greatest qualities. Those who mocked her for her naivety were now praising her for her sound reasoning. Those who mocked her for her messiness were now praising her for her simple methods.
But Dr.Jones was not stupid. Behind all this effortless boot licking lied a putrid, disgusting smell. Jealousy. Greed. Disdain. And those negative feelings were coming from her former coworkers. They were harboring smiles so fake, you could see it was painful for them. Unfortunately for them, serendipity had its limits tested many times with Dr.Jones. But she always won in the end. Her collaboration with Dr.Wieczorek never ended. Even though the first paper kept being the best, results never stopped coming.
After a few years of prosperity in the research community, Dr.Jones was facing a new ordeal. And this new challenge, which was unlike all the others so far, started with a simple meeting. Felicia Gardner represented an influential group in the pharmaceutics industry. She came to see Dr.Jones with a proposition. A very simple one, in fact.
"We need you to announce that products made based on your research aren't safe."
After the formalities, the meeting only lasted 10 seconds at that point. This was enough time for Dr.Jones to realize that the person in front of her was like the devil.
"You want me to invalidate my own research ?"
"That's one way to put it."
"Tell me what you want, then."
"We want you to publish another paper on the substance you discovered. Anything that discredits the conclusion you submitted."
"What makes you think I will accept that ?"
"We are ready to make all the 'arrangements'. You don't need to worry about that aspect."
Definitely, Dr.Jones could, in no way, accept this proposition. When Ms.Gardner announced her conditions, the old Cheryl Jones was taken back from the grave. Internally debating the direction to take, she remembered her beginnings. The will to break through in the medical field. Find new ways to save lives. Make the world healthier and better.
"I refuse."
"Then, you are underestimating my offer."
Ms.Gardner pulled out an envelope from her bag, and gave her to the researcher. Dr.Jones opened it. She had no idea what was in it, but she feared its contents anyway.
"Oh… God."
In the envelope, there was no threat. No devilish contract. Just… an awful lot of money. At the sight of those contents, the original Cheryl Jones went back underneath. Dr.Jones asked herself. She asked the innovative, competitive Dr.Jones, instead of the weak and utopist Cheryl. What was the better option here ? And more importantly, what kind of person could refuse that offer ?
Seeing Dr.Jones's heavy mental struggle, the devil didn't even try to hide her smile. Not a smile of politeness, but a smile of victory.
"I… I need time to think about it." muttered Cheryl Jones, as she gave back the envelope, and left the room in a hurry.
"It was nice to meet you !" said Ms.Gardner, as her conquered prey left the room.
Dr.Jones needed to take some rest. But after three days off, following that meeting, nothing changed in her mind.
She was indecisive. Every second she happened to think about work, there was this question. What should I do ? What is the better way ? For me ? For us ? For the world ?
In the morning of her fourth day off, Dr.Jones received a call from her friend and partner, Dr.Wieczorek.
"Hello Cheryl. I have something important to tell you."
"What is it ?"
"I'm working a new paper, but you can't be a part of it. So don't try to contact me on the subject."
"Wait… but, why ? What is it about ?"
"I can't tell you that. I'm here to tell you that… you can't be on the project, okay ?"
"No, don't tell me… You didn't meet this Felicia, didn't you ?"
"Cheryl. Stop this. You lost track of your life. Goodbye."
"Wait, you piece of- !"
But he hanged up. And that was it. The last light of hope in Cheryl died, right then. Some people thought that this would only awaken a stronger Dr.Jones. What this event really did was create something awful. A person devoid of passion, of honesty. A person who can't feel trust anymore.
After being struck down, Dr.Cheryl Jones went back to being a normal researcher. Some time later, Dr.Wieczorek would go on to publish a paper. As expected, it disproved the first one they made together. Everything played right in the hands of that evil Ms.Gardner. Just imagining that woman being happy made Dr.Jones angry. At the same time, a dark part of her wished to have accepted the money. Eventually, all parts of Dr.Jones converged to hate herself, and her indecisiveness. She didn't act to keep her discovery alive, but she didn't take the offer either. She watched her utopia miserably crash and burn.
A few years later, Dr.Wieczorek became a part of a lawsuit. It was issued against Gardner's company. Taking down all actors in this horrible scheme. Seeing those news, Dr.Jones should have been happy, but she wasn't. She thought that this lawsuit couldn't validate her initial study again. And despite a few efforts to push another paper, she came to terms with the futility of this endless circle. In a way, she was kind of relieved that she didn't accept the money, considering the outcome.
What could have been the origin of a breakthrough, ended up buried deep underground. And not Dr.Jones, nor anyone around here could support it anymore. But even though she didn't feel it herself, she believed that somewhere, the flame of hope was still lit within someone. Someone who would fight to shed light on the forgotten discovery. Someone brave enough to face adversity in every situation. Someone talented enough to pursue the research with new elements.
And as the planet burns under their feet, their inhabitants wait for the rain of salvation.
March 4, 2017
March 1, 2017
031 - Solder of the Lost Gods, Part 3
This is a three-part story. Read part 1 and part 2 first.
As if to state the presence of a god, a storm was being drawn in the sky, loud and threatening. But in the middle of this roar of chaos, a silent, almost frozen scene was taking place.
Yoshiro, the detective had his sprint cut short by the stranger's reveal. At the same time, Yukie was contemplating the merciless demon, covered in white sheets.
"And now… You."
Only three words were necessary to make her stop and shiver and fear. And even though stood before her the murderer of her husband, she could do nothing.
The stranger took one step towards Yukie. As if shaken awake, Yoshiro began to move again, but was careful to not make sudden movements. Yukie's hand was trying to reach for her weapon, a knife hidden in her bag. She could do nothing but stare, frozen by fear. Her survival instinct wasn't helping much. She moved backwards, not sure where to put her feet.
After what seemed like hours, she realized that she couldn't find her knife. In a growing state of panic, she looked around her as she was stepping back. But the knife wasn't anywhere.
"Looking for this ?"
As the stranger said this, they showed Yukie the knife she was looking for. The tension was stronger than ever. Yukie could be assaulted at any moment. With a focused mind, Yoshiro was carefully sneaking around. For an unknown reason, the stranger didn't seem to acknowledge Yoshiro.
With a swift dash forward, the stranger jumped on Yukie, who tried to dodge the best she could. Aiming for her chest, the stranger managed to drive the knife closer the her shoulder. Yukie screamed in pain and fell down, making her evade the stranger's next strike. This time, it was over. She was lying there, clenching her wounded shoulder. The stranger stood above her, ready to finish her. With inhuman speed, Yoshiro rushed towards the stranger. He rammed through the assaillant, his shoulder forward. This heroic move saved Yukie, and defeated the stranger. Beaten, they were groaning in pain from the fractured limbs caused by the assault.
"I fucking got you, you piece of shit !" yelled Yoshiro, with a voice that sounded both proud and angry.
"It's my sister…" said Yukie.
"What ?"
"Under that mask… it can only be her. She was absent for some time, and she could have only taken the knife while I was at her house. Besides, she sounded very suspicious the whole time… "
"Your sister ?"
Impatient to finally unravel the mystery, Yoshiro pulled out the stranger's mask. After many weeks of chasing, the detective had finally caught his prey, red-handed. In front of him, the killer was… someone he had never seen before.
"Wait… who are you ?"
Behind the mask and sheets was a woman. So far, Yukie had the right guess. But despite all the work he put into the case, and all the people he had met along the way, Yoshiro could not identify that person. Yukie weakly raised her head to confirm the killer's identity. She had the same reaction as Yoshiro.
"What ? But… who the hell are you ?"
Surrounded by confused looks, the woman started to giggle. Until eventually, she almost bursted in laughter.
"You don't know anything… You damn fools ! You have no idea who you are messing with…"
Yoshiro noticed that the whole time, the woman was slowly moving her arm. As first, he thought that it was only a natural reaction of shaking, because of the pain. But when he finally landed his eyes on her hand, he noticed a small object in a wrap. And then, he realized what it was.
"NO !"
He tried to grab the item, but it was too late. With an incredibly fast movement, the woman threw the object in her mouth and swallowed. Shortly after, she started to make weird noises, until she had a seizure. Then, she fell unconscious, frothing. Yoshiro was not fast enough, only by a single second. But that was enough time for the woman to swallow her poison.
The killer was defeated, but there was not an ounce of joy among the two partners. Both knew that they were still far away from the truth. Rained started to pour, following the thunder. Yoshiro fell to his knees, as if all strength was drained from his body. Both went very pensive and silent, until Yukie was reminded of her wound. Yoshiro noticed, and helped her get on her feet so that they could go back to the city and get treated.
"Wait… If it is the work of an organization, the body won't be here when we come back." said Yukie.
"Are you sure ? You have to get healed quickly."
"It's fine… I was prepared for this, anyway. In fact, I was prepared for worse…"
Both worried and relieved, Yoshiro immediately started his investigation. He examined the mask. It was exactly the same as the others. The sword was nothing special, quite cheap in fact. Eventually, there was nothing left to examine, aside from the clothes. While he was doing his search, Yukie took a closer look at the woman's face. She was indeed in no capacity to indentify her, but she had a very… familiar feel. There was a strong possibility that Yukie saw that woman before, but never talked to her. Who could she be ?
"Hey, there's something in there." Yoshiro said.
The detective showed Yukie something. The moment Yukie saw it, she understood everything.
That clue was… a letter. Undoubtedly, this was the same as the one used to kill her husband.
"Don't open it !" she said to the detective.
"I know, I know. There is poison inside, right ?"
Of course. That was it. By looking at the woman's face alone, she didn't have a strong chance to recognize her. But with the letter, it was like two puzzle pieces fitting together.
The woman was the lady at the counter in the Ms.Sakamoto's inn. When Yukie visited the place, she met this lady. And then, she met Ms.Sakamoto, on the counter lady's recommendation. When she left, Ms.Sakamoto was instructing the counter lady about making letters. By looking at the shape of the letter, there was no doubt that, at the very least, the one the killer was holding was made with the same technique that Ms.Sakamoto taught.
"There's nothing left. We should go now." said the detective, concluding his investigation.
"I know who the killer is. Let's go there."
"You know who that lady is, in the end ?"
"Yes, but… this is not the culprit we're looking for. I'll tell you later… I should get to the doctor now."
Following a quick treatment and a good night of rest, Yukie took the time to get ready for another trip. Later in the morning, Yoshiro showed up where she was resting.
"Sorry, I had to negociate to do the trip… But I'm ready now. You're sure that you know who it is, right ?"
"I think I do."
"You… think ?"
"It's complicated. I'll tell you on the way."
And then, the both of them departed for a trip that should last a few days, towards the city where the inn was located. Along the way, Yukie shared all her thoughts and theories with the detective. He always had that impression before, but he showed a clear interest in what she said. He didn't want to assume that she a talent, because he had his doubt. What if she was only driven by hatred towards the person who killed her husband ?
After three days, they arrived at the city, and hurried to the inn. As she saw last time, the inn was surrounded by a bunch of strange-looking people. And when they entered, her doubts were confirmed.
By her sudden entrance, she interrupted one of the customers. That customer was arguing at the counter with no other than the owner, Ms.Sakamoto. That customer was Akane, Yukie's sister.
"How can you be there ?" Akane said loudly.
For the first time since she began her detective work, Yukie smiled. Well, not really. It wasn't a smile of joy, it was jubilation.
"I was right after all, it was you." said Yukie.
"What… What are you talking about ?" Akane asked, in a panic.
Yukie turned to Ms.Sakamoto.
"This inn is the home of your cult, right ?"
"What makes you think that ?" Ms.Sakamoto replied.
"You act like you are merely the owner of a simple inn, but you train all your employees here for another kind of 'work'. You send them all over the country, and make them act like a mysterious killer. The 'Soldier of the Lost Gods'."
"Those victims aren't planned by the killer. I thought I told you that the victims were collateral damage ?"
"That is what you make it look like. In reality, you lure most of your victims at a temple, like you did with me. With that method, you could build a zealous character that only killed if necessary. But in reality, those were the primary focus… Isn't that right, Akane ?"
Akane was nervous. The more Yukie spoke, the more she looked panicked and lost. The moment she looked for the exit, her eyes met with those of Yoshiro, burning with contempt.
"Don't even think about it." he said.
Akane turned to Ms.Sakamoto. "Please, do something ! I already paid you !"
"No." the owner responded.
"What ? What do you mean, 'no' ?"
"I won't defend you. You were an awful client. The police will take care of you."
Following those words, Yoshiro raised his arm as a signal. Then, from the outside, a handful of local officers barged into the inn, and arrested Akane. She became the prime suspect for the attempted assassination of Yukie. Akane screamed and struggled, staring at her sister with a furious look on her face.
"This is why your husband cheated with me, you cold bitch !"
"As I expected… you are also the one who ordered this one too, right ?"
Akane didn't respond, as she was forcefully being carried to the station. On his way out, Yoshiro saluted Yukie, who bowed in response. As her sister was leaving the scene, the inn was getting silent again.
"Just so you know.", Ms.Sakamoto said. "I will help you bring you sister down… but do not think you can expose me so easily. Many tried, and burned their wings. This is a warning."
"Thank you. But I intend to bring you down as well, given the time."
Ms.Sakamoto chuckled. "Oh, I know you will try. You have it in you."
Yukie was heading out of the inn to follow the police, but she was interrupted by Ms.Sakamoto.
"Wait. Your husband… I went there personally. If only I knew what kind of woman his wife was… "
"Then, I guess that makes us even. Sorry for killing your disciple."
After those events, Yukie went back to her hometown. Her thirst for answers was quenched enough for her to relax, if only for a couple of days. But in the end, could she really say that she had her revenge on the killer ? Probably not. Or, at least, not in the way she thought she would. But this was enough.
Just like she predicted, Ms.Sakamoto's business was still alive and well. The 'Soldier of the Lost Gods' was still working all over the country. Despite their knowledge, neither Yukie nor Yoshiro became targets. In a way, the fight against the killer was only beginning. On that thought, and by observing her own reaction, Yukie knew what really drove her to find the murderer. She was… excited. Eager to investigate once again.
One day, she was reunited with one of her friends, who was passing by. Kouta, the traveling merchant. After catching up for a bit, Kouta proposed to help her travel once again. There was one person she wanted to work with… the only person who shared her burning desire. A desire to solve the crimes of the most affluent killer of the era.
As if to state the presence of a god, a storm was being drawn in the sky, loud and threatening. But in the middle of this roar of chaos, a silent, almost frozen scene was taking place.
Yoshiro, the detective had his sprint cut short by the stranger's reveal. At the same time, Yukie was contemplating the merciless demon, covered in white sheets.
"And now… You."
Only three words were necessary to make her stop and shiver and fear. And even though stood before her the murderer of her husband, she could do nothing.
The stranger took one step towards Yukie. As if shaken awake, Yoshiro began to move again, but was careful to not make sudden movements. Yukie's hand was trying to reach for her weapon, a knife hidden in her bag. She could do nothing but stare, frozen by fear. Her survival instinct wasn't helping much. She moved backwards, not sure where to put her feet.
After what seemed like hours, she realized that she couldn't find her knife. In a growing state of panic, she looked around her as she was stepping back. But the knife wasn't anywhere.
"Looking for this ?"
As the stranger said this, they showed Yukie the knife she was looking for. The tension was stronger than ever. Yukie could be assaulted at any moment. With a focused mind, Yoshiro was carefully sneaking around. For an unknown reason, the stranger didn't seem to acknowledge Yoshiro.
With a swift dash forward, the stranger jumped on Yukie, who tried to dodge the best she could. Aiming for her chest, the stranger managed to drive the knife closer the her shoulder. Yukie screamed in pain and fell down, making her evade the stranger's next strike. This time, it was over. She was lying there, clenching her wounded shoulder. The stranger stood above her, ready to finish her. With inhuman speed, Yoshiro rushed towards the stranger. He rammed through the assaillant, his shoulder forward. This heroic move saved Yukie, and defeated the stranger. Beaten, they were groaning in pain from the fractured limbs caused by the assault.
"I fucking got you, you piece of shit !" yelled Yoshiro, with a voice that sounded both proud and angry.
"It's my sister…" said Yukie.
"What ?"
"Under that mask… it can only be her. She was absent for some time, and she could have only taken the knife while I was at her house. Besides, she sounded very suspicious the whole time… "
"Your sister ?"
Impatient to finally unravel the mystery, Yoshiro pulled out the stranger's mask. After many weeks of chasing, the detective had finally caught his prey, red-handed. In front of him, the killer was… someone he had never seen before.
"Wait… who are you ?"
Behind the mask and sheets was a woman. So far, Yukie had the right guess. But despite all the work he put into the case, and all the people he had met along the way, Yoshiro could not identify that person. Yukie weakly raised her head to confirm the killer's identity. She had the same reaction as Yoshiro.
"What ? But… who the hell are you ?"
Surrounded by confused looks, the woman started to giggle. Until eventually, she almost bursted in laughter.
"You don't know anything… You damn fools ! You have no idea who you are messing with…"
Yoshiro noticed that the whole time, the woman was slowly moving her arm. As first, he thought that it was only a natural reaction of shaking, because of the pain. But when he finally landed his eyes on her hand, he noticed a small object in a wrap. And then, he realized what it was.
"NO !"
He tried to grab the item, but it was too late. With an incredibly fast movement, the woman threw the object in her mouth and swallowed. Shortly after, she started to make weird noises, until she had a seizure. Then, she fell unconscious, frothing. Yoshiro was not fast enough, only by a single second. But that was enough time for the woman to swallow her poison.
The killer was defeated, but there was not an ounce of joy among the two partners. Both knew that they were still far away from the truth. Rained started to pour, following the thunder. Yoshiro fell to his knees, as if all strength was drained from his body. Both went very pensive and silent, until Yukie was reminded of her wound. Yoshiro noticed, and helped her get on her feet so that they could go back to the city and get treated.
"Wait… If it is the work of an organization, the body won't be here when we come back." said Yukie.
"Are you sure ? You have to get healed quickly."
"It's fine… I was prepared for this, anyway. In fact, I was prepared for worse…"
Both worried and relieved, Yoshiro immediately started his investigation. He examined the mask. It was exactly the same as the others. The sword was nothing special, quite cheap in fact. Eventually, there was nothing left to examine, aside from the clothes. While he was doing his search, Yukie took a closer look at the woman's face. She was indeed in no capacity to indentify her, but she had a very… familiar feel. There was a strong possibility that Yukie saw that woman before, but never talked to her. Who could she be ?
"Hey, there's something in there." Yoshiro said.
The detective showed Yukie something. The moment Yukie saw it, she understood everything.
That clue was… a letter. Undoubtedly, this was the same as the one used to kill her husband.
"Don't open it !" she said to the detective.
"I know, I know. There is poison inside, right ?"
Of course. That was it. By looking at the woman's face alone, she didn't have a strong chance to recognize her. But with the letter, it was like two puzzle pieces fitting together.
The woman was the lady at the counter in the Ms.Sakamoto's inn. When Yukie visited the place, she met this lady. And then, she met Ms.Sakamoto, on the counter lady's recommendation. When she left, Ms.Sakamoto was instructing the counter lady about making letters. By looking at the shape of the letter, there was no doubt that, at the very least, the one the killer was holding was made with the same technique that Ms.Sakamoto taught.
"There's nothing left. We should go now." said the detective, concluding his investigation.
"I know who the killer is. Let's go there."
"You know who that lady is, in the end ?"
"Yes, but… this is not the culprit we're looking for. I'll tell you later… I should get to the doctor now."
Following a quick treatment and a good night of rest, Yukie took the time to get ready for another trip. Later in the morning, Yoshiro showed up where she was resting.
"Sorry, I had to negociate to do the trip… But I'm ready now. You're sure that you know who it is, right ?"
"I think I do."
"You… think ?"
"It's complicated. I'll tell you on the way."
And then, the both of them departed for a trip that should last a few days, towards the city where the inn was located. Along the way, Yukie shared all her thoughts and theories with the detective. He always had that impression before, but he showed a clear interest in what she said. He didn't want to assume that she a talent, because he had his doubt. What if she was only driven by hatred towards the person who killed her husband ?
After three days, they arrived at the city, and hurried to the inn. As she saw last time, the inn was surrounded by a bunch of strange-looking people. And when they entered, her doubts were confirmed.
By her sudden entrance, she interrupted one of the customers. That customer was arguing at the counter with no other than the owner, Ms.Sakamoto. That customer was Akane, Yukie's sister.
"How can you be there ?" Akane said loudly.
For the first time since she began her detective work, Yukie smiled. Well, not really. It wasn't a smile of joy, it was jubilation.
"I was right after all, it was you." said Yukie.
"What… What are you talking about ?" Akane asked, in a panic.
Yukie turned to Ms.Sakamoto.
"This inn is the home of your cult, right ?"
"What makes you think that ?" Ms.Sakamoto replied.
"You act like you are merely the owner of a simple inn, but you train all your employees here for another kind of 'work'. You send them all over the country, and make them act like a mysterious killer. The 'Soldier of the Lost Gods'."
"Those victims aren't planned by the killer. I thought I told you that the victims were collateral damage ?"
"That is what you make it look like. In reality, you lure most of your victims at a temple, like you did with me. With that method, you could build a zealous character that only killed if necessary. But in reality, those were the primary focus… Isn't that right, Akane ?"
Akane was nervous. The more Yukie spoke, the more she looked panicked and lost. The moment she looked for the exit, her eyes met with those of Yoshiro, burning with contempt.
"Don't even think about it." he said.
Akane turned to Ms.Sakamoto. "Please, do something ! I already paid you !"
"No." the owner responded.
"What ? What do you mean, 'no' ?"
"I won't defend you. You were an awful client. The police will take care of you."
Following those words, Yoshiro raised his arm as a signal. Then, from the outside, a handful of local officers barged into the inn, and arrested Akane. She became the prime suspect for the attempted assassination of Yukie. Akane screamed and struggled, staring at her sister with a furious look on her face.
"This is why your husband cheated with me, you cold bitch !"
"As I expected… you are also the one who ordered this one too, right ?"
Akane didn't respond, as she was forcefully being carried to the station. On his way out, Yoshiro saluted Yukie, who bowed in response. As her sister was leaving the scene, the inn was getting silent again.
"Just so you know.", Ms.Sakamoto said. "I will help you bring you sister down… but do not think you can expose me so easily. Many tried, and burned their wings. This is a warning."
"Thank you. But I intend to bring you down as well, given the time."
Ms.Sakamoto chuckled. "Oh, I know you will try. You have it in you."
Yukie was heading out of the inn to follow the police, but she was interrupted by Ms.Sakamoto.
"Wait. Your husband… I went there personally. If only I knew what kind of woman his wife was… "
"Then, I guess that makes us even. Sorry for killing your disciple."
After those events, Yukie went back to her hometown. Her thirst for answers was quenched enough for her to relax, if only for a couple of days. But in the end, could she really say that she had her revenge on the killer ? Probably not. Or, at least, not in the way she thought she would. But this was enough.
Just like she predicted, Ms.Sakamoto's business was still alive and well. The 'Soldier of the Lost Gods' was still working all over the country. Despite their knowledge, neither Yukie nor Yoshiro became targets. In a way, the fight against the killer was only beginning. On that thought, and by observing her own reaction, Yukie knew what really drove her to find the murderer. She was… excited. Eager to investigate once again.
One day, she was reunited with one of her friends, who was passing by. Kouta, the traveling merchant. After catching up for a bit, Kouta proposed to help her travel once again. There was one person she wanted to work with… the only person who shared her burning desire. A desire to solve the crimes of the most affluent killer of the era.
February 25, 2017
030 - The Cry of a Lone Wolf
I long for the day where I'm gone forever
The day that no one will ever remember
Leaving a world who kept me in its chains
Unable to see who have the greatest brains
The things I could do I really were free
If only the masses would listen to me
Hear me, for I speak the truth of our kind
Or are you afraid of my wonderful mind ?
One day you will regret what you told me
You kill a smart man, you kill an idea
You didn't let me carry out my ascent
So please now at least, hear out my lament
Do not think I will just show you my weakness
There's just this one thing that I want to confess
How would my life be if I was confident
If I didn't need to act intelligent
You do not know me, you can't imagine
If friends were a food, I'd be in famine
In me, they only see a fool acting smart
Malicious intents which then tore me apart
Abandoned, forsaken, I have lived it all
Deprived of the courage I need to stand tall
I'm like a man who's lost in the desert
Who never left camp in fear of getting hurt
So please, let the world be aware of my plead
I don't want to die, I don't want to bleed
Let me seek love, my oasis in hell
Have someone in tears when I tell them farewell
I don't seek Heaven, but I seek joy
Give me your strength, and I will destroy
This part of me I hated for so long
And then I'll join you, where I belong
The day that no one will ever remember
Leaving a world who kept me in its chains
Unable to see who have the greatest brains
The things I could do I really were free
If only the masses would listen to me
Hear me, for I speak the truth of our kind
Or are you afraid of my wonderful mind ?
One day you will regret what you told me
You kill a smart man, you kill an idea
You didn't let me carry out my ascent
So please now at least, hear out my lament
Do not think I will just show you my weakness
There's just this one thing that I want to confess
How would my life be if I was confident
If I didn't need to act intelligent
You do not know me, you can't imagine
If friends were a food, I'd be in famine
In me, they only see a fool acting smart
Malicious intents which then tore me apart
Abandoned, forsaken, I have lived it all
Deprived of the courage I need to stand tall
I'm like a man who's lost in the desert
Who never left camp in fear of getting hurt
So please, let the world be aware of my plead
I don't want to die, I don't want to bleed
Let me seek love, my oasis in hell
Have someone in tears when I tell them farewell
I don't seek Heaven, but I seek joy
Give me your strength, and I will destroy
This part of me I hated for so long
And then I'll join you, where I belong
February 23, 2017
029 - Soldier of the Lost Gods, Part 2
This is a three-part story. Read Part 1 first.
The trip to the big city was a long one. More often than not, Yukie felt this uncomfortable feeling or wasting her time. On the other hand, Kouta, her newfound merchant friend, was serene. But the difference is, Kouta was doing his job in this situation.
During the trip, they made several stops on checkpoints and small villages. Every time, Yukie stopped to interrogate people. But nothing came out of those. And two days later, they arrived. When Yukie finally passed through the gates of the city, she hoped that this visit would prove useful. It was her last, and only lead on the case.
The crime scene was a temple, located in the area surrounding the city. This one, contrary to her village's temple, was way bigger and famous. Besides the people who came here to pray and give offerings, there was a different crowd. This one was smaller, but it consisted of people interested in the cases. Detectives of course, but also friends and families of the victims. The one they called 'Soldier of the Lost Gods' destroyed their lives.
When Yukie arrived, only two people were left from this crowd, both speaking to a detective. Eager to know more, Yukie approached them. They revealed to be the parents of one of the victims, who got killed no longer than three days ago.
"Are you related to the victim, too ?" the detective asked.
"Not this one. But my husband was killed by the same person."
"Another one, huh… how long has it been ?"
"A little more than a week ago."
"Oh, so you came from Kitamura-Nishi ?"
"No. Did something happen there too ?"
The detective looked at Yukie in doubt. The awkward silence made her kinda nervous.
"You… DON'T come from Kitamura-Nishi ? Someplace nearby, then ?"
"No, no. My village is more in the south."
"That's impossible. Someone got killed at the same time in Kitamura-Nishi, by the same person. The killer went there to desecrate the temple of Raijin and Fuujin."
Like in her previous interrogations, Yukie finished the discussion with more questions than answers. But this time, there was something she learned about the killer. Either they could teleport, or… there were several. This strengthened the conviction she had in the very beginning : this could be the work of a cult.
"I need to ask you some questions. Come with me at the station." said the detective.
After quite a long walk, both arrived at the detective's office. Inside, there were documents everywhere. The desk was very… messy, to say the least. Yukie couldn't read them all, but a good part of them were from similar cases. They all had the same clue… a mask left at the scene.
The detective, named Yoshiro, looked very tired. Behind his weary face, you could see some despair. There was no doubt that he was invested in his job. But probably a little too much.
"So, I'm sure the local police is handling the case in your area, so I don't know the specifics. What happened there ?"
Yukie told him everything she knew. The victim seemed to have died because of an unknown poison. A letter was found on his body, with traces of that poison. The desecrated statue was shattered by a sword, supposedly. And, the same mask as in the other cases.
"What was written on that letter ?" the detective asked.
"Nothing. They only found the poison, but the letter was blank."
"So, we have to assume that the victim… your husband, died by inhaling the poison himself ?"
"That is what the detectives concluded."
"But are you sure that the killer gave him the letter ?"
"Of course ! Who else ?"
"There is no doubt that the culprit gave the letter. But are we sure that the intent was to kill him ?"
"Obviously. They act alone, so it's obvious they were also the ones who wanted to ki-"
Yukie stopped talking. 'They act alone' ?. Wait a minute. That can't be right.
"Are you thinking about something ?" Yoshiro asked.
"You may be right… maybe the killer is simply some kind of messenger ?"
Yoshiro didn't answer, but took notes.
"What makes you think that ?" he asked.
"We know that two murders were committed around the same time, at different places, right ? Then, maybe this 'Soldier of the Lost Gods' isn't who we think they are."
"What do you think they are ?"
"Some sort of… figure. They represent something. It's a symbol."
"So, in the end, you are saying that they are a cult instead of a single person. How does that change anything ?"
Yukie felt a bit cornered by this question. When she thought she had a lead, it only brought her to square one. Even worse, she felt stuck in a rut. So, in the end, they are an organization that desecrates statues and kill those who oppose them ?
"I don't have any other questions. You can go now." the detective said.
"Wait ! Aren't you going to help me ?"
"Like I said, your case isn't under my jurisdiction. You'll have to talk with the detectives there."
"You say that, but you want to find the truth too, right ?"
"I, um..." Yoshiro sighed. "Look, yes, I want to know who is behind this. But I can't do anything here."
Both discussed for a while, until Yukie had to leave. "I'll tell you if I find something." she said to Yoshiro before going.
She went back to the crime scene for a while, until she realized that nothing else could be found there. The victim was strangled, the statues of the deities were smashed, and the same mask was found. Unfortunately, this one was a dead end. She started to regret her trip.
Yukie had one last thing to do in this city. Her sister lived in the area, so she thought she could pay her a visit. This turned out to be a longer side trip than expected, as night started to fall when she got there.
The reunion was half joy, half sadness. Her sister, Akane, knew about what happened with Yukie's husband.
"I am so sorry… did the police catch who did it ?"
"Not yet. It is a special case, too."
"What do you mean ?"
"The culprit is some kind of organization. They desecrate temples and kill those who oppose them."
"Oh, I've heard the rumors… the Soldier of the Lost Gods, right ?"
"That's what they're called, but I don't think this is only one person doing this. It must be some kind of network…"
Akane went into silence.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Yukie continued. "Maybe you don't want to talk about this ?"
"It's okay. Just… the kids, you know ?"
Contrary to Yukie, who never had children, Akane had three, respectively aged 4, 5 and 9 years old. They all seemed quite shy and didn't see their family often. Yet, they were curious about their aunt. Yukie beckoned the oldest, Aiko, to come see her. They talked about what Aiko was doing usually, what games she liked to play. But then, a harsh question came up.
"Auntie, how did uncle Sojiro die ?"
Yukie was trying to put her obsession with the case away. But then, she was taken back by this innocent, yet horrifying question.
"Someone sent him a letter with poison in it."
"Why didn't the killer use a knife ?"
"I have no idea. Maybe they didn't want to get blood on their clothes ?"
Aiko didn't seem satisifed with the answer, but she didn't ask other questions anyway. After a while, she went back in her room.
"You can stay here for a while if you want. My husband isn't here, so we have room for you." said Akane to her sister.
Yukie accepted, and immediately went to rest. She wasn't relieved, but still appreciated lying down for a moment. Even though her head was still full of questions, she didn't have too much trouble finding sleep.
In the morning, after a long slumber, she was woken up by the voices of the children, preparing for school. Akane was busy getting them ready, and didn't notice Yukie waking up. On her way out, Akane finally noticed her sister, and waved in a way of saying both 'hello' and 'see you later'.
With nothing else planned, she spent the whole day in the house or around it, walking in circles. She tried to connect the dots, and find a way to discover what's behind all this. But only based on what she knew right now, she couldn't find the answer she wanted.
When Akane came back home with the children, Yukie was still there. Reading notes, examining her clues over and over.
"Did you sleep well at least ?" Akane asked, in an attempt of humor.
"Yes. But I have to focus, and get the killers down."
As the mood turned serious again, the discussion ended, and only the children could be heard in the house. Dinner was also quite silent. However, someone broke it : it was Aiko.
"Auntie, have you found the killer yet ?"
"Not today. But soon, I will."
Akane, who was feeling very tired, went to bed earlier than the previous day. This time, Yukie didn't fall asleep very fast. Her eyes were for a long time, until her busy mind finally gave up.
*SLAM !* a noise jolted Yukie awake. But, neither Akane nor the children reacted. The noise wasn't that strong, but Yukie could still hear it clear. In the end, she only managed to wake up because her sleep was weak, due to all the stress she was facing.
Yukie got up, and walked slowly in the house. It seemed that the sound didn't come from outside, but more like someone hit the front door. As she got to the front door, she was extremely nervous. She didn't want to see what was beyond it. But with the small of amount courage she still had, she slid the door slightly… and thankfully, no one was there. However, a note was attached to the door.
"Tomorrow, Midnight. Tenjin Temple. - Yoshiro"
A note from Yoshiro… asking to meet him the next day. The Tenjin Temple was in the same area, so it was a short walk. In fact, it was closer to Akane's house than from the temple where they found the strangled victim.
The next day, Yukie prepared to meet Yoshiro. But deep inside, she knew that she had to be ready. In case something bad happened. There was no reason why Yoshiro had to leave a note on the door. Or how he knew that Yukie was staying here, at her sister's place. So this could only be a trap. But, who else knew about the collaboration between Yoshiro and her ? All things considered, she decided that bringing something to defend herself was mandatory. She borrowed a knife from Akane without telling her, and hid it between her clothes.
The time came. 10 minutes to midnight, and Yukie is sitting at the entrance of the Tenjin Temple. The more time passed, the more she regretted doing it. She thought that having a weapon would give her courage, but no.
But then, she heard something. Footsteps. Immediately, she raised her head, and looked in the distance. She couldn't sey from that far, but there was definitely a person. That person was slowly coming closer. Until at least she could recognize them.
It was Yoshiro. Looks like the note wasn't fake, after all. She let out a huge sigh of relief, and the tension went away. Still looking at Yoshiro, she got up, and walked towards the detective.
But suddenly, Yoshiro started running, as if something made him panic.
"YUKIE ! WATCH OUT !" he shouted.
Almost immediately following the scream, a violent noise was heard, as if a meteor hit the ground. The sound came from behind Yukie, who turned around in panic. In front of her… was a person. The person could not be seen clearly, because they were wearing white sheets all around. Around that person, were the collapsing remains of the statue of Tenjin.
Slowly, that person put their sword back into the sheath. They turned around, and faced the frightened woman. Even then, it was difficult to tell who was really standing before Yukie. Because that person was wearing a white mask, covering their face.
"And now… You."
This is a three-part story. Read Part 3 here.
The trip to the big city was a long one. More often than not, Yukie felt this uncomfortable feeling or wasting her time. On the other hand, Kouta, her newfound merchant friend, was serene. But the difference is, Kouta was doing his job in this situation.
During the trip, they made several stops on checkpoints and small villages. Every time, Yukie stopped to interrogate people. But nothing came out of those. And two days later, they arrived. When Yukie finally passed through the gates of the city, she hoped that this visit would prove useful. It was her last, and only lead on the case.
The crime scene was a temple, located in the area surrounding the city. This one, contrary to her village's temple, was way bigger and famous. Besides the people who came here to pray and give offerings, there was a different crowd. This one was smaller, but it consisted of people interested in the cases. Detectives of course, but also friends and families of the victims. The one they called 'Soldier of the Lost Gods' destroyed their lives.
When Yukie arrived, only two people were left from this crowd, both speaking to a detective. Eager to know more, Yukie approached them. They revealed to be the parents of one of the victims, who got killed no longer than three days ago.
"Are you related to the victim, too ?" the detective asked.
"Not this one. But my husband was killed by the same person."
"Another one, huh… how long has it been ?"
"A little more than a week ago."
"Oh, so you came from Kitamura-Nishi ?"
"No. Did something happen there too ?"
The detective looked at Yukie in doubt. The awkward silence made her kinda nervous.
"You… DON'T come from Kitamura-Nishi ? Someplace nearby, then ?"
"No, no. My village is more in the south."
"That's impossible. Someone got killed at the same time in Kitamura-Nishi, by the same person. The killer went there to desecrate the temple of Raijin and Fuujin."
Like in her previous interrogations, Yukie finished the discussion with more questions than answers. But this time, there was something she learned about the killer. Either they could teleport, or… there were several. This strengthened the conviction she had in the very beginning : this could be the work of a cult.
"I need to ask you some questions. Come with me at the station." said the detective.
After quite a long walk, both arrived at the detective's office. Inside, there were documents everywhere. The desk was very… messy, to say the least. Yukie couldn't read them all, but a good part of them were from similar cases. They all had the same clue… a mask left at the scene.
The detective, named Yoshiro, looked very tired. Behind his weary face, you could see some despair. There was no doubt that he was invested in his job. But probably a little too much.
"So, I'm sure the local police is handling the case in your area, so I don't know the specifics. What happened there ?"
Yukie told him everything she knew. The victim seemed to have died because of an unknown poison. A letter was found on his body, with traces of that poison. The desecrated statue was shattered by a sword, supposedly. And, the same mask as in the other cases.
"What was written on that letter ?" the detective asked.
"Nothing. They only found the poison, but the letter was blank."
"So, we have to assume that the victim… your husband, died by inhaling the poison himself ?"
"That is what the detectives concluded."
"But are you sure that the killer gave him the letter ?"
"Of course ! Who else ?"
"There is no doubt that the culprit gave the letter. But are we sure that the intent was to kill him ?"
"Obviously. They act alone, so it's obvious they were also the ones who wanted to ki-"
Yukie stopped talking. 'They act alone' ?. Wait a minute. That can't be right.
"Are you thinking about something ?" Yoshiro asked.
"You may be right… maybe the killer is simply some kind of messenger ?"
Yoshiro didn't answer, but took notes.
"What makes you think that ?" he asked.
"We know that two murders were committed around the same time, at different places, right ? Then, maybe this 'Soldier of the Lost Gods' isn't who we think they are."
"What do you think they are ?"
"Some sort of… figure. They represent something. It's a symbol."
"So, in the end, you are saying that they are a cult instead of a single person. How does that change anything ?"
Yukie felt a bit cornered by this question. When she thought she had a lead, it only brought her to square one. Even worse, she felt stuck in a rut. So, in the end, they are an organization that desecrates statues and kill those who oppose them ?
"I don't have any other questions. You can go now." the detective said.
"Wait ! Aren't you going to help me ?"
"Like I said, your case isn't under my jurisdiction. You'll have to talk with the detectives there."
"You say that, but you want to find the truth too, right ?"
"I, um..." Yoshiro sighed. "Look, yes, I want to know who is behind this. But I can't do anything here."
Both discussed for a while, until Yukie had to leave. "I'll tell you if I find something." she said to Yoshiro before going.
She went back to the crime scene for a while, until she realized that nothing else could be found there. The victim was strangled, the statues of the deities were smashed, and the same mask was found. Unfortunately, this one was a dead end. She started to regret her trip.
Yukie had one last thing to do in this city. Her sister lived in the area, so she thought she could pay her a visit. This turned out to be a longer side trip than expected, as night started to fall when she got there.
The reunion was half joy, half sadness. Her sister, Akane, knew about what happened with Yukie's husband.
"I am so sorry… did the police catch who did it ?"
"Not yet. It is a special case, too."
"What do you mean ?"
"The culprit is some kind of organization. They desecrate temples and kill those who oppose them."
"Oh, I've heard the rumors… the Soldier of the Lost Gods, right ?"
"That's what they're called, but I don't think this is only one person doing this. It must be some kind of network…"
Akane went into silence.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Yukie continued. "Maybe you don't want to talk about this ?"
"It's okay. Just… the kids, you know ?"
Contrary to Yukie, who never had children, Akane had three, respectively aged 4, 5 and 9 years old. They all seemed quite shy and didn't see their family often. Yet, they were curious about their aunt. Yukie beckoned the oldest, Aiko, to come see her. They talked about what Aiko was doing usually, what games she liked to play. But then, a harsh question came up.
"Auntie, how did uncle Sojiro die ?"
Yukie was trying to put her obsession with the case away. But then, she was taken back by this innocent, yet horrifying question.
"Someone sent him a letter with poison in it."
"Why didn't the killer use a knife ?"
"I have no idea. Maybe they didn't want to get blood on their clothes ?"
Aiko didn't seem satisifed with the answer, but she didn't ask other questions anyway. After a while, she went back in her room.
"You can stay here for a while if you want. My husband isn't here, so we have room for you." said Akane to her sister.
Yukie accepted, and immediately went to rest. She wasn't relieved, but still appreciated lying down for a moment. Even though her head was still full of questions, she didn't have too much trouble finding sleep.
In the morning, after a long slumber, she was woken up by the voices of the children, preparing for school. Akane was busy getting them ready, and didn't notice Yukie waking up. On her way out, Akane finally noticed her sister, and waved in a way of saying both 'hello' and 'see you later'.
With nothing else planned, she spent the whole day in the house or around it, walking in circles. She tried to connect the dots, and find a way to discover what's behind all this. But only based on what she knew right now, she couldn't find the answer she wanted.
When Akane came back home with the children, Yukie was still there. Reading notes, examining her clues over and over.
"Did you sleep well at least ?" Akane asked, in an attempt of humor.
"Yes. But I have to focus, and get the killers down."
As the mood turned serious again, the discussion ended, and only the children could be heard in the house. Dinner was also quite silent. However, someone broke it : it was Aiko.
"Auntie, have you found the killer yet ?"
"Not today. But soon, I will."
Akane, who was feeling very tired, went to bed earlier than the previous day. This time, Yukie didn't fall asleep very fast. Her eyes were for a long time, until her busy mind finally gave up.
*SLAM !* a noise jolted Yukie awake. But, neither Akane nor the children reacted. The noise wasn't that strong, but Yukie could still hear it clear. In the end, she only managed to wake up because her sleep was weak, due to all the stress she was facing.
Yukie got up, and walked slowly in the house. It seemed that the sound didn't come from outside, but more like someone hit the front door. As she got to the front door, she was extremely nervous. She didn't want to see what was beyond it. But with the small of amount courage she still had, she slid the door slightly… and thankfully, no one was there. However, a note was attached to the door.
"Tomorrow, Midnight. Tenjin Temple. - Yoshiro"
A note from Yoshiro… asking to meet him the next day. The Tenjin Temple was in the same area, so it was a short walk. In fact, it was closer to Akane's house than from the temple where they found the strangled victim.
The next day, Yukie prepared to meet Yoshiro. But deep inside, she knew that she had to be ready. In case something bad happened. There was no reason why Yoshiro had to leave a note on the door. Or how he knew that Yukie was staying here, at her sister's place. So this could only be a trap. But, who else knew about the collaboration between Yoshiro and her ? All things considered, she decided that bringing something to defend herself was mandatory. She borrowed a knife from Akane without telling her, and hid it between her clothes.
The time came. 10 minutes to midnight, and Yukie is sitting at the entrance of the Tenjin Temple. The more time passed, the more she regretted doing it. She thought that having a weapon would give her courage, but no.
But then, she heard something. Footsteps. Immediately, she raised her head, and looked in the distance. She couldn't sey from that far, but there was definitely a person. That person was slowly coming closer. Until at least she could recognize them.
It was Yoshiro. Looks like the note wasn't fake, after all. She let out a huge sigh of relief, and the tension went away. Still looking at Yoshiro, she got up, and walked towards the detective.
But suddenly, Yoshiro started running, as if something made him panic.
"YUKIE ! WATCH OUT !" he shouted.
Almost immediately following the scream, a violent noise was heard, as if a meteor hit the ground. The sound came from behind Yukie, who turned around in panic. In front of her… was a person. The person could not be seen clearly, because they were wearing white sheets all around. Around that person, were the collapsing remains of the statue of Tenjin.
Slowly, that person put their sword back into the sheath. They turned around, and faced the frightened woman. Even then, it was difficult to tell who was really standing before Yukie. Because that person was wearing a white mask, covering their face.
"And now… You."
This is a three-part story. Read Part 3 here.
February 19, 2017
028 - Soldier of the Lost Gods, Part 1
On a cold night, under a beautiful moon, the temple of Kuebiko was calm, as usual. In front of it, a single guard, sleeping. The Temple was a magnificent place, full of golden decorations and a variety of plants. The temple was, mostly, a checkpoint for pilgrimages. It represented a lesser deity of knoweldge and agriculture.
Strange sounds, resembling footsteps, could be heard. the guard raised his head, and looked in front of him. There was a single person, walking towards the temple. The guard stood up on his feet, and uttered a warning.
"The temple is closed ! Go back where you're from !"
The person didn't stop, and continued to walk with the same pace. At this point, the guard held a spear and pointed it towards the stranger.
"Stop ! I'm warning you !"
Again, the person didn't even slow down. But shortly after, they found themselves in front of the guard, blocking their way. Before, the guard couldn't see the face of the stranger, but now, he understood better. The stranger was wearing a white mask with a symbol in the middle. The symbol looked like a pentagon, cut by two lines in the middle. But the rest was… completely blank. Not even any holes for the eyes. To add to the mysterious design, the stranger was covered with long, white sheets all over the body.
"Who are you ? Remove your mask !"
The stranger didn't respond. The guard was growing suspicious of them. He moved his spear dangerously closer, but the mysterious person didn't even flinch.
"Are you… blind ?" the guard asked.
Much to his surprise, this time, the stranger replied, by nodding slightly. As if realizing his rudeness, the guard reformulated with different words.
"I'm sorry, but you aren't allowed here. You have to go back to your home."
The stranger shook their head.
"What do you mean, no ?"
The strange reached out in a bag, hidden among the different sheets, and pulled out a letter. The guard immediately snatched the letter from their hand, and opened it. As he opened the letter, a cloud of dust emerged, like trapped in the paper. In reflex, the guard coughed. Then, he coughed some more. And again… until he couldn't stop coughing. The letter was empty. Completely blank. But as the paper became spotted with blood, the guard understood that what he inhaled wasn't dust.
The guard fell down, slumping against the wall. He was doing his best to not die here, but in vain. Oh, the things he wanted to ask the stranger, who still wasn't looking at him the whole time, as if they enjoyed it. But eventually, moments before the guard's death, the stranged faced him and said.
"I am the Soldier of the Lost Gods. What you are experiencing right now is merely your punishment for interfering with my mission. May your soul rest for eternity."
In any other circumstances, the guard would have laughed at such a monologue. But as he laid there, at the mercy of this immaculate killer, he could do nothing but to pray for mercy. Until at least, he fell into eternal slumber.
Following the death of their last obstacle, the stranger entered the temple. They walked straight ahead, until they reached the statue of Kuebiko. From behind their back, the stranger reached for a hidden sword. It was concealed in the middle of the different sheets. They brandished the sword at the statue, and raised it above their head. With a swift, vertical strike, the deity was destroyed and shattered.
The last act of the stranger that night was removing their mask. Softly, they placed it on the shattered statue, as a signature for their act of desecration. Tightening the sheets to fight through the cold night, the stranger departed, and disappeared in the distance.
In the morning, many followers gathered around the sacred place. In the center of the crowd, a woman held the dead body in her arms and cried. She was the guard's wife. The other people could do nothing but pity her loss. Eventually, someone brought attention to the mask left at the scene. As she saw it, the woman did not recognize the symbol. But she swore to herself, and all the people gathered, that she wasn't going to rest until the killer was found.
Yukie, who was known for some time as the 'tragic widow', never let go of her self-made promise. The killer had to pay for their crimes. She initially investigated around the crime scene, but clues were running short. She then decided to venture around the country for clues. That was a week after the incident.
Her first stop was a nearby village, even smaller than the one she lived in. The difference, however, was the presence of a large inn where many travellers stayed. The inn was very well kept, and did not fail to its reputation. After entering, Yukie went to the counter and asked the lady behind it.
"Excuse me, have you seen this symbol ?"
Yukie brought up her most important clue : a drawing of the symbol that was on the mask, left at the scene.
"I am sorry, but I do not know. Do you want me to ask the director of the inn ?"
"Yes, please."
The lady at the counter came back with an older lady, Ms.Sakamoto. When she arrived, Yukie didn't hesitate, and presented her the symbol.
"This symbol… !" Ms.Sakamoto said, trying to hide her distress.
"Do you recognize it ?" asked Yukie.
"Where have you seen it ?"
"Someone killed my husband a week ago, and let a mask with this symbol on the scene."
Ms.Sakamoto was at a loss for words. Judging by how she looked, Yukie thought that she announced the end of the world.
"No good can come if you chase them."
"Them ? But who are they ?"
Ms.Sakamoto sighed. "This symbol… is the mark of the Lost Gods. They are gods that, as the legend says, tried to take control of the world, but were casted out."
"So… this is a cult, trying to bring glory to the Lost Gods ?"
"No, this is different. There is only one person wearing the symbol. They are called the 'Soldier of the Lost Gods'."
Will all this information, Yukie was overwhelmed. The Lost Gods ? A 'soldier' ? This made no sense. Why would a single person try to bring back gods who disappeared from the mythology ? And why did it require the desecration of temples ?
"I have one question." said Yukie. "How do you know all this ?"
"Because a person wearing that symbol came in, a few days after you said the murder occured."
"Did you meet them ?"
"Not directly. Another one of my employees was in charge at that time. But that person was wearing white cloth, and a mask."
While she was talking, Ms.Sakamoto pulled out the register and fetched the pages for that time. Eventually, she managed to get the right entry. "This is the name they signed in with." she said, before showing Yukie the page.
Kaminoshi. 'The Death of God.'
Yukie left the inn with more questions than answers. A one-person cult led for the glory of ancient, forgotten deities ? That was unheard of. She spent some time for the rest of the day, interrogating several inhabitants of the village. But none of them could recognize the symbol.
The last person Yukie interrogated was a merchant, named Kouta. Kouta was a bit large, but very welcoming and friendly. When Yukie showed her the symbol, he definitely had a reaction. Immediately, she was eager to hear about what he had to say.
"I remember seeing this symbol once, about a month ago. Ever heard of the desecration of the Okuninushi temple ?"
Yukie shook her head.
"Ah, well, that was in a big city. I was actually there when it happened. They even got me as a suspect for some time !"
"And you saw this symbol there ?"
"Yes. Near the scene of the crime, there was a mask with this symbol on it. Hard to forget."
"A mask ? I also saw this symbol on a mask !"
Yukie was deep in her thoughts for a moment, until she found an intriguing question to ask.
"You keep talking about a 'crime'… was this act considered a crime ?"
"Not the desecration. The murder. A monk was strangled was some sort of bead chain nearby. Supposedly, he tried keeping the masked person out of the temple."
Another murder ? This case was starting to be more and more complex. With all these developments, Yukie knew she wasn't going to stop, not now. She didn't know what business she was taking part in. But no matter what, she had to avenge her husband, by any means necessary.
The night was beginning to fall, and it was time for her to rest. Because she couldn't continue her journey right now, she decided to spend the night at the inn. Compared to other places she had been to, she noticed that the inn was kinda quiet. Even the people who were staying there. It was like the events perpuated by this 'soldier of the Lost Gods' in the area made the population worried.
One last time before going to sleep, Yukie met Kouta, who ended up spending the night at the same place.
"Are you going to the big city now ?" he asked.
"Yes. I need to know more about the murder you talked to me about."
"I knew it. You are really invested in this case, aren't you ?"
His enthusiasm left Yukie quite confused. For a moment, she noticed that the anger of her husband's death was getting weaker. Instead a thrill to unveil the mystery took control of her.
"I am also going to the big city tomorrow. Do you want me to get you there ?" Kouta offered.
Yukie accepted politely, saying that she would pay her part. "I know you will !" said Kouta before chuckling, and going to his room.
Trying to find sleep, Yukie couldn't keep her mind off the mysterious killer. A devotion towards ancient deities, desacration as their main activity. But also, two murders as collateral damage. There was no doubt that whoever this person was, they were really… singular. But at the same time, somehow fascinating, too.
As the day rose, it was time for Yukie to leave for the continuation of her journey. On her way out, she crossed paths with Ms.Sakamoto once again. She was preparing letters, and other kinds of arrangements with a woman. That woman seemed to be in charge of the counter at that time. When their eyes met, Ms.Sakamoto slightly bowed towards Yukie, acknowledging her and wishing her a good day.
Outside, Yukie met Kouta, preparing for the trip. She helped out, and shortly after, they were ready to go.
This is a three-part story. Read Part 2 here.
Strange sounds, resembling footsteps, could be heard. the guard raised his head, and looked in front of him. There was a single person, walking towards the temple. The guard stood up on his feet, and uttered a warning.
"The temple is closed ! Go back where you're from !"
The person didn't stop, and continued to walk with the same pace. At this point, the guard held a spear and pointed it towards the stranger.
"Stop ! I'm warning you !"
Again, the person didn't even slow down. But shortly after, they found themselves in front of the guard, blocking their way. Before, the guard couldn't see the face of the stranger, but now, he understood better. The stranger was wearing a white mask with a symbol in the middle. The symbol looked like a pentagon, cut by two lines in the middle. But the rest was… completely blank. Not even any holes for the eyes. To add to the mysterious design, the stranger was covered with long, white sheets all over the body.
"Who are you ? Remove your mask !"
The stranger didn't respond. The guard was growing suspicious of them. He moved his spear dangerously closer, but the mysterious person didn't even flinch.
"Are you… blind ?" the guard asked.
Much to his surprise, this time, the stranger replied, by nodding slightly. As if realizing his rudeness, the guard reformulated with different words.
"I'm sorry, but you aren't allowed here. You have to go back to your home."
The stranger shook their head.
"What do you mean, no ?"
The strange reached out in a bag, hidden among the different sheets, and pulled out a letter. The guard immediately snatched the letter from their hand, and opened it. As he opened the letter, a cloud of dust emerged, like trapped in the paper. In reflex, the guard coughed. Then, he coughed some more. And again… until he couldn't stop coughing. The letter was empty. Completely blank. But as the paper became spotted with blood, the guard understood that what he inhaled wasn't dust.
The guard fell down, slumping against the wall. He was doing his best to not die here, but in vain. Oh, the things he wanted to ask the stranger, who still wasn't looking at him the whole time, as if they enjoyed it. But eventually, moments before the guard's death, the stranged faced him and said.
"I am the Soldier of the Lost Gods. What you are experiencing right now is merely your punishment for interfering with my mission. May your soul rest for eternity."
In any other circumstances, the guard would have laughed at such a monologue. But as he laid there, at the mercy of this immaculate killer, he could do nothing but to pray for mercy. Until at least, he fell into eternal slumber.
Following the death of their last obstacle, the stranger entered the temple. They walked straight ahead, until they reached the statue of Kuebiko. From behind their back, the stranger reached for a hidden sword. It was concealed in the middle of the different sheets. They brandished the sword at the statue, and raised it above their head. With a swift, vertical strike, the deity was destroyed and shattered.
The last act of the stranger that night was removing their mask. Softly, they placed it on the shattered statue, as a signature for their act of desecration. Tightening the sheets to fight through the cold night, the stranger departed, and disappeared in the distance.
In the morning, many followers gathered around the sacred place. In the center of the crowd, a woman held the dead body in her arms and cried. She was the guard's wife. The other people could do nothing but pity her loss. Eventually, someone brought attention to the mask left at the scene. As she saw it, the woman did not recognize the symbol. But she swore to herself, and all the people gathered, that she wasn't going to rest until the killer was found.
Yukie, who was known for some time as the 'tragic widow', never let go of her self-made promise. The killer had to pay for their crimes. She initially investigated around the crime scene, but clues were running short. She then decided to venture around the country for clues. That was a week after the incident.
Her first stop was a nearby village, even smaller than the one she lived in. The difference, however, was the presence of a large inn where many travellers stayed. The inn was very well kept, and did not fail to its reputation. After entering, Yukie went to the counter and asked the lady behind it.
"Excuse me, have you seen this symbol ?"
Yukie brought up her most important clue : a drawing of the symbol that was on the mask, left at the scene.
"I am sorry, but I do not know. Do you want me to ask the director of the inn ?"
"Yes, please."
The lady at the counter came back with an older lady, Ms.Sakamoto. When she arrived, Yukie didn't hesitate, and presented her the symbol.
"This symbol… !" Ms.Sakamoto said, trying to hide her distress.
"Do you recognize it ?" asked Yukie.
"Where have you seen it ?"
"Someone killed my husband a week ago, and let a mask with this symbol on the scene."
Ms.Sakamoto was at a loss for words. Judging by how she looked, Yukie thought that she announced the end of the world.
"No good can come if you chase them."
"Them ? But who are they ?"
Ms.Sakamoto sighed. "This symbol… is the mark of the Lost Gods. They are gods that, as the legend says, tried to take control of the world, but were casted out."
"So… this is a cult, trying to bring glory to the Lost Gods ?"
"No, this is different. There is only one person wearing the symbol. They are called the 'Soldier of the Lost Gods'."
Will all this information, Yukie was overwhelmed. The Lost Gods ? A 'soldier' ? This made no sense. Why would a single person try to bring back gods who disappeared from the mythology ? And why did it require the desecration of temples ?
"I have one question." said Yukie. "How do you know all this ?"
"Because a person wearing that symbol came in, a few days after you said the murder occured."
"Did you meet them ?"
"Not directly. Another one of my employees was in charge at that time. But that person was wearing white cloth, and a mask."
While she was talking, Ms.Sakamoto pulled out the register and fetched the pages for that time. Eventually, she managed to get the right entry. "This is the name they signed in with." she said, before showing Yukie the page.
Kaminoshi. 'The Death of God.'
Yukie left the inn with more questions than answers. A one-person cult led for the glory of ancient, forgotten deities ? That was unheard of. She spent some time for the rest of the day, interrogating several inhabitants of the village. But none of them could recognize the symbol.
The last person Yukie interrogated was a merchant, named Kouta. Kouta was a bit large, but very welcoming and friendly. When Yukie showed her the symbol, he definitely had a reaction. Immediately, she was eager to hear about what he had to say.
"I remember seeing this symbol once, about a month ago. Ever heard of the desecration of the Okuninushi temple ?"
Yukie shook her head.
"Ah, well, that was in a big city. I was actually there when it happened. They even got me as a suspect for some time !"
"And you saw this symbol there ?"
"Yes. Near the scene of the crime, there was a mask with this symbol on it. Hard to forget."
"A mask ? I also saw this symbol on a mask !"
Yukie was deep in her thoughts for a moment, until she found an intriguing question to ask.
"You keep talking about a 'crime'… was this act considered a crime ?"
"Not the desecration. The murder. A monk was strangled was some sort of bead chain nearby. Supposedly, he tried keeping the masked person out of the temple."
Another murder ? This case was starting to be more and more complex. With all these developments, Yukie knew she wasn't going to stop, not now. She didn't know what business she was taking part in. But no matter what, she had to avenge her husband, by any means necessary.
The night was beginning to fall, and it was time for her to rest. Because she couldn't continue her journey right now, she decided to spend the night at the inn. Compared to other places she had been to, she noticed that the inn was kinda quiet. Even the people who were staying there. It was like the events perpuated by this 'soldier of the Lost Gods' in the area made the population worried.
One last time before going to sleep, Yukie met Kouta, who ended up spending the night at the same place.
"Are you going to the big city now ?" he asked.
"Yes. I need to know more about the murder you talked to me about."
"I knew it. You are really invested in this case, aren't you ?"
His enthusiasm left Yukie quite confused. For a moment, she noticed that the anger of her husband's death was getting weaker. Instead a thrill to unveil the mystery took control of her.
"I am also going to the big city tomorrow. Do you want me to get you there ?" Kouta offered.
Yukie accepted politely, saying that she would pay her part. "I know you will !" said Kouta before chuckling, and going to his room.
Trying to find sleep, Yukie couldn't keep her mind off the mysterious killer. A devotion towards ancient deities, desacration as their main activity. But also, two murders as collateral damage. There was no doubt that whoever this person was, they were really… singular. But at the same time, somehow fascinating, too.
As the day rose, it was time for Yukie to leave for the continuation of her journey. On her way out, she crossed paths with Ms.Sakamoto once again. She was preparing letters, and other kinds of arrangements with a woman. That woman seemed to be in charge of the counter at that time. When their eyes met, Ms.Sakamoto slightly bowed towards Yukie, acknowledging her and wishing her a good day.
Outside, Yukie met Kouta, preparing for the trip. She helped out, and shortly after, they were ready to go.
This is a three-part story. Read Part 2 here.
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