Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Firestorm
September 14, 2031
"Hiya, Shizuka! Hiya, Uri!" Kanae waved. It was early morning, in the backyard of the Kubo home.
"Hi, Kanae-chan!" Uri reciprocated.
"Hi." Shizuka uttered.
"What's wrong, Shizuka? You look grumpy!" Kanae questioned.
"She had a hard time sleeping, I think." Uri surmised.
"He snores." Shizuka deadpanned.
Seated at a table nearby were Ibuki and Rin. "Finally got Auntie babysitting duty, eh Professor?" Ibuki asked.
"That I did. He's a handful, no doubt about it. Energetic and curious about anything and everything. A complete 180-degree difference from Shizuka." Rin replied.
"How are they getting on?"
"Well, Uri definitely wants to get to know his cousin. Shizuka is...being Shizuka. I'm hoping she can open up a little more, but the realistic side of me is kind of fearful that she might get even more withdrawn."
"I take it school's been a bit of a learning process too, huh?"
"I keep telling Rose that it's going to take time for her to get used to a new environment and people. I'm lucky that Takeshi knows exactly how to interact with her. He sends me updates whenever he can about her progress. And she *is* making progress, but..." Rin sighed. "I know what the problem is. She misses Kat. Deeply. Not seeing or talking to her and not knowing when she'll come back has been extremely hard for her. The time difference and schedules makes it even more difficult to try to arrange a moment where I can call her up." Rin rubbed her eyes.
"Know what I'm thinking, Professor? I think she can tell that you're having a rough time without the troupe, too. And when Mama's sad, the babies are sad, too."
"Is it that obvious?"
"I could see the mood in your eyes change when you mentioned Kitty Kat. It ain't a secret that she's special to you."
"Well...you're not wrong. It's not that my current crop of students aren't wonderful, far from it. They're all very studious and hard-working. We just had such a good bond that we built these last three years. And Kat...I wrote her a letter to open before she started college. It was deeply personal. Gosh, I rewrote it several times because I wasn't satisfied that I was really conveying how I felt. I told her I wanted her to come back someday and be my assistant, if she wanted. Which goes without saying, seeing how she was the one who suggested it."
"I think that'd be crazy sweet. Let her find herself for a few years, then she'll come back and be your little sis for as long as she sticks around. I can just picture the adorkableness of it all. You've just gotta be her cheerleader from across the world until then. Same with the rest of the gang. They're all gonna be fine. Kids can tell when their parents aren't doing so hot. She can see how much you miss them."
"I think...you're probably right. I don't want her to be struggling because of me. I love her too much for that. I just need to show her that Kat hasn't forgotten about her. If I could just find a moment for it..."
The back door opened, and Rose poked out. "All set, Ms. Hinotama. When you have a moment."
"I've got plenty. Thanks for keeping an eye on Kanae-chan for me, Professor. I'll keep it in mind for your next appointment." Ibuki winked.
"Anytime. Hopefully you and Max can get some precious lovey-dovey time today, especially after..." Rin replied.
"Holy hell, my goddamn HEAD!" Mimi yelled from next-door.
"...yesterday's excitement."
Ibuki followed Rose inside, and sat on the couch. "Okay. Let's begin with the most pressing question..." Rose sat in her chair. "What's the atmosphere at home?"
"Home is getting better. I think Kaede's finally starting to warm up to Maxie. The cold shoulder hasn't completely thawed, mind you, but we're getting there. Maxie's been super helpful since he got here. He cooks, he helps with the chores and the errands, he's done everything we've asked and more."
"And how is he with the little one?"
"Oh my God, they're practically besties now. Kanae-chan absolutely loves him. She calls him Uncle Maxie. I'm happy that she has a good male influence around. When she was younger I had some, uh...very passionate views about men. I don't want her getting those same ideas that I had."
"You didn't exactly have the most positive experiences with men growing up, correct?"
"Nope. Dad was an addict, every guy I hooked up with was either a sleaze who didn't see anything I could give besides sex, or an abusive pile of garbage who treated me like property. Then there's the shitball that got my sister pregnant and tried to poison her. I never had a single positive relationship with a man in my life. Until I met your troupe."
"And then the one you took the most interest in revealed that he had altered you to suit his own pursuits."
"Yeah..."
"And you reacted immediately by trying to shoot an arrow through his head. Followed by multiple proclamations that you would kill him if given the chance. Culminating with you shooting him in the arm."
"Yeah, yeah, and yeah."
"Such man is now living in your house, cooking you dinner. Your niece calls him 'Uncle' and you've stated on multiple occasions that you're deeply in love with him."
"Mmhmm."
"I trust that you understand how some people would view that as alarming."
"Those people might have a point. But those people would be wrong. What Maxie did was beyond bad. I'm not arguing that point. Or making excuses for him. And I've known my fair share of guys who treated me bad, said they'd never do it again and went and hurt me anyway. But he's different. I can see it in his eyes and his actions that he regrets all of it. He makes me happier than I've ever been in my entire life. I'm not forgetting his Captain Thunder shenanigans anytime soon, but I'm choosing to believe that he's changed."
"Some might not be so quick to forgive."
"Are you one of those people, Doc?"
"...!"
"Your dad was the one that led him down that path. And Maxie blew him to bits in the end. Do you think he's beyond saving?"
"I don't believe so. He has shown tangible progress since his return. In regards the my father, I don't fault Mr. Jadefang for ultimately putting an end to him. If not him, then someone else would have done so. My father was a threat to humanity and creation itself. His end was tragic. But I don't hold it against anyone. If Mr. Jadefang has learned from his mistakes, which I believe he has, then he has the right to live as he pleases. My point is that others might not see it that way."
"They don't matter. I choose to believe him. That's enough for me."
"I must say. You've grown a great deal, Ms. Hinotama. That hair-trigger temper you once had seems to have subsided."
"Kinda hard to stay bitter once you've ran short of reasons to be. I've got a great house, a job I love, awesome friends and a guy I've fallen head-over-heels for. When I say I'm happier than ever, I mean it."
"I'm pleased to hear that. And where is Mr. Jadefang right now?"
"All he would tell me is he was making 'arrangements'. Dunno what for, or when he'd be home. Long as it's not another 'disguise date', I'm good with whatever."
"Going by what Tenko told Rin this morning, I think that would be best for everyone."
Ibuki departed soon after. "Kaede's gonna be by to pick up Her Highness after work. Thanks for doing this on such short notice."
"It's no trouble at all. You've earned a day for yourselves. Have a pleasant--and hopefully romantic--day, Ms. Hinotama." Rose replied.
Ibuki returned to her house. With Kaede working and Max off running errands, she was left to her own devices. "What to do...if he's planning something for tonight, I should work on looking fab. Wardrobe won't be an issue, already got my nails done...guess I could straighten my hair out. Who knows when he's getting home, though..."
Ibuki plopped down on the couch. She looked over to a set of framed pictures on a shelf. The one that caught her attention was a photo of the two sisters when they were younger, along with an older couple. "Grammy and Grampy...damn, I miss you both. Wonder what you'd think about where we're at now."
Her grandparents were the closest thing to proper parents she and her sister ever had. Ibuki's mother died of a drug overdose when she was five, and her father, also an addict, was deemed to be unfit. Their grandparents took them in and raised them with kindness and love, though once they had passed when Ibuki was in her early teens, the two were left to fend for themselves, as their father had also died in the interim. Her life with her grandparents was the one time during her childhood where she'd felt normal.
The two had been married for fifty years when her grandfather passed away. Her grandmother followed not long after. Their open and loving relationship was something that Ibuki idolized and longed for. Her grandmother would regale the girls with stories of their romance and experiences. One such tale was...
"...! Hang on..."
She went to her room, and dug something out of her closet. It was a medium-sized box. She opened it, and inside were a pair of rotund, red dolls. One had masculine features, while the other was more feminine. These were daruma dolls, symbols of good luck and encouragement.
Her grandmother's words echoed through her head. The older couple had bought a pair of dolls much like these on their first date, and had kept them in a prominent spot in their home for all fifty years they were wed. The dolls in Ibuki's possession were the last gift she ever received from her grandmother, shortly before her passing. Even through all the turmoil of the last few years, she'd managed to hang onto them. 
"(This is for the one you'll fall in love with, Ibuki-chan. Save them for the moment where you know for certain who you wish to share your life with. Let the wisdom and good fortune of Daruma guide your heart, and you'll never be led astray. And let that fortune last for as long as pure, hopeful love fills your heart...)"
"Pure, hopeful love...for the one I want to share my life with. Oh, Grammy, it sounds so corny! But..." Ibuki picked up the masculine doll. "These embody luck and encouragement. He could use a bit of both. Yeah...I've gotta show that I'm for real about this! The Ibuki that struggled to stay above water is gone. I'm gonna stake my future on these dolls. Grammy, your wisdom's gonna guide me to my happy ending, I know it!"
She could hear the front door opening, and she quickly put the doll away and closed the box. She went to the living room to greet Max. "Heya, handsome. Been busy, I'm guessing?"
"You can say that. I've got something in the works for you." Max replied.
"Wanna give me any hints?"
"You'll find out. At 7 o'clock tonight. Until then, I think we could both use some relaxation. So I went ahead and made a reservation for the hot springs on Mt. Shirayuki. Sauna, a massage, a bath after, the works."
"Ooooh, now we're talking. Tackling plastered dweebs really gets the kinks fired up." Ibuki pressed up against his back. "You just wanna get me all hot and steamy, don't ya? You dirty boy~!"
"It's nothing like that!" Max denied.
Ibuki giggled. "Oh, look at you blushing! Good to know my teasing still works. I was getting afraid that you'd gotten immune to it, and that'd take away all the fun. Guess I won't have to put my book of teases away after all~."
"Lucky, lucky me."
---
To the residents of Naruki and its adjacent districts, there was no place more suitable for a pleasant hike than Mt. Shirayuki. On one side of the mountain was a glimmering lake, known as a popular spot to picnic during the annual cherry blossom festival. This lake is where Rin was born, and it's in a cabin by the lake where her mother Hana still lives.
On the other side of the mountain, at the end of the hiking trail were many a modern accommodation: shops, a nightclub, and most popular of all, the hot springs.
Inside a private bath, Max sat down and relaxed. "Haaah...I'd forgotten how good this felt. Least now I don't have to worry about Sahir pulling my towel off or anything dumb like that. Just a minute to heal up the aches..."
He closed his eyes and let his worries ease up. For a brief moment, until he felt something on his face.
"Dirty, dirty boy. I used to charge for stuff like this." Ibuki teased.
"You used to cover people's eyes for money?"
She removed her hand from his face. "Silly. Bet you thought it was something else, huh?" She got in the bath next to him. "This close enough for ya? Or..." She inched closer to him.
He tried to watch where he looked. His previous times in the springs were spent in the onsen with the other male members of the group. He hadn't shared this kind of intimate moment with a woman before.
It was at this point, as soon as the word 'intimate' passed through his mind that he realized that with the two of them wearing nothing save for a white towel, they were effectively naked.
"Hey, it's okay." Ibuki said, sensing what he was thinking. "You're not the first guy to sit with a girl in a hot spring. You don't gotta be spooked of me. I don't bite. Unless you ask me to."
"You are just a shameless tease, you know that?"
"I only do it cuz I love seeing you react. You know you love it. Otherwise you'd tell me to stop."
"Even if I did tell you, you'd still keep it up."
"True that." Ibuki relaxed herself. "Nice to finally have a moment of quiet for once. No drunk nonsense, no spy games, no watching a bunch of rednecks running around the woods at night cursing at everything that makes a sound."
"I'm the only person in the world that gets the context of all of those things."
"This beats chaos, is what I'm getting at." 
"Yeah no, that I get. Might be getting some of that chaos soon, though. I got a message from Barb before we came here."
"How's our angel doing? Living with her stud boyfriend so close to the beach. Must be torture."
"Like hell on Earth. She told me her theater club's putting on an adaptation of 'The Snow Queen' in December, right before holiday break. She's gonna be playing the Queen."
"That sounds about right for our little diva."
"The Queen is the villain of the story, though. Don't think I've ever seen Barb playing a villain before. She always gets the leading lady billing."
"That oughtta be a hoot. Girl doesn't have a mean bone in her body. I'd love to see that."
"Well, here's the thing. She asked me if we wanted to fly out to LA and watch her perform. I haven't gotten to watch her in a while, and I know you've never gotten to see her do her thing, so...I told her yes. I know I should've asked you first, but..."
"You think I'm gonna argue against seeing that delightful sister of yours playing her heart out? I'd love nothing else! Little family reunion for the holidays. 'Tis the season and all that good stuff."
"Figured you'd say that. Speaking of family reunions, there's something else I wanted to run by you. After the play, classes are gonna break until the new year, and Barb said that Keeb's gonna fly back here to be with his family. She's gonna come with him and was hoping we'd have extra room for her. And...me and her were gonna talk to Mama about her possibly flying over here, too. I don't like the idea of her not having us around for Christmas, so that'd be the easy solution."
"Babe, you know I love me some Ms. Annie! I'd love having her and the Babs in our abode. That's what guest rooms are for. And if anything..." She leaned in closer. "You can spare your room and share a bed with meeeee~."
Max looked away. "I, uh...guess that could work out."
"Haaaaa! Still gonna play the sheepish game, huh? How about we work on that, like...this!"
Ibuki grabbed a hold of an increasingly flustered Max. "H-hey, hey, what are you doing?!"
"Giving my man as much of me as you can handle!"
"Please, don't, our towels--"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you~?"
"Ibuki, I'm serious, this is--"
"Shhhh. Just let it happen. See?"
Max calmed down. Ibuki continued to hold him. Not tightly and teasingly, but tenderly. She started blushing.
"It's okay to be like this. You've given me so much already. I'll give you as much of me as I can give. My heart wants you so bad. What's yours telling you?" she asked.
"....." Max relaxed. "Part of me says that I don't deserve you."
"And the other part?"
"That part wants to treat you like a queen."
"Well your queen wants her favorite subject to stay with her like this for a while. That okay?"
"...as you wish, Your Majesty."
Ibuki let out a satisfied sigh. She closed her eyes, and in each other's arms, the two could finally relax.
"(Grammy...I'm gonna fulfill your wish tonight. Corny as it might be. It feels right. Everything you said about you and Grampy finally makes sense. I'll just let your wisdom guide me...)" she thought.
"(More than anything else, I want to make her happy. Even if I don't have that right, she deserves it. The path to atonement starts and ends with her. And when the day comes when I can finally accept this as my reality...as what my life should be...)" Max thought. "(There are things I have to do first. Like bringing down that pharmaceutical villain. The piece of Captain Thunder I still carry with me...when I finally feel satisfied that my life is a deserved one, I can destroy it for good. Until then...I'll enjoy these moments. It's what Uncle Davie always told me. A man's mission is to protect the ones he loves. And it's a mission I don't plan on failing. For her sake, I'll never fail again.)"
---
Back at the Kubo household, Rin was in a comfortable position sitting in the backyard, reading a book. While Uri and Kanae played with each other, Shizuka was away from everyone else, looking at some flowers.
"Rin, do you have a moment?" Rose poked her head out the back door.
"Sure, what's up?" Rin replied.
"I have a couple of baskets worth of laundry done, would you mind helping me move them?"
"No problem. I'll be back in a couple minutes, everyone."
"Okay!" Uri and Kanae both chimed.
"Shizuka, did you hear me?"
"Uh-huh." Shizuka didn't turn around.
"Try to play a bit more with your cousin and best friend. You don't have to be frightened." Rose suggested.
"I'm not."
"Let's get to that laundry, Rose." Rin could sense they would not be getting anywhere. The two women went inside.
"Hey, Shizuka! You wanna--" Kanae chimed.
"No." Shizuka uttered.
"Awww...you didn't even let me finish..."
"Is she always this grouchy?" Uri asked.
"It's usually when you try to give her a hug."
Next-door, Tenko was looking around her house, while her husband and sister-in-law held ice packs over their heads, looking groggy. "Rinaaaa! Where are you, little cub?"
"She's probably hiding again." Jin uttered.
"Gonna jump out and ninja someone any second now." Mimi added.
"She usually doesn't hide this long..." Tenko looked around the room, and noticed that the front door was slightly ajar. "Oh no...! Don't tell me she..."
"We've been sitting here all morning...how could she get out?" Jin questioned.
"Us being half dead might have something to do with it." Mimi grogged.
Back in the Kubo backyard, Shizuka's deliberate solitude was about to come to a screeching halt. As she studied the tiny bugs crawling around the flowerbed, she failed to notice the smaller child creeping up and hopping onto her back. "Ninja!" Rina exclaimed.
Shizuka's face turned. Her anger flared to the surface. She saw red.
Inside the house, Rin and Rose sorted through their laundry. "I'm getting concerned about her social skills. I understand the reasons, but her regression in the past few months has been staggering." Rose said.
"I should ask Takeshi for some advice. I just don't want her to be isolated--" Rin responded.
She was interrupted by the sound of a child crying.
"What in the world?" Rose questioned.
The two women ran outside to find a disconcerting sight. Rina was sitting on the ground, wailing. Uri and Kanae both looked shocked. Both were staring at an incensed Shizuka.
"Rina! What happened here?" Rin questioned.
"She jumped on Shizuka and she went crazy!" Uri replied.
"Shizuka! Is this true? Did you hit her?" Rose demanded.
"I said leave me alone and don't touch me!" Shizuka responded.
"You can't react like that, Shizuka! She's just a baby, she's not gonna know not to do that!" Rin replied.
"I don't care! I wanna be alone!"
"Rina! I hear you, what's--Rina!" Tenko ran up and picked her weeping toddler off the ground. "Oh, baby, what's wrong? What happened?"
"Uhuh...uhuh...she gave me an owie, Mama...uhuh..." Rina uttered through tears.
"I am so, SO sorry, Tenko. I don't know what's gotten into her. Shizuka, you need to apologize to Aunt Tenko right now!" Rin ordered.
"No!" Shizuka refused. 
"Don't give us that attitude, young lady! Ms. Kit told you to apologize when you do something wrong, didn't she?" Rose responded.
"I didn't do anything wrong! She jumped on me!"
"What's happened with you? You never used to lose your temper like--" Rin responded.
"Shut up shut up SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Shizuka ran inside the house.
"Shizuka! Oh..." Rin shook her head. "Are you okay, sweetie? Where'd she hit you? Oh, I'm so sorry..."
"Her left cheek looks red..." Rose observed.
"What's going on here?" Jin arrived. "What happened to your cheek? Did you fall and hit something?"
"She jumped on Shizuka and she hit her..." Tenko answered.
"Hold on, little cub, I think you need this more than me..." Jin put his ice pack on the toddler's cheek.
"You two come inside. I'm going to give her a talking-to." Rose said. Uri and Kanae, still in shock, went on ahead.
Inside the house, the door to Shizuka's room was shut. The lights were off. Rose tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Shizuka, open this door right now! You need to apologize!"
No response. Inside the dimly lit room, Shizuka had hidden beneath the bed covers.
"You know I have ways to unlock the door. This will be a great deal less pleasant if you don't unlock it yourself. 3...2..." Spiritual threads emerged from Rose's fingertips.
"Rose, stop." Rin grabbed her hand. "Let her cool off. She's acting off of instinct instead of thinking. Once she calms down she might be more open to apologizing."
"...very well. But she won't be escaping punishment for that outburst. That was far too extreme a response towards a child Rina's age.
"I know. And we'll deal with that when we have to. But right how I have to apologize to Tenko and Jin. If Shizuka won't do it, someone has to. I'll be back."
With an air of embarrassment, Rin walked to the Mirai residence and knocked on the door. Risa opened the door. "Hello, Rin-chan. Quite a start to the day, isn't it?"
"That's a kind way of putting it. How is she?" Rin asked.
"Come on in. I think they've gotten her to calm down."
Tenko had sat the toddler down on the couch, where she was drinking a bottle of milk. Though she'd calmed down some, she still had some tears streaming down her face. "Go ahead and drink up, little cub. Oh, I'm so sorry you're hurting, sweets..." Tenko comforted.
"Just have to keep it cool and it should go down in no time." Jin said.
"Hey there." Rin approached.
"Rin-Rin, hey..." Tenko responded.
Rin bowed. "Words can't begin to describe how sorry I am that this happened. I've never seen that kind of violent outburst from Shizuka before. I'm taking complete responsibility for what just happened. I hope you can forgive me."
"Rin-Rin, come on, it's not your fault, you're not the one that threw the punch..." Tenko replied.
"We should've kept a closer eye on her, and we've told her not to jump on people like that." Jin added.
"Oh no, you're not going to blame yourselves for this. She's my responsibility, and a child's mistakes ultimately fall back on the parents. Nothing can justify her reaction. I'm Rina's namesake, I ought to be the one setting a good example and holding myself accountable." Rin replied.
"So where is the little demoness, anyway?" Mimi asked.
"Don't start, Aimi." Risa chastised.
"I don't care. Who punches a baby like that?"
"You're not wrong to be upset." Rin replied. "Shizuka locked herself in her room and refuses to leave. She'll be getting a proper scolding when she finally decides to come out."
"It'd be the first time."
"Aimi." Risa cautioned.
"Are we going to have a problem, Mimi?" Rin asked.
"We started having a problem when my two-year old niece came home bawling cuz she got hit in the face. Look, I get that she's wired different. It's not an excuse to be bratty. You need to get it through to her that she can't flip her lid every time someone touches her. Cuz if she can hit a baby like that, then it's only a matter of time before someone at that fancypants school of hers gets too close and you end up on the wrong end of...expulsion? A lawsuit? Maybe someone at the Academy catches wind of it and calls your employment into question?" Mimi dictated.
"That's enough, Mimi." Jin warned.
"All I'm saying is: if you know an expert, I'd suggest you hit them up. Cuz she's starting to lean in the direction of being Hachime Sakaki's daughter and that--"
Rin got in Mimi's face. 
"What's that? You wanna hit me now? Guess there ain't a question where she learned it from."
"Don't you ever, EVER say that name. Shizuka is *my* daughter. And I'm going to get her through this, my way. She'll never be like that BITCH. Not if I can help it. And last I checked, you're the Death's Hand flunkie that tried kidnapping Rina after she was born while subjecting me and my students to fear-based torture. So shut your piehole and never question my parenting abilities again." Rin angrily replied. 
The tirade surprised the others in the room, so unlike the easygoing educator that it was. Mimi was stunned into silence.
"I'm sorry for this mess. I'll see myself out." Rin departed.
"...what was that about psychological torture?" Risa questioned.
"Uh..." Mimi uttered.
Rin returned to her house. "Any word from her?" she asked Rose.
"Not a peep. How goes it next-door?" Rose replied.
"They've calmed Rina down. I just chewed out Mimi. I was *this* close to being the second Kubo to hit a Mirai today."
"That wouldn't have been surprising. How about you try your hand at getting her out?"
"Okay." Rin went up to the door. "Shizuka. Come outside. We need to talk."
No response.
"Lovebug, I know you don't like to be touched, but Rina's littler than you are. You could've really hurt her. Please just come out."
"No."
"Why not?"
"You hate me now."
"We could never hate you, Shizuka. This was a really bad thing to do, but we still love you. That won't change."
"You never loved me."
"Why would you say that?"
"You love my sister. That's why you kept me. If I wasn't her sister you wouldn't have kept me."
"That's ridiculous, Shizuka! We kept you because we wanted you. Don't ever think that we don't love you." Rose responded.
"Shizuka, I'm sorry if I've made you feel that way. I did love Miko. But I love you, too. I love you more than anything. I just want to know what would make you happy." Rin said.
"Why do you wear her glasses?" Shizuka piped up.
"Huh?"
"Why do you wear her suit? Why do you always go to see her name in the park? Why did you really keep me? I remind you of her. That's why."
"....."
"I don't wanna talk anymore. I wanna be alone."
"Shizuka, don't--" Rose started.
"If that's what you want. I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I've clearly done enough of that." Rin uttered. She turned to walk away.
"Rin, wait. She's talking out of anger. She can't possibly mean it." Rose tried to stop her.
"On the contrary. I think she's kept that buried for a while. You know what we say about the need to vent." Rin walked away.
"Rin! Please...oh." 
"...is everything alright, Auntie Rose?" Uri spoke up, him and Kanae sitting on the couch.
"....." Rose picked up her phone and dialed.
"Hello--ah, Benji! Not while I'm on the phone...sorry, hello?"
"Hello, is this Takeshi Yasegawa?"
"Yes, this is he. I recognize that serene voice...you're Rosemary Wolfe."
"Indeed. It's been too long. Unfortunately, I don't have pleasant reasons for calling you today. I have a rather urgent dilemma involving Rin and Shizuka."
Rose dictated to him the events of the day, beginning with Shizuka's outburst.
"She actually said that to Rin?" Takeshi asked.
"Yes. Rin looked absolutely heartbroken. Her adoration of Miko has never been a secret. But I don't think she ever imagined Shizuka perceiving our adoption of her as being part of that adoration. Maybe it shouldn't have been so surprising. Rin wears her glasses. She has pictures around the house and she talks about Miko all the time. It's not hard to see where Shizuka might have gotten the idea from."
"That is rough. But some of the behavior I've been seeing out of her makes more sense now. I saw her doodling in her notebook just the other day. It was her and a taller girl with pink in her hair."
"That would be Kit So-yin. Or Kat, rather. Shizuka reveres her."
"Rin's protégé currently attending university in London. Did she know Sumiko Sakaki at all?"
"No. Her and her classmates all began at the Academy years after Miko had passed."
"Hmmm...so Shizuka knows for certain that her bond with her has nothing to do with Sumiko. That may explain why she's reacted so poorly to her departure. Partly, anyway. How is Rin taking it?"
"She just ran up to our bedroom. I can't imagine that it's a pleasant sight up there. I was hoping that you would have some advice for how to soothe her anger. This kind of behavior from her is new."
"You usually don't expect this level of dispute until the teen years. I can certainly try to talk to her one-on-one at school tomorrow. Provided she actually comes out of her room. The best I can tell you for now is to let her have her space. Yelling at her at this point would only push her further away. If I were you, I'd focus on getting Rin into a better frame of mind. If there's anything I remember about her, it's that she can wear her guilt like no one else."
"Of that, I'm fully aware. I just don't know what I can say to her now..."
In her bedroom, Rin was curled up on her bed. Her glasses--Miko's glasses--were off, and she was staring at them. Her gaze was hollow.
The look of someone with a whole new degree of problem to deal with. The look of someone who was second-guessing every decision she'd made.
Rose appeared in the doorway. "Rin..."
Rin buried her head into her legs. "I did this."
"No you didn't."
"I've let my grief dictate my every move over the last seven years. I can't blame her for thinking that way." Rin brought her head back up. "You're the expert on the meaning of love. Tell me...is it possible to love someone for the wrong reasons?"
"....." Rose weighed how to respond. 
"I really just want to be alone right now." Rin buried her head again.
Rose got in close to her, and kissed the top of her head. "Take your time. Even if I don't know all the answers, there are some things I'm certain of. You're an excellent mother. You love Shizuka with all your heart. She is acting out and needs the kind of help we might not be able to give her. And the one thing I'm more certain about than anything else: no matter what the crisis might be, Rin Kubo will find a way, because there's nothing Rin Kubo can't do." She began to leave. "I'll keep the children entertained. Focus on yourself for the time being. It'll be okay. Rest well, beloved." She left the room.
Rin was left to her own thoughts. Nobody ever said that motherhood would be simple. But for the first time in this three year odyssey, she was at a loss for what to do.
---
Nightfall in Tokyo Bay. A lit-up metropolis was in full view on either side of the waterway, highlighted by the aptly-colored Rainbow Bridge connecting the mainland Shibaura district to the artificial island of Odaiba. Most visible of all on the island was Daikanransha, one of the world's largest ferris wheels, which was lit up in a myriad of neon colors.
Floating in the bay on this night was a boat lit up by crimson lanterns. This kind of boat was known as a 'yakatabune', and was effectively a traditional house on the water. This particular boat bore artwork on its sides of a traditional-style dragon with one of its eyes closed.
On board, Max put the boat in neutral. "Okay. Should be safe to park here."
Ibuki was seated at a low-lying table. "Who would've taken scary Mr. One-Eye to be the generous type?"
"Yeah, well, if I get a scratch on this thing or leave it anything but immaculate, I figure I'll be at the bottom of the bay by daybreak. So no getting crazy."
"So no red wine fest where we scream at each other and make asses of ourselves? Darn."
"Not even if I could stand alcohol. I'm gonna get to work on some culinary magic. Why don't you take a gander at the view in the meantime?"
"Okie-dokie. It's too pretty to stay cooped up inside all night."
"You talking about the sky or yourself?"
"Y'know for such a dork, you sure know how to lay on the charm."
"You try rooming with Sahir for two years. That stuff wares off on you."
Ibuki went outside, looking out towards the water, the cityscape, and the stars above. "Yep. This beats a spy act any day of the week."
No one else around. Nobody to intrude on the moment. No chaos or weirdness to interrupt. Just the two of them and an intimate, romantic atmosphere.
She'd dreamed of a moment just like this one since she was a little girl. She recalled the words of her grandmother. "Pure, hopeful love. I hope you were right about this, Grammy." Her thoughts turned to the two rotund dolls sitting snugly inside of her purse. "Hope that it's a good enough gift. A massage, a warm bath, and now dinner on a fancy boat...he's gone the extra mile to make this an amazing day."
She let out a sigh. "Oh, Grammy...I wonder what you'd think of all this."
She thought back to one of the last conversations she ever had with her grandmother. A younger Ibuki sat at her grandmother's bedside. She appeared weak, but at-peace. "(Ibuki-chan...try not to look so grim. It's unbecoming of such a lovely young lady.)"
"(I don't want you to go, Grammy...)" Ibuki sniveled.
"(I'm sorry, sweetheart...but it's okay. I'll be with your grandfather soon. And your poor mother. Where I'm going is a place of light...where all those that came before us reside. The end is simply the bridge to something much more peaceful.)"
"(What are me and Kaede gonna do, Grammy?)"
"(Until they can locate your father, I'm not sure.)"
"(But Dad is all crazy! I don't wanna go back with him!)"
"(Your father was never crazy, Ibuki-chan. Kamui was always a good man to your mother. Until that accident that led them to those awful prescriptions. Him and Sayuri were never the same after that. Hopefully he got the help he needed.)"
"(I can't go back when he's being crazy! Why can't he just be nice like Grampy was?!)"
"(Ibuki-chan...can I tell you something? I've told you many a wonderful thing about your grandfather. The love we had was as pure and genuine as anyone can experience. But it was not always so sunny and happy.)"
"(Huh? Really?)"
"(Yes. When we first met, your grandfather...he had his vices. The kind that occur on the wrong side of town. He would have a bit too much to drink and pick a fight with anything that moved. He fancied himself a street fighter.)"
"(Grampy was a bad guy?)"
"(He wasn't bad. He was troubled. The problem with people these days is that we don't believe in anyone ever being able to change and better themselves. But I stood by him. Because I saw in him the capacity for good. I didn't believe him beyond redemption. And guess what? He wasn't.)"
Her grandmother took her by the hand. "(That's what I want you to remember, Ibuki-chan. Some things may be beyond forgiving. But if you believe in your heart and soul that someone can change for the better, then you should never feel guilty for helping them. People need people to help them become better. You and Kaede-chan will be okay so long as you have each other. And if either one of you finds yourself in a troubled state, you need to help to pull yourselves from that darkness.)"
"(Love, my dear girl. Love will be your guiding light, always...)"
Ibuki stepped out of her memories. She looked up towards the starry night sky. "Thanks, Grammy."
She walked back inside. "Finally got tired of the great, starry yonder, huh?" Max asked.
"Nah. Inside's got its perks, too. Like the cuisine. And the stud making it."
"Well lucky for you, I just got done. I know how you like your steak. Bon appétit."
Ibuki took a sniff of her meal. "Oh, that's the stuff. That'll put some muscle on the old bones."
The two sat down to eat. "Mmm...I dunno how One-Eye has you on cleanup duty, dude. You should be in that kitchen yesterday." Ibuki said.
"I don't think I'll be replacing his right hand man anytime soon." Max replied.
"With those kinds of magic hands on ya, you could run 'em out of business. I wonder what other magic they can do." She winked.
Max stuttered a bit. "Um, well..."
"Still got iiiiit~!" Ibuki chimed. "Maxie, you know I wouldn't try anything funny unless I knew you were comfortable with it, right? The last thing I wanna do is freak you out so bad that you'd run off and never come back."
"I know you're just playing around. I'm still processing how this could be real. I used to get wailed on by the 'in' crowd back in middle school. Now I've got the most beautiful woman on the planet going to bat for me every chance she gets."
"I think there's about a thousand reasons why this one moment shouldn't be happening. And yet, here we are."
"And yet here we are. Was it a good day?"
"It was the best day. You've spoiled me silly with all the pampering and relaxing. I mean, dinner on the water?! I can't even believe this."
"What Ibuki deserves, Ibuki's gonna get. That's how it goes from now on."
"Right, but...it should be a two-way street. I ought to be doing as much for you."
"You've given me plenty. A roof over my head, more chances than I can count...and you yourself, of course."
"You've spent all day on me, so I should at least pay you back just a tiny bit. Cuz, well...I actually have something for you."
"For me? Oh, you didn't have to..."
"No, I did. I really did. Promise not to laugh." Ibuki took out the masculine daruma and placed it on the table. "Ta-da."
"Oh, that's a...uh, man, I know what these are called. Ugh, I'm drawing a blank, sorry. I know these are supposed to be good luck, right?"
"I'll fill in the blanks. It's a daruma. It represents good luck and encouragement. It's actually part of a set." Ibuki took out the feminine doll. "My Grammy gave these to me when I was little. She and Grampy had a pair that they kept for the entire time they were together. It was a gift of encouragement from her to him. He was plenty wild when he was younger. But she helped him to change and calm down when no one else thought he could. Sound familiar?"
"Yeah, I'm starting to pick up on that..."
"Grammy gave these to me hoping that one day I'd give one to someone special. One that I'd want to help despite any mistakes they could've made. So...what I'm trying to get at is..." Ibuki started blushing.
"Uh..." Max began to turn red himself.
Ibuki shook her head. "I know this is corny! But Grammy taught me everything I know about love, and I wouldn't be doing this unless I was totally, 100% sure about us! Screw it, I'm blurting it all out now!"
"Ibuki...?"
She scooted up closer to him. "I love you! Pure, hopeful love that only comes once in a lifetime! I know you think you're worse than dirt, but I know the truth! You're super nice, super helpful, and I know deep down you only want to do the right thing!"
"But...what I did to--"
"I KNOW! I know what you did and what I said to you after! No one's ever gonna let me forget about it, and I DON'T CARE! I know what you really are, and it's not that! Not anymore!" She handed him the doll. "I believe in you. I believe in *us*. I want this to stare you in the face and remind you that no matter what, one person here believes that you've changed. You're my happy ending, Maxie. Please take it."
"....." The outpouring of emotion left Max stunned. Without a word, he took the doll. "Thank you, Ibuki. That means more than you could ever know. I'll put this where I can look at it every single morning when I wake up. I've just got one request for you." He took the feminine doll and handed it to her. "Do the same with this one. So you'll never forget how far you've come to become the fearless queen that you are. And that I'll always be there to remind you."
Ibuki leaned in and lovingly embraced and kissed him. "I won't forget today for a long time. Or this weekend, really. For different reasons."
"Me neither. There's something else I wanted to show you." Max dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, pitch black piece of metal. "I'm still holding onto this."
"Oh, that...that's part of the armor."
"Right. All that's left of Captain Thunder. My reminder to never give up trying to fix myself. When I first made this armor, I had Bemular--or Edelhardt, I guess--embed a single Desire into it. 'Create a world where Max O'Donnell is a hero.' But you've given me another way to never forget where I should be going. So I'm gonna make a promise to you, here and now. We're gonna make Hitoshi Genshumura pay for every wrong he's ever done. I'm gonna personally ensure that neither you, nor Kaede or Kanae has to live in fear of him finding you again. And when all that's done...I'm gonna ask Dr. Rose to help me destroy this thing once and for all."
"Why Doc?"
"The technology is Theban. If any single person in the universe knows how to reduce this thing to atoms so that there's no chance of it influencing anyone else, it's her. More than that, it's the last piece of her father left in existence. If she wants any sort of peace...if I want anything resembling a normal life...if Captain Thunder is ever gonna die for good...then this thing needs to go. Max O'Donnell will be gone and Max Jadefang can finally start to live."
Ibuki took his hands. "One more villain. And then we'll be free to live. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure it happens." She got up. "C'mon. Let's do some stargazing."
"Sure you don't want to head back? It's getting kinda late."
"Not like we're gonna get grounded for being out past our bedtime. It's too pretty to stay cooped up."
"Yeah. And so are you."
The couple went, hand-in-hand, went outside to gaze at the star-lit sky above. The dolls remained on the table, together, never closer.
Inside his pocket, inside all that remained of Captain Thunder, a single Desire echoed out.
"Hero...O'Donnell...hero..."