Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 15

Chapter 15: Oath on the Mountain
December 24, 2028
Mount Shirayuki, not far from the outskirts of Naruki City. A popular holiday destination for anyone looking to spend Christmas amongst the snowy slopes. The annual destination of choice for one clan in particular.
Inside one of the cabins, Rin sat on the couch, video calling on a tablet. "How's it going in the land of giggles?"
"Oh. Just giggly. I'm carrying a bowling ball around in my gut, and Mimi's in one of her moods." Tenko replied. She moved the camera.
Garbed in gloves, a mask and an apron, Mimi sprayed down an irritated Jin. "Is this really necessary?" he uttered. "All I did was take out the garbage."
"Sterile environments, Jinichi! Only sterile environments for an expectant mother just a few weeks from giving birth! What cave were you raised in?!" Mimi griped.
"Same one as you. Now give me those." Jin grabbed the spray cans away from Mimi, and stormed off.
Tenko looked back to the camera. "I'm bringing a child into this. Uggggh. You seriously have no idea how much I needed to see that beautiful face of yours. It's our first Christmas where we're all split up."
"I know, I'm sorry. Jugo's on-call, JoJo and Hiyoko have their own gig going on, and you're too far along to risk you moving anywhere. And I couldn't cancel our reservations." Rin replied.
"Just a reminder that we're all getting old. I thought I was gonna be the first mom in the group, but then you swooped in and beat me to it. Maybe. Is it official yet or no?"
"About that. I got the letter in the mail before we came here. I got too excited and I opened it before Rose ever could. It's a done deal. Shizuka's ours. I...I have a daughter. I'm actually a mom."
"Oh my God! That's so totally awesome, Rin-Rin. Why haven't you let Rosie in on it, though?"
"I'm waiting for tonight. At the usual spot. Same place, nine years to the day from when I asked Rose to be part of my family. Figured it would be the most fitting thing."
"Oh, that is so you. Always so poetic."
"You know it. I've got it all planned out. Once I've told her that we're officially parents, I'm going to ask..." Rin trailed off. 
"You're gonna ask what? Rin-Rin?"
Rin could hear the door unlocking. "I can speak no more of it. I'll fill you in later. Bye." 
"Wait, Rin-Rin? Don't you deprive me of my tea--" Rin closed the call.
Rose walked in. "A secret meeting, Rin?"
"Oh, no, just giving Tenko a call. Jin and Mimi are squabbling again, Tenko's groaning that these next few weeks can't pass by fast enough...you know, the usual."
"Hm. She'll see these past nine months were worth it in the end. On a related note, is Shizuka still asleep?"
"Uh-huh. She'll need the energy for our hike later. I can't wait to show her the view from up there. And tell her all about our favorite spot."
"Oh, yes. That sacred ground where I was finally able to utter those three little words."
"I still feel terrible for not understanding them back then. Hiding how you felt for all these years must have been torturous. Part of me has to have known. Same part that couldn't vocalize how I really felt."
"Spending all this time with you made any pain minimal. All that matters is that we've vocalized our feelings now. So much has changed since that moment. Now we have many more years to make new moments."
"Mmmmm..." Shizuka emerged from her room, rubbing her eye.
"Ah, speaking of things that have changed. How is our precious gift feeling? Another productive nap, I hope?" Rose asked.
"Mmmhmm."
"Good. Let's get you prepared. We have a long hike to go on. Come now. I'll tell you all about one of the happiest days of my life..." Rose directed Shizuka back to her room.
"Happiest day...hehehe. Oh, Rose. I'm going to do you one better..." Rin said with a smirk.
A short while later, Rin and Rose had taken Shizuka to an outlook midway up the mountain. One could see the skyline of Naruki City from there, the light from the buildings mirroring the shimmering of the stars above.
"A wonderful sight, as always. The light of the stars...oh, they entrance me so. Father taught me much about the stars. How people would always look to them for guidance, by using the stars' positions to divinate. Ah, there I go being formal again. What I mean is, they would use the stars to predict the future. They thought that where the stars were placed in the sky would help determine how things would go on Earth. When seasons would change, things like that." Rose explained.
"Father is wise to the ways of the stars. He has spent many years learning of their movements, and how they truly affect the world. None affects it more than the sun. It breathes life unto all with its celestial light. Father reveres the sun more than most things." Rose sighed. "I believe he wishes Mother felt the same. But much like the moon and the sun, some things are just not meant to be together..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Shizuka. I hope I didn't bore you with my speech. I really must learn to be less formal with you."
"It's okay. You're really really smart." Shizuka, sitting on a bench, answered.
"I wouldn't necessarily go that far, but I appreciate it all the same." Rose replied, blushing.
"Rin? Are you coming over? Is something the matter?" Rin was standing away from them, lost in thought. She felt what was in her pockets. She took a deep breath.
"Here we go."
"Rose, I...I have something for you. It came in the mail a couple of days ago, but I thought reading it tonight would be more fitting. Sorry, I got so excited I opened it already." She handed Rose a letter.
Rose studied it for a moment. "This is...this is it, isn't it. It's..."
"It's real, Rose. You can relax. They won't be taking her away."
Rose looked over to Shizuka. She knelt down onto her knees. "Hey, so...this paper. Do you know what this paper says? It says that...that you can stay with us forever. That we wanted you with us so much that... now the three of us can be a family. I know that neither of us brought you into the world, but..."
Rin knelt down next to Rose. "We love you, Shizuka. And we can finally say that we're both your moms. Is that okay?"
"Mmhmm. You're both my Mamas. I love you, Mama Rin! And I love you, Mama Rose!" the girl exclaimed.
"That's...oh, dear. I don't think my heart can take it. I may actually faint this time..." uttered a teary-eyed Rose.
"You want me to make it worse?" 
Rin pulled a small box out of her pocket.
Rose stared at it, dumbfounded. "Rin. What are you doing...?"
"Making good on an old promise." Rin popped the box open. Sitting inside of it, a silver ring, with a purple gemstone. Rose put a hand to her mouth, disbelieving what she was seeing.
"Nine years ago today, you told me you never wanted to leave my side. That we could stay with each other until the sands of time took us both. In the time since, you've been so many things me. A friend, a rock...my most beloved companion. Thanks to you, I can be my real self. And I truly want the three of us to be one family. So, before your heart explodes...Rose...the most beautiful flower in my entire garden...will you marry me?"
Rose's eyes were streaming out tears. She kept nodding and repeating "yes" over and over. She slowly removed one of her gloves, and placed the ring onto her finger. "I suppose...*sniff* I should avoid wearing gloves from now on..."
"Ahahaha. I'm sure we can figure something out. I'd hate to break up your sense of fashion."
"You could never do such a thing. I...I love you. So very, very, very deeply. Being able to have this family with you...is one person allowed to be this happy? I hadn't even thought this possible five months ago...yet here it is. A child, a ring...and the one I love." She embraced Rin, and the two brought Shizuka into it.
"I wonder...was it the will of the stars that brought us all together? To this one moment in time, where all is right with the world?" Rose mused.
"Maybe. How it happened isn't important. All that matters now is...I love you. Both of you. So long as there's still a spark of life in me, nothing else I say could ever hold more truth..." Rin replied.
---
Later that night, Rin exited the cabin. Rose was staring up towards the moon, seeming to offer up a silent prayer. "Asking your old man for a favor?" Rin asked.
"Merely sending my thanks. I have no favors left to ask. I already have everything I could ever want."
Rin put her arms around Rose. The moment of tranquility was interrupted by the slow sound of two hands clapping.
"Mm mm mm. Y'all are so sickeningly sweet, I can already feel the diabetes sinking into my feet."
The two women turned to where the voice had come from. Sitting on top of the roof, dangling one leg over the ledge, was the black-and-white hooded figure they had encountered months before. Tao hopped off the perch, landing in front of the women.
"My congratulations to the happy couple. Or condolences, depending on your point of view."
"You again?!" Rin questioned.
"The masked man that attacked the students...what are you doing here?" Rose added.
"Awww, you guys remember me after all! Now I'm all filled up with sparkles inside! As for why I'm paying y'all a visit, call it a courtesy. A nice reminder that things aren't as Happy Happy Happy as you might've convinced yourselves." 
"We haven't forgotten about you people. We just aren't going to let you interfere with our day-to-day lives. Now that you've made yourself available, though, maybe you could fill us in on some things. Like why you're targeting me." Rin replied.
"Well it's usually Death's Hand policy not to divulge company secrets, but eh, I'm feeling a little Holly Jolly today. I'll let you in on why I'm not a fan of your Wild Card ways. The rest of our troupe despises you for who you serve. Me, I'm more worried about the danger you pose. You're a walking atom bomb. A leaking danger to everyone around you, with more power than any single person should have. The Sun Goddess' chosen warrior. Who's to say you won't start lording that power over everyone else?"
"Ridiculous. She wouldn't even give a second thought to that notion." Rose asserted.
"Yeah, her bosom buddy would know, right? The Moon God's creation. You don't have a lick of self-awareness, do you?"
"Get to the point. Are you just here to yap at us, or is there an actual reason you're here?" Rin demanded.
"So touchy. As it happens, I was just about to get to my real point. You know the effects you have on the people around you. And I don't think you're taking us very seriously at all. I'm just giving you a heads-up. I'll be repaying the sparkly feeling you gave me by cleaning up a mess for you. Keep an eye on the news tomorrow. And remember...nobody's off-limits." Tao began to dissapear into the shadows. "Oh...and Merry Christmas." They vanished.
"Hey, wait a min--damn it. He got away. What was all that about?" Rin asked.
"Like a needy child, demanding attention. A feeble attempt at intimidation. Take your pick." Rose replied.
"Whatever it is, he sounded serious. I'm going to call around, tell everyone to be on alert. And I want Shizuka sleeping with us. I'm not taking any chances." 
"As you wish."
The duo went back inside the cabin, unaware of what was about to take place.
---
December 25, 2028
Rin awoke early the following morning. She put her glasses on, and saw that it was 6 A.M. Shizuka was fast asleep, but Rose was nowhere to be seen. Rin got up and walked out, being careful not to wake the sleeping girl.
Rose was in the living room, speaking quietly into her phone. She soon hung up. "What's going on?" Rin asked.
"That was Hiyoko. She was just telling me to turn on the news..."
The two women sat on the couch, and turned on the television.
---
He could appreciate this day more than most. Taikutsu Kyōshinja didn't have anyone else to spend the holiday with, save for the stray cats he'd taken in. All the same, he was grateful. A tiny apartment shared with a few animals was preferable to the cell he'd spent the past nine years in with an inmate much larger than himself.
His night began much like any other. He walked into his apartment, was quickly greeted by cats seeking food, and went to his kitchen to fetch it. Normally this action would be followed by plopping onto his couch and turning on the nightly news. 
This night would take a much different trajectory.
"Yo ho, Mr. Shaggy Dog."
He quickly turned around, to see the masked figure sitting on his couch. "W-who are you?! How did you get in here?!"
"Same way you were probably birthed into the world, broski. Popped out of a big, dark hole. But enough about me. Let's chat about you." Tao quipped.
"What do you want...?"
Tao got up from the couch, and started peering around the room. "Heck of a dump you're swimming in, Kyoshi. I mean I guess here you don't have to worry about dropping the soap, but still." Tao knelt down and began petting one of the cats. "Have these things been tested? I'm not giving myself rabies, am I?"
"Why are you here?!"
"I'm here on behalf of Rin Kubo. I'm cleaning up the mess she never bothered properly dealing with."
"K-Kubo?! I haven't dealt with that woman and her ilk for years..."
"Oh she has no idea I'm here. I'm just here to make a point. Attempted murderers don't get fixed by sitting in jail for nine years."
"I-I-I haven't done anything wrong, I've repaid my debts to society. I-I-I even apologized to that Hiyoko woman in-person! I swear I'm not doing anything bad!"
"Okay, Kyoshi, okay. I believe you." Tao turned to the door, then quickly turned back to Kyōshinja, brandishing a machine gun. An audio track began playing. "But my Tommy Gun don't!"
Kyōshinja's eyes widened, and he started to panic.
"Get down on your knees and tell me you love me."
The haggard former inmate got down to his knees. Tao gestured for him to proceed.
"I...I love you."
"Ya gotta do better'n that."
"I-I-I love you!"
"Maybe I'm off my hinges, but I believe ya. That's why I'm gonna let ya go."
Kyōshinja looked confused. "You...you will?"
"I'm gonna give ya til the count of three, to get your lousy, lyin', low-down four-flushin' carcass out my door! One...two..."
Kyōshinja rushed to his feet, and ran to his door. Tao kept the Tommy Gun pointed at him the entire time. Kyōshinja opened the door...only to find Tao standing there. The masked figure opened fire, sending the stunned Kyōshinja flying backwards, crumpling to the ground.
"...three. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal."
Tao resumed firing into the unmoving body.
"And a Happy New Year."
Tao pulled out the audio tape, shutting it off. The masked figure walked over to Kyōshinja's limp body, almost jokingly checking for a pulse, whistling as they did so. They dipped their hand into the quickly emerging pool of blood. They walked out the door, slapping their bloody, gloved palm into the wall on the way out.
---
Rin and Rose stared unblinking at the TV screen.
"--25 years old, recently released from prison on a work-release program, found dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Neighbors were alerted after hearing a stream of shots, and walked in to a bloody scene. Police did not find any signs of forced entry, but did find what appears to be a bloody handprint near the front door..."
Rin shut the TV off.
"Rin..."
"Don't."
"I know how you get--"
"Don't."
Rose grabbed Rin's shoulders, her hands emanating a blue light. "Listen to me. This is not your fault. It is the fault of the madman holding the gun. You had nothing to do with this. We are going to talk this over with the others. But right now, we need to focus on giving our daughter a good Christmas. The last thing she needs to see, is us losing our minds over something we had nothing to do with. Breathe." She had Rin breathe in, and out.
"Are you calm?" Rose asked.
"...yeah. I'm...I'm going back to bed. I don't want her alone."
"Go on. I'll be along soon." Rin went back to their room.
Rose sighed. "That masked man...so odd, yet something about him felt...familiar..."