- Location
- Laniakea
So.... did everyone who voted "go with Midori and Miki" mean for it to be part of their full-disclosure vote, or a completely separate vote just in case full-disclosure didn't win?
Shards of a Broken Sun [Megaten/Shugo Chara/Exalted]
- Thread starter Baughn
- Start date
- Crossover
That voting surge at the end sure surprised me.
I think we've set a new record for the thread's longest voting argument.
I think it was supposed to be part of a plan, but once again, we failed to properly apply plan formatting.
Last edited:
- Location
- Laniakea
Whew, tell me about it.
Hope it gets combined into the vote and that Midori doesn't chicken out and refuse to even go near enough to the house for Amu to try sensing, on account of guns.
Some things I want to check if the house is empty is whether there's any food or study materials. If the food and textbooks are all completely gone, it's likely they vacated the place voluntarily. I don't know if Amu could even do that check properly with no ranks in Investigation, but hopefully if Midori comes, she will be able to do it.
Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
I'll combine the top three, yeah. Pretty sure that's how it was intended.
Chapter 2.4
Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
Amu didn't have internal arguments, usually. That was a hallmark of the old, nervous, uncertain her, the sort of her that had quietly died across the last two years. There was a new her now, the sort of her that didn't hesitate or doubt herself, and the new her was very good at making decisions.
That's what she liked to tell herself.
She wasn't, however, the sort of girl who'd ever had to explain why she was rushing into danger, and it was surprisingly difficult. She didn't usually have internal arguments? No, but she was having one now. There didn't seem to be a decent answer that didn't hurt one of her friends, her parents, or both-
"Amu?"
"I'm thinking!"
Thinking yes, but what could she do? Miki had messed this all up. Going to visit Kana was- well, it wasn't safe but-
She glanced at Miki, and immediately felt bad. Miki… she'd messed it all up? Yes, but only because she didn't want her to be hurt. Amu couldn't hold that against her. Wouldn't, even if she could. She hated the thought of Miki being hurt, obviously—hated it like she hated the idea of any of her family being hurt. But more than that...
She hated the thought of Miki running into danger. Of treating herself as less than human.
That was what was wrong with that picture. Amu hadn't thought of her as less than human in ages. Not since the first couple of weeks- and she'd only been nine back then.
"Amu-chan..."
"I'm thinking, Miki."
Miki didn't continue.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
Amu shook her head, almost absently.
"Please, please stop that," she said, still looking down. "I'm not mad. Not at you, Miki. Never. I'm just… I'm realising you were right, Mi-chan. And Mom's right- I'd hate it if you ran off into danger instead of, and-"
'Mi-chan?' Where had that come from? She took stock of herself, but there was nothing odd going on. It was just-
She peeked up at Miki. Dark hair, so deep a blue it was nearly black. Blue eyes. A heart-shaped face, identical to her own except for the painted-on freckles, and- Amu felt guilty. She hadn't thought of Miki as 'just a chara' no, but could she say she'd thought of her like a girl? A classmate? A sister?
No.
She couldn't pretend she'd thought of her like that.
Amu spontaneously pulled her sister into a hug, one of the far, far too many that Miki hadn't had yet. Mi-chan was warm. She was real, and Amu found herself quietly crying. Not so Miki could tell, but Mom, standing behind her, saw. Her mother's eyes were soft. She didn't interrupt.
She surreptitiously rubbed at her eyes, hoping but doubting that Miki wouldn't notice, then pulled back.
"I don't want you to get hurt," she said, hands staying on Miki's shoulders. Warm, and comfortingly solid. "So you don't want me to get hurt. And Mom doesn't want either of us to get hurt."
That was all it was. She'd hate it if Miki got hurt instead of her. Hence none of them could.
"It's not the same," Miki muttered.
"It's exactly the same." Amu swallowed. "Isn't that right, Mom?"
She looked up, making sure that Miki was as well, and her mother nodded. Amu was sure she knew the answer, but she'd had enough experience with her parents to know when she was expected to do the thinking herself.
"You're a person, and you deserve to live. That's the easy part. I want you to realise it's true. You're not just something I made. You're real. And- and you're my friend, and my sister, and I want to live a life with you." She drew a breath. "Go to school together. Chat about boys, deep into the night. Show you my paintings, even if you laugh at them." Amu shook her head. "The hard part is- um. I don't want you to be part of me."
"Amu..."
"If you can't believe it yet," Amu continued, "I understand. But can you try and understand, even if it's just a little? That- that you're a real person, and I don't want you hurt, or to do something scary, and- Mom sees us both the same way." She stared into her mother's eyes. "Right?"
"Yes," her mother confirmed.
"I know," Miki mumbled.
"You're my sister," Amu continued, her voice soft, "and I love you. I want to be here with you, always, and I'm not going to let you run off to get shot- even if that wouldn't happen, Miki, why did you say that?" She was crying again, her vision blurred, but her mother was there and pulled them in for a hug.
"It's all right," her mother told her, her voice soft. "Let it out. It's okay. I'm here."
That just made it harder. She stiffened, her body trembling as she fought herself, but in the end it was a foregone conclusion. She had to tell them- she couldn't keep this to herself. Not if that hurt them, the way Miki was hurting Amu.
"I have a lot of things to say," Amu sniffled, "I'm sorry that I scared you. But- but Kana's in trouble. And- and I'm going to tell you everything."
"We're listening," said her mother, rubbing her back.
"-can we go downstairs?" Amu asked. "I don't think- Um." She wiped at her eyes. "Can I have a cup of tea?"
"Sure."
"And maybe a cookie?"
Her mother laughed, the sound quiet and not entirely without concern, but there was a smile in her eyes.
"As many cookies as you want, sweetheart. Should we go surprise Ami? I bet she isn't expecting a second older sister."
"You're the best," Amu whispered.
"I'm your mother." Mom patted her on the shoulder then turned to Miki, holding out a hand. Miki looked at her, then slowly took it, her expression unreadable. Her emotions weren't though, and Amu's heart squeezed painfully. Miki was a roiling mix of guilt, shame and hope.
"We'll talk," Mom told Miki. "As much as you want. But for now, let's go downstairs. We can have a nice sit-down, and I can introduce you properly, and Amu can say what she needs to say. It's all right, Miki-chan. We love having you here."
"Yeah," Amu said.
Miki looked down, not saying anything, so Amu took her other hand and held it tight. She gave her a slight tug, and after a moment, her twin followed along.
"Thanks," Miki whispered.
Amu didn't respond. What was there to say?
They were halfway down the stairs when their mother turned, her smile wry.
"Now, Miki," she said, "Before we get there, let me make a couple of things clear. Firstly, no running off to play hero. You're a young girl, not a secret agent."
"I wouldn't!" Miki protested, uselessly. She would. They both would.
"Second," her mother continued, "your sister is grounded until the end of the month, and so are you. We'll work out what to do about your friend, but you're not going anywhere without either me or your father. Understand?"
Miki's eyes were wide. Amu would have protested… but that was barely a week. Her shoulders still slumped. She'd never been grounded before.
"Um," Miki said, her cheeks red. "I- yes."
"Good." Their mother gave them a smile, then turned back to the stairs. "Third, this is the only chance we'll ever have to confuse Ami with the two of you. Don't spoil it."
Miki was silent, but she was also smiling, and there was a glimmer of humour in her thoughts.
'Won't she already know?' Amu thought at her sister.
'Maybe,' Miki thought back, 'but I doubt it. I never told her I was doing this.'
'Why not?'
'She's a little...' Miki shrugged. 'Excitable. She'd never have kept it a secret from you.'
Amu looked at her, her eyebrows raised. Miki's blush deepened.
'I had plans,' Miki continued. 'For- um. Making you all think you'd gone insane.'
'Miki,' Amu told her. 'That's mean.'
They entered the living room and then Amu stopped, watching. She could do little else.
⁂
Ami had her back turned when they came in, which would have helped Miki escape into the kitchen, had she been inclined towards shenanigans at that specific moment. She was not. She was rooted to the floor next to Amu, and for the very same reason.
The couch had been transformed into a miniature battlefield along with the coffee table. There was a miniature lego fort on top, complete with lightning bolts and fog (of war?), where Ami's lego men were engaged in epic battle with her stuffed animal army. This was not, of course, some simple game of make-believe—no, that wouldn't have been Ami. The lego men were moving, shouting, dozens of them ganging up on individual—relatively giant—rabbit plushies. The floor was a wasteland of lego bricks, and a small, plastic horse lay in pieces, victim of the conflict.
Dad hadn't joined Mom to talk to them. This was why: He was busy playing with Ami, a small smile on his face as he ordered the lego men around.
"Attack," he ordered, then pushed them onto the battlefield, plastic sabres drawn and ready. "Charge! For the kingdom!"
"For the honour of the king!" the lego men replied.
The lego soldiers walked across the wasteland, picking up the odd brick and sticking them onto themselves—they melted—and to Amu's great confusion another group walked out from behind a sofa pillow, carrying a box full of bricks.
The stuffed army- growled. A rabbit bared its teeth, a bear raised its claws, which looked a great deal sharper than they had any right to look. Amu stared, transfixed. Miki- Miki, with a jerk, crept towards the kitchen. Dad gave them a quick glance, but just raised an eyebrow, to which Mom shrugged. He went back to the battlefield.
The two sides faced off in the middle of the coffee table.
Lightning, dramatically, flashed.
As the two sides faced off on the coffee table the atmosphere in the room grew tense. Ami, with the poise of a seasoned general, directed her stuffed animal army with a subtle flick of her fingers. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, a testament to how much she was enjoying this, and a small happy smile lit her face.
Amu could do nothing but continue to watch. She wasn't sure what was happening, only that Ami was having a great deal of fun.
The lego soldiers under Dad's command marched forward with determination, their plastic sabres clashing against the surprisingly robust fur of the stuffed animals. The rabbit, with teeth bared, lunged at a group of lego men.
Amu, still rooted in place, watched in awe as the illusion continued to unfold. The bear swiped at the lego soldiers, sending them flying across the room. But Dad was quick to react, manoeuvring a squadron of lego men to flank the bear, their tiny sabres poised for a strike.
The brutal conflict ended with the lego army victorious. The stuffed animals surrendered and were marched away in chains.
"You won this time," the commander of the cotton army, a stuffed bunny, announced. "But we'll return, and then your fortress will fall!"
"Never!" shouted the legos.
"Never is a long time," the stuffed bunny retorted—no, Ami retorted— and with that the prisoners were led away into the depths of the couch, to the toy box Ami had placed there. Dad looked up, catching her eye—winking to Miki, who had squirrelled off into the kitchen and was peeking around the corner, regardless of the absurd scene they'd just walked in on.
"Welcome back," her father told her. He looked her up and down, then smiled. "You look... different. …Amu?"
Amu shrugged, a little uncomfortably. "Mom helped."
"Brown hair looks good on you," her father said. "And freckles? Are those real, or..."
"Paint," said Mom. "Don't embarrass your daughter."
"I wasn't! I honestly think she looks cute."
Amu looked down. Ami perked up for a moment, twisting around to blink at Amu as she caught her mood, and then her face fell.
"Yeah, um," Amu procrastinated.
Dad frowned. "Hey," he said. "What's the matter?"
"Um," said Amu, not certain how to respond. Her mother stepped forward, giving her a pat on the shoulder, and she took a deep breath. "Um," she repeated. She had to haul the words out. "Dad? I've got something to tell you. It's kind of a long story, though. Can we-?"
Dad blinked.
"We can," Mom agreed. "Dad, could you make us some tea? And- bring out the cookies. We're going to need them."
"Cookies," Ami mumbled, and she turned around, eyes bright, though they faded a little as they hit Amu again. "I'll help carry," the little girl told her father. Ami was radiating concern. "Can I?"
"Of course," he replied, ruffling her hair, and the two went off into the kitchen. Amu watched them, her expression pensive.
A few moments later they spotted Miki and Amu had the rare pleasure of watching Ami do a double-take. The little girl stopped and stared.
"Neechan?" she asked, edging backwards. "You got a clone."
"That's Miki," Amu said, trying to hide a smile.
"I grew," Miki added, waving.
"Oh."
⁂
Explanations were in order, as was planning. Miki's sudden existence would be a problem, even if just logistically, and they had to figure out a story to tell. Because Amu wasn't sure her parents were okay with hiding her. At all, ever. Amu was kicking herself a little for having done so.
Miki wasn't exactly eager to be presented, however. She'd wanted this for a while, but the actual reality of the thing was something else. She was shy, not entirely comfortable being around other people, and the idea of attending school as a real person instead of a ghost sitting on Amu or Ami's shoulder, was-
"It's intimidating," she told them, after Amu had finished explaining the situation. Miki sat leaned against Dad, her face red. She was sandwiched between him and Amu, who was, for her part, trying to ignore the smug look on her mother's face.
"Intimidating?"
"All this new stuff." Miki was quiet for a moment. "I like learning, but going to school? And- and making friends?" She looked down. "It's not what I imagined. When I was younger."
Amu gave her a nudge, which Miki responded to by elbowing her. Ami watched the byplay with wide, sparkling eyes. She at least had no compunctions, and Amu suspected her 'second nee-chan' would be advertised far and wide as soon as Ami went back to school the day after.
"You'll do fine," Amu promised. "I'll be there. So will Kukai and Tadase, once we return to Seiyo. And everyone else, too. So don't worry."
"Returning to Seiyo, huh." Miki looked thoughtful, her eyes distant. "I wonder when that will be. Didn't the building collapse?"
"Not completely," Dad stated. "Although, well…"
"A-and there's everyone from our class," Amu retorted, trying to pretend that hadn't happened. "Like Mako-chan. They'll be excited to meet you, I'm sure. And Utau's family. They know you of course, but…"
"Really?"
"Y-yeah!"
Miki shook her head, still not looking convinced.
"We can worry about that later," Mom interrupted. "Are you okay sleeping in Amu's room, Miki? We've got a guest bedroom, but it's a bit cluttered right now."
"I'm not sure I can stay 'big' for much longer," Miki said, before pausing. "But I've been sleeping there for years so... and this feels... easier than I was expecting."
Amu let out a breath of relief.
"I'd love to have you there," she said.
"I'm even a bit hungry," the black-haired girl admitted, rubbing her stomach. "Wasn't expecting that. How does that even work?" She took a cookie, looking at it for a moment before taking a bite.
"Well," Dad said, looking contemplative. "If we assume your body's just an illusion, it doesn't. But if you are, in fact, real, then I guess it's not entirely surprising. People need food, and the only one here who's ever claimed you're not a person, is you. So..."
"It's just a trick," Miki said, her voice soft. "Like Ami's powers. It's an act."
"It's an unbelievably good act," Mom said, her voice dry. Dad placed an arm around Miki, squeezing her gently. So did Amu, her other arm snaking over, and soon Miki was squished between the two of them.
"I guess," Miki mumbled.
The toy soldiers came back out, and Amu watched as the stuffed animals began to emerge from the couch, crawling over to their fallen comrades. That was, however, all completely under Ami's control. The younger girl had her eyes fixed firmly on Miki, not even pretending she wasn't paying attention.
They could feel her. Not the usual way, like they could usually feel her. Ami was radiating doubt, shoving it in Miki's face. The strings she dangled her toys from were blatant—not just implicitly there, but practically shining. That probably wasn't the best way to put it. It would have to do.
"You don't believe me?" Miki asked, a little helplessly. Amu shook her head.
"'course not," Ami replied. "You're my Neechan, duh. You're not gonna go away. And you're not an illusion."She picked up one of the lego men, staring at it. A moment later it stood, and began to walk, and she put it down and picked up another, examining it. "And Neechan's just Neechan. Even if you're big, I've known you for years. Can I see your hand?"
"What?"
"Your hand," Ami repeated.
Miki did as she was asked, holding it out for the girl, and Ami grabbed hold of it, squeezing it.
"I can feel your hand," she decided.
"And I can feel yours," Miki said, a little bemused.
"Good. Because that would be weird, otherwise."
"I don't see how this proves anything."
"That's 'cause you're dumb."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Girls, girls," Mom interrupted, "Please. Miki's not stupid. If she doesn't believe she's real, that's something we can work on. Ami, explain?"
Ami nodded, and sat up. She let her fingers trail over the stuffed animals, and the lego men, and they all stopped what they were doing and listened, like a class of students.
"Miki," the little girl said, "what's 'real'?"
"That's..." Miki trailed off, thinking about it. "The way the world is, isn't it? It's what you can touch, and feel, and taste."
"You can't touch my mind," Ami said, holding up a finger. "And you can touch the lego-men," she added, pointing at them. "Or yourself. That doesn't work, 'cause I can touch you, so try again."
"Um," Miki mumbled.
"Real things are things that have an inside," Ami decided. "Like a box. When you're real, you have an inside. Your mind is an inside. My mind is an inside. But not this." She picked up a toy soldier, and shook it. "It's just a shell around a lego piece. It doesn't have an inside."
"I don't follow," Miki said.
"If you have an inside," Ami explained, her tone long-suffering, "then you're a you. It doesn't matter how small you are. Or how big. It's not about that. And your body's not just a shell, 'cause I can feel it." She poked Miki on the cheek, and the older girl scowled at her. "It's got blood and stuff."
"But-"
"And you're smart," Ami interrupted, holding up a finger. "I can't tell what you're thinking, 'cause your thoughts are in your body, not just in your mind."
"That's..." Miki trailed off, looking uncertain. She pinched a finger. "That's not what I was trying to do."
"Doh, 'cause you're stupid," Ami said. "But it's what you did. Stop being stupid and maybe I won't call you 'stupid'. You big stupid."
"Ami," Dad warned, then sighed. "But she might be right. I'm no expert on philosophy, but that sounds about right to me.
"So that's four people saying you're real, for four different reasons," Mom added. "Giving up yet?"
Amu tried not to smile, while Miki looked flummoxed. A moment later, she yawned.
"Tired?" Amu asked, her voice teasing.
"No," Miki mumbled, not meeting her eyes. "Yes. Maybe," she admitted. "I could go for a nap. 'Was expecting I'd pop back down to fairy-sized, but I'm getting tired instead."
"Well, then."
"I give up," Miki mumbled, leaning on Dad. He pulled her a little closer, and she let him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'll have a lot to explain, won't I. The Guardians, and..."
"It's not so bad," her father told her. "There's precedent. Transfer students, anyway."
"There is?" Miki sleepily rubbed at her eyes. "Who? Utau?"
"There was also Nagihiko," Dad pointed out.
"And Hikaru," Mom added.
"And Amu back in fourth grade," Dad added. "More or less."
"Hikaru's different." Miki yawned. "And Nagihiko is- um. Rich."
"Not the point," Mom told her. "Don't you worry. We'll figure something out. It'll be all right."
"Yeah," Amu said.
"Mm." Miki's eyes closed, and then she jerked partially upright. "Sorry. I'm falling asleep."
"Then sleep," Dad told her.
"But I-"
"Sleep," Mom said, giving her a smile. "Don't worry. Everything will work out. I promise."
"I've never slept on a couch before," Miki mumbled as Amu and Dad helped her lie down. "Feels comfy. Like a bed."
She settled in for her nap. Amu, a bit worried by her sudden tiredness, took a good look at Miki's 'insides'—the way Ami apparently had—but found that Ami was apparently right. This wasn't a shell of illusion that she'd made for herself. Miki's body was…
'"Real" isn't quite right,' she thought at Ami, who stuck out her tongue at her. 'But she's getting there. Somehow.'
It had heart, lungs, a stomach, everything bodies were supposed to have, and though Amu had never tried scanning a chara with her… biology-sense? She was sure they didn't. Even so, it was a little misty; less a real girl than the imprint of one, though the difference might be academic and was getting more so by the moment. No wonder she was tired.
How Miki had turned herself fully human by accident was something Amu couldn't begin to guess at, but at least she didn't seem to be in danger. She curled a lock of Mi-chan's hair around her finger, then told Ami as much—and smiled, relaxing a little.
"I'll get a blanket," Ami told them, hopping off the couch.
"Thanks," Miki sleepily replied.
"Neechan, are you still gonna be big tomorrow?"
"Probably," Miki mumbled, her eyes already half-closed. "Might have to stay this way forever. Dunno."
Amu watched them and really couldn't help but smile. She was glad Ami wasn't upset, frightened, or anything like that. Her younger sister had a remarkable capacity for accepting weird things, and a healthy sense of curiosity. She was a sweet kid, really.
Which made Amu all the more worried for what was next...
Miki fell asleep, her head in Dad's lap, leaving her with just her parents and Ami. The lego army had resumed its work. Amu found herself watching it. This was Ami fidgeting, really. How long had she kept this to herself just because she thought that she had to?
They sat in silence, listening to Miki's soft breaths. It was... a surreal feeling. Amu didn't know what to say. What could she say?
"I'm sorry," she whispered, and her mother's face hardened.
"Don't apologise," Mom said. "Just don't scare us like that again. And- well. I'm glad you think that way of Miki. You too, Ami-chan. That was a great pep talk."
"Yeah," the little girl said, a little glumly. "Will 'neechan be okay?"
"I hope so," Amu said. "But this is the first time she's been like this, and we'll have to see."
"She's very self-deprecating," Mom added, a frown on her face. "If I thought for a second that was your doing, Amu- but no, let's not start this argument again. I know it's not. We have a bigger problem, don't we? I can't imagine the sort of trouble your friend's in."
"Neither can I," Amu muttered. "But... um."
"It's a good thing you've got friends," Mom said, smile softening again. "But I think it's time you come clean. Is this something Ami can be here for?"
"Maybe not," Amu admitted, glancing at her little sister. "Ami, could you go to your room for a while?"
"Why?"
"Because this is serious," Mom interrupted. "Like a scary movie, I imagine. Not for little ears."
"I'm not afraid," the little girl retorted. "I have a sword." She pointed to the stuffed bunny, who was currently leading a squad of soldiers in the reconstruction effort. It was, indeed, holding a sword.
"A stuffed animal sword," Dad said.
"It's a sword. It counts."
"Ami," their mother said, and the girl slumped.
"Fine," she said, standing up and picking up the bunny.
"Thank you."
"It's fine," Ami mumbled. "Miki-neechan needs my help. I'll help her. Don't worry."
"Good girl," her father told her, giving her a gentle pat on the head. "But I think the best way you can help her is to be yourself, all right? Let her settle into being a person. Understand?"
"Fine," Ami mumbled, though her voice was less annoyed than before. "Bye-bye, Amu-neechan. See you, Miki-neechan.Have a good dream."
"Bye, Ami," Amu said.
"I'll come get you later," Dad added, and then the girl was gone, leaving their parents with their older daughter. Amu went silent, not quite certain how to begin, and her mother let the silence linger.
"Amu," her mother finally said.
"I know," Amu said.
"Then tell me."
She drew a deep breath.
She didn't want to. She'd been hesitating for days, torn between worry for Kana and the need to keep her secret. But Mom was right. She needed help, and there wasn't anyone else. She had to force herself to trust her mother, to believe she'd do the right thing, even if-
-even if that meant hurting Kana, somehow.
"Kana," she began. "She's twelve. Just a little bit younger than me, they think."
"Think?" Mom's eyes were sharp.
"They're not sure," Amu admitted. "None of them remember anything from before they were nine. Or six in Yui's case."
"They," her mother repeated.
"The 'Scavengers'," Amu confirmed. "Kana's… I want to say family, but it's more like a gang that's forced to stay together because no-one else will help them? Mom, dad-" She looked up, into their eyes, willing them to believe her. "Please don't think badly of them? They don't have parents, but they're not just runaway kids. They're more like… Ikuto? Except instead of Easter they're running away from Manticore, and Manticore's..." She hesitated. "A government agency, at least I think so. Like JPs. Except evil. And- um. They're trying to kill Kana." She groaned inwardly. "Or maybe not kill? Capture. I don't think they'd kill…"
She hesitated there, but honesty compelled her to go on.
"Probably."
Her mother's expression was pensive. She thought. She wasn't reading their emotions.
"Go on," Mom said.
"Manticore were the people behind Easter," Amu told her. "Kind of? Or... we know two of their scientists were working for Easter, but Kana thinks they were fired from Manticore. They weren't very good, so maybe they just were fired? Though they still nearly captured Miki once..." She shook her head, returning to the point. "When I showed Kana that memory she got really sad and angry. It's why Naomi lets me visit, I think. They're scared of being found, and- um. Kana's scared. And so are the rest of them. They've been hiding since they were kids. Since- well, Yui was seven when they found her, and Kana was ten."
She should have thought this through. Talked with Miki about how to word things.
"How old are they now?" her mother asked, her voice thoughtful.
"I don't know," Amu admitted. "Between nine and seventeen, I think. Naomi's probably the oldest. Yui says she's nine but..."
"Is she?"
"She acts eight, maybe," Amu replied. "But I don't think she knows. And she's shorter than Ami."
"Ami's taller than most second-graders," Mom noted, a tight smile on her lips. "So tell me about Naomi; I take it she's the leader. Is she the one who told you about Manticore? What do you know about her?"
"I don't know much," Amu admitted. "But- no. I saw Manticore in Kana's memories. Naomi, I- well, I've met her a couple of times, but only for a little bit , and we didn't speak much. She's... intense. But, well..."
She told her parents everything she knew about Naomi and then about the others. It really wasn't very much. With the exception of Kana, whom Amu knew practically inside and out—and Aoi, who was a transmitting empath in the same style as Utau and- most of Amu's class, Amu suspected—she didn't know them that well. She did mention her apparent drug dependence, which—well, her mother didn't seem happy about that, but what was she going to do, exactly?
And then she told her about what Kana hadn't deliberately shown her. Not the murder- never that, she couldn't stand the thought of Mom thinking of Kana that way- but that they'd been captives, and that Kana and the others had escaped them. That made her parents go very quiet.
Amu was left sitting uncomfortably on the literal edge of her seat. Dad tried to give her a reassuring hand on her back, but he had Miki to keep hold of, and Miki to stroke the hair of, and- Amu didn't mind that, not in the least, but it was just-
"I'm not sure what to make of this," Mom finally said, rubbing her forehead. "It sounds like she's not a particularly nice person, but she's also a victim of circumstance. And- I have no idea what I'd do in her position. It's a difficult situation."
"Do you think Naomi's evil?" Amu asked.
Mom was quiet for a long, long moment, and when she spoke again her voice was hesitant.
"Good and evil aren't simple things, Amu," she said. "There are no black and white answers. People are a mess, and everyone has their own reasons. Did you think Utau-chan was evil?"
"Of course not," Amu protested, her voice quick.
"Really?" Mom raised an eyebrow. "Even after she pushed an entire stadium of children to the brink of depression? That was a fairly evil act to commit, and she thinks she has a lot to atone for."
"Well," Amu mumbled, "it wasn't her fault, was it? It was those awful people. Those- those... idiots in Easter."
"Was it?" Her mother's voice was placid. "You seem awfully quick to defend her, and she's hardly an innocent, Amu. She did a bad thing, and I know she feels terrible about it, but it will take a long time to make amends. Utau might not want you to forgive her so easily. In fact I doubt it. She was old enough to know better."
Amu said nothing. She knew that was true.
"But," her mother added, her voice a touch softer, "you're a kind person, and I think you see the best in people. I'm proud of that." She reached forward to pat her daughter's arm, her eyes warm. "Nor am I saying that was all Utau's fault. If she's feeling responsible, that means it won't happen again. Truth be told, I completely agree that it's Easter at fault. Children—even teenagers—are easy to manipulate. They can be twisted, if someone wants them to be. Utau was used, and she isn't responsible."
"So what are you saying?" Amu asked.
"That we can't know for certain," Mom said. "About Naomi. Maybe she's a terrible person, and maybe she's a victim. Or both. Either way, I want to meet her. Do you know if she's a mind-controller, by the way?"
"Huh?" Amu was taken aback. "...no. That's just Kana."
"That's a relief. But you should try and convince her to stay out of people's minds," her mother added. "And I mean that. If you can, that would be for the best. Mind-reading is a violation of privacy."
"Oh," Amu mumbled, her cheeks red.
"Now," Mom said, "I have a feeling Kana's the most important thing, right now. You've spent a lot of time with her, haven't you?" she said, her tone a little wry.
"Well- yeah," said Amu. "She's a good friend."
"Just a friend?" Her mothers tone, for the first time since Miki had fallen asleep, lost a little of the stoniness.
"Mom," Amu muttered, her cheeks red. "I'm not interested in her. Not that way. She's just a friend. I care about her."
"All right," Mom conceded. "Same as Utau, then. I understand completely."
"Mom," Amu whined, her blush spreading from her cheeks to her ears.
"Your father and I are happy to accept Utau into our family," her mother said, her eyes glimmering. "If you want us to accept her as a daughter-in-law, all you have to do is ask. We're fine with that. Though, admittedly, I'd rather it wait until you've graduated college, if only for appearances' sake."
Amu grabbed a pillow, burying her face in it.
"That said," her mother continued, her tone a little more serious, "How certain are you that Manticore is governmental?"
"I don't know," Amu mumbled through the cotton. "Very certain? Kana thinks so."
"Well," her mother said, her voice thoughtful, "then that's something we'll have to confirm. It's possible they're an extremist group. A cult, or some other sort of criminal organisation. They may have claimed to be government just so the children would think there'd be nowhere to go for help."
"You think they aren't?" Amu's eyes went wide. She dropped the pillow.
"It does not entirely matter," her mother continued, her eyes distant. "Regardless of the truth... there were always rumours. But Amu-chan, do you think the government's a single, unified entity? That everyone works together?"
She blinked.
"Manticore sounds… grotesque," Mom told her. "But the government is a large and unwieldy bureaucracy. It's hardly a person. In any organisation the higher-ups don't always know what the lower-downs are doing. Some departments are secretive even among themselves and there are always bad apples...
"Imagine," her mother went on, leaning forward for emphasis, "a school with many different classrooms and teachers. Each classroom is like a department in the government. They all belong to the same school, but they don't always know what the others are doing. Some teachers might have secret projects with their students that other teachers don't know about. And just like in school, where most teachers are good but a few might break the rules, in the government, most people are good and want to help, but some might misuse their power or hide things.
"So, when we talk about Manticore," she continued, "it's like a secret club in one of the classrooms. The headteacher might not even know it exists. It could be doing things that are against the rules of the school, but it's hidden away. That's why it's tricky. We can't just say 'the school is bad' because of one secret club. In the same way, if Manticore is part of the government, it doesn't mean the whole government is bad. It could be just a small part that's doing things they shouldn't.
"But," she concluded, her eyes locking with Amu's, "it's important we find out the truth. We need to understand what Manticore really is, and if they really are as bad as you're thinking, then we need to expose it. Just like in school, if there's a secret club causing trouble, it's important to tell someone who can help sort it out. The truth matters, Amu-chan, and sometimes it's not simple."
Dad raised a hand.
"Question," he said. "Does Manticore have anything to do with JPs?"
Amu opened her mouth.
"Um," she said, her brow furrowing. "I don't know."
Dad leaned back, and went back to stroking Miki's hair. The beret—Amu spotted, to some surprise—had fallen off her, and sat on the couch next to the two.
"Well, you might want to ask," he said. "I've been looking into them. The organisation itself has existed for decades; it's listed as part of the meteorological agency, but that's plainly just a smoke-screen. There's rumours that they've had a focus on the paranormal, which I think we can consider confirmed—the internet's a real mess right now. But if we look back in time, those same rumours also claim it only recently expanded to include 'xenobiology'." He looked at Amu. "That's a fancy word for 'strange animals'.
'I know,' Amu thought, but didn't say. It had been in one of her books.
"The thing is," Dad added, "that there's a lot of strange animals. Deep-sea fish, jellyfish, eels... the number of species humans have found is in the hundreds of thousands, yet some say ten times as many remain undiscovered. On land, it'd be mainly insects and small animals. But I don't think it's either of those, do you?"
"You're saying demons?" Amu's expression was puzzled. "And JPs are studying them. Were studying them."
"Defending against them," Dad corrected. "I was impressed by what I saw when I visited their facility, but it's pretty obviously military. I didn't tell you, Amu, but while you were visiting Saaya I decided to strike up a conversation with some of the guards and other staff members. It was quite an interesting talk. They were extremely professional, but some things bleed through. And I don't even mean the style of signage."
"Such as?" Mom prompted.
"Well, a desire to do good," Dad said. "I don't know the details, but they're certainly taking their work seriously; I don't think a single person treats it as payroll. That, and there's an interesting pattern. A number of the staff are veterans of the Self-Defence Force, and a few are retired police officers. They don't all have excellent records. A number were ejected for 'discipline reasons', but from reading between the lines-" He coughed. "It seems that, well. They were ejected for being liabilities, because of whistle-blowing, 'excess initiative' or speaking out against corruption. There are also a number of foreigners."
"Foreigners?" Amu repeated.
"Americans," her father clarified. "Former USFJ. It's not the only country represented; I met a number of British, French and Canadian soldiers, and I'm pretty sure there were a few Russians in the crowd. It paints a very interesting picture."
"It does," Mom agreed. She patted Amu's hand. "And this is why we need information. I'm going to have a talk with some of my associates and see if we can get to the bottom of things. Your father can probably help, too, can't you, dear?"
"Of course," he said. "Though, honestly, the government does keep secrets, so don't get your hopes up."
"I won't," Mom assured him.
"You will," he said, his smile wry. "It'll take a couple days. Weeks. Dear, I'm hardly a detective."
"But you know a few," Mom said.
"True."
"So... you're saying they're good guys, so they aren't likely to be linked to Manticore?" Amu frowned. "Or that you don't know?
"It's possible," Mom said, her voice dry. "That they're a group of rogue operators. It's more likely that they're criminals. I shouldn't need to say this, Amu, but few people look kindly on child abuse, let alone murder or experimentation. If there's a conspiracy in JPs, then it's unlikely the entire organisation is corrupt—but from what your father is saying, it's unlikely they're connected at all."
Amu frowned.
"But Easter did basically that?" she attempted. "Minus the murder. And Kana's just scared, it's not like she's seen anyone murdered by them. I think." She was trying to put her thoughts together, because something didn't make sense. What Manticore did... "What they're trying to do is... pretty evil," Amu decided, her brow furrowed. "Kana thinks so too. It's a bad thing to take kids and make them into- whatever they do. And I think that's probably why she's so easily scared. But it's not..."
Her mother waited patiently for her to speak.
"I mean, I guess I'm not that surprised?" Amu finished, a little lamely. "Manticore's just... Easter, but... better at it? Maybe?" She winced. "Or worse?"
She went quiet. She'd wanted not to say that.
Her parents didn't immediately respond, and in the silence Amu began to wonder just how crazy her words had sounded. It wasn't as though she had the words to describe what she meant. It was a feeling. A vague, ill-defined, awful feeling, like a bad taste in her mouth. If she had to put a word to it, it might be 'fear'. The world wasn't very nice, sometimes, and she'd wanted to keep it out of her home.
"Better or worse than what, exactly?" Mom asked, her voice very calm. "What was Easter trying to accomplish?"
"I'm not really sure," Amu mumbled, thinking back. "'Find the Embryo', they said. But that was just a broken-off part of Hikaru's soul and it mostly wasn't what they really did. They didn't really have a plan at all? They were just experimenting, throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck. They were idiots."
"That's true," Mom agreed.
"Manticore," Amu mumbled, trying to put the two ideas together, "they're doing the same thing, but to kids kept in captivity. So they're smarter."
"Keeping children locked up is 'smart'?" Dad repeated, his expression baffled.
"Isn't it?" Amu looked up. "I mean, we... sorta... broke Easter's skyscraper, right? If you're experimenting on kids… instead of letting them fight you, it'd be better to just…"
The silence this time was profound.
"You're not saying much," Amu finally mumbled, glancing at her parents.
"I think," her mother said, a hint of sadness in her voice, "that the word you're looking for is 'revolting', not 'smart'. Amu, you shouldn't ever be unsurprised by the things bad people do. And yes, they're bad people." She paused. "I'd ask what on earth happened to you that made you think like that, but maybe I don't want to hear it." She stepped over to Amu's side of the table, pulling her into a hug that was so tight it was almost painful. "Maybe I'm a bit angry, too. Maybe I want to go down to Easter myself and tell those people exactly what I think. I don't know. I wish I'd known sooner."
Dad was staring at Miki, his brow furrowed.
"Do you think they'd do the same to Miki, if they found her?" he murmured.
"Easter?" Amu asked. "Oh, well, yes. Su got kidnapped once, and I-" She paused. Her eyes, unbeknownst to her but visible to her parents, flickered back from yellow to brown. They'd done a lot of that, this conversation. "I told you I sorta am Su, right? She's not gone, she's just... me. So anyway, she got kidnapped by Nikaidou once, because he wanted to experiment and make a better... um, I don't really remember. Some sort of X-egg-creation machine. By squishing me into a pancake."
"X-eggs," Mom said, her voice blank. "I recall you talking about those. They're the reason why you became a guardian, correct?" She grimaced. "That name is… indicative."
"Yeah," Amu replied. "That's most of what Easter was doing. Just causing more X-eggs and using them to make even more X-eggs. I'm not sure if they did that by making kids depressed, or if that happened because of the X-eggs, but- anyway," she added, before her mother could react. "Nikaidou tried to kidnap Su, but Su talked him around. She... uh. I think mostly she undid his brainwashing. He's not a bad person, I promise."
"He's Utau's adoptive father," Mom pointed out, her tone flat.
"He is," Amu confirmed. "I know he feels bad about it. He's been helping us, and- I mean, I didn't really like him back then, the whole Himamori thing, but I know he's a good person now." She waved her hands, trying to cheer them up. "And hey, I'm still right here. Nothing bad happened."
Mom stared at her.
Dad gave her a meaningful look and Mom's shoulders sagged.
"Of course," she sighed. "Yes. Well. As for Manticore... it seems to me that they're a much more dangerous group than Easter was, but you're also right." She gave Amu a tight-lipped smile. "It's hard to compare the two. What Easter did was wrong, but... well. It's not a competition."
"You're worried," Amu said, her brow furrowed.
"I think, if Kana was in trouble, then it started last week. The girl you've described would have sent you at least a text message, surely?"
"Not if she was dead," Amu mumbled. "She could be dead. Or captured."
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Mom cautioned, but her voice was worried. "Her phone could be dead, or the publicity might have scared her off. I doubt an organisation like Manticore would stage an attack in broad daylight, but all the same, I'd rather not have them notice us. Do you have a way to check on Kana from a distance?"
"No?" Amu said. "Wait... yes? What's 'distance'?"
"From the street, maybe?" her mother said.
"Probably," Amu admitted. "Um. If they're alive."
Her mother gave her a look.
"You've been a bit fatalistic, Amu," her father noted, his voice careful. "I've noticed. Is there a reason for that?"
"I just-" Amu hesitated. "No? Maybe? I just have a bad feeling, and it's getting worse by the hour. I can't see the future. I'm a terrible precog, but I..." She trailed off. "I just know something's wrong. Something's not right."
Mom squeezed her hand, and there was another momentary silence. Mom and Dad gave each other another of those looks, the ones that were almost telepathy, minus the telepathy. Amu wished she could peek, but… no, she'd told herself not to do that.
"They live in a normal neighbourhood, right?" Dad said.
"A bit rundown," Amu said. "There are some abandoned buildings nearby, and an old playground, and- well, the neighbourhood isn't great, but the house is all right. There's a few shops. And there's children in the playground. I stopped by there once." She smiled a little.
"So there's people on the streets, even if it's not bustling. We could just walk past and have a look."
Amu looked up. "So you'll let me go?" she said, her voice small.
"We weren't planning to stop you," her mother replied, her eyes sad. "We couldn't, could we?"
"But you told me I'm grounded?"
"Yes," her mother agreed. "But-" She trailed off. "I mean, you-"
"That's what being 'grounded' means?" Amu sat up, her face a question mark. "So didn't you already stop me?"
Her mother opened her mouth. Then closed it.
"I guess we did," Dad said, looking contemplative. "And I think I'm glad. That said, how would you like to take a walk with your father?"
"Now?"
"If you'd like," he agreed. "The weather is lovely, and we can have a leisurely stroll past your friends. See if anything is wrong. Or not. You seem awfully worried." One hand still stroking Miki, he let the other ruffle Amu's hair. "It'd make me feel better, and I'm sure it would make you feel better, too."
"You're not mad?"
"Well," Dad admitted, a touch sheepishly, "I can't pretend I'm pleased. You've kept some terrible secrets from us, Amu-chan. That said, we're family. I'd much rather we work through these problems together, wouldn't you?"
"Y-yeah," Amu mumbled, her cheeks red.
"What would you have done on your own?" he asked her. "Walked up and knocked on their door, maybe? I hope not."
She looked away, face once again red like a tomato. Her parents, thankfully, didn't comment.
"Then it's decided," her father said. "Time for a walk. Midori- you'll take care of Miki and Ami, won't you?"
"I would, but I think if you get up you'll wake her," Mom said, giving him a meaningful look. "You're both stuck here, at least for the time being. I'll take care of Amu."
"Fair enough," he conceded.
Miki yawned, hands coming up to rub at her eyes. She blinked blearily, staring up at the adults.
"What's going on?" she mumbled, her voice half-asleep.
"...or we could make it a family event," Dad suggested.
= = =
What sort of family has 'spy on a potentially evil potentially government organisation' as a family event? Oh, right, this one. It beats the alternatives.
I'll refrain from pretending like there's any chance you won't go. Midori has offered one way to explore the situation, but feel free to suggest another. In the meantime… task vote!
[ ][Party] Amu, Miki, Midori, Tsumugu and Ami
- A proper family outing.
- This is a lie. Miki and Ami would be in a cafe half a kilometre away, likely along with Midori; they're not going to bring Ami or Miki into that. Nor both parents, for that matter.
- It's still a family outing, and ideally Amu comes back to join them at the cafe.
[ ][Party] Amu and Midori
- Everyone else gets to stay at home.
- …is this actually safer? Well, it's an option.
[ ][Party] Amu, Miki, Midori, Tsumugu, Ami and Utau
- The biggest issue is Midori will most likely claim this is still a family outing.
- Also Utau is likely to be upset. At Amu's latest situation, not the claim. Probably.
-- …that's going to happen, sooner or later.
- There is zero chance that Utau would stay at any cafe, though Eru and Iru might.
[ ][Party] Write-in
[ ][Approach] A casual stroll past the Scavengers. Just some random passersby.
- What could possibly go wrong?
- Consider what you'll do if and when the situation is Not Perfectly Normal. Or even if it is.
- Probably it'll just be a quick update and interrupt.
[ ][Approach] Write-in
That's what she liked to tell herself.
She wasn't, however, the sort of girl who'd ever had to explain why she was rushing into danger, and it was surprisingly difficult. She didn't usually have internal arguments? No, but she was having one now. There didn't seem to be a decent answer that didn't hurt one of her friends, her parents, or both-
"Amu?"
"I'm thinking!"
Thinking yes, but what could she do? Miki had messed this all up. Going to visit Kana was- well, it wasn't safe but-
She glanced at Miki, and immediately felt bad. Miki… she'd messed it all up? Yes, but only because she didn't want her to be hurt. Amu couldn't hold that against her. Wouldn't, even if she could. She hated the thought of Miki being hurt, obviously—hated it like she hated the idea of any of her family being hurt. But more than that...
She hated the thought of Miki running into danger. Of treating herself as less than human.
That was what was wrong with that picture. Amu hadn't thought of her as less than human in ages. Not since the first couple of weeks- and she'd only been nine back then.
"Amu-chan..."
"I'm thinking, Miki."
Miki didn't continue.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
Amu shook her head, almost absently.
"Please, please stop that," she said, still looking down. "I'm not mad. Not at you, Miki. Never. I'm just… I'm realising you were right, Mi-chan. And Mom's right- I'd hate it if you ran off into danger instead of, and-"
'Mi-chan?' Where had that come from? She took stock of herself, but there was nothing odd going on. It was just-
She peeked up at Miki. Dark hair, so deep a blue it was nearly black. Blue eyes. A heart-shaped face, identical to her own except for the painted-on freckles, and- Amu felt guilty. She hadn't thought of Miki as 'just a chara' no, but could she say she'd thought of her like a girl? A classmate? A sister?
No.
She couldn't pretend she'd thought of her like that.
Amu spontaneously pulled her sister into a hug, one of the far, far too many that Miki hadn't had yet. Mi-chan was warm. She was real, and Amu found herself quietly crying. Not so Miki could tell, but Mom, standing behind her, saw. Her mother's eyes were soft. She didn't interrupt.
She surreptitiously rubbed at her eyes, hoping but doubting that Miki wouldn't notice, then pulled back.
"I don't want you to get hurt," she said, hands staying on Miki's shoulders. Warm, and comfortingly solid. "So you don't want me to get hurt. And Mom doesn't want either of us to get hurt."
That was all it was. She'd hate it if Miki got hurt instead of her. Hence none of them could.
"It's not the same," Miki muttered.
"It's exactly the same." Amu swallowed. "Isn't that right, Mom?"
She looked up, making sure that Miki was as well, and her mother nodded. Amu was sure she knew the answer, but she'd had enough experience with her parents to know when she was expected to do the thinking herself.
"You're a person, and you deserve to live. That's the easy part. I want you to realise it's true. You're not just something I made. You're real. And- and you're my friend, and my sister, and I want to live a life with you." She drew a breath. "Go to school together. Chat about boys, deep into the night. Show you my paintings, even if you laugh at them." Amu shook her head. "The hard part is- um. I don't want you to be part of me."
"Amu..."
"If you can't believe it yet," Amu continued, "I understand. But can you try and understand, even if it's just a little? That- that you're a real person, and I don't want you hurt, or to do something scary, and- Mom sees us both the same way." She stared into her mother's eyes. "Right?"
"Yes," her mother confirmed.
"I know," Miki mumbled.
"You're my sister," Amu continued, her voice soft, "and I love you. I want to be here with you, always, and I'm not going to let you run off to get shot- even if that wouldn't happen, Miki, why did you say that?" She was crying again, her vision blurred, but her mother was there and pulled them in for a hug.
"It's all right," her mother told her, her voice soft. "Let it out. It's okay. I'm here."
That just made it harder. She stiffened, her body trembling as she fought herself, but in the end it was a foregone conclusion. She had to tell them- she couldn't keep this to herself. Not if that hurt them, the way Miki was hurting Amu.
"I have a lot of things to say," Amu sniffled, "I'm sorry that I scared you. But- but Kana's in trouble. And- and I'm going to tell you everything."
"We're listening," said her mother, rubbing her back.
"-can we go downstairs?" Amu asked. "I don't think- Um." She wiped at her eyes. "Can I have a cup of tea?"
"Sure."
"And maybe a cookie?"
Her mother laughed, the sound quiet and not entirely without concern, but there was a smile in her eyes.
"As many cookies as you want, sweetheart. Should we go surprise Ami? I bet she isn't expecting a second older sister."
"You're the best," Amu whispered.
"I'm your mother." Mom patted her on the shoulder then turned to Miki, holding out a hand. Miki looked at her, then slowly took it, her expression unreadable. Her emotions weren't though, and Amu's heart squeezed painfully. Miki was a roiling mix of guilt, shame and hope.
"We'll talk," Mom told Miki. "As much as you want. But for now, let's go downstairs. We can have a nice sit-down, and I can introduce you properly, and Amu can say what she needs to say. It's all right, Miki-chan. We love having you here."
"Yeah," Amu said.
Miki looked down, not saying anything, so Amu took her other hand and held it tight. She gave her a slight tug, and after a moment, her twin followed along.
"Thanks," Miki whispered.
Amu didn't respond. What was there to say?
They were halfway down the stairs when their mother turned, her smile wry.
"Now, Miki," she said, "Before we get there, let me make a couple of things clear. Firstly, no running off to play hero. You're a young girl, not a secret agent."
"I wouldn't!" Miki protested, uselessly. She would. They both would.
"Second," her mother continued, "your sister is grounded until the end of the month, and so are you. We'll work out what to do about your friend, but you're not going anywhere without either me or your father. Understand?"
Miki's eyes were wide. Amu would have protested… but that was barely a week. Her shoulders still slumped. She'd never been grounded before.
"Um," Miki said, her cheeks red. "I- yes."
"Good." Their mother gave them a smile, then turned back to the stairs. "Third, this is the only chance we'll ever have to confuse Ami with the two of you. Don't spoil it."
Miki was silent, but she was also smiling, and there was a glimmer of humour in her thoughts.
'Won't she already know?' Amu thought at her sister.
'Maybe,' Miki thought back, 'but I doubt it. I never told her I was doing this.'
'Why not?'
'She's a little...' Miki shrugged. 'Excitable. She'd never have kept it a secret from you.'
Amu looked at her, her eyebrows raised. Miki's blush deepened.
'I had plans,' Miki continued. 'For- um. Making you all think you'd gone insane.'
'Miki,' Amu told her. 'That's mean.'
They entered the living room and then Amu stopped, watching. She could do little else.
⁂
Ami had her back turned when they came in, which would have helped Miki escape into the kitchen, had she been inclined towards shenanigans at that specific moment. She was not. She was rooted to the floor next to Amu, and for the very same reason.
The couch had been transformed into a miniature battlefield along with the coffee table. There was a miniature lego fort on top, complete with lightning bolts and fog (of war?), where Ami's lego men were engaged in epic battle with her stuffed animal army. This was not, of course, some simple game of make-believe—no, that wouldn't have been Ami. The lego men were moving, shouting, dozens of them ganging up on individual—relatively giant—rabbit plushies. The floor was a wasteland of lego bricks, and a small, plastic horse lay in pieces, victim of the conflict.
Dad hadn't joined Mom to talk to them. This was why: He was busy playing with Ami, a small smile on his face as he ordered the lego men around.
"Attack," he ordered, then pushed them onto the battlefield, plastic sabres drawn and ready. "Charge! For the kingdom!"
"For the honour of the king!" the lego men replied.
The lego soldiers walked across the wasteland, picking up the odd brick and sticking them onto themselves—they melted—and to Amu's great confusion another group walked out from behind a sofa pillow, carrying a box full of bricks.
The stuffed army- growled. A rabbit bared its teeth, a bear raised its claws, which looked a great deal sharper than they had any right to look. Amu stared, transfixed. Miki- Miki, with a jerk, crept towards the kitchen. Dad gave them a quick glance, but just raised an eyebrow, to which Mom shrugged. He went back to the battlefield.
The two sides faced off in the middle of the coffee table.
Lightning, dramatically, flashed.
As the two sides faced off on the coffee table the atmosphere in the room grew tense. Ami, with the poise of a seasoned general, directed her stuffed animal army with a subtle flick of her fingers. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, a testament to how much she was enjoying this, and a small happy smile lit her face.
Amu could do nothing but continue to watch. She wasn't sure what was happening, only that Ami was having a great deal of fun.
The lego soldiers under Dad's command marched forward with determination, their plastic sabres clashing against the surprisingly robust fur of the stuffed animals. The rabbit, with teeth bared, lunged at a group of lego men.
Amu, still rooted in place, watched in awe as the illusion continued to unfold. The bear swiped at the lego soldiers, sending them flying across the room. But Dad was quick to react, manoeuvring a squadron of lego men to flank the bear, their tiny sabres poised for a strike.
The brutal conflict ended with the lego army victorious. The stuffed animals surrendered and were marched away in chains.
"You won this time," the commander of the cotton army, a stuffed bunny, announced. "But we'll return, and then your fortress will fall!"
"Never!" shouted the legos.
"Never is a long time," the stuffed bunny retorted—no, Ami retorted— and with that the prisoners were led away into the depths of the couch, to the toy box Ami had placed there. Dad looked up, catching her eye—winking to Miki, who had squirrelled off into the kitchen and was peeking around the corner, regardless of the absurd scene they'd just walked in on.
"Welcome back," her father told her. He looked her up and down, then smiled. "You look... different. …Amu?"
Amu shrugged, a little uncomfortably. "Mom helped."
"Brown hair looks good on you," her father said. "And freckles? Are those real, or..."
"Paint," said Mom. "Don't embarrass your daughter."
"I wasn't! I honestly think she looks cute."
Amu looked down. Ami perked up for a moment, twisting around to blink at Amu as she caught her mood, and then her face fell.
"Yeah, um," Amu procrastinated.
Dad frowned. "Hey," he said. "What's the matter?"
"Um," said Amu, not certain how to respond. Her mother stepped forward, giving her a pat on the shoulder, and she took a deep breath. "Um," she repeated. She had to haul the words out. "Dad? I've got something to tell you. It's kind of a long story, though. Can we-?"
Dad blinked.
"We can," Mom agreed. "Dad, could you make us some tea? And- bring out the cookies. We're going to need them."
"Cookies," Ami mumbled, and she turned around, eyes bright, though they faded a little as they hit Amu again. "I'll help carry," the little girl told her father. Ami was radiating concern. "Can I?"
"Of course," he replied, ruffling her hair, and the two went off into the kitchen. Amu watched them, her expression pensive.
A few moments later they spotted Miki and Amu had the rare pleasure of watching Ami do a double-take. The little girl stopped and stared.
"Neechan?" she asked, edging backwards. "You got a clone."
"That's Miki," Amu said, trying to hide a smile.
"I grew," Miki added, waving.
"Oh."
⁂
Explanations were in order, as was planning. Miki's sudden existence would be a problem, even if just logistically, and they had to figure out a story to tell. Because Amu wasn't sure her parents were okay with hiding her. At all, ever. Amu was kicking herself a little for having done so.
Miki wasn't exactly eager to be presented, however. She'd wanted this for a while, but the actual reality of the thing was something else. She was shy, not entirely comfortable being around other people, and the idea of attending school as a real person instead of a ghost sitting on Amu or Ami's shoulder, was-
"It's intimidating," she told them, after Amu had finished explaining the situation. Miki sat leaned against Dad, her face red. She was sandwiched between him and Amu, who was, for her part, trying to ignore the smug look on her mother's face.
"Intimidating?"
"All this new stuff." Miki was quiet for a moment. "I like learning, but going to school? And- and making friends?" She looked down. "It's not what I imagined. When I was younger."
Amu gave her a nudge, which Miki responded to by elbowing her. Ami watched the byplay with wide, sparkling eyes. She at least had no compunctions, and Amu suspected her 'second nee-chan' would be advertised far and wide as soon as Ami went back to school the day after.
"You'll do fine," Amu promised. "I'll be there. So will Kukai and Tadase, once we return to Seiyo. And everyone else, too. So don't worry."
"Returning to Seiyo, huh." Miki looked thoughtful, her eyes distant. "I wonder when that will be. Didn't the building collapse?"
"Not completely," Dad stated. "Although, well…"
"A-and there's everyone from our class," Amu retorted, trying to pretend that hadn't happened. "Like Mako-chan. They'll be excited to meet you, I'm sure. And Utau's family. They know you of course, but…"
"Really?"
"Y-yeah!"
Miki shook her head, still not looking convinced.
"We can worry about that later," Mom interrupted. "Are you okay sleeping in Amu's room, Miki? We've got a guest bedroom, but it's a bit cluttered right now."
"I'm not sure I can stay 'big' for much longer," Miki said, before pausing. "But I've been sleeping there for years so... and this feels... easier than I was expecting."
Amu let out a breath of relief.
"I'd love to have you there," she said.
"I'm even a bit hungry," the black-haired girl admitted, rubbing her stomach. "Wasn't expecting that. How does that even work?" She took a cookie, looking at it for a moment before taking a bite.
"Well," Dad said, looking contemplative. "If we assume your body's just an illusion, it doesn't. But if you are, in fact, real, then I guess it's not entirely surprising. People need food, and the only one here who's ever claimed you're not a person, is you. So..."
"It's just a trick," Miki said, her voice soft. "Like Ami's powers. It's an act."
"It's an unbelievably good act," Mom said, her voice dry. Dad placed an arm around Miki, squeezing her gently. So did Amu, her other arm snaking over, and soon Miki was squished between the two of them.
"I guess," Miki mumbled.
The toy soldiers came back out, and Amu watched as the stuffed animals began to emerge from the couch, crawling over to their fallen comrades. That was, however, all completely under Ami's control. The younger girl had her eyes fixed firmly on Miki, not even pretending she wasn't paying attention.
They could feel her. Not the usual way, like they could usually feel her. Ami was radiating doubt, shoving it in Miki's face. The strings she dangled her toys from were blatant—not just implicitly there, but practically shining. That probably wasn't the best way to put it. It would have to do.
"You don't believe me?" Miki asked, a little helplessly. Amu shook her head.
"'course not," Ami replied. "You're my Neechan, duh. You're not gonna go away. And you're not an illusion."She picked up one of the lego men, staring at it. A moment later it stood, and began to walk, and she put it down and picked up another, examining it. "And Neechan's just Neechan. Even if you're big, I've known you for years. Can I see your hand?"
"What?"
"Your hand," Ami repeated.
Miki did as she was asked, holding it out for the girl, and Ami grabbed hold of it, squeezing it.
"I can feel your hand," she decided.
"And I can feel yours," Miki said, a little bemused.
"Good. Because that would be weird, otherwise."
"I don't see how this proves anything."
"That's 'cause you're dumb."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Girls, girls," Mom interrupted, "Please. Miki's not stupid. If she doesn't believe she's real, that's something we can work on. Ami, explain?"
Ami nodded, and sat up. She let her fingers trail over the stuffed animals, and the lego men, and they all stopped what they were doing and listened, like a class of students.
"Miki," the little girl said, "what's 'real'?"
"That's..." Miki trailed off, thinking about it. "The way the world is, isn't it? It's what you can touch, and feel, and taste."
"You can't touch my mind," Ami said, holding up a finger. "And you can touch the lego-men," she added, pointing at them. "Or yourself. That doesn't work, 'cause I can touch you, so try again."
"Um," Miki mumbled.
"Real things are things that have an inside," Ami decided. "Like a box. When you're real, you have an inside. Your mind is an inside. My mind is an inside. But not this." She picked up a toy soldier, and shook it. "It's just a shell around a lego piece. It doesn't have an inside."
"I don't follow," Miki said.
"If you have an inside," Ami explained, her tone long-suffering, "then you're a you. It doesn't matter how small you are. Or how big. It's not about that. And your body's not just a shell, 'cause I can feel it." She poked Miki on the cheek, and the older girl scowled at her. "It's got blood and stuff."
"But-"
"And you're smart," Ami interrupted, holding up a finger. "I can't tell what you're thinking, 'cause your thoughts are in your body, not just in your mind."
"That's..." Miki trailed off, looking uncertain. She pinched a finger. "That's not what I was trying to do."
"Doh, 'cause you're stupid," Ami said. "But it's what you did. Stop being stupid and maybe I won't call you 'stupid'. You big stupid."
"Ami," Dad warned, then sighed. "But she might be right. I'm no expert on philosophy, but that sounds about right to me.
"So that's four people saying you're real, for four different reasons," Mom added. "Giving up yet?"
Amu tried not to smile, while Miki looked flummoxed. A moment later, she yawned.
"Tired?" Amu asked, her voice teasing.
"No," Miki mumbled, not meeting her eyes. "Yes. Maybe," she admitted. "I could go for a nap. 'Was expecting I'd pop back down to fairy-sized, but I'm getting tired instead."
"Well, then."
"I give up," Miki mumbled, leaning on Dad. He pulled her a little closer, and she let him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'll have a lot to explain, won't I. The Guardians, and..."
"It's not so bad," her father told her. "There's precedent. Transfer students, anyway."
"There is?" Miki sleepily rubbed at her eyes. "Who? Utau?"
"There was also Nagihiko," Dad pointed out.
"And Hikaru," Mom added.
"And Amu back in fourth grade," Dad added. "More or less."
"Hikaru's different." Miki yawned. "And Nagihiko is- um. Rich."
"Not the point," Mom told her. "Don't you worry. We'll figure something out. It'll be all right."
"Yeah," Amu said.
"Mm." Miki's eyes closed, and then she jerked partially upright. "Sorry. I'm falling asleep."
"Then sleep," Dad told her.
"But I-"
"Sleep," Mom said, giving her a smile. "Don't worry. Everything will work out. I promise."
"I've never slept on a couch before," Miki mumbled as Amu and Dad helped her lie down. "Feels comfy. Like a bed."
She settled in for her nap. Amu, a bit worried by her sudden tiredness, took a good look at Miki's 'insides'—the way Ami apparently had—but found that Ami was apparently right. This wasn't a shell of illusion that she'd made for herself. Miki's body was…
'"Real" isn't quite right,' she thought at Ami, who stuck out her tongue at her. 'But she's getting there. Somehow.'
It had heart, lungs, a stomach, everything bodies were supposed to have, and though Amu had never tried scanning a chara with her… biology-sense? She was sure they didn't. Even so, it was a little misty; less a real girl than the imprint of one, though the difference might be academic and was getting more so by the moment. No wonder she was tired.
How Miki had turned herself fully human by accident was something Amu couldn't begin to guess at, but at least she didn't seem to be in danger. She curled a lock of Mi-chan's hair around her finger, then told Ami as much—and smiled, relaxing a little.
"I'll get a blanket," Ami told them, hopping off the couch.
"Thanks," Miki sleepily replied.
"Neechan, are you still gonna be big tomorrow?"
"Probably," Miki mumbled, her eyes already half-closed. "Might have to stay this way forever. Dunno."
Amu watched them and really couldn't help but smile. She was glad Ami wasn't upset, frightened, or anything like that. Her younger sister had a remarkable capacity for accepting weird things, and a healthy sense of curiosity. She was a sweet kid, really.
Which made Amu all the more worried for what was next...
Miki fell asleep, her head in Dad's lap, leaving her with just her parents and Ami. The lego army had resumed its work. Amu found herself watching it. This was Ami fidgeting, really. How long had she kept this to herself just because she thought that she had to?
They sat in silence, listening to Miki's soft breaths. It was... a surreal feeling. Amu didn't know what to say. What could she say?
"I'm sorry," she whispered, and her mother's face hardened.
"Don't apologise," Mom said. "Just don't scare us like that again. And- well. I'm glad you think that way of Miki. You too, Ami-chan. That was a great pep talk."
"Yeah," the little girl said, a little glumly. "Will 'neechan be okay?"
"I hope so," Amu said. "But this is the first time she's been like this, and we'll have to see."
"She's very self-deprecating," Mom added, a frown on her face. "If I thought for a second that was your doing, Amu- but no, let's not start this argument again. I know it's not. We have a bigger problem, don't we? I can't imagine the sort of trouble your friend's in."
"Neither can I," Amu muttered. "But... um."
"It's a good thing you've got friends," Mom said, smile softening again. "But I think it's time you come clean. Is this something Ami can be here for?"
"Maybe not," Amu admitted, glancing at her little sister. "Ami, could you go to your room for a while?"
"Why?"
"Because this is serious," Mom interrupted. "Like a scary movie, I imagine. Not for little ears."
"I'm not afraid," the little girl retorted. "I have a sword." She pointed to the stuffed bunny, who was currently leading a squad of soldiers in the reconstruction effort. It was, indeed, holding a sword.
"A stuffed animal sword," Dad said.
"It's a sword. It counts."
"Ami," their mother said, and the girl slumped.
"Fine," she said, standing up and picking up the bunny.
"Thank you."
"It's fine," Ami mumbled. "Miki-neechan needs my help. I'll help her. Don't worry."
"Good girl," her father told her, giving her a gentle pat on the head. "But I think the best way you can help her is to be yourself, all right? Let her settle into being a person. Understand?"
"Fine," Ami mumbled, though her voice was less annoyed than before. "Bye-bye, Amu-neechan. See you, Miki-neechan.Have a good dream."
"Bye, Ami," Amu said.
"I'll come get you later," Dad added, and then the girl was gone, leaving their parents with their older daughter. Amu went silent, not quite certain how to begin, and her mother let the silence linger.
"Amu," her mother finally said.
"I know," Amu said.
"Then tell me."
She drew a deep breath.
She didn't want to. She'd been hesitating for days, torn between worry for Kana and the need to keep her secret. But Mom was right. She needed help, and there wasn't anyone else. She had to force herself to trust her mother, to believe she'd do the right thing, even if-
-even if that meant hurting Kana, somehow.
"Kana," she began. "She's twelve. Just a little bit younger than me, they think."
"Think?" Mom's eyes were sharp.
"They're not sure," Amu admitted. "None of them remember anything from before they were nine. Or six in Yui's case."
"They," her mother repeated.
"The 'Scavengers'," Amu confirmed. "Kana's… I want to say family, but it's more like a gang that's forced to stay together because no-one else will help them? Mom, dad-" She looked up, into their eyes, willing them to believe her. "Please don't think badly of them? They don't have parents, but they're not just runaway kids. They're more like… Ikuto? Except instead of Easter they're running away from Manticore, and Manticore's..." She hesitated. "A government agency, at least I think so. Like JPs. Except evil. And- um. They're trying to kill Kana." She groaned inwardly. "Or maybe not kill? Capture. I don't think they'd kill…"
She hesitated there, but honesty compelled her to go on.
"Probably."
Her mother's expression was pensive. She thought. She wasn't reading their emotions.
"Go on," Mom said.
"Manticore were the people behind Easter," Amu told her. "Kind of? Or... we know two of their scientists were working for Easter, but Kana thinks they were fired from Manticore. They weren't very good, so maybe they just were fired? Though they still nearly captured Miki once..." She shook her head, returning to the point. "When I showed Kana that memory she got really sad and angry. It's why Naomi lets me visit, I think. They're scared of being found, and- um. Kana's scared. And so are the rest of them. They've been hiding since they were kids. Since- well, Yui was seven when they found her, and Kana was ten."
She should have thought this through. Talked with Miki about how to word things.
"How old are they now?" her mother asked, her voice thoughtful.
"I don't know," Amu admitted. "Between nine and seventeen, I think. Naomi's probably the oldest. Yui says she's nine but..."
"Is she?"
"She acts eight, maybe," Amu replied. "But I don't think she knows. And she's shorter than Ami."
"Ami's taller than most second-graders," Mom noted, a tight smile on her lips. "So tell me about Naomi; I take it she's the leader. Is she the one who told you about Manticore? What do you know about her?"
"I don't know much," Amu admitted. "But- no. I saw Manticore in Kana's memories. Naomi, I- well, I've met her a couple of times, but only for a little bit , and we didn't speak much. She's... intense. But, well..."
She told her parents everything she knew about Naomi and then about the others. It really wasn't very much. With the exception of Kana, whom Amu knew practically inside and out—and Aoi, who was a transmitting empath in the same style as Utau and- most of Amu's class, Amu suspected—she didn't know them that well. She did mention her apparent drug dependence, which—well, her mother didn't seem happy about that, but what was she going to do, exactly?
And then she told her about what Kana hadn't deliberately shown her. Not the murder- never that, she couldn't stand the thought of Mom thinking of Kana that way- but that they'd been captives, and that Kana and the others had escaped them. That made her parents go very quiet.
Amu was left sitting uncomfortably on the literal edge of her seat. Dad tried to give her a reassuring hand on her back, but he had Miki to keep hold of, and Miki to stroke the hair of, and- Amu didn't mind that, not in the least, but it was just-
"I'm not sure what to make of this," Mom finally said, rubbing her forehead. "It sounds like she's not a particularly nice person, but she's also a victim of circumstance. And- I have no idea what I'd do in her position. It's a difficult situation."
"Do you think Naomi's evil?" Amu asked.
Mom was quiet for a long, long moment, and when she spoke again her voice was hesitant.
"Good and evil aren't simple things, Amu," she said. "There are no black and white answers. People are a mess, and everyone has their own reasons. Did you think Utau-chan was evil?"
"Of course not," Amu protested, her voice quick.
"Really?" Mom raised an eyebrow. "Even after she pushed an entire stadium of children to the brink of depression? That was a fairly evil act to commit, and she thinks she has a lot to atone for."
"Well," Amu mumbled, "it wasn't her fault, was it? It was those awful people. Those- those... idiots in Easter."
"Was it?" Her mother's voice was placid. "You seem awfully quick to defend her, and she's hardly an innocent, Amu. She did a bad thing, and I know she feels terrible about it, but it will take a long time to make amends. Utau might not want you to forgive her so easily. In fact I doubt it. She was old enough to know better."
Amu said nothing. She knew that was true.
"But," her mother added, her voice a touch softer, "you're a kind person, and I think you see the best in people. I'm proud of that." She reached forward to pat her daughter's arm, her eyes warm. "Nor am I saying that was all Utau's fault. If she's feeling responsible, that means it won't happen again. Truth be told, I completely agree that it's Easter at fault. Children—even teenagers—are easy to manipulate. They can be twisted, if someone wants them to be. Utau was used, and she isn't responsible."
"So what are you saying?" Amu asked.
"That we can't know for certain," Mom said. "About Naomi. Maybe she's a terrible person, and maybe she's a victim. Or both. Either way, I want to meet her. Do you know if she's a mind-controller, by the way?"
"Huh?" Amu was taken aback. "...no. That's just Kana."
"That's a relief. But you should try and convince her to stay out of people's minds," her mother added. "And I mean that. If you can, that would be for the best. Mind-reading is a violation of privacy."
"Oh," Amu mumbled, her cheeks red.
"Now," Mom said, "I have a feeling Kana's the most important thing, right now. You've spent a lot of time with her, haven't you?" she said, her tone a little wry.
"Well- yeah," said Amu. "She's a good friend."
"Just a friend?" Her mothers tone, for the first time since Miki had fallen asleep, lost a little of the stoniness.
"Mom," Amu muttered, her cheeks red. "I'm not interested in her. Not that way. She's just a friend. I care about her."
"All right," Mom conceded. "Same as Utau, then. I understand completely."
"Mom," Amu whined, her blush spreading from her cheeks to her ears.
"Your father and I are happy to accept Utau into our family," her mother said, her eyes glimmering. "If you want us to accept her as a daughter-in-law, all you have to do is ask. We're fine with that. Though, admittedly, I'd rather it wait until you've graduated college, if only for appearances' sake."
Amu grabbed a pillow, burying her face in it.
"That said," her mother continued, her tone a little more serious, "How certain are you that Manticore is governmental?"
"I don't know," Amu mumbled through the cotton. "Very certain? Kana thinks so."
"Well," her mother said, her voice thoughtful, "then that's something we'll have to confirm. It's possible they're an extremist group. A cult, or some other sort of criminal organisation. They may have claimed to be government just so the children would think there'd be nowhere to go for help."
"You think they aren't?" Amu's eyes went wide. She dropped the pillow.
"It does not entirely matter," her mother continued, her eyes distant. "Regardless of the truth... there were always rumours. But Amu-chan, do you think the government's a single, unified entity? That everyone works together?"
She blinked.
"Manticore sounds… grotesque," Mom told her. "But the government is a large and unwieldy bureaucracy. It's hardly a person. In any organisation the higher-ups don't always know what the lower-downs are doing. Some departments are secretive even among themselves and there are always bad apples...
"Imagine," her mother went on, leaning forward for emphasis, "a school with many different classrooms and teachers. Each classroom is like a department in the government. They all belong to the same school, but they don't always know what the others are doing. Some teachers might have secret projects with their students that other teachers don't know about. And just like in school, where most teachers are good but a few might break the rules, in the government, most people are good and want to help, but some might misuse their power or hide things.
"So, when we talk about Manticore," she continued, "it's like a secret club in one of the classrooms. The headteacher might not even know it exists. It could be doing things that are against the rules of the school, but it's hidden away. That's why it's tricky. We can't just say 'the school is bad' because of one secret club. In the same way, if Manticore is part of the government, it doesn't mean the whole government is bad. It could be just a small part that's doing things they shouldn't.
"But," she concluded, her eyes locking with Amu's, "it's important we find out the truth. We need to understand what Manticore really is, and if they really are as bad as you're thinking, then we need to expose it. Just like in school, if there's a secret club causing trouble, it's important to tell someone who can help sort it out. The truth matters, Amu-chan, and sometimes it's not simple."
Dad raised a hand.
"Question," he said. "Does Manticore have anything to do with JPs?"
Amu opened her mouth.
"Um," she said, her brow furrowing. "I don't know."
Dad leaned back, and went back to stroking Miki's hair. The beret—Amu spotted, to some surprise—had fallen off her, and sat on the couch next to the two.
"Well, you might want to ask," he said. "I've been looking into them. The organisation itself has existed for decades; it's listed as part of the meteorological agency, but that's plainly just a smoke-screen. There's rumours that they've had a focus on the paranormal, which I think we can consider confirmed—the internet's a real mess right now. But if we look back in time, those same rumours also claim it only recently expanded to include 'xenobiology'." He looked at Amu. "That's a fancy word for 'strange animals'.
'I know,' Amu thought, but didn't say. It had been in one of her books.
"The thing is," Dad added, "that there's a lot of strange animals. Deep-sea fish, jellyfish, eels... the number of species humans have found is in the hundreds of thousands, yet some say ten times as many remain undiscovered. On land, it'd be mainly insects and small animals. But I don't think it's either of those, do you?"
"You're saying demons?" Amu's expression was puzzled. "And JPs are studying them. Were studying them."
"Defending against them," Dad corrected. "I was impressed by what I saw when I visited their facility, but it's pretty obviously military. I didn't tell you, Amu, but while you were visiting Saaya I decided to strike up a conversation with some of the guards and other staff members. It was quite an interesting talk. They were extremely professional, but some things bleed through. And I don't even mean the style of signage."
"Such as?" Mom prompted.
"Well, a desire to do good," Dad said. "I don't know the details, but they're certainly taking their work seriously; I don't think a single person treats it as payroll. That, and there's an interesting pattern. A number of the staff are veterans of the Self-Defence Force, and a few are retired police officers. They don't all have excellent records. A number were ejected for 'discipline reasons', but from reading between the lines-" He coughed. "It seems that, well. They were ejected for being liabilities, because of whistle-blowing, 'excess initiative' or speaking out against corruption. There are also a number of foreigners."
"Foreigners?" Amu repeated.
"Americans," her father clarified. "Former USFJ. It's not the only country represented; I met a number of British, French and Canadian soldiers, and I'm pretty sure there were a few Russians in the crowd. It paints a very interesting picture."
"It does," Mom agreed. She patted Amu's hand. "And this is why we need information. I'm going to have a talk with some of my associates and see if we can get to the bottom of things. Your father can probably help, too, can't you, dear?"
"Of course," he said. "Though, honestly, the government does keep secrets, so don't get your hopes up."
"I won't," Mom assured him.
"You will," he said, his smile wry. "It'll take a couple days. Weeks. Dear, I'm hardly a detective."
"But you know a few," Mom said.
"True."
"So... you're saying they're good guys, so they aren't likely to be linked to Manticore?" Amu frowned. "Or that you don't know?
"It's possible," Mom said, her voice dry. "That they're a group of rogue operators. It's more likely that they're criminals. I shouldn't need to say this, Amu, but few people look kindly on child abuse, let alone murder or experimentation. If there's a conspiracy in JPs, then it's unlikely the entire organisation is corrupt—but from what your father is saying, it's unlikely they're connected at all."
Amu frowned.
"But Easter did basically that?" she attempted. "Minus the murder. And Kana's just scared, it's not like she's seen anyone murdered by them. I think." She was trying to put her thoughts together, because something didn't make sense. What Manticore did... "What they're trying to do is... pretty evil," Amu decided, her brow furrowed. "Kana thinks so too. It's a bad thing to take kids and make them into- whatever they do. And I think that's probably why she's so easily scared. But it's not..."
Her mother waited patiently for her to speak.
"I mean, I guess I'm not that surprised?" Amu finished, a little lamely. "Manticore's just... Easter, but... better at it? Maybe?" She winced. "Or worse?"
She went quiet. She'd wanted not to say that.
Her parents didn't immediately respond, and in the silence Amu began to wonder just how crazy her words had sounded. It wasn't as though she had the words to describe what she meant. It was a feeling. A vague, ill-defined, awful feeling, like a bad taste in her mouth. If she had to put a word to it, it might be 'fear'. The world wasn't very nice, sometimes, and she'd wanted to keep it out of her home.
"Better or worse than what, exactly?" Mom asked, her voice very calm. "What was Easter trying to accomplish?"
"I'm not really sure," Amu mumbled, thinking back. "'Find the Embryo', they said. But that was just a broken-off part of Hikaru's soul and it mostly wasn't what they really did. They didn't really have a plan at all? They were just experimenting, throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck. They were idiots."
"That's true," Mom agreed.
"Manticore," Amu mumbled, trying to put the two ideas together, "they're doing the same thing, but to kids kept in captivity. So they're smarter."
"Keeping children locked up is 'smart'?" Dad repeated, his expression baffled.
"Isn't it?" Amu looked up. "I mean, we... sorta... broke Easter's skyscraper, right? If you're experimenting on kids… instead of letting them fight you, it'd be better to just…"
The silence this time was profound.
"You're not saying much," Amu finally mumbled, glancing at her parents.
"I think," her mother said, a hint of sadness in her voice, "that the word you're looking for is 'revolting', not 'smart'. Amu, you shouldn't ever be unsurprised by the things bad people do. And yes, they're bad people." She paused. "I'd ask what on earth happened to you that made you think like that, but maybe I don't want to hear it." She stepped over to Amu's side of the table, pulling her into a hug that was so tight it was almost painful. "Maybe I'm a bit angry, too. Maybe I want to go down to Easter myself and tell those people exactly what I think. I don't know. I wish I'd known sooner."
Dad was staring at Miki, his brow furrowed.
"Do you think they'd do the same to Miki, if they found her?" he murmured.
"Easter?" Amu asked. "Oh, well, yes. Su got kidnapped once, and I-" She paused. Her eyes, unbeknownst to her but visible to her parents, flickered back from yellow to brown. They'd done a lot of that, this conversation. "I told you I sorta am Su, right? She's not gone, she's just... me. So anyway, she got kidnapped by Nikaidou once, because he wanted to experiment and make a better... um, I don't really remember. Some sort of X-egg-creation machine. By squishing me into a pancake."
"X-eggs," Mom said, her voice blank. "I recall you talking about those. They're the reason why you became a guardian, correct?" She grimaced. "That name is… indicative."
"Yeah," Amu replied. "That's most of what Easter was doing. Just causing more X-eggs and using them to make even more X-eggs. I'm not sure if they did that by making kids depressed, or if that happened because of the X-eggs, but- anyway," she added, before her mother could react. "Nikaidou tried to kidnap Su, but Su talked him around. She... uh. I think mostly she undid his brainwashing. He's not a bad person, I promise."
"He's Utau's adoptive father," Mom pointed out, her tone flat.
"He is," Amu confirmed. "I know he feels bad about it. He's been helping us, and- I mean, I didn't really like him back then, the whole Himamori thing, but I know he's a good person now." She waved her hands, trying to cheer them up. "And hey, I'm still right here. Nothing bad happened."
Mom stared at her.
Dad gave her a meaningful look and Mom's shoulders sagged.
"Of course," she sighed. "Yes. Well. As for Manticore... it seems to me that they're a much more dangerous group than Easter was, but you're also right." She gave Amu a tight-lipped smile. "It's hard to compare the two. What Easter did was wrong, but... well. It's not a competition."
"You're worried," Amu said, her brow furrowed.
"I think, if Kana was in trouble, then it started last week. The girl you've described would have sent you at least a text message, surely?"
"Not if she was dead," Amu mumbled. "She could be dead. Or captured."
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Mom cautioned, but her voice was worried. "Her phone could be dead, or the publicity might have scared her off. I doubt an organisation like Manticore would stage an attack in broad daylight, but all the same, I'd rather not have them notice us. Do you have a way to check on Kana from a distance?"
"No?" Amu said. "Wait... yes? What's 'distance'?"
"From the street, maybe?" her mother said.
"Probably," Amu admitted. "Um. If they're alive."
Her mother gave her a look.
"You've been a bit fatalistic, Amu," her father noted, his voice careful. "I've noticed. Is there a reason for that?"
"I just-" Amu hesitated. "No? Maybe? I just have a bad feeling, and it's getting worse by the hour. I can't see the future. I'm a terrible precog, but I..." She trailed off. "I just know something's wrong. Something's not right."
Mom squeezed her hand, and there was another momentary silence. Mom and Dad gave each other another of those looks, the ones that were almost telepathy, minus the telepathy. Amu wished she could peek, but… no, she'd told herself not to do that.
"They live in a normal neighbourhood, right?" Dad said.
"A bit rundown," Amu said. "There are some abandoned buildings nearby, and an old playground, and- well, the neighbourhood isn't great, but the house is all right. There's a few shops. And there's children in the playground. I stopped by there once." She smiled a little.
"So there's people on the streets, even if it's not bustling. We could just walk past and have a look."
Amu looked up. "So you'll let me go?" she said, her voice small.
"We weren't planning to stop you," her mother replied, her eyes sad. "We couldn't, could we?"
"But you told me I'm grounded?"
"Yes," her mother agreed. "But-" She trailed off. "I mean, you-"
"That's what being 'grounded' means?" Amu sat up, her face a question mark. "So didn't you already stop me?"
Her mother opened her mouth. Then closed it.
"I guess we did," Dad said, looking contemplative. "And I think I'm glad. That said, how would you like to take a walk with your father?"
"Now?"
"If you'd like," he agreed. "The weather is lovely, and we can have a leisurely stroll past your friends. See if anything is wrong. Or not. You seem awfully worried." One hand still stroking Miki, he let the other ruffle Amu's hair. "It'd make me feel better, and I'm sure it would make you feel better, too."
"You're not mad?"
"Well," Dad admitted, a touch sheepishly, "I can't pretend I'm pleased. You've kept some terrible secrets from us, Amu-chan. That said, we're family. I'd much rather we work through these problems together, wouldn't you?"
"Y-yeah," Amu mumbled, her cheeks red.
"What would you have done on your own?" he asked her. "Walked up and knocked on their door, maybe? I hope not."
She looked away, face once again red like a tomato. Her parents, thankfully, didn't comment.
"Then it's decided," her father said. "Time for a walk. Midori- you'll take care of Miki and Ami, won't you?"
"I would, but I think if you get up you'll wake her," Mom said, giving him a meaningful look. "You're both stuck here, at least for the time being. I'll take care of Amu."
"Fair enough," he conceded.
Miki yawned, hands coming up to rub at her eyes. She blinked blearily, staring up at the adults.
"What's going on?" she mumbled, her voice half-asleep.
"...or we could make it a family event," Dad suggested.
= = =
What sort of family has 'spy on a potentially evil potentially government organisation' as a family event? Oh, right, this one. It beats the alternatives.
I'll refrain from pretending like there's any chance you won't go. Midori has offered one way to explore the situation, but feel free to suggest another. In the meantime… task vote!
[ ][Party] Amu, Miki, Midori, Tsumugu and Ami
- A proper family outing.
- This is a lie. Miki and Ami would be in a cafe half a kilometre away, likely along with Midori; they're not going to bring Ami or Miki into that. Nor both parents, for that matter.
- It's still a family outing, and ideally Amu comes back to join them at the cafe.
[ ][Party] Amu and Midori
- Everyone else gets to stay at home.
- …is this actually safer? Well, it's an option.
[ ][Party] Amu, Miki, Midori, Tsumugu, Ami and Utau
- The biggest issue is Midori will most likely claim this is still a family outing.
- Also Utau is likely to be upset. At Amu's latest situation, not the claim. Probably.
-- …that's going to happen, sooner or later.
- There is zero chance that Utau would stay at any cafe, though Eru and Iru might.
[ ][Party] Write-in
[ ][Approach] A casual stroll past the Scavengers. Just some random passersby.
- What could possibly go wrong?
- Consider what you'll do if and when the situation is Not Perfectly Normal. Or even if it is.
- Probably it'll just be a quick update and interrupt.
[ ][Approach] Write-in
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Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
I'm not very sure about this one. It is what the characters decided they'd do, but it's less "clearing the air" and more... well, you can't clear it without knowing what they need to clear, I guess. Thanks go to @ShadowAngelBeta, @Nero200 and @Quickshot0 for beta work.
Funny thing is, I think the safest option is for Amu to go up and knock on the door.
And only Amu.
Their group is on the run from shady government officials, they're on the lookout for people spying on them.
On the other hand Amu is a telepath they know who can reach out and prove her identity just by exchanging a handful of memories. An Amu broadcasting herself is probably the single safest person in the neighborhood if anyone from Scavanger is up and about probably tbh. I wouldn't be surprised if they target using psionics after all rather than eyes and ears.
And only Amu.
Their group is on the run from shady government officials, they're on the lookout for people spying on them.
On the other hand Amu is a telepath they know who can reach out and prove her identity just by exchanging a handful of memories. An Amu broadcasting herself is probably the single safest person in the neighborhood if anyone from Scavanger is up and about probably tbh. I wouldn't be surprised if they target using psionics after all rather than eyes and ears.
If we knew Scavenger was there, I might agree. However, at this point, I'm 95% sure that Scavenger isn't there, either because they left voluntarily to avoid Amu, or because Manticore got them. And if Manticore got them, the house is likely being watched. Better to scan from a distance.
Honestly, if Amu had any postcognitive abilities, I'd suggest using them here, but we currently don't have any of those. At least we might be able to track them down with Dreamwalking later, if need be...
Its not hard to reach out and do a mental scan, all psionics bleed into each other a little bit and telepathy is basically like having a built in scanner for people.
We'll know if they're there or not by just walking into the neighborhood.
I do mostly agree, but to play Devil's Advocate for the moment: That's a two-way street. If Manticore put their own loyal psychics on-site, they'll be able to detect Amu just like Scavenger could if they were there.
... God, now I feel like going through the Dreamlands to check on Kana is the safer option. If we were better at Dreamwalking I'd absolutely go for that instead.
Winged One
Not the Simurgh
- Location
- definitely the ground
- Pronouns
- They/Them/It
The awesome kind?
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I like this wholesome family, solving magical girl problems together.
[X][Party] Amu and Midori
[X][Approach] A casual stroll past the Scavengers. Just some random passersby.
Wander past and attempt to mentally reach out to Kana.
If Kana is found, prepare to defuse the bomb of having told your family about Scavenger.
If a hostile psychic is instead found, attempt to disengage. If unable to disengage, call JPs.
If no psychic is found, move closer and try to observe. If the other Scavengers are there without Kana, try to cautiously engage- Amu's mother wants to meet Naomi. If an unknown party is there, try to leave. If we can't leave without a fight, have family call JPs.
I think that covers most possibilities?
[X][Party] Amu and Midori
[X][Approach] A casual stroll past the Scavengers. Just some random passersby.
Wander past and attempt to mentally reach out to Kana.
If Kana is found, prepare to defuse the bomb of having told your family about Scavenger.
If a hostile psychic is instead found, attempt to disengage. If unable to disengage, call JPs.
If no psychic is found, move closer and try to observe. If the other Scavengers are there without Kana, try to cautiously engage- Amu's mother wants to meet Naomi. If an unknown party is there, try to leave. If we can't leave without a fight, have family call JPs.
I think that covers most possibilities?
Nero200
High Priest of Eito, Part Time Nyar.
Ami's toy army is very suspicious.
It's out of 'kit' for a mind controlling dream walker, especially one without a Chara to bypass that via the theme of a dream.
And then the talk about the insides and outsides...
So. We know Ami is spending a lot of time dream walking.
She's showing complexity that is entirely beyond canon abilities, even by Chara Changes, to be honest.
I'm calling it now, Ami isn't actually controlling those toys. She's pulling entities / processing power/ Shadows from the Collective Unconscious / Sea of Souls to inhabit the empty shells of her toys.
It's out of 'kit' for a mind controlling dream walker, especially one without a Chara to bypass that via the theme of a dream.
And then the talk about the insides and outsides...
So. We know Ami is spending a lot of time dream walking.
She's showing complexity that is entirely beyond canon abilities, even by Chara Changes, to be honest.
I'm calling it now, Ami isn't actually controlling those toys. She's pulling entities / processing power
That went well! Mom and dad are actively contributing and cooperative.
As for the tactical implications, this might lock out some of Miki's capabilities, like her ability to phase through solid matter. I was really hoping she'd have that capability for this trip. On the other hand, it sounds like there might be some kind of psi shielding built in? There was this bit:
I'm still thinking through what to do, but for now,
[X] Bring Hikaru's ward stone thingy - it might be useful.
Cute, although the minion control focus seems significant.
I'm not sure how to feel about this. It might be good for Miki's mental state, but the reality of her body isn't really a factor in whether we consider her a real person. I don't want her thinking she's any less real with an illusion body.
As for the tactical implications, this might lock out some of Miki's capabilities, like her ability to phase through solid matter. I was really hoping she'd have that capability for this trip. On the other hand, it sounds like there might be some kind of psi shielding built in? There was this bit:
Dangerous. Too bad we have 0 dots in the GTFO psi skill - being able to teleport out of danger would be great.
Good to have someone point this out in-story.
Promising!
It sounds like internal "chara activation" is tied to her eye glow fading, while external manifestation intensifies the glow. I'm not sure Amu drew on Ran and Su often enough during the conversation for that to be the whole story, though.
...not good.
It wouldn't have stopped her, but it's probably reassuring for them to know that's still what she thinks of as stopping her.
We've got postcog, and we can use it. It's just totally untrained and not very reliable.
I'm still thinking through what to do, but for now,
[X] Bring Hikaru's ward stone thingy - it might be useful.
Nero200
High Priest of Eito, Part Time Nyar.
[X] Plan 'Chaperoned Date'
-[X][Party] Amu, Utau and Midori
--[X] Let's not take the entire family, since well. Amu has been being chased by the media. Her family is going to be recognisable.
--[X] Utau is a 'better' psionic to have as back up for an emergency.
---[X] Utau is going to be very annoyed if Amu dives into another situation without her, and there's no reason not to bring her. Disguised, of course.
--[X] Ask Midori for permission to read just her emotions while investigating / during conversation with the Scavengers.
---[X] We don't want Amu having to avoid a certain 'area' or blocking her ears.
-[X] Miki, Ami and Tsumugu stay at home.
--[X] Let's not bring another psionic kid in range of the group that kidnaps psionic children. Ami is very capable, but Kana hasn't solo'd Manticore yet, so they've clearly figured out mental defences to some extent since the Scavengers escaped.
--[X] Miki is already passing out, she is not going to be useful for this, especially since we don't know what her actual psionic abilities are like this, or if she can still Chara Change with Amu.
---[X] Ask about this, if Miki is up to answering.
--[X] Tsumugu knows JPs the best, and they are our emergency button. Him being outside of active event range seems useful.
---[X] Give him Lulu's number if there isn't a better JPs number available.
-[X] Bring Hikaru's ward stone thingy - it might be useful.
-[X][Approach] Collaborate with Utau, using the Key for it's boost, to check at range. Hopefully higher range than the sidewalk.
--[X] Amu and Utau will know what their max range is, and if they can use their bond & the Key to take it further.
Pair bonded psionics seems like the best plan, Midori is coming because, well. Look at the last chapter and tell me there's a way without her.
It also shifts the tone a bit and proves to Midori that Amu isn't alone in the crazy that is her life.
I don't see the tactical point of bringing Ami, Miki or Tsumugu when two out of three are going to be on the media watchlist due to Amu being chased. Utau can disguise herself, Amu is going Ran mode for this, Midori clearly knows some disguise.
Re: Reading Midori.
I'm pretty sure Amu would just read her if she needed to for other things, but lets start teaching Ami by example on the topic of psionic ethics. While showing Midori that Amu did listen on the point of privacy and making that something Amu is in-story paying attention to.
Mechanics question for @Baughn as well.
Amu currently doesn't have the Locket boost, since Saaya is using it as scaffolding to rebuild herself.
But.
The locket gave the rest of the Guardians access to Chara Transformation just by Amu being in the same 'scene' as them.
If Utau is coming with and wearing the Humpty Key, can Amu tap the Key for a similar discount/boost as the Locket normally gives?
-[X][Party] Amu, Utau and Midori
--[X] Let's not take the entire family, since well. Amu has been being chased by the media. Her family is going to be recognisable.
--[X] Utau is a 'better' psionic to have as back up for an emergency.
---[X] Utau is going to be very annoyed if Amu dives into another situation without her, and there's no reason not to bring her. Disguised, of course.
--[X] Ask Midori for permission to read just her emotions while investigating / during conversation with the Scavengers.
---[X] We don't want Amu having to avoid a certain 'area' or blocking her ears.
-[X] Miki, Ami and Tsumugu stay at home.
--[X] Let's not bring another psionic kid in range of the group that kidnaps psionic children. Ami is very capable, but Kana hasn't solo'd Manticore yet, so they've clearly figured out mental defences to some extent since the Scavengers escaped.
--[X] Miki is already passing out, she is not going to be useful for this, especially since we don't know what her actual psionic abilities are like this, or if she can still Chara Change with Amu.
---[X] Ask about this, if Miki is up to answering.
--[X] Tsumugu knows JPs the best, and they are our emergency button. Him being outside of active event range seems useful.
---[X] Give him Lulu's number if there isn't a better JPs number available.
-[X] Bring Hikaru's ward stone thingy - it might be useful.
-[X][Approach] Collaborate with Utau, using the Key for it's boost, to check at range. Hopefully higher range than the sidewalk.
--[X] Amu and Utau will know what their max range is, and if they can use their bond & the Key to take it further.
Pair bonded psionics seems like the best plan, Midori is coming because, well. Look at the last chapter and tell me there's a way without her.
It also shifts the tone a bit and proves to Midori that Amu isn't alone in the crazy that is her life.
I don't see the tactical point of bringing Ami, Miki or Tsumugu when two out of three are going to be on the media watchlist due to Amu being chased. Utau can disguise herself, Amu is going Ran mode for this, Midori clearly knows some disguise.
Re: Reading Midori.
I'm pretty sure Amu would just read her if she needed to for other things, but lets start teaching Ami by example on the topic of psionic ethics. While showing Midori that Amu did listen on the point of privacy and making that something Amu is in-story paying attention to.
Mechanics question for @Baughn as well.
Amu currently doesn't have the Locket boost, since Saaya is using it as scaffolding to rebuild herself.
But.
The locket gave the rest of the Guardians access to Chara Transformation just by Amu being in the same 'scene' as them.
If Utau is coming with and wearing the Humpty Key, can Amu tap the Key for a similar discount/boost as the Locket normally gives?
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- Location
- Laniakea
If Manticore are there, they might be squatting in those abandoned buildings. If there's any place at which Clairvoyance or Precognition ought to be used, it's probably on those properties.
On the other hand......
Speaking of crowds, I have a better idea than just randomly strolling past the house in a wig.
[X] Plan: Pop-Up Live Sing-Along Revue Duo Angel☆Prism
-[X][Party] Amu, Utau, Miki, Midori
--[X] You have a plan to minimize the risk, but it requires Utau's help. Fortunately, she already knows about Kana - at least the broad strokes, if not the current details.
--[X] Bring Hikaru's ward stone, it might be useful.
-[X][Approach] Loud and Obnoxious
--[X] Stage an unexpected flash pop-up live concert at the nearby playground.
--[X] Rent a van, preferably one with speakers mounted. Bring the whole works - portable stage, spotlights, loudspeakers, boomboxes, glowsticks, etc.
--[X] Utau sings. Miki plays. They'll make a multi-hour distraction partying hard, while a disguised Amu and Midori get the real legwork done.
--[X] Door-knock for donations. Every single house along the street. Up to and including the Scavengers. With a donation box. Solicit funds for the prospective up-and-coming idol duo Angel☆Prism, a.k.a Utau and Miki. We can use the cash to fund Miki's new wardrobe and living arrangements.
--[X] With luck, nobody will notice if the "donation collectors" just happen to spend slightly longer at one particular house than the others.
--[X] Should any strangers verbally object to the jam, take note of them (they could be Manticore) and have Utau phone her manager/adoptive mother Sanjou and let them argue legalities, while they keep on jamming.
--[X] Should any strangers physically object (i.e. with weapons) to the jam, definitely take note of them and have Utau and Miki do a special number: Angel's Cradle + Prism Music, blasted full volume out the loudspeakers to put everyone in the vicinity to sleep.
--[X] If all else fails and we need to beat a hasty retreat - we have a van. And Midori, presumably, knows how to drive.
Even though singing is more Dia's thing, Miki CAN actually music.
This is also the exact opposite of the noiseless approach (which I have doubts about Amu being capable of actually pulling off given her stats). This one involves generating so much noise, anybody watching the house gets distracted and fail to notice when Amu actually investigates it.
And if they have any objections to the noise, well. We just. Make more noise.
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Huh. That's an interesting approach. I dunno if Utau or Miki are actually up for that, especially on such short notice, and I'm not sure we can actually get all that equipment in the required time frame... I feel like this kind of idea might be something to try later, but probably not now. Probably gives 2 stunt dice, if we're rolling dice, though.
- Location
- Laniakea
I was actually thinking that Utau might already have a lot of the equipment on hand, or at least Yukari Sanjou might, if she's still operating her talent agency. If not Illusion can probably make at least some of it, like the stage and glowsticks.
The speaker van might need to be hired - but it's also functionally a combat vehicle when there's Miki and Utau at the helm of that microphone. I wouldn't mind waiting a day to visit, if it means we can bring a speaker van along. It's a heck of a good insurance policy to take to a fight.
Ami knows a surprising amount about metaphysics.
Do the Scavengers actually remember any time before they were Manticore prisoners? I'd just been assuming they had some kind of known life before this, but...
- Location
- Laniakea
I wonder how much of this Ami learned herself (through Dreamwalking, etc.) and how much got uploaded directly into her brain by her perfectly nice friend Micchan.
I'd rather not wait a day. Amu's gut says things are getting worse by the hour:
- Location
- Laniakea
Guess we can ask whether Utau/Sanjou's agency would have the equipment immediately available.
Even if not a speaker van, I'd expect them to have some sort of vehicle they can transport equipment with, which can still get the same effect if it can haul loudspeakers capable of blaring out the windows or back of a truck/van.
@Baughn - Would Utau/Sanjou's agency have the equipment/vehicles necessary (or the capability to requisition such) to stage an impromptu concert at a playground the same day?
- Pronouns
- He
[X][Party] Amu and Midori
[X][Approach] A casual stroll past the Scavengers. Just some random passersby.
[X][Approach] A casual stroll past the Scavengers. Just some random passersby.
- Location
- Laniakea
I kinda feel like we ought to bring more firepower than just Amu and Midori (which is effectively just Amu, since Midori doesn't do fights).
There was the point to be made that if things are "getting worse by the hour", there may be an impending attack in the near future or else - given the Scavengers have been out of contact for a week - that they've already been attacked and what Amu is feeling is them nearing a deadline on their executions. (Assuming Amu's gut feelings actually are precognitive and not simply fear hormones getting over-secreted out of anxiety).
Because if the whole house is completely empty, we'd have to manually track them down and that's not something likely to be possible within a single day, there would be little we could do to avoid the impending doom.
I think there's a decent chance the gut feeling is real, as I believe the QM also hinted the matter was somewhat time-sensitive back when I was considering voting for a nervous breakdown.
And if the gut feeling is real, the house may not be completely empty - there might be one straggler hiding there after the rest got taken, with Manticore about to storm the house. Or Manticore might already be inside the house, with survivors barricaded in a panic room that the invaders are getting close to cracking open. Alternatively, they might know the Scavengers have barricaded themselves in a panic room and just decided to lay siege and wait until they run out of food and water (and/or shady drugs of dubious origin) and emerge on their own.
If there's a Manticore hit-squad on site, I would really like Utau and Miki in that speaker van.
The van's not just an escape vehicle for us, it's an evacuation vehicle for any potential Scavengers on-site.... and potentially a kidnap vehicle, if we can get our hands on a living Manticore agent at the same time.
There was the point to be made that if things are "getting worse by the hour", there may be an impending attack in the near future or else - given the Scavengers have been out of contact for a week - that they've already been attacked and what Amu is feeling is them nearing a deadline on their executions. (Assuming Amu's gut feelings actually are precognitive and not simply fear hormones getting over-secreted out of anxiety).
Because if the whole house is completely empty, we'd have to manually track them down and that's not something likely to be possible within a single day, there would be little we could do to avoid the impending doom.
I think there's a decent chance the gut feeling is real, as I believe the QM also hinted the matter was somewhat time-sensitive back when I was considering voting for a nervous breakdown.
And if the gut feeling is real, the house may not be completely empty - there might be one straggler hiding there after the rest got taken, with Manticore about to storm the house. Or Manticore might already be inside the house, with survivors barricaded in a panic room that the invaders are getting close to cracking open. Alternatively, they might know the Scavengers have barricaded themselves in a panic room and just decided to lay siege and wait until they run out of food and water (and/or shady drugs of dubious origin) and emerge on their own.
If there's a Manticore hit-squad on site, I would really like Utau and Miki in that speaker van.
The van's not just an escape vehicle for us, it's an evacuation vehicle for any potential Scavengers on-site.... and potentially a kidnap vehicle, if we can get our hands on a living Manticore agent at the same time.
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[X] Plan: Pop-Up Live Sing-Along Revue Duo Angel☆Prism
-[X][Party] Amu, Utau, Miki, Midori
--[X] You have a plan to minimize the risk, but it requires Utau's help. Fortunately, she already knows about Kana - at least the broad strokes, if not the current details.
--[X] Bring Hikaru's ward stone, it might be useful.
-[X][Approach] Loud and Obnoxious
--[X] Stage an unexpected flash pop-up live concert at the nearby playground.
--[X] Rent a van, preferably one with speakers mounted. Bring the whole works - portable stage, spotlights, loudspeakers, boomboxes, glowsticks, etc.
--[X] Utau sings. Miki plays. They'll make a multi-hour distraction partying hard, while a disguised Amu and Midori get the real legwork done.
--[X] Door-knock for donations. Every single house along the street. Up to and including the Scavengers. With a donation box. Solicit funds for the prospective up-and-coming idol duo Angel☆Prism, a.k.a Utau and Miki. We can use the cash to fund Miki's new wardrobe and living arrangements.
--[X] With luck, nobody will notice if the "donation collectors" just happen to spend slightly longer at one particular house than the others.
--[X] Should any strangers verbally object to the jam, take note of them (they could be Manticore) and have Utau phone her manager/adoptive mother Sanjou and let them argue legalities, while they keep on jamming.
--[X] Should any strangers physically object (i.e. with weapons) to the jam, definitely take note of them and have Utau and Miki do a special number: Angel's Cradle + Prism Music, blasted full volume out the loudspeakers to put everyone in the vicinity to sleep.
--[X] If all else fails and we need to beat a hasty retreat - we have a van. And Midori, presumably, knows how to drive.
-[X][Party] Amu, Utau, Miki, Midori
--[X] You have a plan to minimize the risk, but it requires Utau's help. Fortunately, she already knows about Kana - at least the broad strokes, if not the current details.
--[X] Bring Hikaru's ward stone, it might be useful.
-[X][Approach] Loud and Obnoxious
--[X] Stage an unexpected flash pop-up live concert at the nearby playground.
--[X] Rent a van, preferably one with speakers mounted. Bring the whole works - portable stage, spotlights, loudspeakers, boomboxes, glowsticks, etc.
--[X] Utau sings. Miki plays. They'll make a multi-hour distraction partying hard, while a disguised Amu and Midori get the real legwork done.
--[X] Door-knock for donations. Every single house along the street. Up to and including the Scavengers. With a donation box. Solicit funds for the prospective up-and-coming idol duo Angel☆Prism, a.k.a Utau and Miki. We can use the cash to fund Miki's new wardrobe and living arrangements.
--[X] With luck, nobody will notice if the "donation collectors" just happen to spend slightly longer at one particular house than the others.
--[X] Should any strangers verbally object to the jam, take note of them (they could be Manticore) and have Utau phone her manager/adoptive mother Sanjou and let them argue legalities, while they keep on jamming.
--[X] Should any strangers physically object (i.e. with weapons) to the jam, definitely take note of them and have Utau and Miki do a special number: Angel's Cradle + Prism Music, blasted full volume out the loudspeakers to put everyone in the vicinity to sleep.
--[X] If all else fails and we need to beat a hasty retreat - we have a van. And Midori, presumably, knows how to drive.