The Chronicles of Cyranea

The Chronicles of Cyranea- Space Station Arc
The Ancient Goddess of Light

Disclaimer: All characters are copyright 2001-2006 to this one. No parts of this story of ay of the characters may be used without this one’s permission. All rights reserved.

“Kira, wake up! Wake up, time for your physics and breakfast!” A voice shattered my dreams as I was startled. Rubbing my eyes, stretching and yawning, I vaguely looked into my teacher’s eyes, but hers were stern.
“5 o’ clock already?” I rubbed my head a little. What a strange dream that was. I was fighting, and then I became one with an animal… I yawned loudly, covering my mouth halfway through. “Man, I had another good dream…”
“Come now, you’ll be late. No time for nonsense like dreaming.”
“But Ms. Anderson-dono, this one was cool! I mean, I was like this cat creature, a nekojin, and I was older, and I was fighting with a weird sword-”
“Hush, Kira!” Ms. Anderson pushed her glasses up her nose in a way that she almost snarled. I hated her for everything she did. She’d force me up at 5, taught me for 4 straight hours about the universe, physics, biology, and Psychology, and during then I couldn’t even go to the bathroom or take a nap. If I was, I was severely beaten with a ruler stick. “Come, come! Get dressed, brush your hair and your teeth! Chop chop!” What was also annoying about was that she was young and arrogant. She was barely 19 and she was acting perfectly like an evil step-mother. I never really remembered who my Mom actually was, and I didn’t remember Papa either. All I know is that they were angels and watched over me.
“Yes, ma’am…” I rushed around, putting on my tight clothes and taking my nightgown off. Then I brushed my blue-blonde hair. How it became tinted that way, I would never know. Ms. Anderson told me that I snuck into a weird machine when I was younger which gave off particle rays and it affected my appearance, but I didn’t believe it. It was long, but soon they’d chop it off. Hair length was never to exceed a foot in the Japanese Secret Space Agency. Perhaps that was to assert discipline. I wouldn’t find out until much later on in life. Carefully I stepped up onto a stool to reach the small sink, and I brushed my teeth. My front two teeth were coming loose, and I had already lost my canines, which were replaced with sharp adults. It make it very hard to eat my apple every morning, and even more difficult to endure the lip-biting training exercises that I needed to go into outer space later in life. The only training I liked was the low/no gravity, for it made me really feel like I was airborne. However, after the first session of that, they strapped me down in this chair. I didn’t feel so lightweight anymore.
“Come along, that’s enough brushing!” She snapped her fingers quickly, and I hopped down. Although not meaningful, she shoved the apple into my mouth instead of my hand, and out came the two wobbly teeth. I didn’t swallow them, but it ruined my breakfast- I couldn’t eat it now that it was covered in blood and I had already punctured it. I spit out the two teeth, and pocketed them with little hesitation.
“…Ms. Anderson-dono, I can’t eat my apple…I lost my two front teeth. Can I get a cold facecloth to stop the bleeding?” She spun around at me, glaring. That glare was icy cold, and when she saw the mess I was, sighed very quickly. A sarcastic sigh.
“You’ll live. Your lessons are more important. Your first project is tomorrow up in real space, and this will be your final exam.” She grabbed me by the hand, dragging me along. I dropped my apple, whining and wanting desperately to eat. Now that I was fully up, I was very hungry. However, life at the space camp taught me to learn to suck it up, as the adults said. Crying meant showing signs of weakness, and I was never to do it, not even in private. So instead, I simply frowned as we walked through the main hallway to the classroom. Everyone greeted us politely, and my other mentor, Ryou-san, walked over, looking upset. “Miranda! I thought you knew better. This area is highly sterile, and she’s ruining it! Here, take this, Kira-chan. This’ll stop the bleeding.” He handed me a facecloth with a caring smile, not at all like the one Ms. Anderson-dono gave me, ice cold and very damp. I washed my face up, and then stuck it in where my new teeth were barely starting to poke through my gums. I tasted the salty, nasty taste of iron oxide. I zoned out as my two mentors continued on, arguing. I zoned back in time just to hear him ending the argument. “…You should be a little more caring, she’ll be gone tomorrow and then you’ll never see her again!”
“Bof!” Ms. Anderson liked to speak French besides Japanese, and it got on my nerves a bit. I was able to understand her as much as I understood Japanese, for she taught me, but I was still much more fluent in my normal language. I also knew a bit of German and English, but not nearly as much as Ryou-san did. He actually came originally from the United States of America or something. I was wondering what he meant by his comment, but she grabbed me by the wrist again. “Allons-y, Kira. Il est impossible avec être.” She dragged me away once again, and all I could do was wave goodbye to my mentor and thank him for the cloth.
Lessons were particularly hard that day, and for what reasons why I did not know. Countless times to was beaten with the ruler, and I would fade in and out of the conscious. It was awoken for the 4th time when we were talking about Einstein’s theory of energy and the chemical formula nessicary for the creation of ATP.
“Kira Kiwori! That’s the 4th time I’ve found you asleep today! What is wrong with you?!” My back was covered in splinters from the ruler already, and it felt like she was pushing nails into my skin with a hammer, the blows were so harsh. I didn’t complain, but I bit my cheek with my sharp canines. The salty iron oxide taste greeted me again.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Anderson-dono, but the dream keeps haunting me…and I can’t stay awake because I lack glucose in my body to separate ATP into ADP and an extra phosphate…” I rubbed my back lightly and yawned. Beatings were something I was accustomed to, but only Ms. Anderson-dono did it.
“…Good, I’m glad you’ve learned your lesson.” She promptly stopped, but still had a questionable look on her face. “About this dream…have you been reading those fantasy books again? They’re bad for your lessons, filling your heads with empty, useless thoughts!”
“But they’re not! There really is kitsunes and nekojins and centaurs and war heroes…!” But I wasn’t able to finish my sentence. Ms. Anderson-dono did something she never did before- her hand raised up high, and then at amazing speed and with painful grace, her hand raced over the surface of my face. It made contact on my cheek, and she pushed me back with such force that I fell out of my chair. She’d slapped me.
“They’re all fantasy creatures, Kira! None of them are real, nor will they ever be! See, that’s why it’s dangerous for you to think these things!” But I wasn’t listening anymore. Her hand left a stinging sensation all over my cheek, and it was sore. Blood, for the third time that day, had been issued into my mouth. It hurt, and not in the physical way that I was used to. This was a shattering thought to me, that these creatures, my friends, the only ones I ever had, were all lies. Science proved it wrong too, but I knew that they were real and that she was lying. For the first time in my life, a new salt was found on my cheeks, this one wet and cold. My vision blurred and I sobbed. Without any common sense, oblivious to the main rule in the space camp, I cried to Earth’s end and ran into my room, locking it behind me before they could run in and catch me. I whimpered, curled up onto my bed, and quietly cried until the night fell and dreams drifted around me. It was the same setting again, the same dream from last night…
"C’mon, I can take you!” I cried out, and I cocked my blade. In a way, it was prepared, alive with an aura of some sort, ready to claim him as its victim.
“Fool. There’s no way you may defeat me. Prepare to taste defeat…!” Then he rushed at me, and there was a large sound upon the impact of the blades- a ‘ching’ which startled me so bad as to being awaken in the conscious world. Something in the main hall had been dropped, and that was the sound. It was just a bit after my bedtime, but I sat quietly and listened. It was Ms. Anderson-dono and Ryou-san, and they were going at it quite viciously.
“…I don’t care what you say, Ryou, she’s a disgrace to this space research lab! I’m glad that she won’t be coming back after her mission…!”
“That gives you no reason to slap her!” Ryou seemed no longer to be his kind self. This was his extremely moody and father-like side. I’d always consider him to be my parent, and even if I knew he really wasn’t, I could still pretend realistically. “She’s still a kid, ya know, even if she is a genius! And why were you beating her all today? There’s no reason for physical discipline!”
“She was slacking! And it’s not like she’ll ever remember! I’m just trying to ensure the safety of this planet, that’s all!” Ryou-san sighed, and I could picture him running his fingers through his hair.
“What if she fails the mission, then what? What did she seem to be distracted by?”
“We’re all doomed. The other planets are far out of reach of the black hole, and it’s headed directly toward us. If she fails, Earth will fall…and she kept talking about this dream she had. Kept drifting asleep.”
“Uh, maybe that’s because she was malnourished today. Who’s fault is that?” I heard his echoing footsteps. He was pacing, obviously. “…You know that Kira has some sort of weird connections to these dreams she has, right? Remember the time she had a dream of there being an energy crisis, and she was the one to find the back-up supply by following instructions given to her in the dream?” “Coincidence! Mere coincidence! I fail to believe she’d have a connection to the spiritual world for guidance at this early an age.” Her voice suddenly changed from stern and quarrelling to almost whining. “She keeps talking about these weird creatures, Ryou. Kitsune humans, nekojins, centaurs, unicorns…and she visions herself being in some sort of battle as a cat-type creature with an ancient samurai sword. That isn’t right.”
“…Haven’t you heard the legend, though? There might be a place like that.”
“But she’s going through a black hole, Ryou! Nothing can survive it- not even light can escape!”
“I know. But perhaps, just perhaps there is an exit to the black hole- a white hole, if you will- that releases everything in an entirely different part of the universe! Could you muster the imagination to think of the discoveries? It’s quite obvious that there’s life other than on Earth. The universe is too large not to. And there must be a balance in energy…”
“I know, Conservative theorem- Matter may neither be created or destroyed, it may only change forms under regular conditions. But, this is a black hole! That law doesn’t apply to it! It’s not a regular condition!”
“But what if it did, and we didn’t know it. This is the ultimate test- we’ve spend years on this research project, I’m not going to miss a once in a lifetime opportunity like this.” He stopped pacing. So I’m going to die tomorrow. I’ll never be able to see any of the people in my dreams. I know they’re real. I could feel, touch taste, smell, and see everything clearly. At least I’d be able to go live with Mom and Papa…
“…Fine then. You try and comfort her if you wish. All you will hear is nonsense.” Footsteps faded away, and I blinked. Suddenly I became conscious that I was still in my clothes, and I took them off, starting to put my nightgown on. Something fell out of my pocket as I was silently doing so- two little white things. My teeth. I picked them up, and stared. I’d heard of the tooth fairy in Western tradition, how whenever you put a lost tooth under the pillow, the tooth fairy would give you something in monetary value in return. Last time I lost a tooth, Ms. Anderson-dono threw them away. It’s not like money mattered to me, anyway, but I wanted to check if it was true. So carefully, I lifted up my down pillow and placed them under it. I silently unlocked my door so that Ryou-san could enter, hopped back into bed, and no more than 5 seconds later did he come in. His deep blue eyes seemed to look sorry.
“Kira-chan, did I awake you with my conversation with Miranda?” He went over to my desk and pulled out my chair. He sat in it the wrong way, which made me laugh. He was always silly like that.
“No, a loud clinking of metal did.”
“Metal?” He rubbed his silky blonde hair. He and I were the only ones on the team with blonde hair. That, and our eye color. “I didn’t drop anything, nor did I hear any…”
“But…I thought…” I sat in my bed, confused. I’m sure I heard the echoing noise of metal falling onto the ground or hitting the same type of metal. I remembered the dream, and again I stopped him, telling him about it. “When I woke up, I heard two metals chinking together, like in my dream, except it was real…”
“An echo when you were awake?”
“Yes, it was as clear as day! Watch!” I slipped out of bed and pulled out a sketchbook I hid from Ms. Anderson-dono. I flipped open to a blank page, pulled out some colored pencils, and started working. It came out pretty well, too. He stared, watching as I etched out the two swords hitting together, and put a noise to it beside it using some of the katakana.
“…That’s a sakabatô…and a katana…” He took it lightly from me, and examined the craftsmanship. He looked at the vague picture, at me, the picture, me. “…And you said you heard this exact sound?” He ran his finger gently over the symbols. “Ka-chi-n-ga?”
“Yes…” I took the pad back from him, and continued sketching the rest of the scene, listening to him.
“…Kira…it’s been 4 years since you came here. Since your parents were killed by an assassin…” I glanced up at once. They never talked about my parents. This was a first.
“Mom and Papa?” I tried to remember back when that young. Nothing but a faint shadow of the past.
“Yes. I wanted to wait until you were older, so you could take this better. But…I believe they knew that they were going to die that day…” His gentle left hand rested on my right shoulder, comforting me, and his dominant hand reached into his pocket. “… … …They wanted me to give you this, when the time came.” It came out, holding what seemed to be old parchment, all inked with characters, the front sealed with my family name. ‘To Kira’ was written on it next to the seal. I took it from him, unfolded it. A picture fell out, and the mist hovering around their image finally drew back into the depths of my mind. A beautiful, smiling woman with long black hair in a traditional red kimono, plain and simple, sitting next to an old wise men, smiling only slightly, wearing a professional suit. He had the blonde hair. And, on her lap, wearing a small blue kimono, with the same blue tinted hair…
“…Me?” I stared and watched the picture, as though it’d spring to life. Mom. Papa. I finally met them. After all these years…I finally got to see them, before I died. How appropriate! But there was still the letter. I unfolded the rest of the slightly yellow parchment, and read the letter to myself. “…”

Dear Kira,
By the time you are able to read this, we’ve already gone from your life. We know that tomorrow, that assassin will mistake us for someone else, and you will be safe with Ryou. He’s your true guardian, one of your brothers that didn’t pass away. Jared, your oldest brother, went missing not too long ago. We know that he will be good to you, and you both will help benefit the country- maybe even the world. He is smart, and is in the JSSA. This will be a good place to raise you in. Your father and I love you very much, and he will continue watching over you. I will be by you always, there when you cry, when you laugh, when you are hurt. I will console you until you die, because you are my girl, the one to… the ink was smudged, totally illegible. But, after that, it picked up again. Please, Ryou, take care of her always…


Your mother and father,
Celeste and Joshua Kiwori

There was a long silence that ensued, and I just stared at the letter. Staring at the picture. Ryou, my brother…? This didn’t seem to make any sense. And Jared? Who was he? But…that’s why Ryou and I both shared the blonde hair and blue eyes. We were related.
“… … …but…I though that you…”
“Came from the US of A?” He got out of the seat, pushing it back in. He came over, and sat next to me on the bed. The drawing was still partially unfinished. “…I was born in the US, you and I and Jared. Mother was half American, half Japanese, and Father was full American. They got together at a convention for Science.” A long pause once again. The picture was all I looked at. Mom. Papa. So I was American, too? “…I have a double citizenship. One in Japan because I lived mostly with mother, one in America because Father wanted us to always be able to visit a beautiful country. You also have a dual citizenship, you’ve been living in Japan for so long…” This all seemed too much to take in. I was going to die tomorrow, I finally met my parents and my brother who I’ve known for eternity, and I was actually American?
“…” I lay my head on his lap, instinctively. His eyes softened, and he gently rubbed my shoulder.
“I know…do you remember the story that Mom and Pa used to tell us to go to sleep?”
“No…” I gazed up into his eyes. I felt so much more secure now, thanks to him. The pain of the back drifted away. “…Can I here it?”
“Of course.” He smiled, and almost glared at the lonely corner of my steel bedroom. “…A long time ago, there once was a primitive civilization under a totalitarian government. Everything seemed fine, until one day there came about a powerful sorcerer. He accidentally cut himself when peeling some special wood into sheets, the first paper. His blood smeared all over the wood, yet appeared to be a picture of some sort.”
“Are you making this up?” I cocked an eyebrow. Was this the story? It was oddly familiar.
“No, I’m not, you brat.” He smirked as he gave me a little noogy for questioning him.
“Ow! Ryou, you’re messing my hair up! Uncle! Un-cle!” I held my head. “Alright.” He laughed softly, in a playful manner, and removed his knuckles from my scalp. “Well, the sorcerer had a wife, and her name was Yuka. She was beautiful, and her maiden name was Hikara. He came in, put the paper down, and worked on some of his outlawed magic. He was working on a new spell from instinct, and then from the paper came a baby dragon.”
“I bet he was surprised!” I giggled.
“You bet! He showed Yuka, and wasn’t too shocked. She actually wanted to try it, and so she did. She made up a chibi kitsune as an attendant to help her with chores. Then, a little later, the government raised the amount of food that they required, and people began to rebel. It was the first revolution, and both the sorcerer and Yuka were farmers. They organized the Rebellion to go to war. Yuka decided not to take sides, but aided all she could.
“Well, the wizard let loose the spell of creativity to his side, and a spy brought it to the Union, or the government and Loyalists. The government actually used the forbidden witchcraft to their advantage, and the war raged on. Later, it was discovered that the spell affected those who used it, it could be once, or a hundred times. Depended on the person. But they slowly turned into creatures they represented. Thus, no one knows what the sorcerer became, but Yuka became more a cat.
“Finally, it seemed that any hope of winning against the Union was lost, and at the main base of the Rebellion, the enchanter decided to create a world to escape to, as there was nowhere to run, and the Union would kill them all if they caught them. So, he learned of a planet and portal spell, creating a refuge far away from Earth. Well, he sent every creature, every refugee who didn’t want to deal with the gov’t, but as the Union came barreling into the base, the portal shrank, and Yuka wouldn’t go through, because he made sure that everyone got through, except himself.
“They decided to burn him to death, and Yuka awaited by his side. He wanted to send her to the refuge and make himself immortal, so as he would survive the burning, but he was under pressure. The two spells went wrong. You see, Yuka had a special pendant which was created from a drawing, priceless in quality. He accidentally locked her soul within the amulet, and sent the necklace and her daughter to the planet. Then, he killed himself during the burning, using a reincarnation spell instead. It is said that through the generations, the two were joined back together until they died, in which the line continued. However, one day it stopped.”
“Stopped?” I was listening intently.
“Yes…you see, the new world was supposedly run by 12 special people, male and female, some immortal, some not. They all possessed an element: Sky, Wind or Flight, Lightning, Fire, Water, Ice, Nature, Ground, Celestial, Darkness, Light, and Power. They were all gods and goddesses, and they called themselves the High Council. Descendants of the mortal gods and goddesses of the same gender as before took there place a few generations down as needed. Well, since the dark god was immortal, there was always an imbalance when the light goddess died. The daughter of Yuka was the first light goddess. When that blood line stopped…” His voice drifted off, as to remember the rest.
“…The world was forgotten and enflamed in darkness…” He turned his head, surprised that I remembered a bit.
“Yes…to this very day, I believe.” He gazed out again, eyes softer. “…So, you do know a bit of the story.”
“I suppose. It sounded familiar as you were telling it, and it finally clicked at the end.” I shrugged.
“May I see the picture, again?”
“Uh…sure.” I handed to him.
“…And a few pencils?”
“What are you doing? You better not screw it up!” I handed him the art tools.
“I’m not gonna, don’t worry.” Then, he went to work.
“…You’re a lefty? I never noticed.” He was a beautiful artist, despite that.
“Hmm?” He stopped, obviously lost in the drawing. He stared at his hand which performed this action without him knowing. He chuckled softly. “Well, what do you know. You’ve found my dominant hand.” He changed his hand. “I learned to be ambidextrous, because of the school Pa made me go to. They’d whip me if I wasn’t paying attention or used my left hand.”
“That’s horrible! Why’d they do that?” I was reminded of my mentor immediately, and the pain of the wounds returned.
“Something about the left side of the body being unholy to God or something. It’s a lot of bull. That’s probably why I don’t believe in any religion except for the one in that story.” He sighed, then continued. “…Despite that, I still draw way better with my left hand. I snuck the pencil into my left hand when the teacher wasn’t looking, moved it back and forth. At first they noticed, but then I became a better righty, and they couldn’t tell.” He laughed. “There’s an American phrase about this: ‘What Momma don’t know won’t hurt her.’”
“That’s cool! So you disobeyed the teacher like I sorta do with Anderson-dono?”
“Please, don’t call her dono. She doesn’t deserve it.”
“But…she always said to call your superiors dono, san or sama, her dono…”
“That’s cause she has a bloated head, and she looks like this…” He hooked his fingers in at the corners of his mouth, and stretched them out. He rolled his eyes so they stared at one another, and stuck out his tongue. “Hey, look at me, I’m so fat and arrogant and ugly!” He danced around like a fool, and I cracked up. Laughing was also against the rules in the camp. He returned to normal after my laughing fit was over. “…It’s good to see that you still know how to laugh. I didn’t know if I could still laugh, either.”
“They’re so serious here…” I pouted, breathing slightly hard to replenish my oxygen demands.
“I know…”
“Ryou?”
“Yes?”
“Do I have to go into the black hole tomorrow? For real?” A long sigh, and his grin faded.
“…So you heard, eh? Well, let me tell you- you must. Sadly, you do. I’m sorry, but there’s a black hole, and if we don’t act now, Earth and everyone will disappear for good.”
“Then what can I do against it?!” I felt anger suddenly. Was it because I was so small? So useless?
“…We’ve discovered a new type of ray, the Omega wave. It actually negates gravity forces and vacuums such as a black hole. But, we need a ship to fly through and inject the wave at a precise time. We can’t do it by remote control…and no one has quicker reflexes. No one else is smart enough to pilot the small ship, either.” He then picked me up, placed me on his lap, and hugged me as tears from both of us rushed to the surface. “I’ve already lost Mom, Pa, and Jared. I didn’t want to risk losing you too. But they wouldn’t let anyone else do it, not me. Said they needed me. Questioned my reasoning of replacing you.”
“Do they know we’re related?” I looked up, hiccuping, sobbing.
“No. They don’t. They’ll know soon. …The head of the ship sits two people, and me and Miranda are heading up there to address you of what to do, before we detach from your part. I’ll go with you. I won’t take any more losses in my life, so I have nothing else to live for, you know? …And that’s why I’ll give Miranda the slip and enter the small part of your ship.”
“Re-really?” I gulped down some tears.
“Yes. I promise.” He rubbed my hair lightly. “I’ll be there till the end. Maybe we’ll even… survive, and actually fall onto another planet, like the one in the story…” He gently kissed my head, petted it twice, and put me and the sketchbook aside after looking at both of us. “Now, get some more sleep. Shuttle launch tomorrow is 600 hours sharp.” He got up after tucking me in, and slowly made it to the door.
“Onii-chan?” That made him stop. He was used to san, and I was referring to him affectionately as an older brother.
“Yes?” He turned around.
“Thank you…for everything.”
“No…thank you for giving me hope.” He smiled, eyes closed. “Now, go to sleep, brat.” A smirk as he shut the door. I stuck my tongue out at him as he did so, and after he was gone, I reached out and took the picture, fully colored. It showed me, in my mother’s kimono, fighting against another shadow revealed- Jared.

* * *
“C’mon, wake up, Kira!” An almost joyful voice shook me violently.
“Nn…wha?” I opened an eye to see Ms. Anderson.
“Today’s the day of your exam! Get up! Get ready!” She hummed to herself a weird tune. I rolled my eyes under their lids, and pushed myself up. She left the room, singing ‘Get dressed…’ way off tune. My ears. I finally got up, dressing in my best wear, and stopped as I almost walked outside after brushing my few teeth left. Teeth. Carefully, I lifted up the pillow, and gasped. There was a small envelope with my name on it. So the Tooth Fairy was real! I ripped open the sealant with gentleness, almost preserving the paper container, and peered inside. Nothing? My heart dropped, and I let my arms drop. But then, there was a slithering thing escaping from its contents, reflecting the little light in the room, and it clinked madly on the ground. It finally rested, and a letter followed suit, drifting down like a feather. It opened and laid on top of the item. In shock of this, I stared for a minute. There was nothing in there before. I bent down, grasping both the slippery serpent and the note. It was in the same, inked lettering as last night. There was only a short message:


Just like these teeth and your new ones to come,
Your age will grow, you will grow and become stronger.
I believe you will be very beautiful, a swan as an adult.
Take care in the hole, hide yourself from the darkness,
And you will survive.

…Use this to escape.


A poem? A riddle? Was this Ryou, or the Tooth Fairy, or even someone else…? I couldn’t figure it out. Then, I finally gazed at the object that I thought a deadly reptile. It wasn’t alive at all.
It was a necklace.
Radiant, shining beads, all on a golden chain, made of 24 K gold. My eyes widened in amazement at the garnet, emerald, sapphire, diamond, topaz, aquamarine, and amethyst beads, and in between was silver, catching light as often as the beads. Off the diamond, though, the middle bead, was a gold holder, something that held a small pendant.
An amulet that was blue and purple mixed, with the kanji for ‘hikari’, light, in the middle.
“Kira, I don’t see you…” Out came that annoying voice once more. What I wouldn’t do for earplugs. Use this to escape. Escape what? The space station? The black hole? This world? It didn’t matter. I put it on, hiding it under my clothes. She’d steal it if she saw it. I pocketed the letter, and finally headed out, wearing my present.
“Finally, you’re here. Come on, you!” She attempted to shove another apple into my mouth, but I saw it coming and grabbed it before it made contact. I hadn’t eaten since two days ago. I munched triumphantly on it as we walked along.
“Ah, General Anderson! Cadet Kira! Hello!” We’d arrived at the main computer hall, and more than 50 were working at the machines to see if everything was going to go exactly as planned. The main dictator of this event, Captain Segoru, greeted us somewhat grimly.
“Hello sir!” We both saluted him. I was still working on my apple, and after my last bite an attendant took it away to be disposed of.
“I assume you are both ready?” He crossed his arms behind his back.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then I shall assign you your mission.” Miranda gripped my arm, nails digging in, as though I would run away. “…There is a black hole, a dead star, barreling our way. All the planets are out of the way- thus, none were taken in, the solar system unaffected. Kira, your job-” I cut him off.
“Is to uphold the duty of this planet and fly through it, disposing of Omega waves through the black hole to delete its presence from the universe, sir!” They both looked at me, astonished. “Lieutenant Ryou informed me last night, sir.”
“Very good. Private Anderson and Lieutenant Hikori will guide you on how to use the device before you go off on your own. Now, both of you, you are dismissed. Go prepare for shuttle liftoff.”
“Yes sir!” Everyone saluted everyone, and we walked off. She was still digging her nails into my skin, piercing it oh so slightly. Finally, I wanted her to let go. It hurt so much. Anything to maybe make her stop, anything! Then, she tripped. By instinct she let go to catch herself, and I took my arm, covering the wounds. A little smile, and I walked on. It took her a while to catch up to me, and when she did, she was furious.
“You little brat! You caused me to trip, didn’t you?!” She yanked me by my ear.
“Oww! What are you doing?! Let go! You are and were hurting me!”
“What do you think, I like you?! No! I’ve been dreaming of this day for so long! Ryou always chided me and not you, him who I like!” Wait, what?! Miranda likes my brother?! “You’re going to stop interfering our relationship, I’ll make sure of that!”
“Let her go, Miranda.” We both stopped moving, my teacher trying to almost strangle me, and myself trying to get away from the pain. That was a death voice. Miranda dropped me, and at once put on a big act of being innocent. Ryou had come looking for us, as we were slightly late.
“Ryou-sama! A pleasure to see you!” Her voice was annoyingly high pitched.
“Enough of that.” He walked over, and took my hand, directing me to the suiting station. “…Never touch her again.” The life in his eyes was gone, ice cold. We continued on, and Miranda didn’t follow us for a while.
“…Are you ok?” He had let go of my hand, which was now assisting the other one with rubbing my ear and neck.
“Yes. I’ll be fine. Thank you.” I weakly grinned at him, and he handed me some bandages for my arm.
“I’ll report to the captain about her abuse to you later, before the launch. I want to keep an eye on you, though. I’m afraid of what she might do when I’m gone…” We arrived at the room, and on went all of the layers of shirts, sweaters, pants, and socks. Then, on went the main suit. It was heavy, but in my training I learned to withstand it. Ryou wore the same outfit, though less of it. I felt like a big marshmallow, ready on the graham cracker and chocolate to head into the big blazing fire…Then, Miranda came in, glaring at us both. Did she know he would betray her and leave her alone on Earth? No, she didn’t. She wouldn’t until that time came. She got suited up as well, and then all three of us, Ryou in the middle to prevent my harm, headed out. Several intercoms were going off, left, right, up, down, forward and behind, confusing in the bright daylight! Several members greeted us, all shaking our hands. Last in line was the captain, and I saluted him as he handed my helmet, clear as day, and hooking me up to an intercom system for talk in flight. I climbed up and into the shuttle, and looking slightly back, I saw my brother talk to him, glaring back at Miranda. There voices weren’t pleased.

“All systems checked and ready to go, sir!” I was in the co-pilot seat, lying strapped into the seat for me. Ryou took the main seat, checking all the gauges and making sure everything was perfect. Miranda was in the back, all alone, sulking. Evidently her pay for this mission was decimated, and she was on leave with no pay for a month. Serves her right, the little witch…
“Alright. Kira, report status, over…”
“All systems ready and stable for successful liftoff, sir!” I hit a few switches for the take-off.
“Miranda, report status, over…”
“Detachable bay stability attached. Oxygen reserves at maximum. All systems ready for liftoff, sir.” Her voice was distant and non-threatening in the ear-piece.
“That a 10-4. Lift off will commence in t-30 seconds.” A countdown in my ear started.
“Ready?” Ryou reached over, and grabbed my hand, shaking it, and grasping. He turned off the intercom to Miranda for a short period of time, and I followed suit.
“Yes. Bring it on, brother…” We let go of our hands, and rested them against the armrests. The intercom went back on.
“Lift off in 10…” My heart was racing with mixed excitement and worry. Would this work? “5, 4…” The rocket rumbled as the engines turned on. “3, 2, 1, we have liftoff!” My body was pushed back against the chair, head resting within the helmet tightened on and supplying me with oxygen. Nothing but the roar of the engine. Then, after a minute or two, it turned off. The fuel cells gently drifted back into Earth’s gravity, spent of all energy.
“…Kira, you can take off your belt now.” It was Ryou’s voice. The weightlessness came back slowly to me, from so long ago, and I opened my eyes. He was floating not too far away, upside down and hood off. A massive smile was plastered on his face. I slightly struggled with my binds. Must get free! I must fly! A faint ‘chink’- not the one from the dream, but from the bind. They floated away, and I removed my helmet. It was true magic- it floated. Then, the same power invited me, and my wings took flight for the second time in my life. I was free of any law. I could do what I wanted.
“… … … This is so cool!” I laughed as I backflipped and swam in the air. Ryou nodded.
“This is my first time in space, too. So much different from what they tell you, though. It’s like I’m…not afraid of anything in the world…” He drifted along, and I followed him to the back bay. Miranda was still strapped in, helmet on. It seemed she was fearing for her life. We nodded at each other, and unbuckled her, also removing her helmet. Ryou had gone to the front, and activated the intercom. “Miraaaaaaanda…” I placed a flipping helmet in front of her, then hid in a place where I could watch her reaction, but, at the same time, be safe from view. “Miraaaaaaanda, loooook…” He was almost singing, and it was much better than hers. Still wincing in fear, she slowly opened an eye, and flipped out at the helmet. She flipped out when she rose from her seat. She literally flipped. It took her a while to calm down and for us to stop laughing. I drifted by the paranoid woman, and caught an eye of what it was like outside. I forced myself to stop and positioned myself to see it. Earth was beautiful, and the stars surrounding it made it even more picturesque. My eyes shined, reflecting light.
“Ryou! Ms. Anderson! Look! It’s beautiful!” Ryou lazily drifted to me, and I got out of the way for him.
“Wow, it is… is that the same corrupt world we came from?” He paused, then looked at Miranda. She was back in her chair, belts on. We sweatdropped. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t like the feeling of no gravity. I don’t need to be reminded I’m out in space and not home.” She shivered.
“I see. Chicken.” He muttered that English word, and she instantly fought back.
“I am not afraid!”
“Yeah right!” I floated by quickly, laughing, confusing her. “Be-garp! Hee!”
“Why you…if you weren’t on this mission to be killed, I’d kill you…”
“How could you? You won’t budge from that chair.” Ryou taunted her.
“Enough, you three.” The captain’s voice rang in our heads. “How far away from the moon are you?”
“I’ll check.” I flew gracefully back into the cockpit, and checked the onboard computer. “…The moon is approximately 24.7 thousand kilometers away, sir.”
“Good. We’re on task. Now, maintain speed and direction. And Lieutenant, show Cadet Kira how to use the cannon.”
“Yes sir!” He clicked off. Ryou sighed.

It was a while since we’d been out in space, only 40 hours until we faced the black hole. 16 days had passed already. Ryou taught me again and again how to use the cannon, making Miranda, who finally became accustomed to space, believe that he wasn’t coming. A deep sigh issued from my mouth.
“…Well, it’s time for us to be detaching, Ryou…” Miranda was drifting softly in a relaxed position.
“…” Ryou drifted by her, and towards the beds where I was awake, but still in. Slowly, he rose up, nodding to me. It was time. “…Kira.”
“I know.” My voice was soft.
“…It’s not that.” I turned to him, but he had disappeared for a minute. Then, from the cargo room, he came back, holding a red garment. A kimono. The one my mother was wearing in that picture.
“…How?”
“She gave it to me to give to you later in your life. I know that you’ll wear it. I know that your last clothes won’t be the ones you are wearing.” He kept his breath low, so that Miranda wouldn’t hear. I slipped out, and floated next to him. The necklace came from its hiding place. “…Kira, what are you doing with that?!” He grabbed it.
“I…I put two teeth under my pillow, the ones Miranda popped out, and there was a note, and…” He seemed almost furious, then calmed down, then his face wandered. “…that fell out. I dunno how, but there was nothing in the envelope at first…” A long silence, and I hid the necklace as the private floated by. Finally, he spoke, slowly, unsure of how to put it.
“Kira…” He put both hands on my shoulders. “… … …That necklace…it belonged to Mother. She died wearing it. Father gave it to her when they married…” He took it out again, and examined the pendant. “…And, that legend…” He paused, then looked deep into my eyes, the very windows to my soul. “…The legend is-”
“Ryou, c’mon already!” An impatient young adult cut him off.
“…We’ll continue later.” He placed the kimono and two ribbons to it into my hands. They were blue, my favorite color. “…Alright, time to face that black hole. Go, Kira.” I nodded, and floated into the cockpit. Miranda strapped herself down, and it appeared that Ryou was going to the same.
“Preparing for dejection of escape pod…” I pretended to push a few buttons, and then, through the gap sprung Ryou.
“What the…Ryou, what are you doing?! You’re going to be killed!” Miranda struggled with the bindings, but they were tight. He presented part of his speech.
“Miranda…I cannot go back to that hell of a world, after being in space. Too much corruption, and in the next years, too much pollution. I will not return. If I did, what’d there be to live for? My parents, brother, and sister- gone? I couldn’t take it. A black hole is a less painful way to die- I’d take it over dying emotionally and then committing suicide.”
“But Ryou! I love you! You can’t do this to me! You’re leaving me for that bitch?!” She snarled and pointed my way.
“…That bitch…” He rested his hand on my shoulder. “…Is my sister. And I’m sorry, but I could never love an egotistical, cruel, self-centered, whiny wench such as yourself.” He hit the hitch button, and the doors separating us forever, it seemed, swung tightly shut. The intercoms came off, and fresh oxygen poured in for the second to last time. A huge clunking sound, and we were free from her! No whining, no more ruler. I hugged my brother in joy.
“She’s gone, she’s gone!” He was warm in the cold compartment.
“Yes, I know.” He let go of me, and strapped himself into the copilot seat. I took the main seat, as that had the switch to the cannon ray. “…but we must complete this mission. It’ll all be ok.” The lieutenant’s helmet went on, and so did mine. He forgot that he was going to tell me the rest of what he was saying.
And finally, the gas engines stopped. We were close enough to the black hole to be affected by its slight gravity to be pulled in. This is it! I only got one chance to save the world…Ryou, and myself. Time to show them just what I’m made now…The kimono and ribbons were stowed around my head. The scans of the black hole revealed the center hole, and we put it on course to it. Nothing left to do but wait, wait for it to drag us to oblivion. The ship gently shook. I looked over to my brother. He was looking at me, no emotion. We knew what we had to do.

* * *


“What do you mean, Ryou went with her?!” The captain’s outraged voice blasted into Miranda’s earpiece. She was back in range of an Earth satellite, and though it was with a bit of crackling, she could hear this blasted message. She winced in pain at it.
“There’s nothing I could do, sir! He stated that if he came back, he’d have nothing to live for!”
“That’s bull! He would’ve had a raise that others would’ve died for!” The captain back on earth was monitoring the progress of the ship on the big computer screen. Miranda was already far from the black hole, and the two siblings were on the edge of it. “Ryou, you imbecile!” He banged down on the counter not too far from the computer keyboard.
“…He didn’t want to leave her sister’s side…”
“What was that? Didn’t quite get that.”
“Sir, the shuttle top is entering the black hole’s gravitational force!” A techie reported to him.
“Good!”
“…Sir, Kira is Ryou’s sister…”
“WHAT?!” He was in shock, and almost everyone looked at him. Once again, she winced from the blast.


* * *


“Well, this is truly it…” I sighed, and held onto the main latch, preparing myself. …Use it to escape. I still didn’t understand. The capsule was shaking greatly now, pulling us faster and faster. They say that light doesn’t even escape. Light. I felt the pendant under my suit, pressing against my chest. Ryou then reached over, taking my hand. We’re in this together, he reminded me. He was always there for me, always would be. Then, a large lunge- the final pull! I pressed a few buttons, then flipped the cannon button. The oxygen was being torn from my lungs, it hurt, it hurt! A building pressure and heat in my heart, on my chest. A light…? It didn’t matter. The small hole swallowed us, and as it did, I pressed the button. A large explosion, and light everywhere, weird waves decimating the black hole as we went through. Time stopped. Life stopped. Everything…gone. My consciousness. I’d never see the celebration of my triumph…
Darkness.