Puppet 2

CHAPTER 7:


Darkness once again clouded over the city of Tokyo. The lights over the city, however, showed no fear of the darkness, and lit up Tokyo in such a spectacular way.

Sitting by the window in her room, Michelle stared sadly out at the city. This was her new home. This is the very spot she’d be for God knows how long.

Michelle admitted that she hated it here. Tokyo was not America; it was different. Sure, it had lights, it had people, it had amazing places to shop, amazing food, and other large buildings, but one thing was missing; Michelle’s mother. She was all the way on the other side of the ocean; all the way back in America, where Michelle knew she belonged. She hated it in Tokyo. She wanted to go home.

Michelle cried. She let the warm tears drip off her pale face. Her knees were brought to her chest as she sat there weeping. She felt no confidence. She lost everything she ever cared for.

Glancing at the stars above, Michelle thought of her father. Giving a sniff, Michelle leaned her head against the cold glass window, and begins to pray.

“I pray,” Michelle whispered, “That my mother will recover soon so that I can leave here and go back to live with her. But until that time comes, God, I only pray that I can get along with my cousin, and perhaps, by chance, make some new friends. Please?”

Michelle prayed hard, though she almost felt as if her prayers were hopeless. She felt as if she’d never get along with Kiyoshi, and that she’d never make any new friends. Back at home, she only had Robin. Who would care to be friends with her here?

--

On the other side of Tokyo, three hidden shadows jump out from a few forest trees. The three shadows move swiftly; their true forms hidden by the swiftness of their speed.

They soon slow down, however, as they come to a slow halt in front of an old compost building. It ranked, and the three appearing faces hid the urge to cover their noses.

The first of the three was a handsome young man. His black hair was short, though it was wild like a horse’s and stuck out all over his head. Parts of his black hair was dyed ruby red. He wore torn light-blue jeans with holes in the knees. His black eyes matched the darkness around him. Above his waist he wore a wrinkled tight black shirt underneath a dark blue jean jacket. He had been carrying the other two people.

The second was also a young man. His orange-dyed hair was buzzed in back, and came up to shape an almost Mohawk like hairdo over the top of his, though it was more flat then up. He had glowing dark blue eyes, and he wore a long white shirt with the Chinese symbol for master painted over it in red, along with long black pants.

The final of the three was a female. Her short black hair was held above her head in two cute twist-tied ponies. Her eyes were also black, and she wore a cute pink top over a long-sleeved white shirt, and she wore baggy white pants. She was also the first to speak.

“Shing,” she said, “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

The young girl had been talking to the young man with the wild red-dyed black hair. He never answered her, though, and she grew angry. She turns her attention to the orange haired man now, “Wan-Yan, talk to him! He could seriously get hurt going in there!”

Wan-Yan only shrugged as he held a small portable camera in front of him. “Sorry Katsumi. When Shing is given a dare, he never backs down.”

“But,” Katsumi frowns at Shing’s back, “But he could get hurt really bad!”

Suddenly, Shing began to chuckle. He spoke with such an adorable voice, “Don’t you worry Katsumi,” Shing turns to smile at his concerned friend, “I’ll be fine. Just wait and you’ll see.”

With tied white sneakers, Shing took a step towards the building. He could hear clinking sounds coming from the inside; most likely from breaking boards. It was a spooky old building. It was even said to be haunted, but Shing didn’t believe in the paranormal. He’s experienced far-worse things, anyway.

Before entering the building, Shing gave his friends a sharp glare. “Don’t follow me in, okay? I can’t risk you two getting hurt.”

“Aw man,” Wan-Yan grumbles, “Then why the hell did I even bring the camera?”

Wan-Yan only grumbled louder as Shing vanished into the building. He gave his flat Mohawk a good rub, followed by a sigh. “Oh well, guess we wait.”

“Wan-Yan,” Katsumi whispers, “What if he does get hurt?”

“Katsumi,” Wan-Yan frowns, “You shouldn’t worry yourself too much. Shing always comes back! You should know that by now.”

“I know, I know,” Katsumi grew frustrated, “But I can’t help but worry! What if he isn’t able to heal himself, someday, and does get seriously injured? I’d feel terrible! And what if his brother…”

“His brother will not find out,” Wan-Yan almost shouts, “Not as long as you and I keep our mouths shut!”

Katsumi shivered. The winds were harsh, but Wan-Yan’s voice was harsher. She could only nod, and pray that her dear friend would not harm himself.

--

Deep in the building, Shing was preparing for his given dare. Rumor has it that there once lived a happy couple near this area. They were said to be murdered by some unknown beast, and their dead, blood-covered corpses were left to rot. However, due to a certain curse, they say the couples’ bones never turned to dust. Shing’s dare is to find those bones; if he can.

“Damn,” Shing glances about, “This is like searching for a needle in a haystack.” Shing could only sigh. The dare was stupid, he knew, but it was the only way he felt as if he could gain a trust in his brother’s friends. And his brother never once stepped up for him. His brother only saw him as a loser, a bastard-born child who should never have exited his mother’s womb. Shing knew that his parents felt the exact same way, for Shing was different.

Shing was not normal. His family calls it a curse. They call Shing a demon child, and so he left his parents in China and came to live with his brother in Japan. He was thankful his brother took him in, though his brother despised him, too. Shing knew this curse he had was unusual, but it was also very useful. It helped him to fulfill these damned dares his brother’s friends gave him to do.

Caught up on the dare, Shing gasped as he felt his foot trip over some object on the floor. Shing felt a pain in his knee, but the pain soon vanished. Shing shook his head as he turned to glare at whatever he tripped over. His eyes widened to see a half-covered brown box before him. Was that it? Would Shing open that to discover bones from long ago? He couldn’t stand the pressure. He grabbed for the box, and easily pulled it out of the dirt covering it. Underneath the box, Shing moved back at the sight of tiny black beetles that had been nesting under the box. He moved far from them.

Glancing over the box, Shing slowly opened it to reveal—well there were no awaiting bones inside, which disappointed Shing—however, inside sat a small, precious looking necklace.

Removing the necklace from its box, Shing’s black eyes widened. The necklace appeared in perfect condition. No dust, no dirt whatsoever covered the gold shining off the necklace’s perfection. A tiny lock attached to the necklace, and Shing opened it to reveal an old picture of the dead couple. This, Shing thought, was much better then some old bones. He was sure his brother would be proud.

However, Shing did not want to give the necklace to his brother. It was too valuable. If Shing handed it over to his brother, he knew he’d use it to gain money. However, if he handed it over to the officers of Tokyo, they’d know more about the case revolving the dead couple. Shing knew that was the right decision. He’d just have to show up empty handed, but he still managed to do the dare. He knew it’d be alright.

--

Wan-Yan and Katsumi patiently awaited Shing to come out of the old building. They each smiled happily as he came out with the necklace in his hands.

Wan-Yan positioned his camera on Shing. “Once again, Shing shows his older brother who’s the true brave by completing the eighth of many dares to come!”

“Oh Shing,” Katsumi glanced at the necklace, “What’s that you got there?”

“A necklace,” Shing smiles, “I think it’s that old couples.”

Katsumi smiled at the necklace resting in Shing’s palm. “Wow, it’s beautiful.”

“Yeah, yeah, beautiful,” Wan-Yan yawns, “Now can we get the hell outta here?”

“Shing,” Katsumi frowns, “Are you going to give that to your brother?”

“No way in hell,” Shing laughs, “I’m going to take this to the OOP officers.”

Both Wan-Yan and Katsumi’s eyes widened in shock.

“How can you say that, Shing?” Katsumi begins to shiver again, “If Yao finds out, he’ll…”

“Don’t you worry,” Shing giggles, “He won’t find out!”

“Oh but he will!”

Shing, Wan-Yan, and Katsumi turn to see two heavy-chest men hovering over them. The one who had spoken held a sharp knife in his hand.

Shing gave the two men a growl. He wanted to spit in their faces, but held his ground.

“Neji and Hobart. What are you two doing here?”

“We’re here to see you through your dare,” Neji, the one holding the knife, cackles, “And it looks as if you’ve completed it! Now, if you’d be so kind as to hand the necklace over…” Neji let his hand out, but the necklace was never placed into it, “You know,” Neji went on, “Yao will be quite disappointed to hear what your first plans were to be with the necklace. Yes, he’ll he very disappointed indeed.”

Katsumi screamed as she watched Neji run towards Shing. The shining knife he held plunged deep into the middle of Shing’s chest, causing Shing to gasp out in shock as he was sure blood made its way up his throat and out his mouth. Blood spurted from his chest, and Katsumi felt queasy to her stomach.

Wan-Yan could only look away, tensing at hearing his friend scream in pain.

Soon Shing fell to the ground with the knife in his stomach.

Neji came over, and grabbing the necklace he allowed a swat of his spit to land straight on Shing’s paled cheek. “Maybe next time you’ll do fully as you’re told.” With this said, Neji and Hobart both began to walk away with victory written all over their faces.

As soon as those two had gone, Katsumi and Wan-Yan were immediately by their friend’s side.

“Shing, Shing please wake up,” Katsumi cried, “Please wake up!”

“Come on Shing,” Wan-Yan yells, “Come on, fight it!”

“D—don’t w—w—worry,” came out a worn-out voice.

Katsumi and Wan-Yan watched as Shing’s fallen body rustled underneath them. Shing turned his head and smiled at them as the blood on his cheek slowly began to re-enter into his mouth as if it had a mind of its own. Turning his body completely around, Shing pulled the knife out of his chest, and Wan-Yan and Katsumi watched thankfully as the deep wound began to slowly heal itself. The cut was soon gone; replaced by fresh peach skin.

“Thank goodness,” Katsumi cries as she wraps Shing in a hug, “Oh Shing! Thank goodness!”

Shing could only hug his friend back as Wan-Yan growled aggregately next to him.

“Shit Shing,” Wan-Yan hits Shing upside the head, “You gave us a fucking scare, there! We thought you were a goner this time!”

“Well there’s never a need to worry about me,” Shing laughs. He gives his friends a reassuring smile. “I’m cursed, remember?”

*End of Chapter 7*