Chapter 21
Title: Aftermath
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Retsu's POV. -- Unknown Time --
[ Unknown Place ]
Affective Residue,
It's the scientific term used to describe when someone immediately forgets the dream they've had the moment they wake up.
If that person were to live through a similar scenario to the dream they've forgotten, then their body will unconsciously react to it, –thus making the term deja vu become a thing.
Now i myself didn't live through a similar scenario, –at least not in this third life of mine, but the Deja vu I'm getting while standing here, in this barren land,
'I feel as if I've lived through this scenario for hundreds of times before, '
I'm currently in a barren land, in front of me is a mountain of corpses, every single one of the bodies having cut wounds, as if struck down by a blade.
I look left and right, not seeing anything else but the barren lands, the cracked and grayed out soils, and looking up i only see a red sky.
The only thing present in this barren land is this mountain that I'm standing at the foot of,
Nevertheless i keep on looking, my mind slowly remembering things that didn't even occur to me before,
Fwooooosh!
There is a sound of drifting winds to my side, making me turn my gaze and look to my left,
–once again seeing my replica from my first life,
'You again, '
I can't seem to be able to speak right now, my mouth not moving, only my head and eyes can turn,
Come to think of it, i can't move my limbs either. I'm just a statue right now, as if space itself is compressed around me, not allowing me to move except my head and eyes.
My replica turns her head towards me, letting me be able to see her red eyes, an unfamiliar set of irises that look deader than dead.
I see her eyes lock unto me, before her gaze... Softens a little?...
Before i can comprehend this expression, her gaze suddenly turns a little, as if looking behind me,
Before i can turn my gaze to what she may be looking at, she suddenly appears before my form, and my world starts to spin once again,
Up becomes down, and down becomes up, and my vision starts to blur away again...
.
..
...
[Third Person POV. ]
'... '
Now left alone, the Retsu lookalike's gaze has fallen on the one she looked at before she pushed Retsu out of this space,
Now she is left alone, gazing towards the tall figure under the black hood, his silhouette completely unknown under the cloth.
The both of them standing on the foot of this mountain,
The taller figure, clearly male by the deep voice, clicks his tongue and shakes his head left and right,
"You do know we'll eventually reunite with her, why delay the inevitable? "
"... "
"Not talking again? That's fine.
You're not the one i want anyway, you parasite.
How were you able to Cross anyway, "
His last sentence may sound like a question, but he doesn't wait for an answer, turning around and vanishing,
Shunpo!
"... "
Now left alone, the replica turns her red eyes towards the mountain of corpses again,
"Stay safe..." She whispers, before slowly drifting into red particles and vanishing away too...
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..
...
[Shuzenji Hospital]
It is currently 12:00 pm into the night, 20th of October, making this the fifth day since Benihana Retsu arrived at Hinode City all battered and bruised,
She didn't speak when she arrived, her eyes being blood red and hazy, as if she was unconscious.
Her nose, mouth, eyes and ears were bleeding, though it seemed they had stopped already when she arrived, her body having healed itself with only the blood stains left to clean up.
She didn't speak, ignoring the pedestrians walking around the streets who were horrified of seeing the state she was in.
Her clothes were fine, only having scratches and minor tears around them, as if she's walked through bushes and brushed herself at trees while walking through,
The moment Retsu had gotten near a pro hero, she collapsed on the spot, as if she was a puppet getting her strings severed.
The pro hero, who was actually Crimson Riot, quickly caught the collapsed girl, and began sprinting towards the nearest hospital he knew.
Later Retsu's mother learns of this, and she is transferred to ShuzenjiHospital to be looked after by her mother personally.
Redvein had gotten the news as soon as it reached him, so he quickly issued orders in his agency during his absence before quickly Flying back to Hinode, –the poor guy has been flying a lot lately it seems.
In terms of Injuries, it seems Retsu's quirk had already healed them, only leaving very stiff muscles, cramps, stressed out mind, and exhaustion to the point of unconsciousness.
All of these things would be going away in time, but the problem was that Retsu wouldn't wake up.
Kie did everything she could to find out why, but there doesn't seemed to be any problem with Retsu's physical body. She simply... Wasn't waking up, that's all...
It's as if she's in a comma or something.
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..
...
Currently it's night time, being 12 pm and the fifth day since Retsu is in the hospital.
Besides her bed, her motionless hand is being held by Kie, who has her face planting the bed, sitting on a stool to the side of the bed, having fallen asleep like that.
Ruffle,
Retsu's hand suddenly twitches, making the hyper sensitive and over caffeinated Kie jolt awake!
She looks up, seeing Retsu's face that's beginning to crease up, signs of her waking up.
The older woman is on her feet in a matter of milliseconds, "Retsu?! Baby?!? You're awake? ! "
She looks to the monitors besides the bed, not seeing any unusual signs, before turning to look at her baby girl once again.
Retsu slowly begins to stir, her eyelids slowly opening, and she sees the blurredceiling, before her vision is interrupted by the silhouette of Kie,
"Retsu! Baby can you hear me? Say something so i can understand your okay! " Kie controls her voice, but her pitch is still a little higher,
"S-... Something?... " Retsu says, leading to Kie giving out a sigh of relief, before tears start forming from her dried out eyelids.
She begins to cry out slowly as she plops back down and holds Retsu's hand at her face,
"You scared the shit out of me you brat... "
The normally reserved and always well mannered Benihana Mistress curses,
–something that doesn't fit her current demeanor and age at all,
Kie has gone back to her younger days it seems.
"Ah, hehe- cough cough... Hah... Never would have thought I'd hear you curse, Mother... "
"Don't talk you brat, you've been out for five days so your throat is very dry, " Kie wipes her eyes, before she looks at Retsu fiercely,
"Get better, you have a lot of explaining to do after this. " She says, making Retsu give out a sigh and a slight nod,
'Damn you you overgrown earth mole. Couldn't you have not made those tremors by beating the ground so much. ' despite her words, Retsu had gotten quite satisfied with that fight.
More important than that though,
'Red eyes? '
She remembers the dream she just had. The dream of someone who is the exact replica of her first life's physical appearance, –same height and everything, only lacking in the eyes color department and her demeanor.
'Speaking of demeanor, her movements and the way she was standing... It kinda looked familiar... '
Before Retsu can dwell on it too much, her vessel once again reminds her of how much she made it over work, resulting in the tall girl slowly closing her eyelids, 'I'll think more of it later, '
"Rest for now Retsu. Your body is healing itself, but the damage was so severe that you've burned out through several CEAC's since the moment you came in, and your body hasn't even fully healed up yet. " Kie informs, before she stands up, stumbling a little before she turns to exit the room, leaving Retsu to sleep peacefully.
'Several Cellular Energy Amping Compound, huh? Those things are very strong too, every one being worth three full courses of meal, and she said i burned through several?
Just goes to show how much i abused my body... ' Retsu idly things,
'Gonna have to ask who found me all the way in the woods too, at least when I'm better... ' she thinks, and slowly starts drifting away, not having a dream this time and sleeping peacefully...
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..
...
"What do you mean I walked back to the city all by myself? " Retsu questions,
It's currently the following day, Tetsuya having gone out of his costume and sitting beside Retsu's bed, along with her mother sitting on her other side.
Now that Retsu has become more stable,
–her quirk having healed her up enough to be able to walk again, she is being interrogated by a member of the police station.
An officer is sitting before the bed, notepad and pen in hand as he recounts the events and what may have been going on a few days ago. He also is asking Retsu from her point of view to hopefully piece the dots.
"Yes, Young Miss. You were found walking through the city while all battered and bruised, before you were discovered by the pro hero Crimson Riot, who quickly got you to the hospital.
In his reports he said that, You suddenly came out of nowhere and just fell on the ground. He caught you before you hit the floor and quickly carried you to the nearest hospital.
He also described that your expression was kinda of in a trance, as if you weren't aware of what you were doing.
Based on your current responses, i can deduce that you were truely in a trance. " He writes that down before looking up and toward's Retsu's parents, his onyx black eyes boring into them,
"Tell me, Mr. And Mrs. Benihana, has your daughter ever shown similar symptoms before? Where she may be unconscious but her quirk active in some way or another?
Has something like this happened before? "
There are many anomalies surrounding superpowers that are dubbed as quirks. Some people's quirk can activate while they are unconscious. It isn't common, but it has happened before.
"As far as her test results regarding her recorded quirk goes, no. My Retsu hasn't shown any symptoms of unconscious quirk activation. " Kie informs, a hand on Retsu's head and idly stroking it.
"Very well. I'm still obliged to inform you of having her re-take those tests. Sometimes, quirks can evolve and gain new traits to themselves, so i advise young Retsu to be careful. " He says before changing pages,
"Regarding the tremors we felt from the North side of the city, can you tell me what they were since you came from that way?
From what i understand, Sanguimancy doesn't have such raw destructive power to be able to generate such tremors, so it must have been something else.
Miss Retsu, can you tell me anything you can remember after 04:00 pm forward? "
Retsu lowers her head, contemplating,
"You don't have to talk if you're not comfortable. We can do this later. " Tetsuya says,
"No, it's okay, " She looks up and towards the officer,
"Well at 4 pm, me and my friend were outside of school and in the nearby park, spending time together.
After that i kept her company until she got home before heading to my driver that was near the school.
On my way i stumbled upon a scene that was already underway. There was a giant man under a hood, concealing his identity.
He was pinning two of my classmates against the wall, asking them for some directions or something, i didn't get quite where he wanted to go.
I got closer and gave him a false location that would make him head out of the city and into the woods towards the north side. After that i turned and comforted my shaken up classmates before heading back towards my driver. "
As Retsu recounts the story, the officer keeps on writing it down, his expression doesn't change, being completely serious the whole time,
"As i was walking towards my driver, i decided to cut through a short cut at xxx avenue so that i may get there faster, but the moment i entered the side alley, i suddenly blacked out.
The next thing i know, I'm waking up here in the hospital after 5 days. " Retsu finishes, her expression not changing at all and not giving any indicator of her lying.
The officer writes the report down, before he stands up, "very well. We will be investigating the xxx avenue and every public camera surrounding it, i promise you that we'll do everything in our power to find out what happened. " He gives a curt bow before excusing himself and exiting the room, leaving behind the family of 3.
"... "
There is a moment of silence, before Tetsuya starts out the conversation,
"Retsu, " He says, getting both her and Kie's attention, "I'm sorry... I never really found the proper time to say this after the Kiyashi Mall Incident.
I know you are strong, –heck you're even stronger than the top 50 pro heroes of today, maybe even in the realm of the top 10, so i know that my decision to revoke your license must have come as shocking to you back then, " He says, making Retsu tilt her head,
'Not really, no. But... '
"But know that my decision was to protect you from the dangers of this world.
No matter if you are strong or not, if you act outside the laws of this society, then it's that same society that will eat you down mentally if not physically.
I don't condemn you for fighting, i know that you have a passion and love for battle. I know it gives you joy when you fight, I've seen it before myself.
Now i may not be able to stop you from chasing this passion, but i can guide you the right way, a way that will help you enjoy what you like, but also not get labelled as a villain orvigilante because of it.
Retsu, I'm saying that if you truly can't help yourself, then make the right choice.
Get your hero's license, then you can fight as much as your heart desires. " Tetsuya, –No, Redvein the pro hero says.
To Kie, It might sound like her husband is only giving Retsu good advice, telling her that if she wants to be able to fight, she has to become a hero. –Thinking this is related to the Kiyashi Mall Incident,
But to Benihana Retsu the meaning is very different...
'He's sharp. ' Retsu idly thinks, seeing the look her father is giving her, as if telling her that he knows she confronted another villain, –thus why she looked so battered when she came back.
Retsu mentally gives out a sigh, before she nods, "I understand, father. "
"Good. Stay safe, my beautiful girl. And know that me and your mother will always be behind you. " Tetsuya leans forward and gives his baby girl a kiss on the forehead, before standing up to his full height, and exiting the room.
"I'm heading back to Ketsurin. I've been away a lot so there are a lot of criminals who think they can get away with anything. " He turns his head back to the duo,
"Stay safe, you two. "
"You as well Father/Honey."
Now left alone, Kie turns to Retsu, "I should get back to work too. Get well soon dear, and I don't want to hear you've gotten out of bed, got it?
Your injuries were mostly internal, so you will need longer time to heal. Even if you can walk right now, i don't want to see you out of bed,
Call for somone if you need anything. I'll be here during my breaks as well. " Kie says, before kissing Retsu's forehead too and exiting the room, visibly more relaxed now that her baby girl seems stable.
Now left alone, Retsu brings a hand on her chest, 'my heart... It aches... '
It seems that... To Benihana Retsu, her family has started taking a very big spot inside her heart.
10 years ago and she wouldn't feel anything after a similar scenario like this, but now...
Now she feels guilty for lying to them. –or at least lying to her Mother, her Father seems to have figured out she went against their wishes and fought someone again.
'A Pro hero's perception is nothing to scoff at, especially the 3rd strongest in the whole country. '
As for Retsu's dream that she now remembers, –the feeling and vibes that she got from her replica in all but the eyes color, Retsu will have to wait and see what will happen next before she can give a concrete deduction.
For now though, her dreams looks to not be entirely what they would seem.
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Author's Note/ Ohhhhhh! We're nearing the end of the first volume!
Which reminds me, i need to put a name on the Volume, maybe something like Her Origin or something? The start of a journey?
Reincarnated extraordinaire?!?
Hmmmm, guess we'll wait and see later.
(☞ ᐛ )☞
For now though, Thank you for reading my story. Have a great day/night and buh bye!