Heroes and Villains

14 - Mutant testing

Yumi

I take a deep breath to try to calm my nerves. I have agreed to meet with Daniel-san today at the main hall but I am starting to think this is a bad idea.

I shouldn’t drag him into my problems. I should just face Obaasan and ask her what is going on. If I talk to her, maybe she will stop the mutant testing once and for all, but…

When was the last time Obaasan listened to me? Never, the answer is never.

I sigh as I stand there in a corner of the Main Hall, everyone’s eyes falling on me as they pass by. They think I can’t see them staring but I know they are. I don’t have to see to feel their impressed gaze.

I know I promised Mia that I would do anything in my power to help the mutants, but I really don’t know where to start. I figured that finding out what is going on was a good first step, but I can’t do that on my own.

As much as it bothers me to admit, I need Daniel-san’s help. Not that I am disturbed by his presence…

I stand up straight when his scent reaches me and I know he is approaching. Unable to control it, I feel my cheeks grow hotter as I hear his footsteps coming closer.

Using my special vision, I can see his face clearly. He is smiling. It is the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. Trying to remain focused, I turn to him and greet him by bowing slightly.

“Good morning, Daniel-san” I tell him and he looks surprised at me.

“Whoa” He mumbles. “How did you know it was me?”

Because you smell of freshly cut grass and damp soil.

“I took a guess” I say, smiling. “Besides, none of the other workers dare approach me for fear of Obaasan”

“Yeah… Your grandmother is quite scary” He comments but then realizes what he just said. “I mean, she has a very powerful presence! She’s not scary at all! I mean-”

I laugh at his silliness and he looks at me, his cheeks reddening.

“It’s alright, Daniel-san” I say. “Shall we?”

I point towards the labs and he is about to lead the way when I take his hand for support. Not that I really need it, but touching his hand feels right.

His cheeks get even redder as he looks at me. I feel like he is about to say something, but he gulps it down and continues leading the way while holding my hand in his.

I smile as I notice his focused look. He is obviously trying not to get distracted by me and I find that extremely adorable.

“Are you sure you want to see this?” He asks me as we stop in front of a large elevator.

He is referring to the fact I asked him to show me the place where the mutant testing is done. I am aware the place will be gruesome, but I need to see it, figuratively and literally.

“Yes” I affirm. “I need to know what they do down there”

“Alright…” He says as the elevator door opens and we step inside. “Just know that… It’s not pretty…”

“I am prepared” I tell him. “Daniel-san… Did you… Work in that place”

He hesitates to answer, which tells me more than he can ever say.

“I did, but not for a long time…” He admits. “My father moved me to another project only a few months after I started working here”

“Another project?” I question, intrigued.

“It’s uh…” He hesitates again and I look at him. He is conflicted. Whatever it is he is hiding, it is not only his secret to keep.

“You can’t tell me” I affirm. “It’s alright, you don’t have to”

“No, I want to…” He starts, but is still conflicted.

“It’s quite alright, Daniel-san” I tell him, smiling to assure him I mean it. “Whatever it is, I am sure it can’t be worse than what they are doing to mutants”

“Yumi, I can’t really tell you what I am working on right now, but…” He says, his hand squeezing mine ever so slightly. “I can tell you it is for the best. It will help our city tremendously”

“I believe you” I say. Honestly, I would believe anything he says right now. His intense brown eyes gazing at me like I mean the world to him are enough to make me feel like jelly.

The elevator door opens and he leads me outside by the hand. At first, it looks like an ordinary lab filled with glass chambers everywhere and sterile compartments with the most varied gadgets.

However, upon closer look, I start seeing the test subjects. They keep them sedated so that explains why we hear no screaming. If they were awake, I’m sure they would be screaming their lungs out at the tests they are putting them through.

I hold on to Daniel-san tightly and he looks worriedly at me. I’m sure he is confused at my reaction seen that I shouldn’t be able to see any of this, but I can.

I can see everything. The world as it really is. And it is awful.

“I need to talk to Obaasan” I say, feeling slightly dizzy.

“Yes, but not right now” Daniel-san tells me. “You’re awfully pale. Are you feeling alright?”

“Perhaps it was a mistake to come here…” I admit, still holding on to him.

“Come on” He tells me. “Let me show you my old lab. I don’t think they are using it right now”

He proceeds to pick me up and I go static, completely unexpecting it. That’s a first. I slowly place my arms around his neck as he takes me further down the corridors. I try to ignore the awfulness of what’s surrounding me and I end up burying my face in his chest.

I feel his body grow stiff at my closeness but he doesn’t stop walking. Now that I am so close to him, I realize how strong his arms are.

He has clearly spent his life training like a Yoshiro does. The fact that he is adopted has not sparred him of the rash ninjitsu training. Now that I think of it, I wonder what else he can do with these strong arms of his…

My mind takes a wrong turn and I feel my face go a deep shade of red, hiding it further into his chest so he won’t notice.

He stops walking not too long afterwards and gently places me down, still stabilizing me with his hands, afraid I am still dizzy.

“This is where you worked?” I ask him, taking in everything around me.

“Yeah” He admits, also looking around. “I can’t believe they haven’t changed a thing. My favorite microscope is still here. I really need to take this down to the new lab with me”

I take a moment to admire him as he looks around and touches his old gadgets fondly. It is clear he loved working here, even if he was in the mutant testing department.

“Daniel-san” I call out and he looks at me, his eyes filled with child-like enthusiasm at being reunited with his old things. I have to concentrate not to get lost in that look. “Ah… I would love to hear about your theory about using human DNA to control the nanites Mr. Itsuki has developed”

“Oh, yeah” He says, the twinkle in his eyes only growing stronger. “If I can come up with the right set of DNA, the person embodying the nanites will be able to reprogram them directly and use them to better themselves”

“Like super-humans?” I wonder.

“Yeah, something like that” He says. “But I was more thinking on the likes of correcting diseases like cancer while they are still on early stages. If we impute humans with these nanites and they can manipulate them themselves, anyone can detect imperfections and correct them”

“That is quite an amazing idea” I tell him. “But how would you manage to get the nanites to articulate with the DNA? Don’t they need CPU soundwaves to function?”

“That’s the thing” He says excitedly. “The human DNA can create its own soundwaves if configured in a specific set. The only problem is to make that set life-compatible”

“I’m sure you will get there” I say, smiling. “Is that the new project you are working on?”

“No, that’s…” He starts but then stops himself from saying any further. “It’s a side project. I owe it to my brother”

“Your brother?” I ask him.

“Yeah… He ah… Lost someone” He explains. “With these reprogramed nanites, I may be able to bring them back”

“You mean back from the dead?” I ask, frowning.

“Not exactly” He says, scratching the back of his head. “It’s complicated”

“I see…” I comment.

He is about to say something else but is interrupted by his smartwatch.

“Daniel” I clearly hear Mr. Itsuki’s voice coming from the watch. “Where are you? Your brother needs your assistance”

Daniel-san hurries to respond and talks to the smartwatch. “I’m coming, father. I was just showing Yumi, ah… Lady Yumi, around my old lab”

There is a moment of silence at which Daniel looks nervously at his watch. He appears to respect Itsuki immensely and even be afraid of him to some extend.

“Bring her along” Mr. Itsuki finally says. “I would like to talk to her as well”

I am intrigued by this. I wonder what Mr. Itsuki may have to talk to me about. Daniel looks at me, also surprised by his father’s request.

“I guess we should go, then” He says and moves to pick me up again. Blushing again, I place a hand on his shoulder.

“I think I can walk now, Daniel-san” I tell him and his face goes rosy too.

“Ah… Right” He mumbles, visibly embarrassed.

I smile and take his hand in mine, holding my cane with the other. He doesn’t say anything against this and starts leading the way back to the elevator.

I refrain from observing what is happening around me. I feel like I have seen enough mutants getting tested for the rest of my life.

Entering the elevator, Daniel-san presses the button to take us up to the main offices where Mr. Itsuki manages this branch of the Hamato facilities. I have always wondered why a Yoshiro was given such an important role in the company. Yoshiros are supposedly just bodyguards: a family of ninjas that have been protecting the Hamato family for generations.

Itsuki Yoshiro is the only Yoshiro I know to have a different role than the others from his family. It’s quite strange and it seems his adopted sons have followed in his footsteps. Ricardo manages the company with Mr. Itsuki, being responsible for the financial part of the branch.

Cain has completely diverted from the Hamato company and built his own bar; a strip bar at that. Daniel-san is the only Yoshiro scientist in the family and Jack… Well, Jack is the only of Itsuki’s sons who still works as a bodyguard. He is the one responsible for the facilities’ security, but I have heard rumors that he has been losing himself in alcohol and drugs. Ricardo has had to take over his responsibilities lately.

There’s a rumor that Itsuki might have adopted more kids without anyone knowing, but again those are just rumors that people up high like to come up with.

The elevator’s ding sounds and Daniel-san leads me out of it as soon as the door opens, walking the way towards what I believe is Mr. Itsuki’s office.

“Didn’t he say your brother needed your assistance?” I ask him.

“It’s probably Mon” He comments and I wonder who Mon is. “He keeps getting himself in trouble and I always have to deal with his injuries”

“But there are so many doctors in the facilities” I comment. “Why not let them take care of him?”

He hesitates to answer and I know he is trying to come up with an excuse. I don’t know why he has to cover for his brother like that, though.

“Mon isn’t very fond of doctors” He tells me. “It’s for the best if I’m the one to care for him”

“How does he get injured so often?” I ask him.

“He has the bad habit of messing with the wrong cat” Daniel-san says and this time I know he is being honest.

We reach Itsuki’s office and he looks at the two of us and then at our jointed hands. Daniel-san notices this and immediately lets go. It is clear to me that he is afraid of his father’s reaction.

“You should go help your brother, Daniel. He is waiting for you at your lab” Mr. Itsuki tells him. “I shall keep Lady Yumi company while you are gone”

“You let him go to my lab on his own?!” Daniel-san nearly shouts, afflicted.

Mr. Itsuki doesn’t answer and simply looks at Daniel, his patience wearing thin.

“I’m going” Daniel-san says and looks at me before leaving.

I nod at him gently, assuring him that I will be alright. He smiles softly before running off.

“It seems you and my son have gotten quite close, Lady Yumi” Mr. Itsuki comments while he taps the chair in front of his desk, wanting me to sit on it.

I do so, calmly sitting down like Obaasan taught me. Like a true Lady.

“I have always admired his work very much” I say. “It is an honor to finally be able to meet him”

“Yes, I see…” He says. “Tell me, Lady Yumi. Have you gotten to see the city since you arrived?”

I frown when I notice the emphasis he gave to the word ‘see’.

“No, I’m afraid I did not have the time yet” I answer him.

“Really?” He continues. “Then, perhaps I could ask Daniel to take you on a tour tomorrow. I suppose he too needs a break from his constant work”

“That…” I hesitate a little. “That would be very pleasant”

“Good” He says. “Then, it is scheduled. I shall inform Daniel when he returns”

Confused, I touch the little statuette he keeps on the front of his desk. It is of a DNA structure.

“I suppose I can tell him myself, seen that I will be waiting here for him” I say.

“Yes, about that…” Mr. Itsuki says, looking away. “Your grandmother has been asking for you all morning. I have stalled her for as long as I could but I’m afraid you must go to her now”

“Then, why tell Daniel-san I would be waiting here?” I ask.

“He will not mind” Mr. Itsuki says as if there is no problem with this. “You should go, Lady Yumi. In the meantime, I will find a good excuse so you can spend the day with my son tomorrow”

I stand up from my chair and leave the room without another word, making sure I let him know I am a little upset with our exchange with the way I shut the door behind me. I was hoping to talk to Daniel-san again today, but Mr. Itsuki disrupted my plans.

On my way back to the Main Hall, I see Cain walking past me, going towards Itsuki’s office. Curious, I follow him and try to listen to their conversation but can only hear one specific sentence.

“It is time”