3On April 30, 1999 ─ Bloody Roar 2 was first released in N.A., so in as… I'm kidding; this is just an excuse to write Keniko. Different from my 5-year-old (horrid) writing, hope it's not boring, enjoy.
Pairing: Kenji x Uriko
Bloody Roar 2 (Because it will always be my favorite)
Old pen-name: Bakuryu-kun
The memories of Kenji's childhood were blurry at best; they were fragments that meant nothing at times and then long episodes would surface and play out in his mind like an old film that had been forgotten in an attic. He knew they were his memories ―and his alone, for he had not the courage to tell Yugo― these memoirs that were engraved deep in his mind were not the after effects of the dreadful brainwashing sessions he was forced to endure nor imagined slights created to fill the empty void.
But perhaps what he feared the most about his lost memories was the way it had all felt as normal as his current life. It was not unlike his daily routines as a high school student, or being the younger sibling in the Ogami household, or even his high position in the W.O.C. Instead of school days, his younger self had endured cruel training by his former Master Kato. Where now he had friends, in past times he was alone for long periods of time deprived from the joys of friendship. Whilst now he had peace and a caring older brother, his younger years were filled with hatred and fear, slaughter and crimes.
At some point after he began to remember, but a few months after his abduction by the Z.L.F., he feared there were no good memories of his childhood to enjoy.
No embraces or kisses had he received from loving parents, no childhood friends to have played and fool about with, and as the list amplified, along grew his desperation to recall at least one normal memory.
His wish came true at some point, and it happened as it always did; a small trigger was needed for his mind to be full blown back in time.
He had just parted ways from a close friend, a friend and ally he had gained during his kidnapping almost 4 years ago. She had somehow grown on him, because she was everything he wasn't ― and for that he had loved her all the more.
The bright aura and silly jokes, her clumsy movements yet feminine charm were like a lure he could not look away from. Each day he spent with her, was time he had learned to treasure.
It hadn't been like this at first, when his guilty mind did not allow him to open up to others. The persistent fear that his true nature was that of a monster, ― because let's face it, who would love an assassin who took so much pride in his work?
Uriko Nonomura proved to be that someone, that special person who put behind all that happened and accepted him with open arms and her silly remarks. She had practically kicked him for his self-loathing and sulking.
"Oh, how corny! You're too young and handsome to talk like that!" She had told him the first time they had met, when she was no more than a nuisance that Kenji needed to eliminate for his then-master Busuzima. And how incredulous that line had been! To face down an experienced assassin and tell him he was good looking in complete disregard for her own safety.
The Bakuryu then ―just a mindless slave― was certain she was a fool, but after his defeat he was taken aback how an amateur had pushed him off his high horse for once.
Kenji had arrived to his empty home, as he had become accustomed since Yugo left to travel where he pleased, to prepare his dinner when the memory hit him.
At first it was barely a spark in his mind, but the wave soon came after…
It was a sweet memory within the darkest of times, an event that shouldn't have ever happened, but it did. That was all that mattered to Kenji now; it was all he wanted to remember now.
Kenji put away the food before him and opted to allow his mind to wonder back, back to a time where his still innocent mind had been tainted by his clan of ninja, tainted by Tylon and the many sick twisted scientists that ran the underground labs… a time when he had first fallen in love.
Everything had gone horribly wrong that night; there was no doubt about it. Little Kenji was certain his Master would soon slide open the door to his small room and release his anger on him. He was scared, that much was obvious, but he accepted whatever punishment Kato, or Bakuryu as his self-imposed title was, could dish-out. Kenji had messed up big time and his Master was not known to take failure lightly.
How could Kenji begin to explain? It wasn't his intention to give away his location whilst allowing the target to get away. Kenji knew he wasn't ready for this a job with that lever of skill, but as the heir of the clan he was expected to do things better than most. ― Even if said others were the triple his age.
So when his Master finally stormed into his dark lit room, he forces himself to suppress the whimper that threatens to escape his pale lips.
"Is that quivering I see?" His master's tone is dry, with no room for humor. ― Not that he had ever known his master for his humor, unless said joke was the killing of a worthy opponent.
Kenji fists his little hands in a failed attempt to hide his fear, he quickly follows by shaking his head. If he were to speak now his voice would most likely betray him.
"Do not lie to me boy! Up on your feet, now!" Kato barks at Kenji and the small boy forced his legs to carry his relatively light weight. Master Kato had always kept Kenji on the lean side for best agility.
Kenji's breathing had become shaky as his Master further yells at him for messing up the mission. Kenji's eyes accidently dart away from his Master as tears begin to spill. Kato quickly notices and slaps his student hard across the face.
"Wipe those damned tears away; I shall not see my student and heir demonstrate such weakness before me. And you shall look at me when I speak."
Kenji franticly nods to avoid further punishment, allowing his Master to continue.
"You will be punished for your failure tonight! It's been long due since that pathetic mind of yours has been modified. I will see to it that this offence is not repeated, for if you screw up any other of my jobs there won't be a next time." It's an empty threat, at least for now, Kenji knows.
Kenji is an irreplaceable student, he sees as much, because he is the only direct descended from the village Kato and he were born into that can wield the outmost secret and powerful techniques of the Kato School of Ninjutsu. None else can master them, and Kato knows it as well, he will not kill the boy who is destined to become one day Master, but he can secure the efficiency of his student through the brainwashing and experiments that promise him a stronger body for the boy.
That night Kenji is sent to the labs, and as always Busuzima is the first to greet them both.
"Oh, Ninja Master, what brings you and your darling boy to the pits of Tylon?" Busuzima's mocking voice has always irritated Kato, but he does not show it. Busuzima is but a few mere positions from the head honcho behind Tylon, giving him the most power among the scientists. For all the egotism Kato holds, he knows Busuzima is not someone to quarrel with, let alone annoy.
"I seek to fix a problem. I believe you might be of help." Kato's tone is as sour as ever when he is forced to speak with the freakish scientist.
"An experiment? Oh, I would be more than plea─" Busuzima is babbling when Kato stops him dead on his tracks with a glare.
"My student is not your plaything. He merely requires the usual treatment." Kato's gaze falls on the boy who had managed to pull on a blank mask, hiding the fear and disgust he feels every time he is forced to see the 'doctor'.
"Hmmpp, of course, I meant no disrespect. Leave the boy; I can't do that right now. I have some delicate experiments to finish and later I have to set up the equipment." Busuzima continue to speak but Kato had long lost interest. He needed nothing more than to hear the confirmation from the scientist; whatever else the freakish man had to do was none of his concern. ― As long as that something else did not require his filthy hands on his young heir.
"Very well. Boy, you will stay here and behave. The 'good' doctor will see to you when he is ready." Kato directs his words towards Kenji, dripping with sarcasm. Busuzima glares at the old man before waving his hand in annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah, just get outta here if you got nothing nice to say!"
Busuzima leaves the two of them and returns to the deepest rooms in the giant lab. Kato turns once more to his student with a meaningful look. Kenji understands the look, his master might be angry, but he had no desire to see his student become another experiment. It is not out of love or compassion; it is simply out of the value the student possesses. Kenji bows before his master, and before he has fully risen from his bow his Master is gone in a flash of smoke.
"Well, I guess this is growing up! Well, I guess this is growing up!" Busuzima's horrid singing could be heard from afar as Kenji still stood where his Master had left him.
He was told to behave, and to simply stand in place was clearly behaving well, so would walking without interrupting be good too?
Kenji began to wonder the lab in silence, taking in all around him, not understanding much of what he saw. They were large tubing surrounded by wiring that was suspended in metal platforms, the tables he had to tiptoe to see over, were full of strange instruments which Kenji couldn't begin to decipher their use. He moved along as he lost interest of the things he could not understand, and was beginning to feel unnerved by the strange screams he could hear from where once Busuzima's off tone singing had once been heard.
Kenji scurried away to a quieter part of the laboratory and began to explore anew. Only this time it was a sniffling sound that caught his ear.
Unlike the screams, the crying was low and muffled by something, perhaps cloth or a hand?
Loki peered within the room he believed was the source of the crying and carefully walked inside.
It was dim within and as cold as the rest of the lab. Once his eyes quickly adjusted to the new light ― an improvement in his sight thanks to Busuzima ― he spotted the crying figure behind metal bars.
Kenji quietly made his way over to the hunched over figure, learning from his mistake on the last mission not to make noise, and kneeled before the… child?
The girl, most likely his age, snapped her head to face the intruder. Her eyes went wide when she saw the boy before her, clearly startled by his seemingly sudden appearance.
"Who- Who are you?" The girl said between sniffles.
Kenji did not reply; he knew he was not allowed to give his identity away to anyone, but this was a child just like him. Would Master be angry for that too?
The girl wiped her face with her long white sleeve and crawled closer to the nameless boy.
"Well since you won't speak first, I will. I'm Uriko and 9-years-old. How about you?" Uriko asked, eyes still swollen from the crying.
Kenji looked around, and concentrated on the silence for a few minutes. Uriko's face was scrunched up in confusion, and she burst out laughing.
Kenji was startled by the sudden laughter and jumped up to his feet.
"Scaredy cat, you look so worried! Anyway, what you listening too?" Uriko continued as if nothing had happened.
Kenji's mouth gaped open for a moment and he shut his lips tight, as if thinking how to continue.
"Oh, are you mute? I didn't mean to make you talk, if you can't I mean…" Uriko stopped talking and sat down closer to the bars.
"I'm scared too. I really wish my mommy was here."
Kenji's brows knitted as he processed what he girl was saying. "Are you here for the doctor too?"
Uriko's eyes widen in surprise as she turned to look at the boy. "The doctor? This isn't a hospital is it?"
"No…" Kenji replied and awkwardly stood before her prison. He turned various times to look out the open door and finally settled down before her.
"My name is Kenji, but you can't tell anyone." Kenji said in a low voice as if harboring a secret.
"Nice to meet you, Kenji." Uriko whispered back with a small smile on her lips.
Kenji was not used to receiving smiles; he wasn't used to offering smiles either, not unless he had to pretend during an infiltration mission. Those missions allowed him a glimpse of normal life; he would be instructed on how to act and what to wear and be released into whatever environment needed to be infiltrated. Perhaps a normal glimpse of life was far from reality, but it was the only way he had experienced the outside world.
"Hey, why are your clothes so weird?" Uriko's voice snapped him out of his daydream.
"My clothes?" Kenji stared down at his ninja armor and yellow and red uniform and frowned. 'What was weird about it? Was it not the best clothing for fighting and defense?
"Yeah, you look like an anime character or something." Uriko giggled as she compared him to this 'anime' he had no clue was.
"Anime? My clothing is for fighting." Kenji said matter-of-fact.
"Fighting? Are you like a ninja? Like Ruroni Kenshin, I think there were ninjas in that show…" Uriko poked her hand through the bars and grasped his scarlet scarf. Kenji tensed at her movements, but made no effort to stop her. She was a confusing girl, Kenji barely understood her conversation, but he was a ninja, had she found out so quickly?
"It's a bit broken up… Doesn't your mommy sew your clothing?" Uriko's ask and paused, she missed her mother and only speaking about moms was about to drive her to the verge of tears again. His suspicion about her knowledge of ninjas was quickly dismissed, she was clearly talking about some movie or show he was not knowledgeable of it seems.
"I don't have a mother." Kenji answers and pulls the scarf away from her hands.
Uriko doesn't immediately reply; instead she plays with the hem of her sleeve, "I don't have a daddy, but at least I have my momma. She will come for me…" The last part comes out as a whisper and later is followed by a whimper.
Kenji is shocked at her sudden change of mood and a foolish line escapes his mouth.
"Tears are for the weak, you shouldn't cry."
Uriko looks at him with the saddest pair of eyes he has probably ever seen, the hurt on her face causes him to squirm where he sits.
"Crying is not for babies! Mommy told me so, and mommy is almost always right." Uriko is offended and he has clearly been the cause of the offense, but he does not apologize. His master is always right, he would have laughed at Uriko for her bold statement, but Kenji will not.
"Where the hell is that brat!?" He hears Busuzima yell.
Kenji jumps to his feet and only turns to Uriko once he's half way out the door.
"Farewell." He mumbles and runs off.
Uriko is left bewildered by the odd boy's behavior, but she sorta liked him. He was cute and mostly polite, if not weird, but he didn't seem like a bad person. He was hurt, his lips were swollen and his right cheek red as if slapped. His yellow weird clothing was ripped in places and bloodied on others and his body had scars, as if he was truly a fighter from an old Kung-Fu movie. But he also look sickish, as if somehow starved, because he was certainly too skinny for a boy… her age? He never told her his age, but she guessed he was maybe her age.
She wanted to see him again, because if he was around she would not be lonely and if she wasn't lonely she wouldn't have to think too much about this hellish place she was trapped in. But he might never return, the other people who had once shared the prison with her had never returned, and that freak scientist had called him. She would have felt sorrier for him, but she was worse off in this cage.
"Oh Alice, I hope you did get away." Uriko murmured as she lay down on the hard, cold ground. Some sleep might aid her hurting head from all the crying, but it would not aid her wounded heart. No until she was asleep back at home with her mother, not until she was free from these evil people or she knew if Alice survived.
Kenji had been pulled away from his dream like state by his cellphone's ringing. When he finally picked up his mobile he was surprised to see 3 missing calls.
"Hello? Kenji speaking." Kenji answered the phone, his throat felt tight.
"Geez, I've been calling you for a while. Is it that late over there?" Yugo's voice was heard from the other side. Yugo was probably in Spain, the time difference was something he often forgot by calling Kenji in ungodly hours of the night.
"Uh, I don't─" Kenji paused to look at the clock on the wall; an hour had mysteriously passed by unnoticed since he had arrived home. "No, it's only 7 at night… I'm sorry, what going on?"
"Yeah, well I was wanted ─ Hey, are you feeling okay? You sound a bit weird." Yugo sounded concern and Kenji hated to worry his older brother.
"I'm fine, I was just napping." Kenji's lie seemed to satisfy Yugo's curiosity or more likely move the conversation a different direction ― after Kenji's attempt suicide Yugo had learned to give him his space ― and continued on as their routinely calls.
After the long conversation with Yugo had ended, Kenji carried on with his dinner preparations and settled in early for bed. All he wanted was to sleep and hopefully muster up the courage to speak to Uriko in person to confirm his newly regained memory. He wanted to remember more of what happened after that conversation, but he knew better than to force his memories. That would only leave bias information, imagined memories that never truly happened… So he drifted off to slumber, and his mind answered his wishes through his dreams.
More Keniko on the next chapter, I simply like Bakuryu too much to not talk about his own story… Dreams unfold the tale of young Uriko and Kenji, hopefully leading off to the present couple.
