Chapter Thirteen

 "So what do we do with that information?" Marino asked. "If he's the fastest thing you've ever seen, how are we supposed to beat him?"

Kasumi sighed. "I don't know, Marino," she replied, "but we have to figure out a way." Matsushima thought for a moment, and added, "What if we use his own power against him? Find out a way to, I don't know, reverse it or something."

"And how are we supposed to do that?"

"If he works with dark matter, we use..something that isn't made of dark matter. Something strong."

"Right," Kasumi intoned, "but you have to remember that he can just turn it into something that is made of dark matter. He can shift cells, remember?"

"Then there's no way to beat him."

 The group stayed silent. It was Uyeno who had suggested this, and he was the most experienced of the group. If anyone knew a way to beat him, it was Uyeno.

A small but determined voice spoke up. 

 "Why are we assuming there's no way to beat him just because he can shift cells? What if we find something that isn't made up of cells, like fire or other elements?" Uemura asked. Marino looked at his little sister, his blue eyes flashing. "The only one who can do that, Uemura, is Noda, and she's just not strong enough. No offense, Noda."

 Coming to her defense, Uyeno spoke up. "I was injured against an Exoling, Marino. That same Exoling was dead when I woke up."

Marino's eyes widened slightly, but he held his ground. "Hyoko is stronger than a simple Exoling, Uyeno. Noda would die against him, and then where would we be? We lost enough people in the battle against Takashi. I was able to gather some of the names of those dead."

"Marino, don't-"

 "Ryoko and Kyro Kitigawa, Aiko Nakamura, Joshua Gi, Ai Kobayashi–do you wish for me to go on? These people died in that attack. Now I'm being told that my dearest uncle was one of the weakest Generals in Hyoko's army. Here's one more name for you: Koyonagi Naoko. I watched her die."

The meeting was silent for a moment until Kasumi spoke up. "Just to clear everything up—Koyonagi was one of the healers, right?"

Matsushima nodded. "She was also my sister."

The meeting fell silent yet again. "And we all miss her, Matsushima," Noda said. Kasumi looked away. She was the only one who never knew Koyonagi. "Well, that's all the parts of the meeting. It's time to adjourn," Madsussyhima spoke, his voice shaking slightly. "Until next time, all."

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Kasumi went to the weight room and used her anger and current freedom as fuel. Matsushima left to sharpen his swords, Uemura went to bed, and Marino and Noda stayed behind, along with Uyeno.

"We have to figure out a way. There has to be a way.." Uyeno started, speaking to himself.

"There is no way," Marino said, anger curling around his vocal cords. 

"But what if-"

"THERE IS NO WAY!" Marino shouted, his eyes blazing with ferocious hatred. "I've thought of everything! Nothing is going to work. Even what Uemura suggested."

"Marino, calm down. Uemura's going to hear-" Noda started, but she was cut off.

"These walls are thick. That's what you told me. You also told me that nobody could break in, and Takashi did. Takashi got in, and Uemura got captured. Not to mention, people died. That just so happened to include Koyonagi."

"That's not fair. How was I supposed to know Takashi would get in?", Noda asked.

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INTERMISSION

 Uyeno's Journal, Entry #1 (9/23/87)

So..Uemura got saved a few days ago. We had a meeting about it-me, Marino, Noda, Matsushima, Koyonagi, Kasumi, even Uemura herself. She's only, like, 9, but she's an…honorary member, I suppose. Oh, right-I forgot to introduce us all.

Marino- About 17, black hair, blue eyes. He's got a real big problem with pears. Or is it peaches? I don't know, but he loves them. It makes no sense.

Noda- Also 17, red hair, jade green eyes. She's got a crush, but I swore I wouldn't tell the person or anyone else.

Matsushima - Black hair, probably mid-30s, brownish-greenish eyes. The guy can lift anything. And I mean anything.

Kasumi - Probably 16 or 17, golden-ish hair, red eyes. I..don't really know what her power is yet, but she loves steampunk-themed stuff. Kinda cool, I guess.

Uemura - Like I said, about 9, black hair, same color eyes as her brother, Marino. Born 8 years apart. Jesus.

Oh! And me, right. I'm 501, I have greyish hair, and I like to go on walks and stuff.

Anyways, that's all that I have to report. I might update this soon. Maybe.

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 It had been a few hours since the after meeting ended. It had ended on a sour note, with Noda stomping out. Nobody had seen her since the meeting ended. Marino was training in the courtyard, but he couldn't keep focused. He sliced upward, splitting a dummy from waist to shoulder. He was angered at Noda for her stubbornness, and he knew he had to find her. He had an idea where she was, but right now, he didn't want to bother her

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Noda was sitting in the 'basement' of the Sanctuary, a large underground room about thirty feet high. She was trying to concentrate. A ball of water was floating in front of her, and she was trying to test something. She concentrated harder and harder, and finally, it worked: the ball turned into a clone of herself. It wasn't alive, obviously, but it had worked.