@Shinoki-san: Glad you're looking forward to it~ Here's the next chapter~~
@Lost Heaven-san: Yes, it was technically created by the Government and General Akimoto was doing his job as a secret service that time. Of course which later then getting him promoted to General rank. Hmm.. Don't worry whichever Sae would be with, you'll love it~
Hello people!!! Sorry haven't been writing much since I got a lot of projects at school. And someone when I finished them I started getting so lazy, before then I pushed myself at least to type this chapter.
(*someone yells* If you are, then why are you updating this??!!)
Well, I know there are a collab that I have been running away from for the last month (Ruka-san, hontouni gomenasai.. *bowed deeply*) which I will get to them very soon!!!
Now, here it is, the next chapter of DiVA Project. Hwaaa!! So excited that DiVA finally released a cover song!! Damn, Ume looked so hot with that hat and white shirt.. *drools over Ume*
Ah, sorry about it!! Here it is then~ Sorry for the bad English and I welcome anyone to give comments, critics, suggestions, or review about it~
PS: Guess what? Cometerz48 is one year closer to 18 now~~ Man, can't wait for the 'access'...
DiVA Project: Chapter 10 - Torn Hearts (Part 1)
By Cometerz48
No One’s POVSomewhere in the city’s outskirts – Takahashi MansionA car stopped in front of the mansion’s gate. The driver press down the window button to reveal her face to the surveillance camera set near the gate. She lowered her shades slightly to reveal her entire eyes.
“It’s me.” said the driver looking straight at the camera.
“Ah, Ojou-sama.. Oyashiburi.” replied a voice from nowhere before the gate opened by itself. The driver nodded briefly and drove the car inside to the mansion before the gate closed behind it.
After a short drive to the front door, the car stopped it’s engine and the driver got out just in time when the front door opens. A butler stood in front of the door and gave a bow to the driver.
“Welcome home, Ojou-sama.” Greeted the butler briefly before taking off the driver’s jacket.
“Tadaima, Kai.” Replied the driver and opened her shades, revealing her sharp eyes. “Is Juri home?”
“She is in your father’s room, Minami-sama.” Told the one called Kai.
“How is he?” asked Takamina huskily.
“I am afraid his conditions are the same as last time you came, Minami-sama.” said the butler sadly as he followed Takamina walking down the hallway towards the stairs.
“I’ll go by myself from here, Kai.” said Takamina in front of the stairs. “Bring me something that will warm me up like tea or-“
“Vodka?” asked the butler with a slight smile, reading what’s on his mistress’s mind.
Takamina replied the smile with a sheepish look, “You read me well, Kai.” She admitted. “Yes that will be perfect. Bring me two glass of it, Kai.”
The butler’s eyebrows raised in interest. “Minami-sama, may I remind you that Juri-sama is still underage for alcohol drinks?”
Takamina sighed, “Kai, I won’t let my sister drunk with me until she’s legal to do so, alright?” she looked at Kai with a sarcastic look. “It’s for someone else.”
Again, the butler replied his Mistress’s order with a smile before bowing briefly. “As you wish, Minami-sama.” He said before turning to the kitchen.
Takamina sighed and stepped up to the second floor. The journey on the hallway was long but she finally came to stop in front of a big oak door. The girl sighed and knocked softly before turning the knob.
“Ohayou..” greeted the girl as she came in. The room was split into two parts, a huge study room with book cases raised up into the ceilings and a huge bedroom separated by only huge velvet curtains.
A girl, sitting down on one of the seats in front of the bookcases looked up towards Takamina before she smiled and ran up to her. Her black hair was tied into a ponytail, swishing around as she ran.
“Onee-chan! Oyashiburi~” hugged the girl as she buried her face on her sister’s hair. “I missed you, Onee-chan.”
“Tadaima, Juri.” Hugged Takamina back as she caressed the one called Juri on the back. “Sorry, I just managed to get a free time to visit now.”
“It’s alright.” comforted Juri after she pulled back from the hug. “Wow, you look great now, Captain Takahashi Minami.” compliment Juri. Her sly and thin looking eyes sparkled enough for Takamina to see it’s irises.
“How’s dad, Juri?” asked Takamina to the young girl. The smile on Juri’s face were quickly wiped out and she tilted her head down, shook it.
“Still the same. The doctors said that his internal injuries were already healed but he hasn’t woke up yet.” answered Juri as she walked towards the curtain and jerked it open.
“Three years, eh?” asked Takamina before she followed Juri and stepped in to the bedroom. A huge bed was set in the middle with many health equipments surrounding it. Cables, tubes, and syringes were attached to the on the bed.
The two siblings walked closer to the bed and stare down at a middle age figure lying on the bed with his eyes closed. The oxygen mask was covering his mouth and nose with the heart statistic attached to him.
“Dad..” whispered Juri as she hold the man’s hand that were lying on his side. “Onee-chan is here.”
“Tadaima, Otou-san..” nodded Takamina sadly. She pulled two chairs not far from her and place it next to the bed.
“I’ll leave you two alone.” stated Juri, rejecting the offered chair. She walked back to the library after taking a last glance at his father. “I love you, dad.” she whispered before leaving the room entirely.
Takamina sighed and turned her eyes towards the man on the bed. His eyes were closed peacefully as his lungs steadily operates. Takamina put out her hand and hold his father’s hand for the first time since years ago. The young captain closed her eyes as she tried to recall her last memories with her father.
She was just a young lieutenant that time, like a few months old assigned to Team A. She could remember how happy she was when she passed the recruitments and stare up to the man standing on the platform above, smiling proudly at her and gave a standing applause on the coronation day. Her two sister weren’t far from him, Erena and Juri was smiling at her too.
On daily basis, she would often see the General either in his office or hanging around the base with his guard and socialized with the ones around. Takamina remembered when he visited the Team A’s base and gave her and Acchan advises in sword practices.
“When you were holding the Katana, it’s different from holding other type of swords. With Katana you must swing it swiftly without much power to it. In missions, Katana is used for assassination mostly and the key of assassination is to do it fast without getting messy and loud.” He told the girls as he approached one of the dummy with a Katana in his hand.
“If you put too much power to it, the slim figure of Katana would eventually stick to the flesh when you swing it.” stated the General Takahashi before swung it to the dummy’s torso. “The Katana will be stuck there and you’d find your victims screaming in agony instead of instant silenced death.”
“However, if you swung it fast and swiftly…” he pulled out the sword from the torso and swung the Katana in an incredible speed to the dummy’s neck. “The sword goes through and will stop the air distribution to the head.” He ended after watching the dummy’s head fell down with bits of artificial blood splattering on the ground from the cut.
“You get it?” he asked the two girls and offered the Katana back to Takamina. The two girls nodded in awe after the short example. The man smiled and messed up Takamina’s hair a bit before leaving the room.
Later that night, she found him covered in blood in his study room just before dinner. It was a stormy night and she and Juri has been waiting for him to come down for the dinner. As soon she knocked on the door, a thunder clapped loudly shaking the mansion. Surprised, Takamina rushed to the room and met the huge window behind his father’s desk was already broken and saw a figure standing on the window’s frame.
“Ojou-sama, please save yourself!!” yelled a familiar voice on her left. Takamina glanced and saw her father’s guard struggling to get up. On his chest, a red rose has made an appearance on his shirt and the red liquid substance were coming out from the guard’s mouth as he speak.
Horrified, Takamina turned her eyes to the slumped figure behind him. Her eyes widened realizing who it is, the General himself.
With those things connected in her head, Takamina roared and threw her hidden knife to the figure on the window. She could hear the figure grunted as the metal managed to pierced a bit of his neck, but she did not stop and lunged at the figure and found herself falling from the window along with the figure.
Luckily, the pool bellow managed to gave her a safe landing for her and her figure. Not wasting her time, Takamina grasp for some air and punched the figure right in the guts. Her first punch did not failed her, but the second one did. The figure grabbed her fist and managed to bring his other hand on her nape and plunged her down to the water.
The danger of drowning surrounded her and panicked her. The young girl then pushed up her legs and bring it down on the figure’s head, plunging his face into the water too. Takamina struggled and finally managed to grasp for some air. Her fingers rounded themselves on a piece of glass and a sharp pain pierced through them. She ignored the pain and ripped the figure’s mask only to found herself staring at a pair of dark brown irises. She was dazed for a moment, a big mistake. The figure then landed his fist on her chest right in her breathing area.
Takamina coughed and soon found herself staring into the dark night clouds as her body sank slowly into the water.“Ojou-sama.” a familiar voice woke her up. Takamina opened her eyes and glanced to find Kai standing beside her with two glass of vodka.
“Kai.” She fumbled before taking one of the glasses from his hand and pointed him to sit down on the other chair.
The butler obeyed and sat down. She gestured him to drink the vodka in his hand, but the butler only stare down at it.
“Kai, drink it. I know you haven’t been touching alcohol since that night.” said Takamina taking a sip for herself.
“I’d like to keep a low figure on myself since that night, mistress.” explained the butler shortly without any expression. “And I’d like it to keep it that way.”
“Please.” said a voice that shocked the butler. He found himself then staring at a pair of glassy looking eyes infront of him. “Please, I need you.”
The butler hesitated but then sighed before taking a sip then. “Ojou-sama, I-“
“I know you’ve been too hard on yourself.” Sniffed Takamina. “It was not your fault that time, that he got hurt..”
“Ojou-sama..”
“I almost had him that night if only I could get a better sight of him, I’m sure he would be paying it by now..” sobbed Takamina as the alcohol sips in. “I was the one who failed..”
Kai put down his glass and stood up before approaching the girl and hugged her. Takamina couldn’t help it anymore, in the end she sobbed up like a baby in his chest. Crying her hearts out..
“Tell me, Kai..” fumbled Takamina between her tears. “Tell me why does anyone want to hurt him..? He was a nice man, Kai and you know it.”
Kai didn’t answer but instead caressed the girl’s hair softly, trying to comfort her. Not getting her answers, Takamina sobbed harder and pounded into his chest demanding for answers before eventually put her hands on his chest.
His chest wasn’t flat and she knew the wrinkly texture bellow the fabric on his chest. The wound on his chest has healed long time ago since that night, but she knew that his memories were still fresh from the event.
After she calmed down, Kai whispered in her ears. “I know.. But he was too nice, Ojou-sama..”
“What?” Takamina pulled back from Kai and stare at him.
“Erena-sama’s last mission. Your father was trying to stop it.” said Kai briefly glancing down at the general. “The mission handed out to her was planed behind him. I managed to find out about it and reported it to him on that night, but then he himself came to stop your father first before he could stop them.”
“Who is-“
“Hush..” whispered Kai placing his index finger to her lips. “This place has been bugged my lady, I can’t explain to you much more.” He whispered. His hand made it’s way to the General’s pillow and pulled something from under it.
“This should do. It’s my notes on the investigation about her mission. I hid it there so that no one could find it other than me.” He whispered cautiously as he handed the notebook to her.”Read it carefully, my lady. I’ll leave you so you can read it yourself.”
“Kai-“ gasped Takamina as Kai stood up and walked towards the curtains.
“My lady, if you are seeking for revenge, don’t do it. Let it go..” said Kai before closing the curtains.
Takamina stared dumbfounded for a moment, couldn’t believe her ears on what she just heard. She stared at the book and opened the first page.
Lunar Project
Takamina stare down at the two words before glancing at her unconscious father, somehow she could feel that her father would be urging her to open it if he was awake. She sighed before continuing on to the next page.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Masuda Yuka’s POVHospital Wing – RooftopIgnoring the police lines on the crime scene, I stepped in passing the yellow lines. Some burning marks on the rooftop were still there after what happened, also a large hole where I remembered seeing the metal ball for the first time.
“Miss, you are not permitted to enter the crime scene!” exclaimed a CSI. I flashed him a look to silence him, but someone else seemed to be doing a better job to do so.
“Let her be.” said a familiar voice. I turned to the source of the voice and saw The General’s secretary gesturing the CSI team to dismiss themselves.
“Nonti..” I said. The woman gave a sly smile and took off her shades, wind swishing her brown hair and the trench coat she wore.
“They’re still looking for clues.” said Noro Kayo approaching the roof’s railway. “They couldn’t find traces of the other figure you saw. But they found Natsuki’s finger prints on the windows when you said that she climbed it all till here.”
“Natsuki..” I fumbled. “It couldn’t be her.. There must’ve-“
“Yuka.” said Noro with a straight face. “It’s positive. They’ve cross checked the finger prints with the database.”
I shook my head in this believe, trying to hold the urge to cry right now.
“I’m sorry.” said Noro before I eventually fell on my knees and sobbed hard. She hugged me tight as I sobbed into her chest.
“It can’t be..” I shook my head as tears ran on my face. “Noro you know what Natsuki is really like..”
“I do Yuka.” said Noro with a comforting voice. “But it wasn’t her, honey.”
“What do you mean?” I asked looking up at her eyes.
“There was something different from them.. ‘Kana’ said that the real ‘Kana’ was locked somewhere.” Explained Noro. “I think the same case happened to Natsuki too.”
“Oh my God, Nacchi..” I sniffed. “Someone is controlling her?”
Noro nodded, “ ‘Kana’ said that there’s a ‘mistress’ whom revived them all and place them into the member’s body.”
“How is that possible??”
“Yuka,” said Noro sharply. “Sometimes you have to believe in something that sounded impossible because the fact that it’s possible and it has occurred.”
“What do you mean Noro?” my eyebrows scrunched in instant.
Noro sighed, “Let me tell you something, Yuka. But promise me you'll believe in it because I believe all of these were meant to be connected."
I nodded. Noro sighed before opening her mouth again.
"It all began with a project called the Lunar Project.."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No One’s POVSomewhere in the city’s outskirts – Takahashi MansionThe young woman closed the book on her lap and leaned back on her chair, thinking about everything that she just read for the last five hours. She couldn't help not take a deep breath before looking down at her unconscious father. She knew he was doing his job, protecting his daughter even know she's not his own blood.
"Dad.." said Takamina holding his father's hand tight. His hand felt warm as the chilly air starts to fill in the room from the stormy sky outside. She then remembered about when she was small. Despite being the oldest, little Takamina usually hides behind her dad when she heard the thunder clapped in the storm.
Years later then, she learnt not to be scared of it. But somehow now, she needed her dad again to face the storm..
"Ojou-sama.." a voice called in. Takamina turned and saw Kai standing infront of the curtains. "I apologize for disturbing, but Juri-sama and I have been worried since you didn't come down for the last five hours and the room was very silent."
"It's alright Kai." smiled Takamina thinly. "This thing kept me occupied." she waved the book.
Kai's eyebrows raised, "Then what are you planning my lady?"
"Being honest Kai, I don't know.." said Takamina. "I was angry when I knew everything now.. But-"
"It's your father's message, not mine." cut Kai shortly without looking at the young mistress's eyes. "He told me to tell you if anything would happen to him and Erena-sama, don't take revenge to them."
"I-"
"Let it go, Ojou-sama.." calmed Kai down. "Let it go for Juri-sama's sake. You can't let the military know that you're now aware of what happened that night and Erena-sama's death."
"Does she know anything about this?' asked Takamina huskily. Kai shook his head, "Good. Keep it that way.."
"As you wish." bowed Kai. "Speaking of which, are you staying here?"
"Nah." shook Takamina. "I need to get back to the base, you know what happened there right?" asked Takamina.
"Of course, I do." smiled Kai wryly. "I might be in their unofficial black list until now since that night, but I have eyes and ears everywhere in that place."
"That's good then.." said Takamina.
"Would you like some dinner? I can get the chef to cook a Katsudon set in minutes." offered Kai.
The idea of her favorite food made Takamina tilted her head, before finally nodded. "I guess I'll have some of that before leaving then." said Takamina with a sheepish smile.
"Very well." bowed Kai off. "By the way, Juri-sama just baked a melon shortcake a while ago. She's probably enjoying it right now with a cup of tea in the dining room. Would you like some too?"
"That would be lovely too." stated Takamina before the butler dismissed himself from the room.
Takamina sighed and hold his father's hands before she decided that it's time for her to go since Kai went out. She leaned in and kissed his father's exposed cheek.
"Jya ne' , Otou-san.." whispered Takamina as she squeezed her father's hand. Her eyes suddenly widened then when she felt the man's hand gave her a gentle squeeze.
"Otou-san.." she gasped, looking at the man's face. His eyes were still shut and breathing, the gentle squeeze was short but comforting. "If you hear me, I'm back dad.." said Takamina before gave him a light kiss on the cheek and went out of the room, leaving him in peace.
Takamina closed the door behind her gently and sighed as she leaned on the door. She felt a heavy burden has been lifted up from her, leaving her heart relieved and relaxed. She walked through the corridors silently, but then she felt something wrong.
It was too quiet, as if the whole mansion just want to hear her heartbeats and footsteps.
Realizing it, Takamina stopped her walk. She slid her hidden sword on her sleeve to her palm, ready to strike with the slightest sound. She then walked slowly and cautiously to the dining room. But then before she could reach the room, she heard Juri's scream.
"KAII!!"
With no further denial, Takamina dashed off towards the dining room to found the whole Dining table was covered in red liquid and the sight of Kai being pinned to the wall with blades pinning him in his on his body. Bloody and beaten up, Kai took a breath.
"Run.. Minami.." he gasped before slumped into unconsciousness.
"KAII!!" yelled Takamina. Her eyes then turned to the table and found it occupied by five people, one of them is tied-up Takahashi Juri. "JURI!! You-"
Takamina's words hung in mid air as her eyes caught the other faces. The other four were recognizable in her eyes. All wearing black hoods and they were all sitting nicely on the table with a piece of Juri’s cake in front of them.
“Gokigen yo, Takahashi Minami-san.” said one of them after wiping her lips with a handkerchief. Takamina’s eyes widened as she saw the figure stood up. The long jet black hair and the sexy figure were undeniable that the owner of the body was none other than Kuramochi Asuka
“Asuka!!” said Takamina. Her eyes scanned others and saw Nakata Chisato, Chikano Rina, and Suzuki Mariya. All of them sat and enjoyed the cake without caring Juri's scared look.
Juri's eyes were wide open but glassy, her mouth was covered with a masking tape, silencing her. Takamina knew that Juri must've witnessed Kai's last stance.
"Who are you?!!" yelled Takamina. "Let go off my sister!!"
"Jeez, relax will you?" leaned Chisato pushing her finished cake aside then stood up. "We're technically here to see you, but that guy got in the way." she jerked her thumb to Kai.
Takamina's blood boiled that instant but then the sight of Chisato licking the side of Juri's tears and smirked made it worse. She raised her sword and threw it to Chisato's head, how much she was surprised then that a hand caught it in mid air right on the handle.
"Enough." said Asuka sharply. "We're wasting time."
"Then why are you here to see me then?" growled Takamina.
Asuka's smile grew wide and threw back the sword and landed it in front of Takamina, "Our Mistress wants to see you."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Masuda Yuka’s POVHospital Wing – RooftopNoro left me alone then on that roof after her explanations. My mind were still processing what she just told me; Diana, Temples, Erena's death, Lunar Project...
I sighed and stare up the darkened sky. I could see a storm heading towards the base from the roof, and I knew it was a matter of time before it reaches here. I watched the storm as my other parts of body functioning, including my ears.
"Glad you're better."
I raised my dagger just in time to parry an attack from behind. I looked up at the attacker and pushed back, I raised my head to look at the attacker in the eyes. The cold gray eyes and the brown hair was getting familiar in my eyes since I've seen her already when she blew the roof badly.
"Natsuki.." I said finally. “So it was you watching us the whole time.”
“I was, Masuda Yuka.” said Natsuki. “Just doing what my Mistress told me to.”
“Who are you?” I asked cautiously and tried not to be shaky. “What did you do to Natsuki?”
“For now, she’s locked, Masuda Yuka.” Answered Natsuki. “You may call me Atlanta for now.”
“Atlanta, the servant of Artemis, the Goddess of Moon.” I simplified. “Or known as Diana.”
"That is me."
"How do I get her back then?" I stepped closer.
"I'm afraid that is classified between me and my Mistress." said Atlanta simply.
"Then I'll just force it out of you then!!" I yelled and charged to the person I loved the most.
Chapter 10 - Torn Hearts (Part 1):
EndTo be Available: Chapter 11 - Torn Hearts (Part 2)