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Description
This is the second part and conclusion of "Moments We Won't Forget", but this will be a bit unusual for you looking for entertainment and escapism from SoDC7. To warn you that this won't have a happy ending is almost an understatement...if you don't know what I mean, then chances are you haven't read at least the first part of my story "Erica and Anessa", when Boss Ieyasu himself confessed to a horrible crime he was responsible for.

For those of you who did read that story, you still might need some warning. When it comes to happy endings, I strive to bring them to you at every chance. But sometimes a happy ending can't be possible. The worst of things can happen along with the very best...I'm talking about very, very dark things. And trust me, all things considered, writing this almost brought me down. So I'm not trying bring anyone else down either, rest assured. What's always driven me is to give anyone who sees my work at least a little joy.

But, in a universe where heroes are defined by their triumphs...there needs to be the other side to that coin.

At times in the SoDC7 verse, just like real life, the rain must fall; tragedy and sadness can also mark truly important moments we'll never forget.
---

"Moments We Won't Forget" -- Part Two of Two!

--1--

Usagi Shiratori arrived at the Yamaha home early in the morning. The girl met both Ryozaki and Tokiko Yamaha, the parents of her boyfriend, and things got pretty quiet. Tokiko told her beloved husband only a few things...like usual she couldn't afford to say much, which Ryozaki understood by now...but considering she was in such a negative mood it worried him, the husband and father needed to know what this meeting was about. All the lady could tell her beloved was that she wasn't trying to keep secrets for his own good or anyone else's in this instance.

What Tokiko needed to see Usagi about was worse than bad. It was about a terrible crime committed, and the lady needed to show her best student Usagi the evidence. The absolute dark way Tokiko said that made ALL of Ryozaki's inner alarm bells go off...and he fully understood it was best not to ask anymore questions. He had no idea how grateful Tokiko was for that.

Very quietly, with very few words, Tokiko took Usagi into another room. A few moments passed. Finally Tokiko came back out by herself and closed the door. The lady sat on the living room couch...unsure of what to do, Ryozaki sat next to his wife with quiet anxiousness.

Barely a sound came from the next room for at least fifteen minutes as they held hands and did very little else.

It felt like an eternity for the couple until Usagi opened the door and appeared. Gods, the look on the girl's face...! She looked something beyond despondent...the rims of her almond shaped eyes were red. She had been crying, and it was taking all of her focus to control herself.

Usagi was carrying a laptop computer under one of her slender arms as she bowed deeply to the couple and quietly left without saying a word.

--2--

The last time the twins saw their adoptive parents.

It was a very different, brighter morning in Singapore last year. Everything was peaceful and ordinary for the Kima family. At the moment. The parents, Miguel and Elena Kima, and their adopted twin daughters were eating a modest yet wonderful breakfast...and then the father put a slight damper on things as the sisters cleared the table. The inseparable twins had to go to Demon Hunter school in the core of the island nation in about five minutes if they wanted to be on time. Still, as their mother looked on with quiet concern, Miguel said, "Asu, before you go, we need to talk about school."

Both twins stopped in their tracks as they were still carrying condiments and stray dishes to the kitchen. Orange haired Asu asked, "Um, what about school?"

The father and mother were both born in the American state of Puerto Rico. U.S. citizens at birth, they were also Vanquishers...and when Miguel and Elena were asked if they would volunteer to support the Singapore Temple after a battle in which many local warriors died, they answered to the higher call of duty to their order. They were assured the reassignment was only temporary, but they grew to love Singapore. It was still a pain in the ass to learn the essentials of Malay, the island's main language -- they both already knew English and Spanish perfectly. Miguel answered flatly, "One of your teachers saw the necessity in calling me again. She said you weren't exactly being disciplined. Again." He was trying to be as generous as possible, such as 'weren't exactly being disciplined' really meant Asu's increasingly arguing with her teachers, being impatient, and other longstanding issues.

Asu turned fully to face both her parents and said stiffly, "Dad, I told you, I've been trying to do better." Esu looked at her beloved twin with more than a little worry. The bewitchment that took away their personal memories up to the age of 13 had no affect on learned skills and knowledge. When it came to language, both knew Japanese and English very well. They both learned the basics of Malay a lot faster than Miguel and Elena did.

Her father countered, "No one's asking you to 'try', Asu. You must make a real effort to sit still and learn what you're being taught."

Asu frowned. "I am, dad! You and mom know I make good grades like Esu does!" Even here, even talking to her parents, the orange haired twin could let her emotions get the best of her with little prodding.

Miguel still countered mildly, "If you were anything like Esu, your grades would be just as good as hers. But they're not."

Immediately green haired Esu jumped to her twin's defense and said, "Asu is making an effort, dad! We share many of the same classes, so I should know!"

Miguel firmly shot back, "Esu, I'm talking to your sister. Not you. Asu, you've also got to put some effort into sitting still and having some discipline like your fellow students."

Ready to turn on her heel back to the kitchen, Asu groaned, "We don't need to have this conversation again -- "

But she was stopped INSTANTLY by her adoptive father as he said sharply, "No, we do need to because you clearly didn't listen to me and your mother before!"

Elena finally reached out and took one of her beloved's hands as she softly urged, "Miguel...!" The man stopped himself to look at his adored wife and softened, as well. Only a little. Years ago, Miguel was the only one in the universe who could bring his wife out of a serious depression when Elena discovered she was unable to have children. The terrible realization of that nearly wrecked Elena and her self image as a woman. It was their greatest desire to leave the order one day to build a family, and to know that couldn't be broke both their hearts...yet their total and divine love for one another helped make them stronger and closer than ever, as well. They could defy that harsh twist of fate in the same way they defied the worst of the Hells most every damn day. Elena, the mother, the mediator, said, "Asu, we know you're young and impatient. Believe this, me and your father have been there."

Miguel griped, "We were as young as you two...sigh, once upon a time!"

Asu began, "Listen -- !" Nerdy Esu quietly moved to take what she carried to the kitchen.

Elena interrupted, "You've got to understand that...well, it seems to us you're acting like the world revolves around you. We've been there, too."

Asu gripped the dishes in her hands firmer as she declared, "I'm not doing that! I'm not like a lot of the idiot students I can hardly stand! The one thing that chafes me more is that things need to be better! It's been going too slowly! It's boring!"

Deadpan, Miguel said, "So basically, you're being impatient."

Elena said much more diplomatically, "Asu, you and your little sister are only a few months away from getting your certification. School will be over before you both know it!" Five years ago, the couple were among the cadre of Vanquishers who stopped a slave ship on its way to the Han Empire. In the midst of the aftermath, as the order and the law enforcers they supported began to really begin helping the huge number of slaves bewitched into forgetting their previous lives, they found Asu and Esu. They couldn't even remember their own names, they were both so completely lost, but the only pure certainty the twins had was their primal and unique connection to one another. So moved and charmed by the twin beauties' plight, they began talking to the sisters...and a connection really formed and began to build between them and the husband and wife, as well. When the law in Singapore was unsuccessful in finding any next of kin for the nameless twins, Miguel and Elena adopted them. Having no one else, the twins given the names Asu and Esu were eternally grateful for their kindness, and over time glady and proudly called the loving couple their parents.

Miguel and Elena's adoption of them both brought about some extraordinary and happy times for them all in the past five years. Still, there just had to be moments like this! Asu relented a lot before her beloved mother's warmth and grace...she said with quiet frustration, "I just...I...!"

Esu was there again and testified, "Asu is really eager to make you both proud of her. That's what matters to the both of us. A-Asu...?" The big sister gave the dishes she held left to Esu, who trotted back into the kitchen.

Asu finally, awkwardly told her parents, "I swear that's true. I...I'd never ever fail you."

Elena looked deeply into her elder daughter's eyes and said with restrained emotion, "We believe you. We...we just don't want you to stumble and fall before you reach the finish line." Esu came back in time as the mother finished, "We're also worried your impatience might...get the best of you one day."

Asu's brow crinkled a bit as she said, "That won't happen, mom."

The rock in the sisters' lives, Miguel, stared back and said firmly, "Look us in the eyes and mean it, Asu."

Asu did look at them both and said softly, "I won't stumble, dad. Even if school stinks, I'll get to the finish line."

Close by Asu, Esu affirmed, "We both will."

Miguel slowly nodded...not totally convinced because he knew his adopted daughters well enough by now, he grunted, "I want to believe that. We just want you both to do your best. Always." He had always hated the idea that a parent should be their child's 'best friend'. A child would have plenty of friends, if they're lucky. He and Elena believed that parents needed to be guides to their children...and that HAD to include laying down rules not to be broken and telling a kid things they didn't want to hear.

Still, Elena much more gently affirmed, "And even if you can't for one reason or another, that doesn't mean you...you failed us. You know? If either of you stumble and fall, what matters is you pick yourself up and keep moving. No matter what life throws at you, keep getting better." Again, the lady was speaking from experience being unable to have children of her own. Gods, finding Asu and Esu was such a blessing for Elena and her dear Miguel.

Both twins felt the pure love from the parents who adopted them and were completely affected. Asu nodded deeply and told them, "I...I know, mom. We both know that." Esu was so moved at the moment, she was tempted to cry...!

An awkward couple of beats passed...and finally Miguel finally stood from the table. Elena stood as well as the father said quietly, "You two had better go. Whether you like school or not, you don't want to be late."

Asu nodded. "R-right!" The sisters' backpacks weren't far away on a big easy chair. Asu picked them both up...

...as Esu said to their parents softly, "I wish we could have more time with you...!" The school for Demon Hunters was in the heart of Singapore, not far away, but having a dorm on the campus was a necessity for staying overnight to study. Usually they could only spare a day out of the week to stay with their mom and dad overnight. Their classes were that intensive and sometimes grueling because they needed to be.

Miguel tried his level best to keep his own emotions in check as he said thickly, "There's always next week, sweetheart."

Esu nodded happily. "Yeah...!" Miguel spread his big arms and Esu launched to give him a quick, sweet hug. She cooed, "Love you, dad!"

They gently parted as Elena smiled broadly and urged to Esu, "Come here...!" Gods, both of these amazing girls were such a blessing to her.

Esu hugged her mother, and the embrace lasted for a bit longer. The green haired beauty moaned, "Mmm...love you."

Elena nearly whispered, "Love you, too. Take care of one another."

Esu said brightly, "We will, mom. We totally will!"

By this time, Miguel was holding Asu, as well. The impatient sister told him, "I love you, dad."

Miguel managed, "You too, honey." He pulled back only a little to look into impatient and aggressive Asu's eyes. "You're both more important to me and your mother than anything. Never forget that."

Asu nodded. "I-I couldn't forget, dad...!" They parted and the girl moved to Elena. "Mom..."

Elena took hold of her headstrong daughter...and as he watched, Miguel found it difficult to judge who was more beautiful, his wife or their incredible twin girls. So he decided not to bother. Elena embraced Asu tenderly as she assured, "Things will get better, Asu. All things get better with time."

Asu suddenly wished that this feeling, knowing the pure love of the woman she called her mother, would never stop. She said into Elena's long glossy hair, "I love you too, mom."

Elena purred to her eldest girl, "Oh, I love you more." For another moment the embrace continued...Esu looked at them both with priceless happiness...

...but the father cleared his throat with a cough and reminded, "Hey, you two had better scoot or you will be late!"

Asu slowly, carefully disengaged from her mother...she managed, "R-right." Reluctantly, the sisters took up their backpacks and began to the front door of their home.

Behind them, Elena urged with love, "Have fun at school!"

Asu, not exactly looking forward to school at all, grunted, "Uh, right! See you guys!"

Esu waved exuberantly and said, "Bye, dad! Bye, mom!" And only a couple of heartbeats later, the twins were out the door.

That was the last time the twins ever saw and spoke to the couple they called mother and father.

--3--

Things did change with time. Too damned many things. Asu had hardly taken to heart what the twins' adoptive parents tried to tell her. She was too young, too impatient, and that led to an incident about four days later that was basically the last straw. Asu was told to shape up or ship out once and for all, and she opted to drop out...eternally devoted to her mirror image, Esu followed her. It was bad enough Asu stumbled and fell, at least briefly, but they both felt total dread at the prospect of going back to their parents and so stayed with a classmate they both knew for the night. By the next day, they both felt even worse. They should have gone back home the day before, and their parents must have already been notified by the school.

But when the twins got home, they saw it had been broken into violently by only the Heavens knew how many intruders. Their parents were missing. All that was found were some bloodstains that were undoubtedly from a great struggle. According to the police, it had happened perhaps two or three days before, but very few clues were found to determine what happened. The Vanquishers investigated thoroughly, as well, but they could come up with virtually nothing...only that the twins' parents had been taken.

And the worst of it was, Asu and Esu had no idea if their parents were still alive or not. They prayed for the best as they began their own maverick investigation, in spite of their island nation's laws, to figure out who could have kidnapped their mom and dad. They investigated hard and when given little choice, they killed the allegedly lawful Demons and Human servants of what they realized was a massive syndicate run by Boss Ieyasu. They found proof that could never be submitted in ANY court of law that Boss Ieyasu had ordered their parents be taken. That led to their journey to the Tokyo Kingdom, to Adachi, and Asu's impatience got both her and Esu into massive trouble...the kind of trouble they were freed from by Usagi Shiratori and Tokiko Yamaha. When that happened, the bewitchment that made the twins forget everything before they were adopted was negated. The sisters who were born Ane and Eho remembered everything, including their real family, and that they were Japanese.

But that was no consolation because their asshole of a real father was dead, so was their birth mother, and their brother was missing...they had no idea where their third and older sibling Seison could have been or if he was alive!

Ever since their rescue, ever since Usagi promised that she had friends in certain places who could find the truth, Asu and Esu Kima prayed their only remaining family -- the loving couple who adopted the twins when they were at their most helpless -- were all right.

--4--

Usagi called the twins beforehand and asked to meet them in the dorm room they shared. The girl told them she finally had information on their parents, and she kept herself as neutral as possible. It was too damned hard, especially when Asu and Esu responded with real excitement. Usagi kept it brief so they wouldn't hear the sadness in her voice.

Not much longer after that, Usagi arrived at the twins' dorm. Both were ULTRA-excited...but then they saw the young Ninja's sober expression as she held the laptop in her hands. She nodded deeply and managed, "Girls."

Both of the twins felt sudden, jolting fear just from the expression on their dear friend and savior's face. Esu asked slowly, "U-Usagi-chan...what's wrong...?"

Usagi's sadness increased so as she said, "May I come in, please?"

Asu answered, "C'mon, come in." Usagi entered. The oranged haired girl took her green haired mirror's hand protectively as Usagi couldn't look at them at first. Asu finally urged, "Little Sister just asked a question, Usagi. What's wrong???" Deeply afraid now, the ordinarily aggressive girl said much more quietly, "You said you...had information about our parents...!"

Usagi was still looking away from them as she answered, "Hai." She finally turned to them with a look in her eyes that made both of the twins' hearts skip a beat. She began quietly, "I told you there are...people I know who would get this information. They work in areas where they protect the citizens of our kingdom and preserve the peace. A-a lot of them are specialists in what they do, and...it got really dangerous to get the information you needed. That's why it took this long." She hated herself for saying as little as possible, but the Kima Twins didn't need to know about her brothers and sisters and family in the Shiratori Clan. As was the way of the Ninja, she had to keep the clan's secrets...even from innocents like Asu and Esu.

Asu and Esu looked at each other...and the impatient twin asked, "And...?"

Usagi began to tell her newest friends...that their adoptive parents were dead. They had been executed shortly after their kidnapping by Boss Ieyasu's agents. On his orders.

Asu and Esu couldn't believe it. They needed desperately to deny it. It didn't take long for Asu to finally demand proof, some kind of evidence that the couple who loved them were gone. Just as Usagi expected and feared.

That was why the blue haired girl brought the laptop. It was a standalone computer not linked online in any way. This computer was simply meant to contain the information downloaded on its hard drive. It would be destroyed completely by a mystic later today.

Reluctantly, hating herself, she opened up the laptop and accessed a video file after she sat it on a table. The twins drew closer, yet they both didn't want to. Usagi explained that this video file was taken from one of many sites that Boss Ieyasu's organization created and owned on the Darknet. These sites catered to the very worst urges and desires of those who knew how to reach this terrible part of the Internet ordinary people didn't know how to access and wouldn't have wanted to know. Retrieving this video alone was incredibly risky to Usagi's clan, but they managed to do it without being detected, and definitely without being traced.

The video was taken from a criminal site where one could watch absolutely sinful and forbidden things, things that couldn't easily be imagined by those who obeyed the law and basic morality...but only if one was prepared to pay a lot of money for the privilege. Videos didn't simply involve the most depraved forms of sex. They also included content that dealt with very real death; yeah, there were some in this world who were that ugly and had a taste for watching such things. These videos were either made exclusively for the site or were archived footage of criminal acts.

Usagi began to play the video for the twins. They both saw a neutral chest-level view of a dark chamber where many were standing in the shadows. Most prominent in the heart of this room were Asu and Esu's adoptive parents. They were both stripped naked and chained to chairs, only a foot separate from one another. They had both been beaten harshly, but that didn't diminish Miguel's presence and Elena's pure, nearly perfect beauty. The father looked down at the floor as the mother gazed straight ahead...each in their own way, they were full of defiance in spite of their circumstances.

It was undeniably the couple who adopted them...much to the twins' horror.

Suddenly, the view switched to another camera looking at the captive parents from behind...as a naked Orc stepped into view. He was carrying a Fireblade, so named obviously because the giant Demonic steel blade of the lethal weapon that looked like a broadsword was on fire. The twins were clutching each other fiercely...tears were streaming down their faces that perfectly mirrored one another in terror and outrage as they watched. The executioner drew closer and closer...the parents finally looked at one another, still silent, still defiant. And then Miguel and Elena really smiled upon one another with true eternal love...they both ignored the Orc as he began to raise the Fireblade...

...and that was where Usagi HAD to pause the video.

Feeling horrible, feeling so incredibly guilty when she had no reason to, Usagi herself began to cry as she managed with a cracked voice, "I-I've already seen this. You...y-you don't want to see anymore."

In the next moment all the twins could feel was a total anguish and despair that threatened to tear and shred both their hearts asunder; they both broke down completely and could only cry as they collapsed to their knees and held each other desperately. They now knew. Once and for all, they knew the truth...and they wished with all their souls they didn't as they grieved for the extraordinary man and woman who adopted them.

And the only solace the twins had was in one another as they both felt totally alone in this fragile and flawed mortal world.

The End
---
Again, I'm REALLY hoping I didn't bring anyone down. If it helps at all, this is far, far from the end of the Kima Twins' story.

And you've got no idea what's in store for them both!

Up next, we'll return to Demon City 7: our heroes there will realize that a great villain's evil is having tragic after affects...and they'll want to do something about it! Be prepared for some surprise guest stars. Oh, and certain already-established mysteries will begin to really deepen, too! ^___^

Giving credit where it's due!
XNALara created by Dusan Pavlicek; XPS by Dusan and XNAaraL

Models:
Once again with love, Esu and Asu Kima are by their creator, ! x 100!

Description
This is the second part and conclusion of "Moments We Won't Forget", but this will be a bit unusual for you looking for entertainment and escapism from SoDC7. To warn you that this won't have a happy ending is almost an understatement...if you don't know what I mean, then chances are you haven't read at least the first part of my story "Erica and Anessa", when Boss Ieyasu himself confessed to a horrible crime he was responsible for.

For those of you who did read that story, you still might need some warning. When it comes to happy endings, I strive to bring them to you at every chance. But sometimes a happy ending can't be possible. The worst of things can happen along with the very best...I'm talking about very, very dark things. And trust me, all things considered, writing this almost brought me down. So I'm not trying bring anyone else down either, rest assured. What's always driven me is to give anyone who sees my work at least a little joy.

But, in a universe where heroes are defined by their triumphs...there needs to be the other side to that coin.

At times in the SoDC7 verse, just like real life, the rain must fall; tragedy and sadness can also mark truly important moments we'll never forget.
---

"Moments We Won't Forget" -- Part Two of Two!

--1--

Usagi Shiratori arrived at the Yamaha home early in the morning. The girl met both Ryozaki and Tokiko Yamaha, the parents of her boyfriend, and things got pretty quiet. Tokiko told her beloved husband only a few things...like usual she couldn't afford to say much, which Ryozaki understood by now...but considering she was in such a negative mood it worried him, the husband and father needed to know what this meeting was about. All the lady could tell her beloved was that she wasn't trying to keep secrets for his own good or anyone else's in this instance.

What Tokiko needed to see Usagi about was worse than bad. It was about a terrible crime committed, and the lady needed to show her best student Usagi the evidence. The absolute dark way Tokiko said that made ALL of Ryozaki's inner alarm bells go off...and he fully understood it was best not to ask anymore questions. He had no idea how grateful Tokiko was for that.

Very quietly, with very few words, Tokiko took Usagi into another room. A few moments passed. Finally Tokiko came back out by herself and closed the door. The lady sat on the living room couch...unsure of what to do, Ryozaki sat next to his wife with quiet anxiousness.

Barely a sound came from the next room for at least fifteen minutes as they held hands and did very little else.

It felt like an eternity for the couple until Usagi opened the door and appeared. Gods, the look on the girl's face...! She looked something beyond despondent...the rims of her almond shaped eyes were red. She had been crying, and it was taking all of her focus to control herself.

Usagi was carrying a laptop computer under one of her slender arms as she bowed deeply to the couple and quietly left without saying a word.

--2--

The last time the twins saw their adoptive parents.

It was a very different, brighter morning in Singapore last year. Everything was peaceful and ordinary for the Kima family. At the moment. The parents, Miguel and Elena Kima, and their adopted twin daughters were eating a modest yet wonderful breakfast...and then the father put a slight damper on things as the sisters cleared the table. The inseparable twins had to go to Demon Hunter school in the core of the island nation in about five minutes if they wanted to be on time. Still, as their mother looked on with quiet concern, Miguel said, "Asu, before you go, we need to talk about school."

Both twins stopped in their tracks as they were still carrying condiments and stray dishes to the kitchen. Orange haired Asu asked, "Um, what about school?"

The father and mother were both born in the American state of Puerto Rico. U.S. citizens at birth, they were also Vanquishers...and when Miguel and Elena were asked if they would volunteer to support the Singapore Temple after a battle in which many local warriors died, they answered to the higher call of duty to their order. They were assured the reassignment was only temporary, but they grew to love Singapore. It was still a pain in the ass to learn the essentials of Malay, the island's main language -- they both already knew English and Spanish perfectly. Miguel answered flatly, "One of your teachers saw the necessity in calling me again. She said you weren't exactly being disciplined. Again." He was trying to be as generous as possible, such as 'weren't exactly being disciplined' really meant Asu's increasingly arguing with her teachers, being impatient, and other longstanding issues.

Asu turned fully to face both her parents and said stiffly, "Dad, I told you, I've been trying to do better." Esu looked at her beloved twin with more than a little worry. The bewitchment that took away their personal memories up to the age of 13 had no affect on learned skills and knowledge. When it came to language, both knew Japanese and English very well. They both learned the basics of Malay a lot faster than Miguel and Elena did.

Her father countered, "No one's asking you to 'try', Asu. You must make a real effort to sit still and learn what you're being taught."

Asu frowned. "I am, dad! You and mom know I make good grades like Esu does!" Even here, even talking to her parents, the orange haired twin could let her emotions get the best of her with little prodding.

Miguel still countered mildly, "If you were anything like Esu, your grades would be just as good as hers. But they're not."

Immediately green haired Esu jumped to her twin's defense and said, "Asu is making an effort, dad! We share many of the same classes, so I should know!"

Miguel firmly shot back, "Esu, I'm talking to your sister. Not you. Asu, you've also got to put some effort into sitting still and having some discipline like your fellow students."

Ready to turn on her heel back to the kitchen, Asu groaned, "We don't need to have this conversation again -- "

But she was stopped INSTANTLY by her adoptive father as he said sharply, "No, we do need to because you clearly didn't listen to me and your mother before!"

Elena finally reached out and took one of her beloved's hands as she softly urged, "Miguel...!" The man stopped himself to look at his adored wife and softened, as well. Only a little. Years ago, Miguel was the only one in the universe who could bring his wife out of a serious depression when Elena discovered she was unable to have children. The terrible realization of that nearly wrecked Elena and her self image as a woman. It was their greatest desire to leave the order one day to build a family, and to know that couldn't be broke both their hearts...yet their total and divine love for one another helped make them stronger and closer than ever, as well. They could defy that harsh twist of fate in the same way they defied the worst of the Hells most every damn day. Elena, the mother, the mediator, said, "Asu, we know you're young and impatient. Believe this, me and your father have been there."

Miguel griped, "We were as young as you two...sigh, once upon a time!"

Asu began, "Listen -- !" Nerdy Esu quietly moved to take what she carried to the kitchen.

Elena interrupted, "You've got to understand that...well, it seems to us you're acting like the world revolves around you. We've been there, too."

Asu gripped the dishes in her hands firmer as she declared, "I'm not doing that! I'm not like a lot of the idiot students I can hardly stand! The one thing that chafes me more is that things need to be better! It's been going too slowly! It's boring!"

Deadpan, Miguel said, "So basically, you're being impatient."

Elena said much more diplomatically, "Asu, you and your little sister are only a few months away from getting your certification. School will be over before you both know it!" Five years ago, the couple were among the cadre of Vanquishers who stopped a slave ship on its way to the Han Empire. In the midst of the aftermath, as the order and the law enforcers they supported began to really begin helping the huge number of slaves bewitched into forgetting their previous lives, they found Asu and Esu. They couldn't even remember their own names, they were both so completely lost, but the only pure certainty the twins had was their primal and unique connection to one another. So moved and charmed by the twin beauties' plight, they began talking to the sisters...and a connection really formed and began to build between them and the husband and wife, as well. When the law in Singapore was unsuccessful in finding any next of kin for the nameless twins, Miguel and Elena adopted them. Having no one else, the twins given the names Asu and Esu were eternally grateful for their kindness, and over time glady and proudly called the loving couple their parents.

Miguel and Elena's adoption of them both brought about some extraordinary and happy times for them all in the past five years. Still, there just had to be moments like this! Asu relented a lot before her beloved mother's warmth and grace...she said with quiet frustration, "I just...I...!"

Esu was there again and testified, "Asu is really eager to make you both proud of her. That's what matters to the both of us. A-Asu...?" The big sister gave the dishes she held left to Esu, who trotted back into the kitchen.

Asu finally, awkwardly told her parents, "I swear that's true. I...I'd never ever fail you."

Elena looked deeply into her elder daughter's eyes and said with restrained emotion, "We believe you. We...we just don't want you to stumble and fall before you reach the finish line." Esu came back in time as the mother finished, "We're also worried your impatience might...get the best of you one day."

Asu's brow crinkled a bit as she said, "That won't happen, mom."

The rock in the sisters' lives, Miguel, stared back and said firmly, "Look us in the eyes and mean it, Asu."

Asu did look at them both and said softly, "I won't stumble, dad. Even if school stinks, I'll get to the finish line."

Close by Asu, Esu affirmed, "We both will."

Miguel slowly nodded...not totally convinced because he knew his adopted daughters well enough by now, he grunted, "I want to believe that. We just want you both to do your best. Always." He had always hated the idea that a parent should be their child's 'best friend'. A child would have plenty of friends, if they're lucky. He and Elena believed that parents needed to be guides to their children...and that HAD to include laying down rules not to be broken and telling a kid things they didn't want to hear.

Still, Elena much more gently affirmed, "And even if you can't for one reason or another, that doesn't mean you...you failed us. You know? If either of you stumble and fall, what matters is you pick yourself up and keep moving. No matter what life throws at you, keep getting better." Again, the lady was speaking from experience being unable to have children of her own. Gods, finding Asu and Esu was such a blessing for Elena and her dear Miguel.

Both twins felt the pure love from the parents who adopted them and were completely affected. Asu nodded deeply and told them, "I...I know, mom. We both know that." Esu was so moved at the moment, she was tempted to cry...!

An awkward couple of beats passed...and finally Miguel finally stood from the table. Elena stood as well as the father said quietly, "You two had better go. Whether you like school or not, you don't want to be late."

Asu nodded. "R-right!" The sisters' backpacks weren't far away on a big easy chair. Asu picked them both up...

...as Esu said to their parents softly, "I wish we could have more time with you...!" The school for Demon Hunters was in the heart of Singapore, not far away, but having a dorm on the campus was a necessity for staying overnight to study. Usually they could only spare a day out of the week to stay with their mom and dad overnight. Their classes were that intensive and sometimes grueling because they needed to be.

Miguel tried his level best to keep his own emotions in check as he said thickly, "There's always next week, sweetheart."

Esu nodded happily. "Yeah...!" Miguel spread his big arms and Esu launched to give him a quick, sweet hug. She cooed, "Love you, dad!"

They gently parted as Elena smiled broadly and urged to Esu, "Come here...!" Gods, both of these amazing girls were such a blessing to her.

Esu hugged her mother, and the embrace lasted for a bit longer. The green haired beauty moaned, "Mmm...love you."

Elena nearly whispered, "Love you, too. Take care of one another."

Esu said brightly, "We will, mom. We totally will!"

By this time, Miguel was holding Asu, as well. The impatient sister told him, "I love you, dad."

Miguel managed, "You too, honey." He pulled back only a little to look into impatient and aggressive Asu's eyes. "You're both more important to me and your mother than anything. Never forget that."

Asu nodded. "I-I couldn't forget, dad...!" They parted and the girl moved to Elena. "Mom..."

Elena took hold of her headstrong daughter...and as he watched, Miguel found it difficult to judge who was more beautiful, his wife or their incredible twin girls. So he decided not to bother. Elena embraced Asu tenderly as she assured, "Things will get better, Asu. All things get better with time."

Asu suddenly wished that this feeling, knowing the pure love of the woman she called her mother, would never stop. She said into Elena's long glossy hair, "I love you too, mom."

Elena purred to her eldest girl, "Oh, I love you more." For another moment the embrace continued...Esu looked at them both with priceless happiness...

...but the father cleared his throat with a cough and reminded, "Hey, you two had better scoot or you will be late!"

Asu slowly, carefully disengaged from her mother...she managed, "R-right." Reluctantly, the sisters took up their backpacks and began to the front door of their home.

Behind them, Elena urged with love, "Have fun at school!"

Asu, not exactly looking forward to school at all, grunted, "Uh, right! See you guys!"

Esu waved exuberantly and said, "Bye, dad! Bye, mom!" And only a couple of heartbeats later, the twins were out the door.

That was the last time the twins ever saw and spoke to the couple they called mother and father.

--3--

Things did change with time. Too damned many things. Asu had hardly taken to heart what the twins' adoptive parents tried to tell her. She was too young, too impatient, and that led to an incident about four days later that was basically the last straw. Asu was told to shape up or ship out once and for all, and she opted to drop out...eternally devoted to her mirror image, Esu followed her. It was bad enough Asu stumbled and fell, at least briefly, but they both felt total dread at the prospect of going back to their parents and so stayed with a classmate they both knew for the night. By the next day, they both felt even worse. They should have gone back home the day before, and their parents must have already been notified by the school.

But when the twins got home, they saw it had been broken into violently by only the Heavens knew how many intruders. Their parents were missing. All that was found were some bloodstains that were undoubtedly from a great struggle. According to the police, it had happened perhaps two or three days before, but very few clues were found to determine what happened. The Vanquishers investigated thoroughly, as well, but they could come up with virtually nothing...only that the twins' parents had been taken.

And the worst of it was, Asu and Esu had no idea if their parents were still alive or not. They prayed for the best as they began their own maverick investigation, in spite of their island nation's laws, to figure out who could have kidnapped their mom and dad. They investigated hard and when given little choice, they killed the allegedly lawful Demons and Human servants of what they realized was a massive syndicate run by Boss Ieyasu. They found proof that could never be submitted in ANY court of law that Boss Ieyasu had ordered their parents be taken. That led to their journey to the Tokyo Kingdom, to Adachi, and Asu's impatience got both her and Esu into massive trouble...the kind of trouble they were freed from by Usagi Shiratori and Tokiko Yamaha. When that happened, the bewitchment that made the twins forget everything before they were adopted was negated. The sisters who were born Ane and Eho remembered everything, including their real family, and that they were Japanese.

But that was no consolation because their asshole of a real father was dead, so was their birth mother, and their brother was missing...they had no idea where their third and older sibling Seison could have been or if he was alive!

Ever since their rescue, ever since Usagi promised that she had friends in certain places who could find the truth, Asu and Esu Kima prayed their only remaining family -- the loving couple who adopted the twins when they were at their most helpless -- were all right.

--4--

Usagi called the twins beforehand and asked to meet them in the dorm room they shared. The girl told them she finally had information on their parents, and she kept herself as neutral as possible. It was too damned hard, especially when Asu and Esu responded with real excitement. Usagi kept it brief so they wouldn't hear the sadness in her voice.

Not much longer after that, Usagi arrived at the twins' dorm. Both were ULTRA-excited...but then they saw the young Ninja's sober expression as she held the laptop in her hands. She nodded deeply and managed, "Girls."

Both of the twins felt sudden, jolting fear just from the expression on their dear friend and savior's face. Esu asked slowly, "U-Usagi-chan...what's wrong...?"

Usagi's sadness increased so as she said, "May I come in, please?"

Asu answered, "C'mon, come in." Usagi entered. The oranged haired girl took her green haired mirror's hand protectively as Usagi couldn't look at them at first. Asu finally urged, "Little Sister just asked a question, Usagi. What's wrong???" Deeply afraid now, the ordinarily aggressive girl said much more quietly, "You said you...had information about our parents...!"

Usagi was still looking away from them as she answered, "Hai." She finally turned to them with a look in her eyes that made both of the twins' hearts skip a beat. She began quietly, "I told you there are...people I know who would get this information. They work in areas where they protect the citizens of our kingdom and preserve the peace. A-a lot of them are specialists in what they do, and...it got really dangerous to get the information you needed. That's why it took this long." She hated herself for saying as little as possible, but the Kima Twins didn't need to know about her brothers and sisters and family in the Shiratori Clan. As was the way of the Ninja, she had to keep the clan's secrets...even from innocents like Asu and Esu.

Asu and Esu looked at each other...and the impatient twin asked, "And...?"

Usagi began to tell her newest friends...that their adoptive parents were dead. They had been executed shortly after their kidnapping by Boss Ieyasu's agents. On his orders.

Asu and Esu couldn't believe it. They needed desperately to deny it. It didn't take long for Asu to finally demand proof, some kind of evidence that the couple who loved them were gone. Just as Usagi expected and feared.

That was why the blue haired girl brought the laptop. It was a standalone computer not linked online in any way. This computer was simply meant to contain the information downloaded on its hard drive. It would be destroyed completely by a mystic later today.

Reluctantly, hating herself, she opened up the laptop and accessed a video file after she sat it on a table. The twins drew closer, yet they both didn't want to. Usagi explained that this video file was taken from one of many sites that Boss Ieyasu's organization created and owned on the Darknet. These sites catered to the very worst urges and desires of those who knew how to reach this terrible part of the Internet ordinary people didn't know how to access and wouldn't have wanted to know. Retrieving this video alone was incredibly risky to Usagi's clan, but they managed to do it without being detected, and definitely without being traced.

The video was taken from a criminal site where one could watch absolutely sinful and forbidden things, things that couldn't easily be imagined by those who obeyed the law and basic morality...but only if one was prepared to pay a lot of money for the privilege. Videos didn't simply involve the most depraved forms of sex. They also included content that dealt with very real death; yeah, there were some in this world who were that ugly and had a taste for watching such things. These videos were either made exclusively for the site or were archived footage of criminal acts.

Usagi began to play the video for the twins. They both saw a neutral chest-level view of a dark chamber where many were standing in the shadows. Most prominent in the heart of this room were Asu and Esu's adoptive parents. They were both stripped naked and chained to chairs, only a foot separate from one another. They had both been beaten harshly, but that didn't diminish Miguel's presence and Elena's pure, nearly perfect beauty. The father looked down at the floor as the mother gazed straight ahead...each in their own way, they were full of defiance in spite of their circumstances.

It was undeniably the couple who adopted them...much to the twins' horror.

Suddenly, the view switched to another camera looking at the captive parents from behind...as a naked Orc stepped into view. He was carrying a Fireblade, so named obviously because the giant Demonic steel blade of the lethal weapon that looked like a broadsword was on fire. The twins were clutching each other fiercely...tears were streaming down their faces that perfectly mirrored one another in terror and outrage as they watched. The executioner drew closer and closer...the parents finally looked at one another, still silent, still defiant. And then Miguel and Elena really smiled upon one another with true eternal love...they both ignored the Orc as he began to raise the Fireblade...

...and that was where Usagi HAD to pause the video.

Feeling horrible, feeling so incredibly guilty when she had no reason to, Usagi herself began to cry as she managed with a cracked voice, "I-I've already seen this. You...y-you don't want to see anymore."

In the next moment all the twins could feel was a total anguish and despair that threatened to tear and shred both their hearts asunder; they both broke down completely and could only cry as they collapsed to their knees and held each other desperately. They now knew. Once and for all, they knew the truth...and they wished with all their souls they didn't as they grieved for the extraordinary man and woman who adopted them.

And the only solace the twins had was in one another as they both felt totally alone in this fragile and flawed mortal world.

The End
---
Again, I'm REALLY hoping I didn't bring anyone down. If it helps at all, this is far, far from the end of the Kima Twins' story.

And you've got no idea what's in store for them both!

Up next, we'll return to Demon City 7: our heroes there will realize that a great villain's evil is having tragic after affects...and they'll want to do something about it! Be prepared for some surprise guest stars. Oh, and certain already-established mysteries will begin to really deepen, too! ^___^

Giving credit where it's due!
XNALara created by Dusan Pavlicek; XPS by Dusan and XNAaraL

Models:
Once again with love, Esu and Asu Kima are by their creator, ! x 100!