Hiro was quite happy to have lunch with his father... or was that mother now? Well- she was female, but she still acted as his father. So perhaps it was best to just think of her that way still. Thinking of her as his 'mother' was just creepy to her at the moment.
Realising he could have changed gender when the sun hit him made him glad, that he was at least spared that. To have become a cyborg, and female? He wasn't sure he could have coped. Given he was barely coping in this state... though his father didn't seem to have any complaints..
... or were his issues really all to do with transformation?
His father was quite right. He had always been a bit of a moody teen. No different to anyone else his own age, dealing with the things like everyone else. Adults always spoke of the future while he just loved playing his games. He couldn't do that forever of course, and no reason he would... he liked to chase the girls too...
... maybe that's what it was. Since his transformation, he felt.. unattractive. He was fairly handsome before, but now when people saw the metal sewn onto his flesh, it was just too creepy for most. How many girls just ran off when he only wanted to talk? That cat-girl, and that flower-girl... Would any girl ever really like him? Though... every teen felt this way one time or another...
Hedgeton was a nice little town though, and he didn't want to lose the time off school just to go home. He didn't feel inclined to explore the other world, but was still interested in the various pieces that had ended up here. He walked various streets, feeling a little better at each step.
Hiro Hibiki... A voice came through his cybernetic systems.
he glanced around. "Hello?"
He heard a stream of 0's emitted from the various network systems. It was like a strange buzzing noise. Not 'unwelcoming' exactly, just odd... very odd. Suddenly, through his cybernetic eye, he saw her. The young cyborg swallowed, not really sure what he was looking at. She appeared to be a woman, but was clearly not a normal physical being. She stood at the same height as him, so was obviously not a digital fairy... for one thing, she was not running 'on' any system he could understand.
Hiro glanced at the giant pen the un-real woman had... but what was the most off putting were the eyes. They seemed glassy... soulless. In-human, despite the otherwise pretty face. Hiro felt sorry for her, it was probably the same reaction he elicited in others by his own appearance. Something that was just.. creepy.
I'm Shi... the woman spoke softly.
Hiro wasn't sure if she was there in the physical world, of if his digital eye was somehow 'creating' this image... he detected 'something' there. A physical presence that was outwardly..."W-What are you..."
The woman stared at him. No longer what I was...
Hiro shivered. "Are.. you real?"
"Yes, and no..." she said holding out her hand, as it displayed it's strange computer graphics.
"What do you want," Hiro said very nervous.
"Your... help,"
Hiro looked up at that surprised. "What is it?"
"I have... a digital fairy, that needs a host..." Shi explained, her eyes still staring blankly.
Hiro bulked at that. "I think you've got the wrong one. I'm not an AI... I'm just a kid," He said annoyed with himself. He hated to admit his limitations... but it was necessary. Whoever this woman was clearly didn't know what he was.
Shi gave a little smile. "You stand in two worlds... like me, Hiro Hibiki. It can only be you..."
The cyborg wondered if anyone else could see her. Nobody was reacting to him talking to her... so maybe he wasn't talking to himself... but still... nothing about this felt right.
Shi glanced around and held a tiny looking small red creature. "This.. is a daemon," She said sadly.
"Daemon huh," said Hiro. He knew what those were. Programs that ran various systems...
"It used to be a digital fairy, but... it attempted to change it's appearance. This is the result..."
Hiro blanched. "W-What?" Was this woman crazy? What did he want him to do!
Shi gently pressed the daemon into Hiro's cybernetic hand. "You exist.. between the two states... you are not an AI... you have a human, biological mind, that has gates into the digital world... I beg you, run this Daemon in your systems for a while...."
"What good would that do?" Asked Hiro. He wanted to help... but he didn't see what the strange creature was asking him.
"Your mind, can help fill what was lost... parallel programming is the only way, to repair the damage... with you, the daemon can awake again... become what it once was..."
The Cyborg looked tensely. Why would a stranger trust him for something so important! A persons life! He can't do that.. he's not a doctor. Maybe his father could do it or someone else."L-Look- I want to help- but-"
"I know.. all about you," Said Shi sadly. "This would go... a little towards redeeming yourself... you do want that, don't you?"
The Daemon looked at Hiro blankly.
The cyborg bit his lip. Was this a trick? Something in him told him no... still.. allowing someone to put a fairy like being inside his systems where it could wreak havoc... did he really want to take that chance? But She was right... he did want to at least do something right... and if this daemon needed repair that only his own systems could achieve, how could he say no? "Y-Yeah.. okay... upload the daemon to me."
Shi knew that something... was wrong. She had lost her own life in the transformation. Barely human any more, and knowing a void of emptiness between different states of existence. The twilight moments, between sleep and dreaming, or simply the moments between each second...
Whatever she used to be, was small.. tiny... insignificant compared to the task before her now. She knew the name Keith But he felt... dead. Gone. Though was that just another state of existence? At least, she had not forgotten some of humanity in her change. Emotions were difficult for her... but slowly, she was regaining a semblance of emotive understanding of the beings she once was around. It was possibly better that her mind had changed to suit her new body...
Keith would never be able to understand the things, she had seen... perhaps what she was had a purpose? Maybe that is why Keith had to die, so Shi could exist... A question that was never going to be answered...
Though she did hope, Keith might be allowed to exist again... someday.
Rachel gave a little smile to David, as they departed home. The sun was going to set soon, and with the night brought an eagerness to the devil girls bare feet. She was starting to enjoy their walks... though she was maybe a little worried. It seemed like her friendship might be misconstrued by others around them... that they were really just two people enjoying the other's company was lost on a few people...
"Did you have fun?" Asked Rachel
"Well... it was okay," the angel girl said stretching her wings.
"Those other angels were... quite different to you," observed the devil girl. "I'm not sure how they would react to a kiss from me, for one..."
David blushed heavily. "I- wouldn't recommend it," she said quietly.
"On any angel or just them?" The Devil girl smiled, her tail swishing behind her.
David shook her head. Honestly... Rachel just had to be... Rachel.
The devil girl giggled but then stopped. Something had caught her eye. "Oh.. well look, is that one of your chorus?" said Rachel glancing across the street.
David nodded. "It is. I wonder which one... Hello?" She asked quickly crossing over the street.
The identical looking angel looked at David a little surprised to see her. "Hello," she said softly.
"Hm..." Rachel thought. "Mark?"
The angel shook her head. "I'm Zara," She said and- just as quickly, gave David a hug. "Hello my sister."
"Z-Zara!" said David shocked at the contact. She stepped back shyly. "What's happened to you? You're acting a little... weird."
The angel girl looked tilting her head. "How so?"
"You're acting all.. girly," Said David. "And- I don't mean to sound rude, but why do you make the rest of us wear dresses! You were never like that before the change..."
The angel girl looked a little distantly. "I um- I'm sorry," She said quietly. "I didn't mean to upset you-"
David flinched as the sadness that came from her was felt in kind. "N-No- please don't be upset-" The angel said to her twin. "I- I just wanted to know why, that's all..."
The angel looked up again, her face a perfect mirror to her twin. "You're my sister.. I didn't want to hurt you," Said Zara.
"We're not really sisters," Said David. "We weren't even girls before!"
"I- I know," Said Zara. "I just- please don't be angry with me... but I'm kinda glad this happened to us," She admitted.
"What?!" David said shocked.
Rachel gave a little smirk. Though she couldn't help feeling she was intruding in what should be a 'family matter'. Still... the angel looked quite earnest and happy to see David.
"I- I kinda... like it. It's not so bad. In my old life... I made a few mistakes... and I'm glad to share in your lives..." Zara glanced at Rachel, and brushed her own lips slightly.
Now it was Rachel who actually blushed, and bit her lip slightly. Though only for a moment.
David flushed even more. "Look- there's a chance we can find a cure someday..."
Zara smiled softly. "I hope we all get what we want in life my sister" Said the angel. "But I'm... content to live this life too. You are my sister, and I'd never hurt you." The angel smiled again as she walked off- though always intimately close to David, her every step felt by the chorus, as was the little bounce of her breasts in motion.
"Such an interesting family you have," Rachel smirked.
"It's.. complicated," sighed David.
The worst thing is... it wasn't quite 'so bad' to David either. Being an angel girl was.. different... and she still missed being a boy... but it wasn't 'bad' exactly... it was nice to fly for one. But- was that her own feeling? Or was that the contentedness Zara felt in this? She could feel every touch... and she wondered, what Zara would decide to wear tomorrow, as it was her day.
It was just so confusing...
