As expected, Toshio was angry with him. They hadn’t spoken once since he’d uncovered Kyouko-san’s corpse. There’d been a heated debate about just what constituted death, what a doctor’s obligation was to his patients (ignoring his role of husband in that particular instance), and they never had reached a satisfying conclusion. Toshio had correctly labeled Seishin a hypocrite because while he’d rather harshly criticized Toshio’s methods, he’d never once offered an acceptable alternative, a means for them to preserve the lives of both shiki and the villagers. Simply put...he was afraid to commit the mortal sin of murder. He didn’t wish to get his own hands dirty. Yes, Toshio had analyzed him correctly.
Had he not come to the clinic in the early hours of the 21st to collaborate with Toshio, to reach some compromise because the villagers’ distress could not be ignored even if Seishin was personally opposed to hunting the shiki? He’d pondered the matter deeply and had decided that humans must be the priority. There wasn’t a real choice. The answer was inherently obvious. Seishin was human and if he were to view the shikis' lives as equal to human lives that would be the same as transcending his own humanity. The humans would be rendered this ‘other’ entity. The shiki were a clear threat, a blatant enemy. If the humans didn’t kill them they in turn would be murdered. Extermination was inevitable. The only real question was who would be victorious.
Seishin had endeavored to steel his nerves, to come in with an open mind, discuss all possible solutions before determining if not the best course of action at least the lesser of two evils course of action. But then he’d found Toshio suturing Kyouko-san’s chest, a stake drenched with blood laying just above her pallid shoulder. It was a gruesome scene, the only small mercy being that Toshio had closed Kyouko-san’s eyes before Seishin had arrived.
Contemplating killing and being confronted with the brutality of the deed were two separate affairs. Toshio, a master of understatement, had merely remarked “it’s messy”, his typically pristine white coat marred with bright crimson splotches. He’d requested that Seishin wash his gown and he’d nodded dumbly, the two of them moving to the washing room, Toshio occupying the sole chair, lighting a cigarette while Seishin busied himself with detergent before their conversation began, one which quickly degenerated into a fierce argument which ended with Toshio dismissing him.
Ever since they were children, Toshio had never been one to make concessions. Even if both Seishin and Mikiyasu should protest, even if it was put to a vote and the two more cautious people agreed his plan was foolhardy, ludicrous, he’d just insist he’d go and do it without them. Seishin could act as breaks but he never could prevent Toshio from pursuing an avenue which had captured his interest no matter how detrimental said path was.
Toshio had insisted that he couldn’t let the contamination spread that he would hunt the shiki and that was his justice. If Seishin had a different viewpoint, Toshio had no time to listen to his criticisms. (Admittedly, time had been fairly limited since presumably Kyouko-san’s corpse would then decompose at a normal rate. There would be no reversal this time. Toshio did need to focus on making her appear presentable before reporting the death. And of course he’d need to thoroughly cleanse the operation room.)
Seishin couldn’t condone Toshi’s actions, his treatment of his patient, transforming his wife into a guinea pig. Perhaps if there had been more time...But as it was Seishin couldn’t so readily accept that Kyouko-san’s mutilated corpse was a necessity.
Accustomed to Toshio’s derision, Seishin wasn’t overly perturbed by the barbed question. While ruminating on precisely how he should answer his non-rhetorical query Toshio continued speaking, voice thick with sarcasm and contempt causing Seishin to wince. Seishin couldn’t imagine the experiments had been easy for Toshio. Even if their marriage was devoid of romantic sentiments, surely there was some degree of fondness for the woman he’d taken as his wife.
Which author was it that stated guilt was the most useless of human emotions, use it to learn the lesson and discard it? The name had slipped his mind but the point seemed rather poignant here. Kyouko-san was already dead (permanently this time). And Toshio had gleaned everything he could from her before ‘putting it back to sleep’. He wouldn’t need to repeat the experiment. Guilt would serve no real purpose. And yet...Seishin couldn’t help but perceive his friend as at least slightly callous for refusing to grieve for Kyouko-san, for seemingly burying all traces of remorse for what he’d done to her.
The seconds crawled by, Seishin’s shallow breathing the only indication that he was still on the line. “Kyouko-san isn’t the issue right now. If you have time to spare, if you weren’t satisfied with our last exchange then by all means we can continue the discussion,” he replied coldly, somewhat startled by the ire evident in his own voice.
“If memory serves you were the one who said you didn’t have time for it but this is a separate problem. Kaori-chan’s home isn’t safe and neither is the temple. You’ve been busy so I’m not sure if you've heard but my father’s gone missing and Ikebe-san has quit. I’ve invited Kaori-chan to spend the night here and what she needs isn’t a doctor. There doesn’t appear to be any external injuries, no insect bites or anything else. Her complexion is normal. She isn’t lethargic but simply fatigued and strained. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten what happened to Setsuko-san.”
Even though she’d been moved from her home to the clinic, she’d been targeted all the same. It would seem the shiki could be quite particular about their prey. If Kaori-chan had been designated as Megumi-chan’s meal it was reasonable to worry that she was a priority, someone they weren’t content to let escape.
Megumi-chan was Kaori-chan’s childhood friend. Did she miss her? Was that why Kaori-chan had been selected? But if that was the case, why would she feed on both of the girl’s parents first and possibly her younger brother? Kaori-chan was clearly frightened of Megumi-chan, someone she had every reason to believe was dead. Had Kaori-chan stumbled across the truth? Children were willing to believe much more readily than adults. Was she a target to ensure her silence?
“If you won’t come then I’ll have no choice but to protect her myself. I just thought that perhaps this case aligned with the justice you spoke of. Surely, you’re not so irritated with me that you would let an innocent child suffer.” If it came down to it, he still wasn’t certain he could kill a shiki even in self-defense even if faltering meant Kaori-chan would die. Toshio did not share Seishin’s reservations, his hesitancy.
This was different than the situation with Setsuko-san. Seishin and Toshio were more prepared. They understood precisely what they were up against and Kaori-chan was not hypnotized. If she were, she never would have come to Seishin not even for comfort. Kaori-chan would not thwart their efforts, remove protections, or struggle against them in any way. If Toshio were here, he would ensure her safety. Kaori-chan had approached Seishin. She was his immediate responsibility. Regardless of what he was willing or not willing to do with respect to the shiki, he wasn’t willing to abandon an orphan child in desperate need of assistance.
Salty Sarcasm Meet Bitter Baiting
Had he not come to the clinic in the early hours of the 21st to collaborate with Toshio, to reach some compromise because the villagers’ distress could not be ignored even if Seishin was personally opposed to hunting the shiki? He’d pondered the matter deeply and had decided that humans must be the priority. There wasn’t a real choice. The answer was inherently obvious. Seishin was human and if he were to view the shikis' lives as equal to human lives that would be the same as transcending his own humanity. The humans would be rendered this ‘other’ entity. The shiki were a clear threat, a blatant enemy. If the humans didn’t kill them they in turn would be murdered. Extermination was inevitable. The only real question was who would be victorious.
Seishin had endeavored to steel his nerves, to come in with an open mind, discuss all possible solutions before determining if not the best course of action at least the lesser of two evils course of action. But then he’d found Toshio suturing Kyouko-san’s chest, a stake drenched with blood laying just above her pallid shoulder. It was a gruesome scene, the only small mercy being that Toshio had closed Kyouko-san’s eyes before Seishin had arrived.
Contemplating killing and being confronted with the brutality of the deed were two separate affairs. Toshio, a master of understatement, had merely remarked “it’s messy”, his typically pristine white coat marred with bright crimson splotches. He’d requested that Seishin wash his gown and he’d nodded dumbly, the two of them moving to the washing room, Toshio occupying the sole chair, lighting a cigarette while Seishin busied himself with detergent before their conversation began, one which quickly degenerated into a fierce argument which ended with Toshio dismissing him.
Ever since they were children, Toshio had never been one to make concessions. Even if both Seishin and Mikiyasu should protest, even if it was put to a vote and the two more cautious people agreed his plan was foolhardy, ludicrous, he’d just insist he’d go and do it without them. Seishin could act as breaks but he never could prevent Toshio from pursuing an avenue which had captured his interest no matter how detrimental said path was.
Toshio had insisted that he couldn’t let the contamination spread that he would hunt the shiki and that was his justice. If Seishin had a different viewpoint, Toshio had no time to listen to his criticisms. (Admittedly, time had been fairly limited since presumably Kyouko-san’s corpse would then decompose at a normal rate. There would be no reversal this time. Toshio did need to focus on making her appear presentable before reporting the death. And of course he’d need to thoroughly cleanse the operation room.)
Seishin couldn’t condone Toshi’s actions, his treatment of his patient, transforming his wife into a guinea pig. Perhaps if there had been more time...But as it was Seishin couldn’t so readily accept that Kyouko-san’s mutilated corpse was a necessity.
Accustomed to Toshio’s derision, Seishin wasn’t overly perturbed by the barbed question. While ruminating on precisely how he should answer his non-rhetorical query Toshio continued speaking, voice thick with sarcasm and contempt causing Seishin to wince. Seishin couldn’t imagine the experiments had been easy for Toshio. Even if their marriage was devoid of romantic sentiments, surely there was some degree of fondness for the woman he’d taken as his wife.
Which author was it that stated guilt was the most useless of human emotions, use it to learn the lesson and discard it? The name had slipped his mind but the point seemed rather poignant here. Kyouko-san was already dead (permanently this time). And Toshio had gleaned everything he could from her before ‘putting it back to sleep’. He wouldn’t need to repeat the experiment. Guilt would serve no real purpose. And yet...Seishin couldn’t help but perceive his friend as at least slightly callous for refusing to grieve for Kyouko-san, for seemingly burying all traces of remorse for what he’d done to her.
The seconds crawled by, Seishin’s shallow breathing the only indication that he was still on the line. “Kyouko-san isn’t the issue right now. If you have time to spare, if you weren’t satisfied with our last exchange then by all means we can continue the discussion,” he replied coldly, somewhat startled by the ire evident in his own voice.
“If memory serves you were the one who said you didn’t have time for it but this is a separate problem. Kaori-chan’s home isn’t safe and neither is the temple. You’ve been busy so I’m not sure if you've heard but my father’s gone missing and Ikebe-san has quit. I’ve invited Kaori-chan to spend the night here and what she needs isn’t a doctor. There doesn’t appear to be any external injuries, no insect bites or anything else. Her complexion is normal. She isn’t lethargic but simply fatigued and strained. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten what happened to Setsuko-san.”
Even though she’d been moved from her home to the clinic, she’d been targeted all the same. It would seem the shiki could be quite particular about their prey. If Kaori-chan had been designated as Megumi-chan’s meal it was reasonable to worry that she was a priority, someone they weren’t content to let escape.
Megumi-chan was Kaori-chan’s childhood friend. Did she miss her? Was that why Kaori-chan had been selected? But if that was the case, why would she feed on both of the girl’s parents first and possibly her younger brother? Kaori-chan was clearly frightened of Megumi-chan, someone she had every reason to believe was dead. Had Kaori-chan stumbled across the truth? Children were willing to believe much more readily than adults. Was she a target to ensure her silence?
“If you won’t come then I’ll have no choice but to protect her myself. I just thought that perhaps this case aligned with the justice you spoke of. Surely, you’re not so irritated with me that you would let an innocent child suffer.” If it came down to it, he still wasn’t certain he could kill a shiki even in self-defense even if faltering meant Kaori-chan would die. Toshio did not share Seishin’s reservations, his hesitancy.
This was different than the situation with Setsuko-san. Seishin and Toshio were more prepared. They understood precisely what they were up against and Kaori-chan was not hypnotized. If she were, she never would have come to Seishin not even for comfort. Kaori-chan would not thwart their efforts, remove protections, or struggle against them in any way. If Toshio were here, he would ensure her safety. Kaori-chan had approached Seishin. She was his immediate responsibility. Regardless of what he was willing or not willing to do with respect to the shiki, he wasn’t willing to abandon an orphan child in desperate need of assistance.