"Exquisite, Miss Kusanagi." Ms. Aran strode around her seated pupil and examined her from all angles. "You look marvelous. Miss Chun-Li, draw up a chair for me."
A second chair was quickly brought over, and Ms. Aran sat down. Her posture was as studious seated as it was on-foot. She handed a small mirror to Kusanagi, who took it in hand and brought it to her face. The Major stared. She looked worlds apart from the Major she really was.
"Does something trouble you?" Ms. Aran asked. "You seem perplexed, Miss Kusanagi."
"I, I just don't know what to think anymore." Kusanagi bowed her head. "Everything is so confusing, and I don't know why you--"
"I am not the one you should be concerned about." Ms. Aran's eyes stared into Kusanagi's with a hidden warning. Do not test me.
Kusanagi winced. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest that." She had so many questions in her mind, but which one to ask? What could she ask? "It's...well..."
"Miss Kusanagi!" Ms. Aran snapped. "A proper lady must exude confidence in her speech. I shall not tolerate dithering. You must calm yourself and understand your place." She then gave a coy smile. "Or I shall be forced to put you in place myself."
Kusanagi grew fearful at that last remark. Did Ms. Aran want to punish her? The look in the instructor's eyes was almost...lustful. Kusanagi didn't want to give in, but at the same time, she was still so confused. If she couldn't come to grips herself, Ms. Aran would likely "help" her along that path.
She thought about where she had come from, and where she was at that moment. The life she knew seemed unattainable now. The sudden return to a living body had been both physically and psychologically traumatic to the point that even a slight cut could bring her to tears. But maybe that would get better? If she spent enough time living as she was, then maybe--
No. How could she? Major Kusanagi was an officer in Section 9. People depended on her because she could get missions done. But she wasn't the same Major anymore. She wasn't even certain she deserved to be called that as she was now. It was a rank she earned based on abilities that she no longer had.
On the other hand, hadn't there been some part of her, all these years, that had desired a return to a human body? She was forced to have her mind implanted in an artificial body at a young age out of necessity. Sure, she could accomplish things that were well out of the physical capability of a normal human, but that shouldn't be the deciding factor, should it? Shouldn't she be happy? This was a second chance that most people could only dream of.
Still, even if that were the case, it didn't seem right to think of herself as an officer anymore. Even looking in the mirror was enough to tell her that "Major Kusanagi" was no more. So maybe...
She cleared her throat.
"Yes, Miss Kusanagi?" Ms. Aran asked.
"Ms. Aran, I..." Kusanagi took as deep a breath as her corset would allow. "I request that you address me by my given name, Motoko."
The instructor raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? And why are you making this request?"
"If I'm to accept this, then I feel I should be addressed differently. That's all."
"If that's the case, then so be it, Miss Motoko." Ms. Aran smiled.
Sun Aug 26 13:17:58 2012
2 comments Last updated: Tue Aug 28 04:43:01 2012