Plate 10:
Doll
Scene 1
THIS WORLD WAS overflowing with connections. Connections were like sweet poison.
All he had to do was think back.
But why did he have to drink the bitter medicine of despair?
Unfulfilled desires for connection accumulate almost like layers of sediment. And just as you can’t stop the currents of a river, nor can you stop people from being born.
One of the two young people said, with their dying breath, “Don’t let go of your desires. Only those who can connect to their desires have the ability to grasp the future in their hands.”
The other of the two faithfully swore to keep that promise.
It was all a clinical test, to prove that we are who we are.
Beneath his eyelids, Mabu could see his partner desperately trying to shout something at him. He couldn’t quite tell if the other man was angry, or if he was about to burst into tears at any moment…
“Reo…”
When Mabu opened his eyes, the person before him wasn’t Reo. He found himself staring up at a hemp leaf-patterned ceiling. As he watched it absentmindedly, a black shadow slipped into view.
“Odd-er…” the creature said.
“…Who are you?”
Just how long had he slept? It felt like he couldn’t speak properly—as if he was using his vocal cords to form words for the first time.
“I’m an otter. You were reborn as my doll.”
Mabu did vaguely recall that he had lost his life.
Regardless…
“I want to see Reo…”
He tried to lift his heavy arm—to reach out and touch a person who wasn’t even there. Instead it was the shadow that took his outstretched hand.
“Very well. He strongly desires to meet you again as well. However, there is one condition…”
Scene 2
IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT when Kazuki and Enta met in the Kappa Plaza.
Keppi wore a reserved look on his face as he sought one final confirmation. “You know I can’t guarantee your lives won’t be in danger, ribbit. Knowing that, will you still go to retrieve the other plates, ribbit?”
Kazuki showed no hesitation. “I’ve already made my decision.”
“Kazuki…” Despite the emergency situation they found themselves in, Kappa-Enta savored the joy he felt receiving Kazuki’s attention.
Keppi watched the two of them, thinking back to the two that betrayed the Kappa Kingdom for the Empire. He didn’t know their exact circumstances, but there was one thing he did know. “You have formidable opponents, ribbit. The bond that the two of them share is so strong, no one can hope to take it from them, ribbit.”
“Hah, don’t pretend like you understand!” A voice broke out from above. A man stood there, aiming his gun at the three of them, the sign on it reading Capture.
“Huh?!” In the blink of an eye, Keppi was trapped in an elastic restraining device.
“Keppi!”
Reo slammed his foot against the now tire-shaped Keppi. “So this is where you were hiding yourselves. Unfortunately for you, that barrier you put up is only good against otters. It doesn’t work on us kappa, you know?”
“Kappa?!” Kazuki gasped.
“They’re actually my servants, ribbit! Reo…just what in the world happened, ribbit?!”
“Doesn’t matter. All I want is the Wishing Plates.” For a former servant, Reo certainly did have a disrespectful attitude. He kicked the bound Keppi over and started toward Kazuki. “Where is the final plate?”
So they already know what our trump card is, Kazuki realized. Fortunately, they didn’t yet realize its whereabouts.
Kazuki stepped protectively in front of Enta and responded, “I’m not giving it to you! It’s your fault that Enta is… Just give back the other four plates!”
“Kazuki…” Once again, Enta savored the joy he felt despite their dire situation. Suddenly, he found himself hoisted up into the air. “Huh?”
Reo completely ignored Kazuki’s bristling, waltzing over and hauling Enta up to peer at the plate on his head. “Ahh, you’re the kid I shot, huh? Just four hours left. Too bad, you won’t even last ’til dawn.”
“Just four hours?!” Kappa-Enta couldn’t hide his shock when he realized just how little time remained.
Every second mattered in this fight. Unable to just stand by and watch, Kazuki intervened. “We don’t have time for this! Just tell us where the plates are!”
“Hmm. Looks like we both have something important we need those plates for.”
Kazuki and the others found themselves dragged to the underground area beneath the Asakusa Otter Police Box.
“Just four more hours, just four more hours, just four more hours…” As they rode the elevator down, Kappa-Enta kept mumbling incessantly to himself.
Keppi was trying to find any opening he could to convince Reo to help him, but so far, things hadn’t turned in their favor. “Reo, it’s not too late, ribbit. You can join forces with me for the sake of the Kappa Kingdom and—”
“Sadly, I have no interest in either the otters or the kappa. I just want to make my wish come true,” Reo said.
“What’s your wish, ribbit?” Keppi asked. “Does Mabu share the same feelings as you, ribbit?”
“Enough useless talk.”
“Just four more hours, just four more hours, just four more hours…”
Kazuki wrapped his arms around his frightened friend’s shoulders and tried to soothe him by saying, “I swear I’ll save you, Enta. Just trust me!”
“Kazukiii…!” This was the third time Enta found himself overwhelmed with joy despite their circumstances.
“Hah, how laughable!” Reo spat, as if disgusted by watching the two of them. “False beliefs are dangerous, you know? There isn’t a person out there that won’t hesitate to cut someone off in the pursuit of their own desires. Just like this selfish prince, or that heartless doll!”
“Reo, you…” Keppi pursed his lips, having recognized the anger in his servant’s voice. It was true enough that Reo and Mabu had gotten swept up in all of this because of Keppi’s own weakness. He falsely assumed the two perished during the Kingdom’s collapse, which was why he didn’t search for them even after he awoke in the human world.
“Even so…” Kazuki suddenly stood up. He stared unflinchingly at Reo. “I can’t change that I hurt the people that were precious to me in the past, and I may still continue to make mistakes…” He had Haruka, his parents, Enta who was by his side now, and even Toi who wasn’t. “Still, I don’t want to give up on the bonds I have with other people. We’re going to stay together—now and forever!”
No matter how many times Kazuki fell, he’d get back up and run again. He had to, so he and his friends would remain connected.
“Tch, just how big of a fool are you?” Reo was the one who turned his gaze away first. He felt absolutely awful. Soon he would make these kids taste despair.
Scene 3
THEY WALKED INTO a cylindrical room with pillars, the same one they had seen before when they came to rescue Haruka. Reo kept his gun trained on Kazuki and Kappa-Enta, forcing them to walk ahead. At the end of the central bridge stood Mabu, his back turned toward them.
“Mabu!” Keppi called out. He was cradled in Kazuki’s arms, still trapped in the restraining device.
“…Prince Keppi.” Mabu peered back at them, not looking particularly surprised at all. But his emotions had always been rather flat compared to Reo, so that didn’t particularly strike Keppi as odd.
Since Reo seemed completely uninterested in hearing them out, Keppi decided persuading Mabu was their only chance. “Mabu, you have to convince Reo for me, ribbit. Sing that song like you two used to so long ago, ribbit!”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not, ribbit?!”
Mabu turned his back on them once again, responding in a flat monotone, “I’m not the person you want me to be.”
Although Reo was quiet up until this point, the moment he heard that he burst out, “Exactly! You’re just a failed puppet!”
“Reo,” Mabu continued, “the otters found out about the plates.”
“What?”
“They read my memories and found out.”
He probably meant the maintenance Reo just recently intervened in. That must have been when they discovered the truth. Reo didn’t want to recall the scene. He suffered flashbacks constantly, but this time they swept over him like a flood. “…You,” he hissed, “how many times must you disappoint me before you’re satisfied? Enough of this, you traitor!” Reo was so preoccupied rushing over and snatching at Mabu’s collar that he completely lost sight of Kazuki and the others.
“Now’s our chance!” Kazuki and Enta moved in sync, each slamming a foot as hard as they could into the tire-shaped Keppi.
“Dehurgh…!” He went spinning through the air, bouncing up and down across the long, narrow bridge. Kazuki and Kappa-Enta rushed after him.
“Tch…!”
As Reo looked over his shoulder at them, annoyed, Mabu opened his mouth to try to speak. “Reo…”
“I can’t take this anymore… Are you happy? I’m always getting pissed at you, while you act oblivious and devote yourself to those otters!” Reo shrieked, forcing each word out as he clawed at his chest.
Mabu reached his arm out to try to touch Reo’s hand. “Reo, without you, I—”
Reo slapped the other man’s hand away. “Don’t touch me! I don’t care if your heart stops. You’re not my Mabu. You’re not the Mabu that found me when I was alone…the one who told me the words I wanted to hear!” He hurried after Kazuki and the others.