Aishiteru Means I Love You

The Journal of Dr. Malina Short

June 2nd, 1998

The subject is one Hannah Marie LaFauve, a native of Saskatchewan, Canada. Reports show that she and her twin brother, Jack Lee LaFauve, have been in and out of the foster care system throughout childhood. Their mother, Eloise LaFauve, was often in trouble with the law for drugs and prostitution. Their father is unknown. After running away from a group home in Toronto, Hannah had a couple of petty thefts on record. She was released due to her young age and seeming repentance. It is well known that Hannah did a few acting jobs on and off Broadway before she became world famous in her role as Hyena in the action-adventure series /The Pack/. Her star quickly faded as she turned back to a life of crime.

Hannah has a special dislike for any and all men other than her brother. After she nearly throttled her last psychotherapist, yours truly was called upon. Perhaps Hannah will find a female doctor easier to open to.

Hannah is a small woman, 5 foot 2, 125 pounds with short brown hair, styled with a pair of fluffy tendrils flanking her face. Still, it is a mistake to assume she is harmless. Though Rikers has confiscated her razor sharp cybernetic attachments, effectively "declawing" her, Hannah is still far stronger than her size would belie and has always been quick with lightning reflexes. Hannah has a delicate face that would be considered pretty even with metalic implants along her jaw and cheekbones. Or it would be if she did not look so angry all the time. She does have three small, thin, white scars on her forehead, a souvenir from a fracas that occurred in Times Square after her most recent break-out in January of 1997. The surgical team employed by Rikers did all they could to make her more presentable. Further surgery was deemed not worth tax payers' money. When the scars or 1997 incident is mentioned, Hannah tends to become exceedingly hostile, often swearing that she will, "murder that (expletive deleted) green, bug-eyed, sawed-off (expletive deleted)." Many of the prison populace is afraid of her.

At first, Hannah seemed very snippy and uncommunicative. She informed me of her dislike of being called "Hannah", preferring the nickname "Hyena". As referring to a criminal by their "street name" can hamper rehabilitation, this demand will not be met. Some headway was met after I did some research, talked to some people who knew her long ago, and,with a stroke of luck, managed to get an audio recording of /Les Miserables/ labeled with the date 5/13/87. Mr. Mann told me that on that night, Frances Ruffelle called in sick. Hannah, who had up until then been an extra, was given the role of Eponine for one night.

I greeted Hannah with my usual friendly "Hello, Hannah, how are you today?" Instead of her usual witty retorts, she responded with a rather grumpy "You keep calling me that. I don't like you."

"I'm sorry that you feel that way." I said with a smile. "Hannah, I would like to play a tape for you. Maybe you can tell me how it makes you feel."

"Ain't you supposed to use ink blots for that?" she asked.

"The Rorschach test has since been proven unreliable." I told her. "Just lesson." I pressed the button, allowing Hannah to hear her younger self singing "On My Own" in a high, clear voice. For the first time since I've seen Hannah, she actually smiled. She even began singing along to her own voice. I stopped the tape halfway and said "You remember that, don't you, Hannah?"

"Yeah." she said, still smiling. "Franny called in one night, said she had a cold, so they put the coat and hat on me, smudged some soot on my cheeks and sent me out in Act II. Never thought Franny was that good a singer. Too whiny."

"How did you feel about playing the role of Eponine?" I asked.

"It was great, Doc!" she responded with more enthusiasm. "Beats the (expletive deleted) out of playing a hooker or one of them factory girls. I remember Jackal nearly ruined everything by standing up and cheering like it was a hockey game."

"You are referring to your brother, Jack, correct?"

"He likes being called Jackal." she said evenly. "Betcha I could still sing like that!" Hannah cleared her throat and began to sing. "On my own, Pretending he's beside me. All alone, I walk with him till morning.Without him, I feel his arms around me, And when I lose my way I close my eyes And he has found me." Her voice is as clear and resonant at age 30 as it was at age 19.

"Does this song have any special significance to you?"

There was a pregnant pause as Hyena gazed into space for a few moments. Then, she laughed. "Nah, c'mon, Doc! You're readin' too much into this. It's just a song I did a long time ago for a play. Y'know, maybe I shoulda gone into recording an album or something. Aw, (expletive deleted), I probably would've ended up in deep (expletive deleted) anyway, y'know, like Tupac or something."

"That seems like a very defeatist attitude, Hannah."

"Can...can I keep the tape, Doc?"

I saw no reason why she couldn't.

The Journal of Dr. Malina Short

June 9th, 1998

I had started today's interview with high hopes. It looked as if I was making headway with Hannah. I had, perhaps prematurely, believed I started a breakthrough when I had her listen to the tape, to remember the innocent young girl she once was.

"Good morning, Hannah." I told her at the start of our session. "How are you today?"

"In prison." she replied. "You?" Well, it was better than her usual string of profanity.

"I'd like you to tell me a story, Hannah." I told her. "Tell me about Hyena."

"It ain't like it's top secret, Doc. There's enough of a paper trail to housebreak the 101 Dalmatians."

"Hannah, I want to hear the story from /you/. I want you to tell me what made you become the Hyena." She became silent and sullen. "I do know some facts. I know your mother had some personal problems."

"Is that what they call it now? Personal problems? In my day, we called it gettin' high and turnin' tricks."

"And I understand you probably have some abandonment issues, especially after being separated from your brother in foster care."

"Oh, (expletive deleted) you! You don't know (expletive deleted)!"

"I know you were a very unhappy little girl, Hannah. You got in fights with other girls in group homes. Occasionally, you would even attack boys if they got close enough."

"What the (expletive deleted) was I supposed to do? Those (expletive deleted) were always on my case, annoying the (expletive deleted) out of me. Even boys thought it would be fun to clobber me and throw rocks at me. Boys don't hit girls my (expletive deleted). So, I learned to fight back. I wasn't big, so I used my nails to claw at any little (expletive deleted) that tried to cross me. Didja know that even human scratch marks can get infected pretty easily? So satisfying...skin ripping under your nails, blood oozing, the (expletive deleted) brat who thought he was so bad bawling like a baby...." She sighed almost nostalgically.

"Are you aware that you blinded another child?"

"You mean that little (expletive deleted) Hector Tremblay? He deserved it! Kept calling me 'slut' even though I was a virgin at the time. Liked to throw rocks and (expletive deleted) at me, wouldn't keep his (expletive deleted) hands off me. I loved the feeling of my thumb popping into his eyeball. Felt like jelly, only warmer. He squealed like a pig!" Hannah then began laughing at the memory. "I guess you could say he was more 'trembly' than 'Tremblay' at that point!" She chuckled at her own pun. "Little Hector was crying! Ever see someone try to cry when they only have one eye? It's actually kinda funny!" She laughed again. "But the biggest laugh I got was turning the tables, making him feel scared and helpless for a change. Let me tell you something, Doc, anyone who said that revenge leaves you empty never got revenge."

"You were going to be put before juvenile court on assault charges." I reminded her. "However, you and your brother ran away from the group home before you could be brought to trial. Why don't you tell me about that?"

At that point, Hannah's eyes grew cold, suddenly forgetting her mirthful outburst. "You wanna know about Hyena, Doc? I'll TELL you about Hyena! You know all about me and Jackal..."

"Jack." I reminded her.

"Jack, Jackal, whatever! Who the (expletive deleted) is telling this story? Anyways, like I was sayin', after me and Jackal left that quote-unquote 'group home' in Toronto, we started squatting in this old one room apartment. Barely enough room for the two of us. Jackal'd go out at night, boost some stuff, come back in the morning and hand me the loot. He'd go to sleep and I'd hock the loot and buy whatever we needed.

"Jackal, see, he was always good at stuff like jimmying locked windows and doors. Could coldcock anyone who got in his way. He said the pawn brokers would give me more money cuz I was a girl. All I had to do was smile and bat my eyes a little. My low cut tops and mini-skirts were from the thrift shop and my make-up was five finger discount at Eckerd's, but honey, I could make it work.

"To this day, I don't even remember what exactly I was trying to hawk that one day. Coulda been a stereo, a TV, a VCR, I don't remember. I remember the pawnbroker. Big, ugly thing with a dirty yellow mustache. He said he'd seen me a few times. Wanted to know if I was stealin' the stuff I brought in. I played little Miss Innocent, batting mascara coated eyes. It worked whenever I got nabbed for shoplifting. Always wanted to be an actress, y'know. He said I'd better come with him in the back anyways. I ain't dumb. I told him I was stayin' right there until he gave me some money or I was walkin'. His buddy's sling blade in the small of my back told me otherwise.

"Four of his buddies came in the back with us. One to hold down each of my limbs. I tried using my nails to defend myself like at the group home. All it got me was clocked in the jaw. Each one got a turn. I screamed, cussed and thrashed, and they just laughed. They laughed as they pinned my arms and legs down hard enough to bruise. They laughed as they ran their clammy, greasy hands all over me. They laughed while I cried. When they were done, they tossed me out the bock door with a 'Get lost, you slut!' Didn't even pay me for the item I was there to hawk.

"I went home and woke up Jackal. He was about to ask me how much I got when he saw how bruised and torn I was. He asked what happened, and I just fell into his arms crying. I told him everything those (expletive deleted) did while he held me and stroked my hair. He asked me which pawnshop I had been at. I told him. I told him about the broker with the ugly yellow mustache. Jackal kissed me on the forehead and told me to go get cleaned up. He'd take care of it. As I went to take a shower. I saw him take out the revolver he always kept under the mattress. Don't know where he got it. Didn't ask.

"I took my shower and spent the rest of the evening watching TV, waiting for Jackal to come back. When he did, he was carrying a duffle bag and had the revolver in his belt. He reeked of blood, had some spattered on him, but he was smiling. He unzipped the bag, told me 'Merry Christmas' and showed me the head of the pawnbroker. His mouth was gaping under that ugly mustache, looking just as scared as I had been."

"I see." I struggled to keep an air of professional decorum. "And how did that make you feel?"

"How did I feel? It was kinda funny actually! I laughed and tossed his head around like a soccer ball. I did that little trick soccer players do where they bounce the ball from one knee to another. I tried to do that spinning on the finger trick the Harlem Globetrotters do, but it didn't turn out right. Jackal and I both laughed and played catch. Yeah, I know, you're not supposed to play catch indoors, but it's not like we had any fancy stuff to break anyway. It was like we were kids again.

"We played and laughed until we were too tired to do it anymore. I got us a couple Molsons from the fridge and we plopped down on the futon together. I asked the pawnbroker if he wanted a drink, but he didn't seem interested. Guess being dead kills your thirst. Jackal told me what he did. He had barely took one step into the pawnshop when he whipped out the revolver and shot the broker in the gut. His buddies were still about and ganged up on him, but twin brother could hold his own.

"He said he was glad that all of his shots had been non-lethal. He wanted them to suffer first. I said good, so did I. There were some fancy knives and machetes in the display case. Jackal helped himself, tried them all out. Decided he'd keep the one with the painting of a jungle lady on the handle. He told me how they had screamed and cried as he carved them up, and I laughed. He told me how he gave one of them a Glaswegian."

"What is a 'Glaswegian'?" I asked.

"Oh, that's when you slice someone's cheeks from the corners of their mouth to their ears. I had a good hearty laugh at that. I laughed even more when he told me the pawnbroker (expletive deleted) himself just before Jackal sliced his head off. Let me tell you something, Doc, NOTHING feels better than having a good laugh after a real (expletive deleted) day.

"Once he was done, Jackal decided he might as well raid the cash register. Waste not, want not, y'know. Also took all five of their wallets, so we was loaded. Two of 'em turned out to have wives and kids, if you can believe it. Before we bought a couple bus tickets to New York, we mailed their ears to their families with a letter saying what Daddy did to deserve his death.

"In New York, I didn't go anywhere without Jackal. Wasn't about to let it happen again. One day, I saw an ad in /The Village Voice/. Cattle Call for a new action adventure show called "The Pack". Like I said, I always dreamed of being an actress. I dragged Jackal along with me and, well, the rest is history."

"I see." I've heard many tales of rape and murder in my career, but this one seemed to beat all of them. "Hannah, is that why you hate yourself?"

"What the (expletive deleted) are you talking about Doc? I (expletive deleted) love myself!"

"Is that why you willingly amputated parts of your own body and replaced them with machinery? People who make drastic changes to their bodies are often not happy with themselves."

"And they should be! Humans are all (expletive deleted)!"

"Hannah, what happened to you at the pawnshop was wrong and not your fault in any way. But is it really proof that all of humanity is bad? There are good people too, like..."

"Like you?"

"Well, I wouldn't say...."

"No, but you think it! You think you're a good person. Why do you spend so much time with me, Doc?"

"Because I want to help you."

"(expletive deleted)! You just want to make a name for yourself cuz I'm famous. You think if you write about me, you'll be the next Ann (expletive deleted) Rule! You don't give a (expletive deleted) about me, Doc. Don't pretend you do!"

"You need to give people a chance, Hannah."

"A chance to do /what/?"

I had no answer for her.
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Elisa hurried to the beach. She wasn't sure when Goliath would awaken. It was rather late in the afternoon just now. She bumped into Hiroshi. "Gomen nasai, Elisa." he said.

"Oh, no, my fault entirely." Elisa said, remembering to bow. "Sorry."

Hiroshi laughed. "Keep that up and you'll be mistaken for a Japanese person before you know it! I just came from the beach. Goliath is safe and sound, but still asleep."

"Um, yeah, Hiroshi, let me explain...."

"There's no need for explanations, Elisa." Hiroshi assured her. "What you and Goliath do in private is your own business."

"Oh." Elisa had to ask something. "Hiroshi, I noticed that humans and gargoyles co-exist peacefully. Have a gargoyle and a human ever, you know...got in a more romantic relationship?"

Hiroshi paused to think. "Not to my knowledge." he admitted. "There are rumors of dalliances, but I tend not to bother myself too much with local gossip. As long as no one is breaking any laws, it's all good by me." He bowed to her. "I must go on duty now. Konichi-wa."

"Konichi-wa." Elisa replied and continued to the beach. /Am I a dalliance? No, don't think like that. Goliath isn't that way./

Members of the Manhattan clan began to awaken. "Later in the day than last time." Staghart commented. "So, when are you going to tell me what you were looking at on-line when I showed up? You weren't looking at porn, were you?"

"No!" Lex shouted, knowing he was blushing.

"Oh, love, I'm teasing." Staghart chuckled as he put an arm around Lex. "I know you wouldn't look at porn when you have me to look at."

Lex smiled. He saw a palm sized box on the table near him, addressed to Victor Lexington. It was weighing down a note. Lex picked them up and read the note.

/Lex,/

/This arrived earlier with FedEx. I took the liberty of signing for you./

/Good Luck./

/-D.X./

"What's that?" asked Staghart.

"Amp? Stand up?" Staghart followed his request. Lex took his hand and led him to the shade of the magnolia tree. He was almost certain the world could hear how hard his heart was beating. "OK, Amp, you really wanna know what I was looking at on-line last night? Well, remember that PowerPoint project you helped me with? The one that convinced Xanatos to help me work out the kinks in the new software he was making? Well, it's a hit! Can't keep it on the shelves."

"Really? Lex that's great! I'm so happy for you!" Amp gave his lover a hug. "So, what's in the box? New software? I knew they were making them smaller but...."

"No, it's nothing to do with the software." said Lex. "Xanatos put a share of the proceeds in an account in my name. Well, Victor Lexington's name, but he gave me the bank card. So, I did some on-line shopping last night." Lex opened the mailing box and took out a felt jewel case. /Here goes nothing./ Lex got on one knee as he saw men do in TV and movies all the time. "Amp, Staghart, would you be my mate?" A few seconds passed in silence as the wind rustled the leaves. Suddenly, Lex was pulled to his feet and into a bone crushing hug. "Um, is that a yes?" Lex managed to gasp out.

"Oh, it's a yes." Lex could hear a sob in his voice. He saw tears in his lover's eyes.

"You OK?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Amp gasped, drying his eyes on his gauntlet. "They're happy tears." He took a deep breath, trying to get a hold on his emotions. "Well, are you going to open it or should I?"

Lex opened it for him. "I know it's hard to find rings in gargoyle sizes." said Lex. "And, since you just had your ear done, maybe you'd like this." It was a brilliant cut diamond that sparkled in the sun. It was clear and just the palest shade of blue in a yellow gold setting.

"Lex, it's beautiful! I love it!" He quickly snapped the loop of black thread that had been put in his ear. "Here." He knelt down to Lex's level. "Put it on me!"

Lex found the hole and slipped the post in so that the diamond was facing forward. Satisfied that he wasn't hurting Amp, he placed the backing over the post and gave the ear a gentle kiss. Amp was hugging him again.

"I had thought about asking you." said Amp. "But every time I tried, the words just wouldn't come and we'd end up just shagging or something."

"Not complaining are you?"

"No! Well, maybe that one time when we played 'Batman and Robin' could've turned out better."

"What are you complaining about?" Lex asked with a laugh. "I was the one with the concussion."

"And I was the one tied spread eagle to the bed screaming myself hoarse for help." He laughed and hugged Lex again, "I have to go e-mail Coco now. I promised her she'd be the first to know. I love you so much, Lex!"

"I love you too." Lex hugged Amp and let him go make his e-mail.
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Hyena laid back on her bunk and read the copy of the /Daily Tattler/ she got from the prison library. "Wedding Bells For Dingo?" read the headline. The photos showed her old teammate leaving a courthouse with a blonde woman on his arm. Neither seemed happy about getting their photos taken. There were several other photos of Dingo in what looked like some old-fashioned Japanese place. In every photo he seemed to be walking away or trying to obscure his face. Hyena didn't recognize the blonde he was with. She read the article.

"Rumors that TV star and convicted felon DINGO" His name was bolded, of course. "has been co-habitating over seas with film director ROMAN POLANSKI were proven to be unfounded when the action star was discovered in the quaint Japanese village of Ishimura with a mystery blonde. Dingo declined to answer any questions. It is public record, however, that Dingo did register for a marriage license under his real name, Harry Elvis Monmouth."

"Elvis?" laughed Hyena. "Dingo's middle name is Elvis?" She laughed for a full five minutes before continuing to read the article.

"His bride is an unknown named Robyn Canmore. Sources show that Miss Canmore is Scottish born and is also a wanted felon in the United States."

Hyena looked at a photo of Dingo hiding his face as he walked past some statues. "Ishimura is a quiet little village by the Japanese seashore and is peculiar for the various Tengu statues that decorate the town walls." Hyena recognized one of the "Tengu statues." It was Lexington. The green, sawed-off bastard that clawed her face! She'd know those flying squirrel wings and bug-eyed bald head anywhere!

"Lights out, ladies!" announced the guard as the lights went low.

"Oh, boss man!" Hyena crooned. "Since it's lights out, why don't you come and tell me a bedtime story?" The guard was a young man that Hyena knew was interested in her. She could see it in his eyes.

"N-now, LaFauve." The guard tugged at his uniform. "You know that there are barriers."

"But I'm such a bad, bad, girl." Hyena smiled as she struck a coy pose. "Only a tough man like you can teach me a lesson. I didn't replace all my body parts, you know. Parts of me are still all woman."

"Which parts"

"Mmm...the important ones. C'mere!" She gestured for him to come closer. He did. "How about a kiss to get things started? Then you can come in."

"Uh, no, no, LaFauve, you know I can't do that."

"Oh, you don't have to open my cell. We can just drop trou and do it through the bars." He gulped and blushed. "Umm...you like that idea?"

"L-LaFauve!"

"I'm not LaFauve, honey. I'm Hyena. Guh-rrrrrowl!" She knew that would get him turned on.

The guard suddenly grabbed Hyena for a kiss. She put her arms around him and kneed him in the groin, taking his keys as he went down. She let herself out and crouched over the fallen guard, taking his testicles in one hand. "Tell me where my claws are," she said. "And maybe I don't castrate you!"

"The warden's office!" he said quickly. "In a strongbox in a closet behind the desk!"

Hyena looked at the keys. "And the keys are so thoughtfully labeled! Thank you, that's going to make everything so much easier."

"Look...just let me go!"

"I said maybe, boss man. You shouldn't depend on maybes."
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A/N: Shinju and Yuri will appear in the next chapter. They were going to be in this one, but, Hyena, being the primadonna she is demanded this one. I also need to point out that Hyena's opinions are not my own. I thought Frances Ruffelle was actually very good in the role of Eponine. I also like Lea Solanga. Please don't ask me to choose! I like them both! (A lot of Les Mis fans come to blows over things like this.) The next chapter will also have some sweetness between the bride and groom and maybe a flashback.