[ARC 18: KAMON]
[March 1st, 2021]
Serena readied to sign the document. Yuruko stood beside her at the bank.
"…sorry." laughed Serena to the teller. "Um - just thinking it over. It goes right to the government, right?"
"Right." he nodded. "You'll still need to report it to the IRS, but with taxes, our fee for international transfers - the rate will translate to 1,500,000."
"And - one million and a quarter. Right, Yuruko?"
"Right."
Serena smiled and signed.
◆◆◆
The punk, chemist, and amnesiac showed up at a familiar mansion's door. They knocked, and Mia answered.
"Mia." Serena grinned. "Do you wanna go to Thailand?"
"To Thailand?" Mia's eyes widened - " - you - you have it? The money?"
"She sure does." chimed Naomi, and the four's smiles went long.
"I got it a week ago, but I got money to book tickets, so if you wanna come -"
" - of course." nodded Mia. "I'll need to ask Matoi, but I'm certain she'll understand. How long were you planning on staying?"
"The reviews online said it takes about a week." said Serena. "Um, it's all done through the government, so, don't worry. It's not a scam or … anything like that."
"We'll…" Mia nodded. "We'll have to ensure our badges will be recognized, there, but ... Matoi will handle that. When, er, when were you planning on going?"
"As soon as possible." grinned Yuruko, patting her quivering girlfriend's back.
"Um, yeah." laughed Serena. "Probably in a few days. O-Or, maybe tomorrow."
"Tomorrow night." chimed Mia. "Er - it will be slightly dangerous, on a public plane, but..."
"I've got Medicinal for parachutes." said Yuruko. "We can cast out on a raft if we land in the ocean."
"And Blackburn for food." chimed Naomi.
"Oh, uh -" said Serena - "I gotta warn you about Thailand, though. So, they still have a king, and they're -super- in to him. If you insult him, you can get prison time, legit."
"Legit?" laughed Mia, and Serena nodded.
"Yeah. They gave a dude seventy years because he insulted the king online."
"I won't say a word about him."
◆◆◆
Matoi had given them approval without question. The next night, the four sat badgeless in the plane's middle-row, emergency exit doors beside. Serena's head was on Yuruko's shoulder, chemist with her handheld gaming.
'…ugh. When does this fucking tutorial end? I should've played Monster Hunter instead.'
With a sigh, she took another cartridge out of her pocket. Serena's head shuffled beside and Yuruko smiled. Hanna hadn't visited her head in a year. She started thinking whether Serena would look that different, but Yuruko had always been more personality-driven than appearance.
A shout came from the front-row; a man shot up -
" - alright! This is - this is a fucking mid-flight robbery! I have a Revenant, and - give me all your shit!"
Yuruko glanced at Mia&Naomi on the other end, stone woman nodding as she prodded Mia awake.
"Revenant." she whispered, and Mia nodded drowsily.
"…of course." she sighed, head shaking as she sat up, front-row passengers already giving him all their shit. Yuruko awoke Serena & relayed it, and the second mentor&protege duo started grinning, eyes on Serena's exit door.
He started down the row. Naomi took the aisle seat as he came closer, and as he stepped up - " - give me your -"
- Avalanche's arm gripped his neck - " - brace yourself, dumbass!"
- and threw him clear through the exit door & out of the plane; the man screamed the entire way down -
- and streams of fog refilled the door as the four laughed, passengers weak with relief behind.
"All good!" laughed Serena, and Mia nodded as they took up the front to address the civilians.
"You're safe, now."
"Yep." chimed Naomi, stonearm flexing.
◆◆◆
The next morning (with the timezone difference, just after their flight), the four arrived at a house near Thailand's Chokchai Academy, only a mile away from the far smaller gates. (Thailand's academy only had six students.)
Serena knocked at the door.
"It's not at a hospital or Chokchai?" said Mia.
"Nah." said Yuruko. "Just someone who does it out of their home. They speak English, though."
The door opened, and there stood a woman Serena knew as Kamon, wearing a chambray shirt, loose pants and a smile.
"Hi." chimed Serena. "I'm Serena Kunst. Did you get my call?"
Kamon nodded and gestured for them to come to the living room. Serena & Yuruko removed their shoes at the door, and the other two went along before following Kamon to the couch, door at the other end.
"Have a seat." they nodded. "Do not worry about etiquette - I won't be offended. You're American, yes?"
"Right." nodded Serena. "Um, we're all Urasaria students - North America's academy. This is Yuruko - my girlfriend - and Mia - Naomi."
"It's nice to meet you." said Mia, and Kamon smiled.
"Of course. You, as well." They went to the door, shut it before returning. "Is this your first time in Thailand?"
"Yeah." said Serena. "Um. I told them about the ... king."
"Excellent - I was about to warn you. My name is Kamon. Shall I explain what I do?"
Serena nodded.
"The Thai government, as part of Chokchai Academy, pays me a minor salary to ensure my service stays. I would do this for free, if I could, but the payment goes directly to the government. I am sorry if this has caused you any undue stress."
"Just … a bit of a wait." said Serena, mustering a nod. "What does your Revenant do, exactly, though? Um - there's not really much online information about you, besides a few people who said you, uh… Change sex?"
Kamon nodded. "The Revenant will change your biology drastically. Your chromosomes - skeletal structure - genitalia. I only began some years ago, when I realized it could be used on others, but the government has deemed me fit to practice."
"… S-Sweet." said Serena, stifling a patch of nerves back. She'd kept the moment out for long enough.
"And yes - you will not have to take hormones anymore." laughed Kamon. "I understand that some do not enjoy the side-effects."
"They're all off-label for trans women, anyway." laughed Serena. "Risk of blood clots, lowers blood pressure, makes you pee all the time." Her lips pinched. "…uh. Speaking of."
"Through the door - there, and third door at the left." laughed Kamon, and Serena nodded as she went across the room. They waited for her to go through the door, and their eyes went back to the three women seated.
"Allow me to prank her." they whispered, and the three gave them a glance. "GCS."
They saw Kamon's appearance change to a man's. The three caught on as they heard a flush, and soon, Serena walked out and back.
Her eyes went odd for a second as she sat. "… um. Yeah. So…"
"Something amiss?" said Kamon, voice matching appearance, and Yuruko nodded.
"What's wrong, Serena?"
"… uh. The lady who was just here?"
Kamon laughed. "My assistant. She's very beautiful, isn't she?"
Serena scratched her neck's back. "Doesn't she have the Revenant? Kamon?"
"It's a dual Revenant." grinned Naomi. "Uh, you do the … male to female, right?"
"Yes, yes." nodded Kamon. "She must have assumed, with how well you pass as a woman, that you must be female to male."
Serena stifled a smile. "Oh, um, I'm male-to-female."
"Are you sure you need this? You do pass very well."
Yuruko stifled her own smile at Serena's.
"… You're screwing with me." laughed Serena.
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Mia laughed. "I wonder how long we could have kept that up -"
" - probably the entire trip." laughed Yuruko.
"It's very amusing - particularly when my patient comes alone." said Kamon. "One man did not realize it until he had flown out of the country. GCS." They swapped back to feminine. "But, Serena. Do you have any questions, or would you like to start now? The procedure will take some time for you to recover from - a few days to a week. I shall prepare your meals for as long as it takes."
"Is it, um - gonna hurt?"
"Yes. Your skeleton will be reformed. Your Y chromosome will be removed from all of your cells, and replaced with an X. Let alone - ah, your ... lower half."
"Sounds… kinda rough."
"It is. Unfortunately, it will not change you instantly - like it does myself. I cannot tell you it's like having a bone broken and mended or like a caterpillar to a butterfly. It's not romantic."
"…what, uh, happens down there?"
"Would you prefer your friends wait outside for that explanation?"
"Y-Yeah."
◆◆◆
Kamon came out an hour later. "It has started. She asked to begin now - she's staying in a room down the hall."
"Will there, er…?" Mia's eyes went down, not wishing to offend.
"You are concerned for your friend." They nodded. "There will be a period of adjustment, but I would like for you three to stay here with her. I have two extra rooms, and a couch - but I would ask you not look in to Serena's room. Her body will be undergoing rapid changes. I know that my patients usually prefer to be unseen until they have finished - and Serena requested this, as well."
"Will it affect her Revenant?" said Mia.
Kamon smiled. "No. She will be the Serena you know - in, perhaps some ways, new - but her personality, her Revenant - it will all be the same."
"Good." nodded Yuruko. "I-I can't wait to see how she looks."
"I am sure she feels the same."
◆◆◆
The four, sans Serena, had lunch the next day. A masculine Kamon made fried basil and pork, and a feminine ate. "I've already given Serena her portion. I would estimate four days left. Her voice has already begun to change."
"It must be cool to - uh, for you - to be able to change like that instantly." laughed Yuruko.
"It's certainly given me a unique perspective. I was born female, and as a young girl, my Revenant was registered - but deemed to cause no harm. At the time, I could only use it on myself. In Thailand - transsexual people are considered a sort of… third gender. For better or worse."
"For better or worse?" said Mia.
Kamon nodded. "In some ways - it's easier to accept them as… yes. A sort of third gender. Not as in Western countries, from what I know. Easier to create a new box, rather than expand the old. But it bothers some to... not be considered how they wish to be considered. It's why I am always happy to find a new patient - my Revenant helps remove doubt from themselves. Traditional surgery is irreversible - but I am always on-call, if they do find they regret it. Fortunately, every client I have has always been happy."
"Serena did mention that. The doubt." said Mia. "We had fought a Revenant that allowed us to combine, and she said that, er… being in our body, so to speak, helped her."
"Good thing the lower half was your's." grinned Yuruko, setting Mia awkwardly nodding.
Naomi laughed.
"As I was saying." laughed Kamon, driving the heat from Mia. "It's given me an odd perspective. When I walk alone at night - I often change to male. I've held jobs where they do not know - where I was hired because I was male, I believe. I find it discomforting to be 'male' for too long, so to speak… But it feels odd to not use the advantage when it is so presented to me."
"The advantage?" said Naomi.
"She means -" said Mia -
" - they." laughed Kamon. "Please."
" - er - they." smiled Mia. "They mean the advantages of being male, in some situations."
Kamon nodded. "When I can, I attend a women's group nearby - but in some ways, I find it difficult to relate to their struggles. If I chose to - I could opt out - but they cannot."
"Er - could you, though?" mumbled Yuruko. "Serena says she was really depressed before she started hormones. So, if you tried to be male…"
"Now you understand why I am always happy to have clients. I understand their pain - and I want to provide care and understanding for them."
"Yeah. I wish I could … see what she sees too, I guess. Sometimes she'll ask me about her voice, if it's too masculine - but I mean, she just sounds like any other chick to me."
"I mean, I didn't even realize until Serena told me." laughed Naomi, and Mia smiled.
"It was a surprise for me as well."
Kamon stood. "Speaking of - she requested a meal for dinner that I do not have the ingredients for. I must go out - will one of you keep watch?"
"I will." nodded Mia, and Yuruko with her.
"Um, I can get it, if you want." chimed Naomi, and Kamon smiled.
"Allow me a few minutes. I'll write down the list - where to find it - and anything else you need to know. Phrases."
◆◆◆
Naomi'd been surprised at how similar Thailand's grocery stores were to American ones, but there were only a few ways to arrange food anyway. She started wondering if she should be visiting more countries; even if it was cliched, she still didn't feel like a fully-formed adult. Julia was odd, and she had been trying to push her out of mind, but some of the film she had spoken on were lingering.
Cart filled, she stepped up to the cashier. She glanced down at the list of phrases, and in the next instant -
- she heard a scream from the backs aisle that she didn't need to know Thai to understand, and she rushed out of the line & left her cart behind, making her badge prominent as she ran to the scream's source -
- and saw a half-corroded corpse clinging to the right shelf with a few boils bursting; she stepped to the side -
- just in time to avoid the geyser of pus shooting out and past her. She glanced back and stomped for a stone wall, and in to the barrier went the liquid, corroding a hole through, and as her eyes shot up -
- she swept back just in time to avoid the man she knew was her foe dropping out from the ceiling, body covered in green boils that burst as he hit the ground, sending geysers of pus towards her -
- and she swept to the side again as she started stepping back, twenty feet separating the two but knowing she couldn't get in close. She raised her stone-arm and a few stone bullets popped a few postules, and he started shambling towards her.
"Fuck." she muttered, relevantly, upping her backstep's pace, hands searching the wall for a fire alarm; she pulled it -
- and nodded as it filled the store; ahead, more boils flew towards her -
- but a stone hand burst out of the ground and grabbed them tight, corroding away once its sacrifice was done. No strategy yet but needing space, she rushed back through the evacuated store, making sure he was following her as she came to the entrance and glanced back. More boils flew towards her, but she had a good set of legs from dancing and got her feet away from them.
Once he was thirty feet away from her, she backed out of the store & stomped for a stone wall at her left -
- and rushed down the sidewalk right, eyes turning back with a powerline overhead -
- and she ran in to a black-haired woman, menagerie of metal jewelry jingling around her wrists&neck as the two fell back.
"Chokchai!" shouted the woman, shooting to her feet -
" - Urasaria!" shouted Naomi, and with a quick nod, the woman pulled her up. A gesture from Naomi, and the two started back and away, eyes sharp ahead for their foe shambling out of the store.
"P̄hī kr- ka?" said the woman, gesturing to Naomi.
"Uh - pie?" said Naomi; and the two groaned, the universal language. "Um - wait."
The stone woman held her stone arm out. A stone bullet erupted out; she stomped for an ankle-high wall.
"Kâo jai láew ka." murmured the woman, nodding. "Kâo jai láew ka."
"Avalanche."
"Kâo jai láew ka."
"No, Avalanche."
"Ka."
"No! Avala-"
- a dozen boils shot towards the woman -
" - Rong Fịf̂ā!" shouted the woman, and in the next instant -
- she disappeared with nothing left but her jewelry, vibrating slightly as it hit the ground. Naomi frowned, no clue what the hell her Revenant was. She saw their foe ahead and noticed his boils weren't regenerating; cautiously, she stomped down -
- and a spiked stonefist burst out of the ground & popped his backne like a sheet of bubbles; at her side, an arc of blue lightning shot between the woman's jewelry and the powerline, and as another boiled volley flew towards Naomi -
- a dozen bolts of blue lightning burst out of the line & popped them alive; Naomi staggered back just in time to avoid the poisonous cloud, coughing as the woman dropped out of the powerline behind him -
- and one blue-lightning fist to the back threw him to the ground, boils disappearing as he fell unconscious. Naomi nodded and smiled, but felt awkward to see her already on her tablet.
"…uh. All good?" she chimed.
The woman nodded, eyes not rising. "Kob jai ka."
Comprehending absolutely none of it, Naomi nodded.
◆◆◆
The following afternoon, the three had pad thai with a feminine Kamon.
"Let me know if this is too spicy." said Kamon to the three teary faces around the table. "Our food does have a reputation."
"It's alright." winced Mia. Matoi's prank had been mild in comparison.
"Just f-fine." winced Yuruko, forming a tissue, and as she blew in to it -
- a shriek came from Serena's room -
"- I believe I know what has occurred." laughed Kamon, waving the three down. "Please - do not worry."
Yuruko's phone vibrated, and she took it quick.
(Serena) "NEED KAMON"
"She needs you." said Yuruko, and Kamon nodded as they went out of the room.
"… Man." mumbled Naomi. "That sounded pretty painful."
"I hope she's alright." murmured Mia, still tense.
"She'd tell me." chimed Yuruko, and as she disintegrated her tissue -
" - you didn't tell me it'd just F-FALL OFF!" shouted Serena's voice from the other room.
◆◆◆
The four had samosas before lunch the next day, and a masculine Kamon spoke.
"The most drastic of the changes has passed." they smiled. "She is very pleased, I believe, but eager to finish."
"Uh, speaking of." said Naomi. "When we got here, you told Serena you were part of the academy?"
Kamon nodded. "Yes. My salary is half that of a student's - already quite low - but the government has ensured that, in exchange for the fee I charge, they will keep me… ah - what is the phrase? Above water?"
"Something like that." grinned Yuruko.
"I remember … fifteen or so years ago, when I was eighteen. I was not entirely pleased with the arrangement - that the government takes my fee - but it is better that than the alternative."
"Why does the, um… government pay you, anyway?" said Yuruko. "Serena said there's statistically, probably only like thirty trans people with Revenants."
Kamon nodded. "They were worried that my Revenant may be used for criminals attempting to hide their identity. The minor salary I receive is more of a bribe - but I chose to live near Chokchai for my safety."
"Has anyone ever tried?" said Naomi. "To use it like that?"
"There have been a few - but the academy knows when I have appointments, and only registered students are allowed to visit me. Anyone else is arrested very quickly. In one particularly - ah, at-risk case - they had me change her sex to male and back, to ensure they could recognize her as either."
"Damn." murmured Naomi.
"I - er, don't know if I should ask, but…" said Mia. "Has there ever been a transgender Chokchai student?"
"There has." said Kamon. "She does not speak English - otherwise, I would have introduced Serena to her."
"…wait." said Naomi. "Uh, does she have black hair? Lots of jewelry?"
"… Is she still wearing all that? I told her she would look better without it." murmured Kamon, shaking their head, and the four laughed.
"I wouldn't have even - dang." said Naomi. "I guess like - that makes sense why they'd be scared of... Like that um - movie where the guys dress up in drag. Some Like It Hot."
Yuruko frowned. "Uh. Don't make that comparison, c'mon."
"Huh?" It struck her a second later, and her whole face pinched. "I - shit, um - sorry."
"… yeah." mumbled Yuruko. More than a few Urasaria lesbians had insulted her relationship with Serena & her own bisexuality - she was sensitive towards it. "I just - I know you didn't mean it, but. That chick's a chick, and Serena's my girlfriend. Even if she never got this, she'd still be my girlfriend."
"Sorry." winced Naomi. "Um - I didn't mean to imply that she's… Yeah. She is a woman. Not… yeah."
"She is." smiled Kamon. "… Though. I admit, Serena's height is amusing."
"What do you mean?" said Mia, and Kamon laughed.
"Is her height normal for America?"
"5'3?" said Yuruko. "Um - she's short, considering… yeah. She said once she got on hormones, she stopped growing, so."
"Good. I was not sure if you had something in the water there."
◆◆◆
A masculine Kamon woke the three the next morning, and the three had rice soup with them.
"I've already given Serena her portion." they nodded as they sat. "She is very happy - but tired. We'll see her after breakfast."
"It's done, then?" said Naomi.
"It is." Kamon nodded. "Her appearance has changed, but you will recognize her."
"Good." nodded Mia. "I hope it wasn't too painful for her."
Kamon laughed. "Fortunately, the majority of changes came while she was sleeping - though while we were talking, earlier, her shoulders did look quite amusing."
"What do you mean?" said Yuruko.
"The difference between male and female skeletons - the typical broad shoulders. Her bones began to shrink and adjust - but her skin had not, so it looked like a crumpled cloth for a few minutes."
The four smiled, and only took a few minutes for their meals.
"… You really are eager." laughed Kamon and stood. They lead the three to the door adjacent, down the hall, two doors on each end.
"Brace yourself." chimed Yuruko, and the three took breath deep at the first-right.
With a nod, Kamon pressed open the door -
- and in the bed laid Serena. Her cheeks were softer, shoulders narrower, hips wider, eyes closed, hair messy.
"…wait, did she get shorter?" said Yuruko, walking over.
"It is possible."
"Maybe an inch." laughed Naomi. "She's gonna be like, dwarf-size now."
"I guess she did lose a few." muttered Yuruko.
Mia nodded, mind too pure to catch it. "It looks like an inch or two. Is she sleeping?"
"…nnnn." murmured Serena, swaying her head. Her voice had changed. "… just was napping…"
"Awww." Yuruko leaned down to kiss her. "... Man, you even smell different. I didn't even realize that'd change, too."
"No, that might be 'cuz…" She sat up and swayed. "I haven't showered in a few days. Uh. Plus, I'm starting to cramp. Kinda bloated."
Kamon stifled a laugh.
"W-wait. It does that too?" panted Serena.
"I did say everything."
[END OF ARC: KAMON]