Vena Cava - Author Notes for the past 8 chapters

I'd like to express my utmost thanks to those who continue to support and read not only Vena Cava but also Fists and Lipsticks and Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent. Although the latter two stories have been finished a year or more ago, the support, e-mails, and messages have been pouring in non-stop to this day and they all leave me very ecstatic and overwhelmed. I truly am blessed to have such readers who, despite my shortcomings (like not being able to update as often because I couldn't type on the keyboard as quickly as I do before, not being able to complete the long-overdue & promised .doc version of Book 2 of The Silver Crescent yet (*hides from flying frying pans*)), are still there to cheer me on. For the time I have not logged in to Soompi (because my mobile browser couldn't open the page for some reason since the 'upgrade'), I have received many pms (whic

h I only got to read today, sorry for the late replies, hehe) and I'm very touched that most of them were inquiring not only about my updates but about my arm injury. Thank you all for your concern. Regarding my arm, I'm still going through rehabilitation and electrotherapy. I can already fully move my arm all the way to my fingers and my wrist drop has improved markedly. Right now, I'm having strength and dexterity exercises and I'm doing pretty much well.

So, here goes my long-overdue Author Notes for my story Vena Cava.

**DO NOT READ THIS PART IF YOU HAVEN'T READ CHAPTER 1 - 8 YET!**

**SPOILERS AHEAD!**

Q: What is a HEART device? Is it the purple sphere with the letters 'VC' on it or the transplanted organ itself? - naizz from Fictionpress

^ The HEART device is the purple sphere...

(See picture above)

...and this device (which comes in different sizes according to where it is placed) is implanted to an organ, whether viable or not. For example, Albert Einstein despite having mental retardation has a fairly viable brain, so the HEART is simply implanted into his cerebrum (Chapter 08: Sue's Vision). Kato Kenta's legs, however, had to be replaced because of muscle atrophy secondary to his paraplegia secondary to his spinal cord injury secondary to trauma (car accident). His transplanted legs were 'manufactured' by the Vena Cava Corporation (Chapter 07: Sue's Risk) and to these legs, the HEART devices are later implanted.

A HEART practically works like how it is named: Human Energy Amplifying and Re-constructive Transplant device, which, in the most understandable explanation, 'powers up' an organ to perform superhuman abilities. Humans who have a HEART are called 'Vectors'.

For instance, let's have the Vector named Kato Kenta, the paraplegic. After having a HEART, he can now run so fast, even climb up and down buildings at ease (Chapter 05: Sue's Classmate). Albert Einstein, who was born with an IQ of 70, after receiving a HEART could memorize an entire encyclopedia and dictionary in less than an hour (Chapter 08: Sue's Vision). Takashi Ayase, the female tattoo artist working with the Black Sigma, who cannot move her fingers due to an acquired paralysis when she was born, became ambidextrous and can paint jaw-dropping artworks using both her hands. Kawakami Masao, born with pituitary dwarfism, can extend/grow his arms and legs to more than thirty meters (Chapter 07: Sue's Risk). Of course, who would forget Nogase Mami, the woman with cancer of the uterus? After getting her uterus transplant and a HEART implant, she can now give birth to a child everyday! In the latest chapter, Sen's HEART is confirmed - his eyes. Yes, he was blind. In fact, clues regarding his HEART were all over Chapter 06: Sue's Ego if you guys happened to catch that, but whether his blindness was caused by Vitamin A deficiency too? Hmm. What do you guys think?

Q: I wonder what happened to him (Sen) losing his eyes? Acid? Birth defect?

- ladyb from Soompi Forums

I'll leave this question hanging for now. This is one of the major mysteries to be uncovered in Vena Cava. Any more guesses?

Sen left a clue in the latest chapter, though --

"Care to tell me all about it?" my eyes were bright with interest. "About how you lost your sight?"

He shook his head, "I don't really like talking about it."

"Was the story behind it that bad? Too scary that it still freaks you just by thinking about it?" I paused, suddenly not sure whether asking him about his HEART straightforwardly was a good idea to begin with.

"It's not because it scares me," he suddenly said in a softer voice, leaning towards me until his face was mere inches away from mine.

"It's because it will scare you."

So let's assume it's really something 'scary'.

Hehe. *hyena grin*.

Q: What was the purpose of that glasses? Is that how Sen could see colors?

- chyne22 from Soompi Forums

Very good observation. I will let the unfolding of the plot in the next chapters explain more about this.

If you want clues regarding this part, let me give you one: re-read Chapter 04: Sue's Stalker. What was Sen doing in that chapter again? Driving? *cough* stoplight *cough*. Not unless he cares the least about Japan road rules like Miyazawa Aya does, well... And I think he was wearing something while driving... :-)

Q: So Sen's HEART is 'taking other people's heart' kind of HEART? - silvernecklaces from Soompi Forums

In Chapter 08: Sue's Vision, Sen revealed the nature of his job in the Black Sigma. He called himself a 'Confiscator', which pretty much explains what he does - confiscates HEARTS of those who abuse it.

How he does it? Don't worry, you'll see more of his 'confiscations' in the next chapters.

Again, Sen's HEART is his eyes. But maybe, just maybe, those blue-black-turning-purple eyes has something to do with his confiscations after all.

Q: - Why did Sen say that Sue was his girlfriend? Does he like her?? And did her heart stop temporarily or for good (when Sue and Sen jumped off the VC Corp building)? - beef taco from Soompi Forums

The conversation between Sen and Shouhei Lascaux during their visit in the VC Corp headquarters dropped some vital clues, the most obvious one is Sen's rather peculiar hostile attitude towards his 'boss' and protectiveness towards Sue (Chapter 07: Sue's Risk). Going back to the previous chapters (Chapter 05: Sue's Classmate), Sen tells Sue - "Little word of advice from me to you, Sue: If I were you, I'd stay away from him."

Or was it really protectiveness? Does Sen like Sue or does he have any ulterior motives?

Regarding the question about Sue's heartbeat, which for some reason stopped again when Sen made her jump off the building with him, it 'suddenly' came back in Chapter 08: Sue's Vision. It wasn't said exactly what happened, whether the heartbeats came back spontaneously or not? This would remain a mystery for now.

On the other hand, Sen said something to her while he was teasing her on the tree. What did he say again? That could be a clue :-). And if we go back a little further back (to Chapter 03: Sue's Revival), there was a time when Sue's heart was about to 'stop' then 're-started'. Who was with her that time and what happened? *cough* something NOT stimulating *cough*.

Q: I remember that Kenta was also caught by VC, but for what purpose? - chyne22 from Soompi Forums

Going back to Chapter 05: Sue's Classmate, the part where Kato Kenta enters the story - he was in an on-going chase running for his life. But why? Good question.

I cannot reveal this part yet because I have a chapter that will answer precisely this- Kato Kenta's 'side story'. But I will drop a big clue regarding this one - What was Kato Kenta holding at that time? And if you have answered this question, I'll ask you another one - Do you remember a similar scenario that happened some chapters back back back back? It just might have something to do with that. *wink*.

Q: I'm confused. Shouhei is part of VC but why is he with Black Sigma? Are they the same? Do they work together or something? - xxSanityx from Soompi Forums

Vena Cava Corporation (or VC) is a company that manufactures medical tools and machines and does nanotechnology research - or at least that's what the others know. In secret, it also happens to be the manufacturer of the HEART devices. Shouhei Lascaux is the heir of this VC corporation, but apparently he had been put on-charge because his father 'got ill' (as mentioned by Oshima Shiori in Chapter 04: Sue's Stalker). And again, I said 'got ill'.

Now who 'goes ill' in the VC corporation anyway? Now your detective imagination is working. Are you brain-fried yet? Hehe.

Regarding the Black Sigma, heavenfalling from Soompi Forums is right. It is indeed a group of Vectors who work for the Vena Cava Corporation tasked to hunt down HEART abusers. Going back to xxSanityx's question, NO they're not the same, but YES - they work together.

And they will be working more and more together in the coming chapters.

Q: Sue first met Sen when he's with the Black Sigma, why don't she reported him to Kojima or other SAT? - lullabunny from Soompi Forums

Because Sue is very, very curious about her 'heart-stopping abilities'. Apparently, the only person who claimed to know about her peculiarity is no other than Sen. He offered to answer all her questions in the condition that Sue 'gives him her heart' a.k.a. 'joins the Black Sigma'. That's the reason why she isn't turning him in. Yet.

Which leads us to this next question too...

Q: Why did Sen lie to Shouhei about why Sue was suddenly recruited into the Black Sigma? - madenloui from Fictionpress

Now this is the confusing part.

For now, just stay confused... and get ready for a bomb, hehe.

Q: If Sen is Oshima Shiori's younger brother and his family owns the university hospital and the school, why does he have to work? - kc_chua from Soompi Forums

Who doesn't ask this question at this point of the story? A gangster, a ramen waiter, a pizza delivery boy, a photographer, an ohagi vendor, a Confiscator - Sen's always seen running around doing random jobs. He seems very enthusiastic about earning money above anything else. Is there any particular reason behind this? Is he just an impulsive workaholic or is he hiding something?

For now, just stay confused too... and get ready for another bomb, hehe.

Also, I'm answering another question unrelated to Vena Cava. I like this question, hehe ----

Q: Let me ask you Hiro, are you more of the Kosu-kun or Crosse-kun type? or let me rephrase the question (your honor), who's character in F&L 1 and 2 do you most likely see yourself? is Aya-chan the characterization of Meia? hmmm... just wondering - jia_kickass from Soompi Forums

Meia and I?

Oh boy, we are like Akio and Lin. Imagine it, hehe.

My brief Q&A would end here for the mean time as my hands aren't cooperating anymore having typed so much text.

Actually, I've brainstormed about the plot of Vena Cava again for the nth time and I'm made some changes in the plot, some minor ones and some major ones. Looking at where this story would go, I'm beginning to think that Vena Cava, though shorter, has the potential of overthrowing Fists and Lipsticks off in terms of plot twists. Oh, this story's gonna be so crooked.

I'm very excited to fry some brains, hehe. Are you too?

Thank you for reading my writing blog. Until the next update!

-Mark