A/N: Chapter 8 of Crimson Wing. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. Coppelion belongs to the rightful owner.

Special thanks to the reviewers and to the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.


Chapter 8: Sunset (I)

On the road...

"I'd just be a burden if I went with you." Shiba told us as he stood back, letting Ibara take over the wheel. "I'm going to head back to base."

"The helicopter will be here in about an hour." Ibara said as she looked at him, resting both hands on the steering wheel. "Just wait for it."

"See you later Professor!" Aoi yelled as we waved goodbye to him and he in turn, lifted his arm in farewell. Meanwhile the giant crow finally crashed into the river. Broken debris and other materialistic goods flowed out of the broken aircraft, littering the lake.

"Damn it!" The soldier with the number 1 on his helmet cursed as he hoisted himself out of the river. "Of all the places to be shot down...!"

"Shut up!" His buddy replied, coughing out some of the water from his lungs. "If I didn't land here, we would have died!"

"Dumbass! The only reason we were even able to make it this far was because of the protective armor of the B-2!"

"What do we do now!?" The soldier with the number 2 on his helmet started to hyperventilate since their suits had cracks in them thanks to the crash. "At this rate we'll get exposed to the radiation! Uwaaa...let's hurry up and get out of here!"

"You really are a dumbass...!"

"Alright! We made it!" The tires screeched to a halt and we jumped out of the jeep, Ibara in the lead with her gun fully loaded. "Stay close to me okay?"

"They're armed right? We should proceed with caution." I warned as we advanced towards the entrance.

"Ha! If anything, we're equally armed and dangerous to boot!" Kaige laughed.

"Ibara-senpai!" Aoi suddenly spoke, covering her nose with one hand and pointed with the other. "O-Over there..."

"Shit..." Ibara cursed when we realized that the bodies of the two soldiers who operated the giant crow lay on the ground with blood coming out of their mouths. "We're too late..."

"They've been exposed to some serious radiation..." Kaige said as she inspected the bodies. "They're as good as dead, if they aren't already."

"Where do you think they were from...?" Taeko asked as Aoi clung to her stating that she hated corpses.

"It seems like whoever employed them didn't know about the severity of the radiation here." Ibara said with a sad expression on her face. Gazing through the helmet she could only see the eyes of the soldier but she knew that he had suffered until the radiation took his life.

"It seems like they were working for someone..." I said as I glanced over their uniforms with a calm expression. "They were probably hired mercenaries." Turning my head to the opening I quickly ran through the opening that opened up to the river. "There it is! The stealth craft is still there!"

"Perfect. Let's go take a look." Ibara gave me a quick glance. "Mind giving us a lift?" Shifting to my wyvern form, I flew towards the half-sunk aircraft with everyone on my back.

"Ibara-senpai! There's something in the water!" Aoi exclaimed when we got close. "It's a bunch of yellow barrels...what are they...?!" I quickly hovered over the water's surface so that we could get a closer look.

"Kaz! There's one floating over there so try to get close to it as possible." Kaige said and I could see one of the barrels on the surface and I flew over to see what it was.

"There's a radioactive symbol on it!" Taeko said, adjusting her glasses. "This is...extremely radioactive nuclear waste!"

"Nu-Nuclear waste...?!" Aoi looked shocked.

"Leftover Uranium-235 from the electric generation in the power plant..." Taeko explained. "It was probably left here so that it could break down into Plutonium and then used again to generate electricity."

"But...After the Plutonium gets used up, the radioactive waste that's left over is even more deadly." Ibara spoke with a grim expression. "That's a canister to hold highly radioactive waste. It's made by solidifying glass and then encasing it in metal..."

"So in other words this is basically a giant dumping ground for all of the harmful waste from the power plant." said Kaige but there wasn't any humor in her voice.

"Waste...but then what's it all doing at the bottom of this lake?" Aoi asked as she looked at all of the barrels submerged in the water. "And there's so much of it too..."

"This explains a lot..." Ibara spoke, the gears in her mind were spinning. "The reason why there's so much radiation around here is because of these barrels. The waste from these barrels is leaking out and causing the radiation to increase."

"But how...who would come here, and how did they manage to get all these barrels here?" Taeko asked.

"Could it be-" Ibara turned to look at the aircraft with interest. "Kaziah, take me closer to that plane." I obeyed her and hovered close to the craft so that she could land safely.

"Be careful Sempai!" Aoi said as Ibara carefully leaned over to peer through the broken window.

"Damn...it's just as we thought!" She announced after a few minutes. "There's barrels inside!"

"Since there's no longer any regulation in this city, people are coming here to drop off their nuclear waste...in those stealth crafts." Taeko said. Pulling out a radio, Ibara quickly relayed information back to the vice principal and awaited for him to contact her back.

"What did you say...?!" Mishima's voice came in over the radio after a few minutes of silence. "Highly radioactive nuclear waste?!"

"Yeah...the people we were chasing here came to dump all of their waste at the lake." Ibara confirmed. "We tried looking for reprocessed Plutonium as well but...there isn't any. It's just nuclear waste. We're looking for clues right now-"

"Ibara-sempai! Look at this!" Aoi said. She leaned over the side of my neck and pulled up one of the many floating debris in the lack. "It looks like a sticker...there's a logo for Yellow Cake on it."

"What?!" The vice principal's voice stated in shock. "Yellow Cake?!"

"Do you know what it is?" Ibara asked when Aoi handed her the object and she looked at the sticker carefully.

"I'm pretty sure...that there was a Japanese back-end company that went by the name 'Yellow Cake'." Mishima said with an edge in his voice. "The reason why it's a back-end company is because it was a company that processed all of the nuclear waste from other nuclear plants."

"Due to the Nuclear Non-Proliferati on Treaty, the government was supposed to handle that processing but...the government wasn't capable of processing it, so it handed the job off to a foreign private company."

"Then...are you saying that company brought all of its waste here?" Ibara asked.

"That's right..." Mishima said with a nod of his head. "It's probably coming from overseas. They're probably getting paid a great deal to dump all of their waste here. That radioactive waste is so highly toxic that there's no safe place to store it."

"So exactly how dangerous is this?" Kaige asked. "Do you how much radiation is released per hour?"

"Assume that the entire lake is covered with these barrels, I assume that they release an average of 1500 sieverts of radiation per hour." said Mishima. "A normal human being would be killed from this radiation in just 20 seconds."

"That's so high...1500 sieverts..." Taeko said as she looked at the counter. "This counter can't even register it."

"But...this waste is made from all of the nuclear plants..." Ibara said. "Isn't it supposed to be buried underground for a few centuries until it's harmless?"

"A few hundred years...who's going to bother with it at that point?" Mishima asked and when he didn't receive an answer he continued. "You guys probably understand that best of all right? This mountain of waste was created from our own greed, and it's our burden to bear..."

"But this much waste is way more than any country can produce by itself...right?" Kaige spoke up from where she sat on my head. "Is that why Tokyo was abandoned? It was because every country was searching for a place to store all of their waste."

"A place to store their waste...you don't mean-" Ibara couldn't finish her sentence as the vice principal confirmed her worst fear.

"If you choose a place that's already been destroyed by radiation...even if you dump more in there, nothing will change. Yellow Cake was probably thinking along those lines, and offered to take everyone's nuclear waste for a high place. They took up all of mankind's burden...and dumped it in Tokyo."

"What are those bastards thinking...!" Ibara suddenly yelled with anger, throwing the sticker back into the lake with frustration. "Just how depraved are those assholes!"

"Ibara-sempai! Calm down!" Taeko's voice floated through with worry.

"Do you want electricity so badly...! That you can just forget about what happened 20 years ago?!" Ibara collapsed on top of the aircraft and banged her fist against it, tears streaming down her face. "Just what the hell...do you think Tokyo is...!"

"Kaz...take us back to shore." Kaige spoke and I nodded my head with agreement. Gently picking Ibara up by the back of her shirt, I slowly flew back to shore and away from the dumping grounds.

"...It's Kamata from Fuchuu base..." Another radio came to life, getting everyone's attention immediately. "I've heard all about it. Is the professor still there?"

"He's still not in the base...!?" Wiping away her tears, Ibara went back to her original self and grabbed the radio.

"Huh...?" Kamata paused to look behind him to see Granny Ayame and Mr. Wolf standing there looking at him. "Ah...I thought for sure he was still with you guys."

"Professor where are you!?" Ibara shouted into the radio, knowing that their radios were in sync. "You can hear me, can't you?! Please answer! Dr. Shiba! Where are you...!"

"Everything that has happened is my fault." His voice finally floated through, sounding full of despair and regret. "I opened a box that was not supposed to be opened...without knowing how to close it."

"No...everyone had a hand in it." Ibara assured him.

"That's right Doctor!" Kamata's voice shouted through. "How can you be expected to shoulder that burden by yourself!?"

"How many times do we have to tell you that, blockhead!" That was Granny Ayame's voice.

"Umm...you shouldn't blame yourself." Taeko's tentative voice followed after hers.

"I guess I should say thanks." Shiba said after listening to their voices. "I've hesitated before, but now I've made up my mind. This time I'll accept the blame for the accident...with the pride of a scientist! Kamata...I'll leave the rest to you."

"P...Professor!?" Kamata said with surprise.

"Goodbye." With that, the radio wave turned off and the doctor cut off all means of communication.

"No way...it looks like he's actually going to go through with it." Aoi said.

"We're going back!" Filled with vigor, Ibara yelled at us to kick it in gear and we all high-tailed it back to the entrance where the vehicle was waiting. "Let's get going! Back to the jeep!"

"What...!? Denjirou Shiba is gone...!?" The vice-principal's voice shouted through the radio.

"We're going after him right now!" Ibara yelled back at him as she floored the gas pedal."We're going to need a helicopter here asap!" She jerked hard on the steering wheel, causing the tires to screech in defiance.

"S...Senpai!" Aoi screamed from the back as she held onto the seat in front to keep from being thrown off. "Are you trying to kill us?!"

"He couldn't have gone far...!" Ibara gripped the steering wheel tightly till her knuckles turned white. "Damn it..! Why does everything have to go wrong?"

"The world is saved..." Taeko spoke softly even though she gazed in front of her in a sad expression. "If Tokyo...if Tokyo is made a sacrifice."

"I'd destroy that kind of world!" Ibara confidently stated. "The past is what made us who we are today. What's waiting ahead of us is the future! As long as there's still time...as long as there is one second before the end, never turn back!"

"...such wise words." Kaige whistled with approval as the rest of us just gazed at the leader with admiration. "That was touching, Chief!"

"We're here!" Ibara used her foot to press the brake and turned the wheel so that the jeep made a complete 360 before stopping. "This is the road where we separated!" We all hopped out of the vehicle and started to yell for the professor.

"Professor! Professor Shiba!" I yelled, gazing around to see if there were any movements that responded to my voice.

"Please come out!" Aoi shouted in another direction.

"No one is blaming you!" Taeko added.

"Shit..." cursed Ibara as she held onto a rusty vehicle license plate, gazing around as the rest of us continued to yell our lungs out. "Does anyone have any idea where he went?"

SHFF- BEEP-

"Over here Kamata! Old Lady Ayame has been saying something strange since earlier!" The sound of the old lady cut across our fruitless search and we all crowded around Ibara as she held the radio in her hand.

"When I was visiting Mr. Okuni..." Ayame spoke. "I once talked to the professor, who worked as a delivery boy at the time. That there is this great Buddah in the open country of Musashi. Where they preach to those on the Ishokujuu road and even gave magical healing and charms." She laughed as she remembered the cherished memory. "And then I told him...that the Buddah looked just like him! Ahaha!"

"Was that of any use to you guys?" Kamata took over as the old woman continued to rattle off her story that only Mr. Wolf was willing to listen to the end.

"What if...he's at the spirit shrine in Okuni..." Taeko asked.

You three are like the Zelkova Serrata. Professor Shiba's words floated through Ibara's mind and she could imagine the professor standing right before her with the wind blowing gently behind him. Standing stern in the dead earth...

"Get in the jeep!" She finally ordered in a firm voice, getting our attention immediately. "We're going to that shrine!"

"Naruse!" Principal Mishima's voice floated through another radio as the girls hopped in. "The helicopter is scheduled to arrive in 30 minutes!"

"Got it!" Ibara replied, already driving the vehicle as fast as it possibly could. "Please land at the Fuchuu base in Kouji!" Kaige opted for another mode of transportation and so she is currently sitting on my neck as I flapped my wings powerfully and glided smoothly over the jeep; apparently she couldn't handle Ibara's outrageous driving.

"Listen up!" Mishima continued speaking. "Don't let the doctor die by any means! He must be captured alive!"

"Captured alive..." Aoi spoke quietly from the back seat. "What an awful thing to say..."

"There's no choice." Ibara said. "Almost everyone in the Vice-principal's family died in the nuclear accident 20 years ago. His wife, and little daughter. That's why the professor is taking this so hard." She turned to look at the other two girls with sad eyes. "You all heard the rumor in school didn't you?"

"I did, but..." Aoi refused to

"The delivery boy always took me with him to the shrine." Ayame's voice floated through so we all decided to listen to what she wanted to say. "Even when we were climbing stairs, he would always help me. He didn't even complain once. I was already old at the time. I have pity for the boy...He's already done more than enough to redeem himself. I've long since forgiven him."

"Make sure you tell him that yourself." Ibara said with a cheerful smile on her face.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this sentimental moment but...there it is!" Kaige shouted and pointed with an arm. "It's the gateway! We're at the shrine!" The jeep screeched to a halt as I landed right next to them, lowering myself to the ground so that my raider could jump off safely.

"All right...it's not as polluted as I thought here." Ibara concluded after looking around and checking the level of radioactive meter. "If he's wearing his protective suit, he should be all right!"

"Okay!" Kaige said and started to run off. "Kaz and I will go and look on the left side then!"

"Right behind you!" I chirped, running after her and the two of us disappeared off on our search.

"I'll look for a sign in that abandoned building. Aoi, you check the right side and take Taeko with you!" Ibara ordered and we all split off. After wondering around, she came across the main shrine that looks as though it hasn't been visited by a large group of people. "Hmm? I guess it would be good to keep our customs." She approached and clasped her hands together in prayer.

"Isn't it beautiful?" A raspy voice spoke, startling her and gave her goosebumps. "I make sure to take care of it every month..."

"Professor!" Ibara exclaimed, hurrying over to him with relief. "Finally...!" She came to a halt and stared with horror at what she saw.

"What a nice breeze." Dr. Shiba spoke with a smile on his face. "The sun's rays..." He lifted up a hand as if he wanted to physically touch the light source. "...who would have thought they would be so warm...beautiful..."

"Your mask..." Ibara spoke after recovering from her shock. "How long have you had your protective mask off...!?" The old scientist gently picked the mask up and placed it in his lap.

"Just now..." He replied with a sigh. "As I heard your footsteps."

"That means we've only got 10 minutes...! Crap!"

"Senpai...!" Aoi shouted as we ran up to the scene. "Your kidding..."

"What are you doing! Your mask..." Taeko yelled as well.

"I've injected him with Etel!" Ibara spoke, moving the professor and putting one of his arms around her shoulders. "The radiation won't change to being ion penetrating yet!"

"But...that only lasts 10 minutes!" Taeko exclaimed with worry.

"We gotta get to Fuchuu base!" Ibara said as she started to make her way to where the jeep was parked. "Hurry!"

"Kaz can make it there faster than that load of crap!" Kaige said as I morphed into my wyvern form and crouched low with my wings tucked. "Chief! You and the professor ride on her. I'll drive the jeep back with Taeko and Aoi."

"Okay, we'll go with this plan!" Nodding her head with agreement, Ibara made her way to me and climbed on, settling herself comfortably before motioning for Dr. Shiba to climb on. With Kaige and Taeko's help, the three of them managed to adjust Dr. Shiba so that he was laying snug and secured on my back with Ibara right behind him so that he wouldn't fall off.

"He doesn't look too good." Kaige commented as the other two girls rushed towards the jeep, taking note of his pale skin. "Make sure they get there on time okay?" I purred slightly with a nod of my head.

"Thanks Kaige!" Ibara said as I unfurled my wings, slowly rising off the ground with a couple beats. "We'll see you there!"

"God's speed Chief!" Kaige yelled, watching as I turned towards where the base was. With a loud screech I took off, zooming over the treeline with my raiders holding on for dear life. Smiling, Kaige ran towards the jeep and leaped into the driver's seat with the other two girls already in the vehicle. "Let's get going Aoi! Taeko!"