die Folge version eins
Part One; Dramatic Image
Chapter Nine; Please
Don't Ever Forget
Bugger this. I want a better world.
- inscription on Jenny Sparks' gravemarker in The Authority
A rattling sounded and he awoke but didn't stir. The pages of the book in his lap shifted in the air coming in the open window. He'd dozed off; it was no surprise. Ran couldn't remember the last time he'd slept. He could smell miso and teriyaki from the apartment next to his. It made him nostalgic.
Ran opened his eyes slowly and gazed dully at the junction of the ceiling and the far wall where shadows collected in the late afternoon. He could remember waking up like this when he was a boy, and Aya was just a toddler. He'd read her stories beneath his bedroom window, and his room at that time resembled the layout of the apartment, aside from the kitchenette of course. The room had been just like that of any normal boy; his gi crumpled in the corner, waiting for his mother to sigh and snatch it up for the wash, posters tacked carefully to the wall, of sports stars and television shows like Seigi Sentai Choujin 5. Now the walls were bare, with books piled in uneven stacks along the floor.
Ran swallowed and his throat was dry. Shifting the book to the floor he ceased all motion as the rattling came again. Abruptly he moved again, diving forward and rolling to come up on one knee facing his attacker. His eyes widened. " Farfarello! "
The pale and scarred Schwartz member's head lolled to the side, and the dull yellow eye followed Ran's stilted movements towards his katana leaning in the corner. Before Ran had moved even a full step, Farfarello launched himself at him again, catching him with the side of his hand in the neck and throwing Ran off his feet. Ran hit the floor on his shoulder and choked. With a guttural sound, Farfarello turned and swung his foot directly into Ran's diaphragm. Relentlessly, he kicked and jabbed with his heel at Ran until it was all the assassin could do but curl into the fetal position and wait for an opening.
Finally it came when Farfarello drew his leg back further for what would have been an especially powerful kick. Ran's hand snapped out and caught him by the ankle, jerking him off his feet. Before Farfarello even landed, Ran was scrabbling for his weapon. But his hand fell short. Farfarello grabbed his pantleg and drew him back towards him. Ran yelled and struggled against the choke hold the Irishman had him in. Ran drove his elbow back as hard as he could, swearing he felt ribs break under his blows, but still Farfarello clung to him. Ran's vision was going dark, while his mouth gaped, opening and closing as his lungs screamed desperately for air. Incoherently, Ran reached for his sword, his eyes watering with the effort. But it was too far. So he switched tactics.
Ran's hands dropped and moved to Farfarello's thigh, where he pushed as hard as he could and used the leverage to propel himself back around and slam both arms into Farfarello's side. It hurt the neck, but the blow managed to break Farfarello's hold. Ran wheezed, drawing painful breaths even as he got on his knees and punched Farfarello in the face. Once, twice... then Farfarello hefted Ran off of him and halfway across the room to land on his head.
Ran shifted, pushed off the floor with one foot and tackled Farfarello. They skid across the hardwood floor into the stacks of books, where Ran dove to the side in another fierce attempt to get his weapon. Again he was defeated as Farfarello's fingers enclosed the back of his head and rammed his face into the wall. Ran came away with blood streaming from his nose and his right eye swollen, his hand edged up the wall until it touched the stain his face had left and he spun again, snapping Farfarello's head to the side and baring his crimson stained teeth as he sent another punch flying that snapped his assailant's head in the other direction. His katana was forgotten, the thought lost in and consumed by a blind rage.
Farfarello's full lips were spread into a grin that widened with every blow, every attack that deepened Ran's furor. They grappled, tearing the apartment and themselves apart in the process. Ran's unkempt hair crisscrossed his face, little hindering his effectiveness- or what effectiveness he had. Farfarello lashed out, grabbing him by the jaw and tossing him to the floor. There he dropped to his knees directly on Ran's middle, winding him. While Ran gasped, he sidled up and pressed on his ribs with his knees. Ran thrashed, doing everything he could to escape, growling low in his throat. He snapped Farfarello's arm in a move that would have broken an ordinary man and forced himself up, adrenalin feeding him, driving him forward. One hand still grasping the broken forearm, he backhanded Farfarello across the temple.
Farfarello used the momentum from that blow to duck under Ran's defenses and with the heel of his palm he smacked him in the breastbone. Ran keeled back and crashed into the wall. His hand flailed and knocked against the forgotten katana, sending it clattering to the ground. Ran choked, slowed by pain and the fight itself. His head swam for a few precious seconds, before snapping back to clarity as Farfarello lunged at him. Ran seized the sword next to him, drawing it from it's sheath and yelling as he leveled the blade and pushed outwards. The sharp blade breached skin and muscle, sending blood spilling onto the floor. Farfarello choked, reached thin pale fingers for Ran's grim face, and then collapsed.
Ran's arms dropped, his chest heaving with breath while his heart thudded in his chest. His face and various other areas throbbed, while his entire body quivered. The katana blade scraped the floor as he shakingly got to his feet and leaned against the wall, eyeing his victim: unsure of what to do next.
(@)
The airport had been cleaned up from the last time Omi had been there, even though it hadn't really been all that long. There were people clustered there, whether it was coincidence or if they were gawkers he didn't know.
" Call me when you get there, " Youji said at the gate.
" Hai. " Omi handed the flight attendant his ticket. He smiled over his shoulder, " Arigatou, Youjikun. "
Youji rolled his eyes to the ceiling and pushed his sunglasses up unnecessarily. " Get on before you miss your plane, kid. I'll talk to you in a couple hours. "
" Tell everyone I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly. "
" Sure thing. "
" Ja. "
(@)
Sakura's body didn't seem to want to move. She was on her knees, feeling her skin tighten as Nagi's blood dried on her face. With wide, shaking eyes, she watched the blood spread from Nagi's prone body. She watched Elsa saunter out of the gallery. Free. Free to kill again. To kill... Ayachan.
Masaya darted over from where she'd taken cover under the table when the whole thing started. She crouched down and tentatively reached for Nagi. " Shit, is he okay? "
" I... " Sakura's voice wavered, and it sounded far away, as if someone else were speaking, " I don't know. There was... " She took a deep breath and somehow, somehow forced her body to move. Sakura looked around the room, " There was a doctor here. Ayachan's... His name is... oh, what was it...? "
The doctor was suddenly beside her. " I'm right here, Tomoesan. It's alright, " he said gently, comfortingly. His broad hands pushed aside Nagi's hair and collar to feel for a pulse. He looked up at Masaya. " Miss, is someone calling for an ambulance? "
Masaya nodded. " If anything the fire department should be here soon because of the sprinkler system. "
" Good, Naoe... " he looked to Sakura for confirmation, " ... san doesn't have much time. " He turned towards Sakura, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief. " It's okay, " he said assuringly, wiping her face. " It's okay, everything will turn out just fine. "
Masaya looked up and towards the door. " I hear sirens. " She dashed outside.
The doctor smiled. " See? "
(@)
Crawford stood and walked to the window, his hands folded in the small of his back. " Honjou, get the door please, " he said.
Honjou raised his eyebrows but moved to do so. He pulled the door open just as Schuldich stepped off the elevator down the hall. They exchanged vaguely hostile glances as Schuldich approached, and as he passed, Honjou glanced down at his burden and said softly, " Hello, Ayasan. "
Schuldich gave him a dirty look and continued into the office to set Aya down on the couch. Honjou closed the door and followed, a bemused look on his face. He leaned against the side of the couch near Aya's feet, while Schuldich slid into a chair opposite her. Crawford remained at the window.
Presently he spoke, " I'm sure it's well aware that I don't always agree or comply with Esset's wishes. "
" I'm bloody well proof of that, " Honjou smirked. He smiled at Crawford's back a little keener, " Are we to understand that this time around we need to be more sneaky about it? Doesn't work so well if you had that little girl release me. "
" Elsa's telekinetic abilities seemingly make up for her lack of mental capacity, " Crawford said plainly. " She is not a problem. It's the other two we need to be concerned about. "
Schuldich brushed imaginary lint from his slacks. " You're not going to tell us more? " he sounded disappointed.
Crawford scowled at him over his shoulder. Honjou raised his eyebrows at that, apparently he'd missed something there.
" No, " Crawford answered, his displeasure dimly perceptible in his voice, " I'm not. Leave Fujimiya's sister with me. Schuldich, take Honjou to see his queen. " He turned from the window, and fixed his cool, steady gaze on the former Crashers' leader. " Before you forget, Honjou, let me remind you that I still own you; and I have no compunctions about replacing you. "
Honjou smiled wryly, standing apart from the couch and putting his hands in his coat pockets. " I missed you, too, " he joked, and preceded Schuldich out of the room.
Left alone in the spacious office, Crawford crossed the rich hardwood floor to the couch, where he stood over Aya and spent some time watching her peaceful face. Reaching down, he pushed her bangs from her eyes, tidying them, before backing into the chair Schuldich had just vacated. There he steepled his fingers at his mouth and waited. She wouldn't wake for another hour at least, and he paperwork to do that could be done in that time, but somehow, sitting here with her, that didn't bother him.
(@)
Ken rolled over with a groan and swatted at the phone. Picking it up he groggily said, " moshimosh'. " He hissed with pain and shifted his weight as his injured arm protested being rest upon. " Gyuh, " he sat up with the phone and reached for the glass of water he'd left next to the pile of blankets that sufficed as a makeshift bed while his futon was being aired out on the balcony. He made an irritated face and said again, " Moshimoshi? Yo, who is this? "
" Oh! Kensan, I'm sorry, did I wake you? "
" Oh, " he sighed, sipping the water. " Sakurachan. Yeah, but, but don't worry about it. What's up. "
" I- I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd be sleeping, but I guess, I guess... "
Ken finally became coherent enough to note the weary desperation in her voice. He blinked and set down the water, asking, " Doushita, Sakurachan? "
Sakura's small wavering voice continued to ramble across the phoneline, " I'm sorry, it's just, I couldn't get ahold of Youjisan or Omikun, and nobody knows how to contact Ransan, and you were the only person I could think of. I, I didn't know who else to call, and, and I'd rather not get my parents involved in this, I mean, they worry about it enough since Farfarello attacked me, and... "
" Shh, Sakurachan, " Ken interrupted, " calm down, and tell me what happened. " His heart was beating fast, and the sense that something was horribly wrong was creeping over him leaving a cold sweat in it's wake.
Sakura took a deep breath. " They took Ayachan. "
" N- " Ken's breath caught in his throat before he could even finish the word.
" They took Ayachan... " Sakura looked up from the payphone to the double doors she couldn't pass through, " and Nagikun's just gone in for surgery. " She leaned her forehead against the cool wall and fought back tears. She had to be strong. She had to be strong just like, and for everyone else. Realizing the line was silent, she asked, " Kensan? "
" I'll be right over. " Ken said finally. " It might take me awhile; I can't ride my bike yet still, but... what hospital are you at? I'll be right there. "
Part of her wanted to say not to bother, that she'd be fine. She felt guilty for calling and waking him. She couldn't imagine what it must be like to be shot. She couldn't imagine living the way they had at all. But the truth was, she was relieved, so very relieved that someone would be coming to be with her. All the tension went out of her and she answered quietly, " Arigatou, Kensan. " She sniffed and took a deep breath, " We're at the Magic Bus Hospital. I'll be waiting in Emergency. "
" Ee, I'll get dressed and see if I can't catch the bus that passes by here in about ten minutes. Keep trying the store, Youji and Omi might have just stepped out for supper or something. "
" Hai. "
(@)
She looked unhappy, but well enough he supposed. It was hard to tell. Her boisterous curls had come undone, leaving her thick crimson hair to hang straight down to her waist. The melancholy look on her face rather reminded him of Ran. Maybe that was why he enjoyed her company so much.
Honjou picked up the photograph from the bedside table and turned to look at Schuldich in the doorway. " Yes, but where is the real queen? "
Schuldich laughed harshly. " Did you really think Crawford would let you see her? You don't know him at all. "
" Not like you, you mean. "
Schuldich narrowed his eyes, and in the deep shadows they almost disappeared but for the specs of light where they caught glare from the hallway. " Everything you know, I know as well. "
" You know, " Honjou conceded with a smug smile. He added, " but you don't understand. "
Schuldich spat an obscenity at him and left.
Honjou set the photograph down and sat on the bed. He shouldered off his coat and stared at the woman in the plain silver frame. " I wonder, are you really well? " His fingers reached out and skimmed the frame next to her face, pausing next to her eyes. " They can't take care of your broken heart. "
~(@)~
~--------tsuzuku~
Translation notes;
Seigi sentai choujin 5 - Justice Team Superhuman 5
Hai - yes
Arigatou - thankyou
Moshimoshi - 'hello', greeting used when answering the telephone
Doushita - 'what is it?'
Ee - 'sure' or 'yeah', an agreement
[Written by Inseiko, 2002]
