Chapter 10: Day of Recovery and Findings

When I arrived back at HQ, everyone was waiting. And I mean everyone. Hell (and that's not a word I usually use lightly), even Six of all people were there! The moment I came in via teleporter (of course almost tripping over my feet and making an utter fool of myself had it not been for Zero who thankfully caught me), I was swarmed by navigators, the press, other Hunters, and even janitors. My eyes widen, still sluggish and blank for Kat's death, as I was almost thrown to the ground in cheers and hugs as cries went up around me. I would have had a concussion had it not been for the small hand that grabbed my arm and pulled me from the crowd's path. I attempted to see who my savoir was as I was dragged from below the crowd and out of the Command Room, but all the bodies around me caused me to fail from doing so. However, when we hit the hallway, I met my savoir.

She was tiny, with long brown hair and a shock of green for eyes. She wore a blue nurse's uniform with purple accents, and the nurse's symbol on her belt. She smiled softly at me. "My name is Kurumi," she spoke softly. "Mister Lifesaver told me to come and get you. I'm new to the Medical Wing of the Maverick Hunters." I blinked and managed a small smile.

"I suppose you know who I am."

She shook her head and I blinked. Then I smiled because it felt good to be average again. Not some chosen one or ultimate hero (which, come on, I'm clearly not). But to just be... me. "Well, my name is Arain," I introduced. "But almost everyone calls me A." Kurumi smiled and nodded, pulling me along gently. I looked at her and couldn't hide a chuckle. She glanced back at me. "I suppose you probably took my spot," I said. She blinked. "I was a Medical Fighter, but often was stationed at HQ for repairs and the such. Then some... things came up and I became a full fledged Hunter." Kurumi shuddered. "I can't imagine being a Hunter!" she muttered. "I just-I'm not strong like you probably are and Mr. Zero and all the other Hunters. I can't leave the room without feeling like I've been abandoned and left to defend myself. To fight is just..."

She reminded me of someone. I just couldn't remember who.

We entered the Medical Wing after another ten minutes of walking and an elevator ride to find Lifesaver checking over a clipboard. "Injuries, Kurumi?" he asked. She nodded. "Concussion, dizziness, some post-trauma, few broken ribs. That all I could get during the walk," Kurumi answered softly. I blinked as I turned to the small medic. She'd been assessing me as we walked here? Wow, she did a lot better of a job then I ever had. Lifesaver nodded as he grabbed my arm, painfully dragging me into a room as Kurumi waved goodbye. He sat me down in a recharging pod and shook his head at me.

"You are injury-proned," he said simply. I laughed lightly with a nod. "Yeah," I agreed as my eyes shut and sleep began overcoming me, "I am."

Spinning. Spinning. Spinning.

Dance. Dance. Dance.

Circles. Circles. Circles.

I wouldn't stop spinning. I was a ballerina princess on a music box. Spinning. Dancing. Circling. Was I going to keep repeating? Battling. Killing. Death. Am I going to keep seeing all this, and am I expected to feel emotionless through out all this battle? This war? Am I going to keep dancing? Forever and ever and ever? Will I ever stop dancing? Stop slashing, stop killing?

Dance. Kill. Kick. Slash.

I refuse.

I stopped.

I refuse.

I stood as someone screamed.

I.

Refuse.

I stopped and stood, and my tutu and braided hair gone and suddenly I was battle worn and standing in front of Commander Signas with eyes colder than steel.

No.

"Are... you okay?" Kurumi asked as I blinked. I glanced at her and chuckled sheepishly. "What did you say again, I'd drifted off..." I muttered. Kurumi giggled softly. "I said you should rest some more, Arain-san," she repeated. I chuckled weakly. "Ah... okay..." I replied. Kurumi frowned lightly at me. "What's wrong, Arain-san?" she asked. I kept telling her to call me A, but she always seemed to "forget" and call me Arain-san instead. I didn't mind. Well, the -san I did, but I think I'd manage.

"I just-" I sighed. I looked up, my blue eyes staring into Kurumi's hesitant green eyes. "Can I tell you a secret?" Kurumi nodded instantly, her green orbs filled with worry. I sighed quietly and looked down at my hands, my fingers tapping. Then, I simply told her everything. And I mean, everything. Every worry, every fear, every doubt, every fight, every life I've had to end, every person I had never saved when I'd been a Medic Fighter, every trip and fall, every time I cried for... X, every weird sense of familiarity when scoping a 6th rebellion war sight, every sense that what I was doing was just wrong. Just everything. And somewhere through out the whole thing, I started crying (again, as if I hadn't cried enough) and Kurumi just sat there and held me, not even dazed as she listened.

By the end of it, I was exhausted again. Too many emotions ran through me, and I just wanted them to stop. "You've... fought for quite a while... haven't you...?" Kurumi whispered. I nodded as I pulled from her hug of which I'd somehow ended up in and just sighed. "I have," I verbally answered. "I've killed two people, Kurumi. Two people! I never thought I'd see the day where I killed somebody! And now, apparently I have some big power that's caused hell for everyone in the past eight wars and it's just... it's just not happening. I don't think I can do this, Kurumi. I just don't."

"Well, if you can't, who else is going to stop Sigma? Commander Zero has barely gotten back onto the field after five years of being tortured by the Mavericks-" Both Kurumi and I shivered. "-and Commander X and S-ranked Hunter Axl are still being held prisoner. I know Commander Zero has nine war experiences over you, but... I just have this sneaking suspicion that you have to fight." I stared at Kurumi as she winced at her own words. Kurumi clearly hated the thought of fighting, so the fact she was telling me this must have meant that even she believed not fighting was impossible. The brunette was fiddling her fingers as she mumbled something about having to keep fighting, and I smiled before hugging the smaller medic.

"Thanks, Kurumi," I whispered. "I needed that."

I pulled out from the hug and stood, grinning at the small brunette before walking out, grabbing my helmet in the process. I walked out the door, waving goodbye to a not-looking Lifesaver who probably didn't even see my hand and walked into the waiting room. I smiled softly as Zero sat up straighter. I scratched the back of my head with a grin. "Sorry about the scare," I said. "Just a concussion. Few broken bones. Nothing much." Zero walked over calmly and did the one thing I didn't think he'd do:

He whacked me over the head.

"OW!" I cried, crouching as I held my head in pain. I looked at him through one eye, my other clenched in pain. "What was that for!?" Zero glowered down at me, blue eyes enraged. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU, YOU MORON!" he exclaimed. "TURNING OFF YOUR COM. UNIT AND THEN ALMOST BEING STABBED! YOU'RE AN IDIOT! DON'T YOU EVER DO SOMETHING THAT STUPID EVER AGAIN, YOU HEAR ME? I WILL KILL YOU PERSONALLY IF YOU ARE EVEN CLOSE TO DYING!" The entire time I dealt with the abuse Zero had been dealing me, whacking my over the head at the end of each sentence. I forced my helmet on my head and it clicked into place, spreading to protect my head from Zero's abuse. I glared at him.

"What is up with you!? This isn't like you at all!"

Zero's eyebrow twitched as he shut his eyes and took a deep breath, arms crossed. I blinked in shock. I remembered this stance. This was the same stance as all that time ago during the seventh war... when Axl and I were brought to HQ. My glare lessened and I stood. "I'm sorry for scaring you, Zero," I stated. He opened his eyes and looked at me. I gave a faint smile. "Yeah, I've always bee pretty clumsy, right?" Shock passed through Zero's eyes before he gave me a faint smile as well.

"You're an idiot. Just like your brother."

I didn't even wince this time. I was surprised. I'd winced, cried, shivered, and froze up whenever Axl was mentioned and now... It's like it doesn't effect me anymore. I grinned and put both hands behind my head. "Really?" I asked. Zero scoffed.

"You're not nearly as great an aim."

"Oi, I'm decent enough."

"And you don't have any scars."

"Do you want me to get scars?"

"It'd make you look cooler."

"HEY!"

"How's prisoner A2X?" a dark-haired Maverick asked as he passed by a cell. The blonde Maverick sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "He hasn't budged. His systems are attempting to self-repair, but you know, we've jammed them. He's been in forced shut down for almost three years now. How're we suppose to get information out of this damned Maverick Hunter if he won't wake up!?" the blonde exclaimed.

"Come down, Aulous. You're systems will oveheat again."

"Bah, leave me alone, Hero. You-know-who is pissed enough already. She said if he doesn't wake up within the next two weeks, we're going to have to show his signal, like with prisoner Z2X."

The dark-haired Maverick-Hero-winced at the thought. "Try sending electrical shocks through his body again. Do the highest voltage. If he doesn't talk soon, we'll have another massacre on our hands like with Vile. And I know you don't want that, Aulous, not after the first time."

Aulous growled as he slammed a hand against the cell door. "That damned Hunter will pay," he vowed. Aulous's blue eyes flashed crimson. "I won't allow that Hunter to live another day, not while I'm alive and have A2X as prisoner!" Hero scowled.

"But Lord Sigma and Commander S-"

"I don't give a damn about either of those Maverick wannabes!" Aulous hissed. "I've been a Maverick for five years now, and all we're doing is getting weaker! If the Commander doesn't take charge by the end of next week, I'm going rogue and killing that bitch myself!" Aulous chuckled darkly.

"That bitch will pay... What was her name again?"

"Um, you mean target 2ALX?" Hero offered.

"No! The other one that came after, 2ALX, though she's next on the list. The one with red hair and hazel eyes, damn. Her name was... Shit what was it!?"

Hero blinked in recognition. "You mean that auburn-haired girl?! Um, Hane?"

Aulous grinned and nodded. "That's her name! Hane! I'm going to tear that bitch's limbs off, one at a damn time! Just you wait, you bastard, Hane... I'm going to kill you!"

I UPDATED! TAKE THE PITCHFORKS AWAY! Anyways, it's like midnight. Shhhh, I'm asleep...