Chapter 10: Jailbreak
Alex sat across from Genkaku in the Undertaker home base, between the two the ashtray was overflowing. Nearby Hibana was working on some homework, Alex didn't know why but decided to let her do as she pleased. After all he dropped out in the ninth grade after... Well he had better things to think about. Like Genkakus awful air guitar. Thankfully Hibana seemed equally displeased with the noise coming from the monk.
"Genkaku keep it down over there I can't focus with all that noise you're making!" In response Genkaku laughed but did indeed stop.
"You know me and Alex probably know all that off the top of our head right? You could just ask us if you're stuck."
"Thank you, but lady needs to be able to take care of her own problems." He shrugged and turned to Alex who was rubbing out a close to finished cigarette.
"So you ready to get this show on the road new guy?"
"Well im ready but what is the plan anyway? I can't exactly do my part if I don't know what to do." The monk nodded then said.
"Right, so for this mission you're working under the little lady over there." He motioned to Hibana. "But you're going to follow Owl and Rokuro to the control room, then she's gonna meet up with you and you're gonna capture Owl. Alive." Alex raised an eyebrow at that.
"Alive? If he's the leader shouldn't we just take him out?" Genkaku shook his head smiling.
"Nah, if we kill him he'd just become a martyr. I got something MUCH better planned for him." Rokuro then walked in cracking his neck. "Ah Rokuro, does this mean everything is set?"
"If my math is right yes, by this time tomorrow Scarchain will be nothing but a memory." Alex felt uneasy about this sure most of the group didn't matter to him and Ganta blew the rebellion off but Hunter was still set on helping them. He sighed perhaps he could convince Hunter not to go through with this. After all he was just a teenager maybe Alex could try and talk him out of going.
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The next day Alex walked down the wearing a black v-neck t-shirt along with his usual jeans and shoes. He grit his teeth as he approached Minatsuki's door. He may be a crook but he wasn't that kind of crook, if he had been paid for a job he was going to do it no matter how much he flat out didn't want to. After knocking on the door he immediately opened it to see Minatsuki, who now had short hair, tending to her flowers, and for the split second before she reacted she almost looked normal then she turned already annoyed at the sudden intrusion and only seemed to grow more irritated seeing him.
"Hey dumbass you know the point of knocking on someone's door is to ask permission right?" She said standing up bringing her scissors into view snipping them.
"Is that right? Wish someone had told my parents that, would have made puberty a lot less awkward." Alex's attempt at humor was met with the same unamused face.
"What do you want?"
"Your brother paid me to check up on you while he's recovering so I guess im just checking in to see how you're doing." Hearing this Minatsuki made a face that looked to be a mix of disgust and confusion.
"Oh god that sister-complex freak really sent you? And you agreed?" Alex shrugged and walked further in keeping an eye on the scissors.
"He paid me a LOT of money. So let's cut to the chase, how are you doing?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes, I would." He said taking a step closer. She reacted by flipping her scissors around and brandishing them like a knife. Alex rolled his eyes and said. "Look I've already taken Yo's money so let's just get this over with and I'll be on my way."
"I'm fine." She then got a playful look in her eye as she saw the bandages just above his collar. "What about you though? I fucked you up good during the match you still hurting from that?" She then stepped into his personal space and leaned in whispering into his ear. "Or are you still thinking about how I licked your blood, I mean the face you made pretty much ratted you out as a masochist" Alex took a step back but kept his composer.
"For fucks sake is everyone in your family touched in the head? You're a psycho and your brother is borderline retarded what's wrong the rest of you people?" She sat down laughing at this.
"Wait hold on what did Yo do this time?"
"Well for starters getting himself thrown in prison to get you out rather than, oh I don't know, hiring a lawyer?" Minatsuki then started laughing even louder. Seeing her finally react positively he decided to keep going. "Then the daft bastard steals right in front of Makina, and I'm just gonna let you guess how well that went." More laughter but this time Alex joined in "And then to top all that off he tries to attack Tamaki in front of a god damn Undertaker and that leads us to now." Alex then smiled as he got another genuine laugh out of her. Minatsuki then wiped a tear from her eye saying.
"Oh, you think that's bad? You should ask him about all the shit I tricked him into doing." Seeing as she didn't seem ready to stab him anymore Alex took a seat next to her.
"Yeah he's an idiot, but truth be told he isn't that bad. You ask me not enough people know how important family is." Her mood seemed to make a complete one-eighty once again displaying an annoyed look.
"Oh don't get me started with that shit." Not wanting to burn what little goodwill he had with her he dropped the subject.
"Whatever. Hey, really though how are you doing?" She hesitated for a moment before setting her scissors down and rubbing her arm just below the shoulder.
"Well..."
"Well what?" She sighed and pulled up her sleeve revealing a single band aid that had blood close to pouring out. Ripping it off fresh blood rolled down her arm from what was a rather thin half inch long cut.
"I've been bleeding ever since that earthquake yesterday, I was going to go to the doctor but after my haircut im kinda afraid she'll just cut me open for shits and giggles"
"Let me have a look." Leaning in to see better then placing his thumb and index finger on both sides of the wound opening it slightly and earning a swear from Minatsuki Alex saw something glistening. Biting the tip of his other index finger he then sent small tendrils into her wound.
"Hey! What the fuck are you doing!?" The tendrils then slowly exited pulling out a inch long shard of glass.
"There I should be able to stop the bleeding now, do you have any bandages?" He asked setting the shard on one of the shelves holding flowers.
"What like a band aid?"
"No like gauze, do you have any."
"Yeah, I might in the bathroom." Alex then got up and walked into the bathroom. After searching for a minute he came back out with a roll in his hand. He then proceeded to wrap the gauze around her arm despite her protests. When he was finished he stood up and stretched saying.
"There we go, just make sure you clean it. So is there anything else?" Minatsuki then rubbed her arm again looking away.
"N-no im fine now, thanks." Alex smirked at her face which had turned a nice shade of red.
"Who's blushing now?" She then snapped at him yelling.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?!"
"Yes actually, shit I almost forgot." He then walked over to the door and walked out but turned back with a smirk.
"See ya around dollface." And with that he closed the door.
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Hunter sat in a booth in Scarchain headquarters Looking around waiting for Alex who was very late it was fifteen minutes until Nagi and Karako were going to go over the meeting one last time. On the bright side Ganta had come back and apologized even joining the group and even agreeing to join in the operation. Hunter was deep in thought as Alex sat down across from him.
"Hey man whats up?"
"Nothing, im just waiting for Alex to show up." Alex looked surprised at his answer.
"Are... Are you being sarcastic?"
"No he's late, he was supposed to be here a while ag- Oh." Hunters face grew red at the realization he had somehow overlooked Alex sitting down right in front of him. Alex laughed and asked
"Wow you were really out of it huh?" Hunter looked down and began muttering
"Well It's your fault for being late I was worried something had happened to you."
"Aww you were that worried about me? If I didn't know any better I'd say you had a crush on me."
"WHAT? No I was I-I-"
"Oh relax man im just messing with ya." Hunter looked a bit mad at that and turned away leaving Alex laughing. "Hey but really I wanted to ask you something." Hunter then looked up to see Alex had a kind yet serious expression on his face. "Are you sure about this? You know if something goes wrong you're going to be going up against armed guards who are going to try and kill you if they get the chance" Hunter looked like he was about to go on a small tirade so Alex decided to cut him off before he could even start. "Look im not gonna sit here and tell you you can't do this. Because that's not my decision, I just want to make sure you know what you're getting into."
"Look Alex im thankful you're concerned really I am. But I have to do this, if I don't then how will I be able to live with myself." Seeing he wouldn't be able to change the boys mind he decided to change the subject.
"Oh, the opinion of some two-bit gangbanger means that much to you huh?"
"Dude come on, drop the heartless street thug act you suck at it." Alex raised an eyebrow at that
"Oh is that what you think?"
"It's obvious you care, and It's obvious you're trying to hide it. In the week we've been here you've saved my life twice, taught me to use my branch, and...well truth is you're the best friend I have right now." Alex wore a face of shock getting a chuckle out of Hunter. "Not to mention everyone else you saved, those favors you did for Yo, and that's just what I've seen" Then seemingly out of nowhere Nagi sat down and spoke in plain english.
"It seems Rokuro brought quite the man into our fold." Alex and Hunter turned to with with surprised expressions not expecting him to be able to understand. "Oh im sorry I didn't mean to eavesdrop I was just making sure you were both sure you want to go through with this, I won't hold it against you if you decide to back out." His face showed that of kindness and understanding. Hunter shook his head and said.
"No way I'm helping you guys and that's final" Alex looked over to Hunter. Truth is Alex was jealous Hunter had chosen his side and seemed willing to die for it. Alex on the other hand was starting to have second thoughts about becoming an Undertaker.
"Fuck it i've got nothing better to do with my time. Count me in Owl." But there was no time for second thoughts, he was too far in he just had to hope they both made it through this and that Hunter didn't find out. Nagi nodded and went back to Karako preparing to start the meeting. "Look if you're sure about this just stay careful and make sure to make the most out of your ranged attacks." Hunter nodded and held out his fist.
"Good luck man." Alex bumped it then soon after the meeting was underway.
The plan was simple enough for Alex to follow. Go with Nagi and Rokuro take out the guards in the control room. As the where about to round the corner when Nagi held out his arm.
"Slow down guards, two of them." Alex peered around the corner and asked.
"Well what are we going to do about them?" Without missing a beat Nagi said.
"Alright i'll send out my Bloodshot eye of the Owl, then Rokuro will go in with the one-hundred percent shield to cover Alex and use your branch to finish them."
"Wait did you both name your branches of sin?" His question seemed to go ignored as Nagi sent out blood orbs catching the guards attention. The orbs then exploded disorienting the guards and sending dust all over the place. Rokuro then ran in with Alex close behind, as the guards realized they were being rushed they opened fire on the two. But it was too late as Rokuro already had his shield up. As they closed the distance Alex reached back and dug into one of his back wounds ripping them open and causing blood to rapidly flow out. The guards eventually ran out of ammunition and as they went to reload Alex spun around sending two spider-leg shaped spears into them impaling one in the chest and the other up through his jaw. The blood then returned to Alex forming his usual claws but this time covering his entire arms in a muscle like armor. Nagi walked forward smiling and looked to Rokuro.
"How are the others doing?" Rokuro then cracked his neck with a smirk.
"Well If my math is correct they should be approaching the pressurized walkway now so we're making good time."
"Good let's check around while we still have time, make sure no one else is around." Alex then coughed catching both men's attention.
"Okay but no really did you name them?"
Hunter and Ganta waited at the back while a man at the front put in contacts before looking into the retinal scanner.
"Okay we're in!" He said as the door opened up. Ganta then realized what he thought was a flaw in the plan and asked.
"Hold on how are we all supposed to get across if you're the only one in the system?" The man with the contacts then pulled out a razor blade and cut open the back of his hand.
"Watch and learn." He said sending his blood out creating a net for everyone to stand on. Hunter climbed on after Ganta and started walking on it, he would have been having fun had this been under better circumstances. as they approached the halfway point however a pipe holding up part of the net was unable to support all the weight and fell bringing everyone down on the walkway. With Ganta exclaiming.
"Oh Crap!" As they all hit the floor the security system went off and the sound of something big moving towards them alerted everyone who then began to run as Hunter moved into the middle of the group he looked back and saw a similar robot to the one that had chased them into G-Block gaining on them and fast.
"That thing again!?" He yelled running faster as it shot a yellowish liquid at them hitting one poor soul in the back. By the time he looked down at himself the acid had started to eat away at his bones and he fell to the ground.
"Guys.. Help I..." He then started to turn into mush. Thankfully he was spared that fate when the robot ran him over crushing his skull. The robot then fired more acid missing everyone but hitting the walkway. Thinking fast Karako grabbed onto the walkway keeping it from falling. She then grabbed the data chip from her neck and threw it to Ganta while calling out
"Heads up Ganta!" Ganta caught the chip and quickly understood what she meant as Hunter and another man had to physically pick him up and run with him.
"No wait, we can save her!" But by the time she got out of view they heard the walkway start to collapse.
"They should be at the lift now." Rokuro spoke up leaning against a wall.
"Ah good then we're one step closer to ending this once and for all." Nagi then moved forward to pull the switch bringing them up. Alex not knowing if this was part of the plan or not turned to Rokuro who just nodded. Alex however had no idea what that nod was supposed to mean so he made an executive decision. Forming the same whip he had used to break Ostriches arm but now having spikes on the ball making it a Flail Whip hybrid of sorts. He then pointed it right at Nagis side and shot it out at him. Nagi barely saw it from the corner of his eye as it hit him in the ribs and with a wet crack we was thrown to the ground holding his sides as Alex sighed and said.
"Oh Nagi," He then walked over to his fallen victim switching his blood Flail-Whip hybrid to his left hand and reaching back to his gun with his right. As Nagi looked up Alex raised the gun to his head with a cold look in his eyes. "You really need to think harder about who you trust."