強い人と弱い人
The Strong and The Weak
Chapter 26 ：Let's Begin, Princessー
The sound of an explosion, crumbling rubble and people roaring rang through Haruna's ears before she woke up. Her head was turned to the side, laying on someone's shoulder. Her eyes couldn't well adjust with all the dust that started floating around the area and her throat became a little itchy.
The sound of people rushing forward made it clear that she was apart of a huge group. Squinting, she propped her head forward and noticed a gaping hole through a building. Slowly but surely, the dust cleared. When she started to shuffle and turn her head back, familiar voices approached her.
"Hey! She's awake!"
"Oi! Princess Haruna-chan has awaken from her slumber!"
Even with just their voices, she can identify them.
Dewa and... Chitose.
Then another explosion occurred, causing her to flinch.
"Let's get to it, guys!" Yata's yelling made her go deaf at that point.
The cold arms she hadn't felt around her legs tightened, eliciting a shriek.
"Kya- let go of me. Right! Now!"
"Oi, oi! Don't move so- argh!"
The two fell backwards, sending Yata's skateboard rolling forward into the newly blasted wall. The skateboard continued to roll through the middle of walking HOMRA members.
Falling hard onto her back, she scrambled backwards away from the vanguard and stood up immediately, but the pressure she placed on her right leg made her wound throb. Nevertheless, it was better hours than the hours prior.
A scream diverted her attention and once Kusanagi began to address the frightened crowd of people she saw between the divide of HOMRA members, she realized just where she was.
"Yata-kun, why are we here?" She shivered at the next explosion and saw her former high school's clock tower crumble in half. The fear intensified within her. Even more so as she looked back to the frightened crowd.
"Ah? Don't tell me you just passed out and don't remember a thing!"
"W-What do you mean?!" Haruna stammered disorientingly.
"Listen,"The red head exclaimed, a thumb jabbing towards his chest proudly,"I saved you!"
She distinctly remembered his face even if it was only for a brief moment after things went dark. A look of both shock and perhaps worry. Yata worried? About her? For some reason her face started to flush up with embarassment.
"Thanks, but no thanks! That was my battle! I-I didn't need saving!"
"You clearly did!"
"Did not, shorty!"
"Did too, clueless!"
Yata reached for his board and stood up.
"Anyways it's going to start." Haruna saw the intense sparkle in his eyes and the grin that creeped up on his lips,"Today's the day!"
"Yata..."
"Come on!"
Like he forgot she was injured, Yata grabbed her hand, pulling her from the ground at full speed. As ran with him, she hardly felt a thing on her injured knee. Running through the entrance Mikoto created, the destruction was clear already. Yata's grin grew bigger.
"We've got the guy cornered now!"
"H-Huh?!" Haruna's hand was squeezed harder as Yata exploded with excitement. But that wasn't what elicited her reaction. Rather, her school's courtyard was in shambles. The tower had been pretty much split in half. She could see and hear the amount of fear instilled throughout the premises. Student cowering beside each and never ending shrieks.
"This is terrible."
The vanguard's face eyes became slits as he dropped Haruna's hand.
"Maybe so, but..."
The two of them lifted their heads up towards the Sword of Damocles hanging in the grey sky. He drawled off, a stern expression on his face. Despite being so close, it was like Yata became distant; as if he were in another time. Then Izumo voice surrounded the area as he spoke in the megaphone provided by Chitose. This was a search mission for Isana Yashiro. A name she's come to hear countless times from HOMRA's constant grumblings...
And her time in SCEPTER4.
Saruhiko.
No doubt with the commotion they've started up, SCEPTER4 will come. She'll see the stupid fish, her vice captain and her former king.
"Find the damn kid that killed Totsuka. Even if you have to rip this place apart-"
Savage. Haruna wasn't used to hearing Kusanagi speak in such a manner. Followed by loud yelling, she felt the ground shake beneath her and felt her shoulders repeatedly bumped into by running HOMRA members. They were like a drove of cattle. She attempted to find her way around to Kusanagi who overlooked the scene before them.
She felt a hand wrap around her waist, drawing her closer to their body. It was warm. Like the time the red king escaped from the Jailhouse. She felt her cheeks warm up against the cold air. Haruna looked up, his face trained ahead of them.
"Yata-kun...?"
He walked through the crowd with her by his side and approached Kusanagi, who watched Mikoto walk off and let his henchmen do all the dirtywork.
"Mikoto-san is-"
"Don't worry."
The bartender then looked down at the two of them, a tiny smirk gracing his face.
"Well, well. Getting a little closer now, Yatagarasu?"
As quick as he wrapped his arm around Haruna's waist he retracted it back to his side. The warmth was gone and leaving Haruna colder than before. Other than her face which burned at Kusanagi's comment.
"K-Kusanagi-san!" Yata stuttered out, his blush standing out for them to see. The sight made her face feel more incredibly hot.
"Heh..." He chuckled lightly,"Just stick to what you have to do."
"Y-Yes sir."
Yata looked to Haruna and scratched the side of his chin with his finger nervously.
"I-I'm gonna get going! Bye! I-I mean laters!"
Haruna looked down and saw Anna clutch onto the hem of Kusanagi's coat. The little girl looked up at her, observing them converse quietly. Noticing her staring, Anna looked up at Haruna. Then Haruna had to wonder. What was a little girl doing in HOMRA? It brought her back to the first time she noticed how striking her eyes were.
"He's very protective of you."
Haruna almost choked.
"N-No, that can't be it!"
"Now, now Anna, don't tease her."
Those eyes lit up as they peered up at Kusanagi. He pushed her back lightly towards Haruna. Anna made tiny steps towards the girl until she reached her side. Another look at the child reminded her of how bad she was with kids. She preferred to keep little contact with them, knowing that she didn't have much patience for them.
"Haruna will be taking us to the student council room. It'll be our base of operations away from the chaos."
Kusanagi smiled at the former Ashinaka student, awaiting her okay.
"Chaos? Did you tell the students that if they comply there would be nothing to worry about?"
"Haruna-chan."
"Eh?"
"Did you see how frightened they were? I had to say some words of reassurance..." Kusanagi looked out to the frightened crowd of students who backed up with every step the members of HOMRA were taking towards them,"This situation is surely drawing attention to the island. A certain group of people will definitely be out to contain it, right?"
Ah, right. Scepter 4.
"And then there is that Colorless King. He's definitely on this island. There's no telling what his next move is."
"Isana Yashiro-san?"
"Isana Yashiro, huh? Apparently, there's no one of this name here at this school."
"Eh?"
"Say, Haruna-chan, do you remember a Isana Yashiro this school?"
No... she didn't. She remembered Munakata had asked the same. Wouldn't she remember someone with such striking hair?
"A sneaky kid, that one is." Kusanagi mused aloud.
He lifted to the microphone and addressed the students once more.
"Attention again, for a moment please."
Haruna felt a small, cold hand press against hand and looked down to see Anna holding it with her own.
"S'cuse me, we're also looking for a friend of ours. His face is just right on the screens."
She felt her PDA vibrate in her pocket as the image projected throughout the school and student mobiles. All around, that crooked smile flashed down upon them. At the word friend, Haruna felt Anna's hand shake slightly. Reassuringly, she squeezed the tiny hand back.
"So if you recognize him, please inform the nearest member of our team immediately and we will leave once he is found."
Kusanagi brought the microphone down to his side and smiled at the two of them.
"Shall we get going? But before that, we should change the bandage on you knee."
"Eh?"
The attention was brought to her knee now. The bandage that was wrapped around the hole of her sweat pants which was stained with blood all around its opening. The leaking blood from the bandage had seeped further into the fabric of her pants.
"Oh, I almost forgotten about it."
"Man, who tied that bandage? It's hideous, even without the stains."
"It was my vice captain."
The older man chuckled to himself briefly. Since waking, the injury hadn't hurt at all. Haruna bent down onto her uninjured knee and started to unwrap the messy bandage that managed to hold around her knee. It had miraculously stuck to her with all the blood that leaked out of her wound.
The bandage undid itself and fell to the concrete but she didn't bother to pick it up.
Haruna was too dumbstruck to do anything for that matter and she wasn't the only one.
"Haruna-chan, weren't you stabbed by Fushimi?"
To be sure, she jumped up thres times, bending her legs in different angles.
"It's gone." Her eyebrows scrunched together,"The wound, it's gone..."
A glowing blue.
She stopped a moment and looked behind her knee where the wound once was. A light scar in the shape of a small slash was left behind, but what was that just now?
Upon their arrival to the entrance of the island, SCEPTER4 sealed off the bridge. The Special Task Force Unit were outside of the vehicles awaiting their orders from their captain.
Saruhiko stared out towards the island entrance, rubbing his charred HOMRA mark as Doumyoji and Fuse continued with their small talk behind him. He quickly lashed out at them, bringing them to apologize and remain silent.
"There goes your pride, Misaki..."
"Saruhiko..."
The scratching continued.
"Mikoto-san took us off the streets...! How could you disrespect HOMRA?!
"Tch. Oi."
He called out to the two men behind him.
"Is it time to raid?"
The scratching stopped.
Fuse responded with an answer he didn't quite approve of, but his expression nonetheless became that of a grin.
Misaki, you idiot.
"You'll get caught like that."
"Shut up!"
Ah... that memory that played through that head of his now. That Haruna. He remembered watching the red that seeped through her messy bandage. Must've been made by the vice captain. She isn't skilled in that area.
She reminded him of Misaki. They get so fired up over the simplest things. Predictable and entertaining to rile up. However, the thought of Haruna together with Misaki. It unsettled him. When Akiyama and Doumyoji gave their report, Haruna escaped, but not alone.
Misaki had went back for her and escaped with her in his arms. Doumyoji prattled on and on about the stupid little twerp who gazed at Haruna's face with the utmost concern. Almost romantic to think about, but not quite. It's Misaki. One could say he has a phobia with girls but that's not the case. He's just a shy virgin idiot.
As it was amusing to think about, it was also agitating. Why did he save her? She wasn't HOMRA. Didn't Misaki only care about his precious little HOMRA?
Ah, wait. She had frequented Bar HOMRA on her days off, often after her night shift she would step out for dinner.
There was plenty of time for Misaki to ogle the girl. The long hair Haruna often kept in a ponytail after she became a part of the unit and the slight crimson color she painted her lips, contrasting with that snow white skin of hers.
It was quite beautiful if you cast aside her wild behaviour.
Misaki, you've always had horrible taste.
NEXT CHAPTER : Running errands for the student council. That was the last thing she was doing when she was here in this school; before the stupid fish screwed up, drugged her, and pretty much abducted her.
A/N: 7 AM AND NO SLEEP. \(°ε ° )/
What the heck is happening with Haruna? Why are you no injured?! TILL NEXT CHAPTER.
So, someone tell me. Is it HOMRA/Homra or SCEPTER4/Scepter 4? IT'S SERIOUSLY BOTHERING THE CRAP OUT OF ME.
Fushimi. I don't know if he knows it or if he's waiting for to find out, but he misses his best friend. Seriously. It's a twisted way of thinking, but because he can't really express that feeling to Yata (or chooses not to for some freaking infuriating reason), he left HOMRA. To make sure Yata's bond with him won't dissipate no matter what. Be it a friend or a foe. It's something they hold to each other. Their lost small world isn't truly destroyed.
Also, I'm starting college next month and one week from now is Sakura-con! *CLAP CLAP* THE SEATTLE ANIME CONVENTION. I swear if one of my readers is going I'll flip a table and sleep on top of it... SO IS THERE ANYONE FROM SEATTLE HERE. *STARES AT READERS INTENSELY*
As for review responses, I'm too lazy this chapter... *SPRAWLS ONTO THE FLOOR*
JUST KIDDING.
...
I was seriously considering not to though. LOL. (σ´∀｀)σ
Guest-san: 私もそう思いますよぉ～ （笑）(*¯︶¯*)v
Thank you so much! I'm currently shipping some major Misaki x Haruna too! I hope Haruna will jump on that ship train too... (๑• ₃ -๑)
Devin Trinidad: Thank you so much! I'm truly glad you enjoy her character! It's a joy to write her out always! Thank you for reading! The Alphabet squad will surely make more appearance with her, haha!(งΦ Д Φ)ง ✧
USA-CHAN: USA-CHAAAAAAAN! OH EM GEE! It's okay! Its the same with me hahaha! I don't know when I'll redo mine though! (´• ω •`)
SARU IS TRULY BEING A BUTT HEAD, YOU DANG FISH! *ON THE MISAKI SHIP RIGHT NOW* I'm having a total love hate relationship with Saruhiko right now!(*ﾉωﾉ)
Ms. PessiMystique : Here it is! Next chapter is being written as I say this! Thank you for reading! (-^艸^-)
MissAnimeMiss: Thank you for reading! I hope this chapter was enjoyable! (*ﾉωﾉ)
2Tsuki2608: Oh dear! I'm super glad you liked it though! It's okay, you're English is fine, haha. So you must speak French too, huh? Pretty cool! ALSO: YESSSS MISAKIIIII! \(✧∀✧)/
Bondage101: YASSSSS A SMUT IDEA. \(✧∀✧)/
fishy7073: I KNOW THIS CHAPTER WASN'T TOO GREAT- BUT THE PART IS COMING. THE SARU VS. MISAKI IS COMING. (˵Φ ω Φ˵)
LadyDogDemon: YES, HARUNA PLEASE HURRY UP! ( ̿–ᆺ ̿–)
See you guys next time! And if I don't get the next chapter done by April 3, destroy me! AND GOOD NIGHT.
じゃ、またあとだねぇ〜 ( ˊᵕˋ)ﾉ