Disclaimer: Not mine…

A journey to remember

3. Adjusting to the situation

When had his bed become that hard? Why couldn't he move freely? Why was his back throbbing that much and why couldn't he feel his left arm? Other than that it was completely numb?

A lot of questions were wandering through Takao's mind in his half-awake state. There were slight noises; the rusteling of leaves and birds singing. Also something that reminded him of an open fire...

'Strange.'

There was nothing wrong with the birds, but they sounded really close. As if they were in the same room. Or somebody had left the window open.

The wind was certainly also coming from there.

But if it was morning – why was there no light coming through his half-closed lids?

He groaned realizing that he had to open his eyes.

Better before Rei pulled the red chili trick again.

Or Max threatened him with taking away all the food – that had been downright evil.

But...

Max...

Something in Takao's brain stirred.

He had no good feeling in his gut. Creepy.

Hadn't they been on a plane?

A shiver went down Takao's spine. The memories flooded back to him; hit him like a punch in the stomach. His eyes fluttered wide-open, seeing only a starry sky. He sat up, a wave of pain rolling over him. His vision was blurring, his left side hurt as if a fire was raging there. He gasped for air, sweat rolling down his forehead.

Gradually his vision cleared and all he could do was stare helplessly. The plane was shredded, brutally maimed to chunks of metall. What had once been a relatively comfortable inside was now strewn all over the wide plain. Smoke was slowly rising into the sky, fires were blazing here and there. He could make out bags, suitcases, seats and – to his absolute horror – limp forms of people. Lying unmoving, twisted in horrible angles no human being could ever survive...

Takao's stomach protested. He felt sick.

But he couldn't close his eyes. Not before he found out what had happened to his friends. Cold dread was building up inside him. He was unwilling to look.

Frightened to find them dead, possibly injured beyond recognition.

He shuddered and pushed the image away, far away, and hoping with all his optimism that they were okay.

'Please, god, please...', he prayed silently before letting his gaze wander around a second time.

His eyes caught sight of an unmoving figure not far from him. Blond hair was shining softly in the moonlight, giving the scene a twisted sense of peace.

Takao's eyes widened. He scrambled over, cutting himself in the process. But he didn't even notice; nothing mattered to him other than his friend.

The continuing silence was awful, bringing the most terrible ideas to his mind.

"Max?" ,Takao uttered, his voice shaking badly.

No response came from his friend and Takao fought the uprising panic within himself. "Max?!" ,he squeaked again, now sounding like a hysterical girl. He strechted out, wanting to pat Max on the shoulder, to shake him awake –

- and stopped when his finger touched fluid.

Red fluid.

Blood.

"No..." ,he whispered, "No..."

It couldn't be. Not just like that...

'Not true... It isn't true. Just a dream. A nightmare, only a nightmare. Yes, yes, a nightmare...' ,he told himself over and over. And couldn't find it within himself to believe it.

'It's not... Can't be... Unreal... but, no, not real. Really not real. Really... but ... but.... why... why can't I wake up... No, no, unreal, - real – unreal, unreal-'

His mind snapped.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! MAAAAAAX!"

"Takao?"

Takao whipped around, pure horror written across his features, although somewhere deep down he recognized that voice.

But no one was there.

Was he imagining things?

"... who?" ,he muttered, sounding badly frightened.

"Over here." ,it was soft, sounding odd, as if coming form somewhere beneath the rubble.

"Kai? Where are you?" ,Takao asked, his mind blocking out every other thought. He fully concentrated on this little straw, ignoring the limp body of his best friend just behind him. He took some steps, just trying to follow the voice.

"You're close." ,Kai said, "Can you help me lift that?"

A huge piece of rubble near to Takao rattled, making him jump before hurrying over. Takao pushed the heavy plate with all his strenght. He felt Kai pressing too and finally they managed moving it aside. Takao was panting, and Kai seemed equally exhausted. Perisperation was shimmering on his forehead.

The silence between them strechted.

"You're okay?" ,Kai asked, trying to get up sowly.

Takao nodded, dumbfounded for a moment, before he found his voice again. "Yes, yeah, I guess, I'm alright. Only some minor scratches. How 'bout you?"

Kai did not respond at once. He was slowly flexing his muscles, testing his bones. As far as he could tell, no serious harm had come to him. Although a throubbing pain was threatening to split his skull and was making him feel dizzy. He guessed something had connected with his head rather roughly.

"Kai?" 

"Seems like I'm okay." ,Kai answered, "But you've got a rather nasty cut on your cheek there. Better take care of it."

Takao's hand rose up and he was surprised when it came back covered in blood. A nasty cut indeed. Funny though, that he wasn't feeling anything. Hopefully it wouldn't become infected – but before he would look after himself, there were still his friends.

"Do you... We should..." ,Takao started, unable to find the right words, "The others."

Kai understood. His gaze drifted over the scene once, before turning back to Takao.

"You haven't seen anybody?" ,he asked calmly.

However deep down on the inside Kai was starting to worry. Even though he had denied the worth of friendship for so long, it was a strange thought to lose those persons.

Takao's heartbeat sped up. The image of Max lying face down on the ground returned to him. He felt the blood leaving his head.

"Ah... I... well, I found... Max... although..."

Kai's eyes widened slightly. An unknown feeling passed through him, making him shudder involuntarily. "Dead? ...  I mean, did you check his pulse?"

Takao shook his head.

"You should." ,Kai advised, "Then come back and help me look for Rei an Kenny. They should be nearby."

Takao didn't need to be told that twice. He turned on his heels and staggered back. Praying silently not to step onto anything human and flinching everytime something crunched beneath his feat.

Kai took a minute to ponder what he was feeling. Was he truly worried? And more importantly, where was he? As far as he could remember they had been flying for about four hours already, before the engines had failed.

Failed?

Sabotage?

Had it been a Biovolt plane after all?

Had it all beem planned?

'In the end' ,he concluded, 'These speculations are just as useless as they were before.'

So he pushed all those open questions far away for now and surveyed the area around him. Metall pieces of different sizes where strewn all over the ground. Bags could be seen in between. But almost no trace of human beings.

Rei had been seated next to him. So he probably was burried somewhere benath the rubble. Kai frowned. The chances weren't good.

Slowly he started pushing away some other of the huge plates. Although he was quite well trained, he was sweating within a few seconds.

Takao was returning. As far as Kai could tell from the firm, hastened sound of his steps, Max was still alive. And hopefully stable until they had found their other two comrades.

"How is he?" ,Kai asked without turning around. Lifting this one huge piece of rubble was taking up all his concentration at the moment.

"Not fine, but okay. He pulse was, at least." ,Takao replied, "Wait, I'll help you with that thing."

They were successful. And greeted with a not too pretty sight.

Done.

Sorry I haven't updated any sooner, but I probably will only be able to post at weekends because... well, I just don't have the time...