Disclaimer - If I owned Gluhen I would decrease the damn angst by 80%. As it is, I do not and therefore cannot.
This story takes place after Gluhen ends. I have not seen the episodes, but I have read synopses. Any mistakes I trust you will be kind about.
Afterglow
By Felflowne aka Espion
Chapter 8
The Killing Fields
It was mid-afternoon by the time the two housemates got home. As soon as the shops had closed, they'd had to go home. She could hardly use the excuse of 'I'm just popping over to the shop that closed ten minutes ago'.
They entered Alishe's flat and put away their purchases. Neither of them had anything planned that evening, so Alishe seized it as her opportunity to ask Ken a few choice questions about a certain old friend of his.
She started the conversation as they were sat watching the television.
'Hey, Ken?'
He looked up.
'Do you still say prayers for Omi?'
He nodded.
'Every night.'
'Even though he's still alive?'
'Yeah,' Ken said, 'It puts my mind a little more at rest than it would be otherwise.'
Alishe sipped her tea.
'You're either really strong or really stupid,' she said levelly, 'to go on caring for someone who's betrayed you in such a way.'
Ken kept his eyes on the TV.
'He never betrayed me.'
'Right, right.'
He turned to face her, anger rising in his voice.
'He did what he had to do!'
'You really believe that?'
'Yes!' At this point he made a special effort to calm down.
'So you're telling me,' Alishe said with forced cheerfulness, 'that he had absolutely no choice at all whether or not to take the position of Persia? That he had no say in the matter? Well that's bullshit, Ken, I can tell you that right now!'
'There always has to be a Persia,' Ken said, but some of his sureness had vanished.
'There's nothing anyway that says Persia has to be a cold, indifferent, emotionless bastard.' Alishe said flatly, becoming aware that there was only so long she could keep doing this before Ken blew up on her.
He surprised her.
'I guess not,' he said sadly.
Alishe looked up, rage burning in her eyes.
'Look! Look what he's done to you! You used to be so fiery and temperamental for God's sake!'
Ken had no answer for that.
'Do you love him?' She asked coldly. He nodded. She shook her head, churning with fury and sadness.
'He sure as hell doesn't deserve someone like you loving him.' She said finally.
He ruined you… And that's why I'll kill him. It's for the best. The world doesn't need people like you, Mamoru Takatori…
They returned their attention somewhat distractedly to the TV.
'He's made you unhappy, Ken. There was a time when that would have meant something to you.'
'I don't deserve to be happy,' Ken said, 'I'm a murderer.'
'Fuck you,' said Alishe, tears threatening to fall as she stood up.
Ken watched as she walked out. This was good, he'd kept his temper, he was getting better and better at doing that these days. Words just seemed to bounce off of him, leaving no indentations.
**
This time I won't fail.
It was two nights after Alishe's pseudo-argument with Ken, and it had strengthened her desire to complete her mission.
It was late as she slipped out of the door, pulling it to.
**
Ken woke up.
Shit, she's gone again. Gotta stop her.
If she gets hurt, or if anyone in Kritiker does… I won't be able to live with myself knowing I could have prevented it…
**
Alishe was sly this time. She avoided all the lookouts and got inside with little trouble. With a simple sweep she ascertained that the spooky bodyguard who'd shot her last time was on the other side of the building.
Being able to sweep was, she decided, a very useful thing indeed.
She froze as she heard the sound of breathing, slipping almost noiselessly into her feline form so as to pick it up better.
I could almost thank Masafumi for this…
With better ears, she not only knew that the breathing was in this corridor, but also that it belonged to a young male. Her ears flattened against her skull.
Takatori…
**
Ken ran as fast as her could, but he knew there was no hope of catching her this time. She'd twigged what he'd done last time, and had taken steps accordingly.
I'm doing exactly what she told me not to… Getting involved again… But I have no choice… Two people I love are already involved… Like it or not, it's my duty..
Kritiker came into view.
Please God, let me be in time…
'If you want to live longer than a few seconds more, I suggest you stop moving.'
Ken stopped abruptly and looked up. Standing on the pavement at the corner of the building, his gun trained on a spot between Ken's eyes, stood Mamoru's bodyguard, Nagi Naoe.
'Why are you here?' He asked coolly.
Ken fought to get his breath back.
'Na-Naoe-san,' he gasped, 'Alishe's trying to kill Mamoru-sama!'
'Alishe?' Nagi enquired with a raised eyebrow. Ken nodded.
'Bengal, yes… you…You've got to stop her, but please, please don't hurt her!'
'I make no promises,' said Nagi flatly, but as he turned to go, Ken caught his arm.
'Let me come too, she listens to me… I might be able to stop her…'
'A few of these should stop her,' said Nagi, tapping his gun barrel.
'You didn't let me finish… I was going to say, 'stop her killing everyone in the building,' you see?'
Nagi's mouth moved silently, then he turned swiftly.
'Come on.'
**
Mamoru's mobile phone bleeped, and he picked it up.
'Yes?'
'Sir, the assassin, she's back. Stay where you are.'
Mamoru looked around. He was in the corridor outside his office. He suddenly felt that this was a really bad place to be.
'I'm going to try and bar myself into the office,' he said levelly, reaching for the door handle.
'Fine, but be careful sir. I'm on my way.'
Nagi hung up.
Mamoru reached for the door handle, but something stopped him. It was a snarl, deep and soft, yet menacing.
His hand moved instinctively to his inside pocket, but of course, it was empty. He hadn't carried darts there for over a year. He was totally unarmed. His eyes swept the corridor. It was empty.
**
Alishe had got into the ceiling pretty easily, as the tiles simply lifted up. Once she was sure that she had the right victim, she changed back to human and pulled herself into the ceiling, crawling silently along the metal girders inside until she was almost directly over her prey. Then she let herself change a little to give to warning growl, but not too much or she'd bring the roof down with the tiger's weight.
Judging the time, she dropped down behind Mamoru, changing as she fell.
**
Mamoru could feel eyes on him, but he couldn't hear or see anything at all. Then, all of a sudden, a soft thump resounded behind him. As he turned, he beheld a two metre long Bengal tiger. His breath caught in his throat. This was primal fear he was feeling. Then it all seemed to go insane.
'Mamoru Takatori.' The tiger said in a low, female voice.
'Yes,' he said, unsure of what was happening.
The tiger crouched.
'Tonight you will pay for what you have done.' The tiger spread its claws so Mamoru could see them all.
'And what have I done?' he asked boldly. That was a mistake. Alishe snarled.
'You RUIN lives without a single care! You completely destroy people then throw them away as if they were toys! Is that what they were Persia-san? Were they all toys to you? This is what your indifference has earned you!'
Mamoru stepped back.
She knows about Weiss.
'It's my mission to deny you your tomorrow, Takatori,' said Alishe.
Mamoru faced her. He wasn't going down without a fight. He watched numbly as she crouched, ready to spring…
Then the door beside him burst open and people ran in. Before he could recognise them he himself was grabbed from behind and thrown to one side. He felt the rush of air as the massive tiger blew past him and landed heavily, claws outstretched, onto someone else.
There was a strangled yell of pain, but Mamoru was pulled to his feet by Nagi.
'Hurry, Mamoru-sama, in here!' He pulled him towards a door, but Mamoru twisted around.
'Who…?' he began.
'Some idiot,' said Nagi, barring the door, 'but it doesn't matter. You're safe.'
'Yes.' Mamoru said. Then they heard voices from the outside.
*
'Oh my GOD! MY GOD!'
There was the sound of a body hitting the floor, and a stifled shriek.
'Oh KEN YOU IDIOT! LOOK what I've done!'
*
Outside, Ken sat up stiffly.
Human Alishe stared at him blearily. Her eyes were full of tears.
'Why? Why did you do that, Ken? I could've killed you! I leapt meaning to kill!'
'Is that your mission? To kill Mamoru Takatori?'
Alishe didn't say anything.
'It is, isn't it?'
'So what if it is?'
*
Nagi listened closely, keeping one eye on his charge whom was sitting with his back against the door, also listening.
They heard a sigh.
'I'm sorry Alishe.'
'For WHAT?'
'I can't let you do it.'
There was a brief pause.
'What?' The voice was strained.
'I can't allow you to kill Mamoru Takatori, not while I'm around.'
Alishe screamed in frustration.
Does he think Mamoru still loves him, what an IDIOT!
'Why? WHY? Why do you protect him, even now? Even after what he did to you?'
'It was my fault I got put in jail.'
'I don't mean that and you bloody well know it. Now tell me why, Ken.'
There was another pause, then, 'I love him, Alishe.'
From outside came the sound of choking.
*
'HE DOESN'T LOVE YOU!' Alishe screamed, tears of anger now threatening to fall. God, Ken, just get it through your head.
Ken looked up at her and rubbed his sore shoulder.
'I know.'
Alishe's mouth snapped shut, then fell open again, as she gasped, 'Then…Why?'
Ken didn't answer at once, but got shakily to his feet. He gave Alishe a smile.
'I don't care if he doesn't love me, Alishe, surely you must have realised that?'
'How…How can you…?How can you not care? It doesn't work that way!'
'Beats me,' said Ken, casting about for a way out. He spotted one and made his way towards it. Alishe trailed him.
'But…!'
'Please, Alishe, I'm tired, and chasing you around hasn't helped. I have explained this to you.'
Sensing danger had been alleviated, Nagi stepped out into the corridor, his gun raised. His impassive face gave nothing away.
Alishe turned.
'Do you think we're going to let you walk out of here?' he said coldly, 'after you attempted to murder Takatori-san?'
Ken felt Alishe tense, and tightened his grip on her arm. Nagi could kill her before she'd taken one step.
'And you, Siberian. In trouble again.'
Ken said nothing.
'You leave him out of this!' barked Alishe, with a hint of a snarl, 'I came to kill Takatori-san, and I worked alone, so let him go!'
'You'll both be taken into custody,' said Nagi, as the backup team arrived and lined up behind him. 'We take assaults on Takatori-san's safety very seriously.'
Alishe watched as they were bound and dragged away. Particularly she noticed how Ken simply held out his hand to be bound.
There's no fight left in him. He's been drained dry. And Takatori is the one who did it.
She glanced over at the man, her eyes burning with vicious hatred. If he noticed, he didn't react.
One day, some day, Takatori, you'll pay for what you did to him.
*********************************************************************************************
Ohh Long chapter this time, thanks for sticking with it. I actually wrote this chapter at the very start, before any of the others, so now you know, and if anyone asks, 'Hey I wonder which chapter of Afterglow Felflowne wrote first?' and someone else says, 'Oh it'll be the first one, won't it?' you can leap in and show them how clever you are, yes, yes you are *patpat*
Charlie: Um, patronisation loses readers.
Felflowne: Uh oh!
