Disclaimer - I don't own Tekkaman Blade. I'm not making any money.
YAKUSOKU
(Promise)
written by Star
My only vivid memory of that day is the numbness; its fire singed every nerve, every fibre of my being. It was not the first time, nor would it be the last; my heart stopped beating at the sight of his lifeless body.
All other recollections are vague at best, or best forgotten.
(Aki Kisaragi)
«Chapter Four»
High above, orbiting slowly, the staff at Balzac Memorial worked feverishly and was rewarded with the miraculous revival that had become D-boy's signature. By all rights, the man who'd saved them from enslavement should've died that night.
"I'm amazed, considering his wounds - keeping him in his armour apparently saved him." Dr Ashka commented. "Good thinking, Commander."
"I remember Freeman mentioning it…" Aki nodded absently. "…Years ago."
"Doctor?" A male nurse interrupted.
"Just a moment," Ashka replied. "Rest assured, Commander, D-boy is in safe hands. Please allow my colleagues to attend to you." Raising his hand, the older man's eyes softened. "There is nothing more you can do here." He added with paternal authority in his voice.
Helpless, all she could do was wait.
"Chief?"
Wait…
"…ief…"
**
The corridors were dark and foreboding, much like D-boy's demeanour. Her eyes were as wide as a deer, caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle; his were sadly tender.
"I can't…"
"Aki!" His hands gripped her trembling shoulders tight. "Evil's so close; I need you to wait here. Please?" D-boy whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"I'll wait." Aki nodded, understanding his frustration as she wiped the moisture from his cheek. "I'll stay right here." She whispered softly as their lips met briefly, the embrace ending abruptly as the thick door continued its descent.
Her strength failing and the mask of bravery discarded, Aki fell against the cold steel, whispering her plea as the sound of Pegus' thrusters tore through the silence.
**
Aki jumped and turned in time to see the guilt in David's sad blue eyes as he removed his hand from her shoulder. Fire coursed through David's hand for the barest of moments, now utterly cold.
"Yes David?"
"The others have left, I wondered if you wanted to take a seat?" He pleaded with a soft smile.
"Thankyou," Aki managed a weak smile. "But I'm fine." It was on the tip of her tongue to comment at her experience in the hospital waiting room, but she wasn't sure she wanted to remind herself of the number of close calls, the hours…
"I'm fine." Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
**
Two weeks after his battle with Dead End, D-boy was finally able to return to Earth. He'd regained consciousness a few times, but his condition remained unchanged.
The calm that followed had Aki on edge. Without a foe to out-manoeuvre, a problem to solve, Aki was left with idle thoughts. Ill begotten emotions stirred, overwhelming her at times; it wasn't a surprise for Honda to find her weeping softly while she stared in silence. However, once she stood before her subordinates, Aki was in control and in command.
David, Natasha, Yumi and their respective support pilots had to endure training both gruelling and rigorous. Collapsing onto a soft, comfortable bed and hastily eaten meals was all their spare time allowed. It was bad enough that she had succumbed to idle thoughts – dangerous for a woman such as herself – Aki refused to allow the same for those under her command.
After one particularly long training session, Aki sat down tiredly at her desk in her private quarters. Who was this pale person glaring tiredly back at her? Her mind drifted back to the day's events; one in particular bothered her, David's disappearance. While she knew he was more than able to take care of himself, Aki couldn't quell her concern. David was the brawns, and the brains of the team; he'll realise it one day…
Mere months ahead, Aki's twenty-ninth birthday suddenly came to mind. Her face had yet to betray the stretch of years, but in her eyes lurked a keen understanding of the road behind. Her attention drifted to the rare, framed photograph to her right - stolen youth frozen in time, she mused.
"Must be getting old," She muttered, suddenly dismissing the ridiculous notion as Freeman came to mind.
**
With a keen intellect and eyes that could stare unflinching into the heart of hell, Freeman was a pillar of strength, someone to turn to when the travelled road seemed too long. Seventeen years her senior, Freeman knew all to well the 'loneliness of command'.
Relinquishing his command of the Space Knights wasn't the bittersweet experience he once thought it would be. Now that he had a wife and child, Freeman savoured his new life, passion and obsession - unlocking Radam's secrets. Challenge and responsibility, once his driving force never strayed too far from his thoughts. Freeman often found himself hoping for an excuse, for a mission to delegate.
"I was planning to visit for Christmas," Freeman injected after a moment of silence. He'd heard of D-boy's injuries and was kept up-to-date, but Aki's defeated voice sparked a sudden urgency in him. "It wouldn't be difficult to move those plans ahead a couple of weeks."
Settling back in her chair, a sad smile slowly appeared; as tempted as she was, Aki declined.
"We've come a long way, but some things never change."
"It can feel like that, but we hope otherwise." Freeman responded carefully.
"Is that what you've been looking for, sir? Hope?"
"These past few years have warranted that search, wouldn't you agree?"
**
"What I do, I do for the future…"
There were more words to say, but not the time to express them. Squaring his shoulders, Freeman walked towards destiny.
"Forgive me…"
Time froze the instant those words had been uttered. Nonplussed by the human drama, the alien entity continued to beckon, patiently desperate for a host in which to discover this new world. The pulsing orb emanated its eerie scarlet shadow, a fiery doorway to hell.
"I'd hoped it wouldn't come down to this." Freeman said softly as he moved aside. Narrowed to two dangerous slits, Aki's eyes betrayed nothing as she moved by swiftly.
**
"In your heart, you knew what had to happen." Aki said finally.
"All has worked out for the best." Years had passed and his wounds were no longer raw or bitter, resentment no longer lingered in his breast. As opposed to feeling robbed of glory, he'd felt cheated from an answer. Freeman smiled; he'd become a believer in the power of the unknown, the unseen.
"True." Aki grinned. "If it had been you when Black September occurred, I can't imagine you wanting to do anything but study the Sotai, not fight them."
**
Hidden in a private hospital room, D-boy's only visitor was Aki; Honda hadn't the will to hold back the emotion he was wont to show. If he didn't share a mind-link with Aki, D-boy was sure he'd go mad. She had a calming effect on him, one D-boy would lose himself to and could never describe, but one he felt he could never live without. The hours between her visits were long and unbearable; his body was in desperate need of rest, yet his mind was as sharp as ever.
It was because of this state of mind that the doctors kept him heavily sedated: there was a fear among research staff that D-boy would develop some form of psychosis upon his wake. Obstinate as any stubborn child who wanted his way, D-boy fought against what sounded like good advice. His concern was growing for Aki; he had no doubts as to her ability to shoulder responsibility, but even a strong rubber band would snap if stretched too far. D-boy wanted to do his share, but more than anything else, protect her from the mysterious threat that called himself Dead End.
**
There always seemed to be more questions raised than answered whenever she spoke to Freeman. The unanswered and unknown screamed at Aki as her head rested tiredly between her hands.
Their hours-long talk had been so pleasant until the subject of Black September inevitably came up. Suddenly their words were guarded, smiles controlled and the tone was cool and formal. Both Freeman and Aki acknowledged the other's opinion and the chasm between the two; they were little more than a reminder of the tense years that never seemed to fade completely.
She hadn't slept in days and fatigue was finally setting in. In her drowsy state, Aki couldn't stop herself from wondering…what if…what if things had turned out differently? What if Radam never showed up, ever again?
What if she hadn't robbed Freeman, and he'd become the Scarlet Tekkaman?
Aki raised her head and sighed heavily. Staring at her reflection, Aki shook off her despondency and reprimanded herself angrily. Asking such rhetorical questions will get her nowhere, and leave her with nothing but wasted time.
Looking around her dimly lit room, Aki's attention fixed on the bed she hadn't slept in for days. How tired she was, how lonely it looked! She rose swiftly and left her room.
As she walked down the wide corridors, Aki's attention turned to Dead End: his identity and agenda. Lord knows, both she and D-boy had accumulated their share of enemies over the years; why was this one so special, so different? Freeman suggested a survivor of Prague - perhaps a relative of the rogue Aki blamed for the rebellion…
Then there was fact that Aki's memory had conveniently forgotten – the Tekplant was never recovered. The plant Pabolchiva's men 'captured' was barren, that much was common knowledge among the Space Knight's inner circle, yet the Military held fast to their dangerous illusion.
Some things should never be forgotten, Aki thought sadly as she caressed D-boy's head.
«owari»