I own nothing and nobody. That sounds kinda sad, ne? But true. Koushun Takami owns them all. Dammit. And again, sorry for the long-ness. I didn't originally write this in chapters.
Hiroki was thinking too. He had to watch where he was running, and occasionally had to check the little handheld radar he'd received as a weapon, to make sure he was still on the trail of the signal on the screen, but he somehow found the time and energy to think as well.
He thought about the star-icon on the liquid crystal screen. Was it Takako or Kayoko, or someone completely different? He thought about how lonely it was running alone like this. And no matter how much he told himself he wouldn't, he thought about Shinji. And when he thought about Shinji, he thought about Kayoko. He was searching for Takako as well, of course, her being his best friend since forever and all. Hiroki hadn't been lying when he told Shinji he didn't like her in that way. It was Kayoko he was after for that reason.
I'll work it out when I find her, he told himself. He was just putting it off, he knew that. Putting off the moment when he'd have to choose between Shinji and Kayoko. No, he thought, I'm giving myself time to think so I can make a sensible and informed decision. It sounded bad even to him. But he knew there was a grain of truth in there, which made him even more disgusted.
Hiroki glanced down at his radar. Yes, the little icon was still there. He was catching up now. But, if his memory didn't fail him (and it didn't), then whoever it was had better move out pretty sharpish if they wanted to avoid showing what those collars could do. This area would become a danger zone very soon, and he shuddered at the thought of it. He carried on regardless, not fearing for his own safety. He knew he could make it. He had a duty to perform.
Leaping over the wall like a cat, he scanned the surrounding scenery until he was satisfied there was no-one there. Nothing but houses and silence, and just enough threat of danger to be a thrill. He smiled to himself. Maybe there was something in this 'living-by-instinct' thing after all. He'd be quick though. He'd be absolutely no help to Takako or Kayoko if he was dead. Or Shinji-
No, dammit! Not Shinji! I know where he is, and he can take care of himself! Concentrate on Takako and Kayoko now. Shinji can wait, at least until tonight!
He had become quite adept at reading the radar while moving, so finding the exact house posed no problem. There was even a broken window to help lead him in the right direction. He jumped deftly through it, landing felinely on all fours. But he didn't stop a moment. Sneaking silently, his back to the wall, the handle of a broom in his hand held like a jitte fighting staff, he prowled the house. He didn't notice the smell of blood until it was almost unbearable.
Oh God, no.
He reached the doorway into the room where the stench was at its heaviest. Steeling himself for the worst, he peered round the doorframe, only to jump back in shock. Legs. And a skirt. And blood. Lots of blood. It was a girl... Please not Kayoko, please not Takako. Anyone but them. He felt sick to his stomach as he took slow, deliberate steps on trembling legs into the room. Too small to be Takako... Kayoko...?
Hiroki could see her face now. Her eyes were wide open in terror, and she was dead, lying in a pool of congealing blood. It was Megumi Eto. Not Kayoko, he thought, and a smile of relief tugged at his lips. It was extinguished quickly. Megumi was here, dead, with her throat slit, and he was relieved it wasn't Kayoko? What kind of sick animal was he anyway? Someone was dead, killed by one of his own classmates!
So he gritted his teeth, held his sleeve to his nose, and crept warily towards Megumi's body to close her eyes, which turned out to be quite difficult. She must have been dead a while. He couldn't take his eyes off the gaping wound in her neck. Who the hell would do something like that? It couldn't have been in self- defence; Megumi was a mouse. But this game changed everyone... He knew he'd never forgive himself if Takako or Kayoko suffered such a death. Or Shinji, added the little voice in his head that seemed to be obsessed with him. Nah, Shinji can't die, he assured himself. Whoever heard of the Third Man dying? It's not in his nature. Checking his watch, Hiroki decided it would be a good idea to leave now, so he said a quick prayer for Megumi's soul and darted off again to find the next little signal on his radar and continue his search.
He cleared the area with seconds to spare.
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Now the hardness of this world slowly grinds your dreams away.
Making a fool's joke out of the promises we make.
The computer beeped. "Cool, is it done?" Yutaka was all excitement. Even Keita looked hopeful.
However, Shinji didn't share their enthusiasm. "Fuck," he swore, and slammed into Yutaka, knocking him out of the way. He started to type in a panic, sweat running down his face. "No, no, no," he whispered. He threw himself backwards, hands over his face in disgust. He hadn't been able to save it. The words 'Download aborted' flashed on the screen.
"Hey, I didn't touch anything!" protested Yutaka.
Shinji didn't appear to have heard. "No, no, fucking no!"
"Uh... Shinji?" Keita looked nervous. "What happened? Is something wrong?"
Of course you'd be bothered. I get the feeling you're only using me for this plan anyway. "Damn right, something's wrong. Some fucking bastard cut the connection!"
"How?!"
Fuck, Yutaka, don't have a heart attack, he thought, overriding the fact that he himself was getting worked up about it. "Don't ask me!" That's what I want to know. Seriously, how could they have known what he was doing? It couldn't possibly have been an accident, his hacking was flawless. His uncle had taught him well. But how?
He ran through the possibilities. Spies? No way; pointless and dangerous. Cameras? Maybe. But the sodding Program wasn't televised. Would they really go through all the bother of rigging up God-knows how many cameras in each location they used, and then taking them all down again just to make sure people like him (and how many of them were there?) didn't escape? A possibility, but he didn't think it likely. They'd have to have hundreds of them, all over the place, and watching them all would be hell. What about microphones? Same problem.
Unless--
Shinji froze.
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The signal was moving pretty quickly across the screen. The fact that Takako was star of the track team crossed and re-crossed his mind, but he fought it down. She wouldn't be the only one running, not here. The little star symbol was moving fast, but still, he thought. I don't even know if it's a boy or girl.
But whoever it was was slowing down, and eventually stopped. That set alarm bells ringing, although it could just be that they'd found a safe place to hide. No. It was completely out in the open. Hiroki forced himself to run faster.
He was half-glad that he did, because as it turned out, the little star icon on his radar was Takako Chigusa. And he half-regretted it, because she was dying. He regretted not having run faster the whole way. Hiroki rushed to her side, realising that although she was still alive when he found her, she wouldn't stay that way for long. He somehow managed to hold himself from crying. Takako had never had any patience with his tears. She must have sensed him coming, because she opened her eyes to gaze up into his face. She'd been shot in the back.
It broke his heart to see her like that. She was supposed to be the strong one, the girl with fierce eyes who told him boys don't cry. Well, here he was, not crying.
"Hiroki?" said Takako weakly. "That you?"
"It's really me," he replied, smiling at her. She returned it. "I waited for you, but you ran off so fast." He couldn't stop the mild rebuke from slipping in.
"I know."
God, even now she was comforting him. "Who got you?" he asked shakily. Cold as it sounded, it was important.
"Mitsuko," came the answer. She paused. "Hiroki, do you like anyone?"
Ah. Single-minded as ever. How had he not seen that one coming? "Yes," he replied, deliberately leaving it short and unexplanatory to give him time. How do I get out of this one? Takako was always on at him, wanting to know who he liked.
"Not me, right?"
Okay, I wasn't expecting that. As much as he didn't really want to, truth won out over compromise. He smiled sadly at her. "No, it's not," he said softly.
She took it in her stride; he knew she would. But what she said next brought tears to his eyes, and he tried to blink them away quick before she noticed. "Then stay with me like this." He didn't blink quick enough; and she added, "It won't be long."
Way to go to break my heart, Takako. Even the voice in his head was thick with tears. What could he say to that? He stayed with her, not saying a word because there were none to be said, her head on his lap. She wouldn't last much longer, that much was clear now.
"Hiroki," she said suddenly, "you grew up to be quite a stud."
"And you're the coolest girl in the world." His voice was raw and heavy with emotion, but she didn't seem to notice. She looked quite contented as she closed her eyes.
Hiroki was still crying when he forced himself to get up and carry on.