Observing the Heavens cont.
"Ken, you need to increase the level of conditioning for Takeru." Daisuke slammed his fist onto the desk. "Hunting dogs need to wear collars."
Taichi leaned back on his chair and sucked on the tip of his cigar, listening to the discussion attentively. His glassy brown eyes skimmed over the two step brothers who were arguing.
Ken clenched his fists so forcefully that his purple veins emerged upon his fair skin. "Using too much of the medication will shorten her life."
The brunette folded his arms in defense. "We can just find a new patient once she's 'spent.' You're letting yourself get too attached to a tool." He shook his head resignedly and propped himself against the wall.
"Hold it, Dai." Taichi countered, withdrawing the cigar from his lips. "Takeru has some problems but he's an excellent assassin. He's too good to be a disposable unit." He closed his eyes and sighed. "At any rate, we successfully captured the Albanian. I will overlook the mishap this time."
Daisuke dropped his head. "I understand." His shoulders slumped as he sauntered out of the office.
"Ken. Each handler is responsible for his cyborg." Taichi stated as brought the cup of coffee on his desk to his mouth. "If you're sure Takeru will work with the minimum dosage of conditioning, go ahead and try."
The boy brushed a few wisps of blue hair from his face as he heard his boss's proposal.
Taichi gulped down the scalding drink and placed the empty cup back onto the table. "Remember, no mistakes will be tolerated. Make sure Takeru understands that."
"Yes, sir."
*********************************[When Takeru arrived at the agency, he was a very quiet boy. This was understandable. After all, he was the victim of a terrible tragedy.]
Ken exited the meeting room and rushed to the elevator. He needed to see him. He wasn't sure why, but there was just some sort of mysterious relationship between him and his partner, regardless of the three year age difference. Takeru always needed looking after.
[All three members of his family were butchered. Takeru was the only survivor.]
'I wonder if he's feeling okay?' The pale boy mused, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for the lift.
[When I first saw him at the national hospital, he was torn up both physically and mentally. I hand picked him for my partner.]
Ding.
The indigo-haired man entered the elevator briskly and punched in the desired floor. The boarding house consisted of four floors, if not including the roof top.
[I'm not sure if I wanted to do a good deed, or if it was just out of pity. I wanted…to reach out and help him.]
*********************************Flashback
Two figures sat on top of the rooftop, clad in comfortable and loose fitting clothes. The weather was pleasant that day. Not a cloud in a sight, just blue skies and a nimble breeze.
Ken stared at Takeru seriously. "Listen, to be efficient, you have to learn many things."
Takeru gripped the rifle with both hands determinedly, returning the somber gaze.
[Children selected by the agency undergo conditioning in addition to physical modification. Fortunately, for them, as a result of conditioning, memories of their terrible pasts are erased.]
"Every successful job is the result of an accumulation of simple tasks." Ken explained. "I will prepare notes for you to study every day." He glimpsed at the blonde, eyes narrowing. 'Is he listening to me?'
Takeru's eyes were blank, the wind played with his golden tresses as they flew about. "…"
"When you're making a sniper shot, if the distance is within 600 meters, you target the head. If it's more than that, aim at the center of body."
[I started making more of an effort to talk with him.]
"Look up." Ken pointed a finger towards the clear skies. A smile was tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Huh?"
The five feet ten boy stood up and directed his index finger to a glowing light in the heavens. "Can you see a dim light there?"
Takeru got to his feet and blinked at the object Ken was indicating to. "What is that?" He inquired with questionable eyes.
Ken grabbed the gun from his assistant's arms and loaded it effortlessly. He smiled solemnly. "What could it be? A light in the sky? It could…be a fairy."
Takeru flushed at seeing Ken smile. He brushed his bangs away from his piercing eyes. "Could it be an airplane?"
"Hmm." The handler mused out loud, grinning. "Good answer. During the war, people would run scared thinking it was an airplane." He unlatched the mini telescope from the gun. "If you saw it at night, what would you think?" He stood behind Takeru and placed the scope over his assistant's large eyes.
"….A star…?" Takeru reacted in wonder, his jaw dropping a little.
A grin played across Ken's lips. "Yes, that's right. It's Venus. It orbits between the earth and the sun." He glanced down at the blonde. "Uh, be careful. Don't look at the sun directly." He cautioned, releasing the younger boy's shoulder.
Takeru placed both hands on the telescope and ogled through the lens in awe.
"I guess it's impossible to shoot Venus in its head with this rifle." Ken smiled pitifully as he raised the gun and attempted to aim at the star.
The blonde was still peering through the telescope.
"Ken, you know everything, don't you?"
End Flashback
*********************************Takeru's lids shot open, unaware of the tear that rolled down from his azure eyes. "…huh?"
"Are you awake?" The doctor asked, fiddling with the instruments on the silver trays.
The blonde bolted up from his sleeping position. "!" He felt something wet slide down his cheek. "…?" 'Tears?'
"You can't have a proper bath until the skin on your arm heals." The doctor muttered a cluster of other restrictions, but stopped as he saw the cyborg crying. "What's wrong? Did you have a bad dream?"
Takeru brought the bed sheets to his eyes, hunching his back as he wept. "Well…I don't really know. I can't stop crying…"
*********************************"Takeru!"
The seventeen year old turned around as he stepped out of the hospital wing and saw his friend Hikari jog over. "Daisuke tells me you went out of control. Is that true?"
He blushed and clutched the bag of dirty clothes against his chest. "Uh..well, I got mad." He stared at his feet, sighing. "Hikari, what should I do? I think…I think Ken hates me now."
Hikari's warm eyes relaxed as she patted her friend's back soothingly. "I don't think so. Don't worry."
"…but," His timid voice squeaked.
The girl smiled and interrupted, "no buts. Ok. Let's have a drink together in Tachikawa's room."
"A drink? I guess…"
*********************************"Don't you know that a piece of cake is like a little slice of happiness?" Hikari beamed as she and Takeru sat across from each other in the dorm room, drinking tea and nibbling cheesecake.
She wiped her mouth with a napkin. "You wanted to do a good deed right?"
The boy shifted his gaze nervously. "Well…um, I guess you're right."
The girl with the pixie hair cut clasped her hands together. "You would do anything you could to please him, wouldn't you?"
Before Takeru could answer, a girl with long russet hair lying on her stomach on the upper bunk bed interjected. "But Hikari…that's just about the only thing we can do." She smiled serenely as she resumed to the book she was reading.
"Huh?" Hikari blinked her eyes in confusion.
The blonde boy scooped up more spoonfuls of sugar and sprinkled it into his tea.
"I didn't think you liked your tea so sweet, Takeru." The girl on the bunk bed pointed out.
"Um, I can't taste anything lately. So I end up using a lot of sugar."
Mimi broke into a wide grin, sitting up as she dangled her legs over the edge of her bed. "Alright. I'm gonna call you 'sweetie' from now on."
"Uugh! No way." Takeru objected, blushing as he sipped his drink.
"Good idea!" Hikari cheered as she and Mimi laughed together. "It's like they say, 'enjoy your youth while it lasts!'"
"You really make no sense, Hikari…"
*********************************