The Whisperer
Disclaimer:"…"
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-Chapter 40-
Sousuke moved just as the man in front of him pulled the trigger, the bullet engraving itself in the wall. He moved quickly kicking his hand knocking the gun away. He span on his foot, his fist hitting the man's face. The man staggered but quickly took up his own battle stance.
"Nice shot." He smirked as he wiped the blood from his lip.
He lunged forward preparing to attack. Sousuke dodged his fist and pushed him into the counter. The man swiped his hand across the counter knocking things about.
"Finally here to finish me Smith?" Sousuke asked pulling out his gun and aiming it at Smith's back.
Smith stood up his back still pointed towards Sousuke. "A gun Sagara. You should know better than that. I'm not bothered by such things." He turned around still grinning. He removed his glasses staring back at Sousuke.
"What if I told you I'm not who you think I am?"
"I would kill you anyways. Since either way you are apparently a threat. More importantly I would like to know who hired you and why you are attacking me. Since you are apparently not Smith."
Smith lowered his head laughing. "It's not that easy. We still have to fight."
He moved quickly knocking Sousuke's hand away. Seeing he still had he gun he grabbed his arm. Sousuke kneed him in the gut as he tried to break his arm. Smith used his hold to throw Sousuke instead. He knocked Chidori's table down as he hit ground. A quick glance back at Smith; Sousuke rolled away just as a knife was plunged into the ground where he had been chipping the floor tile.
"Well Sagara looks like this will be fun as always."
Their fight continued throughout the apartment. Smith was set up behind a turned table, while Sousuke hid behind Chidori's bedroom door. The traded gun fire most shots hitting the other ones barrier. Sousuke pulled out a grenade finding this pointless, he didn't use it before because he would do damage to Kaname's apartment. Now was no time to be subtle though. He pulled the pin and rolled it over moving into the room rather then straying behind the door. Smith was confused when he looked over to find Sousuke missing. He noticed the grenade in time to duck behind the table again. The canister exploded blowing chips every where and breaking the table. He rolled back avoiding any damage he would have received from the explosion.
"Bastard. I forgot about that." He moved into the kitchen as his new cover. He kept his gun pointed waiting to see if Sousuke would poke his head out. After five minutes he grew suspicious.
"Where is he?" Just as he moved from his cover Sousuke appeared at the broken balcony window. The bullet he fired grazed Smith's face causing him to jump to the floor firing. Sousuke ducked behind the couch. He wanted to interrogate him but if killing him was his only choice he would do it. Sousuke ducked just as a bullet pierced right through where he was. The sound of the shot let him easily identify the type of weapon. The enemy was using a sniper close range. He turned to look at his enemy but could not see him. He then noticed the hole in the wall. He was shooting through walls and furniture without looking. He dodged again as another bullet fired. Pieces of splintered wood shot from the counter it pierced, as well as pieces of the wall coming off.
Sousuke ran closer trying to limit his firing ability. He realized he failed when the bullet flew into his knee. He clenched his teeth continuing on word. He jumped over the counter just as another bullet was shot grazing him. They ended up guns pointing at each other. The barrel of the rifle was pressing into him causing him more discomfort.
"Pretty good to keep going after being shot in the knee."
"You're a good shot to be doing that at close range." He noticed an attachment on the gun. "You have a heat scope. No wonder you shot through material without looking."
He noticed bleeding coming from the enemies side. "The grenade did some damage I see."
They both stayed there guns pointed, their hard breathing the only sound in the apartment. Sousuke noticed the graze to Smith's face was unusual. It looked as though it was peeling.
"That knee needs to get medical attention." Smith said still locked on Sousuke's eyes.
"Your wounds need attention as well." Sousuke watched his eyes as well both looking for some opening.
"Are you sure there is no other way to settle this. Chidori is going to kill me for the damage done here. Any further damage will cause me more trouble."
All of a sudden Smith began laughing. "You really don't know who I am." Smith pulled the sniper away still laughing. When Sousuke moved still aiming his weapon he stopped laughing. "You know that is the first time I have laughed in a long time and you ruin it. I don't know what she sees in you." Smith voice changed. Sousuke lowered his gun slightly. Smith placed his gun against Sousuke's face again. Sousuke now held a grenade and had the gun pointed at Smith the second he saw him move.
"You really are rusty. This is pathetic lowering your guard like that." The voice was definitely softer, higher pitched slightly. Feminine.
"Wraith." Sousuke said his eyes squinting.
"Roger." She pulled off the mask revealing her black hair and eyes. Sousuke still held the gun up.
"Why were you impersonating him? I thought he was dead. Why are you trying to kill me? We were mercenaries so if you signed up with someone else it is understandable but." Even though they were having a conversation Sousuke hadn't forgotten his little war with Wraith.
"Practice. Plus you let Kaname get taken again. You really are useless." Sousuke felt anger rise in him a bit. Wraith lowered her gun again.
"She is going to kill you; you know blowing this place up and all."
Sousuke sat up rubbing his free hand in his hair. They heard a thump against the floor.
"Hey didn't you…" Wraith looked down at the destructive object.
"Baka!" Wraith got up and leapt over the counter. Sousuke dropped beside as the small item exploded doing more damage to the apartment. Wraith glared at the problem.
"I really don't know what she sees in such a moron."
Sousuke ignored her and pulled out a small medical case. He pulled out a set of tweezers and tore his pants giving him an opening at his knee. He carefully aimed and began retrieving the bullet. Small noises form his injured flesh were heard as he removed the bullet.
"Doesn't that hurt?" Wraith asked pulling out her own equipment. Sousuke began to sterilize the wound then cleaning it.
"Negative. Due to recent events many things are different. The injury does not seem as bad as it looks."
Wraith removed her disguise leaving her in nothing but a tight black suit. He saw the leg add-ons that allowed her to seem to taller matching Smith's height. The suit blocked the wound. He heard the zipper as she pulled it down, revealing her black bra, body and her wound. The suit was pulled down to her waist. Sousuke saw the blood drip from three tiny wounds. She cleaned the wound and began pulling out the small pieces from the grenade. Sousuke grew curios.
"Shouldn't the costume protect you, and don't you usually wear some sort of protective equipment." He asked as he began bandaging his own wound. Wraith winced as she pulled out the small fragments, ignoring him until she pulled the last one. She cleaned the wound again and began placing small band-aids over it.
"You would have killed me." Sousuke said neutrally as more of a statement than a question.
"If you weren't good enough then yes. You would have killed me as well; if I said I was an enemy even when you knew it was me you would have killed me. I'm disappointed in your lack of skill though. I expected more. Also I find those strange…powers amusing. You don't use them much but your enemies enjoy it." Wraith placed a large bandage on the smaller one and taped it. Sousuke forced himself to stand up.
"I do not wish to speak about it. I suspect the extra trackers I located on Chidori's clothes were yours."
"Yes, and you removed them. I had trouble trailing her. I left you two alone most of the time, I kept watch over her apartment mostly." She said pulling her suit over herself. Sousuke limped towards the living room.
"It does not matter. You do not protect her anyway." He said looking at the damage they caused.
"I told you why."
"Do you still work for Mithril?"
"Yes."
"I see. But these were serious terrorist."
"I could not stop them. If I tried he would have easily stopped me. Besides he knew I was there. He smiled at me. A sniper shot would not have worked. I did do you a favor though."
Sousuke turned toward Wraith who was now in Kaname's fridge.
"I know where they went. You just destroyed your test equipment but I doubt they brought anything that would let you track them anyway. I followed them. Saw where they went and planted a tracker on the copter. I have the stopping point saved on GPS."
Wraith said as she pulled out a bottle of juice and two glasses.
"She had nothing to drink but this stuff." Wraith poured two glasses. Sousuke walked back and stayed in the kitchen drinking from his own glass. The TV and radios were useless. In fact the bathroom and bedroom were the only places that were almost untouched. Sousuke would have to get the whole apartment redone.
"Chidori is going to kill me."
"Oh yeah. If you don't get killed first anyway." She said drinking her glass again.
"Well you were very affective in trying to kill me. Perhaps you should have been an actor."
"I wasn't acting." She finished the drink and walked to collect her equipment. Suddenly a thought crossed her mind.
"How did you know it was me?" Wraith asked.
"I don't know. I just felt like it was you. Even though we never met or spoke without you using voice camouflage."
"Well do you want the information?"
"What is your goal?"
Wraith stared at his back surprised by the sudden question.
"What?"
"Your goal. You would not fight me and put up such an elaborate act for so long for no reason." Sousuke turned to face her.
Wraith smiled as she held her hand on one cheek the other holding that elbow.
"Well you are smart for an idiot. I was just having some fun. I don't want to send an idiot after her. While annoying I am kind of fond of her. Having saved me and then have me get her to Hong Kong. That forceful attitude of hers is convincing sometimes. Plus I miss seeing her kick your ass."
Sousuke stared at her the last remark surprising him a bit.
"You do not seem as professional as before. Are you sure you are Wraith?"
"Yeah. I decided to calm down. That does not mean I am any less skilled. I will still do what I need to get the mission done." Her expression changed to complete seriousness and a bit of danger.
"I would like the coordinates. There is more than just Chidori that I have to do."
"Really? What?"
"That is not your business."
Wraith eyes him suspiciously. "Ok. But do you plan on going with that injury?"
Sousuke looked down at his knee then back at her. "It will heal."
"I see. Well let's go to your place. I wish to speak to you first."
"Understood." Just as they prepared to leave there was a knock on the front door. Sousuke walked over to answer it. The landlady was at the door.
"Is everything ok? I was told there was a disturbance form here. Gunshots were heard."
"There is no problem. The TV was exceptionally loud. I apologize. It will not happen again."
After convincing the landlady she left. He turned to Wraith who had her costume in a bag and was now wearing casual clothing.
"Let's go."
The walk back to his apartment was quiet. He had locked Kaname's apartment before they left. He would need to do something about it soon.
They sat at a table in his living room. They each had a glass of water.
"Before I let you go I need to know the bigger picture. We may even send soldiers with you. If we know what we're dealing with we can plan an assault against them. Mithril has been very curious about this since the attack in Osaka. The enemies are potentially more dangerous than Amalgam was."
"I cannot say anything. Not until I am sure. I do not want to cause any problems or get anyone killed. Especially if they are not ready."
"Well that is for later. When you fought Smith or me on the roof before I knew what I was saying. I know what you did Helmajistan while looking for Kaname."
"…" Sousuke said nothing just staring back.
"Oh yes I know all about that event. Mithril investigated it. No one up close saw you but people who were watching from a distance away. The people who put that there for you watched and recorded the whole event. They copied down results and everything. It was devastating. "
"I have nothing to say about that event."
"Nothing to say. You killed 1211 people in an instant!"
"The explosion was an accident."
"It didn't look like it."
Sousuke looked down at the table. "There is nothing I can do about it now."
Wraith sat back in the chair crossing her legs. "You really are an emotionless bastard."
"So I've heard." Sousuke rose form the table. "There is nothing to talk about concerning that event. I would like the coordinates of Chidori please."
"Not until I hear what happened then. You took out everything from infants to seniors as well as animals and buildings. How did you get away from it? You made what was thought to be a lost city really lost."
"I have no information on the event."
"Why?"
"I do not remember exactly. I was informed of what I had done and I have scattered memories of it but no solid details."
"Is that so?"
"Affirmative." Sousuke limped out into his living room. Truth is he still wasn't feeling quite well. He opened the balcony door and walked out onto it. The cool breeze from the night air was comforting. Wraith soon joined him.
"I have information I stole from them. I will copy the files and give them to you, in exchange for the coordinates. As for Helmajistan there is nothing that can be done now." Sousuke said looking at the fading moon.
"You know I may have been fucking around but there are guys out there trying to kill you for it. One of the members sold you out for a large amount of money. The U.S. and governments from other countries were looking into it. Spies and that. It seems countries are interested in powerful bombs with no radiation effect. It's been kept down but you need to be careful or you'll be on the world's most wanted list. Mithril has withheld the information; having destroyed it. No one really knows about you except Mithril. The guys out for your head were taken care of. Most of them we believe anyway. There are still small groups trying to figure out what they can. The government of Helmajistan is very concerned and is really going for it. KGB groups are out for the weapon too. As for the explosion itself. It is being blamed on the U.S. as retaliation to recent terrorist attacks so you're in the clear. Other excuses are attacks form other countries but most of it is on the U.S. so they're getting a lot of heat. Mithril is doing what it can to get rid of the other groups."
Wraith focused her attention on the moon as well. Sousuke took a deep breath taking in everything he was just told.
"It's not a problem. As long as I complete my mission it is okay."
"You really are a troublesome guy. You piss off the whole world and brush it off."
Sousuke turned his head to face her.
"As you said they are unaware it was me. In fact I wonder why the captain did not tell me about it. If you know, she has to know as well."
"You're right. But she knows you're under a lot of stress and busy with things so she let it go for now." Wraith shrugged taking her own deep breath of the morning air.
"Do you agree to the trade? If you do not-"
"Don't threaten me. I'll trade you but don't get arrogant because you think what you have to do is important." Wraith glared at him. Sousuke nodded then headed inside to retrieve the information. Wraith walked back in and placed a pulled out a device and a cord she plugged into it.
"Give me your GPS." Wraith demanded as Sousuke returned with the information. He grabbed the device form next to the communications equipment and gave it to Wraith who then proceeded to download the coordinates for him.
"Some of it is folders and the rest is on the CD." He said showing pulling out the compact disc. He grabbed the GPS once Wraith disconnected them. He looked at the location.
"That is far." He said looking disappointed.
"Yeah well. I need to go. I have a chopper arriving in a few hours. You should rest. No doubt you're going off as soon as possible. As a warning now. You may not be the only one attacking that base. Mithril has recent business with them too."
Wraith looked down. "Make sure you tend to your knee. That was a pretty bad wound. I'm surprised you leg didn't come off. Or even that you can walk. Isn't the bone broken?"
Sousuke looked down. The bandage had become a red color.
"Negative. I am used to taking a lot of damage. Sometimes Chidori can be very forceful and while not as powerful as bullet and grenades it keeps me in practice."
A sweat drop appeared on Wraith head. "Understood. Listen take care. If anyone is going to kill you it's me." Wraith headed for the door. Sousuke watched quietly as she left. None of them mentioned how awkward the whole situation actually was but they were both aware of it. He looked once more into the GPS before heading to the bathroom, the thought that the coordinates were false did not escape him. But first he needed to change his bandage.
The wound was not so bad. It was ugly but not as bad as he would have expected. He could fight with a 2 inch hole in his knee and probably a shattered knee cap. He bent his leg making his bone visible as well as flex the destroyed muscle and flesh.
"I will need to sleep on this."
He began cleaning the wound again. Afterwards applying a fresh bandage.
"She was right. I should not be able to walk." Sousuke made sure the bandage was secure and stood up. He cleaned up everything before heading to his bedroom. He looked around deciding whether he would to bed. He pulled a thin red material from his pocket and looked at it. He would need to hurry. He walked out of the room. The last thing heard in the apartment was the sound of the front door closing.
-Prison Rooms-
Kaname was having trouble sleeping. Leonard was asleep on the floor in a sleeping bag. Kaname had already been suspicious with their treatment but as time went on she grew more suspicious. No one without reason was treated this well. She was becoming paranoid as she stayed here. She was calm and controlled but she was getting annoyed and losing it slightly inside. Sousuke was her usual outlet but she had no such source here. She had the TV on with the volume low. She needed some sort of noise. The silence would have driven her further along the edge. She wanted to calm down but found it getting harder. Leonard was always calm. She leaned her head against the wall. She really wanted to get out of here. She didn't show it but she was very desperate to leave. One could only take so much. She leaned her head against her knees. Just as she did the door opened.
"I noticed you couldn't sleep. Would you like to go for a walk?" Schneider stood in the doorway. Kaname unconsciously nodded, turned off the TV, and approached him.
"How are you?" he asked as he closed the door.
"Horrible." Kaname rubbed her eyes and began following him. Schneider said nothing as he walked down the hallway Kaname following him. Kaname followed silently as they walked down halls and through doors. She accidentally walked into him when he stopped at a door.
"Here we are." He said slowly opening the door.
"Huh?" Kaname's attention increased slightly as she watched him open the door. She walked into the room awed at what she saw.
"Some of the staff don't think we need this but most of us enjoy it."
They had walked into a large room very different from the others. There was grass and plenty of trees as well as a fountain and small ground lake in the middle. There were benches, and stones. It looked like the best parts of a park put together. Kaname walked over and touched some of the flowers.
"They're real." She exclaimed as she examined more.
"Yes they are." Schneider walked past her over to the lake. Kaname spent the next two minutes walking around exploring it. When she reached Schneider again she looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you showing me this?"
Schneider grinned. "You are a guest of honor. Besides you looked bored in that room."
A door could be heard opening. Kaname looked around to try to locate it but could not figure out where. She noticed Schneider looking in one direction and followed it. A woman was walking towards them. She was mid-30's maybe from what she could tell.
Kaname watched as she walked up to Schneider and kissed him. Then they both turned to Kaname.
"This is my wife. Ivy." Schneider introduced her.
The woman nodded her head.
"Hello. It's nice to meet you." The woman held out her hand. Kaname hesitated before shaking it.
"Kaname." She released the woman hand slowly. She found her captors actions peculiar.
"Isn't this beautiful. I helped make it." Ivy said looking at the garden. Kaname nodded in agreement. She turned to Schneider wanting to ask him a question.
"Why are you treating us so well? And Leonard. I'm getting suspicious of him. Can you tell me anything?"
Ivy smiled at Kaname. The smile was not as sweet but more mocking. Schneider smiled similarly.
"You are asking for a lot considering you are a prisoner. We give you a little bit and you try to take a lot more, how selfish." The woman took a step forward. Kaname once again showed her rash side.
"Excuse me I'm just asking. You guys don't seem as bad as I thought but if you seem like a bitch." Kaname was surprised at her choice of words. Maybe being here was affecting her. The woman went to slap Kaname but her hand was caught mid-way.
"Now honey. She is Sagara's woman. You should not touch her. They were only words."
Schneider said releasing her hand. Ivy released some air and turned to him then back to Kaname with her sweet smile.
"I'm sorry dear."
Kaname nodded a little worriedly. "No problem."
'She's crazy!' Kaname thought.
"Please. I wish for you both to be calm. This is a time for relaxation."
The three started walking through the garden. Kaname finding it very awkward.
'I always end up with weirdoes.' She thought as they walked deeper in.
"So Kaname have you spoken to Sagara-san lately." Ivy asked as if it was casual.
"Of course not. I'm stuck here with no phone." She said clenching her fist from the stupid question.
"Oh yes sorry." She said as they continued walking. "Do you know why you're here?"
"He says it's because of Sousuke." Kaname pointed towards Schneider.
"Hmm… Do you know anything of what Sagara has been doing? If he is even looking for you?"
"Of course not what don't you get about me being a prisoner here." Kaname pinched the bridge of her nose and took deep breaths.
"Yes sorry. I just thought someone might have given you updates. Sagara has done quite a bit."
Kaname acted uninterested as they walked.
"Do you wish to know what they are?"
"Sure."
Ivy smiled at this response. Schneider walked next to them eyeing his wife suspiciously.
"He ki-"
"Well I just thought you might want to stretch your legs a little. My wife will escort you back." Schneider interrupted her. He gave his wife a hard look before walking away. Ivy apologized then began walking in another direction. "Come on dear."
Kaname looked from one to the other before lowering her head with a sigh and following the woman she was sure was a schizophrenic. After being dropped off at the room she stretched her arms. She had had enough of that to make her tired. She yawned as she approached the bed. She gave Leonard one last glance before lying in the bed.
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Wraith stood waiting as the helicopter lowered. Her clothes were blowing about from the force caused by the blades of the helicopter. She waited until it was landed to step forward. Just as she began to enter she heard a voice behind her.
"I am coming with you…"
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