After Koji part 4- Return to the Land of the Living
"Prime Minister's mansion…or, what's left of it…dead ahead…" Ryu's voice brought Jun out of her trance.
Joe elbowed the Owl and whispered. "Did you have to say 'dead'?"
He glanced back at the Swan to check on her. Her face showed no emotion.
I have to be strong…after all, I have a duty to the team…can't show any more weakness…Jun straightened up in her seat and mentally prepared herself for the mission. Fresh wounds were about to be reopened. Her soul had been ripped apart, and now she was being forced to re-live the nightmare.
"Jun…Jun, are you ready? We need to thoroughly explore the area…"
"Huh? No, Ken, I'm fine…really…" She attempted to smile.
Ken reached out and gently lifted her chin so that she looked him in the eyes. "You know, you can stay here on the God Phoenix if it's too hard for you…"
Ken gave her a sympathizing look and headed for the exit. She followed close behind.
Before going out, Ken gathered the team around him to assign duties.
"Joe, head south, Jun, east, Jinpei head back toward the race track in your buggy, I'm going to check out the mansion area and then head north, Ryu, you know what to do…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, you'll call me if you need me…" The Owl sighed, sat down in his seat, and propped his legs up.
It was all too quiet. The silence buzzed in her ears as she stood in the woods gazing back at the black ashes of the burned out mansion. Koji… Tears rolled down her cheeks. The tears were not just for the loss of what could have been, but for the loss of herself, and what she deemed to be right. She was grateful that none of her companions were there to see her display of weakness.
She never dreamed that in belonging to the team she would have to kill someone she cared about. It was so wrong. She could have changed him; perhaps he could've even joined the team. He had just lost his way, another of Gallactor's prey.
She headed east, as she was ordered, dutiful Swan that she was. The leaves crackled loudly beneath her feet. Suddenly, she heard a snapping sound like clothes on a clothesline on a windy day. She looked up and saw what appeared to be a parachute caught in the tree branches. Her heart skipped a beat…Could Koji be alive?
Her pace began to quicken as she began thinking of where he could've possibly gone.
He must be alive…that has to be his parachute…but why didn't we see him escape? Thoughts scurried around in her head, making her feel dizzy and nauseated at the same time.
She finally came upon a little freshwater stream. She bent down to get a sip and heard a faint moan.
"Jun…is…that…you?"
Jun's heart leaped. She knew that voice.
"KOJI?" Jun saw an arm sticking out of the underbrush. " Koji…You're alive!"
She rushed over to his aid. "Oh, Koji, you're hurt."
"Please help me, Jun; Katse will kill me if he finds me…" Koji had gaping wounds, and blood trickled from his mouth.
"Don't worry, Koji, we'll take care of you." She helped him up, wrapped his arm over her shoulder, and hurried him back to the God Phoenix.
"Ryu, call the others…I'll be in the med bay with Koji…" Jun didn't have time to explain. Ryu caught a quick glimpse of the pair heading to sick bay. Koji needed someone to dress his wounds and he'd be needing some blood. Quickly.
"Did you say…Koji?" Ryu looked up in disbelief. Surely Jun was hallucinating. She never should've gone on this mission so soon…
Ryu rounded his arm to speak into his communicator. "Ken, it's Ryu, uh…I think Jun's found something…and she thinks it's Koji!"
The wristband crackled Ken's response. "Koji? Did you see him?"
"No, they slipped by too quickly…she's in sick bay with him now. Did you find anything?"
"Negative. I'll round up the team and join you." I guess we've found what we're looking for; I hope this really is Koji, for Jun's sake…"
As the rest of the team boarded the ship, Joe turned to Ken. " Do you think Jun has finally lost it? Koji's dead. We saw him blow up with the mecha."
"Sis wouldn't lie! It must be Koji. I'm gonna check it out." Jinpei chimed in as he galloped off toward sick bay.
