Chapter 9:
For the rest of the night Haru continued to cry. Despite the many efforts of Soubi and Ritsuka, he would not calm down. He cries sounded like he was being torn apart, like he was tortured. When Soubi had gone home, Haru's tears finally slowed. His eyes were red and wet. His face was a mess, and he looked like a poor street urchin.
"Go to bed, Haru," Ritsuka said. "You need to sleep." Haru nodded and slowly crawled beneath the blankets. Without Saki at his side, it would be a restless night. He sat up and looked at Ritsuka. He was sitting at the computer downloading pictures from his camera.
"Ri…Ritsuka," Haru said softly. Ritsuka turned in his chair, his glasses sliding down his nose.
"Yes?" Ritsuka replied, shoving his glasses back on his face.
"Can you…can I sleep alone tonight?" Ritsuka scratched his head in thought.
"Um, sure," he replied, setting the glasses down by the computer monitor. "Good night, Haru." He slowly closed the door behind him so he wouldn't wake Masaki. Then, Haru was all alone.
He got out of bed and sauntered to the window. Outside he could see the lights of the city, but not very many. Of course not. It was late at night. Everyone would be at home. He glanced down the street and gasped. In a flash he had the curtains drawn tight and the window locked. He rushed to turn off the small pug-in lamp Ritsuka had left for him. They were coming for him.
"No," he muttered. "No! They can't have me." He desperately searched Ritsuka's room for a weapon. No luck. "Damn," Haru growled. "Of course. He's a sixth grader. What kind of sixth grader owns a katana all their own?" He rushed over to Ritsuka's desk and scrambled to find a pen. When he found one, he tossed it aside. Ink poisoning was too slow, and he needed more than just a pen to do that. He frantically opened the desk drawers searching for a letter knife. The first drawer had only photographs, as did the second and third. By the time he reached the fourth drawer, he could hear their voices outside. Zero.
Haru yanked open the fifth drawer and found a first-aid kit.
Perfect, he thought. He tore it open and took out the pair of scissors. He pulled the scissors open and closed his eyes.
"I'm coming, Saki," he murmured. He pressed the blade against his wrist and slashed through the flesh. He winced in pain, the warm blood trickling down his arm.
One more.
He took a deep breath and pulled open the blades again. He gasped as the blade pierced his skin and cut the veins beneath it. Haru dropped the scissors and crumpled to his knees. Blood flowed from his wrists to the floor. "S…Saki," he smiled. "I'm on my way. Please…wait for me." He could hear the voices of Zero outside.
Oh, he gasped. He sent the most dangerous team of Zero possible. Saki, wait…
Haru smiled as he rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. His vision was fading fast. "They thought they had me," he whispered. "Nice try…Sensei…" His breathing slowed until his chest no longer moved.
"He's in here."
"Quick, let's get 'im!" Zero threw open the window and looked around the room.
"Look!" Natsuo cried. Yoji glared at Haru's dead body on the floor.
"So, the fool killed himself before we got here, eh?" he grinned. "Hmph. Coward." He heaved Haru's body on his shoulder. "Natsuo, we're leaving," he said. Natsuo nodded in reply and started to follow. "Oh, and Natsuo," Yoji continued, "clean up this mess."
"Yes," Natsuo replied. "Tidy. Straighten. Cleanse. Sterilize." When he stopped at the window to admire his work, not a trace of blood remained.
"Natsuo."
"Coming, Yoji."
