My eyes snapped open and then widened seemingly beyond proportion. "Wha-what?" I stammered in fear as I stared around.
In every direction, all I could see was blackness. Off in the distance and in all directions were twinkling dots of light, stars I assumed, which cast the faintest bit of light. I closed my eyes and sat, thanking myself that I had formed the shield when I did. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't and then we were sent here? Here being outer space. As hard as it was to believe, I could not rule out the possibility that that was in fact where we currently were. It sure looked like it… I could be sent to any world, any place, space included.
I sighed heavily, fighting back a half sob of panic as I sat down beside Akumei, clinging to his arm as if it were some form of comfort. Again, I found myself thanking him for coming and, at the very least, keeping me company. Even if he was unconscious, I still had someone near me so I wasn't left entirely alone.
I laid myself alongside him on the slightly curved bottom of the bubble, still holding tightly to him as I closed my eyes, trying to block out the picture of where I was. I couldn't get my mind off it, however, and soon ended up shivering slightly in fright.
For as long as I could remember, I had been afraid of heights. Gin had attempted to help me get over that fear and having my own set of wings had helped as well, yet floating through the endless expanse of space, the dread returned full force and before I knew it, I was whimpering as well.
Several hours later found my body shaking and teeth chattering. I snuggled into Akumei, his arms draped over me and mine around him in an attempt to keep warm. I knew he must have been freezing as well since he kept mumbling to himself in his sleep and every now and then, I'd feel his body shaking slightly.
"I wa-want to g-go home…" I whimpered to myself, head feeling light and body as cold as if it were made of ice. My vision began blurring and I fought to keep the energy shield around us, knowing that it was our last feeble chance at survival.
I felt myself slipping into darkness just as I caught sight of a small pinprick speeding towards us. I lifted my head weakly as I watched it drawing closer and gradually growing in size until it took on the shape of what appeared to be a giant robot. It approached rapidly, stopping to hover just beside his. I must be hallucinating… I thought to myself and then passed out entirely.
I opened my eyes half way and peered around at my new surroundings. I was in a room with sliver metal walls, lying on my side on a bed with another one above me. Opposite against the other wall were similar bunk beds, simple silver frames with white sheets. Akumei lay in the bottom one with a large blanket consuming him. I saw his chest rising and falling repeatedly and knew he was fine.
I was also draped under a thick blanket and just realized that I was gripping it tightly to wrap it more firmly around myself. I held it close as I sat up and then paused, waiting for my head to stop spinning from the movement. I sluggishly grabbed my sword, bag of clothing, and camera bag, and strapped them all securely around myself again.
Just as I fully recovered my senses, I heard footsteps approaching and accompanying shouts. My ear twitched slightly as I took in what was being said. "Why do you keep bringing in these strange people?" A girl's voice shouted angrily.
"Fllay, the only thing strange about her so far is her appearance…" A male replied calmly.
"No! I heard you telling them she was inside some kind of green bubble and that she had a man with her! And, she has wings and stuff! She's obviously some kind of super coordinator. Some secret weapon they've been working on to kill us all! I wonder how many times they've experimented on her." The girl, Fllay, cried, growing more hysterical by the minute. A door in the wall slid open, disappearing into the frame on either side, and a pink haired girl stood in its frame, glowering at me. "What kind of trick are you up to?" She screamed.
"Wha-what?" I stammered, completely lost but somewhat agitated by her also.
A boy with shaggy brown hair appeared on the scene, pulling Fllay back. "Calm down and let me handle this!" He cried anxiously.
"No! She's another coordinator freak! Like the ones who killed my father!" Tears were leaking from Fllay's eyes now and I saw the boy flinch at her words.
"Fllay, that's enough!" I heard a new girl's voice and then she appeared within view, carrying a tray of food. She had brown hair to just under her ears that flipped upwards at the ends.
"Thank you Miriallia." The boy nodded and then slipped into the room while Miriallia attempted to drag Fllay away. The door slid firmly shut behind him. He looked at me for a moment and then spoke as he handed me the tray he had taken from the girl. "Here, I know you're probably hungry." He said quietly.
I nodded slowly and accepted it with a slight nod of thanks. I began eating it, not bothering myself with what it might actually be. He remained silent and watching me so I stared at the plate to distract myself, though I felt his eyes roaming curiously over me. As soon as I finished, I looked up towards him. "What… are coordinators?" I asked quietly. "And why does that girl seem so set against them?"
He looked at me in surprise but hesitantly answered. "They are people who've had their genes altered…" He began. "Their abilities are enhanced so they're kind of like super humans or… something." He paused to stare at me. "I… am a coordinator. Are you saying you're not?"
I nodded again. "Right, I am not one at all." I replied definitely.
He studied my face and then continued with my next question. "There is a war going on between the Naturals from earth and the Coordinators from space. There have been… casualties. Fllay's father was killed just as they were about to reunite."
I dropped my gaze instantly to the floor, feeling guilty for asking, as an awkward silence filled the room. The boy finally broke it. "My name's Kira. Will you tell me yours?" He asked suddenly.
"K-Kira." I repeated, caught of guard.
He looked at me oddly. "Yes, that's my name. What is yours?"
I smiled faintly. "My name is Kira as well."
He looked at me in surprise and then laughed slightly. "Well that's a strange coincidence."
I nodded in agreement and then spoke again. "Umm… Mind if I ask another question? Well, I guess it's more like three actually…"
"No, go ahead."
I took a deep breath and began. "You said you were a coordinator but that girl seemed so against them. What side of the war is this place on? Also, are we in a spaceship or something? And… what was that robot thing you flew up in? I thought I was hallucinating when I saw it."
"I'm probably the only coordinator to be on the Natural's side. I didn't mean to get involved at all, but my home, neutral territory, was attacked when it was discovered to be hiding the giant robots, Gundams. I was pulled inside the one you saw by a Natural commander to escape gunfire and shortly after learned I was able to pilot it. Mine's called Strike Gundam. There are more, but they were taken by the coordinators. I stayed here to fight on the Natural's side because my friends are on this ship and I have to protect them." He paused for a moment, watching the floor. "Yes, we are currently in a spaceship." His eyes slowly traveled up to rest on me. "Now can I ask you some things?"
I nodded, already with an idea of what he was about to say. "Yes, of course."
He watched me for a moment longer and then began. "You said you're not a coordinator, so then what exactly are you? And why were you floating in space like that? I thought I was going crazy when my sensors picked you up."
"Well I guess it's lucky for me that they did." I laughed nervously before continuing. "I'm, umm… not even entirely human, really. I mean, I am a bit but I'm more dog demon and over half wolf demon. I was sent from my home and have been getting transported around randomly ever since, trying to return. This time I happened to end up here. Well, not here, but out there where you found me."
"Transported…?" He echoed after a moment of soundless staring. "So you have some machine that lets you transport yourself around?"
"Actually, no… I don't." I frowned. "The person who sent me away in the first place just sits at my home until she finds me. Then she sends me somewhere else and repeats the process over until I get back to the right place. I guess it's kind of a special power of hers. Akumei can do it too." I added, nodding towards his still sleeping form.
Kira stared over at him for a moment. "Hey, is he all right?"
"Yeah, he's fine." I nodded assuredly as I snuggled further into the blanket, leaving the eaten food tray on the bed beside me.
"If you're sure…" Kira frowned and another silence followed.
This time I got up the nerve to break it. "Can I have a picture with you?" I asked.
He started slightly. "What for?"
"To keep track of all who I meet." I smiled. "Please…?"
He regarded me for a moment and slowly approached. I snapped the picture before he could change his mind and thanked him as he picked up the tray again and retreated towards the door. "I'll come check on you later." He said.
"I might not be here." I warned.
He turned sharply and stared at me. "What… do you mean?"
"I mean, she transports me away at random times. I don't control when it happens. She just finds me and does it. So, goodbye if you don't return in time, fellow Kira." I grinned.
Kira smiled slightly and nodded. "Goodbye…" Then he retreated back through the door and closed it behind himself.
I laid back on the bed, staring at the bottom of the top bunk as I sighed heavily. "I really do hope I get back soon." I murmured under my breath as I drifted to sleep again, warm and comfortable under the blanket.
I was awoken a while later by a soft prodding to my shoulder. I opened one eye lazily and saw it was Akumei. "Akumei!" I cried excitedly. "You're awake! Are you warm now? You're ok, right?"
He laughed at my urgency. "Yes, I'm fine. Are you? Where are we?" I nodded and quickly explained it to him, watching his eyes widen in wonder. "I need a window! I can't see outside!" He shouted frantically.
Now it was my turn to laugh. "Relax… I can hear Kira coming and we can ask him."
Akumei blinked at me a couple times. "Another Kira?"
"Yes, here he is now."
Upon the completion of my sentence, the door slid open once again and there stood Kira in its frame. His eyes landed on Akumei and remained there, taking him in slowly. "I've brought you some food." He said finally, handing him the tray he was holding.
Akumei downed it all in about three bites and then thrust it back at him. "I need a window. I must see outside!" He said urgently.
Kira blinked in surprise and then shook his head to focus again. "A-alright. Just hurry please."
We followed him quickly out the door and slightly down the hall. A large window was set into a wall and Akumei immediately pressed his face to the glass, murmuring things like 'impossible' and 'amazing' under his breath the entire time. I stared at the floor, having had my fill of space while stuck in the shield.
After a while, we managed to drag Akumei back to the room before Kira got in trouble for letting us out. He retreated quickly again, bringing Akumei's polished clean tray with him as he left.
I huddled back inside the blanket as I watched Akumei gaze restlessly around the room. Suddenly, I began to glow and his eyes snapped towards me. He bounded across the room to my side and sat on the bed beside me as I let the blanket fall from my shoulders. I grabbed tightly to him instead and a moment later, we both disappeared from the room.
The little cat girl turned her gaze suddenly towards the sky, attracting the attention of both males. Kiyoshi and Hiei both watched her intently as she opened her mouth to say two simple words. "She's here."
