Far East Branch - Lobby
Following their discussion, Neo's moods began to shift, showing glimpses of her former self. Her chat with Ichiro had lifted her burden and eased some tension. Her increased morale quickly proved infectious as other members of the 1st Unit grew lighter as well. It seemed that things were finally returning to normal. What her teammates didn't know was the source of her elation, which would become apparent in just a few days' time.
Shortly after their conversation, Neo found herself under summons; Dr. Sakaki urgently requesting her presence. Upon meeting him in his office alongside of Tsubaki, she learned the best news that she had heard in a long time. After careful analysis of the Ashen Wings, the Doctor was able to determine that the feathers did indeed belong to their late Corporal. This confirmed her suspicions that the God Eater was still very much alive. However, the analysis didn't provide them with enough information to determine his transformation status. To do so required comparison against another material, Black Wings, a similar but slightly rarer feather than the ones she collected. Thankfully, Neo had reliable resources.
Much like the Ashen Wings, the jet-black feathers had also been finding their way through the black marketplace, sold as accessories and craft pieces. And Neo knew two blonde God Eaters that frequented the underground. With a generous 'donation' to his efforts and a request for assistance, she was able to acquire the Wings with little trouble from Karel and Gunter, respectively. With the collection of the necessary materials, Sakaki went to work completing his analysis. And low and behold, the answer was finally revealed.
Lindow was alive.
The announcement was issued immediately, with Major Amamiya summoning all God Eaters in the Den to the lobby. Soldiers packed shoulder-to-shoulder on the upper floor, everyone eager to hear what Tsubaki had to say.
"I am here to report that DNA testing confirms our suspicions. Lindow Amamiya is still alive. As of 12:00 hours today, the search and rescue operation is active once again. He is alive, and no one is more joyous than I, but we must remain careful and cautious. If you come into contact with him, remember, the infection may have spread. Please, bring him home. Bring my brother back. If anyone has even a shot at this, it's all of you."
Her final sentence was the start of an uproar as every member of the Den erupted into celebration. The first to voice her elation was Sakuya, her voice trembling with joy. Tears of happiness glistened in the corners her eyes. "I can't believe it… He's alive… He's safe!"
"Oh, Sakuya!" Alisa clapped her hands together with joy, sharing in her relief. She knew that aside from the Major, there was no one in the Den happier than her.
"He's not home yet. Come on, the sooner we get out there, the sooner we find him." Always a voice of reason, Soma put a small damper on their exuberance to remind them of the task at hand.
Nodding quickly in agreement, Alisa reined herself in. "Right. We can bring him home. I can finally tell him the truth."
"This is gonna be like the best freakin' day! Let's make it happen, Cap'n!" Kota exclaimed, exchanging a gleeful look with Lenka.
Unfortunately, their excitement was quickly brought to a halt. With a guilty smile, the operator said, "Um, Kota? Actually… I hate to tell you this, but the 1st Unit is to remain on combat duty during the operation. The 2nd and 3rd Units will take point and lead our search and rescue efforts."
"You serious, Hibari?" Kota gaped at her. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. They were barred from searching for their own leader?
"Tsubaki can't afford to send you all out. It's too much of a risk. Someone needs to stay back and keep the Den safe from Aragami. So you're to patrol and hold the fortifications."
Their faces immediately fell, Kota deflating while Soma nearly combusted. Sakuya, Ichiro, and Lenka remained relatively neutral, but their eyes clearly held disapproval. Alisa nodded her head, though disappointment was still evident in her voice. "She… I-I mean, it's true, but still…"
"Don't give it another thought, Alisa. Leave this search to us. Lindow will be back home for dinner." Tatsumi assured, trying to uplift her spirits.
"Thank you…"
Kanon joined in, clapping her hands together in determination. "When we lay eyes on him, you'll be the first to know. What do you say, Gina?"
"The very first. Believe me when I say you are not the only ones who are eager to have him back. I won't let him stay out there alone."
Brendan seconded their statement, his hands resting on his hips. "Oh, we'll find him alright. Not to mention, we've got another two sets of eyes. Ain't that right, rookies?"
"Right!"
"Yes, sir!"
Federico and Annette saluted, nodding their heads in resolution. While neither of them had ever met the missing Corporal, they had heard stories of his strength, leadership, and compassion. He was beloved by all, and they would do their very best to bring him back home to everyone safely. Turning, Federico shifted his attention to Utsugi. "Um, before we go… Captain, could you teach me that disengaging tactic one more time, maybe?"
"Me too, me too!" Annette quickly followed, eager to partake in any advice Lenka had to offer.
Sakuya watched them silently, her eyes closing as she hung her head in acceptance. With a calming breath, she relented. "Okay… Okay. If this is the way it has to be, then I'll just have to put my faith in you. Please, please find Lindow and bring him home."
Tatsumi nodded, placing his hand over his heart in pledge. "Consider it done! You keep an eye on this place and give out the call if you need any back up."
The members of the 1st Unit nodded; their spirits raised by the others' confidence. They loved Lindow as much as they did. They would take this mission as seriously as any one of them. Of course, that didn't mean that all of their priorities were entirely sound…
Exchanging a look with Gunter, Tatsumi lifted an eyebrow in silent question. The blonde lightly nodded his head, signaling his agreement. With a deep breath, he prepared himself, striding confidently towards the operator. "Seems as good a time as any. Hibari… when I'm hailed as a hero for bringing Lindow home, what do you say to some dinner?"
The bustling lobby fell into a hushed murmur as every eye turned curiously to the pair. No one could even hope to count which attempt this would be. Hibari herself paused, a look of surprise on her face. Their gazes met for a moment as she contemplated her answer. "Oh… Um… Well… I, uh… I guess it's not entirely out of the question. Maybe you should just focus on bringing him back first."
The room fell into silence as everyone looked slowly at one another. It certainly wasn't an acceptance… but it wasn't an outright rejection either. By far, it was the closest he had gotten so far. Even still. Tatsumi gaped, utterly floored. "Wh-What?"
Then, joy returned to the lobby as the other God Eaters chuckled at the ridiculous display. It seemed that lovestruck fool would never learn. But who knew? Perhaps his persistence would one day finally pay off. As the soldiers laughed and made merry, they remained blissfully unaware of a pair slipping silently away one after the other.
. . .
Far East Branch - Medical Floor
After leaving the lobby, Neo made her way to the upper floors. Having all but launched the campaign singlehandedly, she was relieved to finally have others aiding her cause. While she was a bit agitated that her own unit was to be excluded, she wasn't entirely surprised. Such was the cost of power, it would seem. Regardless, her heart was light. She had accomplished her goal. The search was on and Lindow could finally return home. Perhaps they really could be saved…
But her mirth didn't last for very long.
Stepping off of the lift, Neo found herself standing before a familiar face. Leaning against one of the vending machines was Ren. He had been present during Tsubaki's announcement as well, but strangely had seemed almost as unsurprised as she was. Of course, Ren seemed to have knowledge of all the goings on in the Den, and she was far beyond trying to question it at that point. Instead, she slowly approached him, eyeing him carefully as he took a large gulp of his bright pink can.
He sighed in content, savoring the flavor for just a moment, before finally addressing her. "He is certainly beloved, isn't he? Lindow must have made some impression. Even his foolishness, his jokes, idiocy… Hahaha!"
Neo nodded, silently observing him as he lifted himself from the machine.
"Come to think of it, you even saw it, didn't you? That first day you fought Ogretails together. Couldn't even count. Ah, yes. Perhaps that was his way of… shattering the ice. I suppose that was a gift of his. And look what you have become. A free spirit, released from the chains that bound you. You have really come into your own."
Her suspicious gaze hardened immediately into a glare at his words. She had been more than patient with Ren's unusual behavior and prying into other people's affairs. She had remained silent when he mentioned his acquaintanceship with Lindow. She had said nothing when he made reference to Soma's heritage and even her own. But this was something else entirely. There was simply no way that this man could have possibly known about her mental chains. Even those privy to her time as Reaper couldn't be wise to extent of her brainwashing. Just who was this person? She didn't know… but she was going to find out.
At least, she had planned to. But her concerns were shattered by the harrowing warning that immediately followed.
"That… is why I must tell you this. Why I must warn you. Dealing with a God Eater who's been infected is… It's a rapid mutation when a Bias Factor is suddenly and violently cut off. It's fast, and it's vicious, and it will do terrible things. If the mutation spreads… If it finds a way to spread, and it will… You will lose all that once made you human. There will be nothing left to find. They will become -"
"Become what?" Neo's voice lowered to a growl as she stepped towards him. Her venomous gaze locked onto him, daring him to say the words. A monster? A beast? A fiend?
"Unrecognizable. And what's worse, God Arcs - well, most God Arcs - will have no effect against someone so infected. There is only one way I know of, one way that can guarantee any kind of peace and death for that person…"
"And what would that be?" Neo's voice quivered with rage, her patience waning. Ren was on thin ice, and one misstep would send him plunging into the icy depths below.
"It's not easy, of course. You'd have to be a match. You'd have to already be twined to them in a way that…" He paused for a moment, eyeing her approach. He could see the fire burning in her eye, yet still, he did not falter. "You must use their own God Arc… It's the only way to finish them."
That was the final straw. Furious, Neo lunged forward, her hands slamming him against the vending machine. His can sprung from his hands, clattering and rolling along the floor, leaving a purple trail behind it. She would hear no more of it. There was still hope for Lindow. There had to be. Because if there was no hope for him…
But Ren pressed forward, undeterred by her threatening gaze. "Tell me what would happen. You track Lindow down to wherever he is… Tell me what would happen if you saw an Aragami there instead. If you saw what he became. Could you put him down? Could you slay the beast?"
Gloved fingers trembled against his shoulders, holding him tightly against the metal surface. She was bitter. She was enraged. She wanted to punch him. She wanted to slay him. She wanted to…
Suddenly, Neo's furious gaze softened, shifting to one of horrified realization. Her eye slowly lowered from his crimson eyes to his shoulders, where her covered hands pinned him against machine. She could see the dents in the metal from the force of his impact, a testament to her own inhuman strength. Startled, she wrenched her hands away, freeing him as she stepped back.
"It is the nature of this world to choose. Selfish choices. Foolish choices. It is the nature of this world to do right and to do wrong." Ren turned, walking calmly away from her towards his fallen can. Plucking the spilled beverage from the floor, he continued. "Lindow made a choice that day. You know it as well as I. Did that bring happiness? Redemption? Your choosing is coming fast, God Eater… so very fast."
Neo said noting. Her eyes fell to the floor, her mind drifting to a far-off place.
Ren, however, shook his head. At her broken expression, he offered an apologetic smile. It seemed his bluntness had landed him into trouble once more. Placing the can on top of the garbage bin, he turned. "I've disturbed you. I am… sorry for that. You can find me at the clinic." And with that, he made his way down the hall towards the medical ward.
Behind him, still she said nothing. She wanted to swipe at him. She wanted to scream until her vocal cords bled. But she couldn't. Neo knew that she couldn't… because Ren was right. Their world was a harsh and selfish one, born of greed, and avarice, and malice. She knew that better than anyone. Her very existence was a result of it. What would she do if she saw what Lindow became, whatever that may be? Could she kill him? Could she cut him down in the same way that Ichiro had done to her?
Her eyes drifted down to her gloved hand, where Lindow's Arc lay embedded underneath. The Ex-Corporal wasn't the only one possibly running out of time. With the threat of her own body turning against her, at any moment, she too could suffer a similar fate. A choice was coming quickly… both for her and her guardian. Both of them would have to choose to slay or to save. Of course, Ichiro had promised that he would do everything in his power to do the latter. Such was his way. But what would happen if he couldn't?
Suddenly, Neo's head shot up as realization tore through her like hurricane. She had spent all of this time wondering. Hurting. Brooding. And now, she knew.
Turning, Neo stormed back towards the lift.
. . .
Far East Branch - Veteran's Floor
The wall clock ticked quietly in the silent room, accompanied by the quiet bubbling of his lava lamp, a recent addition to his bedroom. In the corner of the room, Ichiro sat on his mattress, staring tiredly at the wall. He had been hoping to speak with Neo but hadn't been able to locate her following the announcement. He wasn't sure where she had run off to. But chances were, if he waited long enough, the woman would eventually come to him.
And naturally, Neo didn't disappoint.
The familiar hiss of the door lock reached his ears as a small figure appeared in the doorway. His head lifted, a smile appearing on his face as she stepped into the room. But his joy quickly faded when he saw the look on her face. "Neo? What's wrong?"
"Why?" Neo's answer was a single question, one that startled him momentarily into silence.
"Why…?"
"The Infernal Subway. I've been wondering for all of this time why you did it."
"The Infernal…"
"I can't believe I didn't see it sooner."
Ichiro blinked, trying desperately to keep up with her rapidly changing thought process. "Wait, what?"
"That's been your purpose all along, hasn't it? To prevent my transformation." Neo's words came faster as she stomped towards him.
"Where is this coming from?"
She wanted answers. She had always suspected there was a reason for Ichiro's presence. For his constant place by her side. Their training together and his observation, learning every facet, every detail. "You were assigned by Fenrir, weren't you? You were assigned as my protector. My guardian… and my executioner. They chose you because I trusted you." Stopping before him, she leveled her fiercest glare. "Tell me I'm wrong."
"Neo…"
"Answer me!" Her voice raised, shattering the tranquility of the room. Then, it was silent.
Ichiro watched her, his brow creasing as he tried to make sense of the situation. What had brought this on? He didn't know. But he could see the building rage in her eyes and her trembling fists. He didn't blame her for her anger at his betrayal. He deserved it. But he couldn't allow her to continue escalating, lest she destabilize...
With a deep breath, he resigned himself. There was no point in running from the truth. She deserved to know, and he had been meaning to tell her anyway. "…Yes."
"That's what all of the training was for. So that when the time came… you could kill me."
"…Yes."
"You really meant to destroy me in those burning ruins…"
"Yes. I was going end you… then, I was going to follow you."
The room fell into tense silence as the two stared at one another. Ichiro could only watch as Neo's expressions rotated through a series of states, far too quickly to trace. He didn't know what to make of it. Whatever was going through her mind was a mystery to him. Anger, sadness, hurt, relief. Her head was a roulette wheel of raging emotions… and whichever one she landed on would determine her reaction.
After a few moments, it seemed the verdict was finally decided. But Neo didn't react in any of the ways he had expected her to. While he was fully prepared to evade or block an incoming swipe, she instead looked at him with tired acceptance. And then, he saw it once again. That small spark of gratitude that often appeared whenever the topic arose. A phenomenon that he still hadn't gotten to the bottom of.
"Why didn't you?"
"Soma's unexpected arrival had something to do with it." Ichiro shrugged, only half joking as he gave her his response.
Neo was unamused. Shaking her head, she pressed forward. "No… I mean the second time."
"What?"
"When I transformed at Aegis… I had assumed that, once you saw me for what I really was…"
"No."
"Why?"
"I made an error in judgment… one that I cannot take back. I allowed them to convince me that you must be neutralized. That you couldn't be saved."
"…And you believe I can be?"
"Why not? If Lindow can be saved, why not you?"
"Because Lindow is human."
"And so are you. Neo, I have told you before, and I will tell you as many times as it takes. You are not the Dark Child. There is a way to stop this, we just have to find it."
"And what if there isn't?"
"There is. Neo, listen to me. I can't take back what I've done. I can't undo the past. I can only look to the future… and in that future, I am no longer your handler. Only your guardian."
"Your mission -"
"Failed. Yes."
"That's it?"
"What more is there?"
"Ichiro, you are a soldier of Fenrir. If you abandon your duties -"
"I abandoned my duties the moment I saved you."
"But Fenrir will -"
"To hell with Fenrir. I won't do it, Neo. Not if it means losing you."
"I don't understand. I've put you in danger countless times… Why won't you…?"
"You already know the answer to that."
"Do I?"
"Yes."
"Because… we grew up together?"
"What? Haha, well, that certainly does help."
"Then…"
"Neo, I can't lose you because I lo - wait… Do you not remember?"
"Remember what?"
"What happened at the Forgotten Carrier?"
"I…" She paused for a moment as she tried to piece together the events of that fateful day. She remembered voices, both from inside and not her own. Losing control. Shio's voice. Fleeing from Aegis. She remembered snippets, images of their deadly battle. But then… "I remember my transformation. I remember losing control. And then…"
"You don't remember coming back to us? What happened? How you got hurt?"
"I… I can't…" Neo grabbed her head, gnashing her teeth in frustration. She was growing so very tired of this. "There are so many things I can't remember anymore. I don't know why… What happened, Ichiro? Did I… did I hurt you?"
"Yes. You did cause some minor injury, but the important thing is you came back to us."
"Yes, but there was more, wasn't there? Wait… I think… You said something to me, but… What was it?"
Ichiro watched as she went through her process, fitting her thoughts together like the pieces of a broken mirror. It seemed that her Overdrive had done more damage than he initially realized, although it wasn't entirely unexpected. Aragami Transformation was of more than just the body, but the mind as well. It slowly devoured everything that once made a person human. Their emotions, their thoughts, their memories, and even their free will.
That there were holes in her memory didn't surprise him… but it did sadden him. At first. Then, it relieved him. If she had no recollection after their battle, it meant that she had never heard his unintentional confession. It also meant that he would have to find the courage to do so at later time. When she was stable and less vulnerable. For now, his focus was her current state. His personal feelings were the least of his concerns. "Nothing."
Neo frowned, noting the sharpness to his tone. "Are you sure? I could have sworn you…"
"Positive."
"But I -"
"Need to rest."
Neo's concerns were quickly silenced. She felt her body lurch forward, as Ichiro pulled her into an embrace, halting her worries.
"You've done more than enough for the time being."
The New Type wanted to argue, insistent that there was something he was keeping from her. But as she fell into his arms, she found herself unable to. Sinking into his warmth, she suddenly realized just how tired she actually was. Her entire body felt like a foreign leaden shell, her limbs like two dead weights at her sides. Inhaling his scent, she sighed, forfeiting her fight. She would submit to him… for now.
"Neo."
"Yeah?"
"Is that what you've been up to all this time? Why you've been pushing yourself so hard?"
Neo paused, contemplating his question. It seemed that he had finally deciphered her intentions. Of course he did. It was his job to know her inside and out. Although, in this case, he was only partially correct. But that wasn't something he needed to know. "…Yes."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I couldn't. The Director wouldn't allow me to."
Ichiro slowly nodded, threading his fingers through her hair. He was far from happy with her answer… but he knew that she was right. At the time, Neo's information was volatile. She couldn't risk making mention of Lindow's survival. The reaction in the lobby less than an hour ago was proof of that. But even with this understanding, another, much larger question remained.
"How did you know…? About Lindow."
"I saw it in a vision."
"You resonated…? With who?"
"With Ren. In the weapons hangar."
"…" Ichiro fell silent, his fingers freezing in place. There it was again. That name. Perhaps it was finally time to get some answers. "Ren?"
"He's a new transfer… you've seen him before. Don't you remember?"
"When?"
"All the time. He was with me when I woke up in the medical ward. He was with us during Fifth Element… have you really not been paying attention?"
"What…?"
"He healed me… don't you remember?"
Ichiro felt his blood freeze in his veins. His mind quickly ran over her behavior for the past few weeks. Her unusual outings at all hours of the day and night. Her unusual amount of time spent in uncharacteristic locations of the Den. Her conversations with herself…
"O-Oh… Of course. How could I have forgotten?"
"And you say I'm scattered?"
"Haha… fair point. I concede. Is that where you've been spending your time lately?"
Neo groggily nodded her head. "Mm-hmm. I've been learning from him. He has great interest in Aragami Transformation and God Arcs. He's very knowledgeable."
"I see. Always learning what you can, huh?"
"Of course."
Ichiro said nothing more, returning to his ministrations. He felt her body sag with relief as she relaxed into him. It seemed she had finally run out of steam, at least for the time being. And as her eye slowly drifted closed, he lifted his head to the ceiling. Their conversation had confirmed his fears. Neo was falling. Quickly. How much longer, he wondered, until she finally broke? For now, he would humor her. To do otherwise could shock her into an even more dangerous state. And that was something he could not afford to do.
Sighing, he leaned forward, carefully maneuvering her sleeping form into his arms. He smiled softly as she bunched her fingers into his shirt, reaching out to him even in her dreams. Gently laying her on the bed, he pulled the sheets over her form. Completely spent, she rolled over and fell into a deep slumber. It was likely she wouldn't awaken for a while.
With a new plan in mind, he turned and quietly made his way towards the door.