Far East Branch - Director's Office

The days that followed showed little improvement for the New Type and her veteran comrade. As promised, there was much debate as both Soma and Alisa argued in Neo's defense. Between the two of them and a little interference from the Branch Director, she remained imprisoned and, for the time being, safe. The problem was that none of them knew exactly how long that was going to last… which was precisely the current topic of conversation.

"The decision is final." Major Amamiya's voice left no room for argument.

"But Major Amamiya, that's -" Alisa began, her mouth snapping shut at the look on the older woman's face. Instead, she looked to Dr. Sakaki, pleading with him for some recourse. She received none.

The Director shook his head. "I am sorry, Alisa. Truly, no one regrets this more than I."

"So, what, we just keep her down there forever?" Soma snapped; his patience exhausted with the discussion.

Tsubaki solemnly nodded her head. "For now, yes. Neo, codename Reaper, will remain under imprisonment indefinitely. At least until we reach an overall decision."

"What other decision is there?!" He snarled. Deep down, he knew the answer. There were only two alternatives. Extermination or her return to North America, which would undoubtedly end the same way.

"The decision stands. If there is nothing further, you are all dismissed." The Major concluded, leaving no room for further debate. There was nothing more to be done. "I need to go do damage control." She muttered under her breath moving swiftly towards the door.

Soma glowered after her, watching as the door slid closed. Clenching his fists, he turned back to the Director, who truly looked as remorseful as he claimed. "You can't let them do this!"

The Doctor shook his head, resting his elbows against his desk with a frown. "My hands are tied, Soma."

"Sakaki, you know her history. She's spent her entire life in a cage. This is only going to make it worse."

"I know that, Soma. I am fully aware of her life in the previous branch, believe me… but that doesn't change the facts. Regardless of the reason, of who or what triggered her, Neo has proven aggressive. There are four God Eaters in intensive care as a result of her most recent outburst. There is nothing more I can do."

"What do you mean, nothing more? You're the damn Director!"

"Which is why she is in a cage and not in a coffin." Sakaki replied, his eyes growing hard. His voice held all the authority of a Branch Director, reminding both of them once again, that he was not one to be taken lightly.

Soma fell silent. He knew that Sakaki was right, though he didn't want to admit it. Even still, he wasn't happy about it.

The Doctor continued. "Listen to me, Soma. I understand that Neo is important to you, as she is to many within the Far East, myself included. But right now, this is for the best. What would happen if we let her go and she had another episode, hmm? What of the backlash from other members of the branch? If this commotion gets any worse, it will be too much to contain. Would you have her whereabouts reaching those who oppose her?"

"…You know I wouldn't."

"Precisely. I understand your concerns, and I assure you, so long as I hold my position, nothing further will happen to her. For now, try to bear with it… and for gods' sakes, do not let her get into any more trouble."

Soma nearly snapped back at his final comment, but a hand on his shoulder halted him. Turning, he came face of face with Alisa, her own expression one of warning. There was nothing more they could do for now.

"It's only temporary, Soma. We'll fix this."

"…Tch." Soma turned, storming out of the office, with Alisa close behind.

. . .

Mess Hall

Leaving the executive floor, the pair made their way to the lower levels. With nothing more to discuss, they convened with their returning teammates in the cafeteria. Alisa, Sakuya, Kota, and Soma sat solemnly at a back table, away from the hustle and bustle of the other Den members. Their strategic location was both a matter of secrecy and necessity. For the sake of everyone's personal health, it was simply best to keep Soma as far from others as space would allow. During their journey downstairs alone, Alisa had to help the volatile veteran reel in his temper on four different occasions.

Between the rumors, the mutterings, and sometimes downright rude comments, it had taken nearly everything in Soma's power not to lash out himself. He had come dangerously close to decking a member of the 4th Unit who had dared to rejoice Neo's placement behind bars. One thing that he had learned over the past few days was that Hamasaki was right. Neo really did have a divisive effect on people.

Members were either overjoyed or extremely upset about her current fate, with the lines split relatively evenly among specific groups. Women in particular weren't too concerned with it, as many of them hadn't been fond of her to begin with. Between her relationship with Gunter, Ichiro's affections, and perceived favoritism, she was far from popular. The 3rd Unit members also seemed to have negative feelings towards her, generally those affiliated with Otto.

On the opposite side of the spectrum were some members of the 2nd Unit, Annette being one of them. While she had seen Neo's attitude firsthand, she had also seen her go out of her way to help those in need, herself included. She couldn't deny that people had gotten hurt, but she believed that there was more to the story. This was especially true considering her and Otto's tense relationship. Kanon similarly was skeptical about the situation, uncertain that the rumors were as bad as they claimed. Gina, a rare exception within the 3rd Unit, was utterly unconcerned. In her own words, 'that dumbass must've done something to deserve it.'

Among the 1st Unit, the verdict was somewhere between an even split and a small grey area. Alisa and Soma were obviously opposed, knowing full well that imprisoning Neo for long could never end well. Kota and Sakuya weren't entirely in support of releasing her, but without knowing all of the finer details of what had happened, they weren't exactly happy about it either. This was especially true considering the lifeless state they last saw her in.

"How'd it go?" Sakuya asked, eyeing the other two God Eaters as they returned with their trays.

"Imprisonment until further notice." Soma muttered, the words like vinegar on his tongue as they left.

"Well, it's certainly not ideal… but it's better than the alternative, right?"

Alisa nodded solemnly. "I suppose so. But…"

Kota shook his head. "I just don't understand… why did she do it? Things were going great between her and Gunter, it looked like. And she and Lenka were finally getting along too…"

Soma shook his head. "Don't know yet. Gunter must have set her off somehow… Utsugi was just caught in the crossfire."

"Oh. That's… good I guess?" Kota muttered, poking tiredly at his over-sized corn. Part of him was relieved that Lenka hadn't been the source of her outrage, but it didn't really help all that much. After all, it hadn't stopped him from ending up in the medical ward.

"How is she, by the way?" Sakuya asked, although she probably knew the answer.

To her surprise, Soma shocked her. "She's talking again, so that's something."

"Really? That's wonderful!" Alisa exclaimed, relieved to hear that she was finally showing improvement.

Kota nodded in agreement. "That's good. I was starting to think she was gonna go mute again. That would suck. I still can't figure out sign language."

Soma shook his head. "Don't get your hopes up. She's still not eating, and from what I can tell, she's not mentally in a very good place. I'm going to keep talking to her, but…" Soma fell silent. He couldn't say the words. To voice them would give them life, and he couldn't handle the thought of his friend getting any worse than she already was. He had seen the result of that. The scars on her wrist told the tale.

"For now, let's just try to be positive. Hopefully, we can figure out an alternative." Sakuya suggested, earning a shrug in response. She wasn't sure how much faith she had in her own assessment of the situation. But what she did know was that she had faith in Soma and his relationship with the New Type. If anyone could pull her out of her spiral, he could. After all, it had been him that had reawakened her from Reaper. All they needed was time.

. . .

Wilderness

An earsplitting screech echoed through the skies, a Zygote's final cry before its body fell lifelessly to the ground.

'It's my fault.'

Another swing of his blade, another fallen foe. Ichiro kicked the motionless body to a nearby curb, scoffing as he trudged through the filthy city. He had lost track of his kill numbers long ago, not that he was concerned with them in the first place. After viewing the seemingly endless archives of Neo's life in the branch, the veteran had done the only thing he could think to do in that moment. Running wasn't his typical course of action, but in this case, it was for the safety of everyone. For Soma, himself, and every member residing in the Den.

'I should have protected her.'

Another fallen adversary, its body joining its brethren in a bloody mess of flesh. One of countless littering the deserted city. Soma's assumption had been correct. Ichiro did lose control. Oracle cells ran wildly through his veins, growing more violent every moment as he fought to contain his rage. He knew that an eruption was inevitable. Thus, he had wandered far away from Headquarters, to ensure that no one crossed his path. With his Armlet damaged, it was unlikely that anyone would know where to look. And that was for the best. With his stigma amok, he couldn't be certain that he would discern friend from foe.

'How could I have been so blind…'

Sword tore through flesh, a Sariel falling to the ground below as he brought down his massive blade. The force nearly split the creature in two, further drenching him in crimson waves. Standing there in the center of the clearing, Ichiro was nearly unrecognizable. Black tendrils wormed their way through his arms, eyes glowing gold as rage drove him forward. Rage for the years of ignorance, and thoughtless trust.

His anger wasn't for those that had wronged her. It was towards himself for his naivety. For his inaction. He had been by her side the entire time. He was in the same facility, housed within the same walls. He foolishly thought that she was being treated. In reality, she was being tortured. He thought she was being helped. Instead, she was being hurt. He allowed them to convince him that they were assisting her. In truth, they were abusing her in some of the most despicable ways imaginable. Inhumane didn't even begin to cover what they had done. No. He couldn't even call it that… to do so would imply that her captors were human themselves. Those monsters had shattered all but her very soul… and he had done absolutely nothing to stop it. Worst of all…

I want to run away.

… she had tried to tell him. She tried to warn him what they were doing to her. While she had never come out and said the words, in her own indirect way, she had reached out to him. She had come to him for help… and he had ignored her cries. He now understood the source of his father's pain and his urgency with moving her out of the branch. He must have learned the truth as well, at least to some degree, even if he never discovered the perpetrators. He shared the late doctor's sentiment. No amount of groveling, remorse, or apologies could ever make this right.

'I was a fool… I was a fool to ever listen to them…'

These were people he had grown up with, no less than family friends and close allies. They had nearly raised him, many around for him even when Hiroyuki wasn't. He trusted them. His father trusted them. He could feel the blood boiling in his veins at the very thought of Samuel's traitorous face. He would smile and greet them, speak with his mother and father, conducting business as usual. How many times had he smiled in his face, while Neo lay writhing in the next room? How many times had he casually reported to them, only minutes after mistreating her? How many times had those monsters conversed with him in the lunchroom, clipboards in hand, just hours after raping her? The image of Neo sobbing in silently in the hallway was all too clear.

And it didn't stop there.

Neo's wasn't the only blood on their hands. As he had now learned, his ears had not deceived him on that fateful day. The sounds he had heard through the vents were very real. Agonizing cries for help that had gone unheard to humans… but the Aragami had heard her call. And their resulting arrival was the very same that had taken his mother's life, as well as more people than he could possibly count in the first and most violent breach in their branch's history.

That day in the Forgotten Temple, Neo had apologized profusely to him over and over. She repeated the words like a mantra, squeezing the life out of him and confusing him to no end. Now, he finally understood… and while the new knowledge pained him, he bore no grudge against her. The New Type had nothing to apologize for. No. Misato's death was on their hands.

Samuel deserved his fate. Every single one of them did. He had no sympathy for the lives on that flight and were they alive today, he would happily return to the western continent and slaughter them all himself. He couldn't hope to match Neo's brutality, but he would certainly do his best. But they weren't. They had died, painfully and miserably, on that plane soaring over a frozen wasteland. A fate that couldn't possibly have been more just. For what they did to her. For what he was too blind to stop.

'Not enough… not enough!'

Red clouded his vision, his heart hammering against his ribcage as the Oracle cells continued their course. A glance downward revealed an alarming sight to him. His hands had darkened, his once pale skin now black as night. The infection was running out of control. He could feel his body all but moving on its own, seeking out more targets. More to destroy. More to kill. More to devour. How far had he traveled now? How long had he been away? He could barely remember. Only the sounds of the growing monster within rang in his mind. Was this what Neo dealt with every single day; which such darkness woven into her very being?

'Neo…'

His vision wavered slightly as the young woman reentered his mind. What was he going to do now? How was he going to face her? How could he? After what he had allowed to go on for so long, to even grace him with her presence was far more than he could ever deserve. To join the faceless God Eater in an airplane's turbine still wouldn't justify his incompetence. Would it be better just to give in? To allow the beast to consume him and never return?

No.

The image of Neo's tear-stained face reminded him. She had been so broken the last time he left. No matter how much she had endured under his watch, none of it had seemingly damaged her the way his abandonment had. Over all her years of abuse, he had never seen her so shattered as he had on that day. She was empty and lost, with no desire to carry on living. He couldn't do that to her again.

A quiet groan escaped him, his head aching with strain as he fought for control. His body turned, buster swinging automatically to intercept an erupting Cocoon Maiden. He flinched as his soiled clothing fell victim to a new wave of crimson essence. So much blood. The smell itself was intoxicating, exciting his rampant cells. He needed to get out of the open; to escape from further conflict. He would lose himself entirely if he continued at this pace.

His sword moved freely, tearing down all in his path as he made for the nearest building. Soggy shoes squelched against the flooring as he moved forward, wandering into one of the abandoned structures. He listened, body tense as he scanned the area around him for any hidden threats. It seemed the area was clear. Seeing nothing, he made his way towards the back wall and sighed. Leaning against it, he sank to the floor, exhausted. His labored breaths came as heavy pants as his vision oscillated between grey and red.

Eyes staring forward, he tried to focus on something, anything, to remind him of his humanity. To keep him sane. Violet hair and a golden eye, brown skin, and indigo claws. The very thought that fueled his rage now brought him peace. Color slowly returned to the world, the area around him coming better into focus as he slowly came back to his senses. Apparently, he was inside of an office building of some sort. It was nearly sunset.

Sighing, he leaned his head back against the wall. Another day gone. Was Neo worried, he wondered, of his absence? Surely, she must have noticed by now. Even with his increased time in the laboratory, the two would normally see each other every couple of days, at least in passing. By now, she was probably growing impatient, demanding information from Hibari and driving Soma stark raving mad. He felt some remorse for leaving him with the New Type, but knew that, at the time, he had little choice. Besides, Neo was safe with Soma. He wouldn't let anything happen to her.

He would apologize to him another time once he could fully regain his senses. Then, he would deal with Neo, assuming that he could face her by then. After spending the last few days in battle with his stigma, he had discovered a whole new level of respect for the New Type. He had been lost in this state, his blind rage driving him forward without the need for food or even water. Every one of his senses screamed at him to kill, and his body developed a mind of his own. It was as exhilarating as it was torture… and this was Neo's reality. Battling for control every single day, her other half threatening to take her over at any point in time. And this was on top of everything that she had endured over the course of her short lifetime

Yet somehow, she did it all, for the longest time, with a smile. Even to this day, she still put himself and others above her own well-being, despite her open wounds. She was truly one of a kind and easily the strongest person he had ever met. She was a pillar of power and resilience, her flame burning stubbornly in a world filled with darkness. It was just one of the many things that he loved about her.

A confession that now he was certain he would never make to her. He couldn't.

Shaking his head, Ichiro slowly rose to his feet. Wandering towards the stairwell, he resigned himself to resting for the night. He would worry about these things in the morning. For now, he would get some rest that he desperately needed if he was to have any hope of facing her. And he would. After all, he would return to her eventually.

He always did.