Author's Note: After a few re-writes, and once again splitting the chapter in two, here we go...


Fireworks

Part 1

"Have a nice day."

"You too, and thank you again."

"My pleasure."

The door closed and AC 4293 sighed satisfied, stretching her arms as she descended down the staircase. Another nutrient delivery done and it was finally time for her long break. As she slowly, almost idly, stepped outside onto the street, AC wondered where she should spend her spare time. While she had already thought a little about it on her way up here to the pharynx, she'd not yet made a decision. What time was it anyway?

The body was always active, making it sometimes difficult for the red blood cell to tell what part of the circadian rhythm it was in.

Circadian rhythm

The circadian rhythm (also referred to as the internal clock) is the internal process that dictates our natural sleep-wake cycle, with one cycle taking around 24 hours. Aside from internal factors, the rythm is however also influenced by the local environment/external influences such as light or temperature.

Perhaps she should just head for the nasal cavities, let her feet recover at the hot springs; it seemed like the best idea really.

Without a box or basket in hand, travelling across the body was certainly more comfortable and thus, despite a long shift behind her, AC found herself overtaking many of her still working colleagues as she moved quickly through the bloodstream up towards the head.

When she approached the nasal area, having left the naso-pharynx behind, the erythrocyte could feel the air humidity rise, indicating that she was nearing her destination. At first it was accompanied by a cool breeze, but soon the temperatures rose and the buildings around her began to change. Apartment buildings became smaller until they were getting replaced by little shops and a sign above welcomed those following the road to the nasal cavities.

AC could smell freshly baked goods and heard water rushing in the distance, despite the numerous chatting cells, both erythrocytes and locals, the latter of which wore white yukatas and steel blue jackets.

The erythrocyte searched her way through the many streets, deciding what to treat herself to, when a white uniform caught her eyes. She had passed by many neutrophils on her way here, but she recognized the fluffy hair and when he turned his head a little, she could see his face and tag.

Evidently he hadn't noticed her yet in the crowd of red blood cells, otherwise he would have already reacted, which gave AC an idea. Her lips curved into a mischievous grin.

As inconspicuous as possible she made her way over, making sure she stayed right behind him. Luckily he didn't turn around, merely remained standing at wooden pillar, supporting the low roof above one of the many footbaths around this area. Finally she'd reached him and blew at his ear.

4989 jumped in surprise, making her giggle, and quickly turned around with a startled expression on his face, which upon seeing her immediately changed. "AC!" he greeted her with a broad, warm smile. "What are you doing here?"

The erythrocyte shrugged. "I'm on a long break, so I thought I stop by, rest my feet, maybe get a bite to eat. I didn't know you were here though." But she was absolutely thrilled that he was.

"Long break?"

"Yeah."

Suddenly she saw a twinkle in his eyes. By now she knew all too well what that meant; now he had an idea. He took her by the wrist. "Come."

"Where are we going?" she laughed, amused to have been right.

"It's a surprise," 4989 replied with a grin on his face, looking actually quite excited. "Trust me." Oh, that wouldn't be an issue.

Despite her rather tired feet, AC let herself be guided through the streets of the nasal cavities, yet soon realised that they were leaving the area, even if she couldn't quite tell what direction they were headed. Now confused, but still curious, she continued to follow 4989, as he led her through a myriad of roads and alleys. How did he know all these paths? Were they going deeper into the head?

They walked at a brisk pace for several more minutes, until they found themselves in yet another narrow street, just broad enough for one person. It was rather dark here, but past 4989's head, the erythrocyte could see light up ahead.

She felt him tugging at her wrist again, just as he stepped out of the alley, and all but pulled her in front of him. AC's eyes adjusted…and widened.

They were standing at the edge of a small plaza, in front of them a vast window front, larger than the ones she'd seen in either the stomach or the lungs. And beyond that, she saw the perhaps strangest buildings of the entire body. At first they seemed like grey towers, except their design had been inspired by trees, all connected with each other through countless, massive branch-like cable bundles, the information receiving dendrites and information sending axons respectively. Yes, these were neurons, they were in the brain.

Looking around AC noticed just how many circulating cells had gathered here. She'd been in the brain before, but she'd never seen so many people at once here, the plaza was almost full. Wait, could it be?

"Surprise," 4989 chirped merrily beside her.

AC turned to him, eyes still wide open, struggling to find words as her mind was racing. "Is…is it…?"

He gave her another grin, making the haemoglobin in her chest leap for joy and took her wrist again. "Come, this way."

Surprisingly he didn't drag her into the large crowd, but instead he guided her along the wall to one of the pillars that supported this viewing-area's overarching dome.

"Up there is a marginating pool," he explained, pointing up. "Just follow my lead."

Deftly 4989 started to climb up the pillar and only now did AC see that its surface was not entirely smooth, featuring several dents, just enough for feet and hands to find purchase. Slowly she followed him, having to pay a lot more attention to where she placed her feet. When she neared the marginating pool at the top, 4989 offered her a hand and helped to lift her up to a small platform, easily big enough for one person, however not quite for two.

The fluffy haired neutrophil made as much room as possible for her to his left, yet they still ended up shoulder to shoulder and legs touching. They were rather high up, at least for her liking, about three or four storeys AC guessed as she looked about, and so she leaned a little further towards him, a touch worried about slipping off.

But then she saw the view. When she'd made plans to visit this place, she'd always been concerned about her view being blocked by countless heads, but now to her left she could see the entire window front and the light grey 'forest' beyond.

AC couldn't help but feel giddy. The brain was always active, even now flashes danced across the cable bundles, but during dreams certain areas became so much more active. Many called it fireworks, though it was perhaps more reminiscent of a colourful lightning storm.

She had always dreamed of seeing it with her own eyes, yet she hadn't expected to get a front row seat…in a manner of speaking.

"Best view you're gonna find," the neutrophil told her and winked, clearly quite pleased.

"This is beautiful," AC exclaimed, turning to him with a bright smile. "Did you…?"

"Remember that you always wanted to see REM-sleep?" he finished her sentence before she could with a soft smile that made her feel even warmer inside. "Of course."

She opened her mouth to thank him, but on the spur of the moment placed a hand on his shoulder, leaned in and pecked his cheek. AC had just enough time to see him blush with that pale pink she adored as she leaned back again, before the lights in the viewing area dimmed, announcing the beginning of a REM-phase.


4989 felt every single of his mitochondria hammer in his chest and his body freeze up, when her lips touched his cheek. It felt like electricity was coursing through his body, making his toes and fingers tingle.

Just a moment later the lights dimmed and AC turned away, looking expectantly to the neurons. The fluffy haired neutrophil gulped and gingerly touched his cheek with his right hand, as the other would have brushed against her arm.

Since they'd been to the bone marrow a few days ago he knew that both 1146 and Dendritic Cells had been right. He did have feelings for AC and he hadn't really been able to get her out of his mind since. And now she'd kissed him.

Meanwhile the fireworks began. Rapidly lightning ran across the branches, jumping several times along the cords before reaching the next neuron, hundreds at once, illuminating the viewing area. The light of each was refracted a little differently, creating myriads of colours. Most had shades of blue, others shone yellow, a few were even violet or red. There one second and gone the next with a flash. But frankly 4989 didn't pay much attention to the spectacle.

His eyes were on AC, watching her, bathed in that multi-coloured light. He couldn't see her face all that well, but he could tell that her mouth was slightly opened.

4989 leaned forward to get a better look, just as AC gasped with amazement, and he smiled happily at her reaction. She was mesmerized, her eyes shining, reflecting the colourful flashes, so completely focused on what was happening before her. He loved seeing her like this, so full of joy, amazement, almost giddy by her standards. It was then the neutrophil noticed that right now his head was all but resting on her shoulder and that if he were to turn his head, his nose would touch her cheek.

His own warmed immediately at this realisation.

Thanks to his help, 1146 and AE 3803 had confessed their feelings for each other at the retina, one of the most beautiful places in the entire body, and naturally 4989 had wanted to make his move somewhere just as breath-taking. She deserved that; he wanted to make it special.

He hadn't known where, but now they were here together to watch the REM-sleep unfold, the fireworks she'd dreamed of seeing. What better place was there? What better moment?

But now, sitting so close beside her, the fluffy haired neutrophil suddenly felt anxious. How should he go about it? Just give her a peck, like she'd done, or be bolder? No, a peck would be a good start and then wing it from there. 4989 swallowed nervously and suddenly regretted not having consulted 1146 about this. Surely he could have provided him with some tips.

He hadn't seen everything, but he remembered his friend taking AE's beret, so its peak wouldn't be in the way for the kiss.

4989 took a deep breath and slowly lifted his hand; it was trembling. This was it.

"U-4989, come in. This is U-2001"

No, no, no! Come on! Not now!

Suppressing a disappointed groan, he picked up his transceiver. "U-4989 here," he answered, hoping that his annoyance didn't show, still cursing internally, but of course his colleague couldn't know that he was interrupting. Still; why now of all times?

"Pathogens entered the body at the naso-pharynx. Get down there as quickly as possible."

Then he probably wasn't the only one being called. This could be serious. "On my way. AC…" 4989 stopped once he looked up, seeing that she'd turned her head; her face seemed only a breath away, and the heat returned to his. So close...but he knew the moment was already ruined.

"Guess you've got to go," she muttered. It took him a moment, but finally he was snapped out of his stupor, when he noticed how crestfallen she looked as she said that.

He didn't like that look one bit, it almost hurt to see it, and so somehow he managed to smile. "If it's a minor incident I'll try to come back," the neutrophil promised, hoping to cheer her up and to give himself hope. "But shouldn't it be, you don't have to wait around. Just enjoy the fireworks, okay?" AC gave him a small nod and he looked to the pillar they'd climbed. "You think you can get down from here?"

"Sure."

"Right." The others were waiting, he had to go. 4989 started to climb down, but stopped before his head disappear under the platform, looking back to her one more time. "See ya." It did not have the same enthusiasm as usual.

"Hachikyu-kun?"

"Huh?" She looked worried now and he saw her clenching her knees.

"Watch yourself, all right?" AC urged him, evidently trying to muster a smile of her own.

His mitochondria skipped a beat. "Of course," he promised, his smile turning into a teasing grin. "I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't."


AC watched him climb down and disappear into the same alley that had brought them here. The fireworks continued, but she kept staring at the alley, as if part of her was expecting him to return at any moment. Of course that didn't happen, but one could hope.

The erythrocyte remained on the platform, only occasionally glancing to the lightshow to her left. It was indeed beautiful, even more so than she'd imagine, but watching it alone now…it just seemed paler, less engaging. Her hand wandered to the spot to her right; even though she'd been sitting at the edge, she hadn't moved despite having plenty of room now.

She always hated it, when he was being called away and it never failed to make her worry for him just a little bit. Naturally she was convinced he'd make it back, but still.

Eventually the fireworks stopped, and the neurons assumed their normal communication pattern, a few flashes every now and then, but nothing to the scale seen during a REM-phase. Below AC the crowd dispersed, as the lights were turned back on again, leaving the viewing area near empty in the end.

For a while the auburn haired erythrocyte kept waiting in the marginating pool, hoping that 4989 would perhaps yet return.

But he didn't.

She spent her entire break up there just below the dome, however the leucocyte never showed up; in fact she didn't see any neutrophils around, which was admittedly rather strange. Perhaps the battle was still on-going?

Slowly AC climbed down again, careful where to place her feet, not wanting to slip off the small dents across the pillar. As an erythrocyte she wasn't nearly as proficient a climber as a neutrophil, yet somehow she made it down alright.

She knew she should have been happy after what she'd seen tonight, but she couldn't shake that sense of disappointment. One last time she looked around, before she headed back alone towards the lungs to start her next shift.

The next days passed quietly as AC did her deliveries in peace and alone. It surprised her that she didn't come across 4989 even once in half a week, though she wasn't too worried at first; finding each other in a big world like this could be difficult sometimes.

He'd started to wait around the lungs and heart, whenever he wasn't occupied, places he knew she had to go through every circulation, but that didn't guarantee anything. But not once did she even see him.

Admittedly she was starting to miss his company and began feeling a bit lonely as the days went by, her only conversations being with the cells she delivered to or other erythrocytes, most of whom were strangers or casual acquaintances at best. The sole exception was AE 3803, who proved equally glad to see a familiar face once in a while, as she had apparently not seen U-1146 in quite some time either. The lively redhead claimed not to be worried, but AC could see that if nothing else she missed her boyfriend, despite her trust in his abilities. The other erythrocyte understood all too well.

Soon AC found herself checking each neutrophil she came across, hoping to find 4989 or at least another familiar face, yet was disappointed each time.

It wasn't long until she first heard talk about the battle at the pharynx having spread up to the sinuses. The erythrocytes who had been there talked of a warzone, and even the nasal-hot springs were supposedly no longer safe. They were all concerned, but AC felt her haemoglobin twisting into a knot when she heard the news. 4989 had to be there, still fighting. He had to be. He wouldn't…?

No; he'd seen plenty of battles, he would be fine.

Nevertheless, with each passing day her doubts and fears grew. She considered searching for him, if only to ease her mind, but where to start? The entire upper respiratory tract seemed involved and while some rumours spoke of bacteria, others claimed the body was facing a viral infection; neither rumour served to ease her fears.

The longer and fiercer the fighting, the more likely it was that something could happen to him. Still, there was nothing she could do, nothing but wait and that perhaps frustrated her the most.

...

Almost two weeks after the REM-phase fireworks, AC was feeling desponded. She was taking a break near the liver, catching her breath before making her way up the inferior vena cava, not feeling the need to hurry. Up there at the lungs she would only hear the newest rumours again or the dreadful reports of red blood cells, who had actually been to the upper respiratory tract.

And so she lingered there on a lone bench along the road, taking her time with the glucose she'd gotten at a nearby vending machine, despite her absolute lack of appetite. But she had to eat, she knew that.

She was just eating fast enough to keep the ice cream from dripping to her fingers, and even once she was done, the auburn haired erythrocyte kept blankly staring at the discoloured wooden stick in her hand, before throwing it away into the bin beside the bench with a sigh. What was she doing?

There was no point in becoming anxious and he wouldn't want her to neglect herself like this. She chuckled softly; he would probably scold her, get her all sorts of snacks and shove them into her hands. And then eat half of them.

"AC?"

She looked up, but it wasn't the fluffy haired neutrophil. To her surprise it was CT 2980; they hadn't talked in weeks. "Hi," AC replied, sitting up straight, pausing to find the right words. "It's been a while."

The other erythrocyte smiled awkwardly. "Yeah, I guess. May I sit?"

AC hesitated again for a moment. "Sure." She'd expected this conversation, but did it have to be now? Then again, would there ever be the right time?

"Everything alright?" her friend asked as she sat down on the bench, clearly concerned but also cautious with her words. "You look troubled."

"I'm just worried about someone I haven't seen in a while," was her admittedly cagey reply, well remembering her last conversation with AD and his reactions.

Not that it was of much use. "You mean that neutrophil, don't you?"

"…yeah," AC sighed. "Look if you're here to lecture me and tell me how I shouldn't even associate with immune cells, I really don't want to hear it again. AD has made your position quite clear."

"I know, he's told me. And I think he was a bit harsh."

That wasn't something AC had expected to hear. "But you're still against it," she clarified.

Her friend scowled. "You being together with a neutrophil? Of course it troubles me, but I know I can't and shouldn't force you to break up with him…"

AC suddenly interrupted her. "Wait. Together? Break up?" Her eyes widened. "You think we're…?"

CT's expression changed into one of confusion. "You're not? But I saw him hugging you and carrying you around."

And she thought that meant…"No, that's just what he does and he only carried me that one time, because I'd been injured," the auburn haired erythrocyte quickly explained. "You thought we were…a couple?" For some reason that made her feel flustered, yet strangely enough also a tiny bit cheery.

"I assumed," CT admitted embarrassedly, blushing red. "The way I saw you two act around each other."

"Oh." If that was what she'd told AD 5022 before he'd confronted her. "No wonder my last conversation with AD went south so quickly."

Her friend covered her mouth with her hands. "I'm so sorry; I told him about what I'd seen, though he admittedly wasn't entirely convinced of my conclusion. He kinda refused to believe it. So, you don't care for the neutrophil?"

AC shook her head. "Of course I do," she insisted, more vehemently than she'd intended, and pointed towards the vena cava. "Right now he's out there fighting, he has been for almost two weeks to make sure we are all safe, that we'll survive, and I just can't stand waiting, not knowing if he's going to be alright." Or if he'd already fallen. No, she didn't even want to think that.

"But you're just good friends?" She could hear doubt in CT's voice.

"I…we…" She looked down to her empty hands, resting on her lap. AC wasn't blind. She had noticed that 4989 had started acting differently around her recently. So in a way CT hadn't been entirely wrong, and even his teacher U-1110 had noticed immediately, when 4989 had claimed hastily that AC was 'just a friend' with a flushed face. Perhaps she was reading too much into this, but she was clearly not the only one seeing it. Trouble was she wasn't sure about her own feelings, or at least she didn't know what to label them. "Just friends."

"Doesn't sound like 'just'," CT noted calmly and took a deep breath. "Look, whatever your relationship with him is or isn't, we just don't want anything to happen to you. Even if he won't hurt you directly, look what worrying about him is doing to you. Frankly you look like a mess. Downright anemic. What you need is rest and a decent meal."

The auburn haired erythrocyte couldn't help but smile a little, touched by her friend's concern. Perhaps they could still fix this somehow after all, but AC couldn't exactly relent either. "And as I've told AD, if being concerned for someone's wellbeing is a problem I shouldn't be friends with anyone."

"Perhaps, but erythrocytes aren't at the front lines every day."

Clutching her thighs, AC looked up again, a stern look in her eyes. "CT; I'm not abandoning him. I'm not giving up on any of my friends, old or new for that matter."

CT tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "New friends? More neutrophils?"

"Mostly. You think I'm making a terribly mistake," AC added, reading her friend's expression.

"I'm worried," the dark haired erythrocyte reiterated. "I already lost one friend and now I feel I'm losing another. But this time I just might be able to do something about it."

Seeing that hint of hope in CT's timid smile, elicited a sense of guilt within AC, her chest suddenly feeling very tight. "I never meant for this to happen…between us, you know?" But she'd neglected them both nonetheless, hadn't she? She hadn't told them about 4989 and created this mess. It took AC a moment to notice that she'd grabbed her plait in a subconscious effort to comfort herself. Well, now there was no other way but forward. "I could probably talk all day, try to explain, but would you perhaps consider talking to one of them? Just once?" If she could just properly introduce 4989...provided nothing had happened to him.

Her friend hesitated. "I can't say I want to," she finally admitted, looking a little more tense again. "It's…difficult to see them as anything other than the killers they are supposed to be. After all, we are defined by our function; it shapes each and every one of us, whether we like it or not. I can't help but wonder how you can be comfortable around someone, who has so much blood on his hands?"

"You're talking about bacteria and viruses."

CT's eyes narrowed. "And virus infected cells. In the end it is their cytoplasm they spill. We've all seen with how much enthusiasm they go into battle; you think they have any pity for the poor victims of the viruses, when they end their lives?" The dark haired erythrocyte hugged herself. "Even if he never lays a finger on you or any healthy cell, that remorselessness…it makes me uneasy, it makes my membrane crawl. I couldn't be around someone like that."

AC couldn't really argue with that. She'd gotten used to their occasional bloody appearance, however she couldn't say that she liked the sight, or watching them eat their fresh kills. It was easy enough for her to see CT's point of view, not too long ago she'd shared a very similar one. If 4989 hadn't helped save her that day, AC suspected her views would never have changed. But as her mind conjured up the images of battles she'd seen, all the times she'd watched the neutrophils, something occurred to her. "They pray, you know," AC remembered, seeing her friend look at her with confusion but also a bit of curiousness. "I've seen it after a virus invasion. When the battle was over many of the neutrophils prayed beside their last kill, before the macrophages collected them."

CT seemed to consider this new information for a while, at least she didn't reply for a bit. "I'm not doing much better than AD, am I?" she eventually wondered aloud, smiling somewhat sadly.

That had not exactly been AC's desired reaction, but her friend had listened. A start. "Well, neither of us is shouting, so there is that."

She giggled. "I guess. AC," CT paused as she stood up, judging byher expression searching for the right words. "Look if you ever need someone to talk, I'm there for you, okay? But there are just things I can't do. Not now…maybe not ever, I don't know."

"I understand." Sadly AC did, though it was hard to hear nonetheless. "No rush." She couldn't force her friends to accept a new point of view after all, only provide the opportunity for them to understand. Even if she had to do it over and over again.

"Well, see you around then."

AC nodded and her friend started to walk away. "CT!" The black haired erythrocyte turned around just before joining the crowd of passing cells, AC giving her a small but grateful smile. "Thank you."


4989 slid down the collapsed wall of a building, his boots sending debris flying. He grabbed two of his throwing knives, launching them at the streptococci below. One was killed in an instant, the small blade piercing the throat, but the other only imbedded itself into the other germ's shoulder. The purple bacterium snarled and stumbled backwards, just as 4989 leaped and threw himself at the enemy, ramming his blade into its chest. Two less, countless to go.

Panting the neutrophil looked around as he stood up, cytoplasm dripping from his blade, hearing the sounds of battle from beyond another building; clashing weapons, shouts and cries of pain. The area around him was in ruins, as if a massive earthquake had levelled it in a few moments, but in truth it was the result of long days of battle. Frankly he had no idea how long they'd been fighting, all he knew was that he was exhausted.

He was slightly shaking now that he stood still for a moment, and his limbs hurt from constant strain. The leucocytes were relieving each other from the front lines as often as they could, when they could, taking turns, but the small breaks were not nearly enough to really recover or let injuries heal. It took him so much strength just to stand.

His own uniform had seen better days as well. One sleeve was already missing entirely, the brim of his cap had been sliced in half, not to mention all the other cuts and tears, or the cytoplasm and dirt staining the once pristine white.

4989 checked his equipment, twisting his mouth when he realised that he'd used his last two throwing knives. Quietly grumbling to himself he kneeled down, hoping to pull the small blades from the corpses, knowing that he wouldn't be able to replace them for some time. They'd be dull, but two blunt blades were better than none. Just how long was this battle going to last? There just always seemed to be new germs to fight.

As he dug his fingers into the throat of one of his kills, he heard the debris around him getting disturbed. For a moment he wondered if it was another white blood cell, when suddenly his receptor went off.

His hand flew to his combat knife, drawing the blade as he all but jumped back to his feet. He spotted a blue shape in the corner of his eye and whirled around. Training and combat experience paid off, when his instinctively raised blade blocked a strangely shaped claw, no, more a spiked arm, ending in a single claw pointing at his face.

The creature before him was insect-like, moving on four limbs, its eyes large and alien. It hissed when 4989 blocked its attack, the sound followed by clicking noises it created by moving its interlocking fangs against each other. The neutrophil reached for a second knife and pushed his opponent's arm up, creating a large opening. One strike across the chest would do it.

In that moment something wrapped itself around his torso, trapping one of his arms, preventing him from drawing his second blade. 4989 involuntarily yelped in pain, when dozens of spikes dug into his body along the chest. Another one! How hadn't he noticed?

The mantis-like arms tightened their grip, and 4989 vision turned white as the pain flared up with new intensity, drowning out his fury for a moment. Damn it, damn it…

His other arm slumped down; the pain was making him dizzy and sapped the last of his strength, though somehow he managed to hold on to his knife.

And then a set of sharp fangs buried itself into his left shoulder, just beside his throat.