'... up. Wake up you lazy host.'
'Nghh... Morning Rei...'
'It's evening.'
Bit by bit, my senses returned to me. I stood inside of unknown building, with no memories on how I got here. My body ignored my order when I tried to move it, so Rei still took over my body.
'What happened? My head... it's spinning...' Spinning wasn't a correct term, it more like jumbled. My memories mixed up and dispersed, make it hard to recall recent occurrence.
'We lost to our instinct, that's for sure.'
'Damn it, did I hurt anyone? How long I was out?'
'I don't know, I don't remember anything during our stupor. Two, or maybe three hours at most. Now I've averted a crisis, I'll let you back in control'
My knees buckled from unexpected change in ownership. I flexed each muscles in my body, testing it thoroughly. Everything worked surprisingly well for someone who just recovered from starvation. I got back on my feet and examined area around me. Statue, ruined ceiling, snow covered wooden tile, yep, definitely the only temple in Temple Area.
[Rena? Do you read me?]
"Loud and clear, 'sup doc?"
[You stopped responding my call since two hours and seventeen minutes ago, what's going on?]
"You know what, I found the owner of missing bias pattern in Prithvi Mata, it's a large black Vajra with man face."
[And you fought it I presume. That explain why Fenrir radar detected two massive Oracle signals clashed in Temple Area. Did you subdue it?]
"No, I couldn't. In fact, I barely make it out alive. Tell other God Eaters to stay away from it, unless they're prepared to suffer some casualties."
[An Aragami strong enough to fight you on equal ground, a grim news indeed. Alright, your transport is on the way, return immediately.]
"What about the job? It haven't even reach halfway."
[My request can wait. It's too dangerous out there, that new species might return at any moment.]
"Got it." Well, another plus for him. Dr. Sakaki cared about my well being, unlike that creepy director.
'I have something to show you, go to the middle of this ruined village.'
'What's it Rei?'
'Go, you'll know it when you reach it.'I shrugged at him and began to walk.
Definitely not God Eater's, that was the first thing that crossed my mind. A young girl or boy footprints no larger than mine, forming a trail amid the snow. I tried to follow it, only to met its end at nearby wall. Upon further examination I noticed these footprints almost, or perhaps identical to previous footprints I found on the day Lindow went missing.
'Footprints... What do you say about this Rei? And whose footprints is this?'
'I don't know, it was here when I recovered from our starvation. Look like a juvenile human footprint to me, but I highly doubt it, considering their fragility.'
'Back to square one, huh. Tell me, what are the odds of that black Vajra return to this place?'
'Negligible, it's in Aragami nature to avoid one that stronger or equal to itself, unless they're cornered of course. Why?'
'Got a sample to collect.'
It didn't take long for the chopper to arrive, and once again my strength proved to be a reliable ally. Tree trunks and other debris that filled this place slowly cleared, replaced by a makeshift helipad. It comical, I could imagine how the bearded pilot raised his eyebrow when he saw tree trunk flew from this place.
My broken wrist blade, booster, and severed black Vajra wing attached to underside of the chopper fuselage as we began to take off. Convenient, no need to break it apart. Pull the hook, fasten it, and you were ready to go. I decided to brought my broken wrist blade and booster too, better gave it to Dr. Sakaki than let it eaten by stray Aragami.
I rested my slightly drained body on the comfy passenger seat and recapped my mission. It went well at first, until I found that black Vajra. Magnolia taught me to not underestimate any opponent, know your enemy before you strike. I forgot that in the moment of excitement and paid for it, dearly. Only because of Rei and his timely intervention I could survive its assault. Speaking about Rei, I hadn't thank him yet.
'Oy Rei? Thanks for helping me.'
'No need to thank me, I did it for myself.'
'Doesn't change the fact you saved me, shut up and accept my gratitude.'
'Whatever.'
Like children waiting for their present, white coated Fenrir scientists gather around the helipad, eagerly waiting for samples I brought to them. How did they know about this? The pilot perhaps? They formed a line with various tools in their hands, ready to sprung into action the moment my samples touched the ground, and they did. With Oracle resistant gloves in their hands, they began sawing my samples to pieces, expertly cut it into equal sized chunk. One of them brought grey colored Oracle resistant storage box while the other one drove a forklift.
When I heard 'scientist' I imagined group of eggheads dressed in neat coat while working in a clean lab, unwilling to soiled themselves. I was wrong.
Unsurprisingly, Dr. Sakaki was absent from his office, he probably tests my samples along with the rest of his team. I took a quick shower right after I returned to my room. My body covered in Aragami blood, and most of it splashed on my face. What the hell did I do during my trance?
I lay on my bed after a quick shower, holding maintenance crew manual on my hands, trying to jam as much knowledge as I could into my brain. After around ten minutes, my sister entered my room. She sat on the edge of my bed, twiddling her fingers while avoiding eye contact, it was her sign of nervousness. I could read her like a book, as she could do the same to me, we were very close after all.
"Something on your mind?"
"Yes..." Slowly she stopped twiddling and looked into my eyes. "You know... they appointed me as the new leader for First Unit."
"About damn time." I closed my book and crawled closer to her. "Congrats, I'm sure you'll become a fine leader."
Rina had knack for leadership. Level-headed, emphatic, and capable to make split-second decisions. I was actually surprised it took this long for Fenrir to acknowledge her. There were no better candidates than my sister. Soma? Cold as ice and borderline anti-social. Sakuya? Already got her hands full with her job as medic, not to mention she was shaken by that incident. Alisa? Too green and unstable. Kota? Too hot-headed.
"Thank you, sis... say... um... Can I borrow your room?" She clutched the edge of her skirt.
"Of course. Why do you need it?" I hugged her from behind, comforting her uneasiness.
"You see... Kota wanted to celebrate my promotion... and you have the largest room among us."
Large room? More like hall. My room could easily fill with ten Dr. Sakaki's office and still had some space left. "Okay, but I need your help too."
Morning passed in the blink of an eye. In the afternoon we left the Den to brought some ingredients. It took serious effort for me to left the Den undetected. I wore exactly the same outfit as my sister while she was forced to wear sunglasses, something she didn't like. On top of that, it was only possible because of Hibari's help, she turned a blind eye when she saw us left the Den one by one.
Kota waited for us outside of the Den, Rina brought him with us to act as our guide. True, we once lived in this place, but it was nine years ago, the Outter Ghetto wasn't as densely populated as now. We hopped form one store to another, searching the best ingredients for my cookies. We kept looking around until we stumbled upon newly opened store few blocks away from Kota's house.
The said shop actually belonged to Mutsumi parents. I noticed it when I saw the store helper, it was the boy that crashed into my knees on that fateful day. A small world indeed.
Anyway, we were heading back after we obtained all necessary ingredients. It already evening by the time we arrived, so we parted ways. My sister and Kota headed to canteen for dinner while I returned to my room.
I began my work on baking cookies. Eggs, flour, and chocolate bar placed neatly in a bowl. If my memories served me right, I was supposed to keep stirring until it mixed evenly. The mixture gradually darkened, forming a fine chocolate cookie dough. The dough went into the oven after I added few more ingredients and cut it to various shape, soon pleasant scent and heat emanated from my oven.
They entered my room right after my oven rang, my sister, followed by Alisa, then lastly Kota. What about Sakuya and Soma?
"What the? Cool! This room is so large and fancy." Kota immediately exclaimed. His head turned side to side, admiring every inch of my room.
"Excuse us." Alisa greeted me politely. She had good self-restraint it seems, as she didn't openly gawking at my room.
"Make yourself at home. Come here sis, help me with this." I took the now baked cookies out from oven and let it cooled on kitchen table. The scent of well-baked cookies overwhelmed my sensitive nose, numbing other scent, and made my mouth water. Crisp, brittle and warm, also pleasant to the touch. I examined my cookie closely, before suddenly a yelp grabbed my attention.
My sister, she sucks her index finger while pouting at the cookie that fell on table. Silly sis, she forgot that cookie was fresh from the oven. I ruffled her hair. "It's still hot you know."
"It's just... I saw you holding it, it slipped on my mind that you're resistant to heat." She muttered. Rina picked another cookie with her nails. She carefully blew it, patiently waiting until it cooled down, then nibbled it. "Hm... Slightly bitter, but it's good."
"Really?" I bit my cookie.
It was tasteless.
I almost dropped my cookie out of surprise. Another bit, another tasteless cracker entered my mouth. I chewed my lips. How could I missed that? The tea I drank few days ago, the coffee I dumped on kitchen sink, it was obvious that I lost my sense of taste.
"What's wrong sis?" Rina held my shoulder firmly.
"Oh it's nothing. Anyway, let's serve these cookies."
All of us sat together, forming a circle on the floor. We traded story with each other. Story about Rina and my childhood, about Magnolia and their harsh training, my infection, my sister's breakdown, and everything, minus Rei of course. It was too early to reveal his existence, not like they would believe me anyway.
Kota told us about his past, his motivation to join Fenrir, and his family that lived in Outter Ghetto. Also, for the first time since we met, Kota flinched when I touched his shoulder. He had gotten sensitive enough to sense my Oracle field. Good for him, a dull God Eater wouldn't last long in this brutal world. Still as dense as ever though, he didn't even know why he flinched.
Alisa on the other hand... I almost pitying her. She lost her parents in Aragami attack just like us. However, she didn't have anyone to relied on, while we still had Lindow. Fenrir took her right after the attack. Her daily life filled with training, combat theory, and anything related to it. Unlike her, we still had time to play and fooling around back in Magnolia. Kinda unfair, she worked so hard to become God Eater, underwent intense training regiment, and still couldn't rival us, all because of her mediocre compatibility rate.
"Fiuuhh, I'm beat and full." Kota said. He sluggishly lay on the floor with one hand on his stomach.
"Mind your manners, we're their guess." Alisa spoke. She sat on the floor, calmly sipped a cup of tea.
"It's your own fault, you ate sandwiches for two persons." I said.
"Whaaat? The blame is on Rina. Her heavenly cooking is beyond anything Den canteen could offer. Oh man... If only I could eat like this every day."
"I don't mind if you come here every day, but you have to make it yourself." I grabbed few cans of drink and served it to them.
"No way, I can't make fancy food like that." Kota raised his fist in protest.
"Neither can I." I could, but why should I?
My sister narrowed her eyes suspiciously at me. I gulped. Thankfully she didn't say anything.
"Welp, it's already this late. I'll return to my room, catch you later." Kota waved at us.
"Me too, thank you for inviting me." Alisa bowed.
They left my room. I rose to my feet, pointlessly flexing my muscles, and began cleaning my room. My sister helped me cleaned the table and other kitchenware.
"Say... uh... Can I sleep with you?" Rina stopped cleaning and stared at me, expectantly.
"Sorry, I don't sleep."
"At least... Allow me to stay with you." Rina desperately asked for my permission.
Now I felt bad for teasing her. "No need to ask. You have my room card, that means you're free to come and go as you like." I patted her head.
We resumed cleaning my room together. Soon, everything back in place, as if that party never happened. Rina yawned and rubbed her eyes tiredly, before snuggled into my bed. She tapped empty spot beside her, silently asked me to accompanied her. I smiled at her, it would be just like old times.
I turned off the main lamp, strode across my room, and lay beside her. I patted her head as she crawled closer to my side. We were very close, even for siblings. Inseparable at young and still very close after we grew up. I guess it because we only had each other, our parents left us long ago, and we never had any relatives. Rina rarely asked me to sleep with her as we grew older, but sometimes her old trait resurfaced, especially when she was distressed.
"You never change sis..." My sister suddenly spoke. She gently clasped my hand that patted her head.
"Wrong. I'm changed, a lot." I tried to restraint bitterness in my voice from leaking out.
"Physically."
"Perhaps." I really wished so, but I knew how deep it affecting my mind. "There's something bothering you, will you tell me?"
"It's about my promotion, it feels... wrong, like they never care about Lindow. Director Johannes transferred my living quarter, now I live in Lindow's room..."
"Johannes? Careful, don't ever trust him." I firmly warned her. My hand stopped stroking her soft hair and rested on her shoulder. "My guts telling me he's connected to Alisa's breakdown, Lindow's disappearance, and maybe... my infection."
"I also feel that way. There's something about him that makes me wary, like... how should I put this... Shady perhaps."
"Fitting term. One more thing, few days ago I overheard someone mentioned Reaper or Death God, any idea what is it?"
The said Death God was actually Soma. Rina briefed me about him, how he became a 'blueprint' for other God Eaters, his involvement in P73 Bias Factor, Managarm Project, even his mother death. She also told me the source of his nickname. Everyone called him that because he allegedly brought misfortune, and anyone paired with him would end up dead. That rumor spread like wildfire after two recent cases, A god Eater named Eric and... Lindow himself.
What a fool, did people judged Soma guilty just because he always survived? They didn't even know how the said Eric and Lindow gone. Eric dead because he was careless in mission area while Lindow went missing because his entire mission was sabotaged. If only they knew how heavy a Survivor's guilt was.
"I see, he carries such heavy baggage this entire time and didn't share it to anyone. Thanks for telling me sis."
Rina replied me with soft snore and occasional grumble, she fell asleep after her storytelling. I patted her head one more time before pulled a blanket over her. Slowly, I approached my oven, silently pulled second tray from it.
Three bags of chocolate cookies dangled on my hands as I left my room. I placed one cookie bag on Dr. Sakaki's table along with short thank you note. Elevator door rung instantly when I pressed a call button. Next destination? The Den lobby.
The Den lobby was uncharacteristically quiet. Normally bustled with noise and chatter like a market, now deathly silent. Most God Eaters had gone to dreamland while visitors weren't allowed to come at midnight, such as now. My boot made a clear thumping noise with each step I took.
Hibari intensity stared her monitor, completely engrossed that she forgets to blink. I tapped her desk softly, tried to gather her attention.
"Can I he... Oh it's you Rena." Hibari looked at me for a moment before she returned to her monitor.
"Yep, still working I see." I folded my hood.
"Yes, I'm watching over 8th unit. They're having night operation in Forgotten Carrier. Do you need something?"
"Nahh, just sayin' thanks. Here, I brought you something." I placed another cookie bag on her desk. "A thank you gift for keeping my secret."
"It's fine."
I continued my stroll toward my next destination, God Arc storage facility. My hood stayed folded on my back. I didn't bother to put it back on, not when everyone had gone to sleep. Cold grey metal floor met soles of my boot, creating soft clanking rhythm. I wonder, how long I'd to stay in hiding? How long I'd to walk among them as shadow of my sister? Then again, it was a miracle they haven't found me, how many strings Dr. Sakaki had pulled until now?
Door leading to God Arc storage facility opened. Silently, I strode among sealed God Arc and heading to our workshop. Most God Arc around me had sealed tightly, only three God Arcs missing from their case, undoubtedly belonged to 8th unit. I opened the door leading to our workshop, my eyes greeted with unusual sight.
Licca slept on one of the table in this room. Papers, diagram, to-do note, and various writing tools scattered around her. Poor Licca, she worked herself to sleep again. I put my last cookie bag on table and grabbed a spare maintenance jacket from nearby locker. I knew table wasn't a nice spot to slept on, but I couldn't bring myself to woke her up, not when she slept so soundly like this. Decided to not disturbed her any longer, I left my workshop immediately after drapped her body with spare jacket.
My little tour was over, so I returned to my room.
I snuggled on my bed, searching the right spot to read my book without disturbed my sister. My body lay beside my sister, with a book in my lap. This was the last book Dr. Sakaki borrowed to me, soon I'd to ask for another batch. I began dumping its content into my head, leisurely read it bit by bit.
"Ngh... no... Lindow..." My sister moaned.
She squirming between soft blanket, restlessly mumbled incomprehensible word. Sleep-talking? No, more like nightmare. I held her warm hand, patted her head. Her nightmare grew stronger, she began kicking around and sobbed.
"No... please... don't go..." She sobbed between her word.
My heart ached, ached from watched her nightmare, from her cries, and from remembering that incident. I hugged her quaked body, comforting her and myself.
"Don't go... please... LINDOW!" My sister jerked up.
"Shhh... It's a nightmare..." I hugged her head, let her cried on my shoulder.
"Lindow... he's gone..." She kept crying, wetting my shoulder with her tears.
"I know sis... I know..." I cooed her.
Rina cried herself to sleep on my shoulder. So gentle, but also fragile. She held my arm tightly, even in her sleep, and I kept petting her in return. We stayed like this for entire night, hugging each other until dawn broke.
"Uhh..." Rina slowly woke up, rose to her feet and rubbed her eyes. She shook her head, attempted to dispel her morning daze. "Sorry... for showing you my embarrassing side."
"I don't mind, it's okay to let your emotions flowing sometimes. Why you're crying like that?" I rubbed her head.
"It because of my new room, it reminded me of Lindow. Ever since I moved to his room, I suffered from nightmare every night. That accident... It stuck in my mind..." She clutched my arms tightly.
"That's it, pack your belongings, you gonna live with me."
"No... It will draw unnecessary suspicion."
"Then at least sleep in this room. This bed is large enough for us, and don't forget that I can't sleep. Kinda waste to let this comfy bed stay untouched, don't you agree?" I tapped my bed.
"If you insist... Can I... borrow your bathroom?"
"No need to ask. Towels and other necessary are in cupboard near the door."
Mouthwatering smell of fried egg rose from my frying pan, drowning other scent in its deliciousness. Turned it over, add spice and few extra, and... done. I placed the newly made omelet on a platter and patiently waited for her.
She surely took her sweet time. By the time Rina finished her bath the omelet had gone cold. I was about to warmed the omelet back when suddenly Rina snatched it and began eating.
"Hm... It's good. Thanks for making me a breakfast. You spare me from that horrible corn on stick... Although... Why you're lying to Kota?"
"About my cooking? Meh, I'm too lazy for that. He should learn how to cook if he wants to eat homemade food like yesterday." I shrugged.
"Well... If you say so."
Rina left me after she had her breakfast. First Unit, including her, got extermination mission in Sunken Grid, or so she said. I also left my room after cleaned it, Licca might need my help in assembling Link Support Device.
I opened the door to workshop. Licca had woken up, her hair disheveled a bit, by the look of her, she still hadn't taken her shower yet.
"You come at the right time, look what I got." Licca urged me to come closer.
It was a stack of black boxes. A large box with Fenrir emblem printed on its top and a seal bore number 4 on its side.
"R&D huh? Alright, let's see what they got this time."
The black boxes filled with various blueprint like new God Arc, medicine, traps, even Armlet upgrade part. R&D had habit to release blueprint in batch, such as now. Also, they had new quirky way to organizing equipment. They sealed the box with numbers, which indicate its 'grade'. Lower number equal with weaker or older equipment.
"I'm going to announce that grade 4 equipment are now available." Licca spoke. She waved at me before finally left.
[Rena, come to my office.]
"Right away." Well, learning the blueprint would have to wait I guess.
I returned to Dr. Sakaki's office. This time Dr. Sakaki waited for me on his couch, with a cup of tea and few cookies on his table.
"Please sit down."
"Alright, what do you need doc?" I sat on the other side of his coach.
"First, thank you for these cookies, I appreciate it."
"Yep, no prob." I leaned my back against coach backrest. "So, let's get down to business."
"As you wish. I want you to resume my request. Exterminate any and all Aragami in vicinity of Temple Area. However, should you encounter new species from before, retreat immediately. Your safety take priority over my request."
"Understood. By the way, why do you want me to clear it? Another Aragami will replace each one I kill, and tomorrow that place will become infested again."
"You'll know it soon."
I narrowed my eyes. He hid something, I could sense it. "Fine, I'll play along... For now."
"Worry not, you won't regret this, I can promise you that."