Chapter 3

The last autumn leaves had fallen, winter was just around the corner. Six months had passed since Nezumi had decided to stay and work things out with Shion.

The night was cold and it smelled of rain. Shion was at the bakery, cleaning up for the night. He was in the small kitchen, tiding it up when the bell of the door chimed announcing a new customer.

"I'm sorry but we are closed!" said Shion.

No answer.

"Nezumi? Is that you? Playing games again?"

Still no answer. Shion sighed. As he was about to come out of the kitchen to see who it was there was a sudden pain on the side of his head, his vision started to blur and slowly the whole world went dark.

Morning came and Karan went to open the bakery, she hadn't seen Shion last night but assumed he had spent the night with Nezumi. It was unusual though for him not to say a thing. Time past and there was no sign of Shion. Where is that boy? Why hasn't he shown up at all today? Thought Karan. It was late in the evening when she closed the bakery and headed towards the theatre where Nezumi was performing. She went through the back door to avoid the crowd in front. As she reached Nezumi's dressing room she could hear him humming a song. She knocked gently on the door.

"Nezumi? It's Karan. May I come in?"

"The door is open."

Karan slowly pressed down the handle and entered. The room was filled with costumes. On the far end of the room was a library filled with books and plays.

"How was the play?" she asked with a smile on her face.

"It went well, apart from the drunk guy that wanted to sing along during the show."

"Oh I see…" Karan looked worried.

"Is there something wrong? Why have you come?"

"It's Shion. Have you seen him lately? Did he maybe… spent the night at your place?"

Nezumi looked at her from the corner of his eyes.

"No, I haven't seen him for some days now, why?"

"It's just that last night he didn't come home and I haven't heard from him since then and I'm starting to get worried. It's not like him to be gone for so long without saying a word."

By now Nezumi could see the worried look in Karan's eyes and he knew that something had happened. His heartbeat started to rise. She is right. Shion wouldn't just leave without saying a word… he thought.

"Karan, you should probably go home, maybe he is already there waiting for you." He said with a gentle smile only actors knew how to deliver. He didn't want her to see that he was worried too.

"You are probably right, I'm sorry for the intrusion." She got up slowly and left the room.

This isn't like Shion… What is going on? He thought as he quickly got dressed and headed to his apartment to see if Shion was there.

When he arrived, he was out of breath, he realized he had run all the way from the theatre. He put his hand on the handle and hoped to see Shion sitting on the couch reading one of his books. Empty. The room has dark and cold. He was so sure that Shion would be there, that when he saw that the place was empty a weight dropped on his chest making him catch his breath.

The Next day Nezumi passed my Karan's bakery.

"Any sign of him?

"No, I've been looking for him everywhere." Her voice was trembling.

"Tsk…. I'll find him, you just stay here in case he shows up." Nezumi had only one option… he had to go seek out Inukashi and Rikiga.

Where am I? Agh… my head… Shion tried to move but as he did a sharp pain shot through his entire body, his vision was blurred and he felt dizzy.

"Good, I see you are finally up."

The voice sounded from somewhere close, it was soft but you could easily detect a menacing tone behind it. As Shion's vision came back to him, he realized that he was strapped onto a bed. The place looked like a clinic and the person in front of him for some reason looked familiar. Shion could not remember where he had seen him before no matter how hard he tried.

"What is this place? Who are? Why the hell am I tied up?" Shion tasted blood in his mouth as he spoke.

"Do you always ask so many questions? Hhhmmm let me have a look at you."

The man came close and examined Shion, he was tall and slim, his hair was black with just a few strand of white hair that had started to appear.

"My, my! Look who we have here! Karan's boy! Out of all the people that could have survived, it had to be you! This cannot be a coincidence!"

"What is going on here? And how do you know my mother?" asked Shion surprised.

"Come now Shion! I thought you were smarter than this! Have a look around! Can you not guess what is happening? Did you honestly believe that we, the people who built this city, would let you off the hook so easily?! After you and your little friend destroyed everything we had accomplished?! I have to say Shion, I am very disappointed in you! You're supposed to be one of the brightest ones! You know your mother knew us. Wait… you thought she was only an acquaintance? Hahahaha, no my dear Shion your mother was one of us…"

Shion froze. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could they have survived? They had blown up the correction facility, so many people had died because of the wasps and plus what was all this stuff about his mother being one of them? Then he remembered! This man was in that photo, with the founders of No.6! No it can't be true.

"No, Shion, we are very angry and we want back what is rightfully ours. Only a handful of us survived after everything happened. We watched our entire life's research and efforts be destroyed in just a few minutes. Oh this is so ironic! Who would have thought that the person that helped destroy everything would be the one to help us take it all back?! But there is one more thing I would like to do, and that is to see your mother again. You see, she betrayed us, and we don't like being betrayed…. When she learned what we were doing she didn't want any part of this so she ran. And she was living just under our noses! Plus… that friend of yours, he is the last of the Forest people if I am not mistaken, oh he caused us so much trouble… Both your mother and that man are going to have to pay."

By now Shion was infuriated, he tried to break free but couldn't. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his arm. One of the people there had sank a needle in him.

"Now, Shion you must behave, we need you alive. After all you survived the sting of the wasp therefore we need you to make a cure. Only then can we be prepared to go after Elyurias again and finally take that power for us and rebuilt this beautiful city."

Shion was too drugged to talk but he could still feel everything. They experimented on him, causing unimaginable pain. Every time they finished they would lock him up in a small room. Shion could not let this man's plan work. He obeyed and played along until he had a clear plan of the facility grounds and the codes that unlocked the doors. One day, as he was being dragged back to his room after another day of experiments he attacked the guard who was holding him. He shot him in the leg and ran for the exit. Once he was out he didn't stop running, the ground was cold and hard cutting and bruising his feet as he ran. The night was cold but he didn't stop running.

"Well look who decided to grace us with his presence" said Rikiga !

Nezumi gave him a sharp look.

"I see we haven't changed much…." Said Inukashi.

"Enough with the stupid remarks, I need you to get me some information and fast."

"Causing trouble again?" said Rikiga.

Nezumi slammed his hand on the table.

"Shion has disappeared without a trace, I need you to look into your resources and find out where he is!"

"Whaaaat? No, my poor Shion !" shouted Rikiga with tears in his eyes.

"It will cost you." Replied Inukashi.

Nezumi threw a pouch full of money at them.

"Make it quick."

As Nezumi walked home he felt a pain in his chest. Where are you Shion? Just what the hell is going on? Nezumi realized he missed Shion but he was determent to get him back at all cost.

Two days later Nezumi met up with Rikiga and Inukashi.

"We couldn't find anything, we're sorry." said Rikiga

"What do you mean you couldn't find anything? Are you all so useless? Have you gone soft? Shouted Nezumi in frustration.

"Hey! We did our job just as you asked! Now I am out of here, go find your boyfriend by yourself."

"Why you little piece of…."

"Hey hey stop it, you two!" Rikiga had gotten between them before Nezumi could hit a laughing Inukashi. Nezumi's face was red, although Rikiga didn't know if it was because Nezumi was angry or because he was blushing, maybe a bit of both he thought.

It was way past midnight when Nezumi reached Karan's home. They both sat inside without talking. All of a sudden the door burst open and Shion stubbles in falling to his knees. Karan and Nezumi ran towards him. Shion looked fatigued and was bloody.

"My Shion! Are you alright? My sweet boy". Karan was hugging him and crying.

"I..I'm f…ine…."

Nezumi couldn't move. He felt an anger rise inside of him. He knelt next to Shion and hugged him. He took in Shion scent, touched his soft skin. He had missed him so much.

"Who did this to you?" His voice filled with anger towards the people who took Shion.

"The…. Founders…No.6… some… still alive."

Nezumi's blood froze, he could barely thing straight.

"They have an underground facility, they want to rebuild No.6… I escaped and came… straight…. Here…"

Shion's heart stopped, his eyes were wide open.

"What is it? What's going on?" asked Karan

"We have to go now!"

"What are you saying? You are too weak to move!"

"How could I have been so stupid? There is no way that they would have left me escape so easily… Apart from me they wanted… y…"

Before he could finish his sentence a group of people burst in the house and grabbed them. Nezumi fought off two guys but they beat him to the ground.

"Shion, I would like to thank you for leading us here. Now I get to see Karan again and have the last of the Forest people."

"NOOOO leave them alone!'

Shion launched forth attacking a guard.

"Stop." said the man pointing a gun at Nezumi. Shion immediately stopped. His face was flustered and there was a dark look in his eyes.

"Hisao…. You're alive…" said Karan who couldn't believe her eyes.

"I'm glad you remember me, it's been a long time… Karan.
So, I think it's time we left, we wouldn't want to cause any trouble in the neighbor now, would we?
Take them away."

The guards picked them up and put them in a truck, Shion and Nezumi were struggling to break free but in vain.

The trip was not a very long one. They were lead to an underground facility a few kilometers outside the city.

Shion knew that they were going to kill his mother and Nezumi. His heart has racing. On the way to the facility he explained to them what they were planning to do. Nezumi looked at Shion. He could see he had been badly beaten up and there were signs from the experiments all over his hands. Puncture points and cuts. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so angry and at the same time powerless. They looked at each other. Memories of that tine when they were taken to the correctional facility stared flooding them. They both knew that they had to destroy the place once and for all. No.6 could never be allowed to be rebuild.

The truck came to a halt. As they were being lead to the main chamber of the facility Shion gave the sign to Nezumi.

Nezumi grabbed the two of guards behind them. He kicked the one and threw the other to the wall. Shion took care of the two in front. The three of them started running but the alarm went off. A guard had managed to get up and sound the alarm.

"Don't let them escape! I want them here, alive!" shouted Hisao as he watched them form the screens in the control room. I will not let them get away a second time he thought while clenching his fists.

Shion was leading them towards the exit when shots were fired. They quickly took cover. Nezumi fired back.

"Go! I'll cover you!"

Karan ran past the door and took cover again.

"Shion go, now is your chance!"

Nezumi felt a pain in his jaw and drooped the gun. Shion had punched him and shoved him through the exit door. He closed it behind him and jammed it.

"Nooooo Shion! What the hell do you think you are doing!? shouted Nezumi.

From the small window of the door Shion smiled at them.

"I need to buy you some time to get out of here. Besides, this place must be destroyed." He showed Nezumi a small bomb that he was holding.

"Shion, Noooo!" Karan was crying.

"Make sure you two escape ok? Help my mom out of here, Nezumi."

"Open this damn door, NOW!"

Shion looked at his mom and smiled while nodding his head, than he turned and look at Nezumi.

"We'll see each other again one day, I love you" he said and turned around and started running towards the control center.

"NOOOOOOOOO! SHIIIOOON!" screamed Nezumi, with tears in his eyes, he was hitting the door trying to open it. He knew very well what Shion meant by that.

"Come Nezumi, please!" Karan was crying and pulling Nezumi.

"NO! I have to go to him, he can't do this. SHIIIOOON"

"Nezumi, he made his decision. He did this for us, let it not be in vain."

With this Nezumi and let go of the door and ran to the exit with Karan.

Please live on Nezumi…

Shion headed to the control room. A guard came out of nowhere and fired at him. Before he could take cover, he got hit on the arm.

"AAAGGGH"

Shion dropped the bomb. He fired back and ran to catch it. Blood was oozing out of his arm. He ripped part of his shirt and tied it around the wound. As he made it back up to his feet he saw the guard and fired at him. The man fell dead on the floor. Shion didn't blink an eye. He just continued running. The control room was up ahead.

Nezumi and Karan were near the exit. Nezumi killed the two guards in front of it. Come back to me Shion, Please! He thought trying to fight the tears that were threatening to blur his vision.

Shion entered the control room. There stood Hisao. He pointed the gun at him. Lead me to the main reactor of this place.

"You really believe you will get out of this alive?"

"No." said Shion in a cold voice. He pointed the gun to Hisao's foot.

"Take me to it now, or I start shooting."

"Ok, ok! I'll take you!"

Hisao lead Shion to the main reactor's chamber.

"This is madness! Can't you see that we are trying to build a better future?"

Shion didn't answer him, he placed the bomb on the reactor and activated it.

Hisao tried to run away but Shion shot his leg.

"I told you, you're not going anywhere. This ends now. I cannot allow you to do that to people anymore. They are free to live their lives as they want to now. No more controlling them, no more search for a power that you cannot control. You will stay here with me while the people up there continue with their new lives. This is the end…."

Karan and Nezumi climbed out of the facility.

"I'm going back for Shion!" announced Nezumi.

"No! Nezumi, he didn't want you to get hurt! Don't go!" she shouted while grabbing his arm.

"There is no stopping me!" Nezumi broke free from Karan but as he started to walk towards the facility there was a loud sound and the earth shook.

"NOOOOOOOOO! SHIIOON!" yelled Nezumi as he started running.

"Nezumi! Please stop! It's over!" Karan shouted after him with tears in her eyes.

Nezumi stopped and fell to his knees. He couldn't think any more. He couldn't breathe. This wasn't happening. Not again. How could he have not seen this coming? He knew that Shion was the type to risk everything to save the people he loved. He had lost Shion for the second time…

The night was cold and Nezumi had taken Karan back to her home. None of them spoke a word. Nezumi got up and left, giving Karan time to mourn by herself.

Nezumi, wondered alone until he reached his apartment. The place was dark, he lit a gas lamp and lay on his bed. Next to him was a shirt that Shion had worn last time he was there. He held it in his hands and brought it close to him. It still had Shion's scent on it. He breathed in deeply trying to get as much of it as possible. That night he cried. It was the first time in his life that Nezumi had cried this much. He felt helpless and empty. The one person he cared for, the one and only person he had come to love was now gone. The night was long and cold but Nezumi didn't care anymore.

Shion…. Shion…

"Hhhmm? Wh-ere where am I" Shion felt like he was floating. There was a bright and warm light embracing him.

This is the second time you defend me….

The voice was so familiar.

"Who is this?"

Elyurias... Shion… You are special… even though you do not belong to the Forest People, your actions prove to me that you care deeply for this place. What is the one thing that you desire the most?

"Ne…zu…mi…"

The bright light shown and as quickly as it had appeared it now had vanished.

Shion opened his eyes, they were hurting, he had debris all over him. He coughed as he made his way out of the destroyed facility.

Nezumi was still in bed. His tears had dried on his face. All of a sudden he felt a light breeze on his back and knew that the door had opened. He jumped out of bed and froze still. There, in front of his stood Shion covered in dust and blood. Nezumi thought he was dreaming. Shion made a few steps forward but was too weak to walk, his knees gave in and was about to fall but as he was dropping to the floor Nezumi ran and held him up. He was real this wasn't dream. Happiness and relief filled him. He hugged Shion tight. Tears were welling up in his eyes. He held Shion's cheeks in his hands and kissed him.

"I told you we would see each other again" said Shion with a weak smile.

"Don't you ever do anything like that again!"

"I had no other choice *cough* I had to get the two of you out of there…"

"If you weren't so weak right now, I would have punched you"

"Hahahaha *cough* I'm sure you would have!"

"Shion" Nezumi looke straight into Shion's red eyes

"I love you…"

"I love you too. Nezumi"

They kissed and time felt like it had stopped. They completed each other and at that moment, they knew that they would never part again.

The End