Both Nezumi and Safu knew that crashing through the gates of No. 6 was not a good way to get in. It was suicidal and a one-way ticket to danger, and they couldn't afford to be arrested now, not after all they went through.
Although, it's not like there's anywhere to throw us, now that the Correctional Facility's kaput.
But it seemed luck had decided to visit them at the last possible moment. When they drew nearer to the gate, there was a string of cars outside, and the security posted there were scrambling to calm the people who streamed out, crying and yelling about the Correctional Facility disaster. Safu pulled up behind the last car and rolled down her window. The terrified tones of the No. 6 citizens drifted in, and Nezumi could tell Safu was listening and looking very closely.
"You have an idea?" he asked.
"Maybe… It's a long shot, but if it doesn't work, we have Plan B."
Nezumi didn't have to ask what Plan B was; he could see it, sleek and lethal, in Safu's hand, out of sight just below the open window. He really hoped they would not need to use it.
A security officer was making his way down the line, talking briefly with those still in their cars, and herding loose persons back into their respective vehicles. Safu tensed as he approached and Nezumi tightened his grip on Shion's shoulder. The man glanced at Safu and then leaned to see inside the car. His eyes dragged over Nezumi and lingered on Shion long enough to make Nezumi clench his teeth.
The officer settled back on his heels. "You're young to be employed."
"This is our first assignment, sir," Safu muttered in a frightened and uncharacteristically meek voice.
It appears I'm not the only actor in the car.
"We just graduated from the Gifted Curriculum," Nezumi added. "Safu was the top of the class. Neuroscience major."
The officer grunted. "Identification?"
"O-oh… Um…" Safu glanced down at her lap and then back the way they had come in a nervous flutter. "I didn't grab it. The Correctional Facility was attacked."
"I'm aware, Miss."
"Yes, yes of course you are. But, you see, we were told to evacuate immediately, so I just ran…"
It was a good act, and it would have been a good cover story—except there was a glaring flaw in it, one that a West Block citizen couldn't have known. The officer pointed it out the moment Nezumi realized this.
"I understand if you forgot your keycard, Miss, but I'm asking for your ID." He raised his wrist, and tapped the metal band, the one that No. 6 citizens were forbidden from removing. Nezumi could feel the tension rolling off Safu. Her arm shifted beneath the window.
"Sir," he said, trying to sound urgent, which was no real challenge. "The work we conduct in the lab involves the use of harmful chemicals. We remove our IDs for safety purposes."
The officer's face creased with disapproval. "You are never to remove the bracelet, no matter what you're doing. I should write you up for neglect."
Everyone in the car was very still.
"I'll let you off with a warning," the officer said at last. "But go to the Census Bureau and apply for new IDs immediately, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Safu and Nezumi murmured in unison.
The officer nodded and then his eyes dropped again. "Is that boy ill?"
Nezumi reflexively drew Shion closer. Sickness was not a good thing to admit to outside the walls. No. 6 was suspicious of contamination of any kind.
"A piece of debris fell on his head," Nezumi answered. "I think he has a concussion. Please, sir, we need to get through…"
The officer waved his hand dismissively. "You'll get through, but you'll have to wait your turn like everyone else. Make sure you pick up new IDs the moment you're inside." He gave them a final hard look and continued to the next car.
Safu rolled the window up and let out a ragged breath. "That was nerve-racking."
"Welcome to No. 6."
They crept at a snail's pace toward the gate. The alarm whined up ahead, and Nezumi realized they were not the only people to be without an ID. Not surprising, given how annoying and bulky the bracelets were—people were bound to remove them and liable to forget them in crisis—but Nezumi was grateful that they had not been alone; repeated disappointment had made the officer lenient. The guard at the gate ignored the alarm as they rolled over the threshold.
And easy as that, they were inside No. 6.
Safu looked around as she drove, an expression equal parts curious and critical on her face. They were in enemy territory now and she was not letting her guard down for a second. Nezumi felt a familiar restlessness settle in his bones at the sight of the pretty white buildings and neat flowerbeds. A perfect façade, constructed to mask the horrors beneath. "Serpent heart hid with a flowering face."
Twelve years he had spent penned up in here, fighting for his life while the city did its damnedest to crush and mold him to its standards. He had sworn to himself that once he escaped he would never return.
And yet… Nezumi sighed.
"It's safe to peel off now."
Safu's voice cut through his brooding, and he was thankful for the distraction. He quickly gave her directions to the Information Bureau. It was located at the city center, impossible to miss.
As they drove, Nezumi stared at the people. It was just barely evening now, and the streets were filled with citizens, finishing up their last minute dinner shopping, or heading back from work. They were clean, well-dressed, and well-fed, smiling brightly and chattering to each other like there wasn't a thing wrong in the world. He caught a few pointing to the sky, likely at the smoke rising from the Correctional Facility wreckage. They shook their heads and checked their ID screens for answers that they would never receive. Or at least, what they received would never be the truth.
They must know something's going on. That was two explosions in one day. Aren't they even curious? People tossed glances back at the smoke pluming over the wall, but finding nothing on their IDs to explain it, they just shrugged it off and went about their business.
The worst of it was they wanted to be lied to. They had no idea what lay beyond the wall, and they had no desire to find out. Everything was good and clean and fun, and they were all so happy and healthy inside the best city in the world.
Nezumi hated them.
Safu pulled up outside the Information Bureau. Nezumi stopped her as she was about to get out.
"Leave the gun. We won't need it here."
Safu's brow pinched, but she laid the handgun next to the shotgun on the floor of the passenger's seat. It looked like it took considerable effort. For her, going weaponless in No. 6 probably felt a lot like walking naked through a briar patch.
"Now will you tell me what we're doing here?"
"We're going to give the crow's video to the head of the Information Bureau."
Safu's eyebrows shot up. "You trust them? How do you know they won't destroy the video and turn us over to the Bureau?"
"He won't. At least, I don't think he will. He was a friend of Shion's mama, and I'm told he owes Shion a debt." The corners of Safu's mouth drooped, and even Nezumi couldn't help the frown that tugged at his mouth. "Let's get this over with," he said, maybe a little more sharply than was necessary. "I'll take Shion, you take the crow."
Safu went to retrieve the bird without protest and Nezumi felt the unease in his stomach grow. Ever since they left the Correctional Facility, Safu had been delegating authority to him wherever Shion was involved, and even though she still expressed concern in her friend, she always did so at a distance. She hardly looked at him now.
Nezumi felt a prick of anger at Safu. Whatever she saw Shion do, did it really justify her coldness? Shion needed her support. But he knew Safu, and she wasn't one to abandon her friend when he was in need. Not without a damn good reason. Something more was going on.
She thinks Shion needs you more than her.
The thought startled him—but only for a second. He bit the inside of his cheek, and pushed the car door open to slide out.
"Shion, get out of the car." Shion lay crumpled against the seat, lifeless and uncomprehending as a broken doll. "I'm not going to drag you around in there. It'll draw too much attention." He kept his eyes locked on Shion's, suppressing the discomfort he felt at the dull look in them. "Come here," he said, and extended his hand.
This is all I can offer, Shion. We both know I'm no good at comfort, but I can support you. You don't have to carry this burden alone.
Nezumi extended his hand with these feelings, and some inexplicable part of him believed Shion would be able to understand. The slack expression on Shion's face flickered. The corners of his eyes tightened, so slightly, Nezumi wasn't sure if it was just wishful thinking. But it was real. Shion's throat contracted with a swallow and then his hand was laid on top of Nezumi's.
There was no grip, but it hardly mattered; Nezumi was relieved that he had managed to get this much of a reaction. He stretched his fingers and enclosed Shion's hand in his. From there, it was easy to draw him from the car.
Nezumi dragged his gaze over Shion's person. He had not ceased to be a mess on the ride over. The higher ups in the Information Bureau were likely aware of some incident outside the wall, so the soot and overall dishevelment was excusable, but the rest… He stared at the blood on Shion's jacket. That needed to be done away with. Immediately.
"Nezumi?"
He glanced back at Safu. She had the camera in her fist, and he couldn't find any visible traces of blood on her. The blood on her sleeve couldn't be seen unless she lifted her hand, and even then, it could probably pass for a smudge of dirt. No adjustments needed to be made there.
"You go ahead. I'll be right behind you."
Safu didn't go, though. He knew she wouldn't. They had better go altogether; otherwise it'd look suspicious, and Shion was the piece they needed to get in. Nezumi cleared his throat, and turned to Shion. The boy was reacting too slowly and there was no time to coax him into doing what he wanted.
Nezumi freed his hand and began unbuttoning Shion's coat. He tugged his arms out of it and tossed it on the back seat of the car, before starting on untying the gold bandana from around Shion's neck. He was about to throw this into the car as well, but he paused to study the dried blood on Shion's face. His own blood, from his own injuries. Nezumi drew in a deep breath through his nose and used the cloth to rub at the stains. Shion flinched, but submitted without complaint.
Nezumi managed to scrub most of it away, and he decided that was enough. He couldn't do anything more with Shion's appearance.
Actually, it can help us.
He took Shion by the elbow and guided him up to Safu. "Follow my lead." Nezumi waited for her nod of confirmation, before saying, "Move quickly, now."
He swiveled to the glass entrance and burst through the doors, dragging Shion at a light jog behind him. There was a single person in the lobby: a woman, nestled behind the front desk. Nezumi called out to her in a hoarse, desperate voice.
"Miss! Please help us. We need to see Mr. Rikiga right away. His son, he's been in a terrible bicycle accident."
The woman looked up from her computer, confusion coloring her face. "Mr. Rikiga's son? I didn't know he had a—" The woman's mouth fell open in shock at the sight of Shion. "Oh my goodness! Is that boy alright?"
"Miss, please, he needs to see him. Tell Mr. Rikiga, Shion's here."
"W-well…" She raised her hand to her mouth and nibbled her thumbnail. "Well, yes, all… all right. Shion, you said?" She grabbed at the phone and dialed. "Hello? Mr. Rikiga? Yes, I know you're busy, but there are children here to see you. Your…"
She glanced at Shion and then at Nezumi and Safu in quick succession. Nezumi had a sense that she thought they were some kind of thugs, or maybe that they had beat Shion up and were now coming to threaten Rikiga for money.
"... Son," she finally choked out. "Shion, his friend said his name was. He's been hurt." The woman paused. Nezumi could hear the muffled buzz of a voice on the other end. "Yes, that's right, he—" She blinked and her face relaxed. "Oh. Of course. Thank you, sir." She placed the receiver down and smiled sympathetically at Shion. "Your father is very worried about you. He's coming down to get you now."
Nezumi's shoulders sagged in relief, and he could hear Safu's soft exhale behind him.
"Thank god…" Safu muttered, and Nezumi silently agreed.
The woman pointed out some chairs, in case they wanted to sit while they waited. When they refused, she offered Shion free use of anything readily at her disposal, which, for all Nezumi could tell, consisted of tissues, a bowl of mints, and a tube of hand lotion. The woman was very attentive to Shion, seeing as he was the son of the head of the Information Bureau. Shion, though, didn't seem to feel the compliment.
It took only a few minutes for the elevators to ding the arrival of their contact, but it felt long under the desk attendant's nervous, smiling attentions. The elevator opened and a man rushed out. He was tall and broad-shouldered, a little overweight, and he sported an unflattering mustache. His eyes did a rapid sweep of the faces presented to him, and settled rightly on Shion.
"Shion! Are you all right? What happened?"
Nezumi stumbled back as the man accosted Shion, seizing his shoulders and looking him over with excessive concern.
Either this guy is a great actor, or he's legitimately worried about Shion's well being. The level of consideration he showed was a bit strange, considering he had never met Shion before. It was evident that Rikiga had felt very strongly about Shion's mother. He must have been in love with her... Maybe he is actually Shion's old man?
Nezumi furrowed his brow and compared Shion with this loud, doting man. No. Not a single resemblance. This relieved Nezumi; he had just met the man, but already he got the feeling he wasn't going to like him all that much.
Nezumi was distracted by movement near the elevators. A second person had slinked out behind the man, but was obviously not as excited by Shion's presence as Rikiga was. Nezumi's eyes widened.
"Kaoru?"
Kaoru had been making a face at the ruckus Rikiga was causing over Shion, but they looked up at the sound of their name. They froze and stared back.
"—How the hell did you get back here?"
The woman at the desk tutted, but Nezumi would have expected nothing less as a greeting from Kaoru.
"No, scratch that," they hissed. "Why the hell are you back here?"
Nezumi's mouth went dry. He understood the deeper insinuation of the question. It resonated with the part of him that he was trying to repress for the sake of their mission, and it itched at him now. He quashed the impulse as best he could and placed a smirk on his face.
"I never thought I'd find you in a place like this, Kaoru. Since when was it your dream to become a corporate sellout?"
Kaoru's face shifted back into neutral—which was to say they reverted to glaring at him like he wasn't worth the dirt on the bottom of their shoe. Their gaze drifted to Shion and Safu.
"Whose life did you fuck up now?"
Kaoru was pulling no punches today, and Nezumi felt that one. He tried not to show it on his face, but he knew Kaoru noticed by the way their eyes narrowed a fraction.
I've got to stop hanging around perceptive people…
Rikiga finally realized Shion wasn't in the best of shape, and it might be in the best interest of all to take this somewhere private. He straightened, and tossed a look at Nezumi and Safu, respectively.
"Thank you for bringing Shion to me," he said in a businesslike tone. "Why don't you come up to my office for a cup of coffee?"
Safu and Nezumi nodded, and Rikiga motioned them toward the elevators. Once the doors closed, the questioning began.
"Are you crazy?" Rikiga whisper-yelled. "What is Shion doing in the city? And why does he look like he just went a few rounds with the Bureau? Who are you kids, anyway?"
"We're Shion's friends," Safu answered. "I'm Safu, and this is Nezumi."
Rikiga turned in Nezumi's direction. "Nezumi, huh? I think I remember that name…" He leered at him. "You're a bit rough looking, but I can see you're a real beauty underneath all that dirt. Shion's friend, huh…"
Nezumi drew his eyebrows together. "You into teenaged boys, old man?"
Rikiga flushed up to his ears. "Now listen here, kid," he spluttered. "That is not what I meant. I was merely making an observation." Nezumi hummed flatly in response. Rikiga cleared his throat noisily and turned toward the elevator doors. "Well. You already know me, apparently, seeing as you asked for me by name. This is my assistant, Kaoru."
Nezumi smiled, and Kaoru took turns murdering him and Rikiga with their glare.
"Assistant doesn't even begin to cover it," Kaoru spat. "Me and his secretary practically do everything while he locks himself in his office doing god-knows-what."
"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm doing very important work in there. I can't afford any distractions."
"You're doing something in there. Whether it's work or not depends on how long they play coy."
The elevator became very quiet then, and the air had a decidedly judgmental weight to it. Rikiga loosened his tie.
"You kids want to explain why you're here?" he managed. "And why you smell like a fireplace?"
Rikiga directed the question at Safu, probably because she was the only one who hadn't openly criticized him yet. Keywords: openly and yet. Nezumi was well acquainted enough with her disapproval to recognize it in her posture, and right now she was projecting pure disgust.
"Has news of the Correctional Facility made it to you?" she said with reasonable composure.
Rikiga's face contorted in shock. "You were in there? What happened?" Safu opened her mouth to answer, but Rikiga waved a hand. "No, actually, don't answer that here." His eyes shifted to the upper right corner of the space. The bright eye of a camera winked back at them.
The doors opened onto a spacious lobby. There was a set of glass double doors across from the elevator, and Nezumi could see several people milling about behind it. Rikiga led them to the room. He moved in surprisingly brisk strides for a man of his bulk. Perhaps a habit he had adopted when he actually had to do the legwork for his stories.
The moment they pushed through the doors, a black and white streak raced forward and trotted happily around Kaoru's legs—Pup.
No big surprise there. I wonder how Rikiga swung it, though.
Pup made a beeline for Nezumi next, and he petted his head a few times while the dog lapped excitedly at his hands. He bore this for a few seconds before straightening and wiping his hand on his pant leg. Pup moved on to greet Safu just as lavishly.
The people in the room stared at them as they came in. They were all dressed impeccably, with round, clean faces and carefully styled hair. What a shock it must have been to see their boss storm in toting a band of ragged, dirty teens. Nezumi was looking forward to what excuse Rikiga would give for this. Being in the business of obstructing the truth, the man ought to know how to tell a convincing lie.
Nezumi didn't know if he was impressed or disappointed when Rikiga made no excuse at all, and just barked a short, "Conk, Yumi, stay. Everyone else, you're dismissed for the evening." No one moved for a second, and Rikiga scowled. "Now."
Slowly, the dismissed employees collected their papers and shuffled out, tossing curious and perplexed glances behind them. The remaining employees, an ape of a man and a shrewd-looking middle-aged woman in glasses, hovered by the table. The ape twitched nervously, but the woman only looked grave, in the way that indicated a chronically grave personality.
Rikiga addressed his employees. "It'd take too long to tell you who these kids are—partly because I don't even have a clear idea of who they are—but they say they're Shion's friends, and if he trusts them, so can we. Same to you, kids. Conk and Yumi here are safe. Anything that's said in this room stays in this room."
A few heads nodded in agreement.
"Now… You said you came from the Correctional Facility?"
Safu took charge of the conversation again. "We were on a rescue mission. Nezumi," she gestured, for those in the room who hadn't been introduced, "was taken in the Hunt."
She paused, but no one in the room stirred. There was not a trace of recognition on the No. 6 citizens' faces. Nezumi smiled bitterly.
"Shion and I went to the Correctional Facility to get him back," Safu continued. "Afterward, we destroyed the Facility."
"You… destroyed the Correctional Facility?" Conk said slowly, tasting the words cautiously, as if saying them aloud could cause an explosion of its own.
Safu nodded. "Yes. It was actually Nezumi's doing. He wrote a computer virus and caused a chain detonation—or so I guess." Nezumi shrugged to show he'd deduced that that was what happened as well.
"Blew up the Facility, did you?" It was Yumi that spoke, and she sounded very interested. She appraised Nezumi, her eyes shining with a strange light behind her glasses. She had some deep-seated grievance against the city; that much was obvious. Perhaps she had lost someone to the Security Bureau. "Good," she spat. "Good riddance."
Conk didn't look as psyched about the news, but he didn't seem shocked or disapproving either. Kaoru growled indistinctly under their breath. Overall, it was a trustworthy reaction.
"Was Shion…" Rikiga trailed off, a heavy layer of dread laced into the words. "Was he imprisoned in the Facility? Is that why he…"
Every eye turned on Shion. He was standing just outside the group, head inclined toward the floor, like a thoroughly scolded child. As they watched, Pup frisked over to him and wagged his tail.
"He's…" Nezumi's jaw tightened. He couldn't begin to describe to these people what had happened in that building. They wouldn't even be able to comprehend it if he could. "It's complicated."
The room was quiet. The air hummed with uncertainty.
"We didn't come here to talk about the Correctional Facility," Nezumi said. "We have something we need you to broadcast. Safu."
Safu dug the camera out of her pocket and held it out. Conk flinched at the sight of it and even Yumi went a little pale.
"Relax," Rikiga grunted at his subordinates. "They're not spies… Right?"
"We're not," said Safu, a smidge testily.
Rikiga plucked the camera from Safu's hands and studied it. "Crafty little device… What's on it?"
Nezumi's mouth curved into a feral smirk. "Something that, if released to the public, would shatter No. 6's reputation beyond redemption."
Rikiga's eyes grew sharp. "Really. That bad?"
"Complete and utter destruction. I wouldn't be surprised if citizens staged a revolt."
The older man's mouth curled up at the corners. The smirk didn't look as vicious on his face, but it was plenty greedy. He clenched the camera in his fist.
"Well." He glanced back at Yumi and Conk. "Let's get this hooked up to a screen, shall we? Step into my office."
Rikiga and his coworkers turned as a group toward a room at the back. Safu and Kaoru moved to follow. Nezumi glanced back at Shion. Pup had begun to slather Shion's hand in greeting, as he had done to the rest of the party. Nezumi moved to shoo the mutt away, but he stopped short when Shion raised a hand and began stroking the dog's head. Nezumi's heart leapt to see it.
That's right. Shion likes dogs. The remembrance sounded foolish to him after he'd thought it, but he had to admit now that he was desperate. If anything could get a reaction from Shion, he was going to use it. He reached out and tapped Kaoru's shoulder as they passed by, and they halted with a suspicious look on their face.
"Kaoru, I need a favor—"
"Oh, no. No, I'm not doing you any more favors. You still owe me big time for that last stunt you pulled."
"It worked out well, didn't it? You weren't arrested, and now you have a job. A sleazy one, I grant you, but then you were never a straight arrow." Nezumi shrugged. "Looks like a win to me."
"Are you kidding me? Your old hag almost had me! I had to pick up her friggin' cat to get her to stop being so damn suspicious! You'll be paying me back for the rest of your miserable life for all the emotional damages I suffered."
There was an odd sort of comfort in squabbling with Kaoru. It was familiar, stabilizing. He always knew where he stood with Kaoru.
"Well, if I'm to be paying the rest of my life, then there's no harm in adding a little more to my tab. I need you to stay out here and keep an eye on Shion."
"What? Why the hell would I do that? I don't even know the guy." Kaoru looked at Shion. He was still petting Pup, and the dog had sat down to more comfortably enjoy the attentions.
"Kaoru, please."
Kaoru's head whipped around like they had been slapped. Nezumi held their gaze coolly. He could see Kaoru was trying very hard to read his face, and with a considerable struggle, he allowed them to. Kaoru's eyes widened.
"What is it with this Shion person? First the old man, and now you, too..." They peeked at Shion with a new wariness.
"Kaoru."
Kaoru bit down hard on their lip and twisted their face stubbornly. "Pup seems to like him."
It took a moment, but Nezumi finally realized that was their way of saying, "Fine—but only because my dog approves." Kaoru dragged themself over to the edge of the table and sat, watching Shion with a calculating look. Nezumi didn't thank them; he simply nodded. It was best if they stayed out here; neither of them needed to see what was on the tape.
Especially not Shion.
He moved to the room everyone else had disappeared into. Rikiga had acted quickly. Yumi and Conk had already managed to get the camera hooked up to the display screen.
He closed the door behind him and approached the group. "Fast forward."
Conk pressed a button and the feed streamed by in bleary browns and blacks. Nezumi leered at it, searching for the scene he wanted.
"Stop."
Conk jabbed a button and the video jumped and began to play.
"You gullible, fucking idiot! People are going to die because of you!"
"N-no. That's…"
He had stopped it a little early, but it had what he wanted: Rashi, standing tall and smug and completely unmistakable in his crisp navy uniform. Whereas Nezumi had to listen blindly down in that safe house, Yoming's crow had a front row seat to Rashi's betrayal. He had imagined a smarmy smile on the officer's face while he pulled Getsuyaku's strings, and he could see now he had guessed right.
Getsuyaku continued to sputter about Nezumi's whereabouts, and Yoming answered venomously, his voice booming over the audio because of the proximity. Safu shot a look at Nezumi, but he paid it no notice. The first execution was coming up. The group's attention was rapt on the screen as Rashi warned Getsuyaku not to waste his time. The man trembled.
"He's probably hiding somewhere; you just have to look. I've done my job, I've brought you to where the boy is, so… The reward…"
"Ah. You're quite right. You've done what was required of you."
There was barely a blip of sound on the tape when Rashi shot Getsuyaku, but the gun, complete with silencer, was plain to see. Out came the weapon, and down went Getsuyaku, reduced to a lifeless heap on the floor. A gasp and a few hisses filled the room.
"What the hell?"
Nezumi jumped and spun around.
Kaoru was standing in the doorway, their face betraying a rare look of abject horror. Shion was next to them, a hand on the doorknob and his gaze fixed on the screen behind Nezumi. Nezumi knew by the sound of clinking metal that Rashi was pouring the gold over Getsuyaku's body. Shion turned abruptly and walked away.
Shit!
Nezumi rushed forward. His heart was hammering, and his first response was to lash out.
"Dammit, Kaoru! I told you to watch him!"
"I was watching him!" Kaoru shouted back, hackles raised. "You never said anything about keeping him out of this room! I don't even know what the hell is going on! What is that?" Kaoru stabbed a finger at the screen just as an explosion of shots rang out—Yoming and Rashi's showdown.
Nezumi growled and shoved them aside. Kaoru threw some choice words at him, but he hardly heard them as he raced down the hall after Shion.
He had fled more quickly than Nezumi would have thought possible; he had only been able to discern which way Shion went by following the slowly closing doors left in his wake. Nezumi pushed open the second door and felt a brush of cold air over his knuckles. It opened onto a small balcony, directly facing city hall. Even though they were on the tenth and uppermost floor of the building, the Moondrop loomed large and ominous before them.
Shion was leaning against the railing, hunched over so he could rest his forehead on the chilled metal. Nezumi took a step toward him.
"I'm not going to jump."
Nezumi paused at the utterance. Shion sounded tired, but it was his normal voice, not tinged with anger or fear.
"I'm just getting some air."
Nezumi nodded, but took another step toward Shion nonetheless. They stood silently for a moment, breathing in the frosty air. There was a breeze blowing, and Nezumi could feel it even through his jacket. He wondered if Shion was cold in just a sweater and jeans. Some kind of precipitation was brewing in the sky, and Nezumi hoped it was snow rather than rain.
Such were the mundane thoughts that ran through his mind as he tried his best not to rush Shion into speaking, or to blurt out something himself. Things were finally starting to seem like they could get better, and he was afraid of shattering that fragile hope with a careless word or action.
At last, Shion lifted his head to look at the Moondrop. He had his good side to Nezumi, and his profile set against the icy skyline was poignant in its blankness.
"It looks like a blister," he said. The words were a consideration, not unkindness. He even sounded a bit bewildered. "I can hear it crying sometimes, you know. On quiet nights. Crying—that's the word my mom used to describe it. I always thought it was an interesting choice. It made it sound helpless, pitiable… But it's ugly."
"I would cry, too, if I were that ugly."
The joke was unobtrusive, made to be swept away by the breeze the moment it was uttered. Shion's brow furrowed. His hands slipped off the railing and he turned to face Nezumi.
"I'm that ugly." His dark, purplish eyes bored into Nezumi's for a full second before he dropped them to begin a listless study of his hands. "You were right; I'm just like them. I thought I wasn't, but… I hurt people. A lot of people. And I didn't care."
Nezumi was angry; angry that something he had said so long ago in bitterness was now being used as ammunition in Shion's self-condemnation. "You're not like them, Shion. You never were. The way you're acting now is proof of it. No. 6 doesn't have a heart; it doesn't feel remorse, but you…"
The words felt weird on his tongue, like he was speaking a language he had once known but hadn't practiced in years. He questioned every sound that came out of his mouth, and even though he knew what he wanted to say, he couldn't force the words to convey what he was feeling.
No. 6 had helped him build a thick skin, and every experience since then added fortification to the barriers he built. They kept him numb and that kept him safe. But he had poured so much energy into the walls he placed between himself and others that he had been too blind to see that he had been constructing a cage all along. Emotion thrashed desperately within him, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find the way to release it.
Shion drew in a breath, and his body shuddered with the effort. "I wanted to hurt them, Nezumi. I wanted them to feel pain. I'm not a good person. I'm selfish and—" he wrung his hands harshly, his speech flowing fast and thick, "—angry. I'm angry all the time. I've tried to be better, but I still feel that way, even now. I know my mom would want me to let it go. I know you…" His voice cut out, but he pushed through it in a raw whisper, "I know you think I'm better than this, but I'm not… People are dead because of me. Kaze's dead."
"How is what happened to Kaze your fault?"
"I sent him to die, Nezumi. And now Yuichi has lost the only family he had left, and Yuki…" He swallowed thickly.
Nezumi pressed his lips together. It was true Shion had hurt people. He had killed people. But he had also saved more lives than anyone Nezumi had ever known. He had joked once that Shion was a prince among paupers, but it was hardly a joke. He was revered and respected by everyone who knew the importance of kindness. Shion had done real good in the West Block, and people trusted him—with their problems, their children, and their lives.
He saved my life. More than once.
"Shion… Do you regret saving me?"
"No!" Shion's head snapped up. "I would never regret that!" He suddenly dropped his eyes to the ground again, embarrassed. "I would always save you… No matter how selfish it is."
Nezumi thought he had expected an answer like this, but his heart jumped at the impassioned confession. Had I actually believed Shion would resent me? He realized that, yes, he had. It wasn't unreasonable. If he had done as Elyurias wanted, the lives of the West Block residents might have been spared.
No. That's not true. With or without me, No. 6 would've attacked the West Block and people would've died—likely more than the number today.
But they couldn't have known that then. They had a chance to destroy No. 6 once and for all, but Shion had chosen to save his life instead. And he had risked his life to rescue him again in the Correctional Facility. Shion called it selfish, but to Nezumi it was the most selfless thing anyone had ever done.
"Shion. Back there you said you couldn't save anyone. Do you really believe that?"
Shion balled his fists at his sides. "…I couldn't. Kaze is dead because of what I did. And you were almost hurt, too."
"No. None of that is your fault. The Correctional Facility, that doctor, they were just sick. There's nothing anyone could've done." Nezumi realized he was getting heated. He quickly checked his emotions. "Shion… You want to know what I think? It's not because you can't save anyone; it's because you can't save everyone."
Shion was very still.
He wouldn't meet his eye. It put Nezumi on edge to see him so subdued. Shion had always been fearless when it came to speaking his mind, and he always looked people in the eye when he wanted to prove a point. Nezumi himself had been pinned under that clear and earnest gaze more times than he would admit. It was never threatening or uncomfortable, but it was insistent. When Shion looked you in the eye, it was to establish you as an equal, to convey that he wanted you to hear his side, and to hold you responsible for the actions you took afterward. It was a symbol of respect and a sign of strength.
But Shion wouldn't look at him now, and it was clear to Nezumi that it was still a matter of respect. Shion felt ashamed, unworthy. Shion had always been as easy to read as a book; the only issue was that he was a book with many footnotes and amendments in the margins, and while the plain text told one story, there was a completely different one woven around it. It made Nezumi dizzy to try to puzzle him out—but right now Shion's thoughts were plain.
He thinks I'm disgusted with him.
Nezumi took at step toward Shion.
"Shion, look at me."
The command was firm, and he didn't miss Shion's flinch. Nezumi waited while the teen fidgeted, more and more as the seconds ticked by. Shion raised his head in increments; a painfully slow process that might have once annoyed Nezumi, but now it only filled him with regret.
Nezumi studied the person before him. He took in the bruises that purpled his cheek and eye. They were angry welts, the result of exceptional force and no doubt anger. His lip was split in the corner as well. The violence was so complete Nezumi considered it a miracle Shion hadn't broken something. He had long assumed these wounds had been earned trying to bide time for his escape. Who knew how many more injuries he had sustained, hidden beneath his clothing.
Nezumi's gaze went to Shion's chest next. There was a hole in the fabric of his sweater. He had dismissed it as just a tear when he removed Shion's coat, but looking at it more closely, he suspected it was a bullet hole. The coal black of a Superfibre cloth was poking out above Shion's collar. He had expected the worst, and it had happened. If he hadn't been prepared, it would have been Shion bleeding out on the tiles, not those officers, and Nezumi… Where would he be?
He met Shion's eyes last. A feverish light burned in them, a warning and a plea intermingled. He was trembling, slightly but continuously. Nezumi studied him for a long moment, this frightened, thin boy, who had risked everything for him.
"Shion…" Nezumi took another step. "You look like shit."
He reached forward and pulled Shion to him. He could feel the startled intake of breath as Shion froze against his chest. Nezumi pressed his mouth to the spot just above his ear.
"Thank you."
These words were the stone that shattered him. Shion melted into the embrace, wrapping his arms around Nezumi's waist and clinging like he was his only salvation.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
The shocked gasp had turned into hiccupping sobs. Nezumi slid his arms around Shion's back and held him silently. He felt small and fragile, but his grip was fierce, and his body burned with warmth. They went into hell and had come out—scarred, but alive.
We're survivors. That's nothing to be ashamed of.
Nezumi pressed his cheek against Shion's hair, rubbing small circles into his back with his thumb. Shion kept sobbing apologies in a broken litany. Nezumi wasn't sure which sins he was apologizing for, but, staring at the sunlight fading behind the Moondrop, he forgave every one.
XXXX
They stood like that for a long time. The sobs eventually subsided to sniffles, but Shion's arms stayed curled around him, his face tucked against Nezumi's collarbone. Nezumi had long since turned off his mind, focusing on sensation alone. The soft pulls of breath, in and out of their lungs, the thrum of Shion's heartbeat in tandem with his own. There was a strange sort of meditation in it.
It started to get hot after a while, though, and Nezumi wasn't sure what to do about it. He had initiated the hug, and he did it to comfort Shion, so it seemed like he should let Shion break the embrace.
He's already calmed down. Just let go if it makes you so uncomfortable, he grumbled at himself. Seconds passed, but still he held Shion. He swallowed. Why am I so fricking awkward?
Just then, Shion shifted and gingerly detached himself. There was a rush of cool air between them, and while Nezumi felt relieved to be released, he also experienced a sense of regret at the loss of warmth.
"Feel better?" he asked, in order to distract himself from the irrationality of his emotions.
Shion's eyes flicked up and then down sheepishly. "Sorry…" he mumbled.
He pulled the sleeve of his sweater over his hand and began rubbing at Nezumi's shoulder. Nezumi realized there was a wet patch on the leather of his jacket, which Shion was doing his best to mop up. His mouth twitched into a smile, but Shion was too focused to have seen it.
"You're alright, then?" Nezumi tried again.
"Yes. I think so…" Shion wiped at his eyes and nose with his other sleeve, and Nezumi pretended not to notice. "We should head back."
Nezumi hummed in agreement.
When they got back to the office, Rikiga and his group were huddled around the monitor, speaking in low tones with Safu. Kaoru was perched atop Rikiga's desk with Pup lounging at their feet. Kaoru cast a look at them, dark eyes darting from Shion to Nezumi in a furtive way.
Safu looked up next. She nodded slightly when she caught Nezumi's eye, before turning to Shion and asking how he was doing. Shion mumbled a "fine," and she didn't push him to elaborate.
Rikiga took a step forward. "Shion."
Shion blinked up at him. Apparently, this was the first time he had actually registered the man. "Mr. Rikiga," he said quietly, respectfully. "Thank you for getting the drives for Nezumi. If it weren't for you, we never would have destroyed the Correctional Facility." Shion bowed at the waist, very low. "I'm in your debt."
"S-Shion…" Rikiga's face went bright red. "No, please, you don't owe me a thing. It was the least I could do, after I failed you and Karan… Please, stand up. I don't deserve that…"
Nezumi realized that the man actually had tears shining in his eyes. Shion straightened and tried out a smile. It was weak, but more than enough to bring Rikiga closer to crying.
"You're just like her," Rikiga whispered. "I'm just a pathetic loser who can't get anything right, but you still…" He sniffed. "You're such a good kid, Shion—an angel, just like your mother."
Shion turned to Kaoru next. "You're Nezumi's friend, right?"
Kaoru flinched at the question. "Hell no."
"Oh… But you helped get the drives?" Shion glanced at Rikiga.
"He helped," the man grunted.
"Helped?" Kaoru barked. "I did the whole thing!"
They snapped their mouth shut, however, when Shion bowed to them as well. "Thank you. You saved our lives."
Kaoru didn't blush like Rikiga had, but they were definitely embarrassed; Nezumi could tell by the way they stayed quiet and began to paw at Pup with their foot. No one seemed to know where to go with this. After making his thanks, Shion closed up again and retreated to the shadows just behind Nezumi.
Safu was the one to break the stalemate. "We've started broadcasting the video."
That caught Nezumi's attention. "Where?"
"Everywhere," Yumi answered, a little smugly. "People are not happy. They're mobbing the Moondrop." She was smiling as if this was the best news she had ever reported. If ever he needed a buddy with which to watch No. 6 destroy itself, he knew exactly who to call.
"We had to edit it a little," Rikiga added, "but the executions…" He nodded gravely. "They're doing their job. Citizens are already demanding answers."
Nezumi allowed himself a smile. "Perfect."
Safu nodded. Her approval wasn't as vocal, but there was a satisfied look about her. This was justice. The citizens deserved to see what their precious city was really like. About time someone ripped the wool from their eyes and exposed them to reality.
"Sir," a voice choked. It was Conk, and he was staring down at his ID, his face ashen. "You need to check your ID alert."
"What? Another threat?"
Rikga and Yumi glanced down at their blinking IDs. A message popped onto the screen, and their eyes went wide as they read, lines of trepidation etching themselves into their faces.
"What?" Nezumi said lowly.
"The mayor…" Yumi began, but her voice failed her.
"The mayor just shot himself fatally," Rikiga finished. He dropped his hand, looking stunned.
Nezumi raised his eyebrows. Well. Safu frowned a little, and even Shion looked nervous.
"Do you think it's a miscommunication?" Conk said faintly. "He couldn't have. No one ever… does that… Right?" He searched the faces for answers, but there were none.
"Doesn't surprise me," Kaoru scoffed. "If I were the mayor, and videos of the Security Bureau straight up murdering people came out, I'd kill myself too."
"Kaoru, you shouldn't say things like that," Conk hissed.
Kaoru cocked an eyebrow. "Why not? Who's gonna punish me? The mayor?"
Conk twisted his face in disapproval.
"What are we going to do?" Yumi asked. "Do we… do we cover it up?"
Rikiga rubbed nervously at his mustache. "Well…"
"Absolutely not," Safu snapped. The words were said so sharply, every eye turned on her. "Why would you cover it up? The citizens are howling for blood. They need someone to blame, so give them the mayor."
"But he's dead."
Safu glared at Conk, and the man shrunk back. It was almost funny, seeing the man cowed by a girl half his size.
"Yes, he is. Even better. Tell them the mayor has accepted responsibility for the corruption and ended his life out of shame. That's probably close to the truth, anyway. With the object of their hatred eliminated, the citizens will lose momentum, and they'll be more open to discussion."
Rikiga's brow furrowed. "Discussion?"
Safu nodded. "Yes. Of the city's future." She pursed her lips in thought. "We need to hold a city-wide meeting as soon as possible."
The Information Bureau employees exchanged nervous glances. Nezumi smiled ruefully. It was sad how lost the No. 6 citizens were when they were expected to make their own decisions. Safu sighed at their blank looks.
"Let me show you." She wedged herself between the group and turned to Yumi. "Can you give me access to the feed?"
Leave it to Safu to take charge of the situation. Might want to keep an eye on her, or she'll elect herself as mayor. Nezumi moved to Kaoru's side, watching Safu instruct the dazed news team on what steps needed be taken.
"You sure picked up a lot of weirdos," Kaoru remarked without turning to him.
Nezumi just shrugged, a faint smile on his lips.