Pride of Sakura

Chapter 6 – Redheads and Rampages

AN: Yeaaahhh!

X x X

I never thought this day would come. When I was fantasizing about Yuu killing me, I didn't think it'd…actually like, you know, happen. Though some part of me hates to admit it, Jenna saved my life. Yuu pulled the trigger, and the resulting bullet bounced off my chest like an orange. I looked down in shock. Sure enough, there were yellow photon rings circling my body. Rentis? But I don't know that Technic. The one who knows that technic is…Jenna.

"…diot…you reall----like I'd let him kill you?" Came her voice faintly in my mind. "Even if you don't have your staves, you do have a 450 attached to your dumb head. It's no stress on me if you're the one using your strength to cast. SO BLAST THEIR ASSES."

"W—what the?"

Now! I turned, frantically summoning the Dambarta spell in my mind. It worked. Holy crap. I slashed my hand leftwards, praying I wouldn't kill them, stupid as it sounded. To my intense luck, Yuu froze, still with his mouth open in a confused gape. Ankh let go when I hit him, and I turned to run when I heard the familiar sound effect of him becoming huge and red.

CRAP CRAP.

He lunged and I rolled somehow gracefully, doing a sort of front flip that turned into a cartwheel that turned into me falling on my ass. I rolled onto my back and, feeling like a superhero, casted Foie. I scrambled to my feet in a storm of cowardice and leaves, turning to run. He roared in pain, grabbing blindly. He managed to get my arm, claws simultaneously raking a gash in my lower back. I felt my shoulder dislocate pretty instantly, before manage to smack my hand on his arm and cast Foie. He let go, quite obviously, while I bolted into the rain just as the ice around Yuu broke, which just made me run faster because I was probably about to get shot.

"Run fatass, run!"

I obeyed Jenna and really hauled ass, pushing my heart and lungs to the edge of the abyss. Like I said, I've never been athletic, so my abyss was probably a kiddie pool. Oh well. After a while my run turned into a jog which turned into a power walk, and then just plain turned into me collapsing on the ground. It was cold, and the mud sliding against my chest was a bizarre feeling. Feeling, I reminded myself, is good. It means you're still alive. I breathed deep, the sounds of the rain pattering against my skin strangely loud. Everything was magnified. The smell of the mud, the rain sliding down my face and pooling between my shoulder blades. The pain of my arm and back were there too, but somehow more of a distant ache.

"Heal yourself," Jenna ordered in my mind. I took a shuddery breath and attempted to cast Resta. It half-worked, I was so exhausted from running. My heart wasn't quite in it, either. The betrayal had shocked me more than anything anyone in even my soap opera had done. Astounding again. I pulled my knees under me into a sitting position and sat on my legs, gazing at the forest around me. A dreary gray sky, and some of the massive, water-filled trees that I have conveniently forgotten the name of. The weather in this particular spot on Neudaiz was always the same. My breath was coming easier now, as I began to rationalize.

Yuu was a Newman, but basically has CAST arms and a few other things too, which explains why I didn't quite pick up things when I was healing him. Ankh is obviously connected with his past. They're Guardians, definitely. But maybe Yuu is a double agent. That would explain it. But who is he working for, and why? A debt to the one who put him back together? I felt a chill worm its way down my spine. Poor Yuu. Even now, after he leveled a gun at me, I could still think "poor Yuu".

I had heard of Guardians being traitors, but somehow I couldn't just lump him in with someone who wanted money or something. I thought hard about him. Yes, I liked him. His personality and mine kind of clashed sometimes, but I felt as though his good moments with me were entirely earnest. Rare as they were. I starred down at my mud-splattered thighs, grimacing. They were brand new stockings and already ruined. I rose and walked further into the forest, my heart in my throat. Yuu was a sniper, after all. That was his job. Ankh was a retard, I was starting to think. There's really no missing a nanoblasted beast. If I didn't see him coming, I should just finish myself of here and now for that much stupidity.

I walked a while. Looking back, I don't really know how long, but it was a while. Jenna talked to me off and on, trying to guide me with her limited GPS. I had no idea where I was going to go. Was it Guardians who wanted me dead? No. I don't think so. Nav wouldn't allow such things. Ever. So then it was whoever Yuu and Ankh were really working for. I had wandered into a clearing, thankful for my high, shiny boots. They kept my feet warm and dry. Wet socks went on my pet peeves list, along with not-chocolately enough chocolate milk, clip-on earrings, angry old people, that potential ban on Seizure Star for all those seizures, and Jenna's habit of just deciding to strip and climb in the bath with me. I didn't really mind but, she ridiculed me a lot and I sometimes had the suspicious feeling she was filming. Things like that made me think, though, as I gazed around the clearing. I want to go home, and have a bath, and polish my nails with Jenna. I want Seizure Star, and fried chips, and maybe I'd even try to make a friend. I took a deep breath, rage filling my chest. It was warm, though, and I was cold. I healed my arm a little more, though it was still pretty far gone. I wouldn't be able to use a stave, even if I had one.

I would make it back. And then I would…kick ass. Somehow. Yes. That's positive thinking. And just when I thought things were fine and dandy, my heart sunk completely again. Footsteps. Definitely, coming into the clearing. I had been so caught up in my fantasy of Flirty Pink and soap operas that I had forgotten I was being chased by a sniper and a nanoblasted beast. I turned, expecting it to be Yuu with a rifle, and received an even bigger shock. Why me, oh, why me. My knees literally gave out under me, that's never happened before.

Oh God.

Ethan Waber. Five feet from me.

There was no mistaking the shock of red hair. That, and his face was on every wanted poster around the colony and elsewhere. They even did that annoying thing where they stuck it on the inside of bathroom stalls. So then you had to look at it. And…In a trench coat. A scary black one that somehow screamed "Pedophile." Crap. Double crap. I was splattered in mud and tears, arm still roaring with pain, and my thoughts were so jumbled I doubted I could even speak, I could barely pseudo-cast, let alone me trying to string the spells together that would possibly save me from having my ass handed to me. Before, it had been the adrenaline rush of the whole near-death thing. Of course this is my luck. I manage to get away from the man I once trusted about to shoot me in the face, only to run into the man the galaxy wants to shoot in the face. I thought back to Laia's advice on him.

Call backup, or run. He's way good.

He had broken Laia's ribs, and nearly given the beast a concussion. Great. And here I was, a mid-ranked Fortetecher in emotional distress. With my arm twisted at a festive angle, thanks to Ankh. Silence. The wind, the rain pattering and rebounding off his coat. Piercing blue eyes endlessly far above.

Then.

"…Are you okay?" There was no malice. Just big, clear blue eyes and genuine concern. Guarded, yes. But not apathetic.

No. I'm not okay. I looked up at him through gaunt, red-rimmed eyes. My lip was trembling, much to my agitation. I've been awfully girly lately. Seemingly beyond my control, I nodded "no". Hesitant for a second, he glanced around the clearing quickly before closing the gap between us.

"What happened? Goghs?" He crouched, completely trusting, continuing to talk despite my silence. Or maybe he has Weakling Radar. Negative nod. Stare more. He shifted uneasily. I never imagined I'd be this close to an S2 Class wanted criminal. He wasn't smelly, or ugly. Laia had said he kind of smelled like cigarettes and cheap cologne, and that he had a terrible five o'clock shadow and yellow fingernails. I looked at his hands. Gloves. Maybe she was half right.

"A prancy numan kid that's actually kind of a CAST pointed a rifle at me, so I ran." I said slowly, like I was talking to a five year old. His eyes were very pretty, but I didn't see much…smart…behind them. His eyebrow raised. I continued. "Then, the beast that was with him Nanoblasted and somewhat caught up to me, so I burned him and ran. Not before he could grab my arm and twist, by the way," I continued, my voice getting faster. "By the way, both of them were are my Guardians partners, but they got orders to kill me due to me supposedly knowing about Prancy Elf CAST, even though I really didn't know." I finished, completely wailing. "And NOW I've run into the most dangerous man in the galaxy, and I can't even fight back because my arm is fuckin' busted and to be honest I couldn't remember the difference between Foie and some sort of lamp right now. Also my PM blew up and I'm missing my soap."

He said nothing, tilting his head at me and standing up. I had just basically acted like a six year old.

"You should be careful," he said carefully. "The Onmagoug is ar---".

"SUV plus face." I deadpanned, gazing at his shoes. They looked expensive. Damn.

"Or not." He laughed. I didn't return it, too busy wondering how much his shoes were worth. I looked back up at him, taking a deep breath and trying to get rid of my shyness. I guess I should have been using extreme caution, but again, my sense as a Force wasn't telling me to…well, worry.

"ASK THE STUPID GINGER IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF SHELTER AROUND, LUCY. IF SO, HAVE HIM GET OFF HIS PRESIDENT-SLAYING ASS AND BRING US THERE."

Silence. Wow, Jenna's voice was basically back. And right in my ear. Ow, wow.

"ALSO THERE BETTER BE SANDWICHES."

"PM attached to my ear," I giggled nervously. He squinted at it.

"She seems…lovely?"

"Yea, she uh—".

"I AM A FUCKING RAY OF SUNSHINE."

"Right."

"I'm kind of in a hurry myself, but your story checks out anyway. I wondered why I saw a third set of footsteps."

"Wha?"

Really. Wha?

He shrugged, and grabbed my wrist, helping me to my feet.

"IF HE LOOKS AT YOUR TITS, FIRE A ZONDE DIRECTLY INTO HIS CROTCH!"

Ignored. Jenna hates being ignored, and due to her tiny size and location, she was going to be. He let go of my wrist, and I took it back, embarrassed that I hadn't let go of him. Oops. Must not make passes at S2 criminals, bad things will happen.

"Sezaburo and Teano are after me, anyway," he sighed. Yet more shock. I wondered if all of this was going to give me arthritis or something. He looked back at me. "Sezaburo and Teano's Guardian enlistment is just a front. Easier to spy on me."

I gulped.

"Why, what are you doing that's so bad?"

Waber smiled at me. "It's a secret."

"Gross," I added, my attitude surfacing. I didn't think he was going to hurt me. I just felt it. For once, I was right, too.

"So, I take it Guardians doesn't know about Yuu's…um…add-ons?"

Wow, that sounded lame.

"Oh, they know. But according to their records, Yuu was fixed in a happy, legitimate facility."

"So the people who fixed him?"

"The Illuminus, of course."

I rubbed my face. Sigh. So he was an Illuminus agent. So was Ankh, then. He patted my shoulder. "It's all complex, uh—".

"Lucy Gray."

"Luce, it's all messed up and…well, I can't really say anything." He shrugged, the rain soaking his hair til it turned the color of blood. I wonder if mine looked like that, too.

X X X

I don't know how much time passed in between my fevered nap. My broken body, despite my mindset, desperately craved sleep. Waber had deposited me in a tiny cave, the entrance of which was obscured by thick foliage he carefully rearranged once I was inside. It was a sordid affair, but definitely shelter. There was a mat of slightly musty scented blankets, and an array of bottled water.

He gestured to the mat and left without saying a word. Part of me wondered about what he was going to do, but I just kind of uncaringly stripped, much to Jenna's amusement, and passed out. I woke some time later, eyes adjusting to the red-black darkness of the cave.

Jenna was silent, probably hibernating after the excess of activities she performed while I was running from…

The pain of the betrayal washed through me anew, and I bit my lip to fight back the tears. I was not one to cry when I was sad. I was one to cry when I was mad. And oh believe me, I was furious. Furious at them, furious at myself. How could they string me along? How could I let myself believe them? Was I such a terrible Force that I couldn't even tell Yuu had robotic arms? By the Maiden, my future might as well be shot. Someone could hand me a sick baby and I'd ask them why they're bringing their ailing baby pig to me. Baby robotic pig. I squinted, rasping when I realized how dry my throat was.

I turned to my right, towards the cave entrance, and shuddered in shock when I realized there was someone leaning against the cave wall. They were humming, a slow, easy melody, head down, carefully loading bullets into a gun. I froze when he looked up suddenly, Yuu's face bone-bright even in the gloom of the cave. There was the audible click of the trigger being cocked. I tried to talk, to scream, anything – but my throat rasped, and all that escaped from me were meager tears down my face.

He tilted his head at me, dark pupils rimmed with an electric blue light, and smiled a bit sadly. "Nakanaide, Gray-san," he half-sighed, dark eyes somber. "This'll be over soon."

I fought to move desperately, paralyzed and still in terrible pain from bastard Ankh's lovely twisting sexy dance involving my bone. His eyes softened, pitch-black hair plastered to his face with rain, eyes black.

"Shinpai shinaide. I shall be very gentle."

I took deep, quick breaths, screaming for Jenna in my mind as he slowly pulled himself up. "Saa dou kana. Maybe we'll see each other." I didn't recognize all of what he was saying in his native tongue, but it almost seemed like he was trying to soothe me.

And he opened his mouth one last time as he leveled the gun, and said –

"CAMPTOWN GIRLS SING THIS SONG, DO DA! DO DA! CAMPTOWN GIRLS SERIOUSLY EASY AND REASONABLY PRICED, BETTER BUY THREE! OH DA DO DA DAY!"

I awoke for real this time, still smelly and sweaty and angry, but with Jenna singing extremely retarded camp songs out of my earring, and Ethan Waber squinting at me like I was the physical embodiment of the SEED Virus itself.

"…That PM is awesome," he said at last.

"I know." Said Jenna and I simultaneously, and then we got to talking about how I was gonna get out of there alive.

X X X

AN: To say "delayed" and "rushed" would be like calling Hyuga Ryght "scholarly" and "not a faggot". More coming for reals! :D AND I MEAN THE NEXT CHAPTER IS ACTUALLY HALF DONE OMG. I missed writing this a lot.

Oh btw Japanese for Non-Weeaboos:

Nakanaide – Don't cry.

Shinpai shinaide – Don't worry.

Saa dou kana – Who knows.