Upon entering the main work area, myself and Kyoko were greeted by the raucous firing of pistons as Mondo revved the engine. While the mechanical exploits of the biker were more than impressive, the car was less so. It was your regular, dime-a-dozen, soccer mom esque people carrier. On the positive side though, this meant more seats and a people carrier was better than no car after all. Now that I wasn't in the dark or having my life threatened, I could properly study the room. The people who used to work here seemed to be an untidy bunch. Different tools and parts were scattered around haphazardly, especially around the myriad of different cars. Some of the vehicles were elevated for the convenience of the mechanics, while some were still grounded and shrouded in tarpaulin.
Noticing our arrival, Hina turned to us with a wide grin.
"Isn't is awesome!?"
"Yes, remarkable" Kyoko replied, her voice only just loud enough from being drowned out by the rumble of the engine.
Leaving the two to chat among themselves, I approached Oowada. When he saw me, the Biker pulled the keys from the ignition.
"You finished with it?" I asked as I looked around the car. It wasn't in the cleanest condition, but honestly it didn't matter all that much. All that matters is that it runs.
"Can't tell" He grunted as his hands slipped of the wheel "Not till we get it out on the road"
The Biker glanced down at me, seeing the small frown that his words caused. The biker's eyebrows furrowed heavily. He then jabbed the shoulder on my good side.
"Oi. I didn't say that it wouldn't work did I ya bastard"
"Y-Yeah a-… Good t-then" I replied, as I rubbed the pain away from the spot where the biker punched me.
"And it gets fuckin' better" Oowada said, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he exited the cockpit.
"Huh?"
I followed the biker as he approached one of the many shapes covered in tarpaulin. He ripped the sheet away with an aggressive flourish. The sheet fluttered gracefully in the air, falling in painfully slow motion. It would have landed on Mukuro if she hadn't of skipped deftly out of its way. Underneath said tarpaulin was the sleek body of a smart saloon car, resplendent in frost white.
"This thing could probably reach sixty MPH in about four seconds" Mukuro remarked as she circled the machine.
Hina looked at the soldier with a slight amount of surprise, brow arched. "Wait, how do you know even know that?"
"Fenrir used vehicles similar to this one as their Urban response vehicles, so im familiar" Mukuro replied as she opened the passenger's side door to inspect the insides.
"It's badass dude!" Hiro exclaimed, probably trying to hazard a guess at what price he could sell it at to his mafia creditors.
I wasn't into cars much as a kid, it was just something that didn't interest me all too much. However, that wasn't to say that I didn't think the car in front of me wasn't cool as hell, because it most certainly is. Curious, I slipped into the driving seat. My hand reached for the keys already inserted in the ignition, and gave it a sharp turn.
The car fired up into life, roaring angrily, before spluttering, then dying a wheezing death.
Hiro looked on disappointedly, the glimmer that was previously in his eyes all but gone. "Yo, is it asthmatic or something?"
"The alternator's fucked" Oowada said gruffly, punctuated with the sound of him popping the hood.
Hina peered into the bowels of the machine as she wore an inquisitive look on her face. "The what now?"
"The alternator, it's what gives the battery and the dash juice. Keeps it charged" He explained as he stuck his neck under the bonnet with screwdriver in hand.
"Well do we need it to start? If the battery isn't flat then there should be no problem" Kyoko wondered, glove handling chin in a way that could only be described as 'trademark Kirigiri'.
"Aint gonna work like that" Mondo disagreed, his gravelly voice slightly echoing against the top of the bonnet. "Some engines need the alternator working and in place even if the battery aint fucking flat"
"Surely there are enough parts we can cannibalise from the other cars?" Mukuro asked Mondo as she joined myself at the front of the car.
"We can, but that aint the only problem" He replied, accompanied by a grunt of annoyance as he twisted the screwdriver into what I assumed was the broken alternator. "You can bet there is shit that I can't do dick about like the ABS, then there is shit that might be wrong with the engine that we will only find out when we get out there and start driving"
"We'll do what we can now and then go get the others, we can do more maintenance when we put some distance between us and Tokyo" I suggested, leaving a silence after I had finished to allow the others to voice their opinions.
In response, I got a set of five agreeing nods.
"You guys can fuck off; I don't need any help for this and you may as well get some rest" Oowada grunted before making a slight glance at me. "Especially you kid, you look like battered shit"
Though I didn't particularly appreciate being referred to as 'kid', I found myself nodding tiredly.
"Believe me, I feel like it"
"Just sleep in the back of the people carrier" Oowada suggested, concentration still centred on the engine block, as people dispersed.
"Come get me when your done or if you need help" I told the biker as I headed away.
Oowada made no effort to respond, obviously caught up deeply in the trappings of mechanic work. I tiredly wandered over to the people carrier, my feet screaming with every step for me to stop. Slipping carefully onto the backseat, I placed my arms behind my head and propped my feet up on the parallel door. Was I comfortable? No. Would it do? It would have to. It was only now that I could fully appreciate how very exhausted I was, like I was continuously carrying a sack of rocks over my shoulder. With eyelids drooping lazily, I relaxed my body and prepared myself to fade away to unconsciousness.
However, my hopes for a long nap were, unfortunately, scuppered when a loud clang echoed throughout the compound. Sleepy eyes seared as they were met once more by the bright artificial hanging lights fixed on the corrugated metal roof above. With blurry vision, I strained to decipher the time from my watch. It had been fifteen minutes. Wonderful. My sigh was accentuated with another bone grating clang. Unsure as to if I would be allowed rest, I stepped out of the car once more. I could always rest later when we start driving, after all.
Not sure what to do with my time, I found myself outside the main building, in the parking lot. The weather had apparently taken a turn for the worse. What previously was bright sun covered partially by white fluffy clouds, was replaced by an expanse of dark grey. The dreary landscape was accompanied with the slow drizzle of chilling rain, which looked like it was only going to get heavier as the day dragged on. I resigned myself to that fact as I relaxed up against the wall, sheltered from the light rain by the rim of the roof.
"Hey"
Jumping in surprise slightly, I whirled around to find Mukuro standing awkwardly in the door way.
"Oh, hey Mukuro" I replied, slightly embarrassed by my reaction. "You sure do have a habit of scaring me"
"Maybe you're just not being observant enough" She chided, adopting the same stance as me with back pushed up straight against the wall.
"Blame it on the lack of sleep"
And then, as if on cue, I let a yawn escape my gritted teeth. Mukuro let out a soft laugh, as she watched me try, and fail, to beat it back. The atmosphere entered an awkward silence, the only sounds being the shallow breathing and slight pitter patter of rain. Deciding it would have to be me to break the quiet, considering the cagey nature of the soldier, I cleared my throat.
"Mukuro, can I ask you something"
The soldier side-eyed me slightly, orbs of gun metal grey showing a mix of concern and confusion.
"G-Go ahead"
"Well being a soldier. You've done…Things… Right" I tiptoed diplomatically. "Things you might regret"
The soldier stared off into the distance for a moment as she contemplated my words.
"I… I don't regret anything I did with Fenrir. When you become a soldier, your comrades become your family and I did what I had to, too protect that family…"
I watched the soldier dip her head, eyes pointed at the growing puddles of the parking lot. Her gaze had glazed over, deep in thought. I didn't utter a word, deciding to let her continue.
"That's why I did everything Junko said, she was family too… But god was I blind, so fucking deluded…!"
She spat the words out with venom, an obvious bitter taste in her mouth.
"She knew how guilty I felt after I left her when she was young, and she used that against me…"
Mukuro's fists closed tightly, knuckles pointed like bright spears.
"I did everything I did so I could earn her forgiveness…"
The soldier paused once again, trying to clear clouded angry thoughts. She opened her mouth to confess more, but she clamped it shut, confusion and doubt spreading over her face. Even more confusion, plus a good dose of embarrassment, took over when she noticed my hand resting on her shoulder.
"You okay?" I asked quietly, my voice barely louder than the gentle pitter-patter of rain. "If you need to air more stuff out, im here"
The soldier blinked, eyes gawking, cheeks dusted with bright pink.
"I-I think im good" The soldier muttered, acting more anxious than usual as she refused to meet my gaze.
"If you need to talk about stuff, just ask me, im here" I said, mustering up my brightest smile.
Taken aback slightly, Mukuro side- eyed me widely.
"Y-you are, aren't you" The soldier replied, voice faltering and peaking slightly. She stole another quick glance, only to try to hide her expression again with a turn of the head.
Unlike Kyoko, Mukuro wasn't exactly a master of hiding her emotions- even more so when she got flustered. Like Kyoko though, she did make certain specific questions pop into my mind. Not questions like 'What is she really feeling?' and 'What isn't she saying', No. The questions that were synonymous with the soldier were more along the lines of 'How can she go from being a one of the world's most skilled operators and combat specialists to a blushing school girl so fast?'
Seeing the dainty cheeks of the mercenary brighten and blossom that pink twinge, I couldn't help but follow from her example.
"We've got each other's back…" I responded with a small smile, trying not to sound embarrassed or stepping over the unspoken threshold and making her embarrassed.
Mukuro stiffly nodded in reply, in a very robotic manner. Almost as if her mind was completely occupied.
The air turned chillier and I couldn't tell if it was a product of the awkward atmosphere or if it accompanied the worsening rain.
"C'mon" I announced. "Let's get inside before it starts tipping it down"
I began walking over to the entrance, and I got to the doorway before realising Mukuro hadn't budged whatsoever. I went to get her attention, but she spoke up first.
"Makoto…" She spoke, her voice level. "Do you hate me?"
"W-What?!" I exclaimed, surprised and slightly appalled she would even ask me that.
I quickly closed the distance, my walking boots crunching and clicking against the gritty gravel. Rather than spinning her around to face me and risk being knocked out, I deliberately stepped into the eyesight of the mercenary.
With eyebrows heavily furrowed and rain trickling from the rim of the roof onto me, I spoke with lower voice that habitual.
"Why would you even say that? You know I don't"
The soldier shrugged awkwardly, not daring to look me in the eyes.
"I wouldn't blame for you if you d- "
The soldier was soon hushed by my shoulder, arms curving just above her thin waist.
"I could never hate you Mukuro, I don't blame you whatsoever…" I spoke quietly, tone low.
Mukuro stood frozen, like deer in headlights, spine frozen solid.
"M-Makoto…" She spluttered, not daring to reciprocate the action.
"Mukuro, If I hated you, do you think I would've taken you with us?" I questioned. "Some of the group would've preferred if we abandoned you at the academy, but I'd never let that happen because I know ultimately you're not at fault…"
The soldier was hushed once more. She stiffly resigned herself to crossing her arms around my back, carefully as if I was as fragile as a fine china pot.
"Plus…" I continued. "I need you"
The words were plain and simple, but that didn't stop them from throwing the soldier off completely. Mukuro reeled her head back in shock, blush so, large that I couldn't help but feel second-hand embarrassment.
"I think the headmaster but too much faith in me when he died, and I need you to carry the load with me" I explained, keeping her in my arms. "I really don't think I could do this by myself"
"You should give yourself more credit" The soldier grumbled, placing her forehead on my shoulder. "While perhaps less so physically, your one of the strongest in the class Makoto"
I bashfully shook my head, dismissing the words while she just smiled demurely. Finally deciding the hug was getting slightly awkward, I unlatched myself from Mukuro.
"How does it feel?" I asked after retreating slightly from the soldier. "Having a new family to protect?"
The soldier nodded confidently, understanding completely, a comfortable smile growing steadily but surely.
"Feels familiar…Feels nice" The soldier answered, contemplatively. "Fighting for survival, out gunned, outnumbered but not necessarily out classed. Just another day at the office"
I let a light chuckle out in response.
"Good thing your confident about it, it may rub off on me"
Silence took over once more as we both contently smiled.
This was then rudely interrupted as the sound of metal clanging, like the clinking of chains, echoed from the main gate. Myself and Mukuro shared a look from the corner of each other's eyes.
"That can't be good…" I muttered under my breath.
"I very much doubt it" The raven haired girl said, all happiness on her featured drained and replaced by a veteran's frown.
I found my knife tucked in my belt, before turning to my companion.
"Go inside, get everyone ready to leave as soon as possible" He commanded, joined by the flicking sound of blade coming to the fore.
"Only investigate it Makoto, don't be stupid"
The soldier then promptly dashed inside, purposely leaving the door open for me.
Now on my lonesome, I crept to the buildings corner to peer around cautiously. From where I was, I could make out a collection of people. I couldn't make out details, except for a small smattering of red eyes that lacked pairs. Thankfully, we had the collective wisdom to lock the gate back up before leaving it unguarded.
I swiftly scuttled across the parking lot, shoulders dropped low, until I reached the shipping container which offered adequate cover. I peeked once more, only to see one of the figures bend over, and produce something from a duffel bag. After fiddling with the object, the group stepped away quickly. Twigging what this implied, I started to sprint back to the side door.
XxX
Kyoko involuntarily jumped in surprise when she heard a cacophonous boom rock the room. First Mukuro had run into the room, warning the four that they needed to leave ASAP, and now there was explosions? Just fantastic.
"Just what is happening is out there?"
The detective wondered as she ferried Jerry cans brimming with precious oil to the trunk of the people carrier. It was then that Makoto came bursting into the room, panting like a dog left in the back of the car on a sunny day.
"We are…Leaving now!" The Luckster managed between gasps.
"What's happening?" Shrieked the Shaman, asking the question on everybody's lips.
"Rioters, outside, we must've tripped an alarm or something" Makoto answered as he slammed the door. "Oowada! How long?!"
"Just needa screw a couple more things in!" Came the gruff reply, as the biker's hands moved a mile-a-minute to screw some un-descript thing in.
"Quick as you can!" Encouraged the Luckster as he pressed his weight against the door. "Im gonna need some help guys!"
In response, Hagakure, Mukuro and the detective herself joined Makoto at the door. Meanwhile, Oowada continued to try to finish fixing car while Aoi was still shoving things into the boot of the car.
"Kyoko!" Called Makoto. "Find something to bolt the door with"
With instructions, the detectives mind revved. She vividly recalled a rack of tools being built into the wall nearby, and so she had her plan. Finding the rack across the room, her gloved hand wrapped around the metal length of a spanner, before practically sprinting back to the door. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Oowada step into the driving seat of the saloon, keys in hand.
They were trying siege the room now, evidenced by the fact that large banging noises were resonating from behind the door. That, and the fact that the three defenders; Makoto, Mukuro and Hiro, were vehemently pushing back rather than just placing their weight against it.
Kirigiri deftly handed the tool to Mukuro, like a baton pass in a relay race, who then immediately placed it in the handle. With door now bolted, the three stepped back slowly. The aggression from behind the door continued, screaming and smashing originating from outside. This continued for about a minute, until it began evident that they had given up.
"They gave up fast…Odd" Noted the detective mentally, awareness still working overtime.
She didn't have much time to really thing about it, as Makoto demanded her attention.
"Alright guys, let's get outta here" Their diminutive leader said as he backed away from the door, eyeing it carefully like a rabid dog. "Hiro, keys for the people carrier are in the ignition, Oowada? You done?"
The Luckster finally turned his back on the door, ready for a reply. Instead of words, however, his response came in the form of a roaring engine and a grinning biker hanging his head out of the driver's seat window.
"Am I badass or wh- "
The voice of Oowada was soon drowned out by a cataclysmic clap that reverberated around the room with such ear deafening force. Kyoko spun to the noise in a knee jerk reaction, shielding her face from an unbearable heat with her arm with little to no effect. No precise planning or faultless perception could help her from what happened next, though. Propelled by the explosion, a chunk of wood hurtled towards her, striking her smartly just above her brow. She crumpled forward, consciousness fading into bleak darkness. On her knees and leaning forward, the detective was vaguely aware of someone's arms keeping her from falling flat. Curios, and with consciousness all but gone, she pitched her head high. The last thing she saw before slipping into black, were a pair of panic stricken olivine eyes staring back at her petrified.
A/N
Alright so please read all of this if you can be asked.
So yeah, sorry for being ghost for so long. School has started up again, so that means ive snowed under by work. in addition, it was my 18th birthday a couple of weeks ago, so as you can imagine ive been busy. #sesh
Also, you know, battlefield 1. Its badass as fuck
Cos of school, im gonna have to try to shorten up chapters to keep up a reasonable rate of uploads. If you have any other suggestions, please enlighten me :3
ANYWAYS, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
As some of you may know, its Naegiri week 2k16 from the 18th to the 25th of december, and to celebrate! I gonna make 5 fanfics for the five week days of Naegiri week.
UPLOAD LIST
Monday: Drabble collection, just little short stories to act as a warm up
Tuesday: N/A
Wednesday: N/A
Thursday: Fluffy little christmas fic
Friday: To celebrate the last day- im gonna try my hnd at wrting smut! Im jst saying, its gonna be so very self indulgent so you know, not exactly gonna be fluffy, just pure smut.
As you can see, ive got two open space on tues and weds, thats where you come in, my lovely readers! Please suggest ideas! Anything is acceptable! So please share with me, and your idea may be added to the rotation, i need your help!
Okay, TLDR- school is shit, help me with my lack of imagination.
So, anyways, i thank you again for all the love and support, please continue because it encourages me to write more!
Thank you and goodnight!