Disclaimer: No I do not own Gunslinger Girl. Raphael and his other aliases yes but the rest of them no.
"I am a lot of things Triela but unfortunately one thing I also am is a bad bomb diffuser." He reasoned out. I don't even have a clue on how to diffuse a bomb so I panicked. We both dashed for the door but it seemed that the door locked itself from the outside. With that I seriously thought over the last things I would say before I might die.
"Raph, I am really sorry for yelling at you like that… and for kicking you earlier today but I just want to say—"
"No time for confessions Triela, were not going to die; not on my watch." He told me as he cut me off from what I was going to say.
In that instant he started shooting at a window then grabbed a fire hose from a nearby emergency fire box. He tied the hose around the safe's handle and tied the other end on his waist. Then he positioned himself near the window and asked me to come over. I kind of saw what he is trying to do and I knew that it was definitely crazy. I hesitated but he told me that I don't have much of a choice anyway. So he embraced me and he jumped out of the window! Thankfully the hose was able to hold both of us and he was able to estimate the length long enough to allow us to swing into a window in the second floor. At that moment we saw the 4th floor explode but not before we smashed into the 2nd floor window. He held me even tighter and let himself fall on the glass shards from the window we smashed, shielding me from the shrapnel. After that horrible fall we rolled over and for a while he was on top of me. He faced me and I faced him for a few seconds but then he stood up to pull a piece of glass lodged into his shin.
"Remind me never to do that again." he said in a cheerful tone.
"Remind me to kill you if you try to do that again." I told his sarcastically.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Chapter 7 Trovato
Found
By the end of last night everyone walked out the mansion without a scratch. Well except me since the wound the shard of glass left on my leg was still bothering me. After the awkward moment when I was on top of Triela, we both got up and fixed our selves. After meeting a running and screaming Henrietta, who thought we were still in the office when the bomb exploded, everything was fine. We all got back to the agency and got some sleep.
The next day started like nothing happened last night. We all had breakfast together, some of them asked me about my leg, which I said is fine. The handlers told us that we had the time off today since yesterday's mission was pretty stressful.
I had permission to leave the agency and go shopping so I left. I did say that my room was empty so here I am looking to buy some stuff to put into my room. It was then that I realized that I forgot my paycheck. I forgot to bring any money with me but that was about to change soon enough.
I was walking in a crowded region of the stores when somebody hugged me all of a sudden. I realized that this was one of those thieves that would embrace you in a crowded area to make people think that the two of you know each other, and then he'd stick a knife on your side and threaten you of your belongings.
"Hey kids, how about the cash in your pocket and that nice necklace you have there, do that and I won't rip your guts out." He said discreetly.
I did not plan to be this guy's next victim so I said that I will comply but instead of getting a wallet out of my shirt I pulled my pistol out of its harness and pocked it at his side. I felt him actually stop breathing for a while.
"Let's do this my way." I said in a sinister tone "You give me the cash and the stuff that you robbed from these people today and I won't blow your guts out! You can start with the nice watch on your wrist."
He was hesitant, being the supposed 'thief', but I pulled the hammer back in my pistol and so he was forced to comply. He emptied 1500 euros out of his pocket and put them in mine! With an audible 'sigh' he took his watch off and put it in my pocket as well. With that I smiled at him and asked him to put down his knife. I patted him on the shoulder and sarcastically whispered to him:
"Nice doing business with you, stay off the streets!" I left him in disbelief of his predicament as I walked away smiling at my self.
Now with so much money with me I actually had no idea what to put in my room. Since this is technically not my money I used it all up to buy a riflescope with night vision capability, something in my past told me that this one is of good quality so I did not hesitate to buy it. I did not need such an expensive watch so I sold it to some watch salesman in exchange for a digital watch and 300 euros. So now that these 300 euros has no 'thief' written all over it, I went to buy some stuff for my room. I had no idea what to buy so I just bought a map of Rome that I could put in my room, an MP3 player, some first aid stuff, a small bag that I will use as a first aid kit and a black duffle bag to hold all of these things. As I walked back I saw the thief again walking on the street but as soon as he saw me he pulled his hat down and walked away, "I should have asked for the hat as well." I told myself.
I got back to the agency and stuck my map on the wall of my room. I took my MP3 player out and placed it on the desk and made my way to the weapons cache. I grabbed my AK 74 and a M40 sniper rifle to try out my new scope.
I placed all this in my new bag and made my way to the target range. I saw Henrietta there already practicing her shooting. Behind her was Claes probably talking to her while reading a book. I picked my own spot and set up my AK 74. Before I started firing though, Claes called my attention:
"So you did buy something, nice bag. I have to wonder how you bought anything without collecting your cash from the handlers." She said skeptically.
"Someone was nice enough to give me some." I said with a smile.
"Strange how people treat young people these days." She said to herself as she turned back to her book and as I started firing.
After a while Triela came by. She did not bring a gun with her but just sat with Claes and just talked. After using up a magazine Triela commended the new watch I bought and asked how I got the money. I told her the same thing I told Claes and I continued firing.
We pretty much ignored each other and I was pretty focused with shooting my target. Even though I already riddled my target's head with bullets, I was just waiting for dusk to fall anyway so that I can try out my scope's night vision capabilities so I was in no hurry.
Soon Henrietta got tired of shooting and with Triela they went back to the dormitories. Claes stayed behind for unknown reasons. Well they were unknown until she suddenly closed her book and suddenly blurted out:
"You like her don't you?"
Plink Plink Plink
That was the sound of three of my bullets actually missing my target completely! That never happens! How could I miss! Claes distracted me. Wait…what did she say again?
"Well? You like her don't you?" she said again.
My heart beat started racing. I can't shoot like this so I put the gun down. I turned to look at Claes and said:
"Wh-where did you get that?" I asked trying to sound oblivious.
"Well let's see… one, you're always switching moods when she's around. You act more out going or more relaxed when she's there. Two, you seem to single her out whenever you greet us, yes I recognized. Three, if you're not with me you're always trying to be with her, don't take it personally Raphael, you're a nice guy but I don't feel what Triela feels when you talk to her. Four, you seem to be a very sharp person, I don't think any random statement would make you miss three shots just like that." She explained.
My mouth was left hanging. She found me! I was caught! Busted! I did not know what to say next.
"Well? You like her or not?" she asked me again.
It was then that against my will, my mouth confessed everything.
"No Claes I don't just like her. I AM MADDLY IN LOVE WITH HER!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.
She was thrown aback by that statement but was able to tell me afterwards:
"So tell her, she likes you too you know."
I couldn't believe what she's saying but I did wish that what she was saying were true. She wanted me to confess but everybody knows that you can't just go to someone and confess these things, right?
"Well I am going, if you want to tell her it's up to you. I am not going to do anything that is going to interfere with you love birds so I'm going to mind my own business now." She turned to leave but then added, "You are going to leave right?"
"Not yet, I was actually waiting for dusk so that I could try my new night vision scope. I mean that's the real reason I am here, not just to see Triela and all." I said as I showed her the riflescope.
"What ever. Like what I said it's all up to you." And with that she turned around and left.
…What? I really wanted to try my new scope. Yes, I would put Triela over the riflescope anyday but today is different. Claes forced me to confess; I did not know what to think now. Hopefully target practice will calm my nerves.
So I tried to shoot my worries away for a number of hours. I got my accuracy back again and my scope, which I fitted on the M40, was actually very good. However, I got carried away and by the time I looked at my watch it was 8:30 already! Aah! I am an hour late for dinner!
I packed up and rushed to the cafeteria, I ate dinner alone since everybody else was already done. I was all alone, I picked the food all by myself, I ate all by myself, and I even washed dishes all by myself. I had to wash since there weren't any people left and I felt bad for the cafeteria guy who waited for me.
I walk through the halls on my own as well. I passed by Triela and Claes's room and saw something. Actually I did not see much. All I saw is light still seeping through the cracks of Triela and Claes's room. I stood in front of the door for a while. I did not know what to do!
I lifted my hand to try to knock on the door but then I put in down again. I lifted it again but I put it down again. I did that 6 more times before giving a sigh and leaning on the wall next to the door.
"Ugh! You idiot!" I said to my self.
"What do you plan to do as soon as you get in anyway? Huh? " I continued to beat my self up.
"What are you going to say? 'Hi Triela, hi Claes I just came by to say hi… bye!'"
It was then that a light of brilliance hit me, "I got it! I'll just go in and ask for a book from Claes."
And with that I built the confidence to actually knock on the door. I heard a soft 'come in' from Triela and I slowly entered. Triela was the only one in the room, it turns out Claes wasn't there. However I still chose to run my excuse:
"I wanted to borrow a book from Claes do you think she would mind?"
"Nah she won't, go grab one." She said, as she stayed on the chair she was on.
I went to grab the only book that I would have possibly gotten and bid Triela good-bye. At that moment I saw a drop of what looked like blood on the table she was sitting beside. I pointed it out but all she said was that she does not know where it came from. I was about to leave it at that when I saw another drop of blood drop onto the floor. I realized that the blood was coming from her arm.
"Triela you're hurt." I said with as much concern I can put into my words.
She gave a sigh and revealed a bloody knife from under her seat. Before I could react she rolled her sleeve up and showed me her upper arm covered with cuts.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Hey don't get any ideas; I was not trying to kill myself! It was just… it's my period and it hurts like hell. Claes once said that you can block pain by applying pain in a different area and so I decided to cut my arm. I told that to Raphael and he believed me. He pulled out a first aid kit from his new bag and started bandaging me:
"You shouldn't be doing that. There is always medicine." He scolded me.
"For your information Raph, we girls are not aloud to get over the counter medicine." I said.
"Well I can't leave you like this, now knowing what you are capable of doing." He said.
So he opens his first aid kit and pulls out some pain killers and gives it to me. I told him that he could get in trouble if he gets caught but he said he did not care. He went behind me to secure my bandage when I just felt overwhelmed by embarrassment.
"You know, you shouldn't be doing this. I owe you a lot already as it is." I said with a depressed tone.
"It's ok, you'll find a way to pay me back. Let's see… saving your life by taking 15 bullets for you I guess that's 40 points, saving you again from that bomb that's 30 points, bandaging your arm that's 10 points and risking my reputation to give you medicine that's 30 points. That totals to 110 points of 'you owe me'."
I was about to say something but then he suddenly hugged me from behind the same way he did yesterday when we were fighting. Then he said:
"A hug from such a pretty girl… priceless. Looks like you're all paid for then. It is nice doing business with you!"
With that he grabbed his stuff and said good-bye. That was weird. He said I was pretty, he said I was priceless? Does he really like me? Well one thing's for sure he did not come here for a book. He left it behind.
Damn I left the book on the table!