Chapter 2: Shining Faces

YUZURU AND KANADE

They continued to search. They were persistent. They needed a sign, anything. The sun continued to glide across the sky and the crowds continued to grow. They seemed to be walking in circles. Yuzuru and Kanade both knew they weren't making any progress. They needed a plan, a start, a clue. As each person walked on by, Yuzuru couldn't recognize any of their faces. Kanade could see the tension in his eyes. Kanade tugged his shirt.

"Yuzuru."

"What is it Kanade? Did you see someone? Who is it? Where are they? Come on! We need to go!"

"Yuzuru. Listen to me. Listen to yourself. You must be worn out. Let's continue tomorrow."

"O-Okay. This hunt has been keeping me on my toes. I mean, this is the first day. We'll find them, right?"

"We'll find them. I promise."

"Good. Thank you."

"It's noon. We should go home for some lunch now."

"Umm… do you wanna stay over at my place? I live alone… And… I don't… want to.. um.. lose you again."

"Is that alright with you?"

"Of course!"

Yuzuru quickly grabbed a hold of Kanade and he swiftly sprinted to his house. He felt warm inside, a feeling he hadn't felt since he was in the Afterlife. They arrived at his house, and he furiously dug his pockets for his keys. He unlocked the door and guided Kanade into his house. It wasn't the grandest house, but it was decent enough to house a family of two to three.

Kanade made herself comfortable on the Tatami Mat in front of the television. She turned it on and the news came on. As she watched, Yuzuru set up her room. Yuzuru paused, he saw how intrigued she was with the news report. He set himself next to her.

The reporter was in front of a burning building right next to the Grandberry Mall! A crowd was gathered around the building. The camera closed in on the fifth floor. One window was constantly spewing flames and raging violently. The window next to it was less wild. There was a man. He was waving his left arm in a swift motion. He was carrying a baby in the other hand. Yuzuru was taken back. He needed to help them, isn't that why he wanted to become a doctor? He wanted to help others.

"Kanade. We must go. There must be something we can do."

"But…it looks…dangerous…do we ha—"

Yuzuru gave such a pleading face that Kanade had no choice but to go along with it. "Okay, let's go."

She got up and headed for the door. Yuzuru reached for the remote. Right before he pressed the button, he saw a somewhat scrawny boy in raggy clothing. He seemed to be healthy, but didn't attain the best hygiene. He was carrying a pot decorated with the most dashing colors, the most graceful streaks and strokes. He looked both sides of the road. He then headed to the back of the Grandberry Mall. He checked if anyone was around, then quickly slid into the back door and disappeared like a shadow in the sun. The power was already off, so he just put the thought in his back pocket.

"Yuzuru, come one. Let's go. You want us to help, right?"

"Uhh. Yeah. Let's go."

Yuzuru held Kanade's hand and he quickly withdrew. He blushed along with Kanade. He didn't have time for this, so he held her wrist and dragged her along with him. They scrambled for the building. As they got closer, they could see the gigantic cloud of smoke rising from the building. Yuzuru decided to head towards it. Yuzuru slowed down as Kanade and he reached the site of the fire. He saw the man and baby yelling and crying in desperation. At the corner of his eyes, he saw a squadron of guards enter the back of the Grandberry Mall. Whatever. Looking both ways, he didn't see or hear any signs of fire trucks or ambulances. With no time in his hands, he ran in.

"Yuzuru! NO! I can't lose you again!"

He turned and looked back, "I have to. If I don't it'll be too late! I'll be back." He swirled back and ran in. Everyone started gasping and screaming.

Kanade was all discouraged but couldn't afford to lose Yuzuru again. She sprinted in right after him. The flames came down and the burning tower consumed three more lives…

YURI

She sat down behind the counter, and put her head down. All these colors were destroying her eyes. She closed her eyes and heard the loud screaming and yelling on the News Report on the T.V. next to the cash register. She slowly lifted her head up and was captivated by the action. She felt she needed to help. She didn't see any fire trucks or ambulances.

She quickly flung the store door open and yelled to the other employee organizing the shelves, "I'M LEAVING EARLY! THE KEYS ARE ON THE COUNTER! THANKS!"

She left before the other could respond. She sprinted and glided past everyone. The crowd only got bigger, so she slid into an alleyway, climbed the ladder onto the top, and risked her life by leaping rooftops. She suddenly stopped, almost causing her to plummet to her death. The next jump was too far. She was itching her head violently.

"GAAAAAHHH!"

She was in a rage. Yuri needed something. She breathed slowly and looked around. It was as if an angel shined a light on her. She found a long metal pole. Would she walk across it? No… She thought to herself, "My life is way too boring… why not try pole leaping?"

She took the pole and backed up. Deeeeeeep breaths. Whooo. Yuri ran.

"!"

She dramatically dug the pole into the concrete. Everything slowed. Her feet almost reached the next building.

"…Eh..?"

She stayed in mid-air and turned her head, remembering that metal doesn't bend easily… She looked down, then up.

"Oh crap….." She fell and clawed the air.

"DAMN YOU STUPID ASS POLE!"

She pushed the pole away and persistently climbed the brick wall, constantly descending and ascending until she finally reached the top.

She laid down and sighed. "Note to self: next time, ride a bike, take the bus, or even hitch hike, anything is better than leaping over buildings with a pole… Hm.."

She had to go. She was so determined; she sprinted so quickly it was as if there was no spacing in between the buildings. She seemed to have a rare medical disease, a rare case that can only be induced on one person; it was called the "Yuri-goes-crazy-and-you-wanna-get-out-of-the-way Disease"…

Yuri closed in on the building and leapt into a window of the building that didn't spit fire. She hurt her ankle in the process. She stayed for a while. She couldn't stay conscious. Her eyelids drooped, her hand released her ankle, and she fell onto the floor. Was this the end for Yuri?

NAOI

He was running to safety. He turned and saw the fire. Tch, if only I could have sent rain down like God. I am God… but not fully restored, for I can be living in luxury right now.

*Panting*

He reached the second floor without damaging the vase. "Heheh, looks like I lost …those fools. I need…to…get to the…auction…"

He headed towards the staircase and a squad of guards rushed up.

"He-Hey! Get back here!" yelled one of them. Naoi raced away.

The guard called into his walkie talkie, "Calling all mall cops, we got a runaway. I repeat, we got a runaway! He snuck from the back of the "EMPLOYEES ONLY" door! He also stole a vase! At all costs, catch that son of a…!"

Everywhere he saw, there were guards. Naoi slipped into a bathroom stall.

"…Shit…"

He opened the air vent, but where would the vase go…? He had no other choice; he stuffed the vase with toilet paper and wrapped it with layers of toilet paper. He heard loud barrages of footsteps coming closer to the bathroom. Naoi wasn't too worried. It was a big bathroom with tall stalls. He climbed on top of the toilet and placed the vase on the bottom of the vent. He slowly climbed up. He closed the vent lid. As he did so, guards kicked open the stall doors and found only some men with their pants on the floor. They slowly backed away…

"Heh, that's right you gay dumbasses."

He quickly crawled in the vent and glanced through each opening to see the stage. He was gonna be late. He ended up at a really dark area of the venting system. He took one more crawl…he fell… he then landed on his butt and safely caught the vase. He looked out the opening and realized he was on the first floor. He got out finding that there were no guards to be found. Naoi hugged the vase over to the directory and found the stage.

There were coincidentally guards protecting the perimeter of the stage. Mother a' Pearl… The auction was starting. Everyone sat down and the guards bordered the area of this event. This was his chance. He sneaked behind stage. He saw the flames rising and raging from the skylight.

"Where are the firemen?"

"Why don't we start this very long and boring auction in which I don't understand why people actually stay and wait! Let's go!" cried the MC.

Naoi thought to himself, "Okay, let's go."

YUZURU AND KANADE AND YURI

"Yuzuru! Wait for me! AHHH!"

"KANADE!"

Flames continued to pile higher. Yuzuru clung onto Kanade.

"Don't ever let go. I can't lose you. Not again. Now, let's go."

"O-Okay… Yuzuru, lead the way."

They ran up the stairs and halted. At the next set, they saw a part of a corpse. Someone died.

"No! Are we too late?"

The leg started to move.

"Ahh!" cried Kanade.

The "corpse" got up and ran away.

Yuzuru shouted, "Wait! Don't go! Come back!"

They flew up flights of stairs in pursuit of the figure. They found it. It was standing in front of the door where a lot of smoke and fire was seen to be emitting. The figure went in.

"Wait! Be careful!"

Yuzuru went in as well with Kanade right behind him. The figure pulled the man up and carried the baby. The flames illuminated the room more clearly. Yuzuru and Kanade were in shock. The girl had magenta hair flowing down her head, a bow on her head, and an agile and graceful body. They found Yuri. It was as if the S.S.S. was bound by the red string of fate.

"What are you people doing here? It's dangerous! Get out before everything collapses!" cried Yuri.

"Yuri! We came to help!"

"…Eh…? How do you know my name? Are you a stalker? Do I know you? You look familiar? Or is it because you've been STALKING ME?"

"PriORITIES! We need to get them out. NOW."

Kanade carried the small child as Yuzuru and Yuri carried the man; shoulder by shoulder…by shoulder.

As they walked over to the exit, flaming pieces of the ceiling came down.

"Kanade! Be careful!" hollered Yuzuru.

"Ah! I have a bottle of water!" claimed Kanade.

"One bottle won't cut it!"

"It's better than nothing. We'll have to make do." scolded Yuri.

Kanade handed the child to Yuzuru. Yuri almost fell down at the weight of the man. She quickly got back up. Kanade reached for her handbag for her water bottle. She slowly poured the water evenly, but it wasn't fast enough, so the fire just kept spreading.

"This isn't working. What do we do now?" asked Kanade.

"We need a water source." said Yuri.

They looked around. They found a sink. Score! Yuzuru gave the baby back to Kanade and headed to the sink. He looked around feverishly. They needed… BUCKETS! He took two and filled them with water. He splashed the source with it. The ceiling bits were put out and were nothing but ash and debris, now. He filled the buckets again. As they all headed out, they could all hear the sound of a mighty roar hitting against the wall. They knew it was the firemen. They wouldn't survive if they stayed. Everything continued to collapse and burn. They scrambled down the stairs and another obstacle of fire obscured their path. Yuzuru dumped the water, and it quickly went out. Continuing, the conditions became worse. It was their last bucket; they had to use it well. The wall of fire weakened, but lingered. They were stuck. Yuzuru took his jacket off and slapped it against the fire. He ordered the girls to carry the other two over as he battled the flames.

Yuri and Kanade could see the light of the sun again. They sprinted out the exit. Everyone cheered. Kanade put the baby child on a gurney and saw the relieved mother rush over in a crying happiness. Yuri rested the man on a gurney as well as the attendants moved it into the ambulance. Kanade turned to the burning building and put her hand on her heart.

She thought to herself, "Yuzuru. Where are you? Come back safe."

Yuri couldn't help but think, "Where is that reckless guy? He seems… familiar. I need some answers. You better come back."

As the flames were dying down, a shadow appeared. Yuzuru came out alive, but somewhat injured. He walked out as everyone cheered again, but he staggered and fell unconscious. He only heard gasps and screaming before the world turned the sun off.

He woke up in a bright room with many people in pink, turquoise and white frantically walking around with carts and clipboards. Two figures came into the large hall…

TO BE CONTINUED…

Yeah, it's the hospital… Wait until next time! Sorry for the wait. The coming chapters will come by quicker :D I hope…