Chapter 15
Day by day, the bandages were removed one by one until at last, all that remained was the wrapping around his shoulder. It had been nearly a week since SPETSNAZ made their latest attack and for the days after, it was all silent. The peacefulness made Sergei wonder if the soldiers had heeded his advice, if they had turned their attention to the tyrant instead.
As he sat alone in the infirmary room, taking a glance at his body and its scars, there was a knock on the door and although he didn't allow access, it opened up nonetheless and there on the other side stood Tougo, in his arms a pile of clothes. "Here you are," he greeted taking a step into the room. He took a look at the soldier and noticed how all his cuts had diminished and smiled. "Looks like all your wounds are just about gone now, aren't they?"
Sergei gave a simple nod. Despite the fact that he had found a friend within all of the rebels, his voice was still a seldom heard sound among the group.
Placing the clothes onto the bed, Tougo said, "We found these for you since your other ones are…tattered…" He scratched his head wondering if that was the appropriate word to describe his attire. "Anyways, once you get dressed, Lars wants to talk to you."
Sergei nodded once again and listened as the door shut shortly after. He turned to face the pile of clothes Tougo had left on the bed and decided that now was as good a time as any to get out of the room and go join the others. After having slipped on the white shirt and blue cargo pants, Sergei opened the door and stepped out, just in time for a certain brunette to pass by.
"Well hello there, handsome," Anna said as she bumped into him. "Heading somewhere?"
Within the week they spent with Yggdrasil, Sergei and Anna's relationship had done anything but dwindle. Every morning Sergei would find himself waking to her kiss and at nighttime, they would fall asleep in each other's arms. It was almost like living the ideal life he had thought could only be reached through dreams.
Yet, the only increasing feelings the Russian was gaining for this woman only seemed to further complicate his decision of seeking revenge. He had decided, from the moment he had laid his eyes on Lars, that he wanted to save the people, his people, who have always looked up to him. That he was going to avenge his friend and seek redemption for his past sins. This was a path that, if taken, had to be traveled alone.
However, this wasn't a one-sided problem as Anna had her own inner demons to face. Since seeing Nina again after so many months, the feelings that she had long suppressed began to return. Her childhood memories of always following in her sister's footsteps, of being her shadow that was always glanced over, they had begun to plague her mind once again. She knew, even as a child, that she was nothing compared to the "Golden Girl" named Nina and no matter how much she would be shoved away, she would still insist on trying to cling to her. She let herself get beaten up by her own idea of being able to gain any love from the sister she desired to be.
And for that reason, she felt as if she had to reclaim her pride, to avenge herself for allowing herself to be stepped over. She had to defeat Nina and for once, be the one to look down upon the other. And she wanted to do it on her own. It was the only way to assure herself that she, Anna Williams, was the one to be severing the bonds of sisterhood.
"I have to go speak to Lars," Sergei told her.
"Is that so…Well," she replied, turning her back towards him, "I'll leave you two boys to yourselves then. If you need me, I'll be in the shower." She passed him a wink just before she began walking off. With all her showers, Sergei was surprised no one ever complained about the cold water left over for them.
As he was making his way down to the main room where he expected Lars to be waiting, he passed by the other rooms where the soldiers slept or used as storage. All of them were being emptied as the rebels were packing up their guns, armor, and personal belongings in preparation for moving out. He should have expected that they were planning on moving out soon what with the news of attacks Jin Kazama had made in his own home country. It would be in due time that the Red Rebel Soldiers would be making their appearance.
"So by the look on your face, I assume you already know what's going on," Lars said as soon as Sergei entered their supposed living room. He was, just like the rest of his crew, in the midst of packing up when the Russian had appeared. He placed the two rifles he was holding into their rightful case before turning to his guest. "With Jin's new attack, it's time that we head out again." He looked Sergei in the eyes and continued, "Which is why I needed to speak with you."
While the two were carrying the loaded cases of guns out to the arriving helicopter, Lars, just like the straightforward captain he was, dove straight into what he had wanted to say. "You've proven to be a great asset to this team and I would be lying if I said we didn't need your help. So I was wondering," he began, "if you would like to call Yggdrasil your home."
They shoved the cases into the back of the helicopter as Sergei contemplated what Lars had just asked of him. He exited the plane after Lars then followed him back to the base to repeat the loading. As he picked up another box, he whispered, "I can't." Lars's face showed no sign of any disappointment as he kept his eyes straightforward, continuing to haul their belongings. "There are…things I have yet to complete here," Sergei continued. "Unfinished business…"
Lars was silent for a while before giving his reply. "I understand."
Sergei's right eye flinched as he spoke the words, "Forgive me…"
The sandy blonde passed him a gentle smile and whispered, "There's no need for words like that. I shouldn't have expected that you would walk away from your problems like that anyways." He plopped the case he was carrying on the helicopter then turned to face Sergei full-on. He placed a hand on his shoulder and added, "Besides, I'm sure your country needs you more than we do."
Sergei nodded then looked back towards the base. Lars followed his gaze, a look of slight confusion on his face. "When will you be leaving," he heard Sergei ask him.
"As soon as possible so most likely tonight, tomorrow afternoon will be the latest."
"Then I have a favor to ask of you," Sergei began. The rebel listened intently as the Russian began speaking. "What I plan on doing…I can't promise anyone that I'll make it out alive. So I want you to take care of Anna for me."
Lars tried to read his face for any sign of a joke, but all he found was pure seriousness. Seeing as how there was no point in trying to ask what he meant by not making it out alive, Lars sighed and whispered, "Sure. Although, I'm not going to be the one who has to explain it to her when you don't come to pick her up." Sergei nodded while Lars gave a soft chuckle.
Just as they finished moving the last of their cargo, the two men stood outside the helicopter. The sun had just begun its descent as the day had come to an end. Lars turned to face the man beside him then held up his hand to him, his elbow bent into a ninety degree angle. "It was nice to know you, Sergei Dragunov," he spoke kindly.
Sergei, although unaccustomed to such acts of kindness, clasped his hand with his own and gave him his signature nod. "Same."
Some five or six soldiers exited the base, dressed in their famous red, and began heading towards the helicopter, Sergei recognizing two of them as Tougo and Jane.
Seeing as how they were all prepared to leave, Lars concluded his farewell. "If you ever need a place to call home, be sure to find us. We'll always welcome you."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
They released hands as the soldiers reached them. "We're ready to head out, sir." Tougo saluted.
Lars nodded. "Right. And Miss Anna? Is she ready?"
"She'll be coming in just a second," Jane answered. "She said she wanted to speak with you before we left." She turned to Sergei as she spoke.
As the soldiers split up to occupy the two helicopters, Lars stared out at the Russian who was waiting patiently for Anna to come out of the base. Jane, who was sitting beside him, noticed the silence of her leader and asked quietly, "Is something wrong?"
Lars turned his eyes to his lap and muttered, "This may be the last time we see him alive."
The young lady gave him a small smile. "That's funny." Lars passed her an appalled look while she laughed it off. "I meant the way you're worried about him losing his life when every day we face the same problem. You really saw a friend in him, didn't you?"
"I…guess so."
"I think it's because you guys are so similar," she continued. "Whenever I look into his eyes, I feel as if I'm looking into yours. Perhaps you feel the same?"
The air between them went silent again until Lars turned his attention from Sergei to Jane. He raised her chin up to look into her eyes and asked, "So what do you see when you look into my eyes?"
As those two spoke in the helicopter, Anna eventually made her way out of the base. She spotted Sergei standing beneath the choppers and began to approach him. She stopped just a few feet short from where he stood as their eyes met.
As the wind whipped her medium length hair about her face, she said, just loud enough to be heard from the roar of the propellers, "So you're going to leave me…?"
Leave her? The way she put it, made a clad of guilt begin to build up in Sergei's chest. Unable to resist the temptation he had to comfort her, he reeled her in and crushed her against him. He held her for a while before he began to feel her arms wrap around his neck. "It's nothing like that," he whispered into her ear. "I…want to protect you…"
He heard her begin to chuckle and whisper, "You know, I always thought it was going to be me who was going to leave you…I guess I'm still not far off from the target, am I?"
"Anna…"
She reached up and stroked his cheek with her fingers while examining his face. "I never told you thank you for everything you've done. From saving me to buying me all those clothes…And for letting me be in your arms when I needed someone the most." She kissed him gently on the lips before continuing. "I didn't want to admit to myself, but I guess along our journey together, I had fallen in love with you."
The words shook his heart and he could feel his face and even his neck begin to burn up. It was such a…"fuzzy" feeling to say the least. He had never thought the word "love" could ever be cohesive with his own name. Before he could say anything, she had wrapped her arms back around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss, timing it perfectly with the snow. Although they had shared their first kiss in the snowfall as well, Sergei noted that it was nothing compared to the one they were sharing now.
When they reluctantly separated from one another, Anna said, through panting and swollen lips, "I know we'll see each other again…Sergei."
Taking her hand, Sergei led her to the helicopter Lars was in and helped her up. With their hands still gripping one another's, Anna bent down to him and whispered seductively, "And the next time we meet Sergei, I want to hear it from your lips. I want to hear you say you love me."
As soon as he nodded and gave her that small smile, he had officially made a promise.
"So are we all ready to go," the pilot called to Lars after Anna had settled down into a seat.
"Yeah," Lars muttered as he watched Sergei begin to walk off. It suited him, Lars thought; to walk off alone in the blizzard, prepared to face his opponent head-on with nothing, not even his own life, to worry about. Perhaps only the White Angel of Death could pull off such a picture-perfect farewell.
"Well if we're ready," the pilot called out, grabbing Lars's attention in the process "I'm setting a course for Japan." There came no reply so he began to get the helicopter hovering. Within a few minutes, they were off the ground and leaving behind Russia and Sergei…
Author's Notes: Yeah, this was a more…lovey-dovey chapter without a doubt. I didn't know if I should've added more to this chapter since it's a little shorter than the usual length of what I make them to be, but I sort of just wanted to focus on Sergei's farewell. Anyways, I'm happy to say that this story will soon be complete! I would say maybe there'll be like five, give or take a few, more chapters left. I have the ending all figured out, I just need to put it in story form now. Well, thanks for reading and leave a review!