The quiet purr of the engine was all that was heard. Mamoru had stopped the motorcycle behind a wall before entering the docks. He was looking out towards the open area, keeping a look out for anything suspicious. Haruka sat back, putting her hands behind her on the top of the plate covering the rear wheel and looked out towards the wharf. Boats and docks clattered together with the waves crashing onto the shores. The moon was hidden behind an overcast sky, it was going to rain soon.
"What time is it?"
The voice crackled in her helmet's headset. It startled her out of her trance and caused her to turn her head towards Mamoru, looking at the back of his helmet. She pressed a button on her helmet and the retina display flashed the time, "It's close to 8:30" Haruka responded.
"Let me do all the talking. Keep your gun ready just in case. Listen to what I tell you." Mamoru murmured, pausing and waiting for a confirmation from Haruka. "Can you see if there is anybody hiding around here?"
Haruka's heart skipped a beat, and when his voice went away she sat and opened her mind. She already knew what she was going to see, she saw it on the way to their destination. She waited a few moments, and when she confirmed that her vision hadn't changed she took a deep breath.
"I... don't see anybody. I think we're in the clear,"
"You think?"
"I'm sure. Trust me." Haruka then fell silent.
No response; she had assumed he took her word for it. Suddenly Mamoru turned off the motorcycle and hopped of his seat. Haruka followed and after they took off their helmets and grabbed their weapons they walked out onto the docks. Large metal containers were scattered about, mostly stacked neatly on top of each other, casting large shadows made from the street lights.
They walked closer to the towers of containers to hide their presence before blindly running out into the open. Mamoru was still being cautious, he thought he sensed people around them in hiding, but his glasses weren't detecting anybody. There had been no word from his partner the entire time they were at the docks, there couldn't have been a jamming device, as he was able to communicate with Haruka though their helmets. Suddenly Mamoru stopped to put his hand on the handle of his cane, and turned his head to properly listen to his surroundings. He slowly stuck out the end of his cane, then part of his foot and immediately he felt killing intent.
He promptly pressed himself against the container and put his arm over Haruka to keep her back as a bullet flew by them. Haruka's eyes widened and she looked up at Mamoru who was looking out to pinpoint where they came from.
Mamoru stood silent and concentrated, eventually unable to figure out where it came from. "I can't find anything or anybody... what are they using for me to be unable to detect them other than with killing intent?" Mamoru thought to himself, figuring out what to do next. There was at least one sniper in the area, and every sniper has a buddy in another area. Worst case scenario, there are more people hiding and have masked themselves from his limited view. It was then he realized it; he was set up.
He looked at Haruka, who was looking right at him, and gritted his teeth. How could he have been so naïve. Her face was contoured into a frown, not that any of her expressions have been gleeful at all since they've come together, but this one told him everything he needed to know.
"... Stupid girl,"
Haruka foresaw what he was going to do next and ducked as Mamoru reached for her throat. She started to back away into the open, sorrow appearing on her face. She was too slow with her side stepping and was stopped by Mamoru's cane hitting her shoulder with enough force to startle her. Before she could react once more Mamoru's fingers were already wrapped around Haruka's neck and pressing up against her jaw bone, lifting her off the ground. She dropped her gun and brought her hands to Mamoru's wrist in an attempt to have him let go.
"I... I didn't want to do this. I don't w-want to get you killed," Haruka spoke as best as she could, tears started to well up in her eyes. "But if... if you kill me now, I won't be able to help you escape with... with your life," After she finished Mamoru's grip tightened, and he gritted his teeth.
"You expect me to believe you?!" Mamoru roared, "After you set me up like this? I ought to let you die here right along with me," as soon as he finished his threat, men started to march around them, guns aimed at Mamoru. He looked past Haruka and saw part of their new audience. Haruka's breathing got heavier and heavier as she struggled to breathe. A helicopter flew in from above, and shone the search light on both of them, Haruka squinting her eyes away from the light.
"Let go of the woman, Blade. The gig is up," a voice boomed over the wharf, Mamoru immediately recognized it as the voice from his ear set. A dark grin appeared on his face as he started to chuckle. He loosened his grip on Haruka's neck and turned slightly to his left where the circle of officers and the helicopter above them were. He looked up to the outline of the helicopter.
"So now you finally show yourself. And you're still hiding in an object out of my reach, how typical of you," Mamoru spoke loudly enough for everybody to hear, his voice carrying over the ear set to his partner in the helicopter. He felt the killing intent of someone to his right where Haruka was and once he heard the gun shot he dodged over to prevent the bullet from piercing his back, and instead grazed his arm causing his grip to finally loosen enough for Haruka to struggle free. She dropped to the ground and rolled over away from Mamoru, starting to get to her feet.
Mamoru growled and finally unsheathed his sword and discarded the cane-scabbard. He gripped the handle of his blade with both hands and swung it down at Haruka. In reflex she rolled away onto her back and the blade hit the ground. At the same time the round of officers simultaneously aim their guns at the samurai, Mamoru heard the noises but refused to keep his eyes off of Haruka.
"Don't shoot the samurai, we can't risk harming Officer Touyama," the voice boomed again. Mamoru took his foot, quickly put it onto Haruka's chest and lifted his sword above his head to strike down once more. Another gun shot rang out and the sound of metal hitting metal sounded out. Mamoru swiftly brought his hands down to his chest and bent over slightly in retaliation, his hands stunned from the shock of his sword being struck out of them. This gave Haruka a chance to get to her feet from under Mamoru's foot and back away slowly. She kicked back her gun that was dropped earlier, she then slowly bent over and picked it up, not taking her eyes off of Mamoru once.
Two men handed off their guns and ran up to Mamoru in attempts to apprehend him. The first man touched the back collar of his jacket, but before he could get another hand on him, Mamoru stood up and used the back of his head to head butt the first officer, making him let go of his jacket and fall over backwards, knocking him out. Mamoru was still unable to move his hands properly. He kept them close to his body and ran up to the second officer, dealing a roundhouse kick to the head and took him down. As he corrected his stance again a small group of officers in front of him started to open fire. As each bullet came towards him, Mamoru watched the projected paths thanks to the technology in his glasses. He was surprised that his partner hadn't turned them off yet, as he had all control. As they came near he dodged them accordingly, and worked his way towards the men. Now able to move his fingers slightly, he reached into the inside of his jacket and took out throwing knives, piercing each of the men, ceasing their fire as they dropped to the ground.
"STOP! Please!" a shrill high pitched voice rang out, and Mamoru stopped moving. He faced the source of the sound where he saw Haruka standing alone. She was holding her gun, her hands trembling as it was pointed at him. Mamoru couldn't make out the look on her face, but he could only imagine how scared she was. He stood there unwavering, he felt the blood trickle down his arm from the bullet graze. The numbness was starting to wear off from his hands, as he clenched them into fists he grinned slightly.
"If you don't shoot me I just might kill you first," Mamoru mumbled darkly, the harsh shadows against his face made him look more demonic than usual. As he spoke he reached into his jacket, pulling out three more throwing knives.
Haruka shook her head, "I-I don't want to shoot you. I ca-can't!" she spoke through pre-mature sobs. Her brow was furrowed, her facial expression frustrated and conflicted, her hair hung in her face and clung to her forehead from sweat. She took a deep breath, "You don't have to live this way... you.. you could change,"
Mamoru chuckled darkly and said, "Once a killer, always a killer,"
Haruka's eyes widened as Mamoru started to sprint towards her, just then the very same voice mocked in her head. "Go ahead... shoot me. I don't believe you actually can". She closed her eyes and pulled the trigger, the gun shot rang through her ears, drowning out all other sound. After the sound dissipated, a thud was heard on the ground followed by a loud growl. Haruka opened her eyes again and took a deep, staggering breath.
Her target was on the ground, but still alive clutching his leg. Mamoru looked up, and was about to get up when two officers came from the crowd and grabbed his arms, hand cuffing his hands behind his back. They put him into a kneeling position, held onto his arms to keep him sitting up straight, and one officer's hand was gripping his hair to keep his head up. The other officer removed Mamoru's sunglasses and tossed them on the ground by his feet. The man then crushed them under the sole of his shoe. Mamoru's eyes were shut tightly; it was clear that he was in pain, the anguish on his face from getting shot and being held in an uncomfortable position.
Thunder was heard in the distance, and rain started to fall shortly after. Tears started to flow down Haruka's cheeks, the gun was still pointed at Mamoru. His breathing was staggered, clearly worn from recent events. His eyes opened, looking off into the nothing and let out a small scoff and muttered, "I can't believe I even started to think about trusting you,"
As he finished talking the officer that smashed his sunglasses kneed Mamoru in the side, causing him to groan in pain. Mamoru heard the man tell him to keep quiet, and Haruka started running towards him, "Let him speak!"
"Stop," demanded Mamoru, he breathed heavy for a moment to catch his breath again. Her footsteps stopped. "You're an idiot for thinking you could try and make things better. This entire time you played me as much as I tried to play you, as much as I tried to use you for my own gain. I bet 'Swan' never even existed," he chuckled through raspy breaths, "You might as well just go ahead and kill me,"
"No!... no it's not what it seems..." Haruka said, her voice trailing off at the end. The rain fully matted down her hair and clothes, as well as Mamoru's. Haruka hiccuped as she continued to sob, "I... I didn't want it to go this far,"
"Kind of late for that now isn't it?"
Mamoru sat motionless, waiting for a response. He heard nothing but the rain, and Haruka's muffled sobbing. Eventually he gritted his teeth.
"If I'm going to die tonight, I'd much rather it be done by your hands!"
Haruka gripped her gun tightly, "No... no I can't"
"Do it. Now." his voice got more stern.
"I... I CAN'T" Haruka screamed, her hands shaking even more.
"Just fucking do it, Haruka. I'll NEVER forgive you otherwise!" Mamoru roared again, by the end of his sentence Haruka let out one last scream.
A single gunshot was heard. A sharp pain in his chest. A small smirk grew on his face as his head and body fell forward, the officers letting go of his body, allowing it to fall to the ground. The sounds of the rain slowly faded into nothing.
Haruka fell to her knees, dropped her gun and brought her hands to her face. She doubled over towards the ground, sobbing into her hands.
It was over. Although the feeling that over came her was not freedom. She felt a flame ignite inside of her, a flame to keep her going strong. He taught her courage to keep on going, to never give up hope; but at a price. She would forever be haunted by him, by his shadow that would always cast over her.
