After Hayate had stormed out of the room, Go had followed suit, deciding to leave the apartment altogether. He needed to cool his head. He had spent months after Himeno had vanished into a burst of light, trying to convince the others that she had only been transported to Leafenia, not died. But they did not heed his words. And part of him couldn't blame them. They had lost everything the day they had failed.
Go stepped outside into the night's cool air, taking a deep breath. He looked around him quickly for the presence of others. Convinced that he was the only living creature around, he continued down the road. To his left and right were damaged, abandoned buildings. No one wanted to live this near the barrier. Cracks in the barrier like the one Mannen and the boys had gone through were getting more and more common, making it plausible that one of the creatures that lived on the other side could get through.
Only those with nothing lived here, and even then, not for long. Due to lack of resources—food, water, clothing and medical supplies—they had been moving from place to place. Not to mention the gang wars made it difficult to stay in any place for too long. If they were a larger group, they could've fought to keep their territory. But with the seven of them—three of them too young to fight—they posed no threat.
Go looked up into the waning moon, and sighed. His anger had subsided, giving rise to the sense of hopelessness he felt when he was alone.
He started when he heard the click of a gun's safety lock being released. He found himself at gunpoint at the most unlikely of individuals.
"Mawata?" he breathed. Her eyes were narrowed, her hand on the trigger. She was not joking around, that was for sure.
"Where is my sister?" she demanded. Go sighed.
"I told you, she's missing, that's all," he replied.
"I've heard rumors of a girl with short pink hair brought in from the wastelands. That girl is no doubt my sister. I came to take her back," she said.
"We don't know if she's Himeno yet," Go began, "She doesn't remember anything about herself."
"I'm not here to listen to your excuses. I know you only want to continue using her as the pretear now that she's back. She deserves better than that," she said sharply, her finger beginning to tighten around the trigger.
Go felt sweat break out on his forehead. The kind, gentle Mawata he had known seemed completely gone. Left behind was a bitter, stubborn, strong-willed woman who wanted to bring the pieces of her shattered life together. Who would do anything to reach that goal.
"Mawata, listen to me," Go said softly.
"I'm not here to listen to your lies!" she said shrilly, pulling the trigger. Go felt the bullet whiz past his ear. The time for talking was over. He rushed over and grabbed Mawata's arm, painfully twisting the gun out of her hand.
'Where had she gotten the gun anyway?' Go thought as he pulled her into a tight hold.
"Give my sister back…give my sister back," she cried out. Go tensed in worry that others might gather around after hearing Mawata's cries.
He turned to face Mawata and felt a pang run through him as he saw tears flow down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry," he said, and hit her on the neck with enough pressure to knock her out.
Holding her limp body in his arms, he sighed and then moved to hold her closer. After a brief embrace—which she would have never tolerated from him if conscious—he picked her up and headed back to their home.
When he used a steam of fire to open the lock to their home, Hayate was waiting in the hallway.
"What?" Go asked in an irritated voice. His walk had only cooled his temper temporarily. Seeing Hayate in person once again had only caused it to return.
"Nothing," Hayate said, looking at the unconscious form in his arms.
"Apparently it's bring-an-unconscious-girl-home day," Kei said without humor, his mind already calculating how much more food they would need per day.
"She won't stay once she wakes," Go said, placing her on the couch. He threw the gun towards Kei.
"She had this with her," he said as Kei frowned. Sasame walked into the room and upon seeing Mawata's sleeping form, rushed towards her, grabbing her wrist to feel her pulse.
"She's alive if that's what you're worried about," Go said, feeling irritated at the way Sasame held her hand gently in his own.
"Where did you find her?" he asked Go.
"Actually she found me. Apparently there are rumors going around about Himeno," he replied.
"Already? She just came here," Kei asked.
"This city is alive during the night more than the day, you know that," Go replied, "Besides, Mawata's probably been trailing us waiting for any sign of Himeno."
"Women make life more difficult," Kei said simply, leaving the room. Sasame managed a small smile.
"What's so funny?" Go demanded.
"The fact that he's right—women do make life more difficult," Sasame said.
"What are we going to do with her?" Hayate asked from the doorway.
"What are we doing with Himeno?" Go countered.
"Go, we don't know if it is her yet…" Sasame said quickly before Hayate could retort sharply.
"Well, then, call her what you want. I think that's our Himeno. She just needs time to remember us is all," Go said.
"It would be good if Mawata could stay here," Sasame said softly.
"I have no complaints," Hayate said, "If she's willing to stay. It's been dangerous for her to be on her own here anyway."
Sasame nodded, looking at the young girl's fierce expression even in sleep with a sigh. If Himeno was Hayate's sin, Mawata was Sasame's. Sasame had been envious of Hayate for something he would never admit—that while he had a constant living reminder of his sin, Himeno was gone, leaving Hayate with the chance to forget and move on. Except now, the girl who could have been Himeno's twin was a direct reminder. Sasame could see the pain that flitted across Hayate's face every time he saw or even mentioned the girl.
And it made Sasame wonder why Hayate would ever bring the representation of his sin back with him…