強い人と弱い人
The Strong and The Weak
Chapter 24 : Meant to Beー
Eight in the morning, Haruna was awake in bed. In the end, she didn't accompany the men to the crash site. She figured that it was necessary to help out the information department at this time. The girl explained to Munakata yesterday that she would feel of use this morning by helping out with the paperwork while he was away at the headquarters of gold clan to discuss their actions. He considered it thoughtful of her and praised her devotion.
To be honest, she actually didn't want to go. After feeling so useless yesterday, she decided that she wanted to do something to compensate. Besides, Haruna understood the importance of reports. She felt it was the least she could do.
She tied her wispy hair back in a ponytail, as she done countless times for work. When she entered the main room of headquarters, a co-worker she did not know by name approached her at full speed. Haruna closed her eyes, expecting a dreadful impact, but after waiting a few seconds she opened her eyes to see him holding a red telephone in his hand. She just stared at the phone blinking with confusion.
"Will you please deliver this to the red king? It's a little present."
Haruna's ears perked up at the word present, but nonetheless she took it from him.
"I see... who is it from?"
She looked up from the phone that was now pressed into her hands and tilted her head up to ask another question, but he was already walking away. Unperceived by her, there was a wide, inhumane smirk that grazed his lips.
As she walked down row of jail cells, red telephone in hand, Haruna couldn't help but wonder who was at the other end of the line. She wasn't sure if this present was an authorized object for a prisoner. At one of the very last cells, she gently tapped the metal bars to catch the attention of the red king.
"Good morning, Suoh-san. You're up early today." Haruna greeted him as she held up the phone with a small smile,"There's someone waiting for you on the other line."
The king whose back was laying on the wall of his cell angled his head at her questioningly. Those slanted eyes studied her in silence. He gave a grunt and shifted his arms, causing the chains around his wrists to clink together. Then he said something she couldn't quite decipher.
"Um, I'm sorry." She apologized to him for not catching his words.
"Food."
"Uh...?" Her dark eyes blinked back at him in bewilderment and the palm of her hands began to sweat in reaction to her nervousness.
"Did you not bring breakfast?"
"No, no. I brought you this." Still holding up the telephone, she pointed to it with her free hand for emphasis,"See? A phone!"
In response his head turned to the side and sighed.
"Leave it in here."
"O-Okay." She prepared to open the cell, but the sweaty grip that held the phone slipped out of her grasp and fell through one of the openings of the cell. It crashed to the ground with a displeasing clang. The phone separated from its base, but remained intact with the wiring connected from the base to the receiver.
"Ack!" Haruna choked out. She dropped down to her knees to pick up the phone and began to freak out about its condition. As she did so, something peculiar began to happen. Suoh's eyes became slits and Haruna was rendered immobile. The phone was lifted into the air and the person at the other end of the line greeted cheerfully,
"Hello, hello! Could I talk to you for a bit?"
The phone was floating. Why was it floating?!
"Yeah, sure! First off, explain why this phone is floating in the air!" Haruna yelled. This situation was creeping her out.
"Hey, hey! Don't talk so loud!" The speaker complained with a groan,"Besides, I want to talk to the man in the cell!"
At that point, the voice that matched a teenage boy took a dark turn. It became taunting and menacing.
"Or should I say, the red king. Now you must be wondering who I am." He continued to speak,"I''m the man you're looking for."
Haruna observed Suoh's expression harden with agitation. Or was it rage? Then it hit her. This was Tatara Totsuka's murderer.
"Ah, yes! I was calling in regards of Totsuka-kun!" A white wisp began to materalize from the receiver. Haruna stood up in alarm.
"I'm the guy who killed him!" The wisp gracefully whirled around out of the phone and formed into the head of a fox. It's eyes opened to reveal crimson pupils. It dashed towards Suoh and swirled around his head.
"I pity the guy!" The spirit laughed into his ear and continued to move itself around the crimson headed man,"He must be lonely in the other world, so maybe I should kill everyone else."
"Don't you dare!" Haruna screamed from outside the cell. The thought of her friends in HOMRA dying to this bastard struck a nerve. The death of Totsuka had already broken them. "You wouldn't dare lay a hand on them!"
The spirit's gave a crooked smile, his gaze still on Suoh,"Oh yes I would, my dear! I'll start with Kusanagi-san... maybe Yata-kun. Or maybe..."
Suoh's eyes were simply shut closed. It was like he was sleeping on him.
"Hey... are you even alive?" It chirped, also noticing his impassiveness,"Well, maybe I should have that little girl entertain me. I bet she'd be better company! Hm... what's her name? Anna-chan!"
"She would be so much fun!"It drew closer to Suoh, taunting him head on,"I like my women very young!"
Then the king's eyes opened.
"There we go!" The wisp began to laugh uncontrollably,"Gotcha!"
The spirited darted into Suoh's eyes and was no where to be found. His eyes gently closed again as if nothing had even happened. Haruna opened the cell and bolted to his side. The door closed itself up behind her. Whatever that thing was- that spirit launched itself into Suoh.
"Suoh-san?" Haruna took his shoulder and shook it frantically,"Suoh-san?!"
A smug look replaced his serene expression.
"I see. So this is your game?"
His eyes opened again and this time her attention was trained on the glowing color of his irises. The wisp materialized again, escaping from his eye howling. The two of them watched it escape from the bars of the prison door and disappear.
As the silence grew in the cell, so did Suoh's grin. His eyes, the color of a bright crimson continued to glow intensely with each passing second. Again, he murmured something indecipherable and stood up.
He brought his shackles closer to his body and melted his restraints. Until the wood started to disintegrate and the metal become soft, he broke free. Suoh-san was released and Haruna knew what he was intending to do next.
"Please don't kill me." She backed into the side of the cell and whispered loud enough so he could hear her. Expecting to be hurt immediately, she winced at the remaining warmth that emitted from his body.
"Hold on to me."
"What?"
"Do you want to burn?"
At the question, she pinched a piece of his short sleeve.
"The arm."
Reluctantly, she grasped his forearm and immediately she felt the heat rise from his skin. She wanted to let go.
All at once, his aura was projected in a frenzy. Haruna's timidness dissipated once the flames burned the cell door. She looped her arm around his and hugged it closer to herself. Yes, she was scared, but was also left in awe. She swore the aura had licked her skin, but it hadn't hurt her in the slightest.
It was warm like a kotatsu or a warm fireplace.
The alarm began to go off and the security barriers fell into place from the ceiling. The two walked out of the cell, her arm stil around his. With his hands still in his pockets, his aura projected violently from his body and incinerated everything in its path.
"How indiscrete." Haruna commented as they stepped out into the main entrance.
Suoh gave shrug and brashly destroyed everything in his path. Everything that she's doing right now is wrong. Why was she not stopping him? Was it because he was a king and her loss would be inevitable? No, it was something else. That reasoning did not settle right with her one bit.
Suoh was the leader of HOMRA. He was an important figure to her friends at the bar. Not just as a king, but a friend. That murderous spirit's words came back to her again.
'...Maybe I should kill everyone else. I'll start with Kusanagi-san... maybe Yata-kun. Or maybe... Anna-chan!'
When they made it outside, the clansmen had started to surround the jailhouse. She too was expected to be with them. After all, it was her duty.
"I'm supposed to be attempting to stop you from doing whatever you're doing." Haruna told him as she clinged to his arm,"But I want to help my friends."
At the word 'friends', he looked down at her as if he actually started listening to her.
"They're such wonderful people. All of them. I hate to see them so sad. I don't know what kind of person Totsuka-san was, but he was someone you all held dear."
Haruna beamed at him brightly,"I don't have the power to stop you nor the will to talk you out of this either."
Suoh snorted and gave a small smirk,"You're a strange girl."
When they made it out of the burning jailhouse, she noticed the special division had lined up at the front gates. With caution, she followed beside Suoh who walked into their direction. The red aura flared up continously. His eyes were still burning and etching his image into the clansmen that made eye contact with him.
"Third king, Mikoto Suoh!" With a hand on her hip, Awashima stood beside her clansmen and warned the approaching man,"You are in custody of Scepter 4. You do not have the permission to leave the premises. Stop now!"
They only continued to walk closer and closer.
"Suoh-san, maybe you should-"
It was too late to advise the king. Awashima had already prepared her attack and shouted again as she released her aura from her sword.
"I said stop!"
The lieutenant sent out her aura in multiple arrows; creating a net that came flying towards them at full force. Preparing for impact, she brought herself closer to Suoh. She heard a booming sound and peeked from behind him. Of course he had repelled it. That's what made kings incredible. Their immense strength even when they simply lift a finger or two. Or none at all.
Haruna watched her comrades shrink back in fear with the display. They knew already that this was a fight they could not possibly win.
"Is that Aigasa?" Doumyoji shouted amongst the division with a hand at the hilt of his saber,"What is she doing?"
When the dust cleared again, everyone was shocked to realize that Doumyoji's observation was true."
"Don't tell me have a hostage situation!" Hidaka unsheathed his sword and shook his head vigorously,"How low is he willing to go?!"
Suoh stood his ground and tilted his head back. She felt more power drawing into his body and felt a growing concern for her comrades.
She looked back up at Suoh who threw his head forward; releasing his aura again around him. Once again, Haruna was unscathed and felt nothing but a warm wind graze her skin. The brick surrounding their feet began to crumble and fly into the air.
The sounds of destruction was beginning to be too overwhelming for her. She covered her ears with her palms and watched Suoh bring his hands up behind him and open them widely.
Another blast traveled at a deadly rate towards the front gates.
"Stay back!" Haruna cried out to the division in desperation.
Then she saw someone dash in and create a small barrier. The act was futile and it was blown away instantly. Piles of smoke and debris clouded the air and as soon as she was convinced that the king was finished with his display of power, she ran through the ripped up terrain to check on the blue clansmen. Bursting through the red flames and falling ruins, the girl was surprised to see Fushimi left standing in among the collapsed bodies of their comrades. Haruna dashed to his side before his body settled down into a sitting position on one of the protruding rocks.
"Hey, Saru...!" She bent down next to him and waved a hand in front of his face,"Are you all right?! Answer me!"
Fushimi stood up abruptly and began to unsheathe his sword, but there was something wrong. His arms were shaking and the grip on his saber was tight enough to make his knuckles turn white. It was the first time ever seeing him in such a state. A state of fear. The shaking had stopped and the boy hunched over exasperatedly.
"Wait!" Haruna turned around and called after Suoh,"Please wait."
The king stopped in his tracks, much to Fushimi's surprise.
"I'm coming with you guys." She blurted out,"Can I?"
Then he started to walk again as if he didn't hear her.
"I can't read minds very well, Suoh-san!"
Suoh angled his head back to her as he walked.
"You made it clear back there, didn't you?"
The smile returned to her lips and she started towards him energetically. That's right. Haruna said it herself as he burned his way out of his captivity. Her pleasant thoughts were interrupted by a firm grip on her wrist.
"Aigasa. What do you think you're doing?"
Shit. She'd forgotten about the fish behind her.
"I'm going to help my friends."
"You are to remain at headquarters." He ordered, growing angry with each word.
No, was what she said. The girl shook her head again and again. The hold her wrist only became tighter with each display of resistance.
"You're disobeying a direct order. I commanded you to remain here."
"And I said no, you damned fish!"
It was at her insult, she felt something pulse in her chest, followed by a soothing current that shot from her body and down her arm. Unexpectedly, she felt Fushimi let her go as quickly as he held her. He stepped away and armed himself scowling,
"Fushimi, ready for emergency battle."
The fear that was visible on his features had disappeared and he pointed his sword at her, not once breaking eye contact.
Haruna looked down at her left arm. Her blue aura had engulfed her arm and sparked off her limb like electricity. It was her first time using it, but she was saddened to note that it was against Fushimi. The sapphire aura that sparked intensely from her arm concentrated into her hand. Studying it, she closed it into a fist and placed her hand above her heart.
"I'm sorry, Saru." She frowned at him and ran back to Suoh's side before turning her head back to him sadly,"I've messed up again."
Then she felt something pierce the flesh of her leg. The pain shot upwards and brought her knees down towards the ground.
"W-What?"
She looked up and watched as Suoh stopped and looked back at her impassively, then he focused his attention on something behind her. Haruna looked behind her back and gasped. A knife found itself lodged at the back of her thigh. Her eyes grew when she saw a flare of red emitting from the handle.
A red aura.
Crimson red spilled through her uniform skirt and soon spread through the rest of the fabric. Fushimi 's arm was thrust forward and his chest was heaving heavily.
"Fushimi..." Her eyes dropped to the knife and she winced with more pain,"Why...?"
Why was there a red aura surrounding the blade?
Biting her lip, she reached back and gripped the handle hesitantly, all the while looking Fushimi straight in the eye. Haruna sucked in her breath and yanked the blade recklessly out of her skin. He was the one who did this. It was written all over his guilty face! Fushimi just stood where he was. It was if he was stunned by her recklessness, but from her distance she wasn't too sure. Knowing him, he wasn't the type to worry or feel concerned. He was the one who injured her after all. His definition of friend and comrade must be skewed.
She heaved a strained breath and hot tears began to spring from her eyes as she glared at that damned fish. Never in her life has she been injured like this and it hurt like hell. No matter how badly she wanted to help HOMRA, she knew she couldn't. Haruna wasn't one of them. She was under the blue king and it was her obligation to remain here as Fushimi had ordered.
Haruna looked up and watched as Suoh walked back into the welcoming arms of his clansmen. They were all in a line together, and one person in particular stood out to her.
"Mikoto-san! Welcome back!" Yata had yelled with overflowing excitement and threw his fist up in the air wildly. His loud voice became indiscernible when he took Kamamoto in a head lock.
She noticed Kusanagi approach Suoh with concern and point toward her. The king turned back and looked at Haruna who remained on the ground in defeat. Was he waiting for her to suck it up and continue to follow? She smiled pathetically and bit her lip. She should've known this wouldn't have worked out. Haruna gathered the will to tilt her head back and flash a pitiful grin at Suoh.
His heart burned red, but his blood ran blue...
That girl wasn't the kind to lash back violently. Or so he thought. Saruhiko was left in shock by Haruna's sudden outburst. She had snarled at him like an enraged animal. He felt the tinge of electricity that managed to touch his hand before he dashed back defensively to draw his sword. Then she had calmed down just as fast as she was angered and apologized. She was smiling once more like the idiot she was and walked back beside Mikoto.
That other idiot never stopped following behind that man either.
The memories came back. It was always "Mikoto-san" this and "Mikoto-san" that. Those two idiots looked at Mikoto in the same stupid manner.
"Why?" Saruhiko clicked his tongue as he slid a knife from his sleeve,"Why him?"
His blue eyes wavered and his sword fell onto the ruined pavement. As his clansmen regained consciousness and stood up one by one, they prepared themselves to apprehend the two escapees once more. He lifted an arm up, signaling his men to stand down. It was impossible without the captain.
He held the knife in his hand. His grip on the handle was enough to make his knuckles turn white. The smile that appeared on Haruna's face as she stared up at Mikoto was the tipping point. Saruhiko's hand shot forward in a quick and hasty motion. With labored breaths, he watched the weapon fly towards the backside of Haruna's leg.
If he couldn't make her stay with words, then he wouldn't hold back any longer.
A/N: kotatsu - One of those tables we bust out in the winter. It's covered in this heavy blanket to keep you warm. Hnnnnng- the ones with the heater underneath are the besssst.
Now I'm just crying because Fushimi thinks HOMRA or Mikoto is taking away those he care about away. It's really sad because Fushimi doesn't have that many people he cares about.
SmileRen : Haha, I understand. I was legit thinking about it and I was flailing my arms up in the air with the thought of being bound to some maniacal king. I didn't like it one bit lol. Aaaah~ and regarding Misaki-chan... maybe he'll let me probe into his brain so we can find out... (/ｰ▽ｰ)/ huehuehue...
Addicted-to-GazettE : GAH YEAH THINGS ARE ENDING TERRIBLY. I couldn't agree more, my dear. As for the ending, we'll see. Yeah, I just about lost it too when Mikoto went and kicked the bucket. Damn it, Munakata. If only there was another way... ugh. Thank you so much for your reviews! It's nice to see you again! ;)
Skyla-chan.99 : Thank you so much! My heart is pounding with your compliments! I'm glad the characters aren't looking OOC! I hope to remain consistent then, ahaha. Be sure to tell me if they do become OOC! Sashimi is just ASDFGHJKL and Yata-chan is the cutest one next to Anna lololol.
Rinnu500 : AHAHAHA. Your review absolutely made by day. Thank you, thank you! Bwahaha, Miyano Mamoru makes my heart go doki doki when he's Sashimi hnnnng- THESE SEIYUSSSSS.
ITS OKAY! Let's talk more about our love for these wonderful men in this universe of K, ohohoho~
Nou/Usagi-chan : I ACTUALLY KNEW THAT REVIEWER HAD TO BE YOU OR THIS ONE OTHER PERSON HNNNNG- I KNEW ITTTTT-
And I gotcha! Thanks! YES, MISAKI IS COMING BACK OHOHOHOHOHO~
I'm going to hibernate so see you next weekend or something. (灬ºωº灬)