Just when you think everything is going perfectly life comes to crash down on you.
Chapter 22
"Morning Hibari, got any mission from me today." Ah so the sleeping beauty finally awakens. About time, it's already noon.
"Good afternoon you mean, why are you rising so late today Okami?" Hibari questioned.
"Sorry, I stayed up late last night watching movies with the girls." Shio included most likely.
"Oh, and what movies did you girls watch pray tell?" I swear she looked at me in a don't-you-dare-listen-in kind of way. She got closer to Hibari and whispered in her ear, whatever she said made her bashful and set Hibari off into a fit of giggles.
"You don't say. You don't have to be embarrassed, according to NORN those movies are a classic and my personal favorites as well."
"That's not why I'm blushing." She said wiggling around while looking at the floor. "I'm embarrassed at the fact we sang along with the movies and even cried at the sad parts."
"Yes, I cried too when I thought the Beast died and the part when I thought the Prince was really going to marry Ursula." Okami then rushed to place a finger on Hibari's lips to silence her. She was watching old Disney movies, oh this is rich.
"Keep it down Hibari. I have an image to protect." She then turned to me. "Soma, if you tell anyone about this you'll pay for it."
"Mmph... and what exactly are you going to do if I do?"
"I don't need to voice my threats, just know that you will pay." Judging from her up bringing I believe that she would do something.
"Answering your earlier question." Hibari interrupted, bringing us back on topic. "Your mission won't be handed out to you until you meet the Director in his office." Dammit, so the bastard returned.
"The Director has returned to the Den? When did he get back?"
"This morning, while you were still asleep."
"Ah, very well. Best go see what he wants."
So the bastard's finally going to use her for those damn Special Missions of his. I tried to keep her away from his attention but she's something special that draws others to her. Knowing that man, he'd make her his new lap dog. Sending her on dangerous missions to do his dirty work. Dragging her deep into his mess, making her a liability. And when he has no more use for her, he'll dispose of her like Lindow. He'll do it in a way where no proof can be traced back to him. Like hell if I'll let that bastard take her away from me. But if he thinks Okami can be tamed and caged he doesn't realize what a beautiful beast she is.
"Soma..." She caught me leaning against the wall waiting for her outside that bastard's office.
"So he's finally summoned you." If that bastard thinks he can take away my baggage from me, he's got another thing thing coming. Regardless how annoying she can be sometimes she's still mine. "A word of advice. Don't get too involved with that guy." It'll make it easier for her to stay alive, and make my job easier.
****** A little later ******
What's taking her so long? I knew I shouldn't have let her go alone. Why isn't she here yet? I can't believe that bastard sent her alone to fight a Ouroboros. Even I have to admit she's strong, but is she strong enough to face this alone. What if she's incapacitated, who's going to be there to link-aid with her, who's going to tell her not to let her guard down?
Dammit, the waiting is killing me. The longer time goes by, the higher the chances of her not coming back alive. To hell if we lose another leader to that bastards ambitions.
Just then the elevator doors to the hanger opened and like speaking of the devil she appeared. Okami had that look in her eyes that I haven't seen since we brought her in from the wild. It was feral and lavished with pride, like a wolf after a kill. She was giving in to her animal instincts like she would occasionally revert back to. I could even see it in her walk as she approached me, it was the thrill of the kill.
"My God, that was such a rush Soma! I haven't had such a close encounter with death since the times with my brothers." She circled around me, like a wolf circling around for an opening. "It was just me and him, both of us knew one of us was not coming out of the fight alive. So we both gave it our all in a fight to the death. His down fall was that he left himself open in the legs."
She then tapped my foot from behind with hers. "I closed in from behind, slicing his legs. He tumbled down like a giant." She twirled around to my front lightly touching my shoulder. "Then I stabbed him in the eyes. He never had a chance."
She then crunched into herself, fists tightly clinched as she lightly shook in excitement. "I've faced Ouroboroses before with my brothers, but never alone. I-it felt... good. Man, Kage and Shiro are going to be so jealous. Well I guess I can give them it's horn as a snack, Kage loves that part, maybe Shio will enjoy some too." Then out of nowhere her glee disappeared. "But you know... I never realized that fighting by myself could be so... lonely. I like the challenge, but I like the companionship of the pact more."
And like the storm she appeared in she was gone with a slight drizzle. This woman is beyond me.
****** Later at the Entrance ******
"We confirmed a signal from today's target. Apparently it's coming from the previous Leader's armlet. Right now we are investigating it, but most likely it will be your opponent in battle. It may turn out to be a grueling fight, but after evaluating our current capacity. We have concluded the chance of beating this opponent. Don't get swayed by thoughts of vengeance. Make sure you advance with caution, understood."
"Yes, Tsubaki." I answered her.
"Lindow... finally... finally." Sakuya and Alisa nodded to each other as if acknowledging each others feelings of vengeance. I guess me and Kota will have to keep an eyes on them so they don't get themselves hurt in their vendetta.
****** Tranquil Temple ******
She was a cold beauty that didn't go down without a fight. As my God Arc devoured the Prithvi Mata I checked for Lindow's armlet signal.
"Is it there?" Kota asked me.
"No, I got nothing."
"I don't see it." Sakuya said tiredly.
"These days the Research team are so irresponsible." Alisa complained.
"Alisa, they are part of the pact, they try their best. Doing as much as they can with the limited time they have to work with the load they are given. Don't berate them."
"You're right, my apologies... I guess I don't really know much about the Research unit, perhaps I should go back to the basics."
"That would be a good idea. Once you get to know them and what they do, I believe that you'll actually like them."
"But you know..." Kota said, bringing back the subject at hand. "Maybe it ran off before we got here."
Then a roar broke throw the air, drawing our attention as we ran toward the direction it came from. Looking up we came into contact with him, the Great Beast King, the same kind of beast that killed Alisa's parents and my mother. He stared down at us as we stared at him. We must have killed his mate, but if this one is the Aragami that attacked Lindow then that means... he has multiple mate. That Beast! What a disgrace of a Beast King, to hoard mates like a pride. One mate is enough, to have more is dishonorable. To find even one is rare in the Aragami world, you should be grateful and loyal with how rare it is to find them.
"I guess this means we're going to have to kill it. Just you wait!" In the Aragami world Sakuya would be seen as a beautiful beast of honor. Hunting down another to seek revenge for their mate while remaining loyal to their memory. Only for her case she thinks Lindow's death and not for his injuries. But damn, it's too early in the morning for this.
****** Entrance ******
Like a slap of cold water to the face, we were immediately ready for action as the alarm went off at the Den.
"Aragami! They've attacked the Outer Ghetto again!" Kota said with worry.
"Right!... This is a job for the Defense unit." Tatsumi said ready for action.
"You guys go ahead and fulfill your own mission, okay." Brendan said trying to reassure Kota.
"Okay. I'm counting on you, be careful!" With Kota approval they left. "It's been happening a lot lately... Aragami invading the Outer Ghetto." I also notice a sound in the back of my head getting louder as the Aragami attacks became more frequent.
"The Anti-Aragami Wall along the perimeter of the Ghetto hasn't been able to handle the recent changes in the Aragami." Hibari answered his unasked question.
"You mean that thing in the armor called the 'Bias Factor' can't keep up with the changes of the enemy anymore."
"That's correct. By somehow absorbing the Bias Factor of the new type Aragami, the armor can be reinforced. But..."
"Hey. There IS something! Something we can do to help! Come on!"
"Very well, I got your back Kota."
****** Later ******
Kota assigned us mission after mission, trying to get enough Bias Factor from the new-type enemies. I was tired but I didn't mind, Kota and the others were working hard protecting the Outer Ghetto how could I refuse to do the same. Besides, Kota was trying to protect his family no matter what it took, I understood that feeling more than enough. We fought fallen Quadrigas by day and Kongous and Gboros by night until we had enough Bias Factor to return to the Den. We were welcomed back by Tatsumi and Brendan.
"Hey, good work! How'd you do?" Kota greeted.
"Hey, thanks to the Bias Factor you guys were able to bring home we managed to contain them." Replied Brendan.
"Yeah... Although we did lose a few team members..." Tatsumi sadly pointed out. As a Leader the lost weighed heavy on him.
"I see... sorry, if only we gotten it to you sooner..."
"It's not your fault." Stated Brendan, trying to cheer Kota up. "The E26 area was being hit, so it was mostly houses."
"E26?!" Kota stormed off in horror.
"Oh, that's right." Brendan said, smacking his head as if he forgot something important making what he said stupid. "That's were his family lives, E26..."
Say what Brendan? Crap! I raced back to Kota's room to find him sitting on his coach, swimming in his gloom.
"Ah... Mom and Nozomi are safe... The Aegis Project... they've gotta finish it soon. If it means I can protect them... I'm willing to do anything!" So he still doesn't get it. But this is something I can't help him with, it's something he has discover for himself. But I hope he discovers it soon, for his own sake.
****** The next day ******
"Lindow's armlet is still sending out signals. It must be from an Aragami similar to the one you fought off the other day. As always, forget about your personal feelings and calmly discharge your duties. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am" Though I don't think I'll be able to fully keep that promise.
This time Soma is joining us for this mission. He says it's so he can surpass Lindow by defeating the Aragami he could not. But in all honesty, he just wanted to be apart of getting revenge for Lindow. Works out for me, since Kota's not himself today to be able to go out on a mission. But Soma had the same amount of right to be on this mission like everyone else, since he fought along side Lindow for such a long time.
And in a way I wanted revenge on the Great Beast King as well. Not for Lindow, cause he's probably still alive somewhere keeping low, but for my mother. Such a disgraceful beast took her away from me, he shall not live to see another sunrise.
****** City of Mercy ******
Again we had to take out another of that Beast's mates before getting to him. The battle was longer than usual but in the end he went down without much of a fuss. He was viscous but I was far more, much more than the time when I was a child. At last, I've defeated the Beast that took down my mother. Providing that I have the power to protect my brothers.
Lost in my thoughts I almost neglected the seriousness of the situation as Alisa devoured the beast and Sakuya searched it.
"I've got a hit." Said Alisa, pulling out Lindow's God Arc.
"Same here..." Replied Sakuya, trying to hold herself together as she pulled out Lindow's armlet from the beast. "There's no question... This is... his." Sakuya started to cry, falling to her knees while holding on to Lindow's armlet. Curse it Lindow, what kind out fight did you get into? "Oh... Lindow..."
"Lindow..." Then Alisa started to cry too as me and Soma could only watch, unable to comfort them.
Back at the Den, the girls and I went back to Sakuya's room to unlock the files on Lindow's armlet.
"Alright, let's begin." Sakuya said plugging in the armlet to her Terminal. "Authorization... cleared."
"One report... one list file... and one project file." Alisa replied, reading the screen. "There's also some kind of executable program. Is that what it is?"
"Let's start from the top... First, the report. Just as I thought." Sakuya said reading it. "He was keeping from me the fact that he was working on this... Arc Project?... Have you ever heard of it?"
"No... this is the first I've heard of it. Oh... that file... seems to be relevant."
"It looks like a list of Arc Project related names." Sakuya said opening the list. "God Eaters from each Branch... As well as Engineers... Scientist... and their families?"
"But it's not clear what the list is for."
"We'll leave the executable for later since it's risky... let's try the Project file first." Sakuya said, opening the file.
"Aegis... infiltration..." Alisa repeated questionably.
"I'm going to skip ahead."
"Lindow was trying to infiltrate Aegis so he could find proof..."
"It does look that way... Now... it all makes since... Including what I need to do next..."
"Sakuya... you're going to finish what Lindow started aren't you?"
"No, that's not what I meant... I want you both to forget all about this... I plan to do the same myself." She was lying, I could her heart beat increase.
"What? What do you mean by that?" Of course Alisa would be surprised.
"Just as I said... someone in the Far East Branch is involved with this project, that much we know. If we make any waves they'll crush us."
"But, no... then what if we try sending an urgent message to another Branch, or to HQ?" Alisa tried to plead.
"We have no proof. For all we know they could be wire-tapping everything... do you still think we have a chance?" She's trying to break our hope, weaken the fighting will. "This Terminal... the comms... even this very room might be under surveillance."
"Still..." Her strategy is working, Alisa is already loss her fight.
"That's why I'm telling you to forget about it... I'm sure that's what Lindow would have wanted." She knows that's bull...
"No..." and with that Alisa's down for the count.
"Could you... I'd like to be alone now... please." She doesn't want us involved. For now I will respect her wishes. Besides, Alisa is too stubborn to stay down for long. She'll be there for Sakuya when she tries to fight the unseen forces. I will just have to accept that all I can do is watch for now.
"Very well, I shall oblige you Sakuya." I said leaving.
"Excuse me." Alisa said following behind me. Who ever is behind this will strike soon. And like a good predator I shall wait for my prey to fall into my own hands. Until then I'll go visit Saki and Shio.
****** Dr. Sakaki's Lab ******
"Hey Saki, it's been a while. Has Shio been well?"
"Not too well I'm afraid. Ever since his armlet was found... for some reason, Shio's behavior worries me a lot. Just do whatever you can to make sure the Branch Director doesn't find out she exist. Of course I'll pull what strings I can as well..."
"Sure thing, but I'll go check on Shio right now." I entered her room. She seemed to be zoned out, not completely there as I addressed her. "Hello Shio."
"Okami... Mm... Are you hungry?" I bent down to her level and gently replied.
"No, I'm not hungry."
"... I see... Then, I'm happy!" I pat her on the head and she giggled for a while.
"But are you hungry? We were going to take you out to eat, just us girls. That would be fun right, what do you say?"
"Fun... I'm ready to eat it!"
"Good." I smiled at her.
****** Forgotten Carrier ******
The fight was child's play, literally with Shio around, compared to our girl power. The Fierce Kongou was as fierce as bunny slippers, a big push over that couldn't control its fists. Giving Shio time to eat, I admired the area and the strange island in the horizon everyone was making such a fuss about.
"It's so big. The key to the Aegis Project, human kinds last hope... Aegis Island." I don't know about Sakuya but that island is giving me a bad vibe. I kept hearing a tiny mumble in the back of my head coming from that island. If that was were human kinds last hope was, I fear for mankind's future. "Shio... is something the matter?"
What was she doing over there by the Carrier? "Shio! What's wrong with you?!" Sakuya shouted as Shio's body started to glow in strange line designs.
"It's calling..." Shio said in a voice that sounded like hers and another's. "I want to eat... I want to eat... that's what it's calling out... Looks delicious..." Then she plunged into the Ocean.
"Shio!" I cried out to her as she splashed down then vanished. I knew she was acting funny, why did I take my eyes off her? I was about to dive in after her but Sakuya stopped me.
"What are you doing?!"
"What does it look like, I'm going after her!"
"She's gone Okami! The only thing we can do now is tell Dr. Sakaki!" I was reluctant, but I knew she was right. I'd have to get the others to help me look for her.
****** Later that day ******
This is getting out of hand, not only has Shio run away but the Director is on to her. Even gave me the mission, along with Soma, of finding her and extracting her core. Like hell if I was going to do that, I'll bring her home but I won't hand her over. Going to the Lab I picked up Soma to get started on our Search Mission. But Soma got along side me in the God Arc Hanger.
"When we reach the Special Mission destination, can we talk? I need to tell you something."
"Sure, but let's hurry. I want to bring Shio home as soon as possible before someone else finds her." We went to the edge of the Carrier area's Starting Point then stopped to look out in the distance.
"I bet you've already figured this out... but the Aragami with the special core that the Director wants us to find... it's got to be Shio. All my life I've let that S.O.B father of mine send me on these Search Missions." Then he turned to look at me. "But no way... no way am I going to hand Shio over to that bastard."
"Soma..." So he really does care, even if he acts so indifferent.
Then he pointed his blade at me, there was no malice in his action so my body didn't react or flinch. "Don't get me wrong. I don't like how he manipulates me and Shio as if we're his goddamn toys, that's all." My eyes softened in understanding. He seemed shocked by reaction or lack of reaction, but then it turned to a grin as he pulled his blade away. "Come to think of it... I've jabbed you with my sword the first time we went on a mission too. You were just a Rookie then... and now you're a Leader. There's no question she's around here somewhere... but I hear other Aragami are on the loose as well... Don't let your guard down." Yeah I can sense them and her too.
The giant beast was like an unpenetrable fortress. Each strike I dealt barely even left a scratched. Let alone having to deal with annoying stray Vajratails. But no matter how pointless my attacks were I didn't relent. He crushed me two times in my reckless stubbornness, it's a good thing Soma there to Link-aid with me. But my pain was not in vain since I finally broke through its armor. It couldn't even take a hit after that, in after five minutes we finally defeated it.
Continuing on to my distraught, we followed a trail of Vajratails lying dead by the Carrier on the bridge. We heard singing as we approached, looking up we spotted Shio at the top of the Carrier. Suddenly she stopped singing as tears came out of her eyes.
"What is this I wonder..." She said taking a tear in her hand to study it, then began to rub her eyes as more came out. "I don't like this one."
"That's cause it's a song of parting, that's why." Soma answered her.
"A song of parting?"
"I'll never see my loved ones again. That's what the words say."
"I see... but... we did meet again."
"Jeez, that's cause I came looking for you."
"Hey, don't leave me out! I came too." I said to Soma, elbowing him then turned to Shio. "Shio... let's go home everyone's waiting. We miss you."
"Okami... I'm sorry about the Vajratails... I couldn't help it. I was so hungry."
"It's okay Shio... I'm not angry at you, the important thing is that you're safe. Just... try not to do it again, okay?"
"Okay." She said about to get up, but then curled up in pain as the glowing marks came back again.
"Shio, is it happening again.?" Soma said looking up with concern along with me.
Shio rose from her spot still glowing, heading toward that creepy island. And the other voice returned as she said. "I've got to go."
"Hey, come back here! Shio!" She turned to look back at us but then fainted.
"Hey! What's wrong, hey! Dammit!" Soma turned back to me. "I don't know what's wrong but we're heading back to the Den."
"Right." I said, climbing up the Carrier to grab Shio. Carrying her like a sleeping child we headed back to the Den.