Light and Dark can never be apart from the other. No matter how much they go against one another, they create each other.
The White Queen
The Finland Branch's Chopper sped off to the wild forest area Umiko's signal was coming from. The rain had slightly picked up and so did the tension from the Far East Branch God Eaters. Soma was even more upset at the fact that Sora was so blank about saving Umiko, it was like he didn't even care. He was disgusted by Sora's lack of concern for someone who had a 'relationship' with Umiko. The mere word left a bile feeling in his throat. The Chopper seemed to be heading toward the eye of the storm as winds picked up.
"Sir, I must insist that we head back." The pilot suggested back to Garland. "The winds here are too strong."
"Keep going, it's just Umiko." Garland just grinned.
"What?!" But they were answered by strange lightning, it was a light purple. Ascending into the sky looked to be a white angel, great ivory wings, and a long white dress made as if for a Victorian queen with an uneven hemline. Her hands and wrists were abnormally large... and long for normal hands. When they got closer they realized that those weren't hemlines of a dress... they were tentacles. Even the top half of the dress that resembled a Arda Nova's top looked to be made of tentacles.
At first the three of them thought that it was a new type of advanced Aragami. But Garland, Sora, and the pilot didn't seem too concerned. As they got closer and got a better look at its face that's when they realized... it was Umiko. Her wavy raven hair was down and her crimson eyes glowed and had slitted pupils, but it was her. She floated so calmly into the storm without a care as the lightning danced in the clouds above her.
"It's too late to repent!" She said into the sky as beacons of divine attacks ripped through the clouds, revealing the blue sky and obliterating the ground below. Her hands moved around as if they were controlling the attack. "I won't hold back!"
She curled up into herself as the divine beacons gathered and dragged toward her. Umiko shot upright again, her eyes glowing just like Sora's during a Blood Rage. A large beacon shot down from the sky toward her as the other beacons fused with it.
"Face your fate! Divine Punishment!" What ever was down under her was beyond a doubt dead. The pilot nonchalantly passed by her as her divine beacon still blazed in the sky. The heat of it warmed up the side of the Chopper. As they all looked out the Chopper windows they saw her silhouette and her glowing red eyes through the beacon. And they knew without a doubt that she saw them too.
Calming her attack into nonexistence she descended back to the ground. The Chopper landed on a flat overturned building not too far from Umiko's descent. The damage from her attack had opened up a clearing in the trees which revealed her as she changed back to normal. The tentacles of her hemline gathered and twisted into two strands as they turned back into legs and the ones on her top sank into her body as her custom-made white Dengeki PS uniform came back into existence.
As she changed back the remaining Aragami that didn't get destroyed by her blast came out of cover to surround her. It was a herd of about nine Vajra and its alpha Marduk. Getting up to her feet, she faced them... without her God Arc. Realizing this, Soma and Alisa were about to jump down to her aid when Garland put out a hand to hold them back.
"What the hell are you doing?" Soma growled at him in disgust at his lack of concern. Sora dashed passed them toward the fray as he went to Umiko's aid.
"Just let Sora do his part." Garland simply explained.
"Don't be ridiculous! Those two can't handle that amount of Aragami by themselves!" Soma shot back, causing Garland to smirk.
"Don't jump to conclusions, Soma. Umiko could honestly handle this by herself."
"You seem perfectly confident with being so close to the combat." Dr. Sakaki pointed out.
"Heh, with those two around we're perfectly safe here." Garland grinned as he turned back to the battle at hand. "Let's just watch the show."
They watched with worry and fear as the Aragami began to close in on Umiko. Their hearts stopped beating the moment one of the Vajras pounced at her. But they were startled as she back handed the Vajra into a tree, breaking the trunk in half. Riled by the first move, the other Aragami came in for an attack. She round house kicked one of the Vajras coming at her from the side, smashing its skull into the ground. One more came at her from the front, jumping up at her for a claw strike. But she caught its gut with her foot. Lifting it up in the air for a second, she threw it back as it landed on its side like a wounded dog.
Another came at her from the left, which ended up landing on her right hook. But Umiko seemed distracted, she was looking around the Vajras as if searching for a specific one. While she wasn't really focused, a Vajra snuck its way behind her and went in for the pounce. Startled, her eyes slightly widened as she twirled her head around to face her attacker. But before it could land its attack the sound of a chainsaw rang out as the Vajra was cut in half in mid air. Blood rained down on Umiko as Sora came landing down beside her. The two halves of the Vajra plopped to the sides of Umiko, lifeless, as Sora extracted the core in mid air.
"You shouldn't be so distracted like that, Umiko." Sora lectured as he swiped the blood off his God Arc. "Next time I won't go through the trouble."
"I know... I'm sorry." She said with lack of emotion. "I'll be sure it doesn't happen again."
"I'm slightly disappointed that you're taking such a long time with these opponents." Sora mocked as they went back-to-back.
"There 'were' more." Was all Umiko said as she shot the three Caligula blades out of each arm and one on each leg.
They sliced at the Aragami back-to-back as the Vajras went in. Sora sliced off a head while Umiko stabbed in a chest. The Vajra bodies began to pile up as they continued on. Jumping in the air to kick one approaching Vajra with the blade on her leg, slicing off its neck, Umiko came down on another with her elbow and impaled her blades into its back. Once done, she summoned Devouring mouths from her arms and extracted the cores.
Not one to be out done, Sora kicked one approaching Vajra down to the ground and impaled his God Arc into its chest. He devoured the core while his God Arc was still planted inside the Vajra. As another one came, he activated his Chainsaw. Dashing to the side, Sora started with the front and cut all the way to the back as it ran. Separating the Vajra from it lower body, he extracted the core with his own Devouring mouth, while his God Arc impaled a charging Vajra coming right at him.
Having enough of watching its pack being slaughtered, the Marduk jumped into the fray. Circling around them as it looked for an opening, growling in displeasure that such a small meal had wiped out its herd. As if jesting the Aragami, Sora turned his back to it while his eyes slightly turned to watch it. Enraged by such mockery, the Marduk took the bait which caused Sora to grin. Jumping to flip over Umiko, he revealed that her hand was charged and ready to fire. The Marduk's eyes widen at the realization at what it just walked into, the last thing it saw was Umiko's slight grin as she fire her Divine Laser Cannon from her hand. The beam went through the Marduk, burning a massive hole through it, and destroyed its path of projection for a 30 yard length.
With the threat neutralized around them, Umiko took sudden note that there were nine Vajras... they only eliminated eight. Just as she was thinking this, the last Vajra came rushing at the group by the Chopper. Alisa and Soma got in a fighting stance in front of Dr. Sakaki, while Garland just stood unmoved with his arms crossed behind him.
"Director Garland, what are you doing?! Get back!" Alisa pleaded to the non-responding man. Garland did not budge as he looked at the Vajra with confidence as it charged at him. Frustrated by his uncle's stubbornness, Soma rushed to his aid.
"Dammit." Soma hissed at the scenario. He was going to have to save his uncle, why did fate have to be such a prick?
But as the Vajra just about reached him, Umiko dug her blades into the side of its face. Dragging it to the right and away from Garland as she smashed it into the ground, impaling it with the blades of her other arm. Oblivious to the others, she got on one knees and began ripping through the Vajra's stomach savagely with her Devouring mouths. Soma eyes widened and Alisa covered a scream with her hands as they watched Umiko's cold-blooded display of brutality. Their first time seeing her in a long time and she showed nothing but battle hardened cruelty. But she kept tearing on through until she made it to its center.
"Found you..." She said down to the gore. Changing her arms back to normal, she reached in to its stomach and pulled out something... Her God Arc. "Akutenshi."
She wiped off the blood on it with her gloved hand, ignoring how it stained her white uniform. She held it close as her monotone voice failed to relay any emotions.
"I'm sorry you weren't able to get any action back there. I didn't expect them to bite down."
"No. 2." Garland said, interrupting her conversation with her God Arc. At the register of his voice, she turned to him. Bowing in respect while still on one knee and God Arc in hand.
"Forgive me, Director. If I had known you'd be accompanying Sora, I would've never unleashed such a Blood Rage attack."
"A trivial miscalculation." Garland said, waving her concern off. "Why did you engage such a number of Aragami after your target had been terminated?"
"The target had gotten a lucky shot at me, Sir. The blood attracted Aragami as I was returning."
"Her blood?" Dr. Sakaki asked. Soma and Alisa were startled when she made no signs of recognizing the Doc's voice, she just remained like stone.
"A minor side-effect of the experiment. The concentrated liquidated core dosage has seem to have given their blood a Taunting Effect on other Aragami. When they bleed out, the Aragami in the local region are attracted to its scent."
"That seems like a major flaw to your experiment to be considered minor, Garland." Dr. Sakaki pointed out in seriousness.
"Yes it would be... if it wasn't for the fact that the Aragami for the most part don't get a chance to touch them." Garland retorted back at him. Then he turned back to addressing Umiko. "You know you couldn't be late today, Umiko. We have guest to entertain."
"My apologies for the inconvenience, Sir." Umiko said to him, bowing one last time before rising back to her feet. Still she did not acknowledge the others as she rested the tip of her God Arc in the ground in front of her and place her hands on its pummel. Sora had made his way back to the others as he finished extracting what was left of the Marduk's core.
"Umiko, good to see you again." Dr. Sakaki smiled at her, finally breaking the groups silence to get her attention. To be honest her deadpan expression and flat attitude was starting to scare him. This was the girl that once helped out with his schemes with a cheeky grin always present. The only one able to break through Soma's glum mood and get him riled up while still getting him to grin. But... now she was worse than Soma ever was. Soma would barely interact with people, she just didn't at all.
She turned and looked at Dr. Sakaki, he flinched at the empty look in her eyes.
"My apologies, but have we met Sir?" The three of them widened their eyes at the words she said.
"Oh course, sorry for the late introductions." Garland said gaining her attention along with Sora's, who made his way beside her. "No. 1, No. 2, these are our guest from the Far East Branch, Director Sakaki and his God Eaters Soma and Alisa. They will be accompanying us for a couple of days."
"I see..." Umiko said, before heart fist pump saluting Dr. Sakaki. "Welcome to the Finland Branch, Director Sakaki. I hope you enjoy your visit."
"Cut it out, Umiko. It's us, don't you recognize us?" Alisa pleaded with her. "It's me, Alisa."
"?" Umiko tilted her head in confusion of Alisa's behavior. "I'm sorry ma'am, I've never seen you a day before in my life."
"Quit playing dumb! We fought along side each other back at the Den!" Alisa was starting to get hurt by Umiko's blatant deny of the battles and trials they went through together. They meant so much to her since it was Umiko who got her through her dark times, and now Umiko acted like they never existed.
"I have no recollection of you or ever going to the Far East Branch. You must be mistaken with someone else." Garland grinned at her answer as Alisa was driven to tears. But the tears did not move Umiko as she stared blankly.
"How can you disclaim all the things we've been through, Umiko." Soma growl at her, using his anger to push back the hurt of her cruel rejection of her times at the Den... of them. She should've been annoyed at their insistent accusations, but she had no knowledge of the feeling.
"I've already told you I- (Gasp)!" Umiko's eyes notably widened as she turned toward Soma and noticed his eyes.
"!" Soma slightly gasped as well at finally getting a reaction out of Umiko. Could she had actually recognized him? Or had she been faking not knowing them as some sick joke? His heart jumped at the first notion. Garland slightly flinch in concern that she might have actually recalled Soma.
"You're eyes..." Then her surprise slowly faded as a seriousness came over her. "Who are you really? And why do you have those eyes?"
"?!" She was surprised... about his eyes.
"Are you an experiment like us?" Garland grinned as his worries were dis-proven. Oh course she wouldn't remember Soma, his socially awkward personality made it hard for anyone to have a pleasant encounter with him. The dosage would've wipe out any memory of him immediately.
"?!" Soma was crushed at her notion. Of course he was used as some damn experiment by Fenrir and his parents, but the idea of her addressing herself as such... tore him apart. Why did he ever fall for this hollow shell of a woman she use to be? His fists clinched as his body lightly shook, holding back the pain. "Who do you think you are, you brat? Forgetting me like that? Forgetting us?!"
"Your eyes... they're just like- !" Umiko gasped as her senses perked, she looked toward her Director and ran to him. "Director, look out!"
Jumping in front of Garland, she took the hit in the chest... as a bullet came shooting at him. Falling limply to the ground, she bled out. Coming over to Umiko, Sora gave her a light shake which she didn't respond to. Enraged, Sora showed for the first time a display of emotion around them. His pupils slitted and his teeth sharpened as he opened his mouth wide to display his rumbling growl. Sora's head shot up, looking toward the direction of the bullet's projection.
He saw that it came from a Sniper far off in the distance toward the run down city. Judging by the armlet on the Sniper's wrist, he was a Gods Eater. It was an amazing shot for a guy with apparently one eye, but Sora would not be impressed. This Gods Eater shot at his Director, he shot his Umiko. Roaring at the assailant with his beast like fangs, Sora rushed after him.
"Secure the area, Kaminari." Sora ordered at his God Arc. Slicing his hand on it as he dropped it and ran off. The others would have questioned his strange action, but they were far too distracted by the motionless Umiko. But Dr. Sakaki's attention was pulled away as Sora's God Arc began to soak up Sora's blood. It began to morph and change, it started to grow and... yell out. The others watch in gasp as Sora's God Arc changed into a woman.
She had a wild look about her. Her platinum hair was shaved and cut into a high Mohawk that resemble a Cacatuidae. Her yellow pearled earrings matched her amber eyes, it didn't help change her look much with her wearing a Wild Titanite Top and white Sniper pants. Her skin had an unhealthy pale yellowish hint and on her arms were Spartacus' gauntlets that resemble chain-blades.
She stood her ground in front of everyone as she followed her Gods Eater's orders. Leaving his Director in trustworthy hands, Sora picked up his pace as he pursued the Sniper. Realizing his objective has been hindered, the Sniper aborted his mission and retreated with Sora following behind.
Soma couldn't be surprised anymore, he didn't have the strength to be. Umiko had been taken from them right before their eyes. She died, protecting a man that didn't even acknowledge her sacrifice. Soma hissed at his uncle as he looked down at Umiko with lack of gratitude or sympathy. He even had the impudence to kick her body with his automail leg's foot.
"You bastard!" Soma growled at him, but was ignored.
"Get up, Umiko." Garland said down to her. "You're fine."
Her eyes shot open as she bolted into a crouched down on her knees position. The others were stunned and horrified as she turned her head back toward Garland with her chest still bleeding out.
"Your orders, Sir?"
"Exterminate the threat." Garland simply ordered.
Hopping to her feet, Umiko took the blood leaking from her wound and smeared it on her God Arc. It morph and changed just like Sora's and roared out as it did. Unlike Sora's this one... was a guy.
His long onyx hair flowed down his back, and two long bangs fell down over to his violet eyes with charcoal scleras. What really startled them was his ultramarine skin. His lack of a shirt revealed his toned body and his dark bottom clothes resembled a slightly baggier Crimson Satan pants but the purple cloth of a Forbidden Holyblade wrapped around the upper half of his pants replaced the crimson belt and was also wrapped around his lower arms like bandages. This guy looked intimidating, like a being fallen from heaven and tainted by this putrid world.
"Keep everyone safe, Akutenshi." Umiko said to the blue man as she leaped off to catch up with Sora and the Sniper. Akutenshi simply nodded in compliance as his Gods Eater ran off, putting on an agitated look on his face as she disappeared. Akutenshi was it? ... What a fitting name.
Sora was in high pursuit of the Sniper, the guy was fast but Sora was closing in on him. The guy's God Arc was strapped to his back as the sparrow-tails of his white trench coat flapped with the wind. He wore a black suit under it which the trench coat slightly revealed with the opening designs in the back. His hair was spiky and had a strange two-tone with ebony hair with a hint of blue and a lower half that was platinum. Looking closer at the guys God Arc, Sora could tell he was a New-Type.
Sora's senses went off when he felt someone closing in on his side, but relief came over him when he saw it was Umiko from his peripheral vision. Strangely enough the Sniper turned around to see who was the extra person on his tail and he... grinned at the realization that it was her. The relief in his brown eye confused Sora, what did he have to be relieved about? He now had two hostiles on his tail, that was nothing to grin about. The idea that he might have felt possible relief at not actually killing Umiko was unfathomable to Sora. He was a threat to Sora's Director, and he needed to be taken down.
"Are you in pain?" Sora asked to her at his side.
"Unimportant information, we need to contain this threat." She answered, ignoring the ache the bullet inside her caused as she moved. They jumped from building to building in hot-tail of their assailant. Having enough of this game of chase, once Umiko got within reach she changed her arm into Devour mode and tried to take a bite out of him.
"Whoa!" He yelped as he ducked out of her way, and picked up pace. He tried slowing them down by squeezing through a tight alleyway. "Don't you think that was a little cannibalistic of you to try and take a bite out of me?"
"?" Umiko actually gave his words some thought as they continued their chase. Then slightly turned to Sora once they were out of the alleyway. "Sora, is it cannibalistic for us to Devour a human?"
"He's a Gods Eater like us, so I think it does apply." Sora honestly answered.
"But we're a special case, we don't even know if we were originally human. We could be committing cannibalism with the Aragami for all we know?"
"It doesn't matter now." Sora retorted back to her. "We're so close to both that no matter who we take a bite out of it will be considered cannibalism. We just simple chose a side to favor, and right now I consider eating humans cannibalistic."
"As fascinating as it is to listen to you two's deep discussion, I'm going to have to call it a quits today." The Sniper said, before grabbing his God Arc and firing at them. They dodged it by dashing to the sides, but it gave him enough time to pull something out of his belt pack. "If you guys are more Aragami now, then this should take effect."
Dropping the item to the ground, he revealed it to be a Stun Grenade. Blinding the two of them and stunning them for a second as their sight readjusted to the lighting. By the time they focused, he jumped off the collapsed building up ahead of them. Leaping on top of the building with a great stride, they ran to its edge to see him already starting the engine of what appeared to be a Fenrir jeep. Its Fenrir wolf logo roaring at them with the engine. He smirked at them before leaving them in the dust as he sped off into what was consider the Finland wasteland. It still had plant life in it, but no human could survive out there long with the wild Aragami running about.
"Damn, he's getting away." Sora hissed as his irises began to glow with his still slitted pupils.
"He's too far for us to pursue on foot now." Umiko relayed to Sora, turning to him to get him to see the level headed course to take. "Let's return to the Director. I fear leaving him alone for long."
Meanwhile, back with the group, the God Arcs stood tall and on guard around the group. Following their orders, although one was reluctant. Akutenshi had been building up tension the moment Umiko let him out, and it was effecting the others.
"What's wrong, Aku?" Kaminari abbreviated his name, making him twitched in irritation. "You're grumpier than usual and you didn't even fight an Aragami yet. Was it because you spent most of the action in a Vajra's stomach?"
"No, it has nothing to do with that." Akutenshi shot back at her before casting hate filled eyes toward Garland. "I just despise having to guard this bastard or anyone associated with him."
"Hmph, I'm pleased you still think so highly of me, Tool." Garland retorted back to him, Akutenshi growled at him in distaste. Kaminari placed a hand on his shoulder just to be ready to hold him back when need be.
"Aku, why do you hate the Director so much?!" Kaminari pondered his unfounded hate toward the Director of the Finland Branch. But she was taken aback as he turn to the side to face her with eyes that spoke of seeing ages of hardship and pain.
"You're young, Kaminari, and haven't really experienced much outside of this Branch. But I have, I've seen many things... horrible things. Things I couldn't stop from happening to me or my Gods Eater."
"Oh come now, I haven't done anything that bad." Garland chuckled at the God Arc, crossing his arms as he leaned back on the inactive Chopper.
"Haven't done anything that bad?! You've turned Umiko into a ghost in a shell!" Akutenshi barked at him, his fist clenched as he shook in rage. "She's nothing of what she use to be. She doesn't even know who she use to be. I miss the conversations we use to have together, I missed her smiles. I didn't care if I had to share her with another as long as she was happy. But now... now she doesn't even know the meaning of happiness! She can't feel sadness; she can't feel love; she doesn't even know fear!"
"I'd say that's an improvement." Akutenshi's eyes shot open in shock of Garland's words. "I mean, when I found her, she was a breaking mess. You should know, you were there."
"You... you BASTARD!" Akutenshi automatically pulled out his Devouring mouth from his arm, but his other hand gripped it in containment. Not for Garland sake but only for Umiko's request.
"What does he mean, Garland?" Akutenshi froze in place at the sound of Soma's voice. "What did he mean about Umiko not even knowing who she is?"
"Hm, exactly as it sounds. Umiko has no memory of her past, neither does Sora. All memories that could possible cause the host pain was wiped out by the dosage during the experiment." Garland smirked wilder as the shock and hurt came on the three of their faces. "I guess her memories at the Den were too much for her. But it was great that the memories before that were eliminated too, made them perfect to mold into the ultimate soldier."
"That's barbaric!" Soma growled at his uncle. He was going to say more before Akutenshi interrupted him. Akutenshi slowly turned toward Soma, shock filled eyes.
"You... I'll kill you..." His eyes slowly filled with venom and hate as he rushed toward Soma, Kaminari barely containing him. Soma was shocked by the pure animosity the God Arc was displaying towards him as the other struggled to hold him back in an arm hold. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
"!" Soma was use to the discrete hatred shot at him in the pass, he had never dealt with such an open display... so aggressive and straight on. "What the hell have I ever done to you?!"
"EVERYTHING!"
"!"
"I'm sick of you Schicksals! I despise how you all constantly use Umiko as a tool then throw her away as if she's a 'thing!'" Akutenshi barked at him, hissing through his teeth as he showed off his fangs. He breathed heavily in rage. "But you... oh, you were the worse of them all! Toying with her so obliviously and then crushed her as soon as you realized she was more than that! You have no idea how many times I've fantasized of separating your head from your body every time that horrible look of pain came over her eyes!"
"!" Soma couldn't think of anything to defend himself... the God Arc was right, he did crush her the moment she opened up to him. As disgusted as he was to admit it, Soma was his father's son. A cold hearted bastard in the making.
"And you!" Akutenshi shouted, breaking an arm away from Kaminari's weakening grip to point at the other two. "You're just as guilty, watching her suffer with pity. I was forced to sit back and watch this happen, 'you' did it willingly!"
He broke free from Kaminari and charged at Soma. Changing his arm into a God Arc buster blade while the other change into a Devouring mouth.
"And now I'm going to finally do what I've been wanting to do for a long time!" Akutenshi growled at Soma, his eyes twinkled with madness as excitement took over him. He didn't care that Umiko ordered him to protect them, he wanted Soma dead. Soma could do nothing but pull out his shield as Akutenshi's crazed eyes threw him off guard, it was like looking directly at his inner demons. While Soma was stunned for a second, he smacked Soma's God Arc out of the way and was about to go in for a bite. Alisa screamed before Umiko came down on Akutenshi, tackling him to the ground. "!"
"Aku, what wrong?" She asked so flatly as she laid down on his back, holding his arms down. "I could resonate your distress a mile away."
"..." Akutenshi turned his head away, he couldn't look at her when she had that blank look in her eyes.
"Umiko, control your God Arc."
"Don't lecture me, Sora. You just look after your own." Umiko shot back at Sora, slightly slanting her eyes at him before turning blankly back down at Akutenshi. "What's wrong? This isn't like you."
"..." Akutenshi's eyes softened as she released one of her hands to lightly brush her hand through his hair. Behind them, Sora check over to see if Kaminari was okay. She smiled at his concern before lightning shot out from her as she changed back into a God Arc.
"You're so strong, you're suppose to be looking out for me while I'm gone. Not causing trouble, Aku." Umiko's voice slightly softened down to him. "Pull your self together. I count on you to take my hand and save me when things get tough. You're one of my few truths, don't let me live a lie before my life flies by. I need you to slow me down."
"..." Darkness slowly consumed Akutenshi as he began to morph back into a God Arc. Before he was fully consumed he gave Umiko these finally words. "I'm sorry... that I couldn't save you from the Schicksal dogs."
"?" She looked down at her God Arc questionably before grabbing it and getting up on her feet. Soma tried to help her up but she dashed back, away from him, causing him to flinch at the icy rejection. "Don't touch me."
"(Chuckle) Do forgive her, Soma. She doesn't like strangers touching her." Garland slightly smirked at the hurt that filled his nephews eyes for a second. So he did hold a torch for his past Leader, but he rejected her affections before he could come to terms with his own. Now his shot was out the window, leaving him with nothing but regret. "But it's amazing what they are capable of doing with their God Arcs, isn't it? The enhanced Oracle Cells in their bodies allow them to transplant a temporary dosage to their God Arcs through their blood to give their God Arcs a more humanoid form. It comes in handy when they need extra comrades."
Sora and Umiko came up to Garland, holding their God Arcs in their left hands with their right ones rested on their right knees as they knelled to him.
"Our apologies, Director. The target got away in a Fenrir jeep." Umiko explained to him. "He appears to be a rouge New-Type Gods Eater, Sir."
"I see, and why didn't you take flight?" Garland questioned.
"We feared that he might not have been alone, Sir." Sora explained. "We didn't want to be too far away from you for long."
Going a step farther, Sora reached into Umiko's wound. She hissed as he pulled out the bullet. Pulling herself together, she silenced herself as Sora showed Garland the bullet.
"This is a real bullet, not one of the Oracle one's. Someone intended to kill you today, Director." Sora explained.
"Sir, I suggest we leave this area. It's far too risky for you to be out here." Umiko insisted, keeping her senses up about her surroundings.
"Hn, very well. We will depart for now. Good work you two." Garland said, crossing his arms behind his back as he headed back into the Chopper. But stopped to turn back toward them. "And No. 2."
"?"
"Clean yourself up before you bleed all over the carpet back at the Branch." Garland then went into the Chopper.
"Nothing to worry about, Sir. My wound is closing up as we speak."
The others did notice that the bleeding stopped, but that didn't do anything to the bleeding hearts inside them at the hollow shell Umiko had become.
*** Author's Notes ***
Akutenshi - Evil Angel; Aku- vice, evil and tenshi- angel
