Chapter 7

"And that's how we recieved funding from the Kohouin Family." Shu finishes, smiling.
"So basically you just saved their ship from your own trap?" I say, munching on some pocky.

"Yeah, in a nutshell. Weird that Arisa's void is like that though."
"Train is stopping." the metro announces.

"This is your stop right? See you guys later." I wave to Shu and Inori.

It's annoying that I have to keep up the act of going on the subway so that it looks like I have a home somewhere else.

...

"Home, sweet, home!" I say, walking into the bunker. I haven't been here in ages since I've joined GHQ. But now that Gai's decided to send Shu back home, I can come here again!
"I wonder if my cameras are still intact..." I boot up my computer, half expecting it to crash. I hear the windows loading sound and my desktop of 'Bliss'.

"Now if I..." I load up a couple programs, go into my router, into the network, and...

"Bingo!" I still have access to all of GHQ! I wonder who does their computer encrypting, because they suck.

Unfortunately, not 10 minutes into my camera browsing I get a call from the devil herself.

"Tsugumi?"
"We have a mission."
"Again!? It's only been like, a month since school restarted! And I just got back home!"
"It's almost break, and Gai wants to do something with one of your classmates."
"Then how come I need to get involved?"
"He wants you to try something before we go to your friend. Breaking into some security measure."
"GHQ sucks at this stuff. It'll be a piece of cake."
...

"What the fuck! I can't get in!" I exclaim, defeated. "This lock mechanism is fucking bullshit!"
"Hey, hey, calm down. We didn't expect you to unlock it, we just wanted you to have a go." Tsugumi says, handing me a grape soda.
"Alright, I guess we'll have to use that guy from our class." I say, leaning back in my chair. "Is Shu going to do it?"
"Yeah, Gai already told him." Tsugumi says, checking the internet. "We're going on a trip along with him, so don't get too comfortable."
"Why do I still have to come?" I complain.

"So there's an equal boy-girl ratio in the group."
"Is it that important?"
"Why yes, yes it is." Tsugumi smirks.

"Screw you."

...

"This is your vacation home?" I say, flabbergasted. I'm currently looking at a huge house that could pass as a small mansion.

"Yeah, apparently I lived here when I was a kid. I don't remember any of it, though." Shu answers, a little flustered.

"And you have a beach, right next to it!" Shota exclaims. He's the kid we need in order to pull this shit off.

"Hey, unpack first!" Hare says, chasing after him.
"Don't be like that!" Kusama yells, chasing after Hare.

Anddddddd my phone's ringing.
"Hello?" I say, praying it's not Tsugumi.

"It's me!" Tsugumi says. I can hear the cockiness in her voice.

"You need me?"
"Not now, but just giving you the heads up. Have fun and whatever, we're starting the mission at 8. Come out to the cave where you failed."
"That's not fair! I didn't fail, I just-"
"Shut it. Just be there, ok sweetcheeks?"
"When did I get that nickname?"
"You didn't." she hangs up.

...

at 8 pm

"Alright, I'm here!" I shout. "Where are you guys!"
"Not so loud, clumsy!" Ayase appears, with Tsugumi pushing her wheelchair.

"Well you two weren't coming, so I thought I had to make my presence more obvious. And it worked."
"Yes, it worked in alerting everybody within a 50 metre radius that you're at this very spot. Congratulations." she says, annoyed. "Anyway, we're just waiting on Shu to drag Shota out of the house so that we can use his void."

"How's Shu going to do that?"
"I don't know. Do you care?"
"Not really." I yawn. "Got coffee?"
"What do I look like, your barista?" Tsugumi says.

Ring ring ring. It's her phone.

"Let me get that- Hello? Gai? Yeah... ok. Yeah, I'll bring him too." She hangs up. "I know where Shu will be with Shota. Follow me." she says, pushing Ayase's wheelchair.

"Right." I trudge along, still groggy. I'm usually not tired by 8...

...

"What are you doing?!" Shu screams, intercepting Shota's confession.
"What!? I knew you had a thing for her! What is she to you, anyways! Your relationship is so goddamn mysterious!" Shota yells, clearly pissed off.

"Inori... Inori's my..." Shu stammers. Fuck, I'll deal with it. I run up behind Shota and knock him out.

"Bad form, dude. Never interrupt a confession." I say, dragging Shota's unconciousness towards a bench.

"Inori's my..." Kido teases, coming out from behind a bush.
"Wha- HOW LONG HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN HERE!?" Shu says, distraught.

"Long enough." Gai walks out, alongside the other Undertakers. "Not according to plan, Shu, but it'll have to do."

"And by the way, you just violated the bro code. Don't ever do that again." Argo smirks, catching up to Gai.
"You guys suck." Shu says, embarassed.
"Whatever, take his void, Shu." I say, gestering towards the knocked-out Shota. "Do it already."
"Ok, ok, one second." Shu does his thing, before we stop at the entrance of the cavern.

"So, how do we get in..." I say, looking at a giant wall.

"Shu, use that camera on the door there." Gai commands, pointing towards a small opening.

"Alright..." Shu fires the gun. Immediately we hear a hinge squeaking, and a door opening. Suddnely, the entire cave is open to us.

"So his void... is a unlock mechanism?" Shu asks.

"Basically. Let's hurry inside, there's going to be resistance." Gai says hurredly.

We run into the opening and take out several unalert guards with ease. Then, we hear their reinforcements. 20 freaking soldiers. It must've been from when we took down those men from the entrance. I knew it was too quiet!

"Hey! Shu! Tsugumi and I will hold these guys off! You guys keep going on!" I yell, grabbing my knives.

"Thanks Saul! You have my gratitude!" Gai yells back as they run into the next corridor.
"Tsugumi, you ready?"

"You don't have to ask me, Saul." That's my cue.

Now, you gotta remember these are 20 armed soldiers with state-of-the-art weapons and armor against 2 kids, one who's a small girl with 2 pistols, and a guy who refuses to use guns.

The first few were simple. They don't expect a guy to be able to throw a knife that accurately. 4 down. 16 left on my side. A feel a bullet graze my knee. That was close.

A quick dodge to the right and I break into cover, running into the surrounding machinery. Interestingly, there's a lot of random crap here, it's like a mini-junkyard. Some weird boxes here, a large metal bin with nuts and bolts, it's crazy. Which serves me a huge favor.

I try and lose them. They're only as good as they know my location, and luckily for me, I turned off the lights a while ago. I slide up behind one and slit his throat. Easy. No sound either, which is a huge bonus.

I manage to take down 5 more guys this way, but I'm running myself into a corner. 10 soldiers left, not a huge problem. I can probably hack down a couple more, get one from distance...

"AH! Help!" a pleading voice cries in desperation. TSUGUMI!

"I'm coming!" I stand up and reveal my position. Fucking brilliant move, Saul. I immediately feel a bullet lodge itself into my shoulder, but I don't feel it. Why do I have to use this thing!

I go into my backpack and pull out my sword.

Let me explain. This isn't really a sword, but more of a retractable long-dagger. I hate using swords, they're so... flimsy. However this, this is more my style. Small enough to use as a knife, but long enough for medium distance range. I hate to use it because I'm scared I might break it. And if I manage to break this thing...

I sprint full speed into a cluster who seem to have cornered Tsugumi. After mercilessly tearing through a couple of them, I pick up the injured girl and run towards more cover. It's dark as hell, and as long as we stay quiet I should be able to patch up anything-

"DAMMIT!" I feel- well no, I get bitchslapped by 2 bullets in my calf. Now I can barely walk, and my left leg is numb.

My vision is crystal-clear; too clear. I'm just hoping my adrenaline keeps pumping for at least another 5 minutes, before I black-out. I use everything I have to drag her unconcious body towards my hiding spot. Not long until they find us, if we don't move. I hastily open my bag to try and find some guaze, some tape, anything... I know I keep some first-aid shit in here, where the hell is it!?

I found the gauze, but it's difficult to wrap around an arm when your arms are constantly shaking. Not to mention I can barely move my fingers. Just a little more... Done. Her arm should stop bleeding now. That's a relief. Now, I just need to-

"What the-" I hear Oogumo's voice as he notices the soliders around the premises.
"Where's Saul?" Shu! Oh God, never have I ever loved to hear that guy's voice!

"I'm over here! With Tsugumi! Get the soliders first!" I yell, giving away our spot. Hopefully they can deal... with... the... my vision fades to blackness, succumbing to pain.

...

I didn't sleep well. My entire body aches, and I feel nothing but pain.

I look at my surroundings. I can't speak, I can't move, I can't do anything but look around. I seem to be in a bed, somewhere. I've definitely never been here. Tidy room, but a little lacking. Bed's comfortable, though. I try and turn my neck. Bad decision.

"Emnnn..." I groan in slight pain. I'm not doing that again.

"Saul!" I hear a girl's voice as she opens the door. "Are you awake?"
I groan.

"Thank God, I didn't think you would wake up after those wounds..." I can tell by the hair it's Inori now. At least she didn't tie me to a bed like last time.
"Just get some sleep, Saul. Your condition isn't exactly optimal." Shu walks in, hair unruly. "Be more careful, man! You almost got yourself killed when you ran into the fray like that!"
What?
"Yes, what were you thinking. Carrying Tsugumi and running towards the exit wasn't exactly a safe, nor smart decision." Inori adds.
What?
"Just sleep, alright?" They both leave the room, after giving me some water.

I have no idea what they're talking about, but whatever...