(April 7 2024)—-
Last night was a very long night, in fact, if I remember correctly, I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I woke up at about 10 in the morning, which was normal for me when I could be more carefree, but not anymore. I went to the planning room to see how Narukami was doing, thinking he'd probably been up all night reading intel. I went to the planning room and saw Narukami hunched over the computer typing with one hand while his other hand was rapidly tapping the table.
"Narukami… are you ok?" I asked. He didn't answer. He didn't even react at all. "HEY!" I yelled to get his attention. That snapped him back. He just stared at me with a blank expression on his face. I looked at his eyes and they were very red and crusty. He needed to get some rest, more so he had to give his poor eyes a rest. "Why don't you go get some rest?" I suggested. "I can read the rest of the intel."
"That won't be necessary." Narukami slurred his words. "I've already read through all the intel, now I'm making a presentation to show everyone. I have a plan to get Nanako back. We will do that plan. Then we will find that FRICK Akechi." Please note, he didn't say 'frick.' "We'll make him tell us where his boss is. Then we find Chris chan. Then we shoot him dead. Hand me the razorblade and the straw." I obliged without hesitation. I was a little freaked out by the state Narukami was in. I probably should have asked why he wanted those things first, because he took a bunch of coffee grounds out of the grinder, used the razor blade to make a line out of the coffee grounds, then he SNORTED them. I just stood there. I was in complete shock about what I just saw. Narukami NEEDED rest. He's already made a presentation for the mission to get his sister back, but he couldn't go in that condition. He would have gotten himself killed. Luckily, HK walked in. If anyone could bully Narukami into taking a break, it was probably her.
"Why does it reek like coffee in here?" HK asked in her quite pleasant tone of voice. That was sarcasm, just so you know. "And why does that misplaced car-key look so high?" I went over to her and whispered in her ear.
"Narukami's been up all night long." I whispered. "He knows where his sister's being held and he has a plan to get her back... but he can't go on the mission like this."
"Why is your breath so hot, you used tampon?" HK whispered back.
"Just," I exasperatedly started, "Make him take a rest or something. Also what's a tampon?"
"I'll show you in twelve to sixteen days." HK answered. HK walked up to Narukami and slammed the table, which shook everything on it. Honestly, we need a new table. "Go to sleep, Grampscrapper, it's way past your old-man-bedtime!" HK yelled. Narukami then slowly moved his gaze from the computer to HK's eyes. Then he got off the computer, walked up to HK and lowered himself down, because Narukami is taller than HK. Not by too much, but he's still taller, nonetheless.
"Listen here you shaggy-tittied chromosome-less cheetah," Narukami said while breathing heavily. Also his eyes were twitching uncontrollably during the entire exchange. "I'm *this* close to finding Nanako, the only one I love in this whole entire God-forsaken dimension. So I'll stay up as long as I need to, and if you think for a SECOND that I'll let her spend one more night in Chris-chan's creepy pedo-land, then you're high on every single substance known to man. Not just man, NO, but man, t-doll, cabbit, and anything else on this planet, capische?" HK just stood there staring at him. My heart was pounding, I thought they were going to get into an actual physical fight or something. HK then swifty punched Narukami's forehead.
"Oh crap…" I muttered. Narukami just stood there with his mouth hanging open. He suddenly vomited what looked like coffee grounds, then he passed out.
"My titties aren't saggy." HK said to the now knocked out Narukami. "I'll take care of the garbage. Klonoa, keep planning. I want to go on a mission today. It's been boring lately." HK grabbed Narukami by his legs and started dragging him out of the room.
"Don't actually throw him in a dumpster!" I yelled to HK. "If I find him in the dumpster, you're not going on the mission, and I will check!"
"Fine." HK huffed.
—-
I've spent most of the day going over Narukami's notes and comparing them to the intel we got from the battle captain's house the previous night. I have to say, even when he's sleep deprived, Narukami can get stuff done. Only problem with his work was the plan he came up with on how we would attack the place. According to the intel, Nanako was being held in an old castle that had been fortified by Akechi's men. If it was a fortified place, we couldn't just charge it. We needed diversionary attacks, flanks, different ways in… thinking of everything we needed to make it in and out of there alive was starting to make my head spin. I spent most of that morning re-working Narukami's plan of attack.
"Want some lunch, Shikikan?" I heard someone say. It was UMP-9 holding a sandwich. I had gotten too wrapped up in planning. I did however find it easier to plan when there aren't two lunatics screaming over each other constantly.
"Sure." I answered. I didn't realize how hungry I was.
"So, how are the plans coming?" 9 asked.
"They're going well." I answered. "Narukami's original plans probably would have gotten us all killed. I did come up with a new plan. My goal is to make sure everyone comes back alive, but in order to do that I need everyone to play their parts."
"No problem!" 9 said with enthusiasm. "You just point us in a direction and tell us what to do, and we'll get it done!"
"Keep that in mind." I started. "We took so much intelligence from the battle captain's computer. I potentially know all of the significant places in this region... we'll run Akechi straight out of his region.
"I say we kill him." 9 said. "Akechi's like a psychopath... no, he IS a psychopath! The world will be better without him."
"I'll keep that in mind." I said. "Thanks for the sandwich, it was delicious."
"I'm so glad you enjoyed it!" 9 said as she left. "I made it myself."
"9, wait!" I called. 9 stopped and turned towards me in a pretty goofy fashion. "How's Suomi doing?"
"Go check on her soon." 9 said. "She's been kind of lonely."
"Klonoa und Suomi sitting in a baum," I heard Kar98k singing from outside the room.
"Kar98k, stop singing that! I'm serious!" I yelled. With that, she stopped immediately. After 9 left, I ended up just pacing around the room. My mind was kind of blank. I was really in the zone before the lunch break, but afterwards it was kind of hard to get back in the zone. I thought my plan of attack was good enough, but I knew that if I lost anyone, I would never forgive myself. I eventually decided to go see how Suomi was doing with her concussion. Afterall, I did want her to come with us on the mission that day. I was walking up to her room when I heard some very faint noise. Like a constant distorted guitar or something. As I got close to Suomi's room I started to notice it was coming from her room. I opened the door a crack to make sure she was ok, and I saw her dancing like one of those inflatable dummies in a windstorm, no offense to her. She had headphones on, but I could still hear the music loud and clear. I just kind of stood there watching her. She didn't know I was there. She eventually did a one-eighty turn while doing jazz hands, then she noticed me. She got really startled, then her cheeks got red.
"H...how long have you been standing there?" Suomi feebly asked.
"About a minute, maybe." I answered. "You don't seem like the type of girl who'd enjoy loud music like that."
"I'm sorry." She said while fidgeting. "It's a guilty pleasure."
"Don't be sorry." I said. "So I assume your head is all better? I mean... since you found the energy to jam out?"
"Mostly." Suomi answered. "I'm definitely ready to fight again whenever you need me."
"You got it." I said with the confidence of a Shikikan, I think. "Actually... would you want to help me plan a big attack?"
"Sure!" Suomi said excitedly. "What are we attacking?"
"We found where Narukami's sister is being held. We're going to free her." I announced.
"Well... then we'd better get planning then." Suomi said as she walked close to me. "This attack is going to mean a lot more than simply taking some of Akechi's land."
—-
It was early evening before Suomi and I got the plans finalized. HK helped too but I didn't have much of a say in that to be honest. I called everyone to meet in the planning room once we got everything ready. It was going to be my first 'official briefing.' I was a bit nervous, but I was also excited. Narukami and all the girls came into the room. The girls took their seats, and Narukami came up to the front of the room where I was.
"Klonoa." Narukami started. "Will you give HK a message for me?"
"Sure, what is it?" I asked as I got a notepad out.
"Tell her…" Narukami started. "...She can go to hell." HK then stood up and pointed at Narukami.
"Tell me that to my face next time, you Caillou-embodiment!" HK yelled.
"Listen here you Hanako-looking girl," Narukami retorted. "I will literally perform RAGNAROK on you and incinerate your saggy…" Narukami was cut off by a really loud whistle. I was startled and looked towards Suomi. As it turns out, she can whistle really loud. Suomi stopped Narukami at the right time. If HK had punched Narukami again, we wouldn't have been able to go on the mission that evening.
"Now that THAT'S out of the way…" I started. "We can start discussing today's mission. It's not going to be an easy one, so that's why teamwork is essential here. We are going to attack a place called 'Akechi's dungeon of love.'"
"Blin!" AN-94 said. "So Akechi's as perverted as Chris-chan himself, I take it?"
"Here's what's morbidly interesting…" I started. "The purpose of this place is essentially a girls-only labor camp, but it ends up being kind of like a buffet, if you will, for Chris-chan to walk through and takes his pick."
"It's true." Suomi said. "I spend a brief amount of time in there after I was captured for the first time. I didn't know what is was or where I was, but life in there was awful." Narukami stood up.
"We have to rescue Nanako!" Chris chan might go in there and 'pick' Nanako out! We have to rescue her before that happens... she's just a little girl!" I think Narukami was tearing up a little as he said that. As mean as Narukami could be at times, it was touching to see his devotion to his little sister.
"Hold on, Narukami." Suomi started. "Chris surprisingly has some morals: only fifteen or older can be picked, so you don't need to worry about anything of that nature happening." Narukami sat down, seeming slightly relieved, but still very uneasy about the entire situation.
"So what is the plan, Shikikan?" M4 asked.
"We need to mount diversionary attacks on all sides of the building." I said as I pointed to the map on the projector. "These attacks will consist of SMGs and pistols leading the charge, and I want assault and marksman rifles backing them up, clearing out as much resistance as possible. Try and drag as many forces as you can to your positions to clear the front. Me, Narukami, Suomi and 404 will go through the main gate, find Nanako, then get out. We'll wait until all the distraction teams are in place, then we'll all drive up to the gate. Once we have Nanako, I want everyone to come to the front gate and aid our escape. Getting Nanako out of there is top priority."
"How will we take the gate down?" 45 asked.
"I can use an anti-personnel grenade on it." HK answered. "One grenade, and the entire gate will be taken down."
"Great, now let's move out!" Narukami yelled. No one moved.
"You heard the guy, let's go!" I said, but not in a cruel tone. Everyone got up and started heading to the garage. I picked up my AK and headed to the garage alongside everyone. I caught up to Narukami and patted his shoulder.
"We'll get Nanako back by sundown, I guarantee that." I said confidently. Narukami endearingly slapped my hand that was on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Klonoa." Narukami said. "You actually are a pretty good leader.
—-
"Don't worry Nanako. Big bro's coming to save you." Narukami mumbled to himself. Narukami Suomi and I were in a car just around the bend of a road that head straight over to the dungeon of love. We got word from the girls, they were drawing forces towards their positions at the East, North and South walls. All that was left is the West, where the gate was. Narukami shifted into drive and sped towards the West gate with 45, 9, HK and G11 trailing us in a van. We came around the bend in the road, and there it was, just at the end of the long road, Akechi's dungeon of love. We stopped our cars and HK got out of the 404 van and went behind the hood to line up a shot from her grenade launcher. She stood there for a monent, then started hitting her gun.
"TAKE THE GATE DOWN ALREADY!" Narukami barked.
"Dangit! It's a bad grenade! It won't fire!" HK yelled.
"HK416 you unsalted stick of butter!" Narukami barked. "I'll take the gate down myself!" Narukami started speeding towards the gate at full speed.
"What are you doing?" I yelled at Narukami. Narukami pulled a grenade out and pulled the pin.
"I'm ramming the gate! Get ready to jump out!" Narukami yelled like a mad man.
"Perkele! He's lost it!" Suomi yelled as she desperately opened the back seat door. "Shikikan! Jump!" Suomi and I jumped out of the car. It was a hard landing so it took me a few seconds to get my bearings back. I saw the car speeding towards the gate, and Narukami jumped out in the nick of time. The car hit the gate and exploded, taking the entire gate down. Without hesitation, Narukami ran through the open gate, yelling and growling with determination as he ran. Suomi and I ran in to support him, and 404 pulled their car close to the gate and followed us in. We got into the entrance, but all of the sudden, guards were flooding the hallway and balconies! We wouldn't be able to hold our positions without help!
"Shikikan! What's your status?" M4 asked over the radio.
"We're in the castle, but every guard in here is rushing our position!" I yelled over all the gunfire. "I need all three distraction teams to make their way over to the entrance and help us hold it! Please hurry!"
"Roger that, Shikikan!" M4 acknowledged. "Alright everyone, you heard the Shikikan! He needs us!"
"Halte durch, Shikikan!" Kar98k said over the radio.
"What did she just say?" I asked as I was putting a new mag in my gun.
"Hang in there." G11 answered calmly. She then tugged on HK's sleeve. "I'm sleepy."
"Too bad!" HK snapped. "Now keep fighting, you broken Taco Bell straw!" We kept fighting hard, but for every guard I shot, it seemed like at least ten more were behind him. We were barely hanging in there, and I was getting very close to ordering everyone to retreat!
"Dangit! Gun jam!" 45 yelled as she ducked behind cover and started desperately pulling on the charging handle of her gun. The guards were getting even closer. One more push on their end and we would have had to surrender or be killed.
"We have to hold out just a little while longer!" I yelled. "We should be getting reinforcements soon!"
"I have an idea. It will buy us a little bit of time!" 45 yelled as she pulled some weird can-looking thing out of her back pocket and threw it at the guards. Right when it hit the ground, a blanket of smoke came from the can, which quickly engulfed most of the corridor. We couldn't see them coming now.
"This should buy us time!" 45 yelled as she kept trying to unjam her gun.
"Everyone, top off your guns and take aim." I commanded. "When the smoke clears, fire like our lives depend on it... because they do!"
"We're losing time!" Narukami grumbled. "We have to save Nanako!"
"We will." I reassured Narukami while aiming my AK. "The enemy will come through the smoke any second now." I could feel my heart pounding hard and fast. The smoke cleared but… there was a huge attack force ready to charge at us. Suddenly, by the grace of God, the other girls started pouring through the gate, cutting down the guards ready to charge at us. One of the girls, IDW, came up to me.
"We'll push forward for you, Shikikan! Nyaaaaaa~" She charged at the enemies with cat-like reflexes. The enemies were getting pushed back by the overwhelming amount of T-dolls rushing their positions and flushing them out of cover. We pushed them enough to get to the stairs on the left side of the corridor.
"Alright, let's get up the stairs and find the cells!" I yelled. "M4, MP5, Negev and IDW, come with us!" We all went up the stairs, but there was a big machine gun guarding the hallway. We barely got behind cover. M4 pulled Sopmod Jr. out of her backpack.
"45, you have any can-thingies left?" M4 asked.
"You kidding? I'm always packing!" 45 answered as she tossed a smoke grenade in the air and caught it a few times. Note to self, the can-looking thingy is a smoke grenade. She then went to the corner and threw the smoke grenade towards the machine gun, once again engulfing the entire area in smoke.
"You know what to do, Soppo." M4 said to Jr. By the way, 'Soppo' is a pretty cute nickname for her. From that point, I started calling her 'Soppo.'
"Gya gya gya gya gyaaa!" Soppo excitedly yelled. M4 lightly tossed her towards the machine gun, and she disappeared into the smoke. We heard a blood-curdling scream along with terrible crunching sounds, then five seconds later she came back covered in blood. She then shook the blood off and climbed onto my shoulders.
"Let's go, Cat-man!" Soppo said. We started across the upper level, but I looked down to the main level, and the girls were starting to get overwhelmed by all the guards. There were even a few of them that had gotten wounded. The girls down there were starting to get pushed back.
"Is everything ok, Shikikan?" Suomi asked. The others were still running down the hallway. I knew I should have been going with them, but if the girls down there got overwhelmed, it would game over for all of us. Plus, I really didn't want to lose anyone. I looked at the machine gun on the floor.
"Suomi," I started, "Help me lift this Machine gun onto the railing. I'm going to cover the girls on the entry level." She obliged, so we lifted the VERY heavy MG together.
"Lift! Lift! Lift!" Soppo chanted. We got the MG on the railing.
"I'll stay with you and cover you." Suomi said.
"No. You need to go with Narukami and the other girls. Help them find Nanako. I'll catch up with you once I help the girls down below." Suomi looked conflicted, but her strong sense of duty dictates her actions. "I'll be fine, don't worry about me!"
"Yes, Shikikan." Suomi said as she turned and ran to catch up with the team. I lined up the iron sights and put them in front of the seemingly endless groups of enemies down below, took a breath, then squeezed the trigger. I slowly moved the MG side to side as I was firing and took out a good amount of enemies.
"Shoot in short bursts!" Negev yelled. "Or else the gun will overheat!"
"Thanks!" I yelled as I noticed the barrel getting orange. I had to wait a few seconds before I could fire again. The enemies started to notice where I was, so they started firing. and pushing even harder towards the stairs. The girls were keeping them back, but I had to do all I could from where I was.
"Get on my back, Soppo. I don't want you getting shot." Soppo climbed off my shoulder and grabbed onto the collar of my shirt. It wasn't that comfortable but at least she was mostly safe. I used my AK to take out guards while I waited for the MG to cool down. It didn't take them out quite like the MG, but it was helping. Their numbers were getting weaker.
"Klonoa!" Narukami yelled over the radio. "We need some support! We're on the walkway across from you and the re are guards pouring out of the room at the end on the hallway! Can you use the MG to take some of the heat off?"
"Can do." I radioed back. I got back on the MG and started firing again. I was alternating fire between the ground floor and the walkway adjacent to mine. I remembered as I fired; short controlled bursts.' This went on for a while, until I cleared the walkway across from me. I watched my team as they ran across and entered the North wing. Once they were safe, I continued to fire on the enemies below me. I quickly cut down their attack force, and the girls took the hallway.
"Danke Schon, Shikikan!" Kar98k yelled.
"You saved us all, Shikikan!" AK-12 yelled.
"Hold up!" I yelled down to the girls on the first floor. "I want everyone between the entrance and the second pillar to get the wounded girls out of the castle and establish a perimeter to cover our escape! Also grab the MG I was using and use it to hold the perimeter, it should be of great use to us. Everyone beyond the second pillar, keep fighting through the castle!"
"Yes Shikikan!" All the girls yelled in unison. Some of the girls helped the wounded girls out of the castle and went out the entrance. I ran as fast as I could towards the door on the adjacent walkway and rejoined my team.
"NANAKO!" Narukami called out as he ran down the hallways. "Nanako! Where are you?" We all tried keeping up with him while also making sure we didn't get ambushed by any guards. One guy did come out of an alcove in front of Narukami, but the guard didn't stand a chance. Narukami used the butt of his M14 and all of his momentum to basically break the guy's face. Narukami wouldn't stop running, despite the fact that we were passing cells with prisoners in them begging to be released. We had to free all the prisoners, but I didn't want Narukami running into an ambush or something.
"Girls," I started, "I need you all to free these prisoners and get them out of here. I'm going to try and keep up with Narukami. Suomi, I want you with me."
"Roger that." M4 said. "Good luck Shikikan." Suomi and I then started running down the long hallway as fast as we could. It was hard catching up with Narukami but we eventually found him in a big fancy room with a giant plaque on the wall that said 'Akechis dungeon of love.'
"You ok, Narukami?" I asked. He was leaning on his knees catching his breath.
"I will be once I find Nanako and get her the heck outta here."
"You won't get much further, you studious little bookworms." We heard a voice say. It didn't sound like it came from a loudspeaker, almost as if it came from someone in this room. We all had our guns up ready to fire. Suddenly some tall gray-spikey-haired guy apparrated out of nowhere.
"Well well," the guy started. "If it isn't the intrusive little brats. I do hope you're enjoying your tour of the dungeon of love."
"Actually… um…" Suomi started. "It's horrible."
"AAAAHHHH, you're really starting to annoy me!" The guy yelled.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Narukami yelled in an earth-shaking voice. "TELL ME WHERE MY LITTLE SISTER IS!" Narukami charged at the man, but the man disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Narukami fell to the ground. The man reappeared behind Narukami.
"Better luck next time, smarty. Now you're going to PAY!" The man yelled. He turned towards me and Suomi and shot electricity at us! Suomi jumped in front of me and took most of it, which threw her against the wall! I started charging the man with my knife as Suomi was in mid-air. I swung my knife at the man, but he once again apparated away! Narukami had gotten himself up and he managed to start attacking the man while his guard was down! The man apparated out of Narukami's choke-hold, which caused Narukami to fall to the ground once again! Suomi and I both ran at the man, but he somehow made an electricity shield around him, which threw both me and Suomi at the wall again. I was starting to get extremely worried about Suomi getting another concussion! The man apparated over to Narukami and put his foot on him to hold him down.
"Any last words?" The man asked. Narukami looked around the room rapidly, showing no signs of fear.
"Did you make that plaque on the wall?" Narukami asked.
"Why yes I did, you little bookworm. I'm quite into woodworking." The man answered proudly.
"Interesting…" Narukami started. "But isn't there supposed to be an apostrophe in Akechi's name since he possesses the dungeon of love?"
"AAAAAhhhhhhh." The man groaned in agony. "You may have outsmarted me this time… BOOKWORM! But I'll be BACK! I. , never quits! You'll seeeeeeee!" The man yelled as he basically turned into a tornado and left the room. Narukami got up and immediately started through a door on the other side of the room. Suomi and I were able to get ourselves up and follow him.
"Nanako? Where are you?" Narukami desperately yelled.
"Big bro?" We heard from down the hall. Narukami stopped and looked around. He then ran towards the voice like a man possessed. He stopped in front of a cell. Tears were rolling down his cheek. He hit the lock on the door with the butt of his gun repeatedly until it broke. He ran into the cell and held the little girl in the cell, who I'm assuming is Nanako. "You found me! You saved me! I was so scared!"
"You're ok." Narukami whispered in tears. "We are going to get you out of here." Nanako buried her face into Narukami's chest.
"Big bro…" Nanako said while rapidly breathing. "I missed you so much!" Narukami calmingly shushed her.
"I missed you too!" Narukami said with a shaky voice. "Don't worry, we'll bring you somewhere safe." It was a really touching moment. I'll admit, I teared up watching it. Narukami is a big brother with the heart of a knight. If Narukami had more than one life, I can tell he would risk every single one of them to make sure Nanako was safe.
"Shikikan." I heard 45 say over the radio. "There are reinforcements being dispatched here. We have to leave now!"
"Roger that, 45!" I said. "Narukami, Suomi, we have to leave now! Narukami, you might have to carry Nanako out of here."
"You got it!" Narukami said. He put his M14 on his back and held Nanako close to his chest. We ran back the way we came towards the staircase which would lead to the exit. Suomi and I led the way, clearing out any guards in our way. If Narukami took any fire, it could have hurt Nanako, so we had to keep Narukami safe. We came to the staircase, where 45, HK and Kar98k were waiting.
"You saved das kinder, ja!" Kar98k cheered.
"We'll cover your escape!" 45 said as she threw a smoke grenade. Suomi took a position near the hallway.
"I'll help them cover you, Shikikan! You and Narukami should run to the exit!" Suomi said as she put a fresh mag in her gun. The four of them laid down fire so Narukami and I could get out of the castle. All the other girls had cleared out the castle, got the prisoners out, and they even set up a line of defense with the machine gun I used earlier. Narukami and I got behind the line the girls set up. There wasn't much cover, so it was going to be extremely difficult to hold the position.
"Narukami, use the van 404 used to get Nanako out of here! TMP, IDW, MP5 and Micro Uzi, ride in the van, get the vans we left behind the bend and bring them over here!" I ordered.
"You got it, Klonoa!" Narukami yelled. "You four, get in the van now! We can't let Nanako get hurt!" The four girls got in the van with Narukami and Nanako and they took off towards the vans we left behind. We had to hold the line as best we could. Luckily there was only one way they could come out of the castle, so we all focused our fire on the small chokepoint the guards were pouring out of. Everything was going well… until they started coming from around the castle and even had snipers on the roof. We started getting overwhelmed and I couldn't speak for the other girls, but I was starting to run out of ammo.
"Shikikan, I'll buy us some more time!" M4 yelled. M4 then took out her revenge cannon, which was like a giant rocket launcher that could fit more than one rocket in it. She took care of the main gate and the left side of the building before she had to stop using the revenge cannon. That helped us out a lot, but then more guards started coming from both sides of the castle and we weren't really able to fire back because of all the snipers on the roof!
"Sh-Shikikan! I'm hit!" MP-40 yelled. I ran over to her and applied pressure to the wound she got on her belly.
"You'll be ok, MP-40! Please stay with me!" I yelled desperately. Just then, the vans came behind us.
"Get in!" Narukami yelled. 45 threw a smoke grenade in front of us to try and keep the enemies from getting direct hits on the vans.
"Get the wounded in the vans first!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. More guards were rushing us, so Negev went on her belly and started using her giant gun, which did a pretty good job of keeping the enemies suppressed. There were a few more snipers on the roof, so HK fired a grenade at them, which sent the snipers in close proximity to the explosion flying.
"We have the wounded in the vans!" Suomi yelled. "Shikikan, get in the van! PLEASE!" I used my last mag to cover Negev and HK as they got into the van. Once everyone was in the van, Suomi helped me in, and we sped back to the hospital. Once it was safe, I collapsed in sheer exhaustion and unbelief. We did it. We rescued Narukami's little sister, and we're all still here to tell the tale. I looked out the front window and saw the beautiful desert sunset.
—-
We made it back to the hospital just before nightfall. I stepped out of the van and watched as the wounded were taken to the infirmary. Narukami came up beside me and patted my shoulder.
"Klonoa…" Narukami said. I turned and looked at him. He was standing there holding Nanako, who was fast asleep with her face on his shoulder. "I'm sorry about how I acted before. I'm also sorry about saying I only saved you to help me find Nanako. I... I was out of line."
"It's ok." I said. "I know you didn't fully mean it." Narukami chuckled a bit.
I know it's a bit soon, but after everything we went through, you're honestly starting to feel like second family to me." Narukami said. "Anyway, I'm going to put Nanako in bed now. Great job with everything, by the way." I stood there and watched Narukami walk into the hospital entrance.
"Are you ok, Shikikan?" Suomi asked me. She startled me a little bit, if I'm being honest.
"Oh... um... yeah. I'm ok." I stammered. "I just... need a few moments."
"Of course." Suomi said sweetly. "Take all the time you need." Suomi smiled at me and made her way into the hospital. I leaned against the van and slid down to the ground. I sat there, against the van, with a feeling welling up inside of me that I had been trying to keep inside me this whole time.
"Family..." I whispered to myself.