Chapter 21:
On Your Side(?)
[Recommended Music: Underwater Temple, Final Fantasy I.]
Head's foggy, only able to distinguish blurriness when attempting to part heavy eyelids. After a short sigh, roaming hands find something soft yet firm to cling onto. Something warm. Cheeks edge closer lazily in single-minded focus to cuddle onto, unto, into that so foreign sensation of company.
The pleasant moment is, regrettably, interrupted by a banging sound of such force that Meiya could believe its recipient would be demolished soon enough. Distant yet constant, the strong ramming continues without rhyme nor pause.
While at first she tried to ignore, the noise is too loud to not become aware. Yet her head spins in a fog, failing to recall ever being roused with such savage a call. Not even on her worst moods had Mana attempted such, the Instructor would yell after the fact… Understandably, Meiya is void of answers at what could be causing this.
"Open this door and let me in right this instant! Waah… Why did you use the chain lock?! That's not fair…"
Repining in venom, that distant voice accompanying the smacking sounds. A foreign voice, it was, should have been, yet it pulls strings in her spine. With a grumpy groan, Meiya finally flickers her heavy eyes open. She's momentarily blinded by early sunshine, squirming against the cover of… soft sheets, smooth pillows and cushions below molding to her body, as well as the warmth safe kept between herself, and one sleeping Shirogane.
Meiya watches his sleepy expression grown stirred, completely upset at their rude awakening and diving into the pillow as if to ignore the existence of everything outside of their shared shelter.
Something told Meiya this was strange, for her to be close enough to perhaps count the amount of hairs in his brows. Had she ever shared a resting place with another? Compared to the monotonous bunk in the base, the private cage for a room deep below the Mitsurugi Household's basement, this cushy warmth was a new feeling. Not unwelcomed, however.
It tickles fireflies on her thighs and stomach, and Meiya again wonders what exactly tugs at her mind but the more she struggles to form words the more the fireflies spread embers inside her. Like a moth to a fire, much like a sunflower praising dawnbreak all she could do was lean closer and closer into that comfort under the shadows of the sheets.
This could have gone on forever, and it would have been a celestial pleasure.
That is, if not for the incessant ramming still ongoing not too far away along the curses shouted by the venomous voice.
"Gah! Cut it out! You're so damn annoying!" Shirogane shouts, raising suddenly and quite fed up with the situation.
"Indeed… What a commotion," Meiya says, she thinks she did at least, and nods as a hand reaches out and rubs one of Shirogane's arms. For no particular reason, of course, she would definitely not be missing its contact.
Shirogane then turns to look at her, blinks oddly for a second, then fumbles words as his face veers over her person and flushes crimson. So different to the downtrodden veneer of late days, a glint of innocence she had never admired in his unassuming, simple and welcoming features.
"How adorable, the pink tint in your face whole…" she thinks, or hears another, identical voice whisper right besides hers.
The moment would have been a present, threads of dawn cascading over his flabbergasted and clearly ashamed expression, yet the banging on some door, Meiya assumes, continues along further curses befitting one of Mana's anger strikes.
"Such a rude awakening can hardly be beneficial to one's mental health," Meiya concludes.
The situation was odd, but she did in fact welcome the chance to rest better. Yet something tugs at her as the banging continues.
She was supposed to be- Not here, wherever this was. Not in a fluffy, comfy place waking at ease, at her own pace. The more she focuses, the more everything grows foggy. Wading through sand, the mere attempt to string a coherent line of words.
Until again, everything grows darker. But warmer, as hot breath tickles her face. Her face, so close to Shirogane's. For some reason, he had pulled the sheets over both of them and was, cuddling, yes, her. Quite tight, legs entangling, her hands brushing his body without any need to roam. Leaving quite literally nothing between them, their bodies hiding no secrets to one another's, the heat shared now piercing her heart.
Simply lying there, so close, closer than she had been when dozing off right besides him but a few days ago. Enough to feel his breath shower her skin, further burning of the fuse over her spine. The early sunshine and breeze only serve to contrast the otherwise chilly weather with the heat caged between them.
That early, humid breeze which rustles her and the surroundings, causing a small, tiny droplet of excess dampness to fall onto her cheek. It spurs Meiya out of her reverie, blinking fast and adjusting back into reality.
Needles of sunlight wade through the air, solid rock eroded covering the area, what below was once soft is now firm and uneven, the stiffness in her backside ample proof on it. None of the pleasant vanilla veil she was basking in, now a humid stab was everpresent in the air. The cracking of a fire was also easy to hear close by as she stretches into wakefulness.
Close by, that would be an understatement to make regarding Shirogane's position. Meiya finds his body, rather, his bruised skin side to side with hers at the mere movement to stretch, more densely entangled than the foliage they had traversed during the test.
This time, however, every sensation was crystal clear to her. It was no dream.
Meiya inhales sharply, the damp coldness of the tarp above them finally piercing through. It only makes her quiver as the fireflies take flight all over, leaving Meiya folding a royal flush just as the Takeru in her dreamscape had been.
Moving away in slow motion off the tarp, she sits on the rocky ground and regains her bearings. Despite a heavy sigh as she finds her tanktop nearby, her eyes remain on Shirogane's wounded, weary complexion. It overlays with what she had been dreaming of, her heart shrinks and a hand reaches out to fiddle with his rebel hair.
"Was his expression truly this sunken before?" she wonders, her tongue slowly moistening her lips as her hand rubs one of his cheeks.
The more she stares, the more the dream mixes and vanishes, clarity dispersing like sand from her hands. All that remains is the comfort of his presence, which she does not shy away from in the foggy queries she has on the differences when overlaying the Takeru in front to the one she had dreamed about.
He was sleeping, not at ease but in mild discomfort. His body, found blazing hot only to then wilt dead cold as they were setting camp, is now lukewarm and most injuries have not turned into major issues, Meiya assumes with a passing glance. It should have been enough to spur a smile or a sigh of relief, yet Meiya narrows in worrisome posture as she again idles a hand on his knotted hair.
"…Oh, did you wake up already?" a slow voice calls.
Meiya freezes then turns, seeing Kei giving a short salute from some feet away by the small fire set up. She returns the gesture, gulping hard and taking her hand off the chestnut knots.
"Sorry, please don't tell Sakaki I fell asleep on my watch."
"It is alright, I cannot fault you with all we've been through. I can take the sentry duty if you wish."
"I'm good, don't worry. What of you? How are you feeling?" Kei asks when walking closer, offering one of the mushrooms she had been roasting for breakfast.
Meiya coughs before accepting the food. "Thank you. I am feeling rather… fine," she says, moving her left ankle and sensing some soreness but no longer pinching pains. "What of your eye?"
Kei softly taps it, nodding with a shrug. "It's better, kind of."
"I see…"
"I don't, heh."
"Did you not just say your eye is better?"
"…Yeah, I should've assumed the joke was not landing with you," Kei nods to herself.
Meiya groans back, biting onto the mushroom. "…Anything to report?"
"No, my shift was quiet. So, uh," she languidly kicks a stray rock, lowering her voice, "how is Shirogane?"
"Oh, well… He's very warm," Meiya nods, then almost chokes on the mushroom as she realizes the honest answer was not the one she was supposed to give. "A-Ahem… I mean to say, his temperature seems normal now."
Kei simply blinks, crouching and placing a hand on Takeru's forehead for some seconds. "…The fever's gone, and his quivers too. With some luck he'll be able to march without much pain…"
"And his injuries healed enough as well," Meiya notes, giving a once over at his chest under the tarp.
Kei nods, remaining staring at him for a moment. "I have a mountain of questions for him, but at least he's fine. It was nice of you to volunteer to keep him warm."
"Ah, no, it was nothing… It's only natural for squadmates to help each other, no?" Meiya nods, looking away at her watch.
It was close to 600 hours again, the others were still sleeping nearby against the walls of the cave they took shelter in. Too tired to march on, finding this small opening amidst the cliffs on the shore was a blessing. Meiya had feared they would have to forsake Shirogane twice, should they had to march on to find where to make nest.
"Should we wake up the others?" she asks, Meiya agrees and stands.
Miki grumbles, stuck as a ball, before throwing alarmed glances about when shaken off, then she sheepishly returns the salute Meiya gives. Chizuru wakes on her own at the scared wails of Miki, rubbing her temple and trying, and failing, to drown a yawn and waving a greeting when searching for her glasses. Kei's attempts at rousing Mikoto were as fruitless as asking her to follow a string of conversation, resorting to a few chops despite Meiya's scolding. Hey, whatever works, works.
As the others slowly close in on the fire to eat, Meiya lets her eyes wander to the sky some distance away, taking some wisps of water while watching over the still sleeping Takeru. After some queries on his state, she along Chizuru go to check his injuries. Despite the lingering warmth under the tarp, there's a hint of coldness to his body.
"The fire is about to die out too," Meiya says, looking at the dwindling flare.
The paleness and the deep slumber are not good omens, both surmise. Him not waking nor reacting to slow shakes either. Perhaps, it'd be better to move him into the Sun. Gently, it's touch awoke him once. At home, whispering of promises unsown, much like whatever he may be dreaming about now.
Slowly, Meiya and Chizuru carry Takeru outside, Mikoto helping with the tarp. Setting him on the most even spot they find among the cliff side near their hiding spot, the tarp below, they let the incoming warmth through some clouds melt away the shadows of cold. After all, the Sun always had woken him. Even when the rest of the firmament had fallen, when a quake splintered his peace in half. Even back in Seattle, back in Hawaii.
Until that morning…
"He has been shifting through consciousness for moments at a time, no?" Meiya asks.
Mikoto nods, a hand on his. "His fingertips are truly cold, though. And his feet… much the same."
"If he doesn't show signs of waking, it may be for the best to have him forfeit the test," Chizuru sighs. "He may be in need of proper medical treatment, and we are simply delaying that."
"His head is not swollen nor bruised," Meiya notes, softly checking it again just in case. Tilting her head a bit then. "Was his hair this long before?"
"We can wait some more minutes, I suppose…" Chizuru relents, staring at the slumbering Takeru for a solid moment before she twitches.
Along the crack of the branches to the winds' whims there was another cracking echo traveling the air. That of the sea as gentle rain begins to fall. Leaves start fluttering along the thin rain forming mini lakes in the sunken ground around, the waves growing in tempo as well. Meiya's stretching is cut short as she and Mikoto hurriedly grab and bring Takeru back into the cave, Chizuru taking the tarp. As the five girls finish their available food before it grows cold, the sky was brushed in deep, angry gray and the rain, still thin, fell constantly and evenly to again make puddles in an already muddy soil. Despite being in early morning, their visibility into the greenery or to the not too distant helipad is quite hampered, even without accounting for the incoming winds.
"…This is bad," Chizuru bites onto a nail, looking up from under the cave's shelter. "We're going to lose quite some time powering through this storm."
"Is the rain as bad as last time?" Kei asks as she helps carrying Takeru back into the cave.
"Not as strong, but this time it does not seem to be but a squall…" Meiya says when lowering him softly. "Sakaki, do you think it feasible to wait this out? I know last time the rain didn't last too long, however seeing the terrain…"
"Yes, I concur. Even if the rain ceases, the damage is already done. We will have to march uphill on muddy soil for the day, regardless. Speaking of, how is your ankle?"
"Worry not, it shan't be an issue."
"…Hm."
"I am serious, Sakaki. It is more than fine, I am not lying this time," Meiya insists, walking closer and giving a small hop for effect.
"Siiigh… Let me know immediately if the pain returns, alright?" she says, wiping her glasses. "In any case, we need to rouse Shirogane and get him up to speed. If he cannot march then… Gulp."
"We could wait some time, to let him fully regain some composure," Meiya proposes, immediately taking point close to the sleeping fellow.
Yet Chizuru grimaces, harsh as the weather. "Time is a luxury we do not possess, Mitsurugi. We cannot begin to act on what each of us believes its best or-"
"I am only saying that giving him some moments to gather himself would be wise," she appeases.
For a moment, they remain locked on opposing sides of the rift, unblinking, unmoving despite the seeping coldness the rain slaps about. Chizuru eventually slouches her shoulders and nods in grimace, Meiya returns the gesture while looking away.
Finding a cackle, a barrel from within the drenched foliage.
"Sakaki, down!"
With the aid of the wind and the poor visibility, the girls roll away unscathed. Rubber hits the rocks, continues to when the finger remains on the trigger. Crawling, both girls retreat to safety and alert the others, who brace inwards as the echoes of impact runs into the cave.
Along each strike of rubber, more and more those boots grow closer to the entrance, remaining hidden from its vantage point. Shadows flickers and extend into it, Meiya and Chizuru hold their breaths as they hide behind the shadows.
"We know you're there!" a Raven roars through the rain. "Come on out, hands up, and we won't hurt you, cadets!"
The five Ravens share some gazes, almost as still and shaken as those of the girls within the cave. The former because they knew that failure on this task would come with consequences, more so due to the liberties they took with the cadets. And the cadets themselves were shaken because, understandably, their hand has no out to the dare raised by Fate.
A thunder echoes. The fire further in is killed. Darkness falls on the cave, silence as well.
Fingers wave forward, one element on each side of the opening, the final one, the only Raven with remaining bullets, covering some distance away.
With moderate steps, the Ravens buckle their knees and, batons at the ready, rush down into the cavern where they blurred on one another, mere silhouettes no different from the other. It stalls their steps for a moment, the absolute silence extending into the depths of the cave, unseen to them.
Darkness is such a strange thing, don't you think?
[Recommended Music: Contact with You, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon.]
We know it is there, we know what is in there, yet fear it all the same. The same as how you could walk with ease in your home without even thinking, but the second a blindfold is put on you every step is as careful as it is deliberate.
Because, even if intellectually aware, you cannot help but to fear it, the unknown.
No words are shared, no warnings nor platitudes.
Sweat, screams, jabs and punches, tackles in heat, trading skin with the walls, tripping on the small rocks and sunken bits of the ground.
At first, they circle and try to block the exit, knowing they're favored, awaiting mistakes or pleas of surrender. Blocked swipes, then punches and kicks returned cause them to redouble their assault. It is crystal clear, the fear overtaking them to finish this yet to not risk any… incriminating blows. Retreat, parley? They were no cowards, were they?
The rising howls in anger seem to agree.
Hands reaching out to shifting shadows, not in punch but in grapple, to headbutt, to shove onto the walls, down on the floor.
"I'll never retreat, I'll never surrender…" Kei writhes as both shoulders are clawed at.
Headbutted again, she stomps her heel and tries and knee her match, only for the Raven to use the opening to shift a hand to her face, slamming it against the rocks. Sight dizzy, pinned again. Perhaps, it is time to call it quits?
"Never! I'll never…"
What is it to any one else, whatever you do? No one else is looking out for you. Shouldn't you then vie only for yourself?
Her breaths stall for a moment when, through the dimly lit space, she crosses a glance with Chizuru, who is in an all too similar predicament, only that her twintails are being tensed and pushed to keep her from struggling.
"You're the leader, right? Call the Mad Dog and tell her you're quittin'!" the Raven holding her demands, freezing the others for some seconds.
"It's my responsibility, I can't put all of us in danger. The Instructor… could help us…" she wonders, wincing at Kei's glare as she's pushed further onto the ground.
After all, no one can protect its life alone. The Squad Leader more than anyone else. If you can't even protect yourself, however, what on Earth can you do for someone else? Simply deflect the matter to another, rely on external aid.
"I am not- This is for the best, there's nothing I can do…"
And she'd be correct, her aching muscles bent further tell the same. Bound by the Ravens as much as the rules she follows and inflicts on herself. Those rules, more precious than her comrades, to be kept in mind to the very end in sacred protection. The apple never falls far from the tree. Or the orange in this case.
"I am NOTHING like him! I do not wish to abandon them…" she swears, bucking backwards and struggling again.
Again, making eye contact with Kei. For only a breath, one faster, one slower. So close, amidst the uneven ground. To do all they can for their people, protecting each other's lives… and yet they're barely doing that.
They had struggled more against Takeru during training, though no one could fault them for discarding the jester. And yet he still shielded your escape… all for this?
A moment of respite is given to them as pebbles hit the Ravens, forced to shield their faces. Molding against the pinning weight, bending wrists and joints, slipping under, away. Eyes, however, remain seeking the other's in the small circling, the small jabs. Because, just as they knew, haste makes waste. And just as they rushed their hand against him, so do the Ravens.
Challenge your rival's virtue-
"-to nullify it fully," Chizuru jabs at the Raven aiming at Kei, at the wrist holding a baton, elbowing the base of the neck quickly.
Let their emotions show, and tell you where to aim-
"-that singular counter-blow, to find an opening!" Kei mimics the motions to roundhouse kick at the one lunging at Chizuru, equally nimbly grabbing onto the arm and throwing the Raven down with a hard thud.
Both of them deliver another elbow at the wide open stomachs, pinning the Ravens down and returning the pleasantries, in almost perfect sync for once.
…After all, a stirred mind will hurry, it will fall to desperation, to wrath. Reading those openings and capitalizing on them is the greatest virtue of a fighter, because-
"-a well placed counter can end any fight in seconds, no matter the opponent. And we are trained to fight people before the BETA for a reason…" both equally surmise, their never-ending lessons now gaining a new tint. How primordial it is for soldiers to know how to crush another's fangs. Sluggishly, Kei and Chizuru nod at the air when bending the arms of their chasers just a tiny, tiny bit more as they begin frowning, oh, so adustedly… so fittingly.
All the while, ducking and avoiding grappling hands, sending seldom kicks doesn't truly do much to her match. Bewildered by the rush of the Raven, Mikoto lets the fear not of the dark but of the rival take over, punches thrown in panic, more so her footing, stepping on uneven rocks, punched in the gut and sent to lay limply.
"I-I have to stand… Everybody else is doing their best…"
And she is as well, almost to her limit. There is no shame in accepting your losses. No one expects anything from you, anyways. You've not made a sound thus far. Why begin now?
And yet Mikoto grits her teeth and rolls away, meeting Miki's gaze as the small one had gathered some guts to throw rocks at those pinning Chizuru and Kei. Her hands mirror the bravery when the Raven chasing her turned their attention to Miki. Both girls try and team up, to deliver more precise strikes yet only rolls and blocks can they offer when the Raven blocks with ease, only barely missing their faces with quick, strong jabs. Swaying from left to right, feinting and punishing the high guard with a sweeping kick, a jab to the stomach and a one-two into the jaw, collapsing Miki and Mikoto both onto the dead-end.
"If someone with the capabilities to act, chooses to do nothing instead…" Mikoto shakes when trying to stand, to fully open her eyes into almost perfect darkness before a kick suffocates her lungs out.
"I can be relied on, I am not useless…" Miki insists when standing and punching in defense, backhanded then back into the ground and remaining in bracing despite kicks assaulting her backside and shoulders when she curls into a ball.
…And yet reality would beg to differ with them both. Even a singular strike to help those still fighting they're unable to provide. If your best efforts amount to nothing, is it not the same as if you were not even there? Why cling to the dice, if only snake-eyes glare your way? It's such a familiar feeling, yeah? Such a tragic end to the CCSE… with you cowering in silence, as always.
"I won't- Ugh! U-Uhh… give up, I will- Ow! do my best…" Miki resists, barely opening her eyes again.
"Someone out there is fighting to give us the chance to train… I don't want to be nothing anymore…" Mikoto groans, dodo plushies flashing through her mind in the usual emptiness of her house. That back, always turned, and those eyes, never lingering, float back too.
Enough for her to raise back to try and tackle, grappling from behind. The Raven curses, trying to step on Mikoto, choosing instead to ram them both against the wall. An elbow finds the nose. Yet Mikoto finds eyes on her. So despite the rain of punches melting her into the shadows, she doesn't buckle.
Miki's throat burns as much as the rest of her body, eyes finally moistening. When trying to at least lift herself, she catches a glimpse of a still body, the still slumbering buffoon of the team. To think he endured such a beatdown, if not worse, when shielding Chizuru. Only to try and rush to your aid, exhausting himself to near death despite his injuries.
The Raven stomping on Mikoto seems to, finally, notice Takeru's presence. Stopping the kicks at the, assumably, defeated Mikoto who gasps and lays motionless, the chaser approaches the slumbering, wide open Takeru, waving the baton and giving a preliminary kick at a side. Unable to shield himself, without anyone to aid him, only pain will he be repaid with once more as he did when you ran away in abject fear. Why not turn tail once more?
Miki's stomach revolts as she shakily, groggily stands, lips weaving the same prior words but unable to pronounce them. Unable to move, shallow breaths expanding the onset of coldness at the tip of her feet and fingers. Her hands skirt the nearby ground to try and stand as the kicking onto Takeru begins, something stings then.
The sticks from the fire they had made before. They were still hot, very much so. Those small but thick enough pieces of wood. Almost, makeshift daggers yet burning, if Miki's fingertips are any indication.
She looks at the wood, to Mikoto, then at the Raven cackling in dares and slow kicks, wide open. All it would take… is a single hit.
And the laughter raises, perhaps to melting to madness, as heat stings its backside. Not before being tackled to the ground by the leaping, feral assault.
All the bravado disappears when the two hands clutching at the stakes in vampire killing-mimic try and strike, the collapsing fall sending the burning into a shoulder rather than the nape. Something snaps, be it in the collarbone of the Raven or inside the other two's minds, who can tell. Rasping in scorching jolts, the Raven can only flail hands about as further agony draws lines and brushes over cheeks, the chest, the face and the neck.
Their motions, those of Kei and Chizuru, all halt in unison however.
"Quiet, all of you! Or she pays for it!" as the last two Ravens hold Meiya hostage, closer to the exit of the cave.
A bruised face meets the others, blood trailing down Meiya's nose. Despite the pain, she glares at the stillness in the others. "Do not listen to them! I am- Au!"
Kicking and stomping on her bad ankle, what broke her form and allowed her to be restrained, has Meiya wincing in pain yet remaining struggling, until one of her cheeks poked by the barrel of the machinegun the leader of the pack held. Slowly, the other four release their grips on the Ravens, standing with their hands up when receiving the glare of the gun.
"You've given us more than enough shit. Don't think we're gonna let you off the hook so easily."
"We are surrendering," Chizuru says, taking out her comms. "There is no need for you to- Ah!"
Snatched the comms away by the Raven she was pinning, the woman smashes it against the ground before taking aim and punching Chizuru down to nuzzle onto the broken bits.
"Stop this! Have you no shame?!" Meiya, pointlessly, tries to spur some honor in the soldiers with a challenging glare. "You cannot think such an excess in force will go unpunished."
"Some bruises here and there ain't enough to press charges," the leader shrugs, holding his barrel at the other girls. "But if you would like to volunteer…" licking his lips when eyes veer all over Meiya, the Raven nods upwards to the one holding her.
The others catch on the hint and cackle in the darkness, about to pounce on the wide open postures. Sucker punches to the liver, switchers into their jaws, which crack like glass, the pressing punches slamming on their faces feeling like raw lead. Restrained again, it only incites further screams from Meiya.
"Let them go! You were sent for me in particular, were you not?" she tries, pointless guilt constricting her throat as much as her ankle burns.
"Since you're so honorable, why don't you take responsibility and endure the punishment by yourself, eh? I'm sure a noble like yourself can easily deal with thi-iiiiIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAHHHH!"
For a moment, no one moved nor knew what had happened. Why was that Raven's rifle dropping, what was the glint flying through the air, why was he clutching his hand so.
Stepping back and stumbling has natural light wash over the soldier, revealing a knife stuck on the outer side of his hand, blood flowing freely like a loose tap along manic screams.
Meiya then stares, deep into the cave, finding the one responsible for the throw. One struggling to remain standing Takeru, breaths more shallow then his hopes for peace. Despite the wound in his chest having reopened at the hurried gesture, despite the strain, burning, he scrapes skin off his heels with each push, landing smashing hits in anger to grab and throw Miki and Mikoto behind him. Almost feral, unhinged, the mouth open to gasp and show his fangs as he brawls.
…A warrior must not surrender to dread, not until the last breath. To safeguard others, no matter the cost. Even if to do so one must bloody its own hands, to crush the fangs of those who would bring harm to the powerless. And yet, what meager excuses would the lady offer if-
Elbow to the ribs, headbutting backwards. The knife tucked in her belt is found, taken out and flowing into a Kasumi stance. Eyes closing, listening, discerning through the screams and the distant, thin rain.
"Dread must not make nest. If I wish to be held accountable-"
There's pressure in the first strike, too short, too narrow steps. Angling the hand into a stabbing grip, searing lines along the forearms when countering the fear-addled Ravens.
"-let it be to my squadmates' judgment. All those who would soil their honor-"
Lower your knees, a feint is coming. Blocked, no, don't push further, await the counter. Slice the wrist. All those who would soil their honor-
"deserve neither- n-neither mercy nor justice…"
The others are coming behind her, to her Four. Retreat to the higher ground, allow them to make mistakes… And indeed, they stumble when the expected parry is eluded, when Meiya turns tail to apparently run away. Riled up, and in part not wanting to join the bloody shrieks further into the cave, they dash at Meiya in uncoordinated patterns. With the high ground, and the light behind her, there's only so much they can do.
Meiya shivers, turning her head upwards slightly at the static. Again lowering into fighting stance, suddenly she lurches up into a jump, attempting to strike down the Ravens in impaling motions. It's enough to make them halt and stumble backwards as she lands with a thud, but she pushes forward with the momentum, raising her other hand. Where she had switched the knife to.
The knife which dives for exposed vitals in a small spin, diving further, pressing further to end this swiftly the only way possible.
Rock splinters all around, a clean slab falls off the wall in a diagonal. The already uneven terrain of the cave is left immaculately uniform instead, its rugged and bumpy natural tact now replaced by pristine smoothness in sharp angles befitting of the young lady's fringe. Dust lingers about along smallest grains of rock flinging about the walls in gentle pinball, makes everyone cough. Including the Ravens which… are alive, for some reason.
"To protect… the powerless… N-Not to crush, not to kill…" Meiya whispers under her breath, eyes bloodshot and wide as a hand clings to the wrist of the one holding onto the knife.
The Ravens, mostly unharmed, had been divested of their camo, shredded to bits and granting them no modesty whatsoever. Only a bruise was left in one, the marking indicating Meiya had reversed the blade to avoid striking with the edge.
"…Surrender now, or else," Meiya demands, still blazing, as she points the knife their way.
Only squeaky wails they give as an answer before they faint, soiling themselves.
Meiya sighs, heavy, then turns to the farther end of the cave. The other Ravens had been knocked cold as well, and Miki and Mikoto were tending to a weakly groaning Takeru. Chizuru nods at Meiya, looking at the leader of the Ravens shaking and huddling against a newly-smooth wall, clutching his bleeding hand for dear life.
"G-Get away from me, you freaks! Don't kill me-e-e-e!"
"Your life shall be spared, should you swear not to chase after us any longer," Meiya states, aiming the knife.
Receiving an immediate nod and hands up from the coward.
"…I'll take this," Kei says, grabbing the machinegun, pointing it at the last Raven. "Maybe we should let you taste some punishment, see how you like it."
"Ayamine, let us not. We've already won the battle."
"…But not the war. You can't say for sure he won't tattle to other chasers. We should cut our losses and deal with them accordingly," Kei proposes, understandably, gripping the gun and placing a finger on the trigger.
"Stop this nonsense. This shan't benefit our final score, will it? Sakaki, say something please."
"…We cannot take any chances, no, Ayamine is right," she slowly nods, glowering at the chaser. "Perhaps we should go the extra mile and scrape the fangs out of this dog…"
"Sakaki!" Meiya repines, hitting an elbow to Chizuru's ribs softly. "I comprehend your ire, but clinging to it so will only hinder yourself. We serve to protect the powerless, not to abuse our strength, no?"
"What? I… No, you're correct. What's wrong with me?" she asks, rubbing an eye as she staggers backwards.
"Huh… Guess I almost got carried away," Kei shrugs, lowering the barrel she massages her temple.
"It is understandable… You," Meiya crouches to the Raven's eyesight, still aiming the knife in protection, "do you swear to not chase after us?"
"Y-Yes, I won't! Screw the money, just let me live!"
"Sigh… No one shall harm you, if you keep your word. I'll leave some bandages and a spray for you to treat your wound," she says, fiddling with her belt and leaving the items besides the shocked soldier. "I do not truly expect you to repent and reflect on your actions… however, know that all of us are fellow Japanese, no, humans trying to protect this world. Whoever has led you down this path is not someone you should pledge your life's work to. I believe it is never too late for one to start anew…" she says, giving a side glance before slowly, carefully standing and moving away.
The Raven simply stares as she and the others depart, dumbstruck and in awe despite the flaring pain in his burning yet cold hand.
"Squad, how are you all?" Chizuru asks as all of them leave the cave into the thin rain, still casting glances around madly.
"Despite some aching in my ankle, I am fine," Meiya says, sheathing the knife and turning to the actual query.
"Come on, don't force yourself!" Mikoto scolds, grip almost slipping off the shoulders.
"Shirogane-san, it's alright, it's over," Miki says from the other flank, "we can lend a shoulder."
"…Hey, how are you holding?" Kei asks as she slowly walks to them.
"Cough! Like sh-shit…" he says amidst a wince. Takeru palms Mikoto, reassuring her with a nod, shakily standing on his own. "Wh-What the hell was going on?"
"That's my question," Chizuru says, gesturing for them to move under a tree. "You, well, you tore them apart…"
"How do you mean?" Meiya asks, giving curious glances.
"Don't ask, please," Mikoto nods down, closing her eyes. The stains littering her cargo pants, however, tell enough.
"…Takeru, what did you do?"
He gasps for a moment, resting against the tree and still wincing. Before it turns indignant and he spits, cracking his bloodstained knuckles. "Revenge…" for what they did to Hakuryo, sons of an eldritch bitch…
"Siiigh… No, this is not the time to fault your choices. Do you feel well enough to march?" she asks, appraising him.
He gives a weak nod, a hand rummaging through his belt. "Ac-Actually, I have something to tell you… A boat, there should be a boat close by…" he gasps again, knees finally faltering and sending Takeru to land on his butt.
"Wait, what?!" Chizuru asks in shock, echoed by the rest. "How do you even know that?"
"Chaser… I fought with said, something, I dunno, close to the helipad… Here, the fuel…" he languidly raise the extra bottle he had been carrying, gaze growing unfocused.
Chizuru grabs it, sighing. "Yoroi, let's inspect the nearby area. You all, rest for a moment. We will have to march if we find nothing."
Kei takes point and shifts the machinegun in her watch duty, finding nothing odd save for the gentle storm shaking the waves and treetops about.
Miki slowly sits besides Takeru, lending him a shoulder. "Ah, it's okay, you can rest easy. I'm sorry, even though you were so injured."
"Don't- Don't worry- Cough! about it…"
"Shirogane, tell me. Does any of your injuries hurt too severely?" Meiya asks, crouching on his other flank.
"No, I can handle this…"
"Please, do not lie. Fellows help each other. Allow me," she asks again, softly laying a hand on his shoulder. It tickles like static.
"I just need… to catch my breath… Are you, okay?" he asks, a hand raising to brush one of her cheeks.
Again, it tickles. She leans softly onto it for a moment before it falls, yet she catches it. "Yes, worry not. We are safe and sound, right?" she asks, Miki quickly nods and edges closer as if to hug in support of his dizzy weight. "What happened to you? Did you also ran into the chasers?"
"Yeah… Just one, though."
"Pardon? A single person did this to you?" she asks, both Meiya and Miki paling at the notion.
"Well, there were those two I ran after-" Takeru then immediately goes silent, inhaling sharply.
"…Those two?"
"Let's hope we don't run into them," he shakes his head, groaning at the stiffness in his shoulder blades. "What of you guys? I tried to- I think I made it to the target, but everything's so fuzzy…" he grabs his head, the painful numbness spreading. A cold shiver runs down, the static tilts and stalls, but no longer hurts.
"You made it before we did, we found you collapsed near the helipad over there," Miki says, rubbing his nape and up. "Are you certain you need nothing? I've some ointment left."
"It's okay, really…" Takeru shivers, gulping hard at the thought of possibly having lost consciousness so close to the glare of the gun battery. You truly do have the devil's luck watching over your back, don't you. "Thanks for looking after me. And sorry… I should've been more alert…"
"There is no need for such words, all of us stood to brace for the worst. And even then, I doubt anyone expected such madness," Meiya fumes.
"Furthermore, you've nothing to apologize for," Kei says as she paces back to them, certain that no one is around. "You shielded Sakaki over your own safety, faced three chasers on your own, even reacted as soon as you woke up to defend us," she nods, then looks down as her lips shut, the rest of the inner telling unable to depart.
"Ayamine-san is right," Miki pounces on the silence, clinging onto him for support more than the other way around despite his weakened state. "As soon as I saw the gun and Mitsurugi-san being restrained, I froze again…"
"Hey, you still protected me when I was getting beaten down, right?" he reassures, petting the pink hair. "I could regain consciousness thanks to you, Miki…"
"…So, you feeling fine?" Kei asks, scratching her head.
"Eh, fine. Let's leave it at that… Don't think I could march steady as I am, though. Let's hope they find-"
"Squad!" Chizuru's shout freezes the girls into bracing, melting it as she offers a nod and a smile. "Shirogane's intel was correct, there is indeed a boat available, docked to the cliff. Yoroi confirmed it is not booby trapped, and the fuel seems to be enough as well. There's only one issue, however."
"The gun battery," Meiya whispers, wiping her face. "What do we do? The elevations wouldn't allow us to use the boat to travel to our Four…" she says, looking at the high ground connecting the two small islands.
"Uh, there's a gun battery nearby?" Takeru asks in pretend, tilting his head for effect.
"Yes, it was so powerful!" Miki says in shivers. "It shattered the helipad whole. If a bullet hits us…"
"And since it tracks our heat, dodging it will be nigh impossible," Chizuru notes, wiping her glasses and recalling the ordeal.
"Huh… But, you know, it must have a radar or something to scan the area, right? What if we destroy that?" he asks.
"Hmm… Special-kun has a point. I could sneak close to it and dismantle it, if it comes down to it. Yoroi can lend me a hand," Kei gives a thumbs up.
"But we won't be able to use the boat in that case," Meiya counters.
"…Um, guys, we did have a big ass rifle with us, right?" Takeru asks, diverting the talk back to proper form.
Causing everyone to look around, not finding the pieces of the anti-materiel rifle they had forgotten in the cave during their hasty departure. A very grumpy Meiya is made to return there on a unanimous vote, receiving a paling plea for forgiveness from the Raven still conscious, dragging both pieces through the sheer willpower of anger, and a small jolt or two of effort down her spine.
"…Well, now we will have to find the radar," Chizuru sighs. "I doubt it'd be an easy task, considering all the ground we must cover."
Miki grabs the binoculars and begins scouting the nearby area, Takeru pointing her to their Three and the cliff sides and their many nooks and cracks. She then gasps almost immediately. "…Sakaki-san, isn't it right there?"
Receiving the binoculars has Chizuru's expression grow slack, to the point Miki shivers in place thinking she made a mistake, sighing comically hard when the squad leader relents a nod.
"This was… easier than expected…"
"Speak for yourself, cough."
"I'm with Special-kun on this one."
"I concur," Meiya nods in agreement.
"Sigh, yeah, you're right… Tamase, do you think you can land the shot now?"
"U-Um, the rain and the wind may make it a truly hard shot to land, more considering the distance…" she says, shoulders slumping, before she looks at Takeru. Straightening her back as if struck by lightning, red is her resolute nod as she exhales hard to psyche herself. "But you can rely on me, I won't disappoint!"
"Hey, guys! The boat's ready to roar!" Mikoto shouts through the rain, waving a hand about as she approaches. "Oh? Who are we shooting? The chasers?"
"No!" Meiya counters immediately.
"I was just kidding! But what's up? Are we shooting the battery down?"
"Close, we're aiming for its radome," Chizuru says, handing the binoculars and pointing.
While the other three debate stuff on the boat, Takeru and Kei help prop the rifle in its proper position, nodding to Miki as she steps closer. Nodding back, giving thumbs up, she returns the gesture and goes prone. After letting the wind howl and whispering under it, the echo of the rifle runs through the area. Shortly after, a thread of smoke comes from the cliff side targeted.
"Thank fucking God…" Takeru slumps, knees giving up what feeble energy they yet held.
"Easy there, Special-kun…" Kei complains as she grabs one of his shoulders.
"Let's not push our luck further. Squad, we're in the last stretch. Just one more push!" she says, turning to the boat's direction.
They all nod, marching out in steady rhythm, in an orderly line. And for the first time since arriving, Takeru can smile earnestly when around them. Finally, the dice had rolled something decent his way.
On the shallow boat, despite the incessant shaking or the slapping of the rain, he sinks in at ease and lets everything simply wash through him. The heaviness inside, on his head, the aching pain or uncomfortable spots. Despite the rude awakening into a war zone of today, the hellish coldness permeating him the day before, the odd stitched dreams he's been having, there was something worth celebrating.
They were safe and sound. Alive.
Despite everything else, yeah, that is more than enough, isn't it. For now, that'll suffice. A tiny victory, but better savor it while you still can, soldier.
…because Fate still refuses to smile our way, and we're in quite the pickle.
"You can do it!"
"…Hm?"
"Is something the matter?" Meiya asks as he veers to stare, seemingly, into the sea.
"…No, my hearing must be playing tricks on me, is all. The sea's loud…" he winces as the waves sprinkle him in salt, rubbing his temple.
"The waves are getting a bit tall, that's true… Awawa…"
"Don't look into the sea, you'll get dizzy!" Mikoto yells.
"Come on, stop squirming! Ayamine, don't elbow me!"
"…So you don't know how to swim, huh. Iiiiiinteresting…"
"Why, you damn-"
"Do not begin again, you two! For the Holy Emperor, we're close to passing the CCSE! Could you quite literally stop rocking the boat?"
"Pfft…. Hahaha, here thar be dragons, Meiya."
"…What does that even mean?"
"It means you must chill. We ain't failing this close to the finish line, are we?" he asks, they all nod from their huddled positions. So he leans his head just a bit onto Meiya, sighing. "Let 'em vent a bit in their usual bickering. We've been through enough shit for the rest of the year…"
Aware of the lie, he at least takes some solace in their relaxing expressions despite the slap of the rain and the splintered waves. Simply choosing to blank out, for what few minutes of peace are afforded to him.