Kaiju: No 8

The Apology

Alright, so I decided to do a Chapter 2 and there will be a Chapter 3 to conclude everything.

Enjoy!

Chapter Two

Mina stared at Kafka as he laid on the hospital bed, hooked up to machines as the monitors keep watch over his body signals while he slept. Normally, such things wouldn't be necessary, as the Kaiju DNA should have been able to heal any wounds he would sustain. But this time was different. So different that it scared Mina, who had almost lost her composure when she heard over the radio coms of what had happened.

Information about the latest attack by No 9 and the Kaiju forces was limited at the time, as Mina herself was just about to go into debriefing with the higher ups soon. She had only arrived in the climax of the battle, where she got a glimpse of No 9 and No 8 battling it out. Despite having a more humanoid form, No 9 had somehow managed to transform into a monster able to withstand No 8, making for a tough battle between the two. But even then, No 8 was managing to win until 9 took advantage of using the monsters to attack nearby civilians, forcing 8 to switch targets.

A part of Mina couldn't help but smile, knowing how much that was like of Kafka. Yet, she also was frustrated with the fact that 9 had managed to escape once again, while also managing to infect Kafka with an unknown toxin in the middle of their fight, one that put him into a coma. It was obviously meant to kill him, but from the doctors and scientists could find out, it wasn't a big enough dose to do so. But it was enough to put his body into hibernation to feel and flush out the toxin.

Now it was matter of waiting for him to wake up.

Mina had seen Kikoru and Reno by his bedside earlier, although they took their leave to make their reports on the incident. The silence and solitude were relieving for Mina, as she was allowed to sit next to Kafka's bed, keeping a close watch over him. Normally, she wouldn't have allowed herself to be in such a position, especially to be found out by others. But this was a different situation that she needed to get out of her system for the time being.

She thought back to their last encounter on the rooftop, just days ago before No 9's sudden attack. How Kafka apologized to her for breaking their promise, for giving up on their dream. It took her by surprise, somehow relieving and yet also frustrating at the same time to hear it. A part of her was still mad at him for not being able to keep it, while another was finding peace that it was being addressed by him.

But then there was the part of him wishing that he hadn't made the promise. That part made her angrier, as it felt like he was wishing he hadn't made it at all, although she knew that it was only because he didn't wish to have caused her pain not being able to keep it. But the anger still remained, because she wanted him to keep their promise and just be there by her side, so that she wouldn't be terrified anymore.

Was it too much to ask?!

"I'm sorry for interrupting, Captain."

Mina's head turned towards the door and saw Soshiro at the entrance, his face unreadable at the moment.

"You're not," she simply replied.

Soshiro nodded and approached Kafka's bedside, staring at him as the monitor's echoed in the room, "I almost believed that No 9 had gotten the better of him."

Mina blinked, surprised by his choice of words.

"I find it no surprise that 9 attacked out of nowhere and specifically targeted Kafka. Only the area he was in was damaged."

"So, I take it that it's been confirmed," she stated, making him nod. "Taking out a powerful ally would benefit the Kaijus greatly. It's a rather smart plan."

A dark look formed on Soshiro's face, "One that almost succeeded."

Mina's heart stopped for half a second, as the realization of what he was saying dawned on her. Kafka, her childhood friend, had come dangerously close to dying, despite being a human/Kaiju hybrid. For so long, she had managed to bottle up her emotions and push them down. But now, ever since Kafka had come back into her life, she was starting to herself losing control at times. Especially now.

She felt the tears coming but managing to hold them at bay.

Soshiro turned to face her and saluted, "I'll see you at the debriefing."

As he turned to walk away, Mina took a breath and spoke, "Can I ask you something?"

The vice-captain stopped and turned, curious, "Always, Captain."

Folding her hands together, she remained firm in what she was about to reveal to him, "What would you do if a childhood friend broke a promise that they couldn't keep?"

Soshiro frowned, "I don't un-" He suddenly stopped as the realization dawned on him, turning his eyes to an unconscious Kafka. He started to remember the conversations he had with the old man. How he was once friends with Captain Ashiro and how he had made a promise to fight by her side together. It was brought up several times, as Kafka was a many words kind of guy. A part of him felt bad for the guy, as he understood that he held guilt and shame over his inability to keep his promise to Ashiro and facing countless opponents in his achieving his goal.

Thinking hard about the question, he turned to Captain Ashiro and prepared for what he was about to say.

"I guess that depends on you."

Mina raised an eyebrow, "But I'm asking you."

Soshiro sighed, "Captain, the way how you and I would respond to certain things are different, which is why I need to understand what it is you're trying to ask of me, aside from my opinion."

Although slightly confused, Mina nodded, "As kids, Kafka promised me that we would fight side by side against the Kaiju. I knew that it was a way to comfort me, but I also knew that he was serious and would do anything to make it happen. So, when the time came for us to take the examination, I passed. But he didn't."

Soshiro remained silent, not wishing to reveal that he already knows, as he believed letting her finally express it would help her in the long run.

"Despite failing, he pushed me to continue on, while he prepared for the next examination. And I found myself climbing the chain of command so fast that I literally left him behind, while he continued to fail, time and time again. And then... he just gave up."

Anger rose within her.

"He lied!"

Silence followed, as Mina turned her attention back to Kafka.

Meanwhile, Soshiro stood by the doorway and took in her words, having heard and felt the resentment in her voice. He began to understand her position in opposition to Kafka. But then, a question came to him, one that he had never considered asking before with Kafka.

"Captain..." he met her eyes as she turned back to him. "... not to upset you, but did you ever try to contact him?"

Her eyes widened, "What?"

Soshiro felt nervous, unsure if he was stepping on thin ice, "Failure isn't something that one can easily handle, especially repeatedly. For people like us, failure isn't an option because we're stronger than most to succeed. We're the elite of the best. But for someone like Kafka... to take that many failures is a frustration that can demotivate anyone. I'm sure he's struggled with it every day, especially when he hit the age restriction. And judging by what he had told me, he never once mentioned that you came to visit."

Mina stared in his direction but not at him. His words sunk in, and a realization hit her. Ever since she joined the Division, she had never once attempted to contact Kafka, to check up on his progress or to even say hello. She could already see him in his room, depressed by his failure after each examination. Alone and unable to rely on anyone. Just like how she couldn't rely on anyone when she was scared to carry out her missions to protect others.

Her heart sunk as she began to imagine how he felt and the guilt for not being able to follow through with his promise. Except, where she was praised for her achievements, he had none until the Kaiju made it possible for him to begin achieving his dream. And if it weren't for the Kaiju within him, he more than likely would still be part of the cleanup crew, wasting his life away. All alone.

Just imagining it almost made her tear up, but she controlled herself, remaining strong in front of her vice-captain.

Soshiro slightly sighed, her silence telling him everything he needed to know, "I'm not saying that Kafka is completely innocent. He didn't try to contact you either, at least judging from what he has said before. It would be easy to criticize him for making a promise that he couldn't keep, but I've seen those who can achieve the impossible, while others who can do their best and still fail. That doesn't make him a liar, that makes him human."

Silence followed as another realization hit her.

"So, to answer your question for what I would do... I would try to make amends and forgive."

Mina averted her eyes, looking at the ground as she thought hard about his response.

Saluting once more, he turned to leave the room, "I'll see you at the briefing, Captain."

Being left alone, Mina continued to sit in the chair, lost in her thoughts. She turned to look at Kafka, seeing him in a different light. Soshiro's words echoed in her mind, as she felt a sting of guilt in her chest. A part of her wondered how she never thought about his feelings, especially in his failed efforts to be with her. The boy that he once was came back to her mind, causing a smile to form on her face. She would have berated herself for showing such emotion in front of him, even if he was asleep, but for once she let it slide, due to the circumstances.

Standing up, she turned and prepared to join Soshiro and the rest of the higher ups for the meeting. The time to speak with Kafka would have to wait, but once he was awake, she was going to finish their conversation and finally say what needed to be said.

I was trying to think of how to have Soshiro be involved in the story and having him be the middle man for both Kafka and Mina made a lot of sense to do, as he is observative, especially of the two.