Chapter 20: Recollection And Newfound Purpose
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His punches were like death miniaturized.
A graze into a large cut, a soft impact pushed me back several meters.
'If I was older this fight would have been easier…' Was what I thought while dodging the kicks and punches that flew my way.
My technique and weapon skills were refined enough to be on par with Gold Ranks. But the overwhelming difference in physique of an adult compared to a newly adolescent teen made it almost null.
The surroundings were blurry, my hyper focus [Flow] allowed me to dodge thus far, but my mind was slowly being strained from the long usage.
-Boom!
I ducked yet another punch before sliding back from a kick.
My arms were numb, pain was already something I had been used to for a long time but the ache of my badly bruised arms didn't go away.
Blood.
There was so much blood…
Where did it come from?
"Did you just notice?"
I heard the condescending tone in the Suspect's talk.
"Take a good look around." He waved his hands arrogantly and I took a second to look.
W-wha!?
All around me was blood, blood leaked like a broken faucet out from my body.
I forced and strained my mind further to concentrate back into the fight.
A straight.
Left leg…
More blood spattered on the concrete floor.
Using some of the last bit of strength left, I pulled out a small grenade, pulled out its pin and threw it at the Suspect.
-Pssh!
The smoke had some paralyzing properties that should stun him even for a second.
All I need is a second.
Thick steel walls were in the way between me and freedom, but that never stopped me.
I 'sheathed' my knife as it extended into a full katana.
For one second my entire focus concentrated on my katana.
No worries about the Suspect starting to come close, the ear wrenching sirens or even my wounds.
Everything evaporated as my mind became clear like water.
"...[Iai]..."
My arm shook from the force unleashed from the blade.
…
Time resumed.
My second of deathly peace was gone and I was brought back into reality.
I crouched down and tensed my legs for a use of [High-Speed Dash] one last time.
"Hahaha!"
My open eye glimpsed at the beast of a man as he was on all fours trying to catch me. My vision is now dyed red.
-BOOM!
The concrete shattered as a burst of energy essentially teleported me away from the large warehouse.
* * *
"Cough!"
Takahiro's hand caught more blood from his mouth.
'...I… need… to get back…'
Blood poured excessively from each of his wounds, not to maintain the internal wounds which caused him even more pain.
As he leaned against the brick wall making his way back to the hotel room where all his extra equipment lay, his sight began to blur.
-Bang
Takahiro collapsed onto the floor, his hand tried to keep on the wall but all that did was trail more blood pouring off his arm onto the wall.
'...I… feel so weak…'
"Ha…aaa…"
'Cold…'
Takahiro tried to rub his eyes, they were starting to lose focus.
'...No…!'
'I still have something to do…'
Takahiro could imagine the disappointed faces of everyone when he failed.
'...hurry!'
He fiddled with his vest, trying to look for something.
In a small pocket was a black pill.
Takahiro hurriedly crushed up the pill, eating it.
'...[Activate… Backup Plan… 1]'
Takahiro lied in a small pool of his blood in an alleyway.
…
[Backup Plan 1: Repair: Commence]
[Disguise turned off.]
Takahiro's morphed face shifted back into its natural black hair and black eyes, leaving behind the cover from before.
[Turning on vest warmer]
Takahiro pressed a switch which turned on the warming features of his vest.
[Shutting off all non vital systems in the body…]
[10%...]
[26%...]
[47%...]
[62%...]
[89%...]
[99%...]
[100%]
[Entering comatose state.]
[Top Priority: Closing of Wounds]
[Recovery process till wounds are almost or fully closed: 0.5%...]
*
*
*
Arthur left the hospital to take a 'break' in order to take his mind off Oliver's ongoing surgery.
As much as he would like to sit and wait for the results to come out, the Round Table needed a leader to function.
'It's only been a week, we've only gotten five Victims…'
The inner machinations of the different ranks of the Cult had been already quite widely known within the Round Table.
The first rank was the entree level, and as the ranks went up, so did it's resemblance to the actual case of Jack the Ripper.
Victims were the cases not considered as actual 'canonical' cases in the eyes of the police or the failures and fakes of the cult.
The 'Five' were the most widely known cases that people widely believe that Jack the Ripper committed.
'Ignoring the Victims, we're already at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, Oliver's injuries just made the gap further.'
He started tapping his fingers in a systematic, almost rhythmic pattern.
The sun was high above him and the afternoon breeze was a warm comforting one.
Walking amongst the common people allowed him to feel like he wasn't so constrained with pulling the background stings in order for these people to feel safe.
Cars, people, the noise of society itself helped calm him down in a way he couldn't find elsewhere.
He soon found his way into the HQ of the Round Table.
"Welcome sir, are you going to be doing paperwork or going out on a mission?"
"Why are you so stiff, Fidelis?"
Taking up one of the spots of the Round Table was Fidelis, carrying Caliburn and also the inheritor of the sword style from Gawain.
"You are our leader, you deserve nothing less than every ounce of respect."
His voice oozed with pride.
Uncomfortable, Arthur replied, "...I'll be in my office."
"Yes sir."
The loyalty the man had for him was almost as if was worshiping a god. It sometimes frighted Arthur just how much respect he had for him.
'Just what did he see in me?'
"Hello Leader."
Arthur nodded his head.
"Good afternoon."
He smiled as he walked past everyone…
"Hello Mr Arthur."
…yet… it felt so hollow.
He flipped over his paperwork and began working.
His body didn't tire, he didn't need rest and he efficiently worked like a machine.
Everything began to blur as even the ticking of his clock seemed to die out into the background.
-Knock, Knock.
'How much time passed…?'
"...Come in."
Arthur answered, slowly started tuning back into the present.
"Yes sir, it seems that Oliver's surgery was a success."
Fidelis came in and stood in front of Arthurs desk.
Arthur's eyes shined with anticipation.
"Really?"
"Yes sir."
"I see…"
Fidelis saw the torn expression between the paperwork and visiting Oliver.
"...If I may…"
Arthur's tapping came to a stop.
"Yes? What is it?"
"I could act in your place as you visit Oliver in the hospital."
"No, no. I couldn't impose this position onto you… I have to be the one here after all…"
Fidelis frowned at his remark.
"Who says you can't? You're the one making the decisions, you can choose when you want to leave. I don't know if you knew this sir but, you're actually a year ahead of the paperwork, we can function without you for a short time."
Arthur sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Alright…"
He got up from his desk and headed for the door.
"Thank you, Fidelis…"
"It is my pleasure to serve you."
*
*
*
Was this the first time my 'inner world' changed?
The dazzling shooting stars and the beautiful dark blue sky encapsulated my snow filled forest.
The day that was once ever present was now replaced with a natural wonder.
I glanced at the percentage bar off to my side showing [2%].
My body went into a lockdown but if someone had bad intentions then I would be brought out to deal with the threat before going back into lockdown to fully recover.
This was my last backup plan before my main plans to deal with Technician came into play.
I felt oddly cold.
Usually my body which was well accustomed to extreme temperatures was now vulnerable to the frigid winds.
It was even more of a paradox since this was inside my mind and not the outside world.
But… It was refreshing.
Like back when I took a break, this made me feel more alive…
More… like… there was more to life.
"Pu…"
Thinking about that, my mind's trajectory led me to the most oddball family I've ever seen in my two lives.
The Yozakuras.
Everything seemed to lead back to them.
From my original purpose in this world to the Spy world itself.
I walked, the cold air showing my breath and the sounds and smells of the wild that I had already gotten used to.
Touching the cold bark and the sounds of the crunchy snow beneath my feet, I made my way over to my plastic chair and the White Daffodil.
Before I sat and stared at the marvel the sky was showing me.
I don't think my former team's purpose was ever accomplished.
We went three times over the past five years.
All failed.
We actually almost successfully kidnapped Rei Yozakura the first time before getting caught.
We're lucky that they were nice people because I would have died the first time without even seeing the next day.
The other two attempts were on Mutsumi Yozakura in her elementary school.
All three times were when the Yozakura Family either were all gone or almost all gone.
We were caught by Futaba the second time and…
…
Kyoichiro on the third.
His name fits very well…
He was a nightmare to deal with.
We had to abandon Mutsumi because of him and we used that time to escape.
If not… I'm sure he would have killed us.
There were gaps in my memories from when I slept to when I woke up.
But my unconscious told me it was alright.
I shouldn't have any missing memories…
Unless…
The topmost petal of the White Daffodil turned into white particles that floated and went into my head.
"Ahh… I see…"
Memories of the most crucial plan unlocked in my brain.
"...It's complete… but… I could perfect it even more…"
I checked the percentage again, using it as a timer.
[20%]
The flow of time was rather confusing here since the scenery didn't change and everything remained the same.
After checking the percentage I started to practice.
And soon I got lost in this addictive trace of improvement.
*
*
*
Oliver looked out and into the night sky. His left side felt uneven with his arm now missing.
-Knock, Knock.
"Come in."
Oliver caught the sight of Arthur, bringing two cans of juice.
"Arthur?"
"Hello Oliver. How are you?"
Oliver's face held a mischievous grin.
"I never thought that our workaholic leader would visit this little ol' me."
"It seems your humor stayed the same."
"Haha, are you fine Arthur? I know how much you like to do paperwork."
"...I'm fine. Fidelis convinced me to come."
Arthur said, sitting beside Oliver's hospital bed.
"Really? That stuck up convinced you to come? How surprising."
For a moment they held a peace together before Oliver asked, "...What happened to my unit?"
"..."
"...They all died, the compensation for their family was sent and their funerals were funded by us."
"..."
"...Arthur, let me try that experimental program. You need patients right?" Oliver looked at the stump that was once his arm.
The development of cybernetics was being more popularized by the Ashura company and the Round Table started an experimental program about them.
"I can't let you go into that, it's still in early progress. I'm not letting you give up your life anymore. You need to live, my friend."
Arthur said, expressing his discomfort.
"Haha… 'live' you said? Arthur I am here because I want you to live and give up my life? Arthur, you don't take breaks. If I wasn't in this hospital and if Fidelis didn't convince you, you would still be in that office doing paperwork."
"!"
For all the time Arthur knew Oliver, he never expressed this much at all, this was the first time he did something like this.
"Let me do this Arthur, after the war let's go on a trip, you're ahead in the paperwork anyways, right?"
For the first time in his life, Arthur's eyes brightened.
Tears came out as Arthur's emotionless face finally cracked.
"Yeah… let's."
Arthur smiled and his blonde hair seemed to shine at the new goal in his life.
~~~~
A/N:
I have been enlightened that I'm not the only Yozakura Fic out there… Nice to know. Like I knew I couldn't be the only one but still an eye opener.
I'll do one more chapter before I post and make the rest of the chapters tomorrow.
I woke up too late today.
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