InuYasha Fan Fiction / Gundam SEED Fan Fiction / S-CRY-ed Fan Fiction ❯ The Enigma Called Love ❯ Premature Awakening ( Chapter 8 )

The Enigma Called Love

Part 8 - Premature Awakening

 

By Robster80

 

 

“Try pushing ME!!!”

 

“MOVE!!”

 

“ETERNITY EIGHT!”

 

Ryuhou, Kari, Davis, and Cherise leapt to try and intercept the attack, but they were not close enough. Just as TK's sword was about to come down, however, it immediately clashed with a barrier. Tachibana's Alter, the Eternity Eight, had created said barrier in front of both him and Tatsunami, whom TK was trying to attack. In a brief instant, they all got a look at TK's face, which had changed when he summoned his never-before-revealed Alter power. Cherise was surprised the most by his face, as he looked nothing like the warm and caring friend she knew.

 

Noticing the four incoming attackers, TK changed the direction of his attack and swung to his left. The force of the swing was enough to bat Ryuhou and his team in reverse. Angered by this, Tachibana mentally ordered his Eternity Eight crystals to reform into a sword, which he used to once more Counter TK's onslaught.

 

“Why do you back up this murderer,” TK asked, still in a different voice.

 

“Because murdering him won't set things right, and you should know that!”

 

“Death is too good for him!”

 

“SHOCKING FIRST BULLET!!”

 

“GUNBLADE SHOTGUN, DOUBLE BARREL!!”

 

Most of the transports exploded, and Ryuhou and his team saw Kazuma and Dearka standing before the wreckage they had just caused. Kazuma smiled at them, especially at Ryuhou. He avoided eye contact, Dearka as well, with Cherise. “Kidnapping people to force them into slave labor? You and HOLY reached an all-time low for this, Ryu-low!”

 

“ZETSUI!!!!” Ryuhou's vision went blood-red as he summoned his alter. Nothing else mattered anymore: Mimori, the camp, his teammates, Tachibana, Tatsunami, the Project, or the guy with the big sword. He saw Kazuma and only Kazuma. “This time, you won't walk away, Treasoner!!”

 

Mimori took one look at Ryuhou's face, twisted with hatred, and she paled. Cherise was right: Ryuhou loathes Kazuma! “Everybody, run!

 

Quickly glancing at the panicking encampment, Kazuma hissed to Dearka “Gotta move them away from the camp! Limit yourself to short-range attacks!” With that, he started running out inot the wreckage of the transports.

 

“Sure, but try telling THEM that!” Dearka whispered back as he followed while Davis and Kari summoned their alters - Victory Dragon and Divine Wrath, to join Zetsui in the chase. Victory Dragon was a giant blue reptile with great big wings and a terrible jaw filled with razor teeth matched on by its claws on each of its hands and feet. Divine Wrath looked like a split between a beautiful female angel and an amazon warrior with a crossbow for a left arm.

 

Ryuhou, Davis, and Kari trailed after their alters, but Cherise remained behind. Looking back to the scene of TK's battle with Tachibana, she noticed Tatsunami had gotten off of the remaining transport and was nowhere to be seen. She recalled the orders Commander Zigmar ahd relayed to her in secret.

 

If Tatsunami grows out of control, subdue him so he may be tried for his actions. If you cannot do this, you have my authority to eliminate him.

 

“NOBODY HUMILIATES ME LIKE THAT,” she heard him shout. “THAT'S IT: YOU'RE ALL DEAD!!”

 

One of the remaining transports disassembled as Cherise watched Tatsunami form his alter Big Magnum, a giant revolver that was lacking a handle, though the actually handle was the first gun in Tatsunami's hand. Cherise was horrified that Big Magnum was aimed right at the camp. However, she also saw that it and Tatsunami were moving back, into the wreckage, possibly to fire his weapon without being overcome by the impact of his shot. I HAVE TO STOP HIM!

 

Tatsunami's retreat also caught TK's eye. “I have no time for you,” he said, putting all his strength into knocking Tachibana away. This allowed him to leap off the transport and chase after Tatsunami, followed by both Cherise and Tachibana.

 

While this was going on, Dearka and Kazuma were still fighting Ryuhou's team. Kazuma was trapped between Zetsui and Victory Dragon while Dearka was exchanging shots with Divine Wrath, whose arrows seemed to be aiming for below is waist and between his legs. And now I know why Cupid always aimed for the HEART! Despite now having two gunblades, he knew Kari's alter had the upper hand.

 

“Davis, don't interfere,” Ryuhou snapped at his teammate, “he's mine!”

 

“I'm only making sure he doesn't run away from you, boss!”

 

Suddenly, Kazuma pout his hands together to signal time-out. “Just a sec here! Don't I get a last request? And no I'm not gonna ask that you let me go.”

 

Everyone was surprised that Ryuhou ordered Zetsui to halt. “Very well, but make it quick!”

 

“Hey, thanks!” Kazuma then turned to face Davis. “Tell me something, pal, what's with that big lizard you got there? You trying to compensate for something; not exactly the big, muscular type you wanna be, or is it because you're coming up a wee bit short between the legs there? Hey, Kari! You've slept with him, right? Be honest; he wasn't the size you thought he'd be, was he-?”

 

This was all Davsi could take. His face now a deep crimson color, he shouted, “KILL THAT MOTHER-FUCKER, VICTORY DRAGON!!” His alter complied with a loud roar before diving right at Kazuma. However, Kazuma simply hopped down into some wreckage he was standing on, causing Victory Dragon to miss him and rush unstopping towards Ryuhou and Zetsui.

 

“DAVIS, YOU FOOL-!” Ryuhou shouted as Zetsui used itself and its antennae to take the brunt of Victory Dragon's charge. The resulting impact caused a bit of a tremor in the area.

 

“OLE!” Dearka shouted happily, watching the collision. Seeing Kari and Divine Wrath distracted by this event. He took aim and launched an attack. At the same time, Kazuam emerged fro his hiding place and launched himself at the fallen alters, his Shell Bullet pulled back for a strike.

 

“GUNBLADE DISARMER!!”

 

“ANNIHILATING SECOND BULLET!!”

 

Tatsunami arrived just in time to watch Divine Wrath's crossbow arm get sliced off by a large projectile attack and Victory Dragon and Zetsui get a heavy hit from Kazuma's blow. “Fucking incompetent kids,” he cursed to himself. He suddenly refaced the encampment. “I'll deal with those two vigilantes once I wipe out that whole camp!”

 

“TASTUNAMI!”

Everyone looked to see Cherise standing before Tatsunami, her arms in front of her in attack position. “By orders from Commander Martin Zigmar of HOLY, I order you to stand down immediately so you may stand trial!”

 

“Trial? On what charges?”

 

Cherise glared at him. “How about cold-blooded murder? Also attempted murder of an innocent civilian and also that of a medic who is also the daughter of a HOLY supporter? And, if I might add, in front of several fellow officers of HOLY and also countless civilians?”

 

“What civilians? BIG MAGNUM, FIRE!”

 

“YOU SON OF A…” But Kazuma and Cherise's words died out in the almost deafening noise of Big Magnum firing a large bullet towards the camp. Tatsunami's laughter was also drowned out as well. However, as the roar of the shot began to die out, another cry overlapped it.

 

“BRAVER!!!”

 

Suddenly, the giant bullet split into two as TK flew between the halves towards the scene. The bullet halves exploded outside the camp just as TK swung his sword again, this time splitting the Big Magnum itself right down the middle. Everyone watched in awe, horror to Tatsunami, as the gun alter crumbled into a pile of junk and then evaporated before TK's feet even touched the ground.

 

“Big… Big Magnum… my Big MAGNUM-!”

 

With a loud crack, Cherise punched Tatsunami in the face, rendering him unconscious. She glared at him. “Barbarian,” she spat.

 

“ETERNITY EIGHT!”

 

TK brought his sword up just in time to block the whirling crystal hoop flying at him. The hoop bounced off the sword and flew back to Tachibana, who came running at him while once more using his crystals to form a sword. “You son of a BITCH!” The two swung their weapons, but only Tachibana's shattered beyond repair. Before he could react, he was backhanded to the ground by TK, hard. Laying on his back, he looked up and saw TK pointing his sword at him. “No… I was just reinstated to HOLY… I am an elite-class officer-.”

 

“You're nothing,” TK said. He nodded towards the fallen Tatsunami. “Your friend there and you are nothing; nothing but a memory.” He then moved his sword away, and looked towards Ryuhou, Davis, and Kari, who had gathered where Ryuhou stood. “Take them and go,” he said in a cold tone. “And never return.”

 

Cherise was starting to dislike that voice coming from TK's mouth. She wanted to know what had happened to her friend. “Just who the hell do you think you are, huh?”

 

TK turned to Cherise, and gasped quietly. Dropping his sword, which disappeared, he held up a trembling hand, pointing at Cherise. Their eyes met: his with shock and hers with bewilderment. “No… is it… is it you… Aerith?” Suddenly, TK started to stagger from a sudden dizzy feeling. His vision blurred away into total black. His legs collapsed under him and he regained his original appearance.

 

Acting without hesitation, Kazuma raced over and managed to catch TK in his arms. “Easy, kid,” he said soothingly, “easy, I gotcha. I gotcha.”

 

“TAKE-KUN!”

 

Ryuhou watched as Mimori and several others, including the little girl who called out to TK, raced over to surround Kazuma. Dearka joined them as well. Suddenly, he realized the opportunity before him. Re-summoning Zetsui, he said aloud, “Kazuma the Treasoner! I hereby place you and your allies under arrest for Alter crimes-!”

But Kazuma ignored him, focusing more on TK. He suddenly said aloud, “He's okay. He's gonna be okay. Thank you, God. Here, I'll carry him-.”

 

“I said you're under arrest-!”

 

“For what,” Kimishima said, pushing through the crowd. “For saving the entire medical camp from you and your sick friends? THEY'RE the heroes here! You let that psycho shoot and kill somebody!”

 

The crowd started voicing their agreement with Kimishima, causing Cherise to take Tachibana and run back over to join her teammates. This is getting ugly, Ryuhou; we'd better leave.

 

Mimori pushed her way out to join Kimishima. She glared at all of the HOLY team. “It is true that my father disowned me, but I still plan to inform him about the kind of steps HOLY is taking as far as the concern of the Inners of the Lost Ground. And I assure you, I will hold nothing back.”

 

“Go away,” Kanami cried, picking up a rock and throwing it at Ryuhou. “Go away!”

 

More people voiced their opinion and began throwing little things at the HOLY tem as well. “You heard her!” “We don't need you!” “Murderers!” “Never come back!”

 

Ryuhou glared back at Mimori, both fists clenched tight. “So, that's you decision, then, Mimori?” He said, mostly to himself. “We're moving out and returning to base! Davis, get the transport! I'll get Tatsunami.”

 

The HOLY team moved past the angry crowd slowly, looking unbelievingly at all the people siding with Kazuma and his gang. Trailing last was Cherise, still helping Tachibana to walk. Looking at the crowd with guilty eyes, she saw Kazuma walking towards the encampment with TK in his arms. He turned to look at her, but she was unsure if he could see how sorry she was about all of this. Then, she saw his lips move, but no sound coming from them. Still she was able to understand perfectly what he was saying before he gave her a wink.

 

You we can forgive. And we do.

 

“Thank you,' she mouthed back before hurrying after her team. Once they were all inside the transport, and driving back towards the city, Cherise quietly excused herself to the bathroom. Once she locked herself inside, she sat down on the toilet and silently sobbed.

 

It may have been Tatsunami who pulled the trigger, but that girl's blood was on Cherise's hands. No one would be able to convince her otherwise, and the blood would never, ever wash away. Why didn't anyone stop him? Why didn't SHE stop him? Maybe Kazuma had forgiven her, and possibly Kanami and the others had as well, but she couldn't forgive herself.

 

The look on TK's face when he attacked Tatsunami and Tachibana, Cherise knew it wasn't TK's face but someone else's. Had he been possessed by an alter-user? Was that why he mistook her for this Aerith or whoever he had called her? What had happened to her friend? What if it happened again and she lost him for good? Her heart felt torn at the thought of it.

 

TK… I want to see you again. I need you beside me, TK. TK! TK!!!

 

Don't cry.

 

Cherise jerked her head up at the soft voice, as it spoke to her again. You will see him again soon. And he will be as you saw him before today.

 

Who was that? Am I hearing things now?

 

You are hearing me. And it is nice to meet you, Cherise. I am Aerith.

 

“Cherise, could I use the bathroom now?”

Hearing Tachibana's voice, Cherise quickly wiped her face as best she could. “Yes, just a second!” Opening the door, she apologized to Tachibana before moving past him to hold the door for him.

 

“You mustn't blame yourself, Cherise,” he told her right out before heading into the bathroom. “Tatsunami pulled the trigger, you didn't.”

 

After a moment, Cherise headed back to her seat. She looked out her window as they neared the city walls. TK, I find a way to get back to you soon. I promise.

 

 

**************

 

 

Zigmar looked over his five officers. They had just explained what had happened out at the medical camp, including Tatsunami's murder of an innocent, TK's alter-power surfacing, and Mimori's promise to report to her father what had happened. Tatsunami had been placed in intensive care following the group's return, traumatized by the destruction of his alter. It was favored that he would never be able to use his powers again.

 

“One civilian dead,” he said, summarizing the situation. “The daughter of one of our backers threatened and nearly killed, several HOLY transports utterly destroyed, and now the Redevelopment Plan has been pushed back and our budget cut! Have I forgotten anything?”

 

“You forgot about three alter-criminals escaping-.”

 

“THAT'S THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES, YAGAMI! The Treasoner and his gang reacted because they saw a HOLY officer kill somebody in cold-blood! That makes us look like gangsters. And you five not trying to prevent Tatsunami from getting out of hand does not boost our morale at all.

 

“Officer Tairen, you and your team are on city patrol until I say otherwise. Each of you will patrol one of the four corners of the city, but you will report only to me, not each other! You are forbidden to interact at all with each other during this! Is that clear?”

 

“Yes, sir,” all four said.

 

Zigmar then looked at Tahcibana. “As for you, you were warned you were on thin ice when you were brought back into the fold. You have exactly twenty-four hours to pack your things; you are done, Tachibana, this time for good!

 

“One last item. Everything we have discussed about Takeru `TK' Takaishi and his revealed alter-power does not leave this office! You are forbidden to even mention his name! Failure to comply with this will result in imprisonment and, with the exception of Tachibana, a dishonorable discharge. Have I made myself perfectly clear?”

 

“Yes, sir!”

 

“Now get out of my sight, all of you!” Zigmar watched them leave one by one. Once they had all gone, he sighed heavily and moved to star out his window.

 

“Don't you think you were a bit harsh on them? Granted, three of them deserve it, but Adjani and Tachibana-. Well, maybe not Tachibana…”

 

“Believe me,” Zigmar said without turning around, “it upset me to have to include her in with their punishment, but I had no choice. It would have been suspicious if I had. As for Tachibana, even if he hadn't gone with them, I would have had to drop him due to the budget cuts. He would have lost either way”

 

“She's beating herself up over that girl's death.”

“I know. I'll visit her later, and apologize, though I doubt it'll mean much to her.”

 

“Meanwhile, we got more important things to worry about: namely the kid.”

 

Zigmar turned to face his companion. “It would appear he still feels guilty over her death. The only plus side is that we found her other.”

 

“So what happens next?”

 

“You pull out immediately. Now that he has awakened, though prematurely, it won't be long now before things heat up. You'll be needed here.”

 

Koga suddenly stepped forward, dressed in a HOLY uniform. “I'm needed where I should be: by the kid's side. You had me go out there into the Lost Ground, but it was me who chose who to interact with. Also, you ordered me to make sure the kid survived after I informed you he could be the one. I'll be sticking to those orders, no matter what you say.”

 

“There's the chance now that you'll be revealed, Koga. You won't be able to avoid the fights for much longer.”

 

“They are my friends, Commander. I trust them. And when it comes down to it, I will respect whatever decisions they make about me.”

 

“…Then at the least, you'll have made some good memories, I hope?”

 

Koga's smile was on of complete sincerity. “The best of my life.”

 

That night, Cherise sat on her bed staring at her phone, waiting, hoping, for Tk to call her. But out at the clinic, TK had yet to awaken.

 

 

 

To be continued…