Chapter 11: Arisa’s Fear

Sector 27: 18:30

Arisa was in the warehouse of MRPA, walking down row after row of confiscated material from mutants. At the very end of the room she found the MS from Ping's house and began stuffing the individual bags from the box into her duffel bag, i need to fill up two of these...that's what Ping told me to do. She let out a deep sigh as she zipped the bag closed. Her hands were cold and shaking as she took another deep breath, I can do this. I can do this....I can....I can....I can't, she dropped her head in her hands and tried to shake off her fears, it's OK, Kimaru won't be there....Ping said that Kimaru sends men to pick it up for him...I won't be in danger...she pulled up her head and grabbed the bags before she slipped out the building. Her heart was racing and her skin felt cold and wet at the same time. She was scared; but she would do what she had to do. She would prove her worth this time.

Sector 6

As she made her way closer to the Factory District she pushed several buttons on her watch and winced as the small prongs pushed into her wrist. Within a few moments she saw the welcome screen of MRPA's database flash in her eyes and changed her voice to Ping's through the system. She took several deep, shaky breaths as the gravity of the situation started to take hold, “You can do this,” she prompted herself, pulling out a mirror, “You got this!” She shifted her face into Ping’s; her breath continuing to be shaky and disjointed. After checking the details several times she continued through the Factory District, weaving through containers until she heard someone "psst" at her.

She turned quickly and saw a man in a loose suit, "You're late, we were worried you wouldn't show."

Arisa grinned shyly and rubbed her neck, "There were some agents out and about, you can never be too careful right?"

"I suppose. Follow me, Kimaru-sama wants to inspect the delivery personally,"

Arisa hesitated on her first step, "K-K-Kimaru-sama is here?!"

The man smirked, "Yea so you better be on your best behavior,"

Arisa gulped hard as she followed closely behind the man, it's too late to run away...but if I stay I could get caught...I could call for help...but...but I could still make it out of this without a problem...I shouldn't- as she turned the corner she saw the scope of the problem she had walked into to. There were armed guards everywhere; her mind was buzzing, hit the distress button, don't call for help! Even if Kimaru is here you can still complete the mission. You don't have to call for help,...not yet.

The man she had followed motioned for her to enter the heavily guarded warehouse container. The door closed behind her with a bang. She narrowed her eyes as they slowly adjusted to the dark room.

"Is that you Ping?" the voice in a velvet arm chair asked without turning his face to her, "It's about time I met my trusty supplier face to face don't you think? After what happened to Durim..."

Arisa swallowed hard as she walked slowly over toward Kimaru, "Yes I probably should have tried to pay my respects to you earlier,"

"That's alright Ping. I can meet you now and we can work well together in the future,"

Arisa turned to face Kimaru, he was a man in his early thirties. He wore an open Kimono top with ripped jeans and wooden sandals; there was a wooden sword leaning against the arm chair.

Arisa bowed as deeply as she could while setting the bags on the ground, "It's an honor to finally meet you," she looked up from her bow to look at his rust colored hair that was long and disheveled and there was a hint of stubble across his face.

Kimaru waved his hand nonchalantly, "Let's talk numbers," he turned to grin at her and she smiled as genuine as she could, Nee-chan...Akumako....give me strength.

Sector 1: STAM

Kyou was sitting in his childhood home. His father sat across the table in a royal blue chair, but his face was hidden behind a shadow. The seat beside his father, his mother’s seat, was empty and red. The seat beside Kyoushirou was his little sisters seat- that too was empty. His sister’s seat suddenly burst into flames he saw his father jump from his chair and scream- his sister’s chair suddenly froze blue.

In fear Kyou stood and turned running from the table.

“Ko-shi!!!”

He stopped immediately at the sound of his sister’s bloody scream, “Koko!!!” he ran back into the room to find he was in the STAM briefing room, “Where is she?!?!”

But the place his father had been seated at was empty.

“KO-SHI!!!” his sister screamed again.

Kyou screamed and ran into the hall; he was in the STAM building. He ran straight for the stairwell and barreled down the stairs. The stairwell slowly started to freeze over and he saw his fingertips turn blue- but he kept running.

At the lowest basement there was just a rock wall where the door used to be. He kicked through it and the wall crumbled away. He ran into the snow-filled hallway, “Koko!!” he screamed frantically.

“KOSHI!!!”

He was thrown against the wall by a gust of wind, an icicle piercing into the soft spot between his shoulder and collarbone.

He screamed out and felt his body shudder, “DON’T WAKE UP!!!” he squeezed his eyes shut and ripped the icicle from his body and kept running. His vision was shaking.

He slipped on the ice but grabbed the doorknob to where Koko was.

“KOKO!!!”

The door flew open and he was hit with flames and a final scream, “KOSHI!!!!”

Kyou jumped from his bed and fell to the floor covered in a cold sweat, “Koko!!” he called out and clenched his fist. His body shook with anger as he buried his face into the ground. Slowly the shakes changed and he bit back the tears in his eyes.