Chapter 29: Partners

Sector 1: STAM Training Room

The two partners sat in silence in the training room- the fluorescent lights were buzzing slightly as they switched on. The sun was almost completely gone; its light slowly begin wrapped in darkness.

Seiji and Shou had been partners since the beginning, it’s weird to think about it now but they were pretty similar when they were 10. Both had lost their family- they had sacrificed their family for STAM- both were determined to prove something... Shou wondered how they could have veered so far apart since then. Seiji had given into his temper and let his rage and anger consume him, Shou always wondered if he had become the person he is today because of Seiji. Shou was patient, he could listen and be calm in the face of rage. He worked better under pressure. All of his personality was in response to Seiji, he contained Seiji’s rage- kept him from making the wrong decision. Shou turned his head to look at Seiji- his partner. Even with all of his flaws, Shou wouldn’t trade Seiji for any other disposer. He doubted he could work as well with anyone else.

Seiji turned to meet Shou’s gaze- his brow furrowed, “Why did you catch Keiko like that today?”

Every nice thought in his head seemed to blow up at those words. Shou couldn’t believe the question, “What?”

Seiji snapped his head away, his voice more agitated than before, “Do you like her?”

Shou gawked at the bold question, his own anger seemed to boil up. He couldn’t admit to Seiji his true feelings- he snapped away defiantly, “W-w-what? Why would you ask...” he turned his head back to look at Seiji skeptically, “Do you like her?”

Seiji’s face flushed immediately, “O-of course not! Idiot...” he mumbled as he hid his red face.

Shou couldn’t help but grin- his playful nature came out as he tried to poke Seiji’s temper, “She is kinda cute though...”

Seiji turned back around to Shou, his mouth hung open in shock, “What?”

Shou grinned confidently and crossed his hands behind his neck as he leaned back, “I’m pretty sure she blushed when I caught her today,”

Seiji jumped to his feet, “She must have been embarrassed!”

“I dunno, I mean I am the Rank 2 Container as a STAM agent….” he closed his eyes and sighed, “I’m sure she has a crush on me,”

Suddenly Seiji grabbed Shou by the collar and was standing over him, “Shou!” he growled through clamped teeth.

Shou realized he might have poked a little too hard at Seiji- but wasn’t sure how to calm the fire he had ignited, “Seiji-”

Seiji grinned at the stunned face and retorted playfully,“I’m her seat partner and you should hear all the horrible things she say about you,” he stuck out his tongue.

Shou groaned and pushed Seiji away, “Dammit Seiji,”

Seiji laughed hard and spoke with a falsetto, “What’s up with his orange hair? He is just so weird,”

Shou chuckled at the silly voice, “She doesn’t say that,”

Seiji nodded, “You know what else she says?” he coughed before using his falsetto again, “I would neeeeever go out with him- even if he were the last man on earth!”

The two laughed and continued to banter back and forth for a moment before Kenji ran into the room, his face frantic and his hair falling out of his bun, “Guys!”

They both turned to the doorway, “What is it?” Shou called back.

Kenji let out a breath of air, “Ryu and Hiro just got back...” he breathed again, “Ryu’s been taken to surgery,”

The two jumped up immediately and ran right past Kenji toward the ICU. Shou called back to Kenji, “What happened?!”

Kenji was only a few paces behind them, “He got impaled through his shoulder! With poison!”

Shou cursed loudly and picked up the pace. When they made it there, Hiro was leaning against the wall outside of the locked doors.

“Hiro what happen-” Shou started to ask but Seiji pushed past him and snagged at Hiro’s bloodied collar and yanked him off the wall.

“Why is Ryu in critical while you don’t have a scratch?!?!” Seiji’s voice was shaking with rage and a hint of control.

Hiro rolled his eyes and pulled Seiji’s hand off his collar, “He got himself hurt!” his voice laced with an anger that startled the others, “He protected one of those garbage mutant children and took the full attack of the rampant thing. If it weren’t for me killing both of them he would have died,” he looked away from them, “He owes me his life,” Hiro started to walk away from the locked doors.

“Where are you going?!” Seiji yelled at Hiro’s back.

Hiro rolled his eyes and replied in his usual dull tone, “To shower- I reek of trash,” and with that he left the three agents.

Seiji slammed his fist against the wall and fell to his knees- his immediate temper giving way to his grief and fear, “Ryu….he’s gonna be ok….right?” he didn’t turn to look at Shou as he spoke.

Shou nodded to himself, “He will be fine,”

There was silence for a second before Kenji spoke softly behind them, “Hiro killed a child?”

From around the corner Kyoushirou stood, leaning against the wall. He had overhear the entire confrontation while grinding his teeth. He expected Hrio to be ruthless and merciless toward mutants- he was thankful to no longer be partnered with someone as volatile as him...and yet there was good news. Ryuichi felt pity….Ryuichi protected a mutant from death. He hoped that Ryu would make it out of surgery without any complications...perhaps he could confide in Ryu with his secret...perhaps Ryu could help him...Arisa...I will make this world safe for you….I’ll protect you from Hiroto. I’ll keep you safe- I promise.

----

Ryu knew he was dreaming. He could feel the sharp pain in his shoulder, but when he looked down at it there was no wound.

He remembered exactly what happened. He remembered fighting the praying mantis-like rampant mutant. He remembered protecting the little girl.

He remembered not being able to protect the little girl from Hiro.

Suddenly he was right there. The rampant was running toward him. Ryu looked behind him and saw a little mutant girl with snow white hair and a pink dress. He knew what would happen. He knew that he would be pierced by the giant arm of the rampant mutant. He knew that protecting the little girl would end in his defeat.

He wrapped his arms around her anyway.

He felt it all over again, the arm of the rampant pushing deep into his shoulder. Again, he did not scream.

He looked down at the little girl and she was sitting. They weren’t in the park anymore, there was no rampant mutant, his shoulder didn’t hurt.

The little girl was crying. She was curled into a ball. Her white hair hung around her sides protectively.

Ryu knelt down in front of the girl. It felt like he said something but he couldn’t make out his own words. The girl looked up at him but Ryu couldn't see her face. It was fuzzy and blurred.

He looked down at the girl’s torso and saw red soaked bandages.

She looked away from him at a door that opened. She started screaming and tried to crawl away from the figure in the room.

Ryu looked but could only see a black figure, the hand outstretched. He could feel the eyes of the figure on him. A clear, deep voice rang through his head, “Leave her Ryuichi.”