�I don�t mind it,� he insists, a hand reaching up to brush the tears I hardly noticed were falling away, �it�s better than letting something happen to you.�
�You�re so stupid, De-kun, really,� I half-sob, burying my face in his chest, �you�re always so damn worried about me, but never yourself. Always so reckless, saying it�s for me, but�just think, what�s going to happen to me if you get yourself killed?�
His grip tightens around me slightly and I cry harder at the thought that it may very well end up this is the last time he holds me like this. It won�t be long before Taijou finds out the rest of what happened.
�Kiyoi-chan�Nothing�s going to happen to me.� I sniff in response, though I�m already starting to feel better. It helps that I can strongly feel his reassurance and confidence; it�s making me calm down.
�Do you promise,� I ask, feeling like a child, �promise that you�ll be okay?�
�I promise that, as long as I have you, I will always be okay.� He gives me one last tight hug before releasing me, along with a comforting smile, but as soon as our contact breaks I can already feel the coldness and doubt come rushing back.
�Hey, Kiyo!�
I blink, glancing behind me to see Bladen jogging across the lobby as I come down the stairs from the second floor where the infirmary is. I was going to head home, but I get the feeling those plans are going to be changed.
�What is it?�
�I�m going after Adel, do you want to come?�
It�s been about four days since Arashi�s death and, oddly, everything�s gone back to normal. Hiro�s still shooting both of us hateful looks whenever we cross paths and it�s unsettling Taijou didn�t strike out at Bladen further, but it�s basically as if nothing ever happened.
�Right now?� I glance toward the double glass doors, but the mix of the darkness outside (the sun set about two hours ago) and the bright fluorescent lights inside means that I can only see the reflection of the lobby. It's almost like looking into an alternate universe.
�Yeah, right now. Last minute warning. Do you have something else you need to take care of?�
�No, but, are you sure I should? I mean, if it�s just supposed to be you��
�Forget if it�s supposed to be just me or not. I mean, it is, but that didn�t stop you last time. And it turned out I really needed you, so,� he shrugs and punches me in the shoulder lightly with a grin, �you gonna come keep me company and/or watch out for me while I attempt to bring in Adel or not?�
�Sure,� I say with a nod, hardly thinking about it, �I�ll go. I have to grab my other jacket first. It has my gun in it. That okay?�
�Just be quick about it, we�ve got a lot of work to do.�
�I�m on it,� I say with a salute before running back up the stairs. At the top of them I almost literally run into Hiro, and sigh, expecting him to cause a scene. He just smirks at me before he pushes past me and heads downstairs. It�s weird, and for a minute or two I wonder what he�s up to.
�Bladen�s waiting for you, you know,� the part of my mind labeled �consideration� reminds me.
I shake my head slightly and decide I�ll worry about Hiro later. I�ve got more important things to worry about.
Droplets of rain shine silver in the moonlight that forces it�s way through the few holes in the clouds, lightly battering us as we walk along. Adel was spotted out here somewhere, and now we get to take on the fun task of attempting to basically find a needle in a haystack. In near pitch-blackness.
Well, near pitch-blackness other than the occasional flash of lightning.
�Fuck, I hope we don�t get struck by lightning.�
�We�ll be fine. Lightning strikes the tallest target, and that�d be the buildings�or what�s left of them. That is, Unless you�ve done something�sacrilegious I don�t know about.� I run a hand through my hair, brushing it out of my face. I really have to carry my gun in the hooded jacket from now on. This hair being soaked and plastering itself in my face thing isn�t fun. Bladen just ignores my comment. Or thinks he appears to. I can see that pout, you know.
�Where the hell did this pouring rain and thunder come from anyway?�
I shrug, �Sudden summer showers?�
�Kiyo,� Bladen says, looking at me like I�m insane, �it�s the middle of winter.�
�They have Christmas in July,� I say matter-of-factly, �so they can damn well have July in Christmas.�
�That doesn�t even make sense.�
�Who the hell ca--Look, there�s Adel!� I point behind him, wondering why Adel�s headed towards the industrial district at this time of day and in a damn thunderstorm besides. Bladen gives me a skeptical look.
�You�re just saying that because--Damn! It is Adel!� He interrupts himself as he turns around and I shove him as I run by.
�Fucking duh, De-kun. You think I�d lie to you?�
Adel spots us coming and takes off. It�s too dark to see which way he went, so we quickly agree that I got left he goes right. Turns out Adel went left because I catch up to him in no time.
He starts to skid around a corner, but falls against the back of building in front of him, losing his balance as a bullet of mine catches him in the shoulder. He can�t get up fast enough as his boots slip on the wet pavement, but that has nothing to do with how fast he can aim and shoot.
I mean to lodge a bullet in his wrist to make him drop his gun, but all I get is an empty click. I glance down in horror and confusion at the weapon in my hand.
How ironic, I could have bet my life on the fact I loaded this thing.
Too bad I lost.
�It�s not yours.�
�Fuck!� My eyes widen as realization hits. That�s why Hiro was smirking. It�s his gun, and he switched them. He fucking sabotaged me!
�Game over kid,� Adel smirks, raising his arm to fire. I freeze stupidly, but as the shot rings out, I�m shoved out of the way. I hit the ground hard, quickly rolling onto my back to see what I feared had happened.
Bladen stands there panting, blood pouring from the hole in his chest, gun held loosely in his hand as he glares at Adel. Adel�s smirk just widens.
�To think I�ll finally be rid of you�� he muses, aiming for Bladen�s head, �it�s a wonderful feeling.� A look of surprise crosses his face as I make it to Bladen�s side, grab his gun, and aim it at Adel�s forehead in roughly half a minute.
�I won�t let you touch him,� I hiss, �and I don�t care if killing you is against orders or not.�
Adel�s expression softens slightly, just slightly, and for maybe point-five seconds. He lowers his gun, but the smirk returns to his face.
�Son of a bitch�not like he�ll make it anyway.�
Bladen collapses behind me, and Adel uses the distraction to make his escape as I whirl around. His breathing sounds forced, as if it�s really difficult, as I kneel beside him and--oh God--why can�t I feel anything from him when I lift him into my arms?
Drops of silver falling from the sky are my only answer. Drops of silver from the sky�tears from the moon.
