Chapter 22: In the Hands of Another

The Bunker was as rowdy as ever that night. None saw the group slip back inside and move towards the board room. Mia and Aqua sat next to one another, talking and laughing about something that happened earlier that day. Aqua sensed something ominous in the air, but pushed it from her mind for a little while, until Garuga's voice erupted in such an intense anger, everyone fell silent.

"YOU COLOSSAL IRRESPONSIBLE MORON!!" The Shadow Dragon slammed his fist against the wooden table, smashing it to bits. "YOU lost control! Claimed so many innocent lives, and for what!?"

Takabi had his head down, just enough so his hair covered his eyes. He sat in the chair at the front, everyone else lined up in the seats behind him.

Nana held her hand against her chest, her heart ramming against her ribs. She took gentle breaths, softly sending breezes of comfort against Takabi's head. He had no reaction to her or Garuga's words. She knew he must've been holding such an intense feeling of guilt for what he had done.

His knuckles turned white the tighter he squeezed his knees. Dried tears caked his cheeks, along with bruised knuckles from how severely he had beaten Hailey. They would've healed by now, but he didn't let it. Not yet. He wasn't ready.

Garuga ran a frustrated hand through his hair, coughed into his free knuckles then turned away. "I can't believe this. I can't. You made so much progress and undid it in a single afternoon. Takabi, I trusted you. You told me I didn't have to worry about you, not like this."

"And you…" He wanted to say he didn't have to.

It was a slip up. A genuine slip up that cost many lives. He didn't even feel right saying he screwed up. Screwing up would be, maybe, one or two people getting hurt as collateral, not an entire mall going up in flames and killing everyone inside. "I'm… I'm sorry… "

Garuga didn't say anything. He shook his head and pointed to the door. "Go to your room. We'll talk about your punishment later. As of now, I'm stripping you of field work."

Takabi didn't protest. He stood, and solemnly walked out the room, closing the door softly behind and walking down the hall.

No one said anything for a long time. The air was thick, tense, hard to breathe. Nana stood next, "I'm gonna go."

"Yeah, I know. Talk to him or something." Garuga said. Nodding, she quickly took her leave. Porrelth put his feet on what remained of the table, and studying his brother in arms. "So. Now what?"

"I'll be dealing with him accordingly. He made a big enough show that it's dangerous for any of us to be moving around in public. We do need a field agent though, someone who can track the new trail."

"New trail," Frannie asked, holding the ice pack against her head tightly. Among the injured, she was the only one that lacked any sort of enhanced healing. Her skull throbbed so intensely she thought she would pass out again from just the pain alone. "What new trail?"

"I picked up something from your school. Orion, or Girston, dropped a folder. Don't know why they would have it, but I found it among the wreckage. Plans," He said, turning on the projector.

A map appeared on the whiteboard. Red circles were placed around certain parts of the states. He hit a button on the remote in his hand, bringing up a screenshot of the globe and few other red circles. "They've got people across the world, recruiting weak minded and weak willed people and turning them over. Giving them power, intoxicating them with foolish ideals and dreams."

"So, we send one of our own to a place they haven't infested yet, right? That way we can see the process and dissect how to step them in their tracks later?"

"Exactly, Shine. Smart, aren't you," Garuga said. "They're next target is a newly established village in the amazon. They're pretty updated in terms of tech, so they shouldn't be too hard to find, or too dumb to fall for the Kult's schemes."

"Cool," Frannie said, wincing. "So, who's going?"

"Kairas." The boy sat up straight. "You're in charge of this one. Take the lead and be careful moving around. The slightest indication that we're poking around could drive the Kult off. Wait until it's absolutely necessary to step in."

"Got it. I'll go get ready." He stood, bowing in a sign of respect, then leaving the board room. Once he shut the door, Jewel approached him, leaning against the wall and speaking softly. "So. I guess Takabi is cooling down for a while?"

Kairas glanced at her, nodding.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well… I mean don't you feel sorry for your brother?"

He turned, slipping his hands in his jeans pockets and walking towards his room. Jewel followed behind him, tilting her head to see his face.

"I mean, it's natural for our kind snap like that. I will admit, I wished he hadn't lost it. I know he's going to beat himself up about this worse than anyone else would. It's his weakness. His own mind is his greatest crutch." He slipped his finger on the scanner, his room door slipping open.

He moved inside, grabbing a black backpack from the chair in the corner and throwing it on the bed. He opened the dresser, picking out shirt after shirt, then moved a layer lower to pick out pants. "He'll get over it, and be all the stronger for it."

"I thought Fallen Angels weren't affected by death the same way as humans though. You're all desensitized to this stuff." Jewel sat on his bed, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

Kairas glanced over his shoulder at her. "Keep in mind, Takabi's mingled with humans far longer than I have. While we take these things like gentle slaps on the wrist in the moment, he definitely has humane traits about himself. He loves, he feels loss and guilt. At his core, he is as human as our people can get. That's what makes him special."

She smiled, her eyes moving around his room. A couple minutes passed, Kairas finishing up his packing, before she asked, "What about you? Do you feel anything humane?"

"I'm not sure." He replied. His eyes fell on hers for a moment. "At times, when I look at you, I feel my heart skip beats I guess."

Taken aback, she jumped to her feet. A deep shade of red coated her cheeks, Jewel practically stuttering a response. "W-what do you m-mean by that?"

He shrugged, zipping his bag shut. "I don't know exactly. Not familiar with these human feelings. I've spent the better part of my life training under a man I hate, and finding my brother. I was so overcome with rage I felt no remorse for people I've needlessly killed." His tone was mixed. It was soft, warming, but cold and harsh at the same time.

Jewel was confused beyond normal. He basically said he felt some type of way for me, but he can't tell what it is.

She had a clue, but didn't say. She wanted to know why though.

"All I've known for the past few years is anger and hate. Even now, I struggle with it. You make me feel… At peace, though. Oddly enough." He slung the bag over his shoulder, watching her closely. "Takabi, Nana. I care about them too, and Shine of course. They're my family. And everyone else here, even though I keep to myself, I do care about to an extent. You though. Jewel you're… different."

"Why me?" She asked in a quick response.

"No idea." He said. Kairas turned, and made his way towards the door. "I'll be leaving in a little bit though. You wanna tag along?"

"Tag… Along… Yeah. Yeah sure!" She sounded excited, and rushed past him towards her room. "I just gotta pack!"

He raised an eyebrow and shook his head. He touched his chest again, feeling his face heat up faintly. For a being of cold, Jewel's warmth didn't feel too bad to him.

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Takabi watched the ceiling, his arms spread out at his sides. Nana's head rested on his left limb, her eyes also watching the whiteness above them. She had been counting the seconds, feeling his embrace, melting into his warmth. Sad as they both were, it was still nice to be together. Takabi looked down at her, then away.

He saw her. He was happy, happy to have her awake and around, but Hailey's appearance spoiled the moment for him.

At the moment, the only thing going through his head was him hitting her. Hailey's face swapping between herself and Nana. He felt horrible and sick at the idea, and tried getting up multiple times to vomit. Nana wouldn't let him. She kept him down, listened to his heartbeat, and tried to read his thoughts.

Guilt was written all over his face. She had an idea why, and knew the source of it was that girl that looked like her. Aside from Shine and Frannie, Nana was the only other one to see her clone's face. She didn't have time to question at that moment, but now they were alone. They were free to talk as much as they could, before Garuga came in and started yelling again.

How would he deal with the idea of taking more lives? He had control over his darkness, over his evil side. He did, yet he snapped and exploded, something he hadn't done in months. He reassured Garuga that he was fine, but now, he wasn't so sure anymore. His inner voice hadn't talked to him at all since he gained control. His mind was his own, his soul wasn't so fractured.

His will was his.

So why did he allow himself to go berserk, and worse, attack the people close to him?

Nana sat up, reaching over and crawling on him, straddling his waist and looking down at him. "Hey."

"Hm," He replied dryly.

"Look at me."

"I can't."

"Takabi, I just woke up. According to everyone else, it's been months since we've seen each other and talked. Forget about the mall and clone for a little bit. Just look at me."

Slowly, his eyes moved to her. Her beautiful face. The way her hair was messy yet controlled, and how it hung down her back. Her bust pushed up in her hospital gown. Her gentle eyes, and the softness of the air around her.

She matured.

In those months that she was asleep, and couples hours she was awake, she had grown considerably. He took notice of it, so much. Inside, he felt the need for her. The longing of holding her tightly, taking in her scent and getting lost in the clouds with her. He missed her touch, her kisses, her love so terribly.

And her body ached for him. Not in pure lust, but the need for his connection. The two were drawn to one another, so strongly. So needingly, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

"I'm here now. It's going to be okay, alright?" She leaned over, running her fingers against his face. He felt a spark run through him, and his muscles grew tense. "I told you before, no matter what, I will always be here when you need me. The guilt you feel inside, for the people you hurt, and how badly you hurt my look alike, it'll pass, Takabi. You're strong, strong enough to move past it and learn from it. Forgive yourself."

"I…" He shook his head. "I can't… I've done this too many times now."

"And I never look at you as a monster, do I?" She smiled softly at her. "It was an accident. Every time, you never intended to hurt someone, or anyone, to that point. I can see that in you."

"Nana, you can't excuse the amount of blood on my hands. I killed humans and demons alike. I saw no difference in those moments, nor did I notice until it was too late. In my head, I am a monster."

She sat back up, placing her hands on his chest. "I guess I'll be your chain then, because I'm not letting you wallow in this guilt like this. My parents would forgive you. Any angel that truly knows you would."

"But they…" He stopped himself. Her eyes told him she knew already, and in the back of her mind she offered so many prayers in hope that, somehow, they made it out alive and were hiding.

He doubt that, but looking at her, couldn't help but allow her words to reach inside and plant themselves deep in his mind.

"You gonna be okay?"

"I don't know. I really don't."

She raised an eyebrow, looking towards the door and wiggling her nose. A breeze rushed by, switching the lock mechanism, then she slowly moved her head towards him. "Yeah, well, you will in a minute."

"What makes you say…" He blinked, quickly picking up the cloudy glint in her eyes. "Nana… You alright?" He asked.

"It just registered in my mind, and body, that we haven't been together in months. Keep that in mind." She gripped his shirt and pulled him upwards. "I need my man, badly. So two things are going to happen. We're staying here until I'm satisfied."

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "And… The second thing?"

"Being blunt," She said, "I'm going to fuck you till your mood is better, and I don't care how long that takes, Takabi."

"Okay, time out! Hold the pho-" She slammed their lips together, and every sense of reason quickly left his mind as he melted into the kiss.

Outside the door, Garuga leaned against the wall. Shaking his head, he decided to leave the two be for the time being. "Better to let them go nuts for a little while." His eyes glanced at Raia's door as he passed by.

He debated knocking, but decided to leave her alone. When she's ready, she'll come out. She's been eating plenty, as the trays of food that are brought to her are always empty around an hour later. He nodded to her door, displacing his worries, and returning to the board room.