Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Leonard stared at the piece of paper on the left hand, then at the cucumber on his right. Leonard was speechless towards his own actions. 'What made me think anything would come from this?'

Leonard shook his head. Recent events have just been too strange. He couldn't be blamed for assuming yet another supernatural power was taking place with the cucumber.

"..." He stared intently at the cucumber. He held it between his fingers with an inquisitive expression on his face. He held the bag Yukki was in awkwardly as he unzipped a tiny portion of the bag and deposited the cucumber inside.

"uhh…." Yukki was already in a fearful confused state from the conversation and explosion she had overheard. Where did this cucumber come from?

"Cucumber," Leonard whispered.

Yukki was speechless.

Leonard zipped the bag back up.

Leonard looked over into the distance where the explosion occurred with a contemplating expression on his face. He shook his head. He couldn't think about everything at once, much less do everything at once.

He walked away a fair distance nearing the road, he was looking for some public transport. The country was known for its public transportation.

Known for its public transportation being worse than any other "First World" country.

It would only be worse considering he wasn't that far away from the port. Rather, He didn't even know if this area was still considered part of the port Likely not? That's irrelevant, though.

Regardless, it would take him further away from the gangs and closer to Mear City faster than he could ever hope to walk.

Leonard hadn't forgotten about Yukki. He felt bad keeping her in there, there was also a good chance it was unnecessary, but-

'Wait, why did I do this in the first place?' Leonards mind was dazed from his lack of sleep, he hadn't slept in over 24 hours, and he couldn't remember why he even decided to travel the way they did. Then it struck him- it was because Yukki couldn't walk far on her own.

After changing up Yukki's looks, the chances she would be recognized was the same as Leonards, almost nothing. They looked extremely suspicious in their dark hoodies and masks, yet everyone was suspicious around here. Therefore, if they weren't going to travel on foot, he should really let Yukki out of the bag.

Leonard quickly found a secluded place, and gently placed the container on the floor. "Hey, Yukki, you're still ok, right? You can come out now." He unzipped the bag open.

"It's just how I feel, mostly my body, but a little bit mentally, too. " Yukki explained as she got up. "How do you feel, though?"

Leonard had been busting his ass for hours on end, but he still answered her question, "I'm fine," Leonard lied.

"AYO WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!" Yukkis' gaze was immediately attracted towards Leonard's bandaged hand… it was missing a finger! Yukki flailed her arms around in shock. "Leon, Leon, Leon! What happened!?"

Leonard looked down at his hand. It felt strange to say, but he had actually forgotten all about his missing finger! He just had too many other things occupying his attention. Now that he was actually paying attention to it, a dull pain began sprouting from said hand.

He could only answer honestly, "I fought some gangsters while trying to rescue you, one of them shot my hand so my finger flew off. It's fine, though. It's the consequence of what I did."

Yukki stared up at Leonard emotionally, "Whoever did this to you deserves death!" She was getting emotional, she couldn't stand the thought that she had caused Leonard to lose a finger, that he would never get back. Leonard saw Yukki getting worked up and quickly acted to try to calm her down, "It's fine, it's fine, just a finger, better than dying."

Yukki continued, "Let's forget about the finger, then, you've been awake for over 30 hours, no? I have a vague idea of how long you've been awake. I know how long you've traveled on foot. When was the last time you ate or drank?"

She continued, although she was not as teary-eyed or emotional as other times she got worked up, such as when she learned the news of Elder Zhou's death. She was still not over it, except life hadn't even given her any time to grieve.

"You said you've had special methods, I even saw a glimpse of them earlier, but can those methods make you not feel fatigued?"

Leonard could only respond truthfully, "No… perhaps eventually, but not right now."

Yukki continued, "I know, after the, well, rather amazing stunt you pulled, we couldn't stay still. Even now, it's dangerous. I don't know what you did, but you even got yourself involved with a bomber! Is he some kind of terrorist?"

"Let's go." Yukki held Leonard's hand. "It wasn't the time for me to be asking questions. Just, we can't just leave this bag here, right?" She pointed at the body bag she just came out of. "Oh!" Leonard was reminded. He reached down.

[Inventory]

He swiftly deposited the bag back into the inventory.

"Not yet." Leonard stopped Yukki from coming out. He began walking in a circle around Yukki, staring at her.

"What are you looking for?" Yukki was pretty confused. Leonard explained, "I'm making you still have everything put on correctly. "Remember I made you put on all that stuff so that nothing except your eyes would be visible?"

Yukki was enlightened. "Oh yeah!"

"Hey," Leonard began asking Yukki, "Do you think we should have gotten black sunglasses, too?"

"Sunglasses…?" Yukki wasn't sure, "Isn't it too late for that? Even if we can get some, now, I feel like it would make us extra suspicious."

Leonard replied, "Isn't that a good thing? Wait- I just thought of something I should have done a long time ago."

[System]

Leonard quickly navigated the system and obtained a knife, which he passed to Yukki. "Here, I should have given you a weapon a long time ago."

Yukki held the knife in her hands, "I-" Leonard cut her off, "You're right, I should have given you a gun, but I only have one, and I barely know how to use it, I don't want you to accidentally shoot."

"..." Yukki declined to comment, so instead she asked, "How much longer do you think it'll take us until we're finally safe to rest?"

Leonard had no idea, it's not like there could be any concrete answer, "I don't know, maybe twelve hours? We have to take public transport till we get to Mear City, then we'll find a small motel or something before we go looking for some cheap apartments. Oh, and a decent hospital that isn't full of slimy scammers. Instead, they'll rip us off straightforwardly."

Yukki did not believe Leonard could last two days without sleeping. Even if he could, she knew exactly how people would feel and act after being without sleep for too long.

She got an idea, "Say, Leonard, if we keep going, you're going to fall asleep."

"What?" Leonard stopped, "No, No, that's how you lose!" Leonard was visibly confused, "Yukki, you know how it is. Who knows what would happen if we just… slept!"

"We?" Yukki found the problem. "I already slept in the bag, I can stay up." Leonard raised his hand as if he was going to speak, so Yukki quickly interrupted, "Also, I didn't say you should sleep. I mean that you are going to sleep. I mean, you finally get to rest your completely exhausted body and mind?"

She pointed at Leonard, "You're already micro sleeping."

"What?" Leonard was confused.

"This conversation, maybe your body relaxed a bit too much, but you've been falling asleep for like 3 or 4 seconds at a time. Haven't you noticed?"

Leonard had no idea. He had to admit Yukki had a point. The tired he was, the worse all the decisions he would make. He might fall asleep at any moment… he was tired, very tired.

'...' Leonard stared blankly into the air for a bit. He shook his head awake, "There's nothing else to do, though, let's go." Yukki stopped Leonard, "Why not check into a motel here? They don't ask for your identity, and you're not very recognizable right now. If they ask, just call yourself uhhh, Akira or something?."

"We can't!" Leonard was worried, "We can't leave things to luck like that!" Yukki insisted, "Even if the gang somehow knows our identities, and are mobilizing all their resources to find us, look at us! Look at me. I see nothing but your eyes right now, I can't tell your Leonard. You can't tell I'm Yukki, either. More importantly, just imagine what'll happen if you don't get rest!"

Leonard began to think, he stood still while thinking, he might fall asleep while… while… and then…?

Leonard stared blankly for a bit again. He had a realization. He couldn't think well right now. It's been over 35 hours without sleep, right? Something like that.

He looked at Yukki and decided. "I'll trust you. I can't think right now, and if I faint while… while… doing… while doing anything! I'm going to instantly lose this game of life."

Yukki looked up at Leonard, "Twelve hours was your estimated time. I say, just making it all the way to Mear City should take much more than twelve hours. We aren't driving, we would have to take so many bus routes! That involves walking between places, too. I'm convinced you would end up collapsing on the street."

Leonard was convinced. He felt like collapsing already. His legs shook even as he stood still.

"Oh." Yukki kept continuing, "I forgot the most important part."

"We left the Silver Nights territory a very long time ago."

...

The doors opened. A large male came in, followed by a smaller childlike frame. They were dressed up in clothing covering their entire body, only their eyes could be seen. Leonard took a look at the rates and took out enough money, enough to cover a night in a one-bedroom room.

The woman behind the counter looked up as the doors opened and quickly stood straight. She felt pretty intimidated at the sight. She's seen plenty of tough men, even gangsters with weapons! He felt the same.

She took notice of his details, he covered his body up, like he was hiding something. Was he a drug dealer? His eyes were bloodshot like he had just taken drugs or something! She mentally sighed, these were the most dangerous type of people. People who have lost their rationality from drugs. If there's anything she's learned from working in these parts where shady people would come once in a while, is that you don't ask questions, don't get involved, cooperate, and you'll be fine. Probably. Hopefully.

She accepted the money and quickly put it behind the counter. She reached under, then passed him a key and a passcard.

It was standard procedure to ask for a name and ID, but she had already scared herself out of that thought. Plenty of people refuse to provide an ID. She didn't refuse any of them from booking a room, he was no different.

She simply pointed to the right, "Room 23 is on the right side, the second floor."

She watched him walk off. She liked to let her mind wander to get over her boredom. 'Hm…Our gang? Unaffiliated? Random?' She shook her head, she didn't actually care, she just liked making fantasies inside her head.

'Ah' She just noticed the second person. That height… They were young… she couldn't tell if they were male or female, and they were closely following behind the man.

'Oh' A suspicious man with a small kid booking into ONE bed-room? She came to her own conclusion and mentally shook her head, half in disapproval, half in apathy.