Chapter 10 — “Trust Your Gut”

Chapter 10 — “Trust Your Gut”

It was a calm afternoon. The two kids calmly waiting in a lobby where it was bustling with people. Coming in and out from rooms, busy with whoever at the other end of their telephone, and yelling out phrases they don’t understand. People, in uniform or not, rushing here and there for urgent reasons — because of the incident days ago. It was, after all — a historical moment. A historical disaster to the world.

The TV was showing a photo of a gigantic molten town, as the reporter was talking some gibberish — words that the boy couldn’t understand. He eventually dazed to a corner. His hand was sticked — clamped to the girl next to him. A girl, sleeping without a single care in the world, as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her right ear is wrapped with white bandage. The boy dangled on the plastic chair, awaiting for the man who brought them here in the first place

“Are you really, really, really sure, Bitter?” A door busted open, as two men walking through it. A man, with a suit and tie, trying to keep up with the pace of the other one with a tattered coat. He was tapping the bottom of a small, white box. A cigarette came out of it, as he sticked it to his mouth.

“Yes, and I won’t repeat it for the third time.”

“You’re basically ending your own career.”

“I’m not. I’m investing to the future, Todachi.” The man called Bitter takes out his matchbox from his other pocket, “Unlike you, I think to the distant future, for my greater good.”

Bitter stands in front of the kids, noticing the green-haired girl nodding off. He tapped her shoulder several times, shook her tiny figure until she was half awake. He then had his finger out, pointing out to the both of them.

“Alright, as of now — your name is Lemon, and you are Lime. Now get your ass up and come with me,”

Lemon looked at Lime face — he raised his eyebrow in confusion, while she was still gathering her soul. The not-even open eyes of hers are gradually still not being open, though she tried her best fluttering her eyelids.

“Chop-chop now,” The man now already by the exit of the building, lighting up the cigarette hanging on his mouth. Lemon shoved Lime’s head, and dragged her still sleeping body towards the entrance. Lime followed her brother, though it was a difficult task for her to do while still shutting her eyes. When Lemon had his feet at the front door, the other man already had his hands up high, grumbling to Bitter. He glances at Lemon, before storming out to the parking lot. Lemon watched the man putting his hands to his pocket, as he was stomping the ground hard.

“You are now going to work for me,” the man puffed the cigarette smoke to the open sky, “I saved your life, now you have to repay whatever debt you have with me, no question asked, got it?”

Lemon watched the man. The small sticks on his mouth glows bright red every time he huffed. Hearing the silence, Bitter glanced toward Lemon, whose eyebrows already halfway through his forehead.

“I already told you no question asked.” Bitter sighs, knowing the kid will shoot a question anyway.

“Why Lemon and Lime?” Lemon asked with no other intention but curiosity.

“What, your name?” Bitter scratched his cheek, glancing to both of their hairs, “I have my own reasons. Good reasons, mind you.”

His cigarette is now half ash, “Any other dumb questions?” He asked, mocking with his tone.

“What is your name?” Lemon shot his second.

“Bitter.”

“Why Bitter, Bitter-san?”

“You…don’t need to know now,” Bitter held his cigarettes, tapped down the ashes to the concrete, “Only thing you know, is that I will be the one that will take care of you until you’re useless to me, so be grateful, okay?”

Lemon fell into his silence. He grabbed the end of his ragged shirt. There’re some more questions that he wanted to ask, but the annoyed look of the man in front of him zipped his mouth from asking it. He bit down the lower part of his lips.

“Papa?” A soft voice came from his side. Lime, scratching her eyes, looked up to see the man Lemon had conversation with. His blurry face, and the conversation Lemon and Bitter had her jumped to the conclusion.

For a moment, Lemon seen a new emotion evoked from his new guardian. Eyes that popped out from the sockets. Split second later, he sighs, stamped down the cigarettes he littered.

“I’m not your father, nor your guardian. Do not put any emotional attachment to me, as I will not put any as well. I’m your boss, and our relationship is professional.”

Bitter walked down the stair to the parking lot, waving his hands to Lemon and Lime.

“You don’t need me to hold your hands now, do you?”

Lemon quickly followed him down, trying to catch up with him. He’s about to go faster, but failed to realise the fault in his steps. As he was about to fall, the last thing he saw was a pair of hands, full of scars —

. . .

Lemon jolted up. He is drenched in cold sweat. He can feel the dampness through the top until the bottom of clothing. He finds himself short of breath, and stinging pain can be felt all over his bodies, especially along his back. His body’s stiff — wrapped tight in both bandages and the constraints of pain. Getting his head up to his front, was the man in his fresh memories, biting down the spoon while holding a paper at his side.

“I’m done.” Next to him, he can hear a delicate girl rushing, stamping her feet with incredible strength as she walked past them. The girl is still on her maid outfit, stained with red, and a white handbag swaying on her shoulder.

“This is the last time I’m helping you, and the last time I’m lending you guys my first-aid.” She storms to the close door, ramming against it. The bell rings with violent harmony, as she exits the now dim-lighted cafe.

“If you want to die, then just die. No need to drag me for this bullshit,” Her voice gradually along with her stampede — dissipating into void. Lemon rubs the bandage which is wrapping him. It is tight, with no hint of careless knot. There are not even a single visible wounds that can be seen from the cloth, except for some redness seeping out — the result of the bandages squeezing his body.

“You should’ve treat Yuzu-chan sometimes,” Bitter chewed the metallic spoon in his mouth. His gaze hasn’t left from the document on his hand.

Lemon adjusts his seating position — glancing toward the empty premise, and the empty spots next to him.

“Our next battle will be a tough one.” Bitter took out the spoon, as he throws the documents on the table. A bunch of diagrams and words catches Lemon attention, but not for long.

“Weather Manipulation, Strength Amplification, and on top of that — Illusion. Two Sera, and one Domini.” Bitter massaged his forehead, “This is…quite dreadful. I hope Todachi can rally up enough squads for the next raid…”

Lemon’s attention still wandered across the room, and to the empty spot next to him. It takes several ‘throat clearing’ for Lemon to glance to the man in front of him. Silence fills the room, as Lemon stares at Bitter without a single thought whatsoever.

“…We’ll get her back,” Bitter sigh, throwing his spoon on the mountain of papers, staining the documents with his saliva, “For all the trouble she made — she’s still a valuable asset.”

“…Yeah. We should” Lemon scratches the back of his neck. The smallest, awkward gesture Lemon made has been analysed perfectly by Bitter.

“…You didn’t trust me.”

“What? No. Why should I not trust you?” Lemon stammered.

“I see how it is. After all, if there is too much ‘business risk’, why should I take her back for a diminishing return?” Bitter’s statement causes a reaction to Lemon’s whole body — fidgeting, as his gaze avoided Bitter’s. A gesture of uneasiness, that becomes more apparent as Bitter continues, “Unless…if the return value is greater than the risk. If it has become a maturing investment.”

“You noticed?” Lemon mumbled.

“Of course.” Bitter takes a deep breath. His body’s swallowed by the sofa he is seating on, “How many years do you think I have been with the both of you?”

Bitter takes a moment, tracking back the time he spent, “15. 15 long damn years…and during that 15 years, I never even see that girl lift something heavier than five full dishwashers — let alone doing it without any contact.”

“A Sera’s bounty worth at least an apartment.” Tama’s stare becomes a little bit sharper, “How much do you think an Ordained One candidate worth?”

“I think it’s better for you to stop questioning about unnecessary thing, and start answering a better question,” From his slumping position, Bitter looks down to Lemon’s uneasy face, “If she’s actually an OO candidate, what would you do?”

“The obvious, of course.” To that question, even Lemon knows his answer is full of fear and doubt. He knows, that Bitter knows it all as well.

“…Then you should know that I will do the obvious as well.” Bitter stretches, leaning forward to Lemon.

“In situation like this — whatever I’ll say won’t do anything better for both of us. In no time, SCF should easily tracked their whereabouts. Right now, you should focus on getting the top condition of your body. Or better yet, put together a plan. A long term plan.”

Another sigh escapes Lemon’s, as he watches the monochromic, dark ceiling.

“A piece of advice, Lemon,” Bitter pushes his spoon aside, as he start to rummage around the document again, “In times of hopelessness, seek refuge in your safest place. In times of confusion, reinspect your logic flow. In times of despair, trust no one. And always, for the entirety of time, trust only one thing —“