Chapter 25 — “To Die Here”

Chapter 25 — “To Die Here”

“…Are you serious?”

Shem and Cham jumped back from the man in front of them, grovelling on the ground. The man in a tattered coat. The man they’ve known quite well now, after exchanging blows. A piece of metal was in front of him, and on it — inscribed the words — glowing in seven colours,

‘The Ark saves. Its people strives.’

“No way…” Cham’s gnashed her teeth together, while her mouth still had a trace of the sandwich she had, “You’re saying that you’re the sponsor of The Ark? You — of all people?”

“I think I’ve proven my identity well,” Bitter didn’t move a single muscle. His head was glued to the ground — unmoving and unbothered. Crowds started to form, discussing on what has been ensued — encircling the centre of attention.

“Give us some space…” Noah whispered to his men. They nodded simultaneously, dispersing to the crowd as they shooed them away.

“Raise your head.” Noah said, “I assume you don’t want any extra attention, do you?”

Bitter complied with his command, rising his head up. The bags under his eyes were as dark as countless sleepless nights. His posture slumped, and his sanitary was at the worst condition. But he kept his gaze sharp, and sharper — as he always had.

Now the bustling street has been reduced to but a quiet alleyway. There were no soul, but the three in sight. The howls of the wind raised the tension between the supposedly two factions.

“…SCF forces are already in the area. It’s better to cast your Sera-class illusion to confuse them and—“

“— You can’t be the sponsor. You must have forged the slate. Or stolen if from the real sponsor. And why should we trust you in the first place, let alone your ‘strategy’?” Cham raised her complaint — her gaze was unbroken, matching Bitter’s.

“…It couldn’t be forged. The inscription was written by Shem’s yokai. Traces of her power couldn’t be replicated even by the latest technologies. And with stealing — The sponsor’s identity has never been exposed, even by us. He was a careful man. Too careful. I doubt he kept the slate in a clumsy way…” Noah approached Bitter. He stomped at every steps, creating sounds that would send any ordinary man a creep. The man in front of Noah stood tall, unintimidated by him.

“The question is…why would you — Bitter of Kuzumi Agency, assisted us for 10 years, while working with the opposition?”

Bitter sighed. He reached to his side pockets, and popped a chewing gum packet out of it. He threw it in his mouth — the fruity smell of the gum filled his sensory organ. He chewed the gum for a couple good seconds, as he made the three Ark wait.

“…Assurance.”

“Do you mind explaining a little bit more?”

Bitter put his hands on his side, “I can’t guarantee Lime’s or Lemon’s safety. Even with SCF so-called ‘protection programme’, I can’t put my finger on it. So I decided that I needed an additional assurance for them.”

“You had your foots on both camps —” Shem concluded, “ — But why? I don’t see the benefit for you, personally.”

“Yeah, truth to be told — I squeezed all of my hard works to get this piece of crap —” Bitter pointed the slate with his foot, “— and the funny thing is, I can’t really grasp why I’m doing it as well. Thought it was the worst decision of my life so far, and it might be the case. But whenever I decided to dip out, it feels like there’s nails in my stomach.”

“I understand…” Noah has now stood right in front of Bitter. His body mountains over Bitter’s. “I respect your care to them, and honour your service for us.”

“I’m no father.” Bitter retorted, “I think I just see a little bit of me inside them. And I, of all people, can’t see myself fail.”

“Sure…if that’s the direction you want to go. Rest assure, The Ark will protect Lime — even if it costs our life. In exchange —”

“I know, I know. I’ll do better in assisting you and your vendetta—“

“— Hey! I’ve never agreed signing up my life on this!” Cham complained again. Shem reached her hands, gently scratches hers. From that touch, Cham understood Shem’s true intention— to shut up for one second.

“Alright… I better get going. Don’t want to raise suspicion there,” Bitter scratches his head, turning his back on them. He begins his stride, feeling the wind brushes his face. Within three steps forward, he stops, glancing to his back,

“Is she…alright?”

“We were just in the cafe. She’s must be enjoying her lemon tea by now.” Shem replied to his question.

“Lemon tea, huh?” Bitter scoffed. He resumed his journey, waving his hands to the group behind him.

“Do you think he can really be trusted, Dad?” Shem leaned in toward Noah.

“Yes.” He answered short.

“You sure put a lot of trust in him —when he was close to being our worst nightmare just a while back.”

Noah watches the back of the tattered coat. His pace was steady, and his walk was firm. He glanced back at Shem, gently rubs her head.

“…Call it, a father-to-father intuition.”

. . .

The sound of thunder swifted around the battlefield, as Cham and Shem rode the lighting wolf into the centre of the rampaging tornado. The both of them crashed to the ground, as the yokai failed its landing.

“How was she?” Noah asked to his daughters.

“To be honest? She’s getting more than I could handle.” Shem rubs the fur of the restless wolf yokai, calming it down. “…She’s close. She’ll ascend in no time.”

“…Then we best prepare ourselves.” Said Noah.

“Yeah. You overdid your best as well, didn’t you?” She pointed out to the slumping Bitter — full of bruises and cuts.

“…It was by his request.”

“Really? Never know you two are into that kind of stuff,” Shem smirked.

“Shem. Not at the right time and place.”

“…Sorry, thought I might lift up this dreadful place,” Shem scanned her surrounding. True to her words, all the worn facial expressions surrounding her full on tense and nervousness — even including Noah. “All we need to do is to wait for her ascension, and we will reveal our hidden alliance — which should give us the tremendous advantages against the SCF, right?”

“That sounds like the plan.” Cham confirmed.

The two sisters nodding, grabbing on each other’s arms to give them enough strength. Noah, in the other hands, kept his head lower than usual. His heartbeat’s getting faster and faster, but not because of nervousness anymore.

“…Shem, is Tanuki still here?” Noah interrupted.

“Tanuki? Yeah, he’s alright.” The little raccoon-dog popped out of thin smoke, climbing on her shoulder, “You need him for something?”

“…Swap our faces, Shem. And Cham, go hide yourself from the SCF’s sight.”

“—What? Why?” Cham complained

“Yeah, what’s with the sudden changes?” Shem’s voiced her confusion. It wasn’t in the original plan they’ve crafted. Noah’s hand tremble, as he glanced toward Bitter. The beaten-up man averted his gaze, watching the violent wind spiralling around the calm spot.

“…Listen well, Shem. Cham.” Noah approaches the two, “I’m going —“