Chapter 28 — “I’m Coming Home”

Chapter 28 — “I’m Coming Home”

Lemon sat on his seat, watching as the sceneries passes through his eyes. The urban building has been but replaced by the vivid sight of natures. Mountain, valleys, green plains, dry grounds  — his eyes catches all the landscapes. His ride is but a smooth getaway. There are no bumpy roads, nor the smell of tobacco. He had his hands supporting his head, as he contemplates on all of his life, and all of his decisions.

The girl next to him slept throughout the entirety of the ride, since he first aboard the bullet train. For moments, he has this weird feeling. In contrast of the nature of the midnight express, his mind is full of chaotic arguments and debates in an old sedan. Bitter’s constant yaps as he drives his car, Lime’s nonchalant behaviour, shoving sweets to her half-full mouth, and him — being the ‘chilliest’ guy in the car, as far as he remembers it.

Though it is but a distant memory, and what should be a bad one — for some reasons, he felt his stomach sinks every time Lime’s annoying face, and Bitter’s annoyed face. He wonders why, though he knows the exact reasons for it.

The bullet train slowed down, as Lemon felt his body being propelled forward. Now a sign has passes his eyes, and it said ‘Shizuoka’. Not even halfway toward his destination, but he can see the end of the lines. The platform has been heavily guarded with armed forces, as they force their entry to the bullet train. Lemon sighs, burrowing his cheek deeper to his hands.

Heavy footsteps of the trained soldiers enter the bullet train, startling all of the passengers. They scan and scan the train’s car — making sure none are missed. And then, they stop. They approaches the yellow-haired young man, unbothered from the ruckus they made. Without wasting any efforts, nor any useless conversation — they all points their gun toward Lemon.

“Lemon of the Kuzumi Agency. You are under the custody of the SCF,” One of the militant said to the uninterested guy.

“Huh…so this is how it feels from the other side?” Lemon mumbled to himself.

The militant keeps the gun towards the girl next to Lemon.“Lime of the Kuzumi Agency. You are — “

It is not a green haired girl. It is a girl in an office attire with her hands up, trembling. Tears flowing down to her chin. Her mouth’s shaking violently — its colour has been reduced to a pale blue.

“…I-I just accepted a free train ticket. I-I didn’t know it was even illegal to do that…” The girl pleaded. Soon enough, Lemon finds every gun pointed to him.

“Where is Lime of Kuzumi Agency?”

“Who knows? Must I know every move she —“ Lemon usual snarky comments interrupted with the back of the militant’s gun.

“Where is Lime the Ordained One?” The militant asked again.

Lemon wipes the blood dripping from his nose, “Hey, it’s not really appropriate to—“

Another hit to his cheek. This time, a scream break as the passenger watches the beat down.

“I’ll ask you one more time. Where is she?”

Lemon glared at the militant. He can feel his head’s throbbing from the concussion they were giving. But it doesn’t stop Lemon from being himself. A cheeky smirk raises from his mouth —

“Up your smelly ass.”

The militant pulls Lemon away from his seat, as he is meet with more beatdown by the other militant. They drag Lemon away by the shoulder, pull it outside to the platform. Bystander watches in horror, while being told off by the gunmen.

“We found Lemon of Kuzumi Agency in Shizuoka. Alone…No, unfortunately she’s not with him” A militant touched his earpiece, reporting the incident, “…Yes, we’ll bring him straight to you then…Understood, we’ll wait at Kajiharayama Park —.”

. . .

The sound of multiple sirens are getting louder and louder. Then, everything stopped, replaced by the sound of tens of footsteps, approaching the militants and Lemon — who’s been cuffed by near a pink-petaled tree.

Lemon studies the man in a business in the middle of the gang, wearing a cold, calculating expression in his face. His pace is almost robotic, though the bandage all over his head tells a different story.

“…Looking sharp as always, Yamamoto-sama.” Lemon snarked. With every clever comment he made, he was faced with a certain punishment. This time, a punch to the gut.

“…I’m disappointed in you, Lemon-san.” Katsuo looked down at the panting Lemon, even more pathetic than his current state, “You and Bitter had great opportunity which I’ve given, yet the two of you wasted it all. Even worse — you risked the world for a delusion,”

“Bitter…” Lemon mumbled through his shortness of breath, “…so you got him as well ?”

“I’ll keep it short.” Katsuo disregarded Lemon’s question. The way of his speech gets sharper than before, “This is your last chance.”

The gust of wind blow, as Lemon catches his breath — filling the void in the conversation.

“…you killed your wife…when deep down you know…that she is perfectly fine with the way she is?”

Katsuo kept his mouth shut. Watching Lemon continues to ramble.

“You’ve known her for the entirety of your life…and you traded her life for, what — your vision? Your justice? Do you even love her? Or everyone around you is just a tool used for your so-called ‘justice’?”

The militant’s about to deliver another punishment, but is stopped by Katsuo — raising his hand.

“The world must be fair, and justice is blind. All for a greater good.” He commented, “I choose to be a hero, burdened by harsh decision. A wimp could never understand.”

“Better a wimp, than a wife-beater — “

A blow to his lower abdomen, this time — by Katsuo’s fist itself. The militant responded to Katsuo’s. With the two of them, they forcefully split Lemon’s back, tearing the wound given to him few days back. Lemon shrieked as blood painted his cloth from the back

“…Don’t you dare.” Katsuo growled

“…Finally — some action from the hero himself.” Lemon cackled, despite the burning pain on his back, “If your love is truly real — not just a one-sided flick, then I’m sure you don’t have the thought of pulling the trigger! For me, it seems like you’re the wimp — hiding in the name of justice!”

“…it seems like this line-of-interrogation has gone unproductive” Katsuo rubs his fist, as he glances one of the militant, “Widen the radius of our search. Keep me up-to-date with the other checkpoints.”

“You seem desperate, Yamamoto-sama.” Lemon panted, “Is it because the tracker that you put in Lime’s ear suddenly stop working?”

Katsuo crouched down, looking at Lemon eye-to-eye. “You’ve wasted my generosity again. This time, you’ll face the consequences.”

“…Funny, I’ve been ready to face it like a wimp that I am.” The militant drags Lemon to the side, pushing him down to face the cherry blossoming tree. The sound of gun’s clicking can be heard, as Lemon closes his eyes — gritting his teeth.

In the other side, Katsuo fell to the ground, feeling a sharp pain in his chest.

“Yamamoto-sama, are you alright?” The aide quickly comes to his side. He can see a

“…Seems like that Domini got me good.” A line of blood came from Katsuo’s mouth, as he observes the sky. The night sky has gotten brighter — ready to receive the dawn, “…Send our coordinate to the Minister of International Affairs and SCF International. Execute Solution A.”

“Right away, sir. But first, you need immediate medical attention.” The aide comes to Katsuo side, with a phone on its ear. Katsuo observes his diligent aide waving his hands toward a truck.

“What’s your name, again?” Katsuo asked.
“It’s Shimizu.”
“Humour me a little bit, Shimizu…do you have a wife?” Katsuo asked.
“No, sir. I dedicated my life for the SCF and humanity.”
“I see…do you still have your parents?”
“My mother.”
“What would you do, if your mother is the Ordained One?”
“Sir?”

“Put your shoes in his for a second.” Katsuo pointed to the cuffed Lemon, “If your closest’s head were hunted by the world, what would you do?”

Shimizu gave a thought to his question, before answering it, “I guess…I would do what’s right.”

“And what is right?”
“Serving the world.”
“Even if it costs you your dignity?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Even if it costs you your life?”
“Absolutely.”

“I guess we are all a coward, one way or the other…” Katsuo sighs, watching a green star in the sky, “The world is truly unfair, huh?”

“— has always been,” Shimizu said. The assembled medical team now rushing toward Katsuo, “But instead of crying over how unfair it is, we have to keep fighting, and maybe someday, it finally makes sense —”

“— what makes sense?”

“The reason.” Shimizu answered, “of why the world’s so unfair.”

“Huh, who knows? Even I can get lectured at one point.” Katsuo laughs, as Shimizu barked order to the medical team. Katsuo keeps his gaze onto the green speck. From the constellation in the sky, he can somewhat see his families, opening their embrace. With the sound of gunshots, and his last breath, his smiling mouth tells the sky,

“Shiori, Aiko — Sorry for the wait. — “