Chapter 72 [Trojan Suprise]

I lean back on the Station wagon beside Cindy. I look to my side and notice Cindy is gazing at the starry sky above us. I sway a little bit to the side so my shoulder bumps slightly on hers.

"This is it," I said.

"The last mission," Cindy continued.

"So what are you going to do after this?" I ask.

"I don't know, maybe I will start a company. I want to go legit. How about you?" Cindy said

"Lina offers me a way back beside I want to stay with her and also with Kusagi and Catty," I said.

"Like a big family," Cindy said.

"You know you welcome to join us," I said.

"Ahhh, that's sweet," Cindy said as she leans her head on my shoulders.

"By the way, Elena asks me a question earlier," I said.

"What did she ask?" Cindy said.

"If you single or not," I said.

"Oh, really," Cindy said.

"I said that you are in a serious relationship, but she didn't give up, she said it's kind of her thing being in some kind of a threeway," I said.

"Well, Luci would kill me if I let her in even though I'm fine with it," Cindy said.

"Wait, you are fine with it?" I puzzled.

"Yeah, I don't mind it," Cindy said as she grins at me.

"Ohh god, you weird too," I sigh.

"I'm the weird one? You are even weirder than me. Mister, I am the Oni that seeks revenge," Cindy jest.

"At least, I don't eat ice cream in the middle of the winter'" I sassed.

"Unicornia ice cream is delicious by the way. Well, at least I'm not freaking Lolicon," Cindy retort.

"I'm not a!.." I let out a groan.

"And one more thing because of you, Kusagi now have a bad taste on picking a name for people. I mean 'Catty' seriously? it's basically short for Catalyst," Cindy said.

"Catty is a good name, Hpmh," I said.

We both look at each other for a few seconds then we burst into laughter together. Cindy has been a good ally and a great friend. I wish I could have known Cindy sooner, and be her friend all over again.

"Let's get you to suit up," Cindy said, leaning forward, and walks to the back of the station wagon.

She opens the trunk revealing my equipment and weapons; ready and organizes in the trunk of the car. I grab the leather chest holster first then proceed to wear it. Then, I move on to my black jackets and did the same thing.

"It's like Christmas all over again," I said.

"Everything you need is here, your equipment is ready, and there is a vast array of weapons you can choose," Cindy said.

I ran my fingers on my revolver first, taking it; I sheath it in my chest holster. My eyes went to the AR-15 and the short barrel Mossberg 590A1 shotgun.

"I don't think I will be taking the AR-15," I said.

"Aren't you going all out?" Cindy said.

"Yeah, but my mother has that sword, she will probably slash the AR-15 in half before I can use it," I explain.

I take the thigh holster and strap it around my right leg. I proceed to grab the short barrel shotgun next and sheath it in the holster. I also grab the ammo belt just in case I need extra ammo.

I move on to the gauntlets that have been clean last night and wear it. Cindy tap my shoulder causing me to turn and face her. She has this huge grin on her face as she held my helmet with the small horns in her hands.

"Here you go, Oni," Cindy said.

"Thank you, miss," I said as I bow my body forward slightly.

I take the helmet off her hands, looking at it cause me to remember the bad stuff I had done, and by wearing it, I accept what I did, and try to repair what had I broken. I press the button on the gauntlet to turn on my helmet speaker.

"What you gonna do next?" I ask.

"I'm going back to the base, and oversee the mission from there," Cindy answer.

"Hmm... You always got the easy job," I said.

"Sure... Easy," Cindy scoffed as she raises both hand and making air quotes with her fingers.

"It's not like you have to face the danger," I said.

"Oh yeah? How about the time I drove the truck, beside my job, ain't easy, I got stuff to prepare, deal to make, computer to hack, and money to manage. Yeah, very easy to do," Cindy sassed.

I let out a laugh and said, "I'm sorry for belittling your work".

"You better be and you owe me a Unicornia ice cream when you get back," Cindy said with a smirk forming with her lips.

Cindy looked at me with both of her eyes, I know that behind that smirk and the joking around; is a friend that greatly worried about me. I wanted to say something to her, to reassure her that everything going to be okay but I can't seem to find the word, instead I pull her close and hug her tightly.

Cindy sniffle as she returns my hug with an even tighter one.

"I'm scared Haru, this mission is not like the other. I'm worried that you... Don't come back," Cindy whispered near my head.

"There is no way of knowing that I will come back, but there is feeling in my gut that tells me, everything gonna be okay," I said.

"Like I said earlier, you're the weird one here," Cindy joke half-heartedly.

I let out a short chuckle come out from my mouth.

"But thank you. I felt much better now," Cindy said while releasing me from her hug.

Cindy wipes her teary eyes while smiling.

"I got to go now, see you on the other side," Cindy said as she closes the trunk and walks to the driver side.

She opens the door and turns her head to look at me.

"Don't forget, you still owe me a Unicornia Ice cream, so make sure you come back," Cindy said before entering the station wagon.

The station wagon body rumble as the engine startup, she drove the car toward the gate before passing the gate, the station wagon horn twice and I wave my hand at it.

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My back leans on one of the seats inside of the airplane in the cargo area, I close my eyes and focus my mind. Someone tap on my shoulder causing me to open my eyes. Elena standing in front of me and smiling at me.

"So you are the Oni right?" Elena asks.

I nod my head.

"Cool!" Elena said excitedly.

"Not the reaction I was expected," I said surprisingly.

"Can I ask why cool? I mean, I not really a hero or something," I ask.

"You are cool because you kill bad guys!" Elena said.

"I know the media keep telling the people that you are the bad guys, but there are people who live in the shadow and they know the truth," Elena said.

"But I kill those people, no matter how much I justified it, killing your own kind are still a bad thing," I said.

"Sometimes it's better for the world that a few bad people need to be killed," Elena said.

"For me, it's better if they were brought to justice," I said.

"That is a naive way of thinking, our justice system is flawed... Even if they were brought to court today, they will be released in the next day," Elena said.

"Elena Ready the drop!" Yuri said through the intercom.

Elena quickly dashes toward somewhere leaving me alone in my thought.

"Haru, we are closing in the drop, be ready," Cindy voice can be heard coming from the inside of the helmet.

I press the button to change to radio communication.

"Yes, ma'am!" I groan as I stand up from the seat and stretch my body.

"We literally got once chance to do this," Cindy said.

"Better pray to lady luck," I said.

"Oh, I'm praying to all of them right now," Cindy said.

I turn my body to face the rear cargo loading door that is slowly opening, I felt the sudden rush of wind hitting my body as it wedges through the opening. The car loading door drops down completely becoming a ramp. When I look outside, I can see the twinkling light of the city below and the starry night sky with a crescent moon above.

"In my entire career, I have never heard of somebody dropping a tank on a building!" Yuri laughs on the intercom.

"This definitely going to be one for books! WOO!" Elena cheers.

"Haru, you might want to enter the tank now!" Yuri said.

I quickly run and enter the tank from the back, closing the door behind me. I sat on the seat and tied my left hands with the seat belt. My heart begins to throb faster as I think about how crazy the plan is.

"Haru, I need to tell you something. There are two things that are gonna happen when the tank hit the building, either the tank body mashed together on impact or you safely crash into it," Cindy said.

"Oh, shit..." I said.

"But there is a good news," Cindy said.

"What is the good news?!" I ask.

"The whole thing gonna feel like one of those thrill ride at the carnival," Cindy said.

"This is not like a thrill ride, I'm sure of that!" I shrieked as I felt the gravity shift as the tank slowly move backward.

Then, suddenly I felt it the sudden drop and my whole body felt like something was pushing me from my left side. I tighten my grip around the belt as my whole body was pulled to the driver side of the APC. I was grateful to the seatbelt that my whole body didn't slam into the driver side.

I grunt as the force became overwhelmed.

"Shit!"Cindy cursed.

"What happen!!" I grunt.

"The system detects you coming, it's activating the auto turret! Hang tight!" Cindy warned.

The whole tank body vibrates as the multiple sounds of bullets hitting the metal body echo inside of the tank. I hold to the belt even tighter and pray to god that the tank armor holds up. It didn't as a bullet passes by me and ricochet inside of the interior.

"Cindy!" I scream.

Without warning the tank body jerk and rotate as I felt the outward body hit the concrete floor and wall of the building. After a few seconds of the crash, a loud impact noise follows by the many large inward dents appearing on the interior wall of the tank body.

I cursed every word I can think of at that moment before the tank finally stops shaking and moving.

"Oh fuck! This is the stupidest idea we had!" I said while panting my life out.

"It's not that bad," Cindy joked.

"You do it then next time!' I countered.

"Nope," Cindy laugh.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance, I untied my hand and felt the searing pain around my wrist.

"You got company outside your tank," Cindy said.

"Glad to know,"I said.

Taking out the short barrel shotgun from my thigh holster, I pull the fore end backward to load the first round and I bring it close to my chest. I close my eyes and focus my mind to sharpen my sense.

Then, I slowly unlock the handle and kick the door open. The bright light greets me, and I aim the shotgun toward the first enemy closes to me.