The Sins of Our Past

Dark. Takahiro lost his sense of time. He was tortured, but he had an iron will. He didn't say anything about Gina and other things.

"Wakey-wakey, sunshine!" shouted Scarface, as he entered the room.

"Are you copying me now?"

"Oh please, since when did you forget that we're the same?" He was laughing as always. "You might think I'm a madman with some screw loose, but HEY! I'm totally sane."

Takahiro was having trouble listening. His ears were ringing violently and his body was in extreme pain.

"I just want to remind you of something, Takahiro. Every single settlement, around the border is under my control. And no matter how much you resist, I will find Gina. Either alive or dead."

"Are you planning to kill your sister?"

"Well that's up to her."

"She ended up in this battlefield because of you! Do you know how much she worried?!"

"Worried? Don't make me laugh! She thinks she was trying to protect me but no. I was the one, who was protecting her. I kept her away from trouble, I sent her money, I tried my best to be sure, that she was SAFE and HAPPY!" Scarface took a deep breath.

"And how the things ended up? She was playing her own game in her life and pretending to protect me. She never asked what am I doing for living, never asked how am I. She's not aware that we became foreigner to eachother. And you know what? I was happy the way it was, until I found myself alone and wounded within the enemy lines."

Takahiro didn't say anything. He felt like he wasn't telling the truth. In the end, best way to lie is to tell the truth a little bit. 

Most of what he said was probably true. It also explains why did he end up like this. Their last mission on the army was against a terrorist organization, and probably he encountered the same organization again. And if Taki found himself somewhere where he felt like belonged, then everything makes sense.

"Well, anyway. We'll be starting tomorrow. Get yourself ready, Takahiro."

As the time past, Takahiro was alone in that dark room. Through the whole time, his instincts were alarming, just as if he had missed something very important. But it was impossible for him to think about it, he was hungry, thirsty and tired. Every single part of his body was in pain.

Then suddenly, he heard a voice. Somebody unlocked the door and entered the room. There was a guy with a black mask.

"Who are you?" asked Takahiro. He wasn't panicked, but he felt worrisome.

The man raised his finger and gestured for him to be quiet. As he got closer, he started to untie him. Then he left a military knife next to Takahiro, and then left the room without locking the door again. A few minutes later, an explosion was heard, and alarms began to ring.

Takahiro tried to get up. He was out of his strength and he would probably lose any fights he got into. But still, it was better to have something to protect himself. Among the gunshots, he started waiting in the room, next to the door. He could hear all the screams and shouts around him.

'What is going on? Could Gina have done something?'

Sounds were getting closer, but Takahiro somehow felt relaxed. As adrenaline slowly leaves his body, he lost his consciousness.

He finally wakes up.

Do you think he started to understand?

They were the voices he heard last time. But this time, they weren't angry.

It's been a long time, Captain.

"Oh, it's you guys. Where have you been?"

Don't worry about us.

I think you payed enough for your mistakes.

It's not like we were angry to you.

But it just.. you know, we wanted you to understand so you could avoid the same mistakes.

"I'm sorry, Fujimiya, Suzumura, Okamoto, Uchida... I really am..."

No need to be sorry.

Our names doesn't matter.

That was what we decided at the beginning.

Nobody was expecting us to work together for 7 years.

Well, at least that was when the squad was established.

"But still..."

There's a more serious problem than our names, Captain.

You have to stop Uchida.

But he's not our enemy.

You also know this, right?

It's just the way he tries to pay for his sins.

"What do you mean? Is he.. same with me?"

Time has come.

You have to hurry.

And before you go...

This time, they spoke all together as they saluted their captain.

THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF US, IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU, CAPTAIN OIKAWA!

Takahiro, suddenly woke up. He was getting carried by a JGSA soldier.

"Where are you taking to me?"

"You're awake, Lieutenant. I'm carrying you somewhere safe."

"Let go off me, and hand me some gun."

"But sir-"

"Wasn't that clear for you?"

"I am sorry, sir but I can not do that. You are wounded and it's not possible for you to engage in a combat."

Takahiro managed to drop himself down and took the soldiers pistol from his leg belt.

"Sir-"

"Let him go." said another soldier.

"But Captain..."

"I believe he has a good reason to return back there. Let's accompany him."

Takahiro walked among the corpses, through the hallway. The entire corridor was illuminated with red lights.

"Where's the rest of your squad?"

"They're breaching the control room."

"Tell them not to kill Scarface."

"Sir, we can not confirm identities of the enemies. They're all wearing black masks."

Takahiro stopped walking and turned his head to the ground. He didn't notice the masks the corpses were wearing. Scarface could have been dead already...

"Sir, we breached the control room!" said someone from the radio.

"What's your command, Lieutenant?"

Takahiro was the highest-ranking soldier at that moment. Normally they should have ask that question to the JGSA Operators, they were the brain of the operations. But maybe because of his reputation, or maybe just because Captain believed Takahiro's decisions, he asked him what to do.

But no matter how much he thinks, there was no way to confirm Scarface's living situation. Losing time would have meant losing lifes on their side.

"Neutralise them all."