Archcore: Children of War

[16]-[Seeds For Conflict]

With the order of a cease fire from the NOVA government, the three cruisers and the remaining Knight Units  moved aside, allowing both the Chrysanthemum and Tento to pass through unharmed. With the danger having ended for the moment, the Sentinels were returned to the hangar and were to go through immediately repairs and a tune-ups while Nifa started to do what she could for everyone injured. Focusing on Luka and Levy for the shrapnel Luka had, as did Levy who tried to hide her own injury.

Like Nifa, seven other girls worked in the infirmary and did their best to help the injured. One pulling a curtain to give Levy and Izumi privacy as their injuries were looked over. Izumi only had minor bruising, while Levy had a bit of shrapnel an inch wide, needing to get it removed through a bit of surgery.

Two of the other girls did their work on Luka. Preparing to perform surgery for removing the shrapnel from his side. Nife and another did what they could for Akira as well. Removing his shirt and coat and numbing his shoulder before performing surgery on his back to remove the bullet, "Well, it didn't go through, but it's really in there. Your arm might be out of use for awhile."

Akira shook his head, "It's fine. All I really need to do is pilot Sentoria. So it shouldn't be much of a problem."

"A cease fire was ordered?" Nifa asked, "Yeah. Seems we still have some luck on our side." Izumi said as she pulled a curtain back and walked to the other end of the room, "Though Luka's plan had a very slim chance of working to be honest. I imagine it was whoever that Junko woman works with. Must've pulled some strings."

"Honestly, all of you need to be more careful. Especially you, Akira." Levy said from behind a curtain, "You got lucky this one time, but you might not be so lucky next time. Can you at least think of your actions before you go? Otherwise you'll..." Levy began to trail off until she no longer spoke, thinking about what she was saying. Before she could say anything else, the Anesthesia took over. It soon took affect on Luka as well, causing him to fall unconscious as well. Akira then looked to Izumi who had her arms crossed over her chest, "Why is she so worried? I don't get her sometimes." Akira said.

Nifa sighed and intentionally hit a nerve, causing Akira to tense up, "Oops sorry, my bad." Nifa said in a sarcastic voice, "You can be real idiot sometimes, Akira. You know that?" Akira relaxed and closed his eyes as Nifa reapplied medicine over Akira's back, making it numb once more before continuing.

Akira's surgery had gone by pretty quick. All it needed was three stitches before Akira's arm was put into a sling. Leaving the infirmary, he stopped to see Izumi leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and a smile on her face, "What's with that look?" He asked. Still with a smile, Izumi shook her head, "Nothing. Just seeing the face of a stubborn man, that's all." Akira didn't respond. Unsure how to or even if he should.

"Stubborn then, and still stubborn now." Akira knew exactly what she was talking about.

It was 228 when Izumi first met the two boys, Akira and Luka. Those days, they were much younger, twelve and fourteen respectively, Izumi was sixteen. Hardly was there a time the two wouldn't come back with new cuts and bruises from fights. It was one of those reasons Sebastián took an interest in the two. Seeing they had a 'fighting spirit'. Even Izumi took an interest in them, mostly because she was never close to MFs. Sebastián put it on her to watch and train the two until they were able to handle the work of Amaryllis themselves, which soon came once Akira turned thirteen and Luka fifteen. It was something like a older sibling kind of relationship they grew with her. Akira took difficult tasks he could never do. Even after failing time and time again, he'd keep going. Eventually Izumi labeled him as 'somewhat stubborn' because of it.

Akira smiled before he started to walk away, "Come on Izumi, stop living in the past." Akira then stopped after taking a few steps, and looked back to Izumi, "When Levy wakes up, can you tell her-"