Archcore: Children of War

[40]-[The Trigger]

--[1 WEEK LATER]--

"There you go, as of this moment, my work on both Jesta and Lycan Units is done." Grace said proudly to Miké, Yuhana, and Hugo, "Just on paper, but they're officially your machines now."

"So does that mean I can put my own kill count on it?" Miké asked, "Kill count? Why would you need that?" Yuhana asked, "Dante does it with his Jegan. So why can't I? Right?" Grace shook her head and sighed, "That's just like... alright, sure."

"In any case, it's hard to believe we all started out as enemies. Don't you think?" Grace asked as she looked to Yuhana. Yuhana smiled and nodded, "Yeah. At that time, it was only a job given to us. Thinking back to it, the job did seem shady, and I honestly don't think we would've won."

"Don't have to think like that anymore. Because now, we're all friends to each other." Grace said as she threw an arm over Yuhana and Hugo's shoulders.

Grace then looked past the three and to an empty area where a Sentinel would be. The spot for the Sentoria, "I know Gina has the people and tools to really give that one the repairs it deserves, but I wish I could do something like that for it." Grace said, "Celestia and Arch Angel will be brought back in a few days, but Sentoria. That'll take awhile longer."

Leaving the hangar, Yuhana met with Sora. The two started down the hall shortly after meeting, "That Akira," Yuhana started, "Even after what happened, nearly getting himself killed in that fight, he'll still fight."

Sora nodded, "I know what you mean, but I don't think there's anything that'll make him stop. Besides, what right do we have to tell him to stop?"

Yuhana stopped and looked at Sora, "Luka could. I'm sure if Luka  said for Akira to stop, I believe Akira would listen. He'll do whatever for Luka, and I don't blame him. We we're like that with..." Sora gently pushed Yuhana back, "What's with this sudden change in attitude? Something or someone caused you to look at all this living stuff differently? Luka wouldn't ever do something like that to Akira." Sora started.

"It might not be there anymore, but Akira only feels useful when he can fight and pilot a Sentinel. Without that, he'll become what he fears, useless. Luka wouldn't do that to it to him."

Unaware to the siblings, Levy was standing at the corner of another hallway, listening to them. Her expression, a saddened one, "Yeah, right." Levy said to herself before leaving.

Returning to Akira's room. Levy slowly opened the door, allowing the outside light to illuminate are otherwise darkened room. Eventually the light hit Akira who slept on his left side. The bandages on his arms and chest taken off a few days prior. His pale skin tone returning back to normal, while the gauze over his wound remained. The stitches were still fresh, and as a result, Akira wasn't allowed to move very much for awhile longer.

As he slept, Levy moved quietly from the door and walked to the side of the bed, taking a chair and moving it to his side before sitting.

"Akira." Levy started in a small voice, "You'd really fight until death for all of us. It sounds insane, but it's just you, using your body as a shield for those that can't fight."

"Your arms, chest, you've lost so much blood and even suffered third degree burns. It's all gone, but everything you went through." Levy stopped talking as Akira began to wake up. His blue eyes looking directly into her emerald eyes.

The two said nothing, only looking at each other. Finally, Akira began to move, attempting to get out of the bed, much to Levy's surprise, "H-hey, what're you doing? Stop it!" Levy ordered as she stood up, but Akira continued to climb out of bed, clearly struggling to do so. Though Akira continued until he fell forward and onto Levy who also fell back onto the floor.