A Reason For Being

Chapter Forty-one

Kaz

I follow group A through the maze of sewage tunnels. Kobayashi, Kei, and Izumi lead the way. I'm technically not supposed to be here. I was supposed to be evacuated with Aki and the other civilians, but I jumped off the train at the last minute. I wanted to stay. I wanted to fight. I don't regret my decision. Sora will be furious when she finds out what I've done, but I don't care. I stay near the rear of the group, and my face is covered so that no one recognizes me. There are seven altogether – Kobayashi, Kei, Izumi, Haruki, two other rebels, and me. We all wear black, and our skin is completely covered so that Akuma can't control us in case we come across him at any point during the battle.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Haruki says. She's the only one to have recognised me so far.

"What do you think? I'm here to fight. I can't believe you were allowed to stay and you are only two years old," I argue.

"In human years, that makes me sixteen, which makes me older than you," Haruki argues. I roll my eyes.

Kobayashi brings us to a halt. He carefully sets up the bomb. One false move and it could explode and kill us. It's ready. We take cover at a safe distance. He presses a button for it to detonate. We cover our ears. Bang! The bomb ignites into a ball of fire and explodes. It feels like the whole earth is shaking. Dust and debris fall from the ceiling, and then it gives way and falls. Everything goes black. I can only see darkness. I can't see anything else. The dust disappears. The sun beams into the sewage. The explosion was bigger than we imagined, but it worked. The wolves will be coming this way. We need to go. I cough as the dust fills my lungs. I see Kei unconscious on the floor, covered in dirt, dust, and detritus. It must have fallen on him during the explosion. I run towards him and help Izumi remove a large piece of rubble from him.

"Wake up!" Izumi cries.

"We have to go!" He still doesn't respond.

"Don't you dare die on me. Don't leave me. Please. I love you." She tugs at his body. Tears fall from her cheek. Her face is red. She holds his body. I squeeze her shoulder tight. Tears fall from my cheeks too.

"I love you too," he croaks. His eyes open. Izumi kisses him.

"You're not supposed to be here." His eyes look at me, but instead of scolding me, we hug, and he kisses my sweaty forehead.

"We need to go! Can you walk?" Kobayashi yells. Neither he nor the rebels look eager to wait around for us. A car siren wails outside. Kei stands but screams in agony when he tries to walk on his leg. I think he's broken a bone.

"Go ahead. We'll catch up," Izumi orders.

Kobayashi nods and leaves with the other rebels. Kei swings an arm around both of us. He's heavy, and neither of us is particularly strong. Haruki leads and we follow the tunnel to find group B.