07 Ghost: Untaintable

Chapter 7: Ghosts

Chapter 7: Ghosts (Shira)

"Shira-chan!" I glanced down at the mechanic.

"What?" I asked.

"Come down, Ayanami-sama is calling for you." He said.

I sighed and grudgingly landed, folding in the mechanical wings with my white Zaiphon. The mechanic, named Ryuu, had designed them specifically for me. "They work." I informed him.

He sighed. "You've been flying for three hours, I know they work." He said. I went to take them off and he stopped me. "Go ahead and hang onto them. Wow, dejavú." He said.

"Dejavú?" I asked.

"Ya, I said the exact same thing to your brother." Ryuu said. Suddenly his expression changed. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have brought him up." He said quickly.

"What are you talking about? Why not?" I asked. I was getting a strong feeling of worry, like something bad had happened.

"Do you not know?" Ryuu said softly, his expression pained.

"No one will tell me where he is so I'm assuming he's on a mission. Is that what you mean?" I asked, my feeling getting stronger.

"Shira-chan... Kaoru Illumi is dead. He died on April 1st." Ryuu said.

"He's ... dead?" I repeated to myself. My knees gave out and I slid to the floor unable to move. For a moment there was pain, then the pain duller and I felt everything going numb. "Just like him to die on April 1st." I said softly. "How?" I looked at Ryuu.

"Kaoru-kun went out on a mission with the Black Hawks on March 31st. During a fight he was badly injured and died from his wounds on April 1st." Ryuu formally explained.

"And the Black Hawks did nothing?"

"I don't think there was anything they could do." Ryuu knelt and spoke softly as he ruffled my hair.

"There's always something to be done." I said quietly.

"Hey, Shiroka, Aya-tan is getting impatient." Huuga called from the upper railing. Suddenly the numbness was gone and my vision tinted red with anger.

"I can't." I said softly, even Ryuu didn't hear me.

"What?" He asked, leaning a little closer.

"I can't!" I shouted. He flinched and Huuga jumped. I leapt to my feet as the red started to spread. "I can't." I repeated once more as I moved towards the open hanger door. Without hesitation I jumped.

•~-~•~-~•~-~•~-~• (Huuga) •~-~•~-~•~-~•~-~•

To say I was startled with Shiroka jumped would be an understatement. I leapt off the railing to the bottom floor and ran to see what had happened or if I could help. Just as I got there Shiroka's white Zaiphon spiraled around her body, opening a pair of metal wings.

She flew away from the ship and I turned to the mechanic. "One, how long can she fly, and two, what did you tell her?" I ordered.

"She's flown for three hours starting with full power, but she's not at full power currently and I told her about Kauro-kun." He answered quickly. My hand went to my sword automatically and I had to force myself to let go.

"That wasn't suppose to be told to her." I informed him.

"Why not? She's his sister, isn't she?" The mechanic said.

"Not by blood, actually, she's not. She believes she is though." I turned on my heel and walked away. I moved as quick as I could to the command center.

"Where is Shiroka?" He asked.

"Not here. An engineer told her about Kaoru-kun and she jumped off the ship with a pair of wings." I informed him.

"Is she okay?" Warren asked, the concern obvious on his face.

"It looked like it, but we'll have to go get her. She's not going to be happy we didn't tell her about Kaoru-kun." I warned.

"Konatsu, Huuga, Shiroyuri, and Haruse go get her." Ayanami ordered.

"Sir." We saluted and headed for the ship bay.

•~-~•~-~•~-~•~-~• (Shira) •~-~•~-~•~-~•~-~•

I lost track of how far I had flown. I was relying on my white Zaiphon to keep going and it was starting to take its toll on my body. I noticed a large white building and landed on one of the spires. I slid to the ground and let out a breath.

"Kaoru." I said softly as I started crying. At first I didn't understand, since I hadn't cried in a very long time, but I didn't bother to stop them. After a while my tears started to slow.

"Are you alright, miss?" A voice asked. I looked up to see a blond priest standing there. He smiled at me and I quickly wiped away my tears and stood.

"I'm fine." I informed him. He held out a slightly steaming cup and offered it to me.

"It's tea." He told me. I took the cup, but just looked at the tea in it.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"Oh, the Barsburg Church." He replied. "I'm Labrador, a priest here. And you?"

"Shira." I replied.

"May I ask what you are doing on the roof?" He asked sweetly.

"Just resting." I replied. I took a small sip of the tea and it immediately started making me feel better. "What are you doing up here?" I asked.

"I came to see who was on our roof." He replied brightly. I had to look away: for some reason his smile hurt.

"Just me. By the way, isn't the Barsburg Church dedicated to the Seven Ghosts?" I asked.

"It is. This is Profe's tower that you are resting on." Labrador explained.

"Oh." I mumbled. I gave the empty cup back to him. "Thanks." I said.

He shook his head. "No need to thank me. Are you sure you are alright now?" He asked.

"Ya, I'm good." I took a breath and let it out. Suddenly the Black Hawks crossed my mind. "They'll be worried. I should get going." I muttered.

"Your going? Then..." Labrador looked around and then picked something off a bush. "Please take this with you." He said. It was a white flower that almost looked like a Lilly. Labrador gently put it behind my ear and smiled. "Take care, Shira-san." He said.

"Thanks. You as well, Labrador." I replied. I let my Zaiphon activate and launched myself into the sky easily. I could tell he was watching me as I flew off. "What a strange person. I wonder what he was doing on the roof." I wondered. I glanced back and to my shock he was gone. "A really strange person. Did I dream it? No... I still have the Lilly... Wait, could that have been Profe?" I almost turned around to go ask when I was interrupted.

"Shira!" I turned to see Warren and the other Black Hawks, save Ayanami, riding flying bikes.

"Warren." I replied with a small smile.

"Come on." He patted the open spot behind him so I did as he asked. "Are you okay?" He asked.

I thought about it. "You know, I think I am." I told him honestly. "Kaoru, I'll miss you." I thought before I let out another breath. I hugged Warren as we started to go. "I'm sorry for running off." I added, my forehead resting against his back.

"It's okay. As long as you aren't hurt." He said brightly. I glanced back at the church as we shot towards the ship.

"The Church of the 7 Ghosts. What a weird place."