God Eater: Shattered Dawn

Chapter 29: A minor fault

Jack's POV

I coughed, and the ground splattered crimson. The blood clogged up my throat as I wheezed, my lungs burning. The pain.

The pain was. Overwhelming. I crawled out from my rock, dragging myself to a pool of water. The reflection.

The reflection was. Not me. My face was mostly coal black, my fangs huge and threatening. This was.

This was. What I was now. I bowed my head in defeat. Lupa.

Lupa. I'm sorry, but I can't.

I just. Can't hold on for you. I tried. Warmth flooded through me and I felt her there.

I felt her there. Comforting me. "Hang on." she murmered gently.

Gently the water lapped against my sore legs, numbing the agony that was the aragami.

"The aragami..." I whispered, before the blood filled my throat again. My body couldn't cope with the oracle cells. It was too violent.

I didn't want to be. Violent. The light outside began to fade, and I turned my face to exactly where I knew the moon would rise as light fell into darkness. I arched my back to stare proudly into the light.

I will try Lupa. For you.

I howled to the moon, begging for a while longer.

Soma's POV

I had noticed Lupa weakening on the way back, but had ignored it. I had...forsaken my allies.

When she had stumbled out onto the landing sight, and Ari had helped her regain her feet, I had pushed past her, muttering an insult.

Just the usual.

I could sense that Aria was getting more and more angry, and Lupa seemed to be annoyed too. Well that's just too bad.

But naturally, everybody turned to the girl's side when Lupa collapsed.

I had to put up with their ranting as I carried Lupa to the hospital. She was even lighter than last time. Not an unusual scene.

Lindow advised me on wierd stuff, misinterpreting the situation on purpose. Not an unusual scene.

Sakuya asked me questions about Lupa's health and eating habits. Not an unusual scene.

Aria got Kanon in a headlock and started telling her off for yesterday's madness, blaming the whole situation on her. Interesting to watch. Not an unusual scene.

Lupa was whimpering softly, a drop of blood running down from the corner of her mouth. "That's unusual." I murmered, swiping the droplet off her skin with my sleeve. I left the others in a trail of dust as I ditched them to reach the hospital.

I burst through the doors, demanding help. No one defied the Death God. Not that it was any surprise.

Sakaki was there, and announced he was to be recording data. The doctors analysed her and injected her worriedly. Apparently her eyepiece was malfunctioning.

Which meant her aragami cells were turning against her.

I wasn't allowed entrance to the room they took her to. The others had arrived by now, but were too worried to bother me.

"If what happened to Jack is happening to her," Lindow looked sorrowful. "She doesn't stand a chance."

"I know." I willed him to shut up. I already knew what they would have to do to her if she underwent aragami transformation. "But this is those damned scientists faults."

Bitterness and resent that had been burried away now rose again to the surface.

All their fault. The door opened and a hand gestured for us to come in.

"Already? This can't be good." Ari voiced our thoughts.

Upon entering the room, I found a certain someone there. The director didn't bother talking to me, still busy in conversation with Sakaki.

Lupa was lying in bed, seemingly sleeping. I relaxed.

Sakaki explained to us that the fault had been just that, a minor fault, and her eyepiece had been repaired. He said the fault was likely to do with her over tiredness.

"Will she be okay then?" Kanon asked.

"She will be back on duty soon. She just needs a good rest." the Director reassured us. "We would appreciate it if you could leave us now."

I had just reached the door, mere steps from following the others when he called me back. "Oh, Soma." Damn. I was this close.

"What?" I snarled coldly, hatred slithering through my veins.

"I need you to answer a few questions."

My scowl deepened. Of course. "Not interested."

He sighed. "This could potentially affect Lupa's survival."

...Damn that stupid angel. "Fine."

I told him what he needed, or rather wanted, to know. Sakaki wrote notes the whole time.

"Thank you for your cooperation." the Director bowed politely.

I glowered in return, standing my ground. "If her eyepiece were ever totally destroyed, would you be able to save her?"

The Director seemed hesitant to answer. "Unless she got a massive dosage in time...no, no we wouldn't."

Just as I thought. "So in essence you control her lifeline?"

It was painstakingly obvious what the answer would be, yet the Director twisted his words like the actor he was. "We don't control her, she relies on the eyepiece."

"Yeah right." I left them, kicking various objects as I exited.

"So what was that about?" Lindow was stood outside the hospital, waiting for my return.

"My damned father." Seeing my father always left me heavily pissed off.

"Don't forget we have missions." Lindow warned me. "She's going to take a while to heal. You've got allies waiting."

"I know." I growled, shoving past him.

Why should it make a difference?