Last of Her Kind

#17: Treasures

Beach Resort
Hotel

Some staff asked for Aki's attention. "Ishikawa-san? This is from Kusanagi-san, the Boss' secretary. He asked me to give this to you", one of the men in suit gave a sealed envelope with something inside. Aki politely took it and thanked him.

"You're hitting some old man?", Hina came with her swim suit on. they informed. "I'd be on my room Hina-san. I have nowhere else to go without you", Aki smiled and ran to the room.

Room

She opened the letter and saw a flash drive. It was designed with blue and red flame.

Dear Ishikawa-san,

I saw you genuine care for Fushimi. Unlike me, I ran away from the responsibility of knowing information about him.

I'm handling you these data because I want to believe that you're stronger and that you'd be able to save him.

Fushimi is redeemable.

-Kusanagi

Aki opened her laptop that she coincidentally brought just in case she felt bored and just want to watch some movies.

She opened the flashdrive and there were tons of videos.

Hunting for Rabbits

Hi! Misaki here. Today, we're actually going to catch some rabbit.

It's not a normal rabbit. This stupid white fella got some of our treasure attached on its fur. It cost a million yen so we need to retrieve it. The boss will get mad to know that it went missing.

*Misaki shows a picture of a white rabbit with scarlet eyes.

"Misaki, stop idling around. We need to catch it before daybreak", Fushimi clicked his tongue.

The boss is getting mad already. Then, I'd be keeping the rabbit once we catch it.

At the end of the day, we were able to catch the rabbit. But then, Saruhiko...that idiot killed it. But then, he told  me that rabbits dies when left alone. 

First Kill

Saruhiko haven't spoken to me for quite sometime. 

At the edge of the cliff, I saw him prepared to jump anytime. I clung unto him and pulled him back. He was crying. He had the ugliest face I ever saw ever since I've met him. But at the same time, it was the most beautiful scenario with him. As the sun went down, I saw the reality of sadness that looms around him. 

He told me that he was tasked to take someone's life. I wasn't given that kind of order before. When I would be given one, I wonder how haunted I would also be when that time comes. 

Heart to Heart

*Fushimi and Misaki recorded fishing at the deck. 

Hey! Saruhiko, pass me the basket!

Do it on your own, airhead. 

*Misaki got the camera and pointed it towards Saruhiko. 

So, how do you feel that I'm spending your birthday with you?

I feel awkwardly disgusted. 

Hey! You!

Thanks. I never celebrated my birthday even once. Who would really want to celebrate a birth of a monster. For always being by my side, thank you. Misaki. 

Oi! Oi! Are you leaving? Are you going somewhere?

*Misaki put down the camera just having a shot of the sea. 

Misaki, during one of the raid. A police actually found me. He was clearly not one from this city but he showed me his ID. He didn't turn me to his co-police officer. Instead, he dressed my wounds and brought me to a clinic of whose doctor he knew. My identity was not questioned. He must have known what kind of person I am. He told me that I am young but that doesn't mean that I should experience all the mistake that every person could commit. He was so ashamed that an adult like him realized it later in life. That five days that I went missing, he nursed me in his hotel room. I thought he would sell me out but he never did. How can someone be so kind to a stranger? How can he protect me and make me feel so secure? It's like he feels as if...he's...

A father, Saruhiko, right?

Is that what a father is? He looks reliable. He stupidly smiles but his presence is really reassuring. 

What else? What else happened?

He...gave me freedom.

Freedom?

He told me that I am free to choose what I really want for myself. He told me that he felt that I was under some kind of burden. What in the world is he saying? Freaking stupid, right?

Aren't you? Aren't you actually looking for that? Saruhiko. All this time, I don't see you fitting in here. You're intelligent. By now, you should be receiving tons of awards. Hime-sama told me that your father sold you to the HOMRA in exchange of some kind of money. You don't belong here, Saruhiko. 

Don't belong? I'm tired of that. Do you know how many times I have heard of that? That old man told me that I cannot go to the house because I couldn't match up with the one who bore me and his own parents. That police told me that this isn't the kind of activity I belong to. You...even you...

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aki breathed in deeply and closed the laptop. She knew there were three more recording inside. She heard a knock in his door. She opened it and gasped. 

She stepped back and looked at the flashdrive. She returned her stares at the guy in front of her. "What? You saw a ghost?", Fushimi sighed. Aki forced to laughed and went outside the room. She closed the door and waited for Fushimi to say something. "Let's go", Fushimi ordered. He led the lady. 

Beach Shore

Fushimi is wearing jeans and polo but he removed his shoes to walk on the sand. Aki wore a long knitted dress  with shorts and sando inside. "You look pale, Fushimi-san. Do you want to go back?", Aki peeked into him. 

Fushimi grabbed her face. "Why do you always involve yourself with random stuffs?", Fushimi clicked his tongue. Aki shrugged and tried to remove Fushimi's hand. "You don't have to force yourself. Whatever you know and heard about me. You don't have to pity me. You aren't given the responsibility to care for me", Fushimi looked away and released Aki. The girl grab his hand back with both of her hand. 

"I don't pity you, Fushimi-san. Pity is something you give for someone you could see as hopeless. Fushimi-san is still full of hope. You are someone who keeps struggling day in and out. But, would you just feel like sharing just a little bit of your pain. I just want Fushimi-san to feel a little bit lighter even just for the slightest weight", Aki said while holding unto his hand and looking on the sand below. 

Fushimi flicked her forehead. 

"Fushimi-san, have you already found a place where you belong?", Aki suddenly asked. Fushimi's eyes widened. 

His expression soften and turned to walk ahead. "I guess", he answered. 

Misaki-san. You can be at peace. Fushimi-san is loved by a lot of people. Scepter 4 is a family that did their best to accept him. Munakata-san also welcomed him as part of them and of his own personal life. Just recently, I could see his mother opening up for him. There are already a places where he belong. 

"I'm going back to Scepter 4 but will also study at the same time. We'd see each other as often as before again. You can keep your words before. When you are in some kind of danger, you can just keep a smirk on your face because you know someone will be there to save you", Fushimi turned and gave a smile. It was genuine and cool. 

Chapter end.