In
Love and War
By
Lady Une-chan
Chapter Five [I've decided
to get rid of the chapter names. They were all stupid anyway.]
January
8, UC 0080
London,
England, The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Earth
The
Noah Residence
After Bright and Mirai returned
home, Mirai realized that she really
tried, and her body still han't adjusted to the time change from Side Six.
Sleeply, she climbed up the stairs, deciding that it was time to go to bed. As
she headed up to her bedroom, she passed Bright's sister's room. Curiosity overtook her, and looking to make
sure Bright wasn't watching her, she entered the room. As soon as she walked
in, she knew she should turn around and leave; it was the gut feeling that
always right, but Mirai decided to try and battle that feeling, and flicked on
the lights in the room.
The room was very-- well, only one
word could truly explain it-- pink. Mirai knew that Bright was about nine when
his family died in that shuttle crash; so his sister was probably only about
five or six she went on that fatal flight. Of course, most five year-old girls liked being, well, girly. The
room was cluttered with stuffed animals and dolls, and a bookshelf in the
corner contained tons of children's books.
A table was set up in another corner, and looked ready for a tea party,
with all the dishes lied out. The
bedspead and canopy were pink, as were the walls. Mirai smiled to herself; her
room back in her family's mansion in Tokyo probably looks like this, being that
she was three when she lived there last.
But the funny thing was that the
room wasn't covered in dust. In fact,
the room looked well kept, as if his sister still lived there, as if someone
took care of it--
"Mirai," said a stern
voice from behind.
Mirai gulped, wondering if Bright
was going to yell at her like he yelled at Sayla and Amuro. Bright had never yelled directly at her
before.
So she turned slowly around and
said, "Yes, Bright?" He stood in the door frame with a sad look upon
his face.
"What are you doing in
here?" he asked in his military voice, despite his facial expression.
"I was looking in your sister's
room," she managed to say. She knew this was a bad idea.
"Why?" he asked, his voice
all of a sudden soft.
"Because, well, I got curious.
I-- I'm sorry Bright," said Mirai looking up at him.
"I didn't say you could go in
here."
"You-- you didn't tell me I
couldn't," Mirai said with fear in her voice.
"I miss my family, Mirai. I was nine when they died. I remember them
all too well. Your parents died when you were six and seven. You don't really
remember them, do you?" asked Bright.
"No, not really. I was too
young..." said Mirai trailing off.
Bright beckoned for Mirai to leave
the room. After she left, he shut the door with a thud.
"You see, I try to keep my
sister's room the way it was. And I try to keep my childroom the same, you
know, to preserve history," he said as they climbed down the stairs.
"But what about your parents'
room? You sleep in there now," stated Mirai, as they walked out onto the
patio.
"Well, one day I plan to marry--"
started Bright, but he managed to cut himself off before he said the word
"you."
Mirai looked at him awkwardly.
"And have children," he
said to finish.
Mirai turned her back to him.
"I'm in the way, aren't I? I'll just go home. It was nice visiting you,
friend." As started to walk back inside.
"No, Mirai, please don't
leave!" said Bright, pleadingly.
"Why? Why should I stay? You
said I was part of your family, but now you say that miss your family, and you
don't want me in your sister's room! I'm in your way, and you can't find a wife
to fill up that gap! I might as well go!"
"Mirai! Stop it!"
"Why shouldn't I leave?"
"Because I love you!"
Mirai started to respond, but
instead pushed Bright out of the way of something.
But why?
He soon found out a few seconds
later as he heard the sound of a gunshot.
Mirai stepped back into Bright's
arms, her right hand holding on to her left side. Blood trickled through her
fingers.
Bright's eyes widened in alarm and
carefully pulled them down until they were sitting on the ground. Mirai leaned
on him, still holding her side.
Bright turned his head to face the
attacker. A forty-something man was standing at the edge of the patio, holding
a gun and shaking. The man looked as if
he might be homeless. Bright assumed that the man was insane.
The man, still shaking, put the gun
to his head. "I'm sorry," he said.
Bright squeezed his eyes shut and
turned away from the man. He heard another gunshot. The man had killed himself.
Bright focused his attention on
Mirai, whose hand had become covered in blood. It was quite obvious that she
had been shot in the side.
"I'm sorry," she
whispered, "But I had to do that."
"No you didn't," said
Bright, shaking his head.
"Yes, I did. I love you, Bright," Mirai said, as she
managed to smile despite the pain.
Bright tried to smile back, but he
was too worried. "Look, we need to call the paramedics."
Suddenly, they heard the sound at
breaking tree branches. Bright wheeled around, thinking it was another
attacker.
Sayla Mass was standing with a
medical bag with bits leaves stuck in her hair.
"Where in the heck did you come
from?" asked Bright, astonished.
"Out of the tree," said
Sayla, brushing herself off.
"What?" asked Bright,
still puzzled.
"I'll explain later," said
Sayla.
Bright sat there, dazed.
"Call the paramedics,"
said Sayla slowly, drawing out each syllable.
That finally woke him and he
scambled up.
"I haven't finished the fourth
year of medical school yet, Bright. Hurry up!" commanded Sayla, waving her
hand in the direction of the sliding glass door that lead back inside.
Bright nodded and ran inside.
Hastily, he picked up the phone and dialed the emegency number and told the
operator what had happened. The operator imformed him that help was on the
way. As he went to run outside, he
almost crashed into Sayla.
"She's unconscious,
Bright," said Sayla, "I need you to carry her inside."
Bright gulped and nodded.
"She's going to fine. I
promise," said Sayla confidently.
"Thank you, Sayla."
"You're welcome."
This was awkward for them. Bright
and Sayla always squabbled and never really got along. But yet, Sayla was here
and helping him. Of course, Bright still didn't understand why Sayla was in the
trees or whatever. But that didn't matter right now. He was greatful to Sayla for she was here to save Mirai's life.
Owari
for now! Hee hee hee, just gonna leave ya hangin'! I will explain the insane man and Sayla falling out of the tree
in the next chapter, as they arte being explained to Mirai. Please review, but
please don't flame.
~Lady
Une-chan