Vol 9 Chapter 12 (1/2)
This is a continuation of PART A
”There is” shi+on stood up ”There is a hospital”
Inukashi+ and Rikiga turned to each other They peered into each other's eyes
”Hospital―? Where?” Rikiga asked in a hoarse, scratchy voice shi+on's gaze slid to the side On the other end of it was the special alloy wall, illuhtly by the flames
”Inside”
”No 6!” Inukashi+ and Rikiga's voices overlapped
”Yes We'll find plenty of hospitals there”
”That's absurd!” Rikiga blurted ”How are we going to get inside? My car won't even be able to pass the gates They'll register it as a suspicious vehicle and it'll get blown up within a fewImpossible Absolutely impossible Wait, I know! shi+on, how did you escape froo back in that way?”
Inukashi+ alreeet back in through it That old one out of him
But shi+on shook his head firmly
”We can't do that That would take too th he has left We have an hour―we need to get hioing to ates?”
”We don't need to”
”What?”
”The Correctional Facility is destroyed All its functions have shut down That , either”
”You're planning to enter No 6 through the Correctional Facility's private gates?”
”Yes”
”shi+on, you do you knohere the Correctional Facility's gates are?”
”I don't know for sure I've heard, though, that they're directly connected to the Correctional Facility”
Rikiga's throat contracted as he sed his saliva Inukashi+ found hi the same The back of his throat burned frorew even ht It's directly connected About a hundred ates, you'll find the back entrance of the Correctional Facility That's where you tere carried through during the Hunt But you probably couldn't see anything froo container you were loaded into”
Inukashi+ realized he had unknowingly clenched his hand into a fist, listening to shi+on and Rikiga's conversation
Getsuyaku had also been coates Inukashi+ had heard hi treated the saiven the man an offhand answer
”Prisoners are killed once they get caught They'll never cooing through the paid to do it That's way different frouess, now that you o hoed and smiled ruefully
But in the end, he was the same He was shot dead in the blink of an eye, just the same as a prisoner Even worse―like an insect
Inukashi+ rehtly
”Then we can take the car to the gate froht?” shi+on asked
”We can if there are no obstacles along the way No one is crazy enough to get close to the Correctional Facility now, apart froa-san, lend me the keys to your car, please”
shi+on extended his scratched and bloody hand Rikiga's face twisted visibly Deep creases appeared between his eyebrows
”What are you going to do with the to drive You two can stay behind The keys, quickly”
”Bullshi+t!” Rikiga bellowed angrily again ”Have your eyes rotted and fallen out? Don't you see those flames? You idiot!”
The Correctional Facility barely re fla so loudly had died out so the way, and only the ferocious wind sounded as it was drawn in by the flaotten out of the Correctional Facility in one piece, and you're going to prance right back in?” Rikiga said incredulously ”This is no time for jokes How oing inside The gates are outside of it”
”A hundred ates aren't a safe zone, you know”
”That's why I'ht now, the gates are nothing but an opening”
”The car runs on gasoline If you happen to drive into fire and it catches―”
”Hand it over,” shi+on co Commanded That was indeed how the words came out shi+on had neither snapped, nor yelled harshly On the contrary, it was a quiet and heavy utterance
Rikiga retreated half a step
”Hand over the keys”
It was the voice of a ruler giving orders to his subject―it was unh his pocket and extracted a worn silver keyring His fingertips were tre
”Stop it,” said a voice even lower than shi+on's To Inukashi+ it seeh his spine Nezuh Stop it”
Inukashi+ could hear his words clearly
Nezumi's voice Nezumi could use ten, twenty different voices, but what Inukashi+'s ears had caught was unmistakably Nezumi's natural voice
”Don't stay away, shi+on”
shi+on did not answer He did not even try to look at Nezua-san, please Giveyou” It was not an order, but a plea
This was the shi+on that Inukashi+ knew Intelligent, gentle, faithful, airheaded and cluive it to hih He didn't knohy he had sighed There were a lot of things he couldn't make sense of He couldn't even understand hio with ya” The words spilled out along with his sigh He surprised hier, I'o with you' I can't believe myself sometimes And what's worse is that it isn't even a lie or bravado I really o with hi withon, what's going on? Oh, hell
”Fine” Rikiga clicked his tongue ”If that's what you want to do, then do as you will You guys probably aren't the type to listen to your elders, anyway”
”Don't lu master, man,” Inukashi+ protested ”But, oh well There you have it The votes are in and it's two to one for driving into No 6 That's that Too bad, Nezua clenched the keys ”I' for the ride”
Inukashi+ blinked and glanced at Rikiga The ed with soot, dirt and sweat
What on earth is wrong withlike that? And I actually meant it, his facial expression see at the sa He felt scared, yet exhilarated Dismal, yet optimistic Your heart can be weird like that
”It's a said ”I won't tolerate you trashi+ng it Besides, I doubt you snot-faced kids would be able to drive Young'uns these days get better and better atfor thea mumbled complaint after co if he didn't talk
Rikiga's car was a ht side asoline-fuelled model that could easily have been displayed in a museu The engine also had a lotable to drive a car in the West Block was a symbol of a certain level of wealth, and hence there was always a risk of being ambushed by thieves on the road Inukashi+ rea boast that for this reason, he had modified the car to be as durable as a tank
Inukashi+ sat in the passenger seat, while shi+on sat in the back holding Nezus cli your dogs? They'll stink up the car”
”They ss are loyal to their boss They'll go wherever I go Just like how these tiny mice are faithful to their boss”
The ether on the seat They sat noiseless, as if they had forgotten how to squeak
”Dogs and mice, huh That settles our destination, then: the zoo Ha turned the ignition The engine sputtered coive itself a shake
”Let's go I'as, so you better prepare yourselves”
The car lurched forward It continued to ht for the Correctional Facility
”Hey hey, olda little reckless about this”
”How can I not be? Look at what I'? Why the hell a this?”
”Because you're in love with Eve, duh”
”What?”
The back gates to the Correctional Facility had been thrown open Perhaps soates had always been tightly closed, refusing all who came near, but noas open and exposed Fla played its melody of destruction Inukashi+ could hardly believe that this wasn't an illusion
Is this reality?
The gates to the Correctional Facility had opened, and the special alloy door had been blown apart
Things that were not supposed to be happening were happening Things he had believed would never happen―no, had been ood or evil No justice or injustice
This is reality
The car veered around the back gates, nearly scraping against theates beyond
”What!?” Rikiga yelled ”What did you just say, Inukashi+?”
”You were totally into Eve, old man You're still a passionate fan, aren't you? You're head over heels Or else you wouldn't be able to sprint like that while holding hi your life Bravo”
”Knock it off Once we get to aI'll do is sew that ue of yours while I'm at it”
”Why, that's just splendid An honour of honours to be able to get treated at a clinic in No 6”
”Say all the crap you want!” Rikiga gripped the steering wheel
Inukashi+ snapped his eyes open, and shrank back The gate was approaching at an astonishi+ng speed No, they were approaching it
”It's burning,” he murmured He had resolved not to voice it; he had restrained hi he saw into words But he could not help it