Kaito's eyes fluttered open to the darkness that surfaced the moment his eyes opened.
At first, he didn't understand where he was. There was no sky, no sun, no moon. The ground below his head was as hard as concrete. His head throbbed violently with pain surging through his skull. He tried moving his arms, but they refused. Panic began to force its way in his mind.
"..Hello?" his voice came out hoarse, barely louder than a breath.
Memories slammed into him at once. The mission, the gate, betrayal. Haruka's scream.
No..no,no,no.." he whispered, teeth clenching as his vision blurred. This isn't real. It can't be.
He tried to move again. His fingers twitched, then stopped. His legs felt like they don't exist anymore.
A shaky laugh escaped him. "So this is it?" he muttered."This is how it ends..? a tear slide down his cheek "...i am gonna die"
His breathing became uneven.
"Those bastards left me behind," he said aloud, forcing the words out.
"Of course they did" he continued, his voice trembling with anger." Why wouldn't they?I am a zero grader, nothing but a dead weight. Something you cut lose the moment things go wrong."
His teeth grounded together. His hands clenched weakly against the corrupted ground.
"I ran back, to save him," he said louder now, the words shaking as they spilled out.
"AND THIS IS HOW HE REPAYS ME!!"
For a moment, his voice broke completely. He turned his head to the side, pressing his fore head against the cold hard surface beneath him as tears finally spilled freely.
"They call it order, balance. But it was all just an excuse," he shouted, "An excuse to step over people like me and pretend its necessary."
"I am human too!"
His voice begun to sound helpless.
"I bleed, i get scared, i feel pain, i laugh. I eat dinner with my sister and complain about her cooking. I worry about tomorrow. I-"his throat closed before he can continue, and he had to swallow hard right after." I had dreams too."
His shoulders shook violently.
"I wanted to get stronger, "he said, his voice breaking apart. "I just wanted to stand beside them. I wanted to go home alive, to see my sister's cooking once again ,like always.
His eye lids forcing to shut down while he tries to refuse them from closing.
"I wanted to see Mira again, to see, mom, he whispered, softer now." I wanted to tell anyone ,i will be fine."
Unfortunately he wasn't done cursing the world.
"But none of that mattered," he snarled. "Because the moment things went bad, I was already dead to them."
His voice finally dropped.
"I...i hate this world," he said. I hate Core Weilders who look down on others. I hate how easily they decide what wasn't worth saving. Have they forgot about human rights. That everyone has the right to live. That everyone is equal in rights and dignity. WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF THAT."
Tears dripped onto the ground, dissolving into nothing.
"I don't want die here ,"he cried openly now, with no strength left to hide it. "Not like this. Alone ,like a forgotten condom."
Tears endlessly running through his cheeks, followed by a voice breaking.
"Please, if you are real. If you are somewhere out there, watching, "he whispered desperately, staring into the darkness up on the never ending sky as if God can see him." Give me another chance."
His voice dropped to a trembling murmur.
"Let me live, "he begged." Let me grow stronger. I want to live."
*****
[Analyzing host]
[This might take a few minutes]
A screen like menu appeared in front of him, without saying any words, it just written them.
"Analyzing what now?" Kaito thought.
He couldn't understand what was going on.Attempting maybe it's hallucination he tried to ignore it,but it still was in the way of his vision.
[Analyzing Complete]
[You have acquired the necessary conditions to become a Player.]
[Congratulations on becoming a 'Player'.]
The pain in his head surged violently, blurring his vision.
After that Kaito lost his consciousness.
*******
Shinjuku(Core Weilders Society Division 4 Headquarters)
Haruka stood in the center of Takihana's office, hands clenched into fists so tight her nails bit into her palms.
Her shoulders shaking as she failed to hold herself together.
"You are mad no question about it, whatever you have come to say, words wont bring him back." he said.
"You should have done something," she cried, her voice breaking. he said , continuing writing what he was writing before Haruka intruded.
"I warned you ."he coldly said.
Her breath hitched violently.Wiping her face with her sleeve as she continued.
"What's wrong with you, he is your friend."
Takihana's expression was unreadable, like he almost doesn't care what happened to Kaito. The mission reports lay open in front of him, neatly organized and unfinished signing. He stopped signing and brought his attention to her.
"You knew what that sector was," Haruka continued, pacing now. "You knew about the corruption levels, the probability of a gate forming there could have been high. YOU FUCKING KNEW"
Takihana exhaled slowly." Haruka, you are not suppose to be here," he said evenly, and this was suppose to be an easy done jo-"
"SHUT UP" she snapped, slamming her hand against the desk so hard sending the papers flying." Don't you dare say that."
"H..he," she said, voice dropping suddenly. "They left him."
Takihana's expression remained constant like always.
"The decision to withdraw was made in accordance with protocol," he said." The emergence of a Corrupted Gate changes mission parameters. Recovery attempts increase casualty probability beyond acceptable limits."
Haruka laughed. "Acceptable to who huh, ANSWER ME YOU DAMN BASTARD!!"
She pointed at him, her hand shaking. You sit there on that comfortable looking chair, talking about probability while our friend is trapped in a place you know people don't come back from."
She took a deep breath.
"You always talked about responsibility, "she went on, words tumbling over each other." Talking nonsense about protecting civillians and shaping the next generation of The Core Weilders. So why...why didn't any of that apply to him?"
........
Silence intruded.
Takihana spoke again, slower this time. "Kaito Sakurama was assigned because he met minimum?"
Her head snapped up. Minimum?" she repeated in disbelief.
"He was a Zero Grader," Takihana continued. "He wanted to proof himself worthy to the CWS, and guess what, he failed."
Haruka froze. You are talking bullshit, you are saying that like he is already dead, "she whispered.
Her voice trembled violently, as she grabbed Takihana by his neck.
Slap!!
"He was always alone, that's why i always dodged my duties to see him. He needed someone to be on his side always. she cried. "You were there, you could have stood for him."
Takihana stood pushing Haruka's arm from his neck.
"This discussion is over," he said. "Emotional attachment clouds judgment."
Haruka shook her head, sobbing openly ."Then, maybe the judge just doesn't fit for the job."
"Hey, what about his sister?" she asked before leaving.
"I will deal will that." he responded.
Haruka turned away, reaching for the door, existing the room without satisfaction.
"Darm cold hearted, bastard." she whispered.