Breathless
Chapter 18: The Unforgettable Sound
The sound of the roar of the helicopter propeller that collided with the night wind at that time ─ created a strong gust of wind that was able to stop the small dance of fire that was left as a result of the big explosion earlier. Not just any helicopter that was locking the location for the landing at that time. A Bell 412EP type helicopter that is often used by the Japanese government in a special mission with valiant tread in the center of the warehouse yard area. When the door of the helicopter was opened by a man ─or rather an armed special forces, Kuroto who at that time decided to hide, was in hiding, holding his breath and narrowing his eyes to see more clearly who the person behind the giant 'iron float' was.
Kuroto who is now watching who comes to Date's warehouse can only turn her eyes surprised ─trying to deny what her eye senses catch. The first group to emerge was a gang of men carrying assault rifles in full clothes believed to be members of the SAT belonging to the police. Behind them, the second group appeared─which looks to be people who have more power in the country. They are Hagino Takashi, a politician from one of the largest parties in control of Japan as well as a conglomerate of industrial owners who produce firearms. Kuroto often sees the face milling around on television, but what caught Kuroto's attention was the name Shinosuke once referred to as the real father of the person they were after, Date. One more figure that makes Kuroto inexhaustible is Kamishiro Heizou, a police commissioner─a central figure who unexpectedly participated in all these absurd things.
"SHIT! The police are not on our side!" Kuroto with his skeptical expression could not hide the disappointment of the laws in this country that fell into the hands of political actors sycophant supremacy .
Money and power can blind people's view of real justice. Kuroto himself sometimes cannot understand the true meaning of justice if the concept of KKN grows more fertile in an environment that is said to be a container of justice.
In the end, it's only bullshit!
Kuroto without wasting any time immediately sneaked into the building. He couldn't possibly fight a group of SAT members with full weapons. He did not plan to die any time soon, although he knew what risks he would bear when dedicating himself to this mission. Dead is the last option they have if things don't go the way they expected.
When Kuroto entered the area in the warehouse, it was more complicated than she thought. Hiiro and Date are dueling intensely regardless of what is going on around them. You could say they fought for the same reason but with a different perspective. Kuroto could see that Date was superior in terms of strength, but Hiiro in terms of strategy and speed could not be underestimated. Even both are now in a position to breathe oxygen that is not clean around them to just breathe gather energy. Of course that intense fight had drained them, moreover they did not know the word surrender in the current condition.
On the other hand Shotaru, Pallad and Kiriya fought against the figure that Kuroto saw when making the first attack. Kuroto believes that the big tall man is one of the important people that Date believes in. Kuroto can read he's not just anyone. Kuroto was sure that his three friends had been troubled in dealing with him alone. Kuroto pointed his weapon at the man vigilantly, then carefully approached Shotaru who was glancing at him.
"Are you okay Shotaru?" whispered Kuroto who had been standing right beside Shotaru─the man only replied with a half-hearted smile without taking his eyes off the big tall man who pointed both his weapons in different directions─ more precisely towards Shotaru and his other two friends, Kiriya and Pallad.
"Well, whoa! It turned out that one more rat entered voluntarily into the trap huh!" a sneering grin was clearly imprinted on Fujita's stern face.
Kuroto's expression hardened, how dare the man call him a rat. Emotions flowed from within him. Without a second thought and hastily he fired his rifle at Fujita, but it was easily avoided by the big tall man who immediately jumped in a different direction from Kuroto's shot, causing the bullet that Kuroto spewed out to fly freely in an unexpected direction.
Fujita fires his weapon at Kuroto and Shotaru, both of whom roll in different directions avoiding Fujita's quick attack. Sparks of sparks from the two weapons held by Fujita are still clearly created, spewing bullets flying towards the two who began to take shelter on the large iron pillars in the warehouse. Shotaru and Kuroto attempt a counter-attack but they realize Kiriya and Pallad are in their firing line. If they shoot, both of them could be hit.
"Woi! You two! Don't just shut up! Get Emu!" right away!" Shotaru in a half-screaming voice, immediately gave orders to Kiriya and Pallad through the communication tool they used.
Kiriya and Pallad gave the signal with a quick nod. Fujita's attention now on Shotaru and Kuroto gives them a gap to immediately run towards the second floor of this warehouse. Kuroto and Shotaru who were watching Kiriya and Pallad sneaking towards the second floor started to breathe a sigh of relief. They've been out of their firing line, it's time for a counterattack.
On the other hand Hiiro and Date knelt down gasping. The power of both was drained due to the long duel they went through. Their faces were now not only adorned with sweat sweat, traces of blood and scarred wounds were clearly visible on both. Not surprisingly, dueling without injury is impossible for anyone who does it.
Their physiques have been affected. But one thing has not changed between the two of them. Their determination still remained burning, even more burning.
"You won't just give up, will you, young master Kagami? " said Date slowly standing up and staring intently at Hiiro who was still kneeling gathering energy.
"No need to answer, you already know the answer!" Hiiro answered her with a faint tone while wiping the blood flowing from the corner of her lips.
"Why are you so stubborn!? The only person who will make Emu happy is just me! No one else!" exclamation Date frustrated with Hiiro's stubbornness.
Wasn't Hiiro the one who dumped Emu? Why does he insist on getting it back?
"Curtain! You just brought misery to her! Realize ASSHOLE!" reply Hiiro with a hardened facial expression. Date's words sounded unreasonable to him.
Be happy? Isn't Date treating Emu inhumane? Wasted she?
The next second the hot lead vomit rippled in the warehouse area. Kuroto, Shotaru and Fujita are now fighting firearms. The noise shocked Hiiro and Date, who eventually turned away from each other and decided to stop their duel. Now they ran away from the rampage of bullets and took cover to save themselves.
"SHIT! Fujita! What the hell are you doing? You're interrupting!" date snapped instantly as she managed to run towards Fujita to take cover from the other party's shot.
"I'm sorry Date-sama! But they attacked first!" fujita said on the back of the shot he fired.
Date then began to grumble and saw his weapon lying on the warehouse floor. Yes, he only realized that he had released all his weapons when he decided to duel with the surgeon. Date exasperated, he planned to run to retrieve his weapon but the location of his weapon was still in the trajectory of a free-running bullet.
A second later the views of Date and Hiiro meet. From the look of the second eye can be read, they have the same plan—grey weapons and participate in the duel weapons. The two men in uniform time, took a thousand steps trying to reach for their weapons. Fujita, Kuroto and Shotaru reflexively switched their firing lines to protect the two men who were reaching for their weapons.
As the two had reached for their weapons, the sound of consecutive shots being released into the air rang out behind them. A resolute voice was heard ordering all of them to raise their hands and lower their weapons on the floor. Everyone turned their heads and was shocked when a dozen police special forces pointed guns at them.
Kuroto gulped, how could he possibly forget to tell his friends if they had an uninvited guest coming. In the end, he cursed his stupidity and now resigned to the fate they will face.
When their weapons have been seized by special forces and quickly they are encircled by the SAT side, one of the members signals with his hand and shouts "All is SAFE! "
Two people dressed in neat black suits appeared revealing their faces.
"Daddy!" Date screamed happily when he found the father who came to bring help. Not because he was tired from a tough duel, but a feeling of relief because Emu will soon be taken to a safe place.
Fujita approached Date and saluted the two men who were now walking firmly toward Date. Takeshi patted his son's shoulder gently, then turned his gaze to the three intruders who had now been handcuffed and snatched by the SAT.
"Well! I didn't expect you to be so desperate to come to the tiger's cage to take your lives!" takeshi said with a sharp and haughty look towards Hiiro, Kuroto and Shotaru.
"And look! Who gets caught easily! Shotaru's? I didn't expect you to betray me?!" takeshi's dominating glare makes Shotaru tremble for a while. Takeshi's intimidating gaze seemed to be suppressing Shotaru.
But the look of disappointment was clearly seen in Shotaru's eyes when he saw Heizou was right beside Takeshi. Heizou is the supreme leader in the police force whom he respects. The figure of the higher-ups that he considered a hero for having subdued dozens of high-class criminals and always emphasized the principle of justice for the wider community.
Was it just a manipulation he made for his men? Is he one of the people who participated in this dirty conspiracy?
Now Shotaru's respect evaporates just like that, only a feeling left betrayed—so imprinted.
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"GET RID OF US MOTHERFUCKERS!" hiiro shouted with quivering lips restraining the overflow of emotions. The eyes of hatred and anger were clearly visible on his face.
Date and Hagino looked at Hiiro with concerned yet mocking gazes. His words could not even provoke both of them. Moreover, Hiiro's position was now shackled helplessly.
"I don't know if a genius doctor of your class can say something rude like this? Looks like Director Kagami didn't have time to teach courtesy to his beloved son huh?!" hagino said with a dismissive grin that triggered Hiiro's emotions to overflow.
The young doctor tried to get up to butcher the father of the heartless child but Fujita quickly kicked his back making Hiiro slump on the floor.
"Hurry up and bring them all!" heizou's orders then looked at Shotaru with a gaze that could not be understood by him.
"It looks like we have to speak four eyes!" heizou said half-whispering to Shotaru without looking at him which was then coldly responded by Shotaru.
Moments later when the SAT troops were about to take away Hiiro, Kuroto and Shinosuke. Their attention was split when they heard a hysterical sound echoing from the second floor after the sound of consecutive shots missed.
Panic was on their faces. Without poking the others Date ran fast first followed by Fujita, Takeshi and Heizou, while Hiiro, Kuroto and Shotaru could only see them pass with a huff. The SAT forces did not give them a chance to move to check what was going on.
Hope it's not a bad thing!
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Kiriya and Pallad ran towards the second floor with hunting breaths. They ran while carrying a handgun with a standby attitude. The two men still do not know the condition there. They are only wary if there is a sudden attack on them.
Sure enough, when the two of them emerged from behind the stairs. The two men guarding a room that Kiriya and Pallad believe is where Emu is directly attacking them with a quick shot. Kiriya and Pallad nimbly dodged, but the bullet to Kiriya grazed the eccentric doctor's cheek causing a long scratch wound.
"Leil!" Pallad pulled Kiriya towards an abandoned steel cabinet lying not far from where they were standing.
"Call Pallad! Just scratched!" kiriya said quickly as she wiped the blood flowing from the scratches of the wounds that adorned her cheeks now. Pallad with an annoyed look turned his gaze towards the two men who were the perpetrators of the attack.
"Who are you?" Shouted the shortest man while pointing his weapon at Pallada and Kiriya who were sheltering behind a steel cabinet.
"Don't try to get close! " he threatened again then started to move away from the door where Emu's room was.
Pallad and Kiriya opened fire simultaneously from behind the closet. One of the shots hit one of the bodyguards with a high posture that made him fall to the floor. The bodyguard grimaced, feeling the pain in his chest. Luckily he was wearing a bulletproof vest, making the sharp straightener vomit not penetrate his heart.
"Mihara-san!" the shorter man grabbed the man who was hit by the gunfire and took cover behind a pillar.
Seeing the two men move away from the door of the room due to the shots Kiriya and Pallad fired, Kiriya took the opportunity to immediately run towards the door with backups from Pallad. But before they arrived, for some reason the short-bodied bodyguard nimbly lunged at Pallad who was taller than him until the two of them fell together.
"Pallads!" Kiriya tries to help Pallad, but is confronted by Mihara who was shot earlier. Kiriya was surprised, what kind of humans they were, their movements were not even detected quickly by Kiriya and Pallad. Even Mihara was able to get up immediately even though he still felt pain in his chest due to the shot earlier.
Close quarters are ultimately inevitable. Kiriya and Mihara empty-handedly floated a raw bogem at each other. While Pallad and a man with a short posture known as Kusaka fighting each other handgun which is now in the hands of Pallad. Their struggle caused them to be unconscious if the door of the room had been opened in haste.
"Stop!" emu's shout surprised Kusaka, Pallad brushed off the weapon. But unfortunately the trigger of the weapon was already pressed so that it spewed hot lead towards the door of the room where Emu was standing. Emu was about to dodge a free-flying bullet, but when Reiko heard her name and approached the door Emu pushed Reiko away and protected the middle-aged woman from the shot.
"OH NO! IT-CHAN!!" Reiko, who saw Emu fall from a gunshot to her right shoulder, screamed hysterically.
Reiko grabbed onto Emu's tiny body which was now drenched in blood in a frenzy. The four grappling men reflexively approached Emu who was lying on Reiko's lap.
"Oh, God! Honey, hangin!" Reiko's tears flowed profusely looking at Emu who was grimacing in pain with a faltering breath.
"Mpphs..Re-reiko-san, alright, right?" emu's forced stern voice makes Reiko even more hysterical.
"Don't talk to Emu-chan!" isak Reiko stroked Emu's hair drenched in cold sweat.
"Yes!!!" Kiriya approached Emu with a huff. He immediately checked the gunshot wound on Emu's right shoulder carefully. Emu nearly lost consciousness as a result of blood not stopping flowing.
"NO. ...NO! Lookatme! Stay conscious!" Kiriya suppressed the gunshot wound suffered by Emu, trying to prevent more blood from flowing.
"Oh God! There's more blood!" Reiko let out a shrill scream, making Kiriya and Pallad even more nervous.
"Your-chan?! IT-CHAN!!" Date who appeared from the direction of the stairs became very upset to see Emu lying with a gunshot wound. In an instant his emotions ran high and out of control.
Without asking anything, Date ran and then slammed a punch at Mihara and Kusaka whom he trusted to take care of Emu. Seemed a great disappointment to both of his confidants. Mihara and Kusaka could only stand still and grimace in pain after Date's big hands floated freely on their faces. They don't shy away because they realize this is their fault.
"GIRL YOU GUYS ! GODDAMN SHIT!" Date pushed Kiriya and Pallad near Emu impatiently. Pallad and Kiriya did not dwell. They both felt guilty too. They feel that they are also responsible for what happened.
"Hey, baby! Hang on please!" date said as she grabbed the body of Emu from Reiko who was still sobbing.
"Da-date-san.mphmmp'" Emu's peach lips pronounced the name of Date stammered and weak.
Date opened the bulletproof vest. Then take off the shirt he was wearing. He hastily tore the shirt into a long cloth then without resisting the help of Kiriya who immediately approached to help, they immediately did first aid. Kiriya and Date weighted Date's shirt on Emu's wound. When Kiriya fixes the bond of the shirt that replaced the bandage, Date presses Emu's wound so that their emergency bandage can tighten and stop the bleeding temporarily.
Heizou then ordered the helicopter pilot to start the engine for an emergency. Takashi approaches the wife who still cannot control her crying and helps her get up and hugs her tightly while whispering soothing words to Reiko.
"It's ALL YOUR FAULT!" instead of being calm, Reiko's emotions increased. He pushed Takeshi who was surprised by the wife's anger.
"YOUR SELFISHNESS HAS HURT EMU-CHAN!"
"SATURATE YOU!!!"
"Your satisfaction!!! Please stop this! Help u! I beg! Enough's enough! " soak Reiko made everyone in the room just speechless.
"Reiko?!" Takeshi approached Reiko lalau holding her tightly.
"Please Takeshi-san! I beg! I'm tired of all this!" said Reiko sobbing in Takeshi's arms.
Date just fell silent while biting his lower lip, his eyes so pushy look at Emu who was still grimacing in pain with almost intermittent breathing. Even to speak alone, those tiny lips were extremely lousy when making a sound. He carried Emu in his arms and immediately followed Heizou, who gave him information that the helicopter was ready to take off. Takeshi, Reiko and Fujita as well as Mihara and Kusaka followed immediately. While Kiriya and Pallad try to contact Shinosuke with their communication tools
"Shinosuke! Shinosuke! Answer me asshole! " kiriya said impatiently as Shinosuke did not answer either.
As soon as Shinosuke's voice sounded from across. Kiriya without further ado immediately informed the tragedy that had just occurred.
"Emu! Emus! He's shot!" kiriya said with a trembling voice
"I can't explain it! It happened so fast! " he said again.
"You better get straight to the hospital! We meet there!" kiriya then closed their communication device and ran with Pallad following Date and others.
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Date emerged from the second floor staircase carrying Emu's body, which was now limp in his trunk. Hiiro, Kuroto and Shotaru, who were in Emu's condition, could not hide their immortality. Hiiro rebels asking to be released immediately. But the SAT did not heed it. Date just glanced at Hiiro quickly.
"Free them!" said brief.
Heizou gestured to his men to obey Date's orders. A second later they released the shackles in Hiiro, Kuroto and Shotaru's hands. Date without stopping his steps still continued to run towards the exit. Hiiro chases Date and tries to follow the man to see Emu's condition.
Arriving outside they were greeted with the roar of a helicopter engine that was ready to take Emu to the hospital. One of the helicopter crew assisted Heizou brought the Basket Stretcher to put Emu's body safe when taken.
Date laid Emu's body carefully, Heizou then tied the seat belt so that Emu's body was not shaken. Heizo, Date, Hiiro and Takeshi work together to carry Emu's body carefully placed on the emergency stretcher.
"This helicopter can only carry 13 passengers! The rest is better off waiting until the next helicopter is coming in 10 minutes!" heizo said with a loud voice that sounded faint due to the roar of the helicopter propeller.
The SAT team decided to wait for the second helicopter, for the first kloter filled by Date, Heizou, Takeshi, Reiko, Hiiro along with friends and three guards of Date's trust. As soon as the door of the helicopter closed and began to air, only the roar of the helicopter mess and Reiko's cries dominated. The rest of them just fell silent restlessly, looking at Emu who was struggling to maintain her life now.
Date and Hiiro look hardest hit by this incident. It shouldn't be like this. Emu should not suffer anymore. Shouldn't do.
Date covered her face with both eyes. He was so frustrated with all this. He tried to hide his hot eyes. He did not want others to see him become so devastated.
If he could not hurt Emu, Emu would be happy with him.
Hiiro is no different. Yet she was not as firm as Date, tears had slowly melted on her cheeks. Regret rules his heart. His soul seemed to be screaming from the pain he was feeling right now.
If he had never broken Emu's heart, Emu would be smiling right now spending time with him.
But one thing was certain now, only the regret they all felt. Their selfishness has taken away the happiness of their loved ones. Now that they can't turn back the clock and change what happened, they just hope for a second chance to fix everything. Give Emu the happiness they deserve and stop the suffering they have given him.
Please God! Give us a second chance!
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*I will dedicated and sacred my everything
For just a second's worth of how my story's ending
And I wish I could know if the directions that I take
And all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer
Hoobastank - Crawling In The Dark*
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Note
Bell 412EP is a utility helicopter (a versatile helicopter that can fill roles such as ground attack, air attack, logistics, medical evacuation, command and transportation) twin-engine produced by Bell Helicopter. The Bell 412EP is a version of the Bell 412 that has been refined with P&WC PT6T-3DF engines. Able to load up to 13 passengers with 2 crew.
The Special Assault Team, SAT (2, Tokushu Kyushu Butai) is a police tactical unit of the Japanese police force. They are established in the main Prefectural Police Department overseen by the National Police Agency. The SAT is a national anti-terrorism asset.
Supremacy (sup.re.ma.si)/supremasi/according to KBBI (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia) is the highest power (top).
Basket Stretcher is an emergency stretcher shaped like a basket. There is a strap that serves to menhan the victim as well as become a protector when transferred. These stretchers are usually used in the evacuation of soldiers or victims in difficult areas. This stretcher is indeed the most suitable stretcher for emergencies that use helicopters as a means of transportation.