Protect Them (Part 2)

AGH!--I--Can't--Hold-ONHH!

The inmate grabbed his god-arc with both hands and morphed it back into a blade. He took a deep breath and raised the sword.

The Yan-Zhi prepared in anticipation, and ice began to form from its feathers. It shrieked and numerous blue ogertail creatures rose from the ground.

This didn't matter, however. As soon as the inmate began to swing its minions never got the chance to breathe. The inmate already cleaved the Yan-Zhi in half. Its reinforcements ceased to be and disappeared not even leaving a core behind.

The Yan-Zhi had no resistance to offer and began to fade.

It was killed in an instant.

AAAAaaaagggHHH!-I Hate That!

"(Still want the core?)" Sano thought.

You know I hate cold food...but to know you're enemy.

Sano nodded and his god-arc morphed to devour the core.

Let me rest for a minute before I fly again.

Sano stuck his buster blade into the ground and took a seat adjacent to the god-arc.

The inmate looked up. The sky told him it wasn't dusk yet, but it was well past noon.

"(I can't imagine living here.)" Sano thought.

Can't you? Inside the Branch Walls, you can't move as you please. But out here...how many times would they have shot at us under normal circumstances?

"(True, but I wouldn't get to see Mutstumi as much. Or Erina.)" Sano thought.

And pinky, don't pretend you're not thinking about her.

"(She has her own plans.)" Sano laid down on the earth.

Last Month

Sano and Kanon sat on the bench near the soda machine.

"Where are your friends?" Sano asked.

"They're kind of the mobile Defense Unit now, I forgot the exact name, but they basically act outside the branch now. But they still stay in the Far East. I can't wait until they come to visit." Kanon said opening a strawberry can.

"Why didn't you ask to get reassigned with them?" Sano asked opening his own.

Immediately the sound of a crunch was followed by dripping. Kanon's drink was spilling out of the crushed can over the bench.

The inmate awkwardly stared at the puddle forming at her feet.

Kanon remained silent, acting as if she was unaware of the pink liquid trickling over her. She was unresponsive until she felt something brush against her.

"That was a stupid question." Sano said as he used his jacket to clean up the soda.

Kanon immediately put away the broken soda can and apologized while trying to help.

Then more awkward silence.

...

...

...

"Are you mad?" the inmate asked.

Kanon pursed her lips as she winced.

"I'm not mad, I just---When we got those re-assignments it looked like even though we weren't the Defense Unit anymore we'd be together. Then while everyone was told to pack out, I never got those same orders. I kind of just drifted from Unit to Unit until I settled in Captain Haruomi's." Kanon said with a frown.

"Everyone, but you?" Sano asked, Kanon nodded.

"I was trying to figure out why JUST 'me', But one look at my friends and I knew...Dr.Sakaki thought I would hold them back. I had to find some way to prove him wrong---My friend Gina told me to prove it with facts, that's how you get back to us." Kanon said.

"So you already did." Sano said.

"...No, I still haven't asked Dr.Sakaki to reassign me to the New Mobile Defense Unit. I told you before I have a bad track record." Kanon said sadly.

"Not from what I've seen." Sano replied, surprising Kanon.

"Thank you." she said with a smile.

"Listen, I didn't have any friends outside prison, in order for me to be with them I had to go back into a cage with padded walls between us or go fight monsters no one expects us to beat. I couldn't protect anyone as a friend should.

I don't always get assigned a mission with whoever needs me the most. Half the time we're lucky if we get parts that are just half-broken. I won't let you end up like me. That's what we've been working for right?" Sano said.

Kanon felt her spirits lift and nodded.

"We're friends, right? Like friend friends!?" Kanon beckoned. The inmate rolled his eyes.

"Yes. All you need to do is prove you're better than before, and you are. Next big Aragami we kill ask him and Paylor won't refuse." Sano declared.

"Like a Psion!?" Kanon said.

"If we're lucky. We could find one on this mission for all we know, but hey." Sano said.

"Captain Haruomi sure is taking his time. We've got a Psion to find!" Kanon said, pumping her arms.

"Just because I'm stuck behind bars for the rest of my life doesn't mean you have to be stuck in this place. I could go back to prison anytime, and you've got more adventures ahead of you." Sano said wringing the pink in his jacket.

Kanon halted her arms and let them fall at her sides.

"I'll be right back I'm gonna go wash this," Sano said as he entered the elevator.

Kanon tried to say something, but the doors cut her off. Her lips quivered as the inmate disappeared.

"(But---That's not what I meant!)" she thought.

Current Time

Few weeks later and we fight a big cricket!

"(She'll definitely get that transfer now.)" Sano said.

Is that what you want though?

"(...Why is everyone asking me weird questions today?)" Sano said as he turned away from his god-arc.

What's weird is you're ready to say goodbye and you're acting the complete opposite. She kills a giant and I catch you flirting.

"(That wasn't flirting.)" Sano said angrily.

I'm not human, but the fact that I don't even have a nose and can smell the OBVIOUS should paint a picture!

"(Are we having this conversation!?)" Sano thought.

Yes, cause we are out in the middle of god knows where and guess what? No Churchill, no prison guards, NO SHOCK HELM, and in NON-FENRIR territory. That's a dream come true for you. It's an opportunity.

"(There's still the tracker in my arm.)" Sano argued.

Even so, haven't you caught on to what the Doctor is pushing for?

The inmate sighed, as he massaged his neck.

He wants you to stay. STAY-STAY.

BEEP-BEEEEEEP

Sano's thoughts were interrupted by a loud horn.

"(Who is that?)" Sano could see a vehicle off in the distance. It wasn't the same Jeep that Paylor was in.

It was an armored vehicle standard in FENRIR patrol units.

A hatch popped up from the side and a person peaking out started waving The inmate narrowed his eyes on the approaching APV and jumped in surprise at the waving passenger.

"(Kanon!)" One by one, two more heads popped out behind Kanon. Erina and Emil.

Speak of the pink devil.

"(What are they doing here?)" the inmate wondered. He summoned his god-arc to his hand and started running towards the approaching car.

The APV slowed coming to a grinding halt near the inmate. Kanon wasted no time jumping out with Erina and Emil.

"Sano, we heard there was a Psion so we came here as soon as we could-Where is it!?" Erina stammered.

Sano smirked and nodded behind him.

What was left of the Yan-Zhi was already disintegrating.

"You already killed it? Where's the rest of it!?" Erina asked as her jaw quivered.

"I say perhaps our haste was superfluous." Emil said inspecting the vapor rising from the Psion's body.

"That's what I was trying to tell you!" Kanon said, getting Sano's attention.

As soon as he looked at her the inmate smiled, making Kanon instinctively smile back.

"You changed your hair again." he said, making Kanon smile harder. Kanon's bangs aside, the rest was tied in two buns on either side of head.

"Ah! Well---Gina's been messing with my hair ever since we met up, she's been whining that If I'm not gonna cut my hair short, I should tie it up in something. Do--you like it?" Kanon asked nervously.

You came running over here to see her hair, didn't you?

"It's not bad, but it kind of makes you look like a kid." Sano said, as patted Erina on the head.

Immediately Kanon pouted and turned back inside the APV.

"See, I told you, Gina!" she shouted.

"Don't take that man's word for it, especially over mine!" a mature-sounding woman said.

Kanon's cheeks were immediately pinched and Sano caught silver hair and clothing clad in purple.

"Look at these cute cheeks! They go perfectly with buns!" As Kanon pulled away, Sano was surprised to find an eye patch and one lone red eye.

"Sano this is Gina, mentor, and best friend! Also a major pain." Kanon teased.

"Hi, there." Gina said, with a wave.

Hey if there's nothing here to kill can we get move on? Time is money!

"That was Karel, who's also a MAJOR PAIN! Not as much as he used to be though." Kanon assured.

"I can hear you!" Karel said. Kanon stuck her tongue out towards the doorway.

"That being said, why don't you come in and tell us about yourself, we've got plenty of embarrassing stories we can tell about Kanon." Gina said making Kanon scowl.

"OH Sano, come in and meet everyone! Everybody from the Defense Unit is here!" Kanon said as she grabbed the inmate's hand to pull him in.

"All of them?" he asked.

Wait, I smell something fishy here----!

With Erina and Emil in tow, Sano entered the APV, what would follow would lead to a long exhausting day.