Chapter Eleven
Hiro opened his eyes, blinking at the sunlight shining down on him. He slowly opened his mouth. He could taste the residue of oil on his tongue. There was also blood on his teeth. He turned his head, feeling dizzy and heavy. There was an empty fire pit near him. From the embers trailed thin lines of smoke and the rocks around it were blackened. Above him waved tree branches and a leaf broke free, tumbling through the air to land on his shoulder. Hiro tried to life his hand to brush it away, but his body didn’t move. His eyelids drooped tiredly and he closed his mouth, frowning.
“Hiro?” Inquired a low voice.
Hiro glanced to his left, finding Enimito coming out of the woods with a pile of chopped branches and wood in his arms. Soul was behind him with a small stack of sticks. Her silver eyes lit up with joy when she saw him and a smile found its way to Hiro’s face.
“You probably can’t move much,” said Enimito as he dropped the wood by the fire pit and knelt beside Hiro. “How much motion can you manage?”
Hiro turned his head to look at Enimito. His hood was pulled back and his blond hair shown in the sunlight. His blue eyes were narrowed in fain concern.
“That’s it?” he asked when the rest of Hiro’s body remained motionless.
Hiro nodded and shut his eyes tiredly. He could feel a stinging chill from the wound in his throat.
“It’s worse than I expected,” said Enimito, looking up at Soul who dropped her sticks and sat down beside Hiro. “Hiro was made so that if he received a fatal blow that killed him there was a way to revive you. Sending a high amount of electrical currents through his body would reboot him, basically.” Enimito turned his gaze to Hiro. “I restarted his system, but Crystal Crier must have paralyzed his body from the inside. His movement shouldn’t be this limited.”
“Can we fix it?” Soul asked, gently passing her hand over Hiro’s forehead and through his hair. Hiro grinned slightly at her touch.
“There isn’t a safe way to fix it,” replied Enimito grimly, sitting back on his heels. “We had better hope Anna and her goons don’t catch up to us any time soon. It’s hard to escape her, let alone doing it while carrying a half-human machine and leading a young lady who has a weak system.”
“Sorry,” muttered Soul.
“It’s okay,” replied Enimito. “Without Geicko or me she won’t be able to track Hiro easily, but she’s still out there somewhere. We need to fix Hiro if we’re to get you two away safely.”
“And what about you?” Hiro asked, looking up at Enimito
“At least you can speak,” said Enimito to Hiro. “I’m already dead. I protected Soul instead of Anna from Crystal Crier’s attack. That’s the equivalent of committing suicide while working for Anna.”
Hiro sighed inwardly. “I learned your real name,” he muttered. “You are going to die... I hope Anna kills you before my curse can take you.”
“I don’t care how I die,” said Enimito, standing up. “For now I need to get you back on your feet so you can stop Anna’s plans.” He went to the fire pit and began placing the wood carefully to build a new fire.
Hiro looked up at Soul who was frowning sadly. “You’re a feisty girl, Soul,” he said gently. “Through Crystal Crier’s eyes I saw you stab Anna.”
“I don’t know what that was,” said Soul as if caught. She blushed in embarrassment and looked away. “It was like when I was breaking out of the ship we had been imprisoned on.”
“You were oddly focused that day,” said Hiro teasingly.
Soul laughed, but then burst into tears.
Hiro gave a start. “Don’t cry!” He said in alarm.
Enimito looked back at them. “You have almost all your emotions back, Hiro,” he said. “That and she thought you were dead. Let her cry.”
Hiro cast Enimito a puzzled look, but Enimito returned to the fire pit. Hiro looked back at Soul who wiped her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. After a while she sat still, her blond hair hiding her face and her head down. Her hands were clenched on her lap and she shook a little. Hiro watched her, waiting to see if she was going to say or do anything. She looked frozen though.
“Soul,” he said softly. “Are you better?”
Enimito slapped a hand over his face.
Soul grabbed her hair, shaking her head angrily and sobbed out loud. “No, you idiot!” She cried. She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. “You’re going to be gone soon, Hiro! You’re going to be gone...” Her shoulders shook as she cried into his chest, but Hiro was unable to lift his arm to comfort her.
“Sorry,” he said quietly, looking at her blond head sadly. It hurt him to see her this way. He wanted nothing more than to put his arms around her, but there was no way he could.
“Soul,” said Enimito. “Do you have the key?”
Soul nodded, sniffing and turned her head to look at Enimito over her arm. “Yes,” she said. “Do we have to risk doing this now?”
“No time like the present,” replied Enimito, flicking his thumb. A flame appeared at the tip and he placed it under the fire. He waited until the fire caught and then stood up and returned to them. Soul reluctantly sat up, wiping her tears off Hiro’s chest. She didn’t see how Hiro blushed awkwardly.
Soul took the key from her pocket and placed it in Enimito’s hand. Hiro looked at the key and saw how it was dark metal with thin parts wrapped around it. The key looked awful, especially with dry blood on the tip.
“We’ll need something to place into the crystal,” said Enimito, kneeling beside Hiro and turning the key. “Excuse me, Hiro. I need to get to your system.”
Hiro looked to the sky and sighed in reply. If he could shrug he would have.
Enimito removed the jacket Hiro had been wearing and then unwrapped the bandaged around Hiro’s body. The metal plates were light silver and shimmered in the sunlight. Soul and Enimito saw many puncture wounds in his body, but they had been welded together or sanded down. Enimito shook his head. “Nice display,” he said, examining a small selection of buttons and levers all the way down Hiro’s side. They were small and sunk unto the system so they wouldn’t be his by accident. They also went around the joints that were built into Hiro’s abdomen.
“What are you doing exactly?” Hiro asked, looking at Enimito who took out a pen from his pocked and leaned over the button.
“Crystal Crier is the heart inside you,” explained Enimito as he stuck the pen into the small slots to hit the buttons. Hiro felt nothing until he heard clicking. Suddenly a metal door over his left breast lifted open.
“Ah,” said Enimito, passing the back of his hand over his nose. “Lovely.”
Soul leaned in too, making a twisted expression. “The crystal is purple,” she said, giving Enimito a scared look.
“It’s supposed to be white,” muttered Enimito grimly.
Soul looked back at the crystal. Someone had clumsily carved it into the shape of a heart, but there were jagged parts that stuck out of it. No wires were directly attached to it. It floated between two hollow openings that glowed white. The crystal appeared to be empty on the inside and simply filled with a purple light. The sight made Soul shiver.
“What are we supposed to do?” She asked, watching as Enimito turned and leaned over Hiro, examining the crystal closer.
“Just watch,” replied Enimito gently. “We have to rotate the heart and place something into the opening.”
“What?” Hiro asked blankly. He couldn’t see what was going on. All he could do was stare at the sky and wait. All the while his chest felt light, but frozen.
“This key must have been hidden on that train for centuries,” said Enimito. “It’s literally the key to your heart, Hiro. Ironic that Soul found it when Anna and others have been searching for years.”
Hiro frowned sourly. “Okay, duly noted,” he said. “Now what was that about inserting something into the crystal?”
“Crystal Crier has been taking in your head a lot, right???
? Enimito inquired. “Well, that’s because he himself has no center. He’s trying to take over you, to make himself the dominant being, and so fill himself. But he can’t. If he is to take control over you all that will happen is he will destroy the planet, unless he destroys you first.”
“So what are you putting into the crystal?” Soul asked nervously.
Enimito straightened up and looked around. “It has to be about the side of the heart,” he muttered. “But if we put a rock in there it will only make Hiro heavy and burdened all the time.”
“So what’s placed inside should have some kind of significance to it?” Soul asked, looking up with sudden interest.
“Yes, but if we put something like a chunk of coal inside then it then there’s a chance Hiro will feel dark and burned on the inside.” Enimito looked at Soul. “So we need to be careful with what is put into his heart. We have to think of all the good and bad of what it could cause.”
Soul nodded and stood up. “I know what he needs!” She declared.
“What’s that?” Enimito asked, arching an eyebrow.
“I left it in Hiro’s bag,” said Soul, pointing in the direction they had come. “If I can go back and get it-“
“NO!” Hiro and Enimito both roared, making Soul jump in alarm and stare at them.
“You’re not going back,” said Hiro angrily.
“And I have the only item in that bag that hasn’t been burned,” said Enimito, reaching inside his cloak.
“Burned?” Hiro asked in shock.
“Even your laptop,” muttered Enimito gravely. “They couldn’t hack the system or break your passwords so they tossed everything into a pile and set it on fire when we got to land. I managed to save this though.” Enimito held out a small, round golden kitty with a smile and one paw in the air as if waving.
“That’s it,” said Soul, sinking to the ground and pointing at it. “Our little golden messenger.”
“I wondered why this would be in the bag,” explained Enimito, turning the kitty in his hands and gazing at it. “It looked like something you would treasure, Soul.” He smiled at her, handing her the kitty, which she took and gazed at happily. “Your real mother gave it to you before you and I were left in Anna’s care,” he told her. “That’s why I saved it.”
“Really?” Soul asked in surprise. She smiled down at the kitty. “Thank you, brother.”
Enimito shrugged bashfully. “Okay,” he said, looking down at Hiro. “We should get this taken care of.”
Soul nodded briskly. “Will the kitty work?” She asked.
“I can’t see much downside,” replied Enimito. “Hang on to it. I’m going to rotate the crystal.”
Soul nodded and clutched the kitty to her chest.
Enimito took the key and slid it into the center of the heart. Hiro gave a jerk, his teeth clenched. The crystal inside him turned red like blood and Enimito slid out the key. “There,” he said. He reached inside and turned the heart. On the back was a hole, not too big, but big enough for something round to fit inside snuggly.
“Why don’t you take the crystal out?” Soul asked.
Enimito gave her a blunt look. “Take the batteries out of a flashlight while it’s on,” he said in reply. “That’s why.”
Soul looked confused, but Enimito didn’t explain further. He motioned for the kitty, which Soul handed over eagerly. “Pray this works,” he told Soul and Hiro.
“I am,” said Hiro, watching the sky with a hard expression. Soul and Enimito didn’t know that he felt red-hot pain shooting through his body from the heart. Had his body not been paralyzed he would have been writhing on the ground. He saw Enimito reach down into his chest, and suddenly an icy chill killed the pain. Hiro let out a breath, mist actually emitting from his mouth.
Soul and Enimito watched as the red crystal wrapped around the kitty like ice. It closed up. “Okay,” said Enimito. He turned the heart back around and slid the key into it. When he slid the key out the heart was no longer purple, but gold.
“I think that does it,” said Enimito, removing the key and passing it back to Soul who took it gingerly. “Keep this safe,” said Enimito, holding Soul’s gaze. “Someone could destroy the earth if they got to the crystal.”
Soul nodded and pocketed the key.
Enimito looked down at Hiro. His eyes were shut and his body was limp. Enimito placed his hand on Hiro’s forehead, frowning. “He’s cold,” he muttered, taking his hand away.
Soul touched Hiro’s cheek with concern. “Is that supposed to happen?” She whispered.
“I don’t know,” replied Enimito carefully. “We have to wait and see if he’s going to wake up.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Soul asked.
“Then we would have to take the crystal out of him and leave his body,” replied Enimito gravely. “Then find a way to destroy the crystal since it was turned evil.”
“How was it even turned evil?” Soul asked.
“It’s because of how Hiro was treated,” replied Enimito, sitting back and looking over his shoulder at the small fire crackling behind him. “Geicko, Anna, me and the other scientists treated him badly and he couldn’t react. The hatred was stored inside the crystal and I suppose when it reached its limit was when Crystal Crier began to speak.”
“So Crystal Crier is Hiro’s anger?” Soul looked bewildered.
“Not really,” said Enimito, grinning at Soul sadly. “More like Hiro’s anger gave Crystal Crier a life of its own. Placing something good into the crystal is supposed to calm them both down and hopefully return Hiro to a normal state where he can feel all emotions and act as a normal human. The scientists could have done this, but they wanted Hiro to be and emotionless weapon. Obviously their plan failed when the crystal started taking over Hiro from the inside.”
Soul and Enimito both looked down at Hiro. He still hadn’t moved.
“Hopefully it will work,” said Enimito, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maybe the wound in his throat will keep him dead. I don’t know. I’m not a scientists.”
Soul bit her lip fearfully. If Hiro was dead she wasn’t sure what she would do. She scooted closer to him and shook him gently. “Hiro?” She asked quietly, shaking him a little harder. “Hiro? Are you alive?”
He didn’t move.
“This isn’t looking too good,” said Enimito grimly.
Soul sat back, but then something in the woods snapped and they both looked up.
The rattle of bullets ricocheting off the trees filled the air and Soul screamed. She threw her hands over her head, but someone suddenly shoved her to the ground and shielded her. Soul opened her eyes in time to see men in masks coming out of the woods, firing at them. There was suddenly a streak of golden light and Soul shut her eyes when it nearly blinded her. She heard trees being torn up at the roots. An overpowering burst of energy shot out from somewhere and the attack fell silent. Soul blinked, but then the person who had protected her lifted his head and looked behind him.
It was Enimito who had thrown himself between her and the bullets. His eyes were narrowed in confusion and Soul looked past him to see why.
Hiro was no longer lying on the ground. He stood with his back to them, his arms at his sides, and his black hair windswept from the energy he had used. Before him were several trees laying in a heap and Soul saw a person’s boot sticking out beneath the pile. She shivered and looked at Hiro’s bear back. He didn’t look any different. The mechanical part of his body had some grass stains, but when he turned his head Soul caught her breath.
His golden eyes were glowing. He examined her and Enimito, looking as if he were illuminated on the inside. He shook his head sharply and passed the back of his hand over his eyes.
“Sorry I didn’t wake up sooner,” he said, turning to face them. “I think I was dead for a while.” He lifted his head with a weak smile. His eyes no longer glowed.
“You’re okay!” Soul cried, jumping to her feet and running past Enimito.
Hiro
gave a start and threw open his arms just in time to catch Soul who jumped at him. She hugged him tight, laughing. “I’m so happy you’re safe,” she said.
“Me too,” replied Hiro. He looked past Soul to Enimito “Enimito!” He shouted in alarm. He placed Soul down and ran to Enimito, falling to his knees beside him just as he toppled to his side with blood drizzling from his mouth.
“You were shot!” Hiro exclaimed. He opened Enimito’s jacket and threw it aside, looking at the pool of blood that grew rapidly beneath him.
“To save Symphony,” whispered Enimito, coughing with a crooked smile. “Yes.”
Hiro gritted his teeth, checking Enimito’s back where he found multiple bullet holes the size of nickels. “Idiot,” he growled under his breath. “We needed you to help us fight Anna.”
Enimito coughed, shaking his head. “You’re all that’s needed,” he whispered, looking up at Hiro with pain in his eyes. “It’s why you were... made.” He grimaced, placing a hand to his chest as if it were hurting.
“Enimito,” said Soul, standing behind Hiro and staring down at her brother. Tears came to her eye. “No, you can’t go already!”
Enimito looked at her with a crooked smile. “I’m glad I could... redeem myself, Symphony,” he said, his voice growing fainter. “You’ve got more in you... than I expected.” He coughed harder, blood spraying on the ground and Hiro’s knees. Enimito grasped Hiro’s wrist in one shaky hand, peering up at him through his tangled blond hair. “We can’t... save ourselves,” he whispered. “I won’t... ask you to keep her... safe.” He was breathing harder, trying to hold onto his life. “I know... you can’t.”
Hiro gritted his teeth and nodded once. “I know I can’t as well,” he said. “But I’m still going to try.”
Enimito laughed, coughing hard and then rolled back, looking up at Hiro. “Good luck,” he whispered. His grip loosened on Hiro’s wrist and his eyes glazed over to see no more.
Soul placed her hands over her mouth, tears streaming silently down her face. “Enimito,” she whispered shakily. She moved forward, sitting beside him and placed her hand over his eyes. “I wish we had had more time together so I could get to know you better, brother.”
Hiro lowered his head and together they sat in silence to grieve the loss of the one who had saved them both.
It was a while before Hiro stood up. “We can’t stay here,” he said, looking over his shoulder at the pile of trees. “If Anna’s goons managed to get this close then she can’t be far behind. I’m surprised Enimito didn’t sense them before they got here.”
“He was focused on saving you,” muttered Soul, still kneeling beside her brother. She stroked his blond hair, a tear rolling down her face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to him. “If only we had been given more time.” She bowed her head and Hiro frowned sadly.
“Enimito was a noble person,” he told her. “Even if he was a weapon like me.”
Soul shook her head and stood up. “If only they hadn’t shown up,” she said, turning to look back at Hiro. Her silver eyes were filled with tears. “If only I didn’t keep losing the people that try to protect me.”
Hiro looked away sharply. “It was for a good cause,” he told her. “Geicko, Enimito, and myself. You are worth saving, Soul.”
Soul looked down at Enimito. “If I have to die,” she said quietly. “I want to die defending someone like they did.”
Hiro gave her a pained look and Soul returned it.
“Hopefully not soon though,” she said with a trembling smile on her lips.
Hiro nodded and moved towards her. “We have to go,” he said gently. “Remember, we’re on the run now.”
Soul sighed. “Okay,” she muttered. She gazed at Enimito, but then knelt and shut his eyes. “Good bye, brother,” she whispered. She bit her lip and got up, taking Hiro’s hand. He glanced down at their fingers before holding hers in return and leading her away from the body.