by E. Mendell
~ Three ~
They walked along the tracks all night. When Soul got tired Hiro would take her arm and lead her, slowing the pace just a little until Soul was recovered enough to walk on her own. They had no water or food and Soul’s stomach began to growl from time to time. She stayed at Hiro’s side, murmuring an apology whenever her stomach growled. Hiro was unable to eat food. His abdominal was metal and he had no digestive system. Soul was jealous of him in that moment and wished she wasn’t in need of food. She wasn’t too sleepy, and the cold night air kept her walking, but as the city lights appeared on the horizon and Soul saw how far they still had to go her stomach dropped.
“I’m sorry, Hiro,” she said, stumbling over her feet. “I don’t know if I’ll last much longer.”
“Okay.” Hiro stopped and looked up and down the tracks. “Then I’ll have to carry you.”
“What?” Soul started in alarm. “I was going to suggest you leave me here.”
“Nonsense,” said Hiro, sinking to one knee. “Get on my back.” He looked up at Soul who looked at his back uneasily. All the white scars and bandages were frightening, as were the resent bruises. Soul hesitated just long enough for Hiro to take her hand and pull her towards his back. He then scooped her legs and stood. Soul shouted in fright and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her shout echoed around them and faded away as Hiro continued to walk.
“I don’t want to be a burden,” said Soul to Hiro.
“If you were a burden you wouldn’t be here,” replied Hiro.
Soul frowned, looking away from Hiro grimly. She didn’t want to fall asleep on him. The metal of his lower back was uncomfortable and she could feel the plated joints on his side moving with him. It was frightening and Soul swallowed hard.
“What’s your Massacre Title?” She asked.
“I’d rather not talk about that, Soul,” he said over his shoulder.
“Please tell me,” said Soul, looking at his face. “It can’t possibly endanger me any more than I already am, right?”
Hiro was silent. Soul knew he was mulling over her reasoning. It was a long while of walking in silence before Hiro spoke.
“Crystal Crier,” he said gravely.
Soul looked at him in surprise, seeing that he looked sad.
“How could you get a name like that?” Soul asked. “That doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with missions like Geicko said it would.”
“I know,” replied Hiro glumly. “I went on hundreds of missions before anyone could give me a Massacre Title. Since I was a new test project it was seen as uncommon that I was sent on so many missions and still had no name. I told you about the habitat they had me living in. Well, once every week or so they would send me on missions. They were testing me, yes, and seeing what I could do. It was terrible that those missions were the only good part of my imprisonment.”
Soul tilted her head. “Were you good?” She asked.
“Too good,” replied Hiro. “I completed missions in little or no time, killing hundreds, and my skill was great. However, there was one flaw.” He paused and Soul watched him with interest. Hiro shook his head. “I felt pain, fear, and sorrow,” he told her. “So, from the beginning to the end of these missions, I was in tears.”
Soul was shocked. For a long while they walked in silence before Soul finally found her voice again. “But then why crystal?” Soul asked quietly.
Hiro shook his head. “I don’t want to explain everything to you,” he murmured.
Soul pouted. “Then what about you getting angry?” she asked. “Geicko said you aren’t supposed to gain emotions.”
“That’s troubling me, yes,” said Hiro. “I was indeed angry. It was a new emotion and I don’t know why it would only now come around.”
“Do you think it happened after Geicko stabbed you and your voice was all weird?” Soul asked with wonder. “Maybe when you were repairing yourself the new emotion found its way in?”
Hiro shook his head. “If that were the case I would have felt anger when I returned home,” he said quietly. “There was no anger until Geicko showed up on the train. Something else was the cause of it. Geicko was simply the receptor of my anger. Not the source, but he did set it off.”
Soul pondered his words, but then laughed. “I guess that means I don’t make you angry,” she said with a smile.
Hiro glanced at her then looked away. “It seems not,” he replied.
Soul placed her head against the back of Hiro’s neck, still smiling.
Hiro watched the horizon with a hard stare. His troubled thoughts were miles away…
