I find myself incumbent on a wall. Kaigara was really a beast last night. I don't blame him. They injured Aiko afterall. He was biting, scratching, punching those rebels. I even saw him biting someone's finger off. Thankfully we had some firearms. They were all pretty old. But they got the job done. There wasn't many of them. About 20 people. The main hit was in the military base itself. I look at the way the military base is located through the window. There's black smoke coming from there. I look around. There's about 8-9 bodies lying around. The vases and the showpieces Aiko and Tachibana bought are all broken. Come to think of it, where are they? I stand up somehow. My hand hurts. Right. Someone stabbed me on my hand. Kai bit his fingers off. I don't really remember much from last night. We had a conversation with someone called Ben. I don't remember much of it. I heard that name before though. But where? I try looking around the house. There's dust and gun powder everywhere. As I go to the dining room I find Tachibana sleeping there. Alex gave her his tuxedo to keep her warm. Alex is sitting next to her.
"You are awake master."
"How's she?"
"She is absolutely fine. I didn't let anyone lay as much as a finger on her."
"Thank you Alex.", I say as I start crying.
"Master! Thats is my job."
"Where's Kai and Aiko?"
"How do I say this?"
"What do you mean?"
"They left. More like he took her and ran."
"Were they injured?"
"I don't know master. It was too dark."
"Okay, we can think about that later. Help me get her to bed.", I point at Tachibana.
"Uh, sure master.", Alex hesitates for a moment.
He tries to get up but falls on the floor.
"Alex!?", I take his head on my lap.
"I'm fine master."
I finally see his wounds. It's not one. Heck I can't even count how many bullets he took.
"Why didn't you tell me before?!", I ask.
"I shouldn't worry you with... with these."
"You need medic right now. I'm calling ambulance."
"No master!"
"Shut up."
"It's too late..."
"No it's not!!!"
"Please take care of ma'am."
"You will take care of her too!!"
"I'm sorry master. This is my last breathe. My duty to this mansion is....."
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't even close his eyes. He didn't make me go to gym today.
War can never bring happiness. Ironically.
I burried Alex on the yard. He got to stay in the house he tried so much to protect. I'm sure he'll say I'm glad that I'm getting to stay here forever. The other caretakers weren't home last night. So they are all safe. Alex is the only person who stayed here all day and night as the head caretaker. I didn't need to put flowers on his grave. The cherry blossoms helped with that. The other bodies were taken for post mortem by Government Intelligence. They are checking the whole house now. Tachibana is sitting on a bench, staring at the grave. She saw the whole process. She didn't look away once. How hardened is her mind? I wonder.
"Umm Tachibana. I brought some coffee for you."
"Thanks."
As she goes to take the coffee from my hand she notices the small wounds and blood on my hand. It's also covered in mud due to grave digging. She doesn't take the coffee. She holds my hand with the coffee and looks down instead. I see tears fall of her cheek.
"How much more is the cost?!", she asks crying.
I don't say a word. I don't know what to say. I just stand there as rain starts falling. The coffee cup starts spilling coffee out of it. Is it what they call luke warm?