'Why does everyone see me like a major threat?'
'Simple, you are a threat.'
Sparks flew as steel clashed, the two dashed back and forth, swinging with each encounter as they spoke. Kanesaki still tried to find answers but Nishihara was quick to refuse said questions.
'I know you don't like me, but just give me answers and I'll leave you alone!'
'You think I'm telling you anything after the shit you pulled yesterday!'
'It was an accident! I tried to stop it!'
'But you didn't! You're just a failed lab dog that can't listen to it's master right!'
Kanesaki stopped, he was low on energy. No matter how hard he tried, Nishihara somehow persevered, despite being human. Is it his suit!? He blocked the hits from the officer but couldn't react as his speeds increased.
'So you're just gonna shut up now? Typical lab brain...'
Kanesaki heard the voice but failed to block. Blood spilled out from his body as Nishihara plucked his Odachi through his chest. A little blood dropped from his mouth.
'No wonder you failed... Look at how easy you break; I warned Akio about going off with you on that mission but he just said the same smiling crap that his mom used to say.' he thrusted the blade deeper through Kanesaki's chest.
He's right... I am just a failed experiment... I couldn't save Akio... I couldn't even stop the Yatzul alone... Damn it... Why...
Stuck in his own thoughts, Kanesaki's eyes began to crack, like last time. He grabbed the Odachi blade, blood staining his gloves as he suddenly pulled the weapon deeper through him to bring Nishihara closer. Kanesaki violently elbowed Nishihara and leapt forward, the blade slipping from his chest as the wound began to heal slowly.
'Damn lab brain... What kinda power is that!?' Nishihara wiped blood from his nose and examined Kanesaki's stance. The Chimera appeared as if he wanted Nishihara to attack, or at least get close. Pacing carefully, Nishihara held the Odachi up with one hand, his other remaining high near his chest, ready to block. He took a few breaths before sprinting over to slash downwards then to the right, predicting Kanesaki's movements. The Chimera blocked and was pushed back from the sheer power behind Nishihara's swings.
They threw attacks in quick succession, Nishihara in a sideways arc, Kanesaki ducking and cutting back up, Nishihara barely dodging with a slight cut on his chest before twist his front foot to propell his other knee forward with terrifying velocity. Kanesaki moved his arm to block and felt the bones snap within his wrist as he dropped the blade to his other hand to swipe across Nishihara's shoulder, finishing by dashing away to recover.
Nishihara checked his wounds, nothing major. Looking up at his foe, he narrowed his eyes. Last time I nearly killed him with a knife... But now I'm struggling to get a good hit on him with my Odachi!
'Hey, stop thinking about how you're gonna beat me and just do it... You unfit officer.'
The officer's eyes widened at the word. "Unfit"... Guess I should show him then!
Nishihara bent his legs down, gripping his weapon tightly as he dashed forwards and vanished. Kanesaki's eyes darted around, trying to follow the officer's lightning fast movements; at one point he swung behind him instinctively, no hit.
'Unfit, yeah? Look at this, a Chimera getting outsped by a human! Pathetic, isn't it.'
'Shut up and come fight me head on, bastard!'
With a quick dash to get past the Chimera's defense, Nishihara cut straight down with his weapon. Kanesaki looked the officer in the eyes as he choked up some blood, his eyes narrowing slightly. Falling to his knees, Kanesaki coughed in pain, blood seeping through the massive cut running from his left shoulder to his waist. Nishihara walked behind him and kicked his back down before planting a foot on the Chimera's back, aiming his Odachi's tip to rest by Kanesaki's neck.
'One hit. That's all it took to get you on the floor, beneath my foot like an ant.'
Kanesaki gritted his teeth, he tried to push back up with his arms but the officer's foot was pushing back harder. More blood poured out from the wound as it slowly repaired itself.
'Screw you, you half-assed officer!'
He spat blood as he spoke. Nishihara smiled a little, revelling in his victory. 'It's like I said, you're weak... It's why Akio died. Hell, he was probably too busy trying to save your ass!' Growing more annoyed, Kanesaki shouted back with a guttural yell.
'Stop talking about Akio like that, you bastard! He didn't deserve to die! The one who should've gone on that mission was you!'
'You think I don't know that!'
The sudden retort had Kanesaki go quiet, his face calming down. For a moment, he thought he could hear Nishihara crying; yet he couldn't look back to see. However, he felt the officer's foot grow weaker on his back.
'I should've been the one going! I told him not to go, but he just spoke about that smiling crap... If anyone should've died yesterday it should've been me... I know that much! Damn it!'
A tear ran down the officer's cheek, his mental barrier had fallen, revealing his true emotion. Kanesaki didn't say a word, choosing to let the officer continue.
'Do you know how many friends I've lost... Countless. I just wanted to hold on to the one's I had left, it's why became an officer in the first place, to protect them all... Look what it got me, more dead friends that I failed to save!'
He released his foot from Kanesaki's back. The Chimera stood up slightly and faced Nishihara.
'Every time one of them would die it was because of me and my weakness! I can't save anyone close to me... Akio was my best friend, since the academy, and I just let him go and die alongside you... You Chimera are the one's who kill all of them. We always get the awakened ones, they always go rogue and kill everyone... You'll turn eventually...'
Kanesaki stood before the officer as he broke down. He looked saddened by Nishihara's words, understanding the pain in his voice. Hirabayashi had been stood by the door leading to the training grounds and heard every word, she looked to the floor, a tear running down her face as she resonated.
'Nishihara... I... I'm sorry for what you went through.'
The officer looked up at the Chimera and his face turned into one of a blank sorrow, his eyes appeared lifeless as he sheathed the Odachi and walked past Kanesaki, muttering as he went by him.
'Why couldn't you have been stronger and just kill me...'
The officer left the grounds, leaving Kanesaki to stand as his wounds healed. He reached the door and looked to his side to see Hirabayashi on the floor holding her legs to her face as she silently cried. 'I'm sorry, Hirabayashi.' He continued walking, his mind filled with self-hatred.
This was the burden of officer Tatsuka Nishihara; he had simply lost the will to live, yet carried on because of his yearning for vindication that he can save people.
Chapter 12- end