fanfic_name = Hayase

chapter = 5

author = Shinto Red

Rating = AP15

fanfic = Yes. I'm alive. :-P Hope you enjoy the next section.

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: You know it. I know it. Not mine.

Hayase

by Shinto Red

Part 5:

The salt water slipped into him. He coughed, trying to

clear his air flow. He took shaky breaths, and forced himself to sit

up with equally shaky limbs. He slowly opened his eyes, though he

forced them shut momentarily for they stung. He tried a second time

with more success. He found himself next to a wall and leaned against

it while he caught his breath and took in his surroundings.

Everything was covered in a red hue from the emergency lights. The

shadows revealed the damage. Using the wall as support, he lifted himself

once again to his feet, though his world spun once he succeeded with

his goal. He grabbed onto a dislodge pipe on the wall and somehow was

able to support his gelatin knees.

" Wonderful. Just damn wonderful. " he muttered to himself.

He leaned against the wall once more and rubbed the bridge of his, all

the while keeping his eyes shut and taking shallow breaths. His head was

throbbing and he wasn't sure he would be able to contain his last meal in

if the room continued to move like in a fun house.

He opened one eye carefully. It was moving slightly, but not as bad

as before. He dared to open its twin. A pain filled groan filled the air.

" Who is it?" shouted the man while he winced.

" It's me, sir. " came a soft response.

He stumbled and tried to find the source in the dim light. The sub

shook violently and he slammed against another wall, knocking the

breath out off him. The groan grew louder followed by choking sounds.

Everything shook again and he fell onto his hands and knees.

The pounding in his head escalated when he heard moaning next

to his ears. He turned his head to find a uniformed adolescent beside

him, struggling to keep his head above the ankle deep water that flooded

the vessel. He removed his shirt, balled it up and placed under the

young man's head. He grimaced when he saw the state the young man

was in.

" We need to get you out of here. "

He tried to think of a way of moving him. " It's too late, sir. "

He looked into those green eyes and he knew. He turned his head away

slightly and shut his eyes. " No. "

"I'm afraid yes, Takashi. "

Takashi opened his eyes to find himself in a personal library with a fire

crackling. A man with snowy white hair, whose back was to him, had his

head slightly tilted back while he gazed at a large portrait containing a

man, a woman and a little girl. The girl had honey colored locks with

startling forest green eyes. The old man turned to face him. He had

the same colored eyes as the child.

" I have lived my life... "

Takashi felt like he had swallowed lead. The elegant old man turned

around once again and walked up to the portrait and laid a gentle hand

on the image of the child.

"... and I have lost it."

Takashi got up abruptly from the fine leather chair he had been sitting

in. "No..."

" I am dead. "

"No. "

He took a step forward and felt soft gentle fingers on his face. The

familiar touch made him freeze. There was the distinct aroma of a

familiar floral perfume. Honey colored hair brushed passed his fingers.

He looked up and found himself looking into a pair of warm forest

green eyes.

" Takashi..." whispered a feminine voice.

Takashi gasped for air and buried his face in his hands. In between

his fingers he caught a glimpse of those eyes and quickly reached out

and pushed the framed photograph face down onto his desk. A persistent

buzzing filled the office, pulling him away momentarily from his

thoughts. He sat back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face

before pressing a button.

On the screen of his computer appeared a young man with wire framed

glasses and close cropped hair with a hint of a frown on his face. " Are you

alright, sir?"

"I'm fine." he said in a nonchalant tone.

The young soldier's frown didn't disappear. " You have a call from

Admiral Watanabe. It's urgent. "

Takashi let out a sigh. "Connect us."

"Yes sir. "

The youthful face that had been on the screen just a brief second ago was

replaced by the aged, stern face man with salt and pepper hair and a cap

similar to his own. The two men saluted one another. " Hayase, let's cut to

the chase... "

***

Nine year old Misa said good bye to her driver and got out of the vehicle

with the tinted windows that usually took her to and from school. With her

key in hand, she wiped her feet before unlocking the front entrance to her

home. Crow's feet appeared on the face of the white haired woman who

greeted her with a warm smile.

" Hello Misa. How was school today? "

She gave her a small smile. " Ok, Tsuna-san "

" There's a snack in the kitchen... "

"...that I can eat before starting my homework." finished Misa.

Tsuna chuckled. " You know me so well. You're father would finish

my phrases as well when he was boy your age. "

The front door swung open suddenly and the uniformed Takashi came

rushing through. "Dad?"

He came to her, placed his hands on her arms near her shoulders, gave

her a peck on her forehead and quickly went into a room. The startled

Misa turned around. " What are you doing home so early?"

"There's a major earthquake warning coming in between now and tomorrow.

I've been ordered to go to handle the costal regions across the island.

They say it's going to be a bad one and I want you and Tsuna-san to be

evacuated to a safer area. The driver is ready to take you and her. Take

whatever is necessary and quickly get going.

***

"...Moscow and Stockholm have been destroyed as well... Volcanoes

have suddenly sprung up and erupted in Canada..."

Takashi blocked out the sound of the television anchorman. The past week

had been hell as he and the other brass had been trying to figure out just

how to handle this mess. He was just fortunate that they didn't assign

him in the end to check out the crash site of the object. Though the

country had been hit badly, it was far better than what had happened

across most of the world.

Misa frowned slightly, hugged her teddy bear tighter and turned to her

right side. Takashi placed the papers down on his desk. He picked up

the blanket that had fallen off the couch in his home office that she was

sleeping on. He gently placed the blanket on her and planted a soft kiss

on her forehead.

Tsuna came in with a tea tray and placed it on Takashi's desk. She walked

up to him and gave him her trademark warm smile. " I see she finally

fell asleep."

He gave her a small smile. "Yes."

" Quite a stubborn girl, like her father. " she said softly in good

humor. " I think it's safe to take her back to her room. "

" Yes, I'll take her up. I don't want the possible phone calls and

communication links to wake her." he said." Then again, she seems to

be sleeping quite well with all the noise from the television. "

He carefully scooped up his daughter, teddy bear and all, and went up

stairs. When he came back down, he heard frantic knocking on his door.

Takashi pulled out his pistol and carefully crept to the front door. Though

the military forces of the Rim Pac Alliance had been able to keep

some form of law and order across the country, things were still chaotic

and there were those who decided to exploit this period through less

than honorable means.

He carefully peaked out the peep hole and found a man with a mustache

and a UN Navy uniform slumped against the outer door frame. Takashi's

eyes widened and he put away his pistol. He quickly opened the door and

the man nearly fell on his face if he hadn't caught him.

"Bruno? "

Tears were streaming down his face. " ...Moscow...destroyed...They

are gone..."

Memories from when he met Takashi at the bar all those years ago. When

he first met Sakiko...Takashi's eye's widened as the realization hit him.

***

" Flight 393 to Beijing, final call. " came the nasal voice over the

loud speakers.

Takashi felt a lump in his throat as he stared at his blossoming

daughter. ' I can't believe she's twelve...'

Misa tried to blink back her own tears as she pulled her backpack

onto her shoulders. She looked up at her father. "So...th-this is it. "

" I'll see you when you come back on your breaks. And it's a very

good junior military academy..."

Misa sniffled. " I know... that's why I choose it. "

" Yes... "

"Final call. Flight 393. "

Takashi pulled her into a tight hug. " Have a good flight. Call me

when you get there. "

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State = Continuará/To Be Continue

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