Last Angel: The Zone Complex [Part 5B]
A/N: HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!
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The man was not lying when he told Zoe they would be going by land travel to the far side of PO-210.
As she sits in the backseat of the black Audi along with him, they ride in silence. She's been looking down at the floor and out of the window the whole time, everywhere away from him.
'Why couldn't we have traveled by air?' is all Zoe can't help but think.The underground travel is slightly depressing to her as their whole route has been through one long, wide, and dim tunnel.
"I know you're unhappy, but we'll be there soon. It's not much farther." she hears him assure.
She looks over to him for the first time in the car, his suit matching the fine leather interior. She says nothing, an uncertainty resting in the pit of her stomach..
He assures once again, "I'm not going to hurt you-remember that. All I want is your company." His eyes are soft and even kind.
Zoe only smiles at him in return but looks away in embarrassment. She can hear the very smile on his face as he says, "You're so cute." She looks over to him and his smile is in fact fabulous. Even though it's but for a brief moment, all of his features light up and his eyes sparkle and there's a youth she sees wash over him.
Yet it doesn't last long.
When she sees his face return to it's same composure and his demeanor become controlled and dim she doesn't stop herself when she reaches over slowly and touches his hand.
With his chin resting in his free palm, he doesn't take his view away from the window as he responds to her touch, lacing their fingers together.
Zoe smiles and looks out of her window now too, her face feeling warm, and their hands burning together.
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"C'mon Zoe, pick up!" Nemi screams into her earpiece, knowing there's no recipient.
"She's still not picking up?!" Koda's eyes grow large in amazement as she stands near Nemi, her hands clasped together in fear.
"Obviously not!" she barks back, impatient.
Koda begins to pace around, ignoring Nemi's rude tone, "Omo! I hope nothing else bad happened to her!!"
Nemi turns her back on her, hiding the worry furrowing in her brow as she tries to sound assuring, "She must've gotten something to eat or went browsing around in a store."
"Nemi she's been gone for an hour!! She should've called by now!"
"Well she hasn't!" Nemi snaps, ripping her earpiece out of her ear and tossing it on the coffee table.
Koda plops down on the couch sloppily, now looking hopeless, "What are we going to do?"
Nemi huffs in thought before placing her hands on her hips and decreeing, "We're going to go down to the shop and see if she's there, that's what!"
"Hai!" Koda agrees as she springboards up.
14 minutes later.
Once they reach the shop, they come through the employee entrance shouting, "Zoe? You here?"
Of course there's no response.
The girls immediately head over to the counter when they see the glowing screen of the PDA is still on.
Nemi walks behind the desk, bending down, 'Well I see she printed the receipts like she intended to."
Koda finds no comfort in this and decides to ignore her, stating, "I'm going to try calling her this time."
Before Nemi can even let out a 'be my guest.' she hears Zoe's ear PTD [portable talk device] ring behind her. She shoots up from her bending position and whips around. When she sees its presence to be true she swears sharply.
Koda whimpers as she taps the side of earpiece, ending the call. "What are we going to do?"
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"Thank You, Hikoro." is what the man says directly to the driver as soon as the wheels come to a halt. He in return only graciously nods his head, then opens his door and gets out to open Zoe's door.
As soon as the door opens Zoe's feels the awaiting cold, yet she takes Hikoro's hand and steps out lightly.
As she glances up the sky above is pale even against the nighttime darkness and a snowflake falls on her nose.As it dissolves a shiver runs down her spine. All around more snowflakes are falling lightly, hitting the earth in whispers.
As Zoe looks out before her all she sees is vast land covered in a maiden layer of snow. All before her is flat.
Suddenly she feels the man's presence by her side as she thinks aloud, "Where are we?"
Before he returns anything, Zoe hears the car behind her start up and pull off slowly, driving a few feet away before becoming stationary.
He instructs, "Turn around."
And as Zoe does so, her eyes are met with what she could easily believe to only be imagination.
Before she and the man is a mass grouping of larger-than-life-sized ice sculptures.
Zoe feels as if her very life nearly pours out of her hanging jaw. In front of her, what seems to be a sparkling, mystic forest of crystal, stands elegantly in a dreamlike stance, unknown to the outside world.
She feels the presence at her side shift as he asks invitingly, "Would you like to see?"
"Yes." is her whispered reply. She can already feel her eyes growing larger in anticipation.
"Alright." is all he says in return as he offers his hand to her.
She shyly grabs it and the contentment shows once again in his eyes as they pace towards the sculptures. Their linked hands being the only warmth provided in the bitter cold.
As Zoe and the man reach the entry, each of their heads turn up to take in the sight of the statuesque ballerina sculptures, placed in undeniably graceful positions, that form the threshold.
The man looks down to her, his intense gaze returning, and Zoe only nods and takes the first step in, yet he quickly once again takes the lead.
Once inside, Zoe realizes the the ice figures are even more beautiful than she could've have ever imagined.
Every shape or portrayal of still life was there in that diamond-like forest. There were expertly carved stars and Christmas trees, and also more random things like large teacups and ribbons. Zoe didn't know where to begin.
Suddenly, some feet away, a sculpture hidden by a few others caught her eye. Before she could even realize it was done, Zoe let go of the man's hand and began speed walking towards her destination.
"Where are you going?" she heard the man's voice finally command.
She replied, now walking backwards, "To look at something. Come see!"
His hands were and still are shoved in his pockets as he treks behind her, finding no difficulty catching up.
Once he's by her side he asks, "This is what you wanted to see?"
"Yes." is all she replies nodding her head yet not taking her eyes off of the mass in front of her. "It's beautiful."
He laughs a bit to himself before asking, 'What does it mean to you?"
It takes her some thought and courage to return his question with another question, "You see how half of this heart sculpture is hallow, dug out, and empty?"
"Yes." he says, slightly intrigued, looking down at her.
/still looking at the sculpture/ "Well that's kind of like my heart. Not broken, because I've never had anyone to break it, but not complete; half-empty."
"And cold?" he inquires with a smirk.
She glances over to him with a smile and says, "Only somtimes." before she looks down and fumbles with her cold fingers.
Suddenly he takes both of her smaller hands in his large ones and brings them up to his face, blowing hot breath on them. "It's cold, why don't you have gloves?"
Zoe blushes from the heat passing his lips and from his concern, "I...well I didn't exactly expect to be be surrounded by ice tonight."
His expression doesn't change and he says nothing in reply, only continues to warm up her hands.
Zoe has to gather her thoughts before addressing him, "Don't you ever get cold?"
He laughs a little at this replying dismissively, "The cold is something I ignore." her hands still to his face. "Shall we go home now?"
Zoe freezes. 'Home?'
She gulps before saying, "Yes, I need to go home."
"Do you not want to come home with me?" he asks deeply, lying his lips lightly on her fingers.
Her arms feel like they went limp. "I can't."
He looks her dead in the eye and says seriously, "You can do anything, you're with me."
Zoe only gazes back up at him, a nervousness creeping through her internal organs.
He must've picked up on it as he finally concludes, "I will take you home."
The car ride home is quiet like that of before.
They sit in the same places in the backseat: Zoe behind the driver, he behind the passenger seat.
Once they reach the entry of the underground tunnel, where the ride began, the driver lets them out, and the man and Zoe ascend the steps leading back up to the metropolitan streets of the Zone.
He walks her back to the repair shop in the shadows and they are silent the whole term.
Once they are a door away from shop, the man halts. He gazes down deeply at her, his eyes darker than ever. Zoe says nothing but still struggles to look at him. She shifts uncomfortably and says nothing.
The man waits a moment before saying gallantly, "Oyasumi [good night]."
Zoe wants to give a similar response but can't repress what she offers instead, "Who are you?" drawing out each word.
He stands erect in confidence as he says, his gaze still heavy, "You've always known."
With that, he turns on his heels and begins to stride gracefully away. Zoe in a panic calls after him the first thing that pops in her head that she knows in Japanese, "Ittarashai! [please return!]"
He looks over his shoulder as he states his last words of the night, "I always will."
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The man was not lying when he told Zoe they would be going by land travel to the far side of PO-210.
As she sits in the backseat of the black Audi along with him, they ride in silence. She's been looking down at the floor and out of the window the whole time, everywhere away from him.
'Why couldn't we have traveled by air?' is all Zoe can't help but think.The underground travel is slightly depressing to her as their whole route has been through one long, wide, and dim tunnel.
"I know you're unhappy, but we'll be there soon. It's not much farther." she hears him assure.
She looks over to him for the first time in the car, his suit matching the fine leather interior. She says nothing, an uncertainty resting in the pit of her stomach..
He assures once again, "I'm not going to hurt you-remember that. All I want is your company." His eyes are soft and even kind.
Zoe only smiles at him in return but looks away in embarrassment. She can hear the very smile on his face as he says, "You're so cute." She looks over to him and his smile is in fact fabulous. Even though it's but for a brief moment, all of his features light up and his eyes sparkle and there's a youth she sees wash over him.
Yet it doesn't last long.
When she sees his face return to it's same composure and his demeanor become controlled and dim she doesn't stop herself when she reaches over slowly and touches his hand.
With his chin resting in his free palm, he doesn't take his view away from the window as he responds to her touch, lacing their fingers together.
Zoe smiles and looks out of her window now too, her face feeling warm, and their hands burning together.
------------------------------
"C'mon Zoe, pick up!" Nemi screams into her earpiece, knowing there's no recipient.
"She's still not picking up?!" Koda's eyes grow large in amazement as she stands near Nemi, her hands clasped together in fear.
"Obviously not!" she barks back, impatient.
Koda begins to pace around, ignoring Nemi's rude tone, "Omo! I hope nothing else bad happened to her!!"
Nemi turns her back on her, hiding the worry furrowing in her brow as she tries to sound assuring, "She must've gotten something to eat or went browsing around in a store."
"Nemi she's been gone for an hour!! She should've called by now!"
"Well she hasn't!" Nemi snaps, ripping her earpiece out of her ear and tossing it on the coffee table.
Koda plops down on the couch sloppily, now looking hopeless, "What are we going to do?"
Nemi huffs in thought before placing her hands on her hips and decreeing, "We're going to go down to the shop and see if she's there, that's what!"
"Hai!" Koda agrees as she springboards up.
14 minutes later.
Once they reach the shop, they come through the employee entrance shouting, "Zoe? You here?"
Of course there's no response.
The girls immediately head over to the counter when they see the glowing screen of the PDA is still on.
Nemi walks behind the desk, bending down, 'Well I see she printed the receipts like she intended to."
Koda finds no comfort in this and decides to ignore her, stating, "I'm going to try calling her this time."
Before Nemi can even let out a 'be my guest.' she hears Zoe's ear PTD [portable talk device] ring behind her. She shoots up from her bending position and whips around. When she sees its presence to be true she swears sharply.
Koda whimpers as she taps the side of earpiece, ending the call. "What are we going to do?"
-----------------------------
"Thank You, Hikoro." is what the man says directly to the driver as soon as the wheels come to a halt. He in return only graciously nods his head, then opens his door and gets out to open Zoe's door.
As soon as the door opens Zoe's feels the awaiting cold, yet she takes Hikoro's hand and steps out lightly.
As she glances up the sky above is pale even against the nighttime darkness and a snowflake falls on her nose.As it dissolves a shiver runs down her spine. All around more snowflakes are falling lightly, hitting the earth in whispers.
As Zoe looks out before her all she sees is vast land covered in a maiden layer of snow. All before her is flat.
Suddenly she feels the man's presence by her side as she thinks aloud, "Where are we?"
Before he returns anything, Zoe hears the car behind her start up and pull off slowly, driving a few feet away before becoming stationary.
He instructs, "Turn around."
And as Zoe does so, her eyes are met with what she could easily believe to only be imagination.
Before she and the man is a mass grouping of larger-than-life-sized ice sculptures.
Zoe feels as if her very life nearly pours out of her hanging jaw. In front of her, what seems to be a sparkling, mystic forest of crystal, stands elegantly in a dreamlike stance, unknown to the outside world.
She feels the presence at her side shift as he asks invitingly, "Would you like to see?"
"Yes." is her whispered reply. She can already feel her eyes growing larger in anticipation.
"Alright." is all he says in return as he offers his hand to her.
She shyly grabs it and the contentment shows once again in his eyes as they pace towards the sculptures. Their linked hands being the only warmth provided in the bitter cold.
As Zoe and the man reach the entry, each of their heads turn up to take in the sight of the statuesque ballerina sculptures, placed in undeniably graceful positions, that form the threshold.
The man looks down to her, his intense gaze returning, and Zoe only nods and takes the first step in, yet he quickly once again takes the lead.
Once inside, Zoe realizes the the ice figures are even more beautiful than she could've have ever imagined.
Every shape or portrayal of still life was there in that diamond-like forest. There were expertly carved stars and Christmas trees, and also more random things like large teacups and ribbons. Zoe didn't know where to begin.
Suddenly, some feet away, a sculpture hidden by a few others caught her eye. Before she could even realize it was done, Zoe let go of the man's hand and began speed walking towards her destination.
"Where are you going?" she heard the man's voice finally command.
She replied, now walking backwards, "To look at something. Come see!"
His hands were and still are shoved in his pockets as he treks behind her, finding no difficulty catching up.
Once he's by her side he asks, "This is what you wanted to see?"
"Yes." is all she replies nodding her head yet not taking her eyes off of the mass in front of her. "It's beautiful."
He laughs a bit to himself before asking, 'What does it mean to you?"
It takes her some thought and courage to return his question with another question, "You see how half of this heart sculpture is hallow, dug out, and empty?"
"Yes." he says, slightly intrigued, looking down at her.
/still looking at the sculpture/ "Well that's kind of like my heart. Not broken, because I've never had anyone to break it, but not complete; half-empty."
"And cold?" he inquires with a smirk.
She glances over to him with a smile and says, "Only somtimes." before she looks down and fumbles with her cold fingers.
Suddenly he takes both of her smaller hands in his large ones and brings them up to his face, blowing hot breath on them. "It's cold, why don't you have gloves?"
Zoe blushes from the heat passing his lips and from his concern, "I...well I didn't exactly expect to be be surrounded by ice tonight."
His expression doesn't change and he says nothing in reply, only continues to warm up her hands.
Zoe has to gather her thoughts before addressing him, "Don't you ever get cold?"
He laughs a little at this replying dismissively, "The cold is something I ignore." her hands still to his face. "Shall we go home now?"
Zoe freezes. 'Home?'
She gulps before saying, "Yes, I need to go home."
"Do you not want to come home with me?" he asks deeply, lying his lips lightly on her fingers.
Her arms feel like they went limp. "I can't."
He looks her dead in the eye and says seriously, "You can do anything, you're with me."
Zoe only gazes back up at him, a nervousness creeping through her internal organs.
He must've picked up on it as he finally concludes, "I will take you home."
The car ride home is quiet like that of before.
They sit in the same places in the backseat: Zoe behind the driver, he behind the passenger seat.
Once they reach the entry of the underground tunnel, where the ride began, the driver lets them out, and the man and Zoe ascend the steps leading back up to the metropolitan streets of the Zone.
He walks her back to the repair shop in the shadows and they are silent the whole term.
Once they are a door away from shop, the man halts. He gazes down deeply at her, his eyes darker than ever. Zoe says nothing but still struggles to look at him. She shifts uncomfortably and says nothing.
The man waits a moment before saying gallantly, "Oyasumi [good night]."
Zoe wants to give a similar response but can't repress what she offers instead, "Who are you?" drawing out each word.
He stands erect in confidence as he says, his gaze still heavy, "You've always known."
With that, he turns on his heels and begins to stride gracefully away. Zoe in a panic calls after him the first thing that pops in her head that she knows in Japanese, "Ittarashai! [please return!]"
He looks over his shoulder as he states his last words of the night, "I always will."
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