lucathia

Title: Those Left Behind: Trigger Space
Day/Theme: Aug 13 Trigger Space
Series: Bokurano
Character/Pairing: Dung Beetle, Machi, Ushiro
Rating: PG
Notes: for 31_days. spoilers for end of anime.
Archive: LJ | ffnet



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"What do you think you're doing??"

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Even when her brother's body fell to the ground, that smile ever present on his face, Machi continued shooting until she ran out of bullets, disfiguring her brother beyond recognition. A hole in his eye, a dent in his head, a crater in what was possibly his stomach...

She really couldn't tell anymore with what her brother had turned into. Electricity crackled around his small body. His body even splintered upon the bullets' impact. There was nothing remotely human left about him anymore...nothing except for his extremely human cowardice and sense of self-preservation.

The gun fell out of her slack hands.

It was all over.

She had just killed her own brother.

Their chairs started spinning again. She focused hard on the image of her chair. It was time she ended everything.

When marks appeared on her face, designating her as the next pilot, she could only smile through the emptiness she felt.

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Machi watched her obaasan try to puzzle through the directions to Ushiro-sensei's place...if she could even see the note, that was. Machi wasn't close with the old woman, but she was still grateful for the temporary home the old woman had provided for her. When her obaasan gave her some candy--as if she were an elementary school kid--her heart almost burst with fondness. She hadn't thought she'd regret leaving this Earth, but surprisingly, those pangs were there. Still, it was her turn. She'll fight--for Kana, for the old lady who had looked after her, for all those who had fought before her, and for Ushiro. He had surprised her.

"Ushiro," she started. "Are you going to fight?"

Kana was helping the old lady get on the bus, far out of listening range.

Ushiro stayed silent. When she turned to look at him, she saw that he only had eyes for Kana.

"I am."

His answer was resolute.

"You don't have to, you know?" she said. You should stay behind for Kana's sake, she wanted to add but couldn't vocalize. "We can choose the pilots now. We can even have other volunteers join the contract. It doesn't have to be you." But even as she said this, she knew that he wouldn't be willing. She wasn't willing either.

He shook his head.

"We started with the fifteen of us. We'll end with the fifteen of us."

She sighed.

"You would never have said anything like this when we first started. I kind of wish you're still the arrogant little stuck up from back then. At least you wouldn't be considering leaving Kana behind."

"Ah, but then I might have made the decision to become the next Kokopelli," commented Ushiro, his voice quiet. "And then Kana would have..."

Machi looked away, her heart strangely calm even as the next enemy began materializing in front of them.

"You make me wish my brother had been more like you," Machi said, snorting. "Imagine that! I never thought I'd say something like this either."

Ushiro smiled, the right side of his mouth quirking up.

Machi stuck out her tongue before twirling around to catch up with Kana.

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the end