Awareness

three cars are chasing after a black car on a busy road, a helicopter and black clouds following them from above, sound of car engines and helicopter wings along with thunder audible. Gunshots hitting the black car, along with screams can be heard, graffiti on walls and destroyed buildings in the background, seen by a man sitting on a small building, a pistol and cigarette gripped in his hand.

A complete masked man in a black costume is driving the car at high speed, gunshots hitting his car several times, he looks at the side mirror and speeds up even more, his hands clenching the steering wheel tighter, eyes narrowing.

" hold on Ryuzo, just a little more" the masked man says to the wounded person sitting on the seat beside him.

The masked man jerk rotates his steering wheel, the car taking a sudden turn, now in an abandoned street with demolished buildings surrounding the street, Ryuzo lets out a shaky sigh while he adjusts himself on the seat.

the masked man changes the gear once more" Special force Falcon, Execute! Now!"masked man shouts in the microphone beside his mouth.

the cars behind him go blowing as a bomb from above drops on them.

" Okay Ryuzo, just the hospital now, hold on a little more"the masked man says, his feet pushing harder against the accelerater, his eyes more focused on the path ahead.

" Stop it, Eleven... just take me to a nice comfy bed...I really miss the comfort"Ryuzo says with a warm smile on his face and coughs after, slight blood coming with the cough.

Eleven’s eyes widen in surprise at the moment, the time stops between them, as Eleven turns his head to face Ryuzo ”what the hell is he talking about" eleven thought to himself as he looks at Ryuzo.

" No, I’ll... I’ll not do such a thing!" Eleven says with a hint of hesitation.

A flashback runs through Ryuzo’s head: Two children are eating at a restaurant.“So, Ryuzo, what’s a thing you wish for, maybe a superpower or anything... I’ll love flying though!! It’s so cool”one child says while eating."Oh, I have no wish, I’m fine as I am" the other child says while eating. ”Seriously? C’mon bro, there’s gotta be something" the first kid replies to the other one. “Hmm... I wish I was able to crack funnier jokes,” the other teenager says after finishing the food and sliding the plate away. ”Of course, it’s Ryuzo I’m talking to after all" the first teenager says while still eating. Ryuzo laughs and says, ”I guess I’m that easy to expect"

"It’s not Eleven I’m talking to" Ryuzo whispered, his voice trembling. ”It’s you... Kaduri. Will you really deny me my final wish?"

Ryuzo’s smile faltered, and tears welled in his eyes. For a moment, the name felt foreign, as if Kaduri was a long-lost echo. Eleven’s grip on the wheel tightened, but in Ryuzo’s dying gaze, Eleven faltered. Kaduri resurfaced, breaking through the mask.

kaduri leans his head down, his forehead against the steering wheel, he lets out a shaky sigh ”you promised to end this war together" Kaduri whispers, his voive shaking and barely audible as his hands grip the steering wheel even tighter.

"i’m sorry“Ryuzo says as he turns his gaze towards the window beside him.

Kaduri lets out a shaky sigh as he struggles to carry his head back up, his hands shaking, he can hear his heart screaming at him to do something. Kaduri finally looks at the path ahead ” no..i..i can’t do this" Kaduri says, his hand gripping the steering wheel while shaking, tears building up in his eyes.

"no, you can Kaduri, you can, it’s the first thing i ever asked of you, please, Kaduri..just one last time" Ryuzo says turning his gaze back towards Kaduri.

for a moment Kaduri’s hand clench the steering wheel tighter, his expression hardening as he fights with himself, he lets out a sigh and rests his back against the seat, his hand now loosely gripping the steering wheel.

"i understand...Ryuzo" Kaduri says before pushing the accelerator with force, tears slowly building in his eyes.

"thank you, Kaduri, you never disaapoint" Ryuzo says with a warm smile as he turns his gaze towards the path ahead, his hand on the wound tightening.

thoughts of expecting this to be a dream and a feeling of helplessness utterly consumes Kaduri as he drives towards his house.

Kaduri finally pushes brake, parking the car beside a house, he gets out of car and rushes to the house with Ryuzo in his arms, the weight rising heaveir with each step, Kaduri bursts the door open and rushes towards the bed infront of him, he lays Ryuzo down the bed and searches the drawers with shaking hands.

" Look, Kaduri... it’s raining again" Ryuzo whispers, his voice barely audible. His gaze drifts to the window, where rain traces jagged paths on the glass. Kaduri’s hands tremble as he fumbles with the bandages, the blood seeping through faster than he can stop it.

" Yes it is.... But it’s heavier than ever" Eleven says, his voice cracking, while sitting beside Ryuzo, tears come down from his face every once a second.

" Yeah, I feel it too Kaduri" Ryuzo with a warm smile. " Man... look how majestic it is today... or is it just me?" Kaduri adds, his voice slowly fading away as his eyes drift to close.

Tears dropping from Kaduri’s eyes as he watches Ryuzo close his eyes ”hey now Ryuzo, look at me just once" Kaduri says with trembling and cracking voice while shaking Ryuzo’s shoulder gently, unable to form words, Kaduri looses his grip on Ryuzo’s shoulder as he lets his head fall down in grief, rain hitting the window, thunder roaring every once a minute, as if itself mourning Ryuzo, Kaduri stands there motionless, feeling nothing a hollow ache in his chest.

A sound of gunshot reaches Eleven’s ears, his eyes completely widen, his hands and mouth shaking as he sits beside Ryuzo’s corpse.

Kaduri’s head snapped toward the doorway, his eyes bloodshot and wild. The sight of the gunman pulled him from his sorrow, replacing it with a searing rage. ”You..." His voice cracked, and for a moment, his hand reached for his own weapon, but it hung limply by his side, paralyzed by the weight of everything he had just lost.