THE AWAKENING: BIO-GENETICS

A Few Hours Of Playing Later

"Team Men 20, Team ladies 20! Thereby a draw!" Yukio announced blowing his whistle.

It was already almost sundown, the skies now orange.

Hiro's butt lands on the sand.

"Dammit they just won't give up" Hiro grumbled.

"That's to say the girls level up the same strength as ours," Shino said sitting beside him.

"In order words, it ended up in a draw," Ten said tired, lying flat on the sand.

The girls cheered at their victory even though it was a tie.

Hiro's gaze turns to Yuki, watching the others cheering. 

The wind blew harshly, carrying her long brown hair weightlessly, a small smile present on her lips watching the others cheer.

'She's... smiling' Hiro thought in wonder, he could sense it and it suited her, enthralled by her white aura he has always known her for, his gaze not leaving her for a second.

***

The others disperse from sight, some engaging with small talks as they left, Shino walks up to the ball, picking it up, he smiled as a memory from today flooded in his head, today was fun, the best he has ever had since black storm day.

His gaze then averts to Sumi seated close to the beach, watching the skies, her knees up, her arms around, the wind carrying her dark short hair weightlessly. She stared at the skies in peace, something Shino has never seen on her features, it was always pissed, irritated and sadistic, but right now her features were neutral and it enthralled him.

Flinging the ball to a corner he walks towards her, in silence he took a seat beside her, ensuring some space between them.

"Beautiful isn't it?" she asked, her gaze still on the skies.

"Yes," Shino answers honestly.

"It's been a while I looked up the skies in peace," he said forcing a smile.

She turns to him.

"That day... with the alpha, why were you crying?" he asked meeting gaze with her.

He has been meaning to ask her ever since, it was a sudden mystery that a girl like her could cry, he has always seen her as a strong person, who doesn't allow emotions to cloud her judgement, a person who always saw the black of the world and embrace it.

The wind blew gently around the two, the silence brooding, Shino waited in anticipation for her answer.

"Because..." she began with a dark expression as the bangs of her hair covered her eyes.

"That was the first time someone has ever protected me" she states looking away.

Shino's eyes saddened at her words.

"Has no one ever protected you before?".

At his words Sumi's head flashed an image of the past, her fist clenched hard as she rose to her feet abruptly.

"Sumi?"

In silence, she walks out.

"Sumi!" Shino hissed rising his feet.

She halts her steps not turning to him.

"You know you can tell me anything," he said softly.

Her lips pressed in a thin line.

"Sumi I-"

"And why is that huh?" she cut him off turning to him, the wind blowing more.

"Because you're Commander?" she adds rolling her eyes, that was the obvious reason.

"No," Shino said sternly.

"Then why then?" she demands.

His serious gaze lands on hers.

"Because I care for you".

She froze as her eyes slowly went wide, she was stunned by his words, she didn't expect him to say that.

"That's why..." he began talking a step closer.

Her head tilted backwards to meet his gaze.

"...If there's anything you wanna talk about, you can tell me" he adds softly.

Sumi looks dark.

"I don't need your care" she states backing him.

Shino's eyes saddened at her words.

"Don't ever do that again... risking your life for me, I'm not worth it," she said about walking away.

"Sumi!" he grabs her arm but she shoves it off, facing him with a pissed look.

"Worry about yourself!" she snaps before walking away.

Shino just stood immobile, his looks darkened as his hair bangs covered his eyes.

'Are you hurting that much' he thought as his lips pressed in a thin line, no one needed to tell him, she was hurting, that may be the main mystery about her, even though she covers it off by annoying everyone, but deep down he knew she was hurting.

"I thought that might happen, Sumi is a really complicated girl," Ten said rubbing his chin.

"Hey Ten, should we be doing this?" Hiro hissed quietly.

They were both hiding behind a tree, watching the scene.

"Haven't you noticed something? ever since you guys got attacked by the alpha, Commander Shino has been looking at Sumi quite differently. He's always annoyed by her attitude but this time it seems different" Ten said.

"Well how should I know, I don't see the way you guys do," Hiro said with a shrug.

Ten sighs.

"Oh you should see him right now, he looks so down," Ten said pouting.

Hiro raised his gaze, he could tell his aura was low in spirit, maybe he did sense he was sad too.

"Rejection always hit deep" Ten said ticking his tongue.

"What are you guys doing?" Yuki asked from nowhere, now behind them.

At her voice, they squealed stumbling forward, sliding down to where Shino stood.

"Hiro, Ten," he said startled, his gaze drifts to Yuki, squatting close to the tree.

"Yuki?"

"They were spying," she said pointing at them.

"Traitor" Ten said groaning against the ground.

Shino just forced a smile shaking his head.

***

Operating Base

"This is the footage we got earlier," Kazuya said as she moved the info from her transparent iPad to the widescreen computer.

"The Kaijus are roaming around in various paths".

"That much," Anzai said seeing their numbers.

"About 200 of them, not an Alpha in sight yet," she said.

Anzai sighs.

"Seems like our plan to head back to base will be on hold," he said.

"Yes, but we are still waiting on Prime Minister Kiyoshi orders" she reasons.

"True.... but for now, we remain here until further notice"