Chapter 9: Home

"We need to take off our shoes before we go inside, Yuu-chan." Chito sat down on the porch of the entrance, as she started pulling off her shoes and placing them on a small raft on the side of the door.

"Oh, but why Chii-chan?" Yuuri asked her as she stood above resting on her walking cane.

"Mieko-chan and Reo-san told me that at the 'unit' they never wanted for old traditions to go to waste, usually in the old world, when you go into a home you have to take off your shoes It's respectable towards the home, and you also keep it clean!" Chito replied as she moved her hands to Yuuri's shoe and helped her take it off.

"Should be easy with me Chii-chan, I only have one shoe!" Yuuri replied smiling as she moved her foot slowly off from her shoe as Chito was taking it off. "There.." Chito placed her shoe on the raft next to hers as she stood up and gently took Yuuri by her arm. "You can wear two shoes when you finally get your leg Yuu-chan."

Their new home was a modern small rectangular-shaped Japanese style house and looked brand new as it was pre-built for them in just a few days. It was big enough for a small family with all the necessary facilities, and it was already furnished. At the 'unit' these types of houses or even large apartment complexes or facilities could be built or demolished within days with just a simple task sent to small construction robots. This is how families at the 'unit' and refugees from the outside according to size were housed. Families could choose to live in the apartment complexes near where they worked, or they could choose to have their own house just close to where the forest begins within the designated parts of the sector. Furniture and even working appliances could be synthesized from all kinds of recycled materials.

"Chii-chan, WOW! Are you sure this is our house?" Yuuri asked her as she kept looking around in awe. This was a completely different home from where they lived with Itsuki on the bottom layer. Most of the housing units on the bottom layers were built from metal and concrete and looked almost lifeless, but this was done in a completely different process that involved recycling plants, and all kinds of materials they could salvage from the bottom.

"Yes, they told me they built it just a few days ago by a process called 'House Printing' and look! They even furnished it for us." Chito replied as they moved into the living room. "WOW, imagine if we could 'print' houses and food on the outside Chii-chan!"

"I think that is how they also built factories and apartments outside too, Yuu-chan. Maybe they also looked beautiful like this back in the days but they never could help maintain them after the wars." Chito replied as they looked around their living room. The living room was in an old Japanese style with tatami mats, a flowering plant and a huge screen that you could use to access the 'archive'. In the middle of the room, there was a table that had some kind of a warm blanket underneath, and another dining table with chairs.

"Did people used to sit on the ground Chii-chan?" Yuuri asked her as she kept looking around the room, the table on the ground was an interesting sight as she never has seen anything like this before. "Mieko-chan told me that they used to do, and even sleep on the floor. But I think we have our own beds as well so we can be comfortable. Come, let's check out the rest of the house." Chito answered as they continued walking around the house. The house contained 2 bedrooms, kitchen, pantry, bathroom, and all kinds of appliances and facilities. Even if it was a small house, for Chito and Yuuri it felt huge and they were more than happy that they now have a new comfortable home.

"Chii-chan, it's so beautiful!" Yuuri replied with the widest smile on her face as they walked around their new home, Chito walked next to her and held her tight. Even though Yuuri could move around almost with ease, Chito was always close by ready to help her out. "Oh and we can use the garden to grow our own food. Mieko-chan said she does the same, she grows tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers." Chito replied.

"Mmmmm… if only we could grow fishies Chii-chan!" Yuuri grinned as she drooled from her mouth.

"What do you want to do first in our new home Yuu-chan?" Chito asked as they moved back into the living room. "Well… I want to sit underneath that blanket thing at the table." Yuuri answered. The evening was almost over as the 'artificial' sun outside was setting in, the last of the sun-rays were dissipating as the evening passed on. The people in the 'unit' usually used this time of the day to catch up with their families after their work was done and prepare all kinds of food that the 'unit' could spare for the month.

"I heard that blanket is called a 'kotatsu' and supposed to be really comfortable." Chito replied as she helped Yuuri sit down underneath the table, placing her walking cane next to her. "Mmm… Chii-chan its sooo comfy… Quick! Get in!" Yuuri exclaimed as she laid underneath the blanket placing her head on the floor.

"Wait, I have to get the rest of our stuff from the entrance!" Chito replied to her as she moved back to the entrance. With her good hand, she grabbed some of their boxes and Yuuri's backpack and carried it with her back into the living room. "Geeze… even with one leg, she is so strong…" Chito thought to herself as she kept struggling to carry her backpack. "But then of course, on the outside she could lift that heavy minigun with ease."

"Chii-chaaan, quick get in the kotatsu!" Yuuri called at her after she finished moving all of their stuff to the living room. "Alright alright…" Chito answered back as she got underneath the blanket as well, her feet gently touching Yuuri's leg. "Ahhh.. sooo comfyyy!" Chito also exclaimed closing her eyes as she lay on the table.

"What did I say Chii-chan, they know how to stay comfortable up here. " Yuuri replied and also laid her head on the table just like Chito.

After some time passed in comfortable silence, Yuuri remembered something. "Oh hey Chii-chan, I almost forgot. Can you bring me my backpack?" she asked as Chito turned around and lazily grabbed the side of the backpack slowly pulling it towards Yuuri. Yuuri lazily, from the power of kotatsu turned around and grabbed the backpack pulling it towards her. "Lets seeee…. mmm…. where did I put it…" opening her backpack she moved through their clothes and felt the rectangular shape thing that she got for Chito "aaahhh… here" she pulled a black device out of the backpack and handed it to her.

"What's that?" Chito asked as she took the device in her hands. "It's just a gift to say I am sorry for something I did a long time ago." Yuuri replied with a smile looking at back at her. "Huh… what did you do?" Chito answered back confused as she inspected the black device. There was a tiny button on top of it and nothing else.

"Chii-chan you have to press the button on top, you'll see!" Yuuri answered back, as Chito slowly trailed her finger along with the device and pressed the button on top of the device. The device came to life and brought out a crudely drawn picture on the screen of Yuuri with the letters... "Goft fr Choto?" Chito asked still confused as she kept looking at the screen. "Well…. It's supposed to be 'Gift for Chito'! Yuuri blushed as she looked at her checking out the device "Oh you have to turn it with your finger like this." she gestured with her finger in the air moving it in a slight motion from right to left " Mieko-chan showed it to me some time ago and though it was a perfect gift for you." Yuuri answered with a smile.

"Geeze you still can't spell right Yuu-chan…" Chito replied and giggled as she gently trailed her finger on the device. The next image had the words "Kappa?" written on it as Chito asked confused.

"Well, it's a device that lets you read books, Mieko-chan said it has a lot of books in it and I figured we had to replace the ones we burned on the lower levels. You can also use it to write in your diary again if you want. I remember the name of the book that you loved so much and asked Mieko-chan to put it somehow on the device. I know it's not on paper, but this device is supposed to be fireproof if I decide to burn it again…" Yuuri answered back smiling at Chito who suddenly started jumping from joy "Yuu-chan, EEEEEEeee…. thank you! thank you! I love you! I love you!" she squealed hugging the device tightly as Yuuri gently placed her hand on her hair and blushed "It's nothing Chii-chan, I hope you enjoy reading all of the books here at our home, or I can always try and burn the device". Yuuri replied smiling as Chito jumped again into Yuuri and started kissing her cheeks. She was beyond happy with her new gift.

Yuuri softly blushed and said "Hey hey… Chii-chan… it's nothing really... they have so many stuff up here, Mieko-chan told me you can even synthesize a whole tank…" Yuuri was now contemplating if she should get a whole tank for herself, she would be the complete 'Robotic God' that she desired to be. - "No Yuu-chan… I know what you are thinking but they won't let you have a whole tank." Chito replied, still giggling and hugging her close. "But what else is in your backpack?"

"Mmm… just some new clothes and even our old clothes, and look they even kept our helmets!" Yuuri kept scouring through the backpack as she took everything out from it. Chito looked at her old clothes, they were cleaned and gently folded inside. It was the same clothes that they used to survive on the outside, along with their warm winter jackets. Some of those clothes belonged to ojiichan and Yasuo as well when they were younger.

"Hey Yuu-chan, it almost feels like a whole eternity since we arrived here." Chito said as she continued staring at their clothes and trailed her finger on the jackets "I can't believe some of our stuff survived from outside. I felt those are the only clothes that we would have had in our life, I felt that we would have died in those clothes and the helmets on the outside."

"But we didn't die Chii-chan! We are here… We made it in our new home thanks to ojiichan and his family." Yuuri replied and smiled as she playfully rubbed her only foot around Chito's leg. Chito sighted and placed her clothes on the side of the mat before Yuuri leaned to her ear and with a smile on her face she started whispering. "Chii-chaaan… I want to tell you a secret…" she whispered playfully.

"What's the secret?" Chito replied blushing softly.

"Chii-chaaaan… I am hungry…" she whispered again exclaiming the last bit and giggling softly as Chito looked back at her and laughed. "Yuu-chaaaan… I thought you were going to tell me something important… but yes I think we have food in the pantry and there is a thing called a refrigerator in the kitchen."

"Mmmmm… we should prepare something nice for ourselves." Yuuri answered back before she lazily scuttled inside the blanket. "But I am just going to stay under the kotatsu thingy for now."

"Pfff… you are now going to be lazy all day under the 'kotatsu'…" Chito replied and smiled before she moved away all of their clothes on the side of the room. She gently held her's and Yuuri's jacket in her hands and inspected them. Up at the 'unit', the weather inside was quite nice and warm so they didn't need the jackets anymore. "Oh… I know what I will do with our helmets and jackets." gently she took them and moved towards the entrance. There was a coat hanger just close by and she placed their helmets on top of the hanger and the coats just underneath. "I hope we never need them again Yuu-chan… but just in case." she smiled and moved back to the living room, Yuuri was still lying underneath the kotatsu without a single care in the world.

"Oh, by the way, Yuu-chan... I kinda have a gift for you too." Chito moved to one of the boxes, and opening it she took a round-shaped thing that looked like a pot and placed it in the middle of the table.

"Oooh… what's that?" Yuuri asked looking at the device that Chito just placed on the table.

"Remember what I promised I would do to you once when we reached our new home?" Chito asked her before they both exclaimed at the same time,
"DROWN YOU IN A HOTPOT"
"DROWN ME IN A HOTPOT"
And both burst into laughter.

"I wonder how you even remembered since you forget everything Yuu-chan." Chito giggled looking back at her as Yuuri was filled with joy, she had been waiting for this moment since forever.

"Chii-chan I never forget promises you make about food… besides now I have a 'robot' braaaiiiinnn..." she drooled as she kept looking at the white electrical pot in front of them. "But how does it work?"

"Well.. you put fresh water in it and turn the dial on the side. It's supposed to work with those batteries that never expire, just like the camera Kanazawa gave us." Chito explained as she kept inspecting the pot. "And then when the water boils you put all kinds of food in it and wait until it all turns into a soup. That's how ojiichan also made it if you remember, but here we have meat, eggs and fresh vegetables - should be really tasty." Chito answered as she continued inspecting the device.

"So Chii-chan, should we make a hotpot for dinner?" Yuuri asked smiling from underneath the kotatsu as she gazed back at Chito. "Sure, but you have to help me prepare the ingredients."

At the mention of food Yuuri jumped from underneath the kotatsu and stood up with her walking cane "Let's do that Chii-chan!" only the mention of food could move her from underneath the comfortable table.


"What's that Chii-chan?" Yuuri asked as she pointed towards another white device standing on the kitchen sink, it looked like the hotpot but it was taller with a lid on top of it. "I think it's a rice cooker?" Chito answered inspecting it and opening the lid to check out what's inside. They had just walked into their kitchen which was separated from their living room with an open wall.

"Mmmm… riiice… Chii-chan did you notice they eat rice with everything here? We had to ration it in the village, but here they have a lot of it." Yuuri replied as she kept inspecting the device with Chito. "Yeah, I guess it's another traditional thing, back in the old world rice was popular to eat and they even made a drink from it called 'sake'. Anyway, Mieko-chan told me how to use this, should be really easy. Yuu-chan go see in the pantry if we have rice."

"On iiit!" Yuuri exclaimed as she strutted into the pantry with her walking cane and opened the door. Inside there were all kinds of foods from canned goods, vegetables and even non-expiring edible ration bars made from plants. There was a large bag of rice as well.

"Fiiiish…" Yuuri grabbed one of the cans with the image of a fish on it. At the 'unit' they were able to produce canned products along with ration bars as well, they had a small facility that was able to produce all kinds of food that never expired with time. "Chii-chaaan… FIIIISH!" she shouted from the pantry with joy, flashing the cans.

"Yuu-chan, you can take only one, or we will run out of fish cans. Even up here we need to ration food for up to a month, we can't be greedy." Chito replied as she was setting up the rice cooker device. "Yuu-chan, you need to bring me a cup of rice for the cooker."

"You mean this bag?" Yuuri carried a 20kg bag filled with rice and a can of fish with ease as she strutted towards Chito, with an amazed look on her face "How? Even with one foot… she can carry all that?" she thought to herself as Yuuri placed the bag on the counter "Here Chii-chan, let's open the bag."

Carefully they opened the bag, as it was filled with rice up to the top. At the 'unit' they could produce enough food for every family and sometimes they packaged left-over food and scattered them on the layers underneath in case survivors and refugees needed them. The 'unit' could house over 2 million residents but there was only a small number of humans left up here, so they always had spare food to share, however, they still had to ration food like meat and fish.

Chito took out a cup and scooped up the right amount for the rice cooker as she placed it inside along with water. Turning on the machine it started with a single beep and flashing lights.

"Is it done?" Yuuri asked as she looked at the device coming to life before Chito replied "Well.. it usually takes 45 minutes Yuu-chan. In the meantime you can cut the vegetables and the meat from the fridge, can you go take - "

"On iiit!" Yuuri exclaimed as she opened the fridge which was also filled with all kinds of vegetables, meats, fruits, drinks and food.

"ooooohoooooohh… " Yuuri exclaimed with a wide grin on her face as she pulled a bottle filled with a yellow liquid… "Chii-chan!" she said holding the bottle proudly in front of her face.

"Ummm…" Chito leaned closer to read the words 'beer' on the bottle's label before she moved back.

"Oh no… no… I'm gonna feel weird from drinking that" Chito exclaimed looked at Yuuri with a worried face before she nodded and said "Oh.. yes yes… we are so going to drink it! They even have that here Chii-chaaan! We are gonna drink it all later!" she gently put the bottle on the kitchen sink before she moved back to the fridge to take an assortment of food and placed them on the counter.

"Yuu-chan, you can't place that in a hotpot." Chito inspecting the pile of food that Yuuri took out, pointed towards an apple. "But why not?"

"It's called an apple, it's a fruit, not a vegetable!" Chito explained as she took an onion from the pile that Yuuri put out from the fridge and started cutting it with the knife she pulled from the drawer. Chito knew how to prepare vegetables as Itsuki taught her, but she also had Mieko show her several instructional videos to teach her to prepare basic recipes while Yuuri was in a coma. Mieko and her fiance were helping her to get ready for life up at the 'unit' with helpful instructional videos in the 'archive'.

"Umm… what's an apple?" Yuuri asked as she looked into the weird fruit she just pulled out from the fridge. "Just bite into it with your strong teeth Yuu-chan." Chito replied as she continued cutting the onions, but the strong smell made her cry.

Yuuri holding the apple in her hand took a single bite with a satisfied look on her face "Mmm…. this is also so tasty…" smiling she looked at Chito who was still struggling to cut an onion with tears on her face.

"Chii-chan, why are you crying?" Yuuri asked as she moved closer and gently held her.

"It's these onions… they make me cry..," Chito replied as she struggled to cut onions with Yuuri around her arms. "Awww… are you sad because you have to kill the little onions?" Yuuri asked her as she placed her head next to her before she also started crying from the strong smell of the onion.

"No' it's because when you cut onions it hurts your eyes and you start crying. I am not sad…" she replied and sniffed. "Go cut the rest of the onions and vegetables Yuu-chaaan! I bet you remember how to do that from ojiichan" she said as Yuuri moved to the side and took out a knife.

"But we are eating the fish first!" Yuuri exclaimed before she grabbed a carrot and started chopping it into pieces.


"Itadakimasu!"

"Ummm… what?" Yuuri asked her with a confused look at Chito who placed her hands together and said these words aloud. "Why did you say that?"

They were sitting down underneath the kotatsu, they already set the table earlier with two plates, two soup bowls, two rice bowls, and a fish can that Chiton opened earlier. A set of forks and chopsticks were close to the plates and in the middle, the vegetable hotpot was still simmering as they helped prepare it earlier.

"Oh.. I heard people always say that word here before they eat food. It's supposed to mean that you humbly accept the prepared food and give thanks to the person who prepared it." Chito explained before she took the fish can and separated the contents into two parts and placed it on both their plates.

"Oh…" Yuuri exclaimed as she placed her hands together and shouted at the top of her lungs "ITADAAAKMIAAAASSUUUUUUU!"

"Yuu-chaaan! You are not supposed to scream that loud!" Chito replied with both her hands blocking her ears after her loud voice took her by surprise. "I think the whole neighborhood heard you."

"Sorry, Chii-chan..." Yuuri smiled as she grabbed the fork and gently prodded the fish before taking a huge chunk to her mouth. "Mmmmmm… Chii-chaaaan! I almost forgot how tasty fishy was!"

Chito smiled looking at her before she took a small bite of the canned fish and some rice with chopsticks. Chito was so fascinated with the old cultures at the 'unit' that she was also trying to use the chopsticks but kept struggling to learn the technique. It seemed like such a difficult task at first but she didn't want to give up. "Mmm.. it is tasty indeed Yuu-chan."

Next on the menu was the contents of the hotpot. Chito carefully placed a spoon-full into a bowl and handed it to Yuuri who softly blew on it as it was still hot. She gently sipped carefully as to not burn her mouth... "Mmm…. Chiiii-chan its soooo tasty mmmmmm… the soup is sooo warm and soooo mushy!" she exclaimed and giggled so loudly she couldn't help herself. "Chii-chan you are a wonderful cook…" she continued devouring the contents of the bowl even if they were hot. "I want to learn to cook food like you as well."

"Sure Yuu-chan, we can prepare food every day if you want." Chito replied with a smile before she started eating her portion. They both giggled from satisfaction as they kept eating the contents of the hotpot. "Chii-chan thank you for drowning me into a hotpot!" Yuuri smiled still giggling after she finished her bowl. They both helped themselves to another serving before the hotpot was empty. It was the first proper meal they cooked together in a really long time.

Of course next on the menu was the beer. Chito opened it up and poured a small content for herself and a large glass for Yuuri. She couldn't really drink it that much as it made her feel funny. Yuuri could drink much more of it. "KAMPAIII" both of them exclaimed as they hit the glasses softly and drank the contents, they could vividly remember the first time they drank beer, and now when it was cold from the fridge it felt even more wonderful.


"Chii-chan, this was the most wonderful day of my life!" Yuuri exclaimed after she got a bit tipsy from the beer and snuggled into Chito who was also felt a bit tipsy even though she didn't drink much. Outside was already dark and the 'sprinkles' that simulated rainfall was already turned on. The gentle sound of rain washed over the ambiance of their lit up room as they both laid underneath the kotatsu in each other's arms. The 'unit' outside was lit up with the street lights and the gentle light of other houses around their neighborhood. Usually, after night has fallen, the citizens of the 'unit' either spent their time with family and friends or went out to enjoy entertainment in the community areas. Even though it was such a small community, people still played instruments, games, watched movies, drew pictures and paintings and knew how to have fun after their work was done for the day. They had no abundance of alcohol, sweet drinks, entertainment, and food.

"We can have hotpot another time as well, Yuu-chan." Chito replied as she snuggled into Yuuri. "Mmm… let's drown into hotpot every day for the rest of our lives, Chii-chan." Yuuri kept smiling as she took another sip of beer from her glass...

"Ohhh, Chii-chan you said something about the 'archive' and that black screen... We haven't check it out yet, what is it?"

"It's something the people can access up in the unit. It has those kinds of moving pictures as we saw in that 'cinema' thing many months ago. It was when… you know… I had that cute dream with you and me…" Chito blushed as she looked at Yuuri and both smiled. "And they have many other things like books, music, instructional videos and you can even learn the old language. But I haven't used it yet, I only looked at instructional videos that Mieko and her fiance showed me."

"But how do we turn it on?" Yuuri asked her as Chito slowly got up from the kotatsu and walked to the screen "Ummm… I think it was similar to the device you gave me… you have to press a button…. here." She gently pressed the button on the side of the device, and the screen came to life displaying all kinds of text, images, and instructions on how to use it.

"Let's see… oh, I remember" Chito pressed something that said 'search' on the screen and a blank box opened with text that you can press underneath it "Ummm I think you have to write… Oh! I know! I always wondered!" she wrote the words 'Asobi Seksu' in the device. It was a weird name that came up to her in a dream while she was in a coma and always wondered to check out what that was. The screen came to life and there was a voice similar to the traveler's that started reciting the text on the screen:

"Asobi Seksu was American shoegaze and dream-pop band based in New York City in the 21st century. Their music used a textured and effects-heavy vocal and guitar sound. The band primarily consisted of Yuki Chikudate (vocals, keyboards) and James Hanna (guitar, vocals)…"

Yuuri kept listening and looking in awe as Chito stepped back and looked at the screen "Wow…" she said to herself unable to comprehend how on earth did this name ever come to her in her dreams. Maybe it was really from the girl in her dreams and she existed somewhere in time and space, but she couldn't know for sure. "Let's see... she also said something 'New Years'?" Chito said as she saw the words on the side of the screen and pressed it.

The room came to life with a type of music they have never heard before or ever imagined it exists. It was so noisy but sounded so happy and full of hope. One could just stand up and dance until they are completely exhausted. Until now they only ever heard music from the old broken gramophone that Itsuki had back at the village, he was also obsessed with listening to music whenever he could. Chito and Yuuri could never understand what the people inside the phonograph record sang about, but the voice of the girl from another century sang in their language.

Chisai toki no koto / When you feel small,
Omoi dashite goran / Remember and look
Sono me o sotto ake / Softly open those eyes
Natsukashii Futari ga mieteta / Nostalgic, the two of us could be seen

Candy says…

"Chii-chan, this is sooo wonderful…" Yuuri hopped around still sitting inside the kotatsu with a wide smile on her face as Chito got near her and handed her hand down… "Shall we dance?" she asked smiling as Yuuri gave her hand and softly got up from underneath the kotatsu with her walking cane on her left side. They both laughed and turned around as if the world was spinning like crazy, Chito gently held her tight and they both hopped around jumping and laughing, Yuuri carefully hopped as well, as to not fall. "WOOOOOO" Yuuri yelled as she closed her eyes and turned around…

Chisai omoide mo / You didn't forget
Wasurenai de ite kureta / Even the little memories
Kokoro no oku kara / From the depths of our hearts
Tsukuri dashita kino no memory / We created yesterday's memories

Candy says…

They kept jumping on and on, they were the happiest girls on this whole planet and maybe the whole solar system. Their shine was the brightest pulsar in the universe and it will forever light up until the end of their time. But that felt like a long time, but then who would care about that now? Here they were jumping and dancing to the craziest music they've ever heard in their life, made in a century that long away has passed. Just as the next verse was going on Yuuri tripped and pulled Chito along with her down on the soft floor.

Setsunai to sakende temo / I cried out in empty loneliness
Anata wa kiete iku / But you disappear all the same
Dakedo, kakete iku it sumade mo / Even so I chase after you On and on
Omoide no ato o / After the memories
Omoide no ato o / After the memories
Omoide no ato o / After the memories
Omoide no ato o / After the memories

They looked deeply into each-others eyes laughing and blushing deeply, they knew they were so hopelessly in love and nothing in this world would tear them apart. Laying and breathing heavily on the ground, Chito leaned down and kissed Yuuri deeply closing her eyes. The song went on, repeating the only line they couldn't understand 'Candy Says…" and then it came to a stop. Chito still kissed her, laying on top of her in pleasant tranquil. They were the happiest they've ever been in their lives and they never wanted this moment to ever end. They made the hardest journey of their lives and even with their losses, here they were dancing to this odd music and eating all the hotpot they could in the entire world.

The rest of the night they spent cuddled into each other, drinking what was left of the beer and listening to music from all around the world. Some songs were sad, some were happy, some were utterly heartbreaking, some were just random rhythmical noise that Chito swore it sounded like a mechanical banging on a wall, that she had to get up and check if someone was complaining about the noise.

The next song that played felt mystical and almost out of this world, the person in the song sang in a language that seemed to have been forgotten a really long time ago. "Chii-chan…" Yuuri spoke from underneath the kotatsu as they both were cuddled underneath it, "What is this music called?" Chito looked up at the screen the words written that she could understand were "'Huun-Huur-Tu' ummm… 'Odugen Taiga'?" Chito responded. She was puzzled as to what those words meant and she couldn't understand what they were singing about.

"Chii-chan… what does that mean?" Yuuri asked as she was equally puzzled… "I have no idea it's probably words written from a foreign language, the song just came up all of a sudden." Chito answered before she turned to Yuuri who had tears in her eyes.

"Chii-chan, this is so beautiful…" Yuuri wiped the tears off her eyes and continued listening to the song "It's not like the music we danced to or ever heard ojiichan play before. I can't understand why something so beautiful would cease to exist." she sniffed as tears streamed down her face. "I mean… why did people instead of wars - made beautiful music like this?" she asked and cuddled Chito even tighter. Yuuri was usually strong and seldom cried, but a fascinating and mystical song like this made her bawl her eyes out. "Why Chii-chan was humanity so cruel to each other? Why didn't they - make beautiful music - like this - instead of killing each other? It's really sad."

Chito turned and hugged her back. She never expected that music would move Yuuri so much, she has never seen her cry like this before in her life. "It puzzles me as well, Yuu-chan, I will never understand it as well. People took solace in music back in the old days, even when they were feeling down and even when they were happy. Music made the world a beautiful place and it showed us that humanity was able to do much more, but… hatred and weapons won Yuu-chan… not beautiful music like this. Even Ojiichan said the same thing, he loved music so much and reading books." she replied as she rested her head on her chest. Yuuri continued softly crying as the song finished, she had never heard something so mystically beautiful in her life.

People all around the world sang and made music and it made them happy, but all that happiness could never cure the world out of hatred and wars. One day the people used to sing and make music, then the next day they made weapons so they can kill each other. The war machine never stopped and the music was powerless to stop it.


It was almost midnight as Chito and Yuuri moved to the bathroom. Chito leaned over Yuuri and started carefully taking her clothes off as she sat down on a stool. She had to help her take a bath before they went to bed. "Chii-chan… it's been ages since we've taken a bath together." Yuuri grinned as she sat down naked on a stool beside her and gently washed with the shower handle. "The last time was after we turned the Kettenkrad into a bathtub."

"Oh yeah, your memory is getting so much better Yuu-chan." Chito smiled at her as she also started taking her clothes off in front of her. However, it suddenly occurred to her this was the first time they were naked together after they shared their feelings for each other. This seemed to be an unavoidable predicament as Chito was supposed to help Yuuri take a bath until she got her prosthetic leg. "Err…." Chito blushed heavily as she covered herself with her hands. "Ummm….. errrr…." she continued as Yuuri stared at her puzzled.

"Chii-chan, why are you ashamed? It's not like the bath is a robot. It just talks when the bath is ready for some reason." Yuuri smiled as she got up from the stool and sat beside the bath holding herself with both her hands as to not slip and fall without her other leg. "Yuu-chan... It's errr….. its because we are kinda… a…. couple…. now…." Chito blushed completely red as she still covered herself and went to Yuuri to try to pull her up and help her inside the bath, closing her eyes.

"Chii-chan, we've bathed together since forever you shouldn't be ashamed." Yuuri giggled as she got inside the warm bath and let out a comfortable sight. "Ahhh… sooo warm…" she smiled closing her eyes as Chito still red-faced got beside her in the bathtub. Indeed they haven't bathed together since she turned the ruined kettenkrad into a bathtub. But it always felt relaxing and safe when they were together in a bath.

"Mmm… Chii-chan we should take a bath together almost every day now, it feels so nice." Yuuri said as she dipped her head down in the water and playfully blew bubbles. Chito on the other side was still flushed, her heart started beating so fast as she looked back at Yuuri. Seeing her naked brought out so many different feelings that she had read about in a book. Trying not to think about it, she took a sponge from the side of the bathtub and turned back to Yuuri. "Yuu-chan you need to turn around so I can scrub your back"

"Mmm… sure…" Yuuri smiled and turned around with her back facing Chito.

Blushing even more, Chito scrubbed her back with a sponge, both of them felt contempt in the warm bath and sharing these moments always felt special. All of a sudden she leaned against Chito as she felt completely comfortable sitting next to her in the bath.

"Chii-chan… I'm gonna fall asleep like this…" Yuuri smiled laying closer to Chito, her naked back leaning against her. Chito completely turned red and was stuck in place unsure what to do. Here they were naked together in a bathtub, but it felt much different than all the previous times. Chito knew she had to help her with a bath every day but it felt somehow awkward for her at this moment, she was unsure what to do. All she could do was stay calm and lay her head back into the bath to enjoy the warm water. She kept thinking to herself "It will pass… it's nothing much… we are just taking a bath as we've always done."

Laying inside the bathtub both Chito and Yuuri enjoyed the warm water in complete silence until Yuuri had a request "Chii-chan… mmm…can you rub my - "

Chito completely flustered and red-faced jumped out of the bath and ran outside the bathroom naked, careful to not slip and fall.

" - shoulders?" Yuuri was even more puzzled after she looked at the girl storming out of the bathroom in the nude. "Geeze what's with that girl today? Maybe it's the beer again!" she said to herself and shrugged before she lay back down in the bath. She could almost fall asleep, but she kept wondering why Chito was acting so strangely and now the girl was standing dressed in her pajamas outside the room waiting with a towel.

"Chii-chaaan! I am done with my ba - " Chito threw a towel from across the door at Yuuri's head, she was carefully waiting outside for her to finish bathing. She went inside the bath as Yuuri head was covered in a towel still sitting in the bathtub confused... "Heeehhehehe… I need to scrub your hair and… hehhhehhihihi… I need to dress you as well for bed…" Chito was still completely flushed in her face as she kept scrubbing Yuuri's hair almost furiously and then gently placed her hand around her arm to help Yuuri get out of the bathtub covering her with the towel. "Chii-chan, did you drink too much of that beer drink tonight?" Yuuri asked her puzzled still holding onto Chito before she sat down on the stool just next to the bathtub.

"NO! You had too much beer! Not me no!" she answered completely flushed as she closed her eyes and continued wiping her body with the towel. "Here you can put your own underwear you… sexy… beast…" Chito muttered underneath her breath, she also just realized what she had just called her and was even more embarrassed than before. Chito was unsure what these feelings were and maybe seeing Yuuri like that brought out some crazy emotions that she couldn't control.

"What's a sexy beast Chii-chan?" Yuuri asked as she dressed up sitting down on the stool.

"Ummm…. what? Sexy Beast?… err no… that wasn't it… it was…. Ricey Beans YES! We are having Ricey Beans tomorrow and if it doesn't exist we will make it real! Yes yes yes RICEY BEAAANS they exist…" Chito was still completely flustered and embarrassed. Her heart beat faster than an automobile engine, as Yuuri continued dressing up her underwear and pajamas waiting for Chito to help her up again.

Smiling Yuuri started talking "Chii-chan… Chii-chan…" she gently held out her hands and placed them around her to try to calm her down. "Don't worry Chii-chan. I know what you felt." she replied smiling and suddenly her face turned red as well " I - kinda felt that same thing when we were bathing and... errr... I guess when we are ready we will know what to do in this situation..." Yuuri answered her back looking deeply in her eyes and smiled, she was flustered as well as she must have had these feelings back for her as well the moment they were together in the bathtub. "Until then we can take separate baths if you want. I don't mind Chii-chan" Yuuri answered her back, still holding her hands.

"I am sorry Yuu-chan, I hope you don't think bad of me…" Chito answered still flustered before she continued speaking "But I want us to take baths together I don't mind… I guess the beer was at fault tonight." she giggled, again blaming it on the beer.

"But Chii-chan, you barely drank a full gla -"

"Shhhhhh…. Yuuri-chan…" Chito gently placed her hand on Yuuri's mouth "It was the beer."


Laughing and already dressed up for bed, they moved together to one of the larger bedrooms. The room had a large double bed, dresser, another black screen device on the wall and just on the side of the wall another window with shutter blinds. The whole atmosphere of the room felt so comfortable. "Yuu-chan, you can sleep in this room if you want." Chito said as she helped Yuuri lay down on the bed and she playfully took a pillow from underneath and snugged it.

"Chii-chan… the bed is even comfier than the one at the hospital." Yuuri giggled as she lay back down on the bed and sniffed the pillow "and the pillow smells sooo nice..." she kept giggling as Chito wanted to help tuck her in. "Stay still Yuu-chan! I have to tuc - " abruptly she got smashed by a pillow that Yuuri swung at her and fell on the bed from the force. "It's war Chii-chan!" she threw the other pillow to Chito who now had an annoyed look on her face as she found herself on top of the bed. Chito took the pillow and smashed her back. "Yuu-chan! You are still a crazy girl!" she exclaimed giggling as both of them smashed the pillows from each other, before they both laid down on the bed exhausted.

"Right... it's bedtime. I will go to sleep in the other room." Chito smiled as she got up, right before Yuuri grabbed her by the hand. "Chii-chan... please sleep next to me." Yuuri asked as she blushed softly holding her gently. "But... my nightmares will just wake you up Yuu-chan. And I keep hitting you in my dreams whenever I have a bad dream... I just feel so bad all that time for punching you on the outside Yuu..." Chito replied before Yuuri spoke again. "I don't mind Chii-chan. Your hands are so cute it doesn't hurt me. I know we are finally safe but - I am still afraid of being alone in the dark and when you sleep next to me I feel so much safer." she replied still holding her hand. Chito smiled and she got in the bed snuggling close to her. "I guess - I can't sleep without you as well Yuu-chan. Even back at the hospital, I couldn't..." she replied laying in each other's arms.

"Chii-chan, maybe you should take that pill that Reo-san gave to you, so you don't have nightmares." Yuuri replied still snuggling her close before Chito replied "They just make me feel really weird. I think he said it's something called medical 'cannabis' and supposed to help me with my condition."

"Oh Chii-chan, what's a 'cannabis'?" Yuuri asked her back. "I think it's just a plant, they seem to like it up here at the 'unit'. I don't know what else they use it for beside medication and building material."

"Mmm… maybe we can eat it as well?" Yuuri was still wondering about that 'miraculous' plant everyone up here was talking about. "I don't know if you can eat it Yuu-chan, we have to ask them," she replied snuggling close to Yuuri, the light was still on in the room as they both playfully giggled in each-others arms.

"Oh, I wanted to show you these earlier." Chito exclaimed as she turned around the bed and took a box from the bedside table scouring through the contents "It's letters."

"Oooh... these are all the letters you told me about that Ojiichan and your Otoosan sent up here?"

"Mhmm… Reo-san gave them all to me so I can read them while you were in a coma. There were so many things that they wanted to tell up to their friends and family up here. I think they missed them deeply." Chito answered as she looked through the whole pile of letters.

"Chii-chan I hope I can learn to read them all one day, I want to read by myself what Ojiichan was writing all those years to his family." Yuuri replied when something from one of the letters fell on the bed. Chito looked down on the bed and gently took whatever that was in her hand. It was a photograph of a man and a woman holding a baby, and behind them looked like their village at the bottom layer.

"Chii-chan, who is that?" Yuuri asked her back as Chito kept looking at the photograph. "Oooh… the girl in the picture looks a lot like you. She is so beautiful just like you."

Chito kept looking into the photograph transfixed into those eyes frozen in time. It was a picture of her father and her mother holding her while she was still just a small baby. They both were beautiful and when she looked at her mother, she felt like she was looking into a mirror. Her mother looked a lot like her, with the same black hair but she wore it with a single pin. On the picture they were smiling and full of life, holding their newborn daughter in their hands. Even if life was difficult for them on the outside, they were so happy and brimming of life holding their beautiful daughter whom they decided to name Chito. Sadly they never knew that 3 years later they would be shot and killed for pointless reasons. Looking down on the photographs, droplets of tears started falling from Chito's eyes, as Yuuri kept looking at her.

"Chii-chan?" Yuuri asked her puzzled as she snuggled her closer "What's wrong?"

"It's - otoosan and okaasan - It's the first time I see them -" she wept as she raised her arm and cried into it. "Why - did they die? Yuu-chan -" she continued weeping as she snugged into Yuuri's arms. She has never seen them before in her life and their picture somehow survived the journey up to the last layer. Even though they were dead a long time ago, their picture made the journey up to the last layer through the countless refugees and families they had saved from the cruelty of death.

Even if Chito and Yuuri survived and went through hell and loss to find their home. Even if Chito was turning into a young adult, she still wanted her mother and father beside her even though she didn't remember them much. She also wanted ojiichan to come on the journey with them as well, but they were dead a long time ago, their souls were one with the universe and Yuuri and Chito were left alone to survive this harsh world. In the end, they only had each other in this cruel world.

"Chii-chan…" Yuuri without words snuggled her closer as they laid on their new comfortable bed. "Your okaasan and otoosan they lived and were happy as well. Ojiichan lived and was happy all his life as well. They gave the most beautiful girl in the world to me, and she saved my life and she makes me so happy every day that I am awake."

"Yuu-chan... I am so… afraid!" Chito couldn't stop crying again, no matter how much she tried to stay strong she always felt like crying was the easiest thing she could do. Even since they lost the only vehicle that saved their lives in the world she couldn't stop crying. "What if this is all a dream - I don't want to wake up out there again - I really don't want to be ever out there again - I don't want to live in a world where you are not by my side - Yuu-chan what would I have done if you never woke up and - you are still sleeping forever on that bed. I -" she wept loudly in her lover's arms. They both paid a huge price to be here together, and that time while Yuuri was in a coma, it shattered her spirit and her heart in millions of pieces and her inner turmoil kept living on.

"Chii-chan… please don't cry. I am here, right next to you and you are wide awake my love." Yuuri snugged her so close that she just wanted to stay with her like this forever "If you want we can go outside one day where they found us and you can see that we are not out there in the snow anymore. Chii-chan… we are here - we are home. My love - please don't cry - please" Yuuri also had tears in her eyes and softly started crying. She couldn't bear to see Chito like this anymore and no matter how much she wanted, she just really wanted them to be happy from now on. The raiders, nor the snow or hunger couldn't hurt them anymore.

"Yuu-chan… I am so sorry." Chito said as she was slowly composed herself in her arms "I - I love you so much. I don't know what I would have done without you. Please don't ever leave me - "

"I love you too, Chii-chan." Yuuri replied as she brushed her tears off. "I feel the same way, I wouldn't be able to go on without you as well… Chii-chan, we have a future up here and I want to grow old together with you. We have a family as well that cares deeply about us and I really like them as well. Chii-chan, please don't cry... Chii-chan, I am here - next to you - I will never leave you..."

After some time they both felt composed in each other's arms and fell asleep on their new comfortable bed. As long as they lived they never slept apart ever again.


"Chito… Chito… You have to wake up." Itsuki was in the driver seat of the Kettenkrad as they both have drifted away in sleep. Chito was in the back slowly opening her eyes as she gazed upon the cold derelict world outside. It was 3 days since they left their village after a group of raiders attacked them. Both Itsuki and Chito managed to escape with everything they could carry, just after the fighting started. As they drove away, they could hear weapons firing in every direction. Itsuki feared for Chito's life and he had to help her escape. He felt that once again he was exiled from another home.

"Uhh… Ojiichan… what's wrong?" Chito brushed her eyes and gently got up from underneath her blanket. She was sleeping in the back of the Kettenkrad and had the most peculiar dream where she was with a girl she never has seen before in her life called 'Yuuri', and they lived at some odd place at top of the world. In her dream, the place was just as Itsuki described it to her.

"We have to drive as fast as we can, I think I heard motorcycles in the back, I fear that maybe we have been followed!" Itsuki started the engine as fast as he could and started driving straight down the road. Rows of houses and snow-filled up the dead horizon as the clouds above covered up the whole sky. "Just in case, do you remember how to use your pistol Chito?" Itsuki asked her back, as Chito took out her 'Nambu Pistol Model 14' from underneath her blanket and inspected at it. She never wanted to use a gun in her life and was disgusted by them, but Itsuki instructed her to use it and never think twice in case there is a danger. "Just point and shoot Chito... if they want to hurt me or they want to hurt you. Just squeeze the trigger and... don't think... don't look at them afterward."

Driving off into the distance, after some time the sound of the motorcycles seemed even closer to them. With a panicked expression, Itsuki parked the vehicle near a house and turned off the engine. Itsuki knew that the motorcycles were faster than the Kettenkrad and could easily overtake them, especially when they were overcapacity with supplies. He felt it was time to make a stand, to protect both their lives if they were going to make the long journey up to the 'unit'. "Chito, take your pistol and hide in the house! I will wait for them here with my rifle." Itsuki exclaimed as Chito got out from the vehicle and looked at him "But ojiichan - ".

"I didn't ask for a reply Chito - Go hide in the house! NOW! And don't come out unless I call you! And remember to squeeze the trigger and don't think..." Itsuki was ready with his rifle and hid behind the Kettenkrad, as Chito ran inside the house and frantically looked for a place to hide. She saw the flipped over table closeby and hid right behind it. Holding her breath she kept waiting to see what will happen.

"It's going to be alright…" she kept repeating to herself shaking from fear and held her pistol tight in her hand. 'It's going to be alright…"

The sound of the motorcycles grew louder and Chito could hear the first shot. The sound was familiar with the rifle that Itsuki used. That was just before a full-blown firefight went outside and after a few shots were fired, Chito could hear a man that sounded like Itsuki suddenly cry out from the pain.

"Where is the girl? You piece of shit!"

"She died - you shot her at the village - how can you be so cruel to do this to innocent girls?"

"LIAR!" a loud thump and the man yelped from pain again as someone must have hit him forcefully. "WHERE IS SHE? IF SHE IS DEAD WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MANY CLOTHES WITH YOU?"

"F… fuck… you… you shot my brother! Go fucking die in a hole you piece of s-" another loud gunshot and the voice from the man that sounded like Itsuki stopped.

"You - girl - grab his rifle and search the house. If she has a weapon don't hesitate to shoot her."

Chito kept hiding and holding her breath trying not to cry. She kept shaking from fear, as she could hear footsteps through the house. After some time, someone forcefully pushed the table just where she was hiding. Closing her eyes she pointed her pistol to the person right in front of her.

Chito yelped from pain as the person kicked off her pistol right from her hand. With tears in her eyes, she looked up at the person standing above her. The person was a tall girl about her age, with blond hair and blue eyes. She pointed her grandfather's rifle directly at her head. Chito scuffled back crying from fear and kept looking up at the girl. The girl with a dead stare looked at Chito with no expression on her face.

All of a sudden it occurred to Chito that this was the girl from her dreams, the one she shared so many special moments in her life and even a whole journey up to the last layer.

"Yu - Yuuri?" Chito asked as the girl kept pointing the rifle at her. "Who?" the girl replied still with no expression on her face and the dead look in her eyes. She felt so dominant pointing the rifle at the unarmed girl in front of her. "Yuu-chan, It's me… Chito…"

"My name is not Yuuri or Yuu-chan. I've never met you in my life, we were sent to kill your grandfather because he caused all kinds of trouble for many years... And we are supposed to take you with us…" she sighed before she continued speaking "But for some reason, I really just want to kill you, watch you die slowly and bleed out like an animal that you are." The girl replied with a grin, all this time she had the rifle pointed at Chito. She was not the Yuuri from her dreams, but a cold-blooded murderer.

"No Yuuri… you are not like that… I love you - you are the nicest girl I've -" Chito yelped again from pain as the girl kicked her head forcefully. "Shut up… little shit!" the girl exclaimed and pushed her up against the wall. "Please… Yuuri... please don't kill me… please…" Chito continued weeping and begged for her life, as the girl looked at her with cold eyes and started talking. "Little girl, it's war. Not even pretty girls like us are spared," she exclaimed before she reloaded Itsuki's rifle and pointed it dead center at her eyes. "Believe me I am doing you a favor, you will be with your ojiichan soon and I get to watch you die!"

The girl squeezed the trigger of the rifle. A sudden loud bang split the dead silence in two.

With an evil grin, the girl threw Itsuki's smoking rifle on the ground just beside where Chito was laying. Just close to her was where she kicked Chito's pistol off and she leaned down to take it into her hands inspecting it carefully.

"You are lucky that piece of shit rifle jammed. I guess dying from hunger is even worse. I hope you enjoy that, you little shit!" the girl laughed and walked off from the room outside where the others from her group were waiting.

"What happened?" the voice of a man outside asked, just as she walked out.

"Hey, calm down... the girl had a gun pointed at me, I had to shoot her."

"Where is his rifle then?"

"Well, it jammed and blew up in her face. Her head is all over the place, I wouldn't go inside if I were you." she replied laughing.

"Shit.. well we can take his vehicle and all of the supplies with us. Leave them here to rot."

After a few minutes, the Kettenkrad and the rest of the motorcycles came to life as the group seemed to have driven away.

It was dead silence once again.

Chito covered herself with her arms and wept loudly inside the house just after the group drove off. She kept waiting in vain for Itsuki to call her out, but it felt like there was not a living soul outside. She got up with her bloodied face and started walking with difficulty outside still crying when she saw Itsuki laying down on the ground covered in blood.

"Ojiichan!" Chito screeched as she fell over his body and wept even louder "Ojiichan! Wake up! Please! Don't leave me..." she kept nudging him and kept trying to wake him up, but he laid peacefully down on the ground, covered in a pool of blood. "Why?" Chito kept weeping, laying her head down on his body unsure what was going to happen to her next. She had no supplies, no means of transportation up to the last layer and the only person that ever cared about her in the world, lay dead on the cold ground. Her head hurt like hell and she felt like the whole world spun around her. She couldn't understand why the beautiful girl from her dreams would hit her head forcefully and even tried to kill her. Chito kept weeping until she couldn't keep conscious anymore and fell asleep on top of Itsuki's body.

Some time must have passed because when she regained consciousness, she found herself in a different kind of place. Her head didn't hurt anymore and Itsuki was nowhere to be seen. She kept looking around to see where she was but all there was a flat horizon, a stairwell, and a square stone monument just close by. The only source of light seemed to be the stars above her. In the dead distance there seemed to be no one else, all she could hear was the sound of a loud electrical buzz coming from the square block.

Carefully she got up from the cold ground and started walking towards the block. The sound of electricity grew even louder and louder as she approached it until it was almost ear piercing. The square block seemed like it was calling her to come closer and closer. She reached out and gently touched the block. In a matter of nanoseconds, she was transported to a different kind of place and the sound of electricity stopped.

The only thing she could see was the evening sun and lots of yellow plants spread across her. She found herself in a large field of wheat, the stone block stood just behind her. This odd new place seemed to have been somewhere else in the world and she had never seen anything like it.

Walking calmly through the field she finally reached the edge of the wheat field and walked right out of it. Looking around again, the sea in front of her stretched through the far horizon and there was a motorcycle close by with a bench where someone slept on.

Carefully Chito moved closer to see who the person was on the bench. The girl on the bench had dark hair similar to hers and laid down on her backpack, snoring softly. She had earphones on and in her hand, she held a book with the words 'Catch 22' written in Japanese. Chito was even more confused as the girl looked exactly like herself except she was tanned and wore some kind of weird clothes that people in the 21st century probably wore, with flipflops on her feet.

The girl on the bench stopped snoring and woke up mumbling. Brushing her eyes she sat up on the bench and looked at Chito who was wearing the usual army clothes that she had on her journey on the outside layer. They both looked at each other with equal confusion, before the other girl smiled and said.

"Oh… Hey… I haven't seen you in my dreams in a really long time."