This is the Cirno News Network with a breaking news story. From Detroit City, one of our reporters has sent in confirmation that they have indeed discovered a previously unknown train station. Seemingly abandoned, said station is still in immaculate shape, even though the structure and furnishing is a century and a half out of date. This is one of a series of startling finds that have been discovered since the explosion. Could that dreadful even in human history be revealing secrets undiscovered to this very day?

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Touhoumon: Gray Version
Chapter 9: Two Tranquil Voyages

Silence ruled our vessel as we sailed out of town on a sea made of rock and dirt. Our sails, sputtering with every last drop of diesel thrown against their metallic cylinders. And our wheels, somehow, kept rolling, giving no heed to the myriad of debris that still littered the mostly desolate roads.

I was still somewhat numb from the events not even an hour before. Having found my sister, but assuredly losing my parents… Along with having our newest youkai… friend, I would say, being caught by the brass and iron bonds. The expression on her face, as she took to battle… It was one that defied description.

Still, it may be best to say that for all the times that she had died inside, they came back to haunt her with a vengeance.

Sighing, I turned to my companion, sitting opposite of me in the rear of the truck. Apparently unfazed by the constant bouncing and rattling of the vehicle, she had somehow managed to lean her head to the side and lull off to sleep. If it wasn't for the mood I was in, I believe that I would have most assuredly joined her. But there was too much running through my mind to even think of falling to that realm.

I gingerly turned the ball in my hand, staring down at it. The key shone just as brightly as when I had first seen it in the low morning light. I couldn't help but to cringe as my thumb rode over it, confirming for what my eyes did not want to see.

"Magic…" Solid objects morphing, even in so slight a sense? No such thing happened naturally… At least, not to that degree. Melting rock on the west coast, I know could do something like this, but only in the slightest degree. But no heat, no danger of catching our surroundings on fire…. This wasn't natural.

Granted, it could have simply appeared from midair. I wouldn't have the slightest clue. Still though, it bothered me. Granted, for more reasons than one. Most of which involved the girl that was now trapped inside.

I had been going over my thoughts for minute after minute as we traveled, thinking if there was another way. Some other way than forcing her into the same… situation that Tokiko finds herself in now. I took away her free will for her safety. In my opinion, of course. Perhaps she could have fought them off.

Or, perhaps that is my mind trying to make any excuse for what I did.

I suppose it's a lot to take in. It was enough seeing what Tokiko could do with those little orbs of light. Using them in battle, to stun in preparation for the kill… That seemed normal. I could think of them as some type of stunning round. Rubber bullets or something of the sort. And I suppose even the rotting of her arm could have been explained as a disease.

What does that say of me, though, that I am bothered by this, seemingly more than I am bothered by her injury? Has the knowledge that she will heal simply driven any sense of caution from my body? It is a debate that I will probably be continuing for quite a while.

Still, as I turned the ball over in my hand, rubbing the key, I tried to think on the more pressing the problem. What are we going to do with her? What am I going to do with her? If she's like Tokiko, she can't hurt me. Is she going to follow, or go her own ways? Or, will she simply give up…

I do not know. The events from last night were heavy enough for me, but Nitori just… broke. And after all the insults she received, I've piled another insult on top of the pile. To be bound to this ball…

Well, any further thought would be of no use. I had to let her out. All of this discussion I had with myself would not help her in the slightest. Tepidly, I lowered my finger to the button on the outside of that ball, and pressed it.

For a second, nothing did happen. But after that momentary pause, the tear in space appeared, and the familiar form of the girl was dumped through. Oddly enough, it appeared as if she had been… cleaned? Her garments, while still torn, had none of the grime that had weighed them down. If not for the damage that had been sustained, I would have thought they were brand new. Then again, what kind of idiot would buy their clothes new and torn?

Any further thoughts along that tangent were halted as the kappa's arms rose up to rub out the sleep from its eyes. Blearily, the blue eyes opened and found mine. "Mmm… Wha… What happened?" She shook out her head in an attempt to clear the fog that had coated her mind. I remember, the fake kappa, and the fighting, and being overwhelmed… But how did we get out? Was I knocked out?"

I sighed, not wanting to look her in the eye. Across from me, I saw Tokiko beginning to stir, imitating Nitori from only a few moments prior. However, I tried to not let myself become distracted. "Not… not in a typical sense."

Even as she left the realm of Morpheus, her sharp mind instantly recognized I was holding something back. "Go on. What's the… rest of the story? There's something you are hiding from me."

Not without due cause, but I had to tell her the truth. Either way she would hate me, so why not take said hate honestly? "Tokiko and I had managed to take out the boss of the operation along with the help of another." No need to tell her about sister now; that would only distract from what I was about to tell. "When we started to leave, we could see that you were fighting off hordes of the vampires… Kurumi's, they called themselves."

I eventually forced myself to look up at her, straight in the eye. "We had no time, and you were fading fast… I used the only option that would have gotten us out alive."

She watched me idly for a second, mind trying to think of an answer. "It's possible that the birdie was able to get me out, but I have a feeling that's not it…" At the shake of my head, her eyes widened, realizing what exactly had happened. "You… you used that thing on me? You… you…"

I lowered my head, expecting the worse. "Yes… yes, I did. I didn't want you to die-"

"You think I would have minded?" She suddenly shot forward, getting right in front of my face. Still, she was not touching me, even though her hands were trembling. "You believe I would have cared if I had died? Everything… Everything is ruined." With a furious roar, she drove her fist right by my face. It easy blasted through the sheet metal, letting the bright sun shine into the dark of the truck.

"Now… I know what those humans are doing. Using my face… my copies to commit unspeakable crimes…" Her eyes began to tear, as blood began to drip from her hands as her nails cut her palms. "Stealing away the souls of everyone else, completely undoing my work yet again… Now they'll all hate me. Everyone would hate me. Even he would hate me.

At this point, something even worse than I had expected to happen occurred. She fell to the floor, curling up her legs and began to rock back and forth. "All gone, it's all gone. Husband would be so ashamed of me… Should have died then… At least would have gone down fighting…"

"Nitori-"

"No!" She immediately shouted at me, trying shove me away with the force of her words, since her fists were unable to accomplish the same. "Just… just go. Leave me alone… Just leave me alone…"

With a sigh, I walked to the front of the truck, hitting the thin metal with my fists. Apparently, that was enough to let sister know to stop the contraption, as the truck shuddered and began to shake as it left the relatively smooth concrete.

When it finally came to a stop, I walked to the edge of the truck, placing my hands on the latch for the door. I glanced back; one last check to see if she wanted to speak with me. But I saw not those eyes, but instead the top of her head, hat having fallen to her side as she quietly sobbed into her knees.

Behind her, Tokiko looked back at me, her own headwing having drooped to the side. Waving her hand at me, she shooed me out of the vehicle as she knelt by Nitori's side.

Grimacing, I took it in stride. Hoping Tokiko might be able to help, even some, I stepped outside and back into the bright light of the morning sun.


I'm sorry that the human had to go through that. But it was the only true answer. The kappa would have hated it even more if he withheld the truth. But for now, we have to pick up the pieces.

Strange isn't it? Taking the side of the one who bound me with that rope and chain… It isn't a leash that he tugs on, though. It feels more like I am his… partner. I help him, and he helps me. I don't want to let him get hurt… But is that the ball speaking, or is that me?

Still, must be getting on to what the kappa needs right now. Someone to talk to. Just a soft word in her ear, and she should recognize that I'm here.

All I want is to help, Nitori. Talk to me. You know that Gray isn't that bad… I trust him, and he hasn't done anything to me.

Yes, I know I do not truly know what part of me is speaking there. Perhaps a little story would help. I wonder, does she know about the promise that he made me? That once we had gotten this done, he'd do his best in order to take the chains away?

I think he does know that. After all, there would be nothing to prevent me from harming him, then. But he so hates all of what was done. And even if something in this head of mine is keeping him from hurting him, and wanting to help him, I'd leave him be out of respect. That I swear.

But you know what is most amazing, kappa? He offered me a family. No questions asked, even after I had attempted to eat him but hours before, he was helping me. Giving me a place to sleep. Making me feel like I was wanted. You know how rare that was for me?

After all that I went through, trying to be friendly with the humans… I had written them off. And yet, the first one I was to eat… He ended up better than all of the others.

That's why I'm helping him. When those people came… With the abominations that look like us, they stole away that life. That one peace that I had was stripped away and tossed into the breeze. Taken away by animals.

I don't know, kappa. I truly don't know. I would like to think that I would stay after this, but who knows how long this will go on. And how long we'll be staying alive. He's almost died a few times, and I've already lost my arm, once. And if it proves to be deeper…

Well, we might not come out of this.

No, I'd rather live! I don't want to fall over and die on the roadside. Or be shot and left hanging for the entire world to see. But there are some things more important. …And I'd like to think that he is.

So, please… If you can't trust him, at least trust me on this.


By the time I had reached the cab of the truck, sister had laid her head back, leaning into the driver's seat. While her eyes remained open, they were drooping ever so much as her body tried to get her to fall back to sleep. Still, the moment she heard my hand pull the latch, she snapped back to attention, wavering but slightly as she did.

Still, any tension left her body as she saw who was joining her. "Hello, brother. You wanted to stop for some reason?"

"Yeah…" With a sigh, I tried t o explain what had happened. "Nitori did not… take it well when she learned what had happened. She kicked me out of the back."

"Hmm." She stared off into the distance, before shrugging. "Not surprising. What you did would make any human angry. She is not human, but seems similar enough that the same would apply."

"She didn't just get angry…" I shook my head, not quite believing it still. "She just… just broke."

Finally, she looked at me, face drawn and eyes bloodshot. "There is more to the story, then. More than she is willing to tell, yet."

We were silent for a few moments, before I took one more good look at her. "Sister, are you alright…? You look like we should be taking you to a doctor." Not likely that we would find one, considering the state the city behind us must be in, but still, the point was there.

Shaking her own head, she answered. "No, I am not. I haven't been conscious since they… took us." She rubbed a spot on her arm as she continued. "Injection, some sort of sedative. Damnable idiots didn't even bother to switch needles. But then, they didn't need us for long, did they?"

Without even waiting for the unneeded answer, she began to list off what was wrong with her. "Nothing too terrible has been done. Nothing broken, fractured, or torn. I've been bruised in a few places, but that was probably due to being treated like a potato sack. More to the point, I am hungry and dehydrated."

While I was not quite nearly as literate as my sister, I still had been around her long enough to pick up a few terms. "You're… thirsty, is what you're saying?" At her nod, I turned from the truck, preparing to head back to get our satchel from the trashcan. "Give me a moment, I'll go grab the gear…" That was in the same bed as the unstable kappa was.

Coming to the same conclusion I had, she waved me back down. "Don't worry about it for now. I've lasted this long… I can wait a bit longer."

Well, if she was sure, I could do it. And if she was capable of driving a cargo truck, which from the multiple pedals under the dash was a straight drive, then she should be fine for a few moments longer.

Before I could try and rationalize this without making me appear to be completely oblivious, she cut me off. "I've noticed that you're taking this pretty well. Much better than earlier."

I didn't need any other reference to tell me what she meant by that. "I've already said my dues to the dead. After… confirming that you were gone, I did what I could to mourn. But I've been focusing my energy to try to avenge everyone."

At that, she gave me a slight smile. "Which lead you halfway across the country in a few days, and straight to their doorstep. For that, I give my thanks. I know I can count on you."

Looking down, I felt my stomach begin to stir slightly at her words. "But mother and father… they couldn't…"

Before I got any farther, she leaned over to me, looking me in the eye as she placed her hand on my shoulder. "Gray, stop. You're just one man… And you still managed to get in there with those two. Don't begin recriminating yourself for something you don't have any control over."

As true as the words may have been, I don't think I was quite ready to accept it. "But if I had gotten there a bit earlier, I might have been able to save everyone. And not leave them to-"

"Stop it now." She gave me a sharp look. "Ok, let's do this the long way. Why did you wait until the night?"

"We reasoned that there would be fewer people around, guards and otherwise. Would be easier to sneak in."

Nodding in understanding, she pounced on that line of reasoning. "I don't know how many were there, but I saw how many were in the facility after I woke up. They were having quite a hard time handling the number that your friend managed to free." Tilting her head, she asked, "What do you think would have happened if that facility had everyone there?"

I kept looking down, the obvious answer stirring in my head. "There's no guarantee that we would have been as successful as we were."

"Exactly." Reaching over, she patted me on the shoulder. "You're.. we're just kids, still. Just trying to survive in this world."

"It's still not much of a comfort." Looking down the road, I thought about last night. "And I don't think we're going to be able to stop. Not yet, at least. From what their leader said, there is a lot more out there. What happened to mother and father won't end until it's taken down."

That same odd smile on her face, sister shook her head. "I didn't take you for a romantic, Gray. It would be simple enough to go back home and wait out this storm. They shouldn't be coming after us again."

Clenching my eyes, I looked away. "Perhaps. It might be years that we have. But by then, it may be too late. " Glancing back up, I shrugged and shook my head. "Besides, we still need to avenge them, too."

Humming to herself, she closed her eyes. "So certain? Things are not necessarily black and white. Or maybe they are. We know little, and must act upon that little we do know." Opening them back up, she stared at the ceiling. "Very well. I'll search for something here; something that can tell us where to go. Go and see to your new friend. Perhaps by now she will have healed."

There was one thing I needed to ask before I did as much. "Are you sure?"

"No. But I don't think we can be sure of anything. Not anymore."


The back of the truck was just as still as it had been earlier. I could barely see inside the depths of it as I climbed back in, searching around for the can. After finding the old and rusty container, I pulled the two bags out.

I couldn't help but cringe at the smell that came with them. Damn thing had garbage in it. I wonder if things would have gone better if we had simply stowed away the bags somewhere inside. There'd have been no guarantee that we would have been able to keep a hold of them, though. Too bad that we didn't have some sort of bag that could hold onto our supplies, like the balls hold onto the youkai.

As I began to rustle through the bag to find a canteen, I heard the flutter of feathers from inside. Passing by the hole made by Nitori's fist earlier, Tokiko walked up beside me. Placing her hand on my shoulder, she knelt down. "I think she's calmed down some, but you need to talk."

If I didn't know any better, I'd have sworn that she and my sister were in league with each other. Handing her the bottle, I said, "Very well. Just get this to Joy. She's not had much to drink. None at all from the time she was imprisoned by the sound of it."

With a deft nod and a bobble of her headwing, she snatched the strap from me and floated outside. Watching her retreating for, I couldn't help but sigh, as there was one youkai whose company I'd rather have, at the moment. But, needs are needs, and I had to get this over with.

Not too much farther into the truck was the kappa, sitting on one of the wheel wells, staring at the floor. Her hat had made its way into her hands, where she was continually wringing it. I sat opposite of her, putting enough distance between us so that she might feel comfortable. For a girl with so much strength, she looked so very vulnerable.

But still, I held my tongue. I needed her to start this conversation, not me. After a few tense minutes, her shoulders sagged, and she spoke into the floor. "Do you know why we are ancient allies, human? And why you've never heard such a thing?"

With a quick shake of my head, I answered. "No, I'm afraid I don't."

She sighed, and continued to speak. "It started centuries ago. I was out swimming, and I met this… this human. We had always been feared by them, but this one was young and curious… And I was young too, so I had not yet learned the ways of my kind as thoroughly as I might have otherwise."

"But he would come out to the river, even knowing that we were there. He never tried to cross, I'll say, but he always came. Just watching the waters flow. Eventually, my curiosity grew too much, and I tried to speak to the man."

With a wet chuckle, she continued. "Oh, how he startled. About near fell into the water in fright as what appeared to be a young girl popped out of the water. Still, scared as he might have been, he did not run. Not from what was obviously a youkai."

"That's how we carried out many of our days. For months upon end, I would meet him by the riverside, and we would talk. Nothing of import, really. Just what it was like on the other side. How we were really that different."

Finally, Nitori looked up, fixing me with a watery grin. "Don't you know, though? Youkai are the enemies of humans. We are the fears that lurk within their hearts and minds. Without that fear, what are we?" She turned back away, a tear leaking down her cheek. "But he didn't care. He was just so curious… It didn't matter."

"He eventually stopped coming, though. He had work to do. Humans always have work. Not that I didn't have my own. That was the year I started crafting my own inventions. Nothing compared to what I can do now, but for a young kappa like me… It was marvelous."

"Not marvelous enough to distract me from that human." Sighing somewhat dreamily, she continued. "Always so damn idealist. So sure that there was no difference between our two kinds. And perhaps he had a point."

"One day, though, he returned. I barely caught sight of him, working in my workshop, but as luck would have it I did. He had grown. I couldn't tell then, but he must have been thirteen or fourteen when I met him. But now, he was a grown man. And where there was admiration for the young boy before, I felt a yearning for the person he was now."

"So, in a fit of complete madness, I asked to take him. To be my mate. Silly isn't it, to think that a human might care for someone like me, in that manner? I think he suffered from the same madness as I did, for he said that he would do it, as long as he could take me as his wife."

By now, tears were streaming down her cheeks as she finally looked up at me once more. "Those years of my life had never been happier. I spent my days working on whatever inventions I was attempting to create, be they clockwork or waterpower, while he was always there for me when I needed him. And while he wasn't as smart as a kappa… He had his own insights to grant me."

"As the years rolled on, though, he began to age. Where once he was the charming young man that I met so long ago, he became old, his hair gray and back bent." She chuckled once more. "Not to say he wasn't wily. Oh, he must have had some fairy blood in him, given his voracity for pranks. Still, as time began to pass him by, not aging me a day, I attempted to find some way to sustain him."

"I could not."

I knew I had to do something, though. Something to help immortalize him. If not him proper, then to at least enshrine his spirit." A cross expression appeared on her face, her eyes drawing tight. "That was when we sought out the elders. I wanted to show them a new way, a way that we could live in peace with the humans. It was possible. And it would bring untold levels of prosperity to both of us."

She looked down at me, her face clouded with frustration. "The funniest thing was that we were able to agree to it. But not… not before he died." Sniffing once, she bore on, her voice shaky. "It was horrible for me, having lived with him for over half a century… But I managed. Because I knew that I would accomplish this, for him."

For the first time in the conversation, I thought it appropriate to speak. "But that isn't all of the story, is it? What… what went wrong?"

"The darkness that lurks in the hearts of men and monsters alike." Cryptic answer aside, she shook her head and slowly explained. "We had just signed the agreement with the humans. A full alliance. Bunch of hogwash that I never bothered with. Politics always bothered me. But still, we were all happy." As she spoke, a snarl grew on her face. "Until we crossed the last bridge to their land, and fell victim to a green-eyed monster."

I could feel recognition on the very edge of my mind, but I had to clarify. "The delegation was attacked?"

"Worse. They were ensnared." Once again, her eyes descended until they were hidden from view by her bangs. "The bridge was home to a hashihime. Creatures who delight in using their powers to destroy, as they are jealous of anything that isn't theirs. And they have nothing to their name."

While I wondered what exactly that creature might be, I held off any questions. We needed to hear the rest. "The people in the party grew… jealous. The humans of the kappa, and the kappa of the humans. An aside turned into an argument, an argument into a fight, and the fight…" She sniffed. "Lead to our agreement being cast into those waters."

"Everything that I had worked for had been destroyed by one petty girl. I did my best to plead to the rest of the kappa, but they would hear none of it. And those that were not involved ever heard of it. I am the only one who remembers."

Enough had apparently been said, as she suddenly switched gears. "That's when I built my husbands tomb. Having nothing else to live for, I created a mausoleum for his body to rest in. And there it remains… with only one key that can access it." The one key that she always carried with her…

But it was starting to make sense to me, now. "So, when you saw the kappa clones do… that to humans, you went crazy?"

"As it was another stake through my heart." She shivered. "Another insult to me… and to his memory…" She glanced up at me, eyes void of emotion. "And now… I'm bound to you. Not through bonds I agreed to, but those that were forced upon me."

My ears were burned at the accusation. Saddest part was that it was true. But I had done it to save her… Even if that was not what she wanted. "I just wanted to get you out of there. You'd done so much for us that it didn't seem right to leave you behind."

Looking back down, finally releasing me from the stare, she shook her head. "And if I had told you before about all this? Would you have still let me die?"

Now that question was one I didn't want to answer. "I don't know, Nitori…" But hadn't sister just said something along those lines? "We shouldn't worry about what has already happened. We have to keep going, even considering the hand that we've dealt ourselves."

Quickly, I continued. "And besides, I already promised Tokiko that once this is done, we'll figure out how to free her. I promise you the same thing, too. I don't want to see either of you like this…"

"How long will this go on then?"

And yet, another question. This time one that I couldn't answer. "I don't know. It's not even been a week since everything started. But I can't honestly tell you when.

"Heh." She shook her head once more. "About as good of an answer as I expected. At least she was right when she told me that much about you."

Rising to my feet, I stepped a bit closer. "Are you going to be ok, though? If there's anything I can do…" Heh. How much the world changes, offering one of them unconditional assistance.

She shook her head, and waved me out the door. "Go on. I'll be up there in a second. After all, we'll need to figure out how to hit them next. Won't we?"

With a shadow of a smile on my face, I nodded. "We will. Just remember what I said." Waiting no longer, I left the girl to compose herself.

And then the oddest thing struck me. The whole time… I had never seen her fangs.


At the cab, sister seemed to be staring intently at a piece of paper she had found, eyes scanning back and forth as she leaned against the hood of the car. To her side, Tokiko was staring over her shoulder, reading just as intently. Tapping on the metal of the hood, I was able to get her attention, if not that of my sister.

Seeing that she would not look up, I addressed the little birdie. "What have you two found? Anything in particular?"

Glancing back at the paper, she nodded. "You might say that… We've found what appears to be a schedule. From what Joy said, this truck has been transporting equipment back and forth between one location."

"Not to mention this map here next to me is labeled." With a quick point of her finger, she went back to inspecting. "No manifests or anything, so we can't tell what has been shipped. But for something a step below a semi, it probably was machine equipment of some kind." Pausing, she shrugged. "Either that, or bodies. But I doubt that."

"Wait a tic. How did you arrive at that conclusion?"

Tokiko answered for her, flapping her wings. "It's in the middle of a place called the Badlands. Don't know what it is, but to be named that…"

Well, I surely had no clue, then. But I'd agree with her on that remark. A name like that just screams stay away. "But if people don't want to go there, someone could easily have built something all the way out there, and it wouldn't be found."

I stepped over to the map, finding a red line leading to a point about halfway through South Dakota. Whistling, I slowly shook my head. "That's a long drive… is this old truck even capable of making it? And that's not even counting the diesel that we'd need to make the trip."

Not receiving an answer from sister, I took a glance at the fuel indicators. Flipping between both of the tanks, receiving mostly full indications from both of them, I shook my head. "Well, that answers that. But it'd still be a one-way trip if we go. I doubt a truck this old can get the mileage to make it all the way back."

With a shrug, sister replied. "It seems to be the best bet. If you still want to find whoever is behind this."

Well, if there was a question that was rhetorical, that was the one. Seeing as how they seemed to be waiting for an answer, I eventually gave one. "That I do. and I'd rather get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible."

A voice from behind me echoed in agreement. "The same here. The sooner we sort this out, the sooner us youkai can go." Nitori stepped up from behind us, her face finally clear after our talks earlier. It did not go unnoticed how smudged her sleeves were, though. "I can help find a way into that base, if there is one. And worse case scenario, I could rig something up to get us out of there."

"So, there is no downside to going, then. Unless anybody else has an objection?" After a few moments of silence, I nodded. "Good. Let's get going, then."

Nitori nodded and vanished as quickly as she could, heading to the bed of the truck. Along with her went Tokiko, zipping through the air. However, my attention was diverted to my sister as she gathered up the papers and made her way to the driver's seat.

Grabbing her wrist gently, I said, "Sister, please get some rest, and eat some. There should be enough in the back to sate your stomach."

Initially laboring against the though, she eventually slumped. "I suppose that might be for the best. Doesn't need as much effort to simply pull the trigger of a gun, does it?" With a soft laugh, she withdrew, handing me the papers. "Very well. Just stay safe on the road. There shouldn't be any traffic."

"But whenever is that a guarantee? Don't worry, sister. I'll be careful."

Without any further ado, she spun and began to walk to the back, a bit more quickly than she normally would. I couldn't help but grin at the sight. I suppose she was hungrier than she let on.

Still, there was no time to laugh. I climbed in the cab, setting the papers to the side. Unfolding the map, I looked for the various roads I had to take. It was a long trip, just as I had expected. At best, we'd be arriving in the dark. Which would probably be a benefit, all things considered. Don't have to worry about the guards as much, hopefully.

Putting away the map, I heard the sound of metal scraping as the passenger-side door opened. I barely needed to look to notice the flash of red that signaled Tokiko's presence. Once again munching on a piece of pork, she handed me a piece of bread, along with another of the canteens. Scarfing down the offered meal, I muttered thanks as I took a drag, before turning the key.

Hearing no shouts to stop, I pulled back onto the lonesome road, with the next destination being the middle of nowhere. Tokiko took a sip of water herself, before turning back to the old book she always carried around. Opening it, she began to read in silence as we made our way.

After ten minutes of silence, I turned to her. "You know… if you want to read out loud, you can go ahead."

Startled by the sudden noise, her headwing flew up, before she calmed down. "It's fine. I don't want to disturb you."

The thought made me chuckle. "What if I want to be disturbed, though?"

"Oh." Smiling, looking happier than she had all day, she nodded. "You want to listen to the stories?"

To be honest, I had no idea. That book did have a lot of useful info. But it'd be nice to hear her voice. "If you wouldn't mind, little birdie."

Her eyes widened for a second as a blush covered her face. Still, she didn't look away, so I suppose she wasn't too offended by my ill choice of words. "I don't mind, not at all." Scooting on over, she looked down at the book, before beginning to read in a soft voice. "The yuki-onna. A youkai of winter in the land of Nippon, formerly known as Japan…"


The ride was long and hard, as the hours went by with but the occasional town passing us by as we rode along the freeway. Tokiko had managed to make it about three hours before she nodded off to sleep in the cab, using my side as her pillow as we continued our trek.

After a good solid eight hours of driving, we stopped again on the side of the road, having just passed interstate thirty-five an hour beforehand. Taking the opportunity to eat another meal and to stretch are legs, we began to discuss our next step.

As dusk was coming soon, we decided to go ahead with our earlier plan, and strike during the night. Nitori said that she had something that she was cooking up, but it would take until we had gotten to our destination until it was ready. I didn't know how that could be possible, considering the spare interior of the truck, but if she said she could do it, I have no doubt that it was possible.

Finally, we switched off drivers, letting sister take the seat once more. While Tokiko did volunteer to do it, I'd hate to have to explain just how to drive at the moment. We didn't need a gear stripped if she forgot to use the clutch. Still, perhaps in the future, we might have the time to teach her.

Once darkness settled, we tried on those fancy headlights for the first time as we drove along. The electric light burned through the night, cutting a swath more effectively than a flame could have. Still, it was light, and not something to dwell on.

As we had a few hours still, I caught my own shuteye, not wanting to fall asleep tonight. The rest of the trip went blissfully for me, not even dreaming as the truck rocked across the old roads.

Until I was shaken awake by sister.

"Brother, wake up!" Hissing under her breath, I immediately jerked up, looking out the windshield. We had come to a stop next to some sort of hill, our headlights now off. Before I could ask, she explained. "We just spotted lights in the distance. I turned us off so that we wouldn't be spotted by them, whoever they are."

Nodding, I unbuckled myself, putting my hand on the door handle. "I suppose we're going to walk the rest of the way." Receiving her own nod in reply, I opened the door, stepping out onto the hard, cracked dirt. In the light there was little that could be seen, except for a few small rocks with rope and tassels on them.

Spotting no threat, I pulled my shotgun out from under the seat, slinging it over my shoulder. I walked to the back of the truck, where our two youkai friends were already sitting and waiting for us. "Hey there, you two. You survive the rest of the ride?"

Nitori shrugged as she spoke at me. "Pretty much. Was a bit jarring, but considering how poor any of those… roads were, it's not that bad." Pulling something out of her pocket, she tossed an odd device towards myself, and another to sister as she came around. "Here's how we're going to get through the base. A bit of camouflage to fool the guards."

Raising the metal disk to my eyes, I examined it, trying to divine its true purpose. "Really? And what type of camouflage might that be?"

"The type powered by kappa science." She seemingly pushed some trigger on her belt, before fading from sight. "Optical camouflage that diverts the light waves around the target. My backpack has the actual projector that bends the light, but those disks help extend its reach. You just have to stay close enough to me for them to work."

I glanced at Tokiko, noting that she had affixed her own disk to her belt. Doing the same with mine, I turned back to Nitori. "Sounds good to me. But are you sure it works?"

"Pretty sure. It worked for one, so no reason it shouldn't work for three." Well, if she is so sure of herself… Not that she's let us down yet in that department. "Alright, we'll do this. Tokiko, hand me my sack, would you kindly?" Receiving a backpack straight to my face, I nearly fell over attempting to catch it. Shooting her a glare, I shook my head. "You did that on purpose."

She just gave me a grin. "Not as if I was trying to hurt you."

Even as I realized what she meant, I couldn't help but let a bark of laughter out of my mouth. "So you weren't. But enough of that. Let's get this show on the road."

At my words, sister and Nitori just nodded, and began to make their way up the hill. I began to follow them after Tokiko had found her own backpack, affixing it to herself. "Sure you need to keep lugging those around?"

"No." She sighed, giving me a wan smile. "But I wouldn't want to lose them, which we will if we left them in here. And since this is going to be a sneaking mission…"

True as that may be, it's still a risk. But considering how we could ditch them easily if we had to, I wasn't going to say anything. "Alright then. Let's just stick tight." No more words to follow up, we finally crested the hill and took our first good look at the base.

It truly was odd, standing against the barren wastelands of the badlands. Rising out of the dirt was a small town's worth of buildings, of a design I was most unfamiliar with. Rooftops with odd arches on every corner, and constructed out of an oddly luminescent stone. The whole complex itself shone with a soft white light, while taller lamp poles lit the main entrance in an eerie blue light.

Turning towards sister, I could see that she didn't have a clue what these were. But by the expression on the youkai's faces, I knew that they had some idea of what was going on. "Tokiko, Nitori… What are they?"

Tokiko immediately glanced to Nitori, who sighed and answered. "They're reminiscent of the ancient buildings from our homeland. But at the same time… they're foreign."

"Wait a moment…" She didn't mean that these were some other sort of youkai that were here? "So, are these people from Gensokyo?"

She slowly shook her head at my question. "Doubtful. Unless they've changed the architecture in the last fifteen years… Ever since I left to search for my copies, and to get away from my sister…" Tilting her head, she continued to study. "But it's obviously magical, so who…"

After leaving that thought hanging for a moment, she sighed. "It's no telling until we get inside and look for whoever is running the place. Bad thing is that there are no gates to keep people out."

Making a mental note to ask about this sister later, I asked, "How is that a bad thing?"

"Because when it comes to fences, there are few types of people that neglect them. Those that can't afford to build them, and those who don't need to because they're strong enough." Nitori glanced at me in the eye. "And which type do you think could afford to build a base in the middle of nowhere?"

I grimaced at that. "Lovely. But we need go inside either way… So fire up that camouflage, and let's get going."

With naught a word, she pressed the button again, and everyone I could see disappeared. I began to look around for the rest of them, before I heard a hiss next to my ear. "Follow my footsteps. And don't lag too far behind."

Instantly falling into line, we began our march down the hill and into the complex, passing by the main entrance as we searched for a suitable secondary entrance. Eventually, we came across a loading dock, looking oddly out of place against the rest of the building. With another hiss, she called us over to the overhead door.

"So, what is it that you are planning on-" Before I could finish asking, the bottom of the door scrunched together as she gripped it and lifted it up. Shaking my head in amazement, I ducked underneath the door as I heard the others do the same. After a few seconds, the door eventually fell to the floor, and Nitori began leading us again.

Giving a cursory glance to the building, I saw nothing that stuck out. Just a large warehouse that had a lot of palleted cargo, ready to be transported. Under my breath, I couldn't help but to ask, "How much can you lift? Considering what you've already done."

Nitori stopped in front of me, seemingly looking around to check if we had been heard. As no guards were in sight, she responded. "An average kappa can lift approximately one thousand, seven hundred and fifty tons."

Goggling at the insane amount, I couldn't help but picture that girl lifting a cargo ship out of the water. With that much strength.. "Why are you that strong? I hadn't imagined…"

"We used to share our home with a race of youkai called oni. Of which the average could lift an entire mountain. Their strongest could exert themselves even further. Now, be quiet."

Nodding more to myself than to anyone, I did as she asked, still silently wondering why they were that strong. And if she was, why had she not displayed it earlier? Perhaps there's some kind of drawback that goes along with it… Or she's still just as vulnerable even if she is strong. That would explain why magic was able to bombard her so easily.

In silence, we passed through the halls of the facility, our footsteps the only mark of our passing. Said halls were reminiscent of the outside of the building, foreign and impassive. And full of that softly glowing light. Oddly enough, even though the halls were void of most decoration, each door was clearly labeled. In English.

After passing a few rows of storage room, the occasional maintenance room and janitor's closet, I saw an odd placard. Stopping, I slowly read it out, to make sure I was reading correctly. "Portal… room?"

At that, I heard all the footsteps halt, and I could imagine all of them turning back to me. I cautiously stepped forward to the door. "Yes, I'm sure that it is…"

Behind and to my right, I could hear sister speak. "You can read that? It's all chicken scratch to me…"

Glancing back at the placard once more, I shrugged. "It sure looks like English to me. You sure you're alright?" At the silence, I shook my head, and held out a hand to the door.

At my touch, it immediately slid open, revealing a pool of tranquil water before us. Before I could say anything, Nitori spoke up. "There's something not right about that water…"

As she spoke, a ripple formed in the surface, even though nothing had fallen in. A second and a third ripple also formed, before the water began to slosh to and fro. The four of us immediately moved, flattening ourselves against the wall as a form began to emerge from the water.

At first glance, they appeared to be girls… until they removed a cap from the head, letting long rabbit ears on display. But I could not ask what exactly they were, they were lingering in the room, chatting quietly as they stepped onto a mat, drying instantly. And for all the English I had seen throughout the facility, the only way I could describe the words leaving their mouth was to say it was moonspeak, so odd it was.

Eventually, they left the room and headed outside, chatting all the while. With a sigh, I slid down, glad that we had not been heard. To my side, I heard the flapping of wings, as Tokiko seemed to be searching around for one of us.

"Is that… are those what I think they are? Nitori?" Whatever they were, it worried her greatly. Eventually, her hand found my shoulder and squeezed it, calming down in the process.

The dejected voice of the kappa answered her. "I think you're right. Those were moon rabbits. But what they're doing here…" With a grunt, she continued. "I haven't the slightest idea. But the rabbits don't work on their own… Whenever you see a rabbit, you see a lunatic."

By this point, I was completely and utterly confused. "What are you trying to say? That there is an insane asylum on the moon run by rabbits?"

That thought just caused Nitori to laugh. "No… If it were that, it'd be a step up." She began to move, her footsteps approaching the door. "I'm not quite ready to go through that yet. Let's check and see what the rabbits are doing, first."

With that, she touched the door, making it slide open once again. Quietly, we slipped into the hall, following behind the two rabbits who were talking to each other still. As we turned the corner, we thought they might be finally leading us to their destination, when one stopped. She turned around, staring where we were, and she sniffed, once.

Again, we froze in place, and I tried to flatten myself to the wall. The rabbit kept on sniffing, stepping closer and closer to our position. Eventually, she stopped, before barking something towards the ceiling in that odd tongue of hers. For a second, nothing happened, until lightning seemed to erupt in the halls shot through the air towards me. Oddly enough, it didn't seem to shock me, and I looked up to give Tokiko a look of relief.

It took me a second to realize that I could see her now.

The rabbits let out a cry, as the one closest to us raised her hand. While the other one ran off, she pointed her finger towards us and cocked her thumb, before letting it fall. Magic flared about the rabbit's hand before it sped towards us like a bullet, cutting through my shirt and drawing blood.

My hand immediately leapt to my arm, feeling to make sure that it wasn't that deep of a wound. After satisfying my curiosity, I began to unsling my gun in an attempt to fire back.

However, Nitori immediately prevented me from doing so. Jumping to the ceiling, her arms lanced out and to the ground, before she pulled the ceiling down. The metal groaned as it peeled off and created a barrier between us and the rabbit. As said youkai began to continue to plink shots into the sheet, Nitori turned to us. "Come on, we need to get out of here. There will be more rabbits showing up, soon."

We didn't make it five steps before her prophecy turned out to be true, as more and more rabbits began to pour into the hall behind us. Raising my shotgun, I attempted to get one round off, but was forced to duck into the hallway from whence we had just come.

As we made our way back in the direction of the loading dock, dark shapes began to appear down the hall. Cursing under my breath, I tried to look for another exit. Seeing only the portal room, I sighed and began to run towards it, the others on my heels.

I heard my name being shouted over the din, but I kept heading towards the only exit I knew of. Hitting the door with my fist, it slid open yet again. Staring at the pool, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before jumping in.

Time seem to stand still as I floated in the water, sinking into black depths where no light could enter. As the seconds past, I began to panic, trying to claw my way out and back to the surface, to no avail. Before it became a major problem though, a light engulfed me and I found myself being flung out onto a stone slab.

Coughing up water that had made its way into my mouth, I glanced around, looking for the others. They too appeared beside me, landing on my hands and knees. Still, as much as I wanted to tend to them, I had to make sure we were in the clear. I did my best to stand up as quickly as possible, bringing my weapon to bare.

I froze as I found myself looking down the sights of dozens of other weapons.

Scores of rabbits seemed to be standing in front of me, staring us down and holding various bolt-action rifles at the ready. A fair few of them were also weaponless, instead using their fingers just as the other rabbits had done before.

As the others stirred and made their way to their feet, I tried to think of some way to get ourselves out of this situation. As this time we seem to have bitten off more than we could chew. Before I could speak at all, the one closest to us grunted. "Human. Weapon on ground. Now. Or die."

I chanced a glance at Tokiko, wondering if we had any chance at all. But by the shake of her head, it confirmed for me what I already knew. Reluctantly, I let the strap fall from my shoulder, and released my grip on the shotgun.

As it clattered to the floor, the rabbits sprung into action. Keeping weapons trained on all of us, they whacked me on the back of the knee, forcing us to the ground. As they shoved us into cuffs, I could only look up and into the open sky.

All I achieved was seeing a blue marble sitting alone in the black.


A/N Well, hear we are. Need I even say what happened here? It started off a bit slow, but we followed it up with another assault… That did not go nearly as well as Gray anticipated. After all… luck can't hold out forever.

Needless to say, we are approaching the climax of the first act. I'm not going to bore you all with much today, as I frankly can't think of much to say. And even though I'm receiving no pay, I'm just happy to- Wait, why am I rhyming? Gah! I blame Merlin.

Anywho, possession by poltergeists aside, I'll just say that next chapter will be very fun. And if there are any questions, go ahead and fire away, as I can't think of anything else that needs explaining at the moment.

Digressing, please read and review as always, and until next time!