The Memory Arc
Disclaimer: I only own Yuku and Riako so far. Konjiki no Gash Bell is not mine.
Note: This is a shorter chapter than normal, but it's importnat that I left it by itself.
Pairings so far: Zeon x Koruru, Gash Bell x Tio, Kiyomaro x Megumi,
Minor/Possible Pairings: Aruberu x Reira, Umagon x Riako,
Chapter 8 - Yuku Part 4 - Umagon's Promise
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Kiyomaro gulped nervously as he stared at the clock. He was to meet Eita the next day, but after that was the day of his surgery, and he was beginning to get very nervous. Sherrie might trust these doctors, but the way they looked at Kiyomaro, like he was a piece of garbage, was unnerving.
Kiyomaro shook his head and looked over at the empty chairs. His mother had just left after a quick visit, and Dr. Guess had taken Gash over to see Tio and Megumi.
"Oi, what the hell happened to you?" asked a voice. Kiyomaro was about to yell at the owner of the voice, when he stopped. His eyes took in the young woman, who looked both concerned and annoyed.
"… Tsukushi…" muttered Kiyomaro, raising an eyebrow in the botanist's direction. "What are you doing here?"
"Cousin came to visit. He's a sweet little guy, but he crashed his bike into a wall. Nothing serious though, he leaves tomorrow." replied Tsukushi offhandedly. "But… What about you? Was it a serious fight or something?"
"…" Kiyomaro looked away. "This demon we're up against is going to be the most powerful yet. We had gone to South America…"
And Kiyomaro explained everything, from Zofius and the controlled Koko trying to get he and Gash to join her, and up until Zeon attacked at the ruins.
"… Wow." was all Tsukushi could manage. She reached in her pocket and handed a few tickets to Kiyomaro.
"What are these?" questioned Kiyomaro.
"You and your friends will need some relaxation at some point. Free passes into the gardens." replied Tsukushi, giving a reassuring smile as she left the hospital room.
Kiyomaro looked down at the tickets in his hands, before putting them in the book he had been reading, as to not lose them.
"Arigato…" murmured Kiyomaro as he stared out the window. It was nearing night time…
Umagon ran down the fire escape, making sure to keep the creature in his sight. The creature hadn't noticed, but Umagon had seen something as the creature turned to leave.
Strapped to his back was a book, but with slightly different symbols on them. Umagon recognized it because the class on those books had been the last class he had taken before arriving in the Ningenkai.
"Now, class, what kind of book is this?" asked the small dwarf-like demon, who was standing on a tall stool in front of the board.
"A spell book!" exclaimed one of the other 4-year-olds in Umagon's. Umagon raised his hoof.
"Meru meru!" exclaimed Umagon. The teacher looked to the side, at Riako, Umagon's only friend, and the only one that could understand him besides his mother. "Meru meru, meru meru mei! Meru meru!"
Riako, a green skinned demon girl with fins for ears and aqua eyes, looked at Umagon some more, before turning to the front.
"Umagon-kun says that it's a different kind of book. A fake one." translated Riako. Umagon smiled and nodded.
"Very good Umagon!" exclaimed the teacher, turning to the board. "Yes, these books are fake books. All they do is act as a portal between the Ningenkai and the Makai, like regular books. However, the text in them is simply drivel and means nothing."
Umagon did not like seeing that book. Other things had happened after that class. And those things were important to him. Remembering what happened, and thinking of his friends that needed his help, was what led Umagon down to the entrance of the ruins, to Sanbiimu. To the war.
"Hey look, it's horsey's wife. Gonna meru meru mei?" taunted one of the students during recess, looking at Umagon and Riako, who were eating under a tree. Riako's skin turned a shade of purple, which qualified for her as a blush, and she stood up, glaring at the student.
"Meru?" Umagon tilted his head and jumped up.
"Stay out of this, horsey." siad the boy, pushing Umagon down and raising his fist. It glowed and became steel. He grinned.
"Well then…" Riako's fin-ears twitched and her fingers changed into long, scythe-like claws. "You want to fight me?"
"Meru meru!" Umagon jumped up and shook his head rapidly.
"Umagon-kun, he'll hurt us if we don't fight back!" exclaimed Riako worriedly.
"Ch… I'll beat both of you…" muttered the student, and he punched Umagon, who flew back and hit the tree.
"Meru…" murmured Umagon., a bit of blood trailing out of his mouth.
"Umagon-kun!" yelled Riako. She turned to the student angrily. "You want to fight me?
"Duh!" replied the student.
"Well here I come!" yelled Riako, raising her hand and preparing to strike.
"That's more like it!" yelled the student, is hand glowing and getting even bigger. Riako's eyes widened, and Umagon stood up. The student moved his fist forward, and Umagon wasn't fast enough to get in the way.
"Ah…"
Riako fell to the ground with a small thud, and the student ran off.
"I didn't mean it! I didn't!" screamed the boy.
"Meru meru meru! Meru meru mei!" yelled Umagon as he cradled Riako's bleeding head as best he could with hooves. A teacher soon arrived and took Riako to the nurse's office, Umagon following behind.
Umagon leapt off of the fire escape and charged down the street, determined and ready for a fight. A fight he would win at all costs, because he had a personal reason for helping defeat Zeon. A very personal one.
"Meru…" whimpered Umagon as he stared at the unmoving form of his best friend.
However, her green nose twitched and she opened her eyes. Umagon jumped up in the chair and was yelling happily.
"Meru meru mei! Meru meru meru meru meiii!" screamed Umagon happily, dancing on the chair.
"Excuse me mister horse, but who are you?" asked Riako, smiling innocently. Umagon froze.
Umagon had to get past this next fight, and he had to live past Zeon. He had to win the war. He needed to win the war.
"Ssssshe sssseemsssss to have amnesssssssia…" hissed a doctor, while Umagon sat in a chair. The doctor, a legged serpent-like creature, turned to Umagon. "You're going to be in the war, correct? Maybe you ssssssshould go home…"
"Meru…" mumbled Umagon as he left the hospital. As he left the school, he stared up at the sky.
Umagon looked and saw the student that had hurt Riako playing with others. Why wasn't he in trouble?
"Meru meru mei, meru meru meru meru mei! Meru meru meru mei meru meru meru meru meru meru mei!" yelled Umagon. (Riako-chan, don't worry! I will become king, and find a way to get your memories back! I promise!)
He had a promise to keep.
Sanbiimu looked up from the steel and the work he had been doing. He felt a tug in his heart. He felt rage, sadness, and determination.
"Umagon…?" whispered Sanbiimu. He set down his tools and cleaned his hands on a rag, before heading over to the changing room for his clothes.
End Chapter 8
