This chapter is dedicated to: Nap-Tyme, Descendent of Flaming Dragons, otaku582021, Judgeless, Dinobunny, Shreya, and my guest reviewers. Thank you for your kind words! You've inspired me to continue (^_^)
I'm sorry it's taken so long! I'm going to try and be better. I've got three more chapters mapped out. So at least three more chapters after this to take us to the conclusion.
Chapter 5: See How Fast This Life Can Change
Japanese language notes:
-san –an honorific attached to the end of a person's name to show respect. Used for male and female names, a lot of times in English it is translated as Mr., Ms., Mrs. Etc.
-sama- a higher level honorific applied to people who have higher status, i.e. Ayame-sama because she's royalty
Hai, kashikomarimashita - yes, certainly or yes, understood (in a deferential, respectful way)
Geta- traditional Japanese sandal with an elevated base, often worn with white tabi socks (I know I defined this in chapter 1, but it has been a while so it's a refresher)
The medicine is working! Ikoma slumped against the wall in relief. He brushed a shaking hand through his hair. If it hadn't, I don't know- He cut off his thoughts before they could wander any further down that path. It did work, that's all that matters.
Mumei was breathing easier now and her face was no longer strained in pain. Ikoma watched her chest rise and fall steadily for a few minutes, relief slowly washing over him. When he felt like his legs could support his own weight again, he walked over to the side of her hospital bed. Brushing her bangs back, he kissed her forehead lightly.
"Mumei, it's going to be alright now," he whispered.
Behind him, Ayame was crying quietly. A knock on the door caused them both to flinch in surprise.
"Ayame-sama," it was one of Koutetsujyo's bushi. "We've received word from Kurusu-san. The man at the gate is requesting entrance in order to examine the extent of Mumei-san's injuries. Kurusu-san and the Tsurugashima station master have left the decision up to you."
"Ikoma." The Yomogawa heir turned to face him. "You've met him. What are your thoughts?"
Ikoma's mind flashed back to the slim young man who had been waiting for him at the gate. Daito. How do you fit into all of this?
"He's Kabaneri and dangerous," Ikoma muttered. "But he's also saved Mumei's life. Unquestionably."
Ayame nodded. "Please allow him entrance, as a guest of the Koutetsujyo." As the bushi began sliding the door closed, she held up her hand indicating he should wait. "Of course, it goes without saying that a detail of our best warriors, led by Kurusu-san, should escort our distinguished guest to the hospital."
"Hai, kashikomarimashita." The bushi bowed and slid the door closed.
After the man had left, Ikoma sighed. "That won't make much difference you know, if he's a hostile Kabaneri."
"If he's come here to help Mumei-chan, I want to at least give him a chance." Ayame smiled at him.
It seemed like an eternity before Daito was able to get to the hospital. The humans persisted in their ridiculous display of security, and he humored them for the moment. The situation at Tsurugashima still puzzled him. What are these humans playing at? Don't they realize they're no longer at the top of the food chain?
Despite himself, he was curious. So, he forced himself to walk at their trudging pace and allow himself to be "escorted" to the hospital where the two godwalkers waited. Just before entering the room, he pulled his scarf down around his neck. He combed his fingers through his unruly jet-black hair and reached for the door.
Entering the room, he saw the green-haired godwalker he had spoken with earlier. He was standing next to a bed where the woman's prone form lay, unmoving. Barely more than a girl really, Daito realized. It only took a quick glance to recognize the severity of her injuries. He strode purposefully over to the other side of the bed and lifted her wrist, checking her pulse.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ikoma seethed. "Who said you could touch her?"
"Calm yourself." Daito counted off the seconds in his head while tracking her heartrate. "It seems like you administered the dose just in time."
Ikoma frowned at him, and Daito gently lowered Mumei's hand back onto the bed. "And how is it exactly that you have an antidote like that?"
Daito met his gaze calmly. "Because I know the doctor who created the metal spinners."
"What?" Ikoma ground out, incredulous with rage. If Mumei wasn't gravely ill and right in between them, he would have lunged at the man and throttled the answer out of him.
"Unfortunately, the supply I have on me is insufficient to treat contamination of this magnitude." The dark-haired stranger was completely unfazed by Ikoma's outburst. "We'll need to take her back to the Cove for further treatment."
"The Cove?" Ayame spoke up from the corner of the room.
Daito spared a glance her way before returning his gaze to the young man in front of him. "My home."
"Your home?" Ayame echoed in surprise.
Ikoma narrowed his eyes. "Like hell we are going anywhere with you until you give us some answers." His expression was fierce.
Daito scoffed and leaned back against the hospital wall, crossing his arms. "I'm willing to bet you would. In any case the Cove is not worth discussing further in the presence of homo sapiens. They tend to become distressed." He gave Ayame a look of pity. "I don't envy your place in this world, human," he spoke softly.
Ikoma's hands clenched into fists and he couldn't help raising his voice. "You speak as though humans were inferior, as if we weren't the aberrations."
"You've been living among humans for too long if you can think that way. Aren't you the least bit curious? I myself have been eaten up with curiosity about you two. It's always fascinating to meet a godwalker who's grown up in the wild."
"I don't know what this 'godwalker' crap is you keep spouting. But we are Kabaneri and- Wait" Ikoma interrupted himself as a thought struck him. "Just how many more of you are there?"
Daito's eyes glinted orange for a moment. "More," he said simply.
From the hospital bed, Mumei let out a small whimper, her hands clutching the sheet tightly. Ikoma's attention was pulled from Daito. He only had eyes for Mumei now. Taking one of her hands in his, he leaned over her, whispering, "It's going to be all right Mumei."
"Your affinity for humanity is intriguing. Yet if you value your mate's life, you'll both need to come with me."
"You said this would cure her," Ikoma ground out, not taking his eyes from Mumei's face. "Are you a liar?"
Sighing, Daito crossed his arms in front of his chest. The other man's resentment was starting to annoy him. "That was before I realized the extent of her injuries. I'm not a doctor you know. This isn't my field of expertise. Maybe she will recover, but you're taking a chance. The only way to be sure is to have Doctor Itou examine and treat her."
"Mumei isn't going anywhere with you." Ikoma released her hand and strode purposefully around the bed with a murderous glint in his eye.
He was swiftly intercepted by a gentle hand on his chest. It was Ayame-sama. "Let's all take a moment and calm down," she said firmly. "You said Mumei-chan's life is not critically endangered at the moment, is that correct?" She eyed the dark-haired man.
Daito spared a glance down at her under his long bangs. "Not at the moment."
Ayame-sama clutched a hand tightly to her chest and whispered a silent thank you to the gods. Then turning to face the stranger. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Ayame Yomogawa." She placed her hands at her sides and bowed deeply toward the young man. "Thank you for helping us save Mumei-chan."
For a moment, Daito was completely nonplussed. He stared down at the young woman uncertainly. "Although traditional etiquette dictates that I should respond 'You're welcome', I truly have done nothing to deserve your thanks Ayame."
Ikoma's muscles tensed at the blatant lack of honorific attached to Ayame-sama's name, but she put a consoling hand on his arm before he could do anything more than scowl.
The dark-haired godwalker watched this transaction with amusement. Then, giving in to a moment of theatricality, he bowed with a flourish. "I am called Daito." If I'm to play with humans, I might as well enjoy myself, he thought.
"Daito-san, I believe you've already met my associate Ikoma." Ayame-sama gestured gracefully to her friend. "And the young woman we are gravely concerned about, Mumei-chan." She turned to face the hospital bed, hands gripping the bedrails tightly. "Will she really be alright?" It came out as a trembling whisper.
Daito also turned to study the unconscious young woman. "With proper treatment, yes. You don't have the capacity for it here," he said bluntly.
"So then teach us!" Ikoma exploded.
Daito raised an eyebrow at him. "As I previously mentioned, I am not a doctor. This is far beyond my field medical abilities."
Before Ikoma could erupt again, Ayame-sama cut him off. "Then you two must go with him." As the green-haired kabaneri spluttered, she looked questioningly at Daito. "I assume you have some way to transport Mumei-chan without causing further injury?"
"Of course, princess."
Ikoma clutched Mumei tightly to his chest. She was still unconscious. Bandaged heavily from her injuries, she wore a soft green medical gown and shorts under her fluffy white jacket. When Daito had told them they needed to accompany him back to the Cove for further medical treatment, Ikoma packed them each a small travel bag. Mumei's traditional fighting attire was inside, as well as her favorite casual wear. It was tempting, but he opted not to go for her sandals with the razorblade edge. Ayame-sama had reminded him privately that these "godwalkers" Daito referred to could be potential allies. It was no good getting off on the wrong foot, no pun intended. But with all the bandages and treatments she needed regularly, the Yomogawa heir had wisely suggested more loose-fitting clothes for the journey.
So Ikoma found himself and Mumei tucked into the passenger seat of Daito's vehicle. He called it a quad. It was similar to the motorcycles Biba's team had used, but larger, built to carry up to four passengers and as its namesake suggested, it roved around on four wheels rather than two. The steam smith inside him marveled at the speed of the vehicle and its ability to pass over a significant variety of terrain. So much more mobility than the Koutetsujou.
Any other time, he would kill for the opportunity to tinker with a machine like this, taking it apart and putting it back together, but right now his thoughts never wandered far beyond the young woman bundled in his arms. Mumei! I'm not letting you out of my sight! He wrapped his arms around her a little tighter to protect her from jostling with the quad's movements.
The trip passed in a blur. Ikoma was so concerned for the young woman in his arms, he could hardly stand to focus on anything else for more than a few moments. A part of him knew that he should be paying attention to the route, the direction, glean any kind of references or information he could about where they were heading but as Mumei trembled and whispered his name painfully, he just couldn't bring himself to care.
This is my fault! She was saving me! If I hadn't distracted her… if we hadn't argued like that…God, if I hadn't fondled her like some depraved beast…
Ikoma tore a hand through his hair. "I'm such an idiot!" When Daito glanced back with an unreadable expression, Ikoma realized he had spoken that last part out loud. The green-haired kabaneri hung his head with a groan.
It took a day, maybe two. Honestly Ikoma wasn't sure. He thought he remembered stretching out with Mumei in the quad's backseat gazing up at the stars. But maybe it was all just some kind of stress hallucination. Like when you're wandering in the desert and you think you've found an oasis, just to discover it's all a mirage.
He was lost in more ways than one at this point.
"We're coming up on it now." Daito's voice broke the silence that had enveloped them the entire trip.
They were approaching a large mountain, the quad climbing up a narrow path along its cliffs. Daito maneuvered the vehicle deftly, Kabaneri reflexes allowing him to react to the challenging terrain in a way that would be impossible for an ordinary human.
Turning a sharp corner, the vehicle lurched into one of the many caves Ikoma had noticed speckling the area.
Daito gave a smooth trilling whistle as they passed through the opening. "What?" He raised an eyebrow, somewhat defensively in response to Ikoma's surprised glance.
"I didn't take you for the musical type."
Daito shrugged. "Just letting them know I'm home."
A series of trilling whistles echoed back at them along the corridor.
"And also," Daito smirked, "telling them not to kill you."
Ikoma wasn't sure if he was joking or serious. His eyes picked up movement of a few people at the edge of his vision, but it didn't appear to be a hostile attacking force. The others, whoever they were, seemed content to stay out of the quad's way as it zipped down the interior passage.
Pulling into a large cavern on the left, Daito parked the quad alongside at least three others inside, along with a multitude of other vehicles Ikoma couldn't identify.
A man hurried over to meet them, eyes glowing orange. He bowed profusely towards them multiple times. "Welcome back, Daito-sama. Honored guests. Please allow this lowly one to care for your vehicle." He kept his head bent in a deferential posture.
"Make sure she gets refueled properly," Daito said smoothly, walking past him without a glance. "And get her washed."
"My pleasure sir! Anything. Of course," the man gushed, still bowing repeatedly as Daito walked away.
Ikoma watched the whole transaction with a confused frown. Gathering Mumei close, he hopped lightly out of the vehicle.
When Daito realized he wasn't following, he spared a glance backward and waved them forward. "Are you coming Ikoma?"
"…arrogant bastard," Ikoma muttered, following.
"You do realize I can hear you? If you're going to live around other godwalkers, you're going to have to stop acting like a human."
Ikoma groaned in annoyance.
After a few minutes walking down the tunnel together, Ikoma couldn't resist. "-sama?"
Daito sighed. "Typical sycophant, but what else can you expect from a j-class worker? They're desperate." He eyed Ikoma thoughtfully for a moment. "You do not need to refer to me as anything other than Daito."
"Gee, I'm touched," Ikoma groused, sticking out his lower lip. They walked along in silence for a few minutes. Ikoma struggled to contain his curiosity. He didn't want to give Daito the satisfaction of lecturing him on anything else. Finally, unable to contain it any longer, he blurted out, "What do you mean j-class?"
Ikoma could swear he saw a self-satisfied little smirk flicker across Daito's face before it regained its carefully neutral expression.
"Janitorial class. Unspecialized laborers. Barely a step above the kabane." At Ikoma's puzzled look, the dark-haired man continued. "Everyone in the Cove serves a specific function. Our abilities determine our role from the lower classes janitorial and unspecialized laborers to s-class specialized workers and m-class medics. At the top of our society are the warrior classes, from Minokichi, our alpha, who rules the Cove, the betas, his generals, and the c-class who serve as shock troops for more sophisticated needs than what our kabane forces can provide."
"Wait, you're telling me you have kabane here?"
"Of course, it's standard practice for b-class generals to control upwards of two hundred kabane in battle. The more powerful the godwalker, the more kabane they can control."
"Why do you call yourselves 'godwalkers'?"
A look of something like shame crossed Daito's face. "Minokichi came up with the term. We are 'living gods that walk the earth' according to him."
"Ridiculous!" Ikoma scoffed. "We've been infected with the kabane disease, but are still able to maintain our human minds."
Rubbing his chin with his hand, Daito agreed, "I will admit there is some appeal to your chosen term, "Kabaneri". However, within the Cove, Minokichi's word is absolute. I would advise you to be on your best behavior with him." Ikoma opened his mouth to argue, but Daito cut him off. "For Mumei's sake, if not for your own."
The godwalker's words cut through the heart of Ikoma's annoyance. He grunted out a reluctant, "I'll try."
Notes:
1. I really should have consulted the Greek alphabet before diving into the Cove's class system. ~sighs with regret~
2. The title for this chapter is borrowed from the lyrics for "Take Me Over" by Red, which I listened to many times while plotting and writing this story.
