Chapter 6: Scars


Japanese Language Notes:

Mou- tsk, jeez, come on, dammit
Koutetsujyou – iron fortress (just a refresher for anyone who needs it)

Denka- Your Highness


Daito led Ikoma through a series of passageways carved through the mountain. They were dimly lit, yet with Kabaneri senses it was no trouble at all. Despite being inside caves, the walls weren't slimy or damp. The air seemed pleasantly cool. Ikoma was impressed by the level of ventilation these Kabaneri had achieved. As they continued walking, Ikoma began to hear a throbbing sound, growing louder and louder. He gave Daito a questioning glance and the godwalker shrugged.

"It's night and they're partying. It's what they do. We'll have to walk through it to get to the infirmary. It's the fastest way." He hummed for a moment and then glanced back at Ikoma "I'd advise you not to touch anything."

Ikoma glared at him, and as they continued forward, the tunnel suddenly opened into a large cavern, filled with little curtained off niches along the wall. There were people everywhere, writhing, and grinding against each other in an obscene parody of intimacy while the heavy throbbing music of drums reverberated through the room.

Ikoma clutched Mumei tighter against his chest, but the sea of people seemed to sway just out of their reach, he realized in deference to Daito's presence. Glancing to his left, Ikoma saw a long table dripping with candles. Laying in the center was a woman, totally naked with yellow flowers covering her eyes. Her lips were painted white, and people were crowded around her eating little snacks laid out along her skin, a living buffet table. Lips brushed against her. One man was licking slow trails of saliva along the curve of her wrist. She didn't move.

Ikoma gasped and looked away. His gaze was drawn to the right. In a dark corner, partially covered by curtains, he could see two Kabaneri. One was drinking blood from the other's wrist, while the first one reared a fanged mouth to clamp down on her partner's neck. They smirked at Ikoma, tearing at each other's clothes in a mass of blood and scratches before falling behind the curtain and out of view.

Shuddering, Ikoma decided to face forward and just follow behind Daito, but even this shocked him when he saw the room before him filled with the glowing orange yellow eyes of Kabaneri. There must be hundreds of them, writhing, dancing, biting each other and drinking each other's blood.

Suddenly, he felt a hand slide along his arm.

"Hello gorgeous, why don't you join the party? It looks like your date's a bit of a drag." It was a female Kabaneri, with bright green hair and freckles, loudly smacking gum between glossy red lips. She smiled and beckoned suggestively at him to a group of women sitting at a table a few paces away. Her friends winked and blew kisses at him.

"Ah, no. Thank you," Ikoma spoke quietly, remembering Daito's reminder about Kabaneri hearing. Even above the music, she'd be able to hear his voice.

"Aww, come on, gorgeous. I promise we'll make it worth your while." She slinked her body along his side, squeezing her cleavage against his arm.

Ikoma valiantly looked away. "Mumei's the only one for me."

The woman popped her gum, shaking her head in disapproval. "Monogamy, seriously? That's so antiquated. Look me up when you've evolved a bit, gorgeous." She gave him a pout, fluttering long glittery lashes, then turned and sauntered back over to her table with a shrug.

"Daitoooo," a syrupy sweet voice called out. "How is it that you always bring back the cutest ones?"

Ikoma felt rather than heard Daito sigh, as a voluptuous dark-haired beauty glomped onto his shoulder.

"We don't have time for you, Asegara." He brushed her off and continued moving through the crowd.

"Mou, you're never any fun General," Asegara pouted after him.

Daito gave her a facetious two-fingered salute as he continued walking away. Using the path created in his wake, Ikoma hurried after him.

Daito and Ikoma continued walking, and soon they neared what was obviously a medical building. Stepping inside the glass doors, Daito held the door open for Ikoma carrying Mumei to follow.

"To the right" Daito nodded.

Ikoma turned and soon they found themselves at a reception desk.

A petite nurse gave him a large fang-tipped smile as he rounded the corner.

"Welcome! How can I help -Oh you need Dr. Ito right away!"

She took one look at Mumei, frowning. The nurse's strawberry blonde hair was done up in a long ponytail that swished as she walked. "Another metal spinner," she muttered to herself as she hurried off.

Daito was standing somewhat behind him. Ikoma turned and gave him a studying glance. Something was off.

The nurse returned. "Right this way! Oh, Daito-sama. I apologize I didn't see you there." She bowed deeply towards him.

"There's no need to apologize Evolette-san," Daito said stiffly, standing ramrod straight, almost in military fashion.

"Thank you, Daito-sama," the nurse looked down, face red but then shaking her head. "Dr. Ito said you can wait for him in exam room three." She gestured to a room on the right where a hospital bed was prepared with clean, starched sheets.

Ikoma laid Mumei down, gently brushing aside the hair that fell across her face. She sighed and turned to nuzzle his hand, still unconscious.

"She'll be ok," Nurse Evolette reassured him. "I've seen much worse. Dr. Ito will have her back on her feet in no time."

"Thank you." Ikoma smiled gratefully at her.

"Daito-sama always brings back the most interesting people from his travels."

As Evolette turned to smile shyly at the general, a muscle in Daito's jaw ticked and he studiously studied a spot on the ceiling.

Ikoma raised a quizzical eyebrow at him, which was studiously ignored.

Evolette set up an IV drip and wheeled a cart full of medical supplies up to the bed. "I'm sure Dr. Ito will continue the treatment you began, Daito-sama. But I'll wait until his assessment so that I get the proportions right."

"Of course," Daito squeaked out.

Ikoma couldn't take it anymore. Daito was staring at the vinyl ceiling tiles with unwarranted intensity. His body was taut, as if he was straining against an impulse to flee from the room as fast as he could.

As Evolette, hummed sweetly, setting up equipment and taking Mumei's vitals, Ikoma pulled the dark haired godwalker aside.

"Ok, what is going on with you? Why are you behaving so strangely?"

Daito's eyes slid away from his glare. "There are many who deem my behavior strange."

Ikoma shook his shoulder "Well this is more than normal. What is going on with you?"

"Everything's all set. Dr. Ito will be along any minute." Evolette called out as she walked toward the reception desk once more. Suddenly she popped her head back in, blushing. "It was nice to see you again Daito-sama," she whispered before turning to flee from the room.

"Ah ha! That's it." Ikoma clapped his hands together with a grin.

Daito stepped on his foot, hard. "Whatever it is you're thinking under that foolish mop of hair, please don't."

"You like her."

"I said don't. There are things you don't understand about the Cove. There are rules- we're not in the same class." Daito ran shaking fingers through his hair.

"You're right, I don't get half of what you're saying." Ikoma shrugged. "But for what it's worth, I think she likes you too."

"Really?" A smile lit up Daito's face for a moment and then was ruthlessly suppressed. "But it's impossible." His shoulders dropped. "Minokichi would never permit it."

"Mino-who?"

Daito sighed loudly and Ikoma had a sneaking suspicion that it was embellished for his benefit. But as he opened his mouth to argue, there was a loud knock on the door. A tall man wearing a white medical jacket, with small square spectacles bowed in the doorway.

"Excuse me, would you allow me to come in"

Ikoma and Daito stepped out of the way, mumbling apologizes.

"Dr. Ito, this is Ikoma and his mate Mumei. She was injured by a metal spinner during assessment." Daito gestured at the two Kabaneri.

"And you administered an antidote?" Dr. Ito queried, puzzled. "Isn't that somewhat unusual?"

"The circumstances were warranted." Daito answered in a prickly voice.

Dr. Ito held up his hands. "I'm not questioning your judgment, young general. Just trying to ascertain the situation." He turned to the young woman on the bed, taking her wrist and measuring her pulse.

"She has an abdominal wound below the sternum," Daito spoke up.

Dr. Ito glanced up at them for a moment. "Did the young man sustain any injuries needing treatment?"

"No," Daito replied, while Ikoma grit his teeth, fisted clenched.

"And the metal spinners?"

"Destroyed beyond recovery, I'm afraid."

Dr. Ito stopped to wipe his eyeglasses with a small cloth he pulled from his jacket pocket. "Nasty creatures. I can't say I'm sorry to hear that."

"Minokichi will be getting a full report."

"At ease, General. You don't need to be on the offensive now."

Dr. Ito turned back to Mumei's prone form and began his examination. Ikoma wrung his hands together with worry, anxiously waiting his prognosis. The doctor concluded by lifting Mumei's eyelids and shining a small light on her pupils. "All of her responses look good. You've saved her life, General."

Ikoma spared Daito a grateful look. The godwalker looked away awkwardly. He wasn't accustomed to being thanked.

"She'll make a full recovery." Dr. Ito clapped Ikoma on the shoulder. "There's nothing more to worry about, son. With the proper treatment, she'll be up and Adam in no time. But it's going to leave one hell of a scar."

He released Ikoma's shoulder and tilted his head toward Daito. "There's an inpatient form I'll need you to sign General, before you can be on your way."

"Of course," Daito agreed as the two men stepped out of the room.

Ikoma fell to his knees beside Mumei's bed, taking her hand in his and kissing it. Mumei, I'm so sorry.

Dr. Ito's words played over and over in his mind "it's going to leave one hell of a scar, one hell of a scar, hell of a scar, scar, scar, scar…."

The words drew him into a memory, of a hot summer day, during happier times, where sunlight filtered through the green leaves of the trees as they lay drying off from a swim.

The river was icy blue. Its little splashes and murmurs broke up the otherwise quiet day. Ikoma and Mumei were sunning themselves on a rock after a good bout of swimming and a splash war, Mumei initiated of course.

Ikoma's eyes were closed, his feet still dangled in the water when he felt a light brushing against his face. Opening his eyes, he saw a beautiful butterfly perched on the end of his nose.

"Ikoma! Don't move!" Mumei crept closer, eyes wide with delight. "It's a Red Helen, one of my favorites. I haven't seen one in years."

Ikoma squinted at the butterfly. It appeared in double vision because his eyes were crossed from looking at it. He chuckled. "You've always had a thing for butterflies."

"I love them!" Mumei nodded her head energetically. "They're my favorite!"

"Ah" Ikoma let out a sigh as the butterfly fluttered away. He turned to grin sheepishly at his companion.

"Hey! When'd you get that scar?" Mumei poked a raised slash along his left shoulder.

"Oh that, it was that time we were fighting those giant slugs in Aomori. One of them got a good bite on my shoulder."

"I didn't know" Mumei hummed thoughtfully for a moment, hands sliding down his arms lightly.

Ikoma resisted the urge to laugh. He was extremely ticklish, but any display of weakness would only egg Mumei on further.

"What about this one?" Her hands had slid under his shirt, fingers brushing lightly over a scar just above his right hip.

Ikoma gasped involuntarily. Her touch was both ticklish and arousing. He cleared his throat and tried to school his emotions. "It was from a swimming accident when I was young. No battle story for that one."

"Hmm" Mumei's fingers roved over the plains of his chest, pushing his shirt up.

Ikoma resisted the urge to squirm under her featherlight touch.

She fingered the scar close to his heart, where she'd shot him while under the influence of Biba's brainwashing. Mumei was silent, her eyes sad.

And that was something Ikoma could never stand.

"What about you?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Any secret battle scars I don't know about?"

"Hah!" Mumei scoffed, some of her confidence returning. "As if I would be slow enough to get a scar. The only scar I have is from my Kabaneri transformation, and that's enough."

"More than enough," Ikoma agree solemnly. "Wouldn't want to mar that beautiful smooth skin."

Now Mumei was grinning widely. Ikoma was pleased that his efforts to brighten her mood had succeeded so well.

"Smooth skin, huh?"

Was it just him, or was there a dangerous glint in her eye?

"Ah- well, you know…" he floundered.

"Ikoma, are you blushing?" Mumei roared with laughter.

How did she always manage to get the better of him?

He huffed, and she smiled leaning in close. Her lips puckered and Ikoma's eyes slid closed, mouth opening in anticipation. That's when he felt her fingers slip over his nose and tug.

"Got your nose!" She took off hooting.

"Aw, come on! Seriously?" Ikoma groaned, sitting up.

"Come on, Mister Smooth! You wanna touch this smooth skin, you've gotta get your nose back first."

Ikoma's eyes glinted. "Be careful what you wish for," he shouted, leaping up from the rock with Kabaneri strength, and rocketing towards her almost too fast for human eyes to follow.

She led him on a merry chase along the streambed, up over the roof of the Koutetsujyou and into the forest on the other side of the train. Finally, she gave him an opening and Ikoma was able to corner her against a tree.

Both were panting heavily from their chase. Sweat dripped from Mumei's neck and Ikoma watched a tantalizing droplet slide down her collarbone, disappearing under her shirt. She followed his gaze, smirking, then bopped him on the nose.

"Here ya go, I guess I need to return it after al-"

He kissed her, cutting off the end of her sentence and she melted into him all summer sighs and heat and tongue. Ikoma slid his hands down the soft skin of her shoulders and forearms, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss until a white-hot ball of fire seemed to bloom inside his chest and fireworks were going off inside his nervous system. Pressure was building and he broke off the kiss before he wouldn't be able to turn back.

He nuzzled into her neck and her head flopped against him. She was still breathing heavily, eyes closed, cheeks a flushed rosy pink, a little smile blooming across her lips.

His sweet innocent Mumei who drove him absolutely wild. In that moment, he made a vow that he'd never let anything scar her again, over his dead body.

His fingernails bit into his arms as Ikoma clenched his hands, muscles tightening in anguish. How is it that he could have failed so completely? Looking at Mumei, his lioness, stretched out helplessly in the hospital bed – and all because of him- it was more than he could take. Self-loathing filled him and he pressed his head into the mattress, stifling the urge to scream.

Dark tendrils of miasma began to rise from his arms, stretching out into the room.

At just that moment, Daito stepped back into the room. "Ikoma!" The godwalker eyed the black miasma with alarm. "Ikoma!" He shook the young man's shoulder, hard.

Ikoma blinked and raised his head to meet the other man's gaze. "Daito?" His voice was confused.

"Come." Daito pulled him to his feet, relieved to see the dark wisps fading away. "There's nothing more you can do here. Let's get you fed and bathed. Then I'll find you a place to sleep for the night."

Ikoma's eyes were becoming clearer. He shook his head and whatever confusion was left seemed to flee. "Ah, yes. Thank you, Daito. I do feel a little thirsty but-"

"You can come back and stay with Mumei afterward if that is what you wish."

Ikoma met Daito's gaze. "Thank you," he said with sincerity.

It gave the godwalker general a strange sensation he'd never felt among the others at the Cove. But he would have died before admitting it. He cleared his throat.

"Sustenance first," Daito ordered, ushering the green-haired Kabaneri out of the room despite his protests. He managed to finagle Ikoma out of the infirmary and down another corridor that opened into a large cavern speckled with clusters of couches and chairs.

Ikoma turned to Daito. "Wait, how exactly do you get food around here anyway?"

Before Daito could open his mouth to answer a deep voice interrupted. "General Daito, welcome home. And you've brought new blood into our Cove, well done."

The man who spoke was tall and broad chested. His tan skin was a stark contrast to the paleness of most Kabaneri. As he walked towards Ikoma and Daito, his brilliant white smile was obvious even in the dim light.

"Welcome brother." Minokichi extended a hand to Ikoma. "I am the alpha of our Cove."

"Ah, thank you." Ikoma was surprised by how powerful this godwalker seemed. His personality was magnetic.

"Come, you must be famished from your journey." Minokichi gestured to a group of comfortable looking black couches to their left.

The three men sat and Ikoma enjoyed sinking into the comfortable cushions. Minokichi clapped his hands and a beautiful woman materialized at his side.

"Bring us a meal." He gave her a dazzling smile.

The woman bowed, star earrings twinkling as she rose.

"I bet you have many questions," Minokichi smiled at Ikoma, "But let us first break our fast and then I will be happy to tell you all you need to know."

Ikoma bowed his head in thanks. "We are very grateful for your assistance, particularly your medical help."

Minokichi twirled his hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it, you're a brother to us here at the Cove."

Ikoma was just starting to relax into the softness of the couch when a shrill cry pierced the air.

"No! God, please anything but that! Please I don't want to be turned into one of those things!" A woman was screaming, being dragging into the room by the beautiful woman Minokichi had sent off to get a "meal."

It was clear to Ikoma now what the meal was. He felt sick to his stomach.

"Please!" the woman pleaded as she was thrown at Minokichi's feet. He looked at her dispassionately, as if she were an insect.

"Please spare me! Don't turn me into one of those things, I beg you." She clutched his feet, sobbing hysterically.

Minokichi grinned at Ikoma. "They're so noisy, aren't they? But we've found muting them takes away some of the flavor." He grabbed the woman by her hair and pulled her up so that her neck was bared towards Ikoma.

Her fingers scrabbled weakly against his grip, but his arm was like marble, immovable.

"Would you like to go first, brother? They say the first bite is always the best."

Ikoma jumped up and glared at Minokichi. "Are you out of your mind? That's a human! Are you going to turn her into a Kabaneri against her will?"

"Kabaneri?" Minokichi tilted his head… puzzled. "I'm not familiar with this term." He shook the woman lightly before him, absentmindedly in thought. "Kabaneri, Kabaneri… Ah, I've got it! That's your term for godwalker, is it not? How fascinating. The wild ones are always so amusing aren't they Daito?"

"Yes, Denka-sama." Daito nodded stiffly.

"Be at ease, brother." Minokichi waved a placating hand at Ikoma. "I do not bestow the gifts of a godwalker on just anyone. As you'll soon learn, everyone in the Cove has their place. Everyone has their use. Creatures like this," he dangled the woman before him, "only serve one purpose. Food."

"You can't be serious?" Ikoma shouted. "That's a human being! Are you crazy?"

Daito saw the hardening beginning around Minokichi's eyes, and he grabbed Ikoma in warning. Bowing low, he faced Minokichi. "Denka-sama, he's clearly dazed and confused from our journey. Might I suggest-" Daito stopped mid-speech, gasping and falling to his knees.

"If I want your opinion, General, I'll ask for it. How dare you address your alpha before being asked."

"Daito! What's wrong? What's happening?" Ikoma fell to his knees before the dark haired general.

Daito was shuddering, fingers digging into his arms, drawing blood. His teeth chattered and in response to Ikoma's questions all he could do was shake his head.

"He's sick!" Ikoma shouted. "Do something."

"He's not sick," Minokichi laughed. "He's in submission. Look closely wild one, this is the power of the alpha godwalker." He spread his hands to encompass the room, dropping the woman into a shivering heap at his feet. "I control everyone and everything within the Cove."

Ikoma glared at Minokichi. "You're insane."

"I forgot how uncivilized the wild ones can be." Minokichi chuckled and shook his head disparagingly at Ikoma. "But you'll soon come around. Now," he fixed his gaze on Ikoma, eyes turning red, "drink, your alpha commands it."

Ikoma felt a pulling in his mind, a painful pulsing pressure. He gritted his teeth and pressed a hand against his burning forehead. "I don't know what kind of lunatic you are, but I dammed well am never going to drink the blood of an unwilling human."

"Interesting." Minokichi's eyes blazed at him. "Are you sure about that?"

Ikoma felt pinned beneath his rageful stare. But one look at the poor crying woman and he knew he'd never obey such an order, even if it cost him his life. He stood facing off against Minokichi head-to-head.

"Yes," he declared.

"Hmm." Minokichi brushed a bit of dust from his shoulder. "Guards."

Instantly they were surrounded by a squad of eight godwalker troops. They knelt at Minokichi's feet in unison and whispered, "Denka-sama?"

"Detain him, I need to teach this wild creature a lesson in hierarchy."

The guards quickly overpowered Ikoma, pinning his arms behind his back and holding him in place.

"You can't do this!" Ikoma struggled against them, but it was no use.

Minokichi pulled the young human woman up by her hair again and stroked her face, brushing away her tears. She shuddered and closed her eyes with a whimper.

"Stop it!" Ikoma screamed. "Stop it! You can't!"

"I can do anything I want," Minokichi laughed. "I'm a god." And with that he bit down on the woman's neck, splattering blood against the couch. She screamed and writhed against him, which only seemed to excite him further. He dragged a hand down the front of her chest, nails tearing at her shirt, digging his claws deeply into her left breast. Minokichi's eyes sparkled, and he groaned, pulling the woman closer against him, drinking deeply from the wound in her throat.

The woman's eyes grew glassy. She spasmed against him, once, twice and was still. Minokichi took one last pull from her neck and tossed her aside onto the floor like a candy wrapper. Blood dripped from the sides of his mouth onto the floor.

Ikoma screamed until his voice was hoarse, struggling against his captors, but he couldn't break free. Against this many other Kabaneri, he was completely overpowered.

The woman lay dead on the floor, but after a moment her body shuddered. Her flesh began to darken to a purplish hue. Yellow-orange fire bloomed in her chest and flared along her veins. Joints cracking, she moaned and started to stand. Her eyes had turned black with pinpricks of yellow in the center.

Minokichi flicked his hand to the far right and the woman-turned-kabane began moving with slow shuffling steps in that direction, groaning.

Tears poured down Ikoma's face. "You're a monster," he whispered to Minokichi.

The alpha godwalker dabbed at his mouth daintily with a handkerchief. Minokichi gestured towards Ikoma. "Put him in a cell until his attitude improves." He smiled. "And bring me three more snacks."

"Yes, Denka-sama," the guards answered in unison. They dragged Ikoma, still struggling, out of sight.

"Daito."

Minokichi released his general from his alpha hold, and the young man released a shaky breath, nearly falling but catching himself at the last moment. He rose on shaking legs and bowed to his alpha, not saying a word.

Minokichi nodded in the direction the guards had gone. "Was there anything unusual about that one?"

"No, Denka-sama. My assessment ranks him as a high B-class fighter."

"Hmm," Minokichi muttered, waving Daito away. "It must be his wild blood. After a few days, I'm sure he'll fall into line. But if not…" He flexed his fingers, extending and retracting a set of vicious serrated claws.